Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Implications Of The Hall Effect For Turbulent Molecular Clouds, Turlough Downes, Stephen O'Sullivan

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

Numerical Modeling Of Weakly Ionized Plasmas, Stephen O'Sullivan, Turlough Downes

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

Quantification Of The Environmental Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Field At The Human Eye And The Investigation Of Peripherally Focused Rays., David P. Fleming

Doctoral

The increase of terrestrial solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) due to the reduction of the ozone layer has promoted a variety of research into establishing the impact of this elevated potential dose of UVR on biological tissues. Anterior ocular tissues such as the cornea have been found to be susceptible to damage by terrestrial solar UVR and diseases such as pterygium are commonly thought to be a direct result of absorbed UVR at the nasal limbus. There is a need for more accurate quantification and localisation of incident UVR at the anterior ocular surface. A novel solar blind photodiode sensor array …

Metal Coordination And Cis-Trans Isomerisation Of Benzene Dihydrodiols, Catriona O'Meara

Masters

Abstract In this thesis, a viable route for conversion of arene cis-dihydrodiols to their trans isomers was investigated. The cis-dihydrodiols can be produced by large scale fermentation but their trans analogues are not accessible using this approach. The trans dihydrodiols are potentially important chiral building blocks in synthetic chemistry particularly because they have the advantage that they are more stable than the cis-isomers. The principal aim of this work was to carry out parallel studies to inform the development of the synthetic pathway under study by; (a) synthesis of organometallic and organic intermediates and products and, (b) investigation of the …

Waveguide Fabrication In Uv-Photocurable Sol–Gel Materials: Influence Of The Photoinitiating System, D.L. Versace, Mohamed Oubaha, R. Copperwhite, C. Croutxé-Barghorn, B.D. Maccraith

Articles

In this paper we identify and explain the different chemical interactions involved between a sol–gel matrix and photoinitiators used in the fabrication of optical waveguides. A well-established sol–gel matrix composed of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, zirconium n-propoxide and methacrylic acid was developed, and two different photoinitiators (Irgacure® 819 and 1800) were added to the host matrix. Optical microscopy was used to characterise the structure of the waveguides as a function of the photoinitiator nature and concentration, and aging of the hybrid sol–gel material. It is clearly demonstrated that the width of the waveguides is strongly influenced by the sol aging. Furthermore, it is …

Knowledge Management For Disparate Etruscan Cultural Heritage, John Mcauley, James Carswell

Conference papers

This paper introduces the TARCHNA approach to managing and presenting contextualised heritage content. The system uses the CIDOC CRM ontology to consolidate a virtual repository of geographically disparate heritage databases and present a holistic view of a fragmented heritage. While previous approaches to presenting heritage collections have focused on the browse and search paradigm, the TARCHNA system uses narrative concepts as a means of presenting and re-using contextualised heritage artefacts within a broader cultural setting.

Interacting Jets From Binary Protostars, Gareth Murphy, Thibaut Lery, Stephen O'Sullivan, Daniel S. Spicer, Francesca Bacciotti, Alex Rosen

Articles

Aims. We investigate potential models that could explain why multiple proto-stellar systems predominantly show single jets. During their formation, stars most frequently produce energetic outflows and jets. However, binary jets have only been observed in a very small number of systems. Methods. We model numerically 3D binary jets for various outflow parameters. We also model the propagation of jets from a specific source, namely L1551 IRS 5, known to have two jets, using recent observations as constraints for simulations with a new MHD code. We examine their morphology and dynamics, and produce synthetic emission maps. Results. We find that the …

A Visual Indication Of Environmental Humidity Using A Colour Changing Hologram Recorded In A Self-Developing Photopolymer, Izabela Naydenova, Raghavendra Jallapuram, Vincent Toal, Suzanne Martin

Articles

A reflection hologram for visual indication of environmental humidity has been studied. The hologram is recorded in a self-developing photopolymer and changes colour when exposed to a change in humidity and is fully reversible. The range of colour change, reversibility and the response time of the hologram have been studied in a controlled humidity environment. Fully reversible holograms with response times from few seconds to tens of minutes have been designed. Extremely sensitive bright visual humidity indicators, capable of dramatic colour change within a few seconds of breathing on them are demonstrated.

The Dublin Institute Of Technology And University Status: A Case Study Of The Application By Dit For Designation As A University (1996-99), Colm Garvey

Other resources

Section 9 of the Universities Act 1997 set out, for the first time, a statutory mechanism for the establishment of a new university in Ireland. The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) was the first institution to be granted a review under this legislation. This thesis presents an account and analysis of how the application for university title was handled by an international review group, by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and by the Irish Government. This case study is based on access to files held by the HEA and on interviews with some of the leading players in the Review …

Novel Calixarene-Schiff Bases That Bind Silver(I) Ion, Mary Deasy, Bernadette Creaven, Brian A. Murray, John Mcginley, Paul M. Flood

Articles

Two novel calix[4]arene-Schiff base receptors have been synthesized. One of the new compounds has two pendant aldimines, while the second has been prepared by two-point attachment of a calixarene-dialdehyde onto a calixarene-diamine to form a “calix-tube”. Preliminary binding studies with AgClO₄ show large complexation-induced shifts in ¹H NMR positions.

Technology-Aided Participative Methods In Environmental Assessment: An International Perspective, Ainhoa Gonzalez, Alan Gilmer, Ronan Foley, John Sweeney, John Fry

Articles

Provisions for citizen involvement in the assessment of potential environmental effects of certain plans, programmes and projects are present in current legislation. An international survey revealed that public participation is common practice in European and some other countries worldwide. However, a number of issues are observed to affect public involvement in EIA/SEA processes and expert opinion differs when evaluating the effectiveness of existing participative methods. Results suggest that technology-aided methods can improve traditional participation processes. In particular, GIS has the potential to increase community knowledge and enhance involvement by communicating information more effectively. Variable accessibility to technology and data quality …

Hoe-Based Espi Systems, Emilia Mihaylova, Viswanath Bavigadda, Raghavendra Jallapuram, Vincent Toal

Conference Papers

Electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) is a full-field measurement technique, capable of displaying vibrational mode shapes. Two electronic speckle pattern interferometers using reflection holographic optical elements (RHOEs) are presented. In the first ESPI system the RHOE is designed to create the speckled reference beam. A partially reflective glass plate provides illumination of the object along the normal to its surface, ensuring that the system is sensitive only to out-of-plane displacement of the object. It is demonstrated that the HOE-based system can be used for vibration measurements. Phase shifting can be implemented for fringe analysis. In the second ESPI system a …

Whole Field Out-Of-Plane Vibration Analysis With A Hoe-Based Espi System, Emilia Mihaylova, Viswanath Bavigadda, Raghavendra Jallapuram, Vincent Toal

Conference Papers

Electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) is a full-field measurement technique, capable of displaying vibrational mode shapes. A simple optical set-up for an ESPI system using a holographic optical element (HOE) is presented. The HOE is designed to create a speckled reference beam in the interferometer. A partially reflective glass plate provides illumination of the object along the normal to its surface, ensuring that the system is sensitive only to out-of-plane displacement of the object. It is demonstrated that the HOE-based system can be used for vibration measurements. Phase shifting can be implemented for fringe analysis. A big advantage of the …

Improved High-Temperature Stability And Sun-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity Of Sulfur-Doped Anatase Tio2, Suresh Pillai, Declan Mccormack, Pradeepan Periyat, John Colreavy, Steve Hinder

Articles

No abstract provided.

Equation Of State For A Van Der Waals Universe During Reissner–Nordstrom Expansion, Emil Prodanov, Rossen Ivanov, Vesselin Gueorguiev

Articles

In a previous work [E.M. Prodanov, R.I. Ivanov and V.G. Gueorguiev, Reissner-Nordström expansion, Astropart. Phys. 27 (2007) 150], we proposed a classical model for the expansion of the Universe during the radiation-dominated epoch based on the gravitational repulsion of the Reissner-Nordström geometry — naked singularity description of particles that "grow" with the drop of the temperature. In this work we model the Universe during the Reissner-Nordström expansion as a van der Waals gas and determine the equation of state.

Nearly-Hamiltonian Structure For Water Waves With Constant Vorticity, Adrian Constantin, Rossen Ivanov, Emil Prodanov

Articles

We show that the governing equations for two-dimensional gravity water waves with constant non-zero vorticity have a nearly-Hamiltonian structure, which becomes Hamiltonian for steady waves.

Volcanic Activity: Processing Of Observation And Remote Sensing Data (Vapor), Mark Wylie

Reports

The World Bank makes a very clear distinction between disasters and natural phenomena. Natural phenomena are events like volcanic eruptions. A disaster only occurs when the ability of the community to cope with natural phenomenon has been surpassed, causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses. By these definitions, volcanic eruptions do not have to lead to disasters. On November 13, 1985, the second most deadly eruption of the twentieth century occurred in Colombia. Within a few hours of the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, 23,000 people were dead because no infrastructure existed to respond to such an …

Evaluation Of A Naive Model For Square Wave Voltammetry At A Microelectrode, Patrick Enright, John Cassidy, Tony Betts

Articles

A square wave voltammetric waveform ( SWV) was applied to an inlaid microdisk electrode in a solution of K4[Fe(CN)6]. A simple model relying on the assumption of steady state current throughout the scan was used to model the current potential behaviour. However, experimental peak current magnitudes were between 30% and 50% greater than those predicted by the model. The model predicts an increase of peak current and peak width at half height with pulse height Esw and no effect of the parameters frequency, f and step height, ΔEs. Experimental peak current magnitudes and peak current magnitudes predicted by the model …

Luminescent Solar Concentrators: A Review Of Recent Results, Wilfrid G.J.H.M. Van Sark, Keith W.J. Barnham, Lenneke H. Slooff, Amanda J. Chatten, Andreas Buchtemann, Andreas Meyer, Sarah Mccormack, Rolf Koole, Daniel J. Farrell, Rahul Bose, Evert E. Bende, Antonius R. Burgers, Tristram Budel, Jana Quilitz, Manus Kennedy, Toby Meyer, C. De Mello Donega, Andries Meijerink

Articles

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) generally consist of transparent polymer sheets doped with luminescent species. Incident sunlight is absorbed by the luminescent species and emitted with high quantum efficiency, such that emitted light is trapped in the sheet and travels to the edges where it can be collected by solar cells. LSCs offer potentially lower cost per Wp. This paper reviews results mainly obtained within the framework of the Fullspectrum project. Two modeling approaches are presented, i.e., a thermodynamic and a ray-trace one, as well as experimental results, with a focus on LSC stability.

Application Of The Fractal Market Hypothesis For Modelling Macroeconomic Time Series, Jonathan Blackledge

Articles

This paper explores the conceptual background to financial time series analysis and financial signal processing in terms of the Efficient Market Hypothesis. By revisiting the principal conventional approaches to market analysis and the reasoning associated with them, we develop a Fractal Market Hypothesis that is based on the application of non-stationary fractional dynamics using an operator of the type
∂² / ∂x² − σ^q(t) * ∂ ^q(t)/ ∂t^q(t)

where σ⁻¹ is the fractional diffusivity and q is the Fourier dimension which, for the topology considered, (i.e. the one-dimensional case) is related to the Fractal …

Nanocomposites For Novel Holographic Applications, Izabela Naydenova, Svetlana Mintova, Suzanne Martin, Vincent Toal

Articles

Nanozeolites incorporated into photopolymerizable holographic recording materials can be used for holographic sensing, data storage, and optical systems design.

Higher Derivatives Of Spectral Functions Associated With One-Dimensional Schrodinger Operators, Daphne Gilbert, B.J. Harris, S.M. Riehl

Articles

We investigate the existence and asymptotic behaviour of higher derivatives of the spectral function in the context of one-dimensional Schr¨odinger operators on the half-line with integrable potentials. In particular, we identify sufficient conditions on the potential for the existence and continuity of the n-th derivative, and outline a systematic procedure for estimating numerical upper bounds for the turning points of such derivatives. Explicit worked examples illustrate the development and application of the theory.

Contextualising Nanotechnology In Chemistry Education, Christine O'Connor, Hugh Hayden

Articles

This paper will give an example of a pedagogical approach taken in integrating nanotechnology into a chemistry degree course. In recent years nanotechnology has widely become part of the course content for undergraduate chemistry and physics degree curriculum. How contextualised the delivery of the subject matter may vary. The role of contextualisation of nanotechnology in the delivery of the content is the main focus of this paper, as to date in Ireland and many other countries nanotechnology has not been integrated into many chemistry degree courses but is slowly becoming the case. An evaluative methodology of the pedagogical approach for …

Development And Evaluation Of Passive Sampling And Lc-Ms Based Techniques For The Detection And Monitoring Of Lipophilic Marine Toxins In Mesocosm And Field Studies, Elie Fux

Doctoral

The consumption of shellfish that accumulate marine biotoxins produced by harmful Algae can result in severe gastrointestinal or neurotoxic illnesses depending on the nature of the toxin. Therefore, it is essential that suitable monitoring programs are implemented in order to protect public health. This PhD study focused on aspects of the characteristics and monitoring of azaspiracids and toxins from Dinophysis spp. Passive samplers were used in this study in parallel with both indigenous and transplanted mussels that did not contain toxins to investigate the accumulation of toxins on the West coast of Ireland during 2005. This approach allowed for a …

Novel Photoelectrochemical Cell For The Remediation Of Organic Compounds In Water, Patrick Enright

Doctoral

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) suspensions have widely been used as photocatalysts, either alone or in a doped form to degrade organic compounds and kill bacteria. Because of its relatively large band gap, UV light has been the most efficient radiation used to allow this catalysis to occur. TiO2 has also been immobilised on electrodes in order to separate the ‘reduction’ and ‘oxidation’ reactions. Typical systems involve the oxidation of a ‘fuel’ at a TiO2 coated anode and the reduction of oxygen at a separate cathode, where the passage of current can be monitored, and this work utilises such a system. In …

Digital Close Range Photogrammetry In Motor Vehicle Accident Reconstruction, Fiona Coyle

Doctoral

Road traffic accidents are consistently in the top ten causes of death world-wide. In order to reduce the number of fatalities caused by traffic collision, better knowledge and understanding of the sequence of events prior to and during a traffic accident, i.e. Accident Reconstruction, is required, so it is important to obtain detailed quantitative information about the damage sustained by the crashed vehicle(s). The research reported here was aimed at developing a fast and accurate method of measuring the damage. Digital Close Range Photogrammetry is the technique chosen for obtaining vehicle profiles from which accurate measurements of crust damage could …

A Study Of Boundary Layer Fflow With No-Slip And Slip Boundary Conditions, Sandra B. Spillane

Doctoral

This thesis involves solving the two-dimensional boundary layer equations for axially symmetric fluid flow along a circular cylinder using the no-slip and slip boundary condition, and along a flat plate with the slip boundary condition. Initially, historical results in both areas are summarised. The research section of this thesis is concerned with extending these historical results. In the first research chapters, a Pade approximation and an Euler transformation are used to greatly extend the region of validity of the historical results. Following that is an investigation of the relaxation of the traditional no-slip boundary condition, which usually occurs when there …

Investigation Of The Electronic Properties Of Organic Systems Using Electroabsorption Spectroscopy, Garrett F. Farrell

Doctoral

The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of bulk structural modification on the electronic properties of fullerene systems as measured using electronic and Electroabsorption (EA) spectroscopy. The existence of a unique solid state feature in C60 is the first indication that the material’s electronic properties may be influenced by its crystalline environment and as such merits investigation. The nature and extent of these interactions in the solid state is still unclear, in particular whether the molecular electrons remain located on the individual molecules or whether they are delocalised across the solid. The extent of these interactions has …

Optimising Design Parameters Of Enzyme-Channelling Biosensors, Dana Mackey, Tony Killard

Conference Papers

Two mathematical models for an electrochemical biosensor are proposed and compared with a view to determining the ratio of two immobilized enzymes which maximizes the amperometric signal amplitude.

Photochemical Studies Of Nutraceuticals In The Presence Of Cyclodextrins, Zlata Tofzikovskaya, Christine O'Connor, Mary Mcnamara

Conference Papers

The photostability studies of Folic acid and Menadione Sodium Bisulfite, also known as vitamin K3, were carried out in their aqueous solutions at room temperature. Solutions of Folic acid ( 4.8 x 10-5 M) and Menadione Sodium Bisulfite (4.0 x 10-4 M) were exposed to ultraviolet radiation at a wavelength of 365 nm. During exposure absorbance of both solutions was measured using a Perkin Elmer Lamda 900 UV/VIS/NIR Spectrometer. During the stability tests it was noted that addition of β Cyclodextrin (1:1 ratio) to aqueous solutions containing the vitamin slowed down the photodegradation process. The unique shape of Cyclodextrins allows …