Digital Commons Network^™

Wave Energy Extraction From Rigid Rectangular Compound Floating Plates, S. Michele, S. Zheng, E. Renzi, J. Guichard, A. G.L. Borthwick, D. M. Greaves

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

We present a theoretical model to analyse the hydrodynamics of wave energy converters (WECs) comprised of three-dimensional, rigid, floating, compound rectangular plates in the open sea. The hydrodynamic problem is solved by means of Green's theorem and a free-surface Green's function. Plate motion is predicted through decomposition into rigid natural modes. We first analyse the case of a single rectangular plate and validate our model against experimental results from physical model tests undertaken in the COAST laboratory at the University of Plymouth. Then we extend our theory to complex shapes and arrays of plates and examine how the geometry, incident …

Practical Actions To Strengthen Capacity For Deep-Water Research In Africa, Kirsty A Mcquaid, Kerry Howell, Agnes W.N. Muthumbi, Olusola Adeoye, Isa Elegbede, Luther Adams, Blessing Charuka, Ana Hilário, Hendrina Kadila, Sophia Laarissa, Randa Mejri, Sidi Mohamed, Damaris Mutia, Angela Nyangwe, Angus Paterson, Sinothando Shibe, Kerry Sink, Sheena Talma, Urias Taylor, Arthur Tuda

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

While Africa's deep marine biodiversity offers economic prospects it also supports crucial ecosystem services and sustainable development is dependent on knowledge of these systems. Building understanding of deep-water ecosystems is key, but there are substantial discrepancies in countries' abilities to achieve this. Coinciding with the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, the Challenger 150 African Network of Deep-water Researchers is pleased to release a report on “Practical Actions to Strengthen Capacity for Deep-water Research in Africa”. Through a series of online workshops, the ANDR brought together 98 individuals from 19 African nations to discuss challenges for deep-water research in Africa, identify solutions …

Nonlinear Spatial Evolution Of Degenerate Quartets Of Water Waves, Conor Heffernan, Amin Chabchoub, Raphael Stuhlmeier

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

In this manuscript we investigate the Benjamin–Feir (or modulation) instability for the spatial evolution of water waves from the perspective of the discrete, spatial Zakharov equation, which captures cubically nonlinear and resonant wave interactions in deep water without restrictions on spectral bandwidth. Spatial evolution, with measurements at discrete locations, is pertinent for laboratory hydrodynamic experiments, such as in wave flumes, which rely on time-series measurements at fixed gauges installed along the facility. This setting is likewise appropriate for experiments in electromagnetic and plasma waves. Through a reformulation of the problem for a degenerate quartet, we bring to bear techniques of …

Amplifying Pcr Productivity And Environmental Sustainability Through Shortened Cycling Protocols, Matthew Pedlar, Matthew J. Emery, Philip J. Warburton

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Since its inception in the 1980s, advancements in PCR technology using improved thermal cyclers, engineered DNA polymerases and commercial master mixes, have led to increased PCR productivity. Despite these advancements, PCR cycling protocols have largely remained unchanged over the same period. This study aimed to systemically evaluate the effect of reduced PCR cycling parameters on amplicon production. The 1466bp fragment from the 16S rRNA gene present in low-, medium- and high-CG bacteria was amplified using three commercially available PCR master mixes. The shortest cycling parameters required to successfully amplify the 16S fragment from all bacteria and master mixes comprised 30-cycles …

The Missile People: A Cold War Public Memory, Shane Engeland

History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

Disrupting the horizon with a startling physical presence on the flat North Dakota prairie, the remains of the Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex are the physical remnants of a decisive stage of the Cold War. The complex was part radar array, part computing marvel, and part nuclear launch control platform that represented a significant federal investment in rural North Dakota. Together, these pieces created the pinnacle of the Pentagon’s efforts to create an effective antiballistic missile system. The local memories attached to the complex contrast with general perceptions of the Cold War. Memories of friendship and community are common when …

Unfit: Eugenics On The Northern Great Plains, Levi Magnuson

History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

The early twenty-first century saw the emergence of the eugenics movement in the United States, which culminated in the sterilization of people with mental or physical disabilities. State institutions across the country were weaponized against these citizens due to the perception that they were “unfit” to be parents. Recent scholarship on the topic has sought to uncover this history. This study seeks to uncover this past in both North and South Dakota as well as offer an alternative avenue for examining the topic with Canton Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians. Both states provide instances that confirm the current scholarship on …

Digital Seascapes: Can We Use Digital Technologies To Engage Coastal Communities In Building Marine Citizenship?: Resilience And Adaptation: Parallel Workshop (6), Ashita Gupta, Katharine Willis

School of Art, Design and Architecture

No abstract provided.

Enhancing The Student Nurse Clinical Experience Through Collaborative Academic-Hospital Partnerships: The Piloting And Psychometric Testing Of A New Instrument To Measure Nursing Student Perceptions Of Nursing Staff During Clinical Learning Experiences, Charys Kunkel

Education

There is a critical national nursing workforce shortage, with estimates of over 200,000 new job openings for Registered Nurses (RNs) annually through 2031 (AACN, 2022). These forecasted workforce needs challenge nursing programs to increase student enrollment (Dowling et al., 2021) while maintaining high-quality education standards. Student learning is facilitated by collaborative academic healthcare practices that provide active learning environments for students to engage in direct patient care under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The interactions between students and mentors within the clinical environment are essential for cultivating a sense of belonging while fostering the development of the professional …

Drug-Resistant Epilepsy And Ketogenic Diet Therapy – A Qualitative Study Of Families’ Experiences, Jennifer H. Carroll, Tracey Parkin, J. Helen Cross, Mary Hickson, Emma Williams, Val Aldridge, Avril Collinson

School of Health Professions

Background: A diagnosis of drug-resistant epilepsy is life changing for a family. Ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) can offer hope when other treatments have failed. However, it often requires a significant change in daily routine and dietary habits. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore families’ experiences of epilepsy and KDT. Methods: Parents of a child aged ≤18 years with epilepsy, currently or recently treated with KDT, were recruited from the UK and internationally via UK Ketogenic Diet (KD) centres, charities, and social media. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymised, coded using Nvivo (V12), and inductive thematic analysis undertaken. …

Data-Driven Communicative Behaviour Generation: A Survey, Nurziya Oralbayeva, Amir Aly, Anara Sandygulova, Tony Belpaeme

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The development of data-driven behaviour generating systems has recently become the focus of considerable attention in the fields of human–agent interaction and human–robot interaction. Although rule-based approaches were dominant for years, these proved inflexible and expensive to develop. The difficulty of developing production rules, as well as the need for manual configuration to generate artificial behaviours, places a limit on how complex and diverse rule-based behaviours can be. In contrast, actual human–human interaction data collected using tracking and recording devices makes humanlike multimodal co-speech behaviour generation possible using machine learning and specifically, in recent years, deep learning. This survey provides …

The Effectiveness Of Motor-Motor And Motor-Cognitive Dual-Task Training Interventions On Balance In People With Parkinson’S Disease: Rct Design, Feasibility, And Acceptability Testing, Nesibe Cakmak

School of Health Professions Theses

Background: Dual-task training (DTT), utilized in motor-motor (M-DTT) and/or cognitive-motor (C-DTT) forms, has been identified as an effective and safe approach to improve balance in people with Parkinson’s disease (pwPD). Studies which investigate the superiority of the effectiveness of M-DTT and CDTT interventions, however, are lacking. To determine superiority there is a need to design a randomized control trial (RCT). This PhD study, therefore, had two aims. Firstly, to design home-based M-DTT and C-DTT interventions for improving upright balance in people with mild to moderate PD. Secondly to test the feasibility and acceptability of the interventions, outcome measures, and the …

Shape Discrimination In Central And Peripheral Vision And Its Potential For Vision Screening, Anna Zolubak

School of Health Professions Theses

Background and aims: Radial frequency (RF) shape discrimination with small central and achromatic stimuli has been successfully used in vision monitoring tests for age related macular degeneration (AMD). This thesis aims to provide basic vision research in the peripheral visual field (VF) that can expand the versatility and sensitivity of the current tests. Methods: The research described herein used visual psychophysics to explore RF shape discrimination under different conditions in normal vision. Aspects explored included chromatic and luminance mechanisms, retinal location, size and scaling, binocular interactions and effects of simulated scotoma, concentric and eccentric presentation, and interval and spatial methods. …

Locating The Archive (Part Of 37 Looe Street Portfolio), Angela Piccini, Sefryn Penrose

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Piccini and Penrose transform 37 Looe Street into an open archive. Before the Plymouth Arts Centre (1947-2018) materials travel to The Box, Penrose and Piccini perform the archive by selecting and installing items relating to Looe Street. Join in the cataloguing process by contributing memories of real or imagined events.

The Importance Of Acoustic Output Measurement And Monitoring For The Replicability Of Transcranial Ultrasonic Stimulation Studies, Miriam C. Klein-Flügge, Elsa F. Fouragnan, Eleanor Martin

School of Psychology

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Area-Level Socioeconomic Status In Childhood On Mental Health In Adolescence And Adulthood: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study In Aotearoa New Zealand, Bingyu Deng, Geraldine F.H. Mcleod, Joseph Boden, Clive E. Sabel, Malcolm Campbell, Phoebe Eggleton, Matthew Hobbs

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Mental health conditions pose a significant public health challenge, and low area-level socioeconomic status (SES) is a potentially important upstream determinant. Childhood exposure might have influences on later-life mental health. This study, utilises data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study birth cohort, examining the impact of area-level SES trajectories in childhood (from birth to age 16) on mental health at age 16 and from age 18–40 years. Findings revealed some associations between distinct SES trajectories and mental health. The study underscores the importance of using a spatial lifecourse epidemiology framework to understand long-term environmental impacts on later-life health.

Double Testing With Lateral Flow Antigen Test Devices For Covid-19: Does A Second Test In Quick Succession Add Value?, Matthias E Futschik, Sarah A Tunkel, Elena Turek, David Chapman, Zareen Thorlu-Bangura, Raghavendran Kulasegaran-Shylini, Edward Blandford, Andrew Dodgson, Paul E Klapper, Malur Sudhanva, Derrick Crook, John Bell, Susan Hopkins, Tim Peto, Tom Fowler

School of Biomedical Sciences

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated if performing two lateral flow device (LFD) tests, LFD2 immediately after LFD1, could improve diagnostic sensitivity or specificity for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen.

STUDY DESIGN: Individuals aged ≥16 years attending UK community testing sites (February-May 2021) performed two successive LFD tests and provided a nose-and-throat sample for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Using the PCR result as the reference diagnosis, we assessed whether improvements could be achieved in sensitivity (by counting a positive result in either LFD as a positive overall test result) or specificity (by using LFD2 as confirmatory test). …

Rapid Antigen Testing For Sars-Cov-2 By Lateral Flow Assay: A Field Evaluation Of Self- And Professional Testing At Uk Community Testing Sites, Matthias E Futschik, Samuel Johnson, Elena Turek, David Chapman, Simon Carr, Zareen Thorlu-Bangura, Paul E Klapper, Malur Sudhanva, Andrew Dodgson, Joanna R Cole-Hamilton, Nick Germanacos, Raghavendran Kulasegaran-Shylini, Edward Blandford, Sarah Tunkel, Timothy Peto, Susan Hopkins, Tom Fowler

School of Biomedical Sciences

BACKGROUND: The advent of lateral flow devices (LFDs) for SARS-CoV-2 detection enabled widespread use of rapid self-tests during the pandemic. While self-testing using LFDs is now common, whether self-testing provides comparable performance to professional testing was a key question that remained important for pandemic planning.

METHODS: Three prospective multi-centre studies were conducted to compare the performance of self- and professional testing using LFDs. Participants tested themselves or were tested by trained (professional) testers at community testing sites in the UK. Corresponding qRT-PCR test results served as reference standard. The performance of Innova, Orient Gene and SureScreen LFDs by users (self) …

Loss Of The Scavenger Receptor Marco Results In Uncontrolled Vomocytosis Of Fungi From Macrophages, Chinaemerem U. Onyishi, Yusun Jeon, Gyorgy Fejer, Subhankar Mukhopadhyay, Siamon Gordon, Robin C. May

School of Biomedical Sciences

Vomocytosis, also known as nonlytic exocytosis, is a process whereby fully phagocytosed microbes are expelled from phagocytes without discernible damage to either the phagocyte or microbe. Although this phenomenon was first described in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans in 2006, to date, mechanistic studies have been hampered by an inability to reliably stimulate or inhibit vomocytosis. Here we present the fortuitous discovery that macrophages lacking the scavenger receptor MAcrophage Receptor with COllagenous domain (MARCO), exhibit near-total vomocytosis of internalised cryptococci within a few hours of infection. Marco^−/− macrophages also showed elevated vomocytosis of a yeast-locked C. albicans strain, …

Aesthetic Experience Of Metabolic Processes: By Desiree Förster, Hannah Drayson

School of Art, Design and Architecture

No abstract provided.

Facial First Impressions Following A Prison Sentence: Negative Shift In Trait Ratings But The Same Underlying Structure, Coral M. Coutts, Chris Longmore, Mila Mileva

School of Psychology

The first impressions we form of unfamiliar others can often guide many important decisions such as whether someone is guilty of a crime or the severity of their sentence, even in the presence of more relevant information. While most of the current work in this context has focused on their impact during trial proceedings and sentencing, little is known about the potential impact of first impressions following a guilty sentence and the success of the subsequent reintegration into society. Here, we used a data-driven approach to address this question by first collecting unconstrained spontaneous impressions from two groups of perceivers …

Suitability Of 210pbex, 137cs And 239+240pu As Soil Erosion Tracers In Western Kenya, Sophia M. Dowell, Olivier S. Humphrey, Charles J.B. Gowing, Thomas S. Barlow, Simon R. Chenery, Job Isaboke, William H. Blake, Odipo Osano, Michael J. Watts

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Land degradation resulting from soil erosion is a global concern, with the greatest risk in developing countries where food and land resources can be limited. The use of fallout radionuclides (FRNs) is a proven method for determining short and medium-term rates of soil erosion, to help improve our understanding of soil erosion processes. There has been limited use of these methods in tropical Africa due to the analytical challenges associated with 137Cs, where inventories are an order of magnitude lower than in the Europe. This research aimed to demonstrate the usability of 239+240Pu as a soil erosion tracer in western …

The Effect Of Breathing Hypoxic Gas (15% Fio2) On Physiological And Behavioral Outcomes During Simulated Driving In Healthy Subjects, Jaspreet Kaur, Lebbathana Manokaran, Michael Thynne, Mirza M.F. Subhan

School of Biomedical Sciences

Hypoxia is mainly caused by cardiopulmonary disease or high-altitude exposure. We used a driving simulator to investigate whether breathing hypoxic gas influences driving behaviors in healthy subjects. Fifty-two healthy subjects were recruited in this study, approved by the Science and Engineering Ethical Committee. During simulated driving experiments, driving behaviors, breathing frequency, oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ), and heart rate variability (HRV) were analyzed. Each subject had four driving sessions; a 10-min practice and three 20-min randomized interventions: normoxic room air (21% FIO 2 ) and medical air (21% FIO 2 ) and hypoxic air (equal to 15% FIO 2 ), …

Short- And Midterm Outcomes Of Off- And On-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass In Patients With A Mean Age Of 65 Or More: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jake Trotman, Toluwalase Eboka, Neil Smart, Nicola King

School of Biomedical Sciences

Background. Advancing age is a nonmodifiable risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease. Furthermore, patients >65 years old are considered at high risk for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of this study was to investigate whether there were any differences in clinical outcomes for patients with a mean age ≥65 undergoing CABG on or off pump. Methods. Systematic searches were conducted in EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). The key search terms used were "cardiopulmonary bypass"OR "On pump"AND "off pump"OR "beating heart"AND "coronary artery bypass grafting"OR "CABG"AND "age."This was …

Spaces For Co-Creating Rural Futures: Bridport's Living Lab, Alexandra Carr, Alejandro Veliz Reyes

School of Art, Design and Architecture

No abstract provided.

Open‐Label, Clinical Trial Extension: Two‐Year Safety And Efficacy Results Of Seladelpar In Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis, Marlyn J. Mayo, John M. Vierling, Christopher L. Bowlus, Cynthia Levy, Gideon M. Hirschfield, Guy W. Neff, Michael R. Galambos, Stuart C. Gordon, Brian B. Borg, Stephen A. Harrison, Paul J. Thuluvath, Aparna Goel, Mitchell L. Shiffman, Mark G. Swain, David E.J. Jones, Palak Trivedi, Andreas E. Kremer, Richard J. Aspinall, David A. Sheridan, Yvonne Dörffel, Ke Yang, Yun Jung Choi, Charles A. Mcwherter

Peninsula Medical School

Background Seladelpar is a potent and selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ agonist that targets multiple cell types involved in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), leading to anti-cholestatic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic effects. Aims To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of seladelpar in patients with PBC. Methods In an open-label, international, long-term extension study, patients with PBC completing seladelpar lead-in studies continued treatment. Seladelpar was taken orally once daily at doses of 5 or 10 mg with dose adjustment permitted for safety or tolerability. The primary analysis was for safety and the secondary efficacy analysis examined biochemical markers of cholestasis and liver injury. …

High-Resolution Quantitative Vegetation Reconstruction In The North China Plain During The Early-To-Middle Holocene Using The Reveals Model, B Li, W Zhang, Ralph Fyfe, Baoshuo Fan, Sai Wang, Qinghai Xu, N Zhang, Guoqiang Ding, Jiaxing Yang, Y Li

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Understanding the process and pattern of vegetation succession during the early-to-middle Holocene can yield valuable information for better predicting future vegetation evolution. In this study, we investigated the humidity evolution pattern in the North China Plain (NCP) during the early-to-middle Holocene by employing principal component analysis on 93 fossil spectra. Furthermore, by integrating the Regional Estimates of Vegetation Abundance from Large Sites (REVEALS) model, we quantitatively reconstructed the process of vegetation succession and discussed vegetation response to climate change events. Our results indicate that the sample scores of the first principal component axis (PCA axis 1) exhibited a consistent negative …

Modelling The Spatial Risk Pattern Of Dementia In Denmark Using Residential Location Data: A Registry-Based National Cohort, Prince M. Amegbor, Clive E. Sabel, Laust H. Mortensen, Amar J. Mehta

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Dementia is a major global public health concern that is increasingly leading to morbidity and mortality among older adults. While studies have focused on the risk factors and care provision, there is currently limited knowledge about the spatial risk pattern of the disease. In this study, we employ Bayesian spatial modelling with a stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE) approach to model the spatial risk using complete residential history data from the Danish population and health registers. The study cohort consisted of 1.6 million people aged 65 years and above from 2005 to 2018. The results of the spatial risk map …

Cheating And The Effect Of Promises In Indian And German Children, Patricia Kanngiesser, Jahnavi Sunderarajan, Jan K. Woike

School of Psychology

Cheating is harmful to others and society at large. Promises have been shown to increase honesty in children, but their effectiveness has not been compared between different cultural contexts. In a study (2019) with 7- to 12-year-olds (N = 406, 48% female, middle-class), voluntary promises reduced cheating in Indian, but not in German children. Children in both contexts cheated, but cheating rates were lower in Germany than in India. In both contexts, cheating decreased with age in the (no-promise) control condition and was unaffected by age in the promise condition. These findings suggest that there may exist a threshold beyond …

Automating The Design Of Deep Learning Models Using Neural Architecture Search For Medical Image Classification, Ridhanya Balamurugan

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Designing Deep Learning (DL) models for medical image classification tasks poses significant challenges, demanding substantial expertise owing to the intricate nature and critical importance of the undertaking. Creating a DL model tailored for such purposes entails iterative processes of designing, implementing, and fine-tuning algorithms to achieve optimal performance. To mitigate these difficulties, Neural Architecture Search (NAS) has risen as a key field to generate the most effective DL models automatically. However, much of the previous studies involving NAS focus on automating the design of DL models for well-established datasets such as CIFAR-10 and ImageNet. This technique should also be extended …

“We’Ve All Come Together”: A Board Game Intervention For Children And Adults With Autism And Other Developmental Disabilities, Gray Atherton, Emily Dawson, Liam Cross

School of Psychology

The authors discuss how board games offer individuals with autism (whooften struggle with social settings and require structured outlets for building relationships) an affordable, naturalistic, collaborative environmentthat is stimulating, engaging, and educational. Board games, they assert,provide opportunities to practice social skills, including cooperation andsocial deduction, essential skills for both neurotypical and atypical people.The authors include recommendations for introducing board games intospecial educational settings. K