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Channel quality predictions assisted by new algorithms for high throughput satellite and 5G systems
No full textVariations in rainfall patterns across different regions reduce the accuracy of existing satellite channel models. As satellite services and 5G applications continue to advance, the development of accurate rain-impairment-aware channel models has become essential. This paper presents a prediction model for rain-induced impairments in High Throughput Satellite (HTS) and 5G satellite-to-land communication channels. The proposed model integrates three novel algorithms designed to characterize and analyze rain-induced attenuation and channel quality. Specifically, these algorithms calculate rain-specific attenuation, effective slant path lengths through rainfall, overall rain-induced attenuation, signal carrier-to-noise ratios, and symbol error rates across three conventional modulation schemes. Additionally, the study introduces a new database detailing rain-induced attenuation on HTS channels, considering various frequencies and rainfall intensities. Results indicate substantial fluctuations in HTS-to-land fade levels and signal quality during rainfall events, which could lead to communication link outages, particularly at higher-order modulation schemes. This study provides practical methods to analyze channel characteristics using actual rainfall measurements, thereby facilitating the effective design and deployment of future HTS and 5G system.This publication has emanated from research jointly funded by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland under Grant number 13/RC/2094_2, the European Union’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions under grant number 101126578 and was supported in part by University of Galway. In addition, the authors appreciate the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2025R828), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Characterization of cyclic visco-plastic behavior, damage and failure in high temperature weldments via an inverse method
No full textHigh-temperature fatigue failures often occur in the heat-affected zone of welded joints, threatening the integrity of high-temperature piping components under flexible operation. This study presents an experimental–numerical framework for determining cyclic visco-plastic and damage properties, including the parent metal, weld metal, and heat-affected zone. A unified visco-plastic damage constitutive model is developed, coupled with high-temperature low cycle fatigue test for each of the constituents in the weldment. An analytical inverse approach is formulated to optimize the visco-plastic and damage properties of the parent metal and weld metal using high temperature uniaxial low-cycle fatigue tests data, while an FE-based inverse method is used to optimize HAZ properties via cross-weld fatigue test simulation. The framework is validated using cyclic test data from a P91 weldment, demonstrating the effectiveness of the FE-based inverse approach in characterizing full-life cyclic behavior and fatigue failure of the weldments.This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52475165). The research was supported by National Foreign Expert Introduction Program of China (H20240145). The authors would also like to acknowledge the State Key Laboratory of Clean and Efficient Turbomachinery Power Equipment (No. DEC8300CG202428329A1228228). SBL is funded by the I-Form Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Ireland. For the purpose of Open Access, the authors have applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission
Improving the temporal consistency, user controllability, and semantic correctness of automatic video colourisation
No full textAutomatic video colourisation systems that render black-and-white films in colour have recently gained attention due to their ability to adapt old movies to today’s entertainment industry. Three challenges these systems face are explored in this thesis: temporal consistency, controllability, and correctness. While current research predominantly focuses on image-based colourisation, the domain of video-based colourisation remains relatively unexplored. Many existing video colourisation techniques operate sequentially, overlooking the critical aspect of temporal coherence. This approach can result in inconsistencies across frames, leading to undesirable effects such as abrupt colour transitions, commonly known as flickering. This thesis proposes two methods to alleviate this temporal inconsistency. The first uses exemplar-based automatic video colourisation, where the exemplar is chosen from a collection of inconsistently colourised frames. The second combines the generative capabilities of a finetuned latent diffusion model with an autoregressive conditioning mechanism. In addition to the need for temporal consistency, there is also a requirement for controllability, as colourisation is an under-constrained problem with multiple valid ways to add colour to a black-and-white film. Although the user will have some preference for the colourisation that should be produced, many existing systems do not allow for intuitive user interaction. This thesis proposes two solutions to the inherent uncontrollability: an exemplar-guided automatic video colouriser that leverages facial recognition technology and a text-guided automatic video colourisation framework. Aside from temporal consistency and controllability, semantic correctness is also a strong requirement of automatic video colourisers. As automatic video colourisation frameworks are often artificial intelligence systems, they are prone to hallucination, which in this case manifests as unrealistic colour outputs. This thesis addresses this issue by increasing the semantic correctness of these systems. The prospects, scenarios, and challenges of such an approach are initially explored. Then, a concrete application of this methodology is proposed, which leverages external knowledge in automatic text-guided video colourisation. This framework is further expanded to include semantic similarity search and probabilistic colour knowledge. In addressing these three challenges, this thesis aims to enhance the standard of automatic video colourisation as a whole.Taidghde Eireann Centre for Reseach Training in Artificial Intelligenc
Content analysis of malaria-related health information published in online travel blogs
No full textIntroduction
It is not known whether travellers consult travel blogs for malaria preventive advice. This study aimed to characterise information about travellers’ malaria across a sample of online travel blogs.
Methods
A search of online travel blogs was conducted using the Google search engine for reference to malaria. Blogs were analysed across 35 variables and usage statistics were recorded.
Results
Of 100 blogs retrieved, 92 contained malaria-related information. Ten different drugs were mentioned in this series, five of which were not appropriate for prevention of falciparum malaria. Pre-travel consultation was recommended by almost a third of blogs. Most blogs were supported by commercial sponsors, related to either the travel industry or travel health products.
Conclusion
Given the inconsistency of the malaria preventive advice provided, there is scope for the travel medicine community to produce reliable material suitable for the lay traveller to be shared with prominent bloggers.peer-reviewe
Therapeutic potential of Fasciola hepatica-derived immunomodulatory peptides in the treatment of sepsis
No full textSepsis is a life-threatening syndrome characterised by dysregulated host responses to infection, that currently has limited effective immunomodulatory therapies. Helminths have evolved potent immune evasion strategies, partially through the secretion of Helminth Defense Molecules (HDMs). The present study investigated the immunomodulatory potential of Fasciola hepatica-HDMs, FhHDM-1 and a truncated variant, FhHDM-C2. This investigation primarily focused on their effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and inflammasome activation. In vitro experiments demonstrated a significant reduction in the production of the inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor, interleukin 6 and interleukin 1-beta by murine macrophages, attributed to the modulation of LPS signalling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, this project validated the in vivo murine caecal slurry model of polymicrobial sepsis and explored the potential of FhHDM-1 within this model, providing avenues for future experimentation. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into FhHDM peptides as promising candidates for sepsis therapy, including the optimisation of dosing, delivery mechanisms, and mechanism of action studies. Beyond their role in sepsis, the capacity of these peptides to regulate inflammatory responses may hold broader therapeutic relevance in conditions characterised by immune dysregulation
An evaluation of programmed procedural fidelity errors on data-based decision-making during precision teaching
No full textResearch employing parametric analyses of fidelity have demonstrated that some behavior analytic procedures maintain their effectiveness when procedural fidelity is reduced. To date no research has experimentally explored the impact of procedural fidelity errors in Precision Teaching. Thus, the current study aimed to explore the impact of fidelity errors on the “decide” component of the Precision Teaching system. Specifically, the impact of omitting data-based decision-making on (a) celeration, (b) bounce or variability, and (c) number of frequency aims achieved. A between groups parametric analysis was employed within which five levels of programmed fidelity (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0%) were explored. Five mainstream second and third grade classrooms in educationally disadvantaged schools participated. Teachers implemented Precision Teaching and Frequency Building with the Morningside Math Facts Addition and Subtraction curriculum with programmed errors incorporated at differing levels across classrooms. Results suggest that learners can still demonstrate acceptable performance when fidelity on data-based decision-making is reduced in the short term. However, more research is warranted with larger sample sizes to ascertain more conclusive findings.This research was funded by the Irish Research Council under the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Research Scholarship (Grant GOIPG/2022/1967). Additional funding was received from the Society for Advancement in Behavior Analysis, under the Innovative Student Research in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarshi
Climate change assemblies as spaces for the potential mitigation of climate policy misperceptions: A survey experiment
No full textClimate action stands as one of the paramount challenges in contemporary society. A significant impediment lies in the prevalence of misperceptions, notably the dissemination of narratives that either endorse climate policy delay or outright climate denial, often perpetuated by vested interests. The World Economic Forum, recognising the gravity of this issue, has underscored” misinformation and disinformation” as the preeminent global risk in the coming biennium, while the UN IPCC has stated that rampant disinformation is delaying climate action. Significantly, misinformation has been linked to climate misperceptions, for example, the belief in technological utopianism, for example, that climate change policies are ineffective and technological solutions will fix the problem in the future, which normalises acceptance of the status quo despite the urgent need for transformative actions. Recent scholarly literature posits that deliberative forums, commonly referred to as mini-publics, can contribute to mitigating such misperceptions while ensuring democratic legitimacy (Muradova et al. 2023) by informing the public. This paper contributes to the special issue on how Climate Change Assemblies (CAs) can contribute to reflexive environmental governance and help societies address the climate emergency, by exploring how CAs perform for the mitigation of climate policy misperceptions. In particular, we focus on whether communication about the procedural, aspects of citizen assemblies to the broader public emerges as a critical component. We understand these mechanisms to be contingent upon complex institutional dynamics, including mechanisms integral to their functioning such as the roles of representation, competence, and voice within assemblies. This empirical inquiry is situated within the framework of a survey experiment conducted across five European countries with varying climate policy salience and emissions levels. We find for most people reading about a climate citizens’ assembly makes little difference. We do find some minimal effects for the wider citizenry in general related to voice, although there are larger effects for some more sceptical cohorts, particularly for representation.This research is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 959234” and the Irish Research Council’s Laureate Awards IRCLA/2022/3896.peer-reviewe
In vitro evaluation of bioabsorbable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) warp-knitted spacer fabric scaffolds for osteogenic differentiation
No full textBioabsorbable textile scaffolds are promising for bone tissue engineering applications. Their tuneable, porous, fibre based architecture resembles that of native extracellular matrix, and they can sustain tissue growth while being gradually absorbed in the body. In this work, immortalized mouse calvaria preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in vitro on two warp-knitted bioabsorbable spacer fabric scaffolds made of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB), to investigate their osteogenic properties. Scaffold structure and yarn properties were characterized after manufacturing. Cells were seeded on the two scaffolds and treated with osteogenic media for up to 35 days. Both scaffolds supported similar cell growth patterns, featuring a higher cell density on multifilament yarns, which could be beneficial to drive cell proliferation or related phenomena in localized area of the construct. The increase in ALP activity and the calcium deposition observed on some PLA and P4HB scaffolds after 28 and 35 days of culture, confirm their potential to support MC3T3-E1 cells differentiation, however inconsistent mineralization was observed on the scaffolds. Due to their structural and morphological features, ability to support cell attachment and growth, and their limited osteogenic potential, these PLA and P4HB bioabsorbable textile scaffolds are recommended for further investigation for bone tissue engineering applications.peer-reviewe
Policy discourses on homecare services for rural older people in Ireland: Spatial and age-based drivers of narratives and absences
No full textResearch highlights significant inequalities in the provision of homecare in rural communities. However, less is known about how these inequalities are rooted within existing policies and policy discourse, and to what degree values and assumptions related to spatial constructions or age-related constructions are driving these inequalities. This article presents a critical review of how homecare for rural dwelling older people is framed in policy and policy-related materials to assess the underpinning values in relation to related representations and discourses. Using Ireland as an illustrative case, a critical discourse analysis approach was employed that was informed by spatial justice and ageism as conceptual perspectives. Analysis focused on 53 documents that captured official policy, policy-related material and the broader narrative context of Ireland's policy landscape. A discourse of fragmentation and absence emerged as the overarching discursive theme regarding home care for rural older people in Ireland. However, this narrative was interwoven with and reinforced by a complex array of discourse framings that are layered across rural, ageing and care polices, including: a rural de-prioritization of ageing and older adults; a care and ageing subordination of rural contexts; economic-oriented development; and all-age-inclusion. Findings are discussed with respect to a rural spatial ageism, and the future of homecare reform in Ireland.The article arises from the HOMeAGE project which has received funding from the European Union’s EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Europe Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) under the grant agreement 101073506.peer-reviewe
Barriers and facilitators to staff's implementation of behaviour support plans in community settings
No full textBackground
Behaviour supports plans (BSP), if accurately implemented, have been found to increase skills and decrease behaviours that challenge for individuals with intellectual disabilities. However, skills acquired by staff during trainings on BSPs often fail to transfer into effective implementation. The current study aimed to examine barriers and facilitators to BSP implementation.
Method
Focus groups were conducted with four staff teams (n = 21) and semi-structured interviews were carried out with each team's respective team leader (n = 4). Thematic analysis, involving inductive and deductive approaches, was used to analyse the data.
Results
Environmental context and resources (e.g., compatibility of environment) and social influences (e.g., level of team communication) were the predominant domains impacting on implementation.
Conclusion
Findings emphasise the importance of service providers aligning with the core values of positive behaviour support, which acts as a facilitator for effective BSP implementation. These include integral social processes such as collaboration across key stakeholders and person-centred planning.peer-reviewe