National University of Ireland, Maynooth
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The Teresa Deevy Archive and the Development of Collections and Curation in Maynooth University Library: Critical Perspectives on Teresa Deevy
No full text‘The Teresa Deevy Archive and the Development of Collections and Curation in Maynooth University Library’ outlines the traditional library role and approach to archival collection of Maynooth University Library (MUL) in the context of Maynooth University (MU) and Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth (SPCM). It argues that, in recent decades, MUL has developed curatorial holdings and special collections to better reflect a long-standing commitment to scholarship and activism in areas of social justice, focussing particularly on the theme of the outsider. The chapter reflects on the evolution of this collections development strategy and positions the Teresa Deevy Archive as a case study of sorts, exemplifying current collection policy orientation and practice. Focusing on collection management since the beginning of the twenty-first century and identifying the advantages of a planned strategic approach to collection management, the chapter considers how MUL’s special collections evolved and the identification of the multidisciplinary theme of ‘The Outsider’—a categorisation left deliberately loose to encompass individuals whose work or social and/or political contribution was either marginalised, or considered marginal, within their lifetime or after their death. Teresa Deevy’s life and work and the value of her archive is considered in this light, and the story of how her archive came to be held and conserved by MUL and some of the curatorial decisions made are in relation to it are detailed. The challenges and impacts of curatorial decisions and practice are illustrated through this narrative as are the complexities of where and how scholars access the Teresa Deevy Archive, in particular, and archives, generally. The chapter concludes asserting the importance of stakeholder involvement in matters of special collection acquisition, curation, and access and the ironic success in identifying the theme of ‘The Outsider’ in relation to improving engagement with the archives of figures such as Teresa Deevy
ERC PatentsInHumans: Year 2 Report
No full textBuilding upon work in year 1, a key part of the research in year 2 focused on
developing deeper understandings of the potential bioethical issues posed by
patents over technologies related to how we treat, use and modify the human
body. Research was conducted to develop a deeper understanding of scope of
the ‘bioethical’ implications which can arise in such contexts, and how
‘bioethics’ as a term is defined within the project. Relatedly, Prof McMahon
developed further her research refining the five-category taxonomy used within
the project of patentable ‘technologies’ related to how we treat, use or modify
the human body, namely: 1) patentable ‘technologies’ that are derived from the
body such as isolated human genes which are patentable in Europe; 2)
patentable ‘technologies’ which comprise of tools acting on the body, such as
tools used in diagnostic or surgical processes; 3) patentable ‘technologies’ that
are chemical substances created outside the body but which treat the body,
such as medicines; 4) patentable ‘technologies’ that are integrated with the
body, such as elements of medical devices; and 5) ‘technologies’ which are
intended to be used in ways that can enhance the human body, or alter the
creation of future human life. The research led to refining of category 5, as
although some technologies within categories 4 and 5 may overlap (such as
where technologies have dual uses), for the purposes of category 5 the project
is interested in the distinct bioethical implications posed by patents over
technologies which are intended to be used in ways which could enhance the
body in significant ways, or technologies that are intended to be used to
create/change human life, such as in the assisted human reproductive or gene
editing contexts
Implications of the Revised Draft EU Accession Agreement for the echr
No full textThis article explores the implications of the EU's accession to the echr from the echr perspective based on the revised Draft Accession Agreement (daa 2023). The article analyses key procedural innovations in the daa 2023, notably how the co-respondent mechanism, the prior involvement of the cjeu, and the daa's solutions for advisory opinion requests and for dealing with the EU law concept of mutual trust would work. It exposes the EU's new role as a gatekeeper in relation to certain procedural questions. The article further contrasts the position of EU member states and non-EU member states post-accession by pointing out potential inconsistencies and assesses proposed solutions in light of their effectiveness and workability. The article suggests that, despite the considerable concessions made to the EU, EU accession to the echr would nonetheless result in a strengthening of the echr system and is thus worth the effort and compromises
Linguistic Contributions to a Model for the Celticisation of the Western Archipelago
No full textThe question of the arrival of Celtic-speaking peoples in Britain and Ireland, i.e. the Celticisation of these islands in prehistory, has been a bone of contention – and a mystery – since the early days of Celtic Studies. For the longest time, the only two disciplines that could meaningfully contribute to this debate were archaeology and historical linguistics. However, during the latter part of the 20th century the realisation grew that the methodologies and the data of the two disciplines are not commensurate, and that the conclusions drawn by scholars from the involved disciplines are not compatible with each other.
Since 2015, a third discipline with an entirely new type of data has joined the discussion: palaeogenetics. The analysis of ancient DNA provides a completely different perspective on the prehistory of the Western Archipelago and allows insights into it that neither archaeology nor linguistics are able to achieve with their own methods, and that can inspire the two traditional disciplines to look at their data again and reevaluate it. This talk is a modest attempt from the point of view of historical Celtic and Indo-European linguistics to respond to the new insights and challenges that palaeogenetics has to offer, and to assess how they can be integrated into a general theory of the Celticisation of the Western Archipelago
Relationality, recognition and reward at the margins: Teachers’ experiences of mature student access courses in Irish higher education
No full textThis is a study of higher education teachers’ experiences of teaching on mature student access courses (MSACs) in Irish higher education. This qualitative research is an exploratory case study and is based on semi-structured interviews carried out online with nine MSAC teachers in two higher education institutions in Ireland. MSACs are long-standing operational elements of Irish higher education equity of access strategy and teachers’ experiences of teaching on these courses has been largely absent from Irish research literature up to now. The aim of this study is to present these educators’ perspectives of their work in this contextualised teaching space and thus to offer insight into the personal and professional meaning and value of this teaching in higher education.
These teaching roles are analysed against a backdrop of neoliberal practices and dominant academic cultures in higher education and participants’ experiences are explored through the interconnecting conceptual lenses of relational pedagogy and recognition. The study is significant from the perspective that the MSACs are located on the periphery of higher education institutions’ organisational structures and academic cultures, yet these educators are responsible for supporting non-traditional students to prepare for and successfully progress to higher education under a national equity of access remit. This is a core higher education mission which is central to institutional strategy, as well as to evaluation of institutional and higher education system performance at national level.
My findings suggest that at the micro and meso levels MSAC teaching is highly rewarding, professionally developmental work for my participants when considered through a relational lens, however that my participants experience a lack of recognition of this work and of their own professional status as teachers in higher education at a more macro, institutional level. For some, this impacts on their self-esteem and on their capacity to commit on a long-term basis to critical equity of access work in higher education.
A key argument of this thesis is that engaging in relation-centred education is as important for teachers’ growth and development, and for their institutional sense of belonging, as it is for students, and that an access course is a key site within higher education that offers this kind of experience and opportunity. In these teaching contexts a pedagogy of relation is also a pedagogy of recognition and thus this thesis argues for the need to create and promote opportunities to prioritise relational teaching within the dominant teaching-research dualism of higher education and to explicitly recognise the value and place of relation-centred teaching spaces, practices and teachers
Electrochemical behaviour and DNA intercalation studies of novel antimicrobial Bis - Cu(II) substituted Dipyridophenazine complexes
No full textThe public health threat caused by antimicrobial drug resistance has led to research towards alternatives to current chemotherapeutics, with metal-based complexes providing an excellent and promising avenue. Cu(II) species are of particular interest in this area due to their redox properties that could interfere with and inhibit bacterial growth. Here, we report the synthesis and characterisation of four novel bis-Cu(II) substituted Dipyridophenazine complexes. The dypyridophenazine ligands (DPPZ) where synthesized with different substituents at the 11 position (i.e. NO2, Br, CH3 and CN) to evaluate the effect of the functionality with respect the redox and biological behaviour. The DNA intercalation properties together with a detailed electrochemical study of the complexes and of the ligands is reported. The toxicity of the complexes against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the yeast Candida albicans was characterised and the promise of this family of complexes as novel anti-microbial drugs in a post-antibiotic age was demonstrated
Mesenchymal stromal cells can block palmitate training of macrophages via cyclooxygenase-2 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist
No full textInnate training of macrophages can be beneficial for the clearance of pathogens. However, for certain chronic
conditions, innate training can have detrimental effects due to an excessive production of pro-inflammatory
cytokines. Obesity is a condition that is associated with a range of increased pro-inflammatory training stimuli
including the free fatty acid palmitate. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are powerful immunomodulators
and known to suppress inflammatory macrophages via a range of soluble factors. We show that palmitate training of murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) results
in an increased production of TNFa and IL-6 upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and is associated with
epigenetic remodeling. Palmitate training led to metabolic changes, however, MSCs did not alter the metabolic
profile of human MDMs. Using a transwell system, we demonstrated that human bone marrow MSCs block palmitate training in both murine and human macrophages suggesting the involvement of secreted factors. MSC
disruption of the training process occurs through more than one pathway. Suppression of palmitate-enhanced
TNFa production is associated with cyclooxygenase-2 activity in MSCs, while secretion of interleukin-1 receptor
antagonist by MSCs is required to suppress palmitate-enhanced IL-6 production in MDMs
An Talamh Bhláfar
No full textAn Talamh Bhláfar (The Fertile Land) is a song that bridges heritage, culture, and sustainability. Created by Maynooth University (MU) and University College Dublin (UCD) through the Horizon Europe BioBeo project and the BiOrbic BioCultúr project, it shares the significance of the bioeconomy with communities through the arts. The video launch coincides with the appearance of one of our guitarists on the RTE Late Late Toy show @rtelatelateshow #latelatetoyshow. The bioeconomy, focused on sustainable resource use and innovation, offers a path to resilient communities. By weaving these principles into a song inspired by Ireland’s cultural and ecological heritage, An Talamh Bhláfar shows how land, language, and tradition are deeply connected with a bioeconomy. In Ireland, the landscape and cultural identity are inseparable, reflected in place names, traditions, and livelihoods. The song highlights how communities can honour these ties while adopting sustainable practices. Through music, An Talamh Bhláfar invites listeners to embrace a shared vision of sustainability, celebrating the potential of the bioeconomy to protect both nature and culture for future generations
Hermeneutics. Understanding Educational Experience
No full textFar from something theoretical or abstract, the main concern of hermeneutics is to uncover what actually happens in human experience when understanding, in better or worse forms, occurs. Crucial insights are yielded for educators. Today, the heart of educational experience is routinely bypassed by preoccupations with measurable outcomes and rankings; preoccupations increasingly shared by policy-making in education and by educational research and evaluation. Hermeneutics provides imaginative and practical resources for remedying this loss: for revealing distortions and dogmas and for reclaiming the fullness of educational thought and action. The main ideas of hermeneutics are explored in the book and the more central concerns of educational practice are then reviewed in the light of these ideas
Fungal siderophores and their analogues alter microbial growth and biochemistry: expanding the repertoire of antimicrobial strategies.
No full textIn recent years, the concerns of rising anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in bacteria and fungi have grown due to the rate at which pathogens gain resistance to antimicrobials compared to the rate of antibiotic discovery. As a result, investigations into the role of siderophores, natural iron chelators produced by microbes under iron limiting conditions, are being carried out to see if these small metabolites can be used to bypass AMR by either limiting the amount of available iron or using them as carriers for ‘Trojan-Horse’ antibiotics. It was observed that Triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC), a siderophore native to Aspergillus fumigatus, significantly inhibited Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii growth in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05) and increased the production of a hitherto unknown catecholate, potentially enterobactin-related, siderophore in K. pneumoniae with a singly charged [M+1H]1+ of 924.34. Quantitative proteomic analysis revealed that K. pneumoniae treated with TAFC or gliotoxin (GT), another metabolite produced by A. fumigatus, exhibited disruption of metal homeostasis pathways, protein synthesis and electron transfer. Furthermore, Diacetylfusarinine C (DAFC), a TAFC analogue, was successfully conjugated to chitosan, a biopolymer, and separately to the chemotherapy drug methotrexate (MTX). The DAFC polymer exhibited increased iron-binding activity relative to free TAFC and the gallium chelate of DAFC-MTX (GaDAFC-MTX) conjugate significantly inhibited the growth of A. fumigatus on solid agar by 50 % (p < 0.005) and in liquid culture by 60% (p < 0.005). Interestingly, the GaDAFC-MTX conjugate significantly inhibited TAFC production by 95% (p < 0.005) and overall siderophore production by 50% (p < 0.05) whereas free MTX only inhibited the production of TAFC (p < 0.005). It is concluded that siderophores not native to K. pneumoniae can be used to limit the
available environmental iron and that TAFC and derivatives are suitable candidates for developing Trojan-Horse antifungals