National University of Ireland, Maynooth
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Novel design of dual-action Pt(iv) anticancer pro-drugs based on cisplatin and derivatives of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib and nilotinib
No full textTyrosine kinases (TKs) are emerging as important targets in cancer therapy and some of their inhibitors, TKIs (e.g. imatinib and nilotinib), are FDA-approved drugs that are used as selective anti-cancer therapeutics against cell lines that overexpress TKs. Many examples of metal-based complexes functionalised with TKIs are reported in the literature but very few have been functionalised with platinum. Here we report the design, a detailed computational analysis/simulation, the complete chemical characterisation and the preliminary biological evaluation of two novel Pt(IV) anticancer pro-drugs based on cisplatin tethered with a derivative of either imatinib or nilotinib in the axial position. Pt(IV) complexes are a strategic scaffold in combination therapy due to their axial ligands that can be functionalised to form dual action drugs. The activation by reduction releases the Pt(II) core and the axial ligands upon cellular internalisation. The antiproliferative activity and the TK inhibition properties of the novel adducts are analysed with a theoretical approach and confirmed in vitro with preliminary biological assays
Can Views and Contact with Nature at Home Help Combat Anxiety and Depression during the Pandemic? Results of the GreenCOVID study
No full textBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures have had important consequences on the mental health of the population, although little is known
about the role played by nature and its benefits.
Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate the risk of anxiety and depression
during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain and to identify the factors
most strongly associated with anxiety and depression, including sociodemographic,
household characteristics, and access to or contact with natural environment.
Methods: GreenCOVID is an online cross-sectional study promoted by the Health &
Territory Research (HTR) of the University of Seville in Spain, Maynooth University in
Ireland, and the University of Winchester in the United Kingdom. This study includes
only data from Spain which were collected between April 8, 2020 and April 27, 2020.
Binary logistic regression was conducted to identify the factors associated with anxiety
and depression through the HADS scale.
Results: Of the total of 2,464 adults who participated in GreenCOVID Spain, mean
age was 38.1 years, 72.6% were female, 58.1% were at risk of anxiety, and 32.3% of
depression. In the multivariable logistic regression, the factors associated with risk of
anxiety were female: gender, being a student and problems at home. Regarding the risk
of depression, the factors most associated were being a student, female gender, problems at home, worse evaluation of views from home and less help from outside views
to cope with lockdown.
Conclusions: Our findings show that during COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to
sociodemographic factors female gender and being a student, problems at home, lack
of natural elements in the home, and worse appreciation of views from home were
associated with mental health problems. Thus, housing conditions and access to the
natural environment were important for mental health during COVID-19 lockdown
The Effects of Social Support on ACEs and Mental Health in Ireland
No full textThe aim of this study is to determine the moderating effect of perceived social support on the relationships between ACEs and depression/anxiety, and CPTSD symptoms in older adults in Ireland. Moderated regression analysis was used to evaluate these relationships in a sample of 535 residents of Ireland, aged 50 or above. The results show statistically significant predictive relationships between ACEs and mental health outcomes as well as a significant moderating effect of perceived social support. These findings suggest that ACEs in Ireland should be considered and measures to increase perceived social support should be implemented
Family-focused practice in mental health services in Ireland: exploration and implementation
No full textObjectives: This paper outlines the findings from the first stage of a research programme called
PRIMERA (Promoting Research and Innovation in Mental hEalth seRvices for fAmilies and
Children). This programme aims to identify, help implement and evaluate family-focused
interventions for families where a parent has a mental illness and promote a ‘think family’
service delivery agenda in the Republic of Ireland (RoI).
Methods: An initial scoping study was undertaken to: (1) assess the nature and extent of familyfocused
practice (FFP) in adult (N = 114) and child (N = 69) mental health services in the RoI; (2)
review the international literature; and (3) undertake site/service visits to assess readiness for,
and inform the implementation of, FFP.
Results: A national Expression of Interest (EoI) call led to 37 written submissions (20% response
rate) plus six further requests for involvement from interested community services. Fifteen
sites/ services (35%) were included in the research following critical appraisal and consultation.
FFP across services/sites was small-scale or non-existent. Following a literature review and
other strategic/resource considerations, all sites were invited to deliver the Family Talk (FT)
intervention; 12 agreed to do so; three sites will deliver other programmes. A series of activities
was undertaken by the research team to support early implementation.
Discussion: This first phase of the research provides a critical starting point for promoting, and
assessing the development of, FFP in mental health services in the RoI. Some useful
generalisable lessons are also identified in terms of building capacity and beginning to change
practice in this field
How principals and teachers in mainstream primary schools in a Dublin postal district support inclusion as they mediate the ‘new model’ of special education teacher allocation.
No full textThe last four decades have been characterised by a movement towards inclusive education globally. While Ireland has been slow to move in that direction significant progress has been made in providing support for students with special educational needs (SEN) in Irish schools. This study examines how the most recent Department of Education (DE) policy initiative to provide additional teaching support to students with SEN under a ‘new model’ introduced in Circular 0013/2017 (DES, 2017a) is understood and mediated by teachers and principals in mainstream primary schools in a Dublin postal district.
An explanatory sequential design situated within a pragmatic paradigm was employed. In phase one principals, mainstream class teachers and SEN teachers (N=73) completed a survey, and in phase two one-to-one and focus group interviews were conducted in a Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Band One Junior primary school in the same postal district. Analysis of the data sets were conducted using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis and the findings of the study are presented under four themes.
The data captured the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of principals and teachers towards the ‘new model’ and its impact on their practice. The findings show that teachers and principals consider themselves advocates for inclusion but believe that all students cannot be included effectively in the mainstream class. They question the lack of clarity and transparency around the ‘complex’ needs’ component of the model. While some teachers and principals welcomed the increased agency provided under the ‘new model’, others suggested that this transferred the responsibility from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and the DE to schools without providing the necessary level of support which is a challenge. The findings of this study raise important considerations and have implications for policy, practice and future research if ‘truly inclusive schools’ are to be realised
What are the differences between gun laws in Republican voting states such as Florida, versus Democratic voting states such as New York?
No full textGun laws in America are often a topic of conversation, especially in times where guns have
either proven helpful or dangerous in different circumstances. This research project aims to
identify why certain Republican states, such as Florida and certain Democratic states such as
New York have such different views on gun laws. Additionally, this project will examine the
impact different gun laws have on school shootings. The data for this project was collected
through numerous secondary sources. Reasons why people may be for and why people may be
against owning a gun are outlined in this paper. Other aspects that will be explored within this
paper will examine the NRA, young people and gun violence, race and gun violence, media
and gun ownership as well as public opinion from gun ownership. All of these findings display
that gun violence is a major issue in the US and there is a need to change the second
Amendment of the US Constitution. However it is also important to recognise that gun culture
in America is not a part of the US that will be removed., as it plays such a major role in many
people’s lives
Special ones? The effect of head coaches on football team performance
No full textUsing data from professional football leagues in four countries, we assess the effects on team performances following head coach turnover, distinguishing between voluntary
and involuntary exits. We use entropy balancing to deal
with the endogeneity of coach departures, by reweighting
pre-departure covariates to obtain a comparable control
group. Results reveal little, if any, positive effect from either type of turnover, though some longer-term benefits
are possible if teams experience no subsequent turnover.
We discuss how these findings fit with previous literature
and theory, and discuss the wider practical implications
Raising Expectations: Scrutinising Violence Against Women Policies using the WHO Respect Women Framework as a Measurement Tool.
No full textViolence Against Women is a human rights issue that impacts approximately 30% of women and girls worldwide (WHO, 2021). The increase of Violence Against Women cases and a disregard for relevant data have become a cause for concern for women, minority groups and the criminal justice community. This research examines the response to VAW and use of VAW policy through the questions “What measures have Ireland, Canada, and Australia taken to address and reduce Violence Against Women?” and “To what extent do Violence Against Women policies and measures in Ireland, Canada, and Australia meet the WHO Respect Women Framework’s criteria for success?”
Using documentary analysis, a comparative approach and secondary data, the study examines the measures Ireland, Canada, and Australia have taken to address and reduce Violence Against Women under their respective Violence Against Women policies. This research applies the WHO (2019) Respect Women Framework to Violence Against Women policies in Ireland, Canada, and Australia to understand the extent frameworks addressing Violence Against Women are adopted to policies.
The findings suggest that Ireland, Canada, and Australia have taken several measures to address and reduce Violence Against Women under their current Violence Against Women policies. However, due to Canada’s policy being implemented five years before Ireland and Australia, more measures were evident in Canada. The research found that according to the twenty-two recommendations to address and reduce Violence Against Women under the Respect Women Framework, Ireland met sixteen requirements, Australia met fifteen and Canada met ten. The study suggests that there are several discrepancies between measures taken to address Violence Against Women, Violence Against Women policies and the risk factors associated with Violence Against Women and makes several recommendations to bridge this gap
Unusual tellurium(iv) mediated cyclisation diols into dihydroxazoles with potential anticancer activity
No full textThe role of tellurium in medicinal chemistry has recently grown in importance due to the discovery of the anticancer properties of SAS and AS-101, two inorganic compounds based on Te(IV). Here we describe an unprecedented isolation of a series of tetramethyl-dihydroxazole tellurium hexachloride salts whose structure has been indentified and characterised with several techniques including X-ray crystallography. The novelty resides on the role of tellurium that mediate the cyclisation of 1,1,2,2-tetramethylethylene into duhydroxazole in the presence of nitriles. Reaction mechanism, physiological stability and preliminary cytotoxicity results are discussed
