Digital Commons Network^™

How Penalizing Substance Use In Pregnancy Affects Treatment And Research: A Qualitative Examination Of Researchers' Perspectives, Seema K Shah, Leishla Perez-Cardona, Khrystyna Helner, Suena H Massey, Ashish Premkumar, Renee Edwards, Elizabeth S Norton, Cynthia E Rogers, Emily S Miller, Christopher D Smyser, Matthew M Davis, Lauren S Wakschlag

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Laws regulating substance use in pregnancy are changing and may have unintended consequences on scientific efforts to address the opioid epidemic. Yet, how these laws affect care and research is poorly understood.

METHODS: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews using purposive and snowball sampling of researchers who have engaged pregnant people experiencing substance use. We explored views on laws governing substance use in pregnancy and legal reform possibilities. Interviews were double coded. Data were examined using thematic analysis.

RESULTS: We interviewed 22 researchers (response rate: 71 per cent) and identified four themes: (i) harms of punitive laws, (ii) negative legal …

Gendered Perceptions Of Climate Change And Agricultural Adaptation Practices: A Systematic Review, A. T. M. Sanaul Haque, Lalit Kumar, Navjot Bhullar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The present systematic review was undertaken to obtain a detailed understanding of how climate change perceptions and adaptation differ globally by gender and different intersections among the farmers. Findings from 41 studies selected following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, mostly from Africa and Asia, suggest that climate change perceptions and adaptation are highly contextual and considerably varied by gender and different intersections. Existing gender role, farmers’ age, education, knowledge, marital status, intra-household power structure, religion, social status and ethnicity were intersecting with gender and climate change perception and adaptation. Apart from gender and intersectionality, access …

Intersections And Conflicts Between Adolescent Boys’ Musical Possible Selves, University Study, And Parent Values, Jason Goopy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Adolescents require meaningful and achievable musical possible selves to imagine a future that includes music. Previous research has investigated how to support tertiary music students in their career identity development; however, adolescents make consequential decisions regarding future music study and career intentions in secondary school. This article reports on the intersections and conflicts between adolescent boys’ musical possible selves, university study intentions, and parent values. Research was conducted at an Australian independent K-12 boys’ school using one-on-one semi-structured interviews incorporating a “draw and tell” artifact elicitation technique with Year 12 students and their parents. Two resonating narratives of adolescent boys …

The Experiences Of Uncertainty Amongst Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists In First Contact Practitioner Roles Within Primary Care, Simon Ingram, Robert Stenner, Sue May

School of Health Professions

Aim: The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of uncertainty amongst Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners working in primary care.Background: The Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioner role involves advanced physiotherapists providing an alternative to the GP by acting as first point of contact for people presenting to primary care with musculoskeletal conditions. Limited research into the role exists but the first-contact aspect, clinical complexity and time pressures are deemed to contribute to uncertainty within the role.Method: A qualitative research design was undertaken using a hermeneutic interpretative phenomenological approach. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with subsequent thematic analysis of …

Efficacy And Acceptability Of Mobilisation And Stretches Of The Foot And Ankle In People With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Vasileios Lepesis

School of Health Professions Theses

People with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and limited joint mobility syndrome (LJMS) can experience increased forefoot peak plantar pressures (PPPs). Elevated PPPs are a risk factor for diabetic neuropathic foot ulceration. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy can also affect balance and increase the risk of falling. This thesis investigated the efficacy and acceptability of foot and ankle mobilisations combined with home stretches in people living at risk of neuropathic diabetic foot ulceration and falling. A systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of foot and ankle physical therapy modalities for the management of foot and ankle joint mobility, PPPs, and balance. The review …

A Sage And A Guru Walk Into A Bar: Wisdom And Humor Styles, Jeffrey Dean Webster, Sonja Heintz

School of Psychology

Two studies investigated the relationship between wisdom, humor styles, comic styles, and wellbeing. In Study 1, 325 English-speaking college students completed the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS) and the Humor Styles Questionnaire. As predicted, overall wisdom, as well as all five wisdom subscales, was positively correlated with adaptive humor styles. Furthermore, the SAWS humor subscale correlated positively with all humor styles, most strongly with the adaptive styles. In Study 2, 189 German-speaking university students and adults from the general population completed the SAWS, the Comic Style Markers, and measures of positive mental health (meaning in life, optimism, and resilience). The SAWS …

Two Of A Kind Or Distant Relatives?, Willibald Ruch, Valentina Vylobkova, Sonja Heintz

School of Psychology

Abstract: Allport’s distinction of personality devaluated (personality) and personality evaluated (character) raised the question of whether the character is redundant with personality, which still remains open today. The present study hence compares the Five-Factor Model of personality and the VIA-classification (Values in Action) of character strengths across two methods (self- and peer-reports) and two levels of abstraction (domains/factors and scales/facets). A sample of 152 participants and 152 peer-raters completed the NEO-Personality Inventory-Revised and the VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS). Personality and character assessed with these inventories were found to strongly overlap, yet the different operationalizations were rarely redundant (except for …

Strategies Are Needed To Support People With Alcohol Use Disorder And Alcohol-Related Liver Disease To Take Part In Randomised Clinical Trials: Results From The Mirage Pilot Trial Of Functional Imagery Training, A Dhanda, V Allgar, J Andrade, L Callaghan, B Hudson, W Ingram, A King, V Lavers, J Lomax, A Mccune, C Musicha, R Parker, C Rollinson, S Creanor

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Decoding Brain Basis Of Laughter And Crying In Natural Scenes, Lauri Nummenmaa, Tuulia Malèn, Sanaz Nazari-Farsani, Kerttu Seppälä, Lihua Sun, Severi Santavirta, Henry K. Karlsson, Matthew Hudson, Jussi Hirvonen, Mikko Sams, Sophie Scott, Vesa Putkinen

School of Psychology

Laughter and crying are universal signals of prosociality and distress, respectively. Here we investigated the functional brain basis of perceiving laughter and crying using naturalistic functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approach. We measured haemodynamic brain activity evoked by laughter and crying in three experiments with 100 subjects in each. The subjects i) viewed a 20-minute medley of short video clips, and ii) 30 min of a full-length feature film, and iii) listened to 13.5 min of a radio play that all contained bursts of laughter and crying. Intensity of laughing and crying in the videos and radio play was annotated …

Neo‐Fluxus: Multimedia Performance Art And Architecture, Mathew Emmett

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Abstract. Space Interface is a collaboration between artist‐architect Mathew Emmett and the legendary Eberhard Kranemann, a German neo‐Fluxus artist and founding member of electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk. Here, Emmett describes how, through mixed‐reality performance and audiovisual installation, their work transforms architectural settings by using video and electronic improvisation to evoke extended levels of architectural reality. They consider buildings as psychological prostheses, and their experiments attempt to invert and extend what might constitute architecture.

Covid-19 And The Physio4fmd Trial: Impact, Mitigating Strategies And Analysis Plans, Louise Marston, Novere M Le, Federico Ricciardi, Irwin Nazareth, Alan Carson, Mark Edwards, Laura H. Goldstein, Jonathan Marsden, Hayley Noble, Markus Reuber, Jon Stone, Rachael M. Hunter, Glenn Nielsen

School of Health Professions

Introduction Functional motor disorder (FMD) is a common cause of disabling neurological symptoms such as weakness and tremor. Physio4FMD is a pragmatic, multicentre single blind randomised controlled trial to evaluate effectiveness and cost effectiveness of specialist physiotherapy for FMD. Like many other studies this trial was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The planned statistical and health economics analyses for this trial are described, as well as the sensitivity analyses designed to assess the disruption caused by COVID-19. The trial treatment of at least 89 participants (33%) was disrupted due to the pandemic. To account for this, we have extended …

Air Quality And Mental Health: Evidence, Challenges And Future Directions, Kamaldeep Bhui, Joanne B. Newbury, Rachel M. Latham, Marcella Ucci, Zaheer A. Nasir, Briony Turner, Catherine O'Leary, Helen L. Fisher, Emma Marczylo, Philippa Douglas, Stephen Stansfeld, Simon K. Jackson, Sean Tyrrel, Andrey Rzhetsky, Rob Kinnersley, Prashant Kumar, Caroline Duchaine, Frederic Coulon

School of Biomedical Sciences

Background Poor air quality is associated with poor health. Little attention is given to the complex array of environmental exposures and air pollutants that affect mental health during the life course. Aims We gather interdisciplinary expertise and knowledge across the air pollution and mental health fields. We seek to propose future research priorities and how to address them. Method Through a rapid narrative review, we summarise the key scientific findings, knowledge gaps and methodological challenges. Results There is emerging evidence of associations between poor air quality, both indoors and outdoors, and poor mental health more generally, as well as specific …

Evaluation Of A Complex Intervention For Prisoners With Common Mental Health Problems, Near To And After Release: The Engager Randomised Controlled Trial, Richard Byng, Tim Kirkpatrick, Charlotte Lennox, Fiona C. Warren, Rob Anderson, Sarah Louise Brand, Lynne Callaghan, Lauren Carroll, Graham Durcan, Laura Gill, Sara Goodier, Jonathan Graham, Rebecca Greer, Mark Haddad, Tirril Harris, William Henley, Rachael Hunter, Sarah Leonard, Mike Maguire, Susan Michie, Christabel Owens, Mark Pearson, Cath Quinn, Sarah Rybczynska-Bunt, Caroline Stevenson, Amy Stewart, Alex Stirzaker, Roxanne Todd, Florian Walter, Lauren Weston, Nat Wright, Rod S. Taylor, Jenny Shaw

Peninsula Medical School

Background Many male prisoners have significant mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. High proportions struggle with homelessness and substance misuse. Aims This study aims to evaluate whether the Engager intervention improves mental health outcomes following release. Method The design is a parallel randomised superiority trial that was conducted in the North West and South West of England (ISRCTN11707331). Men serving a prison sentence of 2 years or less were individually allocated 1:1 to either the intervention (Engager plus usual care) or usual care alone. Engager included psychological and practical support in prison, on release and for 3–5 months in …

Assessing The Association Between Overcrowding And Human Physiological Stress Response In Different Urban Contexts: A Case Study In Salzburg, Austria, Zhaoxi Zhang, Kristýna Měchurová, Bernd Resch, Prince Amegbor, Clive E. Sabel

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Overcrowding in densely populated urban areas is increasingly becoming an issue for mental health disorders. Yet, only few studies have examined the association between overcrowding in cities and physiological stress responses. Thus, this study employed wearable sensors (a wearable camera, an Empatica E4 wristband and a smartphone-based GPS) to assess the association between overcrowding and human physiological stress response in four types of urban contexts (green space, transit space, commercial space, and blue space). A case study with 26 participants was conducted in Salzburg, Austria. We used Mask R-CNN to detect elements related to overcrowding such as human crowds, sitting …

Genome-Wide Analysis Of Motor Progression In Parkinson Disease, Carrasco A Martínez, R Real, M Lawton, Reynolds R Hertfelder, M Tan, L Wu, N Williams, C Carroll, J-C Corvol, M Hu, D Grosset, J Hardy, M Ryten, Y Ben-Shlomo, M Shoai, Hr Morris

Peninsula Medical School

Background and Objectives The genetic basis of Parkinson disease (PD) motor progression is largely unknown. Previous studies of the genetics of PD progression have included small cohorts and shown a limited overlap with genetic PD risk factors from case-control studies. Here, we have studied genomic variation associated with PD motor severity and early-stage progression in large longitudinal cohorts to help to define the biology of PD progression and potential new drug targets. Methods We performed a GWAS meta-analysis of early PD motor severity and progression up to 3 years from study entry. We used linear mixed-effect models with additive effects, …

Three-Layer Model With Absorption For Conservative Estimation Of The Maximum Acoustic Transmission Coefficient Through The Human Skull For Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation, David Attali, Thomas Tiennot, Mark Schafer, Elsa Fouragnan, Jérôme Sallet, Charles F. Caskey, Robert Chen, Ghazaleh Darmani, Ellen J. Bubrick, Christopher Butler, Charlotte J. Stagg, Miriam Klein-Flügge, Lennart Verhagen, Seung Schik Yoo, Kim Butts Pauly, Jean Francois Aubry

School of Psychology

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) has been shown to be a safe and effective technique for non-invasive superficial and deep brain stimulation. Safe and efficient translation to humans requires estimating the acoustic attenuation of the human skull. Nevertheless, there are no international guidelines for estimating the impact of the skull bone. A tissue independent, arbitrary derating was developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take into account tissue absorption (0.3 dB/cm-MHz) for diagnostic ultrasound. However, for the case of transcranial ultrasound imaging, the FDA model does not take into account the insertion loss induced by the skull bone, nor …

Anticipatory Reward Dysfunction In Alcohol Dependence: An Electroencephalography Monetary Incentive Delay Task Study, Mica Komarnyckyj, Chris Retzler, Robert Whelan, Oliver Young, Elsa Fouragnan, Anna Murphy

School of Psychology

A wealth of functional magnetic resonance imaging monetary incentive delay task (MIDT) research has shown alcohol dependency is associated with a hypoactive striatal response during gain anticipation (gain > neutral) and loss anticipation (loss > neutral). Electroencephalography (EEG) holds clinical advantages over fMRI (high temporal resolution, low cost, portable) however its use to study reward processing in alcohol dependence is limited. We aimed to carry out the first EEG MIDT (eMIDT) study in alcohol dependence. 21 abstinent alcohol dependent individuals and 26 controls performed an MIDT while neural activity was recorded using 64-channel EEG. Trial averaged event-related potentials (ERPs) and single-trial machine …

Give Me Space: Sex, Attractiveness, And Mind Perception As Potential Contributors To Different Comfort Distances For Humans And Robots, Farid Pazhoohi, Srishti Gojamgunde, Alan Kingstone

School of Psychology

Previous research in human-robot interactions has shown that comfort distance from robots is influenced by factors such as a robot's likability, gaze behavior, and attractiveness. However, comfort distance from robots versus humans has been sparsely explored, and with mixed findings. Across two studies (N = 443) we systematically explored whether type of agent (human vs humanoid robot), agent's sex, and distance influence comfort ratings. Comfort ratings are positively associated with distance for female (Study 1, N = 170) and male agents (Study 2, N = 273), and participants reported higher comfort for humans than humanoid robots. While higher comfort was …

Does Variability In Recognition Memory Scale With Mean Memory Strength Or Encoding Variability In The Uvsd Model?, Rory W. Spanton, Christopher J. Berry

School of Psychology

The unequal variance signal detection (UVSD) model of recognition memory assumes that the variance of old item memory strength (σo) is typically greater than that of new items. It has been suggested that this old item variance effect can be explained by the encoding variability hypothesis. However, Spanton and Berry (2020) failed to find evidence for this account, suggesting that σo may simply scale with mean memory strength ( d) in the UVSD model. Experiments 1 and 2 examined the effects of encoding variability and strength scaling on old item variance by creating conditions in which mean memory strength and …

Analysis Of Fibroblast Growth Factor 14 (Fgf14) Structural Variants Reveals The Genetic Basis Of The Early Onset Nystagmus Locus Nys4 And Variable Ataxia, F Ceroni, D Osborne, S Clokie, Da Bax, Ej Cassidy, Mj Dunn, Cm Harris, Je Self, Nk Ragge

School of Psychology

AbstractNystagmus (involuntary, rhythmical eye movements) can arise due to sensory eye defects, in association with neurological disorders or as an isolated condition. We identified a family with early onset nystagmus and additional neurological features carrying a partial duplication of FGF14, a gene associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 27 (SCA27) and episodic ataxia. Detailed eye movement analysis revealed oculomotor anomalies strikingly similar to those reported in a previously described four-generation family with early onset nystagmus and linkage to a region on chromosome 13q31.3-q33.1 (NYS4). Since FGF14 lies within NYS4, we revisited the original pedigree using whole genome sequencing, identifying a 161 …

Digital Deception And The Illusion Of Choice: How Dark Patterns Undermine Informed Consent Gdpr, Wajeeha Khan

Computer Science

Our investigation builds on prior research to examine global e-commerce data privacy, focusing on compliance with GDPR and CCPA laws introduced in 2018 and 2020. This study reveals uneven adherence to GDPR and CCPA regulations across e-commerce platforms, underscoring the persistent use of dark patterns. UK and French sites lead in GDPR compliance at 85% and 80%, while U.S. sites showed 65% adherence to CCPA. Turkish websites displayed a surprising 85% - 95% compliance with European standards. In contrast, South African platforms showed a low 30% compliance, often utilizing implicit consent methods. These findings expose significant gaps and inconsistencies in …

Standardised Data Collection From People With Dementia Over The Telephone: A Qualitative Study Of The Experience Of Determind Programme Researchers In A Pandemic, Kate Gridley, Josie Dixon, Ben Hicks, Yvonne Birks, Kate Baxter, Eleanor Miles, Louise Robinson, Rotem Perach, Sube Banerjee

More Faculty of Health Research

There is a notable lack of evidence on what constitutes good practice in remote quantitative data collection from research participants with dementia. During the COVID-19 pandemic face-to-face research became problematic, especially where participants were older and more at risk of infection. The DETERMIND-C19 study, a large cohort study of people with dementia, switched to telephone data collection over this period. This paper explores the experiences of researchers who collected quantitative data over the telephone from people with dementia during the first COVID-19 lockdowns in England. The aim was to learn from these experiences, share insights and inform future research practice …

How To … Define Clinical Education Research Terminology: A Glossary, Gabrielle M. Finn, Ben Charmer, Oliver E. Burton, Aqua Asif, Matthew H.V. Byrne, Nicola Brennan, Megan E.L. Brown

Peninsula Medical School

Clinical education research (ClinEdR) utilises diverse terminology, which can lead to confusion. A common language is essential for enhancing impact. An expert panel drawn from various workstreams within the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Incubator for Clinical Education Research was tasked with reviewing an initial list of terms for the development of a glossary of terms in the field of ClinEdR. The glossary was populated with terms, definitions and foundational papers by the authors and peer-reviewed for accuracy. The glossary of terms developed for ClinEdR should enable researchers to use a common language, promoting consistency and improving …

A Pragmatic, Multicentre, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomised Trial To Assess The Safety, Clinical And Cost-Effectiveness Of Mirtazapine And Carbamazepine In People With Alzheimer’S Disease And Agitated Behaviours: The Hta-Symbad Trial, Sube Banerjee, Nicolas Farina, Catherine Henderson, Juliet High, Susan Stirling, Lee Shepstone, Julia Fountain, Clive Ballard, Peter Bentham, Alistair Burns, Chris Fox, Paul Francis, Robert Howard, Martin Knapp, Iracema Leroi, Gill Livingston, Ramin Nilforooshan, Shirley Nurock, John O’Brien, Annabel Price, Alan J. Thomas, Ann Marie Swart, Tanya Telling, Naji Tabet

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Introducing Sonhr-Reporting Guidelines For Social Networks In Health Research, Douglas A. Luke, Edward Tsai, Bobbi J. Carothers, Sara Malone, Beth Prusaczyk, Todd B. Combs, Mia T Vogel, Jennifer Watling Neal, Zachary P. Neal

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: The overall goal of this work is to produce a set of recommendations (SoNHR-Social Networks in Health Research) that will improve the reporting and dissemination of social network concepts, methods, data, and analytic results within health sciences research.

METHODS: This study used a modified-Delphi approach for recommendation development consistent with best practices suggested by the EQUATOR health sciences reporting guidelines network. An initial set of 28 reporting recommendations was developed by the author team. A group of 67 (of 147 surveyed) experienced network and health scientists participated in an online feedback survey. They rated the clarity and importance of …

A Review Of Cyber Vigilance Tasks For Network Defense, Oliver A. Guidetti, Craig Speelman, Peter Bouhlas

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The capacity to sustain attention to virtual threat landscapes has led cyber security to emerge as a new and novel domain for vigilance research. However, unlike classic domains, such as driving and air traffic control and baggage security, very few vigilance tasks exist for the cyber security domain. Four essential challenges that must be overcome in the development of a modern, validated cyber vigilance task are extracted from this review of existent platforms that can be found in the literature. Firstly, it can be difficult for researchers to access confidential cyber security systems and personnel. Secondly, network defense is vastly …

La Metafora: The Power Of Metaphors And Creative Resources In Working Systemically With Families And Children With Autism—A Conversation With Carmine Saccu, Deisy Amorin-Woods, Carmine Saccu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Metaphors are valuable tools of expression, which give meaning to situations and allow the spontaneous processing of feelings and emotions. As therapists, we can support clients to develop and create their individual metaphor to explain their own meaning of experiences or communicate their perception of problems. Creativity provides us with a rich landscape to explore, expand, and enrich ourselves as therapists and consequently our clients. As systemic therapists, we are responsible for the co-creation of a human process, which has at its core safety in allowing expression, connection, and movement. Through a respectful and curious approach, we can develop pathways …

Readability Of Australian Road Safety Information For The General Public, Catherine Ferguson, Stephen Winn

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research was conducted as a result of the authors becoming aware of the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) submission to the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. The ACRS submission outlined six key elements, one of which suggested that the National Road Safety Strategy should include ‘Publication in easily consumable form, for the public, of infrastructure safety star ratings for all road users’ (ACRS, 2021, p.61). This prompted the researchers to consider the road safety information provided to the general public about driving behaviour. Forty excerpts from online data from one Australian State’s road safety website were assessed for …

Talent Management And Sustainable Performance In Travel Agents: Do Green Intellectual Capital And Green Servant Leadership Matter?, Yehia Shihata Elzek, Mohammad Soliman, Hafidh Al Riyami, Noel Scott

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Talent management (TM) can contribute to improving sustainable business performance in the face of a competitive and socially responsible environment. The use of TM to improve tourism staff skills and motivation is contentious, given such jobs are seen as routine and low-paid. Indeed, the precise processes through which TM techniques support sustained performance outcomes in tourism enterprises requires examination. This paper provides empirical evidence for the impact of TM practices on sustainable organizational performance (SOP). This effect of TM on performance is mediated by green intellectual capital (GIC). The moderating role of green servant leadership (GSL) on the link between …

What Is Known About Midwives' Well-Being And Resilience? An Integrative Review Of The International Literature, Lynnelle Moran, Kim Foster, Sara Bayes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Internationally, the midwifery workforce is facing a professional crisis due to numerous organizational and individual factors that have led to midwives leaving the profession. These factors include high levels of workplace stress, systemic barriers to providing woman and person-centered care, trauma, and burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified these pre-existing stressors and adversities and has further disrupted midwives' ability to practice within their professional norms. In order to understand how midwives can be better supported, there is a need to understand what contributes to and detracts from their well-being and resilience. Aim: To investigate and synthesize the extant international knowledge …