1522 research outputs found
Sort by
Hydrogel-Based Bio-Nanomachine Transmitters for Bacterial Molecular Communications
Get PDFBacterial quorum sensing can be engineered with a view to the design of biotechnological applications based on their intrinsic role as a means of communication. We propose the creation of a positive feedback loop that will promote the emission of a superfolded green fluorescence protein from a bacterial population that will flow through hydrogel, which is used to encapsulate the cells. These engineered cells are heretofore referred to as bio-nanomachine transmitters and we show that for lower values of diffusion coefficient, a higher molecular output signal power can be produced, which supports the use of engineered bacteria contained within hydrogels for molecular communications systems. In addition, our wet lab results show the propagation of the molecular output signal, proving the feasibility of engineering a positive feedback loop to create a bio-nanomachine transmitter that can be used for biosensing applications
CogITS: Cognition-enabled network management for 5G V2X Communication
Get PDFThe 5G promise for ubiquitous communications is expected to be a key enabler for transportation efficiency. However, the consequent increase of both data payload and number of users derived from new Intelligent Transport Systems makes network management even more challenging; an ideal network management will need to be capable of self-managing fast moving nodes that sit in the 5G data plane. Platooning applications, for instance, need a highly flexible and high efficient infrastructure for optimal road capacity. Network management solutions have, then, to accommodate more intelligence in its decision-making process due to the network complexity of ITS. This paper proposes this envisioned architecture namely Cognition-enabled network management for 5G V2X Communication (CogITS). It is empowered by machine learning to dynamically allocate resources in the network based on traffic prediction and adaptable physical layer settings. Preliminary proof-of-concept validation results, in a platooning scenario, show that the proposed architecture can improve the overall network latency over time with a minimum increase of control message traffic
An examination of how parent MNCs gain competitive advantage from foreign-based subsidiaries
Get PDFThis research examines if, and how, foreign-based subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs) contribute to competitive advantage for the parent MNC. Initially, theoretical underpinnings for this research are derived from the Uppsala Model on the Evolution of the Multi-National Business Enterprise (MBE) (Vahlne and Johanson, 2013), the Ownership, Location and Internalization (OLI) paradigm (Dunning, 2000) and the Relational View of the Firm (Dyer & Singh, 1998). This led to the generation of a conceptual framework which proposes that locational factors (termed regional attributes) contribute to competences for subsidiary MNCs which in turn contribute to a competitive advantage for the parent MNC.
While quantitative approaches have previously been applied in this research area, the research methodology chosen to address how competitive advantage accrues to parent MNCs was a qualitative approach using an interpretivist philosophy. The study was based in the Mid-West of Ireland where the author is based and initially a list of regional attributes in this region was assembled based on documentary evidence and an interview with a former IDA executive. Three MNC firms based in this region were then selected, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess what competences each subsidiary has, and the extent to which regional attributes contribute to such competences. Finally, interviews were arranged with parent MNC directors of the three firms to assess what competitive advantage accrues to the parent firm from its foreign-based subsidiary and the extent to which subsidiary competences contribute to this competitive advantage.
The findings from this research support the view that attributes of the Mid-West of Ireland region do contribute to competences at subsidiary level which, in turn, contribute to parent MNC competitive advantage. In terms of regional attributes, a number of key attributes are proposed for the Mid-West region which include talent availability, infrastructure, the presence of higher education institutes (HEIs), market access and active business networks. These were found to contribute to the many competences generated by subsidiary MNCs which include close partnerships with HEIs, operational cost efficiency and collaborative network opportunities. These competences were, in turn, confirmed by the parent MNC directors to contribute to parent MNC competitive advantage from its foreign subsidiaries; such competitive advantage came from five main areas such as margin enhancement, speed to market and leading innovation.
The findings of this study support the view that subsidiary MNCs capitalise on locational advantages that offer opportunity for parent MNC competitive advantage gain. Subsidiary MNCs can derive competences from the region in which they are based and these can contribute to the parent MNC competitive advantage. The research has important implications for policy makers as they seek to promote regions for the purpose of attracting FDI to a region
Open-market Energy Procurement Strategies to Integrate Wind Energy
Get PDFTechnological breakthroughs in recent years have no precedent. From the hard to the fog, basically all infrastructures have been influenced or have had an impact from the strepitous progress. To make this possible at the core lies a key factor : Energy. Blessed by the geographic location, Ireland has one of the best wind resources in the world. Wind farms incur in nearly zero marginal costs. Reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Also, can be deployed at different scales with ease. Also decentralizes power generation and helps alleviate distribution congestion. The hard infrastructure (e.g. blade and nacelle) has reached a mature state which is reflected in the falling LCOE. Nevertheless, generating electricity from wind power is still dependent on support schemes. Incorporating wind energy into portfolios represents a significant challenge for Load Serving Entities. Therefore the sought after characteristics of wind energy hinder hefty balancing costs percolating to the end-customer, and thus meager or negative profit. Governments around the globe have incentivized renewable generation with tax-based safety nets to provide significant risk mitigation, foster investment and low cost finance. This work focuses on reducing the need for exogenous support to integrate wind energy. Firstly, the research identifies the operational context of a typical price-taker wind power producer (WPP) and the gaps in the research literature. This gives place to a splitting of the portfolio concocting in two strategical horizons. Following, the research applies non-cooperative behavioral techniques and evolutionary programming to determine long-term bilateral contracts among power wholesalers and electricity retailers. The next step addresses the short term interaction among the WPP and the market. This work also sets the challenges of a micro grid peer-to-peer energy trading setting. Finally an analytics driven trading scheme is developed whereby the exposure to the more volatile balancing markets and penalty fees is automated and optimized
Between accounting and the accountant in organisations: the systems, the people, the mesh
Get PDFThis study is about the people and things of accounting, and more particularly how they relate to produce accounting work in organisations. Until recently, accounting was produced by accountants, and there was a reasonably unproblematic divide between accounting people and accounting things. This is no longer the case. The transformation taking place in the profession is difficult to interpret and theorise. Practice is ahead of our thinking, and our conceptual tools for thinking and researching accounting are struggling somewhat to allow us researchers to make sense of the change. As a result, the research that underpins this thesis starts with the everyday contemporary work of accounting in organisations - studying the stories accountants tell of the various toils and tribulations of their work from twenty four storytelling interviews. Across three papers, I engage in a theoretical exploration, drawing on recent contributions from across the social and human sciences - philosophy, anthropology, sociology, political theory, management, organisation studies and accounting, with the aspiration of drawing out a greater understanding of contemporary accounting work. Paper One sets the scene by exploring the humans and non-humans of accounting work. Relying heavily on fundamental elements of Donna Haraway’s vivid image of the cyborg, Paper One surfaces the hybridic nature of contemporary accounting work. Paper Two revisits an actor-network theory approach to the hybrid assemblage of accounting with the salve of affect theory. In doing so, Paper Two surfaces and advocates for an anti-sacrificial politics of accounting work in organisations in support of the anxious humans that appear to be ever more diminished within the emerging hybridic nature of accounting work. Going further, Paper Three seeks out a greater understanding of the spirit of accounting work in organisations, the deeply felt eschatology and sense of impending judgement that animates everyday accounting work. Taken together, assisted by recent advances in social theory, the three papers aspire to renew our thinking about accountants everyday work, searching for a greater meaning and understanding. Keywords: accounting, accountant, roles, cyborg, actor-network theory, affect theory, anxiety, anti-sacrificial, spirit of accounting, eschatolog
Robert Boyle on the importance of reporting and replicating experiments
Get PDFAlthough Robert Boyle was a proponent of the theory that matter was made up of small indivisible particles called corpuscles, he was wary of those who tried to understand the world by adhering to theor- etical frameworks – ‘systems’. Boyle delivers this mes- sage in several works
An Examination of the Effectiveness of a Social Marketing Campaign Using Digital Marketing Techniques to Promote Walking Amongst 25-45-year-old Male and Females
Get PDFPurpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a social marketing campaign using digital marketing techniques to promote walking amongst 25-45-year-old male and females living in County Waterford.
Methods: This research was conducted in three phases. In phase one, an adapted questionnaire (n = 400) was used to investigate the current walking levels and the factors affecting walking participation. In the next phase, two social marketing campaigns (using Facebook and Instagram advertising) were implemented to promote walking events. Campaign one promoted walking as a healthy use of family time. Campaign two aimed to promote hillwalking as safe and accessible. Finally, in phase three, a self-designed questionnaire (n = 17) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the social marketing campaigns.
Findings: Results indicated that there was an array of factors that had a positive and negative impact on walking participation. Some factors identified were work commitments, gender, pet ownership, awareness of local walking routes, interest in hill-walking, and not enough knowledge about nearby hillwalking trails. The results from the social marketing campaigns and associated walking events had varied success. For campaign one, 16 families attended the family walk day and for campaign two, only one individual attended the guided walk.
Conclusion: Few campaigns and National Governing Bodies have used advanced digital marketing to promote walking in Ireland. Findings from this research contribute to the existing body of literature on the factors affecting Irish adult’s physical activity participation, thus, supporting the design and implementation of a successful social marketing campaign. This research also provides scope into the potential uses of digital marketing for walking campaigns. Both Irish National Governing Bodies and marketers seeking to design more effective physical activity campaigns can also replicate this methodology
Exploring the processes used by experienced change agents to mitigate the impact of an emergency unplanned event in a planned operational change project
Get PDFThis study explores the processes used by experienced change agents to mitigate the
impact of an emergency unplanned event in a planned operational change project. The
study concentrates on the change agents reflecting on the mitigation of the emergency
unplanned events. This interpretative study employed a purposeful sampling strategy
aligned with semi structured interviews to generate the data. A total of twenty nine
experienced change agents were interviewed for this study. Furthermore, the data
resulting from the interview process was supported by the reflections maintained
throughout the study by the researcher. Data analysis revealed 80 per cent of the
interviewees followed the five-step reaction model. Though this may give validity to the
model developed, the experienced change agents were unaware of the steps in the model
formally. The researcher confirms the linearity of the model during simple mitigation
efforts. However, during complex mitigation efforts the researcher observed, though the
data analysis, multiple interaction between process steps. Furthermore, these interaction
are in the form of verifying that the mitigation effort is a success, or an alternative
approach is required. The study unveils 71 activities as identified by the experienced
change agents during their mitigation approach. Additionally, the researcher enhanced
the findings by aligning the 71 identified activities with the reaction model steps and with
the best practice alignment approach of Reijers and Mansar (2005). This alignment gives
a greater understanding of the approaches used during the mitigation efforts. This new
contextual approach, now grounded in participant data, is theoretical underpinned in
process theory which uses theological and action learning assumptions
Smart City Development: Positioning Citizens in the Service Life Cycle (Citizens as Primary Customer)
Get PDFThere has been an enormous discussion around involving the citizens in smart city design and development. However most of the papers discussed citizen’s involvement and their feedback at the initial level of the service design where they intend to support citizen’s ideas with the help of methodologies, tools, templates, online platforms such e-participation, m-gov etc. Nevertheless, there are very few articles which discuss the impact of citizen’s feedback after the deployment of the services. With this systematic literature review we highlight that for the successful smart city development, there is a requirement to obtain citizen’s feedback not only during the initial stages of the service design and planning but also after the deployment of the services in order to recognize if their feedback really had any implication in the actual design process; and if the services are working as they were planned initially with the feedback of the citizens during the initial phases of the service design process
Deep brain drug-delivery control using vagus nerve communications
Get PDFVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) uses electrical impulses applied at the neck in order to mitigate the effects of, for example, epileptic seizures. We propose using VNS to provide data pulses to communicate with a drug-delivery system embedded near the brainstem. We model the generation of a vagus nerve compound action potential (CAP), calculating the signal attenuation and the resulting transmission range. The metabolic cost of CAP transmission in terms of the use of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is also calculated. The channel capacity for on-off keying (OOK) is computed from the CAP characteristics, the neural refractory period and the level of background neural noise. The resulting low bit-rate, unidirectional asynchronous transmission system is analysed for the use of different methods of forward error correction (FEC) to improve bit-error rate (BER). We show a proposed data packet structure that could deliver instructions to an embedded drug-delivery system with multiple addressable drug reservoirs. We also analyse the scope for powering the drug-delivery system with energy harvested from cerebrospinal glucose