The use of smart mobile technology could potentially ease Ireland’s level of biosecurity risk from tourism. Smart mobile technology is capable of improving communication of biosecurity monitoring, mitigation, and era...The use of smart mobile technology could potentially ease Ireland’s level of biosecurity risk from tourism. Smart mobile technology is capable of improving communication of biosecurity monitoring, mitigation, and eradication measures to tourists in Ireland. The scope of this research is to assess biosecurity communication from Ireland’s major ports, state agencies, and governing bodies involved in outdoor recreational activities. The aim of this paper is to assess Ireland’s biosecurity communication for any smart mobile technology in national agencies. A mixed method approach was utilised which consisted of content analysis as well as structured qualitative interviews. Analysis has revealed that no evidence of smart mobile technology for biosecurity communication is in place for tourists arriving in Ireland’s ports or in national agencies. The importance of timely communication of biosecurity measures and alerts seems to not have been recognised. The use of this technology could mitigate the risk of tourists vectoring dangerous microbes and aiding biological invasions. This paper concludes that a low emphasis on adopting smart mobile technology could be unnecessarily contributing to Ireland’s biosecurity risk. It offers an opportunity to be improved before a serious biosecurity breach occurs possibly resulting in a lost tourist season or expensive eradication programmes as has been witnessed in other destinations worldwide.展开更多
BACKGROUND:The Clinical Randomisation of an Anti-fibrinolytic in Significant Hemorrhage-2(CRASH-2)is the largest randomized control trial(RCT)examining circulatory resuscitation for trauma patients to date and conclud...BACKGROUND:The Clinical Randomisation of an Anti-fibrinolytic in Significant Hemorrhage-2(CRASH-2)is the largest randomized control trial(RCT)examining circulatory resuscitation for trauma patients to date and concluded a statistically significant reduction in all-cause mortality in patients administered tranexamic acid(TXA)within 3 hours of injury.Since the publication of CRASH-2,significant geographical variance in the use of TXA for trauma patients exists.This study aims to assess TXA use for major trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock in Ireland after the publication of CRASH-2.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data derived from the Trauma Audit and Research Network(TARN).All injured patients in Ireland between January 2013 and December 2018 who had evidence of hemorrhagic shock on presentation(as defined by systolic blood pressure[SBP]<100 mmHg[1 mmHg=0.133 kPa]and administration of blood products)were eligible for inclusion.Death at hospital discharge was the primary outcome.RESULTS:During the study period,a total of 234 patients met the inclusion criteria.Among injured patients presenting with hemorrhagic shock,133(56.8%;95%confidence interval[CI]50.2%–63.3%)received TXA.Of patients that received TXA,a higher proportion of patients presented with shock index>1(70.68%vs.57.43%)and higher Injury Severity Score(ISS>25;49.62%vs.23.76%).Administration of TXA was not associated with mortality at hospital discharge(odds ratio[OR]0.86,95%CI 0.31–2.38).CONCLUSIONS:Among injured Irish patients presenting with hemorrhagic shock,TXA was administered to 56.8%of patients.Patients administered with TXA were on average more severely injured.However,a mortality benefit could not be demonstrated.展开更多
A battery of tests was established to determine the oestrogenic, mutagenic and genotoxic potential of two categories of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), phthalates and alkylphenols. Diisononylphthalate (DINP), d...A battery of tests was established to determine the oestrogenic, mutagenic and genotoxic potential of two categories of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), phthalates and alkylphenols. Diisononylphthalate (DINP), diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), dibutylphthalate (DBP), diisododecylphthalate (DIDP) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) were oestrogenic in the yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay and potently oestrogenic in the MVLN and E-SCREEN assays at environmentally relevant concentrations. DINP and 4-NP were mutagenic in the Ames assay and also induced significant levels of unscheduled DNA synthesis and DNA strand breakage. Significant induction in the percentage of cells containing micronuclei was observed after treatment with DINP, DEHP and 4-NP. In addition, sewage effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) region of Ireland were significantly oestrogenic in the YES assay. Moreover, analysis of levels of phthalates and alkylphenol identified in Irish rivers receiving treated effluent showed potent oestrogenicity in the YES assay. The proliferative and genotoxic ability of the phthalates and alkylphenol, and the oestrogenicity of the treated effluents reported here, is significant as these EDCs and EDCs within the effluent may play a role in the etiology of human abnormalities.展开更多
Sampling plays an important role in acquiring precise soil information required in modern agricultural production worldwide, which determines both the cost and quality of final soil mapping products. For sampling desi...Sampling plays an important role in acquiring precise soil information required in modern agricultural production worldwide, which determines both the cost and quality of final soil mapping products. For sampling design, it has been proposed possibile to transfer the relationships between kriging variance and sampling grid spacing from an area with existing information to other areas with similar soil-forming environments. However, this approach is challenged in practice because of two problems: i) different population vaxiograms among similar areas and ii) sampling errors in estimated variograms. This study evaluated the effects of these two problems on the transferability of the relationships between kriging variance and sampling grid spacing, by using spatial data simulated with three variograms and soil samples collected from four grasslands in Ireland with similar soil-forming environments. Results showed that the variograms suggested by different samples collected with the same grid spacing in the same or similar areas were different, leading to a range of mean kriging variance (MKV) for each grid spacing. With increasing grid spacing, the variation of MKV for a specific grid spacing increased and deviated more from the MKV generated using the population variograms. As a result, the spatial transferability of the relationships between kriging variance and grid spacing for sampling design was limited.展开更多
In this study, we investigate the dynamics of the COVID-19 epidemic in Northern Ireland from 1<sup>st</sup> March 2020 up to 25<sup>th</sup> December 2020, using sever</span><span>&...In this study, we investigate the dynamics of the COVID-19 epidemic in Northern Ireland from 1<sup>st</sup> March 2020 up to 25<sup>th</sup> December 2020, using sever</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">al copies of a Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (<i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">SEIR</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i>) compart</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">mental model, and compare it to </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">a </span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">detailed publicly available dataset. We split the data into 10 time intervals and fit the models on the consecutive intervals to the cumulative number of confirmed positive cases on each interval. Using the fitted parameter estimates, we also provide estimates of the reproduction number.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> We also discuss the limitations and possible extensions of the employed model.展开更多
Public health campaigns are continually promoting healthier foods and in parallel many food manufacturers are working on recipes low in fat and salt. The following survey investigates how well consumers (n = 1045) in ...Public health campaigns are continually promoting healthier foods and in parallel many food manufacturers are working on recipes low in fat and salt. The following survey investigates how well consumers (n = 1045) in Ireland have assimilated the message of consuming healthier foods, including salt and fat reduced foods, into their diet. It seems that campaigns regarding the importance of a balanced diet have generally been adopted by respondents, as only a minority of the participants did not take care of their diet, independent of age, gender and level of education. More than half of the participants carefully maintained a balanced diet. Furthermore, an increase in purchasing salt reduced food was observed, though fat reduced food products were already better accepted. In general, men, young adults (<30 years) and lower educated people purchased less salt and fat reduced foods and took less care in maintaining a balanced diet. No conflict was observed for traditional foods reduced in salt and fat content when their intrinsic sensory character is maintained. The majority of the participants were aware of the health risks of a diet rich in salt and fat, though less participants transferred this knowledge into their diet. A very high demand for more salt and fat reduced foods on the market was observed although the smaller range of salt and fat reduced products and their higher prices might diminish the level of consumer acceptance. Launching taxation and subsidies in tandem might counteract this and furthermore, user-friendly product labelling schemes are required.展开更多
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) returns to rivers in Ireland have fallen in the last decade resulting in the dramatic closure or curtailment of traditional fisheries. Concerns that stocks were slow to recover prompted f...Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) returns to rivers in Ireland have fallen in the last decade resulting in the dramatic closure or curtailment of traditional fisheries. Concerns that stocks were slow to recover prompted further investigation of all factors believed to impact on salmon. In examining geographic and temporal trends in Atlantic salmon stock abundance at a River Basin District level, the effect of salmon aquaculture sites and freshwater habitat quality as potential drivers of stock abundance are evaluated. This study found no correlation between the presence of aquaculture and the performance of adjacent wild salmon stocks. Freshwater habitat quality was found to have a highly significant correlation with stock status, suggesting that it may be a key driver, implicated in the survival of individual stocks.展开更多
As we navigate the transition from the Fourth to the Fifth Industrial Revolution,the emerging fields of biomanufacturing and biofabrication are transforming life sciences and healthcare.These sectors are benefiting fr...As we navigate the transition from the Fourth to the Fifth Industrial Revolution,the emerging fields of biomanufacturing and biofabrication are transforming life sciences and healthcare.These sectors are benefiting from a synergy of synthetic and engineering biology,sustainable manufacturing,and integrated design principles.Advanced techniques such as 3D bioprinting,tissue engineering,directed assembly,and self-assembly are instrumental in creating biomimetic scaffolds,tissues,organoids,medical devices,and biohybrid systems.The field of biofabrication in the United Kingdom and Ireland is emerging as a pivotal force in bioscience and healthcare,propelled by cutting-edge research and development.Concentrating on the production of biologically functional products for use in drug delivery,in vitro models,and tissue engineering,research institutions across these regions are dedicated to innovating healthcare solutions that adhere to ethical standards while prioritising sustainability,affordability,and healthcare system benefits.展开更多
The traditional Chinese medicine chain arrived in Ireland in 2005. This study focused on the standardization and adaptation of TCM companies and the customer profile in Irish market. The objective of this research dis...The traditional Chinese medicine chain arrived in Ireland in 2005. This study focused on the standardization and adaptation of TCM companies and the customer profile in Irish market. The objective of this research dissertation is to find that how TCM is learned in Irish market and how it faces different cultures.展开更多
This research seeks to evaluate the economic benefits to be gained by installing a small-scale wind turbine for a customer with a three-phase electrical supply requirement. The evidence for the claims made in this pap...This research seeks to evaluate the economic benefits to be gained by installing a small-scale wind turbine for a customer with a three-phase electrical supply requirement. The evidence for the claims made in this paper is obtained by using actual data obtained from the installed equipment over a three year period. The objective is to accurately appraise the financial investment using real data. There appears to be limited studies conducted into this type of research, possibly because the renewable energy sector is in the infancy stage in the host country, Ireland. There are some wind energy installations with financial appraisal techniques based on modeled data, which may, or may not, be accurate. The study concludes by claiming that the financial benefits of the wind energy turbine installation had disappointing results when compared to predicted benefits based on modeled data.展开更多
Additive and solvent-free direct printing is critical for many applications,including smart electronics,solar cells,healthcare,and electrochemical energy storage.Although a few green techniques for direct patterning o...Additive and solvent-free direct printing is critical for many applications,including smart electronics,solar cells,healthcare,and electrochemical energy storage.Although a few green techniques for direct patterning of inorganic functional materials have been developed,they operate at small scale and require long processing times,restricting their effective translation from laboratory to market.Here we report a fast,liquid-free,cost-effective,and environmentally friendly aerosol-based printing method for fabricating linear or planar structures at microscale dimensions.In situ and on-demand generation of dry aerosol via pulsed laser ablation,coupled with real-time aerodynamical focusing using a co-flowing sheath gas,allows the deposition of a wide variety of materials on various substrates at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.Using silver as a test material,we systematically characterized the laser-generated aerosol deposits in terms of microstructural morphology,sintering activity,mass yield,density,and electrical performance,to show the relationship between process variability and underlying mechanisms.The capacity of high-throughput printing of silver deposits,with thickness up to 160μm,in a single pass was demonstrated.This rapid,efficient,and inkless printing process opens new and exciting opportunities for future applications that require easy-to-integrate components in printed electronic devices.展开更多
An integrated study of borehole data and outcrop of Mississippian （late Tournaisian to late Visean） rocks in Co. （County） Galway, western Ireland has enabled a more detailed geological map and lithostratigraphy to...An integrated study of borehole data and outcrop of Mississippian （late Tournaisian to late Visean） rocks in Co. （County） Galway, western Ireland has enabled a more detailed geological map and lithostratigraphy to be constructed for the region. Several carbonate formations have been distinguished by microfacies analysis and their precise ages established by micropalaeontological investigations using foraminifers and calcareous algae. In addition, palaeogeographic maps have been constructed for the late Tournaisian, and early to late Visoan intervals in the region. The oldest marine Mississippian （late Tournaisian） deposits are recorded in the south of the study region from the Loughrea/Tynagh area and further south in the Gort Borehole; they belong to the Limerick Province. They comprise the Lower Limestone Shale Group succeeded by the Ballysteen Group, Waulsortian Limestone and Kilbryan Limestone Formations. These rocks were deposited in increasing water depth associated with a transgression that moved northwards across Co. Galway. In the northwest and north of the region, marginal marine and non-marine Tournaisian rocks are developed, with a shoreline located NW of Galway City （Galway High）. The central region of Co. Galway has a standard Visdan marine succession that can be directly correlated with the Carrick-on- Shannon succession in counties Leitrim and Roscommon to the northeast and east as far as the River Shannon. It is dominated by shallow-water limestones （Oakport, Ballymore and Croghan Limestone Formations） that formed the Galway-Roscommon Shelf. This facies is lat- erally equivalent to the Tubber Formation to the south which developed on the Clare-Galway Shelf. In the southeast, basinal facies of the Lucan Formation accumulated in the Athenry Basin throughout much of the Visean. This basin formed during a phase of extensional tectonics in the early Visean and was probably connected to the Tynagh Basin to the east. In the late Visean, shallow-water limestones of the Burren Formation extend across much of the southern part of the region. They are characterized by the presence of rich concentrations of large brachiopod shells and colonial coral horizons which developed in predominantly high-energy conditions. These limestones also exhibit palaeokarstic surfaces and palaeosols which formed during regressive conditions of glacio-eustatically controlled cyclicity. Locally, slightly deeper water, lower energy conditions developed on the shelf with the formation of rare bryozoan-rich mud-mounds. Deep-water basinal facies were maintained in the central and southeastern parts of the region between the two shelves with the persistence of the Lucan Formation. Ac- tive syn-sedimentary faulting influenced deposition in the Visean and interfingering of basinal sediments with slumps and shallow-water shelf carbonates are recognized.展开更多
Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a debilitating ailment that leads to the loss of motor and sensory functions,often leaving the patient paralyzed below the injury site(Chen et al.,2013).Globally around 250,000-300,000 people...Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a debilitating ailment that leads to the loss of motor and sensory functions,often leaving the patient paralyzed below the injury site(Chen et al.,2013).Globally around 250,000-300,000 people are diagnosed with SCI annually(Singh et al.,2014),and while this number appears quite low,the effect that an SCI has on the patient’s quality of life is drastic,due to the current difficulties to comprehensively treat this illness.The cost of patient care can also be quite costly,amounting to an estimated$1.69 billion in healthcare costs in the USA alone(Mahabaleshwarkar and Khanna,2014).展开更多
Objective:Nurse-led virtual outpatient clinics are now a familiar component of healthcare delivery across many disciplines,including cancer care,or thopedics,rheumatology,and gastroenterology.However,establishing a nu...Objective:Nurse-led virtual outpatient clinics are now a familiar component of healthcare delivery across many disciplines,including cancer care,or thopedics,rheumatology,and gastroenterology.However,establishing a nurse-led vir tual clinic is challenging for nursing management,par ticularly regarding resources.We aimed to investigate nursing practices and processes and patient experiences in relation to vir tual outpatient clinics.Methods:This was a cross-sectional,descriptive study using mixed data collection methods.Patients(n=324)from 4 specialist clinics completed the Virtual Clinics Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire(VCSQ)survey.Five Nurse Specialists participated in a focus group interview.Results:Most participants(86.3%)reported being satisfied/very satisfied with the virtual clinics,particularly those that were nurse-led.Nurse specialists identified electronic health records(EHRs)and additional IT and administrative support as important for efficiency and effectiveness of the clinics.Conclusions:Nurse-led virtual clinics can be an effective and efficient way to provide care to patients.Nurse managers need to ensure supportive structures are in place,for example,dedicated administrators,IT support and infrastructure,education/training,and relevant policies/procedures.The success of nurse-led virtual services requires key infrastructure to support nursing staff and sustain this service.展开更多
A comparative analysis was performed on poly(lactic acid)(PLA),poly(caprolactone)(PCL),basalt fiber(BF)composites produced using two distinct approaches:direct blending and masterbatching.The limitations of PLA-BF com...A comparative analysis was performed on poly(lactic acid)(PLA),poly(caprolactone)(PCL),basalt fiber(BF)composites produced using two distinct approaches:direct blending and masterbatching.The limitations of PLA-BF composites with regard to distribution and adhesion are well-documented,as are chemical treatment methods(addition of compatibilisers,surface treatments,silanization).This work aimed to study an industrially relevant potential solution of utilising a PCL-BF masterbatch,prepared as a 50/50 wt.%blend using planetary roller extrusion(PEX)to both improve the distribution and homogeneity of the fibers as well as provide a secondary adhesion site to facilitate improved mechanical properties of the final PLA-PCL-BF composite.The resultant materials were injection moulded to prepare ISO standard test specimens and tested on the basis of their physical properties via tensile testing,impact strength testing,flexural analysis,Fourier transforminfrared spectroscopy and water absorption capability.The results displayed that the incorporation of PCL and BF led to an increase in ductility of the composite materials,allowing for improvements in the inherent brittleness of virgin PLA.Major increases in the impact strength were achieved with the utilisation of a 25% PCL/BF masterbatch,allowing for a greater than 50%increase.As an overall observation,the use of a masterbatching process,opposed to direct blending of the constituent materials allows for a greater consistency of composite to be achieved at the expense of increased gains.展开更多
文摘The use of smart mobile technology could potentially ease Ireland’s level of biosecurity risk from tourism. Smart mobile technology is capable of improving communication of biosecurity monitoring, mitigation, and eradication measures to tourists in Ireland. The scope of this research is to assess biosecurity communication from Ireland’s major ports, state agencies, and governing bodies involved in outdoor recreational activities. The aim of this paper is to assess Ireland’s biosecurity communication for any smart mobile technology in national agencies. A mixed method approach was utilised which consisted of content analysis as well as structured qualitative interviews. Analysis has revealed that no evidence of smart mobile technology for biosecurity communication is in place for tourists arriving in Ireland’s ports or in national agencies. The importance of timely communication of biosecurity measures and alerts seems to not have been recognised. The use of this technology could mitigate the risk of tourists vectoring dangerous microbes and aiding biological invasions. This paper concludes that a low emphasis on adopting smart mobile technology could be unnecessarily contributing to Ireland’s biosecurity risk. It offers an opportunity to be improved before a serious biosecurity breach occurs possibly resulting in a lost tourist season or expensive eradication programmes as has been witnessed in other destinations worldwide.
文摘BACKGROUND:The Clinical Randomisation of an Anti-fibrinolytic in Significant Hemorrhage-2(CRASH-2)is the largest randomized control trial(RCT)examining circulatory resuscitation for trauma patients to date and concluded a statistically significant reduction in all-cause mortality in patients administered tranexamic acid(TXA)within 3 hours of injury.Since the publication of CRASH-2,significant geographical variance in the use of TXA for trauma patients exists.This study aims to assess TXA use for major trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock in Ireland after the publication of CRASH-2.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data derived from the Trauma Audit and Research Network(TARN).All injured patients in Ireland between January 2013 and December 2018 who had evidence of hemorrhagic shock on presentation(as defined by systolic blood pressure[SBP]<100 mmHg[1 mmHg=0.133 kPa]and administration of blood products)were eligible for inclusion.Death at hospital discharge was the primary outcome.RESULTS:During the study period,a total of 234 patients met the inclusion criteria.Among injured patients presenting with hemorrhagic shock,133(56.8%;95%confidence interval[CI]50.2%–63.3%)received TXA.Of patients that received TXA,a higher proportion of patients presented with shock index>1(70.68%vs.57.43%)and higher Injury Severity Score(ISS>25;49.62%vs.23.76%).Administration of TXA was not associated with mortality at hospital discharge(odds ratio[OR]0.86,95%CI 0.31–2.38).CONCLUSIONS:Among injured Irish patients presenting with hemorrhagic shock,TXA was administered to 56.8%of patients.Patients administered with TXA were on average more severely injured.However,a mortality benefit could not be demonstrated.
文摘A battery of tests was established to determine the oestrogenic, mutagenic and genotoxic potential of two categories of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), phthalates and alkylphenols. Diisononylphthalate (DINP), diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), dibutylphthalate (DBP), diisododecylphthalate (DIDP) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) were oestrogenic in the yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay and potently oestrogenic in the MVLN and E-SCREEN assays at environmentally relevant concentrations. DINP and 4-NP were mutagenic in the Ames assay and also induced significant levels of unscheduled DNA synthesis and DNA strand breakage. Significant induction in the percentage of cells containing micronuclei was observed after treatment with DINP, DEHP and 4-NP. In addition, sewage effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) region of Ireland were significantly oestrogenic in the YES assay. Moreover, analysis of levels of phthalates and alkylphenol identified in Irish rivers receiving treated effluent showed potent oestrogenicity in the YES assay. The proliferative and genotoxic ability of the phthalates and alkylphenol, and the oestrogenicity of the treated effluents reported here, is significant as these EDCs and EDCs within the effluent may play a role in the etiology of human abnormalities.
基金?nancially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41541006 and 41771246)co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007–2013
文摘Sampling plays an important role in acquiring precise soil information required in modern agricultural production worldwide, which determines both the cost and quality of final soil mapping products. For sampling design, it has been proposed possibile to transfer the relationships between kriging variance and sampling grid spacing from an area with existing information to other areas with similar soil-forming environments. However, this approach is challenged in practice because of two problems: i) different population vaxiograms among similar areas and ii) sampling errors in estimated variograms. This study evaluated the effects of these two problems on the transferability of the relationships between kriging variance and sampling grid spacing, by using spatial data simulated with three variograms and soil samples collected from four grasslands in Ireland with similar soil-forming environments. Results showed that the variograms suggested by different samples collected with the same grid spacing in the same or similar areas were different, leading to a range of mean kriging variance (MKV) for each grid spacing. With increasing grid spacing, the variation of MKV for a specific grid spacing increased and deviated more from the MKV generated using the population variograms. As a result, the spatial transferability of the relationships between kriging variance and grid spacing for sampling design was limited.
文摘In this study, we investigate the dynamics of the COVID-19 epidemic in Northern Ireland from 1<sup>st</sup> March 2020 up to 25<sup>th</sup> December 2020, using sever</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">al copies of a Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (<i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">SEIR</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i>) compart</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">mental model, and compare it to </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">a </span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">detailed publicly available dataset. We split the data into 10 time intervals and fit the models on the consecutive intervals to the cumulative number of confirmed positive cases on each interval. Using the fitted parameter estimates, we also provide estimates of the reproduction number.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> We also discuss the limitations and possible extensions of the employed model.
文摘Public health campaigns are continually promoting healthier foods and in parallel many food manufacturers are working on recipes low in fat and salt. The following survey investigates how well consumers (n = 1045) in Ireland have assimilated the message of consuming healthier foods, including salt and fat reduced foods, into their diet. It seems that campaigns regarding the importance of a balanced diet have generally been adopted by respondents, as only a minority of the participants did not take care of their diet, independent of age, gender and level of education. More than half of the participants carefully maintained a balanced diet. Furthermore, an increase in purchasing salt reduced food was observed, though fat reduced food products were already better accepted. In general, men, young adults (<30 years) and lower educated people purchased less salt and fat reduced foods and took less care in maintaining a balanced diet. No conflict was observed for traditional foods reduced in salt and fat content when their intrinsic sensory character is maintained. The majority of the participants were aware of the health risks of a diet rich in salt and fat, though less participants transferred this knowledge into their diet. A very high demand for more salt and fat reduced foods on the market was observed although the smaller range of salt and fat reduced products and their higher prices might diminish the level of consumer acceptance. Launching taxation and subsidies in tandem might counteract this and furthermore, user-friendly product labelling schemes are required.
文摘Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) returns to rivers in Ireland have fallen in the last decade resulting in the dramatic closure or curtailment of traditional fisheries. Concerns that stocks were slow to recover prompted further investigation of all factors believed to impact on salmon. In examining geographic and temporal trends in Atlantic salmon stock abundance at a River Basin District level, the effect of salmon aquaculture sites and freshwater habitat quality as potential drivers of stock abundance are evaluated. This study found no correlation between the presence of aquaculture and the performance of adjacent wild salmon stocks. Freshwater habitat quality was found to have a highly significant correlation with stock status, suggesting that it may be a key driver, implicated in the survival of individual stocks.
基金supported by the W.D.Armstrong Trust.YYSH is funded by the European Research Council(ERC-St G,758865)the UK Research and Innovations(UKRI)Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council(BB/W014564/1)+9 种基金funding from a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship(MR/V024965/1)supported by the BBSRC London Interdisciplinary Doctoral(LIDo)Programmethe funding support of EPSRC(EP/W004860/1,EP/X033686/1)and MRC(MR/V029827/1,MR/W030381/1)the European Research Council(Pro Li Cell,772462)for supportthe NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre,University of Nottingham,Nottingham,UK and the AO Foundation,AO CMF(AOCMF-21-04S)funding support from grant MR/W01470X/1the EPSRC(EP/W018977/1)for financial supportfunding from the EPSRC(EP/T020792/1)funding from Biomat DB+(Horizon Europe 101058779)funding received from Science Foundation Ireland(SFI)—Grant No.13/RC/2073_P2。
文摘As we navigate the transition from the Fourth to the Fifth Industrial Revolution,the emerging fields of biomanufacturing and biofabrication are transforming life sciences and healthcare.These sectors are benefiting from a synergy of synthetic and engineering biology,sustainable manufacturing,and integrated design principles.Advanced techniques such as 3D bioprinting,tissue engineering,directed assembly,and self-assembly are instrumental in creating biomimetic scaffolds,tissues,organoids,medical devices,and biohybrid systems.The field of biofabrication in the United Kingdom and Ireland is emerging as a pivotal force in bioscience and healthcare,propelled by cutting-edge research and development.Concentrating on the production of biologically functional products for use in drug delivery,in vitro models,and tissue engineering,research institutions across these regions are dedicated to innovating healthcare solutions that adhere to ethical standards while prioritising sustainability,affordability,and healthcare system benefits.
文摘The traditional Chinese medicine chain arrived in Ireland in 2005. This study focused on the standardization and adaptation of TCM companies and the customer profile in Irish market. The objective of this research dissertation is to find that how TCM is learned in Irish market and how it faces different cultures.
文摘This research seeks to evaluate the economic benefits to be gained by installing a small-scale wind turbine for a customer with a three-phase electrical supply requirement. The evidence for the claims made in this paper is obtained by using actual data obtained from the installed equipment over a three year period. The objective is to accurately appraise the financial investment using real data. There appears to be limited studies conducted into this type of research, possibly because the renewable energy sector is in the infancy stage in the host country, Ireland. There are some wind energy installations with financial appraisal techniques based on modeled data, which may, or may not, be accurate. The study concludes by claiming that the financial benefits of the wind energy turbine installation had disappointing results when compared to predicted benefits based on modeled data.
基金financial support from the China Scholarship Council(No.202108220036)Advanced Microscopy Laboratory in Trinity College Dublin。
文摘Additive and solvent-free direct printing is critical for many applications,including smart electronics,solar cells,healthcare,and electrochemical energy storage.Although a few green techniques for direct patterning of inorganic functional materials have been developed,they operate at small scale and require long processing times,restricting their effective translation from laboratory to market.Here we report a fast,liquid-free,cost-effective,and environmentally friendly aerosol-based printing method for fabricating linear or planar structures at microscale dimensions.In situ and on-demand generation of dry aerosol via pulsed laser ablation,coupled with real-time aerodynamical focusing using a co-flowing sheath gas,allows the deposition of a wide variety of materials on various substrates at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.Using silver as a test material,we systematically characterized the laser-generated aerosol deposits in terms of microstructural morphology,sintering activity,mass yield,density,and electrical performance,to show the relationship between process variability and underlying mechanisms.The capacity of high-throughput printing of silver deposits,with thickness up to 160μm,in a single pass was demonstrated.This rapid,efficient,and inkless printing process opens new and exciting opportunities for future applications that require easy-to-integrate components in printed electronic devices.
文摘An integrated study of borehole data and outcrop of Mississippian （late Tournaisian to late Visean） rocks in Co. （County） Galway, western Ireland has enabled a more detailed geological map and lithostratigraphy to be constructed for the region. Several carbonate formations have been distinguished by microfacies analysis and their precise ages established by micropalaeontological investigations using foraminifers and calcareous algae. In addition, palaeogeographic maps have been constructed for the late Tournaisian, and early to late Visoan intervals in the region. The oldest marine Mississippian （late Tournaisian） deposits are recorded in the south of the study region from the Loughrea/Tynagh area and further south in the Gort Borehole; they belong to the Limerick Province. They comprise the Lower Limestone Shale Group succeeded by the Ballysteen Group, Waulsortian Limestone and Kilbryan Limestone Formations. These rocks were deposited in increasing water depth associated with a transgression that moved northwards across Co. Galway. In the northwest and north of the region, marginal marine and non-marine Tournaisian rocks are developed, with a shoreline located NW of Galway City （Galway High）. The central region of Co. Galway has a standard Visdan marine succession that can be directly correlated with the Carrick-on- Shannon succession in counties Leitrim and Roscommon to the northeast and east as far as the River Shannon. It is dominated by shallow-water limestones （Oakport, Ballymore and Croghan Limestone Formations） that formed the Galway-Roscommon Shelf. This facies is lat- erally equivalent to the Tubber Formation to the south which developed on the Clare-Galway Shelf. In the southeast, basinal facies of the Lucan Formation accumulated in the Athenry Basin throughout much of the Visean. This basin formed during a phase of extensional tectonics in the early Visean and was probably connected to the Tynagh Basin to the east. In the late Visean, shallow-water limestones of the Burren Formation extend across much of the southern part of the region. They are characterized by the presence of rich concentrations of large brachiopod shells and colonial coral horizons which developed in predominantly high-energy conditions. These limestones also exhibit palaeokarstic surfaces and palaeosols which formed during regressive conditions of glacio-eustatically controlled cyclicity. Locally, slightly deeper water, lower energy conditions developed on the shelf with the formation of rare bryozoan-rich mud-mounds. Deep-water basinal facies were maintained in the central and southeastern parts of the region between the two shelves with the persistence of the Lucan Formation. Ac- tive syn-sedimentary faulting influenced deposition in the Visean and interfingering of basinal sediments with slumps and shallow-water shelf carbonates are recognized.
基金supported by the Irish Research Council under the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Project ID-GOIPD/2023/1431(to AS).
文摘Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a debilitating ailment that leads to the loss of motor and sensory functions,often leaving the patient paralyzed below the injury site(Chen et al.,2013).Globally around 250,000-300,000 people are diagnosed with SCI annually(Singh et al.,2014),and while this number appears quite low,the effect that an SCI has on the patient’s quality of life is drastic,due to the current difficulties to comprehensively treat this illness.The cost of patient care can also be quite costly,amounting to an estimated$1.69 billion in healthcare costs in the USA alone(Mahabaleshwarkar and Khanna,2014).
基金supported by Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Unit(NMPDU),Dublin South,Kildare,and Wicklow,Nurses preparedness for end of life conversations(No.P210537)。
文摘Objective:Nurse-led virtual outpatient clinics are now a familiar component of healthcare delivery across many disciplines,including cancer care,or thopedics,rheumatology,and gastroenterology.However,establishing a nurse-led vir tual clinic is challenging for nursing management,par ticularly regarding resources.We aimed to investigate nursing practices and processes and patient experiences in relation to vir tual outpatient clinics.Methods:This was a cross-sectional,descriptive study using mixed data collection methods.Patients(n=324)from 4 specialist clinics completed the Virtual Clinics Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire(VCSQ)survey.Five Nurse Specialists participated in a focus group interview.Results:Most participants(86.3%)reported being satisfied/very satisfied with the virtual clinics,particularly those that were nurse-led.Nurse specialists identified electronic health records(EHRs)and additional IT and administrative support as important for efficiency and effectiveness of the clinics.Conclusions:Nurse-led virtual clinics can be an effective and efficient way to provide care to patients.Nurse managers need to ensure supportive structures are in place,for example,dedicated administrators,IT support and infrastructure,education/training,and relevant policies/procedures.The success of nurse-led virtual services requires key infrastructure to support nursing staff and sustain this service.
文摘A comparative analysis was performed on poly(lactic acid)(PLA),poly(caprolactone)(PCL),basalt fiber(BF)composites produced using two distinct approaches:direct blending and masterbatching.The limitations of PLA-BF composites with regard to distribution and adhesion are well-documented,as are chemical treatment methods(addition of compatibilisers,surface treatments,silanization).This work aimed to study an industrially relevant potential solution of utilising a PCL-BF masterbatch,prepared as a 50/50 wt.%blend using planetary roller extrusion(PEX)to both improve the distribution and homogeneity of the fibers as well as provide a secondary adhesion site to facilitate improved mechanical properties of the final PLA-PCL-BF composite.The resultant materials were injection moulded to prepare ISO standard test specimens and tested on the basis of their physical properties via tensile testing,impact strength testing,flexural analysis,Fourier transforminfrared spectroscopy and water absorption capability.The results displayed that the incorporation of PCL and BF led to an increase in ductility of the composite materials,allowing for improvements in the inherent brittleness of virgin PLA.Major increases in the impact strength were achieved with the utilisation of a 25% PCL/BF masterbatch,allowing for a greater than 50%increase.As an overall observation,the use of a masterbatching process,opposed to direct blending of the constituent materials allows for a greater consistency of composite to be achieved at the expense of increased gains.
