National University of Ireland, Maynooth
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Development of a video-based evidence synthesis knowledge translation resource: Drawing on a user-centred design approach
No full textObjectives
We aimed to develop a video animation knowledge translation (KT) resource to explain the purpose, use and importance of evidence synthesis to the public regarding healthcare decision-making.
Methods
We drew on a user-centred design approach to develop a spoken animated video (SAV) by conducting two cycles of idea generation, prototyping, user testing, analysis, and refinement. Six researchers identified the initial key messages of the SAV and informed the first draft of the storyboard and script. Seven members of the public provided input on this draft and the key messages through think-aloud interviews, which we used to develop an SAV prototype. Seven additional members of the public participated in think-aloud interviews while watching the video prototype. All members of the public also completed a questionnaire on perceived usefulness, desirability, clarity and credibility. We subsequently synthesised all data to develop the final SAV.
Results
Researchers identified the initial key messages as 1) the importance of evidence synthesis, 2) what an evidence synthesis is and 3) how evidence synthesis can impact healthcare decision-making. Members of the public rated the initial video prototype as 9/10 for usefulness, 8/10 for desirability, 8/10 for clarity and 9/10 for credibility. Using their guidance and feedback, we produced a three-and-a-half-minute video animation. The video was uploaded on YouTube, has since been translated into two languages, and viewed over 12,000 times to date.
Conclusions
Drawing on user-centred design methods provided a structured and transparent approach to the development of our SAV. Involving members of the public enhanced the credibility and usefulness of the resource. Future work could explore involving the public from the outset to identify key messages in developing KT resources explaining methodological topics. This study describes the systematic development of a KT resource with limited resources and provides transferrable learnings for others wishing to do similar
The “Mind Your Next Dance” (MYND) Programme: a mixed methods study of a mindfulness-based dance movement psychotherapy for people with mild to moderate dementia and their caregivers. Vol. 1
No full textBackground: The majority of people with dementia (PwD) experience behavioural and psychological
disturbances (BPDD) such as depression, agitation, apathy and aggression, which can be associated
with disease progression, hospitalisation, institutionalisation and increased morbidity, mortality, and
healthcare utilisation. Considering the substantial evidence on the risks, side effects, and long-term
inefficacy of psychotropic drugs for the treatment of BPDD, numerous guidelines recommend non�pharmacological strategies as the preferred first line treatment approach. The aim of this study was to
develop a multi-component non-pharmacological intervention (NPI) using mindfulness and dance
movement (psycho)therapy for PwD and their caregivers (“Mind Your Next Dance” [MYND] Programme)
and to prepare a protocol to assess its feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness.
Method: Informed by the UK’s Medical Research Council’s guidelines for developing complex
interventions, an exploratory multiphase sequential mixed methods design was employed. Three studies
were conducted, whereby qualitative data from in-depth individual interviews (n= 31) and a focus group
(n=10) informed a (mainly) quantitative Delphi survey (n=30). A critical realist, inductively driven approach
to reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.
Results: Analysis of the qualitative interview data gave rise to four overarching themes: (1) key
therapeutic factors and intervention characteristics contributing to therapeutic change, (2) barriers to and
enablers of the adoption of NPIs, (3) lessons learned from practice and (4) a framework for understanding
integrative and holistic approaches to compassionate and person-centred dementia treatment and care.
Four overarching themes were identified in the focus group analysis: (1) the reconciliation of
pharmacological with non-pharmacological approaches for integrated dementia care, (2) the
(de)medicalization of psychological therapies, (3) therapeutic factors that can improve outcomes and
facilitate therapeutic change and (4) rebuilding more equal and accessible dementia care. Delphi findings
complemented and validated the findings from the interviews and focus group and facilitated formal
consensus on a range of statements regarding (1) the key determinants of effective therapeutic
processes, (2) factors that can improve implementation and (3) factors enabling effective holistic,
integrated and continuing dementia care.
Conclusions: The MYND programme can benefit PwD and their caregivers when implemented by
competent professionals, within a person-centred and human rights-based approach and when integrated
in health care plans/community mental health services. Psychotherapeutic and psychosocial
interventions can address complex and diverse dementia-related needs, including social and peer
support, assisting PwD and caregivers to maintain social engagement and improve BPDD, as well as
enhancing relationships, well-being and quality of life. These interventions should be personalised and
co-developed by PwD, caregivers and diverse cadres of clinicians and (psycho)therapists. They should
also be adaptable to different contexts (clinical and community settings, in-person, online, blended) and
changing capacities, embracing individuality, diversity and multiculturalism. They should comprise an
integral part of post diagnostic dementia support and should be widely available and communicated and easily accessible. It is crucial for such interventions to be offered at low/no cost, sustained over time, and
supported by policies, clinical practice guidelines and governmental funding
Land, society and politics in Co. Carlow, 1879 – 1960
No full textThe abstract is included in the text
Multi-objective transmission expansion planning based on Pareto dominance and neural networks
No full textThis paper presents an algorithm to solve the multi-objective transmission expansion planning (TEP) problem including the investment and reliability criteria. The reliability is considered by using the Expected energy not supplied (EENS) index. The main contribution consists on handling the reliability criterion in the optimization process, which tends to provide solutions with better trade-off between the mentioned criteria. For that purpose, a novel probabilistic algorithm called non-dominated Monte Carlo simulation (ND-MCS) is proposed to allow solving the multi-objective TEP problem with suitable computational effort and efficacy even considering the probabilistic feature of reliability in the optimization. In addition, a Support Vector Machine (SVM) network is applied embedded within the ND-MCS. The proposed methodology integrates the Pareto dominance method as a convergence criterion to MCS and a fuzzy criterion to support the decision making. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is tested in three systems, including a practical Brazilian network
The (M)other’s Voice: Representations of Motherhood in Contemporary Swiss Writing by Women
No full textThe mother-daughter relationship has long been a focus in writing by women, and many female authors have sought to explore the close and sometimes complex connections between mothers and daughters. However, as Marianne Hirsch has argued, the stories of mothers are all too often presented from the point of view of their daughters, so that the maternal perspective tends to be absent from literature. This chapter compares the presentation of the mother-daughter relationship in two novels by contemporary Swiss writers, Zoë Jenny’s The Pollen Room (1997) and Ruth Schweikert’s Augen zu [Close Your Eyes] (1998). Both texts feature mothers who struggle to cope with the demands of their daily lives and the responsibility of the maternal role and daughters who can neither understand their mothers’ suffering nor accept their difference. While both novels point to the difficulty of retaining one’s subjectivity as mother, I argue that Schweikert’s novel offers a more nuanced and potentially more productive portrayal of the complexities of maternal identity. In particular, through her use of a polyphonic narrative structure that gives equal weight to maternal and filial perspectives, Schweikert answers Hirsch’s call for a “double voice” that offers a way forward for women’s writing
“The Poor Relation.” ESOL in Ireland: A Holistic View from the Experiences of Tutors in Adult Education.
No full textImmigration into Ireland is increasing year on year and particularly since March 2022
when Russia invaded Ukraine. With this, the need for English acquisition is
augmenting in Ireland. English can create barriers into Irish society, a society which,
for many immigrants, differs greatly from their home countries. English language
classes, named ESOL, are offered to immigrants in Ireland’s public Adult Education
sector.
Both a critical and social constructivist theory were utilised to analyse the current
literature for ESOL. The possibility of a learner-centred or liberating critical pedagogy
and the conceptual presence of hegemony through accreditation were explored. The
implications, for the tutor, of power in the workplace were also considered. In doing
so, a rationale for a safe, learner-centred environment in the classroom and a
supportive work place for the tutors could be provided.
Through a qualitative method of research, the complexities of teaching ESOL and
potential issues for tutors were revealed. This method involved semi-structured
interviews with 6 ESOL tutors currently working in Adult Education in Ireland.
The findings indicated that when possible, tutors strive for dialogue and learnercentredness
in the group. While poor conditions in the workplace was revealed, tutors
resistance to a neo-liberal agenda was also uncovered
Electroanalysis of Small Molecule Therapeutics at Nanostructured Electrode Surfaces
No full textThe outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China in December 2019, resulted in the evolution of a global pandemic which caused thousands of deaths worldwide. As little was known about this new coronavirus, many existing drugs were repurposed with the goal to effectively treat the infection. Two such candidates were dexamethasone (DEX) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Relatively few articles have been published relating to their electrochemical determination, and in this project the use of metal nanoparticles, microparticles and films alongside various carbon nano-onions (CNOs) were explored as chemical modifiers in order to maximize their electrochemical responses. Bare, copper microparticle (CuMPs) and copper film (CuF) modified glassy carbon electrodes were exploited in Chapter 2 to examine the DEX electroreduction response, resulting in sensitivities of 2.00 × 102 μA cm-2 mM-1 and 1.13 × 102 μA cm-2 mM-1 for the CuF and CuMP modified GCEs respectively. Pharmaceutical samples in the form of a cream and a solid-state dose, were analysed with recoveries 77.46 – 87.91 %, with 1.93 – 4.97 % variance. Various types of CNOs were electrochemically characterised of which, oxi-BN-doped-CNOs was selected and combined with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), resulting in an AuNP/oxi-BN-doped CNO/GCE for NAC quantitation (sensitivity 476 μQ cm-2 mM-1 in acetate buffer). Following design and optimisation, a solid dose form of NAC was quantitatively analysed, resulting in 89 – 105 % ± 6.75 % recovery, thus validating the sensors
Validation of a control-oriented point vortex model for a cyclorotor-based wave energy device
No full textRecently conducted analytical assessment of the potential performance of cyclorotor wave energy converters (WECs) have shown that such devices offer the best wave absorption behaviour, if energy capture can be optimised through suitable control. Such claims require additional investigation. This article is dedicated to validation of the control-oriented point vortex model of cyclorotor WECs against numerical and experimental assessments conducted by various research groups. The validation is conducted in terms of the traditional metrics for cyclorotor WECs: (a) cancellation of incoming waves; (b) generation of lift and drag forces (c) mechanical power generation.
It is shown that the point vortex model generally confirms the previously conducted analytical assessment of device performance. However, accounting for the influence of the hydrofoil induced wakes decreases performance estimates to some extent. It is also shown that, overall, wave cancellation metrics are more optimistic than actual shaft power generation.
Analysis of the lift and drag coefficients, which were derived from experimental data, reveal a range of hydrodynamic and mechanic effects which could influence actual device performance. It has been shown that, due to the complexity of hydrodynamic effects, lift and drag coefficients for the control-oriented model should be considered not only as functions of the Reynolds number and angle of attack, but also related to submergence of the foils and direction of their rotation with respect to the free surface. This method allows us to achieve the best validation against experimental results in terms of generation of tangential and radial forces
A Decision-level Multi-sensor Data Fusion approach to Land Cover Classification
No full textIn recent years there has been an increased demand for frequently updated Land Cover
Classification (LCC) products. With ever greater numbers of Earth Observation (EO)
and Remote Sensing (RS) platforms capturing data, the combined utilisation of data
from multiple platforms has the potential to improve both the accuracy and frequency
of LCC product updates through a process known as sensor fusion. This thesis examines
how the fusion of RS sensors with diverse imaging characteristics can overcome challenges
encountered when generating an annual LCC product. To undertake this examination,
the technical specifications for the Second Generation Corine Land Cover (CLC+) Backbone raster product and its application on the island of Ireland is used as a case study
for evaluating the use of mono-platform and sensor-fused RS datasets for LCC. A review
of Machine Learning (ML) techniques in this thesis highlighted key factors crucial to
achieving high-accuracy classification along with the proposal of a high-accuracy rapid
inference Light Fully Convolutional Neural Network (LFCNN) architecture. This review
also highlighted challenges when performing LCC on the island of Ireland, such as frequent cloud cover that can reduce the availability of optical satellite data, preventing
the widespread use of high-accuracy multi-temporal ML classification. In this thesis, the
application of a decision-level fusion approach is demonstrated as a means of mitigating
the issue of frequent cloud cover and ensuring full classification coverage while also increasing classification accuracy. The versatility of a decision-level fusion approach was
further demonstrated through the fusion of aerial and satellite RS data to improve LCC
in complex non-homogeneous regions such as urban environments. The findings of this
research have direct implications not only for performing LCC on the island of Ireland but
throughout Europe and beyond, with clear recommendations provided for the generation
of LCC products using EO and RS data
A Bayesian time series model for reconstructing hydroclimate from multiple proxies
No full textWe propose a Bayesian model which produces probabilistic reconstructions of
hydroclimatic variability in Queensland Australia. The model provides a standardized approach to hydroclimate reconstruction using multiple palaeoclimate
proxy records derived from natural archives such as speleothems, ice cores and
tree rings. The method combines time-series modeling with inverse prediction
to quantify the relationships between a given hydroclimate index and relevant
proxies over an instrumental period and subsequently reconstruct the hydroclimate back through time. We present case studies for Brisbane and Fitzroy
catchments focusing on two hydroclimate indices, the Rainfall Index (RFI) and
the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). The probabilistic nature of the reconstructions allows us to estimate the probability that a
hydroclimate index in any reconstruction year was lower (higher) than the minimum (maximum) value observed over the instrumental period. In Brisbane, the
RFI is unlikely (probabilities < 5%) to have exhibited extremes beyond the minimum/maximum values observed between 1889 and 2019. However, in Fitzroy
there are several years during the reconstruction period where the RFI is likely
(>50% probability) to have exhibited behavior beyond the minimum/maximum
of what has been observed, during the instrumental period. For SPEI, the probability of observing such extremes prior to the beginning of the instrumental
period in 1889 doesn’t exceed 30% in any reconstruction year in Brisbane, but
exceeds 50% in multiple years in Fitzroy