NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
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Strategies in tracing linguistic variation in a corpus of Old Irish texts (CorPH)
No full textThis article introduces Corpus PalaeoHibernicum (CorPH), a corpus currently consisting of 78 texts in Early Irish (c. 7th–10th cent.) created by the ERC-funded Chronologicon Hibernicum (ChronHib) project by bringing together pre-existing lexical and syntactic databases and adding further crucial texts from the period. In addition to being annotated for POS, morphological and syntactic information, another layer of annotation has been developed for CorPH – ‘Variation Tagging’, i.e. a tagset that numerically encodes synchronic language variation during the Early Irish period, thus allowing for much improved research on the chronological variation among the material. Another new pillar of studying linguistic variation is Bayesian Language Variation Analysis (BLaVA), in order to address the challenge that “not-so-big data” poses to statistical corpus methods. Instead of reflecting feature frequencies, BLaVA models language variation as probabilities of variation
Effects of societal-level COVID-19 mitigation measures on the timing and quality of sleep in Ireland
No full textObjectives
Under usual circumstances, sleep timing is strongly influenced by societal imperatives. The sweeping whole-of-society measures introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may represent a unique opportunity to examine the impact of large-scale changes in work practices on sleep timing. As such, we examined the impact of the travel restrictions and work from home orders imposed in Ireland in March 2020 on sleep timing and quality.
Methods
We utilized a cross-sectional survey deployed shortly after the imposition of restrictions which assessed current and retrospective ratings of sleep timing and quality; the final response set analysed was from 797 adults. Participants completed the ultra-short Munich Chronotype Questionnaire, the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, and answered questions pertaining to work status such as working from home during the period of restrictions.
Results and conclusion
There was a significant shift to later sleep start and end times, as well as delayed time of midsleep on both work and free days, during the period of restrictions. Sleep duration was longer for work days, while free day sleep duration was shorter and there was a reduction in social jetlag during the restrictions. Those who worked from home during restrictions had longer sleep duration on work day and had a significantly larger difference in sleep end on work day than “essential” workers who continued to attend their normal place of work
Posttraumatic stress disorder, complex PTSD and subtypes of loneliness among older adults
No full textAbstract
Objectives: Research examining the relationship between
loneliness and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(CPTSD) is scarce, particularly among older adults. CPTSD
includes the core symptoms of PTSD along with additional
symptoms reflecting “disturbances in self‐organisation”
(DSO). This study examined the cross‐sectional relationships between loneliness (emotional and social loneliness)
and CPTSD symptoms (i.e., PTSD and DSO symptoms) in
older adults.
Methods: Structural equation modelling was used to examine these relationships in a nationally representative
sample of US adults aged 60–70 years (n = 456).
Results: Controlling for covariates, emotional loneliness was
associated with PTSD (β = 0.31) and DSO (β = 0.57) symptoms
whereas social loneliness was only associated with DSO
symptoms (β = 0.25). The model explained 35.0% of the
variance in PTSD symptoms and 71.3% in DSO symptoms.
Conclusion: These findings have important implications for
treating and understanding PTSD/CPTSD and their correlates among older adults
Business, Organisational and governance modalities of collaborative cybersecurity networks
No full textCountering advanced cyber threats requires investments in awareness and qualified personnel, as well as advanced technological solutions. Very few companies have the
competencies and capacity to attempt to provide comprehensive solutions and sustain the technological drive and skill levels. Novel organisational solutions are needed to deliver advantages vis-à-vis both threat actors and competitors. The European Union sees one potential solution in the establishment of a network of cybersecurity competence centres. Starting in the beginning of the century, the creation of collaborative networked organisations in other fields demonstrated significant benefits in sharing knowledge, resources, and risk to exploit quickly emerging market opportunities. The major challenge in creating networked organisations is to provide long-term, effective collaboration through adequate governance and management. To support the elaboration of a solid governance model of a cybersecurity competence network in a Horizon 2020 research project, this article presents the results of a study of 92 existing network organisations working in cybersecurity and closely related fields. It presents the implemented methodological approach, the identification of main types of business models depending on funding streams and the degree of coordination among partners, organisational modalities, and prevailing governance models depending on member representation on senior governance bodie
Predicting conversion of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s disease using bedside cognitive assessments
No full textIntroduction
Patients diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) often go on to develop dementia, however many do not. Although cognitive tests are widely used in the clinic, there is limited research on their potential to help predict which patients may progress to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from those that do not.
Methods
MCI patients (n = 325) from the longitudinal Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI-2) dataset were tracked across a 5 year period. Upon initial diagnosis, all patients underwent a series of cognitive tests including the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog 13). Twenty-five percent (n = 83) of those initially diagnosed with MCI subsequently developed AD within 5 years.
Results
We showed that those individuals that progressed to AD had significantly lower scores upon baseline testing on the MMSE and MoCA, and higher scores on the ADAS-13, compared to those that did not convert. However, not all tests were equivalent. We showed that the ADAS-13 offers the best predictability of conversion (Adjusted Odds ratio (AOR) = 3.91). This predictability was higher than that offered by the two primary biomarker Amyloid-beta (Aβ, AOR = 1.99) and phospho-tau (Ptau, AOR = 1.72). Further analysis on the ADAS-13 showed that MCI patients that subsequently converted to AD performed particularly poorly on delayed-recall (AOR = 1.93), word recognition (AOR = 1.66), word finding difficulty (AOR = 1.55) and orientation (1.38) test items.
Conclusions
Cognitive testing using the ADAS-13 may offer a simpler, less invasive, more clinically relevant and a more effective method of determining those that are in danger of converting from MCI to AD
Including Digital Connection in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A Systems Thinking Approach for Achieving the SDGs
No full textIn the two decades since the establishment of the 2030 Agenda, the world has faced significant challenges to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Before COVID-19, the SDGs were not on track to be achieved, and disruptions in implementation resulting from the pandemic have had significant effects, turning back years of progress. The pandemic has highlighted the essential nature of digital technologies in advancing the SDGs, continuing education, including higher education, social, and commercial activities, as well as enabling people to participate in society, democracy, and the economy during crises. As humanity enters this new period and begins to reset after the ‘great pause’, it is imperative to reconsider how the digital revolution has affected progress, especially in realizing the SDGs. Digital inclusion and connectivity inform and are essential to achieve all of the Goals. This article builds on the Just Digital Ethical Framework conceptualized by the authors in O’Sullivan et al. published in Nature Communications, which argues that four strategic drivers (digital capabilities, technology, infrastructure, and governance) are imperative to complete all of the 17 SDGs. It takes the Just Digital Ethical Framework to the next critical step, in which there needs to be a new SDG dedicated to these four drivers. This article is an exploratory study that uses a systems thinking approach and presents an 18th SDG called Digital Connection. Digital Connection focuses on the equitable distribution of digital wealth guided by the drivers. Understanding the relationship between these drivers and how they operate, where they are used, the pace of change, and systems’ ability to adapt are essential for sustainable development and to address the challenges that face society equitably and fairly
The Ethical Implications of Big Data Research in Public Health: “Big Data Ethics by Design” in the UK‐REACH Study
No full textIn this article, we analyze legal and ethical issues raised in Big Data health research projects in the Covid‐19 era and consider how these issues might be addressed in ways that advance positive values (e.g., furtherance of respect for persons and accordance with relevant legal frameworks) while mitigating or eliminating any negative aspects (e.g., exacerbation of social inequality and injustice). We apply this analysis specifically to UK‐REACH (The United Kingdom Research Study into Ethnicity and Covid‐19 Outcomes in Healthcare Workers), a project with which we are involved. We argue that Big Data projects like UK‐REACH can be conducted in an ethically robust manner and that funders and sponsors ought to encourage similar projects to drive better evidence‐based public policy in public health. As part of this, we advocate that a Big Data ethics‐by‐design approach be undertaken when such projects are constructed. This principle extends the work of those who advocate ethics by design by addressing prominent issues in Big Data health research projects; it holds that ethical values and principles in Big Data health research projects are best adhered to when they are already integrated into the project aims and methods at the design stage. In advocating this principle, we present a unique perspective regarding pressing ethical problems around large‐scale, data‐driven Covid‐19 research, as well as legal issues associated with processing ostensibly anonymized health data
Agency, Consent and Loyalty: Michal daughter of Saul, and Royal Women in Middle Irish Literature
No full textThis paper explores the depiction of women in the early Middle Irish biblical verse epic Saltair na Rann. Using Michal, the daughter of Saul and wif eof David, as a central case study reveals the nature and extent of the anonymous poet’s elaboration of their biblical source, with a creative and dramatic dialogue between Michal and Saul as the audacious centre piece of that part of the narrative. This paper proceeds to examine some other female characters within the text more briefly, and concludes by tentatively placing some of the poet’s concerns with female agency, marriage and royal daughterhood within a wider literary and political context which reflect the possible circumstances within which Saltair naRann was composed
Implementing the Right of People with Disabilities to Participate in Cultural Life across Five European Countries: Narratives and Counternarratives
No full textThe UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a ground-breaking
treaty that constitutes persons with disabilities as holders of rights and active members of society, and encompasses civil, political, economic, social and cultural
rights. Article 30 of the Convention provides for the right of persons with disabilities
to participate in cultural life. The importance of this provision lies in its detailed
normative content, and also in that it sheds a light on the need for appropriate policies and practices that enhance cultural participation of persons with disabilities.
By investigating the extent to which Article 30 of the Convention has been implemented across five European states (Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Sweden), this article identifies common narratives and counternarratives related
to the realization of the right to participate in cultural life. It adopts a socio-legal approach and a blended methodology combining desk-based and empirical research.
It contrasts official narratives, which highlight good practices and steps taken to
improve access to culture, with counternarratives that reveal a fragmentary
approach to cultural participation of persons with disabilities, persisting barriers,
limited recognition of artists with disabilities, and the perpetuation of stigma
and stereotypes
Party-Base Linkages, Contestatory Mobilization and ‘Creative Tensions’ in Bolivia
No full textThe abstract is included in the text