NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
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Working with School Attendance problems: A Guide for Educators and Practitioners in Limerick
No full textThis resource was developed and informed by
research conducted by Dr. Catriona O’Toole and
Tara Ćirić in Maynooth University. It involved many
conversations with parents, young people and
professionals across multiple services in Limerick
city and county. The research was funded by
Limerick Children and Young People’s Services
Committee through the Healthy Ireland Fund, with
support from Southill Hub
Qualitative Data Collection and Archiving in the DANCING Project
No full textThis report is part of the project entitled ‘Protecting the Right to Culture of Persons with
Disabilities and Enhancing Cultural Diversity through European Union Law: Exploring New
Paths – DANCING’. This project has received funding from the European Research Council
(ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant
Agreement No. 864182). This report reflects only the authors’ views and does not necessarily
reflect those of the European Union or the ERC
Composing America: Patriotism, Mythology, and Piety in the Film Scores of John Williams
No full textJohn Williams has been associated with the sound of Classical Hollywood Cinema (1933–58)
since his popular neoclassical scores of the 1970s seemed to revive the central European
tradition represented by composers such as Max Steiner and Erich Wolfgang Korngold (among
others). Alongside this popular European romantic style, however, Williams’s scores often
reference a diverse array of American musical idioms. When scoring American-centric narratives,
or specific genres, Williams seems to rely on three distinct idioms, each with their own specific
histories and associations both within and outside of their films. For westerns (The Cowboys),
Coplandesque pastoralism serves to glorify landscape and maintain a myth of the West in ways
reminiscent of Copland’s ballets of the 1940s. For political dramas (JFK) or war epics (The
Patriot) the use of dignified brass fanfares, marches, and calls summon metatextual links to
ceremony and the military to endow images with an earnestness and a patriotic air. In historical
dramas (Lincoln) a hymn-inspired vocabulary generates a sense of the reverential or noble. Taken
together, these idioms form a lingua franca of American-associated sounds, demonstrating how
Williams cultivates the musical legacies and traditions of his homeland, while referencing
European compositional practices. Three chapters investigate the histories of each of these
idioms and their manifestations across a selection of Williams-scored films. By tracing the lineage
of each idiom, exemplifying their associative rigidity, and revealing how Williams adapts them,
this thesis not only showcases Williams’s own nationalistic mode, but additionally highlights
issues arising from the pervasiveness of this style in a broader Hollywood context
Spatio-temporal characteristics of Heat stress over Nigeria using evaluated ERA5-HEAT reanalysis data
No full textNigeria’s growing population faces an increasing heat burden with potential health risks. The Universal Thermal
Comfort Index (UTCI) links outdoor conditions and human well-being but lacks comprehensive insitu data in
developing regions like Nigeria. ERA5-HEAT reanalysis offers a solution with gridded UTCI and MRT data, but
validation is crucial. Thus, this study evaluates the ERA5-HEAT UTCI against data from nine Nigerian weather
stations and analysed the spatio-temporal patterns of heat stress trends. Results showed that ERA5-HEAT
demonstrated reasonable statistical performance and captured the temporal characteristics and patterns of
UTCI across Nigeria’s climatic zones. Seasonal variations show heat stress levels from "slightly cold" to "moderate" at 0600 LST and "moderate" to "very strong" at 1500 LST. Geographical consistency exists within each
season over the decades, with a critical "very strong" heat stress period during March-May. Additionally, there
has been an increasing spatial expansion of areas experiencing higher heat stress levels across the country.
Latitudinally, stable patterns exist across decades at 0600 LST for each season. Seasons show distinct UTCI
values, and at 1500 LST, more variability and category transitions occur along latitudes. Furthermore, the results
indicate significant positive trends and occasional non-significant negative trends over the 40-year period.
Notably, during 0600 LST, the Guinea and Sahel regions exhibit relatively higher positive trends than the Sudan
region in all seasons, whereas at 1500 LST, high positive trends are prominent in DJF and MAM seasons, indicating increased heat stress during peak seasons. These positive deviations in UTCI are associated with adverse
effects on human health, including increased mortality rate
The Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Nitroreductase Triggered Sensors and Theranostics
No full textPoorly developed vasculature results in low intracellular O2 regions within tumour tissues. Such areas of hypoxia are under intense reductive stress due to the lack of O2 and lead to the upregulation of oxidoreductase enzymes such as nitroreductases (NTRs). NTRs are a particularly valuable marker for reductive stress being capable of reducing nitroaromatics to corresponding amino derivatives, a feature that has been exploited in the design of hypoxia sensitive fluorescent imaging agents. To date, 1,8-naphthalimide fluorophores have attracted considerable attention owing to their exceptional fluorescence characteristics, making them ideal candidates for the design of NTR responsive fluorescent probes. Given their synthetic versatility, which allows for the consequential modulation of fluorescence, coupled with their inherent sensitivity and selectivity, 1,8-naphthalimide fluorophores are considered highly applicable for monitoring NTR activity in hypoxic environments.
This thesis entitled ‘The Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Nitroreductase Triggered Sensors and Theranostics’ is divided into 6 chapters and begins with Chapter 1, an introductory chapter which provides a literature review regarding the background and current research in the field of cancer, hypoxia, fluorescent sensors, and NTR based 1,8-naphthalimide fluorescent sensors. This chapter also outlines the aims and the objectives of the research carried out within this thesis.
Chapter 2 details the synthesis and luminescence response of 3 novel Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes, a moiety not yet exploited for NTR sensing. It was proposed that the MLCT emission of these compounds could be quenched by nitroaromatic moieties allowing for an OFF-ON luminescence response in the presence of NTR. These complexes exhibited luminescence Turn-ON responses towards NTR, with one compound in particular displaying a significant OFF-ON response coupled with sensitivity and selectivity towards NTR. This compound was further investigated with regards to its DNA binding ability as well as its potential as an imaging agent for NTR in cellulo.
Chapter 3 introduces four novel self immolative dendrimers designed to elicit a blue to green ratiometric fluorescent response in the presence of NTR. The synthesis of these dendrimers through the use of carbamate bond formation allows for the modulation of either fluorophore or prodrug. The fluorescent response of each probe was evaluated first by using a reducing agent and then by NTR under physiological conditions. One compound in particular established remarkable change in fluorescence as well as
exceptional selectivity towards NTR, showcasing the utility of such a design as a self immolative theranostic approach for NTR sensing.
Chapter 4 presents two novel fluorescence sensors for NTR described as quaternarised phenanthroline-naphthalimide conjugates. By quaternarization of the phenanthroline moiety, a compound with water solubility and potential DNA binding ability is achieved through its cationic nature, without the requirement of a heavy metal. Both compounds were observed to be responsive towards NTR with one of the compounds displaying both exceptional sensitivity towards varying concentrations of NTR and selectivity towards NTR in comparison to other biologically relevant species.
Chapter 5 consists of a thesis summary that outlines the key findings and future work for each chapter. Subsequently, Chapter 6 includes the general experimental procedures as well as the synthesis and characterisation of all compounds. Literature references are also provided, followed by the Appendix which consists of the spectroscopic data that validates the work described in the main text
The dangers of masculine technological optimism: Why feminist, antiracist values are essential for social justice, economic justice, and climate justice
No full textResponding to the climate crisis requires social and economic innovation—because climate change is a symptom of patriarchal capitalist systems that are concentrating—rather than distributing—wealth and power. Despite the need for social and economic innovation, technological innovation continues to be prioritized in climate policy and climate investments. This paper reviews the dangers of technological optimism in climate policy by exploring its links to patriarchal systems and masculinity. The disproportionate focus on science and technology emerges from and reinforces “climate isolationism,” a term that I use to refer to the common framing of climate change as an isolated discrete, scientific problem in need of technological solutions. This framing stems from assumptions of patriarchal white-male conceptions of privilege and power that evolve from a colonizing and controlling mindset. Masculine technological optimism is dangerous because it is exclusive, it minimizes the need for social change and social innovation, and it is ineffective in catalyzing inclusive societal transformation. This paper argues that embracing feminist, antiracist values is necessary for transformative climate policies, economic justice, and climate justice
Cognitive engagement with AI‐enabled technologies and value creation in healthcare
No full textDespite the potential for artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technologies in healthcare, their benefits are limited owing to the numerous challenges of cognitive engagement. This research paper explores the factors of “cognitive engagement with AI-enabled technologies” and its impact on the customers' benefits and value creation. A mixed-method study was utilized in the Indian health-care setup where AI-based technology is developing. The qualitative findings shed light on the factors of cognitive engagement with AI-enabled technologies. Grounded on the theories of customer benefit, an integrative framework of customer-perceived financial, experiential, psychological, and functional benefits, alongside perceived instrumental and terminal values, was developed. The quantitative findings of PLS-SEM explain the dynamics of the patients' cognitive engagement with AI-enabled technologies. The results enrich a more nuanced understanding of how the patient benefits of AI applications have different impacts on perceived value. The study concludes with theoretical and practical implications
Managing and responding to shifting paradigms in the health research landscape
No full textLearnings from the Health Research Charities Ireland & Health Research Board Joint Funding Scheme
Application of tailored decadal predictions for Eastern North Atlantic.
No full textPredictability is the result of both externally forced and internally generated variability
on time scales such as seasonal, annual, and decadal (Meehl et al., 2014).
There have been improvements in the field of global decadal prediction. This is in
terms of a better understanding of the interactions that occur in our world and in
the improvement of the models that are being used. While the consensus is that
the models are accurate on a global scale, there is limited confidence in prediction
skill on a regional scale. There have been studies conducted on the model components
for target areas with some success. This is one of the motivators for this
thesis, which investigates the benefits of developing targeted decadal predictions
for stakeholder needs. The second motivator is how these predictions can be tailored
to stakeholder needs. It will explore the predictability of the North Atlantic
Ocean on a decadal time scale for oceanographic properties like ocean temperature,
sea salinity, the subpolar gyre (SPG), and Atlantic Multidecadal Variability
(AMV). Making this information usable on a regional scale for Ireland would allow
tailoring for different applications such as fisheries. The fishery sector is of vast
importance to the Irish economy. The ability to predict changes in future stock
will support adaptation and fish stock management. The different stages of fish
development are dependent on oceanic variables like temperature and salinity so
decadal prediction skill for those variables would allow us to make statements on
potential changes in fish stock for a species such as Mackerel
Resource defence by the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae
No full textEntomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are insect parasites that depend on the limited resources available within the host for development and reproduction. They carry symbiotic bacteria that aid in killing the host and provide nutrition for the nematodes. Several generations of EPN are produced within a single host and when the resources are depleted stress-resistant, free-living infective juveniles (IJs) leave the insect cadaver in search of a new host. This thesis focuses on how EPN of the genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema defend resources within the host cadaver from interspecific and intraspecific competitors, scavengers, and abiotic factors.
Steinernema males fight and kill male competitors in interspecific competition for females. In this thesis, it is shown that S. carpocapsae males that have mated are better killers than unmated males, independent of size or sexual development.
IJs of the two genera can co-occur geographically, but species from one genus will usually dominate over the other genus when found within the same host. This thesis demonstrates that this dominance is mainly due to failure of one genus to develop in a host infected by the other genus, and not due to a lack of attraction to infected hosts.
The insect cadaver is an attractive source of nutrition for scavengers. Heterorhabditis associates with the bioluminescent bacteria Photorhabdus. Here it is shown that the bioluminescence produced by Photorhabdus helps to deter scavengers from feeding on Heterorhabditis-infected cadavers.
The host cadaver protects EPN from abiotic stresses. It is demonstrated here that damage to the host’s cuticle, imitating scavenging, leads to desiccation of the cadaver, and reduces both the quantity and size of IJs that emerge from the host. This effect is more severe for Heterorhabditis than for Steinernema, presumably due to the slower development of Heterorhabditis within the host. Heterorhabditis are better than Steinernema at deterring scavengers from feeding on the cadaver, preventing damage from occurring.
This thesis demonstrates the various defensive mechanisms adapted by Steinernema and Heterorhabditis, highlighting their distinct phylogenies and the relative importance of their symbionts