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Automotive-Adept: A lightweight assessment method for the Automotive software industry
No full textIn this paper we describe how a lightweight assessment method was developed to educate Irish software small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in relation to becoming automotive software suppliers. The main goal of this assessment method is to provide software SMEs with a SPI path to becoming automotive software suppliers
Intelligent Voice Navigation of Spreadsheets: An Empirical Evaluation
No full textInteraction with software systems has become second nature
to most computer users, however when voice recognition is introduced, this simple procedure becomes quite complex. To reduce this complexity for spreadsheet users, the authors have developed an intelligent voice navigation system called iVoice. This paper outlines the iVoice system and details an experiment that was conducted to determine the efficiency
of iVoice when compared to a leading voice recognition technology
Composition variability of spent mushroom compost in Ireland
Get PDFSpent mushroom compost (SMC) has proven to be an attractive material for improving soil structure in tilled soils and increasing dry matter production in grassland soils, owing to its high organic matter content and availability of essential plant nutrients. Because of this, it is important to identify the variability in composition of SMC in order to evaluate its merit as a fertilizer/soil conditioner. For this reason, a study was carried out involving the analysis of SMC samples obtained from five mushroom growers using compost from each of the thirteen mushroom composting yards currently operating in both Northern Ireland (five yards) and the Republic of Ireland (eight yards). The selected parameters measured include dry matter, organic matter, total N, P and K, C/N ratio; plant-available P and K, pH, EC, total Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb; and cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin constituents. Yield of mushroom data were also collected from the selected growers. There were significant differences (P<0.05) within two compost production yards for some parameters, therefore, for the most part, the uniformity of SMC within each yard is relatively consistent. However, significant differences (P<0.05) were evident when comparing SMC obtained from growers supplied with compost from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland independently, particularly among total and available phosphorus and potassium values. The results obtained show that, while SMC has fertilizer merit, its variability of composition must be taken into account when assessing this value. The variability of composition is also of particular interest in the context of recent emphasis on plant nutrient management in agriculture
Entrepreneurship and agriculture : investigating if entrepreneurship can be encouraged throughout the argicultural sector and assessing the provisions in place to ignite it
No full textThe agriculture sector has been subjected to several changes over the last four decades. Since the beginning of the 1960's, the numbers employed in agriculture have been rapidly declining along with total exports. Several new trends have emerged. The National Farm Survey (2007) highlighted that the income derived from farming is no longer adequate to maintain a comfortable standard of living. The ERSI (2008) painted a harsh reality of the livelihood of agriculture in Ireland, suggesting that it will continue on a downward trend without hope of recovery. In light of this, it has been widely suggested that the integration of entrepreneurship will greatly contribute to the re-vitalisation of the agriculture sector and thus, create a competitive advantage for Ireland. The key objective of this dissertation was primarily to assess whether or not members of the local farming community would consider starting an on-site business enterprise as a suitable way to increase the family income. A questionnaire was conducted in order to gain a satisfactory response to this question. In addition, a total of seven interviews were also executed. Three of which were conducted with support bodies including Enterprise-Ireland, Bord Bia and Teagasc, in a bid to assess the training, advisory and funding provisions in place for aspiring entrepreneurs
Fe2 and Fe4 Clusters Encapsulated in Vacant Polyoxotungstates: Hydrothermal Synthesis, Magnetic, Electrochemical Properties, and DFT calculations
No full textWhile the reaction of [PW11O39]7- towards first row transition metal ions Mn+ under usual bench conditions only leads to monosubstituted {PW11O39M(H2O)} anions, we show that the use of this precursor under hydrothermal conditions allows to isolate a family of novel polynuclear molecular magnetic polyoxometalates (POMs). The hybrid asymmetric [FeII(bpy)3][PW11O39Fe2III(OH)(bpy)2]·12H2O complex (1) contains the dinuclear {Fe(μ-O(W))(μ-OH)Fe} core where one iron atom is coordinated to a monovacant POM while the other is coordinated to two bipyridine ligands. Magnetic measurements indicate that in 1 the FeIII centers are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled (J = -11.2 cm-1, Ĥ = -JŜ1Ŝ2) compared to {Fe(μ-O)(μ-OH)Fe} systems. This is due to the long distance between the iron center embedded in the POM and the oxygen atom of the POM bridging the two magnetic centers but also, as shown by DFT calculations, to the important mixing of bridging oxygen orbitals with orbitals of the POM tungsten atoms. (Hdmbpy)2[FeII(dmbpy)3]2[(PW11O39)2Fe4IIIO2(dmbpy)4]·14H2O (2) (dmby = 5,5’-dimethyl-2,2’-bpy) and H2[FeII(dmbpy)3]2[(PW11O39)2Fe4IIIO2(dmbpy)4]·10H2O (3) represent the first butterfly-like POM complexes. In these species, a tetranuclear FeIII complex is sandwiched between two lacunary polyoxotungstates which are pentacoordinated to two FeIII cations, the remaining paramagnetic centers being each coordinated to two dmbpy ligands. The best fit of the χMT = f(T) curve leads to Jwb = -59.6 cm-1 and Jbb = -10.2 cm-1 (Ĥ = -Jwb(Ŝ1Ŝ2 + Ŝ1Ŝ2* + Ŝ1*Ŝ2 + Ŝ1*Ŝ2*) – Jbb(Ŝ2Ŝ2*)). While the Jbb value is within the range of related exchange parameter previously reported for non-POM butterfly systems, the Jwb constant is significantly lower. As for complex 1, this can be justified considering Few-O distances. Finally, in absence of coordinating ligand, the dimeric complex [N(CH3)4]10[(PW11O39FeIII)2O]·12H2O (4) has been isolated. In this complex, the two single oxo-bridged FeIII centers are ver
Experiences of Performing Lightweight Software Process Assessments within Small-to-Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
No full textAn archaeological study of the Battle of the Boyne at Oldbridge, Co. Meath.
No full textThis paper outlines the results of a pilot archaeological study carried out on the Oldbridge Estate, Co. Meath, Ireland, in advance of its development for the presentation of the events of the Battle of the Boyne which was fought by the forces of King William III and James II on 1st July 1690. Archival research including the examination of museum collections, cartographic sources, contemporary artistic depictions of the battle and recent aerial photographic coverages was followed up by the use of a range of archaeological techniques including systematic surface collection survey, soil phosphate analysis, magnetic gradiometry, metal detecting and limited test excavation. Additionally, marine geophysics equipment was used to profile the character of the River Boyne, especially in the area of the main crossings. The study revealed important new evidence including the establishment of the location of Oldbridge village, a pivotal feature in the conduct of the battle, the confirmation of
the location of the first engagement on the day of the battle and the first systematically recovered artefacts from the battlefield
Automotive-Adept: A lightweight assessment method for the Automotive Irish software industry
No full textIn this paper we describe how a lightweight assessment method was developed to educate Irish software small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in relation to becoming automotive software suppliers. The main goal of this assessment method is to provide software SMEs with a SPI path to becoming automotive software suppliers
Developing a configuration management model for the medical device industry
No full textSoftware is becoming an increasingly important aspect of medical devices and medical device regulation. Software enables highly complex systems to be built. However, complexity is the enemy of safety, therefore strict adherence to well documented processes is important within the domain of medical device software. Medical devices can only be marketed if compliance and approval from the appropriate regulatory bodies of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is achieved. This paper outlines the development of a Configuration Management Capability Model (CMCM). The CMCM is a Software Process Improvement (SPI) model specifically dedicated to Configuration Management (CM) for the medical device industry. This paper details how medical device regulations may be satisfied by adopting relevant practices from the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI®) CM process area. It also investigates how the CMMI® CM process area may be extended with additional practices that are outside the remit of the CMMI®, but are required in order to satisfy Medical Device Regulatory (MDR) guidelines
The Need for a Software Process Improvement Model for the Medical Device Industry
No full textSoftware is becoming an increasingly important aspect of medical devices and medical device regulation. Software enables highly complex systems to be built. However, complexity is the enemy of safety, therefore strict adherence to well documented processes is important within the domain of medical device software. Medical devices can only be marketed if compliance and approval from the appropriate regulatory bodies (e.g. the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)) is achieved. This paper outlines the development of a software process improvement (SPI) model specifically for the medical device industry. The paper details how medical device regulations may be satisfied by adopting relevant practices from the Capability Maturity Model Integration ( CMMI®). Copyright © 2006 Praise Worthy Prize - All rights reserved