NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
Not a member yet
18159 research outputs found
Sort by
Enhancing the Efficiency of Electric Vehicles Charging Stations Based on Novel Fuzzy Integer Linear Programming
No full textThe electric vehicles (EVs) charging stations (CSs) at public premises have higher installation and power consumption costs. The potential benefits of public CSs rely on their efficient utilization. However, the conventional charging methods obligate a long waiting time and thereby deteriorate their efficiency with low utilization. This paper suggests a novel fuzzy integer linear programming and a heuristic fuzzy inference approach (FIA) for CSs utilization. The model introduces the underlying fuzzy inference system and a detailed formulation for obtaining the optimal solution. The developed fuzzy inference incorporates the uncertain and independent available power, required state-of-charge, and dwell time from the power grid and EVs domains and correlates them into weighted control variables. The FIA automates the service provision for the EVs with the most urgent requirements by resolving the objective function utilizing the weighted control variables, thereby optimizing the waiting time and the CSs utilization. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed FIA, several case studies were conducted, corresponding to different parking capacities and installations of CSs. Moreover, the simulations were conducted on EVs with varying battery capacities, and their performance was evaluated based on several metrics, including average waiting time, utilization of CSs, fairness, and execution time. The simulation results have confirmed that the effectiveness of the proposed FIA scheduling method is considerably higher than that of the other methods discussed
Signatures of Adaptation, Constraints, and Potential Redundancy in the Canonical Immune Genes of a Key Pollinator
No full textAll organisms require an immune system to recognize, differentiate, and defend against pathogens. From an evolutionary
perspective, immune systems evolve under strong selective pressures exerted by fast-evolving pathogens. However, the functional diversity of the immune system means that different immune components and their associated genes may evolve under
varying forms of selection. Insect pollinators, which provide essential ecosystem services, are an important system in which to
understand how selection has shaped immune gene evolution as their populations are experiencing declines with pathogens
highlighted as a potential contributing factor. To improve our understanding of the genetic variation found in the immune
genes of an essential pollinator, we performed whole-genome resequencing of wild-caught Bombus terrestris males. We first
assessed nucleotide diversity and extended haplotype homozygosity for canonical immune genes finding the strongest signatures of positive selection acting on genes involved in pathogen recognition and antiviral defense, possibly driven by growing pathogen spread in wild populations. We also identified immune genes evolving under strong purifying selection,
highlighting potential constraints on the bumblebee immune system. Lastly, we highlight the potential loss of function alleles present in the immune genes of wild-caught haploid males, suggesting that such genes are potentially less essential for development and survival and represent redundancy in the gene repertoire of the bumblebee immune system. Collectively, our analysis provides novel insights into the recent evolutionary history of the immune system of a key pollinator, highlighting
targets of selection, constraints to adaptation, and potential redundancy
WHAT PHD STUDENTS WANT FROM CAREER-RELATED MODULES: THE CHAMELEONS PROJECT
No full textCHAMELEONS (Championing A Multi-Sectoral Education and Learning Experience to Open New Pathways for Doctoral Students, H2020-SwafS-2018-2020), is a programme of 3 EU-funded interdisciplinary, inter-sectoral and international modules that aimed to broaden the skills of PhD graduates improving their employability in academic and non-academic environments. Fifteen doctoral students from five European universities were recruited. This paper represents evaluation conducted on all 3 modules. In terms of programme content, students perceived that real-time assessment, reflective learning, engagement with course coordinators and the opportunity to engage with practical research tools (Photovoice, Ecosystem Mapping and Walk My ID) all enhanced their learning. They suggested more group activities to enable them to better network with their doctoral colleagues as well as more practical activities. In terms of programme delivery students expressed a desire to have more physical face-to-face engagements while understanding the Covid-19 constraints. When given the opportunity to add freeform and unprompted comments, students almost without exception expressed their satisfaction with and appreciation for the modules. In terms of programme outcomes one student expressed an aspiration to be “more sure” of their skill set and marketability complimenting the focus on practical learning in the programme content review
Wave-to-Wire Efficiency Maximisation for Oscillating-Water-Column Systems
No full textWave energy is a significant source of renewable energy which is harnessed by wave energy converters (WECs). However, due to the relatively high levelised cost of energy, wave energy has not attained a commercial stage yet. One of the key pathways to achieve commercialisation of WECs is to design effective control strategies to optimise the overall wave-to-wire (W2W) energy conversion process. This paper particularly focuses on W2W efficiency maximisation for oscillating-water-column (OWC) WECs. In OWC systems, the displacement of a water column compresses/decompresses a volume of air, consequently generating a bidirectional air flow. The air flow is typically used to drive a self-rectifying air turbine, which is directly coupled with a suitable electric generator. Due to the demanding issue of turbine efficiency, current OWC control strategies aim to maximise turbine efficiency by controlling the turbine rotational speed, albeit ignoring hydrodynamic performance. However, for Wells turbines, variations in the rotational speed affect the hydrodynamic efficiency (i.e., the wave-to-pneumatic energy conversion process) of the OWC system. Furthermore, the generator performance also depends on rotational speed and, therefore, rotational speed should be ideally modulated to improve the overall W2W efficiency, rather than just turbine efficiency. To this end, this paper investigates the benefits of W2W efficiency maximisation through Wells turbine rotational speed modulation, for a fixed OWC system. Results from numerical simulation show that, for Wells turbines, appropriate rotational speed control can further improve the overall OWC W2W energy conversion process, especially due to the impact of rotational speed on the hydrodynamic performance
The wave energy converter control competition (WECCCOMP): Wave energy control algorithms compared in both simulation and tank testing
No full textThe wave energy control competition established a benchmark problem which was offered as an open challenge to the wave energy system control community. The competition had two stages: In the first stage, competitors used a standard wave energy simulation platform (WEC-Sim) to evaluate their controllers while, in the second stage, competitors were invited to test their controllers in a real-time implementation on a prototype system in a wave tank. The performance function used was based on converted energy across a range of standard sea states, but also included aspects related to economic performance, such as peak/average power, peak force, etc. This paper compares simulated and experimental results and, in particular, examines if the results obtained in a linear system simulation are borne out in reality. Overall, within the scope of the device tested, the range of sea states employed, and the performance metric used, the conclusion is that high-performance WEC controllers work well in practice, with good carry-over from simulation to experimentation. However, the availability of a good WEC mathematical model is deemed to be crucial
Security, Privacy & Usability in Modern Web Services.
No full textThe overall aim of this thesis was to explore how user experience (UX) design can
impact upon security, usability and privacy and the implications this has on the
end user, in particular if that user is vulnerable. We aim to do this through three
distinct projects.
Our first project was inspired by the question of whether a more complicated security
mechanisms, that might challenge a vulnerable user, can always provide
substantial extra security. We explore this question by attempting to guess PINs
via their partial PINs (a random subset of the full PIN). This form of authentication
is commonly used in banking in the UK and Ireland. We created four
different guessing strategies in order to see which proved most efficient at guessing
various sized PINs. Overall we discovered that you can recover a full PIN faster
by guessing via its partial PIN, and that the partial PIN system is not as secure
as using a full PIN at log in.
Our second project analyses Irish cookie banners in order to note style and compliance
with GDPR regulations. Like partial PINs in our first project, cookie
banners could be especially confusing and frustrating to a vulnerable user. This
project is based on a study conducted in Greece which looked at their national
cookie banners and banners in the UK. Comparatively Ireland fares slightly better
in compliance, but otherwise similar results were noted. We note several dark
patterns which manipulate users into sharing more data.
Our final project explores the strategies and dark patterns that are used to retain
subscribers. We subscribe to four different countries’ national news sites and
compare subscription and cancellation flows. We also discuss recent regulatory
changes in each country. It was possible to cancel the majority of the subscriptions
online. Despite this, it is not as straight forward to cancel and involves going
through many barriers to eventually reach the goal of cancelling your subscription.
Similar to the preceding two projects, dark patterns potentially can have a greater
impact on the more vulnerable user
Divergence or Convergence in Models of Youth Justice from legislation to 2023? – A Comparison between New Zealand and Ireland.
No full textWithin the context of youth justice being an area of much political and public debate, and with increasing globalisation and policy transfer youth justice is important to analyse and assess in terms of systems functions. Irelands’ youth justice legislation, took influence from the innovative youth justice system of New Zealand. This resulted in an altering model of youth justice within Ireland and New Zealand away from a strict welfare model. The focus increased justice-based elements of holding children and young people responsible for their offending behaviour, while maintaining a welfare ethos, including attention to victims needs. Due to this approach being innovative, and attracting significant international attention, this research aims to assess if the models of youth justice have changed in Ireland and New Zealand since the relevant legislation in 1989 in New Zealand and 2001 in Ireland, up to policy in 2023. The examination, guided by the underlying models of justice relevant to these youth justice systems, will highlight the innovative approaches’ progress, and journeys in New Zealand and Ireland
Green operational performance in a high-tech industry: Role of green HRM and green knowledge
No full textPrior studies on green HRM often treat it as a stand-alone practice, or a subset of organizational environmental
management (EM) system. In this article, consistent with the calls to merge EM systems and TQM, we maintain
that green HRM should be operated as a subset of broad TQM system, as a component of TQM-oriented HRM. We
identified seven green HRM practices that can be further classified into three sub-systems: competency-enhancing, motivation-enhancing, and opportunity-enhancing. Analyzing data collected from 339 Chinese high-tech companies, we found that the motivation-enhancing and competency-enhancing sub-systems of green HRM
affect all four green knowledge-creation and diffusion processes, but the opportunity-enhancing sub-system of
green HRM affects only green combination and internalization. We also found that green design is affected by all
four knowledge processes, green purchasing is affected by all the green knowledge processes except for green
internalization, and green production process is affected only by green externalization and green combination.
Our study contributes to business research by taking a first step toward integrating green HRM into the broader
TQM framework and investigating its performance implication from a TQM perspective
Exploring the Role of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Polymorphism in Asthma Pathogenesis and Innate Immune Training: Implications for Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy
No full textThe incidence of asthma is rising, posing a significant economic burden worldwide.
Despite treatment advancements, some asthmatics remain unresponsive, highlighting the need
for a deeper understanding of asthma pathogenesis. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor
(MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with a central role in the innate immune system and
asthma development. A functional ‘CATT’ polymorphism controls MIF expression in the
human population. The role of a high expressing CATT7 allele in asthma is currently unknown.
Repetitive inhalation of airborne allergens such as house dust mite (HDM), damages the airway
epithelium and trains the innate immune system over time, inducing epigenetic changes. The
influence of the MIF polymorphism on innate immune training remains unexplored.
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can respond and communicate with their surrounding
microenvironment. The impact of endogenous human MIF on MSC licensing and its functional
role in MSC therapeutic efficacy is undocumented. Using novel humanised MIF mice, this
study is the first to elucidate the role of the human MIF CATT7 allelic variant in a model of
allergic airway inflammation. High expression of human MIF exacerbated HDM-induced
asthma pathophysiology in CATT7 mice, identified by measuring changes in histology, Th2
cytokines and respiratory mechanics. MIF-licensed MSCs exhibited enhanced cytoprotective
function, promoting airway epithelial wound closure in a VEGF-dependent manner. Moreover,
this thesis illustrates the first evidence of innate training in macrophages from high human MIF
expressing CATT7 mice, which was suppressed with MSC co-culture using transwell inserts.
This research is of upmost clinical and translational importance, as the generation of this robust
humanised MIF mouse model can facilitate the future development of treatments for MIFdependent
diseases, like asthma. Furthermore, this cutting-edge research makes a substantial
contribution to the field of cellular therapy, paving the way for MSC application in high MIFexpressing
patients, where these cells can modulate an over-active immune response,
suppressing excessive, pathogenic inflammation
