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Retrofitting homes: Evaluating the householder's retrofit journey, existing retrofit services, and future directions for success in Ireland's retrofit industry
No full textIreland's Climate Action Plan (2019) set ambitious targets for existing dwelling retrofits, including retrofitting 500,000 existing dwellings to a B2-Building Energy Rating (BER) or better by 2030, at an average rate of 50,000 dwellings per annum. Various policies have been established for the achievement of these targets, including establishing One-Stop-Shop (OSS) retrofit delivery models, which aim to remove retrofit barriers by offering full-service retrofitting for homeowners. The success of policies established for the achievement of Ireland's retrofit targets depends on many householders deciding to retrofit, and the alleviation of persistent demand and supply-side barriers.
This research evaluated existing OSS services and other retrofit services in Ireland, from the perspectives of householders who have completed or partially completed their retrofit journey using these services, and retrofit industry stakeholders involved in, or with expert insights into, Ireland's retrofit industry. The research evaluated the householder retrofit journey in detail, including the drivers which motivated householders to progress through each stage of their retrofit journey, the barriers that prevented them from doing so, and householders' experiences of engaging with OSS and other retrofit services in Ireland. In addition, the research examined the key challenges facing the supply side in enabling widescale retrofit uptake in Ireland. To do so, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 householders, as well as semi-structured interviews with 25 industry stakeholders. The performance of implemented retrofits, including the multiple benefits received through the works, was also examined through a pre- and post-retrofit dwelling monitoring study of five case study dwellings in the west of Ireland.
The research confirmed the importance of understanding the complexity of the retrofit journey, and establishing policies which address barriers at particular retrofit journey stages to increase their effectiveness. Various areas of improvement for both OSS and other retrofit services in Ireland were revealed, including changes to the policy landscape. The research also revealed that householders receive multiple economic, social and environmental benefits through retrofitting, but place most value on the social benefits, and highlighted the unintended consequences that can occur due to poor quality works and householders' practices within the home. Industry challenges, particularly relating to upscaling and upskilling the industry, were highlighted as critical challenges to address. Potential ways to address these challenges were highlighted. This research, therefore, presents in-depth insights that can contribute to the design of retrofit policy, and serve to inform how OSS and other retrofit services in Ireland can be improved to drive extensive retrofitting in Ireland. Recommendations for policy, industry and further research are presented
Remote monitoring of kidney function: What matters to patients and healthcare professionals?
No full textSustained advances in innovation and technology make remote monitoring of kidney function a real possibility in the near future. The NHS Long Term Plan (2019) proposes a widespread and funded programme to upgrade technology and digitallyenabled care across the NHS, to support patients and their carers to better manage their own health and condition. It also aims to better utilise healthcare technologies to help reduce unnecessary clinic visits for patients and limit NHS clinic expenditure. Within the UK Kidney MedTech Research Network, our patient consultation demonstrated that many people living with kidney disease recognise the importance of self-monitoring and of positioning healthcare around patients’ lives, rather than vice versa.¹ The burden from living with kidney disease is significant, and addressing health system issues has been clearly identified as a priority.² However, our research suggested that an ideal solution can look very different from one individual to the next. Maximising benefit, while minimising potential harm or inadvertently increasing test and treatment burden, represents a complex and important challenge. From November 2021, we have been working with Q Lab, supported by the Health Foundation and NHS England. Together we have been exploring how to build staff and patient trust and confidence in technology-enabled remote monitoring. This document summarises our findings and sends out very clear statements about what patients and clinical teams want from technology enabled remote monitoring in kidney disease. These service principles and the rationale underpinning them can support technology development that could make a real and sustained difference in how care is delivered and how it is experienced. This project is uniquely important because it looks at remote monitoring through the dual lenses of people living with kidney disease and multi-professional renal healthcare clinicians. It focuses on what remote monitoring features are most important to consider when thinking about people’s wellbeing, life satisfaction and quality of care perspectives.This project was developed with Q Lab and supported by the Health Foundation and NHS England
A practice review: Stakeholder mapping and civil society initiatives focusing on gender and whistleblowing
No full textThe Objectives of Work Package 4 are: · To create an inclusive whistleblowing environment that considers the unique experiences and challenges of individuals across all genders, identity categories and backgrounds. · To educate organizations, institutions, and the public about the importance of an intersectional approach to whistleblowing. · To develop and implement systems for measuring and evaluating whistleblowing culture through a gender and intersectionality framework. BRIGHT’S1 Work Package 4.2’s specific research question was: Which European civil society actors are developing gender-focused whistleblowing initiatives, and what are the characteristics of these initiatives? The method adopted was a mapping of relevant actors with whistleblowing support programs conducted using snowball sampling. The process had two phases: in Phase 1 (May 2024): requests for access to relevant contexts were sent to the International Whistleblowing Research Network and BRIGHT partners. In Phase 2 (June-August 2024): a review of organizational documents and materials was carried out to identify relevant entities. Identified actors were evaluated based on their gender-focused whistleblowing initiatives across four dimensions: extra-organizational, organizational, values, and structure. A Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis was conducted to differentiate the initiatives. Important frameworks and laws were also assessed including but not limited to the EU Whistleblowing Directive (2019/1937) and ISO37002. Meetings with key members of UNODC and WIN provided additional insights.non-peer-reviewe
Novel construction of Specht modules for Monomial groups
No full textIn this thesis, I introduce a new method for constructing Specht modules using Specht matrices for families of symmetric groups, monomial groups, and hyperoctahedral groups. Specht modules are central to the representation theory of symmetric groups, connected to the concepts of Young symmetrizers and the subsequent development of polytabloids. These polytabloids form a basis for the Specht module associated with a particular partition of a natural number.
In this work, I introduce a new combinatorial approach to replace polytabloids with columns of Specht matrices. The columns corresponding to the standard tableaux of shape λ, where λ is a partition of n ∈ N, form the basis of the Specht module S λ . This new construction is straightforward and easy to grasp, as it relies on basic linear algebra techniques, such as solving systems of linear equations.
A longstanding open question in the representation theory of finite groups is whether a base change matrix can be found for a finite group G that transforms permutation matrices corresponding to irreducible representations into block forms. My thesis addresses this question for specific families of finite groups, including symmetric groups, monomial groups, and hyperoctahedral groups. It shows that a submatrix of the Specht matrix serves as a base change matrix that accomplishes this transformation, enabling us to obtain all irreducible representations of these groups over C.
The methodologies employed in this thesis are computational, involving the development of several algorithms and computer programs to support the theoretical work. These have been implemented in the computer algebra system GAP (version 4).College of Science and Engineering, University of Galwa
Sustainability reporting in higher education institutions: Barriers, opportunities, case studies and toolkits
No full textThis thesis investigates the role of sustainability reporting in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), focusing on their potential to foster sustainable development and act as agents of change. Through a comprehensive analysis of published academic literature, this research identifies significant barriers to effective sustainability reporting, including lack of standardised frameworks, data collection challenges, financial constraints, limited stakeholder engagement, and organisational complexities. A sustainability report was completed as part of the literature review, in order to critique the reporting process and to identify particularly challenging areas to focus this research on. The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS®) was used as the assessment tool, with Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Carbon Footprint (CF) reporting as the two chosen focal research areas. The aim of the thesis was to explore the identified barriers to sustainability reporting, through the lens of ESD and CF reporting. This was done through the creation of innovate tools, the application of these tools in demonstration cases, and engagement with stakeholders. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) keyword scanning and carbon footprint calculator tools, which were developed as part of this work, are published as open-access resources to enhance data collection efficiency and accuracy. The SDG keyword scanning tool automates the identification of relevant SDG content within curriculum materials, providing a baseline measure for ESD. The carbon footprint measurement tool offers a robust method for calculating scope 3 emissions for organisations in Ireland, particularly from purchased goods and services. By applying these tools, the thesis highlights the practical difficulties and opportunities in implementing effective sustainability reporting in HEIs. The ESD demonstration cases published as part of this thesis include a sample ESD baseline for University of Galway, an example of ESD implementation into an engineering programme and an ESD baseline for civil engineering programmes across Ireland. The carbon footprint demonstration cases include a carbon footprint report for University of Galway covering the years 2017-2023, an analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on the university’s carbon footprint, a supply chain analysis and a roadmap to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The demonstration cases and practical applications demonstrate how these tools can be tailored to local contexts, thereby addressing specific institutional needs. The research underscores the importance of engaging stakeholders, developing comprehensive data management systems, and securing financial and administrative support to achieve sustainable practices. Engagement with key stakeholders through emails, workshops, surveys and student assignments revealed that stakeholders are also struggling with the identified barriers and are eager for more supports and resources for effective sustainability reporting, planning and development. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of how HEIs can overcome common barriers to sustainability reporting, emphasising the necessity for adaptable, user-friendly tools and frameworks. This work supports the ongoing effort to integrate sustainability into higher education, ultimately enhancing the capacity of HEIs to contribute to global sustainability goals.This research was funded by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) through the MaREI Centre (Grant no. 12/RC/2302_2)
Sun-related knowledge and practices in Irish construction and agricultural workers
No full textBackground
Agricultural and construction workers spend much of their work time outdoors and have higher risks of developing skin cancer when compared to indoor workers. However, there is limited research on ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure knowledge, sun safety practices and constraints within these occupational groups in Ireland.
Aims
This study aimed to examine self-reported time spent outdoors in a sample of Irish agricultural and construction workers; to describe and compare UVR exposure knowledge, safety practices and perceived constraints in both occupational groups, and to assess the association of demographic, personal and occupational factors with sun-related knowledge, practices and perceived constraints.
Methods
Agricultural workers (n = 154) and construction workers (n = 467) completed a questionnaire, which measured solar UVR exposure knowledge, safety practices, and perceived constraints to sun personal protective equipment and sunscreen use in addition to demographic, personal, and workplace characteristics. Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to examine differences in knowledge, practices and perceived constraints by these characteristics.
Results
Both groups spend a significant proportion of their working week outdoors (25 hours per week on average). Although participation in sun safety training was high for both groups, UVR exposure knowledge and sunscreen use were low, and annual rates of reported sunburn were high. Knowledge, practices and perceived constraints also differed significantly according to demographic, personal, occupational and workplace characteristics.
Conclusions
In addition to training by employers and advisory groups, interventions are required to address perceived barriers that impede the uptake and usage of control measures that can lower risk
The potency analysis of mesenchymal stromal cells and their extracellular vesicles with a focus on apoptotic bodies
No full textImmunotherapy, including immunostimulation and immunosuppression, has seen significant development in the last ten years. Immunostimulation has been verified as effective in anti-cancer treatment, while immunosuppression is used in the treatment of autoimmune disease and inflammation. Currently, with the update of newly invented simplified isolation methods and the findings of potent triggered immune responses, extracellular vesicle-based immunotherapy is very eye-catching. However, the research on three main types of extracellular vesicles, exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies, needs to be more balanced. These three subtypes share a certain level of similarity, and at the same time, they have their own properties caused by the different methods of biogenesis. Herein, we summarized the status of immunotherapy based on each kind of vesicle and discuss the possible involved mechanisms, respectively. In conclusion, we highlighted that the immunomodulatory effect of the apoptotic body is clear and strong. Apoptotic bodies have an excellent potential in immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory therapies
Practiced language policy in family language policy research
No full textThis chapter examines the concept of ‘practiced language policy’ in the context of the sociolinguistic subfield of ‘Family Language Policy’ (FLP). This chapter centres on four main aspects of practiced language policy vis-à-vis FLP: first, how caregivers construct FLPs through language practices; how children re-negotiate FLPs through their own language practices; how language practices between siblings specifically contribute to re-shaping FLPs; and finally, the creative and affective re-negotiations of certain linguistic norms through language practices over time. This chapter illustrates how ‘practiced language policy’ is a valuable way to conceptualise the co-agentive and dynamic nature of FLP, namely, how caregivers and children take turns in filling the opposing roles of what (Spolsky, Language Policy 18:323–338, 2019), p. 335) terms ‘advocates without power and managers with authority.’peer-reviewed2025-06-1
Development of pre-clinical models for evaluating performance of self-expanding nitinol stents for peripheral artery applications
No full textThe femoropopliteal artery (FPA) is the most commonly affected site for peripheral artery disease due to its complex biomechanical environment, whereby it experiences extreme loading conditions during limb flexion. This has significant impact on the devices placed in this region and the associated haemodynamics. While self-expanding Nitinol stents are preferred in this region due to their better flexibility, crush recoverability and reduced foreshortening, they have still been associated with restenosis and stent fracture rates as high as 65%. While it is critically important to enhance existing stent designs to improve clinical outcomes, there remains major challenges in this area as complex implanted environment of FPA stents is difficult to faithfully represent ahead of clinical studies. The objective of this thesis was to develop novel pre-clinical models of device performance across in-vitro, ex-vivo and in-silico settings to better understand functional performance and ensure the safety and efficacy of the devices. Firstly, a computationally-informed in-vitro bioreactor system has been designed capable of delivering combination of haemodynamic forces found in native peripheral arteries for endovascular stent device testing upto 4 days. Secondly, an ex-vivo cadaveric model was used to assess the biomechanical performance of two different self-expanding Nitinol stent designs implanted in healthy and calcified legs of Thiel embalmed cadavers. This provided, for the first time, a quantitative approach to investigate the true deformation magnitudes of the FPA stents implanted in Thiel embalmed cadavers upon limb flexion. Finally, in-silico steady state and transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were developed to explore the specific flow characteristics of a novel prototype spiral-flow (SLF) self- expanding Nitinol stent design in straight artery configuration.
It was demonstrated that the numerically verified in-vitro bioreactor design captured endothelial (EC) response to self-expanding Nitinol stent deployment subjected to haemodynamic flow conditions comparable to native peripheral arteries for day 1 time point and showed a sustained EC injury response contributing to neointimal growth and development of in-stent restenosis for day 4 time point. Further the developed ex-vivo cadaver model showed true curvature peaks within the ranges of 0.08–0.14 mm- 1 and 0.06–0.18 mm-1 for pre- and post-intervention configurations respectively, during extreme flexed postures of gardening and crossed leg. True flattening peaks within the range of 0.3-0.53 were observed in the pre-intervention configuration for extreme flexed postures while notable peaks in the range of 0.2-0.53 were observed adjacent to stent placement in post-intervention configuration. These peaks of true curvature and flattening were mainly located in adductor hiatus and popliteal regions of the FPA segment suggesting localisation of severe deformations. Interestingly, cadaver leg with calcification and maximum age resulted in maximum bending and notable peaks of flattening deformation in both pre- and post-intervention implying that factors such as presence of calcification, stent placement and age could contribute to increased FPA deformations. It is suggested that the SLF stent design could have lower bending stiffness than control stent providing more flexibility to accommodate severe bending deformations but this required further investigation due to small sample size considered in this thesis. Finally, the developed in-silico CFD models demonstrated that the prototype SLF stent was effective in increasing the wall shear stress in the intra strut region and downstream of the device region improving swirling efficiency, especially at higher Re number. Moreover, SLF stent provided an optimal balance between swirl efficiency and swirl flow propagation downstream. This could make it well-suited for operation within a defined range of Re number and implantation at specific locations in the cardiovascular system. The study demonstrated that the SLF stent effectively eliminated recirculation and separation zones, particularly within the intra-strut region, reducing areas of low time- averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) and high oscillatory shear index (OSI) typically associated with vascular pathology in the control stent.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Skłodowska Curie Grant Agreement No. 813869. This publication reflects only the author’s view, and the REA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains
Combined Gleeble physical welding simulation and low-cycle thermo-mechanical fatigue for heat-affected zone material for 9Cr steel: Experimental testing and through-process model
No full textThere is an urgent need to operate thermal power plant at significantly higher temperatures, pressures and flexibility, in order to reduce emissions, increase efficiency and facilitate uptake of renewable energy. This demands significantly improved design of welded connections for thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF). A common mode of high temperature failure for welded 9Cr steels in such plant is Type IV failure, due to reduced hardness in the inter-critical heat affected zone (IC-HAZ). Little or no work has been previously conducted on TMF characterisation of HAZ of 9Cr steels. This work presents development of a combined Gleeble physically-simulated welding process for P91 heat affected zone, based on measured thermal histories from bead-on-plate welding trials, with in-situ low cycle thermo-mechanical fatigue up to 650°C. The simulated welding process, including post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), is shown to have significant effect on both microstructure and TMF behaviour, including life. The as-welded condition is shown to have the cyclically hardest stable response and the longest life, whereas the PWHT and parent material (PM) cases have similar cyclically soft responses and lives. A recently-developed through-process, physically-based, thermal-metallurgical-mechanical model is adapted and applied to the simulated welding thermal cycle and TMF testing for PM and HAZ specimens. The model is calibrated and validated against high temperature low-cycle fatigue and low-cycle TMF data for PM in the range 400 to 600°C, for different strain-ranges and strain-rates. It is also shown to capture some observed general trends for the simulated HAZ-TMF testing, especially the significant softening effect of PWHT and the significant increase in cyclic strength for the as-welded condition.For the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. This research is funded by Science Foundation Ireland grant numbers SFI 22/FFP-A/10299 and supported in part by SFI/16/RC/3872. The authors would like to acknowledge the contributors to this research from GE Power (UK), ESB Energy International, University of Limerick, Imperial College, London, and Fraunhofer IWM, Freiburg and IMDEA Madrid