Perspectives on funding in the Irish voluntary sector: theory and practice

This research paper is focused on funding patterns in Irish voluntary organisations. To open the debate and set the discussion in its broader context, a brief overview of voluntary action in Ireland is presented. This is followed by an exploration of the main streams of funding which are available in support of voluntary action, including statutory, corporate and individual sources. Than, building on this broad overview of funding practices, a report is presented on empirical research undertaken in order to provide insights into the funding sources used by a cross-section of Irish voluntary organisations

Managing Homelessness: Towards a Holistic Paradigm Perspectives from Ireland and Australia

The problem of homelessness still persists in many advanced capitalist Societies today, despite marked improvements in their overall economic prosperity. The broad objective of this research is ro undertake a comparative study of approaches to addressing the problem of homelessness in two such ocieties - the Republic of Ireland and the State of Victoria in Australia - and to develop an outline model, which addresses the problem of homelessness in a more holistic manner. The two locations of Ireland and Victoria were chosen because major reviews of homelessness policies have been undertaken recently in both areas. In addition, although geographically distant, they are of a similar size in terms of population, with just under 4 million in the Republic of Ireland and 4.8 million in Victoria. Also, strong historical and cultural links exist between the two jurisdictions, which can be traced back to deportation in the nineteenth century. The discussion commences with a brief overview of homeless ness as both a theoretical and a practical construct, providing a backdrop to the more focused part of the study. Moving on to the main part of the work, perspectives on homelessness in Ireland and Victoria are presented. The next task is to review the limited data available in order to identifY similarities and differences that may emerge, and relate them to the more general findings in the literature. Finally, the case is made for the need to adopt a more holistic approach to addressing the problem of homelessness and an outline model is presented

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Acceptability, satisfaction and perceived efficacy of “Space from Depression” an internet-delivered treatment for depression

Background: There are clear advantages to internet-delivered interventions for depression. Users' perspectives on the acceptability, satisfaction, and efficacy of an internet-delivered treatment for depression can inform future developments in the area. Methods: Respondents (n = 281) were participants in an 8 week supported internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy treatment for depressive symptoms. Self-report online questionnaires gathered quantitative and qualitative data on the user experience. Principle findings: Most respondents were satisfied with the programme (n = 191), felt supported (n = 203), reported positive gains and impact resulting from use of the programme, and perceived these to be likely to be lasting effects (n=149). Flexibility and accessibility were themost liked aspects. A small number of respondents felt their needs were not met by the intervention (n=64); for this group suggestions for improvements centred on the programme's structure and how supporter feedback is delivered. Conclusion: Results will deepen the understanding of users' experience and inform the development and implementation of evidence-based internet-delivered interventions

Sex differences in oncogenic mutational processes

Funder: Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100002790Funder: Genome Canada (Génome Canada); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/100008762Funder: Canada Foundation for Innovation (Fondation canadienne pour l'innovation); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000196Funder: Terry Fox Research Institute (Institut de Recherche Terry Fox); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100004376Abstract: Sex differences have been observed in multiple facets of cancer epidemiology, treatment and biology, and in most cancers outside the sex organs. Efforts to link these clinical differences to specific molecular features have focused on somatic mutations within the coding regions of the genome. Here we report a pan-cancer analysis of sex differences in whole genomes of 1983 tumours of 28 subtypes as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium. We both confirm the results of exome studies, and also uncover previously undescribed sex differences. These include sex-biases in coding and non-coding cancer drivers, mutation prevalence and strikingly, in mutational signatures related to underlying mutational processes. These results underline the pervasiveness of molecular sex differences and strengthen the call for increased consideration of sex in molecular cancer research

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts