Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparative Study Of Word Embedding Techniques For Classification Of Star Ratings, Craig Mcneile, Malgorzata Wojtys, Hesham Abdelmotaleb

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Telecom services are at the core of today’s societies’ everyday needs. The availability of numerous online forums and discussion platforms enables telecom providers to improve their services by exploring the views of their customers to learn about common problems that customers face. Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools can be used to process the free text collected.One way of working with such data is to represent text as numerical vectors using one of many word embedding models based on neural networks. This research uses a novel dataset of telecom customers’ reviews to perform an extensive comparative study showing how different word …

Effect Of Morphine On Respiratory Drive In Infants With Acute Viral Bronchiolitis Receiving Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist, Julia Harris, Benjamin Crulli, Jos M. Latour, Andrew Nyman, Xabier Freire-Gomez, Federico Minen, Shane M. Tibby

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BACKGROUND: Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) is a patient-triggered ventilatory mode requiring intact respiratory drive. We compared 2 intravenous morphine infusion doses in infants with acute viral bronchiolitis receiving NAVA. The objectives were, to evaluate (1) impact on neural respiratory drive, measured by electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) and estimated airway occlusion pressure (P0.1) and (2) tolerability, via the COMFORT behavioral scale and physiological variables. METHODS: Randomized, nonblinded, crossover (morphine dose), feasibility trial. Infants likely requiring mechanical ventilation for >48 h at enrollment received intravenous morphine infusion rates of 5 μg/kg/h (low dose) and 20 μg/kg/h (standard dose) on …

Thresholds Of Wave Forcing: Implications For Atoll Reef Dynamics Under Sea Level Rise, Mathilde Lindhart, Gerd Masselink, Ashley Holsclaw, Tim Scott

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

We investigate the response of shallow reef flow to tidal variability and wave exposure during a 4-month field campaign in southern Huvadhu Atoll, Maldives. Incident waves breaking on steep fore reefs and reef crests generate a setup proportional to offshore wave height that drives a cross-reef flow. We emphasize a critical threshold—where the depth on the reef flat equals the depth at wave breaking—that separates two distinct reef flow regimes: one dominated by strong, unidirectional flow from the ocean into the lagoon and another where wave breaking ceases, flow rates decrease, and occasionally reverse direction. Recognizing the relative importance of …

Comparison Of Three Temperate Rainforest Climate Envelopes For Britain And Ireland: Where Could Our Rainforest Be?, Katerina Chernyuk, Thomas R. Murphy, James Buckley, Mary O'Shaughnessy, Markus P. Eichhorn

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Restoration of natural habitats is now recognised as a priority in both political and scientific circles. Temperate rainforests are internationally rare and endangered habitats, which are delineated from other woody biomes by high year-round rainfall and moderate temperatures, and are restricted to mid-latitude zones of the globe. With Britain and Ireland harbouring up to 40% of the potential range of European rainforest, this is a crucial region for their protection and restoration. Recent investment in tree planting and restoration initiatives in Ireland and Britain highlight the need for informed planning of native habitat and woodland creation to ensure long-term stability …

Quantitative Comparison Of The Performance Of Injection-Molded Polymeric Microneedle Dry Electrodes And Traditional Gel Electrodes For Ecg Signal Acquisition, Om Prakash Singh, Andrea Bocchino, Dennis Cherian, Yuan Hu, Michael J. Haslinger, Daniel Fechtig, Iris Prinz, Stefan Brandstatter, Paul Galvin, Conor O' Mahony

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Wearable dry electrodes facilitate continuous long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, which is beneficial for the early diagnosis and management of heart disease. However, existing dry electrode technologies face limitations in maintaining clinically acceptable signal quality during movement, restricting their usability when patients are active. This is particularly critical for cardiac patients—such as those with arrhythmias or heart failure—who benefit from continuous monitoring during daily activities, exercise, or rehabilitation, where motion artefacts often obscure clinically relevant ECG features. To address this gap, we present microneedle (MN) dry electrodes, manufactured using a cost-effective industrial injection moulding process that is scalable for mass. We …

Trapped And Traumatised: A Scoping Review Of The Psychological Sequelae Of Entrapment Following Motor Vehicle Collision, Thomas A.M. Dixon, Kara Hole, Louise Johnson, Tim Nutbeam

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a significant public health challenge, resulting in substantial mortality and morbidity. Entrapment occurs in 12–33% of all MVCs and is associated with greater injury severity, longer on-scene time, and increased mortality. However, the psychological consequences of entrapment remain poorly characterised. Objectives: This scoping review seeks to establish the current understanding of the psychological sequelae of entrapment following MVCs and draws on insights from related fields of study in order to inform future research and clinical practice. Methods: A scoping review was undertaken following established methodological guidance. Searches were completed on NHS Knowledge and Library …

Changing Patterns Of Psychotropics Use Among Older Adults With Intellectual Disability Over A Decade, With A Focus On Designated Mental Health Conditions, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

ABSTRACTBackground: Psychotropics (sometimes off-label), mental health diagnoses and behaviours of concern are common in olderadults with intellectual disability. Guidelines recommend non-pharmacological interventions and regular medication review.This study examined changes in psychotropics among older adults (≥40) with intellectual disability.Methods: Longitudinal data were obtained from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study onAgeing (IDS-TILDA) at two timepoints [Wave 1(2009/10); Wave 4(2019/20)]. Post hoc analysis, Chi-squared tests and univariatebinary logistic regression were conducted.Results: Overall, psychotropics decreased (59.2% to 56.5%). Significant decreases in antipsychotics (43.1%–40.1%) and sedatives/hypnotics (13.6%–8.1%) and significant increase in antidepressants (26.2%–31.8%) were found. Nearly half of antidepressant usersreported depression …

A Systematic Review Of Cyber Risk Analysis Approaches For Wind Power Plants, Muhammad Arsal, Tamer Kamel, Hafizul Asad, Asiya Khan

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Wind power plants (WPPs), as large-scale cyber–physical systems (CPSs), have become essential to renewable energy generation but are increasingly exposed to cyber threats. Attacks on supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks can cause cascading physical and economic impacts. The systematic synthesis of cyber risk analysis methods specific to WPPs and cyber–physical energy systems (CPESs) is a need of the hour to identify research gaps and guide the development of resilient protection frameworks. This study employs a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol to review the state of the art in this area. Peer-reviewed studies published …

Optimising Anti-Seizure Medication Timing Using A Dynamic Network Model Of Seizure Rhythms, Jake Ahern, Udaya Seneviratne, Wendyl D’Souza, Mark J. Cook, John R. Terry

Peninsula Medical School

Epileptic seizures and interictal discharges exhibit robust circadian and multidien rhythms, yet the interaction between these biological cycles and anti-seizure medication (ASM) pharmacology remains poorly understood. Here, we present a dynamical network model that integrates rhythmic fluctuations in cortical excitability with pharmacokinetic properties of common ASMs to explore how treatment timing influences efficacy. The framework embeds a slow, rhythm-generating process directly within the governing equations, allowing seizure-like dynamics to emerge endogenously. We simulated ASMs with a range of distinct half-lives under single-daily and twice-daily dosing schedules. For the short half-life ASM, efficacy depended strongly on the phase of administration, with …

Overcoming The Dyadic Default In Research On Child Development, Roman Stengelin, Patricia Kanngiesser, Sophie Milward

School of Psychology

Researchers conducting experimental work on sociocognitive development in childhood typically study one-on-one interactions. This approach aligns with the assumption that children's social cognition, motivation, and learning first emerge in dyadic interactions before scaling up to larger social ensembles. In this article, we argue that this dyadic default reflects widespread theoretical and cultural biases as well as methodological convenience, leading to an overemphasis on dyadic interactions in research on child development. Because dyadic engagements can differ qualitatively and quantitatively from those in larger social ensembles, the dyadic default may systematically skew our understanding of key areas of social development and fail …

In What Ways Do Political Factors And Relations Of Power Interfere With The Legal Protection Of Human Rights In Cameroon?, Nelson Agbor

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

ABSTRACTTitle: In what ways do political factors and relations of power interfere with the legal protection of human rights in Cameroon?In November 2016, a socio-political crisis erupted in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon, mainly due to the marginalisation of English-speaking populations in these two regions. This crisis has since metamorphosed into an armed conflict between government forces and armed separatist groups operating in these warring regions. The conflict has resulted in severe human rights abuses committed both by the government forces and armed separatist groups operating in these regions. The conflict, also known as the Anglophone crisis, began …

A Universal Of Human Social Cognition: Children From 17 Communities Process Gaze In Similar Ways, Manuel Bohn, Julia Christin Prein, Agnes Ayikoru, Florian M. Bednarski, Ardain Dzabatou, Michael C. Frank, Annette M.E. Henderson, Joan Isabella, Josefine Kalbitz, Patricia Kanngiesser, Dilara Keşşafoğlu, Bahar Köymen, Maira V. Manrique-Hernandez, Shirley Magazi, Lizbeth Mújica-Manrique, Julia Ohlendorf, Damilola Olaoba, Wesley R. Pieters, Sarah Pope-Caldwell, Katie Slocombe, Robert Z. Sparks, Jahnavi Sunderarajan, Wilson Vieira, Zhen Zhang, Yufei Zong, Roman Stengelin, Daniel B.M. Haun

School of Psychology

Theoretical accounts typically assume that key features of human socio-cognitive development are universal. This paper reports a large-scale cross-cultural study (17 communities, diverse ethnicities, N = 1,377, 709 female, mean = 5.50 years, -collected March 2022 to January 2024) on gaze following in early childhood. To test for universality, cognitive processing signatures were derived from a computational model treating gaze following as social vector estimation. Results showed substantial variation between communities and individuals. Yet, the processing signature was found in all communities. Individual differences in performance were related to children's familiarity with the data-collection device but not opportunities for social …

From Detection To Protection: Online Risks, Privacy And Security In The Lives Of Disabilities, Cansu Bolat Dinc, Elizabeth J. Done

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper emphasises the need to address onlinerisks, privacy and security in the everyday digital livesof individuals with intellectual disabilities. It proposesa study that will explore their online experiencesalongside parental concerns, expectations andpractices, as well as the forms of support teachersprovide to both parents and students. The project willadopt a mixed-methods design, bringing togetherfocus groups with young people with intellectualdisabilities, online surveys with parents and semistructured interviews with teachers. By integratingthese perspectives, the paper aims to build an evidencebase that can inform future research and guide thedevelopment of more context-sensitive policies,educational practices and curricula. Ultimately, thestudy seeks to contribute to …

Restoration Enhances Carbon Storage In Mangroves After Hurricane Impacts, Robert Puschendorf

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Mangroves are globally important blue-carbon ecosystems, yet their resilience isthreatened by extreme weather events and hydrological alterations. Insoutheastern Mexico, a large mangrove die-off occurred in 1995 followingHurricane Roxanne and Tropical Storm Opal, linked to storm-surge–drivenhypersalinity, sedimentation, and prolonged flooding. In 2005, an ecologicalrestoration program was launched in the Términos Lagoon region, focusing onhydrological rehabilitation and reforestation with Avicennia germinans. Fourteenyears later, we assessed ecosystem recovery by quantifying total ecosystemcarbon stocks (TECS), defined as the sum of 0–50-cm soil organic carbon andtree biomass carbon, across conserved, degraded, and restored sites, and byreconstructing vegetation cover dynamics from multi-decadal satellite imagery(1984–2023). TECS differed …

Transforming Dental Education Through Lived Experiences, Casper Jonker, Alex Cresswell-Boyes, Wendy Smith

Peninsula Dental School

No abstract provided.

I Wasn’T Prepared For That”: Uk Social Worker Experiences Of Training In And Knowledge Of Acquired Brain Injury, Alyson Norman, Mark Holloway

School of Psychology

Summary: Acquired brain injury is a major cause of death and disability. Due to the impact of acquired brain injury on an individual's and a family's functioning, social workers are likely to encounter individuals and families affected by the condition. This study aimed to (1) identify the existing level of knowledge and skills of social workers in working with individuals with acquired brain injury and their families and (2) examine the training needs of social workers to improve their knowledge and skills in working with those with acquired brain injury. A series of semi-structured interviews with newly qualified social workers …

Natural And Reduced Anthropogenic Injuries Rates In Reef Manta Rays (Mobula Alfredi) From The Chagos Archipelago, Central Indian Ocean, Jessica Savage, Heather Koldewey, Tom Letessier, David Morritt, M Rowcliffe, Guy M.W. Stevens, Joanna L. Harris

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) accounts for nearly two-thirds of plastic debris in the open ocean and can entangle marine megafauna. Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are susceptible to entanglement in ALDFG, with consequences ranging from sublethal injuries to mortality. Mobula alfredi are listed as Vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, in part, due to their slow reproduction rate and susceptibility to unsustainable fishing pressures. Their exposure to ALDFG could further hinder their survival; therefore, it is essential to quantify the impacts of ALDFG. This study assesses a photographic identification database for …

Manta Munchies: Plankton Dynamics And Feeding Behaviour Of Reef Manta Rays (Mobula Alfredi) Around D'Arros Island In The Seychelles, Dillys K Pouponeau, Joanna Harris, Henriette M.V Grimmel, Ellie E Moulinié, Robert W Bullock

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is a threatened filter-feeding elasmobranchthat requires immediate management and protection across large parts of itsrange. Despite being well-studied, a detailed understanding of their feedingecology, which shapes their residency, movement patterns, and behaviour,remains underexplored. Both global and site-specific research is required to fillsignificant knowledge gaps essential for designing effective conservationstrategies for this species and their habitats. This study investigated M. alfredifeeding behaviour in relation to plankton biomass dynamics at D’Arros Island inthe Seychelles, the largest known M. alfredi aggregation site in the country and agazetted marine protected area. Plankton samples were collected, along withcorresponding environmental …

Probability Cueing In Large-Scale Environmental Search: The Role Of Landmark Cues In Statistical Learning, Shaun Dordoy, Rory Baxter, Alastair Smith

School of Psychology

Efficient environmental search is an important and adaptive everyday skill. A particular feature of theoretical interest is whether large-scale search is informed by the spatial statistics of the environment - probability cueing is a robust effect in two-dimensional visual search tasks, but studies of large-scale search have generated equivocal findings. Here, we examined whether sensitivity to a statistical cue specified within an allocentric reference frame is modulated by the presence and location of environmental landmarks. Participants explored fully immersive virtual environments, wherein they were presented with an array of locations (columns) and required to search them for a hidden target …

Exploring The Experience Of Co-Designing Mental Health Services In The National Health Service As An Expert By Experience, Annabelle Mccall, Peta Temple, River Rose, Pete Keohane, Lealah Hewitt-Johns

School of Psychology

PurposeThe number of Experts by Experience (EbE) working in mental health services has grown in recent years. The National Health Service (NHS) five-year plan states EbE should be used across different levels, including service delivery, design and commissioning. While current research explores the role of EbE in service delivery, little is known about their experiences of co-designing services. This study aims to explore EbE experiences of co-designing NHS mental health services.Design/methodology/approachThis research used qualitative semi-structured interviews with ten participants who had worked on projects focused on co-designing NHS mental health services as an EbE. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic …

The Itrail Making Test (Itmt): An Evaluation Of Novel Testing Paradigms, Hidden Indices Of Measurement, And Diagnostic Accuracy In Parkinson’S Disease, Donnchadh Murphy, Jonathan Scott, Craig Newman, Rupert Noad

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction: The Trail Making Test (TMT) is an important test when assessing for cognitive difficulties in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). However, the pencil-and-paper format can be susceptible to administration and scoring errors and may disproportionately reflect motor impairments rather than cognitive performance. The current study sought to evaluate the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of two novel computerized versions of the TMT: iTMT-Tap and iTMT-Drag. Method: This study used a quasi-experimental diagnostic accuracy design, and included 34 healthy controls, 28 people with Parkinson’s disease with normal cognition (PD-NC), and 31 people with Parkinson’s disease mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI). Participants were …

Considerations When Venturing Into Community Engagement With Those Who Struggle To Access Advice Or Care, Ruth Potterton, Abigail Nelder, Karen Burn

Peninsula Dental School

No abstract provided.

Mooring Analysis In Offshore Floating Labs: Case Study On A 15 Mw Wind Platform, Chenyu Zhao, Jiaxin Chen, Lars Johanning

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

As floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) expand into deeper and more complex marine environments, validating mooring system performance under real-world conditions becomes critical. This study investigates whether the purposely designed offshore floating laboratory (OffLab), named ACTOR, can serve as an effective and conservative testbed for mooring line evaluation. ACTOR is a conceptual platform inspired by the floater of the UMaine VolturnUS-S 15 MW semi-submersible FOWT design. The dimension of the ACTOR is about one third of the 15 MW semi-sub floater and is intended deployment in a nearshore UK site with milder sea conditions. Using site-specific environmental data from two …

The Impact Of Skin Tone On Performance Of Pulse Oximeters Used By Nhs England Covid Oximetry @Home Scheme: Measurement And Diagnostic Accuracy Study, Exakt Study Investigators, Daniel S Martin, James C Doidge, Doug Gould, Tasnin Shahid, Alex Cowden, Walton N Charles, Amelia Francis Johnson, Roger Garrett, Catherine Mbema, Olusegun Olusanya, Eugene Healy, Kathryn Rowan, Paul Mouncey, David A Harrison

Peninsula Medical School

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of skin tone on the measurement and diagnostic accuracy of five fingertip pulse oximeters used by patients in the NHS (National Health Service) England COVID Oximetry @home scheme.

DESIGN: Measurement and diagnostic accuracy study (exploring pulse oximeter accuracy across skin tones-EXAKT).

SETTING: Twenty four intensive care units in England between June 2022 and August 2024.

PARTICIPANTS: 903 critically ill adults admitted to intensive care units screened for or enrolled into a trial evaluating different approaches to oxygen therapy.

INTERVENTIONS: Pulse oximetry derived peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurements were compared with paired arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) …

Social Prescribing Within Five European Countries: A Protocol Of A Cross-Country Qualitative Analysis, Stephanie Tierney, Debra Westlake, Farhad Rezvani, Daniela Rojatz, Juliane Köberlein-Neu, Trutz Bommhardt, Sónia Dias, Maria João Marques, Donata Kurpas, Hendrik Napierala, Wolfram Herrmann, K Husk

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction Social prescribing is an approach to addressing non-medical issues affecting people’s health and well-being (eg, loneliness, housing or financial problems). It has gained international traction over recent years as complementary to medical care. A larger research project, comparing social prescribing across European countries, is considering how to tailor provision for the following groups: (a) LGBTIQ+persons, (b) refugees and first-generation immigrants and (c) older adults living alone. As part of this research, a qualitative study will address the question: What are the enabling and limiting factors associated with implementing social prescribing, across different European countries, from the perspective of key …

Investigating Age-Related Decline In Sensorimotor Control Using Robotic Tasks, Laura Alvarez-Hidalgo, Ellie Edlmann, Gunnar Schmidtmann, Ian S. Howard

School of Health Professions

Aging is associated with changes in sensorimotor control that contribute to functional decline, mobility limitations, and increased fall risk. Traditional motor assessments often rely on subjective measures, highlighting the need for objective, quantitative tools. We developed three robot-based tasks using the vBOT planar manipulandum to evaluate sensorimotor performance in healthy young (<35 years) and older (>60 years) adults. These tasks uniquely combined bimanual control and altered dynamic conditions to assess age-related differences. The first task required bimanual coordination to control a virtual 2D arm over 400 center-out and return trials, targeting de novo motor learning. The second task involved unimanual reaching with the …

Only One Percent Of Important Shark And Ray Areas In The Western Indian Ocean Are Fully Protected From Fishing Pressure, Jesse E. M. Cochran, Ryan Charles, Andrew J. Temple, Peter M. Kyne, Emiliano García‐Rodríguez, Adriana Gonzalez‐Pestana, Amanda Batlle‐Morera, Théophile L. Mouton, Asia O. Armstrong, Christoph A. Rohner, Darren J. Coker, Royale S. Hardenstine, Alexander Kattan, Ashlie J. Mcivor, Viktor Nunes Peinemann, Kaitlyn A. O'Toole, Lea Palm, Eloise B. Richardson, Kalli Valappil Akhilesh, Haleh Ali Abedi, Reem K. Almealla, Dareen Almojil, Samantha Andrzejaczek, Arzucan N. Askin, Avik A. Banerjee, Hamid R. Bargahi, Alissa J. Barnes, Svetlana Barteneva‐Vitry, Siamak Behzadi, Aymeric Bein

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is known for its high diversity of chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras). However, intense fishing pressure has led to severe population declines and local extinctions of several species. The Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) process is a collaborative, evidence-based approach used to identify critical habitat for chondrichthyans. We analysed ISRAs across the WIO to quantify the diversity of research methods used to identify them, evaluate spatial overlap with designated marine protected areas (MPAs), model the influence of several species- and jurisdiction-specific variables on ISRA delineation, and explore the importance of incorporating unpublished data into …

Unravelling Impact Of Comorbidities On Mortality Risks In Ckd Patients During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Explainable Ai-Driven Study, Zeinab Abdollahi, Lin Huo, Donald Fraser, Shang-Ming Zhou

School of Nursing and Midwifery

ObjectivesThe chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients were at high risk for severe clinical complications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objectives were to evaluate comorbidity prevalence; predict mortality risks for CKD patients during the pandemic; assess how various health factors interact to influence mortality; and provide insights for targeted prevention strategies.MethodWe analysed data from 186,396 CKD patients in Mexico during the entire pandemic (Jan 2020- May 2023). Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods with extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) were developed to predict mortality for CKD patients with model interpretations. Different metrics were used to comprehensively evaluate …

Mobile Apps For Psychotic Disorders: A Systematic Review Protocol, Ananya Ananthakrishnan, Aditya Narain Sharma, David Anderson, Rohit Shankar, Edward Meinert

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundEarly intervention for psychotic spectrum disorders can improve long-term outcomes, but service availability and quality can vary globally. Mobile apps have the potential to provide personalised and accessible support for people with psychotic disorders via features such as symptom monitoring, medication reminders, and self-management interventions. Existing reviews have provided an overview of such apps and their feasibility but lack a synthesis of their efficacy, safety, and acceptability. Addressing this gap would guide future app designs and facilitate their implementation by informing clinical and policy decisions. The purpose of this systematic review will be to synthesise the evidence about existing mobile …

Landworks Evaluation 1 April 2024 To 31 March 2025: Generating A Harm Reduction And Desistance Community, Patricia Gray, Julie Parsons

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This year, LandWorks has experienced both highs and profound challenges. In July 2024, LandWorks won the Overall Award for Excellence at the Charity Awards — the most prestigious awards scheme in the charity sector. The judges highlighted LandWorks’ greatest achievement as “the way it built trust with its trainees and helped them rebuild their lives by understanding the experiences that led to their criminal behaviour in the first place.” Staff, trainees, and graduates were deeply proud of this recognition, which serves as a national endorsement of LandWorks’ accomplishments since its establishment in 2013. Alongside this success, the past twelve months …