277 results match your criteria: "Dundalk Institute of Technology[Affiliation]"

Identifying the scaling rules describing ecological patterns across time and space is a central challenge in ecology. Taylor's law of fluctuation scaling, which states that the variance of a population's size or density is proportional to a positive power of the mean size or density, has been widely observed in population dynamics and characterizes variability in multiple scientific domains. However, it is unclear if this phenomenon accurately describes ecological patterns across many orders of magnitude in time, and therefore links otherwise disparate observations.

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The peristaltic reflex has been a central concept in gastrointestinal motility; however, evidence was published recently suggesting that post-stimulus responses that follow inhibitory neural responses provide the main propulsive force in colonic motility. This new concept was based on experiments on proximal colon where enteric inhibitory neural inputs are mainly nitrergic. However, the nature of inhibitory neural inputs changes from proximal to distal colon where purinergic inhibitory regulation dominates.

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Dynamic Ca signaling is crucial for cell survival and death, and Ca imaging approaches are commonly used to study and measure cellular Ca patterns within cells. However, the presence of image noise from instrumentation and experimentation protocols can impede the accurate extraction of Ca signals. Removing noise from Ca Spatio-Temporal Maps (STMaps) is essential for precisely analyzing Ca datasets.

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The aims of this study were to: a) examine the relationships between high-intensity distances covered above generic and relative speed thresholds in English Premier League (EPL) matches across two consecutive seasons and b) analyze the effects of playing position and team possession. Sixteen elite male soccer players (seven defenders, six midfielders and three forwards) participated in this study (age 27.8 ± 3.

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Article Synopsis
  • Female coaches are really underrepresented in sports globally, and in Ireland only 18.7% of coaches in Gaelic games are women.
  • Many women feel undervalued and face challenges like lack of confidence and respect in coaching.
  • The research showed that to help more women become coaches, organizations should create supportive environments, offer mentorship, and make coach education more flexible.
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Smooth muscle organs of the lower urinary tract comprise the bladder detrusor and urethral wall, which have a reciprocal contractile relationship during urine storage and micturition. As the bladder fills with urine, detrusor smooth muscle cells (DSMCs) remain relaxed to accommodate increases in intravesical pressure while urethral smooth muscle cells (USMCs) sustain tone to occlude the urethral orifice, preventing leakage. While neither organ displays coordinated regular contractions as occurs in small intestine, lymphatics or renal pelvis, they do exhibit patterns of rhythmicity at cellular and tissue levels.

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Interventions in food business organisations to improve food safety culture: a rapid evidence assessment.

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr

September 2025

Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK.

The European Commission recently adopted Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/382 requiring food businesses to establish and provide evidence of a food safety culture (FSC). FSC incorporates management systems, risk perceptions, leadership, communication, environment and commitment to ensure food safety. This review ( = 20) investigates food safety interventions in food businesses to identify effective strategies to improve food safety practices and FSC, and to provide recommendations for improving FSC.

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Background: Evidence suggests that the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) cells of several species, including humans, express purinergic P2X receptors, but it is not known if the corpus cavernosum has an excitatory purinergic innervation.

Aim: In this study we aimed to determine if the mouse CCSM has a functional purinergic innervation.

Methods: Mouse CCSM myocytes were enzymatically isolated and studied using the perforated patch configuration of the patch clamp technique.

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Background: Cardiac rehabilitation is a core component of cardiovascular disease management. Eastern Corridor Medical Engineering-Cardiac Rehabilitation is a digital health platform for online cardiac rehabilitation exercise. We conducted a mixed methods pilot trial to evaluate Eastern Corridor Medical Engineering-Cardiac Rehabilitation.

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Interstitial cell of Cajal-like cells (ICC-LC) exhibit dynamic spontaneous activity but are not functionally innervated in mouse urethra.

Cell Calcium

November 2024

Smooth Muscle Research Centre, Department of Life & Health Science, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland; Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA. Electronic address:

Urethral smooth muscle cells (USMC) contract to occlude the internal urethral sphincter during bladder filling. Interstitial cells also exist in urethral smooth muscles and are hypothesized to influence USMC behaviours and neural responses. These cells are similar to Kit interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), which are gastrointestinal pacemakers and neuroeffectors.

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In the past decade, it has become increasingly difficult to engage and encourage critical thinking and deeper learning in students who participate in higher education, particularly in non-major subjects. Photovoice is a participatory action research methodology that has been used in community-based research in many different areas including social science, health science and education. In this study, photovoice was used as a pedagogical tool in a third-year BSc Bioscience non-major microbiology module at Dundalk Institute of Technology.

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Autism Spectrum Disorder is neurodevelopmental disorder, the manifestations of which and levels of support individuals may require vary greatly. Although there is a plethora of information regarding supporting autistic individuals in higher education and the workplace, there is a paucity of information regarding both autistic nurses and nursing students. This paper presents an overview of autism spectrum disorder, the particular features of which are relevant in nursing professions and in the context of higher education; and highlights issues surrounding disclosure and implementing reasonable accommodations.

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Microplastic contamination of intertidal sediment and cockles (Cerastoderma edule).

Mar Pollut Bull

August 2024

Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91 K584, Ireland. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates the presence and concentration of microplastics in bivalves (Cerasastoderma edule) and intertidal sediments in Dundalk Bay, Ireland, highlighting the increasing threat microplastic pollution poses to marine life.
  • Seasonal variations showed microplastic concentrations in both cockles and sediment far exceeded safe levels, with microfibres being the most common type found.
  • The research suggests that cockles could serve as effective biomonitors for microplastic pollution, detecting microplastics not found in sediment samples, indicating their potential role in tracking environmental health.
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Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers created the TREAM dataset, which includes extensive data from 1,816 river and stream sites across Europe, covering a span of over 50 years and involving millions of macroinvertebrate samples.
  • * This dataset will help scientists analyze factors affecting macroinvertebrate populations and evaluate the effectiveness of water quality improvements following European environmental legislation since the 1980s.
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Disinfection by-product formation potential in response to variability in dissolved organic matter and nutrient inputs: Insights from a mesocosm study.

Water Res

July 2024

Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004 Girona, Spain. Electronic address:

Changes in rainfall patterns driven by climate change affect the transport of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nutrients through runoff to freshwater systems. This presents challenges for drinking water providers. DOM, which is a heterogeneous mix of organic molecules, serves as a critical precursor for disinfection by-products (DBPs) which are associated with adverse health effects.

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Multivariate extremes in lakes.

Nat Commun

May 2024

Taihu Laboratory for Lake Ecosystem Research, State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China.

Extreme within-lake conditions have the potential to exert detrimental effects on lakes. Here we use satellite observations to investigate how the occurrence of multiple types of extremes, notably algal blooms, lake heatwaves, and low lake levels, have varied in 2724 lakes since the 1980s. Our study, which focuses on bloom-affected lakes, suggests that 75% of studied lakes have experienced a concurrent increase in at least two of the extremes considered (27% defined as having a notable increase), with 25% experiencing an increase in frequency of all three extremes (5% had a notable increase).

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Laboratory practicals in life science subjects are traditionally assessed by written reports that reflect disciplinary norms for documenting experimental activities. However, the exclusive application of this assessment has the potential to engage only a narrow range of competencies. In this study, we explored how multiple modes of laboratory assessment might affect student perceptions of learned skills in a life science module.

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TRPV2 modulates mechanically Induced ATP Release from Human bronchial epithelial cells.

Respir Res

April 2024

Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.

Repetitive bouts of coughing expose the large airways to significant cycles of shear stress. This leads to the release of alarmins and the tussive agent adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which may be modulated by the activity of ion channels present in the human airway. This study aimed to investigate the role of the transient receptor potential subfamily vanilloid member 2 (TRPV2) channel in mechanically induced ATP release from primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs).

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Physical match demands across different playing positions during transitional play and high-pressure activities in elite soccer.

Biol Sport

March 2024

Football Performance Hub, Institute of Coaching and Performance (ICaP), School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom.

This study explored physical match demands across different playing positions during transitional play, to inform the need for position-specific training interventions. Data was collected using 10 Hz GPS units from 10 competitive matches including 23 elite soccer players of the 1 Polish Division (Ekstraklasa) in season 2020-21. A total of 4249 positional observations were made; center backs (n = 884), full backs (n = 972), central defensive midfielders (n = 236), central attacking midfielders (n = 270), central midfielders (n = 578), wingers (n = 778), and attackers (n = 531).

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Objectives: to carry out the cultural adaptation and evaluation of validity evidence of the Student Nurse Stressor-15 (SNS-15) Scale for use in Brazil.

Methods: psychometric study, conducted from the stages of translation, synthesis, back-translation, review by a committee of seven experts, pre-test and evaluation of measurement properties with 32 and 238 nursing students, respectively. Descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed.

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Lake and reservoir surface areas are an important proxy for freshwater availability. Advancements in machine learning (ML) techniques and increased accessibility of remote sensing data products have enabled the analysis of waterbody surface area dynamics on broad spatial scales. However, interpreting the ML results remains a challenge.

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Stimulation of sympathetic nerves in the vas deferens yields biphasic contractions consisting of a rapid transient component resulting from activation of P2X1 receptors by ATP and a secondary sustained component mediated by activation of α-adrenoceptors by noradrenaline. Noradrenaline can also potentiate the ATP-dependent contractions of the vas deferens, but the mechanisms underlying this effect are unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying potentiation of transient contractions of the vas deferens induced by activation of α-adrenoceptors.

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Background: Despite concerted efforts by policy developers, health professionals and lay groups, breastfeeding rates in Ireland remain one of the lowest in world, with 63.6% of mothers initiating breastfeeding at birth, dropping to 37.6% of mothers breastfeeding exclusively on hospital discharge.

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Type 2 inflammation in asthma develops with exposure to stimuli to include inhaled allergens from house dust mites (HDM). Features include mucus hypersecretion and the formation of pro-secretory ion transport characterised by elevated basal Cl current. Studies using human sinonasal epithelial cells treated with HDM extract report a higher protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) agonist-induced calcium mobilisation that may be related to airway sensitisation by allergen-associated proteases.

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Purpose: In simulation-based education (SBE), educators integrate their professional experiences to prepare learners for real world practice and may embed unproductive stereotypical biases. Although learning culture influences educational practices, the interactions between professional culture and SBE remain less clear. This study explores how professional learning culture informs simulation practices in healthcare, law, teacher training and paramedicine.

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