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The intersection of faith, spirituality and interreligious engagement in Catholic schools: teachers’ perspectives from Ireland and South Korea
No full textThis article presents a comparative analysis of teachers’ perspectives on their faith, spiritual convictions, and approaches to religious education in Catholic primary schools in Ireland and South Korea. The study shows that teachers’ religious beliefs significantly influence how they perceive spirituality, teach religion, and approach interreligious engagement. Some teachers prioritise transmitting faith, while others, even without belief in God, express a sense of the sacred connected to spiritual awareness. They seek to appreciate the sacred in every moment and nurture children’s innate spirituality, fostering a connection to the meaning of life. The research highlights the role of teachers’ beliefs in shaping their pedagogical approaches to interreligious education beyond the boundaries of a singular Catholic tradition. It particularly underlines their understanding of the broader context of spirituality, whether rooted in religious beliefs or not, and how it relates to the intersection between secular and faith worldviews. While Korean teachers often emphasise Catholic identity more prominently, both, Irish and Korean teachers integrate interreligious learning and align their teaching with broader spiritual values that enrich the diverse educational landscape. This paper contributes valuable insights into the complex interplay of religious beliefs, spirituality, and engagement in interreligious contexts.peer-reviewe
Dynamics of chromatin factors RSF1, CENPS and CENPX at DNA damage sites
No full textChromatin has a major influence on the DNA damage response (DDR). Several chromatin-related factors participate in specialised DNA packaging during the DDR including the CENPS and CENPX histone fold proteins, also known as MHF1/2, and the chromatin remodelling factor RSF1 although their contribution has remained unclear. We defined a timeline for RSF1, CENPS, and CENPX recruitment at DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) induced in live HeLa cells by microirradiation and calibrated this to published data to clarify the potential for their involvement in the DDR. CENPS, CENPX and RSF1 are recruited with a half time of ∼100 s and removed with a half time of ∼2000 s. Enrichment for cell cycle phase revealed that this recruitment occurs in G1, S and G2 phases, but that its half time in G2 appears to be delayed and stronger than in G1. Integration of these observations with timelines for other DDR factors reveals that CENPS and CENPX recruitment occurs simultaneously immediately after ATM activation and RNF8-RNF168 activity. The removal of CENPS and CENPX is at a similar time to loading of RPA and assembly of RAD51. This places RSF1, CENPS and CENPX in the vicinity of DSBs at the time when nucleosomes are being actively remodelled during the chromatin-dependent early response to DNA damage involving pathway choice and resection, and their increased abundance at DSBs in G2 correlates with extended resection for HR.This work was supported by the Hardiman research scholarship from University of Galway to Pritishkumar idke.peer-reviewe
Right-sided heart failure in patients with left ventricular assist devices
No full textRight heart failure (RHF) following the implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a significant and prevalent complication which increases morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiology of RHF post-LVAD implantation is complex and multifactorial which makes the prediction of RHF in LVAD patients challenging. There is currently no single index that can accurately predict the occurrence of RHF following LVAD implantation, despite the numerous suggested risk factors. As a result, various risk-scoring systems have been proposed to combine different variables and enhance prognostic accuracy. Additionally, managing RHF is crucial even before LVAD implantation. This can include the use of diuretics, inotropes such as levosimendan, and even temporary mechanical circulatory support to prepare the right ventricle for the increased demands after implantation. Temporary right ventricular assist device (t-RVAD) is a potential treatment option for selected patients with severe right ventricular dysfunction as a bridge-to-recovery or as a permanent solution. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the predictors, therapeutic options, and outcomes of patients with RHF following LVAD implantation. In chapter 1, we briefly introduce RHF following LVAD implantation, covering its prevalence, pathophysiology, prediction, and management. In chapter 2, we investigated the prediction of RHF post-HeartMate 3 implantation in the population of the European registry for patients with mechanical circulatory support (EUROMACS) using machine learning (ML) algorithms. We found that using the random forest model, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) emerged as the most critical predictor of RHF, demonstrating the highest variable importance score followed by serum creatinine while using the unadjusted Bayesian model, right ventricular ejection fraction (by visual scoring) was associated with increased odds of the RHF, with an OR of 4.45, indicating a substantial risk factor. On the other hand, using the adjusted regression model after ML variable selection, showed that severe tricuspid regurgitation has the highest odds ratio, with an OR of 2.59, signifying a strong association with RHF. A risk score was calculated using the variable importance from the random forest model and the results of the adjusted Bayesian regression coefficients with a cut-point of 2.297 is optimal for categorizing patients into low and high-risk groups (AUC = 0.702, sensitivity=63%, specificity=70%).
In chapter 3, we explored the evidence related to the use of levosimendan for the prevention and/or mitigation of RHF in patients undergoing LVAD implantation. Pre-operative optimization of heart failure therapy could help in the prevention, and/or mitigation of RHF. Levosimendan is a non-conventional inotropic agent that works by amplifying the calcium sensitivity of troponin C in cardiac myocytes, without increasing the intra-cellular calcium or exacerbating ischemia. In this chapter, we sought to conduct a systematic review to synthesize evidence related to the use of levosimendan for the mitigation and/or prevention of RHF in patients undergoing LVAD implantation. We found two studies only met the predefined criteria. Although limited, these data on levosimendan use in patients undergoing LVAD are encouraging and suggest that there are at least hemodynamic improvements alongside improved organ perfusion. So far, no survival benefits have been shown for the use of levosimendan in LVAD patients.
In chapter 4, we explored the effectiveness of levosimendan on the occurrence of postoperative RHF, the need for RVAD implantation, length of ICU stays, and 30-day and 1-year mortality in patients undergoing LVAD implantation compared to propensity score-matched controls using the EUROMACS database. We found that 3661 patients received mainstream LVAD, of which 399 (11%) were treated with pre-LVAD levosimendan. In the largest European LVAD registry, we found that patients who received levosimendan had significantly higher risk of developing RHF (based on the EUROMACS RHF score), received more RVAD in the early postoperative period, and stayed more days in the ICU. However, there was no significant difference regarding the occurrence of post-LVAD early severe RHF or mortality (at 30-day and 1-year). Moreover, in a propensity score-matched cohort we found no evidence for an association between the preoperative use of levosimendan and the occurrence of post-LVAD RHF, the need for RVAD implantation in the early postoperative period, the length of ICU stay, or mortality (at 30-day and 1-year) following LVAD implantation.
In chapter 5, we investigated the evidence about the safety and efficacy of using the temporary right ventricular assist device (t-RVAD) as a treatment option in patients with severe right ventricular failure. We conducted a systematic review and found Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, from which data were extracted. Successful t-RVAD weaning ranged between 23% and 100%. Moreover, 30-day survival post temporary RAVD implantation ranged from 46% to 100%. Bleeding, acute kidney injury, stroke, and device malfunction were the most frequently reported complications. Notwithstanding, t-RVAD is a lifesaving option for patients with severe RHF, but the evidence stems from small non-randomized heterogeneous studies utilizing a variety of devices. In chapter 6, we discussed the design of the EEVAD study, which is a prospective, multicenter, non-randomized, investigator-initiated clinical trial recruiting consecutive patients treated with HeartMate 3 LVAD. The EEVAD study aims to characterize the evolution of right heart function and geometry post-LVAD implantation and to develop a validated risk stratification tool for post-LVAD RHF. The co-primary endpoints include early RHF (within 30 days) and late RHF (>30-day and up to one year) following LVAD implantation. Imaging analyses are conducted by a Core Lab using echocardiography, CT, and MRI. Secondary endpoints encompass all-cause mortality, ICU/hospital stay length, stroke, bleeding, infections, valvular dysfunction, arrhythmias, rehospitalizations, LVAD explant, cardiac transplantation, and recovery. Patients are followed for two years following LVAD. Predictors of post-LVAD RHF and other outcomes are identified using conventional statistics and machine learning, including neural networks. EEVAD Extended will further explore RHF predictors via biomarker discovery.
In conclusion, this thesis provides an overview of right-sided heart failure post-LVAD including how to predicate RHF post-HeartMate 3 implantation in the population of the EUROMACS using machine learning algorithms. It also explored the evidence related to the use of levosimendan for the prevention and/or mitigation of RHF in patients undergoing LVAD implantation in the current literature. Moreover, we explored the effectiveness of levosimendan on the occurrence of postoperative RHF, need for RVAD implantation, length of ICU stays, and 30-day and 1-year mortality in patients undergoing LVAD implantation compared to propensity score-matched controls using the EUROMACS database. Additionally, it investigated the evidence about the safety and efficacy of using the temporary RVAD as a treatment option in patients with severe right ventricular failure
Upcycling waste polypropylene with basalt fibre reinforcement enhancing additive manufacturing feedstock for advanced mechanical performance
No full textThis research seeks to overcome the printing and processing challenges of using waste polypropylene (PP) reinforced with short basalt fibres, transforming them into upcycled feedstock for additive manufacturing. It introduces an optimised method for producing filaments and 3D printing with these materials, addressing common issues such as adhesion and warpage through innovative techniques while achieving maximum mechanical performance in the resulting composites. Basalt fibre weight fractions of 0 %, 2 %, 5 %, 8 %, 15 %, 30 %, and 50 % were used to reinforce the recycled polypropylene, improving both printability and mechanical properties. The tensile strength reached 53.58 MPa at 15 % fibre content, while the flexural strength peaked at 34.06 MPa with 30 % fibre content, revealing distinct interactions between the fibres and polymer under tensile and flexural loading that were not previously observed. Microstructure, voids, debonding, and dispersion were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was performed to assess the thermal behaviour and crystallinity of the recycled polymer during filament production and printing, revealing slight matrix degradation during these processes. The findings highlight the potential of waste basalt fibre-reinforced PP as a valuable filament feedstock for 3D printing, supporting a circular economy approach to composite manufacturing.This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 847402. This publication has also emanated in part from research conducted with the financial support of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, formerly Science Foundation Ireland under grant number 16/RC/3872, 21/RC/10295_P2, and 22/IRDIFB/10946
Financial assessment of integrating anaerobic digestion with cattle farming for biomethane production – Implications for farm economics and the supply chain
No full textIntegrating anaerobic digestion (AD) into agriculture can support carbon neutrality and circular bioeconomy. However, economic benefits for stakeholders are crucial for implementing full-scale AD. This study assessed the financial implications of producing grass silage for AD on beef farms. It also assessed the financial viability of full-scale AD plants co-digesting grass silage and cattle slurry for biomethane, focusing on competitive grass silage pricing and support schemes. Results indicate that a grass silage price of €245/t dry matter (DM) is needed for competitiveness with beef production; this requires a biomethane certificate price of €0.12/kWh for the AD plant. At current prices (€0.098/kWh), the AD plant could afford €164/t DM for silage, requiring farm subsidies of €893/ha to cover price gaps. Methane yield of AD silage, along with biomethane certificate and silage prices, are key variables affecting the 20-year net present value of the AD plant. This study underscores the government's critical role in fostering a low-carbon livestock sector.This research was financed by the Teagasc Walsh Scholarship Programme (Ref: 2021010). The inputs of Dr Stephen Nolan and Dr Ciara Beausang in the study concept and design are acknowledged.peer-reviewe
Does anyone still want to go to lectures? Student perceptions of the face-to-face lecture in an Irish university
No full textLectures have been part of the University tradition for centuries and remain an integral part of Higher Education in Ireland. However, in recent years the place of the lecture has been questioned, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study conducted amongst Arts students in the University of Galway sought to establish whether students still valued the face-to-face lecture as part of their University education, and how they felt this learning experience could be enhanced for them in the future. The study revealed a very clear desire amongst students to maintain the face-to-face lecture as a feature of their University education. The reasons cited are related overwhelmingly to the opportunities afforded by the lecture as a social space. Students expressed a strong desire to be able to interact within the large lecture but our findings also showed that students wish to be able to do this in a ‘safe' way. Tools such as the Vevox polling tool were cited as mechanisms to facilitate ‘safe’ participation in the lecture and to comfortably share their opinions and ideas. Above all, our study highlights that future research needs to focus more on developing face-to-face lecture as a safe interactive social space.peer-reviewe
Human-landscape interactions through time: A study of Doolin, Co. Clare
No full textThe well-preserved archaeological landscape of the Doolin study area contains varied evidence of human activity from the prehistoric era through to modern times. These human – landscape interactions are evidenced by a range of monuments, field boundaries and finds across the study area. In the present study, closer analysis of some of these features, along with survey at various scales, have led to new discoveries and a greater understanding of how the land was used by past inhabitants. In addition, connections to other communities in the Burren and further afield have been explored, creating a more in- depth picture of this unique landscape through time.
The Doolin study area and its surrounds have proved to be a key region in the study of the Early Neolithic in Ireland. Evidence for an overlap between indigenous Mesolithic hunter – gatherer groups and incoming Early Neolithic farmers, as well as evidence for the possible heterogeneity of incoming farming groups is present. Geophysical survey and morphological analysis of the Teergonean court tomb as part of the present study has added to this picture by demonstrating contrasts with other contemporary court tombs on the Burren and instead suggesting long-distance connections to the north of Ireland. Aerial and ground-surveying uncovered many previously unrecorded features, chronological relationships between features and field boundaries and two likely prehistoric settlement sites (probably Chalcolithic - Early Bronze Age). Amongst the new discoveries was a Chalcolithic wedge tomb, and this monument along with other wedge tombs in the study area, appear to be part of the wider distribution of similar wedge tombs on the Burren. The value of intensive ground-surveying has been demonstrated and a classification system for walls and features has been established for this region along with documented chronological relationships. Areas that warrant further ground-investigation have also been identified.
The Early Medieval period is marked in the Doolin study area by intensive human activity resulting in an unusually high density of ringfort construction. Ringfort distribution studies here suggest the density may have been controlled by the quality of farmland as well as access to land and maritime travel routes. In general, the archaeology of the Doolin study area is comparable with that of other Burren and Irish locations. Closer examination, however, has demonstrated some differences and highlighted the importance of this geographically small area, particularly in light of earlier prehistoric human-landscape interactions
The effect of macromolecular crowders on deposition of extracellular matrix in astrocyte cultures
No full textMacromolecular crowding (MMC) is a biophysical phenomenon that has proven effective in enhancing extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in vitro. However, MMCs potential in neuroglial cell cultures remains underexplored. This study investigates the effects of three distinct MMC agents [carrageenan (CR), dextran sulphate (DxS) and FicollⓇ cocktail (FC)] on ECM deposition and cell behaviour of Neu7 and primary astrocytes. While the viability and metabolic activity of Neu7 astrocytes were unaffected by any of the crowding agents, primary astrocytes exhibited a significant decrease in viability and metabolic activity in the presence of CR and DxS. The addition of CR, DxS, and FC resulted in a significant increase in deposition of fibronectin, collagen IV, collagen I, GFAP and CS56 in Neu7 astrocytes. In primary astrocytes, FC significantly enhanced the expression of astrocytic markers and increased the deposition of ECM proteins, including fibronectin and collagen IV. This study highlights the advantages of using FC as a MMC agent for enhancing ECM deposition in astrocytes. The method demonstrates potential for developing fast and more physiologically relevant in vitro models and improving drug screening processes for future studies. The observed benefits underscore the utility of FC in creating advanced cellular models that better mimic the native neural environment.Open Access funding provided by the IReL Consortium. This research was funded by Research Ireland under grant number 13/RC/2073-P2.peer-reviewe
Automatic sentiment labelling and classification of multimodal data
No full textIn the digital era, sentiment classification plays a pivotal role in understanding public opinion, monitoring brand perception, and identifying emergent trends from vast amounts of user-generated content on different social media platforms. Accurate sentiment classification is difficult for businesses to evaluate customer feedback, for policymakers to gauge public sentiment, and for researchers to analyze emotional responses to significant events such as natural disasters, political developments, economic changes, and public health crises. However, the multimodal data shared in social media, which often includes text, images, and combinations, poses different challenges. These challenges include the complexity of obtaining sentiment labels, such as positive, negative, or neutral, for the vast datasets used in supervised machine learning and deep learning algorithms. Another challenge is to effectively extract features related to sentiment cues across diverse modalities and combine them for sentiment classification tasks. This research demonstrates the potential of automatic labelling for multimodal data as an efficient and useful alternative to human labelling. This research also examines the use of textual representations of images and multimodal data that combine image and text as an alternative approach for sentiment classification, showing improved performance when using existing sentiment classification machine learning models. This thesis makes a significant contribution to multimodal sentiment classification by providing deep insights into automatic labelling, textual and visual feature extraction, integration, and feature representations across diverse modalities for sentiment classification. This research demonstrates a new avenue for efficient, scalable, and useful solutions for sentiment classification in the era of big data for realworld needs.College of Science and Engineering, University of Galwa
Paleoclimatic implications of glacial fluctuations in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, northern Andes, Colombia, during the Lateglacial and Holocene
No full textThe reconstruction of former mountain glaciers from geomorphic mapping and cosmogenic-nuclide surface-exposure dating provides a unique opportunity to infer patterns of past terrestrial climate variability. Tropical mountain glaciers are particularly valuable as there are comparatively few terrestrial climate proxies at equatorial latitudes relative to higher latitudes. As the single largest climate zone on Earth, the tropics play an outsized role in mediating global climate via the ocean-atmosphere transfer of latent heat and water vapor. Nonetheless, there remains a persistent gap in our understanding of how the tropics influenced – or were influenced by – the high-magnitude climate shifts of the Late Pleistocene, and whether this high-energy region simply responded to extratropical forcing or was itself a driver of global climatic change. To help address this knowledge gap, we analyzed geologic evidence for past glacial fluctuations in three adjacent valleys in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, the highest subrange of the Eastern Cordillera in the Colombian Andes, to provide a terrestrial record of atmospheric temperature during the latter part of Termination 1. Coupled with geomorphic mapping and paleo-snowline reconstructions, our beryllium-10 glacial chronology indicates that glaciers in the humid inner tropics underwent pronounced growth and gradual decay during the Antarctic Cold Reversal (14.5–12.8 ka) and Younger Dryas (12.8–11.7 ka) periods, respectively, following a trend that, according to directly dated moraine records from throughout both polar hemispheres, appears to have been global. While the specific mechanism(s) behind this large-scale behavior remains to be corroborated, we revisit the hypothesis that ocean-atmosphere heat transfer and water vapor flux are key drivers of abrupt Lateglacial temperature fluctuations. Subsequent to the Lateglacial, deglaciation of the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy accelerated during the Early Holocene, a pattern also observed in other tropical glacier records. More recently, the magnitude of snowline rise and glacier retreat over the last two centuries supports the view that modern tropospheric warming is anomalously strong at least relative to the last ∼16,000 years.Research was funded by the National Science Foundation Geomorphology and Land Use Dynamics program (award no. 2022727), the Columbia University Institute for Latin American Studies (ILAS), and Dartmouth College.peer-reviewe