National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Maynooth University ePrints and eTheses ArchiveNot a member yet
18158 research outputs found
Sort by
Why We Follow Narcissistic Leaders
No full textA recent study aimed to understand narcissistic leaders and who is most likely to follow them. The results revealed a few patterns. If you are someone who is always looking out for others, empathizes with others, and seeks harmony and consensus in your team (known as agreeable followers), you are more likely to be susceptible to following a narcissistic leader. If you are someone who gets anxious and worried easily or likes to get started on work projects early on to prevent anxiety as a deadline draws closer (known as neurotic followers), you probably prefer engaging with narcissistic leaders
Empirical research and available data on assistive technology for persons with disabilities in Malawi: A review
No full textEmpirical research and data are necessary for policy, planning and provision of services for persons with
disabilities. Research data may be available but still not used by researchers and policy makers. The aim of
this study is to explore existing empirical research and sources of data on Assistive Technology (AT) in
Malawi in order to facilitate the development of an AT policy and Assistive Product List (APL). A two-stage
process using a scoping review methodology was adopted to identify (1) empirical research on AT in
Malawi and (2) sources of existing data on AT in Malawi. Following a narrative synthesis, 12 heterogenous
studies that reported on the use, availability, sources and knowledge about AT in Malawi were identified.
Identified studies suggest that there is high unmet need for AT and services in Malawi. Five major sources
of data on disability and AT were Identified. Only 2 out of the 12 studies had used existing sources of data.
The high unmet need for AT and services in Malawi have substantial implications for persons with
disabilities. Developing mechanisms that will improve the use of existing data on AT in all countries is
pivotal for the efficient and effective development of AT ecosystems
Factors Associated with Experiences of Gender-Affirming Health Care: A Systematic Review
No full textAbstract
Purpose: Transgender people often pursue gender-affirming health care (GAH), such as hormone therapy
and/or surgeries. While research has begun to explore influences on general health care for transgender individuals, less is known about the experiences of GAH specifically. We aimed to systematically review the factors
associated with experiences of GAH.
Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and Web of Science were systematically searched for relevant literature
using a predetermined search strategy. Studies were screened by two researchers to determine whether they fit
the inclusion criteria. Following quality appraisal and data extraction, results were thematically analyzed.
Results: Thirty-eight studies were included in the review. Factors associated with experiences of GAH were
broadly categorized as follows: (i) sociodemographic factors, (ii) treatment-related factors, (iii) psychosocial factors, and (iv) health care interactions, with health care interactions, in particular, being strong determinants of
experience.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that experiences of GAH may be determined by a number of diverse factors,
which have implications for understanding how to better support those undergoing transition. In particular,
health care professionals play a key role in determining how transgender people experience treatment,
which should be considered when providing care for this populatio
First-generation Migrant Student Experiences in Higher Education Spaces in Ireland
No full textFirst-generation students are a growing cohort in higher education (HE) and research around this group of learners is a developing area in Ireland and internationally. This qualitative study explored the accounts by ten first-generation students who self-selected and who are the first in their families to attend higher education in Ireland, of their experiences while enrolled in a higher education institute in Ireland. One-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured questions in order to bring to light how they accessed higher education in Ireland, the difficulties they encountered, their motivations, and the strategies that helped them to successfully participate in higher education.
The research presented here is guided by Bourdieu’s (1986) theoretical framework and his concepts of habitus, field, and capital, together with Yosso’s (2005) theory of Community Cultural Wealth (CCW), in particular her ideas around familial capital, along with drawing on the lens of Critical Race Theory (CRT) through which the experiential knowledge shared by the participants in the study is explored. The significance of the role of CCW is offered here as a form of resistant capital that may promote first-generation students’ access to and continued study in HE. In doing so, I suggest that a ‘personal capital of persistence’ is developed.
The findings are centred on four key areas: the long journeys into higher education, the importance of family relationships; pressures; and student engagement with learning. Findings show that cultural capital is supported by positive values around education in the domestic habitus and related familial and peer support networks. The students in this study showed evidence of acting on their capital to accomplish access to HE, and they do this despite the highly complex nature of their lives and the structural barriers to access that were found including: finance, inadequate recognition of prior learning pathways, lengthy periods waiting for acceptance, and language needs. Based on the findings, there is evidence to indicate that the participants encountered a higher education system that did not always have their interests at heart. A richer understanding of first-generation migrant students’ experiences is necessary in order to promote equity and diversity in HE. Recommendations are made for policy, practice and future research
The effects of hip- vs. knee-dominant hamstring exercise on biceps femoris morphology, strength, and sprint performance: a randomized intervention trial protocol
No full textBackground
The hamstrings are an important muscle group that contribute to horizontal force during sprint acceleration and are also the most injured muscle group in running-based sports. Given the significant time loss associated with hamstrings injury and impaired sprinting performance following return to sport, identifying exercises that drive adaptations that are both protective of strain injury and beneficial to sprint performance is important for the strength and conditioning professional. This paper describes the study protocol investigating the effects of a 6-week training program using either the hip-dominant Romanian deadlift (RDL) or the knee-dominant Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) on hamstring strain injury risk factors and sprint performance.
Methods
A permuted block randomized (1:1 allocation) intervention trial will be conducted involving young, physically-active men and women. A target sample size of 32 will be recruited and enrolled participants will undergo baseline testing involving extended-field-of-view ultrasound imaging and shear wave elastography of the biceps femoris long head muscle, maximal hamstrings strength testing in both the RDL and NHE, and on-field sprint performance and biomechanics. Participants will complete the 6-week training intervention using either the RDL or NHE, according to group allocation. Baseline testing will be repeated at the end of the 6-week intervention followed by 2 weeks of detraining and a final testing session. The primary outcome will be regional changes in fascicle length with secondary outcomes including pennation angle, muscle cross sectional area, hamstring strength, and maximal sprint performance and biomechanics. An exploratory aim will determine changes in shear wave velocity.
Discussion
Despite extensive research showing the benefits of the NHE on reducing hamstring strain injury risk, alternative exercises, such as the RDL, may offer similar or potentially even greater benefits. The findings of this study will aim to inform future researchers and practitioners investigating alternatives to the NHE, such as the RDL, in terms of their effectiveness in reducing rates of hamstring strain injury in larger scale prospective intervention studies
New dimensions of inequality in Northern Ireland, 1998–2020
No full textTo understand inequality in the post-Good Friday Agreement (post-GFA) period, we must understand how inequality in Northern Ireland has been subject to stressors long acknowledged in the international literature, though seldom considered in this context. These ‘new’ stressors include destandardization, retrenchment, and financialization, which have largely replaced the class and employment differentials that characterised 20th century inequality. We explore the specific experience of inequality in Northern Ireland since Good Friday. In doing so, we contextualise its experience by detailing important structural and institutional changes over this time, explaining how they work in the unique socioeconomic context of post-GFA Northern Ireland
Invisible barriers: how gender and class intersect to impact upon science participation in Irish secondary schools
No full textWomen are under-represented in science fields; this poses a significant challenge considering the emerging digital revolution. The intersectionality theory suggests that women whose social identities intersect across gender and class have distinct experiences; affecting their science aspirations. This research examined gender and class intersections, measuring science experiences and aspirations of working-class girls versus those who are not. A total of 421 female students (ages 15–18) from Irish secondary schools answered questions about their science experiences and views. The findings revealed that working-class girls displayed lower levels of confidence and interest in pursuing science; additionally, they felt that their ability in science was lower than other students. These findings provide highlight the impact of gender and class on science aspirations, showing the value of considering intersectionality when addressing unequal participation in science. Science interventions should consider the intersectional layers of disadvantage which can affect young women's science aspirations
Dedicating Cellular Infrastructure for Aerial Users: Advantages and Potential Impact on Ground Users
No full textA new generation of aerial vehicles is hopeful to be the next frontier for the transportation of people and goods, becoming even as important as ground users in the communication systems. To enhance the coverage of aerial users, appropriate adjustments should be made to the existing cellular networks that mainly provide services for ground users by the down-tilted antennas of the terrestrial base stations (BSs). It is promising to up-tilt the antennas of a subset of BSs for serving aerial users through the mainlobe. With this motivation, in this work, we use tools from stochastic geometry to analyze the coverage performance of the adjusted cellular network (consisting of the up-tilted BSs and the down-tilted BSs). Correspondingly, we present exact and approximate expressions of the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR)-based coverage probabilities for users in the sky and on the ground, respectively. Numerical results verify the analysis accuracy and clarify the advantages of up-tilting BS antennas on the communication connectivity of aerial users without the potential adverse impact on the quality of service (QoS) of ground users. Moreover, it is unveiled that there exists an optimal value of the up-tilted/down-tilted BS density ratio for maximizing the coverage probability of the aerial or ground users
Control-aware Co-Design of A Wave Energy Converter for the Argentine Sea Conditions
No full textDespite the favourable energy conditions in the
Argentine sea (South Atlantic Ocean), the country has not yet
actively participated in the development and utilisation of wave
energy resources. Control co-design (CCD) is a novel controlaware design paradigm that integrates the energy-maximising
control from early stages of system design, allowing for optimisation driven by the considered control strategy to achieve
an overall optimal design. In this study, considering an overall
control-aware design perspective, a wave energy converter system
is specifically tailored for the Argentine sea conditions, analysing
different WEC structural configurations (geometry and dimensions). The performance of different control structures, including
a spectral-based control methodology and a reactive controller,
are assessed for each configuration. Realistic operating conditions, specifically tailored to the ocean wave modes prevalent in
the Argentine sea, are taken into account during the performance
analysis. The results obtained from the study are thoroughly
discussed, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the
considered control strategies in the context of the Argentine sea