Irish Neutrality What are the Costs and Benefits of Ireland’s Policy of Neutrality?

Irish Neutrality - What are the Costs and Benefits of Ireland’s Policy of Neutrality? Irish Neutrality is a policy that has evolved since the foundation of the State. The exposure to major conflicts since statehood was achieved by Ireland has been relatively limited. Ireland’s policy of neutrality has been essentially a pragmatic policy and in Irish terms successful as a neutral stance has assisted in affirming sovereignty for Ireland as an independent nation. The Irish people have cherished neutrality as a concept. Neutrality has become a symbol of Irish identity and has assisted in keeping Ireland out of war. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, changing World Order, increased European integration, freer movements of populations, new terrorists threats, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the time has come for neutral states to question whether a neutral stance is the most appropriate option to follow in the 21st century. My research explores Irish Neutrality, investigating initially definitions and obligations associated with neutrality, and examining the concept of Irish Neutrality from a historical perspective to assess its credibility and compatibility with membership of international organizations. The study further attempts to analyse the costs and benefits to Ireland of a neutral policy to ascertain if such a policy is the most appropriate for Ireland to follow. My research is important as Ireland, a country that values it contributions to UN membership, deploys its aimed forces on more robust UN missions, becomes a more established member of the EU and participates more effectively in PfP structures. While neutrality is referred to extensively by Irish politicians, it is not enshrined in the Irish Constitution and although it is a flexible and pragmatic policy, it is actually not a very tangible entity. To pursue a policy of neutrality implies the application of impartiality towards all belligerents in a conflict. Ireland has joined PfP which some Irish people see a stepping-stone to NATO membership. With increased participation in PfP mechanisms and improved interoperability between the Defence Forces and NATO members, there is a possibility that Irish Neutrality could be compromised. Relying on extensive text analysis and interviews with key informants of Irish Neutrality, my final analysis concludes that there has been limited debate on this subject and what is required is enlightened debate in order to assess it appropriateness for Ireland as European integration and expansion continues

Development of microfabricated optical chemical sensor platforms using polymer processing technology

This work describes the design and fabrication of enhanced polymer waveguide platforms for absorption-based optical chemical sensors and the use of soft lithographic techniques for the fabrication of optical sensor chips. The design of the enhanced polymer waveguide platforms was based on a previously reported theoretical model that was verified experimentally in this work. The platforms were fabricated by micro-injection moulding and subsequently coated with sol-gelderived sensing layers doped with a colorimetric indicator compound. The sensor response to both gaseous ammonia and solution pH was examined using a LEDbased prototype sensor head. Soft lithographic patterning techniques, based on the use of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) patterning element, were employed to produce a variety of sol-gel-based structures with applications in optical sensing. These included discrete sensor spots, surface corrugation grating couplers and ridge waveguides. As a proof of principle, these techniques were applied to the development of an integrated optical oxygen sensor based on the quenching of fluorescence from a sol-gel-encapsulated ruthenium complex that was deposited as a sensor spot onto a ridge waveguide. This work highlights the feasibility of using rapid prototyping technology to fabricate sensitive, mass-producible sensor platforms that employ generic configurations, thereby facilitating their use in a broad range of applications

Time's Arrow

Using narrative and lyric modes, the poems of Time's Arrow address the experiences of childhood in the Midwest, of growing up with a handicapped brother, of coming to terms with the humanness of one's parents, and of reconciling the inescapable aloneness of being a conscious creature. Time's Arrow is itself an act of memory, of putting back together-- perhaps inexactly-- the pieces of a life; for time inevitably changes the past

Magnetic core-shell nanoparticles for drug delivery by nebulization

BACKGROUND: Aerosolized therapeutics hold great potential for effective treatment of various diseases including lung cancer. In this context, there is an urgent need to develop novel nanocarriers suitable for drug delivery by nebulization. To address this need, we synthesized and characterized a biocompatible drug delivery vehicle following surface coating of Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with a polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). The polymeric shell of these engineered nanoparticles was loaded with a potential anti-cancer drug quercetin and their suitability for targeting lung cancer cells via nebulization was evaluated. RESULTS: Average particle size of the developed MNPs and PLGA-MNPs as measured by electron microscopy was 9.6 and 53.2 nm, whereas their hydrodynamic swelling as determined using dynamic light scattering was 54.3 nm and 293.4 nm respectively. Utilizing a series of standardized biological tests incorporating a cell-based automated image acquisition and analysis procedure in combination with real-time impedance sensing, we confirmed that the developed MNP-based nanocarrier system was biocompatible, as no cytotoxicity was observed when up to 100 μg/ml PLGA-MNP was applied to the cultured human lung epithelial cells. Moreover, the PLGA-MNP preparation was well-tolerated in vivo in mice when applied intranasally as measured by glutathione and IL-6 secretion assays after 1, 4, or 7 days post-treatment. To imitate aerosol formation for drug delivery to the lungs, we applied quercitin loaded PLGA-MNPs to the human lung carcinoma cell line A549 following a single round of nebulization. The drug-loaded PLGA-MNPs significantly reduced the number of viable A549 cells, which was comparable when applied either by nebulization or by direct pipetting. CONCLUSION: We have developed a magnetic core-shell nanoparticle-based nanocarrier system and evaluated the feasibility of its drug delivery capability via aerosol administration. This study has implications for targeted delivery of therapeutics and poorly soluble medicinal compounds via inhalation route

The Respiratory Microbiome in COPD

In classical teaching, the lungs were thought of as a sterile environment with the isolation of bacteria on sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage sampling felt to represent pathogenic colonisation in disease states. This teaching has been over-turned with the discovery of a rich microbiome in the respiratory tract. The respiratory microbiome is a huge target for novel research in many fields, most notable in that of airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Next-generation sequencing is a culture-independent method for microbial sampling which has transformed the accuracy and speed at which whole microbial communities can be described in studies. This has led to an explosion of knowledge regarding the human respiratory microbiome. COPD is a common, chronic disease of the respiratory system involving an irreversible airway obstruction which places huge burden on patients and healthcare systems alike. The respiratory microbiome is different in those who suffer from COPD than in those without the disease, but little is known as to the role of the microbiome in disease pathogenesis or manifestation. This chapter aims to outline the advances in sequencing methods in relation to the microbiome and establish a description of the respiratory microbiome in health and in COPD. We will describe the existing literature on the topic and discuss potential key areas for future research

A Case of Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis Associated with Renoduodenal Fistula

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a rare form of pyelonephritis associated with repeated infection, chronic inflammation, and obstruction. Various fistulas, including those to the intestine, are a known association with XGP. Here, a 55-year-old woman with a history of multiple previous renal calculi presented with dysuria and back pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a soft tissue density in her renal pelvis and perirenal space consistent with XGP along with a tract connecting the upper pole of her right kidney to the second portion of the duodenum. This finding was subsequently confirmed during percutaneous nephrostomy placement, stent placement, a small bowel follow-through study, and upper endoscopy. She was diagnosed with XGP with associated renoduodenal fistula, eventually treated by open nephrectomy with fistula takedown. Histopathologic analysis was consistent with the diagnosis of XGP with no malignant or infectious cause of the fistula. XGP should be considered in the diagnosis of patients with dysuria and back pain, especially when a history of obstruction or chronic inflammation. Associated fistulas should also be considered prior to surgical management to prevent complications

Disordered microbial communities in asthmatic airways.

A rich microbial environment in infancy protects against asthma [1], [2] and infections precipitate asthma exacerbations [3]. We compared the airway microbiota at three levels in adult patients with asthma, the related condition of COPD, and controls. We also studied bronchial lavage from asthmatic children and controls.We identified 5,054 16S rRNA bacterial sequences from 43 subjects, detecting >70% of species present. The bronchial tree was not sterile, and contained a mean of 2,000 bacterial genomes per cm(2) surface sampled. Pathogenic Proteobacteria, particularly Haemophilus spp., were much more frequent in bronchi of adult asthmatics or patients with COPD than controls. We found similar highly significant increases in Proteobacteria in asthmatic children. Conversely, Bacteroidetes, particularly Prevotella spp., were more frequent in controls than adult or child asthmatics or COPD patients.The results show the bronchial tree to contain a characteristic microbiota, and suggest that this microbiota is disturbed in asthmatic airways

Disseminating the research findings from the adolescents and adults living with Perinatal HIV (AALPHI) study: an approach from young people living with HIV

Background: The Adolescents and Adults Living with Perinatal HIV (AALPHI) study is one of only three cohort studies worldwide evaluating the impact of HIV on young people living with perinatal HIV (PLHIV) relative to a comparable group of HIV negative young people in close relationship with an HIV positive individual, for example, their mother, sibling or partner. This project aimed to engage young people with the AALPHI study findings, help them take ownership, and decide how they would disseminate the key messages to both study participants and to the wider community. Methods: In brief, 318 PLHIV and 100 HIV negative adolescents participated in AALPHI, where they each were interviewed twice, around two years apart. They were asked a wide range of psychosocial and risk behaviour questions and their cognitive function was assessed. We invited three AALPHI participants and seven members of the Youth Trials Board at the Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA) to attend up to four workshops. They were provided with the key AALPHI research findings and asked to develop them into a format that was accessible and understandable for young people. Some who had not participated before formed a group in the fourth dissemination workshop that confirmed the most important concepts and results. Results: The young people decided to develop a film and a leaflet about the AALPHI findings and co-produced them with a film maker and graphic designer. Challenges included working with the film maker and the venue for the first three dissemination workshops was an office space which was not ideal. Conclusion: Engaging young people in the dissemination of the AALPHI findings ensured the results were communicated in a way that was more likely to be relevant, accessible and useful to those affected by the study. This project demonstrates how young people in potentially stigmatised areas of care, such as HIV, can be involved in research dissemination

Antimicrobial Resistance Determinants Circulating among Thermophilic Campylobacter Isolates Recovered from Broilers in Ireland Over a One-Year Period

peer-reviewedCampylobacteriosis is the leading cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis, very often associated with poultry consumption. Thermophilic Campylobacter (Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli) isolates (n = 158) recovered from broiler neck skin and caecal contents in Ireland over a one-year period, resistant to at least one of three clinically relevant antimicrobial classes, were screened for resistance determinants. All ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates (n = 99) harboured the C257T nucleotide mutation (conferring the Thr-86-Ile substitution) in conjunction with other synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations, which may have epidemiological value. The A2075G nucleotide mutation and amino acid substitutions in L4 and L22 were detected in all erythromycin-resistant isolates (n = 5). The tetO gene was detected in 100% (n = 119) of tetracycline-resistant isolates and three of which were found to harbour the mosaic tetracycline resistance gene tetO/32/O. Two streptomycin-resistant C. jejuni isolates (isolated from the same flock) harboured ant(6)-Ib, located in a multidrug resistance genomic island, containing aminoglycoside, streptothricin (satA) and tetracycline resistance genes (truncated tetO and mosaic tetO/32/O). The ant(6)-Ie gene was identified in two streptomycin-resistant C. coli isolates. This study highlights the widespread acquisition of antimicrobial resistance determinants among chicken-associated Campylobacter isolates, through horizontal gene transfer or clonal expansion of resistant lineages. The stability of such resistance determinants is compounded by the fluidity of mobile genetic element