University of Exeter

Implementing a peer-support programme for surgeons following adverse events

Introduction Despite the known impact of adverse events (AEs) for surgeons, and the potential for AE peer-support models, little is known about usefulness of AE peer-support initiatives in UK surgical settings. This study evaluated: (1) surgeons’ perceptions of current AE support...

Vegetation Types and Plant Invasion Shape Pollination Interactions on a Tropical Island

Understanding how habitat transformation and non-native species shape plant–pollinator interactions is important for conserving and restoring oceanic islands, where both disturbances are widespread yet rarely examined together. Here, we investigated pollination networks across si...

Methanol-controlled structural retention of metal-organic frameworks during binder-free pelletisation for enhanced hydrogen storage

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) typically have structural degradation from mechanical compaction. Here, CuBTC was prepared through a sequential one-pot solid-state route and shaped by binder-free room-temperature uniaxial pelletisation. Methanol treatment duration was varied befo...

Nature-based activities to support mental ill health (GREENGAGE): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial and process evaluation

Abstract Background Anxiety and depression are among the leading mental health difficulties worldwide. Nature-based interventions are increasingly being used to support mental health and wellbeing. There is growing policy interest in the use of nature as a setting for interventio...

Global dynamics mapping and low-energy bidirectional control of a vibro-impact capsule

The nonlinear dynamics and motion control of vibro-impact capsule systems, characterized by non-smooth interactions, present critical challenges for reliable locomotion in complex engineering scenarios. This study systematically investigates the influence of multi-parameter coupl...

Signals too small to sense: physical and information-theoretic limits to induction-based magnetoreception in birds

A recent study (Nordmann et al. 2025 Science 391, 1155-1160 (doi:10.1126/science.aea6425)) proposes that magnetoreception in pigeons may arise from electromagnetic induction within the semicircular canals of the inner ear. In this framework, motion through the geomagnetic field i...

Devotional AI: digital companions and bad faith love

Abstract In romantic love, partners come together as a “we”. They share their projects, plans, lives, and love. As consumer AI chatbots like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini find wider adoption, a growing number of users report falling in love with them. Is it possible to experience a...

(Un)Real matters: Toward the making of fabrication studies

The place of truth in public life has garnered a heightened status in recent times. Considerable efforts are underway in popular and academic forums to shore up true beliefs against their identified counterparts. However, the adequacy of such efforts has been a continuing topic o...

Prophage and metabolic determinants of Staphylococcus aureus survival to vancomycin identified via TraDIS screening

ABSTRACT Reduced vancomycin susceptibility phenotypes in Staphylococcus aureus contribute to treatment failure, yet the genetic determinants of survival under inhibitory vancomycin exposure remain incompletely defined. We performed transposon-directed insertion-site sequencing (T...

International Protocol for the Study of Amorphous Charred Objects in Archaeology (IPSACO 1.0)

Abstract Archaeobotanists around the world increasingly recognise that, alongside commonly studied materials such as seeds, fruits, wood charcoal, and chaff, archaeobotanical samples also contain fragments of carbonised organic (and sometimes inorganic) matter that vary in shape...

Factors Influencing Consumer Engagement in Hospital Care: An Interview Study of Perceptions and Experiences of Patients, Carers and Care Providers

ABSTRACT Aim(s) To explore the challenges and facilitators to consumer engagement in care during hospital attendance, integrating the perspectives of patients, informal carers and care providers. Design A qualitative descriptive study using semi‐structured interviews. Methods A t...

Centering equity, diversity and inclusion in environmental evidence synthesis: from awareness to action

Abstract Knowledge generated through evidence synthesis is an approach that decision-makers can take to inform policy and management decisions. Evidence syntheses, such as systematic reviews, provide quantitative and qualitative summaries of this evidence, using structured method...

Cognitive reserve and everyday functioning in cognitively unimpaired older adults: evidence from the CAN-PROTECT study

Abstract Background Cognitive reserve (CR) is thought to buffer against the clinical manifestation of dementia, preserving cognitive function despite accumulating pathology. However, less is known about how CR relates to the capacity to independently perform activities of daily l...

Mitigating artificial intelligence-related animal welfare risks in animal farming

In animal farming, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly promoted as a means to enhance productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve animal welfare. However, discussion of the animal welfare risks arising from these technologies, particularly emerging generat...

Quantifying non-Markovianity in magnetization dynamics via entropy production rates

Abstract Magnetization dynamics is commonly described by the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation. However, on picosecond timescales, inertial and open-system extensions of the LLG equation are necessary to interpret recent experiments. While it has been anticipated...

Rapid increase of climate extremes reveals new areas of concern in Amazonia

Abstract Amazonia is highly sensitive to climate extremes, yet we lack an Amazon-wide assessment that examines the spatial-temporal changes in these extreme conditions. We address this within seasons and across the hydrological year, using a quantiles approach that integrates the...

Association for Clinical Genomic Science (ACGS) Best Practice Guidelines for Variant Classification in Rare Disease

Revised ACGS variant classification guidelines 2026.

A dual view interactive framework with linked 2D and 3D visualisation enhances cerebral artery exploration in mixed reality

Understanding the topology of cerebral arteries is crucial for neuro-interventional planning and medical education. Conventional 2D displays often suffer from projection ambiguity and severe occlusion. This study introduces a mixed reality system that integrates 3D vessel represe...

Common variant contributions to neurodevelopmental risk in orofacial clefts

Abstract Background Children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) experience increased rates of neurodevelopmental difficulties, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and educational challenges. While rare neurodevelopmental copy number variants (ND-CNVs) are enriched in this...

Acting on the Voicelessness Challenge to Democratic Deliberation: A Six‐Actor Framework

Political philosophers have long recognized that key stakeholders in policy decisions-children, future generations, nonhuman animals, and individuals with severe cognitive impairments-are structurally unable to participate in the deliberative processes meant to legitimate those d...