From Boom to Bust: a Post-Celtic Tiger analysis of the Norms, Values and Roles of Irish Financial Journalists

The collapse of Ireland\u27s economy into its worst recession in modern history has prompted some professional reflection about the roles and responsibilities of the country’s financial journalists. Conor Brady, a former editor of the Irish Times, asked in a commentary article published in his former paper: ‘Was the forming of this crisis reportable earlier? Were emerging trends apparent? Did they [the news media] do as good a job as they might have in flagging the approaching storm?’ Brady, editor of the paper between 1986 and 2002, the period corresponding to the rise of the Celtic Tiger economy, concluded that criticisms of the systemic problems in the financial system were articulated by some figures in key positions in Irish society, but were not reported in the news media ‘in a form that was sufficiently sustained, coherent and authoritative’

Cross-sectional study on the need to provide contraceptive services to women attending opioid-substitution therapy

Background: Women with opioid use disorders who have unintended pregnancies face unique challenges. A common strategy for preventing unintended pregnancies among these women is to increase their use of long acting reversible contraception (LARC), especially the implant and intrauterine device. This study aimed to assess the pregnancy history, contraceptive use and access to contraceptive services of women attending Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) for opioid replacement therapy. The need for a contraceptive service within the Addiction Services at CKCH was evaluated. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey administered by healthcare providers to 39 women, ages 18-50, attending CKCH for opioid replacement therapy. Descriptive statistics were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Data Editor. Results: 79.5% of participants had unintended pregnancies, and 23% had 3 or more unintended pregnancies. Of the participants’ children, 35% lived with their mother, 37% lived in care, and 24% lived with another family member. 31% of participants reported never having used LARC. 18% of participants reported never having received information on pregnancy prevention and 21% reported never having received information on STI prevention. 92% of participants reported that they would use a contraceptive service if it were provided within the addiction services at CKCH. Conclusions: This study highlights the need to increase contraceptive services for women attending CKCH for opioid replacement therapy. Addiction services are ideal locations to also access contraceptive services because service-users already attend these clinics frequently for treatment, and thus have continuity of care with healthcare providers

The impact of healthcare assistant education on pressure ulcer prevention: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of education for healthcare assistants (HCAs) on their knowledge and skills in pressure ulcer (PU) prevention and on the incidence of PUs. A secondary aim was to evaluate education methodologies used in PU prevention programmes. METHOD: Using systematic review methodology, key databases were searched with no limitations on date of publication. The search was conducted in November 2021 using the following databases: CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, MEDLINE, Cochrane Wounds Group Specialist Register and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Inclusion criteria focused on studies that employed the use of education as an intervention, delivered to HCAs in any setting. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Evidence-Based Librarianship (EBL) appraisal checklist. Data were analysed using narrative analysis and meta-analysis. RESULTS: The systematic search yielded an initial 449 records, of which 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. Outcome measures of HCA knowledge scores were reported in 11 (79%) studies. Outcome measures related to PU prevalence/incidence were reported in 11 (79%) studies. An increase in knowledge scores of HCAs post-educational intervention was reported in five (38%) studies. A significant reduction in PU prevalence/incidence rates post-educational intervention was reported in nine (64%) studies. CONCLUSION: This systematic review affirms the benefits of education of HCAs on their knowledge and skills of PU prevention, and on PU incidence. The results must be treated with caution due to quality appraisal issues of included studies

NK cells in childhood obesity are activated, metabolically stressed, and functionally deficient

Childhood obesity is a major global concern, with over 50 million children now classified as obese. Obesity has been linked to the development of numerous chronic inflammatory diseases, including type 2 diabetes and multiple cancers. NK cells are a subset of innate effector cells, which play an important role in the regulation of adipose tissue and antitumor immunity. NK cells can spontaneously kill transformed cells and coordinate subsequent immune responses through their production of cytokines. We investigated the effect of obesity on NK cells in a cohort of obese children, compared to children with a healthy weight. We demonstrated a reduction in peripheral NK cell frequencies in childhood obesity and inverse correlations with body mass index and insulin resistance. Compared with NK cells from children with normal weight, we show increased NK cell activation and metabolism in obese children (PD-1, mTOR activation, ECAR, and mitochondrial ROS), along with a reduced capacity to respond to stimulus, ultimately leading to loss of function (proliferation and tumor lysis). Collectively we show that NK cells from obese children are activated, metabolically stressed, and losing the ability to perform their basic duties. Paired with the reduction in NK cell frequencies in childhood obesity, this suggests that the negative effect on antitumor immunity is present early in the life course of obesity and certainly many years before the development of overt malignancies

Assessing the healthcare costs associated with venous leg ulcer compression bandages – A scoping review

Aim: To determine the monetary costs identified in economic evaluations of treatment with compression bandages among adults with venous leg ulcers (VLU). Method: A scoping review of existing publications was conducted in February 2023. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. To place the costs of treatment into context, these are reported in conjunction with the healing rates. Three comparisons were made: 1.4 layer compression versus no compression (3 studies). One study reported that 4 layer compression was more expensive than usual care (£804.03 vs £681.04, respectively), while the 2 other studies reported the converse (£145 vs £162, respectively) and all costs (£116.87 vs £240.28 respectively). Within the three studies, the odds of healing were statistically significantly greater with 4 layer bandaging (OR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.54–3.15; p = 0.001).; 2.4 layer compression versus other compression (6 studies). For the three studies reporting the mean costs per patient associated with treatment (bandages alone), over the treatment period, analysis identified a mean difference (MD) in costs for 4 layer vs comparator 1 (2 layer compression, short-stretch compression, 2 layer compression hosiery, 2 layer cohesive compression, 2 layer compression) of −41.60 (95% CI: 91.40 to 8.20; p = 0.10). The OR of healing for 4 layer compression vs comparator 1 (2 layer compression, short-stretch compression, 2 layer compression hosiery, 2 layer cohesive compression, 2 layer compression) is: 0.70 (95% CI: 0.57–0.85; p = 0.004). For 4 layer vs comparator 2 (2 layer compression) the MD is: 14.00 (95% CI: 53.66 to −25.66; p \u3c 0.49). The OR of healing for 4 layer compression vs comparator 2 (2 layer compression) is: 3.26 (95% CI: 2.54–4.18; p \u3c 0.00001). For comparator 1 (2 layer compression, short-stretch compression, 2 layer compression hosiery, 2 layer cohesive compression, 2 layer compression) vs comparator 2 (2 layer compression) the MD in costs is: 55.60 (95% CI: 95.26 to −15.94; p = 0.006). The OR of healing with Comparator 1 (2 layer compression, short-stretch compression, 2 layer compression hosiery, 2 layer cohesive compression, 2 layer compression) is: 5.03 (95% CI:4.10–6.17; p \u3c 0.00001). Three studies presented the mean annual costs per patient associated with treatment (all costs). The MD is 172 (150–194; p = 0.401), indicating no statistically significant difference in costs between the groups. All studies showed faster healing rates in the 4 layer study groups. 3. Compression wrap versus inelastic bandage (one study). Compression wrap was less expensive than inelastic bandage (£201 vs £335, respectively) with more wounds healing in the compression wrap group (78.8%, n = 26/33; 69.7%, n = 23/33). Conclusion: The results for the analysis of costs varied across the included studies. As with the primary outcome, the results indicated that the costs of compression therapy are inconsistent. Given the methodological heterogeneity among studies, future studies in this area are needed and these should use specific methodological guidelines to generate high-quality health economic studies

Integrated microinductors on semiconductor substrates for power supply on chip (Invited)

Microinductors were fabricated using electrodeposition for integration on semiconductor substrates. The process was optimised through validated models developed to focus on efficiency and footprint. Lithographic processing was performed to microfabricate Cu coils over a magnetic core. A racetrack design was used to maximise the high frequency response, yielding high inductance density and low DC resistance. The magnetic core was subsequently closed using a magnetic thin film deposition over a dielectric deposited on the Cu coils. Homogeneous ferromagnetic alloy, Ni45Fe55 of uniform thickness over a high aspect-ratio 3D structure has been achieved. Ni45Fe55 was chosen for the fabrication of micromagnetic cores due to its relatively high saturation flux density (1.6 T), resistivity (48 mΩ cm) and anisotropy field (9.5 Oe). The rationale, design, microfabrication process and characterisation results are presented

Gamma band light stimulation in human case studies: Groundwork for potential Alzheimer\u27s disease treatment

It is known that proteins associated with Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) pathogenesis are significantly reduced by 40¿Hz entrainment in mice. If this were to translate to humans, verifying that such a light stimulus can induce a 40¿Hz entrainment response in humans and harnessing insights from these case studies could be one step in the development of a multisensory device to prevent and treat AD. Verify the inducement of a 40¿Hz response in the human brain by a 40¿Hz light stimulus and obtain insights that could potentially aid in the development of a multisensory device for the prevention and treatment of AD. Electroencephalographic brain activity was recorded simultaneously with application of stimulus at different frequencies and intensities. Power spectral densities were analyzed. Entrainment to visual stimuli occurred with the largest response at 40¿Hz. The high intensity 40¿Hz stimulus caused widespread entrainment. The number of electrodes demonstrating entrainment increased with increasing light intensity. Largest amplitudes for the high intensity 40¿Hz stimulus were consistently found at the primary visual cortex. There was a harmonic effect at double the frequency for the 40¿Hz stimulus. An eyes-open protocol caused more entrainment than an eyes-closed protocol. It was possible to induce widespread entrainment using a 40¿Hz light stimulus in this sample cohort. Insights gleaned from these case studies could potentially aid in the development of a multisensory medical device to prevent and treat AD