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Designing products and services for circular consumption - A circular design tool
No full textMost circular design tools focus on how to design durable products that are fit for circular (re-)production flows, or how to design circular business models. The crucial role users play for a transition to a circular economy is often overlooked in existing tools, as is design opportunities to enable and support circular consumption. This paper presents one of the tools in the Use2Use Design Toolkit, the Circular Designs Ideation Pack, which is a user-centered circular design tool especially developed to aid designers and others to design for circular consumption. The tool supports design of products and services that can create enabling preconditions making it more convenient, and preferable for people to circulate products from use to use. In contrast to other available circular design tools, it supports exploration of circular design opportunities from a user perspective and in relation to people’s consumption processes. The tool has been tested in eight workshops with professionals and students, who considered it easy and fun to use. The workshop participants found the tool instructive and inspirational, and said that it helped them to discuss relevant design opportunities and come up with promising circular ideas. They also expressed that looking at circularity from a user’s point of view made it easy for them to address the topic. While the tool was found both usable and valuable in an educational workshop setting, the tool’s potential when utilised in companies’ regular design processes is yet to be explored. Future research will address how to integrate the tool as a part of existing processes to effectively support companies to design for consumption
Three types of approaches to product longevity: a multiple case study of 18 best-practice companies
No full textProduct longevity is one of the keys to achieving more sustainable production and
consumption patterns. However, in many companies, extending the longevity of products means
overcoming several complex barriers. For small and medium sized enterprises, it may be difficult to
identify where to start, and the available solutions may seem too complex or radical and therefore may
be ignored as viable options. The purpose of this paper is to study how best-practice companies
implement product longevity in everyday practices and map the principles of how they engage with
product longevity at different stages of the development process, to provide knowledge about the
solutions available to companies.
We conducted a multiple case study of companies striving to design and produce long-lasting products.
Through interviews with developers, CFOs and CEOs from 18 best-practice companies that work
systematically with product longevity, we identified three key types of approaches to implementing
product longevity: performance-driven approaches, behaviour change-driven approaches, and vision driven approaches. The key approaches forms a baseline for a discussion about companies
implementing these types of approaches and their ability to adopt them
A stock-driven model for assessing environmental benefits of product lifetime extension in Norwegian households
No full textHousehold consumption of durable goods is associated with environmental impacts in
production, use and end-of-life treatment, all of which could be affected by actions to extend product
lifetime. In order to estimate environmental benefits and direct strategies for lifetime extension we need
to understand the consumption dynamics for durable goods. In this paper we present a stock-driven
dynamic model of household durables based on material flow analysis (MFA) methodology. We
investigate the stocks and flows of furniture and appliances in Norwegian households, using population
and product ownership rate as drivers for stock levels and socioeconomic drivers project future stock
requirements. The model is calibrated by collecting historical data on ownership, purchase, and disposal
of such goods. The considered durables are divided into representative archetypes characterized by
typical service lifetime. The dynamic, vintage modelling approach is well suited to consider effects such
as an increased need for maintenance and/or operational energy among household products with
prolonged lifetime. We illustrate uses for the model to quantify impacts caused by demand for goods
and the environmental system effects associated with lifetime extension, and we discuss insights to
direct effective measures. Potential applications include a support for product design, household
behavior campaigns and environmental policy making
Development of the Ground Segment Communication System for the EIRSAT-1 CubeSat
No full textThe 16th International Conference on Space Operations, Cape Town, South Africa, 3-5 May 2021The Educational Irish Research Satellite (EIRSAT-1) is a student-led project to design, build and test Ireland’s first satellite. As part of the development, a ground segment (GS) has also been designed alongside the spacecraft. The ground segment will support two-way communications with the spacecraft throughout the mission. Communication with the satellite will occur in the very high frequency (VHF) and the ultra high frequency (UHF) bands for the uplink and downlink respectively. Different modulation schemes have been implemented for both uplink and downlink as part of the GS system. Uplink incorporates an Audio Frequency Shift-Keying (AFSK) scheme, while downlink incorporates a Gaussian Minimum Shift-Keying (GMSK) scheme. In order for the spacecraft to successfully receive a telecommand (TC) transmitted from the ground station, a framing protocol is required. AX.25 was selected as the data link layer protocol. A hardware terminal node controller (TNC) executes both the AX.25 framing and the AFSK modulation. Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) framing software was developed to allow data to be accepted by the TNC. A software defined radio (SDR) approach has been chosen for the downlink. GNURadio is software that allows flowcharts to be built to undertake the required signal processing of the received signal, the demodulation of the signal and the decoding of data. This paper provides a detailed account of the software developed for the ground segment communication system. A review of the AX.25 and KISS framing protocols is presented. The GNURadio flowcharts that handle the signal processing and data decoding are broken down and each constituent is explained. To ensure the reliability and robustness of the system, a suite of tests was undertaken, the results of which are also presented.European Commission Horizon 2020Irish Research CouncilScience Foundation IrelandUniversity College DublinEuropean Space AgencyCheck for published version during checkdate report - A
The Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, The TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Laboratory, Biennial Report, 2018-19
No full textThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) provides ongoing financial support to two research units within the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine at University College Dublin: - The UCD Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis (UCD CVERA); and - The TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Laboratory. These units each work to support DAFM policy, inspectorate and laboratory staff in the area of animal health. The TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Laboratory focuses on bovine tuberculosis research. UCD CVERA is a national resource centre, providing policy advice and conducting epidemiological research on a wide range of animal health issues. In addition, UCD CVERA provides general support to government, industry and the veterinary profession (pre- and post-graduation). This report documents work conducted by, or in association with, these UCD-based research units during 2018 and 2019.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marin
Insights from an early-stage development mixed methods study on arts-based interventions for older adults following hospitalisation
No full textBackground: A period of hospitalisation can have negative consequences on physical function and autonomy for older adults, including functional decline, dependency and reduced quality of life. Older adults favour activity that focuses on social connectedness, fun and achievable skills. Objective: The primary aim of this early-stage development mixed methods study was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a randomised crossover trial design and two arts-based interventions tailored for older adults
recently discharged from hospital. Materials and methods: Community-dwelling adults, aged 65 years and older, who reported reduced mobility and less than six weeks post discharge from hospital were invited to participate in the study. Two sites were randomised to either a four-week dance or music therapy intervention, followed by a four-week washout and subsequently to the alternate intervention. Participants and stakeholders were interviewed to share their views and perspectives of the study design and interventions developed. Results: The arts-based interventions were acceptable and safe for participants. Randomisation was completed per protocol and no implementation issues were identified. The outcome measures used were acceptable and feasible
for this group of patients and did not lead to fatigue or excessive assessment time. Participants were positive about their experience of the programme. Conclusions: This early development study provides a precursor and several imperative learning points to guide and inform future research in the area. Difficulties in recruitment and attrition were in part due to the barriers encountered when recruiting an incident cohort of vulnerable individuals post hospitalisation
Combination of RSM and NSGA-II algorithm for optimization and prediction of thermal conductivity and viscosity of bioglycol/water mixture containing SiO2 nanoparticles
No full textThe fluids containing nanoparticles have enhanced thermo-physical characteristics in
comparison with conventional fluids without nanoparticles. Thermal conductivity and viscosity are thermo-physical properties that strongly determine heat transfer and momentum. In this study, the response surface method was firstly used to derive an equation for the thermal conductivity and another one for the viscosity of bioglycol/water mixture (20:80) containing silicon dioxide nanoparticles as a function of temperature as well as the volume fraction of silicon dioxide. Then, NSGA-II algorithm was used for the optimization and maximizing thermal conductivity and minimizing the nanofluid viscosity. Different fronts were implemented and 20th iteration number was selected as Pareto front. The highest thermal conductivity (0.576 W/m.K) and the lowest viscosity (0.61 mPa.s) were obtained at temperature on volume concentration of (80 C and 2%) and (80 C without nanoparticle) respectively. It was concluded that the optimum thermal conductivity
and viscosity of nanofluid could be obtained at maximum temperature (80 C) or a temperature close to this temperature. An increase in the volume fraction of silicon dioxide led to the enhancement of thermal conductivity but the solution viscosity was also increased. Therefore, the optimum point should be selected based on the system requirement
Designing environmentally efficient aquafeeds through the use of multicriteria decision support tools
No full textAquaculture is the fastest growing food production system, and the sector accounts for more than half of all fish consumed. Its potential as a sustainable food source has been recognised within the EU Farm to Fork strategy and by the targeting of EU Green Deal research funds. Aquafeed is the primary source of environmental cost in farmed finfish and shrimp life cycle assessments (LCA), and thus, emerging ingredients have a key role to play in increasing its sustainability. This paper proposes that the development and â designâ of feed compositions can be disrupted by innovative approaches that simultaneously optimiseâ via multicriteria analysisâ ingredient selection through leveraging economic, nutritional, life cycle cost and environmental datasets. This would be supported by the ongoing collection and curation of these same resources. Further, integration of these disparate resources can enable advanced ingredient traceability. The outcome of such an approach would greatly contribute to increasingly efficient aquafeed production.R. Cooney and E. Clifford would like to acknowledge the funding of the Interreg Atlantic Area funded NEPTUNUS project (EAPA_576/2018) and the co-funded Bord Iascaigh Mhara and European Maritime Fisheries Fund project, AquaCatch (19/KGS/005), which supported this work
Surface functionalization-dependent localization and affinity of SiO2 nanoparticles within the biofilm EPS matrix
No full textThe contribution of the biofilm extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix to reduced antimicrobial sus-ceptibility in biofilms is widely recognised. As such, the direct targeting of the EPS matrix is a promising biofilmcontrol strategy that allows for the disruption of the matrix, thereby allowing a subsequent increase in suscep-tibility to antimicrobial agents. To this end, surface-functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) have received considerableattention. However, the fundamental understanding of the interactions occurring between engineered NPs andthe biofilm EPS matrix has not yet been fully elucidated. An insight into the underlying mechanisms involvedwhen a NP interacts with the EPS matrix will aid in the design of more efficient NPs for biofilm control. Here wedemonstrate the use of highly specificfluorescent probes in confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) toillustrate the distribution of EPS macromolecules within the biofilm. Thereafter, a three-dimensional (3D)colocalization analysis was used to assess the affinity of differently functionalized silica NPs (SiNPs) and EPSmacromolecules fromPseudomonasfluorescensbiofilms. Results show that both the charge and surface functionalgroups of SiNPs dramatically affected the extent to which SiNPs interacted and localized with EPS macromole-cules, including proteins, polysaccharides and DNA. Hypotheses are also presented about the possible physico-chemical interactions which may be dominant in EPS matrix-NP interactions. This research not only develops aninnovative CLSM-based methodology for elucidating biofilm-nanoparticle interactions but also provides a plat-form on which to build more efficient NP systems for biofilm control.Science Foundation Irelan
The Influence of Chief Justice Hugh Kennedy on Irish Legal Scholarship and Publishing
No full textThis article assesses the contribution of Hugh Kennedy, first Attorney General and later first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to the development of the Irish legal scholarship. Kennedy was determined to influence the emergence of new legal scholarship for a distinctively Irish legal system. This article examines the books and articles authored by Kennedy himself but also examines those created by other persons that were influenced by him or would not have been published without his assistance. It also examines Kennedy’s contribution to the publication of major sources of Irish law including the establishment of the annual publication of Irish statutes. Kennedy’s influence on the development of Irish law journals is also analysed, including his influence over the revival of the Irish Jurist in 1935. Finally, the article will examine Kennedy’s determination to promote scholarship on the 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State, including his own plans to write a detailed monograph on this subject. Although Kennedy never had a chance to write this monograph he did exert substantial influence over what would become the leading texts in this area. In particular, he had a powerful influence over Leo Kohn’s "The Constitution of the Irish Free State", a text published in 1932 that is still regularly cited to this day