Digital Commons Network^™

A Unified, Data-Informed Model For Shoreline Evolution Due To Longshore And Cross-Shore Processes, Mark Davidson, Emily Hunt, Nieves Valiente

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Due partially to a changing global climate, there is an increasing need to develop a modelling approach capable of providing warnings of coastal evolution, including erosion at storm, interannual and decadal timescales and in complex coastal settings. This research presents a reduced complexity model with a common approach to predicting shoreline change due to cross-shore and longshore processes. The model architecture is designed to be flexible and data-informed, incorporating an Extended Kalman (eKF) for the assimilation of field measurements of shoreline change. Depending on the values of the optimised model free parameters resulting from the eKF assimilation, the longshore and …

Voices Of The Sound: Reflections On Transforming Ocean Governance: Stakeholder Reflections On The Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, Kizzy Beaumont

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Executive summaryThis stakeholder reflections report explores the perspectives of those engaged with the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (NMP), the UK’s first National Marine Park. It draws on interviews and focus groups conducted between June and December 2024. Drawing on 24 semi-structured interviews and two focus groups, the report examines the aspirations, challenges, and governance of the NMP using the lens of Transformative Ocean Governance.Participants celebrated the NMP’s role in connecting people to the sea, fostering marine citizenship, and reimagining governance beyond traditional protected area models. Emotional ties to place, strong local champions, and inclusive education programmes were highlighted as …

Surf Stewardship And Coastal Change: A Combined Report For The North Devon Unesco Biosphere Reserve And The North Devon World Surfing Reserve, Kizzy Beaumont

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Executive summaryNorth Devon’s coastline sits within a layered governance setting, including statutory marine plans, inshore fisheries management, coastal and shoreline planning, protected areas, and seasonal bathing water monitoring, led by national regulators and local authorities. Within this wider context, this study focuses on how two non-statutory designations, the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the North Devon World Surfing Reserve (WSR), canwork together. The work forms part of a PhD on Transformative Ocean Governance and was motivated by the North Devon WSR’s designation and the opportunity to understand how the two designations might complement each other in practice. We convened …

Large Marine Protected Areas Can Encompass Movements Of Diverse Megafauna, Alice M. Trevail, Ruth E. Dunn, Peter Carr, Nicole Esteban, Robin Freeman, Joanna L. Harris, Malcolm A.C. Nicoll, Nia Stephens, Guy M.W. Stevens, Stephen C. Votier, Hannah Wood, Graeme C. Hays

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Global calls for greater ocean protection have sparked renewed interest in very large marine protected areas (VLMPAs, >100,000 km²) to achieve management targets; however, their conservation value is debated. We assessed the suitability of a VLMPA (640,000 km²) in the Indian Ocean for capturing the movements of resident mobile marine megafauna. We found that 95% of foraging, breeding and/or locally migrating individuals occurred within the VLMPA despite variable habitat use; adult hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata, n = 22, 6124 tracking days) foraged on mesophotic banks (>30 m depth), reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi, n = …

Temperature-Driven Plasticity In Boldness, Its Predictability And Learning In The Beadlet Anemone, Actinia Equina, Samantha Simpson, Dunia Gonzales, Mark Briffa

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Variation in ambient temperature is for poikilothermic animals a key driver of behavioural variation because of its multiplicative effects on metabolic rate. Apart from the fundamental environmental source of behavioural variation, understanding the effects of temperature is also important in the context of predicted climate change scenarios. In particular, behavioural responses to extreme temperature fluctuation could represent maladaptive responses to rapidly changing environments. However, behavioural responses to moderate temperature fluctuations, within ranges that are routinely experienced, likely represent adaptive plasticity. Recent studies have addressed this question within an animal personality framework, which can quantify the effects of temperature regime across …

Quality Of Life Among Indonesian Family Caregivers Caring For Dependent Older Persons With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In The Community: A Cross-Sectional, Correlational Study, Rinco Siregar, Charuwan Kritpracha, Tippamas Chinnawong, Jos M. Latour

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: The global prevalence of older adults with diabetes has increased, and family caregivers in Indonesia play a critical role in managing diabetes and providing personal care. However, caregiving can be complex and challenging, often negatively affecting caregivers' quality of life (QoL). Objective: This study aimed to develop and test a hypothesized causal model of QoL among Indonesian family caregivers who care for dependent older persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in 2024. Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with 270 family caregivers recruited from five Community Health Centers. Data were collected using various scales: the Center for …

What Can Conjuring Tell Us About Cognition? The Future Of The Science Of Magic, Geoff G. Cole, Gustav Kuhn

School of Psychology

During the past 20 years a number of articles have appeared within a field that has become known as the “science of magic.” This subdiscipline of psychology posits that the ancient art of conjuring can be used to develop psychological theories and knowledge, and more than 150 peer-reviewed articles have now been published. In the current article, we critically evaluate what can be considered as the three central tenets of the discipline: that the methods used in magic can be incorporated within experimental research, that magicians have particular insight into human cognition and behavior, and that the deconstruction of magic …

Nature Contact And Health Risk Behaviours: Results From An 18 Country Study, Leanne Martin, Mathew P. White, Sabine Pahl, Jon May

School of Psychology

Emerging evidence suggests that residential greenspace is associated with a lower prevalence of health risk behaviours, but it remains unclear whether these effects are generalizable across countries or different types of nature contact. Using representative cross-sectional samples from 18 countries/regions, we examined the associations between two types of nature contact (greenspace, nature visits), current smoking and everyday drinking. After controlling for a range of covariates, greenspace was inversely associated with current smoking and everyday drinking. Visiting natural spaces at least once a week was linked to a lower prevalence of current smoking, but unrelated to everyday drinking. Increasing residential greenspace …

Understanding The Role Of Pluralistic Ignorance In Biodiversity Conservation: A Research Agenda, Sandra J. Geiger, Hirotaka Imada, Carya Maharja, Nattavudh Powdthavee, Valeria Vitale, Lei Zhang, Claudio D. Rosa, Zenith N. C. Delabrida, Kristian S. Nielsen, Franz Essl, Mathew P. White

School of Psychology

Most people believe that biodiversity loss is human-caused, yet they may not realize how many others share this belief. Such collective misperceptions—known as pluralistic ignorance—may hinder individual and system changes required to address biodiversity loss. At the same time, reducing pluralistic ignorance may promote positive change. In this Perspective, we provide a brief overview of existing work on pluralistic ignorance about environmental topics and propose an agenda for impactful pluralistic ignorance research in the biodiversity domain. We highlight several research gaps and offer recommendations, including (a) investigating different forms of pluralistic ignorance, (b) improving our understanding of consequences and determinants, …

Advancing Statistical Literacy In Eye Care: A Series For Enhanced Clinical Decision-Making: Part 1: Introduction To Statistical Tools For Eye Care Research, Daniela Oehring, Pedro Miguel Serra

School of Health Professions

Purpose. Advancements in eye and vision care hinge on therigorous application of research and the precise interpretationof clinical data. However, the field of Eye and Vision Research(EVR) frequently encounters research waste attributed tomethodological flaws and improper statistical analyses, un-dermining the validity of studies and inefficiently utilisingsubstantial financial resources. This paper, the first instalmentin the series “Advancing Statistical Literacy in Eye Care: A Se-ries for Enhanced Clinical Decision-Making,” aims to addressthese challenges by enhancing the statistical literacy of eyecare professionals.Material and Methods. Through a comprehensive narrativeliterature review and the generation of simulated clinicaldatasets, this study identifies essential statistical concepts,common pitfalls, and …

Exploring Proteins Within The Coccolith Matrix, Craig J. Dedman, Nishant Chauhan, Alba González-Lanchas, Chloë Baldreki, Adam A. Dowle, Tony R. Larson, Renee B.Y. Lee, Rosalind E.M. Rickaby

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Coccolithophores comprise a major component of the oceanic carbon cycle. These unicellular algae produce ornate structures made of calcium carbonate, termed coccoliths, representing ~ 50% of calcite production in the open ocean. The exact molecular mechanisms which direct and control coccolith formation are unknown. In this study, we report on the presence and functional features of proteins within the coccoliths produced by a range of model coccolithophore species including: the globally abundant and well-studied Gephyrocapsa huxleyi (formerly Emiliania huxleyi) and related Gephyrocapsa oceanica, as well as the larger and more heavily calcified Coccolithus braarudii. Protein features were compared between species …

Bayesian Semiparametric Inference In Longitudinal Metabolomics Data, Abhra Sarkar, Ornella Cominetti, Ivan Montoliu, Joanne Hosking, Jonathan Pinkney, Francois Pierre Martin, David B. Dunson

Peninsula Medical School

The article is motivated by an application to the EarlyBird cohort study aiming to explore how anthropometrics and clinical and metabolic processes are associated with obesity and glucose control during childhood. There is interest in inferring the relationship between dynamically changing and high-dimensional metabolites and a longitudinal response. Important aspects of the analysis include the selection of the important set of metabolites and the accommodation of missing data in both response and covariate values. With this motivation, we propose a flexible but parsimonious Bayesian semiparametric joint model for the outcome and the covariate generating processes, making novel use of nonparametric …

Love As A Commitment Device : Evidence From A Cross-Cultural Study Across 90 Countries, Marta Kowal, Adam Bode, Karolina Koszałkowska, S. Craig Roberts, Biljana Gjoneska, David Frederick, Anna Studzinska, Dmitrii Dubrov, Dmitry Grigoryev, Toivo Aavik, Pavol Prokop, Caterina Grano, Hakan Çetinkaya, Derya Atamtürk Duyar, Roberto Baiocco, Carlota Batres, Yakhlef Belkacem, Merve Boğa, Nana Burduli, Ali R. Can, Razieh Chegeni, William J. Chopik, Yahya Don, Seda Dural, Izzet Duyar, Edgardo Etchezahar, Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Tomasz Frackowiak, Felipe E. García, Talia Gomez Yepes

School of Psychology

Given the ubiquitous nature of love, numerous theories have been proposed to explain its existence. One such theory refers to love as a commitment device, suggesting that romantic love evolved to foster commitment between partners and enhance their reproductive success. In the present study, we investigated this hypothesis using a large-scale sample of 86,310 individual responses collected across 90 countries. If romantic love is universally perceived as a force that fosters commitment between long-term partners, we expected that individuals likely to suffer greater losses from the termination of their relationships—including people of lower socioeconomic status, those with many children, and …

A Mid-20th Century Stratigraphical Anthropocene Is Recognisable In The Birth-Area Of The Industrial Revolution, Hannah Sellers, Neil Roberts

More Faculty of Science and Engineering Research

The formalisation of the Anthropocene as a subdivision of the Geological Time Scale has been under debate. Its stratigraphic boundary has been proposed as a precise Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) in the mid-20th century, but it is part of an episode of human-induced changes to the Earth System that have unfolded over millennia. Here we attempt to identify stratigraphical patterns of the Anthropocene from a previously well studied lake sedimentary archive from the English Midlands, located in one of the most heavily human-modified landscapes in the UK, and the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Our analysis is …

Changes In Reef Fish Assemblage And Coral Reef Community In A Newly Established Marine Protected Area, Skye Neal

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Coral reef ecosystems are vital to sustaining marine biodiversity and provide invaluable resources to coastal communities. However, coral reefs across the globe are exposed to harmful local and global anthropogenic pressures that can lead to the mortality of key reef-building corals, consequently disrupting ecosystem functioning. Preserving biodiversity of coral reef systems continues to be a challenging topic in conservation. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a globally recognised spatial management tool, designed to protect marine species and habitats from anthropogenic induced stressors. Here, using a long-term dataset collected over the last ten years from the unique coral reef system of Banco …

Investigating Climate Change And Nutrient Pollution Effects On Drupella Rugosa Coral Reef Destruction In Koh-Tao, Thailand, Beatrice Canteri

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The introduction and proliferation of invasive species in coral reef ecosystems play a pivotal role as significant contributors to ecological disturbance. These invasive species pose specific threats to the delicate equilibrium of coral reef health by disrupting nutrient cycling, modifying community structure, applying selective pressure on essential coral species, leading to ecosystem degradation. Embarking on an exploration of ecological intricacies, this study focuses on the invasive coral-feeding snail Drupella rugosa in Koh Tao and aims to explore how environmental variables affect its abundance. Although prior research elucidated the impacts of environmental stressors on coral reef degradation, methodological limitations and gaps …

Predictors Of Sedimentary Organic Carbon In Seagrass Vegetated And Unvegetated Sediment In The Tamar Estuary, United Kingdom, Kathryn Pogson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Seagrass meadows are considered significant natural carbon sinks due to their ability to store large amounts of organic carbon (C_org) in their sediments. ‘Blue carbon strategies’ aim to utilise and enhance this ability to mitigate climate change. However, assessing the C_org content and the habitat characteristics that influence this, in both seagrass vegetated and adjacent unvegetated sediments is needed to improve ‘Blue Carbon’ assessments. Currently, adjacent unvegetated sediments are excluded from Blue Carbon assessments as investigations rarely incorporate them into study design, despite evidence suggesting that they can also store significant amounts of C_org. Mean …

Assessing The Factors That Contribute To Marine Protected Area (Mpa) Effectiveness And Whether Global Protected Areas Of 30% Can Be Achieved By 2030, Jil L. Heinimann

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The urgency for effective conservation to mitigate the rapid deterioration of our marine habitats, which provide ecological, social, and economic benefits, is widely recognised. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have emerged as a pivotal tool in marine conservation. However, global MPA performance varies, and employed management schemes differ. This report aims to investigate the factors which contribute to MPA effectiveness, therefore success, and assess the feasibility of achieving the global target to conserve 30% of habitats by 2030; outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF, Target 3). To achieve this, a systematic literature review was conducted, employing search-strings, inclusion/exclusion criteria, …

The Impact Of Artificial Light At Night On The Distribution Of Sea Turtles In The Mediterranean, Molly R. Blyth

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Artificial light at night (ALAN) poses a significant threat to a wide array of species across the world. In coastal areas, artificial lighting is known to disrupt sea-finding behaviour of sea turtle hatchlings and to deter females from nesting beaches. Yet, sea turtles spend the majority of their lifetimes in the sea, where the influence of ALAN on sea turtle distribution has not previously been studied. Using a recently published atlas of ALAN under the sea, this study analysed an online dataset of sea turtle sightings throughout the Mediterranean Sea, to look for a relationship using a binomial generalised linear …

Microplastics In The Mix: Types And Retention Of Microplastics Within A Mixed Species Seagrass Meadow In The Tamar Estuary, Ida S. Kreuze

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Microplastic pollution in coastal systems is becoming increasingly prevalent and a commonly discussed topic in science and the media. Seagrass beds have been identified as highly vulnerable environments to microplastic pollution due to their nature as traps for particulate matter in the water column, and their role in habitat production and blue carbon storage makes them of high conservation concern. This study examined a mixed species seagrass bed in the Tamar Estuary in Plymouth Sound, composed of Nanozostera noltei and a morphology of Zostera marina, to identify how seagrass shoot density and sediment particle size impacted the number and …

Rooting For Resilience: Investigating The Success Of Seagrass Restoration Methods, Olivia K. Stockdale

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Seagrasses generate vital ecosystem services to coastal communities, whilst also protecting marine biodiversity. Despite their significance, seagrass ecosystems face a plethora of threats from both anthropogenic and natural sources, causing a 20 % loss of seagrass area over the last century. To combat this, numerous restoration methods exist for seagrass habitats globally, with varying degrees of success. Through a comprehensive systematic review and subsequent meta-analysis, this study illustrates the varying success rates of different transplant and seed-based restoration methods over differing timescales. Accounting for varying timescales, results showed that restoration method had a significant effect on success rate (χ^{2 …}

Investigation Of The Use Of Nanotechnology In Food Packaging, Ollie-May Woodland

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This review discusses topics related to the use and development of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in food packaging applications. The accelerated use of these technologies brings about relevant safety, environmental, ethical and legislative/ regulatory concerns and as such the aim of this work is to assess the viability of the use of current commercialised nano-enabled packaging and to evaluate the potential future trends in the progression of these technologies against public opinion and potential risk(s). The data for this report was collected through comprehensive research of nanotechnology and its applications, specifically the packaging industry in the food sector. An online survey …

The Occurrence And Biogeochemical Cycling Of Quaternary, Ternary And Volatile Amines In Marine Systems, Mark Fitzsimons, Ruth Airs, Yin Chen

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This review provides a critical assessment of knowledge regarding the occurrence and behaviour of volatile, low molecular weight amines, particularly methylamines and quaternary amines, in marine aquatic systems. It provides an up-to-date evaluation of their presence within marine ecosystems, the processes likely to control their flux across the sea-air interface, and analytical techniques associated with their measurement. Interest in the occurrence and cycling of these groups of compounds in seawater has increased within the last 10–15 years, due to their potential role in climate regulation. As such, the need for wider measurements and mechanistic studies to elucidate their role within …

Evolving Uk Biology Education, Helen R. Watson

Peninsula Medical School

School science curriculum reform is underway in the UK. Whilst each of the four devolved nations is at a different stage in this process, it is clear we are entering an era of opportunity for positive change, where curricula can be updated to reflect our current understanding of science and to better prepare learners for further study, work, and modern life more broadly.

Impact Of Global Environmental Changes On The Range Contraction Of Eurasian Moose Since The Late Pleistocene, Magdalena Niedziałkowska, Marcin Górny, Joanna Gornia, Danijela Popović, Mateusz Baca, Urszula Ratajczak-Skrzatek, Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Maciej Sykut, Małgorzata Suska-Malawska, Paweł Mackiewicz, Emilia Hofman-Kamińska, Rafał Kowalczyk, Maxim Czarniauski, Kamilla Pawłowska, Daniel Makowiecki, Larisa Tataurova, Alexey Bondarev, Andrey Shpansky, Albert V. Protopopov, Aleksandr Dmitrievich Sorokin, Urmas Saarma, Pavel Kosintsev, Ulrich Schmölcke, Jarosław Wilczyński, Grzegorz Lipecki, Adam Nadachowski, Gennady G. Boeskorov, Gennady F. Baryshnikov, Roberto Zorzin, Nadezhda Vorobiova

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Climatic oscillations are considered primary factors influencing the distribution of various life forms on Earth. Large species adapted to cold climates are particularly vulnerable to extinction due to climate changes. In our study, we investigated whether temperature increase since the Late Pleistocene and the contraction of environmental niche during the Holocene were the main factors contributing to the decreasing range of moose (Alces alces) in Europe. We also examined whether there were significant differences in environmental conditions between areas inhabited by moose in Europe and Asia, that could support the division of moose into western and eastern forms, as suggested …

'If I Can't Dance, I Don't Want To Be Part Of Your Revolution(S)': On Being Together In And Outside Of The Academy, Tracey Collett, Gayle Letherby

Peninsula Medical School

We have both, independently and with others, long been interested in collaboration within an institution that publicly supports such work whilst often working against it. Thus, in our daily working practices, we challenge (alone, with others and together) traditional definitions and myths of working, learning and being in higher education. In this article, through a focus on our relationship both in and outside of the academy, we critique and respond to the socio-political challenges of academic work. Through auto/biographical stories, we first show the general expectation on us (and others) to dance to ‘the dominant societal tune’ and second, focus …

Engagement And Access To Support For Oral Health, Substance Use, Smoking And Diet By People With Severe And Multiple Disadvantage: A Qualitative Study, Neha Jain, Emma A. Adams, Emma C. Joyes, Gillian Mclellan, Martin Burrows, Martha Paisi, Laura J. Mcgowan, Lorenzo Iafrate, David Landes, Richard Watt, Falko F. Sniehotta, Eileen Kaner, Sheena E. Ramsay

Peninsula Dental School

Background Severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) is the combined effect of experiencing homelessness, substance use and repeat offending. People experiencing SMD have high burden of physical and mental health issues. Oral health is one of the most common health problems in people experiencing SMD which interacts with substance use, smoking, and unhealthy diet to create a cycle of harm and disadvantage. However, burden of these conditions is worsened by poor access to health services. This study aimed to identify pathways to improve engagement and access to health interventions, for oral health, substance and alcohol use, smoking and diet. Methods Using …

Recent Trends And Biases In Mesophotic Ecosystem Research, Veronica Z. Radice, Alejandra Hernández-Agreda, Gonzalo Pérez-Rosales, Ryan Booker, Jessica Bellworthy, Manon Broadribb, Gaby E. Carpenter, Clara Diaz, Ryan J. Eckert, Nicola L. Foster, Johanna C. Gijsbers, Erika Gress, Jack H. Laverick, Valerio Micaroni, Miriam Pierotti, Héloïse Rouzé, Angela Stevenson, Alexis B. Sturm, Pim Bongaerts

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Mesophotic ecosystems (approx. 30-150 m) represent a significant proportion of the world's oceans yet have long remained understudied due to challenges in accessing these deeper depths. Owing to advances in underwater technologies and a growing scientific and management interest, there has been a major expansion in research of both (sub)tropical mesophotic coral ecosystems and temperate mesophotic ecosystems. Here, we characterize the recent global trends in mesophotic research through an updated release of the 'mesophotic.org' database (www.mesophotic.org) where we reviewed and catalogued 1500 scientific publications. In doing so, we shed light on four major research biases: a gross imbalance in (a) …

Terrestrial Evidence For Volcanogenic Sulfate-Driven Cooling Event ~30 Ka Before The Cretaceous–Paleogene Mass Extinction: Volcanism-Induced Cooling ~30 Ka Pre-K–Pg Boundary, Lauren O'Connor, Rhodri Jerrett, Gregory Price, Tyler Lyson, Sabine Lengger, Francien Peterse, Bart Van Dongen

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Alongside the Chicxulub meteorite impact, Deccan volcanism is considered a primary trigger for the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) mass extinction. Models suggest that volcanic outgassing of carbon and sulfur—potent environmental stressors—drove global temperature change, but the relative timing, duration, and magnitude of such change remains uncertain. Here, we use the organic paleothermometer MBT′5me and the carbon-isotope composition of two K–Pg-spanning lignites from the western Unites States, to test models of volcanogenic air temperature change in the ~100 kyr before the mass extinction. Our records show long-term warming of ~3°C, probably driven by Deccan CO2 emissions, and reveal a transient (<10 kyr) ~5°C cooling event, coinciding with the peak of the Poladpur “pulse” of Deccan eruption ~30 kyr before the K–Pg boundary. This cooling was likely caused by the aerosolization of volcanogenic sulfur. Temperatures returned to pre-event values before the mass extinction, suggesting that, from the terrestrial perspective, volcanogenic climate change was not the primary cause of K–Pg extinction.

The Comparative Effect Of Propolis And Chlorhexidine Mouthwash On Oral Nitrite-Producing Bacteria And Blood Pressure Regulation, R. Bescos, L. Du Toit, A. Redondo-Rio, P. J. Warburton, T. L. Nicholas, M. Kiernan, R. A. Burton, L. Belfield, G. Montagut, A. Benavente, W. Vevers, T. Gabaldón, Z. Brookes, P. Casas-Agustench

School of Health Professions

BACKGROUND: Propolis mouthwash (PROP-M) has demonstrated antibacterial properties like those of chlorhexidine mouthwash (CHX-M). However, its impact on the abundance of oral nitrite-producing species (NPS) and nitrite-producing activity (NPA) remains unexplored.

METHODS: Forty-five healthy individuals were randomised into 2 groups to rinse their mouth twice a day for seven days with either CHX-M ( n  = 21) or PROP-M ( n  = 24). Metagenomic sequencing (16S rRNA) was performed on saliva samples collected before and after each treatment. Additionally, salivary biomarkers and blood pressure were measured.

RESULTS: CHX-M increased the relative abundance of NPS ( p  < 0.001) but significantly impaired the NPA ( p  < 0.001) compared to baseline and PROP-M. No significant differences in the relative abundance of NPS and NPA were observed in the PROP-M group. However, a significant increase of plasma nitrate (+7 µmol/L, p  = 0.047) and a decrease in systolic BP (-2 mmHg, p  = 0.022) was observed in this group compared to the baseline.

CONCLUSION: The results indicate …