Digital Commons Network^™

Parents' Views On Family Care At A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit — A Qualitative Study, Linea Grothe Larsen, Suzanne Forsyth Herling, Sanne Allermann Beck, Anne Brødsgaard, Jos M. Latour, Rikke Louise Stenkjaer

School of Nursing and Midwifery

PurposeThe current study aims to explore parents' views on family care at a neonatal intensive care unit.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative exploratory study with a descriptive approach based on open-ended written narrative responses from the Danish version of EMpowerment of PArents in The Intensive Care—Neonatology questionnaire. The study was conducted at a Danish level IV NICU working with family-centred care and family integrated care. The data was analysed using inductive content analysis by Graneheim and Lundman. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was followed.Main FindingsIn total, 311/727 parents responded to the distributed questionnaire. Of those, 210 responded to the open-ended …

A Novel Approach For Evaluating And Comparing Multiple Antipsychotic Polypharmacy In Adults Across Specialist Intellectual Disability Services In England And Wales: A Retrospective Feasibility Cohort Study, Samuel J. Tromans, Helen Neilens, Crispin Musicha, Victoria Allgar, Emily Stanyard, Richard Laugharne, Paula Mcgowan, Angela Hassiotis, Sarah Lennard, Lance V. Watkins, Bhathika Perera, Kiran Purandare, Ashok Roy, Indermeet Sawhney, Sujeet Jaydeokar, Ryan Ashford, Chris Rollinson, Hanna Abraham, Nusra Khodabux, Ogheneochuko Akusu, Samuel Paisley, Georgios Mousailidis, Meera Naran, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Background:In England and Wales, significant numbers of people with intellectual disability (PwID) are prescribed antipsychotics for a range of licensed and non-licensed indications, particularly behaviours that challenge. There is no system to compare antipsychotic prescribing practices across specialist adult intellectual disability (ID) services.Aim:This study aimed to determine whether converting antipsychotics and their doses to equivalent chlorpromazine units enables comparison of licensed (psychosis, etc.) and non-licensed (behaviours that challenge) prescribing between different services.Method:A feasibility retrospective cohort study using convenience sampling captured anonymized data of PwID on ⩾2 antipsychotics across eight specialist England and Wales adult ID services. The doses prescribed across …

Association Of Tooth Wear With Dentin Hypersensitivity: A Systematic Review, Sumanth Kumbargere Nagraj

Peninsula Dental School

Objectives: The association between tooth wear (TW) and dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is not well understood. This systematic review investigated the role of TW (and etiological factors) as an associated factor for DH. Materials and Methods: Literature search was conducted in five databases with terms related to DH and TW, until April 2025. Three pairs of independent reviewers selected clinical studies reporting on DH and TW (and related etiology) in dentate adults, and performed data extraction. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. A structured narrative synthesis was performed. Results: Twenty-one studies were included, with DH …

Health Promotion In Tertiary Music Institutions: A Position Paper, Raluca Matei, B. Ackermann, J. Allen, U. Alpagut, K. Ananda-Owens, L. S. Araújo, R. Arnold, K. Árnason, T. Babyak, M. Baroody, F. Barreto Kochem, S. Bastepe-Gray, K. Behel, K. R. Beuschau, M. Bidlack, C. Blouin, A. Bull, A. Bush, S. Callan-Harris, K. Chesky, J-Y. Chi, R. Chiu, V. Cornett, M. Cortesi, S. Couth, A. Détári, U. Devadas, M. Doğantan-Dack, S. Dunbar, G. Ege

School of Health Professions

Health promotion in tertiary music education lacks shared guidance despite rising concern for musicians’ well-being. This position paper addresses that gap with a consensus-based, evidence-informed framework developed by 122 contributors across six continents and a variety of disciplines, including musicians and student representatives. It advances a broad understanding of health—physical, psychological, social, cultural, and occupational—and positions health promotion as integral to musicking rather than an add-on. We offer seven adaptable recommendations for institutions: (1) Reframe musicianship through health-informed cultural transformation; (2) Transform institutional culture and governance; (3) Collaborate across disciplines and expertise; (4) Equip educators, leaders, and staff to promote …

Between Care And Competence: Rethinking Alternative Provision., Helen V. Mulligan

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

This opinion piece argues that Alternative Provision (AP) in England is failing to meet the needs of vulnerable young people due to inconsistent staffing, inadequate specialist training, and the normalisation of low educational expectations. Although some AP settings demonstrate high aspirations and committed practice, the sector as a whole remains marked by variability and a lack of coherent pedagogical structure. Drawing on research into educational inequality, emotional labour, ethics of care, and professional identity, the paper contends that systemic reform is urgently required. Recommended actions include mandatory specialist training for AP staff, national standards for curriculum and pedagogy, stronger accountability …

Paragliding The Cliff Edge: Introducing Open Mic Studies. A Creative Response To Navigating The Post-18 Landscape For Young Adults With Send., James Tarling, Charlie Robinson, Nick Hall, Sammy Shepherd

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

This conceptual article investigates novel ways of thinking about Open Mic Nights (OMN) – performance spaces understood as free, community arts and performance opportunities where the members of the public are welcome to perform music, poetry and comedy in front of an audience. For the purposes of this article, music-related OMN that take place in pubs or community centres are discussed.

The article is intended to be a primer for OMN studies that offers new and emerging trailheads for future research and discussion. Its central focus is how OMN may benefit the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) community with …

Trade Measures—Relationships And Implications, Peijie Wang, Zhiyuan Liu

Plymouth Business School

Various value-added trade measures have been developed to address the concern in the growing volume of trade in intermediates that are double counted when crossing international borders more than once. This paper raises a query and makes an inquiry into the query. How trade figures in these measures would look like if comparisons are made in net terms and in the context of trading with the rest of the world, given that some double counted elements offset themselves in a series of crossing border processes in opposite traffic? Examined among them in this study are domestic value added in gross …

Quality Reveals What Quantity Conceals: Deceptive Equity Patterns In Urban Green Space Distribution, Zheng Xian, Yoshiharu Suzuki, Kun Liu, Clive E. Sabel, Naoki Nakaya, Atsushi Hozawa, Tomoki Nakaya

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Equitable provision of urban green space depends on how green space exposure is measured, yet aggregate, quantity-focused metrics can mask disparities in quality. We introduce the concept of deceptive equity, in which apparent distributional fairness conceals substantive inequality, and test it across 344 postcode areas in Sendai, Japan. Across three dimensions — ecological (NDVI), perceptual (Green View Index) and service provision (accessible park count) — we paired a quantity indicator with a quality indicator. A quantity–quality divergence emerged in every dimension: wherever a quality indicator showed a significant socioeconomic gradient it favoured affluent areas, whereas the corresponding quantity indicators were …

Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Complementary And Alternative Medicine In Cancer Care – A Narrative Review, Saphir Davies, Patricia Eyres, Matt Carey, Kevin Hambridge

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Aims: This narrative review explored nurses’ attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in cancer care. Design: The study design was a qualitative narrative review with meta-aggregation. Data sources: Published studies were identified via searching the following databases: Medline, CINAHL, Pubmed and AMED.Review methods: Four papers that met the inclusion criteria were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Tool. The qualitative data was extracted and meta-aggregated into three synthesised findings. Results: Four papers were included exploring nurses’ attitudes towards CAM in cancer contexts in four different countries. From these papers, 20 findings were extracted and formed into eight …

The Giant Antarctic Amphipod Paraceradocus Miersi Will Not Fare Well If Freshening Continues In The Southern Ocean, John I. Spicer, Simon A. Morley, Katie N.G. Thiessen, Lloyd S. Peck

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Sea water provides a stable environment for marine animals. Most oceanic invertebrates have body fluids similar in ionic composition to sea water. However, Antarctic coastal ecosystems are increasingly exposed to freshening—a reduction in salinity driven by glacial melt, increased precipitation, and extreme weather events. Such changes can cause mortality in Antarctic invertebrates, which generally are intolerant to reduced salinity. This study investigated osmotic and ionic regulation of the Antarctic amphipod Paraceradocus miersi exposed to simulated freshening. When salinity was reduced (from S = 34.6 to 28.0) for 12–48 h, haemolymph osmolality and sodium concentration declined, while calcium remained stable; magnesium …

Career Plans And Seafaring Intentions Among Maritime Students In China, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, And The United Kingdom: A Cross-National Comparative Study, Ana Slišković, Birgit Pauksztat, Lijun Tang, Ioannis Katsounis, Senka Šekularac-Ivošević, Helen Devereux, Gesa Praetorius

Plymouth Business School

Concerns about current and future officer shortages have intensified interest in understanding maritime students’ career plans. While previous research has primarily examined motivations for entering maritime education and training (MET), comparative evidence on students’ seafaring intentions across national contexts remains limited. This study addresses this gap by examining career plans and seafaring intentions among 1,548 maritime students enrolled in MET programmes in China, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, and the United Kingdom. Using cross-national survey data, the study analyses differences in students’ intended career trajectories and explores whether demographic characteristics (gender, age, prior sea experience) and programme-related factors (programme type, level, duration, …

The Sound Of Branding: How Homophonic Store Names Shape Perceptions Through Pleasure And Persuasion, Tao Xu, Hua-Yu Cai, Yu-Hao Zheng, Xiazhao Chen, Juhua Meng, Lin-Rong Fan, Bo-Ya Wang

Plymouth Business School

PurposeDrawing on attribution theory and an interactive marketing perspective, this research examines how homophonic (vs. non-homophonic) store names, conceptualized as a form of offline consumer–message interaction, influence brand image through inferential and affective pathways and how informational cue type moderates these mechanisms.Design/methodology/approachAcross three scenario-based experiments, this research tests the effects of homophonic versus non-homophonic store names and examines the moderating role of informational cue types, including image-based, text-based and no-cue conditions.FindingsHomophonic names enhanced brand image via a dual-path mechanism: positively valenced persuasion knowledge, reflecting favorable inferences about merchant motives and perceived pleasure from meaning resolution. Image-based cues most clearly amplified …

Retired Doctors As Users Of Patient-Facing Electronic Health Records: A Mixed-Methods Survey In The Uk And Spain, Ray Jones, Shang-Ming Zhou, Angeles Lazcoz, Brian Mcmillan, Olanrewaju Bamidele, Richard Fitton, Brian Fisher, Mar Soler-Lopez, Charlotte R. Blease

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BackgroundOnline patient access to electronic records is expanding internationally but remains contested. Although practising clinicians’ concerns are well documented, less is known about the views of retired doctors who are more likely themselves to be patients. We explored the experience of retired doctors in accessing their own medical records as patients in the UK and Spain.MethodsWe conducted an anonymous mixed-methods online survey of retired doctors aged 60 years and over in the UK and Spain. Participants reported their experiences of accessing their own medical records and their views on whether online access should be available to all patients. Quantitative analyses …

Psychotropic Medication Prescribing To Children And Young People Mental Health Inpatient Services: An English National Study, David Branford, Anne Webster, Marinos Kyriakopoulos, Shermin Imran, Prathiba Chitsabesan, Tina Irani, Teresa Randon, Kirsten Peebles, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Background:Mental disorders frequently begin in childhood or adolescence. Worldwide, psychotropics are commonly prescribed for under-18s to stabilise behaviour, mood or thoughts. Psychotropics could cause long-term effects on children and young people (CYP) health, growth and development. There is a knowledge gap about psychotropic prescribing in CYP mental health inpatient units.Aims:To understand and compare psychotropic prescribing patterns in England mental health inpatient units for CYPs and to solicit CYP and their parents’ and carers’ views of it.Method:A national Quality Improvement programme authorised by National Health Service (NHS) England invited all English CYP mental health inpatient units to participate. The programme included …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Sampling Hard Rock Cores Of The Oceanic Crust For Microbiological And Biogeochemical Research, William J. Brazelton, Oscar Cavazos, Jordyn A. Robare, Gordon Southam, Johanna Suhonen, Fengping Wang, Susan Q. Lang, Andrew Mccaig, Peter Blum, Natsue Abe, Remi Coltat, Jeremy R. Deans, Kristin L. Dickerson, Marguerite Godard, Barbara E. John, Frieder Klein, Rebecca Kuehn, Kuan-Yu Lin, C. Johan Lissenberg, Haiyang Liu, Ethan L. Lopes, Toshio Nozaka, Andrew J. Parsons, Vamdev Pathak, Mark K. Reagan, C. Geoffrey Wheat

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Studying life in the deep, rocky subseafloor involves many layers of technological and methodological challenges, and each drilling project or expedition must make a series of choices to address these challenges. We report on the workflow for sampling hard rock cores for microbiological and biogeochemical research that was developed and optimized during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 399. All steps of the workflow, including selection of the sample and its shipboard homogenization and subsampling for specific analyses, were designed to maximize the potential for interdisciplinary collaborations and syntheses of results. Furthermore, multiple strategies to minimize and detect potential microbial …

Keeping The Problem Alive: Curriculum, Problematisation And The Eyfs, Claire Walsh

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

This paper explores how problems are understood in debates about England’s Early Years Foundation Stage (Department for Education [DfE], 2025). Discussions of the EYFS often focus on identifying what is wrong with it and proposing ways to improve or replace it, including both critical perspectives and alternative approaches to early childhood education. While these positions appear different, the paper argues that they share a common tendency: they treat problems as things to be solved. The paper introduces the concept of solution-binding to describe this habit.

Rather than offering another critique or alternative, the paper asks what happens if problems are …

Outbound Tourism – A Cluster Analysis Of Indian Travellers Based On Travel Motivation And Preferences, Shweta Belwal, Rakesh Belwal, Zoe Morgan, Latifa Hamood Al Badi

Plymouth Business School

PurposeThis study aims to explore the travel motivations and preferences of Indian outbound tourists, segmented by motivation and sociodemographic traits.Design/methodology/approachUsing a quantitative research approach, the study administered a structured questionnaire via SurveyMonkey to potential Indian outbound travellers. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to identify key motivational factors, followed by hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses to derive and validate traveller segments.FindingsThe EFA revealed a five-factor structure comprising culture and heritage; adventure and aquatic activities; business and luxury; affordability and ease; and spatial-cultural proximity. Cluster analysis confirmed four distinct tourist segments: global nature explorers; proximity-conscious discerning explorers; indifferent travellers; and budget-conscious …

Development And Evaluation Of Personalised Post-Diagnostic Dementia Support Based In Primary Care: The D-Pact Research Programme, Tomasina M. Oh, Hannah Wheat, Richard Byng, Sarah Morgan-Trimmer, Michael Clark, Sarah Griffiths, Paul Clarkson, Victoria Allgar, Angela Bate, Saqba Batool, Rebecca Beresford, Noor Butt, Joseph Coombes, Siobhan Creanor, Sonia Dalkin, Zoe Doran, Nicolas Farina, Leanne Greene, Alex Gude, Margaret Hart, Jane Horrell, Basharat Hussain, Wendy Ingram, Hannah Jones, Reena Lasrado, Tanya Lee, Baber Malik, Rosemarie Mccabe, Antonieta Medina-Lara, Nia Morrish

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Dementia affects nearly 1 million people in the United Kingdom and their unpaid carers physically, psychologically, socially and economically, highlighting that both need support. Post-diagnostic support is recognised as inadequate globally. In England, it is fragmented or absent apart from primary care – leaving many feeling unsupported as the condition progresses. The Dementia PersonAlised Care Team research programme began in 2018 to address evidence gaps on the effectiveness of dementia support roles and what constitutes ‘good’ support. Objective: Dementia PersonAlised Care Team aimed to develop and evaluate an intervention comprising dementia support workers based in primary care, supporting people …

Emergency Reinfusion Of Vaginally Salvaged Red Cells After Vacuum-Assisted Vaginal Delivery In A Jehovah's Witness: A Case Report, William Hughes

Peninsula Medical School

Perinatal blood management is critical for all obstetric patients as peripartum haemorrhage is common, unpredictable, and consequences can be severe. Patients who do not consent to allogeneic transfusion of blood products introduce additional complexity and are at greater risk of morbidity and mortality. There is growing evidence that reinfusion of autologous blood salvaged from vaginal deliveries is safe and can be lifesaving. Delivering this potentially lifesaving care requires that staff well trained in intraoperative cell salvage are always resident on the delivery suite, and that the delivery suite multidisciplinary team is familiar with the procedure. Here we present a case …

Teleportation Game: Quantum Teleportation In Multi-Agent Systems For Interactive Music, Eduardo Miranda

School of Art, Design and Architecture

This paper introduces an interactive music system with quantum musical agents that communicate by teleporting quantum states to one another. Human performers interact in real time with agents whose melodic and rhythmic behaviours are encoded as quantum states using Single Qubit Probability Amplitude Modulation (SQPAM) and structured through Quantum Phase Estimation (QPE). Up to three agents are combined within a single quantum circuit, with directed communication via quantum teleportation. We are interested in supporting ambiguous, transformative interactions reminiscent of free Jazz improvisation. Therefore, rather than treating noise and decoherence as limitations, the system embraces NISQ-era constraints as creative affordances, framing …

Reinterpreting The Frequency Dependence Of Cortical Auditory-Evoked Response Amplitudes In Light Of Current Understanding Of Cortical Tonotopic Organization, Carl Rushworth, Alexander J. Hardy, Magdalena Sereda, Ben J. Gurer, Julien Besle, Susan T. Francis, Rebecca S. Dewey, Denis Schluppeck, Justin M. Ales, Vassilis Pelekanos, Michael A. Akeroyd, Katrin Krumbholz

School of Psychology

Tonotopy is a fundamental feature of auditory cortical organization, yet its influence on cortical auditory-evoked responses (AERs) remains unclear. Consequently, key properties of cortical AERs—such as their marked amplitude reduction with increasing stimulus frequency—still lack a coherent mechanistic explanation. To address this gap, we combined a meta-analysis of frequency-specific AER amplitudes with forward simulations of AERs informed by current knowledge of auditory cortical tonotopic layout and functional organization. The meta-analysis used a semi-systematic search covering all known automatic cortical AER components—both transient-evoked and steady-state—along with selected subcortical components for comparison. Forward simulations were based on a functional parcellation of the …

Acceptability And Impact Of Weight Management Interventions For Adults With Intellectual Disability: Protocol For A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Rohit Shankar, Ananya Ananthakrishnan, Edward Meinert, Rosiered Brownson-Smith

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction Obesity disproportionately impacts people with intellectual disabilities (PwID). Given the challenges that PwID face, such as cognitive deficits, differences in motivation and communication difficulties, the need for tailored interventions for weight management in PwID is recognised. Yet, this population is underserved, with limited weight management interventions for them compared with the general population. Existing reviews suggest that ‘multi-component’ interventions (including physical activity and dietary advice) are impactful at reducing weight in PwID; however, less is known about how these interventions are tailored for PwID, particularly in addressing their cognitive and communication difficulties which may influence how they understand and …

Drying Kinetics And Shrinkage In Dual-Layer Earthen Buildings: In-Situ Assessment Of Cobbauge, Matthew Fox, Jim Carfrae, Jack Morewood, Mohamed Boutouil, François Streiff, Steve Goodhew

School of Art, Design and Architecture

This case study investigates the long-term drying kinetics and shrinkage of CobBauge, a wet dual-layer earthen construction system undertaken upon the first UK CobBauge building. The methodology involved the use of Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) moisture sensors which were laid in a novel dual layer earthen material and enable moisture monitoring within the wall following construction. Average vertical shrinkage during the five-month monitoring period was 43 mm (2.05%), while average Volumetric Moisture Content (VMC) fell from 11%vol to 5.7%vol. There was little lateral movement and shrinkage was non-uniform. The study assessed the long-term drying kinetics of CobBauge in a wet, …

Drivers Of Stopover Distribution Across Two Autumn Migration Routes Of A Long-Distance Afro-Palearctic Migrant, The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus Canorus), Alex Gale, Máire Kirkland, Phil Atkinson, Robert Puschendorf, Chris Hewson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Across the globe, many long-distance migratory birds have undergone population declines. Understanding the environmental factors which underly migratory stopover locations can inform conservation strategies for such species. Here, we identify environmental predictors of autumn stopover sites used by UK-breeding male cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) migrating to centralAfrican wintering grounds via two alternative flyways. Between 2011 and 2021, 88 male cuckoos from UK breeding grounds were fitted with <5 g satellite tags connected to the Argos satellite-based tracking system. Filtered stopovers were used to build presence-pseudoabsence distribution models for each flyway, using Boosted Regression Tree and Random Forest algorithms with thirteen climatic, habitat, topographic and anthropogenic variables. Performance was evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation, and weighted ensembles were generated. To assess drought sensitivity, we produced predictions for high- and low-drought years based on Standardised Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Indices (SPEI). Models performed well (AUC=0.79–0.88; TSS=0.50– 0.66) and revealed route-specific environmental predictors. Along the western route, stopover probability was highest in cooler, semi-humid, high-elevation areas with low contemporaneous drought; Iberian mountain ranges emerged as key sites. Along the eastern route, stopover probability was greatest in heterogeneous habitat, with lowlands and uplands favoured over intermediate elevations; the Po watershed appears particularly important. Hunting risk (included to assess anthropogenic threat) was also high at key areas. The spatial extent of stopover regions—and the probability of them being utilised—declined during years ofhigh short-term drought along the western route, and high long-term drought along the eastern route. Whilst Iberian montane stopover regions are sensitive to increasing drought and aridity under climate change, their topographic heterogeneity may provide climatic refuge while limiting intensive land uses. Preference for heterogeneous habitat within the Po watershed highlightsthe need to retain semi-natural habitat within agricultural landscapes. We recommend route-specific conservation measures and higher resolution models using newly available GPS tags to better understand fine-scale site selection within the regions highlighted here.

Healthcare Providers’ Prescribing Practices And Emergency Management Planning For Pre-Hospital Seizure Emergencies: A Comparison Of Hungary To Norway And The United Kingdom, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Seizure emergencies, include prolonged seizures and status epilepticus (SE). Benzodiazepines are recommended as first-line rescue therapy. We investigate prescribing practices, emergency planning, and clinician experiences regarding rescue medication in Hungary and compare findings with those from the United Kingdom and Norway. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey (CHERRIES-compliant) was conducted between March and October 2025 among neurologists and pediatric neurologists in Hungary. The questionnaire explored demographics, prescribing behaviours, emergency management planning, and training practices. Descriptive statistics were used for Hungarian data, and comparative analyses with the combined UK and Norwegian cohorts were performed using chi-squared, Fisher's exact, and Mann–Whitney U …

Exploring Right Ventricular Function Applicability In A Prediction Model To Identify Preterm Infants With Early Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (Report – Bpd Study): A Mixed Methods Observational Cohort Feasibility Study, Wisam Muhsen

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

Background: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) is one of the significant complications of prematurity with its incidence on the rise, yet there is no clinically available prediction model. Aim:To assess the feasibility of conducting a study measuring right ventricular (RV) function as a contributor to the development of an early BPD prediction model in preterm infants. Methods This PhD comprised a scoping review and a single-centre mixed-methods feasibility cohort study with three quantitative and qualitative work packages, conducted at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. The scoping review searched Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, JBI Evidence-Based Practice, …

Regional Biomechanical And Topographic Changes After Transepithelial Vs. Epithelium-Off Continuous Accelerated Corneal Cross-Linking In Keratoconus: Updated Stress-Strain Index As A Superior Biomarker, Bangxun Mao, Changchang He, Qian Ye, Weijia Liu, Daniela Oehring, Yiqian Li, Yuke Zhang, Xiaomeng L, Chenhao Zhao, Hongjie Hu, Jiawei Gong, Hanhui Hou, Yufeng Ye, Shihao Chen, Yiyu Li, Ahmed Elsheikh, Fangjun Bao

School of Health Professions

Purpose: To compare regional biomechanical and topographic outcomes between transepithelial (Epi-on) and epithelium-off (Epi-off) continuous accelerated corneal cross-linking (ACXL) in keratoconus. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Subjects: Seventy-seven keratoconic eyes were included: 45 with Epi-on ACXL and 32 with Epi-off ACXL. Methods: All eyes underwent ACXL (10 mW/cm ², 7.2 J/cm ²). Pentacam HR and Corvis ST measurements were obtained preoperatively (pre), and at 1 month (pos1m), and 6 months (pos6m) postoperatively. The SSIv2m, M, and J ₀, J ₄₅ were evaluated across central (0–3 mm), paracentral (3–6 mm), and peripheral (6–9 mm) regions. Correlated measurements were …

Recompression Improves Release Success In Pollack (Pollachius Pollachius): A Step Towards Assessing Post Release Mortality In A Recreational Fishery, T. Stamp, R. Mawer, R. Conlon, A. E. Hall, P. Davies, R. Nesbit, D. Uren, T. Morris, S. Sullivan, S. Thomas, B. D. Stewart, H. Rudd, K. Hyder, T. Osmond, S. Reynell, E. V. Sheehan

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The recreational fishery for pollack (Pollachius pollachius) in the northeast Atlantic is impacted by the species' high sensitivity to barotrauma. When captured at depth and brought to the surface, gas expansion within the peritoneal cavity can cause a variety of injuries and hinder release. Via an experimental weighted cage, this study evaluated the efficacy of releasing Pollack at depth as a barotrauma mitigation strategy. We found that depth-release significantly increased the probability of released Pollack displaying an active escape response to 83%, compared to 56% for surface-released fish; however, increased capture depth and fish size negatively affected success. Camera observations …

Tidally Driven Topographic Eddies Exploited By Manta Feeding Aggregations, Harvey Cairns, Daniel Conley, Christopher Stokes, Tim Scott, Philip Hosegood

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The seasonal feeding aggregations of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) in Hanifaru Bay, Maldives, are the largest known of their kind, yet the mechanisms facilitating this phenomenon remain poorly understood. Understanding these drivers is crucial for effective conservation and management, as protecting key foraging habitats requires knowledge of the physical processes influencing prey availability. While previous studies highlight the role of zooplankton in attracting manta, the oceanographic mechanisms responsible for concentrating prey within the bay remain hypothesised but unproven. Specifically, the influence of eddy dynamics, tidal forcing, and regional circulation on zooplankton distribution has not been thoroughly examined.A …

Understanding What Works In Disseminating Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis, Sumanth Kumbargere Nagraj, Tandekile Lubelwana Hafver, Valerie Reinthaler, Stijn Van De Velde, Carlos Zaror, Yan Jiao Shen, Susan Banda, Talitha Mpando, Gertrude Kunje, Suzgika Lakudzala, Ameer Hohlfeld, Emmanuel Effa, Denny Mabetha, Thomas Agoritsas, Per Olav Vandvik, Nicolas Delvaux

Peninsula Dental School

Objective To identify the barriers and facilitators that influence the dissemination of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and to explore the perceived usefulness, practical utility, expectations, and unmet needs of end users in relation to current dissemination strategies. Methods This qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) is a part of mixed-methods evidence synthesis. We searched literature from MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Epistemonikos, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Medical Guidelines Clearing house on January 30, 2025. Screening, data extraction and quality appraisal of the included studies were done by at least two authors independently and in duplicate. We …