Digital Commons Network^™

Digital Inclusion - Establishing And Understanding The Problem In A Digital First Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service: A Practice Improvement Project, Andrew Deare

South West Clinical School Journal

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

Professional Identities, Culture And Pillars, Ralph Hammond

South West Clinical School Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Impact Of Staff Attitudes And Behaviours On Hospital-Associated Deconditioning, Cheryl Kent

South West Clinical School Journal

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

Repeated Bed Moves In A Community Treatment And Assessment Unit (Catu), Exploring The Impact On Patients And Nursing Staff, Erica Simmonds

South West Clinical School Journal

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

The Efficacy Of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation In Reducing Acute Phantom Limb Pain: Patients’ Perspectives, Jennifer Bernthal

South West Clinical School Journal

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

Evaluating The Impact Of A Walking Group On Staff Well-Being And Compassionate Care In Mental Health Inpatient Services, Amanda Glanville

South West Clinical School Journal

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

Facilitating Friendship Maintenance For People With Aphasia, Tom Williams

South West Clinical School Journal

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

Haematinics Assessment Prior To Commencing Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy To Prevent Anaemia, Reduce Transfusion Requirements, And Improve Treatment Outcomes, Lee Merry

South West Clinical School Journal

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

Managing Metabolic Osteoarthritis In Primary Care: A Survey Of First Contact Physiotherapist’S Knowledge, Confidence And Role Perception, Kate Preston, Clare Cambray, Mike Henning

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: CHIEF NURSING OFFICER’S RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

Designing And Manufacturing Low-Cost, Tendon-Driven Soft Robots, Ted Winter-Glasgow, Pablo Borja

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Soft robots have the potential to solve many problems in areas like robotics surgery, human-robot interaction, unmanned exploration tasks, and food harvesting. However, several aspects of soft robotics are still in development, e.g., efficient designs, actuation methods, modeling, and control. This paper provides some designs of tendon-driven soft robots that can be used for educational and research purposes, boosting the understanding of these systems. The proposed designs focus on five features: low manufacturing costs, accessible fabrication methods, simple assembly processes, an open-source approach, and durability.

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

School of Psychology

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

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

More Faculty of Science and Engineering Research

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

Derivation And Validation Of The Simplified Bleedingaudit Triage Trauma (Sbatt) Score: A Simplified Trauma Score For Major Trauma Patients Injured In Motor Vehicle Collisions, Tim Nutbeam, Willem Stassen, Emily Foote, Francois-Xavier Ageron

School of Health Professions

Objectives To develop and validate a simplified Bleeding Audit Triage Trauma (sBATT) score for use by lay persons, or in areas and environments where physiological monitoring equipment may be unavailable or inappropriate.Design The sBATT was derived from the original BATT, which included prehospital systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate, respiratory rate, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), age and trauma mechanism. Variables suitable for lay interpretation without monitoring equipment were included (age, level of consciousness, absence of radial pulse, tachycardia and trapped status). The sBATT was validated using data from the UK Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) registry.Setting Data sourced from prehospital …

Exploring Anxiety, Uncertainty Perception, Treatment Experiences, And Coping Strategies: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Aysun Parlar Yazici, Alyson Norman, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Non(Belonging) Of Ethnic Minority Communities In Britain: Researcher Reflections, Suparna Bagchi

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Introduction. There is limited research concerning the experiences of people belonging to ethnic minority communities in predominantly White places (Cline et al., 2002; Garland & Chakraborti, 2006; Scourfield & Davies, 2005). Predominantly White places are those that are inhabited by people from ethnic minority communities with restricted communication with places of worship, cultural institutions and educational norms of their communities, for which they do not feel included (DfES, 2004). In these places, these people not only reside in an invisible state (Bhopal, 2014), but their voices also stay unheard (Chakraborti & Garland, 2004) in official records (Pac-Soo & Taylor, 2023). …

Engagement With Professional Stakeholders In Healthcare Research—The Case Of The Dementia Personalised Care Team (D-Pact) Project In The United Kingdom, Basharat Hussain, Hannah Wheat, Tomasina M. Oh, Richard Byng

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction: In this viewpoint we highlight a gap in the literature relating to the involvement of professional stakeholders in healthcare evaluation research. Method: Using the Dementia—PersonAlised Care Team (D-PACT) project as an example, we illustrate how professional stakeholder work can serve various functions, from understanding commissioning and policy context to contributing to detail of intervention components. Outcome: We argue that identifying these project-specific functions can help researchers to effectively plan when, how and for whom they will engage in professional stakeholder work across the course of an evaluation. In addition, we call for further evidence-based guidance and sufficient allocation of …

Sloshing Analysis Of An Isothermal Fluid In A Cylindrical Tank For Cryogenic Tank Design Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, Dillon Freeman

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This paper investigates the capability of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics to model the free surface sloshing response of an isothermal fluid in a cylindrical geometry. Eleven frequencies for two horizontal driving amplitudes (0.5 mm & 2.0 mm) were validated against experimental results and the influence of the starting direction of the tanks acceleration on the steady state response was investigated. The SPH results reproduced the overall behaviour of the experimental data closely over the range of frequencies tested, but produced higher amplitudes with greater variance in the region of the tanks natural frequency. Furthermore good symmetry was observed between sidewalls for …

Circle Of Security Parenting; A Qualitative Investigation Into The Perceived Long-Term Impact On Parenting In Plymouth, United Kingdom, Rebecca Cartwright

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Parenting is a unique experience for every family and improving this experience for both the child and the parent has long-term benefits for giving the child the best opportunities for the future. Attachment has been noted as a factor which improves a child's development and other areas of their life with a lasting effect into adulthood. An example of interventions used to improve parent-child relationships are parenting courses. Circle of Security Parenting is an 8-week parenting course designed to support attachment by encouraging a group of between four and six parents to reflect on their own childhood and subsequently their …

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

The Plymouth Student Scientist

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

Development Of A Computational Model To Assess Wave Overtopping Performance Of Floating Structures Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, Emily Knott

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Wave overtopping in foul weather presents a hazard to sailors and offshore workers. Predicting the overtopping performance of a ship or structure is important to safety and performance but existing methods are either low accuracy or computationally expensive, and every design must be analysed separately. Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) may be used in the creation of less computationally expensive numerical simulations for overtopping analysis.

This paper extends upon the basic SPH method to incorporate wave generation and rigid body motion, enabling the wave overtopping performance of fixed and floating structures to be determined in two dimensions. This extended model was …

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

The Plymouth Student Scientist

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

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

The Plymouth Student Scientist

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

An Investigation Into The Current Knowledge And Consumption Frequencies Of Probiotic Products Amongst Uk-Based Athletes, Ella J. Myers

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Growing evidence supports the role of probiotics as modulators of the gut microbiome and subsequent beneficial effects on health, adaptations to exercise, and performance amongst athletes. Despite this, limited literature exists concerning athletes’ current understanding or consumption habits of such products. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the knowledge and consumption frequencies of probiotic products amongst UK-based recreational and competitive athletes using a three-part online questionnaire. A scoring system based on the number of correct responses to questions regarding probiotics was employed to assess athlete knowledge. Subsequent questions allowed for the collection of data regarding respondents’ current consumption habits …

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

The Plymouth Student Scientist

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

The Weight Of Words: An Investigation On The Impact Of Stereotypical Body Language On Body Dissatisfaction, Hannah M. Brown

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Body image research is extensive, producing various tools to assess body dissatisfaction and related factors. Despite this, eating disorder rates remain high. This study investigates the relationship between self-schemas, the lexical frameworks of body-related words, and their impact on body shape dissatisfaction. Sociocultural pressures to conform to beauty standards make body image talk ubiquitous and influential. Previous studies primarily used explicit measures, like self-reports, which are subject to biases, whereas implicit measures reveal underlying cognitive mechanisms. This study employed the Stunkard Figure Scale to measure body dissatisfaction and the Body Appreciation Scale 2 to assess body appreciation, examining cognitive biases …

Measurement Of The Mechanical Properties Of Blood Vessels Using A Vascular Simulation Rig, Jack Lockyer

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Understanding the mechanical properties of blood vessels is crucial for reconstructive surgeons who connect donor tissue flaps to recipient sites. This paper describes the development of a vascular simulation test rig that delivers pulsatile flow to a blood vessel sample while continuously monitoring system pressure and sample diameter. These measurements allow for the calculation of the viscous coefficient, an important mechanical property for comparing blood vessels. A pilot test using the rig demonstrates its ability to measure pressure and diameter and highlights necessary improvements to enhance data quality. The pilot test shows that the current rig can measure 5 mm …

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

The Plymouth Student Scientist

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

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

The Plymouth Student Scientist

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

Synthesis And Characterisation Of An Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor, Elijah Rahman-Riding

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are currently the only effective treatment for people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects 50 million people worldwide at present but is expected to rise dramatically over the next 30 years. The aim of this research was to synthesise an AChE inhibitor derivative of tacrine, 4-chloro-2(((1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridin-9yl)imino)methyl)phenol (chlorophenol tacrine). This was achieved by first synthesising tacrine, evidencing successful synthesis and assaying purity of the product, then, synthesising a simple derivative, acetyl tacrine, before chlorophenol tacrine. At every stage of the investigation comprehensive structural analysis of each product was obtained using FT-IR, CHN analysis, GC-FID, …

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

The Plymouth Student Scientist

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