An Introduction to Tutoring in the Writing Centre

This booklet is one of a series commissioned by the All Ireland Society for Higher Education (AISHE) and the Irish Network for the Enhancement of Writing (INEW). It is intended as a first step for colleagues who are new to the idea of a writing centre in a higher education institute. The booklet is organised into two sections. Part 1 provides a brief overview, which answers some broad questions about tutoring in a writing centre. Part 2 presents four approaches to tutoring in writing centres

An Introduction to Tutoring in the Writing Centre

This booklet is one of a series commissioned by the All Ireland Society for Higher Education (AISHE) and the Irish Network for the Enhancement of Writing (INEW). It is intended as a first step for colleagues who are new to the idea of a writing centre in a higher education institute. The booklet is organised into two sections. Part 1 provides a brief overview, which answers some broad questions about tutoring in a writing centre. Part 2 presents four approaches to tutoring in writing centres

Blow the Wind

David Mooney (arranger) writes This arrangement for choir, harp and treble solo combines two well-know folk tunes relating to the subject of the wind. It has been written specially for this project. The North Wind Doth Blow and Blow the Wind Southerly provide the principal thematic material. The two beautiful melodies are woven into the setting while the harp provides a descriptive underlay and word-painting . The performers are Dr. Cliona Doris (concert harp), Max O\u27Neill (treble solo), The DIT Junior Choirs (dir. by Dr. Lorraine O\u27Connell), Niamh McCormack (soprano), Aoife Moore (soprano) and Sheena Styles (alto)

Does an adapted Dialectical Behaviour Therapy skills training programme result in positive outcomes for participants with a dual diagnosis? A mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND Treating severe emotional dysregulation and co-occurring substance misuse is challenging. Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive and evidence-based treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD). It has been hypothesised that the skills training, which is a facet of the full DBT programme, might be effective for people with severe emotional dysregulation and other co-occurring conditions, but who do not meet the criteria for BPD. However, there is limited research on standalone DBT skills training for people with substance misuse and emotional dysregulation. METHODS A mixed methods study employing an explanatory sequential design was conducted where participants with a dual diagnosis (n = 64) were recruited from a community-based public addiction treatment service in Ireland between March 2015 and January 2018. DBT therapists screened potential participants against the study eligibility criteria. Quantitative self-report measures examining emotion regulation, mindfulness, adaptive and maladaptive coping responses including substance misuse, and qualitative feedback from participants were collected. Quantitative data were summarised by their mean and standard deviation and multilevel linear mixed effects models were used to estimate the mean change from baseline to post-intervention and the 6-month follow-up period. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. RESULTS Quantitative results indicated reductions in binge drinking and use of Class A, B and C drug use from pre-intervention (T1) to the 6-month follow-up (T3). Additionally, significant improvements were noted for mindfulness practice and DBT skills use from T1 to T3 (p < 0.001). There were also significant reductions in dysfunctional coping and emotional dysregulation from T1 to T3 (p < 0.001). Significant differences were identified from pre to post intervention in reported substance use, p = 0.002. However, there were no significant differences between pre-intervention and 6-month follow up reports of substance use or at post-intervention to 6 month follow up. Qualitative findings indicated three superordinate themes in relation to participants' experiences of a DBT skills training programme, adapted from standard DBT: (1) new lease of life; (2) need for continued formal aftercare and (3) programme improvements. Participants described reductions in substance misuse, while having increased confidence to use the DBT skills they had learned in the programme to deal with difficult emotions and life stressors. CONCLUSIONS This DBT skills training programme, adapted from standard DBT, showed positive results for participants and appears effective in treating people with co-occurring disorders. Qualitative results of this mixed methods study corroborate the quantitative results indicating that the experiences of participants have been positive. The study indicates that a DBT skills programme may provide a useful therapeutic approach to managing co-occurring symptoms

Typography as a catalyst for research constructing identity and meaning through type

The designer of today is solving complex problems across media, in networked environments, and often in contexts well beyond the realm of previously considered ‘graphic design’. Among other skills, the literacy of other disciplines, the ability to be nimble in practice, engage in participatory design, and the capacity to conduct, interpret and synthesise research is imperative. As educators whose practice and research specialties lie within the realm of typography, we are interested in incorporating cultural literacy and complexity into our typography course assignments. Our goal is to change the way students perceive and utilise typography, shifting the viewpoint from type as a vehicle of communicating content, to typography as a catalyst for, and means of, researching. A framework demonstrating a design methodology using typography in the classroom is shared, which can also translate into practice. Through curating and authoring content, students typographically interpret research, providing a space for their research to dictate the final form, rather than relying on typographic trends

Persistent fatigue following SARS-CoV-2 infection is common and independent of severity of initial infection.

Fatigue is a common symptom in those presenting with symptomatic COVID-19 infection. However, it is unknown if COVID-19 results in persistent fatigue in those recovered from acute infection. We examined the prevalence of fatigue in individuals recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 illness using the Chalder Fatigue Score (CFQ-11). We further examined potential predictors of fatigue following COVID-19 infection, evaluating indicators of COVID-19 severity, markers of peripheral immune activation and circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Of 128 participants (49.5 ± 15 years; 54% female), more than half reported persistent fatigue (67/128; 52.3%) at median of 10 weeks after initial COVID-19 symptoms. There was no association between COVID-19 severity (need for inpatient admission, supplemental oxygen or critical care) and fatigue following COVID-19. Additionally, there was no association between routine laboratory markers of inflammation and cell turnover (leukocyte, neutrophil or lymphocyte counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein) or pro-inflammatory molecules (IL-6 or sCD25) and fatigue post COVID-19. Female gender and those with a pre-existing diagnosis of depression/anxiety were over-represented in those with fatigue. Our findings demonstrate a significant burden of post-viral fatigue in individuals with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection after the acute phase of COVID-19 illness. This study highlights the importance of assessing those recovering from COVID-19 for symptoms of severe fatigue, irrespective of severity of initial illness, and may identify a group worthy of further study and early intervention

Identification of a Novel and Selective Series of Itk Inhibitors via a Template-Hopping Strategy

Inhibition of Itk potentially constitutes a novel, nonsteroidal treatment for asthma and other T-cell mediated diseases. In-house kinase cross-screening resulted in the identification of an aminopyrazole-based series of Itk inhibitors. Initial work on this series highlighted selectivity issues with several other kinases, particularly AurA and AurB. A template-hopping strategy was used to identify a series of aminobenzothiazole Itk inhibitors, which utilized an inherently more selective hinge binding motif. Crystallography and modeling were used to rationalize the observed selectivity. Initial exploration of the SAR around this series identified potent Itk inhibitors in both enzyme and cellular assays