Digital Commons Network^™

Influence Of Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Sol–Gel Matrices On The Photophysics Of Amino-Functionalized Uv-Sensitizers, Mohamed Oubaha, R. Copperwhite, Catherine Boothman, A. Ovsianikov, R. Kiyan, V. Purlys, M. O'Sullivan, Colette Mcdonagh, B. Chichkov, R. Gadonas, B.D. Maccraith

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Recent interest in photolithographic processes employing single and two-photon absorption processes have afforded advanced opportunities to fabricate both planar and three-dimensional microstructures. The fabrication of such structures is dependent on the local polymerization of the organic moieties using photoinitiating molecules, and a key parameter to consider is the dependency of the photoreactivity of these initiators on the matrices in which they are dispersed. To our knowledge, there has been no comprehensive investigation reported on the photoreactivity dependency of commercially available photoinitiators inserted within hybrid sol–gel materials. The aim of this paper is to highlight and explain the influence of the …

Payback: The 1920/1921 Agib Sltu Strike In The Dublin Building Industry, John Hogan

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In late 1920 a strike began in the building industry in Dublin that was to last until June of the following year. It effectively shut down building sites all across the city. The primary protagonists involved in the dispute were the Ancient Guild of Incorporated Brick and Stonelayers Trade Union (AGIBSLTU) and the building employers association, the Dublin Building Trades Employers’ Association (DBTEA). Both of these bodies had fought a bitterly contested lockout 15 years before, which had almost destroyed the union. In 1920, by dint of wider economic circumstances, and a belligerent determination, the union was to have the …

Study Of The Efficacy, Biodistribution, And Safety Profile Of Therapeutic Gutless Adenovirus Vectors As A Prelude To A Phase I Clinical Trial For Glioblastoma, Akm Ghulam Muhammad, Mariana Puntel, Marianela Candolfi, A Salem, Kader Yagiz, C Farrokhi, Kurt Kroeger, Weidong Xiong, James Curtin, Chunyan Liu, K Lawrence, Niyati Bondale, Jonathan Lerner, G Baker, David Foulad, Robert Pechnick, Donna Palmer, Philip Ng, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor in humans. Systemic immunity against gene therapy vectors has been shown to hamper therapeutic efficacy; however, helper-dependent high-capacity adenovirus (HC-Ad) vectors elicit sustained transgene expression, even in the presence of systemic anti-adenoviral immunity. We engineered HC-Ads encoding the conditional cytotoxic herpes simplex type 1 thymidine kinase (TK) and the immunostimulatory cytokine fms-like tyrosine kinase ligand 3 (Flt3L). Flt3L expression is under the control of the regulatable Tet-ON system. In anticipation of a phase I clinical trial for GBM, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy, biodistribution, and clinical and …

The Curious Matter Of Time And Space: A Conversation Between Michael Warren And Noel J. Brady, Noel Brady

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Interview between Michael Warren (Artist/Sculptor) and Noel J Brady, with specific discussion on the issue of gravity and presence.

The Hydra, Carl E. Schneider

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Almost nobody favors long consent forms for prospective research subjects. Almost everybody thinks they interfere with informed consent's purpose-good decisions. Nevertheless, almost everybody believes consent forms have long been getting longer. Years ago, Paul Appelbaum lamented the "tendency to cram ever more information into consent forms." Weeks ago, Ilene Albala and her colleagues (one of them Appelbaum) reported in IRE: Ethics & Human Research that the length of one institutional review board's forms "increased roughly linearly by an average of 1.5 pages per decade. In the 1970s, the average consent form was less than one page long and often only …

Looking Beyond Full Relationship Recognition For Couples Regardless Of Sex: Abolition, Alternatives, And/Or Functionalism, Edward D. Stein

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In the context of recent accomplishments in the quest for full marriage equality for same-sex couples, this article considers three proposals for reform to the law of adult domestic relations: (i) the abolition of the legal institution of marriage; (ii) the development of a broad “menu” of alternative forms of relationship recognition in addition to marriage; and (iii) the embracing of a functionalist approach to relationship recognition whereby relationships that share significant functional attributes with marriages are, in certain ways, given the same legal treatment as marriages. The article contends that advocates and theoreticians should strive for more than just …

Release Of Hmgb1 In Response To Pro-Apoptotic Glioma Killing Strategies: Efficacy And Neurotoxicity, Marianela Candolfi, Kader Yagiz, David Foulad, Gabrielle Alzadeh, Matthew Tesarfreund, Akm Ghulam Muhammad, Mariana Puntel, Kurt Kroeger, Chunyan Liu, Sharon Lee, James Curtin, Gwendalyn D. King, Jonathan Lerner, Katsuaki Sato, Yohei Mineharu, Weidong Xiong, Pedro R. Lowenstein, Maria Castro

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Purpose In preparation for a Phase I clinical trial utilizing a combined cytotoxic/immunotherapeutic strategy using adenoviruses expressing Flt3L (Ad-Flt3L) and thymidine kinase (Ad-TK) to treat glioblastoma (GBM), we tested the hypothesis that Ad-TK+GCV would be the optimal tumor killing agent in relation to efficacy and safety when compared to other pro-apoptotic approaches. Experimental Design and Results The efficacy and neurotoxicity of Ad-TK+GCV was compared with Ads encoding the pro-apoptotic cytokines (TNF-α, TRAIL, FasL), alone or in combination with Ad-Flt3L. In rats bearing small GBMs (day 4), only Ad-TK+GCV or Ad-FasL improved survival. In rats bearing large GBMs (day 9), the …

The Empty Tomb: Post-Critical Legal Hermeneutics, Peter Goodrich

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The article argues that the decline of critical legal studies (CLS) stems not only from external challenges like tenure wars but also from internal weaknesses, particularly an affective incapacity and failure of collective desire. To revitalize CLS, the article proposes a return to its original mission of social transformation, emphasizing the spiritual and ethical dimensions of legal understanding. It draws on hermeneutics and art history to explore how legal symbols and images shape power dynamics, advocating for a deeper engagement with the invisible, non-law forces that guide legal administration.

Grade Inflation In The School Of Real Estate And Construction Economics, Dermot Kehily

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No abstract provided.

In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity And Mechanism Of Action Of Novel Carbohydrate Fatty Acid Derivatives Against Staphylococcus Aureus And Mrsa, Paula Bourke, Patricia Nobmann, Julie Dunne, Gary Henehan

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Aims: This study investigates the antimicrobial activity and mode of action of novel carbohydrate fatty acid (CFA) derivatives against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA).

Methods and Results: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the effect of CFA derivatives on lag phase were determined using a broth microdilution method. Lauric acid carbohydrate esters and corresponding ether analogs showed the greatest antimicrobial activity with MIC values between 0.04 to 0.16mmol l^-1. Leakage studies at 260nm following exposure to CFA derivatives at 4X MIC showed a significant increase in membrane permeability for all compounds, after ca. 15 minutes exposure except …

What If The Prius Wasn't A Hybrid? What If The Corolla Were? An Analysis Based On Vehicle Limited Fuel Consumption And Powertrain And Braking Efficiency, Clark Hochgraf, Mike Duoba

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No abstract provided.

Constructing And Disrupting Ireland's Industrial Development Authority, Paul Donnelly

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Actor-network theory is considered to have great potential for broadening and deepening our grasp of institutional work (LAWRENCE; SUDDABY, 2006). Given its focus on process, ANT offers a means to breathe life into the practices associated with institutionalization. With Callon’s (1986) four moments of translation as analytical lens, and with Ireland’s Industrial Development Authority as empirical example, I seek to address the concerns of Clegg and Machado da Silva (2009) by reconsidering “the role of agency, power, persistence and change in the process of institutionalization”.

An Assessment Of The Antioxidant And Antimicrobial Activity Of Six Species Of Edible Irish Seaweeds, Sabrina Cox, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam, Shilpi Gupta

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Six species of edible Irish seaweeds; Laminaria digitata, Laminaria saccharina, Himanthalia elongata, Palmaria palmata, Chondrus crispus and Enteromorpha spirulina were screened for potential bioactivity. Extraction of secondary metabolites was carried out using different solvents to determine antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the dried extracts. The total phenolic contents of dried methanolic extracts were significantly different (p < 0.05). H. elongata exhibited highest phenolic content at 151.3 mg GAE/g of seaweed extract and also had the highest DPPH scavenging activity (p < 0.05) with a 50% inhibition (EC50) level at 0.125μg/ml of extract. H. elongata also had the highest total tannin and total flavonoid contents (p < 0.05) of 38.34 mg CE/g and 42.5 mg QE/g, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was determined using a microtitre method which allowed detection of bacterial growth inhibition at low levels. All methanolic seaweed extracts inhibited the food spoilage and food pathogenic bacteria tested; Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella abony, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, except C. crispus extracts. It was found that dried methanolic extracts of red and green seaweeds had significantly lower antimicrobial activity than the brown species; H. elongata had the highest antimicrobial activity with up to 100% inhibition. In the studied work, the antimicrobial activity of red and green seaweed extracts significantly increased when ethanol and acetone were used as extraction solvents (p < 0.05). Inhibition of E. faecalis with C. crispus extracts increased from 39.28 to 100% when ethanol and acetone were applied as solvents.

Remembering Ed Baker, Monroe E. Price

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The article commemorates the life and scholarly contributions of Professor C. Edwin Baker, a preeminent scholar of constitutional law, free speech, and communications law. Baker advanced a unique liberal theory of the First Amendment, emphasizing individual autonomy and equality over the marketplace of ideas. His work critiqued media deregulation and corporate speech, advocating for content-neutral regulation to protect democratic processes. His legacy includes influential books, mentorship, and a commitment to social justice, profoundly shaping global discussions on free speech and democracy.

Dual-Action Hygienic Coatings: Benefits Of Hydrophobicity And Silver Ion Release And Surface Analysis, Niall Stobie, Brendan Duffy, John Colreavy, Patrick Mchale, Steven Hinder, Declan Mccormack

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Coatings that demonstrate reduced attachment of crystalline precipitates and the medical device colonising Staphylococcus epidermidis were prepared by the immobilisation of silver doped perfluoropolyether–urethane siloxane thin films on glass substrates. The presence of stratified hydrophobic perfluoropolyether groups protects the coating surface from the attachment of crystalline hydrophilic species such as chlorides and phosphates, whilst silver ion release inhibited attachment of S. epidermidis and subsequent biofilm formation in vitro. The release of silver ions protects the perfluoro groups from the hydrophobic interactions of S. epidermidis cells, which can reduce the hydrophobicity of the protective coating. These coatings also exhibited significant antibacterial …

Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy And Multivariate Methods For Radiobiological Dosimetry, Aidan Meade, Colin Clarke, Hugh Byrne, Fiona Lyng

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The scientific literature contains an ever-growing number of reports of applications of vibrational spectroscopy as a multivariate non-invasive tool for analysis of biological effects at the molecular level. Recently, Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) has been demonstrated to be sensitive to molecular events occurring in cells and tissue after exposure to ionizing radiation. In this work the application of FTIRM in the examination of dose-dependent molecular effects occurring in skin cells after exposure to ionizing radiation with the use of partial least-squares regression (PLSR) and generalized regression neural networks (GRNN) was studied. The methodology is shown to be sensitive to …

Assessment Of Acceptance Sampling Plans Using Posterior Distribution For A Dependent Process, A. Erhan Mergen, Z. Seyda Deligonul

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In this study, performance of single acceptance sampling plans by attribute is investigated by using the distribution of fraction nonconformance (i.e., lot quality distribution (LQD)) for a dependent production process. It is the aim of this study to demonstrate that, in order to emphasize consumer risk (i.e., the risk of accepting a bad lot), it is better to evaluate a sampling plan based upon its performance as assessed by the posterior distribution of fractions nonconforming in accepted lots. Similarly, it is the desired posterior distribution that sets the basis for designing a sampling plan. The prior distribution used in this …

Differential Genome-Wide Array-Based Methylation Profiles In Prognostic Subsets Of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia., Nicola Cahill, Fergus Ryan

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Global hypomethylation and regional hypermethylation are well-known epigenetic features of cancer, however, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), studies on genome-wide epigenetic modifications are limited. Here we analyzed the global methylation profiles in CLL, by applying high-resolution methylation micro-arrays (27,578 CpG sites) to 23 CLL samples, belonging to the immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable (IGHV) mutated (favorable) and IGHV unmutated/IGHV3-21 (poor-prognostic) subsets. Overall, results demonstrated significant differences in methylation patterns between these subgroups. Specifically, in IGHV unmutated CLL, we identified methylation of 7 known or candidate tumor suppressor genes (e.g. VHL, ABI3 and IGSF4) as well as 8 unmethylated genes involved in cell …

Effect Of Lithotripter Focal Width On Stone Comminution In Shock Wave Lithotripsy, Jun Qin, W. Neal Simmons, Georgy Sankin, Pei Zhong

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Using a reflector insert, the original HM-3 lithotripter field at 20 kV was altered significantly with the peak positive pressure (p₊) in the focal plane increased from 49 to 87 MPa while the -6 dB focal width decreased concomitantly from 11 to 4 mm. Using the original reflector, p₊ of 33 MPa with a -6 dB focal width of 18 mm were measured in a pre-focal plane 15-mm proximal to the lithotripter focus. However, the acoustic pulse energy delivered to a 28-mm diameter area around the lithotripter axis was comparable (~120 mJ). For all three exposure conditions, …

When Leadership Goes Unnoticed: The Moderating Role Of Follower Self-Esteem On The Relationship Between Ethical Leadership And Follower Behavior, James Avey, Michael Palanski, Fred Walumwa

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The authors examined the effects of ethical leadership on follower organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and deviant behavior. Drawing upon research related to the behavioral plasticity hypothesis, the authors examined a moderating role of follower self-esteem in these relationships. Results from a field study revealed that ethical leadership is positively related to follower OCB and negatively related to deviance. We found that these relationships are moderated by followers’ self-esteem, such that the relationships between ethical leadership and OCB as well as between ethical leadership and deviant behavior are weaker when followers’ self-esteem is high than low. Implications of these findings for …

Reseacher As Whistleblower: The Ethical Challenges Posed By Sensitive Research, Tom Clonan

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This paper will explore the complex ethical issues raised when ‘non traditional’ insider research is conducted in sensitive and secretive workplace settings. The paper will outline the experiences of the author between 1996 and 2000 - as a Captain in the Irish Army - when he conducted PhD research into the status and roles assigned female personnel in the Irish military. This research uncovered evidence of the widespread bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault of female soldiers, sailors and air crew in the Irish military. The paper will address a number of ethical issues as they apply to the …

What If: Hitler's Invasion Of Ireland, Tom Clonan

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Seventy years ago this summer, Hitler’s general staff drew up detailed plans to invade Ireland. In June of 1940, Germany’s 1st Panzer Division had just driven the British Expeditionary Force into the sea at Dunkirk. Churchill labeled Britain’s rout and the evacuation of approximately 330,000 British and allied troops a ‘miracle of deliverance’. The Nazis intoxicated with their victory in France considered themselves unstoppable and were determined to press their advance into Britain and Ireland. Germany’s invasion plans for Britain were codenamed ‘Operation Sealion’. Their invasion plans for Ireland were codenamed ‘Unternehmen Grun’ or ‘Operation Green’. Like Operation Sealion, Operation …

Simulated Afghan Towns: Us Military Training Grounds Germany, Tom Clonan

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Spin Boldoz is an Afghan town in Kandahar province close to the border with Pakistan. As we approach the town – with the US 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment – the town’s market square is teeming with Afghan civilians haggling over stalls of fruit and vegetables. Smoke from cooking fires and braziers mix with the diesel exhaust of the Stryker Brigade’s armoured vehicles. Donkeys, goats and sheep are tethered and ready for sale. The regiment’s radios are humming with chatter and overhead an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) buzzes lazily over the town. Lurching to a halt, the troops dismount from the …

Us Military And Civilian Surge In Afghanistan, Tom Clonan

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US and British casualty figures in Afghanistan experienced a dramatic surge in 2010. A total of 499 US troops and 103 British soldiers were killed by the Taliban last year with thousands more seriously injured by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The casualty statistics for Afghanistan paint a grim picture of the US-led International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) campaign against the Taliban. ISAF’s war in Afghanistan deteriorated significantly in 2007 as the Taliban re-grouped, re-organised and finessed its counter-insurgency strategy against NATO. For example, the number of US and British troops killed in action by the Taliban on an annual basis …

The Discourses Of Higher Education In Ireland: Religion, Nationalism And Economic Development, Nora French

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Higher education is shaped and changed by the context in which it operates. For the past several decades, it has been shaped in Ireland by plans for economic development and the focus has been on education as an enabler of wealth creation. It is claimed to have been an important factor in the rise of the Celtic Tiger economy, and the government are again looking to education as a main contributor to recovery from the current recession. This focus marked a major change in Irish higher education. It was in sharp opposition to the deep-seated tradition of liberal education based …

The Benefits Of Holidaying For Children Experiencing Social Exclusion: Recent Irish Evidence, Bernadette Quinn, Jane Stacey

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There is a general assumption in contemporary society that holidaying is beneficial in many ways. Yet, even in affluent societies, access to holidaying opportunities continues to be constrained by a variety of factors relating to inter alia income, gender, health and race. This is problematic because it means that sizeable minorities within advanced societies are being denied the benefits that researchers have attributed to the practice of holidaying. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in problematising the exclusionist nature of holidaying with researchers arguing that a lack of holiday opportunities may compound social deprivation, reinforce social problems and heighten …

The Size Ellect On The Infrared Spectra Of Condensed Media Under Conditions Of Id, 2d And 3d Dielectric Confinement, Igor I. Shaganov, Tatiana S. Perova, Vasily A. Melnikov, Kevin Berwick

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A general expression for the dielectric loss spectrum of an absorbing composite medium was obtained from a Maxwell-Garnett general equation. This expression was simplified for the cases of one, two and three dimensional dielectric confinement in both ordered and disordered thin layers, rods (wires) and spheres of absorbing medium which are considered as mesoparticles or mesoscopic molecules. This theoretical approach was verified experimentally using high purity organic liquids with strong absorption bands in the infrared range. Three organic liquids, namely benzene, chloroform and carbon disulphide, were measured in various dielectric confinement configurations using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with a …

A Macrobending Singlemode Fiber Refractive Index Sensor For Low Refractive Index Liquids, Pengfei Wang, Yuliya Semenova, Yong Li, Qiang Wu, Gerald Farrell

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An all-fiber refractive index sensor with a simple configuration is proposed and investigated. The proposed fiber refractometer consists of a full-loop structure of bare high-bend loss singlemode fiber-1060XP, employing the well-known whispering gallery mode (WGM) effect induced by the evanescent wave excitation to measure the refractive index of an external medium. A competitive sensitivity is achieved (average 725.76nm/RIU at a bend diameter of 19.3mm) compared with other fiber-optic sensors, plus benefits resulting from simplicity, low cost and ease of fabrication.

A Fish Tale: A Small Fish, The Esa, And Our Shared Future, Dale Goble

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The objective of the Endangered Species Act is to "recover" imperiled species and thus to render the Act's conservation tools unnecessary To achieve this goal, the drafters of the Act crafted a linear process that begins with an assessment of the threats facing the species and moves through the elimination of those threats to the recovery and delisting of the species. It has become increasingly apparent over the past decade that few species fit this model- most species face threats-altered habitats and competition with invasive species-that cannot be eliminated. These species are "conservation reliant" because they will require ongoing conservation …

'Have We All Gone Bats?' - The Strict Protection Of Wildlife Under The Habitats Directive And Tourism Development: Some Lessons From Ireland, Marc Mcdonald

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This article explores the impact of the legal protection of bats under EU wildilfe legislation on tourism development in Ireland.