NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
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Supporting student teachers’ enactment of relational mathematics in the classroom: an Action Research study
No full textThe problem of enactment describes a teacher’s inability to translate effective theories of teaching into practice. This is common for student-teachers, and invariably results in instructional practices that are ineffective and inconsistent with their beliefs. The motivation for this study was based on the observation that student-teachers move away from practices linked to relational understanding of mathematics and regularly fail to enact their mathematical knowledge in the classroom, despite having proven competence in the area. Therefore, the objective was to understand the reasons for this failure and make subsequent changes in the designated module to address the problem of enactment. Action Research was chosen as the research design considering the changes into one’s practice and subsequently evaluating those changes. The current study represents Cycle 1 of a larger two-cycle Action Research study. Qualitative data were gathered from student-teachers using focusgroups and classroom observations and analysed using Braun &Clarkes (2006) thematic analysis and the Mathematical Quality of Instruction framework, respectively. The findings indicated that the intervention was effective in addressing the problem of enactment, but further changes needed to be made in Cycle 2 to ensure it meets the needs of student-teachers and the pupils they teach
Can Critical Education Help Address Racial Discrimination in Irish Maternity Settings?
No full textThis study focuses on how self-selecting Muslim women navigated
Irish maternity services and uncovers ways in which their care was
shaped by often unconscious but nonetheless harmful discriminatory
policies and practices. We share examples of overt racism, negative
attitudes and a failure to support often basic cultural needs. Some
healthcare workers corroborate the stories these women share, for
others ‘race’ was an uncomfortable topic. We argue that although
education can help, this must be rooted in Freirean, critical
pedagogic philosophies that seek to politicise learners by not only
illuminating their own prejudicial practices, but by locating these
behaviours in an analysis of a global socio-economic model of
neoliberal capitalism that relies on structural racism (and patriarchy)
for its own survival
An assessment of Sentinel 1 SAR, geophysical and topographical covariates for estimating topsoil particle size fractions
No full textData derived from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) are widely employed to predict soil properties, particularly soil moisture and soil carbon content. However, few studies address the use of microwave sensors for soil texture retrieval and those that do are typically constrained to bare soil conditions. Here, we test two statistical modelling approaches – linear (with and without interaction terms) and tree-based models, namely compositional linear regression model (LRM) and Random Forest (RF) – and both non-geophysical (e.g. surface soil moisture, topographic etc) and geophysical-based (electromagnetic, magnetic and radiometric) covariates to estimate soil texture (sand %, silt % and clay %), using microwave remote sensing data (ESA Sentinel 1). The statistical models evaluated explicitly consider the compositional nature of soil texture and were evaluated with leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV). Our findings indicate that both modelling approaches yielded better estimates when fitted without the geophysical covariates. Based on the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE), LRM slightly outperformed RF, with NSE values for sand, silt, and clay of 0.94, 0.62, and 0.46, respectively; for RF, the NSE values were 0.93, 0.59, and 0.44. When interaction terms were included, RF was found to outperform LRM. The inclusion of interactions in the LRM resulted in a decrease in NSE value and an increase in the size of the residuals. Findings also indicate that the use of radar derived variables (e.g. VV, VH, RVI) alone were not able to predict soil particle size without the aid of other covariates. Our findings highlight the importance of explicitly considering the compositional nature of soil texture information in statistical analysis and regression modelling. As part of the continued assessment of microwave remote sensing data (e.g. ESA Sentinel-1) for predicting topsoil particle-size, we intend to test surface scattering information derived from the dual-polarimetric decomposition technique and integrate that predictor into the models in order to deal with the effects of vegetation cover on topsoil backscattering
The effect of initialisation on 20 year multi-decadal climate predictions
No full textThis study investigates initialised decadal predictions of 2-m air temperature over lead times of up to 20 years and compares them against uninitialised simulations in the time period 1960–2019. We demonstrate that in the North and South Atlantic,as well as in the Northeast Pacific, the effect of initialisation within the prediction persists for longer than 10 lead years. In these regions, the skill of the initialised decadal predictions does not necessarily regress back to the skill of the uninitialised simulations, which is indeed the case for other regions. We analyse the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)and show that within the first 10 years after initialisation, it drifts towards a state, which is different from both the initial state and the state of the uninitialised simulations. We show that the AMOC stays within this new state for at least another 10 years. We find that in our decadal predictions, the correct determination of future external forcings plays an important role on the global scale, while correct initialisation increases prediction skill on the regional scale
The multilevel intelligent career framework: an exploration and application to skilled migrants
No full textPurpose: Skilled migrants' careers are heterogeneous, with existing theories capturing only some of their diversity and dynamic development over time and circumstance. This paper aims to draw out the multilevel (macro, meso and micro levels) influences impacting skilled migrants' careers by using the lens of the intelligent career framework. Furthermore, structuration theory captures the agency of skilled migrants facing different social structures at and across levels and explains the idiosyncratic nature of skilled migrants' careers. Design/methodology/approach: Following an abductive approach, this paper examines the career influences for a sample of 41 skilled migrants in three different host countries. Individual career stories were collected through qualitative interviews. Important career influences from these narratives are categorised across the intelligent career competencies (knowing why, how and whom) at the macro, meso and micro levels. Findings: Findings illustrate the lived reality for skilled migrants of these interrelated multilevel career influences and go some way in elucidating the heterogeneity of skilled migrants' careers and outcomes. The interplay of individual agency in responding to both facilitating and challenging social structures across the multilevels further explains the idiosyncratic nature of skilled migrants' careers and how/whether they achieve satisfying career outcomes. Some potential policy implications and options arising from these findings are suggested. Originality/value: By considering multilevel themes that influence skilled migrants' career capital, the authors were able to better explain the complex, relational and idiosyncratic shaping of their individual careers. As such, the framework informs and guides individuals, practitioners and organisations seeking to facilitate skilled migrants' careers
An exploration of the racial experiences of black teachers in the Irish Adult learning and education (ALE) sector.
No full textThis study explored the racial experiences of Black teachers in the ALE sector. The literature indicates that racial discrimination and segregation in the ALE sector have been a problem in the past and continue to be in the present. Specifically, literature suggested that the Irish teaching workforce remains highly monoethnic, especially in the ALE sector. This study adopted a qualitative approach using semi-structured, open-ended interviews as the data collection technique. The study participants comprised of thirteen participants, 4 Black teachers from Nigeria, 3 from south Africa, 3 from Congo, 2 Irish-born Blacks, and 1 graduate from Kenya selected using the snowball sampling technique. The data collected were coded and analysed thematically. The findings indicated that Black teachers are not incorporated into the ALE sector due to their skin colour. If hired, they are given only part-time roles, which do not satisfy their economic and career aspirations. Furthermore, the study indicated that many Black teachers are forced to be creative and find other ways to be useful to the Irish community to uphold their career aspirations and continue practising their skills. The study recommended legislative changes as among the implications of the research
FBXL4 ubiquitin ligase deficiency promotes mitophagy by elevating NIX levels
No full textSelective autophagy of mitochondria, mitophagy, is linked to mitochondrial quality control and as such is critical to a healthy organism. We have used a CRISPR/Cas9 approach to screen human E3 ubiquitin ligases for influence on mitophagy under both basal cell culture conditions and upon acute mitochondrial depolarization. We identify two cullin‐RING ligase substrate receptors, VHL and FBXL4, as the most profound negative regulators of basal mitophagy. We show that these converge, albeit via different mechanisms, on control of the mitophagy adaptors BNIP3 and BNIP3L/NIX. FBXL4 restricts NIX and BNIP3 levels via direct interaction and protein destabilization, while VHL acts through suppression of HIF1α‐mediated transcription of BNIP3 and NIX. Depletion of NIX but not BNIP3 is sufficient to restore mitophagy levels. Our study contributes to an understanding of the aetiology of early‐onset mitochondrial encephalomyopathy that is supported by analysis of a disease‐associated mutation. We further show that the compound MLN4924, which globally interferes with cullin‐RING ligase activity, is a strong inducer of mitophagy, thus providing a research tool in this context and a candidate therapeutic agent for conditions linked to mitochondrial dysfunction
Electroanalysis of Small Molecule Therapeutics at Nanostructured Electrode Surfaces
No full textThe outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China in December 2019, resulted in the evolution of a global pandemic which caused thousands of deaths worldwide. As little was known about this new coronavirus, many existing drugs were repurposed with the goal to effectively treat the infection. Two such candidates were dexamethasone (DEX) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Relatively few articles have been published relating to their electrochemical determination, and in this project the use of metal nanoparticles, microparticles and films alongside various carbon nano-onions (CNOs) were explored as chemical modifiers in order to maximize their electrochemical responses. Bare, copper microparticle (CuMPs) and copper film (CuF) modified glassy carbon electrodes were exploited in Chapter 2 to examine the DEX electroreduction response, resulting in sensitivities of 2.00 × 102 μA cm-2 mM-1 and 1.13 × 102 μA cm-2 mM-1 for the CuF and CuMP modified GCEs respectively. Pharmaceutical samples in the form of a cream and a solid-state dose, were analysed with recoveries 77.46 – 87.91 %, with 1.93 – 4.97 % variance. Various types of CNOs were electrochemically characterised of which, oxi-BN-doped-CNOs was selected and combined with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), resulting in an AuNP/oxi-BN-doped CNO/GCE for NAC quantitation (sensitivity 476 μQ cm-2 mM-1 in acetate buffer). Following design and optimisation, a solid dose form of NAC was quantitatively analysed, resulting in 89 – 105 % ± 6.75 % recovery, thus validating the sensors
Decentralised Collective Bargaining in Ireland - National Report
No full textThe institutional framework for collective bargaining in Ireland is underpinned by the
principle of voluntarism. Employers and trade unions voluntarily engage in collective
bargaining, and their agreed terms and conditions of employment are not legally binding.
Workers have the right to form and join a trade union. However, unions cannot force
employers to enter collective bargaining, meaning that there is no legal right to bargaining in
Ireland. There is only one trade union confederation, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Equally, there is one major cross-sectoral employers’ association, the Irish Business and
Employers Confederation. These two organisations played a very significant role in the
regulation of the economy during the national social partnership in Ireland between 1987 and
2009, negotiating wage rates for all unionised workers.
Since the collapse of the national social partnership in 2009, the main levels at which
collective bargaining takes place are the company and the workplace levels. Sectoral
bargaining still occurs in a number of low-paid and weakly unionised sectors and in
construction and allied sectors. Sectoral bargaining also takes place in public services.
Recently, employers and unions have called for a deepening of tripartite social dialogue, and
this has occurred in several areas central to Ireland’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, this emerging forum cannot be considered as a precursor to a new form of national
social partnership. Neither unions nor employers favour the alignment of social dialogue
directly with pay bargaining in a renewal of the social partnership-type centralised pay
agreements of the 1987–2009 era.
The main actors involved in decentralised bargaining are, on the side of the union, full-time
trade union officials, organising workers at the sector level alongside shop stewards working
in companies, and, on the side of the employer, Human Resource (HR) Directors and their
delegation of managers, variously composed of the HR Manager(s), Head of Finance, and
Operations Manager(s). In the largest companies, which are considered to be pattern setters in
collective bargaining, the employers’ association also takes part in the negotiations. There are
no works councils within companies in Ireland, and only trade unions with a licence are
authorised to sign a collective agreement with their management counterpart. In some
companies, particular industrial relations arrangements, whereby trade unions and
management collaborate in various areas, such as information sharing, training, and work
organisation, can be found. These are called workplace partnerships and are supported by
formal workplace participation forums that are used by both management and shop stewards
to voice their concerns as well as to discuss any issue that is relevant to the workers and the
company. These forums, however, are never the locus of collective negotiations
“I’m so lucky”: narratives of struggle, unfairness and luck in among new entrants to the Irish media industries
No full textThe Irish creative industries have featured in recent cultural policies that have centred on the promotion of Irish culture and heritage and on the economic exploitation of heritage through the development of strong creative sectors. There are policy-led drives for more skilled workers to sustain this creative economy and creative industries policies refer to the need for more training, education and supports for workers to enter the industries. However, new entrants report difficult transitions from education to work and a culture of exploitation should they eventually find work. They feel the need to engage in unpaid affective labour to try to make themselves attractive to potential employers and often are left with low or no pay. Our study reports similar findings, where interviewees report inequalities, precarity and unfairness when seeking entry to media industries. We find a paradoxical narrative that negates inequalities and unfairness and identifies individual confidence and persistence as key to interviewees’ career success. While ‘unfairness’ defined media work for those who struggle to gain it, ‘luck’ used to explain entry into media work