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The Added Value Of Narrow Band Imaging In Sinonasal Tumour Resection And Surveillance: Our Experience, Yazan Kanaan, Ra'ed Al-Ashqar, Hisham Khalil, Konstantinos Geronatsios, Marios Stavrakas

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Narrow Band Imaging (NBI), developed by Olympus Medical Systems, has played a role in diagnosing digestive tract lesions and cancers, diagnosing and characterizing bladder cancers during cystoscopy and in the diagnosis and management of Head and Neck cancers. We aim to explore the potential use of NBI in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of sinonasal tumours.

METHODS: We present a series of cases treated at our institution, where NBI played a crucial role in the diagnosis, surgical management, intraoperative decision-making, and follow-up. The cases include a patient with sinonasal lymphoma, 2 patients with sinonosal malignant melanoma and …

To Identify Key Determinants Of Green Hrm: Evidence From The United Nations, Jin Woong Yoo, Saeyeon Roh, Georgina Raper

Plymouth Business School

Purpose: This study aims to discover key driving factors towards the implementation of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) in the United Nations (UN) in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach: As a mixed method, we collected quantitative and qualitative data sets from Human Resource (HR) practitioners or experts in the UN in South Korea. While the survey data was analysed by employing the Consistent Fuzzy Preference Relations (CFPR) method, the qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis. Findings: Among HR practice, organisation, HR initiative and leadership dimensions, green recruitment from HR practice is deemed the most vital determinant of GHRM. This study concluded …

Mesoscale Modelling For Investigating Effective Properties And Collective Performance Of Geopolymer Concrete, Feiyu Shi

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Concrete is a versatile construction material which, depending on architectural design and structural analysis, can be shaped into various forms so that requirements for beauty and functions of designed facilities can be met while structural strength of the facilities is sufficient to sustain both gravity and external loadings. It is so favoured by engineers that its consumption is just after water. However, Portland cement – a main ingredient for use in the manufacture of traditional concrete – is quite a “dirty” material which releases a large amount of carbon dioxide in the process of its production. Carbon dioxide is one …

Understanding Truth And Reconciliations Processes In An Art-Based Community Project Which Addresses Experiences Of Iatrogenic Harm In Mental Health Services, Joseph French

School of Psychology Theses

Research suggests that some service users may have harmful experiences of mental health services. Truth and reconciliations processes have addressed systemic harm in other contexts. However, these are complex and may have positive and negative impacts. Eight interviews were conducted with seven members of a community arts group which uses a truth and reconciliations approach. Members create art to express harmful experiences of the mental health system and display it at exhibitions where mental health professionals are invited to engage with it. The researcher used a constructivist grounded theory informed approach to understand how artists experienced a truth and reconciliations …

Bridging The Gap: A Mixed Methods Study Of Trainee Clinical Psychologists’ Experiences And Learning Needs For Working With Refugees, With Co-Produced Training Guidelines., Megan Stuart-Richards

School of Psychology Theses

AbstractRefugees face unique and traumatising challenges to their mental health across multiple socio-political climates. Services are providing inequitable support for refugees, which lack appreciation of transcultural conceptualisations of mental distress, amongst a backdrop of social injustice. Refugees were employed as Co-researchers to co-produce every stage of this project. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was utilised in this study to examine experiences and learning needs of 79 Trainee Clinical Psychologists (TCP’s) in their survey responses. Novel training guidelines, to be accessed via ‘supplementary materials’, were co-produced alongside scoped learning needs, which contribute to health research and practice. Four interrelated overarching themes became evident. …

Engaging Student Nurses In Lifestyle Management: The Role Of Technology-Based Interventions And Mobile Health Applications, Daniela Austin

School of Psychology Theses

Despite their knowledge of health risks and their future role as health promoters, pre-registered nursing students frequently struggle with unhealthy behaviours, including high rates of overweight and obesity. This thesis investigated these challenges in a student nurse population in the South West of England, exploring lifestyle patterns, perceived barriers and motivators, and the potential of mobile health (mHealth) interventions to support behaviour change.Using a multi-method approach across four studies, the research examined students’ current health behaviours, attitudes towards digital tools, and the feasibility and acceptability of theory-driven interventions. The first study, a cross-sectional survey, assessed diet, physical activity, and attitudes …

Exploring The Mechanisms Of Functional Imagery Training For Sleep Problems: A Single Arm Pilot Study, Ross Allen, Jackie Andrade

School of Psychology Theses

Functional Imagery Training (FIT) is a brief motivational intervention grounded in the Elaborated Intrusion theory of desire. It helps individuals use personalised, emotionally vivid mental imagery to support goal pursuit by drawing on past successes to plan actions, overcome obstacles, and rehearse behavioural strategies. Delivered in the client-centred style of Motivational Interviewing (MI), FIT aims to strengthen motivation for sustained behaviour change. While FIT has shown promise in areas such as weight loss and anxiety, its application to sleep-related behaviour change remains unexplored. This single-arm pilot study examined whether FIT is associated with improvements in sleep quality and motivation to …

What Helps And Hinders Staff Supporting People With Intellectual Disabilities Regarding Sex And Relationships, Laurence Constable, Deanna Gallichan

School of Psychology Theses

Background Studies have suggested that staff experience multiple obstacles to providing effective support around relationships and sexuality. The literature has suggested several potential solutions yet it is not clear what impedes the implementation of these. Understanding these barriers could improve care. Methods Two focus groups were carried out with a total of 13 participants recruited from the Southwest of England. Participants were recruited from client-facing roles across care providers, education provision, and social care provision. The focus groups were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings Four themes were drawn from the data. These were ‘Fear hinders care’, ‘Care is led …

Ethnographically Informed Research Exploring The Impact Of Embedding Trauma-Informed Principles In A Befriending Programme For Refugees., Zahraa Abdulreda

School of Psychology Theses

Refugees often experience trauma from war, displacement, and post-migration stressors, leading to collective and transgenerational trauma. This study explored the impact of embedding trauma-informed principles (TIP) within a refugee befriending programme, where refugees were paired with local volunteers. Ethnographic Action informed research was used through completing interviews, observations, and a focus group. Participants included five befrienders and seven refugees, alongside observational data. Thematic and framework analyses identified five key themes: The Relationship, Safety for Befrienders, Inclusivity, Supporting Befriendees with Integration, and Challenges of Befriending. TIP enhanced understanding of how community-based, trauma-informed interventions can support refugee recovery and resilience. The study …

Laugh, I Nearly Cried: A Qualitative, Reflexive Thematic Analysis Of The Impact Of Humour In Psychotherapy From Client And Therapist Perspectives, Elina Broholm

School of Psychology Theses

Humour in psychotherapy is commonly occurring, yet seldom discussed as a resource in the training and education of therapists, nor considered from the perspective of clients in therapy. This qualitative study explored how clients and therapists perceive the impact of humour in psychotherapy on the therapeutic alliance, experience, and process. 12 clients and eight therapists contributed their perspectives on humour’s impact on the therapeutic experience, considering both its helpful and unhelpful contributions. Not all humour is equal, and special consideration was given to how different humour styles may impact psychotherapy. Reflexive thematic analysis from 20 semi-structured interviews suggested that humour …

Exploring The Caring Experiences Of Parent-Carers Of People With Learning Disabilities Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, Lauren Moore

School of Psychology Theses

BackgroundPrevious research has suggested that providing care for a relative significantly impacts emotional distress. This research took an exploratory approach to understanding the caring experiences specifically of parents of people with learning disabilities (PWLD).MethodTen parents of people with learning disabilities took part in semi-structured, online interviews about their experiences of caring. Interview data was analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.FindingsAnalysis generated five main themes which were interpreted to summarise the caring experience of these parents: Lifechanging, Emotional, Responsibility, Abandoned, Future. There were many experiences which were shared by participants, though various factors can impact these realities.ConclusionThis research concludes that parenting a …

Exploring The Relationship Between Attachment State Of Mind, Emotional Development And Distress In Adults With Intellectual Disabilities – A Pilot Study, Amy Pantridge

School of Psychology Theses

BackgroundAttachment theory and emotional development are increasingly considered important for understanding distress in people with intellectual disabilities, yet no prior studies have empirically explored relationships between these constructs.MethodAdults with intellectual disabilities and informants were recruited from UK community organisations. Participants completed an attachment measure (AAP), brief cognitive measure, and questionnaire on perceived emotional support. Informants completed a distress measure (HoNOS-LD), emotional development measure (SED-S), and provided feedback on the SED-S. ResultsNo significant relationship was found between attachment and emotional development, though some specific associations emerged. Unresolved attachment was common. Discrepancies were observed between informant-reported and participant-reported data. Informants found elements …

Impact Of Dietary Functional Yeast Additives On Growth Performance And Health Of Selected Key Aquaculture Species, Sheu Odu-Onikosi

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The aquaculture industry has witnessed remarkable growth in recent decades underscoring its crucial role in global food security. However, this rapid expansion brings challenges, including the need to meet growing fish demand while minimising environmental impacts and managing disease prevalence. Functional feed additives (FFAs) have emerged as sustainable solutions to enhance fish health and performance. Among these, yeast-derived additives have garnered significant attention for their nutritional benefits and proven ability to promote growth and strengthen immune responses in fish.This study evaluates the effects of dietary brewer's yeast-derived additives on fish using a range of in-depth analyses, such as growth performance, …

Factors Controlling Protein Metabolism And Growth In The Common Limpet Patella Vulgata, Ignacio Alvarez-Cienfuegos

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The intertidal environment is a complex and highly dynamic ecosystem shaped by the interaction of strong abiotic and biotic factors. Organisms living in this habitat present marked physiological and behavioural adaptations to cope with extreme and fluctuating conditions, which make this ecosystem the perfect natural laboratory to analyse the effects of biological interactions and physical stressors in ectotherm protein metabolism and growth in the field. Patella vulgata’s ability to maintain aerobic metabolism out of the water, its homing behaviour, its high abundance, and wide geographical distribution facilitates the study of ectothermic physiological processes in the field. Despite the importance of …

Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution: Critical Assessment Of The Potential To Develop A Civil Liability And Compensation Mechanism Under The Law Of The Sea Convention, Alexandra Leaton

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

Plastic pollution has had a detrimental global impact, particularly in the marine environment, due to its mobility, longevity, and tendency to be difficult to retrieve. The situation has worsened because of the increased production and consumption of plastics and the fact that pollution occurs throughout the entirety of plastics’ production and lifecycle. Its pathways/vectors to the marine environment are diffuse and complex. The combined environmental, social, and potential health impacts of plastics have resulted in the development of over 40 international legal and other regulatory mechanisms, although inconsistent implementation has resulted in a fragmented framework with gaps and overlaps. The …

The Idealised And The Profane Nun: The Image Of The Nun At The Fin-De-Siècle And Into The 1930s., Shannon Lewis

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis examines the representation of nuns from the Fin-de-Siècle into the 1930s, in the popular medium of postcards, in art during the Modernist period, and throughout the early development of film. The thesis demonstrates how secularisation, rapid technological development, and political discourse during the selected era impacted the image of the nun. The images selected will be reviewed in the light of Christian iconography, highlighting how the nun is represented and understood as a cultural construct, rather than the reality of the nun. Imagery of nuns from this era seems to fall into two categories of idealisation and/or profanation …

Experiences And Understandings Of Multiculturalism In Mainstream Primary Schools In Southwest England, Suparna Bagchi

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

The present study is an exploration of teachers’, parents’ and students’ experiences and understandings of multiculturalism in four mainstream primary schools situated in a predominantly White location in Southwest England. It adopts qualitative methodology under a single case study design underpinned by a sociocultural theoretical framework. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews conducted virtually with adult participants, students’ classroom activities and field notes supplemented by photographs of classroom and corridor displays. Study findings suggest strong support among participants for incorporating multicultural components in school teaching and learning. Findings also suggest varying levels of accessibility, knowledge and availability of resources around …

Reassembling Anti-Oppressive Teaching Practices In Professionally Qualifying Youth And Community Work Education, Christine Smith

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

New and continuing formations of oppression remains a contemporary 21st Century challenge compounded by a fracturing of democratic structures that give rise to intolerance of difference and threaten social bonds. The big questions about the type of society we want to live in, what it means to be human, and the role of education are questions that are increasingly alienated from everyday lived experiences and a collective commitment to shape a fairer and more socially just world. Thus, the scale of challenges underscores a need to think differently about how Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) in professionally qualifying youth and community education …

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

School of Psychology Theses

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

Developing New Memory Tests In Alzheimer’S Disease: A Development And Initial Pilot Study., Áine Maguire

School of Psychology Theses

Objective: This development and pilot study aimed to create and assess the utility and feasibility of using three new computerised memory tests of semantic interference during learning, short-term visual memory binding, and cross-modal associative memory binding with people with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Method: The new memory tests were evaluated as potential diagnostic and staging tests in AD using a sample of older adults: 15 with a clinical diagnosis of AD, mean age 70.80±5.41 years; 14 with positive AD biomarkers but no known cognitive impairment (preclinical AD), mean age 70.60±4.49 years; and 15 healthy controls (HCs), mean age 69.60 ±7.38 years. …

Exploring Individuals’ Experiences Of Working With Probation Who Have Personality Disorder: A Community-Based Participatory Action Research Approach., Nikki Morfey

School of Psychology Theses

Utilizing a Community-Based Participatory Action Research approach, semi-structured interviews were used to explore seven individuals’ experiences of working with Probation who self-identified as screening into the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of the data resulted in the construction of six Group Experiential Themes. Findings reflect participant confusion with the Personality Disorder label in light of feeling it was imposed without discussion, speaking to their experiences of the power dynamic in the probation relationship. Participants described being reduced to a case to be managed, with no space to be seen as a person, and a gap between …

The Experiences Of Systemic Invalidation In Chronic Pain Care Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Individuals: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study, Claira Moro

School of Psychology Theses

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 …

“We've Just Kind Of Woven In All These Different Ways Of Keeping Him Close By” A Narrative Analysis Of How Children And Their Surviving Parent Co-Construct Continuing Bonds Following Parental Death, Miriam Summers

School of Psychology Theses

Continuing bonds research has predominantly focused on adults and considered from an individualistic perspective; consequently, little is known about how such bonds may be developed relationally within families. This study aimed to explore how parentally bereaved children and their parent/caregiver co-construct continuing bonds. Eight families were recruited, and parent/caregivers and their children were interviewed together. Narrative analysis explored semantic themes and interactional processes. The findings highlighted that continuing bonds are co-constructed through regular joint remembering, family acts of remembrance, joint connecting through objects and shared interpretations of signs from the deceased. Constructive interactional processes included collaboration, agreement and sharing positive …

A Community-Based Participatory Action Research Project Exploring The Experiences Of Suicidal Distress For Autistic Adults: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study, Kyah Sisulu, Emily Hustwick, Philippa Wood, Bethany George, Lealah Hewitt-Johns

School of Psychology Theses

Background: Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 15–29 (WHO, 2021). Autistic individuals experience elevated rates of mental health difficulties, often linked to stigma, discrimination, and a lack of appropriate support (Botha & Frost, 2020; Hedley et al., 2018). They are significantly more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours than the general population (Hirvikoski et al., 2016). Despite this, limited research has explored autistic adults’ lived experiences of suicidal distress. Calls from autistic advocates highlight the need for inclusive, co-produced research to avoid perpetuating harm (Pellicano et al., 2014; Kapp et al., 2013).Aims: This study …

Automated Vulnerability Scanning And Security Audit Framework For Maritime Systems, Avanthika Vineetha Harish

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

The maritime industry is a well-established sector, with the shipping industry dating back hundreds of years. The devices in this sector differ from those in the Information Technology (IT) sector in their usage, operations, hardware, andprotocols. Technological advancements have introduced new challenges in the sector, including the increased risk of cyber attacks. To effectively identify, respond to, and analyse these threats, it is essential to understand the cyber securityvulnerabilities in maritime systems and system-of-systems.Currently, there are no standardised methods or automated tools for conducting cyber security testing of maritime systems. This thesis presents an automated vulnerability scanning and security audit …

Generated Image Quality Assurance And Generative Adversarial Network Augmentation For Machine Learning, Dirk Holscher

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

The advancement of machine learning is heavily dependent on the quality of data used for training models. This thesis explores the enhancement of data quality and augmentation techniques using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), pecifically focusing on the Pix2Pix architecture. The research addresses the critical challenges of improving image quality, optimizing hyperparameters, and detecting fake images generated by GANs, aiming to enhance the robustness and eliability of machine learning models. This work presents a collection of metrics for measuring data quality for both structured and unstructured data. Furthermore, it defines data quality for machine learning, divided into three quality levels. Advanced …

A Protocol Agnostic Electrically Transparent Distributed Switch Fabric For It/Ot Testbenches, Wesley Andrews

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This thesis presents the design and development of custom hardware, based upon RF (Radio Frequency) MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) switch technology and a grounded, conductor backed, edge coupled, coplanar waveguide transmission line design to facilitate protocol-agnostic, electrically transparent switching of different hard-wire protocols, such as Ethernet, USB (Universal Serial Bus), CAN (Controller Area Network) bus, RF and more within an IT/OT (Informational/Operational Technology) environment. This is achieved through a distributed, decentralised switch fabric composed of individual switch fabric nodes, which achieves fully reconfigurable IT/OT environments at the electrical level. Traditional IT/OT environments consist of diverse systems involving computers, network switches, …

Anomaly Detection Based Post Gripping Perception For Industrial Logistics Robotics, Firas Zoghlami

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

The adoption of low volume high mix manufacturing lines in global production sites has lead to a great need for flexible automation solutions. Flexible intelligent robots as an example are increasingly deployed in new industrial environments, such as the intra-logistics, in order to increase the automation level of the mentioned manufacturing lines. The lack of structure and the high dynamic of such industrial environments lead to potential performance deterioration related to unexpected events that are not recognized by the robot. Detecting such changes in the robot environment is believed in this thesis to be possible with anomaly detection techniques which …

A Framework For Tailored Organisational Cyber Security Training, Zinnar Ghasem

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Zinnar Ahmed Ghasem A framework for tailored organisational cyber security training AbstractSociety is increasingly becoming dependent on cyberspace; in such it is becoming an integral part of every-day life of most people in both work and home context. This dependency spans across individuals, businesses, and organisations including governments who are relying on cyberspace for various services, ranging from email to social networking, and from cloud computing to ecommerce and financial automated process and transactions. These services are vulnerable and face sophisticated cyber threats, risks and attacks, and potentially can result in financial losses and compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability …

An Exploration Of The Experiences And Factors Influencing Physical Activity In People With Parkinsons, Heather Hunter

School of Health Professions Theses

Abstract:Background: Physical activity plays a crucial role in enhancing the well-being and quality of life of people with Parkinsons. Despite substantial evidence supporting its benefits, people with Parkinson’s struggle to maintain an active lifestyle. This thesis explored the perspective of people with Parkinsons on their engagement in physical activity.Methodology: This research employed a person-centred approach, comprised of three sequential phases. Phase One: A systematic review utilising the JBI approach of meta-aggregation synthesised the best available qualitative evidence of people with Parkinson's' views and preferences regarding physical activity interventions. Phase Two: Constructive Grounded Theory was used to explore the beliefs, attitudes, …