CORA
Cork Open Research Archive (CORA) is UCC’s Open Access institutional repository which enables UCC researchers to make their research outputs freely available and accessible.
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The re-signification of state-funded community development in Ireland: a problem of austerity and neoliberal government
(SAGE Publications, 2018) Meade, Rosie R.
This article analyses the changing rationalities and techniques through which the Irish state seeks to govern community development; specifically, how the displacement of its flagship Community Development Programme by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme has been justified and operationalised. Adopting a governmentality perspective, it explains how community development came to be constructed as an anti-poverty strategy and why it should also be understood as a ‘technology of government’. This article argues that the changing governmentalities shaping Irish community development are reflected in a re-problematisation and re-signification of community development’s purposes, rationalities and sources of legitimacy. Under the cover of austerity’s manufactured public spending crisis and new forms of expertise, preoccupations with effectiveness, efficiency and international best practice have intensified, thus demonstrating ongoing incursions by neoliberal ideas and practices in Irish Social Policy.
Gig work and the platform economy
(Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024-06-11) Duggan, James
The emergence of the gig economy and its associated labour forms represents a significant disruptor in the world of work. Structured around platform organisations that digitally connect freelance workers with customers to perform short, once-off tasks or ‘gigs’ (Adams-Prassl, 2022; Cennamo, 2019), work in the gig economy typically centres on the provision of on-demand services for customers, such as transportation, food or grocery delivery, and cleaning or DIY services (Duggan et al., 2022). This chapter reviews key trends in the gig economy and its implications for work and employment. The chapter begins by tracing the emergence and growth of gig work, highlighting noteworthy developments and controversies that have contributed to current understandings. Next, several employment-based issues in gig work will be explored, specifically considering the unique roles of platform organisations and workers in this novel context. From the platform organisation perspective, the chapter examines the prevalence and strategic use of algorithms to manage and coordinate gig workforces. From the worker perspective, the focus is on understanding the lived experiences of those who partake in gig work, particularly in seeking to recognise the positives, negatives, and uncertainties of this unique working arrangement. Finally, the chapter concludes by considering potential future directions in this new economy, with a focus on combining research and policy-based approaches to address some of the notable tensions that dominate current discourse.
Enhancing CT examination efficiency with ChatGPT-4o for multilingual Hajj pilgrims: A short communication
(Elsevier Inc., 2025-10-19) Hadi, Yasser H.; Altalhi, Fatimah K.; Ali, Hussam M.; Shabli, Mohammed A.; Abu Aqil, Abdulrahman I.; England, Andrew
Introduction/background: The annual Hajj pilgrimage brings millions of Muslims from diverse linguistic backgrounds to Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This poses significant communication challenges in medical settings, particularly during complex procedures like computed tomography (CT) examinations. In 2024, a tertiary care hospital integrated ChatGPT-4o real-time translation technology to address these challenges. This short communication aims to provide an initial assessment of the effectiveness of ChatGPT-4o in improving communication, procedure quality, and examination efficiency for multilingual Hajj pilgrims. Methods: This quantitative study, conducted in the radiology department, analysed data from two periods: June 20 to July 8, 2023, and June 7 to June 23, 2024. Ethical clearance was obtained, and key variables measured included examination time (in minutes), patient throughput (cases per shift), and the number of scans with artifacts. Feedback on communication and satisfaction was gathered from both patients and radiographers. Paired t-tests were used to compare mean values of examination times, throughput, and artifact occurrence between the two periods, with a significance level set at P < 0.05. Results: A paired t-test revealed a statistically significant (p < 0.01) reduction in mean examination time (from 15.4 (2.1) minutes in 2023 to 11.1 (1.7) minutes in 2024) following the introduction of ChatGPT-4o. This reduction corresponded with an increase in mean (standard deviation) patient throughput from 49.5 (4.8) cases per shift in 2023 to 56.2 (5.3) cases per shift in 2024 (P < 0.01). The number of scans with artifacts also decreased significantly, from 30 out of 748 scans in 2023 to 8 out of 885 scans in 2024 (P < 0.01). Discussion: The integration of ChatGPT-4o significantly improved communication between healthcare providers and patients, leading to better compliance with procedure instructions and fewer repeat scans. Training programs facilitated efficient use of the technology by radiographers, further improving workflow efficiency. Despite initial integration and acceptance challenges, patients and radiographers reported high satisfaction with the improved communication and reduced stress levels. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ChatGPT-4o real-time translation improved patient communication, procedure quality, and examination efficiency. The technology reduced examination times and increased patient throughput, with positive feedback from patients and radiographers, indicating its effectiveness in multilingual medical settings.
Variations in sexual identity milestones among asexual people
(Springer Nature, 2024-11-07) Kelleher, Sinéad; Murphy, Mike; Murphy, Raegan
There is increasing interest in the interpersonal factors that shape the development of asexual individual’s sexual identity, including age, gender, and romantic orientation. In this study, we examined variability in timing and pacing of asexual identity development milestones, with a focus on the diversity present in the asexual population. Among a sample of 317 participants aged 18–59 from three distinct birth cohorts, we measured participants’ ages of asexual identity development milestones, including: first awareness of a lack of sexual attraction, first searching for orientation, first discovery of the term asexuality, first self-identification, and first disclosure. Participants from more recent cohorts reported earlier and accelerated pacing of milestones relative to those from middle and older cohorts. Subgroups defined by gender also varied in milestone timing, with cisgender participants experiencing asexual identity development milestones at a later age than gender non-binary cohorts. No significant difference in milestones were found among romantic orientation sub-groups, apart from the timing of identity disclosure. Romantic-identified asexual individuals disclosed their asexual identities much sooner than aromantic-identified asexual individuals following identification as asexual. By comparing differences within subpopulations, the results of this study extend upon our understanding of the various sub-identities that exist within the asexual population and attend to different experiences within the asexual community. This in turn contributes towards our understanding of how asexual people experience interpersonal relationships, their interactions with others, and how they develop a positive sense of identity.
Predicting admission to neonatal care unit at mid-pregnancy and delivery using data from a general obstetric population
(Springer Nature, 2024-10-17) Maher, Gillian M.; McKernan, Joye; O’Byrne, Laura; Walsh, Brian H.; Corcoran, Paul; Greene, Richard A.; Higgins, John R.; Khashan, Ali S.; McCarthy, Fergus P.; Health Research Board
Objectives: Development and validation of risk prediction models at mid-pregnancy and delivery to predict admission to the neonatal care unit. Methods: We used data from all singleton deliveries at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), Ireland during 2019. Admission to the neonatal care unit was assumed if length of stay in the unit was > 24 h. Multivariable logistic regression with backward stepwise selection was used to develop the models. Discrimination was assessed using the ROC curve C-statistic, and internal validation was assessed using bootstrapping techniques. We conducted temporal external validation using data from all singleton deliveries at CUMH during 2020. Results: Out of 6,077 women, 5,809 (95.6%) with complete data were included in the analyses. A total of 612 infants (10.54%) were admitted to the neonatal care unit for > 24 hours. Six variables were informative at mid-pregnancy: male infants, maternal smoking, advancing maternal age, maternal overweight/obesity, nulliparity and history of gestational diabetes (C-statistic: 0.600, 95% CI: 0.567, 0.614). Seven variables were informative at delivery: male infants, nulliparity, public antenatal care, gestational age < 39 weeks’, non-spontaneous vaginal delivery, premature rupture of membranes and time of birth between 17:01–07.59 h (C-statistic: 0.738, 95% CI: 0.715, 0.760). Using these predictors, we developed nomograms to calculate individualised risk of neonatal care unit admission. Bootstrapping indicated good internal performance and external validation suggested good reproducibility. Discussion: Our nomograms allow the user to quickly estimate individualised risk of neonatal care unit admission. Future research should aim to improve accuracy in early pregnancy to better assist counselling of parents.