1522 research outputs found
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Seasonal influences on fungal community structure in unimproved and improved upland grassland soils
Get PDFSeasonal and management influences on the fungal community structure of two upland grassland soils were investigated. An upland site containing both unimproved, floristically-diverse (U4a) and mesotrophic, improved (MG7b) grassland types was selected, and samples from both grassland types were taken at five times in one year. Soil fungal community structure was assessed using fungal automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA), a DNA-profiling approach. Grassland management regime was found to strongly affect fungal community structure, with fungal ARISA profiles from unimproved and improved grassland soils differing significantly. The number of fungal ribotypes found was higher in unimproved than improved grassland soils, providing evidence that improvement may reduce the suitability of upland soil as a habitat for specific groups of fungi. Seasonal influences on fungal community structure were also noted, with samples taken in autumn (October) more correlated with change in ribotype profiles than samples from other seasons. However, seasonal variation did not obscure the measurement of differences in fungal community structure that were due to agricultural improvement, with canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicating grassland type had a stronger influence on fungal profiles than season
Feedback induced instabilities in a quantum dot semiconductor laser
Get PDFWe analyse the properties of GaAs based quantum dot semiconductor lasers emitting near 1310 nm. The line-width enhancement factor is shown to depend strongly on device temperature, ranging from 1.5 at 20 degrees C to 5 at 50 degrees C. With optical feedback from a distant reflector, devices remained stable at 20 degrees C but displayed a range of instabilities at 50 degrees C, including irregular power drop - outs and periodic pulsations, before entering a chaotic regime. Such dynamical features are unique to quantum dot lasers - quantum well lasers are significantly more unstable under optical feedback making such a clear route to chaos difficult to observe. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America
Bioinspired Policy Based Management (bioPBM)for Autonomic Communication Systems
Get PDFThe tremendous development of Internet
infrastructures as well as communication technologies
has led to an increase in network management
complexity. Autonomic control is one way to manage
complexity. Policy Based Management Systems (PBMS)
provide a consistent model for decision making using a
set of abstractions (i.e., to manage the system in a manner
that is independent from the complexities of low level
network technologies). In this paper, we develop a
hierarchical bio-inspired PBMS based on mechanisms for
organism regulation that supports self-organisation and
self-management at different levels of the hierarchy. We
employ this mechanism towards network management of
autonomic communications systems
Using Model Driven Architecture for the Development and Integration of Platform-Independent Vehicle Application Software across Different OEMs
Get PDFPerceptions of key Stakeholders (Students and Lecturing Staff): Integrating IT Industry Certification into Irish Institutes of Technology (IoT's)
Get PDFAbstract: IT industry certification and its position in academia continue to be a highly
contemporary issue. This paper explains IT industry certification, its origin, and its
current state. The main focus of this paper is to represent the findings of two preliminary
studies undertaken: a student questionnaire and a focus group for lecturing staff. The
purpose of both initial studies was to ascertain the perceptions of the main stakeholders in
relation to integrating IT industry certification into Irish Institutes of Technology (IoTs).
For the purpose of this study a summary of the findings will be outlined. However, it is
important to note that the findings from both studies along with the literature will help to
design a framework that will help construct the main research instrument for the main
study
Female Entrepreneurship in Ireland and Wales (FEIW)
Get PDFWomen business owners are increasingly recognised as having an important impact on the economy, both as a source of employment and of potential growth (OECD, 2004; GEM, 2004; and Henry and Kennedy, 2002). As a result, the Centre for Entrepreneurship, School of Business, WIT has developed an
INTERREG IIIA-funded education and development programme with their partners from the School of Business and Management, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. The programme is the first of its type to be run in South East Ireland. The programme’s aims are to facilitate the growth and development of women-owned businesses in South East Ireland and South West Wales. The research for the programme determined the level of women-led businesses in both regions, the type of businesses women set up and the challenges they face. The research also identified the specific training needs of women in business
Blogs: Enhancing the Learning Experience for Technology Students
Get PDFWeblogs can be used to enhance the learning experience for technology students, by providing them with several features that are often absent in Learning Management Systems (LMSs). This research aims to demonstrate that weblogs can improve the learning experience by allowing students to reflect on their learning, and by allowing them to easily collaborate with their tutors and with one another. The incorporation of weblogs into the existing learning environment can provide several enhancements; Laurillard’s conversational framework is used a basis for describing how this should be done. In an initial study, students set up weblogs and created a weblog post each week over a 10-week period. Initial feedback from the students suggests that their experience with the weblogs was a positive one
Library student shelvers at Waterford Institute of Technology
No full textPurpose – This paper traces the context of, and outlines the reasoning for, the use of student shelvers in an Irish higher education academic library (Waterford Institute of Technology).
Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a case study report on use of student assistants to carry out the shelving function at Waterford Institute of Technology Library Service. It describes the rationale behind the employment of student assistants, the evolution of their incorporation into the library and the management of this now vital element of the library service, and also includes a short survey on the use of student shelvers at other academic libraries in Ireland.
Findings – Student shelvers are an important resource in the WIT Library Service, freeing up staff time to concentrate on other projects. In order to make an effective contribution to the library service, the management of this resource is quite time-consuming.
Research limitations/implications – The review of available literature revealed little about the situation in Ireland. The survey of other Irish academic libraries was on a small scale. There is scope for further research on both an Irish and an international scale.
Practical implications – This account of one academic library's experience of using student shelvers to supplement regular library staff is of potential interest and help to other libraries embarking on or considering a similar initiative.
Originality/value – This paper is of potential value to other libraries considering embarking on a similar initiative, or indeed to libraries who already have such schemes in operation and who are interested in making comparisons with other institutions
Effect of step sintering on breakdown voltage of varistors prepared from nanomaterials by sol gel route
Get PDFZnO varistor materials were prepared by a sol gel route with subsequent drying and calcination.
Varistor discs fabricated from these materials were subjected to a two step sintering schedule.
Therefore in a typical experiment, the samples were heated to 1000uC, then allowed to cool for over
30 min to 900uC and held there for 6 h. The results were compared with commercial varistor samples
sintered in a similar way. Considerably higher breakdown voltages were obtained for the varistorsmade
from nanosample (1192¡30 V mm21) compared with the commercial samples (723 ¡30 V mm21)
sintered under the same experimental conditions. The sintered materials were characterised by X-ray
diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and density measurements
Physical activity for bone health in inactive teenage girls: Is a supervised, teacher-led program or self-led program best?
No full textPurpose: To investigate the effect of a six-month teacher-led osteogenic physical activity program, vs. a self-led activity program, on ultrasound measurements of bone in inactive teenage girls. Methods: Ninety sedentary girls [mean (SD) age 16.3 (6) years] were identified from 300 assessed for physical activity across five schools in southeast Ireland. Schools were matched and randomly assigned to a teacher-led physical activity (TLPA) program, a self-led physical activity (SLPA) program, or a control group. Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS), and os calcis stiffness index (OCSI) were measured using a portable ultrasound machine. Anthropornetry, aerobic fitness, calcium intake, and physical activity were assessed, and focus groups held one month after program completion. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. Results: Both intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements (p <.05) in BUA, SOS, OCSI and aerobic fitness, i.e., TLPA: + 14.9%, + 21.9%, + 15.9%, and + 8.5 %, respectively, and SLPA: + 10.6%, + 30.3 %, + 15.6%, and + 5.1 %, respectively, with no change in controls. Differences between intervention groups and controls were significant for BUA and OCSI (p <.05). TLPA and SLPA groups engaged in an average of 4.5 and 3.4 hours/week of physical activity, respectively, over the intervention period. The SLPA group continued to exercise after the intervention had ceased, whereas the TLPA group did not. Conclusions: Previously inactive teenage girls can adhere to an osteogenic activity program whether supervised or directing their own activity. Longer-term, sustainable initiatives with this age group are needed and might focus on developing personal skills for physical activity. 0 2006 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved