Dichotic listening with syllables: Effects of forced attention.

This study compares results from three dichotic listening experiments involving different methods of attention control. In each experiment, participants completed a dichotic listening task requiring two responses to syllables and we noted the order of report for the responses. In Experiment 1, participants reported from a specific ear first in trial blocks.

Preprocedural cardiac computed tomography versus transesophageal echocardiography for planning left atrial appendage occlusion procedures.

The heterogeneous anatomy of the left atrial appendage (LAA) necessitates preprocedural imaging essential for planning of percutaneous LAA occlusion (LAAO) procedures. While transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) remains the gold standard, cardiac computed tomography (CT) is becoming increasingly popular. To address the lack of consensus on the optimal imaging modality, we compared the outcomes of preprocedural TOE versus CT for LAAO procedure planning.

Quantifying physical activity, physical education and active travel in children and adolescents with visual Impairments.

Background: Meeting the physical activity (PA) guidelines for children, as set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has a range of physical and mental health benefits. For children who are blind or vision impaired (BVI), additional benefits include social inclusion and reduced falls risk. While previous research has demonstrated low PA levels across most demographics, little research has been done in the Irish context to quantify PA in children who are BVI.

Doctoral training to support sustainable soil geochemistry research in Africa.

Africa's potential for scientific research is not yet being realized, for various reasons including a lack of researchers in many fields and insufficient funding. Strengthened research capacity through doctoral training programmes in higher education institutes (HEIs) in Africa, to include collaboration with national, regional and international research institutions, can facilitate self-reliant and sustainable research to support socio-economic development. In 2012, the Royal Society and the UK's Department for International Development (now the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) launched the Africa Capacity Building Initiative (ACBI) Doctoral Training Network which aimed to strengthen research capacity and training across sub-Saharan Africa.