NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
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Objective and subjective components of resource value in lethal fights between male entomopathogenic nematodes
No full textMales sometimes engage in fights over contested resources such as access to mates; in this case, fighting behaviour may be adjusted based on the value they place on the females. Resource value (RV) can have two components. First, males can assess the quality of females, which constitutes an objective assessment of RV. Second, internal state such as previous mating experience can also influence motivation to fight thus constituting a subjective assessment of RV. If mating opportunities are scarce and available females have a major impact on the lifetime reproductive success of males, then fighting can be fatal; in this situation it is uncertain whether males would adjust fighting behaviour based on RV. We found that both female quality, that is, virginity (objective component of RV) and male mating status (subjective component of RV) influenced fighting intensity between males of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema longicaudum which engage in lethal fights. Male nematodes were more likely to engage in fighting and fought longer and more frequently in the presence of virgin (high-quality) females than in the presence of mated (lower-quality) females. Male mating status was also found to influence fighting behaviour: mated males were the winners in staged fights between mated and virgin males. Mated males may have superior fighting ability (greater resource-holding potential), but RV asymmetries between mated and virgin males cannot be excluded. Males were more likely to win when they were resident, but we did not find a significant interaction effect between male mating and residency status
On the assessment and control optimisation of demand response programs in residential buildings
No full textThe ability to control and optimise energy consumption at end-user level is of increasing interest as a means to achieve a balance between supply and demand, particularly when large penetration of distributed renewable energy sources is being considered. Demand Response programs consist of a series of externally-driven control strategies aimed at adapting consumer end-use load to specific grid requirements. In a demand response scenario, a network of connected systems can be exploited to activate balancing strategies, to provide demand flexibility during periods of high stress for the grid. However, the widespread deployment of demand response programs in the building sector still faces significant challenges. Smart technology deployment, the lack of common standardised assessment procedures and metrics, the absence of established regulatory frameworks are among the main obstacles limiting the development of portfolios of competitive flexibility assets. The residential sector is even more affected by these challenges due to a marginal economic case, the issue of long term harmonisation of hardware and software infrastructure and the influence of the end-user behaviour and preferences on energy consumption. The present paper provides a review on the current developments of the Demand Response programs, with specific reference to the residential building sector. Methodologies and procedures for assessing building energy flexibility and Demand Response programs are described with a special focus on numerical models and available control algorithms. Moreover, markets schemes and social aspects - such as technology acceptance and awareness - and their influence on smart control technologies and algorithms are discussed. Current research gaps and challenges are identified and analysed to provide guidance for future research activities
NIST Interlaboratory Study on Glycosylation Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies: Comparison of Results from Diverse Analytical Methods
No full textGlycosylation is a topic of intense current interest in the development of biopharmaceuticals because it is related to drug safety and efficacy. This work describes results of an interlaboratory study on the glycosylation of the Primary Sample (PS) of NISTmAb, a monoclonal antibody reference material. Seventy-six laboratories from industry, university, research, government, and hospital sectors in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia submitted a total of 103 reports on glycan distributions. The principal objective of this study was to report and compare results for the full range of analytical methods presently used in the glycosylation analysis of mAbs. Therefore, participation was unrestricted, with laboratories choosing their own measurement techniques. Protein glycosylation was determined in various ways, including at the level of intact mAb, protein fragments, glycopeptides, or released glycans, using a wide variety of methods for derivatization, separation, identification, and quantification. Consequently, the diversity of results was enormous, with the number of glycan compositions identified by each laboratory ranging from 4 to 48. In total, one hundred sixteen glycan compositions were reported, of which 57 compositions could be assigned consensus abundance values. These consensus medians provide community-derived values for NISTmAb PS. Agreement with the consensus medians did not depend on the specific method or laboratory type. The study provides a view of the current state-of-the-art for biologic glycosylation measurement and suggests a clear need for harmonization of glycosylation analysis methods
The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the medico-legal and human rights of psychiatric patients
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has raised significant concerns for population mental health and the effective provision of mental health services in the light of increased demands and barriers to service delivery [1]. Particular attention is being directed toward the possible neuropsychiatric sequelae of both COVID-19 and of the stringent societal mitigation steps deployed by national governments, concerns that are informed by historical increases in the incidence of psychotic disorders following influenza pandemics [2]. However, so far there has been scant attention paid to other important areas of psychiatry during COVID-19, including medico-legal aspects and human rights. In this paper, we discuss the legal implications for psychiatry of the COVID-19 pandemic and report a novel situation in which psychiatric patients may experience diminution of their statutory protections. We believe that this represents a paradigm shift in psychiatric care and that the consideration of the fundamental rights of psychiatric patients as “less important” than infection control measures compel mental health professionals to “advocate for … patients and their caregivers” in this time of crisis [1]
Suicidal histories in adults experiencing psychological trauma: exploring vulnerability and protective factors
No full textObjective: This study aimed to identify vulnerability and protective factors for suicidal histories among adults experiencing psychological trauma.
Method: Adults seeking treatment for psychological trauma (N = 113) completed self-report questionnaires measuring childhood trauma history, self-concept, relational functioning, emotion regulation, living arrangements, employment status, marital status, and suicidal history. Independent samples t-tests were used to determine variables on which those with and without suicidal histories differed significantly. These variables were then entered into a binary logistic regression model to identify factors which independently distinguished between those with and without a suicidal history.
Results: Univariate differences were found for childhood emotional abuse (CEA), childhood emotional neglect (CEN), emotion deactivation, and employment status, with those in the suicidal history group scoring higher on all of these. CEA (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.01–1.27) and employment status (OR = 4.12, 95% CI = 1.23–13.73) remained significant predictors of suicidal status in the multivariable logistic regression.
Conclusions: CEA was an independent vulnerability factor for suicidal risk, highlighting the need for clinicians to assess exposure to such trauma in those presenting with proximal traumatic experiences. Being in employment was an independent protective factor against suicidal risk, highlighting the importance of social buffers or networks when faced with traumatic situations
Promoting a Culture of Equality: Diversity Training at Maynooth University Library
No full textThis article explores the delivery, in 2020, of a one-day diversity and intercultural training programme for all library staff at Maynooth University (MU). The aim of the programme was to give library staff the opportunity to think about and talk about the impact of a more diverse student and staff population and to explore how the Library can help create a rich intercultural environment
The History of Personal Protection Equipment
No full text€28 million worth of personal protection equipment such as masks, gloves and goggles are due to arrive in Ireland tomorrow. It comes as healthcare workers complained about the shortage of protective equipment in our hospitals. Trevor Vaugh, from Maynooth University explains the origins of such products
Greater Social Jetlag Associates with Higher HbA1c in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross Sectional Study
No full textBackground/Objectives: Later chronotype has been associated with poorer glycemic control in type 2
diabetes. It is unclear whether this is a direct relationship, or if personality factors or social jetlag ([SJL],
ie, chronic circadian misalignment reflecting the discrepancy between the entrained phase of the
circadian clock and socially-determined behavioural cycles) play a role. This study aimed to determine
the relationships among chronotype, SJL, personality factors and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes,
independently of sleep disturbances and daily caloric distribution.
Methods: In sum, 252 type 2 diabetes patients attending an annual review outpatients' clinic completed
questionnaires, including the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire to assess chronotype and SJL, the
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index (PSQI), the Big Five Personality Inventory and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Chart review provided information on diabetes duration, Hemoglobin A1c
(HbA1c), body mass index (BMI) and other clinical variables. Caloric intake was assessed via 24-h dietary
recall.
Results: Hierarchical linear regression revealed that SJL, but not chronotype or personality factors, was a
significant predictor of HbA1c levels (b ¼ 0.16, p < 0.05). There was a significant relationship between
later chronotype and HbA1c levels, but only in patients who had more than 90 min SJL (r ¼ 0.51,
p ¼ 0.002). Younger age was associated with a higher HbA1c (r ¼ 0.23, p < 0.001), and this effect was
partially mediated through SJL (Pm ¼ 0.22).
Conclusions: We identify SJL as a novel factor that may impact on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.
Further study is needed to determine whether interventions aimed at reducing SJL may lead to improvements in glycemic control
A Novel Physical Layer Authentication With PAPR Reduction Based on Channel and Hardware Frequency Responses
No full textNext generation wireless communications such as
5G are expected to feature wide channel bandwidths on the order
of hundreds of MHz. As bandwidths increase, circuit impairments
caused by frequency dependent behaviour such as ripple and
tilt in gain and group delay become more significant. PAPR
of OFDM signals also increase with increasing number of subcarriers. Transmitter circuit characterisation for the wide-band
frequency response is needed to pre-compensate the signal to be
transmitted. In this article, we propose a novel scheme which uses
the circuit characteristics combined with the channel response to
generate the keys for encrypting signals to provide an additional
tier of security at the physical layer. The modulated constellation
of the signal of interest is encrypted by dispersing its phases in
addition to encrypting the bits using Diffie Hellman scheme. It is
also shown that the method is able to reduce the PAPR of OFDM
signals. This scheme is experimentally validated from end-to-end
on a millimetre wave wireless link at 28.9 GHz demonstrating
security against a well-positioned eavesdropper and a reduction
of PAPR by 3.5 dB in a 2048 point OFDM signal with 1664 active
QPSK modulated sub-carriers
I am a man of peace : writings inspired by the Maynooth University Ken Saro-Wiwa Collection
No full textEdited by Helen Fallon, Deputy University Librarian, this book, published to mark the 25th anniversary of the execution of Nigerian writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, contains 21 essays and 42 poems by contributors from different parts of the globe. Topics include human rights, environmental protection, climate justice, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and the role of the Library in preserving and promoting the Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Special Collections. The volume includes essays by Dr Owens Wiwa, Noo Saro-Wiwa and Sister Majella McCarron (OLA) who donated the death-row letters she received from friend and fellow activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, to Maynooth University Library