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Microstructures And Viscoelastic Properties Of Anisotropic Magnetorheological Elastomers, Lin Chen

Articles

The microstructures and viscoelastic properties of anisotropic magnetorheological elastomers were investigated in this paper. The measurement results show that their mechanical properties are greatly dependent on the magnetic flux density applied in preparation. A finite-column model was proposed to describe the relations between the microstructures and the viscoelastic properties. The simulation results agree well with the experimental results.

Investigation On Magnetorheological Elastomers Based On Natural Rubber, Lin Chen

Articles

Magnetorheological Elastomers (MR Elastomers or MREs) are a kind of novel smart material, whose mechanical, electrical, magnetic properties are controllable under applied magnetic fields. They have attracted increasing attentions and broad application prospects. But conventional MREs are limited to wide applications because their MR effects and mechanical performances are not high enough. This paper aims to optimize the fabrication method and to fabricate good natural rubber based MREs with high modulus by investigating the influences of a variety of fabrication conditions on the MREs performances, such as matrix type, external magnetic flux density, and temperature, plasticizer and iron particles. Among …

Making Olsr Aware Of Resources, Karol Kowalik, Brian Keegan, Mark Davis

Conference papers

An important element of any routing protocol used for Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) is the link cost function used to represent the radio link characteristic. The majority of the routing protocols for WMNs attempt to accurately characterise the radio link quality by constructing the link cost function from the measurements obtained using active probing techniques which introduces overhead. In this paper we present a modified version of the Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) protocol which uses the link cost function values provided the Resource Aware Routing for mEsh (RARE) module which employs passive monitoring to gather radio link information. This …

Hologram-Based Humidity Indicator For Domestic And Packaging Applications, Izabela Naydenova, Raghavendra Jallapuram, Vincent Toal, Suzanne Martin

Conference Papers

A passive indicator for Relative Humidity based on a photopolymer recorded hologram has been developed. The indicator works on the principle that the wavelength reconstructed by a reflection hologram is dependent on the spacing between the fringe planes of the hologram. As the Relative Humidity changes, the hologram swells or shrinks and the apparent colour of the reconstructed image changes. The response time, operational range and reversibility of the indicator have been studied in a controlled humidity environment. Response times from less than a minute to tens of minutes depending on the holograms physical properties have been measured. Indicators with …

Risk Reduction Through Technological Control Of Personal Information, Shirley Atkinson

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Abuse and harm to individuals, through harassment and bullying, coexist with Identity Theft as criminal behaviours supported by the ready availability of personal information. Incorporating privacy protection measures into software design requires a thorough understanding about how an individual's privacy is affected by Internet technologies. This research set out to incorporate such an understanding by examining privacy risks for two groups of individuals, for whom privacy was an important issue, domestic abuse survivors and teenagers. The purpose was to examine the reality of the privacy risks for these two groups. This research combined a number of approaches underpinned by a …

An Examination Of The Role Of Intuition In Individual Decision Making In Organisations, Rory Martin, Philomena Hanlon

Conference papers

The feeling of knowing without knowing has often been described as listening to your heart, trusting your gut, or using your intuition. As decision makers face more turbulent and complex environments, rational analysis may not always be able to assist in yielding optimal results. In cases where sufficient data is not available or the situation is one that the decision maker or the organisation has not faced before, the decision maker may utilise intuition to guide them through uncertainty (Lank & Lank 1995:19). This paper looks at the role that intuition plays in individual decision making in organisations. The primary …

Optimized Fatigue And Fracture Performance Of Friction Stir Welded Aluminium Plate: A Study Of The Inter-Relationship Between Process Parameters, Tmaz, Microstructure, Defect Population And Performance, Hannalie Lombard

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Friction stir welding (FSW) is an exciting new solid-state welding process with the potential to advantageously impact many fabrication industries. Current take-up of the process by industry is hindered by lack of knowledge of suitable welding parameters for any particular alloy and sheet thickness. The FSW process parameters are usually chosen empirically and their success is evaluated via simple mechanical property testing. There are severe drawbacks with such methods of determining manufacturing conditions. These include indirect relationships between tensile and fatigue properties, particularly for welds, and a high probability of totally missing real optimized conditions. This research is therefore undertaken …

Guardian Angel (Ireland), Thomas Cooney

Case studies

It was the summer of 2006 and three friends of many years had come up with a business idea that they believed could be a money-spinner for all of them. Maria Harrison, Krystle Malone and Marie Lyons had all been students at the Technological University Dublin and had recently completed their degree in Marketing. As part of their programme, they had taken a course on Entrepreneurship by way of interest rather than any deep-rooted desire to start their own business. But now, they are about to meet a venture capital company to ask for €300,000 to get the business started. …

Ecoserve (Ireland), Thomas Cooney

Case studies

Roisin Nash had just finished reading a new report that had recently been launched by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey at the headquarters of the Marine Institute at Oranmore in County Galway. The report, entitled ‘Sea Change – A Marine Knowledge, Research and Innovation Strategy for Ireland 2007- 2013’, presented a national agenda (comprising of science, research, innovation, and management) aimed at a complete transformation of the Irish maritime economy. Roisin felt that the report provided a clear and realistic picture of future opportunities and challenges within the Irish marine industry, and that it would …

Daft.Ie (Ireland), Thomas Cooney

Case studies

Eamonn and Brian Fallon sat in their office at the Digital Hub near the Guinness Brewery in Dublin and reflected upon their success. It was a beautiful day outside and the sun shone warmly through the windows. About them on the walls was an array of awards that they had collected over the past two years. Indeed they had received a telephone call earlier that day informing them that the radio programme ‘Down To Business’ on NewsTalk 106 had selected them as a leading example of best business practice and wanted to interview them. It was yet further recognition that …

Enhancing Educational Programmes For Geomatics In Ireland, Frank Prendergast, William Prendergast, Avril Behan, Helen Murray

Conference Papers

The growing spatial information needs of society, the rapid development of new surveying technologies, and the global demand for appropriately qualified surveyors, have triggered a radical re-evaluation of Geomatics education in Europe. Although significant enhancements to DIT’s educational programmes have been made during the last decade, the provision of new opportunities for learners and innovative changes to existing paradigms of training and education are required. This paper addresses some of the issues confronting educators in DIT, and presents some of the strategies for their enhancement and implementation.

Investigating Staff Perceptions Of E-Learning Development And Support For Students With Disabilities In Higher Education, Roisin Donnelly

Journal Articles

This paper reports on a study concerned with exploring staff perceptions on improving the design and delivery of e-learning provision for students and staff with disabilities in a higher education institution in the Republic of Ireland. The study aims to clarify understanding on how aspects of e-learning affect some of the key stakeholders in an institution of higher education – a disability liaison team, a learning technology team and an academic development centre. Essentially this paper is an example of research for learners with disabilities by people without disabilities. The language used in this paper is consistent with the social …

Simultaneous Modelling Of The Thermal Degradationa Kinetics Of Pectin, Daniel Rico, Ana Belen Martin-Diana, Catherine Barry-Ryan, Gary Henehan, Jesus Maria Frias

Articles

The thermal degradation kinetics of pectin methylesterase (PME) from carrot and lettuce were studied. Fresh extracts were exposed to temperatures from 55 to 70 °C until the enzyme was inactivated. A model based on the presence of two forms of the enzyme, one active and one non-active, is proposed. The natural variability of the PME activity was taken into the model in the form of normally distributed random effects. The common model parameters obtained (cleavage constant (0.0395±0.0062 s⁻¹), degradation constant (0.556±0.112 s⁻¹), cleavage energy of activation (469±23 kJ mol⁻¹) and degradation energy of activation …

Ef Fi Cacy Of Steamer Jet-Injection As Alternative To Chlorine In Fresh-Cut Lettuce, Daniel Rico, Ana Belen Martin-Diana, Jesus Maria Frias, J. Barat, Gary Henehan, Catherine Barry-Ryan

Articles

The use of calcium lactate solutions has been shown to be a healthy alternative to chlorine washing in order to maintain the shelf-life of fresh-cut products. The aim of this research was to analyse the effects of calcium lactate (15 g L⁻¹) treatment at 25 °C and 50 °C (heat-shock) on the textural properties of sliced carrots and to compare those with the chlorine treatment (120 mg L⁻¹) widely used in industry. Several direct and indirect markers of textural changes in carrots during storage were used: Instron textural analysis, Cryo-SEM and optical microscopic, sensory analysis, pectin …

Extending And Measuring The Quality Of Fresh-Cut Fruit And Vegetables: A Review, Ana Belen Martin-Diana, Daniel Rico, Gary Henehan, Jesus Maria Frias, J. Barat

Articles

The market sales of ready - to - use vegetables have grown rapidly in recent decades as a result of changes in consumer attitudes especially consumption of fresh-cut lettuce and carrot due to their use in prepared salads. Chlorine solutions have been widely used to sanitise fruit and vegetables in the fresh-cut industry. However, the association of chlorine with the possible formation of carcinogenic chlorinated compounds in water has called into question the use of chlorine in food processing. There is a real need to find alternatives for preservation of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables in order to improve the efficacy …

Using Gis To Assess Ireland's Knowledge Economy And Its Readiness For Knowledge Based Activity, Niall Mcguinness

Dissertations

The attractiveness of emerging low wages economics to primary industries such as manufacturing and production is forcing many western economies to transition to knowledge economies. In the absence of many forms of primary industry lost to low wage economies, the European Union and its members are fast realising the importance of attracting knowledge based enterprise in order to maintain Europe’s economic climate. Ireland too has a stated aim to become a knowledge economy by the year 2010. This can be achieved by investing in higher education and attracting knowledge industry to the country. Ireland has made some progress to achieving …

The Effect Of The Rate Of Precursor Production On The Purity And Aggregation Morphology Of Nanoparticulate Zinc Oxide, Grainne Duffy, Suresh Pillai, Declan Mccormack

Articles

The synthesis of zinc oxide through the decomposition of a solid oxalate precursor was
investigated. It was found that the rate of preparation of the precursor had a quantitative effect on
the morphology and extent of surface ligation of particles produced; contrary to our expectations,
it was found that the slow combination of reagents led to a less pure product. It has been
determined that this time dependence mimics the variation of reactant ratios. Zinc oxide particles
were produced from a number of reactant ratios, and were characterised by TEM, XRD, FT-IR
and DSC. It was found that the size …

A Novel Processing Route For The Production Of Nanoparticulate Zinc Oxide Using An Isophthalate Precursor, Grainne Duffy, Declan Mccormack, Suresh Pillai

Articles

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have been processed from a novel isophthalate precursor. In contrast to those processed from an oxalate precursor, this material exhibits three-dimensional, non-directional aggregation behaviour.

Such non-directional aggregation of uniaxial crystallites may allow for the production of structures with a higher proportion of catalytically active surfaces than can be prepared through conventional sol–gel methods. XRD,

FTIR, TEM and SEM were used to characterize the synthesized materials.

Zinc oxide particles synthesized by using isophthalic acid (C6H4-1,3-(COOH)2) are found to be slightly smaller than the previously reported materials prepared through chelation with oxalic acid (H2C2O2・2H2O).

Irish Gay Men And Tourism: Behaviours And Motivations, Bruce Carolan

Other resources

This paper is an exploratory study of the holiday practices of an increasingly important segment of the Irish tourism market: gay men. Studies show that gay men are, in many respects, desirable tourists: they tend to be more highly educated, have greater disposable incomes and a higher propensity to travel than non-gay people. Yet there has been relatively little research – and virtually none in an Irish context – concerning gay male holiday motivations, destination choice and behaviours. After reviewing the existing literature on gay men and tourism, this paper employs qualitative research methods – primarily focus groups, semi-structured interviews …

Citax: Defining Xml Standards For Data Exchange In The Construction Industry Supply Chain, Alan V. Hore, Roger West

Conference papers

The current methods of ordering, delivering and invoicing of products in the construction industry is enormously inefficient, with vast quantities of paperwork, duplication of effort, scanning, re-keying and resolving mismatches between invoices, delivery dockets and purchase orders. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Construction IT Alliance eXchange (CITAX) project and, in particular, to outline the work carried out-to-date by a special interest group within the project. They are seeking to define a universal set of eXtensible Mark-Up Language (XML) message standards that will allow suppliers and contractors to exchange information with each other in supply chain activity. …

Resynthesis Methods For Sound Source Separation Using Shifted Non-Negative Factorisation Models, Derry Fitzgerald, Matt Cranitch

Conference papers

Recently, techniques such as shifted 2D non-negative matrix factorisation and shifted 2D non-negative tensor factorisations have been proposed as methods for separating harmonic musical instruments from single and multi-channel mixtures. However, these methods require the use of a Constant Q transform, for which no true inverse exists. This has adverse effects on the quality of the resynthesis of the separated sources. In this paper, a number of different resynthesis methods are investigated in order to determine the best approach to resynthesis

Automating Ornamentation Transcription, Mikel Gainza, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

A novel technique for detecting single and multi-note ornaments is presented. The system detects audio segments by utilising and onset detector based on comb filters (ODCF), which is capable of detecting very close events. In addition, a novel method to remove spurious onsets due to offset events is introduced. The system utilises musical ornamentation theory to decide whether a sequence of audio segments correspond to an ornamentation musical structure. In order to evaluate the results, a database of signals produced by different players using the three different instruments has been utilised. The results represent a step forward towards fully automating …

Towards A Personal Automatic Music Playlist Generation Alogorithm: The Need For Contextual Information, Gordon Reynolds, Dan Barry, Ted Burke, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

Large music collections afford the listener flexibility in the form of choice, which enables the listener to choose the appropriate piece of music to enhance or complement their listening scenario on-demand. However, bundled with such a large music collection is the daunting task of manually searching through each entry in the collection to find the appropriate song required by the listener. This often leaves the listener frustrated when trying to select songs from a large music collection. In this paper, an overview of existing methods for automatically generating a playlist is discussed. This discussion outlines advantages and disadvantages associated with …

Automatic Bar Line Segmentation, Mikel Gainza, Dan Barry, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

A method that segments the audio according to the position of the bar lines is presented. The method detects musical bars that frequently repeat in different parts of a musical piece by using an audio similarity matrix. The position of each bar line is predicted by using prior information about the position of previous bar lines as well as the estimated bar length. The bar line segmentation method does not depend on the presence of percussive instruments to calculate the bar length. In addition, the alignment of the bars allows moderate tempo deviations.

A Brief Introduction To Speech Synthesis And Voice Modification, Alan O'Cinneide, David Dorran, Mikel Gainza

Conference papers

For both engineers and linguists, the computer synthesis of natural speech is an objective that would provide many useful applications to human-computer interaction, including the realm of electro-acoustic music. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the area of speech synthesis by providing an overview of the three main methods of computer speech synthesis; namely concatenative, articulatory and formant syntheses. Some aspects of the current state of the technology are illuminated and the final section will explain the author’s motivation and current research approach to the field of voice modification.

Time Signature Detection By Using A Multi Resolution Audio Similarity Matrix, Mikel Gainza, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

A method that estimates the time signature of a piece of music is presented. The approach exploits the repetitative structure of most music, where the same musical bar is repeated in different parts of a piece. The method utilised a multi-resolution audio similarity matrix approach, which allows comparisons between longer audio segments (bars) by combining comparisons of shorter segments (fraction of a note). The time signature method only depends on musical structure, and does not depend on the presence of percussive instruments or strong musical accents.

Blind Source Separation And Automatic Transcription Of Music Using Tensor Decompositions, Derry Fitzgerald

Conference papers

Recent advances in the use of tensor decompositions for the analysis of music are described. In particular, the use of such decompositions for sound source separation and the automatic transcription of music are explored.

Baugruppe - Lessons From Freiburg On Cooperative Housing : Lessons From Freiburg On Cooperative Housing, Joseph Little

Articles

Creating Sustainable Communities in the UK and Ireland

The Genesis of Quartier Vauban

The Impact Of External, Socially Synthetic Forces, Such As Mass Media, Video Games, And The Internet On Human Behavior, George Stanley Reeley Jr.

Essays in Education

This essay explores the controversial hypothesis of reciprocal determinism, a subset of the Social Cognitive Theory developed by Albert Bandura, Ph.D. The hypothesis suggests that external forces likely influence the behavior of an individual, and in turn, the individual reshapes (reciprocally) society in an escalading cycle of manipulation and modification. Diverse perspectives are gathered from seminal books and peer-reviewed journals in an attempt to substantiate or conceivably refute the notion that mass media, the Internet, video games, and other forms of one-way and interactive technology may be stirring aggressive behavior (by way of modeling), as well as desensitizing children and …

Dialogic Communication In Collaborative Problem Solving Groups, Robert B. Innes

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Discourse, especially dialogic communication between students in collaborative problem-solving groups, plays a central role in educational reforms informed by learning science. This study examined the quality of discourse in problem-based learning groups in a university course. The study found a low incidence of high quality dialogue (dialogic communication, elaboration and co-construction of ideas, productive disciplinary discourse) in 12 one-hour planning meetings. The most competent students took leadership in groups and made the majority of the conceptual contributions. Although there was a reasonable amount of time spent connecting theories to cases, there was little time spent in high-level analysis and very …