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Work-Based Learning And An Investigation Into Racial Hostility, An Autoethnographic Study, Emma Jones

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

The purpose of this research enquiry was to explore autoethnography as a useful and valid form of sociological research. To gain an understanding of its complex ethical considerations that differ from other methodologies and create an autoethnographical focus on experiences within a work based learning environment. This enquiry explores the thoughts, emotions and reactions provoked by a critical incident relating to racial hostility that stemmed from reactions to the days top news story. Investigating racism from biological and cultural aspects and examining critical race theory creates a perspective on how racist events can occur, develop and be maintained or reproduced. …

Widening Participation For Women In Initial Teacher Education It's Not A Problem, Is It? - What Are The Widening Participation Issues Encountered By Women As They Embark On A Primary Pgce Initial Teacher Training Course?, Kath Vineer

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

This research explores widening participation in one university-led Post Graduate Primary initial teacher education course (PGCE) in England. Rooted in a social constructivist paradigm and utilising a mixed-method social survey approach (questionnaires and group discussions), the widening participation (WP) issues students faced when embarking on this course were evaluated. Students worked with me as co-constructors of data by sharing stories of their journeys towards studying for this course. Specifically, the issues affecting women were investigated in order to critique the assumption that WP for women in higher education has been achieved. I am a teacher educator with a strongly held …

Intra-Active 'World-Making': Hope,Education, Utopias And Potentialeco-Socially Just Futures, Rosamonde Birch

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

The paper is an edited extract from an MA Education Dissertation that researched the discernment of hope with young people through the Philosophy for/with Children (P4wC) process. Through the paper the role of hope in the utopian project of education is considered in rapport with the ethico-onto-epistem-ology of Agential Realism (Barad, 2007) and how education is in relationship to how we imagine and create futures as collaborative ‘world-making’ communities. The paper begins by conceptualising hope through historical and contemporary theory and debate, whilst suggesting hope is a Living Narrative of ‘openings’ and future potentials. Through exploring critical education theory (Freire, …

An Investigation To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of A Primary School's Improvement Plan Focusing On Maths Attainment And Progress Through Problem Solving., Karen Garlick

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

No abstract provided.

Modification Of Maxwell Model For Conductivity Prediction Of Carbon Nanotubes-Filled Polymer Composites With Tunneling Effect, Jue Zhu, Longyuan Li, Ningtao Zhu

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have garnered great attention in recent years due to their outstanding electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The incorporation of small amounts of CNTs in polymers can substantially improve the sensitivity of the polymer’s electrical conductivity. This paper presents a modified Maxwell model to evaluate the electrical conductivity of CNTs-filled polymer composites by introducing a transition zone to account for the tunneling effect. In this modified Maxwell model, the CNTs-filled polymer composite is modeled as a three-phase composite, consisting of a matrix (polymer), inclusions (CNTs), and a transition zone (tunneling zone). The effective electrical conductivity (EEC) of the …

Profiling Consumers For Their Shopping Motivations In Modern Retail Formats In Oman, Rakesh Belwal, Shweta Belwal, Zoe Morgan, Latifa Hamood Al Badi

Plymouth Business School

Purpose: Consumer shopping motivations are evolving in tandem with shifts in products, services and the retail landscape. This paper primarily aims to explore what drives shopping behavior among consumers in Oman. Additionally, the paper aims to profile consumers based on their shopping motivations. Design/methodology/approach: Based upon the review of literature, we developed a list of 63 items of shopping motivations. Exploratory factor analysis later led to a 12-factor solution involving 50 items, which were refined further into an 11-factor solution involving 44 items using CFA. A combination of hierarchical and k-means cluster analysis was performed for profiling consumers. Findings: Five …

Single-Use Versus Multiple-Use Endotracheal Suction Catheters Flushed With Chlorhexidine In Mechanically Ventilated Icu Patients: A Study Protocol Of A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial With An Embedded Qualitative Study, Mohamed H. Eid, Kevin Hambridge, Pat Schofield, Jos M. Latour

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Endotracheal suction catheters are often used multiple times during endotracheal suctioning procedures in resource-limited intensive care units (ICU). The impact of this practice on mechanically ventilated patients' outcomes remains unclear. Aim: The aim of this feasibility randomized controlled trial (fRCT) is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of single-use versus multiple-use endotracheal suction catheters flushed with chlorhexidine in mechanically ventilated ICU patients. Study Design: This study is a three-armed fRCT with an embedded qualitative study. Results: The trial involves three groups. One group includes endotracheal suctioning using a single-use catheter; the second group includes a multiple-use endotracheal suction catheter …

Glaciers As A Secondary Source Of Anthropogenic Contaminants: An Emerging Socio-Environmental Challenge, Dylan Beard

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Glaciers provide vital ecosystem services, including water resources, habitat provision, and food and energy security. Once considered pristine, glaciers are now known to accumulate various contaminants, including fallout radionuclides (FRNs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which can pose risks to downstream communities when released through meltwater. This thesis examines the accumulation and potential release of contaminants from glacial environments, with a focus on cryoconite, a contaminant-rich material found on glacier surfaces.Primary data collection and laboratory analyses were conducted on cryoconite samples from the High Arctic and the Peruvian Andes to assess spatial variability in contaminant levels and chemical availability. Additionally, …

The Wellbeing Study: Exploring Healthcare Professionals (Hcps) Psychological Wellbeing At Work And Patients’ Experiences Of Care, Kathryn Bamforth

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

Kathryn Marie BamforthTitle: The WELLBEING Study: Exploring Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) Psychological Wellbeing at Work and Patients’ Experiences of CareBackground: HCPs’ psychological wellbeing affects patients’ experiences of care. The COVID-19 pandemic, cost of living and workforce crises have taken their toll on HCP wellbeing. There is scant evidence on HCPs’ perceptions of psychological wellbeing at work or how they could be better supported. There is less research that considers patients’ perspectives.Aim: To explore HCPs’ and patients’ perceptions of staff psychological wellbeing at work and use the first four stages of experience-based co-design (EBCD) to identify models of practice to support HCP …

The Potential For Diagnosing High Blood Pressure At The Dentist: An Examination Of Periodontal Disease And The Oral Microbiome In Raised Blood Pressure., Amazon Doble

Peninsula Dental School Theses

Background: Hypertension is increasingly linked to periodontitis. However, the nature and specific mechanistic relationship of this remains unclear, however may involve reduced oral and systemic nitric oxide (NO) availability. There remains limited research on the oral microbiome during hypertension that could support such a causative mechanism involving NO.Aims: This project aimed to examine links between periodontal disease, the oral microbiome, and raised blood pressure, while establishing a cardiovascular risk case-finding clinic with a GP referral pathway.Methods: The project comprised three studies: Study I established and identified cardiovascular risk case-finding in a dental environment (n=200). Study II evaluated clinical markers and …

Testing An Intervention To Develop Resilience In Student Nurses And Embed A Strategy In Undergraduate Curricula, Claire Chick

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

BackgroundResilience is considered an umbrella term to encompass key factors including wellbeing, emotional intelligence, self-awareness and empathy. A growing body of literature concludes the necessity for resilience-enhancing interventions to be embedded in undergraduate curricula; it is not enough to simply assume that resilience and coping are an innate component of the student nurses’ journey.Aims and objectivesAims1. To identify if a novel action learning intervention is more effective in developing resilience in student nurses than current practice.2. To embed resilience education in undergraduate curricula to support students’ well-being.Objectives1. To compare the effectiveness of interventions with current practice2. To assess stakeholder engagement …

Machine Learning-Based Prediction Of Endometrial Cancer Prognosis, Sherif Shazly

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

This thesis develops and uses machine learning tools to predict the prognosis of endometrial cancer. With endometrial cancer being the most common gynaecologic malignancy in low- and middle-income countries, accurate prognostic models are essential for improving patient outcomes. This research aims to develop and validate machine learning-based models to predict CSS (cancer-specific survival) and DFS (disease-free survival) at 3- and 5-year intervals, utilizing patient demographics, preoperative imaging, histopathological characteristics, and treatment data.The study employed multiple machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, support vector machines, XGBoost, and random forest, to create three predictive models: a preoperative model, a management-based model, and …

Mind The Gap - The Need To Integrate Novel Plankton Methods Alongside Ongoing Long-Term Monitoring, Matthew M. Holland, Luis Felipe Artigas, Angus Atkinson, Mike Best, Eileen Bresnan, Michelle J. Devlin, Dafne Eerkes-Medrano, Marie Johansen, David G. Johns, Margarita Machairopoulou, Sophie Pitois, James Scott, Jos Schilder, Rowena Stern, Karen Tait, Callum Whyte, Claire Widdicombe, Abigail Mcquatters-Gollop

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Changes in plankton have important implications for ecosystem services, including supporting fish stocks, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and oxygen production. Standard long-term plankton monitoring relies on light microscopy to identify and count plankton taxa, with methods fully supported by international standards, providing high quality trusted data. Novel methods, including imaging and molecular, offer means of collecting select types of plankton data efficiently, filling targeted knowledge gaps left by standard monitoring and generating a more complete picture of plankton dynamics. Standard and novel monitoring methods present different advantages and costs, positioning their suitability to address different management needs. Standard plankton monitoring …

Practical Application Of Artificial Intelligence For Ecological Image Analysis: Trialling Different Levels Of Taxonomic Classification To Promote Convolutional Neural Network Performance, Amelia E.H. Bridges, Eleanor Cross, Kyran P. Graves, Nils Piechaud, Antony Raymont, Kerry L. Howell

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), into ecological research presents new opportunities for the automated analysis of image-based data. This study explores the practical application of CNNs for ecological image analysis by trialling annotation to different levels of taxonomic classification to determine their impact on model performance. We systematically compare various annotation strategies, evaluating their effects on the accuracy of CNNs in ecological contexts; as well as considering the feasibility of manually annotating training data to different levels. We demonstrate that variation in annotations groupings (animal, phylum or morphology) has little impact on model performance, …

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 = …

Globalism, Localism And Blue Food Systems – How Can Cross-Scale Tensions Be Reduced? A Production Perspective From Uk Seafood Stakeholders, Alex J. Caveen, Bryce D. Stewart, Cameron Moffat, Daniel Skerritt, Estelle Jones, Huw Thomas, Lara Funk, Magnus Johnson, Mike Cohen, Michael Roach, Neil A. Auchterlonie, Samuel Peacock, Sarah Hussey, Tim Gray, Tom Pickerell, Umi Muawanah, Vasiliki Kioupi, Yvonne Sadovy De Mitcheson, Neil M. Burns, Charlotte R. Hopkins

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

‘Blue foods’ are derived from aquatic species that are caught or cultivated and are amongst the most globally traded commodities. Growing emphasis is being placed on blue foods in future transitions to sustainable food systems. However, recent international events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, UK-EU ‘Brexit’, and Russia-Ukraine war have caused renewed interest in ideological debates between globalism and localism and associated cross-scale tensions. Here, we aim to provide further insight into cross-scale tensions in blue food systems through a literature review and UK-based seafood stakeholder workshop. From our literature review, the evidence for cross-scale tensions was linked to the …

Characterisation Of Tyre Wear Particle Transport From Road Runoff To Sea In Coastal Environments, Florence N.F. Parker-Jurd, Geoffrey D. Abbott, Daniel C. Conley, Cijo M. Xavier, Florian Pohl, Richard C. Thompson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Data on the fate of tyre wear particles (TWPs) within aquatic environments is limited. This study quantified TWPs entering estuaries in stormwater drainage and atmospheric fallout, and once they have reached the marine environment, within surface waters and sediments. TWPs were found at concentrations of 0.4 mg/L, 2.55 mg/m2/d, 0.00063 mg/L, and 0.96 g/kg respectively. Samples were partitioned by size to examine the distribution of TWP mass. 80-90% of TWP mass entering marine systems (stormwater and atmospheric fallout) lay between 31-125 µm. Larger particles preferentially accumulated in sediments where ∼50 % of TWP mass was >250 μm, compared to surface …

Transgenerational Plasticity Research: Challenges And Opportunities, Caitlin Mcandry, Alastair J. Wilson, Peter A. Cotton, Manuela Truebano

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Transgenerational plasticity (TGP) is a type of non-genetic inheritance whereby one generation's environment affects a subsequent generation's phenotype. It can influence the persistence of organisms in stressful climatic conditions through allowing rapid phenotypic change. TGP has been proposed to have the potential to alter an organism's response to selective forces or buffer their effects, yet the interaction of these two processes is neither well understood nor often accounted for via appropriate experimental design. The rapid expansion of TGP research in recent years has led to a lack of clarity surrounding terminology for different phenomena, sometimes undermining the interpretation of research. …

Bridging The Gap: Exploring The Potential Of Virtual Reality For Supporting Autistic Individuals In Interview And Recruitment Processes Through A Realist Review, Katie Edwards, Marius Varga, Michael Loizou

School of Nursing and Midwifery

The aim of this realist review was to systematically analyse the peer-reviewed academic literature, reports and blogs to determine: (1) the mechanisms and contexts by which recruitment and early employment experiences lead to poor outcomes for autistic adults, and (2) how a Virtual Reality (VR) intervention might lead to positive outcomes within the recruitment and early employment experiences for autistic adults. Throughout, we worked with a PPIE group of autistic people who were fully involved in the realist synthesis process. We identified challenges across the employment journey including limited vocational guidance and employment readiness support, exclusionary job descriptions, and traditional …

Comparative Evaluation Of Swabbing Sites For Omicron Variant Detection In Pcr Testing, Tom Fowler, Edward Blandford, David Chapman, Matthias E Futschik, Raghavendran Kulasegaran-Shylini, Sarah Tunkel, Carolyn Lewis, Alasdair Fellows, Ellie Sheppard, Leanne Mccabe, Peter Marks, Paul E Klapper, Andrew Dodgson, Malur Sudhanva, Mike Kidd, Andy Vail, Susan Hopkins, Tim Peto

School of Biomedical Sciences

PURPOSE: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 raised concerns about the best sampling sites for PCR testing, with early indications suggesting throat swab samples were better than nasal swab samples. Our study evaluated the sensitivity of detecting SARS-CoV-2 across different swabbing sites.

METHODS: Participants undergoing testing at NHS Test and Trace sites in England provided self-collected samples using nose only, throat only, and combined nose and throat swabs, which were analysed by realtime PCR.

RESULTS: Among 815 participants, combined swabs had higher viral concentrations than nose only or throat only swabs. Sensitivity for detecting SARS-CoV-2 by PCR was 91 % for …

Shedding Light To The Rights To Light In England And Wales: The Need For Reform, Goodtime Okara

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

The right to light is unarguably a right that could hinder the development of the servient land. Owing to the possibility of granting a mandatory injunction when breached, this right could lead to extra costs and delays in the efficient development of the servient land by real property developers, even when the dominant tenement does not wish to enjoy the right. Hence, this paper critically reflects on rights to light in England and Wales to determine the impact of this right on the servient land. It explores the direction of travel across the Courts – by briefly examining rights to …

Epistolary Technologies Of Separation And Archives Of Emotion, James Daybell

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Transatlantic Solidarity In The Shadow Of The Russian–Ukrainian War: A Neorealist Explanation, Lorenzo Cladi

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

The threat posed by Russia, which was exposed most clearly following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, provided the impetus to strengthen solidarity among the transatlantic allies. Notable consequences included a renewed sense of purpose for NATO and the strengthening of the EU’s resolve in responding to a crisis in its backyard and a willingness by many European states to do more to contribute to defence. Whilst there is apparent unity of intent in supporting Ukraine in the long term, this article argues that solidarity rests upon a familiar working pattern in transatlantic relations. This can be elucidated most …

Exploring Islamophobia Through Intersectionality., Suparna Bagchi

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

A Lifestyle Educational Course As An Adjunct To Biologic Administration In Patients With Severe Asthma: A Feasibility Study, Joseph W. Lanario, Drew Davies, Lucy Cartwright, Michael E. Hyland, Matthew Masoli

School of Health Professions

Objective: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of adapting a psychoeducation course (Body Reprogramming) for severe asthma and finding suggestions for improvement. Methods: Severe asthma patients were recruited from a single centre and enrolled in an online group-based course. Each course consisted of four sessions: introduction to BR, stress, exercise, and diet. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires assessing HRQoL, mood, asthma and extra-pulmonary symptoms, pre/post course. Those who attended two or more sessions were invited to provide feedback in interviews. Results: Twenty-eight participants took part in one of the five courses. Thirteen (46 %) attended all four sessions and …

Provision Of A Daily High Protein And High Energy Meal: Effects On The Physical And Psychological Wellbeing Of Community-Dwelling, Malnourished Older Adults; A Randomised Crossover Trial, Lauren Struszczak, Mary Hickson, Irene Mcclelland, Brad Metcalf, Manuela Barreto, Luciana Torquati, Jon Fulford, Rachael Allen, Claire Hulme, Mary F. O'Leary, Joanna L. Bowtell

School of Health Professions

Objectives: To determine whether daily provision of a high protein, high energy meal for 12-weeks to under-nourished older adults living independently in the community can improve physical, physiological, and psychological outcomes. Design: A randomised crossover trial. Setting: Participant homes within a 15-mile radius to meal supplier; Dartmoor Community Kitchen Hub. Participants: Fifty-six community dwelling older adults (82 ± 7 years, 70% female) were randomised (stratified for baseline mini nutritional assessment (MNA) score and cohabiting or living alone) to receive 12-weeks of meal provision followed by 12-weeks no intervention (meals first group, n = 28), or, 12-weeks without intervention followed by …

Identifying Outcomes And Outcome Measures In Neonatal Family-Centered Care Trials: A Systematic Review, Cansel Kocakabak, Agnes Van Den Hoogen, Melissa Rothfus, Marsha Campbell-Yeo, Johanna Kostenzer, Anna Axelin, Patricia Schofield, Jos M. Latour

School of Health Professions

Background: A wide range of outcomes for infants and parents has been reported in clinical trials testing FCC interventions. This systematic review aimed to identify outcomes, outcome measures, and time-points reported in experimental studies testing FCC interventions in neonatal care units. Methods: This review included experimental studies investigating FCC interventions in neonatal settings. Database searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, Scopus, JBI, Lilacs, and SciELO, completed in December 2022 and updated in November 2023. Critical appraisal was performed using the JBI checklist for randomized controlled trials, and a narrative synthesis process was used. Outcomes were categorized into …

Exploring Barriers And Facilitators To Dietary Assessment And Advice In The Paediatric Population Attending Dental Clinics: A Scoping Review, Lauren Hallewell, Raul Bescos, Zoe Brookes, Robert Witton, Patricia Casas-Agustench

School of Health Professions

OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aimed to identify barriers and facilitators, from both dental clinic staff and caregivers, to effectively providing and implementing dietary assessment and advice (for both oral and/or systemic health) in dental clinics managing paediatric patients.

METHODS: A protocol was developed a priori (Open Science Framework- https://osf.io/bp4ts.) and followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies published in English from 1990 to December 2024 in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase and CINAHL databases were searched. Additional journal searches targeted articles on dietary assessment or advice in dental clinics treating paediatric patients (aged ≤ 18 years), exploring barriers and facilitators for caregivers and …

Palynology, Landscape And Land Use: Retrospect, Prospect And Research Agendas, Ralph Fyfe, Kevin Edwards, Laura Scoble

More Faculty of Science and Engineering Research

This paper provides a context for the use of anthropogenic palynology in the study of landscape and land use. Retrospective considerations indicate a history to current trends and inform future developments. Recent and prospective studies secure palynology as an essential element in archaeological and related environmental research. It is stressed that palynology is an inherently spatio-temporal discipline that can use concepts such as landscape or habitat heterogeneity as a future framework. This may be possible if recent advances in quantification of local vegetation cover, for example the use of model-based correction approaches within the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm, are more widely …

Edible Algae Reduce Blood Pressure In Humans: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials, Patricia Casas-Agustench, Sandra Mínguez, Zoe Brookes, Raul Bescos

School of Health Professions

BACKGROUND: Edible algae contain bioactive compounds such as peptides, fucoidan, polyphenols, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants that may benefit cardiovascular health, particularly in lowering blood pressure (BP) regulation. Certain species, including Nori and Kelp, are also rich in inorganic nitrate, known for its BP-lowering effects. However, the relationship between algae consumption and hypertension remains controversial. This study evaluated the effects of edible algae on BP in humans, considering factors such as algae type, format, dosage, intervention duration, health status, and baseline BP.

METHODS: A systematic search of Medline-Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane databases was conducted through December 2024. Randomised controlled …