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Bordering, belonging, beyond surviving: Critical readings of intersectionality in the nexus of gender-based violence and migration in Ireland
Get PDFIn this article, we examine the experiences of migrant women attempting to settle into Ireland as a host society, while navigating various forms of gender-based violence (GBV). It is based on the Irish study of an international research project to analyse, from an intersectional perspective, the causes of and effective policy responses to GBV against women migrants and refugees. Specifically, this project aimed to understand what factors increase migrant women's exposure to GBV and what resources are available to them in Ireland to access the supports they need to survive and recover on their own terms. Our analysis is informed by critical readings and deployments of intersectionality, notably the concepts of ‘situated intersectionality' (Yuval-Davis) and ‘decolonial feminism' (Lugones). We affirm the value of intersectionality as a critical analytical approach to reveal and challenge inequalities at the intersections of identity categories. We also recognise that contrary to the hoped for transformative impact of the concept of intersectionality, in its mainstream applications, it tends to reconstitute the ‘otherness' of ‘women of colour' in particular (Puar), who are rendered into ‘fragmented beings' without agency (Lugones) or a sense of belonging to any category. Taking account of these and other critiques, we adapt a situated intersectionality approach, along lines elaborated by Nira Yuval-Davis as ‘the development of feminist standpoint theory', which centres migrant women’s perspectives and experiences.The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The GBV-MIG research project on which this article relies was supported by EU Gender Net Plus and the Irish Research Council.peer-reviewe
Diatom-based artificial antigen-presenting cells: A novel approach for adaptive immune modulation
No full textArtificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) offer a precise system for modulating immune cells, effectively addressing major challenges in immunotherapy, such as unintended effects. Diatoms have attracted considerable interest as natural templates for biomaterials owing to their surface characteristics, which can replicate those found in cellular structures. In this study, we introduced the creation of calcium-modified diatoms that act as artificial antigen-presenting cells. This innovative strategy aims to enhance immunological interactions and emulate the functions of natural antigen-presenting cells. Our findings indicate that amine polymerization on calcium-modified diatoms improved the attachment of immunomodulatory proteins (anti-CD28 and anti-CD3) to the diatom surface, thereby promoting specific antibody–antigen interactions with human T cells, as evidenced by the formation of immunological synapses, which initiate targeted immune responses. Through costimulatory signaling, we determined robust expression of T cell activation markers, not only during early activation (CD69) but also sustained at a later time point (CD25), associated with increased T cell proliferation. Metabolically, diatom-based aAPCs promote glycolysis over mitochondrial oxidative respiration to meet the elevated energy demand for immune activation and homeostasis. Our findings suggest that the immunofunctionalization of calcium-modified diatoms offers a promising strategy for the development of bioinspired, functional aAPC, which are adaptive immunomodulatory systems, and hold future potential as immunotherapeutic platforms for diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity.The authors thank Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) Malaysia for financially supporting this study. This publication has also emanated from research conducted with the financial support of Science Foundation Ireland and is cofunded under the European Regional Development Fund under grant numbers 13/RC/2073 and 13/RC/2073_P2. The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Oliver Carroll for his technical support and Maciej Doczyk for his assistance in designing the diagram.peer-reviewe
Mobile privatization and the COVID-19 pandemic: Charting the interregnum
No full textRather than reaffirming technological determinist predictions of a total movement toward the domestication of labor and the full enclosure of the commons, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown preexisting shifts in societal relations into high relief, demonstrating how technological change operates in conjunction with the larger political economy to structure class formation. This essay puts these developments in historical perspective through the lens of Raymond Williams’s notion of “mobile privatization.”3 Mobile privatization has not been a linear process; rather, it has been dialectical, contradictory, and experienced differently among different social groups at different times. While mobility and privacy are generally seen as marks of privilege, COVID-19 inverted that in significant ways.4 Making sense of these inversions is critical to mapping the terrain on which we now struggle to build a new social order amid deep crisis.peer-reviewe
Enhancing biodegradability and biomethane potential of cattle paunch contents during anaerobic digestion through pre-treatment with the secretome of deep-sea Talaromyces stollii and rumen fluid
No full textCattle paunch contents, the partially digested, recalcitrant solids removed from the rumen after slaughter, are a problematic slaughterhouse waste product. They are an underutilised source of low-value sustainable energy in the form of lignocellulose. To reduce their recalcitrance and increase sustainable energy recovery, this study employed biological pre-treatment strategies using the novel deep-sea cellulolytic/hemicellulolytic Talaromyces stollii SFI-F17 fungal secretome and/or rumen fluid on three lots of paunch contents. Rumen fluid treatment reduced the lignin content in each lot by 9.11 %, 17.86 % and 14.28 %. The biomethane potential (BMP) of the two-step-treated paunch contents increased by 104.68 %, 104.84 % and 83.24 %. When pre-treated with just the T. stollii SFI-F17 secretome, the BMP increased by 44.58 %, 74.47 % and 101.35 %. This study reports for the first time a biological pre-treatment of paunch contents outside the rumen, and reports a better average BMP increase during batch AD than those reported from other paunch contents pre-treatments.This research was funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) through MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate, and Marine (Grant No: 12/RC/2302_16/SP/3829), with supporting funding obtained from the ABP Food Group.peer-reviewe
Assessing the phenotypes of cardiovascular disease: The multimodality imaging approach
No full textCardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of global mortality, driven by the ageing population and the inherent complexity of vascular anatomy and hemodynamics. This doctoral thesis presents a comprehensive, multimodal imaging approach designed to enhance clinical decision-making, procedural accuracy, and long-term outcomes. It integrates three core pillars: advanced three-dimensional imaging with computational fluid dynamics, detailed phenotyping of epicardial coronary artery disease using noninvasive and invasive modalities, and a multimodality strategy to diagnose and manage coronary microvascular dysfunction. Novel metrics, such as a cumulative plaque burden index (CPBi), left ventricular myocardial blood flow percentage (LV%MYO), and microvascular resistance reserve (MRR), are introduced and validated. Collectively, this thesis recognises significant limitations and unmet needs in cardiovascular disease phenotyping while underscoring the transformative potential of multimodal imaging and computational tools, paving the way for more precise, patient-specific diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
This thesis is structured into three interrelated parts, each addressing a distinct facet of cardiovascular phenotyping:
Part A: Advanced 3D Imaging and Computational Fluid Dynamics (Chapters 2–6) Reviews the evolution of virtual, augmented, and mixed realities in cardiovascular medicine and demonstrates their application—together with patient-specific CFD modeling—in planning complex interventions such as coronary bypass surgery, graft sizing, and managing iatrogenic aortic dissection.
Part B: Phenotyping Epicardial Coronary Artery Disease (Chapters 7–12) Explores how noninvasive coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), fractional flow reserve derived from CT, invasive pressure-wire pullbacks, and intravascular ultrasound can classify focal versus diffuse atherosclerosis. Highlights include the Heart Team paradigm, regional trends in stable chest-pain evaluation, the LV%MYO metric for revascularisation completeness, pressure gradient indices in FFR/iFR discordance, the impact of elevated lipoprotein(a), and the AI-driven CPBi.
Part C: Multimodality Investigation of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction (Chapters 13–20) Investigates the prevalence, mechanisms, and prognostic significance of microvascular dysfunction in ST-elevation myocardial infarction and angina with non-obstructive coronaries (ANOCA). Combines invasive indices (IMR, CFR, MRR), continuous thermodilution, exercise stress testing, novel biomarkers (TMAO), and the impact of severe COVID-19. Critically appraises angiography-derived IMR methodologies.
A concluding chapter synthesises findings and outlines future research directions, emphasising personalised, image-guided therapies tailored to specific cardiovascular phenotypes.University of Galwa
Field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling/pipe jacking: A review and future directions
No full textThe popularity of trenchless techniques as a means of utility pipeline installation in urban environments, specifically microtunnelling/pipe-jacking, has increased in recent years due to its minimally-disruptive nature and reduced carbon footprint in comparison to conventional open-cut excavation methods. The response of pipes during the jacking process is complex and is governed by several factors, including ground conditions, the amount and distribution of lubrication, pipe and annulus size, pipeline misalignments and jacking force eccentricity, among others. Design practice remains based on empirical equations and previous drives through similar geology, resulting in uncertainty in jacking force estimates, thereby restricting adoption of the technique. In order to improve our understanding of the pipe-jacking process, pipes incorporating sensors providing real-time measurements of earth pressures, pore water pressures, axial strains and hoop strains can be used; but the number of such studies reported in the literature is small and the potential of instrumentation on routine projects is largely untapped. Moreover, jacking pipe monitoring practice lags behind the state-of-the-art instrumentation techniques used for monitoring other geotechnical infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to provide a thorough review of learnings from instrumented pipe-jacking case studies and other supporting research, as well as to propose potential solutions to research gaps in the current state of design practice and field monitoring of pipe jacking projects.The first author is funded by the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre in Applied Geosciences (SFI-iCRAG), with Ward and Burke Construction Limited as the industry partner.peer-reviewe
Theorizing whistleblowing: Addressing the research agenda
No full textThis study seeks to advance whistleblowing theory by developing comprehensive foundational frameworks for whistleblowing analysis. The need for such frameworks is driven by two closely related factors. First, there is the ongoing rapid transformation of the whistleblowing phenomenon, fueled by globalization, the adoption of digital information technologies, and the integration of whistleblowing practices across different jurisdictions and cultural contexts. These rapid changes are increasingly outpacing the capabilities of existing frameworks. Second, whistleblowing research faces a significant gap due to the limited theoretical tools available to address the diverse and complex aspects of whistleblowing disclosures. This gap is rooted in the intricate, multi-dimensional nature of whistleblowing, shaped by a wide range of influences. Whistleblowing, as a field of study, lies at the intersection of multiple disciplines, including management, law, business ethics, sociology, and psychology. Furthermore, the whistleblowing process and its outcomes are affected by both formal and informal forces and structures, ranging from private and public organizations to cultural norms. Finally, whistleblowing operates across multiple levels simultaneously: individual, organizational, and external (such as organizational fields and national or supranational levels). To develop frameworks capable of addressing these diverse and complex factors, this study employed a research strategy rooted in interpretive theorization and utilized the theoretical tools provided by institutional theory. This innovative approach revealed the potential of institutional theory for analyzing whistleblowing in ways that had not been previously explored. Moreover, throughout the study, the frameworks developed were iterative, often building upon one another and incorporating insights from both whistleblowing research and communication theory. This process led to the creation of models that not only capture a wide range of factors facilitating whistleblowing disclosures but also clarify the complex interactions among them, explain the nature of their influence, and illuminate the effects they generate. The study demonstrated both the theoretical and practical value of these frameworks, as evidenced by the analysis of the high-profile Theranos case and the exploration of the impact of digital technologies on whistleblowing. In doing so, the study addressed three major gaps in existing whistleblowing scholarship. First, the comprehensive frameworks developed in this research enable a genuinely interdisciplinary analysis of whistleblowing, contrasting with the current dominant multidisciplinary approach, where various aspects of whistleblowing are viexamined independently without consideration of their interconnections. Second, the study’s exploration of institutional theory for theoretical model development highlighted the limitations of the existing institutional approach, which tends to focus primarily on regulatory aspects while neglecting the broader social environment. Third, the study provided a nuanced examination of the impact of digital information technologies on whistleblowing at two levels: the whistleblowing process itself and its broader context, representing a significant advancement beyond the whistleblowing literature’s narrow focus on the most visible effects of digitalization. Overall, this study, through its substantial theoretical and practical contributions, offers a framework aimed at facilitating the current phase of whistleblowing’s evolution
The potential impact of habitual sleep quality on glycaemic control and inflammation: A study on geriatric patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
No full textSleep quality and its relationship with glycaemic control is of particular interest in the context of geriatric diabetes. We aimed to investigate the potential impact of habitual sleep quality on glycaemic control status among geriatric patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 193 geriatric patients recently diagnosed with T2DM in a tertiary-care hospital were selected. A developed questionnaire was used to assess various aspects of sleep quality. Glycaemic control was evaluated through fasting blood glucose levels, HbA1c measurements and number of admissions to the hospital for hypoglycaemic or hyperglycaemic episodes. Patients were divided into Poor Sleep Quality (PSQ, n = 132) and Adequate Sleep Quality (ASQ, n = 61) groups. The PSQ group exhibited significantly worse sleep outcomes, including longer sleep latency (35 ± 9.2 min vs. 15 ± 6.4 min), shorter sleep duration (5 h 42 min vs. 7 h 18 min) and greater use of sleep medications (72 % vs. 22 %). Glycaemic control, measured by HbA1c, was worse in the PSQ group (8.7 ± 1.9 vs. 7.2 ± 1.2; p < 0.01), which also had more frequent severe hypoglycaemic (35 ± 1.4 vs. 8 ± 2.1; p = 0.02) and ketoacidotic episodes (72 ± 1.0 vs. 5 ± 1.1; p = 0.01). These findings suggest an association between poor sleep quality and poorer glycaemic control, with more frequent diabetes-related complications, highlighting the need for further research to explore potential causal relationships and targeted interventions in this population.The study was funded by the Shifa Hospital Research Council grant [SIAC-02521]. The funders did not have any role in the study design, execution, data collection or analysis and in the manuscript preparation or editing. Study ID: UMIN ID: UMIN000051181.peer-reviewe
Retrospective law and release from prison
No full textThis article draws out two injustices to which retrospective criminal legislation may give rise: undermining accessibility of law and challenging equality before the law. It is argued that the censuring function of the criminal law exacerbates both wrongs. This sets the stage for an analysis of delaying prisoners' release. It is suggested that retrospective reform in this context threatens the same values as those threatened by retrospective criminalisation. Yet the safeguards against retrospective reform of release provisions are weak due to two important strands of case law, one concerning which penalty was ‘applicable at the time’ of the offence and the other which draws a distinction between penalties and their execution. Both strands of case law are in need of fundamental reconsideration if article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights is to realise its purposes of upholding rule of law values and providing practicable safeguards.peer-reviewe
Deciphering microbial responses to H2S inhibition of typical functional microorganisms in anaerobic digestion ecosystems
No full textHydrogen sulfide (H2S), a product of sulfate reduction in anaerobic digestion (AD) systems, poses severe challenges by reducing methane production and destabilizing system performance. Despite extensive studies on H2S toxicity, the specific responses and adaptation mechanisms to H2S stress of key functional microorganisms in AD systems remain insufficiently elucidated. Four reactors were operated with sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and continuous flow reactor (CFR) configurations under varying COD/sulfate ratios (2 and 1) to investigate microbial response to H2S inhibition. Long-term experiments demonstrated that CFRs combined with a COD/sulfate ratio of 1 achieved superior sulfate reduction and ethanol degradation rates under H2S stress, while SBRs with a COD/sulfate ratio of 2 facilitated methanogenic activity. Batch inhibition experiments revealed that ethanol-oxidizing bacteria (EOB) and incomplete oxidizing sulfate-reducing bacteria (IO-SRB) exhibited greater H2S tolerance in CFRs, with EOB (IC50 = 51.2–185.1 mg/L) generally outperforming IO-SRB (IC50 = 47.4–97.7 mg/L). While acetoclastic methanogens (AM) and complete oxidizing sulfate-reducing bacteria showed enhanced H2S tolerance in SBRs compared to CFRs, particularly AM in SBR with the COD/sulfate ratio of 2 (IC50 = 113.2 mg/L). Microbial adaptation analysis demonstrated that SBRs promoted Methanothrix enrichment, enhancing detoxification capacity by specifically increasing the relative abundance of genes encoding thiosulfate sulfurtransferase to mitigate H2S toxicity. Desulfomicrobium and Geobacter were significantly enriched in CFRs, and they mitigated H2S inhibition through increased cytochrome bd oxidase and cysteine synthase genes, respectively. Furthermore, thioredoxin and cysteine desulfurase protein repair genes sustained microbial metabolism under H2S stress. This study provides critical insights into microbial tolerance and adaptive strategies to H2S under different reactor configurations, offering guidance for optimizing AD processes in sulfate-rich wastewater treatment.This study was supported by the Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland) and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the SFI Frontiers for the Future Awards Programme (22/FFP-A/10346). Wenhui Shu thanks the scholarship from the China Scholarship Council (No: 202106790006). Guangxue Wu thanks for the support from the Galway University Foundation.non-peer-reviewe