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Disclosing generative AI use for writing assistance should be voluntary
Get PDFResearchers have been using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to support writing manuscripts for several years now. However, as GenAI evolves and scientists are using it more frequently, the case for mandatory disclosure of GenAI for writing assistance continues
to diverge from the initial justifications for disclosure, namely (1) preventing researchers from taking credit for work done by machines; (2) enabling other researchers to critically evaluate a manuscript and its specific claims; and (3) helping editors determine if a submission satisfies their editorial policies. Our initial position (communicated through previous publications) regarding GenAI use for writing assistance was in favor of mandatory disclosure. Nevertheless, as we show in this paper, we have changed our position and now support instituting a voluntary
disclosure policy because currently (1) the credit due to machines for assisting researchers is moving below the threshold of requiring recognition; (2) it is impractical (if not impossible) to accurately specify what parts of the text are human-/GenAI-generated; and (3) disclosures
could increase biases against non-native speakers of the English language and compromise the integrity of the peer review system. Consequently, we argue, it should be up to the authors of manuscripts to disclose their use of GenAI for writing assistance. For example, in disciplines where writing is the hallmark of originality, or when authors believe disclosure is beneficial, a voluntary checkbox in manuscript submission systems, visible only after publication (rather
than a free-text note in the manuscripts) would be preferable
An exploration of the everyday use of online mental health tools and associated technology by people with mental health problems in Ireland: A mixed-methods study.
Get PDFMental health systems in developed countries need innovating because they are not meeting demands. The use of the Internet and associated technologies in the provision of mental health services and supports, also known as eMental Health (eMH), has been increasingly looked at as a key source of such innovation. Research into eMH has primarily been driven by an interest in online technologies as novel means of treatment delivery with the potential of making established psychological mental
health treatments more widely available and accessible. However, eMH research has prioritised the knowledge generated through clinical trials of online mental health treatments, largely overlooking people’s usage and experience of online treatments and supports in real life. Understanding the nature of use of these resources by individuals with mental health problems in their everyday lives is crucial to designing online supports that are relevant to the real-life help-seeking needs of people with mental health problems. This study has addressed this gap by exploring how adults with a mental health problem use online mental health resources in their everyday lives and what is the role of technology in the experience of seeking mental health support in this way. Using a mixed methods
methodology and design integrating the results of an online questionnaire (109 participants) with the results from 10 semi-structured interviews, this study’s findings support the need for a pluralistic ecosystem of mental health services and supports where both traditional in-person services and alternative forms of support and modes of access are provided. The findings offer support for the potential of online mental health tools to
be one such alternative and a way for mental health systems to expand and diversify available options for support, achieve better inclusivity of people’s diverse support needs, and better support their autonomy in seeking help
Shaping player experience: Understanding the impact of team sport coaching pedagogy and practices
Get PDFRecognised as a complex pedagogical process, sport coaching as an applied domain has continued to receive significant research attention based on the impact that team sport coaches can have on player development. The aim of this thesis was to explore the role of a range of coaching practices and strategies including pedagogy, intentions for impact, fidelity of practice and streaming on player experience in team sport. Chapter 3 investigated games-based approaches in Gaelic games contexts and their impact on player development and coaching attitudes. One of the key findings of this study revealed a lack of coherence in the understanding of the approach. Given this lack of understanding an investigation into the use of game form activities was deemed to be necessary. Thus, Chapter 4 explored how coaches use game form practices and the sources of their pedagogy. The findings suggest that coaches utilise a range of approaches, in and very pragmatic manner and often lacking coherence from a theoretical stance. Furthermore, their coaching was very individualised and highly contextual and could be understood through the lens of intentions for impact. Thus, Chapter 5 built upon these findings with an investigation into how these coaches formed their intentions for impact. These intentions could be viewed through the lens of fidelity of practice, a desire for realistic practices which replicate the game. Interestingly, this cohort were overwhelmingly focused on physiological fidelity. Chapter 6 was an exploration into the participant experience of youth Gaelic games. The findings of this broad study suggest increased seriousness seemed to meet some participant needs, but there is an apparent need for better support for coaches to manage the complexity they face in their practice. Following this series of snapshots of select coaching domains, the final two studies were focused on tools which coaches can use to better inform practice. Following the investigation into youth Gaelic games, Chapter 7 investigated one such tool which can offer support to coaches in the form streaming, or ability grouping. While participants viewed streaming in a favourable light, reflections also highlighted a perception that the implementation of streaming was hindered by a series of challenges deemed to accelerate the different rates of development and thus impact playing experience. Lastly, Chapter 8 proposed a model of fidelity of practice for team sport coaches in the form of affective, physiological, action and conceptual fidelity, the manipulation of these forms allowing the coach to shape the player experience. The overarching finding of this thesis suggests that coaches need support to deliver an appropriate enacted curriculum through different pedagogical interventions to facilitate a more equitable player experience with chapter-specific findings discussed throughout the thesis
“... Fallen through the cracks...”: A Co-Produced Qualitative Exploration of Autistic Student Experiences at an Irish Higher Education Institution.
Get PDFBackground: This co-produced study explores the experiences of autistic students regarding their transition to and enrollment at an Irish Higher Education Institution (HEI). Autistic students’ experiences of belonging, acceptance, and support were explored, and the study was collaboratively conducted by autistic and non-autistic researchers at all stages of the research.
Methods: A sample of autistic student participants (n = 14) took part in either flexible semi-structured interviews (n = 12) or text-based responses to the interview framework (n = 2). Interviews were conducted flexibly in accordance with participant preferences and communication needs. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: The findings of this study reveal diverse experiences across the participants in higher education, emphasizing the need for inclusive approaches recognizing autistic neurology and differences to support belonging and acceptance in university. The transition experiences for some participants were challenging, with a lack of personalized and flexible support leading to anxiety and a lack of predictability. Participants also identified barriers while navigating college life, including hostile learning environments, a lack of understanding regarding autistic neurology among university staff and peers, inconsistent and inflexible pedagogical approaches used by academic staff, and stringent requirements to access disability support services. These barriers often led to students being unable to access support or choosing not to disclose their autistic status. Participants also found socializing and developing relationships with non-autistic peers challenging but reported that autistic student community groups, such as the Neurodivergent Society, were a very positive factor in supporting well-being, social acceptance, and a sense of belonging. Other supports were specialist support staff, such as the autism-friendly coordinator and occupational therapist at student services.
Discussion: The study highlights the importance of early guidance, systemic integration, and increased awareness among university staff. It underscores the role of structural support systems, such as specialist disability access routes into university and specialist support staff, in easing transitions and supporting predictability and acceptance
Courting Europe: Diplomatic Battlegrounds and the Georgian–Abkhazian Conflict
Get PDFThis article critically engages with Georgian narratives that frame the
Georgian–Abkhazian conflict as a confrontation with Russia rather than
with Abkhazians: a discourse that denies Abkhazians’ agency and recasts
them as hostages of Russian power. It revisits a pivotal moment: the EU’s
recognition of Georgia’s Soviet borders, which included Abkhazia, in 1992. Rather than reflecting a neutral stance on a complex territorial dispute, EU recognition empowered an unelected Georgian junta that had ousted the country’s first democratically elected president just months prior. Since then, Georgia has sought to extend its sovereignty over Abkhazia with support from the EU. In the absence of a coherent independent strategy for Abkhazia, the EU’s alignment with Tbilisi has constrained its role as a potential mediator, contributed to Abkhazia’s international isolation and deepened its reliance on Russia. This article argues for a more nuanced approach that acknowledges Abkhazian agency and opens pathways for engagement
Predicting failure: An investigation into the effect of steam in place (SIP) cycles on the performance of PTFE and EPDM diaphragms
No full textThis study investigates the effects of harsh environments, including Steam in Place (SIP) and thermocycling, on diaphragm valves. Seals, typically made from Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM), regulate the flow of drug products in pharmaceutical plants. These seals represent the weakest points in the production process and are the most likely component to fail. Limited research on the degradation of these components exists, resulting in time-based preventative maintenance procedures across the industry. PTFE and EPDM seals are, therefore, replaced regardless of their condition. These time-based preventative maintenance programmes contribute to manufacturing downtime, unnecessary waste and increased costs.
This research examines the degradation characteristics of PTFE and EPDM diaphragms to identify precursors to failure, facilitating a shift from time-based to condition-based maintenance. The research was divided into two phases. Firstly, a 'cradle to grave’ degradation path was determined for these advanced materials by studying changes in material properties under challenging conditions. Diaphragms were subjected to 500 industry-representative Steam-In-Place cycles using a bespoke test rig. A test regime based on the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Bioprocessing Equipment (ASME-BPE) Standard was adopted. Following exposure, diaphragms were analysed using material characterisation techniques to assess the impact of SIP cycles on the diaphragm materials. First, seal and shell tests determined whether the diaphragms performed as intended. The second set of tests determined the condition of the diaphragms using visual and microscopic inspections. Degradation features such as material flow, surface creasing, discolouration, and deformation were identified. A third set of tests focused on the material properties of the diaphragms, including flexibility and hardness
Influence of Surface Coating on the Degradation Properties of Metallic Orthopaedic Implants
Get PDFMagnesium has proved to be a good candidate as an orthopaedic implant due to its tensile strength, weight-bearing ability, cytocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, magnesium degrades too rapidly in vivo to match bone growth rate, which can lead to pain, inflammation, and implant failure.
Calcium phosphate-based coatings offer a possible mechanism to reduce the degradation of magnesium implants in vivo while promoting bone growth. Octacalcium phosphate is a precursor to hydroxyapatite, the calcium phosphate phase that forms the mineral component of bone. This project aims to design and characterise an octacalcium phosphate coating and apply it to magnesium alloy WE43 specimens using an immersion method, then investigate the degradation of the coated implants in simulated physiological conditions.
Octacalcium phosphate was synthesised using the dropwise addition of calcium acetate monohydrate to a sodium dihydrogen phosphate anhydrous solution. An immersion process for coating metallic implants was developed by submerging the implant in the stirred octacalcium phosphate reaction solution for the duration of the reaction. A design of experiment approach was then used to investigate the optimal parameters of the coating process. The resulting optimised coated magnesium specimens underwent a degradation study in Hank’s balanced salt solution at 37°C. The degradation of the implants was quantified by measuring the mass loss of magnesium throughout the degradation. SEM and XRD spectroscopy were used to investigate the formation of an apatite on the implant's surface. The coating method produced a pure octacalcium phosphate coating on the WE43 samples with a calcium/phosphate ratio of 1.33, and good adhesion and a thickness of 1.802 μm. The degradation study showed that the octacalcium phosphate coating significantly reduced the degradation of magnesium, and the octacalcium phosphate coating fully transformed into hydroxyapatite after seven days of immersion in Hank’s balanced salt solution
Beyond economics: cultural factors affecting early school leaving—A systematic literature review
Get PDFEarly school leaving (ESL) remains a critical challenge across Europe, with profound implications for individuals and society, encompassing economic disadvantages, social exclusion, and reduced life opportunities. This systematic literature review examines the cultural factors that underpin patterns of ESL, employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology to synthesize findings from 59 studies conducted across diverse European contexts between 2003 and 2023. The review delineates five primary thematic domains influencing ESL: cultural values, beliefs and behaviors; cultural and social barriers; academic barriers within schooling structures; discrimination and prejudice; and culturally constructed gender norms. Through the analysis, the review argues that cultural determinants are interwoven with socioeconomic and institutional factors, shaping educational aspirations, engagement and outcomes. The review highlights the central role of parental attitudes, cultural capital and systemic responsiveness in either mitigating or exacerbating risks of ESL. It calls for culturally responsive educational policies and practices that acknowledge the heterogeneity of student backgrounds and promote inclusive, equitable learning environments. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of ESL's complex sociocultural dimensions and highlights targeted interventions to reduce early school leaving across the world
Teleios (G305.4–2.2) – the mystery of a perfectly shaped new galactic supernova remnant
Get PDFWe present the serendipitous radio-continuum discovery of a likely Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) G305.4–2.2. This object displays a
remarkable circular symmetry in shape, making it one of the most circular Galactic SNRs known. Nicknamed Teleios due to its symmetry, it
was detected in the new Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) radio–continuum
images with an angular size of 1 320×1 260 and PA = 0◦. While there is a hint of possible Hα and gamma-ray emission, Teleios is
exclusively seen at radio–continuum frequencies. Interestingly, Teleios is not only almost perfectly symmetric, but it also has one of the
lowest surface brightnesses discovered among Galactic SNRs and a steep spectral index of α=–0.6±0.3. Our best estimates from HI studies
and the –D relation place Teleios as a type Ia SNR at a distance of either ∼2.2 kpc (near-side) or ∼7.7 kpc (far-side). This indicates two
possible scenarios, either a young (under 1 000 yr) or a somewhat older SNR (over 10 000 yr). With a corresponding diameter of 14/48 pc,
our evolutionary studies place Teleios at the either early or late Sedov phase, depending on the distance/diameter estimate. However, our
modelling also predicts X-ray emission, which we do not see in the present generation of eROSITA images. We also explored a type Iax
explosion scenario that would point to a much closer distance of <1 kpc and Teleios size of only ∼3.3 pc, which would be similar to the
only known type Iax remnant SN1181. Unfortunately, all examined scenarios have their challenges, and no definitive Supernova (SN) origin
type can be established at this stage. Remarkably, Teleios has retained its symmetrical shape as it aged even to such a diameter, suggesting
expansion into a rarefied and isotropic ambient medium. The low radio surface brightness and the lack of pronounced polarisation can be
explained by a high level of ambient rotation measure (RM), with the largest RM being observed at Teleios’s centre