Digital Commons Network^™

Productivity History Of The Central Okhotsk Sea And Northeast Russia During The Mid-Pleistocene Transition, Li Lo, Wei Zhu Chen, Julie Lattaud, Yi Hsueh Tsai, Simon T. Belt, Lukas Smik, Yuen Tung Kiki Wan

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Biological productivity, shaped by climate and environmental factors, is critical to climate feedback mechanisms and the global carbon cycle. This study investigates the measurement of six phytosterols (β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, dinosterol, epi-brassicasterol, and 24-methylene cholesterol) from core MD01-2414 in the central Okhotsk Sea, covering the past 1.5 million years (Ma). These sterols serve as proxies for terrestrial and marine productivity in the central Okhotsk Sea and northeast Siberia. Sterol concentrations reflect global glacial/interglacial cycles between 1.2 and 0.6 Ma, with higher and lower values during interglacial and glacials intervals, respectively. X-ray fluorescence (Ba/Ti) and total organic carbon/total nitrogen (TOC/TN) ratios …

The Wind In The Willows Effect: Does Age Affect Human Versus Animal Faux Pas Recognition?, Gray Atherton, Lucy Robinson, Lucie Guy-Smith, Liam Cross

School of Psychology

Children’s literature is rife with anthropomorphic or non-human characters that may be used as a scaffold to teach children about theory of mind (ToM) or the ways in which people think or feel about the social world. In this study, 107 typically developing U.K. school children in Years 1, 3, and 5 (5–10 years of age) completed a human and anthropomorphic ToM test that tested their understanding of faux pas. Specifically, children from these three age groups were given a human version of 20 faux pas stories and an identical animal version of the same stories 1 week apart (with …

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 …

“Being Away From Everything”: Exploring The Importance Of Access To Nature For Individuals Living With Chronic Low Back Pain, Alexander Smith, Kayleigh Wyles, Patricia Schofield, Sam Hughes

School of Psychology

Chronic low back pain is a persistent and debilitating condition, and therapeutic outcomes in the long term are generally poor. There is growing evidence to support the ineffectiveness of ‘one-size-fits-all’ pharmacological approaches to pain management. To that end, alternative non-pharmacological therapies such as green social prescribing and time spent in nature are gaining popularity. But it is imperative to understand to what extent these potential interventions are viable by gaining a deeper insight into the lived experiences of the chronic low back pain community. The present qualitative cross-sectional study employed ten semi-structured interviews (9 women, M age = 50.1, M …

Do Food Planner Apps Enhance Responsible Food Consumption? The Impact Of Perceptual Antecedents And Moderating Effects On Usage Intention, Rajat Subhra Chatterjee, Irfan Hameed, Ranjan Chaudhuri, Demetris Vrontis, Sumana Chaudhuri, Sheshadri Chatterjee

Plymouth Business School

Purpose: A food planner app helps users to create meal plans and recipes to their preferences, dietary requirements and lifestyle needs. Many food planner apps also could assist with grocery lists, calorie tracking, food waste management and reminders to users. But there is less adoption of such apps. Limited studies examine reasons for non-adaptability, emphasizing the need for more research. This research addresses this gap by observing the effect of pertinent factors such as expectant outcome and openness to change on the extended technology acceptance model. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on theories and extant literature, a theoretical model was developed. The model …

Enhancing Brand Equity Through Branded Content Experience On Social Media: Developing And Testing A Moderated Mediation Model, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Adnan Waseem, Nauman Wajid, Irfan Irfan

Plymouth Business School

This study examined the relationship between branded content experience and brand equity by focusing on the mediating role of brand trust and the moderating role of consumer regret of interacting with branded content on social media. In testing the hypotheses proposed in this study, survey data were drawn from a sample of social media users and examined through structural equation modeling. The results indicate that branded content experience positively influences brand equity directly and indirectly via brand trust. In addition, moderated path analysis indicated that regret weakens the direct effect of branded content experience on brand trust and its indirect …

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 …

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 …

Which Factors Predict Outcome From Specialist Physiotherapy For Functional Motor Disorder? Prognostic Modelling Of The Physio4fmd Intervention, Glenn Nielsen, Teresa C. Lee, Louise Marston, Alan Carson, Mark J. Edwards, Laura H. Goldstein, Rachael Maree Hunter, Kate Holt, Jon Marsden, Markus Reuber, Jon Stone, Irwin Nazareth

School of Health Professions

Objectives: Physiotherapy is considered part of first line treatment for functional motor disorder (FMD) although not all patients benefit. Predictors of treatment outcome may help to inform triage decisions. We aimed to determine which baseline variables predicted treatment outcome in the pragmatic multicentre Physio4FMD randomised controlled trial of specialist physiotherapy for FMD. Methods: Participants randomised to the specialist physiotherapy arm of the trial were included in the analysis. Treatment outcome was dichotomised into improvement vs no improvement, based on two measures, Short Form 36 Physical Functioning (SF36 PF) and participant-rated Clinical Global Impression Scale of Improvement (CGI-I). Predictors of outcome …

Tetrazole-Containing Naphthalene Bis-Sulfonamide Keap1-Nrf2 Interaction Inhibitors With Unexpected Binding Modes, Nikolaos D Georgakopoulos, Sandeep K Talapatra, Sharadha Dayalan Naidu, Dina Dikovskaya, Maureen Higgins, Jemma Gatliff, Roxani Nikoloudaki, Marjolein Schaap, Jasmine M Walker, Christopher Wardby, Albena T Dinkova-Kostova, Sarah Harris, Frank Kozielski, Geoff Wells

Peninsula Medical School

Naphthalene bis-sulfonamides are amongst the most studied inhibitors of the interaction between Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap1), a ubiquitination facilitator protein and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor associated with diverse cytoprotective responses. The compounds bind to the C-terminal Kelch domain of Keap1 and occupy the Nrf2 binding pocket, causing Nrf2 to accumulate and increase the expression of a battery of antioxidant response element genes. The binding modes of the compounds have been characterised through a series of X-ray crystallography and binding assay studies. In this work we have evaluated a series of symmetric and asymmetric …

Serious Games For Constipation Management For People With Intellectual Disabilities: A Scoping Review And Narrative Synthesis, Serena Daniel, Ruth Bishop, Ellie Killner, Alison Whight, Sarah Lennard, Stephen Howard, Richard Laugharne, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction: People with intellectual disability (PwID) are 2% of the UK population. Constipation and bowel movement (BM) problems (diarrhoea/faecal incontinence etc.) affects over a third of PwID and is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality. Pw ID rely heavily on outside support (family/professional carers/healthcare professionals), many of whom are ignorant to bowel related harms. There is significant stigma to discuss BM particularly constipation. Serious Games (SG) are increasingly used for education of health needs. This review examines if game-based technology can assist improving knowledge and reducing stigma of BM problems particularly constipation. Objective: To identify and gain evidence of …

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 …

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 …

Tolerance Of Ambiguity And Psychological Wellbeing In Newly Qualified Doctors: An Analysis Over Multiple Time Points, Tom Gale

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction: There is evidence of an association between tolerance of ambiguity and psychological wellbeing in doctors, but this relationship is not well understood. We explored this relationship, and the individual or workplace factors moderating it, in a population of newly qualified doctors. Methods: We examined the experiences of newly qualified doctors in the UK as they started a novel interim role (Time 1) and later moved into foundation year 1 roles (Times 2 and 3) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Doctors completed the Tolerance of Ambiguity of Medical Students and Doctors scale (TAMSAD Range: 0–100), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS: 0–40), …

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. …

Letter-To-The-Editor To The Study By Bartek J Et Al “Multidisciplinary Consensus-Based Statement On The Current Role Of Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization (Mmae) In Chronic Subdural Hematoma (Csdh)” – A Letter From The International Csdh Research Group Committee, Icoric, T.S.R. Jensen, J. Duerinck, D. Holl, C. Iorio-Morin, J. Soleman, E. Edlmann

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

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 …

Bridging The Divide: How Do Lecturers In Undergraduate Sound Engineering Courses Bridge The Gap Between Industry And Education?, Daniel Tregenna

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

The formal study of sound engineering is a relatively modern and under-researched field within modern arts education. However, this subject has a number of features that are common across a range of subjects of a similar nature. How the lecturers who work on these courses influence students and tie them to the wider industry is potentially pivotal in an industry so intrinsically tied to the nature of interpersonal connections. Particularly where this industry simultaneously does not provide stable and sustained working partnerships. This international comparative study looks to explore the role lecturers on undergraduate sound engineering courses play in bridging …

‘At Least I Wasn't In An Inner-City Flat With A Partner I Hated’: An Auto/Biographical Study Of Reflections On Well-Being By 35-65 Year Olds In Cornwall Following The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cheralyn May

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health have been considerably researched since its start in 2019, by researchers from a range of disciplines around the world. This sociological study (using insights from social and positive psychology) contributes to our knowledge of the pandemic by using qualitative methods – fourteen semi-structured interviews and researcher auto/biography to investigate the mental health experiences of middle-aged, single adults living in Cornwall in the UK during the pandemic. In the pandemic literature, this is an under-researched, and therefore potentially less understood, group and location. The data was analysed using a combination of the …

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 …

Co-Production And Evaluation Of An Online Antenatal Educational Programme For Birthing People At Moderate Risk Of Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction, Thea Jackson

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: CHIEF NURSING OFFICER’S RESEARCH FELLOWS EVIDENCE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS

“Religion’S Firm-Rooted Truths:” Richard Polwhele, Pulpit Oratory And Loyalist Romanticism In The English Province, Dafydd Moore

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This article explores the rearguard action fought by the clergyman and writer Richard Polwhele against what he saw as the threat of Anglican Evangelicalism and Methodism in Cornwall during the French Revolutionary period, highlighting the connections between religious experience, rhetorical performance and politics. Whether it be through his theorizing of pulpit oratory, his rows with those he considered Enthusiasts or his understanding of ordination oaths, Polwhele maintained that religious belief should be regulated by rhetorical distance. Explaining this stance, the article shows how Polwhele’s theological and ecclesiological opposition to the Enthusiasm he regarded as dangerously inherent in Evangelical Protestantism also …

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 …

Biostatistik In Ophthalmologie Und Optometrie: Eine Artikelserie Zur Unterstützung Evidenzbasierter Entscheidungsprozesse, Daniela Oehring, Pedro Miguel Serra

School of Health Professions

Zweck. Fortschritte in der Augen- und Sehversorgung basieren auf der Anwendung von Forschungsergebnissen und der präzisen Interpretation klinischer Daten. Dennoch treten in der Augen- und Sehforschung (EVR) häufig Forschungsverschwendungen auf, bedingt durch methodische Mängel und unangemessene statistische Analysen. Dies untergräbt die Validität von Studien und führt zu ineffizienter Nutzung erheblicher finanzieller Ressourcen. Dieser Artikel, der erste Teil der Serie „Entwicklung statistischer Kompetenzen in der Augenheilkunde: Eine Reihe zur Unterstützung evidenzbasierter Entscheidungsprozesse”, zielt darauf ab, diese Herausforderungen anzugehen, indem er die statistische Kompetenz von Fachkräften in der Augenheilkunde stärkt.Material und Methoden. Anhand einer umfassenden narrativen Literaturübersicht und der Erstellung simulierter klinischer …

The Implementation Of Behaviour Change Practices In Physical Activity Referral Schemes: A Narrative Review, John Downey, Katie Shearn, Nicola Brown, Ross Wadey, Jeff Breckon

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BackgroundPhysical activity referral schemes have been used extensively as one pathway to support behaviour change in people with long term conditions. Best practice guidance, across countries, recommend that schemes use behaviour change practices. The effectiveness of these schemes is inconsistent, yet, little is known about the implementation of specific approaches, or what influences practitioner’s delivery. This article provides a narrative review of evidence exploring the implementation of behaviour change practices in physical activity referral schemes.MethodsAn electronic search of three databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) was undertaken. A menu of iterative techniques was also applied from the CLUSTER approach to increase …

Accelerating The Uptake Of Home Haemodialysis: An Evidence-Informed Implementation Project In Cornwall, Emmanuel Asimah

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: CHIEF NURSING OFFICER’S RESEARCH FELLOWS EVIDENCE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS

Exploring The Factors Influencing Retention Of Internationally Educated Nurses At Torbay And South Devon Nhs Foundation Trust: A Service Improvement Project, Abdul-Manan Alhassan

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: CHIEF NURSING OFFICER’S RESEARCH FELLOWS EVIDENCE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS

Home Treatment Team Response For People With Complex Emotional Difficulties: Evidence Informing Service Development, Chloe Parkin, Lauren Oliver, Yasemin Demir

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: KNOWLEDGE + ACTION

Identifying The Key Factors For Education During Physiotherapy Treatment Of Patients With Frozen Shoulder: Developing An Educational Intervention, Laura Tapp

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: CHIEF NURSING OFFICER’S RESEARCH FELLOWS EVIDENCE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS

Implementing A Patient Reported Experience Measure To A Home-Based Intermediate Care Service In Cornwall, Bethan Allen

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: CHIEF NURSING OFFICER’S RESEARCH FELLOWS EVIDENCE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS