Engineering Commons^™

Incorporation Of Fibrin Into A Collagen–Glycosaminoglycan Matrix Results In A Scaffold With Improved Mechanical Properties And Enhanced Capacity To Resist Cell-Mediated Contraction, Claire Brougham, Tanya J. Levingstone, Stefan Jockenhoevel, Thomas C. Flanagan, Fergal J. O'Brien

Articles

Fibrin has many uses as a tissue engineering scaffold, however many in vivo studies have shown a reduction in function resulting from the susceptibility of fibrin to cell-mediated contraction. The overall aim of the present study was to develop and characterise a reinforced natural scaffold using fibrin, collagen and glycosaminoglycan (FCG), and to examine the cell-mediated contraction of this scaffold in comparison to fibrin gels. Through the use of an injection loading technique, a homogenous FCG scaffold was developed. Mechanical testing showed a sixfold increase in compressive modulus and a thirtyfold increase in tensile modulus of fibrin when reinforced with …

Mattrack: A Matlab-Based Quantitative Image Analysis Platform For Investigating Real-Time Photo-Converted Fluorescent Signals In Live Cells, Jane Courtney, Elena Woods, Dimitri Scholz, William Hall, Virginie Gautier

Articles

We introduce here MATtrack, an open source MATLAB-based computational platform developed to process multi-Tiff files produced by a photo-conversion time lapse protocol for live cell fluorescent microscopy. MATtrack automatically performs a series of steps required for image processing, including extraction and import of numerical values from Multi-Tiff files, red/green image classification using gating parameters, noise filtering, background extraction, contrast stretching and temporal smoothing. MATtrack also integrates a series of algorithms for quantitative image analysis enabling the construction of mean and standard deviation images, clustering and classification of subcellular regions and injection point approximation. In addition, MATtrack features a simple user …

Determination Of The Polymerisation Rate Of A Low-Toxicity Diacetone Acrylamide-Based Holographic Photopolymer Using Raman Spectroscopy, Dervil Cody, Emilia Mihaylova, Luke O'Neill, Izabela Naydenova

Articles

The polymerisation rate of a low-toxicity Diacetone Acrylamide (DA)-based photopolymer has been measured for the first time using Raman spectroscopy. A value for the polymerisation rate of 0.020 s⁻¹ has been obtained for the DA photopolymer by modelling the polymerisation reaction dynamics as a stretched exponential or Kohlrausch decay function. This is significantly lower than the polymerisation rate of 0.100 s⁻¹ measured for the well known Acrylamide (AA)-based photopolymer composition. The effect of the additive glycerol on the polymerisation rate of the DA-based photopolymer has also been investigated. The inclusion of glycerol is observed to increase the rate …

Thermodynamic Analysis Of Closed Steady Or Cyclic Systems, Jim A. Mcgovern

Articles

Closed, steady or cyclic thermodynamic systems, which have temperature variations over their boundaries, can represent an extremely large range of plants, devices or natural objects, such as combined heating, cooling and power plants, computers and data centres, and planets. Energy transfer rates can occur across the boundary, which are characterized as heat or work. We focus on the finite time thermodynamics aspects, on energy-based performance parameters, on rational efficiency and on the environmental reference temperature. To do this, we examine the net work rate of a closed, steady or cyclic system bounded by thermal resistances linked to isothermal reservoirs in …

Improving Operator Situational Awareness With Wide Area Geographic Data View Displays Of The Electric Power Grid, Esa M. Rantanen, Limor Hochberg, Diego Klabjan, Mingyang Di

Articles

To reduce clutter on wide-area geographic data view displays of electric power systems, substations in geographically compact areas should be spread out and line overlaps and intersections minimized. Such pat- terns optimized with respect to given constraints can be modeled as a multicommodity flow problem. Due to the size of the developed model, we developed two clustering-based iterative algorithms to decompose the global network into smaller regions and then iteratively solve the subproblem in each region by readjusting some values. Three solutions were selected for experimental evaluation. The experimental results were somewhat inconclusive, due to naïve participants, simple task, and …

Green Supply Chain Management In Chinese Electronic Manufacturing Organisations; An Analysis Of Senior Managements’ Perceptions., Eoin Plant, Yusen Xu, Gareth R.T. White

Articles

Green supply chain management and reverse logistics has emerged as a key area of research interest. Recent environmental regulations have also stimulated interest in this field. However, information sharing is a pre- requisite to efficient and effective logistics utilisation. Manufacturing organisations in China were argued to be 10-20 years behind their Western counterparts in relation to information sharing in their supply chains (Li and Yuan, 2009). This barrier needs to be addressed if China is going to maintain and grow its manufacturing position in the world, attempt to address green supply chain issues and their negative externalities. A systematic literature …

Perceived Adequacy Of Illumination, Spatial Brightness, Horizontal Illuminance And Mean Room Surface Exitance In A Small Office, James Duff, Kevin Kelly, Christopher Cuttle

Articles

This paper presents a pilot study that investigated the suitability of mean room surface exitance as a predictor of spatial brightness and perceived adequacy of illumination, and then compared these results with how horizontal illuminance predicted both items under the same conditions. The experiment included 26 participants. A small office was used for the study. It exposed participants to three levels of mean room surface exitance, each delivered with three different light distributions and across three different surface reflectances, resulting in a total of 27 light scenes. A clear relationship existed between mean room surface exitance and both perceived adequacy …

Decrypting Financial Markets Through E-Joint Attention Efforts: On-Line Adaptive Networks Of Investors In Periods Of Market Uncertainty, Niccolò Casnici, Pierpaolo Dondio, Roberto Casarin, Flaminio Squazzoni

Articles

No abstract provided.

A Simple Polarization Reconfigurable Printed Monopole Antenna, Afshin Panahi, Xiulong Bao, Kansheng Yang, Oisin O'Conchubhair, Max Ammann

Articles

A simple polarization reconfigurable printed monopole antenna is proposed for wireless applications. Conducting strips are used to connect to the ground plane providing the necessary additional modes for circular-polarization. Linear-polarization, right hand or left hand circular-polarization can be realized using only two PIN diodes, which connect to the ground plane, minimizing their effect on radiation characteristics. The mechanism is described, and key antenna parameters are studied and optimized. The antenna is prototyped and tested for all polarization configurations.

Design Method For Wideband Circularly Polarized Slot Antennas, Adam Narbudowicz, Matthias John, Vit Sipal, Xiulong Bao, Max Ammann

Articles

A compact ultrawideband (UWB) circularly polarized (CP) slot antenna is proposed with a methodology for automated reoptimization for packaging with proprietary devices. The slot structure employs a dual-feed with an integrated compact UWB phase shifter. The design process involves an advanced optimization algorithm and demonstrates the use of spline curves for generation of CP signals. These allow easy optimization, while preserving phase coherency across a wideband. The prototyped antennahas a CP bandwidth of 54% (from 3.2 to 6.1 GHz).

Thermal Energy Storage In Building Integrated Thermal Systems: A Review. Part 2. Integration As Passive System, Dervilla Niall, Sarah Mccormack, Philip Griffiths, Luisa Cabeza, Lidia Navarro, Albert Castell, Alvaro De Grazia, Maria Brown

Articles

Energy consumption trends in residential and commercial buildings show a significant increase in recent decades. One of the key points for reducing energy consumption in buildings is to decrease the energy demand. Buildings envelopes are not just a structure they also provide protection from outdoor weather conditions always taking into account the local climate. Thermal energy storage has been used and applied to the building structure by taking advantage of sensible heat storage of materials with high thermal mass. But in recent years, researchers have focused their studies on the implementation of latent heat storage materials that if well incorporated …

On The Calculation And Measurement Of Mean Room Surface Exitance, James Duff, G. Antonutto, S. Torres

Articles

Cuttle has proposed mean room surface exitance as a metric for use within interior lighting design. Two reported barriers to its use are: a lack of available software to calculate the metric and the tedious and cumbersome nature of recording its values in the field using current equipment and methodologies. This paper presents a method for facilitating the calculation of mean room surface exitance using readily available freeware, namely Radiance, and also presents a methodology that utilises high dynamic range imaging as a pragmatic alternative for field measurement.

Folded Meander Line Antenna For Wireless M-Bus In The Vhf And Uhf Bands, Abraham Loutridis, Matthias John, Max Ammann

Articles

The first dual-band printed monopole antenna for Wireless M-Bus and M2M applications with operation in the VHF and lower UHF band is presented. The antenna operates at 169 MHz and 433 MHz. The miniaturisation of the proposed compact antenna is based on a double-sided meandering structure offering an easily controlled large frequency-ratio. The antenna provides high total efficiency and gain in both bands. Measured and simulated results are reported.

Omnidirectional Circularly Polarized Antennas – A Small Antenna Perspective, Adam Narbudowicz, Max Ammann

Articles

The paper discusses recent developments and challenges in the design of small omnidirectional
circularly-polarized (CP) antennas. Although omnidirectional CP coverage is easily achievable using antenna arrays, it is just recently that small and low-cost antennas delivered this functionality.
The paper addresses practical design problems for these antennas, not reported in previous publications.
This includes selection of the omnidirectional plane relative to the ground plane and measurement challenges. Future perspectives on how these antennas can provide electronically steerable beams are investigated using simulated results.

Insole Antenna For On-Body Telemetry, Domenico Gaetano, Patrick Mcevoy, Max Ammann, Matthias John, Colm Brannigan, Louise Keating, Frances Horgan

Articles

A 433 MHz antenna is proposed for integration with the insole of footwear for a body area network. The folded dipole design with an asymmetric groundplane radiates from its edges and considers the close proximity of the human foot and ground surfaces. It functions for different ground conductivity conditions and an on-body communication link with an Inverted F Antenna in the upper body area was evaluated on a static and dynamic human subject. The antenna solution was compliant with Specific Absorption Rate requirements, remains matched and links with upper-body nodes regardless of the body posture and node location.

Circularly Polarized Solar Antenna For Airborne Communication Nodes, Oisin O’Conchubhair, Adam Narbudowicz, Patrick Mcevoy, Max Ammann

Articles

A circularly polarized solar cell antenna consisting of four sequentially rotated printed inverted-F antennas is proposed. Four multicrystalline silicon solar cells act as the ground plane and the antenna is suitable for low power airborne communication nodes and wireless sensor networks. The antenna design was developed to allow 100% insolation of the cells when directly facing a light source. The low-profile antenna minimises shadowing of the solar cell for oblique angle insolation.

A Dual Band Lte Pifa Antenna For M2m Applications, Abraham Loutridis, Matthias John, Max Ammann

Articles

A dual Planar Inverted-F-Antenna for M2M applications, is proposed. The antenna covers the lower LTE band (690-960 MHz) and partially the upper LTE band (1670-2067 MHz). The antenna is low cost with omni-directional radiation characteristics. The measured total efficiency and gain are better than 58% and 0.8 dBi across the operational frequency range. A parametric study of key geometrical parameters is made.

Lightening Strikes Twice For Dit Geomatics, Audrey Martin

Articles

The Technological University Dublin (DIT) is rapidly becoming known as an international centre for excellence for all things geospatial. In September 2014, Kevin O'Mahony, a final-year BSc Geomatics student, won the international Trimble Geospatial Student Competition. Kevin is the second consecutive DIT student to win this prestigious award, following on from the success of David Hyland (BSc Geomatics) in 2012. Both students submitted their papers under the supervision of Dr Audrey Martin FSCSI FRICS, Chair of the recently accredited (by SCSI) DIT MSc in Geospatial Engineering. The worldwide student competition is held every two years and is open to all …

A Clustering Approach To Domestic Electricity Load Profile Characterisation Using Smart Metering Data, Fintan Mcloughlin, Aidan Duffy, Michael Conlon

Articles

The availability of increasing amounts of data to electricity utilities through the implementation of domestic smart metering campaigns has meant that traditional ways of analysing meter reading information such as descriptive statistics has become increasingly difficult. Key characteristic information to the data is often lost, particularly when averaging or aggregation processes are applied. Therefore, other methods of analysing data need to be used so that this information is not lost. One such method which lends itself to analysing large amounts of information is data mining. This allows for the data to be segmented before such aggregation processes are applied. Moreover, …

Medical Device Software And Technology: The Past, Present And Future, Martin Mchugh

Articles

No abstract provided.

Risk Management In Motorway Ppp Projects: Empirical-Based Guidelines, Nunzia Carbonara, Nicola Costantino, Louis Gunnigan, Roberta Pellegrino

Articles

This paper deals with the topic of risk management in Public–Private Partnership (PPP). The analysis of the related literature reveals that risks must be analyzed and managed on a context-specific approach, and that there is a lack of a comprehensive study on the appropriate risk mitigation strategies for each risk embedded in PPP projects. Focusing on the transport sector, based on the results of a Delphi survey, the paper provides guidelines for both public and private parties in defining a list of significant risks in PPP motorway projects, and identifying for them both the effective allocation and the suitable mitigation …

Analysis And Characterization Of Finite-Size Curved Frequency Selective Surfaces, Francesco Mattiello, Giovanni Leone, Giuseppe Ruvio

Articles

Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSSs) are spatial filters that are largely employed in radomes for radars and antennas where high performance is necessary. FSS can be categorised in terms of their frequency behaviour. Band-pass FSS structures are able to let the electromagnetic wave pass in certain frequency ranges and shield others, which are especially suitable for out-of-band stealth of radomes. The properties of frequency selectiveness of these screens are used at microwave and infrared wavelengths. By tuning the electrical size and geometry of the unit-cell (patch or aperture) different frequency behaviours of the structure are generated. Although their analysis and simulation …

Integration Of Antenna Array With Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cell, Oisin O'Conchubhair, Patrick Mcevoy, Max Ammann

Articles

The integration of a low-profile antenna array with a multicrystalline silicon solar cell capable of powering a low-power wireless sensor at 2.45 GHz is reported. Lattice bus bars on the cell are exploited to minimize antenna shadows from low-profile antennas and transmission lines for a higher output power. The dual inverted-F array improves gain, and beam switching enables the array to sweep a wider coverage angle with larger beamwidths compared to other solar integrated antennas.

Assessing The Water Quality Response To An Alternative Sewage Disposal Strategy At Bathing Sites On The East Coast Of Ireland, Zeinab Bedri, John O'Sullivan, Louise Deering, Katalin Demeter, Bartholomew Masterson, Wim Meijer, Gregory O'Hare

Articles

A three-dimensional model is used to assess the bathing water quality of Bray and Killiney bathing sites in Ireland following changes to the sewage management system. The model, firstly calibrated to hydrodynamic and water quality data from the period prior to the upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW), was then used to simulate Escherichia coli (E. coli) distributions for discharge scenarios of the periods prior to and following the upgrade of the WwTW under dry and wet weather conditions. E. coli distributions under dry weather conditions demonstrate that the upgrade in the WwTW has remarkably improved the bathing water …

Integration Of Qos Metrics, Rules And Semantic Uplift For Advanced Iptv Monitoring, Ruairí De Fréin, Cristian Olariu, Yuqian Song, Rob Brennan, Patrick Mcdonagh, Adriana Hava, Christina Thorpe, John Murphy, Liam Murphy, Paul French

Articles

Increasing and variable traffic demands due to triple play services pose significant Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) resource management challenges for service providers. Managing subscriber expectations via consolidated IPTV quality reporting will play a crucial role in guaranteeing return-on-investment for players in the increasingly competitive IPTV delivery ecosystem. We propose a fault diagnosis and problem isolation solution that addresses the IPTV monitoring challenge and recommends problem-specific remedial action. IPTV delivery-specific metrics are collected at various points in the delivery topology, the residential gateway and the Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer through to the video Head-End. They are then pre-processed using new …

A Printed Triangular Monopole With Wideband Circular Polarization, Afshin Panahi, Xiulong Bao, Giuseppe Ruvio, Max Ammann

Articles

A printed triangular monopole antenna with wideband circular polarization is presented. The wideband circular polarization is achieved by asymmetrical excitation of a triangular ground plane and planar triangular monopole. The combined radiation provides a wide axial-ratio bandwidth spanning from 1.42 to 2.7 GHz (62%). A parametric study of key geometric parameters is given for clear understanding of the radiation mechanism.

A Review Of Probabilistic Methods Of Assessment Of Load Effects In Bridges, Eugene J. Obrien, F Schmidt, Donya Hajializadeh, X-Y Zhou, Bernard Enright, Colin C. Caprani, Simon Wilson, Emma Sheils

Articles

This paper reviews a range of statistical approaches to illustrate the influence of data quality and quantity on the probabilistic modelling of traffic load effects. It also aims to demonstrate the importance of long-run simulations in calculating characteristic traffic load effects. The popular methods of Peaks Over Threshold and Generalized Extreme Value are considered but also other methods including the Box-Cox approach, fitting to a Normal distribution and the Rice formula. For these five methods, curves are fitted to the tails of the daily maximum data. Bayesian Updating and Predictive Likelihood are also assessed, which require the entire data for …

The Influence Of Particle Content On The Equi-Biaxial Fatigue Behaviour Of Magnetorheological Elastomers, Yanfen Zhou, Stephen Jerrams, Tony Betts, Gerald Farrell, Lin Chen

Articles

The equi-biaxial fatigue behaviour of silicone based magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) with various volume fractions of carbonyl iron particles ranging between 15% and 35% was studied. Wöhler curves for each material were derived by cycling test samples to failure over a range of stress amplitudes. Changes in complex modulus (E*) and dynamic stored energy during the fatigue process were observed. As for other elastic solids, fatigue resistance of MREs with different particle contents was shown to be dependent on the stress amplitudes applied. MREs with low particle content showed the highest fatigue life at high stress amplitudes while MREs with high …

Optical Microfibre Based Photonic Components And Their Applications In Label-Free Biosensing, Pengfei Wang, Lin Bo, Yuliya Semenova, Gerald Farrell, Gilberto Bramilla

Articles

Optical microfibre photonic components offer a variety of enabling properties, including large evanescent fields, flexibility, configurability, high confinement, robustness and compactness. These unique features have been exploited in a range of applications such as telecommunication, sensing, optical manipulation and high Q resonators. Optical microfibre biosensors, as a class of fibre optic biosensors which rely on small geometries to expose the evanescent field to interact with samples, have been widely investigated. Due to their unique properties, such as fast response, functionalization, strong confinement, configurability, flexibility, compact size, low cost, robustness, ease of miniaturization, large evanescent field and label-free operation, optical microfibres …

Dit-Topcon Internship Experience, Audrey Martin, Abigail Iversen

Articles

The Technological University Dublin (DIT: http://www.dit.ie/) is one of the largest Higher Education Institutes in Ireland, with 20,000 students registered and over 2000 members of staff. It has been providing technological higher education for over one hundred and twenty years encompassing the full spectrum of Third Level programmes. During that time the Institute's alumni have played important roles in technical and scientific innovation, economic and social development and culture and education both in Ireland and internationally.

The CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems Inc., Ray O’Connor is a DIT School of Surveying alumnus and in October 2013 Ray visited his …