CORA
Cork Open Research Archive (CORA) is UCC’s Open Access institutional repository which enables UCC researchers to make their research outputs freely available and accessible.
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The potential role of optical guidance for bone-related biomedical applications in orthopedics and neurosurgery
(University College Cork, 2024) Li, Li Yao; Andersson-Engels, Stefan; Burke, Ray; Science Foundation Ireland
Optical sensing technology was explored as a means of intraoperative guidance for bone-related procedures in orthopedics and neurosurgery. Specifically, the feasibility of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), a non-invasive and real-time optical technique that measures diffusely reflected light off samples of interest, was investigated in the thesis to differentiate biological tissue types and inform tissue boundaries as an intraoperative safety measure for revision total hip arthroplasty. Feature selection (FS) frameworks based on DRS measurements were developed utilizing machine learning techniques to determine wavelength features of optimal discriminative power for bone-related surgical procedures. Four FS frameworks, incorporating principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), backward interval partial least squares and an ensemble approach (biPLS), were designed with high adaptability to facilitate modifications and applications to other clinical scenarios. A feature subset of 10 wavelengths was generated from each FS framework yielding promising balanced accuracy scores for the one-vs-rest binary classification task. For cortical bone versus the rest class labels, PCA, LDA, biPLS and ensemble -based FS framework computed balanced accuracy scores of 94.8 ± 3.47%, 98.2 ± 2.02%, 95.8 ± 3.04% and 95.8 ± 3.16, respectively. For bone cement versus the rest, 100% balanced accuracy scores were generated from all FS frameworks. Subsequently, an in-house designed optical probe integrating DRS sensing was engineered and examined in ex vivo experiments. The most discriminative DRS wavelengths, selected by the FS frameworks including 1200 and 1450 nm, were incorporated as the illumination light sources. Furthermore, the performance of DRS to predict drilling depths in cranial bones was evaluated for craniotomy. Two models including partial least squares (PLS) regression and feedforward neural networks (FNN) were examined for prediction of skull thickness ranging from 1 to 5 mm away from the brain, yielding a root mean squared error regression loss of 0.08 and 0.06 mm from PLS, and 0.2 and 0.1 mm from FNN by using all versus selected features as model inputs, respectively. The predicted depths served as a safety protocol to indicate lookahead distances. On the other hand, the potential of ultrafast lasers in bone-related surgical applications was reviewed and explored from multiple perspectives. The advantages offered by ultrafast lasers over conventional laser systems (continuous wave or long-pulse lasers) included superior precision and minimized collateral thermal damage to surrounding tissues. However, clinical translation of ultrafast lasers to surgical applications had been constrained by limitations in pulse average power and material removal rate. In contrast, the use in implant surface texturing had advanced substantially, effectively enhancing bioactivation and osteointegration within bone matrices. At the end, ambient mass spectrometry, which employed a picosecond laser system for plume generation, was additionally assessed for tissue differentiation in a preliminary study. The classification model employed PCA for dimensionality reduction and LDA for multi-class classification. By using the reduced mass spectra dataset, bone cement was distinguished from biological tissue types with 100% in different classification metrics (precision, recall, F1 score). The highest misclassification rate occurred between trabecular and cortical bone with 18 instances where trabecular bone was classified as cortical bone. Overall, the research presented in the thesis has demonstrated promising results to advance basic science and consequently set the foundation for translational study of integrating optical sensing into surgical tools in bone-related procedures with valuable insights. This work was supported by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Grant No. SFI/15/RP/2828 and Grant No. SFI/22/RP-2TF/10293.
Resistance and solidarity through feminist craftivism; a comparative study of Ireland and Mexico
(University College Cork, 2023) Mondragon Toledo, Brenda; O'Keefe, Theresa; Finnegan, Nuala; Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías; CONAHCYT
The proposed research is a comparative study of feminist textile practices between Mexico and Ireland with the purpose of establishing transnational solidarity (Mohanty, 1991). From a feminist standpoint, this research used a feminist Participatory Arts-Based Research methodology to enable conversations between participants from both countries. This research proposes using textile-making practices as a methodological tool to encourage reflexivity and collective knowledge creation. The data-gathering consisted of a series of online workshops with women living in Mexico and Ireland in which, by using embroidery, patchwork and doll-making, we encourage conversations around different topics related to experiences of gender-based violence.
As a result of the COVID pandemic, this research hat to shift into an online format. During this unique period, amid the pandemic, I had the opportunity to observe a heightened interconnection of craftivism on the Internet. The research involved conducting textile workshops on Google Meet over an eight-month period, with activist groups serving as facilitators for each session. These groups included the Puebla feminist collective Refleja, Mexico City’s textile activist Agujas Combativas, and the West Cork-based The Bábóg Project. There was a strong engagement over the entire eight months from six participants, evenly distributed between Ireland and Mexico. Each workshop session was meticulously recorded and transcribed, the acquired data was analysed through a reflective thematic analysis. Photographs of each textile piece have also been gathered and are part of the data.
The thesis showcases the effectiveness of a PABR methodology in facilitating comparative discussions across diverse scenarios, overcoming language and distance barriers. The ability to engage collectively allows us to expand physical and linguistic frontiers to weave together participants who are geographically distant from each other and across language differences. Therefore, this study shines light on how women navigate the complexities of post-colonial, capitalist, and patriarchal societies throughout their lives, leading to the development of a feminist consciousness evident in their textile practices and activism. Finally, the research aims to highlight the connections and unique experiences of women in both the Irish and Mexican contexts, illustrating how they construct a feminist identity as a form of resistance against normalized and extreme manifestations of gender-based violence, which I call ‘crafting a feminist self’.
A geospatial economic analysis of hydrogen production from offshore wind using electrolysers
(University College Cork, 2024) Vu Dinh, Quang; Leahy, Paul; Dinh, Nguyen; Wall, David; Science Foundation Ireland
The transition to renewable energy has driven growing interest in green hydrogen as an energy carrier. Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced without generating carbon emissions. Typically, it’s produced from renewable energy sources. Combined with the advantages of offshore wind, green hydrogen production from offshore wind energy has emerged as a potential versatile zero-carbon energy vector. Exploiting offshore wind energy to produce hydrogen not only opens up a new direction in the use of renewable energy but also positively contributes to global sustainable development goals.
A comprehensive literature review highlights advancements in green hydrogen production, geospatial methods for renewable energy, and the optimisation of hydrogen systems. This thesis focuses on researching the potential of the technical and economic aspects of hydrogen production from offshore wind energy. Two concepts for combining electrolysers with offshore wind farms to produce hydrogen are considered. In the first concept, the centralised electrolyser is located offshore, while the second considers an onshore centralised electrolyser. The first aim is to develop a model to calculate the cost of hydrogen production from offshore wind farms. Then, the cost model is used to construct a LCOH map and applied to Irish waters. The area off the west coast has more robust wind resources than the east coast. However, the east coast has shallower water depths and seaports that are more convenient. Nearshore areas suitable for cheaper foundations can produce hydrogen at a lower cost in the two hydrogen production concepts considered. The second aim is to minimise hydrogen production costs by optimising installed electrolyser capacity. In a 600 MW offshore wind farm case study, the optimal offshore electrolyser capacity is about 83% of the wind farm capacity. In the onshore electrolyser concept, the optimal ratio is about 79%. This research also conducts sensitivity analyses to examine the influence of technical parameters on the optimal electrolyser capacity, providing valuable insights into system design and operational efficiency. Beyond hydrogen production aspects, a general assessment to identify potential export markets for hydrogen from Ireland was also investigated. Countries with high hydrogen demand and close to Ireland, such as the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, could be potential export markets in the future. Hydrogen trade among markets will require a suitable hydrogen transport method. Hydrogen can be transported directly or in other forms. The offshore transportation of hydrogen in the form of ammonia was investigated. From the results, suitable transportation methods can be selected based on transportation distance and electrolyser capacity.
The goal of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive and in-depth view of the process and potential of hydrogen production from offshore wind energy, thereby contributing to general knowledge and supporting planners, policymakers, scientists, and engineers in promoting the application and development of green hydrogen production from offshore wind energy. The results and recommendations will be the basis for new steps in the journey towards a sustainable energy future. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that the projections of hydrogen demand and levelised cost presented in this thesis are dependent on input data and assumptions which will need to be continually updated as the technology and markets develop.
Evaluating the impacts of precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies on the sustainability of pasture-based dairy systems
(University College Cork, 2024) Palma Molina, Paula; Hennessy, Thia; Onakuse, Stephen; Shalloo, Laurence; Science Foundation Ireland; Teagasc
Dairy farmers are currently facing several conflicting challenges. Projections of global food demand have suggested that the demand for dairy products will increase by 74% by 2050. In conjunction, European policy-makers have established ambitious environmental targets through policy initiatives (Farm to Fork and the Biodiversity strategy) that aim to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems. In order to increase productivity while complying with environmental commitments, dairy farms must improve the efficiency and sustainability of their systems. Pasture-based dairy systems, such as those present in Ireland, New Zealand and some parts of Australia are characterized by having distinct advantages in terms of sustainability compared to indoor dairy systems. They have the potential to be highly productive and economically efficient, have a lower carbon footprint than high input dairy systems, while being socially sustainable (Kelly et al., 2020). However, changes in the scale and complexity of dairy farming are pressuring pasture-based dairy farmers to become more efficient and sustainable. A sustainable production system requires farms to be profitable, minimize its environmental impacts while securing the wellbeing of farmers and animals (the three pillars of agricultural sustainability).
Precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies are being promoted to improve the sustainability of dairy systems. They are expected to improve sustainability by increasing pasture use, lengthening the grazing season, improving dairy herd fertility, health, and welfare while reducing workload. Despite the numerous potential benefits, there are still uncertainties about how effective these technologies are in reaching these outcomes. Using nationally representative farm-level data from the 2018 Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) and econometric techniques, this thesis contributes to address this knowledge gap by considering three main research questions: 1) what does the published research to date tell us about the sustainability impacts of adopting PLF technologies in global pasture-based dairy settings?; 2) what is the rate of adoption and the factors associated with adoption of PLF technologies in Irish pasture-based dairy settings?; 3) once adopted, what are the impacts of PLF technologies on the sustainability performance of pasture-based dairy farms?
The thesis findings on the basis of the literature review show there is a lack of empirical studies investigating the sustainability impacts of PLF technologies in pasture-based dairy settings, and the studies that have been published present contradictory results that make it difficult to synthetize and identify clear positive or negative effects. The empirical assessment of PLF technology adoption presented here shows that adoption rates of PLF technologies are still low in Ireland, ranging from 7.7% of farmers adopting rising plate meters to 58% adoption of automatic parlour feeders. Additionally, findings show that factors such as herd size, proportion of hired labour, agricultural education, and discussion group membership were positively associated with PLF technology adoption, whereas age of farmer and number of household members were negatively associated with adoption. This findings vary depending on the PLF technology cluster being investigated.
In terms of empirical impacts of PLF technologies, findings show that adopters of PLF technologies tend to have superior performance outcomes. However, when controlling for selection bias the results were able to only attribute a positive causal effect of grass management technology adoption on grass use, length of the grazing season, milk yield and milk solids, with a broader set of indicators for 2019 (net margin and carbon footprint). Significant effects of adopting milking management technologies were found on milk yield, milk solids and gross margins; and there were no significant effects of adopting reproductive management technologies on any indicator of performance. This suggests that from the group of PLF technologies investigated in this study, grass management technologies show the greatest potential to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of pasture-based dairy farms. Future research should include updated ancillary and technology adoption data that captures more recent adopters of PLF technologies, in addition with new technologies that build on the findings of this thesis.
Investigating casein-polymer interactions as a platform technology for cheese for Asian consumers
(University College Cork, 2024) Ouyang, Hao; Kelly, Alan; Sheehan, Diarmuid (JJ); Dairy Research Ireland; Teagasc
The focus of the global cheese industry on accessing new markets for cheese is driving a greater need for innovation in cheese products. Increasing opportunities for cheese have been identified in many Asian countries, due to factors such as rising income and a change away from traditional lifestyles (e.g., appeal of fast-food chains to young people). The objectives of the work presented in this thesis were: to gain a better understanding of consumers in emerging markets; to identify texture or flavour characteristics of cheese that may be preferred by such consumers; and to explore the potential of incorporation of different non-dairy polymers in different processing steps of cheese manufacturing to achieve such sensory properties.
Consumer focus group methodology was applied to understand the preference for, and consumer behaviour towards, cheese products by a cohort of young, internationally mobile Chinese consumers. Participants in the focus groups had general positive expectations towards cheese due to associations with western-style foods and nostalgia; however, many participants had low perceived ability to select cheese and had limited motivation to engage with cheese due to low perceived relevance of cheese to their daily food life. Innovative cheese products such as cheese snacks or cheese energy bars may be developed to better fulfil important choice motives. Participants generally preferred cheese with a mild and milky flavour and a soft texture, which agreed with trends emerged from a parallel literature review.
The effects of addition of konjac glucomannan (KG, neutral charge), soy soluble polysaccharides (SP, negatively charged), or chitosan (CH, positively charged) on rennet coagulation and rennet-induced casein gels were investigated to assess the potential of incorporating these polysaccharides prior to rennet coagulation to modify cheese texture. Addition of either KG (0.02%, 0.04%) or SP (0.25%, 0.5%) enhanced rennet coagulation properties by reducing rennet coagulation time (RCT) and promoting development of gel firmness. The addition of CH, on the other hand, hindered rennet coagulation by decreasing the maximum gel firming rate. The two non-interactive polysaccharides (KG and SP) affected rennet coagulation by a depletion flocculation mechanism, and hydrated KG or SP particles may act as inactive filler particles in rennet-induced gels. Larger hydrated KG particles provided weak points in the gels, while smaller SP particles did not significantly affect microstructure or properties of rennet-induced casein gels at the concentrations studied, which, combined with relatively low retention rate in curd, limits its use for modification of cheese texture. Interactions of CH with caseins hindered aggregation of hydrolysed caseins, and gave less interconnected gel structures. The incorporation of KG or CH affected rennet coagulation and gel structure through different mechanisms, but could both result in a casein matrix that is softer and more easily broken down, which may be harnessed to develop cheese preferred by Asian consumers.
The effects of addition of SP/KG/CH (0.5%) at dry salting of Cheddar-style cheese manufacture on characteristics of the cheeses were examined. Addition of KG at dry salting resulted in formation of a KG gel at milled curd junctions, retaining significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of moisture and salt, and higher salt-in-moisture (S/M) level compared to the control without polysaccharide addition. A significant (P<0.05) reduction in salty whey level was also observed with addition of CH, although to a lesser extent compared to KG addition, with a concurrent significant (p<0.05) increase in salt and S/M levels. The changes in compositions of these cheeses also impacted texture and volatile compound profiles over a ripening period of 90 d, although no difference in overall consumer acceptability was observed by a cohort of Chinese consumers. Dry salting is thus a promising step to incorporate different polysaccharides into Cheddar-style cheese, which could also help with salt retention and reduction in salty whey production, as well as modifying cheese characteristics (e.g., composition and texture), which may be of interest to manufacturers and researchers from sustainability and/or product development perspective.
Cheese puffs (manufactured using microwave vacuum drying: MVD) produced from Cheddar curds with or without polysaccharide addition at dry salting were characterised. MVD was shown to be a promising technology to produce dried cheese snacks with minimal changes in properties such as colour and volatile compounds. The volumetric expansion during puffing process was significantly (p<0.05) decreased by addition of KG, and increased by addition of CH, respectively; this showed that polysaccharides may be used in modifying texture of cheese puffs.
Overall, the work undertaken provides a technological platform for industry to help access Asian markets and contributes to the understanding of use of polysaccharides in development of novel cheese products.