1522 research outputs found
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Variable eddy viscosities in the atmospheric boundary layer from ageostrophic wind-speed profiles
Get PDFWe generate explicit height-dependent eddy viscosity coefficients in the Ekman layer from convex wind speed profiles. The solutions we obtain are parameterized in terms of the relative deflection angle between the wind directions at the top and bottom of the flow, as well as the geostrophic wind speed and a velocity scale we interpret as the transfer rate of horizontal momentum in the vertical direction. The solutions may be used to infer the thickness of the Ekman layer for a variety of deflection angles different from deflection angle of the classic Ekman spiral
Consumer perceptions of the convenience of sustainable food
Get PDFPurpose: To examine consumer perceptions of the convenience of sustainable food. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach utilising an online questionnaire collected data from Irish consumers (n=304). Data analysis was conducted by utilising SPSS v28 to calculate the mean of respondents’ answers to a 5-point Likert scale. Next, Independent T-tests and ANOVA tests were carried out to test for statistical differences between demographic subgroups. Lastly, the influence of convenience on attitudes to sustainable food was assessed by using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. Findings: Consumers perceive the preparation aspect of the convenience of sustainable food positively (M = 3.63, M = 3.14). Consumers have a negative perception of the availability aspect of sustainable food (M = 2.75, M= 2.18). There is no statistically significant difference between consumers’ perceptions of the convenience of sustainable food based on the demographic characteristics of gender, age, education, employment, locality, or purchasing responsibility. Lastly, it was found there is no supporting evidence to show that consumers’ perceptions have an impact on consumer attitudes toward sustainable food (p = .813). Research implications: This study contributes to the current body of literature focusing on the convenience of sustainable food. In addition, it provides valuable insights for food stakeholders within sustainable food systems to improve the convenience of sustainable food. Originality/value: This study presents an investigation into consumers’ perceptions of the convenience of sustainable food and its impact on consumer attitudes toward sustainable food. There is a lack of research on the aspects of the convenience of sustainable food, thus this study can serve as a roadmap of literature for both academics and practitioners and help stimulate further interest
Innovative Education Partnerships in the Fisheries and Aqua Sector
Get PDFThis research utilizes a case study approach to explore the role of Higher Education in supporting aquaculture and fisheries management in Ireland's seafood industry. Specifically, it examines an innovative regional partnership between the South East Technological University (SETU) and the fisheries and aquaculture sector, which led to the development of a Higher Diploma in Business in Fisheries and Aquaculture. This program was crafted in direct response to regional industry needs, aiming to enhance the skill set of individuals in the sector and address the employment challenges faced by the industry. The case study reveals the importance of targeted educational programs in bridging the skills gap and supporting sustainable industry growth. This research contributes to the broader discourse on the intersection of higher education and regional economic development, providing valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders
The Impact of Effectuation on the Relationship between Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Internationalisation
Get PDFThis research study assesses the impact of effectuation on the relationship between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial internationalisation. The study applies effectuation theory from entrepreneurship scholarship to the discipline of internationalisation, more particularly, entrepreneurial internationalisation.
Led by the seminal work on effectuation by Sarasvathy (2001), effectuation is the entrepreneur’s ability to experiment, adjust and improvise in a market of uncertainty, and is now a fully-fledged theory of entrepreneurship. This study is based on two models of effectuation, the Effectuation Uppsala Model (UE Model) (Schweizer, et al., 2010), and the Sarasvathy (2008) model. It is these models that provide the foundation for the relationship between entrepreneurship and internationalisation and reveal how the relationship is impacted by effectuation.
Extant studies of effectuation have adopted both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Especially important to this study are quantitative studies, which have consistently operationalized effectuation under four key variables: (1) affordable loss, (2) experimentation, (3) flexibility, and (4) pre-commitment. Aligned with the philosophical perspectives of the researcher and reflective of extant studies off effectuation, seeking a cause-and-effect relationship, this study adopted a positivist philosophical approach characterized by objectivism and functionalism and underpinned by established measurement instruments drawn from existing literature.
The primary data is collected using a self-administered web-based survey distributed to respondents via a purpose-built research network hosted on the LinkedIn portal. The research sample consists of founders and management of SMEs based in the United States of America (US) who manufacture and sell their products in international markets. Detailed findings begin with descriptive statistics and by establishing the reliability of measurement scales, before expanding to inter-correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The major finding of this study is that the variables of entrepreneurship (1. Innovation and technology, 2. Entrepreneurial knowledge and orientation, and 3. International networks) drive changes in effectuation, which in turn, drives changes in entrepreneurial internationalisation. Effectuation is found to have a positive mediating impact on the relationship between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial internationalisation; in addition, the components of effectuation have a positive mediating impact on the relationship between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial internationalisation.
Mediation is confirmed at the 95% confidence level. The impact of mediation may be explained as follows: when operating under high levels of effectuation an entrepreneur is exhibiting the characteristics of adaptability, improvisation, and flexibility. These characteristics are more conducive to rapid and early internationalisation (entrepreneurial internationalisation). Hence, the argument is made for a cause-and-effect relationship between effectuation and entrepreneurial internationalisation, and a mediating relationship in the model.
The study suggests that for the target audience (US SMEs), entrepreneurial internationalisation is intensified when entrepreneurship (innovation and technology, entrepreneurial knowledge and orientation, and international networks) work in conjunction with effectuation. The major contribution to practice is that entrepreneurs seeking to increase levels of entrepreneurial internationalisation can now focus on two ways to do this: (a) directly influence the entrepreneurship variables, and (b) use the mediating link through effectuation. The major contribution to theory is confirmation that effectuation mediates the relationship between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial internationalisation. This means that entrepreneurs who are effectuators do not focus on the predictable (traditional entrepreneurship theory), but on the controllable (effectual approach); not on goal setting (traditional entrepreneurship theory) but on means-driving (effectual approach)
Exploring Data Utilisation Strategies for Marketing Campaign Development Across the Omni-Channel for Small-to- Medium Sized Business-to Business Enterprises
No full textAs the rate and range of data produced both online and offline continues to magnify,
data’s utilisation in marketing efforts has risen in prominence in most organisations. In
business-to-business (B2B) circles, data is regularly noted as an emerging area of
research importance, with particular consideration for the current Big Data
age. However, from a B2B small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) perspective, few
studies explore data’s utility in industrial marketing. As modern B2B customer journeys
feature various channels and touchpoints across the omni-channel, there is a need to
reconsider the importance of data in SME B2B marketing campaign development. Omnichannel
marketing (OCM) emerges as a strategic consideration in context, blending
marketing efforts across platforms with data to advance B2B customer experiences
throughout the customer journey. Responding to a range of calls for additional work on
OCM, SME and SME B2B data use, this research offers novel insights into data’s use in
SME B2B marketing efforts across the omni-channel.
This exploratory study applies a qualitative interview approach to study how marketing
campaigns are developed, and how data is used in marketing campaign development
across the omni-channel in an SME B2B environment. Perspectives from 25 SME
marketing managers from a range of B2B industries are used to investigate data
utilisation in marketing campaign development in SME B2Bs. Insights are developed
using an open coding approach via traditional pen and paper methods, underpinned by
thematic analysis guidelines. Findings recognise that although OCM is a strategy in its
infancy, its application has many potential benefits for SME B2Bs. Knowledge gained
points to OCM’s intent on providing seamless experiences and interaction in line with
modern B2B customer expectations for integration across the customer journey. Findings
also recognise the importance of data in enhancing B2B OCM campaign efforts in SMEs.
Underpinned by social network theory and based on insights gleaned from fieldwork, an
SME social media data visualisation tool is presented, the first of its kind in this sphere
Fitness to Stand Trial in Ireland: An Investigation into Attitudes and Legal Decision-Making
Get PDFThis study investigated whether gender, race, punitiveness, and perceptions of mental illness influenced attitudes and legal decision-making in fitness to stand trial (FST) proceedings through the use of surveys and a vignette, with a sample of legal professionals and legal professionals in training. This approach was enacted as most FST research typically examines current legal frameworks and evaluation-related matters and does not offer an insight into how the aforementioned variables can influence the decision-making or attitudes of legal professionals. Previous research suggests that legal decision-makers are significantly influenced by their own personal prejudices, biases and beliefs when making decisions which thus may affect the treatment of a defendant at trial. Understanding if this is present in Irish FST practices may serve to create a platform in which issues in FST law can be addressed and refined to enhance FST practices. Applying an exploratory, online, quantitative methodology, the present study recruited a sample of N=99 legal professionals and future professionals in Ireland. The participants responded to a set of questions after reading a hypothetical vignette court situation in which a defendant’s FST was raised, in addition to several surveys which measured their attitudes regarding the relevancy of FST indicators (Competency to Stand Trial Scale), punitiveness levels (Punitive Attitudes Scale) and attitudes toward mental illness (Stigmatizing Attitudes Believability Scale). The results of the study show that the participants endorsed the majority of items (22 out of 26) in the CST Scale as relevant to finding a defendant fit or unfit to stand trial. Regarding the factors that can influence FST attitudes, the study found that females were more likely to support the items in the CST Scale as relevant than males (p=.019). However, participant race did not hold an influence here (p=.504). Additionally, the race and gender of the participant did not influence whether they found the defendant fit or unfit to stand trial in the vignette case, highlighting that these demographics may not be influential in FST decision-making; this contrasts with previous literature which states that females are more likely to find a defendant ‘unfit’ and be accepting of the use of psychology in court than males. In the same regard, the gender and race of the defendant in the vignette case did not significantly affect the decisions returned, again contrasting with prior literature which argues that females are more prone to be deemed ‘unfit’ than males, and Black defendants are more likely to be found ‘unfit’ than White defendants. Although punitiveness and attitudes toward mental illness were significantly correlated with each other and the CST Scale, these extra-legal attitudes were determined to not be significantly predictive of FST decision-making. The study concludes that legal decision-making biases and prejudiced attitudes may not hold a significant influence over FST decision-making, which is in line with what is expected of legal decision-makers. The findings are discussed in further detail in the discussion chapter alongside the study’s limitations (including a small sample size, methodological flaws) and implications for future research. The knowledge gained from this study contributes to addressing a gap in FST literature regarding attitudes and decision-making of legal professionals. It is hoped that this study will encourage further exploratory research in theory and empirical FST research
An Investigation of Public Attitudes Towards An Garda Síochána and Garda Accountability
Get PDFSince its inception in the 1920s, An Garda Síochána considered public support crucial to its workings and legitimacy. Therefore, as Gardaí provide protection, service and ultimately work for the public, understanding public attitudes towards the organisation is vital. Over the years, various bodies of accountability were created in response to scandals within An Garda Síochána and investigating public attitudes towards these bodies, most importantly the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), as it is utilised by the public, is crucial in terms of gaining insight into the legitimacy and effectiveness of these accountability mechanisms. Previous literature has shown that the Irish public hold favourable attitudes to An Garda Síochána and towards Garda accountability, however, most studies were conducted by An Garda Síochána and GSOC. Studies conducted independently have contradicted some of these figures (see for example Bohan and Yorke 1987), providing further impetus for the present study. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine public attitudes towards Gardaí and Garda Accountability and understand the importance of demographic variables, in addition to previous police contact, on these attitudes. Utilising an online, quantitative methodology, the current study recruited a sample of N=125 members of the Irish public. Participants responded to surveys which measured their attitudes to Gardaí, attitudes to Garda accountability, perceptions of Gardaí during encounters, and attitudes to Garda enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions. Overall, attitudes to Gardaí were quite ambiguous. Initially, the study found positive attitudes for Gardaí, however, this positivity decreased significantly upon the introduction of negatively phrased questions. The study concludes that attitudes were somewhat ambiguous and shifted depending on the positive or negative phrasing of statements and additionally found that attitudes towards Gardaí and Garda accountability were heavily influenced by previous police contact and demographic variables
Shedding light on men’s health: Evaluating the scalability of a community-based men’s health promotion programme “Sheds for Life” through the application of implementation science
Get PDFBackground: Men’s Sheds (Sheds) are community-based settings that offer a unique opportunity to apply gender-specific approaches to engage ‘hard-to-reach’ (HTR) men with health promotion. Despite this, there has been no formal evaluation of structured health promotion in Sheds to date. Sheds for Life (SFL) is a 10-week initiative co-designed with Shed Members (Shedders) and delivered directly in the Shed setting in Ireland with core components comprising of a health check, physical activity, mental wellbeing and healthy diet. It is implemented by multiple stakeholders at individual, provider, organisation and systems level and thus multiple contextual factors influence its scalability. In addition, research has called for careful consideration of what health promotion in Sheds should look like, particularly with regard to respecting the ethos of Sheds as highly variable, autonomous, non-structured spaces, as part of any attempts to engage Sheds in structured health promotion programmes. This thesis evaluates the scalability of SFL through the application of implementation science. Methods: A mixed methods, hybrid effectiveness-implementation study design was used to test intervention effect and implementation outcomes across multiple levels (participant, provider, organisational and systems levels), guided by community-based participatory research and established implementation frameworks. Chapter 2 captures protocols pertaining to the development, design and implementation of SFL and the evaluation of the impact on participants’ health and wellbeing outcomes up to 12 months. Chapter 3 assesses reach of SFL through analysis of objective health measures, (body composition, blood pressure, blood lipids) captured via health screening as well as sociodemographic and health and wellbeing measures (physical activity, subjective wellbeing, mental health, social capital, cooking and diet) via questionnaires. Chapter 4 assesses the impact of COVID-19 on wellbeing (life satisfaction, mental health, loneliness, physical activity (PA), self-rated health and other lifestyle measures) among SFL participants through a comparison of two cohorts pre and post COVID-19 up to 6 months. Chapter 5 evaluates the impact of SFL on health and wellbeing outcomes through an analysis of Shedders (n=421) participating in SFL alongside a wait list control (n=86) up to 12 months. Chapter 6 applies a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis incorporating ethnographical observations, focus groups (n=8) and short semi-structured interviews (n=16) conducted with SFL participants to capture Shedders’ experiences of SFL in practice. Chapter 7 assesses costs of SFL alongside questionnaires incorporating the SF-6D administered to participants up to 12 months, generating utility scores to determine quality adjusted life years (QALYS). Chapter 8 uses implementation frameworks to capture the process of implementation, identify implementation determinants and strategies to address barriers to inform implementation outcomes and assess scalability. Results: Results from chapter 3 determine that SFL was effective in engaging HTR men (mostly older, retired with the majority in ‘at-risk’ categories for objective health measures). Chapter 4 highlights that Shedders experiencing COVID-19 at 6 months had decreased self-rated health and life satisfaction (p<0.001), with increased loneliness scores (p<0.0005). Higher loneliness scores were also correlated with lower health ratings, life satisfaction and PA during COVID-19 (p<0.001). Chapter 5 determines that outcomes related to subjective wellbeing, mental wellbeing, physical activity, social capital and healthy eating significantly increased post SFL (p<0.05). Mental wellbeing scores (SWEMWBS) post SFL remained significantly higher than baseline despite COVID-19 impact (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression indicates that the odds of a meaningful SWEMWBS change was significantly higher for Shedders that had lower SWEMWBS (OR 0.804), less loneliness (OR 0.638) and lived alone (OR 0.456) at baseline. Shedders with lower SWEMWBS had higher odds of experiencing positive changes in life satisfaction (OR 0.911) and trust (OR 0.928), while Shedders who lived alone had also higher odds of experiencing positive changes in healthy eating (OR 0.481). Moreover, inactive Shedders at baseline had higher odds of experiencing increased levels of physical activity (OR 0.582). Chapter 6 describes three key themes; Creating the ‘right environment’; Normalising meaningful conversations; a legacy for ‘talking health’; and; Transforming perceptions of how men ‘do health’. Findings demonstrate the utility of SFL to be gender transformative. Chapter 7 demonstrates that the SFL intervention group experienced an average 3.3% gain in QALYS from baseline to 3 months and a further 2% gain from 3 months to 6 months at an estimated cost per QALY of €15,724. This highlights the utility of SFL as a cost-effective initiative. Chapter 8 determines that active recruitment, co-design processes, leadership and stakeholder engagement emerged as key facilitators of SFL implementation. Prominent barriers were institutional capacity and funding. Acceptability, adoption and appropriateness of the initiative were high among stakeholders with sustainability largely contingent on funding and staff resources. Conclusion: Findings highlight that the gendered and co-design approach of SFL was effective in engaging HTR men in Sheds and that this approach offers much potential to encourage sustained changes in health and wellbeing outcomes. Findings also demonstrate the utility of SFL to be gender transformative by normalising meaningful conversations about health in Sheds, facilitated by an invested process of engagement. The programme was also found to be cost-effective where it’s community-based, partnership approach was key to its sustainability. The application of implementation science captures the process of implementation and the development of a methodology for implementation of health promotion in Sheds that can be replicated elsewhere. It identifies that SFL is a transferable, scalable model, where leadership and fidelity to the process of implementation are key to its successful scalability. This work makes a valuable contribution to knowledge by being the first study to evaluate a structured health promotion initiative in Sheds. It adds to the evidence-base for men’s health promotion and public health more broadly, particularly in the areas of economic evaluation and identification of implementation strategies where a dearth of research exists. It demonstrates the operationalisation of implementation frameworks in practice and identifies the key implementation and evaluation strategies that can act as a blueprint for health promotion in Sheds, men’s health work and health promotion more broadly
A MORAL FERMENT An Examination of the Moral Foundations Shaping the Involvement of Religious Organisations in Addressing Alcohol Problems in Contemporary Irish Society
Get PDFThis research explores the role of religion in alcohol related issues in contemporary Ireland, the forces shaping alcohol policy and the role of spiritually inspired methods in alcohol addiction treatment and recovery. The study’s primary objective is to investigate how the evaluation of the problematic use of alcohol is constructed through multiple actors in policy formation and addiction treatment. To achieve this objective, an interdisciplinary and multi-faceted approach adopted a qualitative methodology including a literature review, theoretical framework and eighteen in-depth interviews from a diverse and eclectic mix of participants.
Alcohol policy formation and addiction treatment has been in a process of secularisation for decades, as religious institutions and concepts continue to lose legitimacy. The findings suggest that religion has very weak purchase on policy makers; nevertheless, there are often unacknowledged philosophical moral foundations to policy recommendations. Further, a broader moral malaise is identified, rooted in a neoliberal approach to alcohol policy prioritising support of the alcohol industry over the recommendations of those addressing the negative impacts of alcohol abuse. Neoliberal alcohol policy has widely been seen as creating a moral vacuum through its emphasis on individual autonomy in relation to consumption decision. While addiction therapists do not see religion as a resource to break addiction, the concept of spirituality holds significant weight in treatment, recovery and the search for meaning.
Thus, the two most salient features of the study suggest; firstly, while many see benefits of alcohol in moderation, alcohol abuse remains hugely problematic across Irish society costing the exchequer €2.35 billion annually in addition to many social ills. Secondly, despite secularisation and in conjunction with evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI), the existential value of spirituality continues to provide a counter-measure as a metaphysical force to aid those afflicted by addiction
Microbiological services delivered by the pig gut microbiome
Get PDFThe gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in regulating pig health and growth. Understanding the functions performed by the microbiome is vital when considering it as a target to improve pig health and growth, a pursuit driven by the increasing regulation of traditional means of disease control and growth promotion. This chapter explores the structure, diversity and functions of the pig gut microbiome, focusing on the role of the resident bacterial communities. It examines their relationships, interactions, and contributions to the host, ranging from the production of antimicrobial substances and prevention of pathogen colonisation to improvement of nutrient digestibility and the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and vitamins. The chapter also reviews bacterial communication and the antibiotic resistome of the pig gut, outlining how they may be targeted/manipulated to reduce antibiotic resistance and promote improved gut health