National University of Ireland, Maynooth
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The Relationship Between Maximum Lower Limb Strength & Power, and GPS Acceleration Speed in Elite U20 Gaelic Football Athletes
Get PDFPrevious research indicates positive relationships between high levels of lower limb strength and power, and acceleration sprint velocity in team sport athletes. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between lower limb absolute and relative strength, countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and Global Positioning System (GPS) recorded 20m acceleration sprint velocity in elite male U-20 Gaelic football athletes. Nineteen athletes (19.0 ± 0.5 years; 81.1 ± 5.5 kg; 182 ± 6.2 cm) from the same elite U-20 squad participated in this study during an in-season period. Subjects performed a >95% 1RM box squat, a 20m sprint test, and a CMJ test. Relative maximum lower limb strength (r = 0.54, 95% CI [0.11 to 0.8]; p < 0.05) and CMJ height (r = 0.66, 95% CI [0.29 to 0.86]; p < 0.001) showed strong correlations with 20m sprint velocity. A multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that lower limb maximum relative strength and CMJ height significantly predicted 20m sprint velocity (Adjusted R2 = 0.51, F (2, 16) = 6.29, p < 0.05). These findings provide evidence for the importance of elite under-age Gaelic football athletes acquiring high levels of lower limb strength and power characteristics to enhance acceleration sprint performance
Iron Is Critical for Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cell Metabolism and Effector Functions
Get PDFMucosal-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells are a population of innate T cells that play a critical role in host protection against
bacterial and viral pathogens. Upon activation, MAIT cells can rapidly respond via both TCR-dependent and -independent
mechanisms, resulting in robust cytokine production. The metabolic and nutritional requirements for optimal MAIT cell effector
responses are still emerging. Iron is an important micronutrient and is essential for cellular fitness, in particular cellular
metabolism. Iron is also critical for many pathogenic microbes, including those that activate MAIT cells. However, iron has not
been investigated with respect to MAIT cell metabolic or functional responses. In this study, we show that human MAIT cells
require exogenous iron, transported via CD71 for optimal metabolic activity in MAIT cells, including their production of ATP.
We demonstrate that restricting iron availability by either chelating environmental iron or blocking CD71 on MAIT cells results
in impaired cytokine production and proliferation. These data collectively highlight the importance of a CD71-iron axis for
human MAIT cell metabolism and functionality, an axis that may have implications in conditions where iron availability is
limited
Working with your Child to Address School Avoidance: A Resource for Parents
Get PDFThis resource is intended to offer information
and advice to parents and guardians who have a
child or young person who has difficulties going
to school. We call this ‘school-avoiding behaviour’.
There is a lot of information in this resource. If you need help working
through it, ask someone you trust to go through it with you.
This resource is designed to support parents or guardians of children and
young people of all ages. We recommend that you read this along with one
of the two National Educational Psychological Service’s (NEPS) guides.
There is one guide for primary school children and another for secondary
school children.
• ‘Supporting your Child when they are Reluctant to Attend School:
Guidance for Parents and Guardians of Primary Schools’
• ‘Supporting your Child when they are Reluctant to Attend School:
Guidance for Parents and Guardians of Post-Primary Schools.’
Towards the end of this document, you will find a locally developed list of
groups and organisations that can help to support while you manage school avoiding behaviour
Introduction: minorities and the making of European welfare
Get PDFThe development of welfare states across Europe in the twentieth century had different outcomes for different segments of society. In this special issue the dual character of welfare – that is, the aim of alleviating distress and creating social cohesion while creating divisions when determining who is deserving of what – is studied through the lens of ethnic and social minorities. Minorities, grouped together through joint experiences, heritage and/or social classifi-cations, have been subjected to both inclusionary and exclusionary welfare policies. Thus, welfare in the form of social services, social security, education and health care is a key component in addres-sing, maintaining and creating majority-minority divisions. This article introduces the contributions to the special issue and outlines their historiographical and conceptual foundations. Special atten-tion is given to how the authors in the special issue define welfare and minorities, as well as how the articles contribute to the study of these fields. In the introduction, we argue for a need to study the implications of welfare for minorities case by case, while at the same time outlining principal ways that minorities and welfare have been interlinked
Who uses connected health technologies after a cancer diagnosis? evidence from the US Health Information National Trends Survey
Get PDFPurpose As the number of people living with and beyond cancer increases, connected health technologies offer promise to enhance access to care and support, while reducing costs. However, uptake of connected health technologies may vary depending on sociodemographic and health-related variables. This study aimed to investigate demographic and health predictors of connected health technology use among people living with and beyond cancer. Methods Cross-sectional data from the US Health Information National Trends Survey Version 5 Cycle 4 (H5c4) was used. Regression analysis was used to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and the use of connected health technologies. The sample was restricted to individuals who self-reported a cancer diagnosis or history of cancer. Results In this cycle, 626 respondents self-reported a cancer diagnosis, with 41.1% using connected health technologies(health and wellness apps and/or wearable devices). Most were female (58.9%) and white (82.5%); 43.4% had graduated college or higher education. One third (33.6%) had a household income of $75,000 or more. Respondents who were younger, have higher education, were living as married, had higher incomes, had higher self-rated health and had higher health-related self-efficacy were significantly more likely to use connected health technologies. There were no significant associations between gender, race, stratum, time since diagnosis, history of anxiety or depression, and use of connected health technologies among people living with and beyond cancer. Conclusions Connected health technology use among people living with and beyond cancer is associated with sociodemographic factors. Future research should examine these demographic disparities as the use of connected health technologies in healthcare continues to gather momentum. Implications for cancer survivors The study underscores a disparity in connected heath technology usage among people living with and beyond cancer. There is a pressing need for research into adoption barriers and interventions to ensure equitable digital healthcare integration among this population, especially with the heightened adoption of technology postCOVID-19 pandemic
The MSC-EV-microRNAome: A Perspective on Therapeutic Mechanisms of Action in Sepsis and ARDS
Get PDFMesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as innovative therapeutic agents for the treatment of sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Although their potential remains undisputed in pre-clinical models, this has yet to be translated to the clinic. In this review, we focused on the role of microRNAs contained in MSC-derived EVs, the EV microRNAome, and their potential contribution to therapeutic mechanisms of action. The evidence that miRNA transfer in MSC-derived EVs has a role in the overall therapeutic effects is compelling. However, several questions remain regarding how to reconcile the stochiometric issue of the low copy numbers of the miRNAs present in the EV particles, how different miRNAs delivered simultaneously interact with their targets within recipient cells, and the best miRNA or combination of miRNAs to use as therapy, potency markers, and biomarkers of efficacy in the clinic. Here, we offer a molecular genetics and systems biology perspective on the function of EV microRNAs, their contribution to mechanisms of action, and their therapeutic potential
An Exploration of Change and Leadership in an Emerging Technological University.
Get PDFThe higher educational sector in Ireland is undergoing significant change due to the complexity of evolving multifaced roles and demands within a highly regulated environment where resources are limited. This is being compounded as institutes of technology merge to form new technological universities. Although effective leadership is required to successfully lead change initiatives, limited research on change leadership exists, especially for the higher educational sector.
The purpose of this mixed methods study is to explore stakeholder experiences and perceptions of change and leadership in an emerging Technological University (TU) in Ireland. The case study was guided by the following research question: ‘How do stakeholders experience and value change leadership?’ Linked to this overall research question are the following subquestions: (1) What are the main change drivers, cultural and contextual factors for change? (2) What are staff perceptions about change and leadership? (3) What are the challenges for change management and leadership? (4) What are the importance and presence of change leadership characteristics?
The study considers the important components of change leadership including context, culture, and change, while also synthesising change leadership characteristics from literature. Utilising complexity theory as a theoretical framework, relationships between these topics and complexity leadership are conceptualised. Through content analysis, focus groups with senior management, a survey with all staff and an interview with the president, this four-stage research approach highlights the importance of working within the context and dealing with challenges through change leadership. Furthermore, insights associated with the influence of context and the important of culture have been provided as well as considerations for leading change and leadership overall. New understandings of change and its dynamics as well as complexity are also revealed. This study has contributed to knowledge, policy and practice and has implications for future change leadership research, training, and development
Anxiety in Multiple Sclerosis: An Exploration of Experiences and Supports.
Get PDFPurpose: A high percentage of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) experience anxiety, which can negatively impact quality of life. Despite this, anxiety in PwMS remains under researched. This review aims to identify associates of anxiety in PwMS that are amenable to change, with a view to informing the development of interventions in the area. Materials and method: The following databases were searched for studies investigating anxiety in PwMS from 2015-2021: PsycINFO, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science. The search consisted of keywords relating to MS and fear, anxiety or worry. Once screening was complete by two reviewers, a narrative synthesis was used to analyse the data, with the MMAT used for quality appraisal. Results: Of the 3117 unique abstracts screened, 39 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Evidence was found linking anxiety in PwMS to several modifiable factors broadly categorized as either psychological, social or lifestyle factors. Perceptions of self and one’s ability to cope/adjust to MS emerged as important psychological factors. Physical activity and social support from friends were also linked with improved anxiety outcomes. Conclusion: Anxiety in PwMS is linked to a number of modifiable factors. Findings may help inform the development of rehabilitation interventions to decrease anxiety in MS
GeoPrice: The development of an efficient, rapidly-updating, mix-adjusted median property price index model using stratified geospatial matching.
Get PDFThe topic of house price index modelling is one which is central to a significant
number of market stakeholders; governments, central banks, homeowners and businesses,
among others. The impact which property price indices have on inflation,
economic growth and policy-making are profound, yet the methodology and processes
behind the generation of these statistics tools are rather opaque.
National statistical agencies will typically use one of two de-facto standard methods
for modelling the housing market, those being hedonic regression and repeatsales.
While these methods bring with them distinct advantages, they also suffer
from significant drawbacks. One of the most problematic of the these is the volume
of rich property data required by the model. These data requirements often necessitate
the use of non-public data sources, usually acquired through privileges as a
government agency. As such, it is difficult for end-users of these statistics to verify
the veracity, reliability and accuracy of the results.
Furthermore, these intensive data requirements induce a typical lag to publication
in excess of two months. As a result, not only homeowners and businesses, but
even policy-makers are operating on stale information, which is a substantial limitation
given the critical influence exerted by the housing market on so many facets of
the economy.
Our proposal is a novel, geospatially stratified house price index model which
can be computed automatically on publicly available datasets. The algorithm does
not require additional, privately-held attribute data for each property, nor does it
necessitate a great deal of statistical expertise to implement, maintain and interpret,
as the existing standards do. In this thesis, we will outline our methodology and
demonstrate the performance of the index, initially on the Irish property market.
Following an initial study on Irish sale transactions, the model is extended to
a database of asking prices for homes online, thus demonstrating the flexibility of
the approach. This illustrates the accessibility of the model to operate on a variety
of data sources. Finally, our algorithm will be employed to create a property price
index for the United Kingdom, where the public dataset of sale transactions is significantly
more plentiful. The results of this demonstrate that our index is not only
as good as the official hedonic regression model produced by the ONS in the UK,
but far exceeds the smoothness and noise reduction achieved by said model, while
maintaining a month-to-month correlation in excess of 85%. Moreover, our proposal
achieves this with a lag time from data publication in the order of hours, rather than
weeks, as per the ONS house price index