Digital Commons Network^™

Visual Cues Elicit Differential Aggression Towards Female And Female Mimics In The Corkwing Wrasse, Benjamin A. Ellis, Tonje K. Sørdalen, Mark Briffa, Anne Berit Skiftesvik, Alexander D.M. Wilson, Kim A.T. Halvorsen

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are consistent intrasexual differences in behavior that maximize reproductive success through different means. In corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops), smaller males mimic female visual morphology (hereafter sneakers) to steal fertilizations from nest-building parental males (hereafter nesting males). We investigated whether this visual mimicry effectively deceived 47 nesting males across 4 sites by quantifying 2 agonistic responses (attack latency and attack frequency) to models depicting unfamiliar females, sneakers and rival nesting males. Contrary to expectations, nesting males exhibited faster agonistic responses towards female models, with lower attack latencies compared with both male types. Additionally, the relationship between model …

High-Performance Simulations Of Higher Representations Of Wilson Fermions, Vincent Drach, Sofie Martins, Claudio Pica, Antonio Rago

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

We present HiRep v2, an open-source software suite for high-performance lattice field theory simulations with dynamical Wilson fermions in higher representations of SU(Ng) gauge groups. This new version fully supports graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration, optimizing both gauge configuration generation and measurements for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. HiRep v2 integrates improved gauge and fermionic lattice actions, advanced inverters, and Monte Carlo algorithms, including the (Rational) Hybrid Monte Carlo ((R)HMC) with Hasenbusch acceleration. It exhibits excellent scalability across multiple GPUs and nodes with minimal efficiency loss, making it a robust tool for large-scale simulations in physics beyond the Standard Model.

An Open-Label, Clinical Feasibility Study Of The Efficacy Of Remdesivir For Long-Covid, Helen Neilens, Victoria Allgar, Kayle-Anne Sands, Jade Chynoweth, Amber Lord, Paigan J Aspinall, Helen Hambly, Anton Barnett, Lindsay Skipper, Tom Bewick, Ian Maidment, Hairil Abdul Razak, Ruth Ashton, David Strain, Karen Knapp, Mark A Faghy

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND: Long COVID (LC) affects around two million people in the UK and over 65 million people globally. Antiviral medications have shown positive effects in reducing the risk of progression to severe disease in high-risk patients during an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and have improved outcomes in those living with LC. Research testing the feasibility and efficacy of antiviral medications is ongoing, and clinical trials should determine the use of Remdesivir and its impact on LC symptoms, patient-reported outcomes, quality of life and functional status.

METHODS: Seventy-two patients ≥ 18 years of age who have a confirmed LC diagnosis will be …

Flicking Fibres: Microfibres Act As Sensory Disruptors In A Marine Crustacean, Ari Drummond, Alexander D.M. Wilson, Lucy M. Turner, Mark Briffa

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Anthropogenic inputs to the environment—including microplastics and microfibres—are global stressors known to impair multiple facets of organismal biology. However, the effects of these pollutants on sensory structures remain critically understudied. Sensory systems mediate organism-environment interactions, and pollution-derived impairment at these interfaces may cascade through bioprocessing, from information acquisition to behaviour and ultimately fitness. Microfibres, in particular, pose an additional threat, potentially physically obstructing sensory organs and chemically interfering with sensory processes. Using an invertebrate model of sensory biology, Pagurus bernhardus, we tested whether dryer lint—a complex, heterogeneous mix of treated microplastic and cellulose fibres, and other anthropogenic contaminants—acts as a …

Together In Sync: Assessing Prosocial Behavior With A Full-Body Interactive Mixed Reality Experience, Sena Beste Ercan, Belen Gonzalez, Olga Gali, Gray Atherton, Liam Cross, Narcis Pares

School of Psychology

This study investigates how interpersonal synchrony (IPS) in full-body interactive Mixed Reality (MR) environments can shape children's prosocial behavior. We introduce DragonIce 2.0, a two-part MR game designed to induce synchronous or asynchronous group activity and assess their impact on prosocial behavior. To examine changes in affiliation (team belonging and peer liking) and collaboration (overt joint actions), we conducted a comparative study with children aged 9–10, using both system logs and self-report measures. The results highlight the importance of context, task structure, and perceived coordination in shaping social outcomes, offering insights into how interaction dynamics shape social engagement in immersive …

Advancing Statistical Literacy In Eye Care: A Series For Enhanced Clinical Decision-Making: Part 3: Design And Analysis Of Clinical Research In Eye And Vision Studies, Daniela Oehring

School of Health Professions

Purpose. To provide comprehensive guidance on designing and analysing clinical research studies in ophthalmology and optometry, encompassing observational studies, non-randomised controlled trials, randomised controlled trials, and advanced trial methodologies including platform trials, adaptive designs, and decentralised trials. This article addresses the unique methodological challenges in eye and vision research while integrating contemporary frameworks such as the estimands approach for defining treatment effects and the ethical imperative of systematic reviews before initiating new trials.Material and Methods. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases, focusing on study designs applicable to eye care research with …

Pre- And Syn-Eruptive Processes During Ancient Pre-Caldera Activity At Campi Flegrei (Italy): Petrology And Chemostratigraphy Of The Vitafumo And Miliscola Tuff-Cones, Lorenzo Fedele, Claudio Scarpati, Annamaria Perrotta, Ileana Santangleo, Federica Güll, Paul Cole

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

A detailed petrological investigation of the juvenile clasts from the deposits of the Vitafumo and Miliscola tuff cones is reported here, representing the first attempt to reconstruct the architecture of the plumbing systems of Phlegraean volcanoes preceding the caldera-forming Campanian Ignimbrite (CI) eruption. The Vitafumo and Miliscola juvenile clasts are remarkably crystal-poor to nearly aphyric, with sparse microphenocrysts of mostly sanidine, plus some plagioclase in the slightly crystal-richer and older Vitafumo samples. Groundmass glass compositions are trachytic and homogeneous for each volcano, with only slightly higher MgO, CaO and K ₂O and lower Na ₂O in the Miliscola …

The Lived Experience Of Vicarious Trauma In Specialist Nurses Facilitating Organ Donation: A Narrative Review, Sharon Johnson, Kevin Hambridge

South West Clinical School Journal

#400 words: knowledge and action

Global Study On Newborn Hospitalization And Parental Experiences (Hope): Rationale And Design Of A Multinational Cross-Sectional Mixed-Methods Online Survey, Hope Study Working Group, Julia Hoffmann, Ruth Kemper, Helmut Hummler, Ayse Düzenli, Luc J I Zimmermann, Silke Mader, Christina Tischer, Jos Latour

School of Nursing and Midwifery

INTRODUCTION: Newborns who are born too soon, too small or sick are a vulnerable group who require special/high-dependency/intensive care after birth. Infant and Family-Centred Developmental Care (IFCDC) is an integrated healthcare approach that prioritises and values parental/familial involvement and participation by fostering competencies in essential newborn care skills and thus parental empowerment. There is a paucity of data globally on the IFCDC practice and the challenges faced by parents/caregivers during hospitalisation and post-discharge and the potential country-specific support.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of the HOPE study (Global Study on Newborn HOspitalization and Parental Experiences) is to assess parents'/caregivers' experiences, needs …

Changing Pseudo-Nitzschia And Dinophysis Distributions In The North Sea And Western Approaches (Ne Atlantic) And Their Potential Use In Biodiversity Assessments, Matthew M. Holland, Eileen Bresnan, Martin Edwards, Matthew Faith, Clare Ostle, Rowena Stern, Paul Tett, Claire Widdicombe, Callum Whyte, Abigail Mcquatters-Gollop

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Pseudo-nitzschia and Dinophysis are two commonly occurring phytoplankton genera along Europe’s Atlantic coast. Species within these genera can produce toxins that accumulate in shellfish and pose health risks if consumed. Sustained monitoring of shellfish growing waters has generated decades-long time-series for these two genera, which have been considered for use in statutory biodiversity assessments as proxies for diatoms and dinoflagellates. There is also evidence that distributions are shifting; It is important to document these changes to anticipate risks for shellfisheries, and higher trophic levels. We assessed whether Pseudo‑nitzschia and Dinophysis data could support statutory biodiversity assessments and quantified distributional change …

Improving Reflective Practice And Care Consistency In The Mental Health Connect Line: Addressing Compassion Fatigue Through A Quality Improvement Initiative, Chloe Parkin

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: QUALITY IMPROVEMENT REPORT

Improving Reflective Practice And Care Consistency In The Mental Health Connect Line: Addressing Compassion Fatigue Through A Quality Improvement Initiative, Lauren Collier, Chloe Parkin

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: QUALITY IMPROVEMENT REPORT

The Use Of Thickener In Dysphagia Management: An Evaluation Of Current Practice, Morgane Griffiths

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: EVIDENCE INFORMED CHANGE PROJECT

Priority Research Questions To Generate Decision-Grade Data To Enable Coastal Ecosystems To Mitigate The Climate And Nutrient Crises, Gordon J. Watson, John Aldridge, Louise Anderson, Martin J. Attrill, William E.N. Austin, Keisha D. Bahr, Nicola Beaumont, Stefanie Broszeit, Annette Burden, Estela Delgado-Gargiulo, Evangelia G. Drakou, Mike Elliott, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Robinson W. Fulweiler, Angus Garbutt, Boze Hancock, Joerg D. Hardege, Joanna Harley, Ian W. Hendy, Jenny R. Hillman, Tim D. Jickells, Ana I. Lillebø, Mariana D.A.C. Lima, Peter I. Macreadie, Paulina Martinetto, Jackie Mellan, Alf Norkko, Ruth Parker, Michael P. Perring, Bernadette Pogoda

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Nature-Based Solutions, green-finance instruments and policies are now routinely constructed around carbon sequestration/storage (CSS) and nutrient bioremediation (NB). This integration builds on how Market-Based Instruments (e.g. payments-for-ecosystem-services) are regularly used in policies focused on terrestrial ecosystems. In marine and coastal systems poor understanding of CSS/NB biophysical processes and impacts of ecosystem quality/stressors, combined with methods and governance framework knowledge gaps, generate substantial uncertainty in outcomes. Reductions in output confidence preclude integration into Nature-Based Solutions, stifling market-based investment centred on conserving and restoring temperate coastal ecosystems. To navigate this complex, rapidly evolving area, researchers from six continents engaged in a Priority …

The Future Is Now: The Digital Dentistry Symposium, Casper Jonker

Peninsula Dental School

Introduction: From the perspective of our current undergraduates the period that I grew up in must appear something akin to a technological Stone Age. Concepts such as browsing web pages were unheard of, everything was done on paper, and communication could take weeks or even months to complete. Something as simple as making a phone call could cause endless frustrations: not being able to reach someone or just leave a voice message, running out of credit mid-conversation or ridiculously high phone bills was the norm in most households. Most of us will remember our time attending primary and secondary school, …

Oral Health-Related Quality Of Life (Ohrqol) In People With Dentin Hypersensitivity: A Systematic Review Of Interventional Studies, Sumanth Kumbargere Nagraj, Georgios Kitsaras, K. Bekes, C.L. Randall, K. Asimakopoulou

Peninsula Dental School

ObjectiveThis systematic review, the first in this field, aimed to evaluate if interventions for dentin hypersensitivity (DH) affect patient-reported oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).MethodsA systematic search was conducted across seven electronic databases and gray literature sources, focusing on interventional studies published from 2010 onward. Eligible studies included adult participants with DH and assessed OHRQoL using validated measures. Data extraction followed the PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was appraised using the JBI tool.ResultsThirteen randomized controlled trials involving 616 participants were included. Interventions ranged from desensitizing agents, fluoride varnishes, and laser therapy to nonpharmacological approaches like behavioral techniques. QoL was measured …

University Challenges, Ewen Mccoll, Philip Preshaw

Peninsula Dental School

The recent article by Lalloo highlighted some of the conflicting challenges faced by universities across the world, particularly the UK. The conclusion drawn in the article related to metrics for ranking dental schools touching on the importance of research to universities: the rankings are biased to research metrics and reputation, rather than the quality of the teaching of oral health professionals.

‘Mobile Consumers’: Interpreting The Consumption Perceptions, Practices And Experiences Of Mobile Brazilian International Students In London, Mark Holton, Leonardo Santana Dos Santos Rodrigues

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This paper advances existing work on the mobilities and geographies of students by examining the complexities and contestations affecting international students' consumption perceptions and experiences. This is important in positing new ways of understanding how educational mobilities, in both their meta and micro forms, can influence, and be influenced by, consumption practices and ideologies. Drawing on a set of semi-structured interviews with Brazilian international students living and studying in London, UK this paper draws together mobilities and consumption theories as a lens for interpreting consumption knowledge and practice as an evolving and iterative set of performances that align closely with …

Implementing Population Health Management (Phm) Across An Integrated Care System In England, Using Action Learning Sets And An Embedded, Formative Process Evaluation., Julian Elston, Sheena Asthana, Felix Gradinger

Peninsula Medical School

AbstractIntroduction: Population Health Management (PHM) is a UK priority for Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), aiming to deliver proactive, preventative, person-centred care using integrated health and care datasets. However, evidence on implementation in primary care remains limited.Methods: This comparative case study used embedded researchers, ethnography, interviews, and observations to formatively evaluate a 24-month PHM programme across 31 Primary Care Networks in one ICS. Data were thematically analysed using Excel and NVivo, with findings fed back to participants to guide programme delivery.Results: Around 200 stakeholders participated in Action Learning Sets, fostering cross-sector collaboration within four localities. Few innovations, developed using integrated datasets, …

What Happens After Oil And Gas Decommissioning? A Global Systematic Review Of Marine Environmental Effects, Anaelle Lemasson Lemasson, Antony M. Knights

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The thousands of oil and gas (OG) platforms placed at sea for fossil fuel extraction have introduced new hard substrate to the marine environment. Over time, these structures can become colonized by a diversity of marine life, fostering novel ecosystems. However, an increasing number of OG platforms are reaching decommissioning age and decisions regarding their fate must be made. Some view these artificial structures as litter that ought to be removed; others view them as valuable contributors to marine biodiversity worth preserving. Evidence of the environmental effects of these structures following different decommissioning strategies is needed to identify the potential …

Cameras Or Divers? How Baited Remote Underwater Videos And ‘Long Swims’ Underwater Visual Census Complement Each Other On Coral Reefs, Kennedy Osuka-Edeye, Melita Samoilys, Bryce D. Stewart, Colin J. Mcclean, Peter Musembi, Saleh Yahya

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Conventional methods for surveying coral reefs, such as underwater visual census (UVC), often underestimate large-bodied, mobile, or cryptic fish species due to limitations in diver mobility and visual detection. To address these limitations, rapid timed ‘Long Swim’ (LS) UVC protocols have been developed to better capture large predator assemblages, yet their performance relative to baited remote underwater videos (BRUV) remains poorly evaluated in topographically complex oceanic reef environments. This study provides the first site-specific comparison of BRUVS and LS-UVC protocols for predatory reef fish from nine selected families on the reefs of Pemba Island, Tanzania. To ensure robustness, we implemented …

The Impact Paradox: Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of National Institute Of Health And Care Research Funding For Intellectual Disability Research In The Uk, Rohit Shankar, Richard Laugharne, Sarah Lennard, Samuel Tromans, Nathan Goddard, Madeline Dale, Ruth Bishop, Nathan Johnson, Maxine Hough

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundPeople with intellectual disability experience substantialhealth inequities, including higher multimorbidity, increasedhealthcare utilisation and markedly reduced life expectancy.High-quality research is essential to address these disparities.The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)funded Research Delivery Network provides the infrastructure/expertise/support needed to deliver NIHR-funded studies, andsupports studies funded by a non-commercial/industry partner. However, the effectiveness of NIHR-funded studies versusthose supported in driving impactful intellectual disabilityresearch remains unclear.AimsTo evaluate and compare the outcomes of NIHR-funded andsupported intellectual disability research.MethodAll NIHR studies (funded/supported) relating to intellectualdisability (2010–2020) were identified through systematicregister searches. Primary outcomes included publicationrates and impact on local, national and international clinicalguidelines. …

The Diamond Minutes: Rethinking The Earliest Link Of The Trauma Chain Of Survival, Guglielmo Imbriaco, Sonia D’Arrigo, Francesco Limonti, Tim Nutbeam, Alberto Cucino

Peninsula Medical School

Matters arising.Trauma remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, particularly among children, adolescents, and working-age adults. Despite major advances in trauma system and hospital-based care, a significant proportion of fatalities occur in the prehospital setting, often within minutes and before arrival of emergency medical services (EMS) [1]. Observational analyses consistently suggest that between one quarter and nearly half of trauma-related deaths occur before hospital arrival [2]. A recent prospective multicentre study involving over 1,000 patients with haemorrhagic shock demonstrated that, despite improvements in trauma centre capabilities, including whole blood resuscitation, hybrid operating rooms, and endovascular haemorrhage control, the …

Digital Or Tangible? Card-Based Story Writing Interaction Designs With Ai: A Comparative Study Of Gui And Tui, Yaojiong Yu, Gianni Corino, Rafael Arrivabene

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Interactive narrative is revolutionizing narrative and writing conventions; however, AI LLM-driven creative systems encounter challenges related to opaque narrative logic, limited user control, and reduced creative autonomy. This research introduces two interactive solutions: GUI digital cards (Prototype 1) and TUI physical cards (Prototype 2), evaluated through a two-phase comparative study. Phase 1 consisted of an exploratory pilot study involving 30 participants (10 in each group), while Phase 2 was conducted as an extended validation study with 72 participants recruited through open online channels, without restricting participation to academic settings. Prototype 1 (GUI) facilitates individual creation through features such as virtual …

Translating Predictive Models Into Clinical Practice: Fast-And-Frugal Trees For Postoperative Delirium Using Routine Data, Odette Wegwarth, Felix Balzer, Sebastian D. Boie, Niklas Gisa, Anika Müller, Jan K. Woike, Claudia D. Spies, Helge Giese

School of Psychology

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a frequent and serious complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Although predictive models for POD exist, they are rarely implemented in routine clinical practice, partly due to their complexity and data requirements. Simple and interpretable tools based on routinely available data may improve clinical applicability. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated Fast-and-Frugal Trees (FFTrees) for predicting POD using routine electronic health record data from 61,150 surgical patients treated between 2017 and 2020 at a large German university hospital. We assessed the transferability of previously developed FFTrees and compared their performance with logistic regression, classification …

Masking Behind The Mask: Reflections From Oral Healthcare Practitioners With A Late Adhd And Audhd Diagnosis, Ness Avery, Charlotte Daniels, Casper Jonker

Peninsula Dental School

No abstract provided.

Practices, Controls And Capabilities A Thematic Analysis Of Big Data In E-Retail Fraud Management, Chiwuokem Nwoko, Maureen Meadows, Justin Okoli, Alexeis Garcia Perez

Plymouth Business School

PurposePrior Big Data and fraud research emphasises technical detection or generic analytics, offering limited empirical insight into how Big Data is operationalised as practices and controls in e-retail fraud prevention. This study examines how e-retail firms translate analytics capabilities into fraud prevention practices and controls.Design/methodology/approachThe study draws on 32 semi-structured interviews across 18 e-retail organisations and applies abductive thematic analysis to examine how Big Data resources are translated into fraud prevention practices and controls.FindingsFindings reveal that Big Data enables fraud prevention not merely through detection technologies, but through two empirically derived transformation practices: (1) Localised Exploitation, which translates complex analytics …

Investigating The Employability Development Of Tourism And Hospitality Undergraduates In Guizhou, China: A Mixed Methods Study, Jingyu Wu

Plymouth Business School Theses

The rapid expansion of China’s tourism and hospitality (T&H) industry has generated increasing demand for graduates equipped with both professional and transferable skills. Guizhou Province, one of China’s less-developed inland provinces, presents a distinct socio-economic and educational landscape characterised by regional disparities in higher education resources and graduate employment opportunities. As tourism serves as a strategic pillar industry for regional development (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2024), understanding how students in this southwestern context develop employability is critical for addressing structural inequalities and informing locally responsive higher education policies. This study therefore investigates how tourism and hospitality undergraduates in …

Neural Responses To Acute Hypoxia And Hyperoxia, Daniel Graham, Jonathan Marsden, Alastair D. Smith, Gary Smerdon, Stephen D. Hall

School of Psychology

The brain's high metabolic demands make it highly sensitive to oxygen level changes, with both hypoxia and hyperoxia affecting cognitive and neural function. However, the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to characterise the effects of acute normobaric hypoxia and hyperoxia on neural function and perceptual thresholds using EEG, visual evoked potentials (VEPs), and critical flicker fusion (CFF) thresholds. In a single-blind, randomised, crossover design, thirty participants inhaled 10.5%, 21%, or 100% oxygen while resting-state EEG, VEPs, and CFF thresholds were recorded. Hypoxia reduced CFF thresholds in an exposure-dependent manner, while hyperoxia produced a smaller, transient reduction. Resting-state …

Beyond The Evidence: The Cervical Collar As Cultural Artefact, Tim Nutbeam

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Cervical collar application remains prevalent in trauma care despite the absence of evidence of neurological benefit from spinal immobilisation. Clinical behaviour in this area has proven resistant to change, and the persistence of the collar requires explanation beyond the evidential debate alone. The fear of cervical injury has origins that predate clinical practice. Neurobiological preparedness theory suggests that threat associations linked to survival-relevant stimuli are more rapidly acquired and more durably maintained than other learned fears; the cervical region is a plausible candidate for this form of prepared response. This disposition has been reinforced by centuries of cultural practice: …