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Neural basis of private and social decision-making: new insights from transcranial ultrasound stimulation and multivariate analysis
No full textValue-based decision-making is a complex process that requires the integration of many pieces of information, or decision variables, to choose among several options. These decision variables include the expected value of an option, its associated risk, or the anticipation of the emotions that one could experience when seeing the outcomes of all possible options. In some cases, values attributed to options are learnt from experience, and additional strategies can be employed to refine them. One of them is to use information from the social environment in which decisions are made. Observational learning allows one to learn from observing others making decisions and from the outcome they obtain. However, observing others also elicits additional processes such as social comparison in which one compares its own aptitudes to the ones of others. In two studies, this thesis investigated the neural basis of social decision-making. We used behavioural tasks coupled with fMRI in healthy participants and used decoding analysis methods to refine our approach. To probe the causal role of specific brain circuits involved in social decisions, we used transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS). We found that the rostromedial prefrontal cortex (rmPFC) is involved in the integration of decision variables and that the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is involved in the anticipation of regret, but not in its experience. We also found that social comparison is supported only by posterior brain areas, including the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), and the precuneus, while observational learning additionally recruits the PCC and more anterior regions, including the rmPFC, the central orbitofrontal cortex (cOFC), and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). This work presents new evidence of the causal roles of rmPFC and precuneus/PCC in social decision-making, with a novel high spatial resolution provided by TUS. In addition, this work also disentangles for the first time the neural basis of observational learning and social comparison, two processes that are often confounded in decision-making and learning studies
Quantitative Comparison of the Performance of Injection-Molded Polymeric Microneedle Dry Electrodes and Traditional Gel Electrodes for ECG Signal Acquisition
No full textWearable 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 performed a study on a small cohort of healthy volunteers, to compare the ECG signal quality recorded using MN dry electrodes with that obtained using conventional gel electrodes, under both static and ambulatory conditions. Signal quality was statistically assessed using parameters such as ECG waveform morphology, R-peak-to-peak interval, and heart rate variability (HRV) time-domain. The results demonstrate that MN dry electrodes exhibit signal quality comparable to that of wet electrodes, even under ambulatory motion. This finding highlights the novelty of a low-cost, mass-producible microneedle electrode technology that could bridge the gap between experimental dry electrodes and clinically accepted wet electrodes
Educational Interventions to Prepare Undergraduate Students for Out-of-Hours Practice as a Newly Qualified Doctor in the United Kingdom: A Scoping Review
No full textBackground: In the United Kingdom (UK), newly qualified doctors are routinely responsible for out-of-hours (OOH) care, often managing acutely unwell patients with limited supervision. Despite national recommendations encouraging OOH experience during medical school training, there is no formal curriculum for OOH practice. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to identify the range of educational interventions designed to prepare UK medical students for OOH clinical responsibilities and assess their reported effects on perceived and actual preparedness. Methods: Following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, a systematic search of seven databases and grey literature sources was conducted. Eligible studies involved UK-based medical students and reported empirical outcomes on educational interventions focused on OOH preparedness. Data were extracted and synthesised using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist and Kirkpatrick\u27s evaluation hierarchy. Results: Eighteen studies were included, primarily using quasi-experimental designs of simulation-based teaching. Interventions targeted a wide range of competencies, including prioritisation, communication, clinical decision-making, and leadership. Thirteen studies demonstrated improvements in learner confidence or attitudes (Kirkpatrick Level 2a), while only three showed measurable performance improvement (Level 2b), and one demonstrated behavioural change (Level 3). Most lacked long-term follow-up. Grey literature analysis revealed inconsistent institutional expectations for OOH experience. Conclusions: Educational interventions on OOH are well-received and enhance perceived preparedness. Current interventions often lack objective assessment and long-term evaluation. This review was limited to published sources and may not reflect all current practice. Nationally standardised, longitudinal curricula supported by robust evaluation strategies are needed to improve graduate preparedness for OOH practice
Evaluating Functional Imagery Training and Internal Visual Imagery on Tennis Serve Performance
No full textImagery is widely used in sport, but its effectiveness depends on how it is structured and the range of senses engaged. This study compared Functional Imagery Training - a multisensory, motivational intervention - with single-sense internal visual imagery and a control condition without imagery training. Thirty-eight competitive tennis players completed imagery ability and preference assessments before engaging in a 6-week intervention. Serve accuracy was measured pre- and post intervention using a target-based scoring task. Both imagery conditions led to performance improvements, with Functional Imagery Training producing significantly greater gains. The control group showed no significant change. Imagery ability and preferred use did not predict outcomes, and participants whose training matched their reported preference did not perform better than those mismatched. These findings support the use of multisensory and motivationally grounded approaches such as Functional Imagery Training, suggesting that the structure and emotional relevance of imagery may be more critical for performance than preference or ability
Biochar to improve the thermal performance of living wall systems: laboratory assessment of three planting substrates
No full textLiving wall systems (LWSs) help to alleviate the climate and biodiversity harms associated with buildings and bring benefits to building occupants. Their performance can be variable and existing research points to the planting substrate as a key design factor. This study provides quantitative evidence on the physical, thermal and moisture performance of three planting substrates that vary according to the proportion of biochar added to green waste compost (GWC). Thermal conductivity (Wm−1 K−1), thermal resistivity (mK W−1), volumetric moisture content (%) and mass (g) are measured for each fraction, replicated six times. Controlled drying procedures were employed, measuring these properties at a range of moisture levels. Data analysis finds that volumetric moisture content and biochar fraction have a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on thermal conductivity. Added biochar is associated with non-linear reductions in thermal conductivity at low moisture levels. This suggests increasing the biochar fraction while reducing moisture in the substrate of a LWS will reduce its thermal conductivity, with a 100 mm planting substrate with 30% biochar and 30%vol moisture content providing 0.82 m2 KW−1 of thermal resistance, compared to 0.46 m2 KW−1 without added biochar. The methods build on previous work to assess the properties of different planting substrates for LWSs, providing a practical, lab-based assessment of biochar. The data produced are useful for researchers and professionals seeking to understand how biochar additions impact irrigation and thermal performance when specifying and designing LWSs and underline the potential value of biochar for improving the thermal performance of green infrastructure more widely
Investigating age-related decline in sensorimotor control using robotic tasks
No full textAging 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 (\u3c35 years) and older (\u3e60 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 dominant hand, consisting of 200 trials in a null-field condition followed by 200 trials with object-like dynamic forces. The third task similarly began with 200 null-field trials and then introduced a viscous force field in the final 200 trials, with fast movements rewarded to encourage peak performance. This task also enabled comparison between dominant and non-dominant arms. All tasks detected age-related performance differences, with the viscous resistance task proving most sensitive to declines in movement speed, force generation, and response onset time. Scoring mechanisms that encouraged brisk performance amplified these effects. Across tasks, older adults generally moved more slowly, took longer to complete tasks, exerted lower peak forces, and had longer response onset times. However, some older participants performed comparably to younger individuals. In the third task, dominant arm performance consistently exceeded that of the non-dominant arm. These results demonstrate that robot-based tasks can sensitively quantify age-related sensorimotor decline and may offer valuable metrics for clinical assessment and monitoring
Considerations when venturing into community engagement with those who struggle to access advice or care
No full textThe role of conflicting cognitions in changing hazardous consumer behaviour
Full text linkDespite diverse approaches deployed worldwide to address harmful alcohol consumption, understanding binge drinking as a hazardous consumption behaviour remains a pressing issue in marketing and consumer behaviour research. Thus, this study examines the role of cognitive dissonance – and its absence – in facilitating transitions between different phases of binge drinking. Drawing on 38 biographical interviews conducted in Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United States, we identify six instances where cognitive dissonance, or the absence thereof, contributes to the transition into, between, and out of phases of binge drinking. By examining conflicting cognitions that emerge from the gaps between behaviours, perceptions of behaviours, and underlying beliefs, we offer new insights for marketing theory and practice, particularly in developing targeted behaviour-change programmes. While previous studies have shown promise in dissonance-based approaches for altering behaviours, this research extends their application to hazardous consumption behaviours
A Systematic Review of Cyber Risk Analysis Approaches for Wind Power Plants
No full textWind 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 between January 2010 and January 2025 were taken from four major journals using a structured set of nine search queries. After removing duplicates, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, and screening titles and abstracts, 62 studies were examined for analysis on the basis of a synthesis framework. The studies were classified along three methodological dimensions, qualitative vs. quantitative, model-based vs. data-driven, and informal vs. formal, giving us a unified taxonomy of cyber risk analysis approaches. Among the included studies, 45% appeared to be qualitative or semi-quantitative frameworks such as STRIDE, DREAD, or MITRE ATT&CK; 35% were classified as quantitative or model-based techniques such as Bayesian networks, Markov decision processes, and Petri nets; and 20% adopted data-driven or hybrid AI/ML methods. Only 28% implemented formal verification, and fewer than 10% explicitly linked cyber vulnerabilities to safety consequences. Key research gaps include limited integration of safety–security interdependencies, scarce operational datasets, and inadequate modelling of environmental factors in WPPs. This systematic review highlights a predominance of qualitative approaches and a shortage of data-driven and formally verified frameworks for WPP cybersecurity. Future research should prioritise hybrid methods that integrate formal modelling, synthetic data generation, and machine learning-based risk prioritisation to enhance resilience and operational safety of renewable-energy infrastructures
Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) blooms off the Southwest of the UK: History, trends, causes and consequences.: Report on Work Package 1: History, causes and consequences of octopus blooms
No full textCommon octopus (Octopus vulgaris) are normally uncommon in UK waters, with a mainly south-westerly distribution linked to the species’ preference for warmer conditions. However, a major population bloom occurred off southwest UK in 2025, comparable to rare historical blooms recorded in 1899–1900, 1932–33 and 1950–51. The species’ rapid growth, high fecundity and short lifespan make its populations highly responsive to environmental conditions. Evidence from fisheries landings, scientific surveys and citizen science confirmed the bloom, with commercial fisheries landings of common octopus in 2025 being almost 65 times higher than recent annual averages. The 2025 bloom and all previous blooms were strongly associated with unusually warm sea and air temperatures, conditions that likely enhanced breeding success, juvenile survival and growth. Observations of lower salinity and ocean current modelling suggests larval transport from the Channel Islands and northern France may also have contributed to the current UK octopus bloom, particularly following a large bloom in Guernsey in 2024. The bloom has had mixed impacts on the UK fishing industry. Predation by octopus appears to have significantly reduced catches of brown crabs, European lobsters and king scallops, with many fishermen reporting negative economic effects, although some temporarily benefited by targeting octopus. Concerns remain about long-term impacts on shellfish stocks. Given increasing ocean warming linked to climate change, future octopus blooms are considered likely. The report recommends expanded monitoring, predictive modelling, improved data collection from fishermen, and research into ecological, economic and social impacts to support fisheries adaptation