NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
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The Relational Abilities Index+: Initial Validation of a Functionally Understood Proxy Measure for Intelligence
No full textThe Relational Abilities Index (RAI) has shown considerable utility as a functional
proxy measurement of intellectual performance by providing a metric of an important
skill set known as relational skills, which are proposed to underlie much of what we
conceive of as intellectual behavior. The Relational Abilities Index+ (RAI+) assesses
performance across an extended range of relational skills (Same/Opposite, More/Less,
Same/Different, Before/After, and Analogy), and has been designed to provide a more
comprehensive and nuanced assessment of relational skills. The current study aims to
investigate the validity and utility of the RAI+ by assessing its degree of correlation
with well-established assessments of intelligence (WASI), numeracy (WAIS: Arithmetic),
and educational attainment (WIAT-T-II). Results indicate that the RAI+ displays
considerable efficacy in predicting intellectual performance and numeracy, but not
educational attainment
Organised Chaos: defining different degrees of intrinsic disorder by molecular dynamics methods
No full textIntrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and regions (IDRs) are defined as proteins, or proteins’ regions, that lack a stable 3D structure. The nature of the IDP(R)s amino acid residues and their sequence prevents these systems from folding. IDPs and IDRs are ubiquitous in biology, playing many different roles that range from mechanical, see for example elastin, to scaffolding the structure of macromolecular assemblies, such as the XPA in the Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) pathway, to regulatory and signalling functions, such as p53 and short linear motifs (SLiMs)-containing regions. Trying to understand the relationships between structure and functions in these highly flexible and dynamic systems is rather challenging, because their intrinsic flexibility makes them extremely difficult to characterize experimentally through structural biology methods, such as X-ray crystallography, NMR, or Cryo-EM. Indeed, the actual classification of protein domains as “intrinsically disordered” derives from the inability of determining 3D atomic coordinates from experimental sources. According to the dogma underlying the whole field of structural biology, all the different functions that IDP(R)s are key player in should be linked to their structure, however this structure is undecipherable within the experimental timescale. The overarching design of my thesis work was to understand these structure-to-function relationships in specific IDP(R)s by molecular simulation techniques. My main goal was to understand how different levels of residual secondary structure propensity in specific IDP(R)s systems of importance in health and disease can explain their macroscopic function and more specifically, how structural disorder can regulate molecular recognition at the atomistic level of details. Molecular simulation techniques have now come to age and are well suited to play a starring role in structural biology, not only as a support for experimental methods, but also as equal partners and/or as the primary research tool for discovery. In this thesis I show how different molecular simulations techniques can be successfully used for discovery in the structure and function of IDP(R)s a) on their own, b) as an equal partners to experiments, c) as tools to understand experimental data and d) for the ad hoc design of new experiments. More specifically, we found that in many systems, namely in XPA and in the p53 and ECSIT C-terminal domains, molecular recognition can be explained in terms of a distinct residual secondary structure propensity, which results in an enrichment of the
disordered conformational ensemble with secondary structure motifs that may act as molecular recognition features (MoRFs), or nucleation sites. According to this hypothesis, specific MoRFs are recognized by receptors and fold upon binding, within a scheme that lies between the two extremes of “conformational selection” and “induced fit”. As shown for XPA, the structure of these MoRFs obtained through computing can inform the design of macrocyclic systems that can be used to inhibit specific receptors or pathways in the absence of any other structural information, in view of the development of new diagnostic and/or therapeutic strategies. In this work I also show cases where the propensity to form MoRFs, also termed pre-structuring, is not required. More specifically, in the case of the very short SLiM LxCxEcontaining peptides, which can reach low nM binding affinities for the Retinoblastoma (Rb) protein, we have not detected any residual secondary structure propensity (or MoRF) in the unbound peptides. This particular study was conducted in partnership with experiments, through extensive sampling simulations for the bound and unbound peptides, in the presence of counterions or no counterions, and in the case of phosphorylation and in the absence of phosphorylation. Interestingly, in agreement with experiment, our simulations show that phosphorylation increases the level of polyproline II (PPII) structure in the unbound peptides, which has been also recently underlined as an important in signalling pathways. In summary, I believe that this research work on a few examples of structurally disordered systems contributes to shed some light into intrinsic disorder in biomolecular recognition and how intrinsic disorder should not be classed as one grey area, but instead viewed as incorporating many different shades of conformational degrees and diversity that modulate binding affinity through their structure, via enthalpy, and relative stability, via entropy
Expectations management; employer perspectives on opportunities for improved employment of persons with mental disabilities in Kenya.
No full textPurpose: In Kenya, the employment rate for persons with disabilities is about 1% compared to 73.8% for the general population, and the situation is even worse for persons with mental disabilities. Persons with mental disabilities are often regarded as “mad”, and stand little or no chance of employment. We undertook an exploratory study with employers and potential employers to understand factors that hinder or facilitate their employment and to gain insight into employers’ perceptions of mental disability.
Materials and methods: We adopted a mixed method study design, including in-depth interviews (n = 10) and questionnaires (n = 158) with (potential) employers in Kenya to explore the barriers and facilitators of employment for persons with mental disabilities.
Results: Out of the 158 employers who completed the questionnaire, only 15.4% had ever employed persons with mental disabilities. The perceptions that these persons are not productive and may be violent was associated with an unwillingness to employ them (OR: 10.11, 95%CI: 2.87–35.59 and OR: 3.6, 95%CI: 1.34–9.64, respectively). The possession of skills was the highest reported facilitator of employing persons with mental disabilities. Employers suggested that information about mental illness and the disclosure by prospective employees with mental disabilities are relevant for the provision of reasonable accommodation in the workplace.
Conclusion: Possession of skills and disclosure by persons with mental disabilities could improve their employability. Information targeted at all actors including employers, employees, government, and policymakers is necessary for balancing employers and employees expectations.
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Disabled persons’ organisations or mental disability programs that seek to improve the employment of persons with mental disabilities should incorporate methods that address employer expectations through dialogue to find mutual benefits.
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Employers require essential information about mental illness, and guidance and support in order to provide reasonable accommodation in the workplace for persons with mental disabilities.
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Disabled persons’ organisations and inclusive employment programs should share the positive experiences of employers of persons with mental disabilities with employers who are unaware of the work abilities of persons with mental disabilities to stimulate adoption of inclusive practices
Candida albicans increases the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus during polymicrobial infection of Galleria mellonella larvae
No full textThis study detailed the responses of Galleria mellonella larvae to disseminated infection caused by co-infection with Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus . Doses of C. albicans (1×105 larva−1) and S. aureus (1×104 larva−1) were non-lethal in mono-infection but when combined significantly (P<0.05) reduced larval survival at 24, 48 and 72 h relative to larvae receiving S. aureus (2×104 larva−1) alone. Co-infected larvae displayed a significantly higher density of S. aureus larva−1 compared to larvae infected solely with S. aureus . Co-infection resulted in dissemination throughout the host and the appearance of large nodules. Co-infection of larvae with C. albicans and S. aureus (2×104 larva−1) resulted in an increase in the density of circulating haemocytes compared to that in larvae infected with only S. aureus . Proteomic analysis of co-infected larval haemolymph revealed increased abundance of proteins associated with immune responses to bacterial and fungal infection such as cecropin-A (+45.4-fold), recognition proteins [e.g. peptidoglycan-recognition protein LB (+14-fold)] and proteins associated with nodule formation [e.g. Hdd11 (+33.3-fold)]. A range of proteins were also decreased in abundance following co-infection, including apolipophorin (−62.4-fold), alpha-esterase 45 (−7.7-fold) and serine proteinase (−6.2-fold). Co-infection of larvae resulted in enhanced proliferation of S. aureus compared to mono-infection and an immune response showing many similarities to the innate immune response of mammals to infection. The utility of G. mellonella larvae for studying polymicrobial infection is highlighted
Sharing out Stories: From Zimbabwe to Dublin - Thubelihle Moyo
No full textMy name Thubelihle means ‘opportunity’ in my native language. I was born in Bulawayo, the secondlargest city in Zimbabwe. I belong to theNdebele ethnic group, who live mostly in the west and southwest of the country. Zimbabwe was known as Rhodesia before it gained independence in 1980. By the time I was born in 1997, Robert Mugabe had been president for ten years. The country is rich in natural resources including minerals and diamonds. However because of economic mismanagement, corruption and human rights violations things were very bad. My father was a secondary school teacher. My mother worked in development with NGOs. Her main work was helping people from rural areas. She worked in the distribution of food aid and projects to empower rural people. Myself and my sister Thabi who is three years older than me lived with our parents in a house just outside the city
Parametric study of a vibro-impact wave energy converter
No full textIn this study, a non-linear vibro-impact mechanism is integrated inside a semisubmerged cylindrical heaving point absorber in order to enhance its power capture by utilising
the non-linearity of vibro-impact events. A piece-wise linear model is derived considering
linear wave-buoy interaction and the non-linear vibro-impact mechanism. Since the dynamics
and performance of the vibro-impact wave energy converter (WEC) are sensitive to design
parameters, a parametric study and analysis are conducted numerically by varying the design
parameters in a broad range to evaluate their influence on the vibro-impact WEC’s dynamics
and performance, in terms of response amplitude operator, average power output and peak-toaverage power ratio. Numerical simulations show that there exist some optimal sets of the design
parameters to achieve a trade-off among the aforementioned performance indices. Hence, the
parametric study in this paper can give some basic guidelines for optimising and prototyping
the design of the vibro-impact WEC for wave tank testing
Institutionalising restorative justice in the police: Key findings from a study of two English police forces
No full textThis paper reports the findings of an empirical research project, exploring ongoing attempts to mainstream restorative justice within two English police forces and examining how the police understood and used restorative justice in practice. The findings suggest that two institutional priorities–to satisfy victims and manage the demand on the police’s time–strongly influenced the interpretation and practice of restorative justice. This created tensions as police officers who facilitated restorative justice processes used their discretion to determine, on a case-by-case basis, how best to balance these institutional goals with the restorative goal of stakeholder empowerment.These findings illustrate how the police can implement abstract concepts in a selective, discretionary manner, and enhances the limited empirical literature that explains how existing priorities and embedded ways of working within criminal justice agencies, shape their under-standing and use of restorative justice in practice. Such knowledge is crucial, if we are to help maximise the benefits and minimise the risks of restorative justice and restorative policing. The article also intro-duces the concept of‘managed empowerment’ to help explain howthe tensions between restorative and institutional goals manifested themselves
Breandán Ó hEithir’s Use of Music in Constructing and Re-constructing Community in Lead Us Into Temptation
No full textMusic is an effective device in Irish fiction for symbolising community and the expression of collective values. As Gerry Smyth observes, the presence of music in the Irish novel elucidates how the histories of each form are often “enmeshed with the wider question of national identity” (106). Such formal complications emerge in Breandán Ó hEithir’s novel Lig Sinn i gCathú, first published in Irish in 1976 and two years later in English as Lead Us Into Temptation.1 Through a multifaceted approach incorporat-ing musicological theory and comparative historical sources, this analysis interrogates the ways in which music expresses Irish sociopolitical identity in the novel
The new millennial global leaders: what a difference a generation makes!
No full textOur observations of successful global leaders in much of the literature to date are drawn from individuals who began their careers before the effects of globalization began to be felt signifi-cantly. However, times are changing, along with an understanding about leading and being led by a new generation of workers. In this chapter, we analyse and reflect on our current knowl-edge of the generation born in the global era that is now emerging into positions of leadership. In the popular media, this cohort, born between 1982 and 2004 (Strauss & Howe, 1991),1is known as Generation Y (Sheahan, 2005), Generation Next (Zemke, Raines, & Filipczak, 2000), Generation Net (Tapscott, 2009), Generation Me (Twenge, 2006), Trophy Kids (Alsop, 2008), Generation Whine (Bennet, 2012), and the Millennial Generation (Hershatter & Epstein, 2010; Howe & Strauss, 2000). In this chapter we will use the label ‘Millennial generation’ and refer to individuals as ‘Millennials
'Women of character': Women's Political Representation in Dáil Éireann in Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary Ireland
No full textThis chapter outlines and assesses women’s political representation in Dáil Éireann, the lower
house of the Irish Parliament, in both revolutionary and post-revolutionary Ireland. It argues
that the establishment of the Irish Free State and the onset of Civil War in 1922 represent a
shift in the opportunities available for women to enter parliamentary politics. Although the
first woman MP ever elected was from Ireland and six women TDs1 were returned in the
1921 general election, Dáil Éireann following independence was a ‘colder house’ for
women’s representation. The outright opposition of women TDs (and Republican women
more generally) to the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922 was a crucial factor in the
decline of women’s representation, as was the influence of various political, legislative and
socio-cultural changes in the Irish Free State. Drawing on the parliamentary record and
secondary sources, this chapter aims to reveal political women’s agency as activists and
politicians in the decades that followed the establishment of the Irish Free State and considers
the gendered obstacles the first women TDs faced in their roles. In doing so, the chapter
assists with an important reappraisal of women in politics over this period