Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Use Of Machine Learning Methods In Automatic Assessment Programming Assignments, Botond Tarcsay

Masters

Programming has become an important skill in today’s world and is taught widely both in traditional settings and online. Instructors need to assess increasing amounts of student work. Unit testing can contribute to the automation of the grading process; however, it cannot assess the structures, style and partially correct source code or differentiate between levels of achievement. The topic of this thesis is an investigation into the use of machine learning methods for assessing the correctness and quality of code, with the ultimate goal of assisting instructors in the grading process. In this research, we have used nine different machine …

Measuring Semantic Similarity Of Documents By Using Named Entity Recognition Methods, David Efraín Muñoz Morales

Masters

The work presented in this thesis was born from the desire to map documents with similar semantic concepts between them. We decided to address this problem as a named entity recognition task, where we have identified key concepts in the texts we use, and we have categorized them. So, we can apply named entity recognition techniques and automatically recognize these key concepts inside other documents. However, we propose the use of a classification method based on the recognition of named entities or key phrases, where the method can detect similarities between key concepts of the texts to be analyzed, and …

To Investigate The Foveal Avascular Zone In A Young Healthy Population Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography, Susan O'Shea

Masters

Introduction/Aims Inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can alter the size and shape of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ). Macular pigment (MP), a powerful antioxidant, located at the macula can protect the eye from oxidative stress damage. This study aims to investigate possible factors affecting the FAZ, such as vessel perfusion and overweight/obesity, in association with MP status in a young, healthy population. Normative values for FAZ size/shape and vascularity will also be proposed.

Methods One hundred and fifty-four subjects aged 18-35 years old were recruited. Superficial FAZ area, diameter, ganglion cell layer, central macular …

An Investigation Into Employee Exposure To Environmental Tobacco Smoke Within Designated Smoking Areas In The Hospitality Industry, With An Analysis Of Legislative Compliance Of Said Designated Smoking Areas, Hannah Byrne

Masters

Background: Occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is still occurring in the hospitality industry and the instance of non-compliant smoking areas required investigation. A designated smoking area covered by a roof where more than 50% of the perimeter of that part is surrounded by one or more walls is deemed a non-compliant smoking area. This study aimed to gather evidence of non-compliances across Dublin, determine current employee exposure whilst also measuring PM2.5 concentrations within smoking areas as well as providing insight into possible immediate health effects of ETS exposure.

Methods: Seventy-five smoking areas (41 located in high, 27 in …

Echocardiography Audit On Patients With Hereditary Haemochromatosis, Lorna Doran

Masters

Background: The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Guidelines for Hereditary Haemochromatosis (HH) refer specifically to symptomatic Homozygous C282Y patients and provide an algorithm for treating such patients who are predisposed to iron overloading. The British Society of Echocardiography does not make provisions for HH patients per se. Cardiac failure is a known complication of severe iron overload although it is atypical. Aim: To retrospectively investigate if an echocardiogram (echo) was warranted in the HH population at Louth County Hospital (LCH) Venesection Clinic based on the current guidelines. Methods: A cohort of 833 HH patients was reviewed …

Multipoint Spectroscopy And Stereoscopic Imaging Of Pharmaceutical Particles, Hicham Rifai

Masters

Particle and granule properties play a key role in the final product quality of pharmaceuticals. Thus the identification and monitoring of key chemical and physical parameters is essential in the production of pharmaceuticals. The existing off-line methods are generally slow and labour intensive. Near infra-red (NIR) multipoint spectroscopy and image analysis are an attractive alternative compared to the traditional methods because they are both nondestructive and non-interfering allowing the analysis in real time of particles physical and chemical properties. This research is a preliminary study performed at laboratory scale and aims at developing chemometric and imaging algorithms for real time …

Thermal Comfort, Energy Usage And Fuel Poverty In A Sample Of Older Person’S Households In Dublin, Eugene Monahan

Masters

This research was conducted in twenty nine Dublin City Council senior citizen sheltered housing dwellings. Temperature (°C) and relative humidity (% RH) was recorded inside all dwellings using data loggers over two separate monitoring periods of four months between December and March of 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. Energy usage including gas and electricity was also recorded for each dwelling during both monitoring periods. Outside ambient temperature data for both periods was acquired from Met Eireann. A dwelling occupant questionnaire was completed to obtain relevant technical, social and behavioural data, and to establish the prevalence of fuel poverty amongst the sample. The …

Manufacture And Investigation Of Organic Composite Polymer Based Films For Advanced Flexible Solar Cells, Raffie Arshak

Masters

Modern society has created big challenges in the area of sustainable supply of energy to satisfy the needs of growing population and to account for depleting fossil fuel resources. The Irish Government has set targets for the energy sector by 2020, with 33% of electricity to be generated from renewable sources. Organic photovoltaic devices offer several advantages over expensive silicon solar cells, including deposition of ultra-thin films by spin-coating, printing and spray-coating. This in turn provides for the exciting possibility to make lightweight, flexible solar cells for a broad range of existing and emerging applications for security, military and medicine. …

Establishing Normative Data For The Visual Skills Of Gaelic Footballers, Valerie Kennelly

Masters

Although sports vision procedures have been implemented in many sports worldwide, no rigorous scientific investigation of the visual skills trends of Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) participants has been carried out in Ireland to date. The aim of this study was to identify the visual skills required to play Gaelic football and to establish normative data for those skills which can be used to classify, superior, above average, average, below average and inferior visual performance. Hardware visual skills including high and low contrast vision, stereo acuity, colour vision, and contrast sensitivity and software skills including eye hand co-ordination, dynamic fixation and …

Effect Of Reduction Of Breath-Holding Time In The Single-Breath Method To Assess Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity, Elsa Magro

Masters

Measurement of the diffusing capacity of the lung is part of the routine pulmonary function assessment in every patient and the single breath method is the most commonly used method. This method requires a subject to inspire a gas mixture followed by a 10 second (s) breath-hold. However dyspnoea may preclude measurement in patients with advanced pulmonary disease. We sought to determine if breath-hold time reduction had a significant effect on measured DLco values.
Forced spirometry and CO-diffusion by the single breath method were
performed by a respiratory scientist with a Jaeger master-screen PFT equipment, in duplicate with breath-holding of …

Macular Pigment: Practical Implications For Optometric Practice In Preventative Health Care And Visual Performance Enhancement, Grainne Scanlon

Masters

The macula is a specialised part of the retina responsible for detailed central and colour vision. The carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin are uniquely concentrated in the inner and central layers of the primate macula, where they are known as macular pigment (MP). It has been shown that MP is entirely of dietary origin and that lutein and zeaxanthin levels in serum, diet and retina correlate. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a disease of the macula and results in loss of central vision. MP, because of its optical filtration and antioxidant properties, may have an important role in the prevention …

An Investigation Into The Design, Development And Testing Of A Tool To Improve The Accessibility Of Access Information For People With Disabilities, Susan Codd

Masters

Independent access for all to the built environment is one of the most basic of human rights. It provides social inclusion, integration and acceptance in communities. People with disabilities often encounter barriers to such access, barriers that can discriminate and marginalise to the extent that it prohibits independent living. Visiting the built environment becomes a lottery whereby inaccessible features may be present around every corner. People with disabilities deserve more than operating on a system of chance; they require a tool to make an informed decision prior to embarking on a journey. However in order to provide such information three …

Investigation Of Velocity Profiles In Anatomically Realistic Renal Artery Flow Phantoms By Physiological Flow Experimentation, Deepa Chari

Masters

Renal Artery stenosis is one of the major causes of curable renovascular hypertension.An early investigation of renal artery stenosis helps in the management of renovascular hypertension by alternative, less-invasive methods such as drug treatments, thereby reducing the risk involved in the surgery. Therefore an early investigation of renal artery stenosis has been always an attractive goal for the physicians. The renal artery stenosis affects the blood velocity profile in the renal artery. These profiles can be investigated by quantitative Doppler Ultrasound measurements obtained by flow experimentations and can be used as a tool for the identification of renal artery stenosis. …

Spectroscopic Imaging Of Quantum Dot Cellular Interactions, Lorenzo Salford

Masters

Quantum dots (QDs) are a diverse class of engineered nanomaterials that have great potential for use as agents in imaging, diagnostics and drug-delivery because of their intense and photostable fluorescence. Advances in the field of nanotoxicology, however, have recently identified potential risks and hazards associated with exposure to QDs. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the capabilities of a synergistic range of different techniques, including cytotoxicity assays, confocal microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy, to probe their interaction with Biological systems. With the combination of these techniques it is hoped to understand the mechanisms of the interaction of QDs …

An Assessment Of Epiphytic Lichens, Lichen Diversity And Environmental Quality In The Semi-Natural Woodlands Of Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve, Enniskerry, County Wicklow, Lenka Mulligan

Masters

This research work adapted and applied a recently developed method for assessing epiphytic lichen species diversity to the Irish semi-natural woodlands of Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve, Enniskerry, County Wicklow. The study focused on the differences that arise in relation to acidophilous oak woodland (Blechno-Quercetum petraeae) versus ash-hazel woodland (Corylo-Fraxinetum). The research also addressed differences in relation to the mixed oak-ash-hazel woodland located in Knocksink Wood and the neighbouring woodland at the Powerscourt Waterfall. The frequency of occurrence of lichen species on a defined portion of tree bark was used as an estimate of diversity and to evaluate the degree of …

Silicone Rubber Passive Samplers For Water Quality Monitoring Of Persistent Organic Pollutants In The Marine Environment, Susan O'Hara

Masters

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are internationally considered as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which can be mutagenic, carcinogenic and may accumulate in aquatic organisms and potentially in the human chain. PCBs and PAHs are thus listed as priority pollutants in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and under the Convention for the protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (Oslo Paris Convention: OSPAR). Currently most marine monitoring programmes involving such compounds rely on the collection and analysis of discrete water/sediment grab samples or on the analysis of filter feeding indicator organisms e.g. mussels. Such measurements can provide …

Development Of A Workflow For The Comparison Of Classification Techniques, Zanifa Omary

Masters

As the interest in machine learning and data mining springs up, the problem of how to assess learning algorithms and compare classifiers become more pressing. This has been associated with the lack of comprehensive and complete workflow depending on the project scale to provide guidance to its users. This means the success or failure of the project can be highly dependent on the person or team carrying it. The standard practice adopted by many researchers and experimenters has been to follow steps or phases from existing workflows such as CRISP-DM, KDD and SASSEMMA. However, as machine learning and data mining …

Metal Coordination And Cis-Trans Isomerisation Of Benzene Dihydrodiols, Catriona O'Meara

Masters

Abstract In this thesis, a viable route for conversion of arene cis-dihydrodiols to their trans isomers was investigated. The cis-dihydrodiols can be produced by large scale fermentation but their trans analogues are not accessible using this approach. The trans dihydrodiols are potentially important chiral building blocks in synthetic chemistry particularly because they have the advantage that they are more stable than the cis-isomers. The principal aim of this work was to carry out parallel studies to inform the development of the synthetic pathway under study by; (a) synthesis of organometallic and organic intermediates and products and, (b) investigation of the …

Time-Temperature And Relative Humidity Profiles Of Chilled And Frozen Foods In Retail Outlets Nationwide, And Evaluation Of Related Practices, Caroline Garvan

Masters

Temperature abuse combined with poor operational practices are the dominant factors in the mishandling of food products which can result in outbreaks of food borne disease. The objective of this work was to determine efficacy of temperature and relative humidity control using recorded data and to assess the food safety management systems in operation in retail outlets in the Republic of Ireland. This study also aims to examine food safety risk to consumers as a result of inadequate temperature control and poor food hygiene practices using microbial analysis and predictive modelling. External air temperature, core temperature and relative humidity of …

Matrix Effects, Development Of Clean-Up And Lc-Techniques Contributing Towards A Reference Lcms Method For The Analysis Of Lipophilic Marine Toxins, Mairead Anne Mcelhinney

Masters

The most widely used reference method in Europe for the detection and monitoring of lipophilic marine toxins is the Mouse Bioassay (MBA) as first described by Yasumoto et al., (1978). The MBA offers a good level of protection to human health and is capable of detecting the overall toxicity of previously known toxins. However, there are drawbacks associated with the use of the MBA as it is both expensive and time consuming and can give false positives due to interferences (Suzuki et al, 1976). The problems associated with the original mouse bioassay have led to several modifications (Yasumoto et al, …

To Evaluate The Effects Of The Introduction Of A Smoke-Free Environment On The Lung Function Of Bar Workers In Dublin, Michele Agnew

Masters

It has long been recognised that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) causes respiratory and cardio-vascular disease. A ban, prohibiting smoking in the workplace, was sanctioned by the Irish government and came into effect on 29 March, 2004. Bar staff were an ideal group to study the health effects of the introduction of this ban. Methods Workers were recruited through their Trade Union, Mandate, and 81 participated in the pre-ban phase of testing between September 2003 and March 2004. They attend the Respiratory Laboratory in St. James’s Hospital and underwent lung function tests and measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide (CO). …

The Synthesis Of Zinc Oxide By Direct And Indirect Methods, Grainne Duffy

Masters

The synthesis of zinc oxide through three routes was investigated; carboxylic acid chelation, polymer assisted synthesis in an alcoholic medium and slow thermolysis of precursor. In the case of carboxylic acid chelation, it was determined that the rate at which the precursor is formed has a significant effect on the quality of zinc oxide particles produced. Investigation of the effect of concentration, pH and species of chelating agent used on the purity and structure of product was undertaken. Examination of the composition and morphology of materials produced revealed the presence of single-crystalline spheres, the packing density and aggregation morphology of …

Point Of Care Healthcare Quality Control For Patients Using Mobile Devices, Owen Lynch

Masters

The advances made in the domain of mobile telecommunications over the last decade offer great potential for developments in many areas. One such area that can benefit from mobile communications is telemedicine, which is the provision of medical assistance, in one form or another, to patients who are geographically separated from the healthcare provider. When a person is ill, individual attention from medical professionals is of the utmost importance until they have returned to full health. However, people who suffer with long term and chronic illnesses may need life long care and often must manage their condition at home. Many …

Electronic And Optical Processes In Fullerene Films, Naomi Brant

Masters

This work primarily focuses on the archetypal fullerene, which is C60. C60 is electron rich and yet can be six fold reduced, taking on up to six additional electrons. Interest in the electrical properties of the solid state C60 were intensified when it was observed that it could be chemically doped with alkali metals, producing a metallic state A1C60, and even a superconducting state A3C60, where A indicates an alkali metal such as potassium or rubidium. Previous work has demonstrated that such a conductive state can also be achieved by optical pumping or by electron injection. The electronic properties of …

Samats : Semi-Automated Modelling And Texturing System, Joe Hegarty

Masters

The creation of detailed 3D (three-dimensional) building models has become an area of considerable research over the last couple of decades. The accurate modelling of buildings offers LBS (Location Based Services) applications in planning, cultural heritage, tourism and e-commerce among others. The approach taken by the majority of contemporary modelling systems that use terrestrial imagery taken from arbitrary locations requires the user to carry out manual correspondences across the image set. These correspondences are used for two purposes. Firstly, the correspondences are used to determine the exterior orientation parameters (position and orientation) of the cameras used to capture each image. …

The Determination Of Environmentally Important Metals In Marine Sediments, Linda Tyrrell

Masters

Surface sediment samples were collected at sites within the Rockall Through at water depth ranges from 700 – 2774 metres. The study area was predefined by the availability of samples. Samples were collected by the British Geological Survey during their gravity core survey undertaken in 1998. Methods were optimised and validated for lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, lithium and aluminium using atomic absorption spectroscopy following total digestion, and for mercury, using cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectroscopy following partial digestion. The measured metal concentration were normalised to Li to compensate for the influence of natural variability in the concentration of …

Efficacy Of Innovative Anti-Microbial Decontamination Of Minimally Processed Vegetables, Christina Busquets I Tortosa

Masters

Chlorine has widespread use commercially as a disinfectant wash for raw vegetables. However, it is an extremely corrosive gas and it may have severe health and environmental implications. The aim of this thesis was to find safe, alternative decontamination treatments for ready-to-eat Iceberg lettuce. The efficacy of 1% acetic acid, 2% citric acid; calcium lactate concentrations of 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5% and 3% at wash temperature of 4,25 and 50°C, ozone alone (1 mg 1-1) and in combination with calcium lactate (2.5%) were compared with chlorine as decontaminating treatments. Microbiological analyses were performed following decontamination treatments using the pour plate method …

Characterisation Of An Acrylamide-Based Photopolymer For Holographic Data Storage, Hosam Sherif

Masters

An acrylamide-based photopolymer, formulated in the Centre for Industrial and Engineering Optics, was investigated as a recording material for holographic data storage applications. Holographic data storage (HDS) is an optical storage technique, which theoretically allows densities as high as tens of TB/cm2 with data transfer rates of many GB/s/. HDS has unique advantages, such as the ability to perform parallel data searches (associative recall) and implement novel encryption techniques. At present, many materials have been investigated to determine their suitability for use as HDS media. As yet, no one material possesses all the properties that are required to realise the …

An Investigation Of The Effect Of Variation In Surface Electrode Type And Placement On Action Potentials Elicited By Peripheral Nerve Simulation, Jacinta Augustine

Masters

Several experiments were designed and carried out in order to compare the performances of five commercially available EMG surface electrodes. The aim was to identify the optimal surface recording electrode from the samples examined. The particular interest was to assess the comparative performance of the electrodes routinely used in our hospital Neurophysiology laboratory. It is envisaged that the conclusions from the study might be applied to improve the quality and reproducibility of nerve conduction techniques use din our department. A literature survey was carried out to identify some of the factors that influence the recording of evoked potentials from peripheral …

Comparison Of Auto-Adjusting And Fixed Level Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy In Patients With Mild To Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Hypopnoea Syndrome, Geraldine Nolan

Masters

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is a potentially serious medical disorder associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It is estimated to affect 4% of males and 2% of females between the ages of forty and sixty. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first choice treatment for this condition and it is extremely effective at controlling OSAHS. However, not all patients can tolerate this therapy, in particular those within the mild to moderate category, and there are also many others who are unable to comply with the minimum usage requirements of at least four hours every night. A …