NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
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Strength and Biomechanical Risk Factors for Noncontact ACL Injury in Elite Female Footballers: A Prospective Study
No full textPurpose
This study aimed to determine if a preseason field-based test battery was prospectively associated with noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in elite female footballers.
Methods
In total, 322 elite senior and junior female Australian Rules Football and soccer players had their isometric hip adductor and abductor strength, eccentric knee flexor strength, countermovement jump (CMJ) kinetics, and single-leg hop kinematics assessed during the 2019 preseason. Demographic and injury history details were also collected. Footballers were subsequently followed for 18 months for ACL injury.
Results
Fifteen noncontact ACL injuries occurred during the follow-up period. Prior ACL injury (odds ratio [OR], 9.68; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.67–31.46), a lower isometric hip adductor to abductor strength ratio (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.09–3.61), greater CMJ peak take-off force (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.09–3.61), and greater single-leg triple vertical hop average dynamic knee valgus (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.06–3.63) and ipsilateral trunk flexion (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.01–2.55) were independently associated with an increased risk of subsequent ACL injury. A multivariable prediction model consisting of CMJ peak take-off force, dynamic knee valgus, and ACL injury history that was internally validated classified ACL injured from uninjured footballers with 78% total accuracy. Between-leg asymmetry in lower limb strength and CMJ kinetics were not associated with subsequent ACL injury risk.
Conclusions
Preseason field-based measures of lower limb muscle strength and biomechanics were associated with future noncontact ACL injury in elite female footballers. These risk factors can be used to guide ACL injury screening practices and inform the design of targeted injury prevention training in elite female footballers
One-system integrity and the legal domain of morality
No full textAccording to contemporary nonpositivist theories, legal obligations are a subset of
our genuine moral obligations. Debates within nonpositivism then turn on how we
delimit the legal “domain” of morality. Recently, nonpositivist theories have come
under criticism on two grounds. First, that they are underinclusive, because they cannot explain why paradigmatically “legal” obligations are such. Second, that they are
overinclusive, because they count as “legal” certain moral obligations that are plainly
nonlegal. This paper undertakes both a ground-clearing exercise for and a defense of
nonpositivism. It argues, in particular, that Dworkin’s claims about the legal domain
of morality in his later work are often mischaracterized by critics, because these critics fail to read these claims in light of his earlier theory of “Law as Integrity.” A nonpositivist theory that unifies Dworkin’s earlier and later work, I argue, deals with the
criticisms leveled at nonpositivist theories better than other nonpositivist competitors
Thirty Years of GOSHIP and WOCE Data: Atlantic Overturning of Mass, Heat, and Freshwater Transport
No full textThe Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) plays a vital role in global climate,
redistributing heat, and freshwater. It is predicted to decline due to anthropogenic climate change, with major
implications for global climate. Accurately assessing AMOC strength with in situ observations has inspired
a number of dedicated observing systems in the Atlantic since the 2000s. However, no consensus has been
reached on whether the slowdown of the AMOC and its associated heat and freshwater transports is occurring.
These dedicated systems are too recent to detect long-term trends. We have analyzed hydrographic data from
zonal sections across the Atlantic for 30 years that predate and overlap the era of AMOC observations. Our
results show no changes in the AMOC for all sections analyzed over the whole Atlantic for the last 30 years. We
also find an increased export of freshwater from the South Atlantic associated with an increase in upper salinity
Can digital placemaking improve mental health through nature?
No full textDigital placemaking is confusing term and its potential support to health and wellbeing through engagement with nature is little understood. This microtalk will focus on how digital placemaking and green spaces impact health and well-being and aims to create digital placemaking toolkits for each Cultivating Cities. This question will be addressed by Maria’s PhD as part of GoGreenRoutes, an EU-funded project sowing the seeds for increased nature connectedness across Europe, Latin America and China
A systematic review of the factors associated with regret post-cancer treatment
No full textProblem identification: Expanding on previous work in specific
cancer populations, this review aimed to explore factors
associated with decisional regret following treatment for a
range of cancer types.
Literature search: A systematic search of four databases identified
1747 studies, using search terms relating to cancer survivors
and decisional regret. Following quality appraisal,
correlates of regret were abstracted and analyzed using narrative
synthesis.
Data evaluation/synthesis: Seventy-two studies met the inclusion
criteria. Factors associated with treatment regret were categorized
as being either modifiable or less modifiable. Regret
was associated with various sociodemographic factors, physical
health, treatment type, an unsatisfactory decision-making process,
poorer mental health and lack of social support.
Conclusion: Results highlight the complex nature of regret
and illustrate how this can be experienced following a range
of cancer treatments. As regret can be an obstacle to full recovery
from cancer, this review suggests some ways in
which the emergence of regret may be mitigated
Examining societal and intraindividual determinants of sleep-wake timing and social jetlag
No full textThe primary objective of this research was to examine societal and intraindividual behavioural
determinants of sleep-wake timings and social jetlag. Occupational demands and timings may
influence bedtime and waketime. Behavioural factors could additionally influence sleep-wake
timings via bedtime decisions. The impact of workday sleep-wake timings on social jetlag was
explored in this research. The association between social jetlag and the temporal consideration
and discounting of future consequences and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep were also explored.
The evidence from the current research suggest that societal factors have a strong influence on
social jetlag. Later workday sleep-wake timings during the pandemic resulted in a significant
reduction in social jetlag. There was no evidence of an association between social jetlag,
chronotype and intraindividual traits. Work-free day midsleep (chronotype) was a significant
determinant of social jetlag. Social jetlag and chronotype demonstrated differential relationships
with other societal and demographic factors. Differential relationships between social jetlag,
chronotype and other key sleep parameters such as sleep quality and insomnia were also observed.
Current research suggests social jetlag may be a distinct sleep phenomenon with strong
associations with sleep-wake timings. Modifications to work schedules may be one option for
reducing social jetlag. However, this was at the expense of late sleep-wake timings, and the long-
term chronobiological implications of the changes observed during the pandemic are yet to be
fully understood. Alternatively, a reduction in social jetlag may be feasible via phase advancing
of late chronotypes. Social jetlag is ubiquitous in modern society and presents a significant public
health concern. Current research identifies challenges to translation of circadian science into
policies. Public education on sleep regularity and circadian misalignment could facilitate a
discussion between scientists and the general public and may facilitate a chronobiologically sound
solution to the widespread problem of social jetlag in modern society
Quasi-optical and Electromagnetic Modelling at Gigahertz and Terahertz Frequencies
No full textThis thesis describes electromagnetic and optical modelling for three tele-
scopes operating at GHz and THz frequencies: the Pickmere telescope, QUBIC
and ALMA. Optical modelling was carried out using TICRA’s GRASP phys-
ical optics software and also using a Gaussian beam mode model developed
in Python. The electromagnetic modelling of corrugated horn antennas was
carried out using Maynooth University’s existing mode-matching software
‘PyScatter’ and new code developed for this thesis called ‘NumCross’.
The Pickmere radio telescope was simulated using Gaussian beam modes
and also using GRASP physical optics. The two methods agreed to a high level
of accuracy. This verified the accuracy of Gaussian beam mode analysis as a
rapid, simplistic model of sequential mirrors in telescopes.
A series of horns were developed for a potential ALMA combined band
4 and 5, and in particular the effects of different manufacturing constraints
on horn performance were shown. A comparison was made between the in-
house PyScatter routine and the industry standard HFSS software used by col-
laborators in Manchester University. The programs largely agreed, with one
difference caused by differing sensitivity to back-propagation of radiation.
The QUBIC telescope makes use of an array of corrugated horn antennas
manufactured using a platelet technique. The plates can incur lateral offsets
due to alignment tolerances during manufacturing. These offsets cannot be
modelled in PyScatter as it assumes cylindrical symmetry at platelet junctions.
The NumCross routine was created, building on PyScatter, to allow the mod-
elling of corrugated horns with laterally offset corrugations. The QUBIC horns
were modelled as an example
The spacing effect: Investigating the factors relating to and neural correlates of distributed practice
No full textThe spacing effect (learning sessions which are distributed across time tend to generate
superior learning compared to when sessions are massed) is a robust finding which has been
replicated across many domains (Benjamin & Tullis, 2010). Despite the assertion that spacing
should be considered an educational standard, extensive application is not a reality (Kim et
al., 2019). This may be due to a lack of understanding combined with discrepancies between
laboratory-based experiments and real-world applications. Some researchers maintain that
spacing research is not ecologically valid nor generalisable to the more complex learning that
occurs in real-world settings (Kapler et al., 2015). This research aims to contribute to current
spacing literature by exploring a number of factors related to the spacing effect, such as
interval, age, sleep, and medium of presentation. Furthermore, this thesis aims to address gaps
in the literature by exploring the existence of a spacing effect when learning face-name
associations, and by investigating the electrophysiological correlates of spacing through ERP
analysis. Behavioural and electrophysiological measures were used to examine the spacing
effect while learning face-name associations at recent and remote intervals (twenty-four hours,
one week, and one month) in younger and older adults across different mediums of learning.
Results suggest that spacing is beneficial when learning face-name associations, particularly
at longer intervals of one month, and that older adults may also benefit from spacing at longer
intervals, though to a lesser extent than younger adults. This effect is also evident in online
learning, though to a lesser extent than in-person learning. Sleep quality does not affect
objective measures of cognition, but does impact psychological measures and may contribute
to our understanding of spacing. Furthermore, there is evidence of separate neural networks
for spaced- versus massed-trained participants when retrieving correct face-name associations.
These findings support a hybrid model of spacing, in particular one that encompasses theories
of deficient processing and study-phase retrieval
The Celticisation of the Western Archipelago (slides)
No full textSlides of a paper held at the Arbeitstagung der Indogermanischen Gesellschaft about the significance of palaeogenetic studies for the question of the Celticisation of Britain and Ireland
Chronobiology of Parkinson's disease: Past, present and future
No full textParkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder predominately affecting
midbrain dopaminergic neurons that results in a broad range of motor and
non-motor symptoms. Sleep complaints are among the most common non-
motor symptoms, even in the prodromal period. Sleep alterations in Parkin-
son’s disease patients may be associated with dysregulation of circadian
rhythms, intrinsic 24-h cycles that control essential physiological functions, or
with side effects from levodopa medication and physical and mental health
challenges. The impact of circadian dysregulation on sleep disturbances in
Parkinson’s disease is not fully understood; as such, we review the systems,
cellular and molecular mechanisms that may underlie circadian perturbations
in Parkinson’s disease. We also discuss the potential benefits of chronobiology-
based personalized medicine in the management of Parkinson’s disease both
in terms of behavioural and pharmacological interventions. We propose that a
fuller understanding of circadian clock function may shed important new light
on the aetiology and symptomatology of the disease and may allow for
improvements in the quality of life for the millions of people with Parkinson’s
disease