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Luminescence chronology of the Velika Vrbica loess-palaeosol sequence (Wallachian Basin): Evaluating quartz and K-feldspar signals from MIS 5 to the Holocene
Full text linkThe Velika Vrbica loess-palaeosol sequence, situated on the south-western bank of the Danube River in northeastern Serbia, represents one of the key Quaternary records in the lower Danube basin, covering the MIS 5-
MIS 1 period. Previous investigations of the upper 500 cm established a high-resolution chronology and
revealed unexpected patterns of dust accumulation during interstadial phases. In this study, we extend the
analysis to the full ~12 m thickness of the sequence, spanning from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 to the Holocene, with emphasis on refining the geochronological framework and testing the performance of different
luminescence signals. A comprehensive set of quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and K-feldspar
post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR290) ages, complemented by linear modulated OSL (LMOSL) analyses, provides a robust chronology. Bayesian age-depth modelling constrains the timing of key stratigraphic units, including the S1 palaeosol (MIS 5), the overlying L1 loess (MIS 4–2) with its interstadial palaeosol
(L1SS1), and the Holocene soil (S0). Quartz and K-feldspar ages display systematic differences: younger deposits
show feldspar overestimation consistent with incomplete bleaching, whereas older horizons (MIS 5–4) yield
excellent agreement between the two signals. LM-OSL results confirm that the fast component dominates most of
the profile, supporting the reliability of equivalent dose determinations across multiple stratigraphic units. The
resulting chronology demonstrates that the Velika Vrbica site preserves a continuous record of loess accumulation and pedogenesis over the last ~130 ka. These findings not only refine the temporal framework for southeastern European loess but also provide an important evaluation of the applicability and limitations of quartz and
K-feldspar luminescence signals in establishing long-term chronologies
Draft genome sequence of Candida auris MUTCD0001: the first clinical isolate from Ireland
Full text linkHere, we report the draft genome sequence of Candida auris MUTCD0001, the first isolate of a human clinical specimen from Ireland. C. auris is a multidrug-resistant yeast, and studies of drug-resistant C. auris outbreaks have shown transmission among patients, demonstrating a need for improved epidemiological surveillance of C. auris
Leigheasanna Traidisiúnta ar Ghalair Ainmhithe in Éirinn – Stair agus Comhthéacs
No full textSa tráchtas seo, déantar iniúchadh ar leigheasanna traidisiúnta ar ghalair ainmhithe in Éirinn, agus fiosraítear go leanúnach an nasc idir leigheasanna/tuiscintí leighis ó thréimhse na meánaoise (caibidil 3), go dtí eolas a bailíodh sa naoi haois déag (caibidil 4), suas chomh fada leis an aonú haois is fiche (caibidil 5). Díríonn an taighde seo ar an leanúnachas, agus go deimhin an meath a tháinig ar na leigheasanna seo, agus déantar catagóiriú orthu de réir leigheasanna draíochta, leigheasanna luibhe agus leigheasanna praiticiúla/fisiciúla.
Ó thaobh modheolaíochta de, úsáidtear cur chuige ildhisciplíneach a tharraingníonn ar ghort na staire, an bhéaloidis, na heolaíochta (i gcás luibheanna go mór mór), agus na heitneagrafaíochta. I measc na bhfoinsí a úsáideadh, tá taighde a rinneadh ar lámhscríbhinní meánaoiseacha, foinsí béaloidis ar nós Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann agus, ar deireadh, i gcaibidil a 5 agallaimh a rinneadh le deichniúr i nGaeltacht Chonamara.
Cuireann na hagallaimh chomhaimseartha go mór leis an taighde ó thaobh:
(i)
Eolas ar chleachtais leighis ar leith bainteach le ceantar Chonamara.
(ii)
Spléachadh ar na tuiscintí agus nósanna bainteach leis na leigheasanna seo, rud a thugann léargas ar chomhthéacs sóisialta agus reiligiúnda an cheantair.
(iii)
Raidhse téarmaí Gaeilge a bhaineann le leigheasanna traidisiúnta sa réigiún seo.
Léiríonn torthaí an taighde seo gur mhair roinnt de na leigheasanna/tuiscintí traidisiúnta ar ghalair ainmhithe — ar nós an creideamh sa drochshúil, úsáid fásraí agus comhábhair eile, chomh maith le cleachtais phraiticiúla/fhisiciúla ar leith suas go dtí an t-aonú haois is fiche. Taispeánann an taighde an leanúnachas, an claochlú, agus an meath a tháinig ar leigheasanna ar leith.
Éiríonn leis an tráchtas seo eolas agus téarmaíocht bainteach le leigheasanna traidisiúnta ar ghalair ainmhithe in Éirinn a bhailiú in aon áit amháin chun nach ligfear an t-eolas seo i ndearmad. Déantar anailís ar na leigheasanna ar bhealach a thugann léargas ar an stair ársa a bhaineann leo, an bunús eolaíoch a bhaineann le cuid acu, chomh maith leis an eolas a thugann siad ar thuiscintí pobail maidir le tinneas agus leigheas
Platformisation of Banking in Ireland: App Designs, Changing Imaginaries, and Emergent Barriers
Full text linkThis thesis conceptualises the present process of the digitalisation of money, payment, and banking in Ireland as characterised by platformisation. Drawing from classic economic sociology and the sociology of technology, it argues that the design of banking services reflects the social imaginaries held by different social groups regarding money, payment services, and banking institutions. In the platform stage, these imaginaries both influence and are materialised in the design of mobile banking apps, which are conceptualised as sectoral platforms subject to dual regulation across digital and financial domains.
The thesis asks three research questions: (a) What dominant social imaginaries of money, payment, and banking service are represented in the design of mobile banking applications in Ireland? (b) What barriers to access and use exist in mobile banking applications and for whom? Do they vary by user group? And (c) Are there policies, strategies, or solutions in place to make banking services more socially inclusive in Ireland? This thesis employs a mixed-method design of a modifi ed walkthrough method applied to seven banking apps; twenty-one expert interviews across four occupational categories; and eleven user interviews with those experiencing various difficulties due to income sources, residency status, and/or digital literacy.
The walkthrough identifies three coexisting social imaginaries: Institutional, Transactional, and Digital. Across all three phases of fieldwork, the thesis identifies responsibilisation processes in which users are expected to self-navigate and complete operational tasks that support service automation. These expectations are reinforced through complex terms and conditions and consent mechanisms. It also finds that although some users are legally and
financially eligible to access banking apps, those that occupy ‘novel’ statuses (e.g., non-citizen residency and those with irregular incomes) encounter difficulties that remain unacknowledged in both service design and regulatory frameworks. Platformised banking requires a certain level of digital skills, financial literacy and legal documentation, thereby marginalising and excluding non-ideal users with novel statuses, low income, and/or those aged over 65
Genome-wide gene-environment interaction study uncovers 162 vitamin D status variants using a precise ambient UVB measure
Full text linkVitamin D status is influenced by genetic and environmental factors—primarily sun exposure. Using satellite weather data, we estimated an ambient UVB dose for each participant based on residential address and date of sampling. We conducted genome-wide tests in 338,977 UK Biobank White British participants, adjusted for age, sex, supplements, UVB dose, and 10 principal components to account for population structure. We applied three models to test for genetic effects: marginal only, main and interaction, and joint effects. We identified 307 variants associated with standardised log-transformed 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration, 162 of which were not previously identified in GWAS. We identify an increase in SNP-heritability by increasing ambient UVB exposure quintiles (h 2 Q1 = 8.48% vs . h 2 Q5 = 15.56%). Downstream annotation implicated genes in the 25OHD pathway, including the circadian regulator, BMAL1 . This and further findings suggest that vitamin D status and circadian rhythm may be entangled and that vitamin D metabolites may have a role as mediators of seasonal physiological fluctuations, including metabolism, and in turn explain the established associations with lipid metabolism pathways
Dimensions of recognition through relational labour in erotic content creation in Brazil
Full text linkRelational labour has become a critical concept for understanding the consequences of the ongoing relationship between creators and their audiences on social media. This article draws on this discussion to address Brazilian erotic content creators’ perceptions of the impact of relational labour on their sense of self and subjective identity. Combining the concept with the idea of recognition as conceived in the Psychodynamics of Work, the article explores the subjective investment and identity development involved in the continual creator–audience intersubjective relationships. Based on 31 in-depth interviews with Brazilian erotic creators, the article reveals a deep subjective investment in performing relational labour and its impact on creators’ self-esteem and self-relationship, with the potential to strengthen their subjective identity and social value. Nevertheless, the symbolic rewards of relational labour are an effort rather than a guarantee, especially in highly stigmatised work where the distribution of in intersubjective relationships is uneven
Power system stability with high integration of RESs and EVs: Benefits, challenges, tools, and solutions
Full text linkIn our daily lives, electric energy is essential and impacts numerous aspects of society. The electricity produced
from conventional sources falls short of meeting contemporary demand, giving rise to power supply issues and
environmental concerns, including the emission of greenhouse gases. For all those reasons, the transformation to
Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) is indispensable, more than ever. Nevertheless, the inherent uncertainty and
low inertia introduce operational challenges and threaten power system stability. Various research papers have
been published regarding RES integration and design. However, research articles addressing stability in
distributed generation networks with RESs are either scarce or inadequate. To address power system stability, the
primary objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the benefits, challenges, and integration
of RESs and electric vehicles (EVs), in addition to tools, software, controlling mechanisms, and potential solutions related to RESs integration. Integrating HVDC technology with hybrid RES enhances long-distance power
transmission efficiency, reduces losses, and improves grid stability, making it an effective solution for variable
RES generation. Therefore, the HVDC link has been taken as a case study and is simulated using DIgSILENT
/MATLAB softwares. The result shows that the HVDC link is more stable than the HVAC transmission in terms of
voltage stability when integrating the RESs, which could result in a voltage limit violation. The 100 % RESs
integration may proceed more smoothly and efficiently if DC voltage is present
Dance as a Powerful Tool to Advance Disability Inclusion: Reflections from an Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Full text linkThis article discusses the collaboration between the academic socio-legal project DANCING, funded by the European Research Council, and the inclusive dance company Stopgap Dance Company (Stopgap). DANCING, among other objectives, aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to cultural participation experienced by disabled people. In pursuing this objective, DANCING established a partnership with Stopgap aimed at the creation of a choreographic piece in which accessibility measures, intended to facilitate the participation of dancers with disabilities and the enjoyment of the choreography by audience with and without disabilities, were intrinsic to the creative process. By presenting findings of qualitative research conducted with Stopgap and audience, it explores how inclusivity and accessibility were experienced by both performers and spectators. This article focuses on three interlinked themes, which elucidate processes, challenges, and outcomes of engaging in inclusive dance at a professional level. In doing so, this article situates at the intersection of disability and dance research and endeavours to provide a theoretical and practical bedrock for future dance projects wishing to adopt more inclusive processes. Further, this article aims to contribute to broader scholarship in the field of arts that positions disability as a cultural identity worth celebrating
What we mean when we say semantic: Toward a multidisciplinary semantic glossary
Full text linkTulving characterized semantic memory as a vast repository of meaning that underlies language and many other cognitive processes. This perspective on lexical and conceptual knowledge galvanized a new era of research undertaken by numerous fields, each with their own idiosyncratic methods and terminology. For example, “concept” has different meanings in philosophy, linguistics, and psychology. As such, many fundamental constructs used to delineate semantic theories remain underspecified and/or opaque. Weak construct specificity is among the leading causes of the replication crisis now facing psychology and related fields. Term ambiguity hinders cross-disciplinary communication, falsifiability, and incremental theory-building. Numerous cognitive subdisciplines (e.g., vision, affective neuroscience) have recently addressed these limitations via the development of consensus-based guidelines and definitions. The project to follow represents our effort to produce a multidisciplinary semantic glossary consisting of succinct definitions, background, principled dissenting views, ratings of agreement, and subjective confidence for 17 target constructs (e.g., abstractness, abstraction, concreteness, concept, embodied cognition, event semantics, lexical-semantic, modality, representation, semantic control, semantic feature, simulation, semantic distance, semantic dimension) . We discuss potential benefits and pitfalls (e.g., implicit bias, prescriptiveness) of these efforts to specify a common nomenclature that other researchers might index in specifying their own theoretical perspectives (e.g., They said X, but I mean Y)
Hybrid Spaces, Healthy Places: Digital Placemaking as a Place Branding Strategy
Full text linkCities are increasingly disconnecting from nature, with decreased nature spaces while
populations are discovering their surroundings through technological devices. This thesis
aims to understand the dynamics involved in hybrid place experiences that combine
physical and digital layers of meaning in public spaces through digital placemaking as a
place branding strategy in nature for wellbeing. The thesis addressed gaps in current
knowledge on hybrid space effects in community dynamics.
Adopting a critical realism approach, the researcher aims to comprehend how the
relationships between digital placemaking, nature and wellbeing are developed. A mixed
methods study following a modified Delphi method gathered insights from 26 expert
participants in digital placemaking and related fields. Data was collected through three
rounds: qualitative semi-structured interviews, and two consecutive rounds of
questionnaires to achieve consensus.
The findings present and test a conceptual model of digital placemaking as a place
branding strategy in nature for wellbeing. Drawing on place attachment theory, place
branding, Social Identity Theory and nature connectedness, the model elucidates key
dynamics involved in digital placemaking. Four propositions are confirmed: i) Social
Identity Theory act as a binding agent, where online place attachment and community
nature connectedness are interlinked; ii) place branding in digital placemaking is
expanded, where marketing and communications shape place branding and identity; iii)
inclusion and accessibility are essential to ensure the multiple identities of a community
are considered; iv) digital placemaking fosters feelings of belonging with the place, with
others and with nature supporting wellbeing, enhanced through place attachment, social
identity and nature connectedness.
The study advances understanding of digital placemaking’s conceptualisation, maturity
and practical applications in nature for wellbeing. It confirms the role of hybrid spaces in
reconnecting communities with nature and offers actionable insights for scholars and
practitioners, particularly in using digital placemaking as a strategy to promote wellbeing