Digital Commons Network^™

Mapping The Numbers Of Dementia In Brazil: A Delphi Consensus Study, Márlon Juliano Romero Aliberti, Claudia Kimie Suemoto, Jerson Laks, Paulo Caramelli, Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki, Nicolas Farina, Daniel Apolinario, Einstein Francisco Camargos, Eleonora D'Orsi, Gilberto Sousa Alves, Karolina Gouveia César-Freitas, Luís Fernando Rangel, Márcia Lorena Fagundes Chaves, Marcos Antonio Lopes, Marcus Vinicius Della Coletta, Matheus Ghossain Barbosa, Norberto Anizio Ferreira Frota, Ricardo Nitrini, Cleusa Pinheiro Ferri

Peninsula Medical School

OBJECTIVES: As the global dementia crisis intensifies, especially in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), there is a pressing need for comprehensive prevalence data across diverse regions, including Brazil, where studies have been predominantly limited to affluent urban centers. This study aimed to conduct an expert consensus to determine the prevalence of all-cause dementia in Brazil, considering various age groups, sexes, and geographical areas.

METHODS: A Delphi consensus process with clinical and academic experts from across Brazil was conducted to provide dementia prevalence estimates in people aged ≥ 60 years living throughout Brazil for 2019. Each round consisted of answering structured questionnaires …

Exploring Experience Of Autism Among School Staff And Parents Of Autistic Children, And The Relevance Of Totalising And Non-Totalising Approaches To Facilitate Understandings., Emin Cetinbas

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis explored how the parents and school staff (teachers and teaching assistants) of primary aged autistic children understand and experience autism, including observation of the children they care for and educate. Totalising was used as a framework for conceptualising their understanding and use of non-totalising approaches such as externalising was also explored. Specific questions centred on a) how parents and teaching staff understand and experience autism in terms of the child being similar or different to other children, b) how relevant totalising is as a concept to aid in understanding of how the parents and teaching staff view autistic …

Exploring Research Culture In Care Homes To Identify The Barriers And Facilitators To Research: A Rapid Review, Gary Hodge, Lisa Burrows, Georgia Page, Susie Pearce

School of Nursing and Midwifery

AbstractContext: There are more than 400,000 people living in just over 17,000 care homes in the UK. Nevertheless, the quantity of care home research taking place in these settings is limited. This has led to a knowledge gap that impacts on care home practices, resident health outcomes, and the development of policy.Objectives: The objective of this rapid review is to explore what is known about the research culture within care homes, identify any barriers and facilitators to research, and provide evidence to inform future care home research practices.Methods: This rapid review was performed in accordance with the Cochrane Rapid Review …

Editorial: Health And Illness Interactions, Tracey Collett, Gayle Letherby, Louise Owusu-Kwarteng, Tanisha Spratt

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Legal Dimensions Of Rights Of Nature Applied In The Context Of The River Plym: River Plym Project Phase 1 Appendix, Jason Lowther

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This review of the literature and legal framing of so-called river rights – loosely understood by reference to the extension of certain characteristics or a particular status upon the river – has been collated in the context of the River Plym-citizenship advocacy project. It aims to examine the legal and policy potential for the attribution of ‘rights’ upon the River Plym. It does so by outlining the challenges facing the waterway, in common with many others, and noting the limitations of the current regulatory systems applied to it. The paper then offers a commentary of legal alternatives to the current …

Dissemination Strategies Of Clinical Practice Guidelines—Mixed Methods Evidence Synthesis Protocol, Sumanth Kumbargere Nagraj, Tandekile Lubelwana Hafver, Ameer Hohlfeld, Emmanuel Effa, Denny Mabetha, Gertrude Kunje, Yan Jiao Shen, Carlos Zaror, Suzgika Lakudzala, Talitha Mpando, Stijn Van De Velde, Thomas Agoritsas, Nicolas Delvaux, Per Olav Vandvik

Peninsula Dental School

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are shared through various dissemination strategies using a range of dissemination products and channels. However, users may have different needs for accessing and understanding them. Patients and carers from low- and middle-income countries might face challenges in accessing CPGs such as inadequate systems for printed book distribution and insufficient and substandard photocopies. Many organizations offer lengthy documents, but busy healthcare workers may prefer shorter, digital versions. Digital CPGs can be sent through different channels such as email, newsletters, or social media. How users feel about these products (e.g., clinical protocol, educational material or decision aids) and …

High Performance Synthetic Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Mixed With Nanoparticles: A Proof-Of-Concept Green Railway Sleeper Product, Radhika Sridhar, Satjapan Leelatanon, Monthian Setkit, Thanongsak Imjai, Elhem Ghorbel, Boksun Kim

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This paper investigates the effects of nanoparticles and fibers on the durability and microstructural properties of mortar and concrete, aiming to create a high-performance railway sleeper product as an alternative sustainable material in the market. In the Phase 1, the main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of nanoparticles, such as nano alumina (NA) and nano silica (NS), at 1%, 3%, and 5% additions, along with rice husk ash (RHA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) in terms of strength and durability performance. To further enhance structural integrity, the study incorporates fibers such as polypropylene fiber (PPF) and polyvinyl …

Beyond The Closed-Forest Paradigm: Cross-Scale Vegetation Structure In Temperate Europe Before The Late-Quaternary Megafauna Extinctions, Elena A. Pearce, Florence Mazier, Charles W. Davison, Oliver Baines, Szymon Czyzewski, Ralph Fyfe, K Binka, Steve Boreham, Jacques Louis De Beaulieu, Cunhai Gao, Wojciech Granoszewski, Anna Hrynowiecka, Małgorzata Malkiewicz, Tim Mighall, Bożena Noryśkiewicz, Irena Agnieszka Pidek, Jaqueline Strahl, Hanna Winter, Jens Christian Svenning

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Last Interglacial (∼129,000–116,000 years ago) provides key insights into temperate European vegetation dynamics before significant anthropogenic impacts. Using LOVE (Local Vegetation Estimates) and REVEALS (Regional Estimates of VEgetation Abundance from Large Sites) models, this study reconstructs vegetation patterns across local (∼9 km²) and regional (∼100 km²) scales. Local landscapes presented a heterogeneous mosaic, with averages of 17 % open vegetation, 21 % closed forests, and 63 % light woodlands, reflecting high fine-scale heterogeneity. Importantly, weak local-regional correlations highlight the importance of localised drivers. Longitude and, to a lesser extent, precipitation explained some variation in local vegetation openness, but heterogeneity …

Experiences Of The Management Of Uncertainty Amongst Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners Working In Primary Care, Sue May, Matt Parselle

School of Psychology

Aim: To develop a deeper understanding of strategies used to manage uncertainty by Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners (MSK FCPs), including barriers to and facilitators for these strategies. Background: MSK FCP services provide patients with an alternative to seeing their GP regarding MSK complaints. Research suggests that the role demands different skills and attributes from traditional physiotherapy roles, including the ability to deal with greater clinical uncertainty. There is a lack of research evaluating the strategies FCPs find most helpful for managing uncertainty. Method: A qualitative study using semi‐structured online interviews. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Data was analysed using …

Exenatide Once A Week Versus Placebo As A Potential Disease-Modifying Treatment For People With Parkinson's Disease In The Uk: A Phase 3, Multicentre, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Nirosen Vijiaratnam, Christine Girges, Grace Auld, Rachel Mccomish, Alexa King, Simon S Skene, Steve Hibbert, Alan Wong, Sabina Melander, Rachel Gibson, Helen Matthews, John Dickson, Camille Carroll, Abigail Patrick, Jemma Inches, Monty Silverdale, Bethan Blackledge, Jessica Whiston, Michele Hu, Jessica Welch, Gordon Duncan, Katie Power, Sarah Gallen, Jacqueline Kerr, K Ray Chaudhuri, Lucia Batzu, Silvia Rota, Edwin Jabbari, Huw Morris, Patricia Limousin

Peninsula Medical School

Background: GLP-1 receptor agonists have neurotrophic properties in in-vitro and in-vivo models of Parkinson's disease and results of epidemiological studies and small randomised trials have suggested possible benefits for risk and progression of Parkinson's disease. We aimed to establish whether the GLP-1 receptor agonist, exenatide, could slow the rate of progression of Parkinson's disease. Methods: We did a phase 3, multicentre, double-blind, parallel-group, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at six research hospitals in the UK. Participants were aged 25–80 years with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, were at Hoehn and Yahr stage 2·5 or less when on dopaminergic treatment, and were on …

Novel Approach For Women’S Self-Management Of Rectal Emptying Difficulty, Sharon Eustice, Ruth Endacott, Bridie Kent

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Aim To pragmatically investigate rectal emptying difficulty in women to identify if managing their symptoms with an innovative device is more effective and satisfactory than their usual care. Background Rectal emptying difficulty has a mostly unknown influence on women and frequently a hidden issue. Self-management alternatives are underappreciated. Despite the magnitude of the problem and its influence on women’s lives and healthcare, non-surgical alternatives have received little attention. Methods This cohort study of 35 female participants, recruited via secondary care outpatient clinics, used composite questionnaires before and after an 8-week intervention using the device. The questionnaire comprised of a quality …

What Podcasting Taught Me About Writing: Revelations From Behind The Mic, Alicja Syska

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This chapter explores the transformative impact of podcasting on writing, drawing on the author’s experimentations with technology during the pandemic when new communication methods with students became necessary. The analysis reveals a series of lessons and revelations applicable to both teaching and scholarly development. Key insights include: the significance of voice and audience in writing; developing effective writing strategies; shifting focus from product to process; navigating the permanence of written work; addressing vulnerability in self-expression; and cultivating resilience and consistency in writing practice. Through reflexive analysis, the chapter demonstrates how these revelations at the intersection of podcasting and writing can …

Routes To Social Prescribing Outside National Health Service (Nhs) Structures: A Systematic Map, Emma Hazeldine, Sophie Westwood, Mohammad Hassannezhad, Stephanie Tierney, Lucy Gavens, Kerryn Husk

Peninsula Medical School

Objectives Social prescribing, linking to community-based interventions to support individuals’ health and well-being, has become established across social medicine in the UK. Currently, most of the evidence and knowledge about how social prescribing pathways’ function focuses on primary care, and we know less about how social prescribing operates outside of these structures. This review explored the evidence concerning non-health service delivered social prescribing with a view to developing guidance that would support social prescribing pathways that function outside of the health service framework.Design This paper reports a systematic mapping review of evidence concerning how community-based social prescribing pathways were delivered, …

'Just One More Feed': The Impact Of Traumatic Birth On Breastfeeding, Alyson Norman, Bronwen Allen, Matilda Fraser, Grace Baptie

School of Psychology

Background/Aims A range of factors influence breastfeeding behaviour, including maternal mental health. Traumatic births have an impact on maternal mental health and have been found to negatively affect breastfeeding behaviour. The aim of this study was to better understand the impact of traumatic birth on breastfeeding experiences. Methods A total of 19 women aged 20–43 years who reported having a traumatic birth since 2010 and attempting to breastfeed were recruited for one-to-one semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed thematically. Results Four main themes were identified: bonding with baby, over/compensation, empowerment and physical complications. Breastfeeding reduced the psychological impact of traumatic birth …

The Influence Of Climate On The Invasion Of The Asian Hornet (Vespa Velutina) To Guernsey, Channel Islands: Citizen Science And Misidentified Aliens, Laura C. Wade, Francis J. Russell, Ashwitha L. Aranha, Mairi E. Knight, Jonathan S. Ellis

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Vespa velutina is an Asian bee-hawking hornet that has rapidly colonised continental Europe since its accidental introduction in 2004. Its range continues to expand with the first confirmed sightings in Guernsey in 2017. This study aimed to analyse local weather variables over three years to assess their importance for predicting Asian hornet occurrences. We also investigated citizen science reporting to ascertain which species the public most commonly misidentify as Asian hornets. Weather analysis using zero-inflated negative binomial regression showed that Asian hornet observations are more likely in warmer weather (air temperature > 12 °C). The year 2019 significantly affected the likelihood …

The Effects Of Wearing Textured Versus Smooth Shoe Insoles For 4-Weeks In People With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomised Controlled Trial, Anna L. Hatton, Mark D. Chatfield, Elise M. Gane, Jayishni N. Maharaj, Thomas Cattagni, Joshua Burns, Joanne Paton, Keith Rome, Graham Kerr

School of Health Professions

Purpose: To determine whether short-term wear of textured insoles alters balance, gait, foot sensation, physical activity, or patient-reported outcomes, in people with diabetic neuropathy. Materials and Methods: 53 adults with diabetic neuropathy were randomised to wear textured or smooth insoles for 4-weeks. At baseline and post-intervention, balance (foam/firm surface; eyes open/closed) and walking were assessed whilst barefoot, wearing shoes only, and two insoles (textured/smooth). The primary outcome was center of pressure (CoP) total sway velocity. Secondary outcomes included other CoP measures, spatiotemporal gait measures, foot sensation, physical activity, and patient-reported outcomes (foot health, falls efficacy). Results: Wearing textured insoles led …

Approaches To Post-Tsunami Coastal Reconstruction: Comparisons Across Indonesia, Thailand, And Japan, Alison Raby, A Pomonis, Anawat Suppasri, Keith Adams, Nurullah Açikgoz, Marco Baiguera, Yunita Idris, Panon Latcharote, Francesca Marafini, David Mcgovern, Ella Meilianda, Harsh Mistry, Sukiman Nurdin, Eyitayo Opabola, Teraphan Ornthammarath, Nattapon Trumikaborworn, Tiziana Rossetto

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Natural hazards pose significant challenges to affected communities worldwide, yet there remains a lack of comprehensive studies comparing recovery efforts across different countries and cultures. This study addresses the gap by investigating the impact of three devastating tsunami events on four distinct locations: Banda Aceh (Sumatra, Indonesia) and Southern Thailand, both affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the 20th anniversary of which provided the initial motivation for the study; the Tohoku region of Japan, affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami; and Palu Bay (Sulawesi, Indonesia) affected by the Palu-Central Sulawesi Earthquake and consequent triple disaster. …

Pair Creation, Backreaction, And Resummation In Strong Fields, Patrick Copinger, James P. Edwards, Anton Ilderton, Karthik Rajeev

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

We revisit particle creation in strong fields, and backreaction on those fields, from an amplitudes perspective. We describe the strong field by an initial coherent state of photons which we explicitly evolve in time, thus going beyond the background-field approximation, and then consider observables which quantify the effects of backreaction. We present expressions for the waveform, vacuum persistence probability, and number of produced photons at next-to-leading order, all of which are impacted by backreaction, along with the number and statistics of produced pairs. We find that converting between in-out (amplitude) and in-in (expectation value) expressions requires explicit resummation of an …

Parental Emotional, Social And Transitional Health In The First 6 Months After Childhood Critical Illness: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study, Pei Fen Poh, Matthew C. Carey, Joseph C. Manning, Jan Hau Lee, Jos M. Latour

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Aim: To explore the experiences and support needs of parents in the first 6 months after paediatric critical care. Design: Longitudinal qualitative design. Methods: Sequential semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of 28 parents in succession at 1 month and at 6 months (n = 22) after their child's discharge from paediatric critical care using purposive sampling. Data were analysed using the adapted five-stage framework analysis. Results: Data were developed into eight synthesized themes, three domains and an overarching theme: Regaining Normalcy. Families of children requiring medical treatment at 6 months showed signs of adaption to daily care …

Understanding The Risk Factors For Student Attrition Across Pre-Registration Nursing And Midwifery Programmes In A United Kingdom University: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Study, Francis Thompson, Gary Hodge, Danielle Edge, Sarah Howes, Caroline Jamison, Margaret Fisher, Aled Jones

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: The World Health Organization estimates a global shortage of 4.5 million nurses and 0.31 million midwives by 2030, which presents a significant problem for workforce planning. Despite aspirational United Kingdom (UK) government policy targets and ongoing efforts, the number of nursing and midwifery vacancies continues to increase. One contributing factor is student nurse and midwife attrition. Aim: To identify risk factors that contribute to nursing and midwifery students interrupting or withdrawing from pre-registration programmes. Design: Sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Setting: A University School of Nursing and Midwifery in the Southwest of England. Participants: 534 pre-registration nursing and midwifery student …

A Micro-Computed Tomographic Evaluation Of Dentine Thicknesses Of First Molar Roots: A Review Of The Literature With Illustrative Cases, Marisca Meyer, Casper Jonker, Sandeepa Rajbaran-Singh, Anna Catherina Oettlé

Peninsula Dental School

Thin dentinal walls of first molars can significantly impact the success and outcomes of endodontic procedures, including root canal treatment. Root canal treatment is commonly performed on first molars, which are prone to decay due to their early eruption and complex occlusal structure. The treatment entails a series of mechanical and chemical disinfection techniques where the root canal spaces are enlarged and can be compromised by perforations leading to infection, inflammation, and eventual tooth loss. The thinner the dentine, the greater the likelihood of perforation. ‘Danger zones’ have been identified as the distal aspect of mesial/mesiobuccal roots and the mesial …

Looking Out For Danger: Theoretical And Empirical Issues In Translating Human Attention Bias Tasks To Assess Animal Affective States, Sarah Kappel, Sarah Collins, Michael Mendl, Carole Fureix

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Understanding animal emotional (affective) state is highly relevant to various disciplines (e.g., animal welfare, neuroscience, comparative psychology), and has been significantly advanced by translating affect-induced cognitive bias paradigms rooted in human psychology to non-human animal studies. Attention bias (i.e., preferential attention allocation, AB) tests are increasingly used as more practical substitutes to commonly used judgement bias tests. Yet, evidence that AB reflects affective valence in animals is still limited. We review in-depth the concept of attention and AB described in humans and discuss utilising human-derived AB paradigms for measuring animal affective states. We describe key concepts and functions of attention …

How Managers ‘Make Meaning’ Of Business Tournament Rituals, David Sarpong, Shadrack Asante, Christopher Agyapong Siaw, Nicholas O'Regan, Derrick Boakye

Plymouth Business School

In this paper, we examine how managers ‘make meaning’ of business tournament rituals (BTRs)— recognition-based contests in which participating firms get social endorsements and winners receive prestigious awards. In exploring two UK BTRs, we found that managerial orienting systems, made up of beliefs about the identity of their firm, competitors, and customers, and what it takes to compete in their environments, drive managers to compete in BTRs. Their interpretive view of BTRs as sources of strategic capabilities and hard market power, we argue, is constructed, and projected to the viewing public through a set of four distinct but ‘durationally indivisible’ …

Ai And Mental Healthcare - Ethical And Regulatory Considerations, Hannah Gardiner, Natasha Mutebi

School of Health Professions

OverviewIn recent years the number of AI tools available for mental healthcare and wellbeing purposes has increased. This builds from a burgeoning digital health sector in which 20,000+ wellbeing apps are reportedly available on the app store. These apps are distinct both from AI tools which have been purpose-built for NHS use, and from unintended uses of companion chatbot apps – which were never intended for mental health purposes. All the cases of severe harm identified through this research were from unintended uses of general companion chatbot apps. But there are ethical considerations around the use of all AI tools …

The Awareness, Attitudes And Knowledge Of Pediatricians In Tamil Nadu India Of Sudden Unexpected Death In Epilepsy (Sudep) And Epilepsy Related Risks: A Cross-Sectional Study, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) in epilepsy is recognised to be equally common in adults and in children and young people (CYP). There is higher prevalence of epilepsy in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high income countries (HIC) however research in SUDEP is limited in LMICs such as India particularly in CYP. Objective: To explore SUDEP awareness and attitudes to communication to CYP and their carers/parents by pediatricians in Tamil Nadu, India, one of the 28 states, with 80 million population. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of Likert response questions using validated themes, was circulated among …

Connecting To The Sea: A Place-Based Study Of The Potential Of Digital Engagement To Foster Marine Citizenship, Katharine Willis, Ashita Gupta

School of Art, Design and Architecture

The Sustainable Development Goals for creating sustainable, resilient cities and addressing human impacts upon coastal waters and marine environments create a mandate for coastal cities to empower local communities to value city seascapes. One key way to achieve this is through more inclusive pathways to connect to the sea using participatory methods. This research used a participatory co‐design approach in Plymouth—the UK’s first national marine park—to explore the potential for place‐based digital engagement to connect people with the sea, especially for deprived neighbourhoods. We sought to answer the research question of whether place‐based digital technologies can engage communities with marine …

Utility Of A Hybrid Approach To The Hadronic Vacuum Polarization Contribution To The Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment, Christine Davies, Andreas Kronfeld, Gerard Lepage, Craig Mcneile, Ruth Van De Water

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

An accurate calculation of the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarization (LOHVP) contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon (aμ) is key to determining whether a discrepancy, suggesting new physics, exists between the Standard Model and experimental results. This calculation can be expressed as an integral over Euclidean time of a current-current correlator G(t), where G(t) can be calculated using lattice QCD or, with dispersion relations, from experimental data for e+e-→hadrons. The BMW/DMZ collaboration recently presented a hybrid approach in which G(t) is calculated using lattice QCD for most of the contributing t range, but using experimental data for the …

Instruments Autèntics?: L’Adquisició D’Instruments Catalans A Través De Les Cartes De Victor-Charles Mahillon, Nuria Bonet

School of Art, Design and Architecture

No abstract provided.

Factors Associated With Link Workers Considering Leaving Their Role: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Stephanie Tierney, Lucy Moore, Debra Westlake, Kamal R. Mahtani, David Nunan, Kerryn Husk, Shoba Dawson, Jane Smith, Emma Fuller, Lilly Sabir, Pauline Roberts, Obioha C. Ukoumunne

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Social prescribing (SP) link workers (LWs) listen to patients’ concerns and difficulties, and connect them to relevant community assets (groups, organisations, or charities) that can help with their non-medical issues (for example, loneliness, debt, housing). LW retention is key to sustaining SP within primary care. Aim: To examine occupational self-efficacy, job discrepancy, and other factors as potential predictors of LWs’ intentions to leave or remain in their posts. Design & setting: Cross-sectional survey involving LWs from the United Kingdom. Method: An online questionnaire was distributed via SP-related organisations. Questions were on the following: (a) intention to leave the role; …

Quantum Phase Transition Of Non-Hermitian Systems Using Variational Quantum Techniques, James Hancock, Matthew J. Craven, Craig Mcneile, Davide Vadacchino

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The motivation for studying non-Hermitian systems and the role of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry is discussed. We investigate the use of a quantum algorithm to find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, with applications to quantum phase transitions. We use a recently proposed variational algorithm. The systems studied are the transverse Ising model with both a purely real and a purely complex transverse field.