Digital Commons Network^™

Holistic Management Of Epilepsy In Adults With Intellectual Development Disorders, Elena Fonseca, Antonella Riva, Samuel López‐Maza, Malin Zaddach, Marie‐Claire Porter, Ingo Borggraefe, Lance Watkins, Andreas Schulze‐Bonhage, Rohit Shankar, Pasquale Striano, Lina Nashef

Peninsula Medical School

This seminar addresses the complexity of the management of epilepsy in adults with intellectual development disorders (IDD), advocating holistic and multidisciplinary care aligned with the learning objectives of the International League Against Epilepsy. Epilepsy is significantly more prevalent in people with IDD, presenting unique diagnostic, therapeutic, and psychosocial challenges. Accurate diagnosis is hampered by limitations in communication, necessitating reliance on caregivers' observations. In adults with IDD and epilepsy, utilization of diagnostic tools, e.g., video electroencephalograph (EEG) monitoring, is helpful but can be challenging. Management requires careful consideration of cognitive and behavioral comorbidities and the effects of antiseizure medications (ASMs) on …

Unpacking Barriers And Enablers To Quality Early Childhood Education And Care In Lebanon: A Multi-Level Perspective, Rana Bassaj, Caroline Floccia

School of Psychology

This article investigates the barriers and enablers to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Lebanon’s complex and multilingual context. In this qualitative study, 56 stakeholders—ministry representatives, NGOs, educators, parents, and healthcare professionals—were interviewed. The study reveals a fragmented governance structure and inequitable funding that impact the quality and equitable access to ECEC provision. Despite the value placed on ECEC and OL, systemic weaknesses, including inadequate staff compensation and donor-driven priorities, constrain progress. Findings also highlight grassroots resilience, with committed educators and NGOs adapting to meet local needs. Using Kagan’s system-level framework and Torii et al.’s (2017) quality domains …

Serum-Derived Albumin As A Cryoprotective Agent For The Long-Term Storage Of Red Blood Cells: A Preliminary Examination, Thomas Bailey-Schmidt, Christine V Saunders, Chloë E George, Thomas G Scorer, Lynn M R Mccallum, Tracey E Madgett

School of Biomedical Sciences

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation extends the shelf life of red blood cells (RBC) from weeks to years, offering major advantages for blood banking logistics, especially in remote environments. However, current glycerol-based methods, though effective, are limited in scope due to complex post-thaw washing and incompatibility with routine clinical workflows. This study evaluated plasma-derived albumin as a potential alternative cryoprotective agent (CPA) for human RBC.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donor-derived RBC were suspended in 25% w/v bovine serum albumin (BSA) prepared in various diluents and tested for biocompatibility and cryoprotective efficacy under rapid freezing (immersion in liquid nitrogen) and gradual freezing with storage …

Future-Oriented Science Education: A Delphi Study Of Policymakers’ Views From Four European Countries, Sibel Erduran, Jessica Chan, Olga Ioannidou

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Future-oriented skills have become increasingly important in science education. These skills include critical thinking, problem solving and managing complexity. While policymaking has a direct bearing on the what and the how of a future-oriented perspective in science education, previous research focused on a narrow group of stakeholders such as teachers and students. Little is known about what policymakers perceive as significant future-oriented skills to be included in the science curriculum. By policymakers we mean government officials, legislators, educational administrators, and other influential figures who are key decision-makers in the educational eco-system. The exploratory empirical study reported in the paper employed …

Sensation-Suppression Theory: A New Explanation For Fibromyalgia Syndrome And Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Me/Cfs), Michael E. Hyland

School of Psychology

Explanations and treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are controversial, and outcomes are poor. This paper describes sensation-suppression theory, a theory modelled on self-organizing control systems that are capable of adaptation in response to inputs and used in applications of artificial intelligence. The theory shows how the need to suppress inflammatory and other causes of pain or fatigue due to challenging circumstances sensitizes the neurological processing of pain and fatigue, thereby creating the amplified sensations and abnormal cognitions of central sensitivity syndromes. These syndromes are caused by errors in an evolutionarily early behavior-control mechanism of …

Multi-Focal Ultrasound Neuromodulation To The Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Disrupts Behavioural And Neural Pain Processing, Sophie Clarke, Samuel Mugglestone, Mathilde Lojkiewiez, Joshua Marquez, Nadège Bault, Elsa Fouragnan, Sam Hughes

School of Psychology

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique for pain-related deep brain regions. This study aimed to investigate neural mechanisms underlying TUS effects on pain processing using neuroimaging. Thirty-two healthy participants underwent two double-blind, randomised sessions (active or sham). A tonic cold stimulus was applied during multifocal TUS applied to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). While no significant main effect on pain intensity was observed, active TUS showed a significantly greater reduction in pain ratings between 28- and 55-minutes post-stimulation, suggesting a delayed analgesic effect. …

Current Options And Future Trends In Green Fuels Storage, Muhammad Anas Maqbool, Md Jahir Rizvi, Yeaw Chu Lee, Pablo Borja Rosales

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The global transition to renewable energy underscores the urgent need for safe, efficient, and cost-effective storage solutions for green hydrogen and green ammonia. This review critically examines their fundamental characteristics and unique behaviours, emphasising storage, handling, and integration engineering challenges. To identify the influential studies, knowledge gaps and future trends in the research area, a systematic Scopus-based bibliometric and data analysis is conducted. A novel approach is adopted to identify the better green energy storage option between green hydrogen storage and green ammonia storage, combining a risk-mitigation assessment framework, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis, and a multicriteria taxonomy based …

Stability Of Sufentanil Sublingual Microtablets (Dzuveo) In Extreme Cold Weather Conditions: An Experimental Study, David Mcconnell, Hayley Manners, Paul Sutton, Nicola Gawman, Tim Parham, Jonathon Lowe

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Introduction Extreme cold weather environments are challenging for medication storage and delivery, particularly for injectable analgesics vulnerable to freezing and device failure. These risks may compromise pain management in austere or operational settings where temperature control cannot be maintained. Sufentanil sublingual microtablets (sold in the UK as Dzuveo) provide an oral analgesic option with manufacturer-reported sub-zero stability. Evidence describing the effects of sustained extreme cold exposure and repeated freeze–thaw cycling on chemical stability and delivery system function is limited.Methods We conducted a laboratory study assessing the effect of sustained freezing and repeated freeze–thaw exposure on sufentanil sublingual microtablets (30 µg …

Ultrasound Neuromodulation Reveals Distinct Roles Of The Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex And Anterior Insula In Learning, Nomiki Koutsoumpari, Johannes Algermissen, Siti Yaakub, Hanneke E. M. Den Ouden, Nadège Bault, Elsa Fouragnan

School of Psychology

Pavlovian biases reflect how evolutionarily hard-wired tendencies—automatic approach toward reward cues and withdrawal from threat cues—can interfere with flexible, goal-directed action. Such biases arise through three mechanisms: (a) anticipated rewards energize action while anticipated punishments suppress it (response bias), (b) agents learn differently from actions than from inactions (learning bias), and (c) reward/punishment cues themselves drive repetitive behavior, independent of outcomes (perseveration bias). The neural origin of these biases is unclear. Past evidence suggests dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and anterior insula (aIns) as part of a “reset network” that rapidly responds to salient information and might contribute to these …

Annona Muricata (Soursop) And Hematopoiesis: Ethnomedicinal Insights, Immunomodulatory Mechanisms, And Translational Challenges, Fatma Matano, Amiya Patra

Peninsula Medical School

Annona muricata (soursop) is a tropical medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine across Africa, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. While its ethnomedicinal applications span a range of conditions, including infections, inflammation, and anemia-related symptoms, its potential relevance to hematopoiesis has not been systematically examined. This narrative review synthesizes ethnomedicinal knowledge, phytochemical composition, and experimental evidence to explore the biological plausibility by which A. muricata may indirectly influence hematopoietic processes. Bioactive constituents of A. muricata, including flavonoids, polyphenols, and acetogenins, have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties in preclinical models. These effects are particularly relevant given the established …

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 …

Ecosystem Service And Natural Capital Indicator Dataset For Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (Uk): Observed And Aspirational Indicators With Evaluation Criteria, Kizzy Beaumont, Matthew Ashley, Tom Mullier, Sian Rees

Faculty of Science and Engineering Datasets

This dataset provides a comprehensive set of ecosystem service (ES) and natural capital (NC) indicators for the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (UK), developed through a co-evaluation of monitoring systems for transformative ocean governance. A total of 109 indicators are identified and mapped across the natural capital logic chain (asset state, pressures, ecosystem service flows, and benefits), drawing on existing datasets, literature, and stakeholder workshop input. Each indicator includes metadata, evaluation against standardised quality criteria, and assessment of strengths and limitations. The dataset includes both current indicators and aspirational indicators, highlighting gaps in monitoring and opportunities for future development. It …

Why Followership Matters In Psychiatry: Rebalancing Our Obsession With Leadership, Rohit Shankar, Richard Laugharne, Regi Alexander, Kenneth R. Kaufman, Derek K. Tracy, Fabida Aria, Mayura Deshpande, Matthew Frost

Peninsula Medical School

SummaryPsychiatry emphasises leadership development, but neglects the equally universal and essential role of followership. Although most clinicians spend more time as followers than leaders, literature overwhelmingly favours leadership. Drawing on healthcare, socio-religious traditions and management science, the authors reframe followership as an active, values-driven role grounded in trust, motivation and moral courage rather than passive compliance. This editorial argues that effective followership is active, ethical and courageous. Nurturing good followers in mental health services is essential for good patient care, organisational integrity and sustainable leadership. Cultivating active followership strengthens safeguarding, transparency and organisational legitimacy. The editorial calls for psychiatry and …

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 …

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 …

Sustainable Technology Evolution In Innovation Ecosystems: A Regulatory Framework For (Non)-Convergent Technologies, Christopher Agyapong Siaw, Joseph Amankwah-Amoah

Plymouth Business School

Technological convergence is a critical driver of technological evolution and industrial transformation, yet, convergence also generates complex ethical, sustainability, and regulatory challenges that remain poorly understood and insufficiently theorized. This study advances a conceptual framework that explains the regulatory mechanisms shaping convergence and non-convergence dynamics across three ecosystem layers: components, products and applications, and support and infrastructure. By distinguishing these layers, the framework reveals how interdependent evolution can raise ethical, sustainability, and regulatory concerns at different levels. The study advances theory by (1) reconceptualizing convergence as a multi-layered phenomenon, (2) expanding analysis beyond appropriability indicators such as patents to includedevelopment-based …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Wherefore The Magic? The Evolutionary Role Of Psilocybin In Nature, K. J. Matthews Nicholass, I. Flis, M. E. Hanley, M. E. Knight, S. M. Lane, G. Littlejohn, M. D.F. Thom, R. A. Billington, R. Boden, R. Cummins, B. J. Green, C. Griffin, S. Jones, D. Salmon, I. Sleep, N. Smirnoff, J. S. Ellis

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Research into psychedelic compounds is in resurgence because of the exciting potential for their use in the treatment of psychiatric and mental health disorders. Despite this revival, remarkably little is known about their evolution. One of the most intriguing psychedelic compounds is psilocybin, the compound found in ‘magic’ mushrooms and used in ritual ceremonies in North America for generations. Associated with agaricomycete fungi across eight distantly related genera, psilocybin acts in a similar way to the neurotransmitter serotonin, yet how and why natural selection favoured its biosynthesis remains unclear. Given the resemblance to serotonin, a highly conserved neurotransmitter across invertebrates …

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. …

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: …

Understanding Contest Skill To Reduce The Welfare Costs Of Aggression, Lucy Oldham, Gareth Arnott, Mark Briffa, Agnieszka Futro, Jo Donbavand, Alena Kadlecova, Ali Alameer, Manzar Malik, Mhairi Jack, Iona Smith, Mark Brims, Claire Anderson, Simon P. Turner

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Skill is the ability to do a challenging behaviour well. We examined how contest skill influences contest success, costs and whether skilful behaviour enhances welfare. We measured skill across three domains: accuracy, appropriateness (selecting suitable agonistic tactics when the optimal choice varies) and efficiency, alongside vigour, sex and body weight. Skill was weakly correlated across domains. Winners were heavier relative to their opponent, displayed greater vigour and were more skilful at blocking, but other skill measures did not predict contest win/loss outcome. Appropriate blocking by winners reduced the number of lesions received by reducing exposure to attacks, suggesting it can …

Residents Vs. Tourists: Understanding The Role Of Coastal Tourism Experience In Conservation Behaviours, Qian Chen, Rong Huang, Jinhua Zhang, Thatsanawalai Imong

Plymouth Business School

This study examines the factors influencing coastal conservation behaviours by integrating the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) with coastal tourism experiences. Conducted in Plymouth, UK, the research assesses how attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control (PBC), and tourism experiences shape conservation intentions and engagement among residents and tourists. The findings reveal that PBC is the most influential factor associated with conservation intentions in the overall model, while coastal tourism experiences significantly influence engagement, particularly among tourists. Residents' conservation intentions are more influenced by attitudes, whereas tourists are driven by their tourism experiences. These findings highlight the need for tailored conservation …

Evapecognition: An 18-Year Dataset Of Great Ape Cognition, Alejandro Sánchez-Amaro, Sonja J. Ebel Van Wijk, Carin Molenaar, Akzira Abuova, Lizbeth Mujica-Manrique, Sarah M. Leisterer-Peoples, Bret Beheim, Luke Maurits, Anna Albiach-Serrano, Matthias Allritz, Nazli Altınok, Federica Amici, Alice M.I. Auersperg, Filippo Aureli, Elisa Bandini, Jochen Barth, Leïla Benziad, Bettina E. Bläsing, Manuel Bohn, Marie Bourjade, Juliane Bräuer, Marie Hélène Broihanne, Sarah F. Brosnan, Nereida Bueno-Guerra, Thomas Bugnyar, David Buttelmann, Frances Buttelmann, Trix Cacchione, Malinda Carpenter, Fernando Colmenares

School of Psychology

The study of great ape cognition offers insights into the evolutionary origins of human intelligence, but is hindered by small sample sizes and restricted access to data. To address this, we present the EVApeCognition Dataset, a publicly available resource comprising 262 experimental datasets from 150 scientific publications from the Wolfgang Köhler Primate Research Center (2004–2021) in Leipzig, Germany. Eighty-one apes participated in 150 studies, with a majority (N = 78) participating in more than one study. Publication of the dataset aims to make these unique datasets accessible for future meta-analyses and correlational analyses, helping us better understand how our great …

Gene-To-Population Level Responses To Multiple Stressors On The Rocky Shore, Ramesh Wilson, Katie Driver, James Orr, Manuela Truebano, Michael Collins, Michelle Jackson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Coastal ecosystems are exposed to both global and local stressors operating across multiple scales. However, research rarely considers how their combined effects propagate over time and across levels of biological organisation. Here, we employ an in situ warming experiment across two rocky shore sites with contrasting sewage pollution to quantify independent and interactive effects of warming and nutrient pollution from genes to populations. Passively warmed and control settlement plates were deployed at polluted and non-polluted sites and surveyed across a summer to quantify temporal dynamics in the responses of key intertidal taxa. Barnacles were further employed as a model for …

The Experiences Of Systemic Invalidation In Chronic Pain Care Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Individuals: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study, Claira Moro, Stuart Spicer, Charley Hobson-Merrett

Peninsula Medical School

This study explored the lived experiences of individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities living with chronic pain and prescribed pain-relief medication. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, eight participants were recruited from a single primary care network in England. Two Group Experiential Themes were developed. This paper reports one: From Dismissed to Disengaged: the trauma of seeking help, with three sub-themes: (1) “Being fobbed off” – dismissal across healthcare and benefit systems; (2) “It just seemed horrible to me, to take it off me” – pain relief as withdrawn, stigmatised, or conditional; and (3) “Do I want to poke the bear?” – disengagement …

Population Discontinuity In The Paris Basin Linked To Evidence Of The Neolithic Decline, Frederik V. Seersholm, Abigail Ramsøe, Jialu Cao, Philippe Chambon, Karl Göran Sjögren, Hugh Mccoll, Fabrice Demeter, Charleen Gaunitz, Lasse Vinner, Jesper Stenderup, Gabriele Scorrano, Ralph Fyfe, T. Douglas Price, Morten Fischer Mortensen, Sascha Krüger, Torben Dehn, Svend Illum Hansen, Kristine Vesterdorf, Thorfinn Sand Korneliussen, Morten E. Allentoft, Kristian Kristiansen, Laure Salanova, Eske Willerslev, Martin Sikora

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

At the transition between the third and the fourth millennium BC, there is evidence for a population decline concurrent with the end of megalith building across continental northwestern Europe. In Scandinavia this ‘Neolithic decline’ is followed by a massive population turnover, as farming communities disappeared and were replaced by people with steppe ancestry. In western Europe, however, ancestry associated with Neolithic farmers persisted beyond the Neolithic decline, and it remains unclear whether a similar demographic replacement occurred. To investigate the population dynamics around the Neolithic decline in present-day France, we sequenced 132 ancient genomes from the allée sépulcrale at Bury. …