359 research outputs found
Sort by
Results from Ireland\u27s 2014 report card on physical activity in children and youth
Get PDFBackground: Physical activity (PA) levels are a key performance indicator for policy documents in Ireland. The first Ireland Report Card on Physical Activity in Children and Youth aims to set a robust baseline for future surveillance of indicators related to PA in children and youth. Methods: Data collected between 2003-2010 on more than 35,000 7- to 18-year-old children and youth were used and graded using a standardized grading system for 10 indicators. Results: Grades assigned for the indicators were as follows: overall physical activity levels, D-; sedentary behavior (TV viewing), C-; organized sport participation, C-: physical education, D-; active play, inconclusive (INC); active transportation, D; school, C-, community and the built environment, B; family, INC; and government, INC. Conclusions: PA recommendations exist in Ireland but this Report Card has shown that participation is still low. A number of promising policies, programs and services are in place but these require thorough evaluation and adequate resourcing. Agreement and implementation of a common framework for the systematic surveillance of indictors related to PA of children and youth is necessary to monitor change over time and ensure the impact of promising work is captured
Test of models of the cosmic infrared background with multiwavelength observations of the blazar 1es 1218+30.4 in 2009
Get PDFWe present the results of a multi-wavelength campaign targeting the blazar 1ES 1218+30.4 with observations with the 1.3 m McGraw-Hill optical telescope, the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope, and the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS). The RXTE and VERITAS observations were spread over a 13 day period and revealed clear evidence for flux variability, and a strong X-ray and γ-ray flare on 2009 February 26 (MJD 54888). The campaign delivered a well-sampled broadband energy spectrum with simultaneous RXTE and VERITAS very high energy (VHE, \u3e100 GeV) observations, as well as contemporaneous optical and Fermi observations. The 1ES 1218+30.4 broadband energy spectrum—the first with simultaneous X-ray and VHE γ-ray energy spectra—is of particular interest as the source is located at a high cosmological redshift for a VHE source (z = 0.182), leading to strong absorption of VHE gamma rays by photons from the optical/infrared extragalactic background light (EBL) via γVHE + γEBL → e + e – pair-creation processes. We model the data with a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission model and with the extragalactic absorption predicted by several recent EBL models. We find that the observations are consistent with the SSC scenario and all the EBL models considered in this work. We discuss observational and theoretical avenues to improve on the EBL constraints
Investigation of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Foods using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Get PDFPyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) are known plant toxins which can cause hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) in both humans and livestock when ingested. Although PAs are primarily known for their hepatotoxicity they also induce genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and pneumotoxicity. PAs are consumed through plants as food, for medicinal purposes, or as contaminants of agricultural crops. Aside from ingesting the plants directly PA exposure may occur through the consumption of honey produced by bees that visit PA-containing plants or by drinking milk produced by animals that have consumed PA-containing plants. Possible PA contamination in our food chain is a potential health risk.
To assess the presence of PAs in the food chain 369 retail honeys from Ireland, 59 honeys from Australia, 48 milk samples, 72 cheese samples, 18 herbal teas and 54 Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) were analysed using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The sample extraction and clean-up protocol was optimised to be robust, sensitive and applicable to a range of food matrices providing significant advantages over pre-existing protocols. LC-MS methods were optimised, developed and validated for both ion trap and triple quadrupole mass spectrometers whilst utilising software functionalities for data acquisition, integration and spectral library matching. The analytical methods were targeted but the most comprehensive to date, including all commercially available PA and PA N-oxide (PANO) reference standards.
The results were utilised in a dietary exposure assessment conducted for the Irish population based on the consumption of PAs in honey. The mean PA concentration in positive honey from Irish markets was 81 μg kg-1 (or 20 μg kg-1 for all 369 samples). The data was positively skewed meaning that the majority of results fell to the left of the mean. The mean results from the deterministic approach were exposure values of 0.0016, 0.0024 and 0.0022 μg kg-1 bw day-1 for children, teenagers and adults, respectively. This is based upon the overall mean PA concentration (20 μg kg-1) detected and utilising the mean honey consumption data. The results for the probabilistic mean exposure values were 0.0037, 0.0046 and 0.0046 μg kg-1 bw day-1 for children, teenagers and adults, respectively. However, using the 95th percentile exposure estimates resulted in values which far exceeded the recommended maximum daily intake of 0.007 μg kg-1 bw day-1 at 0.0157, 0.0213 and 0.0196 μg kg-1 bw day-1 for children, teenagers and adults, respectively
Phages of non-diary lactococci: isolation and characterization of Phi L47, a phage infecting the grass isolate Lactococcus lactis ssp cremoris DPC6860
Get PDFLactococci isolated from non-dairy sources have been found to possess enhanced metabolic activity when compared to dairy strains. These capabilities may be harnessed through the use of these strains as starter or adjunct cultures to produce more diverse flavor profiles in cheese and other dairy products. To understand the interactions between these organisms and the phages that infect them, a number of phages were isolated against lactococcal strains of non-dairy origin. One such phage, ΦL47, was isolated from a sewage sample using the grass isolate L. lactis ssp. cremoris DPC6860 as a host. Visualization of phage virions by transmission electron microscopy established that this phage belongs to the family Siphoviridae and possesses a long tail fiber, previously unseen in dairy lactococcal phages. Determination of the lytic spectrum revealed a broader than expected host range, with ΦL47 capable of infecting 4 industrial dairy strains, including ML8, HP and 310, and 3 additional non-dairy isolates. Whole genome sequencing of ΦL47 revealed a dsDNA genome of 128, 546 bp, making it the largest sequenced lactococcal phage to date. In total, 190 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified, and comparative analysis revealed that the predicted products of 117 of these ORFs shared greater than 50% amino acid identity with those of L. lactis phage Φ949, a phage isolated from cheese whey. Despite their different ecological niches, the genomic content and organization of ΦL47 and Φ949 are quite similar, with both containing 4 gene clusters oriented in different transcriptional directions. Other features that distinguish ΦL47 from Φ949 and other lactococcal phages, in addition to the presence of the tail fiber and the genome length, include a low GC content (32.5%) and a high number of predicted tRNA genes (8). Comparative genome analysis supports the conclusion that ΦL47 is a new member of the 949 lactococcal phage group which currently includes the dairy Φ949
N-Substituted 5-Amino-6-methylpyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitriles: Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Biological Properties
Get PDFIn this work a series of 15 N-benzylamine substituted 5-amino-6-methyl-pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitriles was prepared by the aminodehalogenation reactions using microwave assisted synthesis with experimentally set and proven conditions. This approach for the aminodehalogenation reaction was chosen due to its higher yields and shorter reaction times. The products of this reaction were characterized by IR, NMR and other analytical data. The compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal and herbicidal activity. Compounds 3 (R = 3,4-Cl), 9 (R = 2-Cl) and 11 (R = 4-CF3) showed good antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MIC = 6.25 µg/mL). It was found that the lipophilicity is important for antimycobacterial activity and the best substitution on the benzyl moiety of the compounds is a halogen or trifluoromethyl group according to Craig’s plot. The activities against bacteria or fungi were insignificant. The presented compounds also inhibited photosynthetic electron transport in spinach chloroplasts and the IC50 values of the active compounds varied in the range from 16.4 to 487.0 µmol/L. The most active substances were 2 (R = 3-CF3), 3 (R = 3,4-Cl) and 11 (R = 4-CF3). A linear dependence between lipophilicity and herbicidal activity was observed
Observations Of The Unidentified Gamma-Ray Source Tev J2032+4130 By Veritas
Get PDFTeV J2032+4130 was the first unidentified source discovered at very high energies (VHEs; E \u3e 100 GeV), with no obvious counterpart in any other wavelength. It is also the first extended source to be observed in VHE gamma rays. Following its discovery, intensive observational campaigns have been carried out in all wavelengths in order to understand the nature of the object, which have met with limited success. We report here on a deep observation of TeV J2032+4130 based on 48.2 hr of data taken from 2009 to 2012 by the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System experiment. The source is detected at 8.7 standard deviations (σ) and is found to be extended and asymmetric with a width of 9farcm5 ± 1farcm2 along the major axis and 4farcm0 ± 0farcm5 along the minor axis. The spectrum is well described by a differential power law with an index of 2.10 ± 0.14stat ± 0.21sys and a normalization of (9.5 ± 1.6stat ± 2.2sys) × 10–13 TeV–1 cm–2 s–1 at 1 TeV. We interpret these results in the context of multiwavelength scenarios which particularly favor the pulsar wind nebula interpretation
Deep broadband observations of the distant gamma-ray blazar pks 1424+240
Get PDFWe present deep VERITAS observations of the blazar PKS 1424+240, along with contemporaneous Fermi Large Area Telescope, Swift X-ray Telescope, and Swift UV Optical Telescope data between 2009 February 19 and 2013 June 8. This blazar resides at a redshift of z ≥ 0.6035, displaying a significantly attenuated gamma-ray flux above 100 GeV due to photon absorption via pair-production with the extragalactic background light. We present more than 100 hr of VERITAS observations over three years, a multiwavelength light curve, and the contemporaneous spectral energy distributions. The source shows a higher flux of (2.1 ± 0.3) × 10–7 photons m–2 s–1 above 120 GeV in 2009 and 2011 as compared to the flux measured in 2013, corresponding to (1.02 ± 0.08) × 10–7 photons m–2 s–1 above 120 GeV. The measured differential very high energy (VHE; E ≥ 100 GeV) spectral indices are Γ = 3.8 ± 0.3, 4.3 ± 0.6 and 4.5 ± 0.2 in 2009, 2011, and 2013, respectively. No significant spectral change across the observation epochs is detected. We find no evidence for variability at gamma-ray opacities of greater than τ = 2, where it is postulated that any variability would be small and occur on timescales longer than a year if hadronic cosmic-ray interactions with extragalactic photon fields provide a secondary VHE photon flux. The data cannot rule out such variability due to low statistics
Is There Sufficient Guidance to Detect, and Obtain a Conviction for, Occupational Fraud in Ireland?
Get PDFThere has been an increased focus in the Irish media on fraud, particularly since the collapse of Anglo Irish Bank in 2007. There has however been little academic research undertaken into occupational fraud in Ireland. This study will examine whether or not the current guidance to detect and convict occupational fraud in Ireland is sufficient.
This study achieves its objective by examining the content of press articles reporting thirty-five occupational fraud cases convicted in Ireland in the period 2002 to 2013. It categorises the content of the articles using a framework developed by Cohen et al. (2010), which combines the Fraud Triangle (FT) with the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). It then uses qualitative and quantitative analysis to determine if these aspects of fraud are present in the relevant auditing standard (ISA 240: The auditor’s responsibilities relating to fraud in an audit of financial statements).
This study found ISA 240 sufficient in its coverage of the ‘opportunity’ to commit fraud, but insufficient in its coverage of the ‘incentive/pressure’ and ‘attitude/rationalisation’ elements to commit fraud. It suggests the addition of lavish lifestyle, greed, pressure from criminals, depression, concern for others and paying back for previous fraud to the examples of ‘incentive/pressure’ in the audit standard. It suggests the addition of sense of entitlement, no apparent regard for the crime, complicity in undertaking a fraud, weak personality, lack of business knowledge, looking out for the good of the company, charitable actions for the good of others and paying back for previous frauds to the examples of ‘attitude/rationalisation’ in the audit standard. Undeniably, it would be impossible to provide an exhaustive list of all circumstances under which fraud is undertaken; however by including the examples of frauds compiled in this study, further guidance can be provided to auditors.
The inadequacy of the auditing standard is not the only reason why the number of convictions for occupational fraud is low. This study finds the multifarious methods of committing fraud, the status of the fraudster, difficulties in detecting fraud, advances in technology, law and auditing standards not keeping pace, reluctance by organisations to report fraud, and the fact that predatory fraudsters target organisations and therefore not all frauds are accidental, as factors keeping the conviction rate for occupational fraud so low in Ireland.
It is important that the professional standards and the resources of those charged with detecting and prosecuting fraud in Ireland be strengthened to give further confidence in the prevention, detection, and conviction of fraud. This should lead to a reduction in the effects of fraud in organisations and in wider society
An Investigation of Work Placement in the Hotel Industry: Perceptions from Hoteliers and Students
Get PDFThe changing need of higher education to interface more effectively with industry has been widely documented, as has the rising awareness of those attributes which most benefit graduates seeking employment. A key way in which third-level institutions can build stronger partnerships with employers, and assist their students in postgraduate success, is through the provision of work placements. This paper presents research conducted in relation to work placement in the hotel industry, from the perspective of both hoteliers who facilitated the work placements and students who undertook placements. Primary research was conducted with both hoteliers and students. The findings from the paper illustrate that placement is an important component of third-level programmes and is one of the most vital experiences on which graduates base their career aspirations. There is an onus, therefore, on higher education institutions and employers to ensure that the placement experience is as rewarding as possible for students. Placement provides opportunities for higher education institutions and employers to work together to produce graduates with appropriate knowledge, skills and competence to meet existing and emerging business needs. Work placements also provide opportunities for students to develop soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and multi-tasking skills, which are essential in learning and work situations as well as part of general life skills for employees
Enhanced expression of codon optimized Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigens in Lactobacillus salivarius
Get PDFIt is well documented that open reading frames containing high GC content show poor expression in A+T rich hosts. Specifically, G+C-rich codon usage is a limiting factor in heterologous expression of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) proteins using Lactobacillus salivarius. However, re-engineering opening reading frames through synonymous substitutions can offset codon bias and greatly enhance MAP protein production in this host. In this report, we demonstrate that codon-usage manipulation of MAP2121c can enhance the heterologous expression of the major membrane protein (MMP), analogous to the form in which it is produced natively by MAP bacilli. When heterologously over-expressed, antigenic determinants were preserved in synthetic MMP proteins as shown by monoclonal antibody mediated ELISA. Moreover, MMP is a membrane protein in MAP, which is also targeted to the cellular surface of recombinant L. salivarius at levels comparable to MAP. Additionally, we previously engineered MAP3733c (encoding MptD) and show herein that MptD displays the tendency to associate with the cytoplasmic membrane boundary under confocal microscopy and the intracellularly accumulated protein selectively adheres to the MptD-specific bacteriophage fMptD. This work demonstrates there is potential for L. salivarius as a viable antigen delivery vehicle for MAP, which may provide an effective mucosal vaccine against Johne\u27s disease