Digital Commons Network^™

Establishing A Seven-Stage Iterative Framework And Card-Based Toolkit For The Facilitation And Sustainment Of Communities Of Practice, Michelle O'Keeffe

Theses

This thesis explores the establishment of a framework and card-based toolkit to support the facilitation and sustainment of Communities of Practice (COPs), with a particular focus on COPs in the education domain. COPs have been present in various sectors, such as healthcare, business, finance, and education, for over three decades. These communities bring together individuals who share common problems, concerns, or areas of expertise, aiming to improve their practices collectively. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the best approaches to facilitating, developing, and sustaining COPs over time. To address this gap, four empirical studies were conducted. These studies …

What Are Munster Technological University Students’ Experiences Of Menstruation And Reusable Period Products?, Kate Dolan Crowley

Theses

This study examines the attitudes of students in Munster Technological University (MTU) towards menstruation and period products. It is estimated that in Ireland, between 53,000 and 85,000 Irish menstruators may be at risk of period poverty (Government of Ireland, 2021). There is also evidence to suggest that some students have experienced period poverty (Ministry of Education, 2023; Brinkley and Niebuhr, 2022; Munro et. al., 2021). Period poverty has an impact on the physical, mental, and social well-being of menstruators, ultimately affecting their quality of life.

A mixed-method study was undertaken, consisting of questionnaires (n=319) and one-toone semi-structured interviews (n=10) to …

Screening And Analysis Of The Urobiome For The Production Of Antimicrobial Peptides To Target Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli, Jennifer Jones

Theses

Urobiome research is currently at a nascent stage, due to a previously incorrect assumption that the bladder is a sterile environment. Improvements in bacterial culturing and DNA sequencing techniques have revealed a diverse resident bacterial community within the urinary tract (urobiome). As global incidences of multidrug- resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs) continue to increase, so too does the demand for novel antimicrobial therapies. Due to its relatively understudied nature, the urobiome represents a reservoir that could be mined as a potential source of novel antimicrobial compounds (e.g., bacteriocins). The aim of this thesis was to identify urobiome bacteriocins that could …

Recognition Of Prior Learning In Irish Higher Education – A Qualitative Study, Deirdre Goggin

Theses

This study examines why, despite inclusion in national strategy and position papers, the practice of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) remains at low levels in Irish higher education. The study focuses in particular on the recognition of informal and non-formal learning and seeks to elucidate the factors which have most influence on practice. In the Irish higher education context, RPL incorporates prior formal, informal, and non-formal learning which is validated within the context of a specified destination award from level one to ten on the national framework of qualifications (European Commission; Cedefop; ICF International, 2014, p. 3). The research conducted …

An Ontology Based System For Cancer Diseases Knowledge Mining, Shinead Casey

Theses

National cancer registries play an important role in understanding the patterns and trends of cancer diseases, prevention methods, and treatment management. However, issues arising from data silos and an inability to link heterogeneous data sources have led to problems within the healthcare industry. This became apparent in Ireland in 2018 when Dr Scally’s scoping inquiry into the CervicalCheck controversy highlighted patient safety issues relating to disjointed data and an inability to link datasets.

Worldwide, semantic technologies are being utilised for their ability to link diverse data and enhance analytical capabilities. Therefore, this thesis will examine the use of a knowledge …

Consumer Acceptance And Sensory Evaluation Of 3d Printed Dairy Snacks, Laura Davis

Theses

3D printing technology has been established since the early 1980s by the inventor Charles Hull, with its initial applications in the moulding of plastic veneers for furniture. More recently, 3D printing has been gaining popularity as a food technology due to its potential benefits, such as personalised nutrition and reduced environmental impact. This study explored the consumer acceptability of 3D printed dairy snacks across participants in the UK and Ireland, through an online survey and sensory trials. The online survey was designed and distributed across 402 UK participants and 400 Irish participants. The sensory trial was conducted with a group …

Strategic Use Of Once-A-Day Milking For Pasture-Based Dairy Cows In Ireland, John Paul Murphy

Theses

The current perception of dairy farming in Ireland is one of long hours, physically demanding work and poor remuneration, especially when compared to that of a modern, high-tech industry with career opportunities and advancement possibilities at many levels (Teagasc, 2018). One of the biggest factors in attracting and retaining people to work on Irish dairy farms is that they must be desirable places to work (Teagasc, 2018). Milking is the most labour demanding task on Irish dairy farms (Deming et al., 2018) and one, which necessitates farmers being present on the farm twice daily if milking twice-a-day (TAD). Altering milking …

Atoms And Bits, Exploring The Use Of Data Physicalization And Augmented Reality To Learn-Through-Data In The Classroom, Rebecca Noonan

Theses

In today’s world we interact with data daily, whether it is on our phones, smart watches, websites, newspapers, or paper bills. Some have even proclaimed, ‘Data as the new gold.’ As data is an ever growing and important part of adult lives, this study was motivated to initiate the research presented here by questioning how we can expose children to data, in a way that will excite their early education, With this in mind, the aim of this research is to explore how we can make ‘learning through data’ a more interactive, engaging and positive activity by using modalities beyond …

The Impact Of Data Quality On Beef Genetics, Shauna Walsh

Theses

Efficiency and profitability in the beef industry are driven by cattle live-weight, therefore, to optimise live-weight data it is essential to maintain consistency across data collection methods. Data for this thesis was collected from 97,780 Irish suckler herds across the years 2019 to 2022, inclusive, with a total of 1,311,870 calf and dam live-weight records available. Live-weight data originated from five different sources including: professionally-recorded, producer recorded using either owned, borrowed or hired weighing scales, or from an unknown recording source. The objectives of this thesis were to: i) identify anomalies within cattle live-weight data for both calf and dam, …

Characterisation Of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (Abu) Isolates And Their Antimicrobial Activity Against Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli (Upec), Ciara Kenneally

Theses

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common aetiological agent of community and hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs caused by E. coli result in considerable morbidity, mortality, and economic loss worldwide due to increasing resistance to antibiotics. Substantial efforts are being made to develop novel alternatives to conventional antibiotic therapies. One approach is the principle of bacterial interference; using low-virulence, or commensal, bacteria to prevent colonisation of pathogens by competing for nutrients, or producing antimicrobial compounds such as bacteriocins. E. coli isolates inducing asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) have been proposed as a therapeutic alternative for UPEC infection. ABU is a …

The Exploitation Of Genomic Information For Dairy And Beef Cattle Breeding, Cliona Ryan

Theses

Genotype information is now available for over 4 million Irish dairy and beef cattle, and is primarily used for parent verification and genomic evaluations. Additional benefits that can be generated from genomic data should be explored to maximise the respective return-on- investment. This thesis investigated novel approaches that leverage genome-wide genomic information in cattle, focusing on using the genotype data to accurately determine breed composition, to quantify the association between major genes and performance traits, and to identify karyotype abnormalities. Furthermore, the value of genotyping for the purpose of identifying genetically superior animals depends largely on the accuracy of the …

Study On The Chemical Composition And Antioxidant Activities Of Essential Oil Extracted From Horwoodia Dicksoniae Growing In The Uae, Salama Sari Al Mansoori

Theses

Plant-derived substances including essential oils, secondary metabolites and other chemical substances are gaining attention due to their broad spectrum use in different fields. Native medicinal plants can play a key role in the healthcare field in any country. Horwoodia dicksoniae is a native endangered plant in UAE. The current study is about the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of H. dicksoniae’s essential oil as well as the evaluation of growth of this native endangered plant under different environmental conditions. For this purpose, the first step included confirmation of the viability of seeds obtained from a seed bank following the …

Design And Kinematic Testing Of A Resin Artificial Monarch Butterfly Wing, Thomas Payne Clark

Theses

Due to its ability to travel long distances efficiently, as evidenced by its yearly migration, the monarch butterfly is a strong candidate upon which to base a micro-aerial vehicle. Of primary importance in this venture is designing artificial wings with similar kinematics to a monarch wing. A first attempt produced a wing that differed significantly from a monarch wing in terms of deformation while flapping and empirical force coefficient trends. Using a new resin-based 3D printer, a new wing has been designed and developed to improve upon the issue with the original artificial wing. Both wings are tested using a …

A Blockchain-Based Platform For Open Science: A Framework For Transparent And Trustworthy Scientific Research, Rajesh Pandey

Theses

Open science promotes transparency in scientific processes, including open access, incentivization, provenance, open-source tools, metrics, and resource sharing. However, effective management of these processes remains a challenge. This research explores the application of blockchain technology to address key aspects of open science, offering a decentralized and secure platform for secure tracking and independent verification of scientific data across various domains. Additionally, it allows researchers to preregister information, track every step in the research lifecycle, accrue incentives based on downloads and citations, and verify dataset authenticity through blockchain, providing immutable proof of existence at specific time points. We also analyzed the …

Query Augmentation For Information Retrieval (Ir) Using Large Language Model (Llm), Anish Bhusal

Theses

In the context of exponential data growth, the efficient retrieval of information remains a known challenge. One key problem lies in bridging the gap between the search query and the information available. This thesis introduces a framework for information retrieval with the help of large language models (LLMs) along with query augmentation. Given a query, its sub-queries are created, using a fine tuned Seq2Seq (sequence to sequence) model through a technique called knowledge distillation. Different prompting methods are applied to produce an efficient query graph. The graph generated is then fed through a retrieval augmented generation (RAG) pipeline to respond …

Deep Learning Approach For Robust Structural Health Monitoring Using Guided Lamb Wave Responses, Sameer Gopali

Theses

Guided Lamb waves offer a promising solution for the early detection of internal damages in structures due to their high sensitivity to small damages. However, noise can adversely impact the development of data-driven models for damage detection, leading to inaccurate monitoring systems. This thesis explores deep learning techniques to robustly predict the location and severity of damage in cantilevered beams using noisy guided wave responses. Initially, Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) is trained with frequency domain features to achieve robust performance against noisy data. Further performance improvement is achieved using end-to-end learning models, which include autoencoder and one-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). …

A Novel Dual-Band Outline Elliptical Dipole Antenna For Passive Energy Harvesting, Jonathan Marquardt

Theses

In this thesis, a new dual-band antenna is presented for use in space-based passive energy harvesting. This antenna is based on elliptical dipole antennas, which are often used for their ultra-wideband (UWB) properties. The inner metallization is removed, leaving an outline antenna and room for a second set of antenna arms. This will in turn result in an interleaved structure to tune each set of dipole arms to two different frequencies. Due to the close proximity of the dipole arms there exists strong mutual coupling, which is lessened by adding decoupling elements to the design. The proposed antenna is supported …

Identifying Redox Active Metalloligands For Catalytic Applications With Special Focus On Enabling Photoredox Processes On Cerium(Iii) Centers, Yogesh Lnu

Theses

Terminal cerium(IV)-oxo (CeIV=O) species are known to be highly reactive and tend to oligomerize and degrade organic ligands. This is preventing their application as atomic oxygen radical anion (O.-) transfer reagents. CeIV=O species have been successfully stabilized via non-covalent interactions between the oxo-group and Lewis acids. However, our work is focused on incorporating CeIV=O species into robust polyoxometalates (POMs) to avoid stabilizing the terminal oxo-group and preserving its full reaction potential. Redox-active metalloligands, such as lacunary POMs, have the capability to act as electron reservoirs and promote multi-electron redox-processes as required for catalysis. Therefore, two all-vanadium(V) dodecavanadate, {V12}, metalloligands were …

Adaptive Sliding Mode Control For Plants With Unknown Parameters With Adaptive Boundary Layer Thickness For Chatter Attenuation, Josiah Schlabach

Theses

This thesis presents the development of an adaptive boundary layer sliding mode control (SMC) methodology tailored for plants with unknown parameters. The primary challenge addressed is the mitigation of chattering while ensuring robust performance in systems subject to high disturbances and parameter uncertainties. The research introduces a control law that combines existing work that dynamically adjusts the boundary layer thickness with existing work that uses adaptive laws to estimate unknown plant parameters. The stability of the proposed controller is validated with Lyapunov analysis. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the adaptive boundary layer SMC in producing good tracking control in …

Characterizing A Web Server Deployed In A Lightweight Kubernetes Cluster In An Iot Computing Environment, Jackson Lawrence

Theses

As the world’s reliance on the internet continues to grow, so does the need for cloud-based computing solutions. These solutions offer a degree of flexibility, scalability, and reliability that traditional computing methods cannot provide. This thesis focuses on characterizing a web server deployed in a lightweight Kubernetes cluster hosted across three Raspberry Pi 4 minicomputers. Characterization metrics include the transfer rate of data from the web server as well as the CPU utilization and power consumption of the Raspberry Pi devices when under load. The background on cloud-based technology is introduced and the tools used in the thesis research are …

Gpu Acceleration Of Kinetic Simulations Of Dust Particles In Rf Plasmas, Aaron A. Applegate

Theses

Dusty plasmas are characterized by micro to nanometer sized particles interacting with ions and electrons in a plasma. Dust grains interact with each other via Coulomb forces as they acquire electric charge through the collection of electrons and ions. This interaction can generate crystalline structures because of mutual repulsion and produce collective behaviors. Under the influence of gravity, dust crystals are squeezed into a two-dimensional monolayer. In microgravity, three-dimensional crystal structures and a broad range of collective behavior are possible as dust grain interaction forces and plasma effects become dominant. In this study, dusty plasmas were modeled via a continuum …

Establishment And Validation Of A Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analytical Method For Targeted Metabolomics: Towards Comprehensive Profiling Of Metabolic Signatures, Ayan Barua

Theses

This research aims to establish advanced analytical methods for targeted metabolomics using Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The focus is on quantifying key metabolites involved in specific metabolic pathways, optimizing sample preparation, and ensuring rigorous validation of method development parameters. By targeting thirteen specific metabolites, the research seeks to enhance metabolite extraction efficiency and analytical sensitivity. Analytical parameters such as selectivity, specificity, range, limit of detection, and limit of quantification were evaluated. This study's findings will contribute to a more precise understanding of metabolic alterations in disease states and improve the robustness of GC-MS-based metabolomics.

Development Of A Simulation Tool For Assessing Electrical Short Risks From Metallic Whiskers On Printed Circuit Boards Using Unity, Joseph Eric Black

Theses

Tin whiskers are metal strands that spontaneously form on tin surfaces and can grow up to a centimeter long. These whiskers can cause electrical shorts by breaking off and landing on circuit boards, yet there is limited simulation and analysis data regarding their shorting probability. This thesis presents a software tool developed using Unity, Blender, and FreeCAD to simulate the behavior of tin whiskers on PCBs. The tool accurately represents PCBs and whiskers, applying various forces to predict whisker landing positions and the impacted metal faces. By importing STEP files of PCBs, the software automatically sets up the simulation in …

Enhanced Suppression Of Stimulated Brillouin Scattering In High Energy Fiber Lasers Through Novel Chaotic Phase Modulation, Zachary Helton

Theses

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) poses a significant challenge in the development of high-power, single-mode continuous-wave fiber lasers. SBS occurs when the laser intensity is sufficient to generate acoustic vibrations in the fiber, leading to the reflection of light and limiting the maximum achievable power. Spectral broadening of the laser linewidth is a common SBS suppression technique. This thesis presents a novel approach using sine waves phase-modulated by chaotically generated noise to achieve improved SBS suppression. Experimental results demonstrate that this method achieves flatter and broader optical linewidths compared to traditional white noise modulation, even at lower power levels. This approach …

Complexity, Grouping, And Similarity: Effects On Numerosity Estimations, Keighly Harris

Theses

This study looked at the effects of visual features like complexity, grouping, and similarity on numerosity estimations. I hypothesized that complex visual stimuli would be more difficult to accurately estimate than simple visual stimuli. Additionally, I hypothesized that stimuli that were visually similar or displayed in spread out, distributed patterns would have more accurate estimations compared to visually random or closely grouped stimuli. Lastly, this study was designed to assess the combined effects of these visual features on numerosity estimation accuracy. Participants were asked to briefly look at images displaying groups of items containing these visual features, estimate the number …

A Study Of The Quantum Edge Extraction Technique Using Bitplane-Based Quantum Boolean Image Processing Algorithm, Sowmik Kanti Deb

Theses

Quantum image processing (QIMP) uses quantum information processing to create and work with quantum images. Due to the inherent properties of quantum computation, QIMP technologies have the potential to surpass their classical computing equivalents in terms of computing speed and storage requirements. In this thesis, we investigated quantum image edge detection, which is a fundamental tool used in image processing for feature detection and extraction. Quantum edge detection can exploit quantum mechanics' superposition and entanglement properties to perform operations simultaneously on all pixels and accelerate the process. To this end, we adopted the bitplane based framework of Quantum Boolean Image …

3d Co-Culture Of Human B Lymphocytes With Cd40l-Expressing Fibroblasts Using An Ultra-Hydrophilic Surface For In-Vitro Mimicry Of Secondary Lymphoid Organs, Ananta Kumar

Theses

B cells are critical components of the adaptive immune system that proliferate and differentiate within the secondary lymphoid organs. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures fall short of replicating the intricate structures and dynamic evolution of 3D tissue environments, prompting more physiologically pertinent in vitro models. Our approach employs ultra-hydrophilic surfaces engineered from methacrylated N-hexanoyl glycol chitosan to cultivate a three-dimensional (3D) co-culture of CD40L-expressing MS5 stromal cells and naive B cells derived from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy human donors. This novel system aims to mirror the structural and cellular intricacies of germinal centers within the secondary …

Evaluating The Effects Of L-Pbf Printing Parameters On The Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Grcop-42, Elaina Walker

Theses

GRCop-42 is a dispersion strengthened copper alloy of interest due to its high thermal conductivity. Since it is fabricated as a powder, it is adaptable to powder based, metal additive manufacturing (AM) processing. The chromium-niobium additives phase separate from the copper matrix and form strengthening dispersoids during the gas atomization process used to produce the powder. This study looks at the effect of the powder based, laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) AM processing parameters on the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties. Builds were obtained from five different vendors, deposited using their best practice, for metallurgical and mechanical property evaluation. By …

A Novel Method For Time-Based Synchronization Of Acquired Force And Motion Data, Darnisha Detraniece Crane

Theses

Enhancing the performance of flapping wing micro air vehicles hinges upon a thorough comprehension of the intricate interplay between wing kinematics and resulting forces. This understanding necessitates a method of synchronization capable of establishing a precise correlation of wing motion and force generation. The objective of this project is to develop a time-based synchronization method using existing hardware in the ATOM lab. Algorithms were developed to control the Vicon motion-tracking system and the ATI force sensor to achieve the synchronization of acquired data. Experimental testing was conducted to validate the algorithms and system architecture. Results from testing revealed a time …

Impact Of The Substrate Stiffness On Macrophage Function, Aaron Newchurch

Theses

This study explores macrophage cell function in healthy and diseased tissue that alters the synovial membrane housing fibroblasts and macrophages by examining how substrate stiffness impacts macrophage function. Current research suggests macrophages adapt, becoming more inflammatory in this environment. Divalent ions (CaCl2 or SrCl2) are used to adjust alginate hydrogel stiffness. The monocyte cell line THP-1 is transformed into macrophages through PMA, LPS, and IFNγ treatment within hydrogels, then cultured for 12 days. Divalent ions affect macrophage functionality; Sr2+ crosslinked hydrogels show higher viability, as well as an increased expression of M1 markers CD197 and IL1β, while M2 marker expression …