Open access to publications, including peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, working papers, reports, and other scholarly communications by University of Galway researchers.
University of Galway Research Repository
Recent Submissions
Publication Open Access Next generation hosts for protein recognition, assembly and more(Wiley, 2025-12-05)This Perspective describes an apparent transition in the design and function of synthetic receptors for proteins. It is shown that the original receptor design, geared toward protein recognition, lends itself also to receptor self-assembly and concomitant protein assembly. While evidence for this effect has lain somewhat dormant for two decades, numerous recent examples raise interesting possibilities for innovation in protein binding, encapsulation, and crystal engineering. In a bid to inspire future research and collaboration, I speculate on new receptor designs. Considering current developments with nanocarbon hosts, anionic variants might facilitate protein assembly and the bottom-up fabrication of hybrid materials.Publication Open Access The quality and reliability of short videos about melasma on TikTok and Bilibili: A cross-sectional study(Wiley, 2025-12-09)Background Melasma is a common chronic hyperpigmentation disorder that substantially impairs patients' quality of life. With the rapid growth of short-video platforms such as TikTok and Bilibili, an increasing number of patients are turning to these media for health-related information. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of melasma-related videos available on TikTok and Bilibili. Methods Between August 17 and 19, 2025, we searched Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) and Bilibili using the Chinese keyword “黄褐斑” (“melasma”), and included the top 150 videos under each platform's default comprehensive ranking. The search and analysis were conducted in Chinese, reflecting the linguistic and geographical context of mainland China. Video characteristics and engagement metrics were recorded. The quality and reliability of the videos were independently evaluated by two researchers using the Global Quality Score (GQS) and the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) instrument. Results A total of 237 videos were included in this study. Content was dominated by clinical manifestations (46.8%), etiology (44.3%), and diagnosis (40.1%), whereas treatment-related content was markedly underrepresented (9.7%). The median video length was 127.00 s (70.75–270.50) on Bilibili and 47.00 s (35.00–96.00) on TikTok. TikTok videos achieved significantly higher engagement than Bilibili (p < 0.05). Overall video quality was moderate, with both GQS and mDISCERN showing a median score of 3.00 (IQR: 2.00–4.00). The mDISCERN score of Bilibili videos was 3.00 (3.00–4.00), significantly higher than TikTok (p < 0.05). Videos uploaded by healthcare professionals scored 3.00 (3.00–4.00) on GQS and 3.00 (2.00–4.00) on mDISCERN, both significantly higher than those uploaded by non-healthcare professionals (p < 0.05). Conclusions This study found that melasma-related short videos presented an incomplete content structure, with treatment-related information being markedly underrepresented. The overall quality of the videos was moderate, whereas those produced by healthcare professionals demonstrated higher quality and reliability. Future efforts should encourage greater participation from healthcare professionals and the implementation of refined content strategies, with the aim of improving both the quality and educational value of dermatology-related short video resources.Publication Open Access Pastoral power: Perspectives on the present(SAGE Publications, 2025-12-08)This introduction to this special section of Theory, Culture & Society focuses on the formation of power that Michel Foucault – in a number of texts and lectures from the late 1970s and early 1980s – analyzed under the label of ‘the pastorate’. Stressing the ongoing socio-political relevance of pastoral power, the article outlines some of the ways in which it continues to directly influence and animate an array of secular governmental techniques in manners that other critical paradigms can only partially account for. In this, it takes as its focal point two interrelated problematiques: (1) the relation between truth and subjectivity as a constitutive element of modern power relations and (2) the theological subtexts of modern governmentality – demonstrating how they are elaborated upon by the articles comprising the special section.Publication Open Access Functionalizing injectable hydrogels with cobalt-based metallacarboranes for targeted delivery in triple-negative breast cancer(Wiley, 2025-10-07)Cobalt-based metallacarboranes have emerged as potential candidates for cancer treatment owing to their unique structural properties. In this study, a biocompatible delivery platform is developed by noncovalently incorporating cobalt metallacarborane (CoSAN) into hyaluronic acid (HA) functionalized with lysine (Lys). HA-Lys 2 enables the electrostatic interaction of CoSAN while retaining its cytotoxic activity, as confirmed by cellular assays using MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells. Elemental mapping via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirms the successful and homogeneous incorporation of CoSAN to lead HA-Lys-CoSAN 3, and the composite is further characterized using diffusion-ordered nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (DOSY). Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy data demonstrate comparable cellular uptake in MDA-MB-231 cells of free and HA-loaded CoSAN. Additionally, release studies under physiologically relevant conditions show a sustained release profile over 24 h with pH dependency to mimic normal and tumor microenvironments. The present study describes a viable method for integrating metallacarboranes into a polymeric drug delivery system without compromising their anticancer properties, thereby advancing their potential for future therapeutic use.Publication Open Access Ireland’s “Historical” abuse inquiries and the secrecy of records and archives(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2022)[No abstract available]
Communities in Research Repository
Select a community to browse its collections.