NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
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Hydroclimate variability in the Madagascar and Southeast African summer monsoons at the Mid- to Late-Holocene transition
No full textThe 4.2 ka event at the Mid- to Late-Holocene transition is often regarded as one of the largest and best documented abrupt climate disturbances of the Holocene. The event is most clearly manifested in the Mediterranean and Middle East as a regional dry anomaly beginning abruptly at 4.26 kyr BP and extending until 3.97 kyr BP. Yet the impacts of this regional drought are often extended to other regions and sometimes globally. In particular, the nature and spatial extent of the 4.2 ka event in the tropics have not been established. Here, we present a new stalagmite stable isotope record from Anjohikely, northwest Madagascar. Growing between 5.22 and 2.00 kyr BP, stalagmite AK1 shows a hiatus between 4.31 and 3.93 kyr BP (±40 and ± 35 yrs), replicating a hiatus in another stalagmite from nearby Anjohibe, and therefore indicating a significant drying at the Mid- to Late-Holocene transition. This result is the opposite to wet conditions at the 8.2 ka event, suggesting fundamentally different forcing mechanisms. Dry conditions are also recorded in sediment cores in Lake Malawi, Lake Masoko and the Tatos Basin on Mauritius, also in the southeast African monsoon domain. However, no notable event is recorded at the northern (equatorial East Africa) and eastern (Rodrigues) peripheries of the monsoon domain, while a wet event is recorded in sediment cores at Lake Muzi and Mkhuze Delta to the south. The spatial pattern is largely consistent with the modern rainfall anomaly pattern associated a with weak Mozambique Channel Trough and a northerly austral summer Intertropical Convergence Zone position. Within age error, the observed peak climate anomalies overlap with the 4.2 ka event. However regional hydrological change consistently begins earlier than a 4.26 kyr BP event onset. Gradual hydrological change frequently begins around 4.5 kyr BP, raising doubt as to whether any coherent regional hydrological change is merely coincident with the 4.2 ka event or part of a global climatic anomaly
“Tell Me More About Your Child’s Sleep”: A Qualitative Investigation Of Sleep Problems In Children With ADHD
No full textObjective: To investigate parental experiences and perceptions of sleep problems in their children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the perceived impacts of sleep problems and coping strategies deployed by parents.Methods: Semi-structured interviews with twenty-six parents of pre- adolescent children with a diagnosis of ADHD, followed by thematic analysis of the interview transcripts.Results: Three themes were generated from the data: Children’s Sleep Difficulties; Impacts of Children’s Sleep; and Improving Children’s Sleep. Sleep initiation problems in children with ADHD were commonly reported by parents, were perceived to be linked in a bidirectional manner with executive and emotional problems, and were reported as being disruptive to parental sleep. Some parents reported that their children’s sleep problems were the initial prompt that lead to a diagnosis of ADHD. Parents reported utilizing a range of coping strategies to mitigate sleep problems, such as controlling the bedroom sensory environment and using emotional “wind down” as part of the bedtime routine. Some parents endorsed a beneficial effect of melatonin on their children’s sleep.Conclusions: Sleep problems in children with ADHD were perceived as important issues by parents. Equipping parents with evidence-based strate-gies for the management of their children’s sleep may lead to benefits for the children, parents and wider household
Two Centuries of Relative Sea-Level Rise in Dublin, Ireland, Reconstructed by Geological Tide Gauge
No full textWe demonstrate the utility and reproducibility of the saltmarsh foraminifera-based ‘geological tide gauge’ (GTG) approach by developing two independent records of relative sea-level (RSL) change for Dublin, Ireland. Our records, recovered from two different saltmarshes, indicate that RSL rose at a century-scale rate of 1.5 ± 0.9 mm yr–1
over the last 200 years. This compares favourably with the shorter, but more precise, mean sea level (MSL) record from the Dublin Port tide gauge, which indicates long-term
(1953–2016 CE) rise at a rate of 1.1 ± 0.5 mm yr–1. When corrected for the influence of glacio-isostatic adjustment our saltmarsh-based reconstruction suggests sea levels in
Dublin rose at a rate of 1.6 ± 0.9 mm yr–1 since the start of the 19th century, which is in excellent agreement with the regional value of MSL rise over the same period (1.5 ±
0.2 mm yr–1) calculated from a compilation of tide gauge records around Britain. Whilst our record has decadal-scale temporal resolution (1 sample every 8 years), we are
currently unable to resolve multidecadal-scale variations in the rate of sea-level rise which are masked by the size of the vertical uncertainties (± 20 cm) associated with
our reconstruction of palaeomarsh-surface elevation. We discuss the challenges of applying the GTG approach in the typically minerogenic saltmarshes of the NE Atlantic
margin and outline potential solutions that would facilitate the production of Common Era RSL reconstructions in the region
Copper-modified carbon nano-onions as electrode modifiers for the electroanalysis of the antiretroviral drug Efavirenz
No full textThe high prescription and consumption rate of antiretroviral drugs (ARV) such as Efavirenz (EFV) in South Africa
for the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has resulted in its presence in wastewater and
surface water. Herein we report the electroanalysis of EFV at oxidised boron-nitrogen doped carbon nano-onions
(oxi-BNCNO) and microscale branched copper cluster (CuC) modified glassy carbon electrodes. Potentiostatic
electrodeposition of CuC on the oxi-BNCNO/GCE platform resulted in a stable and electrocatalytic surface that
accelerated electron transfer between the analyte and the CuC/oxi-BNCNO/GCE surface, making quantification
efficient. The electroactive surface area of CuC/oxi-BNCNO/GCE was estimated as being 3 times higher than bare
GCE and twice that of oxi-BNCNO/GCE. The electrooxidation of EFV on a CuC/oxi-BNCNO/GCE sensor resulted
in a pH-dependant anodic peak in the potential range of 0.8 to 1.2 V vs Ag/AgCl (3M KCl). The EFV voltammetric
signal increased linearly with increasing concentration of EFV in the linear dynamic range (LDR) of 0.01 – 1.0 µM
and 0.5 – 20 µM with a limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 1.2 and 3.97 nM, respectively.
Moreover, the sensor had a sensitivity of 23 µA • cm− 2 • µM− 1 and was selective to 100-fold of interferents
including heavy metal ions and other ARVs with the exception of high concentrations of nevirapine. The
developed electroanalytical method was successfully applied for the determination of EFV in real samples such as
wastewater influent and effluent, drinking/tap water, and a pharmaceutical formulation with recovery ranging
from 97.8% to 109.5%
Computation Offloading and Service Caching in Heterogeneous MEC Wireless Networks
No full textMobile edge computing (MEC) can dramatically promote the computation capability and prolong the lifetime of mobile users (MUs) by offloading computation-intensive tasks to edge cloud. In this paper, a spatial-random two-tier heterogeneous network (HetNet) is modelled to feature random node distribution, where the small-cell base stations (SBSs) and the macro base stations (MBSs) are cascaded with servers with different levels of computing and storage capacity. Only a certain type of application services and finite number of offloaded tasks can be cached and processed in the resource-limited edge server. For that setup, we investigate the performance of two offloading strategies corresponding to integrated access and backhaul (IAB)-enabled MEC networks and traditional cellular MEC networks. Using tools from stochastic geometry and queuing theory, we derive the average delay for the two different strategies, in order to better understand the influence of IAB on MEC networks. Simulations results are provided to verify the derived expressions and to reveal various system-level insights
Novel Developments in Bayesian Modelling Applied to Estimating Abundance in Animal Communities
No full textIn order to understand evolutionary-ecological processes and make decisions concerning
wildlife management (i.e., conservation and monitoring, according to Caughley
(1994)), the ability to estimate abundances of wild animal species can prove
imperative (Verdade et al., 2014). However, methods of data collection that involve
direct interaction with wild animals can be invasive and pose risks to both
wildlife and humans (Verdade et al., 2013).
In this thesis, we propose methodologies that may be used to estimate animal
abundances using different types of data, with an emphasis on data whose collection
is relatively low-effort, cost-effective and poses the least risk of danger to the
animal and observer. The ability to use these data to estimate abundance may
allow for the establishment of large-scale wildlife monitoring programs.
First we present a multivariate extension to the N-mixture model proposed by
Royle (2004). This extension allows for the estimation of abundances for multiple
species simultaneously, while also estimating the correlation between species
abundances. This model is further extended to allow for data collected over long
time periods through the addition of a first-order autoregressive term on the abundance.
This model is then extended further to allow for the use of zero-inflated
data by considering a hurdle-Poisson distribution for the latent abundances.
We then provide an overview of various N-mixture models, aimed at introducing
practitioners unfamiliar with statistics to this methodology. We demonstrate a
Bayesian implementation of some of these models to estimate foraging bee abundance,
with R code provided to allow model implementation by any interested
practitioners.
Finally we examine a scenario in which data is not composed of observations of
individuals, but rather observations of animal vestiges (i.e., traces that an animal
leaves behind as it moves through the environment). Here we present a novel
modelling framework, the triple Poisson model, that allows for the estimation of
animal abundance using vestige data, even when only very scarce data is available
Don’t Let Your Anxiety Stress Out Your Team
No full textOur emotional state — such as feelings of anxiety, nervousness, and apprehension — can rub off on our team negatively impact their work performance and wellbeing. This is called emotional contagion, and it’s not uncommon. Since many workplaces have transitioned to a hybrid model, it’s imperative that, as a new manager, you pay attention to how you communicate with your teams, even in virtual settings.
Be mindful of what you post online and how often you post. Your social media activity can impact your team anxiety, even when you aren’t physically present and even when you aren’t talking about work. Posting too much information at once may overwhelm your follows and significantly changing the frequency of when you regularly post may alarm them.
On messaging platforms, consider the tone and content of your words. Remember that written communication can be easily misinterpreted, so always aim for clarity and honesty.
Pay attention to the tone of your team member’s messages. Looking at their punctuation can be a telling indicator of anxiety. For example, when a colleague uncharacteristically starts finishing all their Slack messages with a period, it could signal that something is not quite right and that they are anxious or stressed. If you sense anxiety, address them calmly, and provide reassurance to the best of your ability.
Be vulnerable. As a leader, your responsibility includes providing safe workspaces in which your employees can thrive. Displaying vulnerability is one way to foster greater trust and collaboration within your team. However, share your vulnerability in a thoughtful and measured manner so as not to alarm employees or undermine your leadership
Grand Challenges and the MBA
No full textHumanity is facing multiple grand challenges, compelling a myriad of diverse
actors to interact, coordinate, and collaborate like never before. Business
schools have a role to play in equipping future leaders to tackle them and we
posit that to do so, leaders must be able to take multiple perspectives into
consideration and look to the future while being morally aware. We carry
out an in-depth audit of how MBA programs currently fare in this regard.
We find that despite the urgency and salience of these transnational and
intractable issues, little attention is paid to preparing MBA students to address
grand challenges. We identify three barriers that may prevent educators
from facilitating student acquisition of these competencies and conclude by
proposing potential models of MBA programs for grand challenges
Life beyond the physical: A Sustainable exhibition
No full textThe exhibition, 'The Second Reformation and Catholic-Protestant Relations in Pre-Famine Ireland: Bicentennial Perspectives' opened in the Russell Library on 24 October 2022.
A symposium and exhibition launch took place in the Library on the bicentenary of the infamous sermon (charge) given by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, William Magee (1766-1831) in St Patrick's Cathedral on 24 October 1822. The exhibition explored the significance and legacy of the Second Reformation of the l 820s-40s. Archbishop Magee's charge sparked religious controversy in Ireland, playing a significant role in driving the Second Reformation, including the 'Bible War'
Psychological Distress and Loneliness among New Fathers During the Peripartum Period: The Roles of Perceived Stress and Social Support
No full textAim: The aim of this study was to explore fathers’ mental health during the peripartum period, how stress contributed to psychological distress and loneliness and the ways in which social support moderated these outcomes. Method: This research used a convergent mixed methods design. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. In the quantitative strand, The Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, The DeJong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were administered during the third trimester of the prepartum period and again at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Data was collected across 3 waves from February 2021 until October 2021. A total of 91 fathers participated at wave 1, 50 fathers participated at wave 2, and 24 fathers participated at wave 3. In the qualitative strand, one-to-one semi structured interviews were conducted to explore fathers’ experiences with postpartum social support and loneliness. Data was collected from 12 fathers from April 2021 until July 2022. Results: The quantitative strand of this study found 1) social support did not significantly moderate the relationship between perceived stress and psychological distress and 2) social support did not significantly moderate the relationship between perceived stress and loneliness during the third trimester of the prepartum period. However, at three months postpartum, social support did significantly moderate the relationship between perceived stress and loneliness. Upon analysing interview transcripts, three key themes were drawn from the data (i) Being the breadwinner (ii) Seeking postpartum social support and (iii) Feeling lonely when lacking postpartum support. Conclusions: Both strands of this research highlight the potential buffering role of social support on the relationship between postpartum stress and loneliness. It is important to target low partner support, low support from family, friends and from other fathers as potentially modifiable factors for peripartum loneliness interventions