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A Psychosocial And Psychometric Exploration Of Hikikomori In The Uk, Gregory Gorman Jan 2026

A Psychosocial And Psychometric Exploration Of Hikikomori In The Uk, Gregory Gorman

School of Psychology Theses

Hikikomori - originally identified in Japan as a severe form of social withdrawal - has evolved into a global phenomenon mirroring broader transformations in labour, technology, and identity. Once deemed a culture-bound syndrome, it is increasingly understood as a “society-bound” expression of psychosocial strain, existential unease, and retreat from normative life scripts. This thesis advances understanding of hikikomori by developing and validating psychometric tools, identifying subtypes of withdrawal, and situating the phenomenon within wider socio-cultural, digital, and philosophical frameworks.Empirical chapters detail the development of two novel tools: the Hikikomori Risk Inventory-13 (HRI-13) and the expanded Hikikomori Syndrome Behaviour Scale (HSBS). …

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A Balm For The Broken: Bearing The Scars And Songs Of Generational Survival In A World That Denies Our Humanity, Desmond Beach Jan 2026

A Balm For The Broken: Bearing The Scars And Songs Of Generational Survival In A World That Denies Our Humanity, Desmond Beach

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

“We survived to tell the tale.” This dissertation explores the intersections of visual art, Black cultural memory, and spiritual labor through a body of creative and scholarly work rooted in Black textile traditions. Informed by the artist’s upbringing in West Baltimore and shaped by the spiritual and communal practices of the Black church, the research considers artmaking as a form of ritual, resistance, and remembrance. Patchwork, performance, and mixed media installations become not only expressive gestures but also repositories of intergenerational memory, sites of ancestral presence, and acts of survival that exceed mere endurance.The dissertation integrates creative production with critical …

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Plastic Pollution: Investigating Environmental Pathways And Critically Evaluating Interventions, Florence Parker-Jurd Jan 2026

Plastic Pollution: Investigating Environmental Pathways And Critically Evaluating Interventions, Florence Parker-Jurd

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Plastics are lightweight, versatile, and durable materials used in the manufacture of a wide range of products. Innovation in the early 1950’s facilitated a dramatic reduction in production costs with the potential to mass produce inexpensive convenience items intended for single use applications. As a consequence, plastic production has grown exponentially over the last 75 years, and a throw away culture of single use has become deeply engrained in modern society. Plastic production exceeds 450 million tonne/yr, substantially exceeding our capacity to manage associated waste resulting in pollution accumulating in every compartment of the natural environment. While plastic pollution has …

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Coral Reef Fishes In Different Hard And Soft Coral-Dominated Reef Habitats, Ana Coelho Jan 2026

Coral Reef Fishes In Different Hard And Soft Coral-Dominated Reef Habitats, Ana Coelho

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Understanding how fish communities respond to different coral habitats is essential for predicting the future resilience of coral reef ecosystems. This study tested whether fish assemblages differ between hard and soft coral–dominated reef plots and among coral genera. We predicted higher fish abundance and more frequent benthic interactions in hard coral plots, and genus-specific differences in community composition, behaviour, and time spent within plots. This study examined fish species diversity, richness, abundance, behaviour, and the time spent in coral habitats. The analysis encompassed seven coral genera in an Indo-Pacific reef system. Twenty 2 × 2 m reef areas, each dominated …

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Influence Of Ecological Transitions On The Evolution Of Circadian And Light Detection Genes In Squamates, Isobel Sleep Jan 2026

Influence Of Ecological Transitions On The Evolution Of Circadian And Light Detection Genes In Squamates, Isobel Sleep

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Circadian rhythms are self-sustaining, endogenous processes that align behaviour and physiology with daily environmental cycles. Rhythms are regulated by conserved genes forming transcriptional feedback loops and are entrained by environmental cues (e.g., light). Circadian systems are well studied in model organisms, their molecular evolution in squamates (lizards and snakes) remains less understood. Squamates represent the most species-rich reptile group with extensive ecological and sensory diversity, exhibiting multiple independent transitions across ecological niches, including repeated shifts into low-light environments (e.g., nocturnality, fossoriality), making them ideal for examining circadian and light-associated gene evolution. This study investigates how ecological transitions have influenced the …

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Improving Primary Initial Teacher Training (Itt) Trainees’ Confidence In Mathematics Teaching, Pinar Gumus Jan 2026

Improving Primary Initial Teacher Training (Itt) Trainees’ Confidence In Mathematics Teaching, Pinar Gumus

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This research aimed to investigate how primary ITT trainees’ confidence in teaching mathematics could be improved through the curriculum coherence approach. A convergent mixed-method case study design was employed, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from undergraduate trainees over three years via questionnaires. University mathematics tutors and selected school-based mentors were also interviewed using a semi-structured format.Following the analysis of the first year’s questionnaires, a new mathematics curriculum was designed for the second year of the study. As required by DfE and Ofsted, teaching plans and resources incorporated conceptual mathematics techniques, theory-practice links, and the Core Content Framework (CCF). The …

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“We're Just Glorified Babysitters.” : Early Years Educators' Perspective On Learning And Expertism, Hayley Fisher Jan 2026

“We're Just Glorified Babysitters.” : Early Years Educators' Perspective On Learning And Expertism, Hayley Fisher

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This qualitative study explores early years educators’ perceptions of learning and expertise, emphasising how they experience, develop, and articulate their professional knowledge in early childhood education. Based on ten in-depth semi-structured interviews, it critically examines the often complex and conflicting ways educators view their roles, identities, and professional development. The research is rooted in adult learning theories, including Knowles’ (1972) andragogy, Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning model, and Mezirow’s (1997) transformative learning theory, alongside Eraut’s (1994) work on professional knowledge and expertise, which highlights the relational, practice-based, and social dimensions of knowledge formation. Through thematic analysis, four key themes emerged: expertee-ism, …

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"Tell Me About Your Esol Experience": Exploring Language Journeys Through Shared Stories, Rocio Rivero-Gutierrez Jan 2026

"Tell Me About Your Esol Experience": Exploring Language Journeys Through Shared Stories, Rocio Rivero-Gutierrez

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis explores the English language learning experiences of ESOL(English for Speakers of Other Languages) participants from southern Spain, examining the interplay between language acquisition, cultural adaptation, andidentity transformation. Grounded in my own ESOL journey — shaped both inSpain and through immersion in an English-speaking context — the studyinvestigates how participants assign meaning to their L2 engagement acrossdiverse social settings, and how English becomes a tool for bothcommunication and personal reinvention. The research adopts a qualitative, narrative-based methodology. The datawere generated through in-depth interviews, small group discussions, andreflective journal entries with nine adult participants, all native Spanishspeakers. Crucially, the data …

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Safe Family Therapy Activities And The Emotional Well-Being Of Parents Of Autistic Children, Gamze Camci Jan 2026

Safe Family Therapy Activities And The Emotional Well-Being Of Parents Of Autistic Children, Gamze Camci

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis addresses a critical gap in the existing literature on the emotional well-being of parents of autistic children by applying SAFE family therapy activities grounded in the Narrative Attachment Therapy approach through a three-cycle action research design. Stage 1 involved 3 parents as primary participants, with their children present during selected sessions. Stage 2 included 2 families; the primary focus was on 3 parents across these families. Stage 3 engaged 5 therapists. Data were collected through interviews, diaries, questionnaires and therapy recordings. Data from interviews and journals were analysed thematically, whereas questionnaires were analysed idiographically. The first and second …

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Designing An Interactive Digital Storytelling Tool To Enhance Key Stage 3 English Literacy: A Design-Based Research Study, Byung Jae Park Jan 2026

Designing An Interactive Digital Storytelling Tool To Enhance Key Stage 3 English Literacy: A Design-Based Research Study, Byung Jae Park

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

Although digital storytelling has transformative potential for language learning, its integration into Key Stage 3 (KS3) education remains unexplored. This thesis explores this topic by developing and evaluating an Interactive Storybook prototype designed for 11–14-year-old learners in a UK educational context.Using an interdisciplinary methodology that combines design-based research, the Delphi approach and constructivist grounded theory, this study involved three groups of experts – academic experts, practising educators and EdTech professionals – across three iterative development cycles. While the prototype was designed specifically for Key Stage 3 learners, the study employed a design appraisal approach instead of classroom piloting, with learner …

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Exploring The Reading Motivation And Reading Experiences Of Secondary School Students With Dyslexia In England, Ahmet Kaan Alper Jan 2026

Exploring The Reading Motivation And Reading Experiences Of Secondary School Students With Dyslexia In England, Ahmet Kaan Alper

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This research examines how a small group of secondary school students with dyslexia in England make sense of their reading experiences and motivation to read across school, home and everyday settings. It responds to concerns that literacy policy and practice foreground accuracy, speed and comparison, leaving limited space for reading for pleasure on students’ own terms. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s concepts, the study treats dyslexia and literacy as historically and institutionally produced categories and explores how discourses, norms and accountability regimes shape what counts as legitimate reading and a motivated reader. The research is grounded in a relativist ontology and …

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The Effects Of Altered Partial Pressures Of Gas On Cognitive And Neural Function, Daniel Graham Jan 2026

The Effects Of Altered Partial Pressures Of Gas On Cognitive And Neural Function, Daniel Graham

School of Psychology Theses

Oxygen is central to neural function, yet the precise mechanisms and effects by which varying oxygen levels, whether through Hypoxia, Hyperoxia, or Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), shape cognition and brain activity remain incomplete. This thesis adopts a novel, multi-modal framework that integrates normobaric gas manipulations, cognitive testing, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Electroencephalography (EEG), Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), and HBOT to examine how gas and pressure variability influences cognitive, motor, and neural processes. Chapter 3 presents the findings of a preliminary experiment investigating normobaric oxygen manipulations on cognition. Standardised cognitive assessments revealed domain-general impairments (i.e. memory and executive function) under …

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Life Cycle Assessment Of Marine Composite Recreational Craft Manufacturing And Operations, Badr Moutik Jan 2026

Life Cycle Assessment Of Marine Composite Recreational Craft Manufacturing And Operations, Badr Moutik

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Marine composite recreational craft are growing in number. Sectoral roadmaps for sustainable development are increasing pressure to demonstrate life cycle environmental performance. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been identified as a key strategic decision support tool. However, current practice is undermined by sparse, non-representative data and methodological inconsistencies. These weaknesses increase the risk of biased or misleading interpretation, constrain wider uptake of LCA, and limit the sector’s ability to respond credibly to tightening environmental sustainability expectations. This thesis assesses the cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of a market-representative glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) motor yacht across 16 impact categories. The research builds on …

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Modelling And Optimisation Of Dynamic Power Cable Configurations For Floating Offshore Renewable Energy, Anna Holcombe Jan 2026

Modelling And Optimisation Of Dynamic Power Cable Configurations For Floating Offshore Renewable Energy, Anna Holcombe

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Floating offshore renewable energy requires dynamic power cables to transmit generated electricity from the floating device to the seabed, or to an adjacent device, so that it can be exported to shore. Dynamic power cables are connected at the top end to a floating device, and traverse the water column, subjected to loading at the hang-off, and direct hydrodynamic loading from waves and currents. Their reliability has been a concern within industry and research, particularly due to historically high failure rates of static subsea cables. It is essential that design and analysis of dynamic power cables is accurate, to mitigate …

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A Pilot Study Assessing The Oral Microbiome In Women Of Menopausal Age: Do Oral Nitrate–Reducing Bacteria Play A Role?, Katie Muddiman, Amazon Doble, Abish Stephen, Raul Bescos Garcia, Charlotte Illsley, Tomas Nicholas, Sally Hanks, Lisa Du Toit, Zoe Brookes Jan 2026

A Pilot Study Assessing The Oral Microbiome In Women Of Menopausal Age: Do Oral Nitrate–Reducing Bacteria Play A Role?, Katie Muddiman, Amazon Doble, Abish Stephen, Raul Bescos Garcia, Charlotte Illsley, Tomas Nicholas, Sally Hanks, Lisa Du Toit, Zoe Brookes

Peninsula Dental School

Introduction The links between oral health and female ageing are poorly understood, but many changes occur in the oral cavity of menopausal women that affect quality of life, and few current oral health interventions consider gender as part of their approach. The aim of this pilot study was to test the hypothesis that the oral microbiome and microenvironment change during female ageing and are thus worthy of further consideration both experimentally and clinically. Methods This observational pilot study retrospectively assessed women aged 18 to 89 years (n = 60) attending a UK primary care dental school facility for blood pressure …

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Degrees Of Separation: Grandchildren's Experiences Of Grandparental Brain Tumor Or Stroke, Emily Sapsford, Alyson Norman, Sue Jackson, Josh Deacon, Emily Ravenhill, Pete Keohane Jan 2026

Degrees Of Separation: Grandchildren's Experiences Of Grandparental Brain Tumor Or Stroke, Emily Sapsford, Alyson Norman, Sue Jackson, Josh Deacon, Emily Ravenhill, Pete Keohane

School of Psychology

The impact of acquired brain injury on family members is far reaching. Research has identified experiences of trauma, ambiguous loss and burden of care. Limited research has addressed the ripple effect of brain injury across the wider family. The study aimed to gain a detailed insight into the lived experiences of grandchildren of those who have experienced stroke or brain tumor. Ten participants (eight female and two males aged between 18 and 29) took part in semi-structured interviews about their experiences of grandparental stroke or brain tumor. Data were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Four themes were identified. The …

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Lower Suicidal Ideation Linked To Easier Access To Urban Green Spaces During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Study In Japan, Zheng Xian, Tomoki Nakaya, Clive E. Sabel, Ryo Okubo, Kun Liu, Jinguang Zhang, Takahiro Tabuchi Jan 2026

Lower Suicidal Ideation Linked To Easier Access To Urban Green Spaces During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Study In Japan, Zheng Xian, Tomoki Nakaya, Clive E. Sabel, Ryo Okubo, Kun Liu, Jinguang Zhang, Takahiro Tabuchi

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Urban green spaces (UGSs) have been linked to improved mental health and lower suicide rates, yet their protective role during large-scale crises remains underexplored. We examined associations of UGS accessibility with long-term and pandemic induced new-onset suicidal ideation during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in urban Japan, using data from a nationwide health survey of 17,376 participants (August 2020). Modified Poisson regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for suicidal ideation by UGS accessibility (area, number, and type) within 5, 10, and 15-minute walking thresholds from home, controlling for individual and area-level confounders. UGS accessibility exhibited dose-response relationships with …

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Direct And Indirect Metal Contamination Of Estuarine Sediments By Boat Paint Particles, Andrew Turner, Ho Kwan Cheung Jan 2026

Direct And Indirect Metal Contamination Of Estuarine Sediments By Boat Paint Particles, Andrew Turner, Ho Kwan Cheung

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Surface and subsurface estuarine sediments close to a cluster of abandoned boats have been fractionated (between <250 and 5000 μm) and analysed microscopically for paint particles. Paints were encountered in all samples, with concentrations calculated for whole sediment samples up to 1450 per kg (dry weight). X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of paint particles retained by the coarsest (>5000 μm) size fraction revealed heterogeneous concentrations of Ba, Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn that reflect pigments and antifoulants used in various recent and historical antifouling and above waterline boat paints. Analysis of sediments by XRF revelated heterogeneous distributions of these metals between locations, size fractions and depths, and among replicate measurements at different positions of the same sample. Consequently, no relationship with grain size (evaluated using Rb as a proxy) was evident and concentrations often greatly exceeded predicted effect levels for sediments. Re-analysis …

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Policy Brief For All-Party Parliamentary Group (Appg) On Autism: National Implementation Of Systemic Family Therapy For Autism, Becky Stancer Jan 2026

Policy Brief For All-Party Parliamentary Group (Appg) On Autism: National Implementation Of Systemic Family Therapy For Autism, Becky Stancer

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Addressing the Crisis of Premature Mortality and Family Trauma in Autism through Systemic Intervention.

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Meeting The Occupational Needs Of Older Adults With Long-Term Conditions: An Exploration Of Occupational Therapy In Primary Care, Sam Wakley Jan 2026

Meeting The Occupational Needs Of Older Adults With Long-Term Conditions: An Exploration Of Occupational Therapy In Primary Care, Sam Wakley

School of Health Professions Theses

This thesis investigated the occupational needs of older adults with long-term conditions to determine how these needs could be met through primary care, acknowledging this as a contemporary area of occupational therapy practice. Combining three studies offered a comprehensive, occupationally centred analysis of a growing area of practice that remains underexplored. Strand One involved conducting a scoping review to map existing models of primary care for adults with long-term conditions. It demonstrated that current approaches largely neglect occupation, favouring biomedical outcomes and fiscally related priorities. However, growing awareness to quality of life and the role of an integrated multidisciplinary team …

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Patient And Practitioner Workshops For An Intellectual Disabilities And Epilepsy Neuropsychiatric Genetic Research Database Register: Ethical Dilemmas For Study Design, Rohit Shankar, Jon Allard, Dannielle Bilkey, Brendan Mclean, Pamela Bowman, Chloe Staples, Lance Watkins, Anna Simpson, Elizabeth Boardman, Sarah Mitchell, Sarah Lennard Jan 2026

Patient And Practitioner Workshops For An Intellectual Disabilities And Epilepsy Neuropsychiatric Genetic Research Database Register: Ethical Dilemmas For Study Design, Rohit Shankar, Jon Allard, Dannielle Bilkey, Brendan Mclean, Pamela Bowman, Chloe Staples, Lance Watkins, Anna Simpson, Elizabeth Boardman, Sarah Mitchell, Sarah Lennard

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundThere is a need for more research studies focussed on People with ID (PwID) and Epilepsy and for the design of these studies to be shaped by this complex and vulnerable population and those who care for and support them.AimsTo develop understanding as to how a future NHS genetic research database register for PwID and Epilepsy should be conducted in a way which is inclusive, suitable and appropriate for them, their carers and the NHS settings where the research would be undertaken.MethodsThree workshops were completed with 17 formal participants: (1) PwID and Epilepsy (n2); (2) carers of PwID and Epilepsy …

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Involving Parents In Prevention: A Case Example Of Research And Intervention Development To Improve Financial Well-Being Support, Nick Axford, Gisella Hanley, Rebecca Summers, Kristin Liabo, Amy Bond, Eleanor Bryant, Georgia Smith, Rachel Silcock, Vashti Berry Jan 2026

Involving Parents In Prevention: A Case Example Of Research And Intervention Development To Improve Financial Well-Being Support, Nick Axford, Gisella Hanley, Rebecca Summers, Kristin Liabo, Amy Bond, Eleanor Bryant, Georgia Smith, Rachel Silcock, Vashti Berry

Peninsula Medical School

The adverse effects on parent and child outcomes of poverty and stressors associated with low income are well established. With notable exceptions, however, the potential role of frontline services in improving family financial well-being is underexplored. This article outlines how patient and public involvement (PPI) was initiated early on in research on financial well-being support (FWbS). It illustrates how research can build on and integrate what parents say about services and how to research them. The involvement work was undertaken in one city in part to inform the adaptation of an income maximisation service to be delivered in local children’s …

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Designing A Mobile App For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Insights From Lived Experience And Clinical Practice, Rohit Shankar, Richard Laugharne, Michael Loizou, Marius Varga, Sivia Lin, Bojana Daw Srdanovic, Roger Farrell Jan 2026

Designing A Mobile App For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Insights From Lived Experience And Clinical Practice, Rohit Shankar, Richard Laugharne, Michael Loizou, Marius Varga, Sivia Lin, Bojana Daw Srdanovic, Roger Farrell

Peninsula Medical School

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling anxiety disorder precipitated by severe trauma. Many people with this condition have little access to clinical interventions, especially in low-middle-income countries. For the development of any digital health intervention, it is vital to know the opinions of PLE and clinicians to guide the developers. We conducted two focus groups, one with clinicians (n = 5) and one with people with lived experience (PLE) (n = 11), to gain knowledge of their views on the development of a PTSD App. Transcripts of both focus groups were coded and thematically analysed. The key themes that …

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“The True Me”: Unravelling The Dual Narrative Of Borderline Personality Disorder And Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Robin Iliffe-Lewis, Alison Bacon Jan 2026

“The True Me”: Unravelling The Dual Narrative Of Borderline Personality Disorder And Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Robin Iliffe-Lewis, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology

Objectives: There is growing recognition that some individuals who receive a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are later diagnosed with autism. However, existing literature on this topic remains limited. This study aimed to explore the experiences of individuals diagnosed with BPD prior to autism, how they made sense of these diagnoses, navigated clinical systems, and learnt to manage the complex challenges associated with this diagnostic sequence.Methods: Thirteen (6 male, 6 female, 1 non-binary) adult participants took part in semi-structured interviews exploring their diagnostic journeys. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to develop a nuanced understanding of their experiences.Results: Three themes …

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Psychophysiological Recovery From Viewing Nature And Urban Settings: A Multisite Replication, A. E. Van Den Berg, K. Dijkstra, D. Meuwese, F. Beute, P. M. Darcy, S. Dewitte, B. Gatersleben, C. J. Gidlow, C. M. Hägerhäll, J. A. Hipp, Y. Joye, Y. A.W. De Kort, S. C.M. Lechner, C. Neale, Sang Ode Sang, J. Roe, D. T. Scheepers, K. Smolders, H. Staats, R. S. Steensma, K. J. Wyles, S. L. Koole Jan 2026

Psychophysiological Recovery From Viewing Nature And Urban Settings: A Multisite Replication, A. E. Van Den Berg, K. Dijkstra, D. Meuwese, F. Beute, P. M. Darcy, S. Dewitte, B. Gatersleben, C. J. Gidlow, C. M. Hägerhäll, J. A. Hipp, Y. Joye, Y. A.W. De Kort, S. C.M. Lechner, C. Neale, Sang Ode Sang, J. Roe, D. T. Scheepers, K. Smolders, H. Staats, R. S. Steensma, K. J. Wyles, S. L. Koole

School of Psychology

The idea that merely viewing nature can promote stress recovery has profound societal implications, driving the use of nature imagery in the design of environments where access to real nature is limited. Scientific support for this concept originates from a pioneering study by Ulrich et al. (1991), which demonstrated superior psycho-physiological stress recovery during exposure to nature videos compared to urban videos. Despite its influence, this foundational study has never been systematically replicated. To address this gap, ten research teams across the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Sweden, and the USA collaborated on a multisite replication. A final sample of 959 …

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Integrating Neuroscience And Social Psychology In Researching Interprofessional Education: The Inspire Framework, Kimberley Schenke, Pamela Rae, Jaysan Charlesford, Phil Gee Jan 2026

Integrating Neuroscience And Social Psychology In Researching Interprofessional Education: The Inspire Framework, Kimberley Schenke, Pamela Rae, Jaysan Charlesford, Phil Gee

School of Psychology

There is an increasing focus on the importance of interprofessional education as an integral part of health and social care training. However, the fundamental psychological processes underlying successful interprofessional education are not well understood. Here we propose a single framework, Integrating Neuroscience and Social Psychology In Researching Interprofessional Education (INSPIRE), grounded in evidence from social psychology and neuroscience that could be used to generate testable hypotheses to inform the design, development and evaluation of interprofessional education. The application of this framework offers a novel, scientifically grounded approach to improving the learning outcomes of interprofessional education and provides a foundation for …

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The Career Choices Of Final Year Nursing Students In The United Kingdom: A Qualitative Study., Kevin Hambridge, Frazer Underwood, Gosia Bettache, Matt Carey, Halil Kaya, Lisa Burrows, Rachel Tims, Christian Brailsford Jan 2026

The Career Choices Of Final Year Nursing Students In The United Kingdom: A Qualitative Study., Kevin Hambridge, Frazer Underwood, Gosia Bettache, Matt Carey, Halil Kaya, Lisa Burrows, Rachel Tims, Christian Brailsford

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the career choices of final year under-graduate nursing students in the United Kingdom. Background: Worldwide there is a decreasing number of nurses and in the United Kingdom there is a decreasing amount of nursing students. There is sparce evidence relating to the career's choices of nursing students and reasons for those choices. Obtaining a deeper comprehension of these choices may aid healthcare employers, in partnership with universities, to design the future nursing workforce. Design: A qualitative design was used. Methods: Twenty-one final year under-graduate nursing students from across a range of …

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Staphylococcus Aureus Strain Heterogeneity Modulates Virulence Traits Associated To Dual-Species Biofilms With Candida Albicans, Laure Nicolas Annick Ries, Beata Adrienn Brezniczky, Binduja Srelatha Pradeep, Esther Olabamiji, Lee Hutt, Glenn M. Harper, Alexander Strachan, Gyorgy Fejer Jan 2026

Staphylococcus Aureus Strain Heterogeneity Modulates Virulence Traits Associated To Dual-Species Biofilms With Candida Albicans, Laure Nicolas Annick Ries, Beata Adrienn Brezniczky, Binduja Srelatha Pradeep, Esther Olabamiji, Lee Hutt, Glenn M. Harper, Alexander Strachan, Gyorgy Fejer

School of Biomedical Sciences

Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal Gram-positive bacterium and opportunistic pathogen that exhibits substantial variation in antimicrobial resistance and virulence traits. S. aureus is frequently co-isolated with the fungus Candida albicans, and together they represent the most common microorganisms recovered from biofilm-associated infections originating from both biotic and abiotic surfaces. Despite this clinical relevance, the impact of bacterial intra-species variation on interkingdom interactions remains poorly understood. This study therefore investigated how S. aureus strain heterogeneity influences C. albicans within dual-species biofilms. The majority of the 60 S. aureus strains tested suppressed fungal growth in a contact-dependent manner across different nutrient conditions …

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Assessing The Application Of Optical-Photothermal Infrared Spectroscopy For Single-Grain Chemical Palynology, Laura Scoble, Hao Meng, Simon J. Ussher, Mark F. Fitzsimons, Lauren Ansell, Mustafa Kansiz, Billy Simmonds, Nick Stone, Ralph M. Fyfe Jan 2026

Assessing The Application Of Optical-Photothermal Infrared Spectroscopy For Single-Grain Chemical Palynology, Laura Scoble, Hao Meng, Simon J. Ussher, Mark F. Fitzsimons, Lauren Ansell, Mustafa Kansiz, Billy Simmonds, Nick Stone, Ralph M. Fyfe

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Single-grain pollen analysis is essential for advancing chemical palynology, which classifies morphologically similar taxa based on taxon-specific pollen and sporopollenin chemistry. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and microspectroscopy (μFT-IR) are widely used to differentiate morphologically similar grains but face limitations from Mie scattering and coarse spatial resolution. Here, we present the first application of Optical-PhotoThermal Infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy to chemically treated single pollen grains, using Molinia caerulea as a model taxon to fully test and evaluate the technical capabilities and limitations of this technique. O-PTIR achieves sub-micron “super-resolution” infrared spectroscopy through non-contact, non-destructive measurements by exploiting the photothermal effect. O-PTIR spectra …

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What Is The Evidence For Effective Teaching Of Clinical Reasoning In Pre-Registration Dentistry?, Sally Hanks Jan 2026

What Is The Evidence For Effective Teaching Of Clinical Reasoning In Pre-Registration Dentistry?, Sally Hanks

Peninsula Dental School

A Commentary on: The impact of different teaching methods on clinical reasoning and clinical decision-making of dentistry students: a systematic review. Journal of Dental Education, 2026, 90(1), pp.33–42 Design: This systematic review examined evidence on educational interventions aimed at developing clinical reasoning and decision-making skills in undergraduate dental students. Searches of PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), Cochrane Library, and Scopus were conducted to 15 September 2023. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis. Study designs included cross-sectional and case–control approaches. PRISMA guidance was followed, and a flow diagram was provided. Case selection: Eligible studies were English-language reports evaluating clinical reasoning …

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