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Inspireurope+ policy Paper: Facilitating the Reception of Researchers at Risk through Institutional-State Cooperation
Get PDFThe skills and attributes of researchers at risk carry significant research potential
for hosting countries in Europe. However, even where temporary employment offers are made at
European host institutions, many researchers at risk struggle to obtain visas and work permits
within the urgent timeframe required. This paper proposes the formal adoption and wider
implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between higher education
institutions and the State Authorities responsible for Migration Policy (eg. Ministries,
Secretariats, Regional Authorities) as a key mechanism to facilitate the legal entry, residence,
employment, and integration of researchers at risk. The implementation of such a mechanism
across Europe would allow European higher education institutions to swiftly employ talented
third-country researchers, whilst also providing an essential refuge for researchers to continue
their important work. Drawing on the existing precedent set by the Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki (AUTh)—as the Chair of the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Greece Section—this policy
recommends replication of this cooperative model to promote academic freedom and human
rights-based migration policy in Greece and beyond
Achieving agricultural and environmental targets in a changing climate requires a whole-system based approach
Get PDFFeeding the large future population is associated with severe environmental challenges to which climate change is adding further complications and stress to the global food supply system. The strategies to the challenges posed on ecosystem conservation and climate neutrality would be best achieved by integrating the most current scientific findings in ‘best practice’ policies and their implementation. This paper presents the outcomes from the fourth International Catchment Science Conference in Ireland, a three-day multi-actor conference, and calls for action to improve soil fertility, reduce GHG emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce pollution loss to waters. It was concluded that an accountable management of the agricultural landscape requires a multi-actor, multidisciplinary and multi-scale approach with collaboration between the scientific community, policy makers and farmers. Importantly there should be a focus on linking research, technology, education, information, engagement and innovation. Following needed requirements were identified: (i) long-term monitoring, high-temporal and high-spatial resolution data collection, (ii) combining temporarily and spatially rich datasets, (iii) long-term planning horizons to be adopted by key institutional stakeholders, (iv) mitigation strategies to adapt to changing climate and agricultural practices, and (v) an adequate advisory support and training for farmers. Some progress has been achieved to a situation where it is possible to counter or mitigate some of the more urgent issues in the food systems under consideration in the review
Enabling Model-Based Design for Real-Time Spike Detection
Get PDFGoal: This study addresses the inherent difficulties in the creation of neuroengineering devices for real-time neural signal processing, a task typically characterized by intricate and technically demanding processes. Beneath the substantial hardware advancements in neurotechnology, there is often rather complex low-level code that poses challenges in terms of development, documentation, and long-term maintenance. Methods: We adopted an alternative strategy centered on Model-Based Design (MBD) to simplify the creation of neuroengineering systems and reduce the entry barriers. MBD offers distinct advantages by streamlining the design workflow, from modelling to implementation, thus facilitating the development of intricate systems. A spike detection algorithm has been implemented on a commercially available system based on a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that combines neural probe electronics with configurable integrated circuit. The entire process of data handling and data processing was performed within the Simulink environment, with subsequent generation of hardware description language (HDL) code tailored to the FPGA hardware. Results: The validation was conducted through in vivo experiments involving six animals and demonstrated the capability of our MBD-based real time processing (latency <= 100.37 µs) to achieve the same performances of offline spike detection. Conclusions: This methodology can have a significant impact in the development of neuroengineering systems by speeding up the prototyping of various system architectures. We have made all project code files open source, thereby providing free access to fellow scientists interested in the development of neuroengineering systems
Editorial: Reframing Work, Identity, and Support in the Complex World of Employment.
Get PDFThe article presents a collection of five research papers that address significant themes in contemporary organizational and occupational studies, including stress in relationships, employability in public service, gendered experiences of flexible work, collaborative apprenticeship frameworks, and the career capital of globally mobile professionals. Each paper contributes unique insights, such as the dual role of romantic partners in workplace burnout, the gendered dynamics of freelance work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of employability traits on public sector performance in Ghana. Additionally, the research discusses the development of a consortium-led apprenticeship framework in financial services and the role of repatriated Self-Initiated Expatriates in the animation industry. Collectively, these studies encourage a nuanced understanding of how personal and professional lives intersect in the modern workforce
The Book of Ballycummin: codicology and the significance of filler-texts
Get PDFThe late sixteenth-century Book of Ballycummin (RIA MS 967/ 23 N 10) is a rare example of a composite vellum and paper Irish manuscript. Yet the original arrangement of the quires and the sequence of the texts within it is unclear since the manuscript was unbound and rebound several times in its later history. Without understanding the original structure of the manuscript, it is not possible to read the texts in their proper manuscript context or to situate the codex within the broader context of the Irish manuscript tradition.
Therefore, this chapter has two aims. Firstly, it examines the codicology of the book to establish the original structure and sequence of quires and place the texts in their original order. Secondly, it examines the use of filler-texts, many of which have been overlooked by scholarship, together with their textual history, and assesses their purpose in the codex. It is argued that such filler-texts were not only intentionally selected for their content, but also hold a particular function for the cohesion of the book
Weaving Knowledge, Innovation, and Learning: A Transdisciplinary Pathway to Circular Bioeconomy Through BioBeo
Get PDFThe bioeconomy represents a new way of life for people, but also a responsibility towards the future of the planet. Generating a significant socio-economic impact, it could be viewed as a key element of sustainable development, as the current and future solution for economic processes, based on new development models compelled by climate changes and the economy’s resilience to potential crises. In this context, the paper presents in its first part the Circular Economy description and the Circular Bioeconomy discussion from an interdisciplinary perspective. The second part of the paper aims to explore education as a tool for facilitating systemic changes supporting a real transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. The key aspects discussed refer to the following: (1) European policies, strategies, and action plans for bioeconomy; (2) Circular Economy as a solution for sustainable food systems; (3) main requirements and challenges for developing a (Circular) Bioeconomy, including indicators of sustainability; (4) the links between Circular Bioeconomy and the Sustainable Development Goals; (5) possibilities for integrating the agri-food industry’s needs into bioeconomy education; and (6) pathways for teach bioeconomy concepts effectively
Scenario based modelling approach to inform the spatial refinement of nitrogen management strategies for improving nitrogen use efficiency in Irish grasslands
Get PDFCurrent national nitrogen (N) management policies in Ireland, such as the Green Book (GB) and the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP), do not explicitly consider geographical factors (e.g. weather, soils) that influence nitrogen uptake and loss and which could lead to improved on-farm sustainability, in line with the goals of 4R Nutrient Stewardship (4RNS). One approach to address this is to classify the landscape by soil and climatic indicators of yield and N loss (Group 1 Variables -regional); this could be refined with more targeted monitoring in zones where a reduction of yield and N loss occurs under a reduced N input regime (Group 2 Variables - locale specific), required to identify more local context-specific factors. Here, we employed the DNDC (DeNitrification DeComposition) model to identify Group 1 and Group 2 Variables for grass yield and N loss, through scenario analysis for three Irish grassland sites for year 2019, with local model parameterisation and a suite of minimum inputs required for reliable performance - identified from existing literature. The study sites were a sandy loam (JCSL) and a loam soil (JCL) site at Johnstown Castle (lower average annual rainfall and daily temperature) and a sandy loam (MP) site at Moorepark. While both MP and JCSL had sandy loam soil, MP a higher bulk density (BD), pH and water filled pore spaces (WFPS) at field capacity (FC) and wilting point (WP) but lower soil organic carbon (SOC) and clay content than JCSL. Based on the scenarios simulated, the NAP resulted in a lower simulated yield (−4.98 % to −15.62 %) and a reduction in ammonia (NH3) volatilisation (−29.40 % to −30.35 %), nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (−30.49 to −35.15 %) and nitrate (NO3−) leaching (−55.51 % to −61.38 %). Both Group 1 and 2 Variables for annual yield and N2O emissions were soil sand content, BD, SOC and for NH3 volatilisation, annual rainfall and average annual temperature, for both GB and NAP. The Group 2 Variables for NO3− leaching were soil sand and clay content, pH, annual rainfall and average annual temperature; corresponding Group 1 Variables were found to vary under both GB and NAP
Developing and Validating Satellite Remote Sensing Methods for the Retrieval of Optical Water Constituents from Optically Complex Coastal Waters, including the Northwestern Baltic Sea and Dublin Bay
No full textThe development of methodologies to monitor our planet is important if we are
to understand the effects of climate change. The objective of this thesis is to develop
satellite-based retrieval methodologies for water constituents in optically
complex coastal waters, the NW Baltic Sea and Dublin Bay. It utilises the
Sentinel-3 Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) satellite sensor. These
water constituents are: TSM, Chl-a, CDOM, and Secchi depth. There are three
studies in this work. 1) The Baltic Sea study validated the Level-2 water products
from the Case-2 Regional CoastColour (C2RCC) processor. These water
products were regionally adapted using Inherent Optical Properties (IOPs). Additionally,
the standard Level-2 OLCI Case-2 Neural Network (NN) products were
validated, including the “CHL NN”, “TSM NN”, and “ADG443 NN” products.
The effects of the EUMETSAT System Vicarious Calibration (SVC) on the water
products was validated for the first time in the region. SVC reduced the performance
of the products. Their application resulted in RMSD increases of 36% for
the “conc tsm” product and 118% for the “conc chl” product in one processing
chain. 2) The next study developed a novel C2RCC regionally adapted parameter
estimation methodology. Instead of using IOPs to regionally parameterise
the processor, a subset of the validation data was used. This methodology was
developed as IOPs are not available for most water bodies, including Dublin Bay.
3) In the Dublin Bay study, the Level-2 water products were validated in the
region for the first time. The novel parameter estimation methodology was used
to regionally adapt these products in place of IOPs. Furthermore, the effects of
the EUMETSAT SVC gains on the water products was validated in the region.
To conclude, being able to retrieve satellite-derived water products in coastal waters is important. This thesis’s findings will aid in meeting requirements of EU
directives, namely the WFD, MSFD, and BWD
Effects of the Incredible Years parenting program on sibling conduct problems: A latent transition analysis
Get PDFBackground
Behavioral parenting programs are a primary strategy used to reduce children's conduct problems. Although behavior problems in siblings may co‐occur, behavioral parenting program trials typically report outcomes for one child per family (the index child), with potential program effects on any non‐targeted sibling largely neglected. This study examined co‐occurring patterns of index child and non‐targeted sibling conduct problems, and how parental participation in the Incredible Years (IY) program changes these patterns.
Methods
We used individual participant data pooled across three randomized trials of the IY parenting program in England, Wales, and Ireland, with data for the index child and one non‐targeted sibling ( N = 240 families, 480 children; index child: M age = 4.73, SD = 1.44, range 2–9 years, 62% male; non‐targeted sibling: M age = 5.94 years, SD = 3.15, range 6 months−15 years, 49% male). We used latent transition analysis to identify latent classes at both baseline and posttest based on families' combinations of index child and non‐targeted sibling conduct problems.
Results
We identified two classes with distinct patterns of co‐occurring sibling dyad conduct problems: one with moderate clinical levels of index child conduct problems and non‐clinical levels for the non‐targeted sibling; and one with severe clinical levels for both children. In terms of the effects of IY, most intervention families maintained their patterns of sibling dyad conduct problems, but with lower levels across classes. Most intervention families reported improvements predominantly for the index child. However, a minority of families with severe baseline levels of conduct problems in both children moved to a class with non‐clinical levels for both children.
Conclusions
For most families, IY had limited effects on non‐targeted sibling disruptive behavior. However, IY may reduce co‐occurring sibling conduct problems for a small number of families with initially severe levels in both children
Testing the Use of “Clinical Checks” With the International Trauma Questionnaire to Measure PTSD and Complex PTSD
Get PDFBackground
The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) is the most widely used measure of ICD‐11 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). This self‐report scale has been used to estimate prevalence rates of these disorders in general populations and clinical samples, but concerns abound that prevalence estimates derived from self‐report measures are too high. To address this concern, we previously introduced the concept of adding “clinical checks” to self‐report measures to ensure initial responses reflected the intended clinical meaning of the scale item. Here we provide a rationale for adding clinical checks to the ITQ, describe the process of developing them, and demonstrate their effect at the symptom, cluster, and disorder levels in a general population sample.
Methods
A team of researchers and clinicians, including those who developed the ITQ, developed clinical checks for all ITQ items. These were tested using data from a non‐probability quota‐based representative sample of adults from the United Kingdom ( N = 975).
Results
Use of clinical checks led to decreases in symptom endorsements ranging from 18.0% to 43.9%, and symptom cluster requirements from 19.1% to 35.9%. Disorder prevalence estimates without the clinical checks were 5.4% for PTSD and 9.5% for CPTSD. With the clinical checks, prevalence estimates dropped to 3.8% for PTSD (relative decrease = 29.6%) and 4.9% for CPTSD (relative decrease = 48.4%).
Conclusion
Clinical checks can be easily embedded into the ITQ and have a significant effect on prevalence estimates. We contextualize these results in relation to existing literature on population prevalence estimates derived from clinical interviews and discrepancies between clinical interviews and self‐report measures