1522 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring the transition of newly qualified Chartered Accountants from practice to industry
Get PDFThis Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) thesis explores the transition of newly qualified Chartered Accountants (CAs) from practice to industry-based roles. The thesis seeks to understand how CAs develop the necessary skills and competencies to assist them in this transition and addresses the following objectives:
1. To understand how CAs' skills and competencies correspond to industry requirements.
2. To understand how skills and competencies required for industry are developed by CAs during the phases of transition.
3. To develop a framework that informs the transition from practice to industry.
This exploratory study seeks to embrace theory as lenses through which to understand the research problem and employs theoretical lenses relating to fit and transition in an effort to develop a utilitarian framework that informs the transition from practice to industry. The research method employed is qualitative semi-structured interviews held with multiple stakeholders including: CAs transitioning from practice to industry; industry-based hiring managers (HMs); Chartered Accountants Ireland; recruiting firms and a continuing professional development provider.
It was found that CAs roles in industry are different to practice and skills gaps exist with methods used to close this gap identified. It was identified that CAs focus on developing hard skills during transition while HMs identify soft skills as requiring development. There was evidence that person-culture fit was important and achieving such a fit was more difficult than achieving person-job fit. It was also found that the CA passes through phases of transition with evidence that supports five phases of transition as opposed to four outlined in the transition cycle theory. Finally, a theoretically based framework was developed that informs the transition from practice to industry which will be of relevance to all of the stakeholders interviewed
An Investigation of the Bioactivity of Cyanobacterial Exometabolites in Plant Stress Tolerance
Get PDFAs the global population expands and climates rapidly change, reliable access to enough inexpensive, nutritious food is already a major problem. The challenge of enhancing food security cannot be at the expense of environmental damage, therefore sustainable agriculture must be a central tenet. Around the world, N2-fixing inoculants like cyanobacteria are used in sustainable agriculture programmes to enhance yields and mitigate plant responses to stress. Presently, assessment of novel cereal varieties focuses mostly on high yields while screening for stress tolerance is an expensive, time-consuming process. However, it is proposed here that cell death modes, especially programmed cell death (PCD), can be used as a marker of plant stress tolerance. PCD is a normal facet of plant growth and development, but plant cells also activate environmentally-induced PCD as a protective mechanism during stress exposure and it is possible to limit stress-induced PCD to minimise crop yield losses. Here, it is shown that medium conditioned by the cyanobacteria Nostoc muscorum reduces PCD in stressed plant cells, and a further investigation identified proline as the major bioactive N. muscorum-derived compound. To start, a root hair assay (RHA) was used as an in vivo tool to enumerate the overall plant stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana and to characterise the bioactivity of cyanobacteria N. muscorum conditioned medium (CM). Heat stressed A. thaliana exhibited reduced PCD when treated with N. muscorum CM fractions. Proline emerged as a bioactive candidate of interest and was confirmed in N. muscorum CM using the ninhydrin assay and HPLC. Furthermore, proline feeding experiments revealed a similar performance to CM but with marginally lower PCD suppression levels. Confirmation of proline as the main bioactive candidate was attained by treating mutant Arabidopsis lines with impaired proline transporters with exogenous proline and CM fractions. The RHA was also successfully used as a high-throughput screening tool to pinpoint stress-tolerant and susceptible Triticum aestivum and Hordeum vulgare varieties. Heat stress experiments showed that winter and spring barley varieties could be subdivided into their seasonal groups based on their PCD susceptibility. Furthermore, stress-induced PCD levels were used to investigate basal, induced and cross-stress tolerance of eight wheat varieties to heat and salt stress. The RHA identified varieties with high basal tolerance based on their performance after single and combined stress exposure. However, these varieties also had an unexpectedly slower cross-stress tolerance response than their stress-susceptible counterparts, demonstrating slower flexibility against recurrent stress exposure. Finally, to relate findings back to applications in sustainable agricultural practices, preliminary work to encapsulate proline in slow-release microspheres found that the maximum safe dosage of proline was 8 μM in Arabidopsis, 10 μM in barley and 100 μM in wheat; however, proline bioactivity was only effective at a narrow stress range. Collectively, this thesis demonstrates that cyanobacteria-derived proline elevates plant stress tolerance by inhibiting PCD and that by using the RHA, PCD is a convenient marker of plant stress tolerance and susceptibility. This offers preliminary evidence of a novel biofertiliser mechanism for enhancing plant stress tolerance independent of the existing mechanisms cited in the literature
Development of Novel Wound Dressings using Seaweed Derived Antimicrobial Compounds Characterised against Emergent Clinically Relevant Bacteria
Get PDFSeaweeds and their derivatives have recently been hailed for their impressive production of secondary metabolites for the purpose of self-preservation, and have been noted for their many bioactive activities. The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains of pathogens has increasingly become an issue in the treatment of infections and has been reported to have been a driving force in the increasing cost of hospital care and higher risk of complications associated with the treatment of once trivial infections. The O'Neill report, commissioned by then UK Prime Minister David Cameron, in 2016 estimated that by 2050 more people will die of multi-drug resistant infections than of cancer. As a result, new sources of antimicrobials which could be developed into new antibiotics to combat AMR infections are being sought after. An initial screen was carried out using solvent extracts from the seaweeds Fucus serratus and Fucus vesiculosus which were extracted using the solvents; water, methanol, acetone and ethyl acetate. These crude extracts were established to be antimicrobial against a range of bacterial wound pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinically isolated from University Hospital Waterford. The most promising extract (water extracted Fucus vesiculosus) was analysed for anti-biofilm and cytotoxic activity. This extract demonstrated biofilm disruptive and biofilm preventative activities, but was, however, cytotoxic to all cell lines tested (HaCaT, HepG2 and THP-1). Once bioactivity was established, the method of extraction for the water extract from F. vesiculosus was developed using microwave assisted extraction techniques. This extraction method maintained antimicrobial activity of the extract and established an increase of 224 % in yield generated in 10 min as opposed to the 2 h standard using solvent extraction. This extract was then soaked into inactive Aquacel® wound dressings and compared for antimicrobial activity over time to iodine, silver and honey commercially available antimicrobial wound dressings (Inadine, Aquacel® and Algivon respectively). The dressings soaked in seaweed extract maintained antimicrobial activity for a longer period of time than any of its commercially available counterparts. Additionally several wound dressing formulations were prepared, using naturally sourced polymers, incorporating the seaweed extract and the most structurally viable dressings were formulated for antimicrobial activity and flexibility. The separation and identification of the antimicrobial in the extract was attempted using; TLC, bioautography, semi preparative HPLC, NMR, LC-MS, FTIR and UV-Vis analysis and the bioactive compound was determined to be fucoidan
Modeling and Link Quality Assessment of THz Network Within Data Center
Get PDFTerahertz band has gained enormous interest recently due to its wide bandwidth availability, and the data rate
is reaching 100 Gbps are nowadays achievable. The current
advancement in Terahertz technology is aiming to achieve the data rate up to 1 Terabit per second. However, the unique band characteristics introduce some issues related to the propagation channel like high path and absorption loss which increases with distance. Such limitations at one hand can limit the coverage and throughput. But, on the other hand, suits indoor environment such as data center, a data center geometry is used in this paper
to design and model a network of THz nodes placed on the
top of the data center racks, to increase network connectivity, THz reflectors are positioned on ceiling and walls. Through simulations, we show that it is possible to reduce the average number of interferers in the system and minimize bit error probability by using specific waveforms and planar antenna array with active variable elements
Sorting the Wheat From the Chaff: Programmed Cell Death as a Marker of Stress Tolerance in Agriculturally Important Cereals
Get PDFConventional methods for screening for stress-tolerant cereal varieties rely on expensive,
labour-intensive field testing and molecular biology techniques. Here, we use the root
hair assay (RHA) as a rapid screening tool to identify stress-tolerant varieties at the
early seedling stage. Wheat and barley seedlings had stress applied, and the response
quantified in terms of programmed cell death (PCD), viability and necrosis. Heat shock
experiments of seven barley varieties showed that winter and spring barley varieties could
be partitioned into their two distinct seasonal groups based on their PCD susceptibility,
allowing quick data-driven evaluation of their thermotolerance at an early seedling stage.
In addition, evaluating the response of eight wheat varieties to heat and salt stress
allowed identification of their PCD inflection points (35°C and 150 mM NaCl), where the
largest differences in PCD levels arise. Using the PCD inflection points as a reference,
we compared different stress effects and found that heat-susceptible wheat varieties
displayed similar vulnerabilities to salt stress. Stress-induced PCD levels also facilitated
the assessment of the basal, induced and cross-stress tolerance of wheat varieties using
single, combined and multiple individual stress exposures by applying concurrent heat
and salt stress in a time-course experiment. Two stress-susceptible varieties were found
to have low constitutive resistance as illustrated by their high PCD levels in response
to single and combined stress exposure. However, both varieties had a fast, adaptive
response as PCD levels declined at the other time-points, showing that even with low
constitutive resistance, the initial stress cue primes cross-stress tolerance adaptations for
enhanced resistance even to a second, different stress type. Here, we demonstrate the
RHA’s suitability for high-throughput analysis (~4 days from germination to data collection)
of multiple cereal varieties and stress treatments. We also showed the versatility of using
stress-induced PCD levels to investigate the role of constitutive and adaptive resistance
by exploring the temporal progression of cross-stress tolerance. Our results show that
by identifying suboptimal PCD levels in vivo in a laboratory setting, we can preliminarily
identify stress-susceptible cereal varieties and this information can guide further, more
efficiently targeted, field-scale experimental testing
The effect of metal EOS 316L stainless steel additive manufacturing powder recycling on part characteristics and powder reusability
Get PDFDirect metal laser sintering (DMLS) is a powder bed fusion (PBF) process commonly used within the medical device and aerospace industries to fabricate high value, complex components. Powder material used in the DMLS process can be costly and it is rare for a single build to require a full batch of powder. The un-melted powder, which differs in particle size and morphology from virgin powder, is often recycled for further builds. This work presents a study of the effects that recycling a stainless steel metal powder used in the DMLS process
has on finished parts. Hence, in this paper, powder material characteristics, such as particle size, particle morphology and bulk chemical composition have been monitored throughout the recycling process.An analysis of parts manufactured via DMLS on an EOS M280 demonstrate
the negative effect of powder recycling on part quality in terms of surface roughness, part density, hardness and dimensional accuracy. Results from this research provide an insight to the effect that recycling AM powders has on the powder characteristics and on the quality of the parts produced
Human Resources Data Analytics – Evidence from an Irish Manufacturing Perspective
No full textIndustry is propelled by measurement and the transformative potential of data analysis as a driver of business success. Human Resource (HR) departments have not escaped this impetus, indeed it has gained momentum over the last decade. The promise of analytics is significant: to replace gut and intuition with data-based decision making and evidence-based strategies. HR analytics hails itself as a framework to temper HR intuition with objectivity. It promises rigour and validity to guide and prioritise human capital expenditure. Despite enormous interest, evidence of practical application has been scarce. This research adopts an inductive, interpretivist approach, using multiple case studies of Irish manufacturing firms, underpinned by interviews with HR Managers and industry experts. It contributes to research and practitioner knowledge with insights of industry led practical applications of HR analytics and the levels and application of HR analytics within companies. Furthermore, it reveals the factors impacting application outcomes in firms
Learning about the Principle of Participation: : Possibilities and Barriers in the Professional Formation of Early Childhood Education and Care Students
Get PDFThe United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has facilitated a seachange in the political and legislative landscape in the Republic of Ireland since ratification in 1992. In Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) it has led to a number of key policy shifts, most significantly the national quality and curricular frameworks, Siolta (Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education, 2006) and Aistear (National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, 2009), which have resulted in radical changes in how the young child is conceptualised. Both documents are underpinned and demonstrably rooted in the UNCRC and embody a conceptualisation of the child as a rights-holder (Hayes, Donoghue-Hynes and Wolfe, 2013; Waldron, Kavanagh, Maunsell, Oberman, O’Reilly, Pike, Prunty and Ruane, 2011
An Adaptive Capability Framework for Maximising Off-Peak Senior Tourism in Culture and Heritage Micro-Firms
Get PDFThis qualitative research study explores the role of adaptive capability development amongst tourism micro-firm owner-managers (OMs) in pursuit of the niche potential of the evolving senior tourism market. Projected demographic trends indicate that Europe is turning increasingly grey and that the tourism sector is one of the main beneficiaries of this transition. Nevertheless, beyond the marketing and segmentation literature, there is scant research on the potential of micro-tourism operators to strategically adapt to change through astute market sensing and resource transformation. Adaptive capabilities are especially relevant in resource stretched micro-firms, owing to the idiosyncrasies of the key decision-makers in continuously striving to configure their limited resources in new ways. This research adopts a subjectivist inductive approach, with the unit of analysis focused upon OM interaction with adaptive capabilities to facilitate senior tourism engagement. Primary data was harvested through 24 semi-structured qualitative interviews within the south east of Ireland. Findings indicate the importance of the cultural heritage realm in attracting senior tourists; however, geographic location alone does not automatically infer superior competitiveness. Additionally, there exists among some OMs the erroneous belief that the senior market is homogeneous and their perceived insignificance belies their untapped market potential. Limited resources hinder the level of adaptive capability engagement in tourism micro-firms and such impediments include insufficient finances, skills deficiencies, diminished entrepreneurial intent and a misaligned strategic fit. This study further acknowledges the role of operational capabilities within tourism micro-firms and explores higher capability development in greater detail than has been the case heretofore. Operational capabilities were shown to be key factors in not only maintaining the daily operation of the firm but were also instrumental in defining the integrity of subsequent higher adaptive capability development. The findings also illustrated that for proactive OMs, the off-peak season was regarded as a period of creative development, rather than merely a time for mental and physical rejuvenation. Finally, this research facilitates the identification and development of higher level capabilities and in doing so, it contributes to the understanding of adaptive capabilities within the under-studied senior tourism sector and also within Irish tourism micro-firms
The Use of ICT Tools to Capture Grass Data and Optimise Grazing Management
Get PDFIn temperate regions, where pasture-based milk production systems
predominate, the strategic allocation of pasture grazing area to dairy cows is
essential for optimal management and increased milk outputs. Rising plate
meters (RPM) are frequently used to estimate pasture herbage mass (HM; i.e.
dry matter yield per hectare), through the use of simple regression equations that
relate compressed sward height (CSH) to HM. Measurement must be accurate
and efficient. Despite improved farm management practices aided by a variety of
technological advances, the standard design of a RPM has remained relatively
unchanged. As part of this thesis, a RPM utilising a micro-sonic sensor and digital
data capture capability linked to a smart device application was developed.
Further, the ability of the micro-sonic sensor RPM, to accurately and precisely
measure fixed heights was examined. As correct allocation of grazing area
requires accurate geolocation positioning, the associated GPS technology was
assessed. In order to improve the accuracy and precision of these equations, so
that inherent variation of grasslands is captured, there is a need to incorporate
differences in grass types and seasonal growth As good bassline data are
required for the development of effective conversion of CSH to HM, the variation
of growth for both perennial ryegrass and hybrid ryegrass was recorded over the
seven month growing season, using a total of 308 grass plots. Once the correct
HM is established it must be allocated to the herd in an accurate and efficient
manner. As intensive pasture-based farming systems rely on precise and
frequent allocations of grass to animals, a Virtual Fence (VF) system to enhance
automated allocation of correct forage areas to animals was developed and
assessed, as was an associated cow training protocol. The micro-sonic sensor RPM was found to be significantly more accurate for height capture than a
traditional ratchet counter RPM. The ratchet counter RPM underestimated height
by 7.68 ± 0.06 mm (mean ± SE), while the micro-sonic sensor RPM
overestimated height by 0.18 ± 0.08 mm. These discrepancies can result in an
under- and overestimation of HM by 13.71 % and 0.32 % per Ha-1, respectively.
The performance of the on-board GPS did not significantly differ from that of a
tertiary device. Subsequently, three dynamic equations were derived for the
effective conversion algorithms form CSH to HM incorporating different grass
types, time of the year and dry matter percentage, one of algorithms is now in
everyday commercial use. Although the operating capacity of the VF system was
found to be robust, with dairy cows rapidly associating visual cues with VF
boundary lines, and a cue-consequence association with the audio warning and
corrective stimulus, the number of boundary challenges made by cows increased
upon removal of all visual cues. Overall, although further research will be
required, the results presented within this thesis allow for the further development
of decision support tools to improve on-farm grassland management