Irish Universities
Not a member yet
78452 research outputs found
Sort by
A SIW-based Wideband Circularly Polarized 4×4 Patch Array Antenna in 45 GHz Band
No full textThe 2019 12th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimeter Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT), London, United Kingdom, 20-22 August 2019In this paper, a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW)-based wideband circularly polarized (CP) 4×4 patch array antenna operating in 45 GHz band is proposed. Firstly, a series-fed 1×4 patch subarray is designed. Sequential rotation (SR) feeding technology is adopted to extend axial-ratio (AR) bandwidth. Then, a 4×4 patch array antenna using four 1×4 patch subarrays is presented. The anti-phase feeding network is used to obtain stable CP radiation patterns among wide frequency band. The proposed antenna was fabricated and measured. -10-dB|S11| bandwidth of 27.6% (36.4-51.2 GHz), 3-dB AR bandwidth of 11.6% (41.6-47.6 GHz) and the peak gain of 17.1 dBic are achieved in the vicinity of 45 GHz.National Natural Science Foundation of Chin
Investigation of histology radius for dielectric characterisation of heterogeneous materials
No full textKnowledge of the dielectric properties of biological tissues is fundamental in the design of novel electromagnetic-based medical devices. Tissue dielectric properties are typically measured using the open-ended coaxial probe technique, which is designed for homogeneous samples. Histological analysis may be conducted to associate the measured dielectric properties to different tissue types within heterogeneous samples. However, the histology radius (i.e., the radial extent of the tissue sample that undergoes histological analysis) has not been consistently defined in the literature; therefore, this parameter may be a source of error in dielectric data. For this reason, we investigate the histology radius of various heterogeneous samples. Dielectric measurements were conducted over the frequency range of 0.5 to 20 GHz on radially heterogeneous tissue-mimicking materials and biological tissues, with different dielectric properties and contrasts. The experimental results were validated with numerical simulations and indicate that: i) the histology radius does not exceed the probe radius; ii) the dielectric properties of radially heterogeneous tissues depend on the spatial distribution of each material within the histology radius; and iii) the bulk dielectric properties of concentric heterogeneous tissues highly depend on the properties of each constituent material within the histology radius. This study supports consistent identification of the histology radius and provides a basis for rigorous interpretation of the dielectric properties of heterogeneous tissues.The research leading to these results has received funding
from the European Research Council under the European
Union\u27s Horizon 2020 Programme/ ERC Grant Agreement
BioElecPro n. 637780. This work was also supported by
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) (grant number
15/ERCS/3276), and the Hardiman Research Scholarship from
the National University of Ireland Galway. This work has
been developed in the framework of COST Action MiMed
(TD1301)
A qualitative evidence synthesis of users experience of mobile health applications in the self-management of type 2 diabetes
No full textAim
The aim of this qualitative evidence synthesis was to identify and synthesise qualitative research relating to experiences of using mobile health (mHealth) applications to aid self-management of Type 2 Diabetes.
Methods
Using a systematic search strategy, 11 databases were searched (Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ProQuest A&1, ProQuest UK & Ireland, Mednar). “Best fit” framework synthesis was used guided by the Health Information Technology Acceptance Model (HITAM). Assessment of methodological limitations was conducted using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and confidence in the review findings were guided by GRADE-CERQual.
Results
Fourteen eligible studies were included in the synthesis (7 qualitative and 5 mixed methods). Key themes identified under the health, information and technology zones of the HITAM revealed the benefits of mHealth apps, barriers to their use, their perceived usefulness and ease of use.
Discussion
Most people used the apps for feedback on their self-management and found them helpful in their communication with health care providers. Some embraced the technology and found it easy to use while others found mHealth apps to be counterintuitive
Palliative care nurses\u27 experiences of clinical supervision: a qualitative evidence synthesis
No full textBackground: Clinical supervision provides support and facilitates professional and personal development. Aim: To identify and synthesise all available qualitative research on palliative care nurses\u27 experiences of clinical supervision. Methods: Guided by the \u27enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research\u27 (ENTREQ) statement, eight databases were searched using a systematic search strategy (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline, Web of Science, ProQuest, Embase, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences). The findings of all included studies were analysed guided by Thomas and Harden\u27s approach. Confidence in the review findings was determined guided by Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (GRADE-CERQual). Findings: Nine qualitative studies were included in this synthesis and four analytic themes were identified: negative experiences and misunderstandings of clinical supervision; clinical supervision needs structure and clarity; supervisor needs to be a conductor and a producer; finding your \u27inner supervisor\u27. Conclusion: The review illuminates the benefits of clinical supervision as a renewal process for palliative care (PC) nurses, but also highlights the challenges in its provision. Organisations should provide designated time and opportunities for PC nurses to attend clinical supervision sessions during working hours.2021-06-1
The man and his music: Gender representation, cultural capital and the Irish traditional music canon
No full textThrough a re-examination of canonical Irish traditional music texts and the music-making
spaces and practices these inform, this paper proposes that Irish traditional music, as social
practice, has normalised hegemonic power structures and relationships, and further, finds that
these texts consolidate gender bias, prejudice and discrimination in ensuing practices. Power
and authority inherent in music practices and linked to cultural identity and status are a
significant form of cultural capital, revealing, amongst other things the complexity of relations
between gender symbolism, gendered social organisation and the diversity of gendered
dispositions in society. Restrictions to cultural capital accumulation created by gender inequality
in the performance and documentation of Irish traditional music practice is highlighted and
Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital is employed to address ongoing social implications
of the reproduction of gender inequality in Irish traditional music practice
How task conflict can support creative problem solving in teams by stimulating knowledge sharing, critical and creative thinking and meta-cognition
No full textThis study explores how task conflict can support creative problem solving in
teams and the cognitive processes applied. As multidisciplinary teams can be diverse
in nature, they may not always partake competently in the pooling of information,
and as a result task conflict may arise due to differences in mental models. Under certain
conditions task conflict is considered to be beneficial to creative problem solving
because it stimulates knowledge exchange and integration and constructive criticism
to reach co-created decisions and solutions. Four case studies were conducted to analyse
the discourse of teams carrying out design and innovation projects. Task conflict
was found to have a positive impact on creative problem solving in the application of
four cognitive processes: knowledge processing, critical and creative thinking and
metacognition (team self-reflection). Task conflict was positively related to creativity
in the proposal of solution alternatives. The successful application of the cognitive
processes was dependent on an awareness of when task conflict is appropriate and
high level social skills. The findings have implications for managers of teams solving
complex problems. They highlight how the cognitive processes can be constructively
used to stimulate and manage conflict to effectively solve problems in teams.PUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe
Joint submission to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice regarding the General Data Protection Regulation
No full text[No abstract available
A review of resolution losses for AR/VR foveated imaging applications
No full textFoveated imaging is of great interest for Augmented and Virtual Reality applications. The resolution losses off-axis simulated in foveated imaging are modelled using cone density on the retina. This article reviews the other factors limiting the resolution off-axis in AR/VR, in particular the impact of the eye lens. Several off-axis resolution simulations are proposed and compared in order to provide some theoretical compression ratios for 4K and 8K display systems. A model taking into account both the cone density across the retina and the optical performance of the eye lens is proposed and evaluated. The variability and challenges of modelling the human eye resolution losses are also discussed, in particular in the case of age-dependence.This research is funded under the SFI Strategic Partnership
Program by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and FotoNation
Ltd. Project ID: 13/SPP/I2868 on Next Generation Imaging
for Smartphone and Embedded Platforms
Protein kinase D, ubiquitin and proteasome pathways are involved in adenosine receptor-stimulated NR4A expression in myeloid cells*
No full textAdenosine is a purine nucleoside pivotal for homeostasis in cells and tissues. Stimulation of the adenosine receptors (AR) has been shown to regulate the nuclear orphan receptor 4A (NR4A1-3) family, resulting in attenuation of hyper-inflammatory responses in myeloid cells. The NR4A1-3 orphan receptors are early immediate response genes and transcriptional regulators of cell and tissue homeostasis. The signal transduction and transcriptional mechanism(s) of how AR-stimulation promotes NR4A expression in myeloid cells is unknown and is the focus of this study. We confirm that adenosine and the
stable analogue, 50 -N-Ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), enhance NR4A1-3 expression in THP-1 cells. Pharmacological approaches identified that protein kinase D (PKD) mediates AR-stimulated NR4A expression in myeloid cells and reveals no involvement of PKA nor PKC. The role of NF-kB, a principal regulator of NR4A expression in myeloid cells, was examined as a possible transcriptional regulator downstream of PKD. Utilising BAY11-7082 and MG-132, inhibitors of the respective ubiquitin and pro teasome pathways essential for NF-kB activation, suggested a prospective role for NF-kB, or more specifically signalling via IKKa/b. However, biological interventional studies using overexpression of IkBa in myeloid cells and MEF cells lacking IKKa and IKKb (IKKa/b /-) revealed the NF-kB pathway is not utilised in mediating AR-stimulated NR4A expression. Thus, this study contributes mechanistic insight into how AR signalling modulates the expression of NR4A receptors, pivotal regulators of inflammatory responses in myeloid cells
Iris liveness detection for next generation smartphones
No full textThis paper presents a novel liveness detection method that exploits the acquisition workflow for iris biometrics on smartphones using a hybrid visible (RGB)/near infra-red (NIR) sensor. These devices are able to capture both RGB and NIR images of the eye and iris region in synchronization. This multi-spectral information is mapped into a discrete feature space. An intermediate classifier which uses a distance metric close to Jenson-Shannon divergence is employed to classify the incoming image. Further, a fast, multi-frame pupil localization technique using one-dimensional processing of the eye region is proposed and evaluated. This is used to analyze the pupil characteristics of the images classified as \u27live\u27 in the previous stage. It is shown that such an analysis could detect presentation attacks, even with a 3-D face model made of materials that has properties similar to human skin and the ocular region(1).This work is supported by the Irish Research Council’s Employment
based PhD program and part funded by FotoNation Ireland