359 research outputs found
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Towards the Identification and Assessment of Transversal Skills
Get PDFMuch has been written in recent decades about transversal skills. The term is often used interchangeably with ‘soft skills’ and ‘transferable skills’. One can also refer to ‘key skills’ and ‘core skills’. The Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) assesses the proficiency of adults specifically three areas: literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environments. “These three are considered to be “key information-processing skills” in that they are:• necessary for fully integrating and participating in the labour market, education and training, and social and civic life;• highly transferable, in that they are relevant to many social contexts and work situations; and• “learnable” and, therefore, subject to the influence of policy.”In addition, there has been considerable discourse about the mismatch of the skills acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning and those needed for the workplace. This may be inevitable in a context where workplaces are dynamic and changing, However it is recognised that the acquisition and use of transferable skills which can be applied in varying workplace contexts can, to some extent, support the future employability as well as the current employment of the learner.It is in this context that the VISKA project partnership worked together to arrive at a common understanding and a definition of Transversal Skills with a view to developing a means for identifying and supporting the assessment of these skills in a validation process for low-qualified adults and migrants.Various definitions of Transversal Skills, such as those developed by CEDEFOP, ELGPN, ESCO, UNESCO, Skills Panorama (EC) and Conference board of Canada were considered. While these definitions and the contexts within which they were used differed in several respects, they were interrelated and linked to other categories of skills and competence definitions. This paper will detail a framework to support the identification of a range of skills which has been developed in the context of the enhanced integration of migrant, refuges and adults with low or no qualifications into the workplace
Fall Detection Using Channel State Information from WiFi Devices
Get PDFFalls among the independently living elderly population are a major public health worry, leading to injuries, loss of confidence to live independently and even to death. Each year, one in three people aged 65 and older falls and one in five of them suffers fatal or non fatal injuries. Therefore, detecting a fall early and alerting caregivers can potentially save lives and increase the standard of living. Existing solutions, e.g. push-button, wearables, cameras, radar, pressure and vibration sensors, have limited public adoption either due to the requirement for wearing the device at all times or installing specialized and expensive infrastructure. In this thesis, a device-free, low cost indoor fall detection system using commodity WiFi devices is presented. The system uses physical layer Channel State Information (CSI) to detect falls. Commercial WiFi hardware is cheap and ubiquitous and CSI provides a wealth of information which helps in maintaining good fall detection accuracy even in challenging environments. The goals of the research in this thesis are the design, implementation and experimentation of a device-free fall detection system using CSI extracted from commercial WiFi devices. To achieve these objectives, the following contributions are made herein. A novel time domain human presence detection scheme is developed as a precursor to detecting falls. As the next contribution, a novel fall detection system is designed and developed. Finally, two main enhancements to the fall detection system are proposed to improve the resilience to changes in operating environment. Experiments were performed to validate system performance in diverse environments. It can be argued that through collection of real world CSI traces, understanding the behavior of CSI during human motion, the development of a signal processing tool-set to facilitate the recognition of falls and validation of the system using real world experiments significantly advances the state of the art by providing a more robust fall detection scheme
Policies Required to Encourage Biomethane as a Transport Fuel
No full textGreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport industry is a major environmental issue which the world currently faces. In Ireland, the transport sector accounted for 19% of its total GHG emissions in 2015 which is projected to increase to 29% by 2030. The European Union Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) mandates Ireland to achieve a 10% share of renewable energy sources in transport (RES-T) by 2020. The Irish Government proposes to achieve the RES-T through biofuels (9%) and electric vehicles (1%). However, in 2016 the RES-T of Ireland stood at 5.0% and requires significant renewable energy penetration to reach the 2020 target. With the current strategy struggling, the author is motivated to look at an alternative form of renewable transport energy, namely biomethane to bridge to RES-T gap to 2020 and beyond. This body of research develops a strategic policy framework to initiate a biomethane transport market by determining the best utilisation route to market (14,000 commercial vehicles) for the biomethane potential identified (11 biomethane facilities), addressing the technical and infrastructural requirements (22 refuelling stations) to contribute to a RES-T of 1%. There is also significant potential to expand on this market once developed which would provide a RES-T of 11%.
This body of research has heavily influenced academic research in which 37 citations have currently been received. From a policy perspective, proposals to simplify the regulatory regime for the public supply of bio-CNG in this research has been implemented by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, offering such market participants a significantly less onerous route to market. This research culminates with a proposal to introduce a set of devised regulatory, policy and safety frameworks that are currently in development to introduce the first biomethane injection facility into the natural gas network of Ireland. In conclusion, this body of research has developed an all-encompassing strategy to initiate an effective biomethane transport market through the determination that the captive fleet offers the optimum pathway to penetrate the fossil fuel transport sector, with the significant biomethane potential identified once the proposed infrastructural, regulatory, safety and policy frameworks are implemented to overcome the many highlighted barriers stalling market development
Strategies for Success: How a Small Business Competes in the Motorhome Industry in Ireland.
Get PDFThe motorhome industry in the Irish economy has grown and transformed over the last 20 years with a rise in the number of motorhome companies and campsites around Ireland. This is a small competitive industry that has faced numerous economic challenges, in particular since the economic downturn in 2008. The failure of many firms’ strategy can arise from the firm’s inability to gain a competitive advantage (Porter, 2008). This study provides an analysis of how a small Irish motorhome company can achieve a competitive advantage to increase its business profitability, growth and performance. The motorhome industry in Ireland has received little attention in the business literature. Therefore, the methodology of this study involved the collection of primary data from interviews held with a motorhome manufacturer and a motorhome company. Customer surveys were also randomly distributed to obtain information regarding the motorhome industry and motorhome company in question. This qualitative analysis is accompanied with Porter’s Five Forces (1980) framework to analyse how a small business positions itself in the market to gain a competitive advantage. Since the 2008 economic downturn, a complex and highly competitive marketplace confront many small businesses in Ireland. There is an increase in the intensity of rivalry as the motorhome industry is relatively small in Ireland with each dealer striving to increase its customer base. In 2012, the government introduced policies such as an introduction in Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) on all new motorhomes purchased and a Value Added Tax (VAT) Margin Scheme which inhibited positive growth and performance in the motorhome industry. These constraints heighten the importance of a company to diversify its strategy. In the motorhome industry, the rental service provides the opportunity of increasing a company’s profitability, customer base and business profile. A larger motorhome market exits in the UK which could potentially increase the performance of a company, however uncertainty is exposed in the British market due to Brexit. The aim of the study is to provide context on the Irish motorhome industry, identify the position of a small motorhome company within the industry and provide suggestions to the company for future development
Phage Therapy and Development of Delivery Systems for Gram-Positive Phage Endolysins
Get PDFThis thesis focussed on Gram positive phages and their endolysins. Here, two similar kay-like staphylococcal phages B1 (vB_SauM_B1) and JA1 (vB_SauM_JA1) were isolated from a commercial therapeutic phage mix. Their host range was established on the Irish National MRSA bank, which included twenty one sequence types in addition relevant control strains. Based on this, distinct phages were identified and subjected to genome sequencing. The sequences were compared with the sequence of phage K (vB_SauM_K), which was also determined in this work. All three phages had a genome size of at least 139 kb, although some key differences were identified between each. The new phages B1 and JA1 possessed double stranded DNA and generally had a broader host range than phage K. A comparative genomic analysis on the phage genomes identified several (open reading frames) ORFs that were absent in the genome of phage K but present in genomes of phages B1 and JA1. One of the cloned genes from phage K was shown to encode a protein for the receptor-binding-protein and this protein was demonstrated to slightly inhibit phage adsorption. The other cloned gene encoded the phage endolysin and this peptidoglycan hydrolase were identical across all three phages and thus, the CHAPk endolysin of phage K was chosen to demonstrate the application of the endolysin for the control of staphylococci in milk. A two-log reduction in staphylococcal numbers in milk was observed. When the endolysin was introduced into a lactococcal secretion system using the pNZ8048 vector, detectable secretion was successfully demonstrated. Simultaneously, a Clostridium difficile phage endolysin, an amidase, was also cloned into the same secretion system with successful secretion also being demonstrated. In addition, this latter endolysin was also secreted from a recombinant E. coli strain, suggesting potential applications for delivery of the endolysin to the intestine from a hypothetical probiotic E. coli strain
Wireless Sensors for Health Monitoring of Marine Structures and Machinery
Get PDFRemote structural and machinery health monitoring (SMHM) of marine structures such as ships, oil and gas rigs, freight container terminals, and marine energy platforms can ensure their reliability. However, the wired sensors currently used in these applications are difficult and expensive to install and maintain. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) can potentially replace them but there are significant capability gaps that currently prevent their long-term deployment in the harsh marine environment and the structurally-complex, compartmentalised, all-metal scenarios with high volume occupancy of piping, ducting and operational machinery represented by marine structures. These gaps are in sensing, processing and communication hardware and firmware capabilities, reduction of power consumption, hardware assembly and packaging for reliability in the marine environment, reliability of wireless connectivity in the complex metal structures, and software for WSN deployment planning in the marine environment. Taken together, these gaps highlight the need for a systems integration methodology for marine SMHM and this is the focus of the research presented in this thesis. The research takes an applied approach by first designing the hardware and firmware for two wireless sensing modules specifically for marine SMHM, one a novel eddy-current-based 3D module for measuring multi-axis metal structural displacement, the second a fully integrated module for monitoring of structure and machinery reliability. The research then addresses module assembly and packaging methods to ensure reliability in the marine environment, the development of an efficient methodology for characterising the reliability of wireless connectivity in complex metal structures, and development of user interface software for planning WSN deployment and for managing the collection of WSN data. These are then individually and collectively characterised and tested for performance and reliability in laboratory, land-based and marine deployments. In addition to the research outcomes in each of these individual aspects, the overall research outcome represents a systems integration methodology that now allows deployment, with a high expectation of reliability of marine SMHM WSNs
An Investigation into te Relationship Between Fundamental Movement Skill Proficiency and Markers of Health Among a Cohort of Irish Primary School Children
Get PDFBackground: Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are basic observable patterns of movement. Although FMS are positively associated with health, FMS levels among children worldwide are low. Interventions to improve FMS and markers of health among children are warranted. Thus, the purpose of this research was to firstly evaluate the FMS proficiency and markers of health of Irish primary school children, and to design and implement a programme of interventions to improve both.
Methods: Two interventions (1 Physical Activity [PA] and 1 FMS) were implemented and evaluated using children from 3 primary schools in Cork. Children (N=217, mean age: 7.98±2.00 years) from senior infants (n=107, mean age: 6.00±0.40 years) and 4th class (n=110, mean age: 9.91±0.40 years) participated in the PA intervention evaluation. Children (N=466, mean age: 8.54±2.09 years) from senior infants and 1st class (n=222, mean age: 6.45±0.62 years), and 4th and 5th class (n=244, mean age: 10.44±0.59 years) participated in the FMS intervention evaluation. The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 was used to measure FMS proficiency. Other measures recorded were: height, mass, waist circumference (WC), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference-to-height ratio (WHtR). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (measured using the 550m run/walk), physical activity (PA) (measured via accelerometry) and perceived FMS competence (measured using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence) were also recorded. Correlation and regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between FMS and markers of health (BMI percentile, WC percentile, HR, BP percentile, 550m time SDS and PA). Repeated measures ANOVAs and ANCOVAs were used to examine the effectiveness of the two interventions on FMS and markers of health.
Results:Although there were no significant relationships revealed between FMS and BMI, heart rate and BP, significant positive relationships were found with CRF (6 and 10 year olds respectively: r=.286 and r=.330; p
Conclusion: While a generic PA intervention had favourable effects on children’s adiposity levels, it failed to positively impact on FMS. However, a specifically designed FMS-based intervention was subsequently effective at improving FMS while concurrently reducing adiposity and enhancing CRF. Thus, FMS-based interventions should be implemented in Irish primary schools to improve both FMS and health
Improving health through diet and exercise in children
Get PDFWe know that nutritious foods and quality physical activity are two of the fundamental needs for normal growth and development of children. Food based dietary guidelines and physical activity recommendations have universal evidence base but the teaching of fundamental movement skills is limited without support. Given the importance of prevention of childhood obesity the distal drivers also need to be examined including poverty. Interventions trialled in carefully controlled conditions while shown to have efficacy are not effective in the real world. There is a need for more research and rigorous evaluation of interventions in combinations of settings and with innovative research designs rather than the traditional randomised controlled trial of limited duration. What works needs to be defined and measured differently. One example of a 14 year and ongoing physical activity and nutrition intervention, Project Energize in the Waikato region of New Zealand is described along-side innovative measures of effectiveness such as time to run 550m and assessment of dental health. Translation of research findings into public health actions is a challenge alongside the effects of global climate change, trade agreement, multinational companies and the influence of social media in informing people. The need is to take action now, the child cannot wait
Inhibition of Listeria Monocytogenes by Human Gut Bacteria
Get PDFListeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen, which continues to be problematic to the food industry due to its ability survive within food products and persist within food processing environments. The growing trend towards natural food preservatives and antimicrobial agents increases the need for the development of novel, natural anti-Listeria agents. Evidence presented in the literature suggests that the human gut microbiota is a reservoir of novel antimicrobial agents. It was therefore hypothesized that novel anti-Listeria agents are produced by human gut-derived bacteria. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize gut bacteria with anti-Listeria monocytogenes activity. A total of 23 fecal banks of human origin were screened for antagonistic activity against L. monocytogenes 10403S. The results of the initial screening have shown that 1,569 gut-derived isolates have demonstrated various levels of anti-Listeria activity. Following an extensive screen 59 gut-derived isolates were initially shortlisted and were identified mostly as Enterococcus spp. By a combination of MALDI-TOF MS analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The data collected allowed a further shortlisting of strains from 59 to 16 based on differences observed in the colony morphology, the size and appearance of the zones of inhibition observed in the deferred antagonism assays and well diffusion assays as well as spectrum of activity of each isolate against a number of indicator strains. The antimicrobials produced by 11 out of 16 shortlisted gut derived isolates were identified as peptides using a proteinase K assay. The anti-Listeria activity of the shortlisted isolates was examined in a model broth co-culture experiment. Based on the results obtained the antimicrobials produced by two Enterococcus faecium isolates were selected for further investigation. The activity of the antimicrobials was investigated in dairy food homogenate models and stainless steel biofilm assays. The findings of the food trials have shown a reduction of Listeria numbers by ~0.6 Log CFU/mL in natural yogurt treated with cell free supernatant (CFS) and a reduction of ~1.5 log CFU/mL observed in cheddar cheese treated with whole cell extract (WCE) following a 3 hr incubation. The anti-biofilm assays demonstrated a reduction in biofilm formation of stainless steel by 70% when treated with CFS and 92.42% when treated with WCE. v The experiments presented in this thesis confirm that bacteria from the human gut produce anti-Listeria compounds which can control or reduce the numbers of Listeria in model co-cultures and in food homogenates. The antimicrobials isolated in this study have also shown the ability to reduce Listeria biofilm formation. Future efforts should focus on identifying the antimicrobials produced by all of the short-listed strains (through a combination of genome sequencing and peptide purifications). It is hoped that any novel antimicrobial that is discovered have an application in the food industry to reduce the significant threat posed by L. monocytogenes. These antimicrobials could be used as a natural preservative in food products or packaging or incorporated into a spray to control biofilm in the food processing environment
Designing Narrative Artefacts
Get PDFThis thesis documents an investigation that explored the use of narrative and material culture to present aspects of women’s lives from eighteenth-century Cork city to a twenty-first century museum audience. There were two objectives of this research. The first was to create a catalogue of elements from material culture through which these women’s lives would be revealed. The second was to use narrative to make this information accessible and engaging.
This research is linked with Nano Nagle Place, a heritage centre in Cork city that opened in 2017. The centre documents the life of Nano Nagle, an eighteenth-century philanthropist who, in direct contravention of the Irish Penal Laws, provided education to the Catholic children in Cork City (Murphy, 1845, p.17). When not teaching, she spent her time – and money – on the poor and sick of the city.
Eighteenth-century Cork was a thriving port city and home to a number of wealthy women. Yet, despite the trade and commerce the city also housed many poor and marginalised people. The content of this research is concerned with aspects of the social and economic environment in eighteenth century Cork city that impacted on the lives of women from both rich and poor sections of society. The methodology explored different approaches to narrative as a part of a design strategy. This strategy moved through three design phases as it explored methods for engaging audiences. The first phase involved an author-led didactic approach and proposed a series of historical fictional narratives. The second phase introduced a game that used blocks for visitors to build their own stories. The final design provided the museum visitor with curious, material objects together with related clues. The visitor was encouraged to interpret the objects to access historical information themselves. Parallel to this, the use of material culture progressed from textual and illustrative examples of material artefacts to presenting tangible, actual objects.
While the first two phases of design were aimed at the general visitor, the final phase was targeted at primary school children as part of the museum\u27s educational programme. In order to increase the opportunities for engagement with this audience the project concentrated on subject matter that was unusual, unsavoury or gruesome and explored methods for further engagement by focusing on self-directed learning, playfulness and communication through multiple modes. The final phase was tested with a group of primary school students in March 2017