Supporting Academic Synergies Through co-Evolution of Teaching and Research Excellence from Evidence-Based Practice.

Ireland’s first Technological University(TU) came into existence in January2019, mergingthree existinghigher education institutions. This work is set in the context of thisnew TU, and explores how teaching, learning and educational research can co-evolve to generate synergies supported by evidence-based practice of the core activity sets of the lecturer. In thedisciplinarydomain ofBusiness Education, theHead of Learning Development and Head ofResearch haveidentified thebenefits of aligningaspects oftheir work in supporting academic staff to plan and undertake structured inquiry into their teaching. This is predicated on our belief that the range of work involved in supporting teaching and research are not mutually exclusive. Having a clear vision, followed through with actions, that is underpinned by shared values and common grounds for intellectual commitment,wewishtotakeadvantage ofwhatworkingmoreclosely together onsharedinitiativescan bringforstaff andstudents.We shareanaimof: • exploringconsciouscontinuousresearching andteaching integration inBusinessEducation. • increasing evidence ofteaching excellence inBusinessEducation through evidence-based practice; • theremoval ofasilomentalityinthedisciplines; • creating synergistic approaches inteaching andresearching intheCollege; • supportingcollaborative andcollective thinkingandlearning; • buildingresearch capability fromteaching capability; • promotingandrecognising excellence withinteaching acrosstheCollege andraise theprofileofteaching asanevidence-based practice. Initial conversations focused on how integrating research and teaching can drive excellence and pedagogic innovation in practice. Ultimately, an exploration of concepts and practice of excellence in relation to teaching and research can ensure a qualitystudent learning experience. The importance of involvement of staff with strong pedagogical skills has been highlighted where strategic decisions related to teaching, learning and assessment are being made. Bringing business school theory to teaching practice, the work draws on theories of co-evolution existing within various fields such as sociology and biology (Thompson, 2005) and combines this with the synergy construct from the strategic management literature (e.g. Shaver, 2006). In combining these approaches, we are hoping a framework can be developed that can recognise and capture the interactions and complex underlying processes between teaching and research that ensures institutional fitness and also facilitates the respective heads of teaching and learning and research in integrating synergies into the process. This approach is not deterministic, but recognises that in co-evolutionary processes, traits and characteristics of participants change and ‘fitness’emerges. As progressing excellence and innovation in teaching and learning with staff involves seeking evidence-based methods to inform their teaching practice, a key challenge going forward is how to gather the right types of evidence to demonstrate teaching excellence. We would like to open a conversation with colleagues at the conference, discussing and building in multiple perspectives and other solutions from colleagues facing similar challenges in their institutions. This will continue to encourage new ideas and freshways of thinking about our work

Criterion and concurrent validity of the activPAL (TM) professional physical activity monitor in adolescent females

peer-reviewedBackground: The activPAL has been identified as an accurate and reliable measure of sedentary behaviour. However, only limited information is available on the accuracy of the activPAL activity count function as a measure of physical activity, while no unit calibration of the activPAL has been completed to date. This study aimed to investigate the criterion validity of the activPAL, examine the concurrent validity of the activPAL, and perform and validate a value calibration of the activPAL in an adolescent female population. The performance of the activPAL in estimating posture was also compared with sedentary thresholds used with the ActiGraph accelerometer.Methodologies: Thirty adolescent females (15 developmental; 15 cross-validation) aged 15-18 years performed 5 activities while wearing the activPAL, ActiGraph GT3X, and the Cosmed K4B2. A random coefficient statistics model examined the relationship between metabolic equivalent (MET) values and activPAL counts. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine activity thresholds and for cross-validation. The random coefficient statistics model showed a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.93 (standard error of the estimate = 1.13). An optimal moderate threshold of 2997 was determined using mixed regression, while an optimal vigorous threshold of 8229 was determined using receiver operating statistics. The activPAL count function demonstrated very high concurrent validity (r = 0.96, pPUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe

Scaling of laser produced plasma UTA emission down to 3 nm for next generation lithography and short wavelength imaging

Presented at a poster session at Advances in X-Ray/EUV Optics and Components VI, Monday 22 August 2011, San Diego, California, USAAn engineering prototype high average power 13.5-nm source has been shipped to semiconductor facilities to permit the commencement of high volume production at a 100 W power level in 2011. In this source, UTA (unresolved transition array) emission of highly ionized Sn is optimized for high conversion efficiency and full recovery of the injected fuel is realized through ion deflection in a magnetic field. By use of a low-density target, satellite emission is suppressed and full ionization attained with short pulse CO2 laser irradiation. The UTA is scalable to shorter wavelengths, and Gd is shown to have similar conversion efficiency to Sn (13.5 nm) at a higher plasma temperature, with a narrow spectrum centered at 6.7 nm, where a 70% reflectivity mirror is anticipated. Optimization of short pulse CO2 laser irradiation is studied, and further extension of the same method is discussed, to realize 100 W average power down to a wavelength of 3 nmScience Foundation Irelandau, ke, co, li - TS 28.03.1

Results from Ireland\u27s 2014 report card on physical activity in children and youth

Background: Physical activity (PA) levels are a key performance indicator for policy documents in Ireland. The first Ireland Report Card on Physical Activity in Children and Youth aims to set a robust baseline for future surveillance of indicators related to PA in children and youth. Methods: Data collected between 2003-2010 on more than 35,000 7- to 18-year-old children and youth were used and graded using a standardized grading system for 10 indicators. Results: Grades assigned for the indicators were as follows: overall physical activity levels, D-; sedentary behavior (TV viewing), C-; organized sport participation, C-: physical education, D-; active play, inconclusive (INC); active transportation, D; school, C-, community and the built environment, B; family, INC; and government, INC. Conclusions: PA recommendations exist in Ireland but this Report Card has shown that participation is still low. A number of promising policies, programs and services are in place but these require thorough evaluation and adequate resourcing. Agreement and implementation of a common framework for the systematic surveillance of indictors related to PA of children and youth is necessary to monitor change over time and ensure the impact of promising work is captured

‘Language has been granted too much power’. 1,p.1 Challenging the power of words with time and flexibility in the precommencement stage of research involving those with cognitive impairment

Meaningful and inclusive involvement of all people affected by research in the design, management and dissemination of that research requires skills, time, flexibility and resources. There continue to be research practices that create implicit and explicit exclusion of some members of the public who may be ‘seldom heard’ or ‘frequently ignored’. Our focus is particularly on the involvement of people living with cognitive impairment, including people with one of the many forms of dementia and people with learning disabilities. We reflect especially on issues relating to the precommencement stage of research. We suggest that despite pockets of creative good practice, research culture remains a distinct habitus that continues to privilege cognition and articulacy in numerous ways. We argue that in perpetuating this system, some researchers and the institutions that govern research are committing a form of bureaucratic violence. We call for a reimagining of the models of research governance, funding and processes to incorporate the time and flexibility that are essential for meaningful involved research, particularly at the precommencement stage. Only then will academic health and social science research that is truly collaborative, engaged, accessible and inclusive be commonplace

Results from Ireland north and south\u27s 2016 report card on physical activity for children and youth

Background: Physical activity (PA) is a key performance indicator for policy documents in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Building on baseline grades set in 2014, Ireland\u27s second Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth allows for continued surveillance of indicators related to PA in children and youth. Methods: Data and information were extracted and collated for 10 indicators and graded using an international standardized grading system. Results: Overall, 7 grades stayed the same, 2 increased, and 1 decreased. Grades were assigned as follows: Overall PA, D (an increase); Sedentary Behavior (TV), C-; Physical Education, D-; Active Play, Incomplete/Inconclusive (INC); Active Transportation, D; School, D (a decrease); Home (Family), INC; Community and the Built Environment, B+ (an increase); and Government, INC. Unlike 2014\u27s report card, different grades for the Republic (C-) and Northern Ireland (C+) were assigned for Organized Sport Participation. Conclusions: Although the grade for Overall PA levels increased to a D, this may reflect the increased quality and quantity of data available. The double burden of low PA and high sedentary levels are concerning and underscore the need for advocacy toward, and surveillance of, progress in achieving targets set by the new National Physical Activity Plan in the Republic and obesity and sport plans in the North