Digital Commons Network^™

The Edition, 4th Of December, 2013, Dit News Society

Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Doctor Cliona Doris, Cliona Doris

Researchers

Clíona Doris is Head of Orchestral Studies at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin. She is a graduate of The Queen's University of Belfast and Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, where she studied with the acclaimed harpist, Susann McDonald. She graduated with the Doctor of Music Degree in Harp Performance and Music Literature from Indiana University.

Clíona has extensive experience as a soloist and chamber musician and has performed throughout Ireland, Britain, Europe and the United States. Her broadcasts include performances on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Ulster, RTÉ LyricFM, National Public Radio USA, ClassicFM TV, UTV, BBC Television …

Towards A Consensus View On Understanding Nanomaterials Hazards And Managing Exposure: Knowledge Gaps And Recommendations, G Hunt, I Lynch, F Cassee, Rd Handy, Tf Fernandes, M Berges, Taj Kuhlbusch, M Dusinska, M Riediker

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Who Cares?:Practical Ethics And The Problem Of Underage Users On Social Networking Sites, Brian O'Neill

Articles

Internet companies place a high priority on the safety of their services and on their corporate responsibility towards protection of all users, especially younger ones. However, such efforts are undermined by the large numbers of children who circumvent age restrictions and lie about their age to gain access to such platforms. This paper deals with the ethical issues that arise in this not-so-hypothetical situation. Who, for instance, bears responsibility for children’s welfare in this context? Are parents/carers ethically culpable in failing to be sufficiently vigilant or even facilitating their children’s social media use? Do industry providers do enough to enforce …

World-Class Universities Or World Class Systems?: Rankings And Higher Education Policy Choices, Ellen Hazelkorn

Books/Book chapters

No abstract provided.

How Rankings Are Reshaping Higher Education, Ellen Hazelkorn

Books/Book chapters

No abstract provided.

E-Society And Children's Participation: Risks, Opportunities And Barriers, Brian O'Neill

Books/Book chapters

Children are important subjects of information society policy, particularly in the context of digital learning opportunities and e-inclusion. However, their participation is also a cause of concern and anxiety for policy makers. With ever-earlier adoption of new internet technologies and services by children, concerns arise as to how to ensure adequate protection whilst seeking to encourage and foster online opportunities. A delicate balancing act is required to manage risks while promoting better participation in e-society. To better inform this policy field, EU Kids Online conducted a pan-European survey of children’s use of the internet, resulting in the first fully comparable …

A Role For Two‐Pore Potassium (K2p) Channels In Endometrial Epithelial Function, Sk Patel, L Jackson, Ay Warren, Et Al

School of Nursing and Midwifery

The human endometrial epithelium is pivotal to menstrual cycle progression, implantation and early pregnancy. Endometrial function is directly regulated by local factors that include pH, oxygen tension and ion concentrations to generate an environment conducive to fertilization. A superfamily of potassium channels characterized by two-pore domains (K2P) and encoded by KCNK genes is implicated in the control of the cell resting membrane potential through the generation of leak currents and modulation by various physicochemical stimuli. The aims of the study were to determine the expression and function of K2P channel subtypes in proliferative and secretory phase endometrium obtained from normo-ovulatory …

Network Position: A Key Component In The Characterization Of Social Personality Types, Alexander D.M. Wilson, S Krause, Niels J. Dingemanse, J Krause

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Online And Local Television Networks: A New Pedagogy For A Changing Media., Phil Ellis, John Fitzsimons, David Hilton, Allister Gall

School of Art, Design and Architecture

To investigate campus-based and local TV focused on innovative opportunities for students, employers and community groups to contribute to the design of learning pedagogies and course structures.To utilize the strong element of collaboration within and across creative courses in the UPC Partnership encouraging students to explore the medium of TV and establish new learning cultures that broaden the context of the student experience, encouraging creative work-based/related collaboration with local communities and employers.Research outcomes will enhance understanding of a fluid and dynamic growth area for a new media, new educational and employment possibilities and arts practice, which in turn will inform …

The Pornographics Of Japanese Negrophilia, Jd Mackintosh

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

In 1974, a bizarre story, ‘Jigoku ni ochita wakamonotachi’ (‘Young Men Fallen into Hell’), appeared in the Japanese homo magazine Adon. It described in pornographic detail the sado-masochistic torture of Japanese men captured and forced to perform in a black circus troupe in American-occupied Japan. ‘Jigoku’ was unremarkable except that, in its stylised ‘pornographics’, it uniquely – for the homo imagination – configured sexual desire as a Japanese–black inter-racial intercourse. This article explores this imagination through a close reading of ‘Jigoku’. It traces a post-war ‘genealogy’ of blackness (Russell 2006), which finds affinity of meaning and value cutting across sub-cultural …

Modeling Speech Imitation And Ecological Learning Of Auditory-Motor Maps, C Canevari, L Badino, A D'Ausilio, L Fadiga, G Metta

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Classical models of speech consider an antero-posterior distinction between perceptive and productive functions. However, the selective alteration of neural activity in speech motor centers, via transcranial magnetic stimulation, was shown to affect speech discrimination. On the automatic speech recognition (ASR) side, the recognition systems have classically relied solely on acoustic data, achieving rather good performance in optimal listening conditions. The main limitations of current ASR are mainly evident in the realistic use of such systems. These limitations can be partly reduced by using normalization strategies that minimize inter-speaker variability by either explicitly removing speakers' peculiarities or adapting different speakers to …

Patients’ Experience Of A Regional Allergy Service, Rb Jones, A O'Connor, E Kaminski

School of Nursing and Midwifery

No abstract provided.

The Emergence Of Two Anti-Phase Oscillatory Neural Populations In A Computational Model Of The Parkinsonian Globus Pallidus, R Merrison-Hort, R Borisyuk

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Experiments in rodent models of Parkinson's disease have demonstrated a prominent increase of oscillatory firing patterns in neurons within the Parkinsonian globus pallidus (GP) which may underlie some of the motor symptoms of the disease. There are two main pathways from the cortex to GP: via the striatum and via the subthalamic nucleus (STN), but it is not known how these inputs sculpt the pathological pallidal firing patterns. To study this we developed a novel neural network model of conductance-based spiking pallidal neurons with cortex-modulated input from STN neurons. Our results support the hypothesis that entrainment occurs primarily via the …

Event-Driven Visual Attention For The Humanoid Robot Icub, F Rea, G Metta, C Bartolozzi

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Fast reaction to sudden and potentially interesting stimuli is a crucial feature for safe and reliable interaction with the environment. Here we present a biologically inspired attention system developed for the humanoid robot iCub. It is based on input from unconventional event-driven vision sensors and an efficient computational method. The resulting system shows low-latency and fast determination of the location of the focus of attention. The performance is benchmarked against an instance of the state of the art in robotics artificial attention system used in robotics. Results show that the proposed system is two orders of magnitude faster that the …

L’Est Visto Dall’Ovest. Dei Discorsi Occidentali Sull’Omofobia Nell’Europa Centro-Orientale, R Kulpa

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

“Representation is really, not symbolically, powerful”, John Fiske (2003, p.278) Negli ultimi anni, l’Europa “centro-orientale” 1 e, più nello specifico, la Polonia hanno attirato l’attenzione della comunità LGBT dell’Europa “occidentale”. Ciò anche e soprattutto a causa dell’atteggiamento xenofobo e ostile manifestato dai partiti populisti e nazionalisti di molti paesi ex-comunisti. Sempre più frequentemente si sente sostenere l’equazione “Europa centro-orientale = omofobia”. Percezione, questa, che gli eventi accaduti in Polonia, Lettonia, Lituania e Russia hanno contribuito ad alimentare. Più precisamente, di fronte al diniego dell’autorizzazione al Gay Pride e, in altri casi, di fronte ai violenti attacchi contro le pacifiche manifestazioni …

Signature Verification Based On Moments Technique, Shaymaa Al-Juboori

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

In this research we will present the signature as a key to the biometric authentication technique. I shall use moment invariants as a tool to make a decision about any signature which is belonging to the certain person or not. Eighteen voluntaries give 108 signatures as a sample to test the proposed system, six samples belong to each person were taken. Moment invariants are used to build a feature vector stored in this system. Euclidean distance measure used to compute the distance between the specific signatures of persons saved in this system and with new sample acquired to same persons …

Groundwater Dynamics In Coastal Gravel Barriers Backed By Freshwater Lagoons And The Potential For Saline Intrusion: Two Cases From The Uk, Martin J. Austin, Gerd Masselink, Robert T. Mccall, Timothy G. Poate

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Re-Theorizing The “Structure–Agency” Relationship: Figurational Theory, Organizational Change And The Gaelic Athletic Association, John Connolly, Paddy Dolan

Articles

This article illustrates how the figurational sociology associated with Norbert Elias provides an alternative theoretical framework for explaining the relationship between, ‘individualorganization- society’ and organizational change, and in so doing transverses what is conceived as a false dichotomy between structure and agency. Through an historical case study of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland, the ‘individual-organization-society’ relationship is conceptualized as overlapping figurations and organizational change is explained as figurational dynamics—the shifting social interdependencies between the individuals and groups comprising an organization, between that organization and other organizations, between social groups on a higher level of integration and competition. In tandem …

Emotions, Violence And Social Belonging: An Eliasian Analysis Of Sports Spectatorship, Paddy Dolan, John Connolly

Articles

This paper examines the development of different forms of spectator violence in terms of the socio-temporal structure of situational dynamics at Gaelic football matches in Ireland. The nature of violent encounters has shifted from a collective form based on local solidarity and a reciprocal code of honour, through a transitional collective form based on deferred emotional satisfaction and group pride, towards increasing individualization of spectator violence. This occurs due to the shifting objects of emotional involvement. As the functional specialization of the various roles in the game is partially accepted by spectators, the referee becomes the target of anger. Violence …

Self-Sensing Surface Plasmon Resonance For The Detection Of Metallic Nanoparticles, Nh Salah, D Jenkins, L Panina, R Handy, G Pan, Sa Awan

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is an established technique for label free sensing of bio-molecular species, including time-dependent reaction analysis. Unlike previous research by other workers, who have used gold or silver nanoparticles to enhance sensitivity by inducing LSPR, this study involves the theoretical development of a Localised SPR (LSPR) system where a glass prism is considered with multilayer films to enable the detection of metallic nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles with a volume concentration 0.25 % can be clearly detected from both amplitude and phase, according to the results of these simulations. The model presented is rigorous in that it accounts for …

Spaces, Emotion And Heavy Metal Subcultural Control: Music Consumption And Civilising Processes., Gary Sinclair

Doctoral

Despite the longevity, cultural relevance and global popularity of heavy metal, it has been noticeably absent from both the Birmingham School‟s subcultural studies, the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS) and in consumer community contexts informed by post-subcultural perspectives (e.g., neo-tribes). This study examines the Irish heavy metal scene. The literature review considers the problematic aspects of applying both frameworks (subcultural and post-subcultural) to heavy metal and other similar contexts. I argue that Norbert Elias‟s figurational sociology (relatively underutilised in previous consumer research), can be used to bypass the agency–structure dualism that impedes both approaches. It is also advanced that …

Web-Mediated Education And Training Environments: A Review Of Personalised Interactive Learning., Eileen O'Donnell, Mary Sharp, Catherine Mulwa, Vincent Wade

Books/Book Chapters

This chapter reviews the concept of personalised eLearning resources in relation to integrating interactivity into asynchronous learning. Personalised eLearning resources are learning resources which are selected to suit a specific student or trainee’s individual learning requirements. The affordance of personalised eLearning would provide educators with the opportunity to shift away from eLearning content that is retrieved and move towards the provision of personalised interactive content to provide a form of asynchronous learning to suit students at different degree levels. A basic introduction to the concept of ePedagogy in online learning environments is explored and the impacts these systems have on …

From The Editors, Melissa Ianetta, Lauren Fitzgerald

The Writing Center Journal

No abstract provided.

Review: Multiliteracy Centers: Writing Center Work, New Media, And Multimodal Rhetoric, Sipai Klein

The Writing Center Journal

No abstract provided.

Announcements

The Writing Center Journal

No abstract provided.

A Semantic Web Based Search Engine With X3d Visualisation Of Queries And Results, Konstantinos Gkoutzis

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

The Semantic Web project has introduced new techniques for managing information. Data can now be organised more efficiently and in such a way that computers can take advantage of the relationships that characterise the given input to present more relevant output. Semantic Web based search engines can quickly educe exactly what is needed to be found and retrieve it while avoiding information overload. Up until now, search engines have interacted with their users by asking them to look for words and phrases. We propose the creation of a new generation Semantic Web search engine that will offer a visual interface …

On Reducing The Decoding Complexity Of Shingled Magnetic Recording System, Nadia Awad

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) has been recognised as one of the alternative technologies to achieve an areal density beyond the limit of the perpendicular recording technique, 1 Tb/in2, which has an advantage of extending the use of the conventional method media and read/write head. This work presents SMR system subject to both Inter Symbol Interference (ISI) and Inter Track Interference (ITI) and investigates different equalisation/detection techniques in order to reduce the complexity of this system. To investigate the ITI in shingled systems, one-track one-head system model has been extended into two-track one-head system model to have two interfering tracks. Consequently, …

Two Decades Of Rpl/Apel In Ireland: Practitioner Views, Anne Murphy

Level 3

My first involvement with APEL was in 1990 when I was invited to design a system by which cohorts of experiences practitioners in the disability training sector could achieve a sectoral qualification primarily through recognition of prior certificated and experiential learning. A taught route to the particular qualification was already in operation in partnership between the Adult Education Centre in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth (now National University of Ireland, Maynooth) and the National Rehabilitation Board. The trainers’ qualification was an essential element of quality assurance for the sector with funding support provided by the EU Social Fund. However, it was …

Interview With Mr John Moreland: Audio Interview, John Moreland, Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, Mary Kavanagh

Irish Yeast Company

In this interview Mr Moreland recalls a long life spent working in the Irish Yeast Company and living in the College Street area of Dublin city. The interview sheds some light on the rise and fall of the various bakeries supplying Dublin city.

Please note the download button provides access to the transcription while clicking on the supplementary file provides access to the recorded interview.