Digital Commons Network^™

Protecting The Sovereign's Money Monopoly, Gary B. Gorton, Jeffery Zhang

Articles

Sovereign states have held a monopoly over the production of circulating money for well over a century. Governments, not private entities, issue circulating money. The advent of stablecoins—privately issued digital money that can circulate—raises the question of the sovereign’s money monopoly from the grave. Should private money circulate alongside sovereign money in the twenty-first century? We argue against coexistence to preserve financial stability and monetary sovereignty.

Through the lens of economic theory, we explore the coexistence question by revisiting the original debates that led to the sovereign’s money monopoly in England, the United States, Canada, and Sweden. In each case, …

Radiobiological Applications Of Vibrational Spectroscopy: A Review Of Analyses Of Ionising Radiation Effects In Biology And Medicine, Jade F. Monaghan, Hugh J. Byrne, Fiona M. Lyng, Aidan D. Meade

Articles

Vibrational spectroscopic techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption and Raman spectroscopy (RS), offer unique and detailed biochemical fingerprints by detecting specific molecular vibrations within samples. These techniques provide profound insights into the molecular alterations induced by ionising radiation, which are both complex and multifaceted. This paper reviews the application of rapid and label-free vibrational spectroscopic methods for assessing biological radiation responses. These assessments span from early compartmentalised models such as DNA, lipid membranes, and vesicles to comprehensive evaluations in various living biological models, including tissues, cells, and organisms of diverse origins. The review also discusses future perspectives, highlighting …

Modeling Redistribution Of Nanozeolites In Holographic Recording, Dana Mackey, Jack Lyons, Izabela Naydenova

Articles

Zeolite doped photopolymers have been studied experimentally due to their potential application in the development of optical sensors. It has been shown that dopant redistribution can be achieved by holographic recording and has a direct influence on the sensitivity of the recorded grating. To achieve better theoretical understanding of these processes, this paper proposes an extended photopolymerization-diffusion mathematical model for describing the dynamics of nanozeolite redistribution during recording in an acrylamide-based photopolymer. Using numerical simulations of this model, we investigate how recording conditions, dopant transport parameters, and initial load affect the refractive index modulation of the resulting photonic structure.

Raman Spectroscopic Analysis Of Human Blood Serum Of Glaucoma Patients Supplemented With Macular Pigment Carotenoids, Joy Udensi, Ekaterina Loskutova, James Loughman, Hugh J. Byrne

Articles

As all major dietary carotenoids are contained in blood, it is a suitable substrate to evaluate their content, in vivo. Following 18-month supplementation of open-angle glaucoma patients with macula-pigment carotenoids (Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-Zeaxanthin) in the European Nutrition in Glaucoma Management trial, Raman spectroscopic analysis of the carotenoid content of pre- and post-supplementation participant blood serum was carried out, to investigate the systemic impact of the supplementation regimen and explore a more direct way of quantifying this impact using routine blood tests. Using a 532 nm laser source for optimal response, a consistent increase in serum carotenoid concentration was observed …

A Business Model For Communication Design Enterprises, Con Kennedy

Articles

Several international reports and studies indicate that the Communication Design sector has a skill deficit in entrepreneurship and business management, and a greater understanding of these topics is needed. Some authors advocate applying existing business models for design enterprises. However, the skill deficit prevails. It is worth noting that these reports discuss the entrepreneurship deficit in general terms without an explanation of the causes of this deficit or how to remedy the issue. Therefore, this paper explores the development of a Business Model specific for Design Entrepreneurs for deployment in Communication Design enterprises.A theoretical framework for a specific business model …

Short-Term Effects Of Cyclopentolate And Tropicamide Eye Drops On Macular Choroidal Thickness In Myopic Children, Emmanuel Kobia-Acquah, Daniel Ian Flitcroft, Gareth Lingham, Eoin Kerin, James Loughman

Articles

Background: To investigate the short-term effects of cyclopentolate and tropicamide eyedrops on choroidal thickness (ChT) in myopic children using placebo or low-dose atropine eyedrops. Methods: The analysis included 242 myopic individuals (7–19 years) enrolled in two randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials of low-dose atropine eyedrops. Cycloplegia was induced using either one drop of 1% cyclopentolate (n = 161), two drops of 1% cyclopentolate (n = 32) or two drops of 1% tropicamide (n = 49). ChT measurements were taken using swept-source optical coherence tomography before and 30 min after administering the cycloplegic eye drops. A subset of 51 participants underwent test–retest …

Action Recognition For Human–Robot Teaming: Exploring Mutual Performance Monitoring Possibilities, Shakra Mehak, John D. Kelleher, Michael Guilfoyle, Maria Chiara Leva

Articles

Human–robot teaming (HrT) is being adopted in an increasing range of industries and work environments. Effective HrT relies on the success of complex and dynamic human–robot interaction. Although it may be optimal for robots to possess all the social and emotional skills to function as productive team members, certain cognitive capabilities can enable them to develop attitude-based competencies for optimizing teams. Despite the extensive research into the human–human team structure, the domain of HrT research remains relatively limited. In this sense, incorporating established human–human teaming (HhT) elements may prove practical. One key element is mutual performance monitoring (MPM), which involves …

Analyzing Operator States And The Impact Of Ai-Enhanced Decision Support In Control Rooms: A Human-In-The-Loop Specialized Reinforcement Learning Framework For Intervention Strategies, Ammar N. Abbas, Chidera W. Amazu, Joseph Mietkiewicz, Houda Briwa, Andres Alonso Perez, Gabriele Baldissone, Micaela Demichela, Georgios C. Chasparis, John D. Kelleher, Maria Chiara Leva

Articles

In complex industrial and chemical process control rooms, effective decision-making is crucial for safety and efficiency. The experiments in this paper evaluate the impact and applications of an AI-based decision support system integrated into an improved human-machine interface, using dynamic influence diagrams, a hidden Markov model, and deep reinforcement learning. The enhanced support system aims to reduce operator workload, improve situational awareness, and provide different intervention strategies to the operator adapted to the current state of both the system and human performance. Such a system can be particularly useful in cases of information overload when many alarms and inputs are …

The Steady Decline Of Club Culture In Dublin: Neoliberal Policy, Touristification And The Pandemic, Caroline Ann O'Sullivan

Articles

The public health restrictions implemented by the Irish government due to Covid-19 resulted in one of the most extensive music industry lockdowns in Europe. Dublin, however, was already experiencing a large scale contraction of club culture. Prior to the pandemic, the physical spaces that dance music and club culture thrived in over the past 40 years had greatly diminished, many being demolished to make way for hotels and upmarket student accommodation. The onset of the pandemic meant this contraction intensified, and 2021 and 2022 saw the permanent closure of a number of high-profile and pivotal venues across the city. In …

The Forthcoming General Election In The Republic Of Ireland: Winds Of (Left-Wing) Change Or Plus Ça Change?, Chris O'Ralaigh

Articles

The forthcoming general election will be the most consequential electoral contest for the Republic of Ireland in a century. The polity is situated in truly novel territory with the potential for an historic first: the incoming of a Sinn Féin-led, left-wing government. Any such government would portend change in the North of Ireland, symbolising a critical juncture on the path towards the ending of partition. Analysing electoral and ideological shifts across the post-2008 period, this article examines the immediate prospects for the coming to power of a left-wing government and an historic first in Irish politics.

Ideological Presuppositions In Media Coverage Of Corporation Tax Policy In The Uk And Ireland: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Ciara Graham, Brendan K. O'Rourke

Articles

This paper argues that the state's capacity to tax corporations in order to fund itself is reaching crisis proportions. Following decades of trade liberalization, deregulation, and globalization, large multinational companies have been able to take advantage of tax competition between states in order to avoid taxation and offset their obligations. This crisis, arguably, has been facilitated by state actors and exacerbated by non-state actors: we explore the ways in which multi-national corporations (MNCs) manipulate their capital, assets, and supply chains to minimize their tax burdens; and we further consider the ways in which media narratives construct this issue and whether …

Machine Vs Machine: Large Language Models (Llms) In Applied Machine Learning High-Stakes Open-Book Exams, Keith Quille, Csanad Alattyanyi, Brett A. Becker, Róisín Faherty, Damian Gordon, Miriam Harte, Svetlana Hensman, Markus Hofmann, Jorge Jiménez García, Anthony Kuznetsov, Conrad Marais, Keith Nolan, Cianan Nicolai, Ciarán O'Leary, Andrzej Zero

Articles

There is a significant gap in Computing Education Research (CER) concerning the impact of Large Language Models (LLMs) in advanced stages of degree programmes. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the effectiveness of LLMs in answering exam questions within an applied machine learning final-year undergraduate course. The research examines the performance of LLMs in responding to a range of exam questions, including proctored closed-book and open-book questions spanning various levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. Question formats encompassed open-ended, tabular data-based, and figure-based inquiries. To achieve this aim, the study has the following objectives: Comparative Analysis: To compare LLM-generated …

Truth Bounties: A Market Solution To Fake News, Yonathan A. Arbel, Michael D. Gilbert

Articles

False information poses a threat to individuals, groups, and society. Many people struggle to judge the veracity of the information around them, whether that information travels through newspapers, talk radio, TV, or social media. Concerned with the spread of misinformation and harmful falsehoods, much of the policy, popular, and scholarly conversation today revolves around proposals to expand the regulation of individuals, platforms, and the media. While more regulation may seem inevitable, it faces constitutional and political hurdles. Furthermore, regulation can have undesirable side effects and be ripe for abuse by powerful actors, public and private.

This Article presents an alternative …

Advances In Nanomaterials And Colorimetric Detection Of Arsenic In Water: Review And Future Perspectives, Abhijnan Bhat, Furong Tian, Baljit Singh

Articles

Arsenic, existing in various chemical forms such as arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)), demands serious attention in water and environmental contexts due to its significant health risks. It is classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top 10 chemicals posing major public health concerns. This widespread contamination results in millions of people globally being exposed to dangerous levels of arsenic, making it a top priority for the WHO. Chronic arsenic toxicity, known as arsenicosis, presents with specific skin lesions like …

Nanomaterial-Based Electrochemical Chemo(Bio)Sensors For The Detection Of Nanoplastic Residues: Trends And Future Prospects, Siwar Jebril, Zina Fredj, Ayman Ali Saeed, Anne Marie Gonçalves, Mandheer Kaur, Ashwani Kumar, Baljit Singh

Articles

Nanoplastic (NPL) residues, minute plastic particles measuring less than 1 micron (μm), have become pervasive in aquatic ecosystems, infiltrating through various sources such as wastewater treatment, industrial discharges, and plastic degradation. The escalating global concern over the extensive pollution caused by NPL residues underscores the critical need for effective detection and monitoring methods to comprehensively understand its prevalence, impacts, and potential mitigation strategies. In this context, electrochemical chemo(bio)sensors emerge as a promising solution for detecting NPL residues. Offering a unique combination of specificity, sensitivity, rapid response times, and the ability to detect trace contaminants in complex matrices, these chemo(bio)sensors are …

Can Community Festivals Make Urban Places More Hospitable?, Bernadette Quinn

Articles

Cultivating places and spaces to encourage sociality and foster sociocultural inclusion is a very pertinent societal challenge. Community festivals are often marshalled in the interest of making cities more hospitable for the increasing numbers of migrants, refugees, remote workers and tourists internationally on the move. This study investigates if and how community festivals are constructing hospitality through their practices. The findings are drawn from a qualitative study of two community festivals in Dublin's North East Inner City, an ethnically diverse area characterized by social disadvantage. They suggest that community festivals can make places more hospitable. However, the approaches taken to …

Social Sustainability In Event Management: A Critical Commentary, Judith Mair, Emma Wood, Bernadette Quinn

Articles

This critical commentary focuses on the development of research in Event Management on social sustainability in the context of events. Findings suggest that while there has been a plethora of articles published in the journal that touch on elements of what we understand to relate to social sustainability (e.g., resident impacts; sense of community, place, belonging, etc.) there are very few that have explicitly situated their work in the sustainability field. This means that it is somewhat difficult to pull together the various threads of disparate studies to comment on the evolution of research on events and social sustainability as …

Light And Dark Mode: A Comparison Between Android And Ios App Ui Modes And Interviews With App Designers And Developers, Sarah Andrew, Chelsea Bishop, Garreth W. Tigwell

Articles

Mobile app light and dark modes offer improved usability within different contexts (e.g., dark mode for easier night reading). Yet, little research has investigated the prevalence of light and dark modes across platforms, the intricacies of UI color changes, and challenges in the design and development process. Our investigation focused on comparing light and dark mode designs. We carried out a manual inspection of 120 popular Android and iOS apps to find that only 55\% (Android) and 48\% (iOS) of the apps included any modes. We also found significant variability in how many UI elements changed between modes. We interviewed …

“There’S A Lifestyle, An Appreciation, A Beauty”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Masters Rowers, Jason Rich, Pamela Beach, Heidi K. Byrne

Articles

Masters rowing has seen a measurable increase in participation, with masters rowers engaged in the sport for competition, health, and recreation reasons. Unlike other masters sports, masters rowing has a unique high level of synchronous, cooperative, and interdependent elements. To better understand the benefits and challenges of participation in competitive masters rowing, the purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of competitive masters rowers. Twelve competitive masters rowers were recruited and interviewed. Utilizing an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to guide data collection, analysis, and interpretation, the analysis revealed four major themes: navigating community relationships, finding a reason …

The Effect Of Curing On The Properties Of 3-Methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane Based Sol-Gel Coatings Developed For Protective Applications In Water-Based Environments, Manasa Hegde, Muhammad Qasim Mushtaq Warraich, Wasim Bashir, Yvonne Kavanagh, Brendan Duffy, Edmond F. Tobin

Articles

A sol-gel method was developed in this study to create a hydrophobic organic-inorganic polymer network protect aluminium substrates against corrosion, cavitation erosion, and biofouling. The coatings combined 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MAPTMS) with zirconium (IV) propoxide (ZPO) and varied levels of Perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTES). The study aimed at three objectives: examining the impact of PFOTES-modified sol-gel coatings' curing temperature on properties, corrosion, and cavitation erosion resistance; assessing hydrophobic characteristics under different curing conditions; and evaluating coating toxicity using Artemia franciscana and Brachionus plicatilis. The results of this study indicated that higher curing temperatures promote improved condensation reactions, leading to reduced porosity and enhanced mechanical …

Comparing Thin And Volume Regimes Of Analog Holograms For Wavefront Sensing, Emma Branigan, Andreas Zepp, Suzanne Martin, Matthew Sheehan, Szymon Gladysz, Kevin Murphy

Articles

Two analog holographic wavefront sensors, for measurement of defocus, have been fabricated as both thin and volume phase transmission holograms in a self-developing photopolymer. This represents the first reported direct comparison of hologram regimes when designed for wavefront sensing. An analysis of the effect of crosstalk in the presence of one other aberration mode (astigmatism X (0/90°), coma X (horizontal), and primary spherical aberration) was carried out with each version of the sensor. The performance of thin and volume analog holographic wavefront sensors was characterized under emulated conditions associated with moderate atmospheric turbulence.

Global, Regional, And National Burden Of Heatwave-Related Mortality From 1990 To 2019: A Three-Stage Modelling Study, Qi Zhao, Shanshan Li, Tingting Ye, Yao Wu, Antonio Gasparrini, Shilu Tong, Aleš Urban, Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, Aurelio Tobias, Ben Armstrong, Dominic Royé, Eric Lavigne, Francesca De'donato, Francesco Sera, Haidong Kan, Joel Schwartz, Mathilde Pascal, Niilo Ryti, Patrick Goodman, Paulo Hilario Nascimento Saldiva, Michelle L. Bell, Yuming Guo

Articles

Background The regional disparity of heatwave-related mortality over a long period has not been sufficiently assessed across the globe, impeding the localisation of adaptation planning and risk management towards climate change. We quantified the global mortality burden associated with heatwaves at a spatial resolution of 0.5∘×0.5∘and the temporal change from 1990 to 2019. Methods and findings We collected data on daily deaths and temperature from 750 locations of 43 countries or regions, and 5 meta-predictors in 0.5∘×0.5∘ resolution across the world. Heatwaves were defined as location-specific daily mean temperature ≥95th percentiles of year-round temperature range with duration ≥2 days. We …

Temperature Frequency And Mortality: Assessing Adaptation To Local Temperature, Multi-Country Multi-City (Mcc) Collaborative Network, Patrick Goodman

Articles

Assessing the association between temperature frequency and mortality can provide insights into human adaptation to local ambient temperatures. We collected daily time-series data on mortality and temperature from 757 locations in 47 countries/regions during 1979–2020. We used a two-stage time series design to assess the association between temperature frequency and all-cause mortality. The results were pooled at the national, regional, and global levels. We observed a consistent decrease in the risk of mortality as the normalized frequency of temperature increases across the globe. The average increase in mortality risk comparing the 10th to 100th percentile of normalized frequency was 13.03% …

Seasonality Of Mortality Under Climate Change: A Multicountry Projection Study, Multi-Country Multi-City (Mcc) Collaborative Network, Patrick Goodman

Articles

Background: Climate change can directly impact temperature-related excess deaths and might subsequently change the seasonal variation in mortality. In this study, we aimed to provide a systematic and comprehensive assessment of potential future changes in the seasonal variation, or seasonality, of mortality across different climate zones. Methods: In this modelling study, we collected daily time series of mean temperature and mortality (all causes or non-external causes only) via the Multi-Country Multi-City Collaborative (MCC) Research Network. These data were collected during overlapping periods, spanning from Jan 1, 1969 to Dec 31, 2020. We projected daily mortality from Jan 1, 2000 to …

Explainable Machine Learning For The Regulatory Environment: A Case Study In Micro-Droplet Printing, Darragh Ryan, Elaine Harris, Gerard M. O'Connor

Articles

Micro-droplet printing remains an invaluable tool for the additive manufacturing industry due to its versatility, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The design and deployment of a disposable micro-droplet dispenser seeks to facilitate a quick and easy way to alternate between different printing materials (such as ink, metals, bio-materials, pharmaceuticals, etc.) without the need for thorough cleaning or separate delivery systems. While this works well in principle, in practice achieving consistent performance between dispensers can prove challenging. This paper aims to tackle this issue through the use of Machine Learning (ML) in order to (1) build a model that predicts dispenser performance from …

Coffee: Lighting Its Complex Ground Truth And Percolating Its Molecular Brew, Róża Paterek, Sive Geoghegan, Bernadette S. Creaven, Aoife Power

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Coffee is one of the most widely traded commodities worldwide and its popularity is only increasing. The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) reported a 6% increase in global production in 2020 to 10.5 million tonnes. Coffee production is quite involved (from sowing to harvesting, processing, packaging, and storage); consequently, the industry faces major challenges in terms of the assessment of its quality, flavour, and the components which contribute to coffee's characterisation, as well as the sustainability of coffee production and global trade. This has prompted multiple studies on the nature of the aroma and taste of the many varieties of coffee …

Heteroleptic Coumarin-Based Silver(I) Complexes: Possible New Antimicrobial Agents, Erika Mooney, Brendan Twamley, Gordon Cooke, Emma Caraher, Matthias Tacke, Fintan Kelleher, Bernadette S. Creaven

Articles

Heteroleptic coumarin-based silver(I) complexes with improved solubility profiles were synthesised using either triphenylphosphine or an N-heterocyclic carbene as adduct ligands, and were fully characterised using IR and NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and, where possible, X-ray crystallography. The triphenylphosphine adducts formed well-resolved structures, where the oxyacetate ligands asymmetrically chelated the silver(I) ion in a bidentate chelating mode, and the silver(I) ion was also bound to two triphenylphosphine ligands. The solubility profile and photostability of the adducts were considerably improved compared to those of previously isolated simple coumarin silver(I) complexes. Analysis of the coumarin N-heterocyclic carbene(NHC) silver(I) adduct indicated that it likely …

Hybrid Silver(I) Coumarin-Carbene And Coumarin-Triphenylphosphine Complexes: Towards More Effective Antimicrobial Therapies, Erika Mooney, Matthias Tacke, Helge Mueller-Bunz, Julia Bruno-Colmenarez, Gordon Cooke, Emma Caraher, Fintan Kelleher, Bernie Creaven

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No abstract provided.

Enhancing Hybrid Photovoltaic-Thermal System Efficiency With Boron Dipyrromethene Dyes, Kenneth Coldrick, Craig Newman, John Doran, George Amarandei, Mikhail A. Filatov

Articles

A library of boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) compounds was studied to assess their efficacy as components of a working liquid in hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems. Two series of BODIPY dyes were investigated: series I included alkylBODIPYs with varying substitution patterns, while series II included 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-substituted BODIPYs featuring electron-rich aromatic groups in the meso position, such as naphthalene, anthracene, and carbazole. Series II dyes were designed to exhibit luminescence downshifting due to enhanced UV absorption (300-400 nm) and excited-state energy transfer, leading to visible-region fluorescence under UV excitation. Samples of PVT liquids based on decalin and containing each individual BODIPY dye were …

Holographic Multiplexing In A Photopolymerisable Hybrid Sol-Gel, Pamela Stoeva, Tatsiana Mikulchyk, Izabela Naydenova, Kevin Murphy

Articles

Holographic multiplexing techniques enhance functionality and information storage by leveraging the inherent selectivity of holograms. This is crucial for advancing holographic sensors, which excel in simultaneously detecting multiple parameters from a single input signal. This study explores the potential of the recent photopolymerisable hybrid sol-gel (PHSG) material for application in Space sensing systems through the investigation of its holographic angular multiplexing capabilities. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, we report the successful recording of up to five angularly multiplexed gratings with diffraction efficiencies (DE) ≥ 15% in 187 ± 18 µm PHSG layers. A 3 mW/cm2 …