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Ireland most stringent Covid restrictions in EU since January: Way out of lockdown has to keep on prioritising children’s education
No full textDespite the vaccine rollout, governments across the globe still grapple with containing the Covid infections, keeping hospitalisations down and preventing a surge in fatalities. Since last spring, a group of researchers and volunteers, led by Oxford University, have tracked the multiple government restrictions to citizens, businesses and society at large in almost every part of the world. Last week we have launched the UCD Covid Compared dashboard – in short UCD CoCo – to easily access the underlying data of these Covid policy responses and make the tremendous work of the Oxford team more accessible to everyone through simple colour-coded tables and graphs. Following the third lockdown and opening up of Ireland in April, the obvious question is how strict were Ireland’s rules compared to other EU countries? Out of 42 countries, Ireland had the 3rd most stringent restrictions since the beginning of the pandemic. Only Italy and the UK had enacted tougher rules since March 2020. Broken down by some key indicators, Ireland had closed workplaces and businesses much longer and tougher than any other European country. Similarly, on public transport restrictions Ireland is within the top 5 and for stay-at-home requirements and school closures within the top 10. Most noticeable is that Ireland’s rules on international travel were very lax throughout 2020 and were only tightened after the Christmas travel debacle
Collective bargaining towards mutual flexibility and security goals in large internationalized companies - Why do institutions (still) matter?
No full textThis paper examines the potential of collective bargaining to generate mutually advantageous flexibility and security outcomes at firm level. By focusing attention on actors’ negotiating capacity at sites in Denmark and Italy of four large chemical-pharmaceutical companies, it provides a nuanced, comparative explanation. The findings demonstrate that, across countries, differences in actors’ capacity and negotiated outcomes are attributable to the stability and depth of collective bargaining institutions. Within country differences are accounted for by the organizational resources (internal democracy, external links and pro-activity) of local trade unions, which condition their capacity to induce management to negotiate outcomes which benefit both parties.Corrigenda available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/irj.1230
Environmental and energy performance assessment of buildings using scenario modelling and fuzzy analytic network process
No full textA well-recognised gap exists between measured and predicted building energy performance. Some practical assessment approaches offer the potential to reduce this gap using multiple indicators that evaluate building performance. Such approaches rely on subjective analysis of indicators’ relative weights but are typically limited to a fixed assessment structure. Scenario modelling is one method that enables flexible and multi-granular environmental and energy performance assessment by coupling building function with other pivotal aspects of building operation. However, this method weighs all performance criteria equally. The objective of this paper is to empower building managers with enhanced environmental and energy performance assessment by integrating scenario modelling with a Fuzzy Analytic Network Process. Scenario modelling decomposes environmental and energy performance assessment into a set of flexible mappings between performance indicators and multi-granular building objects while Fuzzy Analytic Network Process enables calculation of relative weights by encapsulating ambiguity in domain expertise and complex interactions among often conflicting criteria. A case study demonstrated the engineering value of this approach. The sports centre obtained an operational score of 56.9 out of 100, or level 4 of 6 (i.e. very good) in terms of operational performance classification using calculated relative weights and intermediate results for eight carefully-identified indicators. When compared to an equivalent assessment using equally weighted criteria, the proposed approach enables more informative and targeted evaluations. With these results, building managers can quickly identify inefficient areas of building operation and improve energy consumption while maintaining building function. The approach is applicable for a wide range of buildings.Science Foundation IrelandNatural Science Foundation of Hubei Province, Chin
A qualitative study in Ireland: Foster carers and practitioners perspectives on developing a trauma-informed care psychoeducation programme
No full textThis article presents the findings of a qualitative study of foster carersâ and multidisciplinary practitionersâ perceptions of foster carersâ needs and existing practices in foster care in Ireland. This study explored participantsâ perceptions of the development of a trauma-informed care (TIC) psychoeducational intervention for foster carers. From a purposive sample of foster carers and multidisciplinary practitioners, four focus groups were carried out. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: The Need for Trauma-informed Care, Development of Trauma-informed Care and Implementation of Trauma-informed Care. The findings have informed the development of a culturally sensitive TIC intervention for foster carers that reflect the needs and practices of the Irish foster care context
CO2 laser polishing of laser-powder bed fusion produced AlSi10Mg parts
No full textPoor surface quality represents an important issue that needs improvement for
metal Additively Manufactured parts. Both short or long wavelength lasers have been applied
for surface polishing in order to improve the surface finish. In this work, the possible use of a
CO2 laser for the surface polishing of AlSi10Mg parts made by Laser-based Powder Bed
Fusion (L-PBF) was explored. The high surface roughness in the as-built condition can lead to
increased laser energy absorption. In order to assess the effects of the main laser-related process
parameters, the experiments were carried out on L-PBF samples built vertically with respect to
the build platform. Their effect on the surface were evaluated by means of the surface
arithmetical mean height (Sa), surface skewness (Ssk) and primary profile root mean square
slope (Pdq), obtained via confocal microscopy. Microstructure evolution was also
investigated by means of SEM and EDS analysis. The results showed a large reduction in
surface roughness, ranging from the 67% to the 85% of the starting value. Microstructure of
the remolten layer revealed an increased grain size and an increased Si content that led to an
overall hardness increase from 85 to 121 HV
The `traiterous\u27 and `unfitting\u27 words in Ireland\u27s 1641 depositions: the legal, social, violent, and emotional implications of language
No full textThis doctoral thesis examines the words and speeches recorded in the 1641 depositions. The 1641 depositions documented words of treason but also words of insult or name-calling, which this thesis will focus on primarily. This topic has never been studied comprehensively in seventeenth-century Ireland, and the silence on words is surprising. Early modern societies frequently punished spoken and written words deemed offensive, dishonouring, and violent, and Irish sources are also filled with words, speeches, and insult. At first, the analysis of insults may appear insignificant or secondary; however, they are key to understanding the complete experience of atrocities in the 1641 rebellion. They open many new questions and inform many areas of seventeenth-century Ireland that need deeper consideration. This thesis explores how words impacted law, society, power, reputation, gender, emotion, and even animal-human relationships.
A serious legal concern for language existed in the 1641 depositions and in Ireland s broader seventeenth century. Language was investigated and punished, and this created an environment, in which individuals across society could use their words to exert or claim power. The speaker s words could accuse the other of treason, but also target another s reputation. Both men and women faced insults in these accounts, however, Irish rebels often used different, gendered terms to label their victims. The 1641 depositions also recorded verbal abuse alongside harrowing accounts of physical violence, and these words were a part of deponents violent experiences in the 1641 rebellion. In fact, words themselves were a particular form of violence. Furthermore, the presence and use of insults opens new questions about the role of emotion in the 1641 rebellion, which is often overlooked in historical analysis. The specific meaning of each term was important as well, and this thesis analyses this throughout each chapter. One insult English dog clearly informed many areas including violence, emotion, the accuracy of the 1641 depositions, and the importance and impact of the animal-human relationship.
This thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge as this is the first in-depth study of words and speeches in the 1641 depositions. Each of the chapters touches upon topics that have been largely untouched in the 1641 depositions, but also more broadly in the seventeenth century. It reveals unexplored forms of violence, deeper understandings of social relationships and power dynamics, emotions, and the importance of animal studies in the 1641 depositions. While this thesis is firmly rooted in history, it draws upon the methods and insights of other disciplines including philosophy, anthropology, sociology, and literature to answer the new questions this study of words brought to light
Retomando los caminos hacia la participación: Aprendiendo de los niños, niñas y adolescentes trabajadores del café de Nicaragua
No full textEn la mayoría de los estudios sobre participación infantil en los países del hemisferio norte ha predominado el enfoque de consulta con niños, niñas y adolescentes acerca del uso de servicios públicos. Muchos análisis se han dedicado a la descripción de diferentes modelos y modalidades utilizados para facilitar este tipo de participación. El modelo conocido como “Pathways to Participation” (Los Caminos hacia la Participación), propuesto por este autor (Shier 2001), es un ejemplo de este enfoque
Injury trends in Irish amateur rugby: an epidemiological comparison of men and women
No full textBackground:
Rugby union is a physically demanding sport that carries an inherent risk of injury. Despite being a popular and widely played team sport, little is known about injuries occurring across the male and female amateur game.
Purpose:
To establish and compare injury incidence, nature, and severity in male and female Irish amateur rugby union.
Study Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Level of Evidence:
Level 3.
Methods:
Data were collected prospectively from 25 male teams (959 players) and 8 female teams (234 players) over 2 full seasons. Both time-loss (24-hour time-loss injury definition) and non-time-loss match injury reports were collected, alongside match exposure data.
Results:
Time-loss match injury incidence rates were 49.1/1000 and 35.6/1000 player-hours for male and female players, respectively. Concussion and ankle ligament sprains were the most common diagnoses for male (5.6/1000 and 4.4/1000 player-hours, respectively) and female players (5.5/1000 and 3.9/1000 player-hours, respectively). Anterior cruciate ligament injuries presented the highest injury burden for male and female players with 200.3 and 307.2 days of absence per 1000 player-hours, respectively. In female players, 83% of noncontact injuries occurred in the fourth quarter of match play.
Conclusion:
While female players had a lower overall injury incidence rate compared with male players, concussion and ankle ligament injuries were the most common injuries in both cohorts. In female players, a high rate of noncontact injuries in the second half points to the need for strength and conditioning training programs to reduce fatigue-related injuries.
Clinical Relevance:
Establishing the incidence and burden of rugby-related injuries is an essential step in minimizing injury risk. This epidemiological information will aid the development of future reduction strategies, including education and coaching strategies and strength and conditioning programs, informed by the most common injuries observed and the mechanism of injury
Women rugby union coaches’ experiences of formal coach education in Ireland and the United Kingdom: a qualitative study
No full textAlthough the sport of rugby union has expanded globally in both the men’s and women’s formats recently, there remains an under-representation of women coaches across all contexts. Research has focused its analysis on the under-representation of women coaches in a select few sports such as soccer. No extant research has empirically analyzed this under-representation within rugby union. This study addressed this research lacuna on why this under-representation exists from the perspective of 21 women rugby union coaches based within the United Kingdom and Ireland. The specific research objective was to analyze the coaches’ lived experiences of attending formal coach education courses in rugby union. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed thematically and conceptualized via an abductive logic against LaVoi’s Ecological-Intersectional Model and Pierre Bourdieu’s species of capital. Supportive and positive themes reported how the coach education courses had been delivered in a collegiate and lateral manner. Courses thus acted as settings where greater amounts of cultural and social capital could be acquired from both course tutors and peers. This enabled social networks to be made that were used for continual professional development beyond the courses. Barriers and negative experiences orientated upon the lack of empathy imparted by course tutors on account of men having fulfilled these roles on most occasions. Recommendations on how national governing bodies can improve the experiences of women coaches attending future coach education courses are discussed
A point prevalence survey of antibiotic resistance in the Irish environment, 2018-2019
No full textWater bodies worldwide have proven to be vast reservoirs of clinically significant antibiotic resistant organisms. Contamination of waters by anthropogenic discharges is a significant contributor to the widespread dissemination of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this research was to investigate multiple different anthropogenic sources on a national scale for the role they play in the environmental propagation of antibiotic resistance. A total of 39 water and 25 sewage samples were collected across four local authority areas in the West, East and South of Ireland. In total, 211 Enterobacterales were isolated (139 water, 72 sewage) and characterised. A subset of isolates (n=60) were chosen for whole genome sequencing. Direct comparisons of the water versus sewage isolate collections revealed a higher percentage of sewage isolates displayed resistance to cefoxitin (46%) and ertapenem (32%), while a higher percentage of water isolates displayed resistance to tetracycline (55%) and ciprofloxacin (71%). Half of all isolates displayed extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production phenotypically (n = 105/211; 50%), with blaCTX-M detected in 99/105 isolates by PCR. Carbapenemase genes were identified in 11 isolates (6 sewage, 5 water). The most common variant was blaOXA-48 (n=6), followed by blaNDM-5 (n=2) and blaKPC-2 (n=2). Whole genome sequencing analysis revealed numerous different sequence types in circulation in both waters and sewage including E. coli ST131 (n=15), ST38 (n=8), ST10 (n=4) along with Klebsiella ST405 (n=3) and ST11 (n=2). Core genome MLST (cgMLST) comparisons uncovered three highly similar Klebsiella isolates originating from hospital sewage and two nearby waters. The Klebsiella isolates from an estuary and seawater displayed 99.1% and 98.8% cgMLST identity to the hospital sewage isolate respectively. In addition, three pairs of E. coli isolates from different waters also revealed cgMLST similarities, indicating widespread dissemination and persistence of certain strains in the aquatic environment. These findings highlight the need for routine monitoring of water bodies used for recreational and drinking purposes for the presence of multi-drug resistant organisms.This project is jointly funded by the Environmental Protection agency, under the EPA Research Programme 2014-2020, and the Health Service Executive (2017-HW-LS-1). The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, which has the statutory function of co-ordinating and promoting environmental research.
A portion of this work was also financially supported by the MedVetKlebs project, a component of the European Joint Programme One Health EJP, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 773830