Digital Commons Network^™

A Novel Tiq2-Assisted Solar Photocatalytic Batch-Process Disinfection Reactor For The Treatment Of Biological And Chemical Contaminants In Domestic Drinking Water In Developing Countries, E. F. Duffy, F. Al Touati, S. C. Kehoe, O. A. Mcloughlin, L. W. Gill, W. Gernjak, I. Oller, M. I. Maldonado, S. Malato, John Cassidy, R. H. Reed, K. G. Mcguigan

Articles

he technical feasibility and performance of photocatalytic Ti02 coatings in batch-process solar disinfection (SODIS) reactors to improve potability of drinking water in developing countries have been studied. Borosilicate glass and PET plastic SODIS reactors fitted with flexible plastic inserts coated with Ti02 powder were shown to be 2(Jt1o and 25% more effective, respectively, than standard SODIS reactors for the inactivation of E. coli K12. Isopropanol at 100 ppm concentration levels was observed to be completely photodegraded after 24 h continuous exposure to lOG mW/cm2 simulated sunlight in a similar solar photocatalytic disinfector (SPC-DIS) reactor. The technique for p roducing the …

Sound Source Separation: Azimuth Discrimination And Resynthesis, Dan Barry, Robert Lawlor

Conference papers

This paper discusses a novel sound source separation algorithm which requires no prior knowledge, no learning, assisted or otherwise and performs the task of separation based purely on Azimuth discrimination within the stereo field. The algorithm exploits the use of the pan pot as a means to achieve image localisation within stereophonic recordings. As such, only an interaural intensity difference exists between left and right channels for a single source. The authors use gain scaling and phase cancellation techniques to expose frequency dependent nulls across the Azimuth domain from which source separation and resynthesis is carried out. Results are presented …

Single Note Ornaments Transcription For The Irish Tin Whistle Based On Onset Detection, Mikel Gainza, Eugene Coyle, Robert Lawlor

Conference papers

Oranamentation plays a very important role in Irish traditional music giving more expression to the music by altering or embellishing small pieces of a melody. Single-note ornamentation, such as cuts and strikes, are the most common type in Irish traditional music and are played by articulating the note pitch during the onset stage. A technique for transcribing single note ornamentation for the tin whistle is based on onset detection is presented. This method focuses on the characteristics of the tin whistle within Irish traditional music, customising a time-frequency based representation for detecting the instant when new notes played using single …

Onset Detection And Music Transcription For The Irish Tin Whistle, Mikel Gainza, Robert Lawlor, Eugene Coyle, Aileen Kelleher

Conference papers

A technique for detecting tin whistle note onsets and transcribing the corresponding pitches is presented. This method focuses on the characteristics of the tin whistle within Irish traditional music, customising a time-frequency based representation for extracting the instant when a note starts and the music notation. Results show that the presented approach improves upon the existing energy based approaches in terms of the percentage of correct detections.

Determination Of The Phase Of A Transfer Function: Theory Versus Practice, Pauline Sourdille, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

In control systems, a way to evaluate the stability of a system is to determine the magnitude and phase of the open loop system transfer function in the frequency domain. But due to the nature of the phase expression, practice and theory are not aligned. Some problems arise when the phase is determined, caused by the properties of the arctan function. This paper analyses these phase problems for a third order lag system and a third order lag with time delay system. It also presents modifications to obtain the analytically correct phase values from the computed values.

Empowering Agents Within Virtual Environments, Alan Martin, Brian Duffy, Gregory O'Hare, Bianca Schoen-Phelan, John Bradley

Conference Papers

An agent’s embodiment within a virtual environment refers to its representation, and defines its capabilities, within the environment. This paper presents a system for the strong integration of embodiment with the agent’s deliberative mechanism. This mechanism is based upon the Belief-Desire-Intention (BDI) paradigm, and allows the agent to deliberate directly upon the location and animation of its embodiment. This fusion then provides the agent with the ability to freely mutate its embodied form to best suit the task at hand. At the same time, care must be taken to preserve the agents’ sense of self, so that users have a …

Why Do Students Abandon Programs Prior To Completion?: An Investigation Into The Phenomenon Of Dropout Students From The Diploma In Hotel And Catering Management, Dit., Ann Teresa

Theses

The aim of this thesis is to examine how students experience education at the Dublin Institute of

Technology. What happens to them that influences their decision to leave their course of choice and what can we do to help? In this thesis I have looked at the phenomenon of dropout students from the Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management in DIT and the factors that influence their choice of course and then subsequent withdrawal from this course. I have interviewed a student who has left another course to pursue the Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management to examine if her …

Review Of Quicksilver By Neal Stephenson (London: Heinemann, 2003), Jim Mcgovern

Level 3

No abstract provided.

Dit-Call: Naturally Speaking But Slow, Dermot Campbell, Marty Meinardi, Bunny Richardson, Eugene Coyle, Olivia Donnellan, Pak Kui Leung, Ciaran Macdonaill, Elmar Jung, Charles Pritchard

Articles

This paper introduces a new development in speech technology and describes its planned application in an EFL context. Special attention is paid to the pedagogical potential of the resultant language tool.

A University Online Portal For Enterprise Learning Communities, Marco Neumann, Ciaran Mcdonnell, Deirdre Hogan, Carol Reinsford, Stefan Decker

Conference papers

This paper describes the Programme for University Industry Interface Semantic Web Portal project that supports the efforts in enterprise training units to upskill the employee in the company and facilitates the creation and reuse of knowledge in online communities. The main purpose of this project is to support on-line learning communities and monitor the changing needs and skills of the work force in enterprise environments.

A Wireless Traffic Probe For Radio Resource Management And Qos Provisioning In Ieee 802.11 Wlans, Mark Davis

Conference papers

The emergence of real-time services such as voice over IP (VoIP) and video streaming imposes stringent requirements on the performance of a network if quality of service (QoS) targets are to be achieved. In the case of wireless networks, some form of radio resource management (RRM) is typically required to allocate the available resources among the contending stations in accordance with their needs and respective priorities. A critical aspect of any RRM scheme is the ability to monitor resource usage and to determine the resource requirements on a per-station basis. In this paper we describe a wireless traffic probe for …

Power Coupling Between Two Step-Index Multimode Fibers Of Different Numerical Apertures With An Angular Misalignment, Cheng Gao, Gerald Farrell

Articles

Coupling efficiency between two step- index multimode fibers of different numerical aper- tures with an angular misalignment is calculated. The theory is presented using radiometry and geometrical optics. The limit case of the calculation is consistent with a previously published result. The results may be useful for applications such as power launching between two types of fibers with different numerical apertures for example silica fiber and plastic optical fiber(POF) and with an angular misalignment.

Purchasing Consortia And Electronic Markets: A Procurement Direction In Integrated Supply Chain Management, Bernd Huber, Edward Sweeney, Austin Smyth

Articles

In supply chain management literature, there has been little empirical research investigation on purchasing consortium issues focusing on a detailed analysis of information and communication (ICT) based procurement strategies. Based on the exploration of academic literature and two surveys among purchasing organisations as well as e-Marketplaces / procurement service providers (PSPs) in the automotive and electronics industry sectors, the research methodology follows a positivistic approach in order to assess the overall statement: ‘Effective participation in electronic purchasing consortia (EPC) can have the potential to enhance competitive advantage. Implementation therefore requires a clear and detailed understanding of the major process structures …

Information And Communication Technologies (Ict) Practices In Small Italian Transport And Logistics Service Providers: Empirical Findings And Critical Issues, Maurizio Caiazzo, Pietro Evangelista, Edward Sweeney

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

Henrietta Street Conservation Plan, Shaffrey Associates (Architects), John Montague Dr., Carrig Conservation Ltd., Tracy Pickerill, Lee Mccullough & Partners (Engineers), Boylan Farrelly (Quantity Surveyors)

Articles

The objectives behind the Henrietta Street Conservation Plan are to re-affirm the significance of Henrietta Street; to identify the issues that undermine the importance of the street and to set out policies aimed at protecting the aspects of the street which are of importance into the future.Dublin City Council & The Heritage Council

Preparation Of (Pb,Ba)Tio3 Powders And Highly Oriented Thin Films By A Sol-Gel Process, Stacey Boland, Suresh Pillai, Wein-Duo Yang, Sossina Haile

Articles

Solid solution Pb1-xBaxTiO3, with particular emphasis on Pb0.5Ba0.5TiO3, was prepared
using a sol-gel process incorporating lead acetate trihydrate, barium acetate, and
titanium isopropoxide as precursors, acetylacetone (2,4 pentanedione) as a chelating
agent, and ethylene glycol as a solvent. The synthesis procedure was optimized by
systematically varying acetylacetone: Ti and H2O:Ti molar ratios and calcination
temperature. The resulting effects on sol and powder properties were studied using
thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, and x-ray diffraction (XRD).
Crystallization of the perovskite structure occurred at a temperature as low as 450 °C.
Thin films were prepared by spin …

On The Empirical Balanced Truncation For Nonlinear Systems, Marissa Condon, Rossen Ivanov

Articles

Novel constructions of empirical controllability and observability gramians for nonlinear systems for subsequent use in a balanced truncation style of model reduction are proposed. The new gramians are based on a generalisation of the fundamental solution for a Linear Time-Varying system. Relationships between the given gramians for nonlinear systems and the standard gramians for both Linear Time-Invariant and Linear Time-Varying systems are established as well as relationships to prior constructions proposed for empirical gramians. Application of the new gramians is illustrated through a sample test-system.

Riemann Tensor Of The Ambient Universe, The Dilaton, And Newton’S Constant, Rossen Ivanov, Emil Prodanov

Articles

We investigate a four-dimensional world, embedded into a five-dimensional spacetime, and find the five-dimensional Riemann tensor via generalisation of the Gauss (--Codacci) equations. We then derive the generalised equations of the four-dimensional world and also show that the square of the dilaton field is equal to the Newton's constant. We find plausable constant and non-constant solutions for the dilaton. Comment: 5 pages, revtex

Learning Theories And Higher Education, Francis Ashworth, Gabriel Brennan, Kathy Egan, Ron Hamilton, Olalla Sáenz

Conference papers

This paper offers a number of materials and resources which may be used as teaching aids for introduction-level courses in learning theories, especially those in higher education. The materials were developed during our participation in a postgraduate diploma module on the psychology of learning and learning theories in 2004, as part of the diploma in third-level learning and teaching at the DIT Learning and Teaching Centre.

Control Loop Performance Assessment: A Classification Of Methods, Niall O'Connor, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

This paper presents an overview of a number of controller performance assessment techniques. The techniques discussed are divided into five categories, namely, time domain assessment, frequency domain assessment, minimum variance control (MVC) as a benchmark, statistical analysis, and other more ‘problem specific’ assessment techniques. Recent work, by various authors, in each of the five categories is outlined.

Tuning Rules For Pi And Pid Control Of Time Delayed Processes: Some Recent Developments, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

The ability of PI and PID controllers to compensate many practical processes has led to their wide acceptance in industrial applications. The requirement to choose two or three controller parameters is most easily done using tuning rules. Starting with a general discussion of industrial practice, the paper will discuss, in particular, recent work in tuning rule development for processes with time delay.

Comparison Between Theoretical And Practical Phase Computation, Pauline Sourdille, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

Transfer functions which are a composite of delay terms cause problems for computer packages, such as MATLAB, in calculating the frequency response open loop transfer function, as the form of the open loop transfer function is irrational. So, the delay terms have to be approximated. There are several ways to evaluate a delay term. A calculator such as MATHEMATICA uses the exact representation of the delay called the Euler form. A computer package such as MATLAB uses a rational approximation for the delay. Using the MATLAB built-in function pade(n,tau), the open loop transfer function of a system with delay can …

System Identification Using The Delta Operator, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

The aim of this contribution is to communicate, to a wide audience in signal processing and telecommunications, work that has been carried out, primarily in control engineering, on the use of alternative discrete time operators to the z-domain operator. The advantages of the delta domain operator will be communicated using examples, primarily with the aid of plotted results, to give a creative and easily understood impact. Some original work carried out by the author on identification issues will also be communicated.

Using Structured P2p Overlay Networks To Build Content Sensitive Communities, Paul Stacey, Damon Berry, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

This paper details a proposed peer-to-peer system, which allows a user to join communities of other like-minded users in order to exchange files. Utilising the routing capabilities of Pastry, the proposed system includes an indexing service, which facilitates the creation of virtual rendezvous points for users with similar interests (manifested by shared keywords). Users are described by the content they store. By using vector space modelling techniques users can be grouped together to form content sensitive communities. The system is built to serve as the basis for a distributed archive of research papers. The system is designed to improve the …

Combining Capacitor/Inductor And Idling Asynchronous Motor In Design Of A System For Balance Of A Large Two-Phase Industrial Load Over Three Phases, Eugene Coyle, M Farrell, W. J. Campbell

Conference papers

This paper describes the design and implementation of a new solution to power quality problems associated with large unbalanced nonlinear loads at fine glass furnace production utilities. Such furnaces use two-phase electricity for reasons of enhanced temperature control and in order to maintain consistency of glass viscosity. A significant risk of power failure is introduced due to this requirement. The furnace load is also nonlinear in nature, due to temperature control by electronic power switching. This gives rise to risks associated with high harmonic distortion. A new method in design of filters to alleviate problems associated with this type of …

The Investigation Of A Wireless Medical Homecare Data Logger, Aisling Cronin

Masters

Modern, portable self-measurement devices such as hand-held glucometers and ECG instruments can provide feedback in electronic form to patients. However the information is mostly transmitted by proprietary cable and there is no agreed format for migrating this data to information systems in clinics where it can be used by clinicians. The result is a muddle of transport mechanisms and software. There is a clear need for a simple, open and agreed means of data communication to help patients to manage their condition and to support clinicians who engage in home telemonitoring. To allow patients freedom to move, the first stage …

Time-Frequency Analysis Applied To Autonomic Nervous System Activity In A Biofeedback Environment, James Condron

Doctoral

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is a subconscious system within the peripheral nervous system that controls such things as heart rate, respiration, baroreceptor control, sweating, and regulation of internal organs. Certain aspects of this system can be under conscious control given time and practices. The ANS may be further divided into two subsections, namely the Sympathetic (Fight or Flight) and Parasympathetic ( Rest and Digest) nervous system. These systems work symbiotically; however they have almost opposite effects on organs within the body. Within this project a compelling biofeedback game was built with a protocol whereby the users used their relaxation …

A Generic Approach To Supporting The Management Of Computerised Clinical Guidelines And Protocols, Kudakwashe Dube

Doctoral

Clinical guidelines or protocols (CGPs) are statements that are systematically developed for the purpose of guiding the clinician and the patient in making decisions about appropriate healthcare for specific clinical problems. Using CGPs is one of the most effective and proven ways to attaining improved quality, optimised resource utilisation, cost containment and reduced variation in healthcare practice. CGPs exist mainly as paper-based natural language statements, but are increasingly being computerised. Supporting computerised CGPs in a healthcare environment so that they are incorporated into the routine used daily by clinicians is complex and presents major information management challenges. This thesis contends …

Electronic Speckle Pattern Shearing Interferometer With A Photopolymer Holographyc Grating, Emilia Mihaylova, Izabela Naydenova, Suzanne Martin, Vincent Toal

Articles

A photopolymer holographic grating is used to produce the two sheared images in an electronic speckle pattern shearing interferometer. A ground glass screen following the grating serves the purpose of eliminating unwanted diffraction orders and to remove the requirement for the CCD camera to resolve the diffraction grating’s pitch. The sheared images on the ground glass are further imaged onto the CCD camera. The fringe pattern contrast was estimated to be above 90%. A validation of the system was done by comparing the theoretical phase difference distribution with the experimental data from the three point bending test.

The Effect Of An Altered Cytokinin Metabolism On Plant Development And C Ell Aging In Crop Plants, Ian Mcevoy

Doctoral

Isopentenyl transferase (IPT) is an enzyme encoded by a bacterial gene that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in cytokinin biosynthesis. Under the control of senescence-associated promoter (pSAG12), isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana, it has been shown to delay senescence in several herbaceous species. Cytokinin synthesis begins at the onset of senescence and is then stopped when senescence ceases. This auto regulatory control of the transgene ensures normal development and morphology of the transformed plant, which may be affected in plants constitutively expressing ipt. In this study, it was investigated if an altered cytokinin metabolism, as a result of transformation by pSAG12: ipt, …