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Investigating the Saliency of Sentiment Expressions in Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis
Get PDFWe examine the behaviour of an aspect-based sentiment classifier built by fine-tuning the BERTBASE model on the SemEval 2016 English dataset. In a set of masking experiments, we examine the extent to which the tokens identified as salient by LIME and a gradient-based method are being used by the classifier. We find that both methods are able to produce faithful rationales, with LIME outperforming the gradient-based method. We also identify a set of manually annotated sentiment expressions for this dataset, and carry out more masking experiments with these as human rationales. The enhanced performance of a classifier that only sees the relevant sentiment expressions suggests that they are not being used to their full potential. A comparison of the LIME and gradient rationales with the sentiment expressions reveals only a moderate level of agreement. Some disagreements are related to the fixed length of the rationales and the tendency of the rationales to contain content words related to the aspect itself
Developing approaches to skin volatile biodiagnostics using non-invasive techniques
Get PDFWearable sensors have become popular in recent years with many types being available on the commercial market. These wearable sensors allow the monitoring of physiological parameters such as heart rate but give limited insights into the body’s biochemistry and lack the ability to characterize important metabolic processes. While blood is the “gold standard” for monitoring the body’s biochemistry, it is known that various components of skin, including interstitial fluid (ISF) and sweat offer alternative, non-invasive “windows” into the health of the individual via the tracking of biomarkers present within these matrices. This has prompted the innovative development of new types of wearable biodiagnostic platforms capable of in- situ extraction and analysis of these various skin matrices.
Wearable sensor development for biofluids such as ISF and sweat have thrown up many challenges with respect to generating and collecting sufficient volumes of such biofluids for reliable analyte detection. This thesis seeks to overcome the specific requirement for biofluid collection and manipulation by investigating the volatile emission from skin, a matrix that is continuously emitted from skin and which contains biomarkers of metabolic and cellular processes within the body. The work seeks to establish the volatile profile for healthy skin using a headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) gas-chromatography (GC-MS) workflow to better understand factors that impact the emission including circadian rhythm, skin sampling site, gender and age. Mammalian cell culture studies were undertaken to investigate the response of human keratinocytes to frequently emitted skin volatiles to further understand and establish the contribution of such skin-derived compounds to the induction of cutaneous protective pathways. Finally, a move toward the use of a simple, cost-effective, wearable colorimetric sensor platform to monitor volatile emissions from skin was also explored with the feasibility of measuring skin surface pH, through the volatile ammonia emission from skin.
Overall, this work seeks to understand the robustness of the healthy skin volatile profile across a population and to demonstrate novel, simple approaches to tracking volatiles of interest to health via HS-SPME GC-MS workflows and wearable colorimetric-based biodiagnostics while also outlining their challenges and limitations. Exploiting the skin volatile emission to monitor skin physiology without the need for microneedles or the requirement to harvest fluid from skin is enticing. The understanding of this emission and its exploitation for wearable biodiagnostics has great potential for personalised monitoring of general health and self-management of chronic diseases shown to be associated with volatile biomarkers in the future
Among love's apartments: a theory in practice of the auto-poetic essay
No full textThe recent proliferation of what are commonly called “hybrid” literary forms has given rise to a proliferation of descriptive terms. Taking my poetry practice as a base, and the term “poetic essay” as a guiding prescription for the process, this project set out to discover what textual and thematic structures would evolve from an exploration of representations and discourses of love, using an organic method, i.e., attempting to enact both experience and knowledge-process in the forms of the work. Descriptive terms were bypassed, leaving the field open to discovering one.
My research involved constructing a “matrix” of discourses and representations of love:
1. influential literary texts from Ovid’s Ars Amatoria onwards; 2. an eclectic range of material representing literary, scientific, psychological, cultural and popular perspectives. To interact with these, I compiled a written record of autobiographical experience, which became the voice of a wandering “Querent” who arrives in this echoic environment—conceived allegorically as the apartment complex in which I live. There are six essays or “apartments,” each addressing specific motifs through poems, critical treatments and ruminations. Following each is a poem of primary or proprioceptive awareness, an interstice. I now propose a new term—“autopoetic essay”—for the process of attempting to create a text that imitates a living system, exemplified in Among Love’s Apartments. In a seventh, critical, essay I detail how the term finds an analogy in the Maturana-Varela biological theory of “autopoiesis.” I suggest how features of this theory might be applied to my method and to the methodology in certain essayistic texts, specifically some of Anne Carson, Susan Griffin, Maggie Nelson and Kathy Acker. Apart from the biological analogy, “autopoetic essay” has the virtue of incorporating the components “auto” (of the self, automatic, autonomous), “poetic” (of poetry as a discipline), and“essay” (open-form critical life-writing)
The exploration of children’s learner identities while experiencing outdoor learning in the Irish primary school context
Get PDFThe aim of the Irish primary school curriculum is to develop the child holistically (DES, 1999) in both indoor and outdoor environments (NCCA, 2023). Outdoor Learning is a form of nature pedagogy. The benefits of Outdoor Learning align with the competencies needed for Learner Identity. Learner Identity can be described as how a child views themselves as a learner (Kolb & Kolb, 2012; Lawson, 2014). This research sought out to explore how Outdoor Learning develops Learner Identity competencies in children through the views of the child.
This research employed a qualitative methodological approach. Data collection methods aimed to capture the child’s voice and were in keeping with everyday classroom activities. These included: children’s reflections; focus group interviews; researcher fieldnotes and teacher reflections. I took on the role of teacher as researcher throughout the study. Data was analysed through thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022). The findings indicate that children showed the development of Learner Identity competencies of self-esteem, self-awareness, confidence, relationship skills, motivation to learn, and problem-solving skills during Outdoor Learning. Concluding that the benefits or competencies gained from Outdoor Learning occur because of the embodied learning, autonomous learning, relational learning, and reflective learning that Outdoor Learning
provides for learners. Recommendations for research from this study include exploring and comparing children’s Learner Identities in indoor and outdoor learning environments; the longevity of Learner Identity; Outdoor Learning in the primary curriculum; and teachers’ identities during Outdoor Learning.
Recommendations for policy include the professional development of teachers in Outdoor Learning as the curriculum framework (NCCA, 2023) rolls out. Finally, recommendations for practice include the introduction of thematic learning; time and space for learning; and the importance of listening and hearing the children we teach (Lundy, 2007)
Saclay: pollen and fungal spore monitoring
Get PDFIn recent years, the real-time monitoring of primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP), like pollen
and fungal spores, has gained significant attention due to their health and climactic effects. This
study evaluates the efficacy of the WIBS in sampling and detecting comparisons of ambient fungal
spore and pollen concentrations with the conventional Hirst volumetric method. While the total
concentration of pollen and fungal spores is interesting, detecting specific allergenic pollen and
fungal spore types is crucial. Results indicate that the WIBS detected and differentiated between
total pollen (R2 = 0.6) and total fungal spore (R2 = 0.8) concentrations. The study also examines the
correlation between ambient pollen/fungal spore concentrations and meteorological/air quality
parameters. The temperature was the most influential parameter in pollen production and release,
showing a strong positive correlation. Relative humidity had a strong negative correlation with
pollen while showing a strong positive association with fungal spore concentrations. Wind data
analysis provided geographic origin details of pollen and fungal spore concentrations, with fungal
spores originating mainly from a westerly direction and pollen primarily from a North-easterly
direction
Click chemistry-based artificial metallonucleases
No full textNucleic acids are essential to all life on earth, with the remarkable stability of the phosphodiester backbone providing the integrity required for faithful storage of genetic information. Evolution has, therefore, resulted in a variety of cellular machinery that monitor and maintain this genetic integrity from deleterious processes such as DNA oxidation, which is an inevitable consequence of aerobic respiration and the resulting production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These DNA repair processes are energetically expensive and prone to error, with both factors contributing to an upper tolerance of DNA oxidation in the cellular environment, exceedance of which ultimately results in triggering of apoptosis or other cell death processes. DNA oxidation and the resulting over-stimulation of the afore mentioned repair processes is therefore a promising approach for the development of novel anticancer agents. The design of inorganic and organometallic complexes that result in DNA-localised ROS production and cleavage of the phosphodiester backbone has proven to be a key strategy in the development in such potential therapeutics, now known as artificial metallonucleases (AMNs). Here, a series of AMNs have been developed using the Nobel prize-winning “Click” chemistry, incorporating the 1,2,3-triazole, resultant of the Cu(I)-catalysed alkyne/azide click reaction as a key structural motif in both DNA recognition and transition metal binding. This method of AMN development has been coined the “Click and Cut” strategy. Clicking a range of commercially available alkynes with proximal N,O and S donors around a C3 -symmetric mesitylene core that has previously been found to facilitate DNA recognition resulted in a series of structurally diverse and potent Cu(II) AMNs. The activity of these Tri-Click (TC) AMNs were investigated using a range of standard and state-of-the-art techniques such as agarose gel electrophoresis, fluorescence quenching, fluorescence melting, microscale thermophoresis and repair-assisted damage detection (RADD). The Cu(II)-TC AMNs were found to selectively bind to and cleave from the minor groove of the DNA duplex, facilitated by a crescent-shape conformation adopted by two arms of the tripodal structures. Cleavage of native DNA was found to occur via a superoxide and peroxide dependant mechanism, with this mechanism being retained in the intracellular environment. Anticancer screening of the most promising ligands revealed broad spectrum activity against a range of cell lines in the national cancer institute’s 60 cell line assay
The Integration of ChatGPT in language education: exploring contexts, assessing impacts and unpacking implications
Get PDFThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in language education, exemplified by tools like ChatGPT, has sparked significant discourse. Since its introduction, ChatGPT has established itself as an indispensable educational tool and its relentless advancement remains undeniable. Therefore, comprehending the impact and educational potential of AI becomes paramount. This chapter explores the research contexts that provide insights into the background relevant to the integration of ChatGPT in language education. It also delves into the benefits and the current research issues in AI-enhanced language education. In essence, this chapter aims to shed light on the current landscape of AI in language education and its potential implications for teaching and learning. As the realm of language education experiences evolving innovation, this chapter emerges as a guiding beacon and illuminates pathways to harness the potential of AI in language education while upholding ethical standards and ensuring meaningful pedagogical transformations
Priests Behaving Badly: The Problem of Scandal in the Early Modern Catholic Church
Get PDFIn the twentieth century, many Catholic authorities prioritized the suppression of scandal over the punishment of criminal priests, and the church now faces an even greater scandal as the extent of this coverup becomes known. While the specific situation may be new, the church’s aversion to scandal is not. This article connects the contemporary situation to the struggles faced by the Counter-Reformation Church regarding scandal. Applying sociological and anthropological theories of scandal, it argues that an institution whose authority is threatened (like the church in both eras) will almost inevitably become scandal averse. Building on the work of Dyan Elliott using theology and legal history, it argues that in Reformation Europe, the church had a particular need to suppress scandal, using methods Elliott demonstrates had been developed over centuries. Finally, using social historical methods it examines the disciplinary strategies of Gregorio Barbarigo, bishop of Padua from 1664 to 1697, chosen because of his unusually lengthy tenure, devotion to reform, extraordinarily detailed records, and sainthood. By examining over a thousand investigations undertaken by Barbarigo, analyzing his responses to a wide range of abuses, and presenting four case studies of repeat offenders, the article demonstrates both the rationale for and the weaknesses of the Catholic Church’s preferred disciplinary strategy. From a historical perspective, this demonstrates that scandal and its management was yet another obstacle to early modern Catholic Reform. Connecting this to the contemporary church can help us better understand the complex motivations and moral ambiguities of institutions like the Catholic Church
Defining a "Paris Test" of national contribution to global climate mitigation: the Irish exemplar
Get PDFThe Paris Agreement (hereafter 'PA') created a framework for global action commensurate with the original UNFCCC objective of preventing dangerous anthropogenic climate change (in so far as this is still possible). PA Article 2(1) specified, for the first time, a globally agreed quantitative mitigation objective in the form of a global temperature rise limit: 'holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C'. Crucially, PA Article 2(2) committed the Parties to implementation that reflects '... equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances' (CBDR-RC). PA Article 3 then prescribed a bottom-up architecture, placing the onus on the Parties themselves—nation states and regional blocs such as the European Union (EU)—to ensure that their mitigation plans, presented in statements of voluntary nationally determined contributions, adequately reflect these objectives and obligations.
As a corollary we suggest that any good faith Party to the Agreement, in developing its mitigation objectives, should itself explicitly and transparently test these for consistency with the Agreement; and continue to do so on an ongoing basis as circumstances (both global and local) evolve.
However: while it is commonplace to see political assertions that this or that national plan is 'aligned' with the Paris Agreement, it is much less common to see this supported by transparent quantitative analysis, grounded in explicit provision for CBDR-RC. One interesting exception is the case of Ireland. In this Perspective, we briefly describe, and also critique, this exemplar case of a transparent national 'Paris Test' of domestic mitigation ambition. In the conclusion, we relate this case to other PA Parties and consider the need for broader adoption of such an approach
Graph-Based Optimisation of Network Expansion in a Dockless Bike Sharing System
Get PDFBike-sharing systems (BSSs) are deployed in over a thousand cities worldwide and play an important role in many urban transportation systems. BSSs alleviate congestion, reduce pollution and promote physical exercise. It is essential to explore the spatiotemporal patterns of bike-sharing demand, as well as the factors that influence these patterns, in order to optimise system operational efficiency. In this study, an optimised geo-temporal graph is constructed using trip data from Moby Bikes, a dockless BSS operator. The process of optimising the graph unveiled prime locations for erecting new stations during future expansions of the BSS. The Louvain algorithm, a community detection technique, is employed to uncover usage patterns at different levels of temporal granularity. The community detection results reveal largely self-contained sub-networks that exhibit similar usage patterns at their respective levels of temporal granularity. Overall, this study reinforces that BSSs are intrinsically spatiotemporal systems, with community presence driven by spatiotemporal dynamics. These findings may aid operators in improving redistribution efficiency