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 feature understandability scale for human-centred explainable AI: assessing tabular feature importance
(arXiv, 2025-10-10) Rossberg, Nicola; Kleinberg, Bennett; O'Sullivan, Barry; Longo, Luca; Visentin, Andrea; Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland; European Regional Development Fund
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly pervasive and powerful, the ability to audit AI-based systems is growing in importance. However, explainability for artificial intelligence systems is not a one-size-fits-all solution; different target audiences have varying requirements and expectations for explanations. While various approaches to explainability have been proposed, most explainable artificial intelligence methods for tabular data focus on explaining the outputs of supervised machine learning models using the input features. However, a user's ability to understand an explanation depends on their understanding of such features. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the system designer to try to pre-select understandable features for producing a global explanation of an ML model. Unfortunately, no measure currently exists to assess the degree to which a user understands a given input feature. This work introduces two psychometrically validated scales that quantitatively seek to assess users' understanding of tabular input features for supervised classification problems. Specifically, these scales, one for numerical and one for categorical data, each with two factors and comprising 8 and 9 items, aim to assign a score to each input feature, effectively producing a rank, and allowing for the quantification of feature prioritisation. A confirmatory factor analysis demonstrates a strong relationship between such items and a good fit of the two-factor structure for each scale. This research presents a novel method for assessing understanding and outlines potential applications in the domain of explainable artificial intelligence.
Role of scandium precursor decomposition in MOCVD of AlScN and predictions for AlYN
(2026-07-08) Streicher, Isabel; Muriqi, Arbresha; Mullins, Rita; Straňák, Patrik; Prescher, Mario; Kapitein, Manuel; Kirste, Lutz; Quay, Rüdiger; Nolan, Michael; Leone, Stefano; Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt
Wurtzite Al1−xScxN is a novel nitride that attracts attention for its piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties, and further offers the possibility to grow strain-free AlScN/GaN heterostructures due to an a lattice parameter matching with GaN. Growth of AlScN by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition is challenging because of the low vapor pressure of commercially available Sc precursors and a high amount of carbon atoms present in these precursors, that can incorporate into the films. In this work, precursor decomposition and ligand loss of the novel Sc precursors (EtCp)2Sc(bdma) and (EtCp)2Sc(dtbt) are studied by density functional theory and related to experimental results. It is found that low temperatures, low pressures, and low NH3 flows promote carbon incorporation and lead to grey coloration of AlScN films grown with (EtCp)2Sc(bdma), probably due to the high residual mass of this precursor. At 1100 °C, high quality 2DEGs can be grown, especially with (EtCp)2Sc(dtbt). Predictions for the growth of AlYN/GaN heterostructures are made.
Paradigmatic transformation across the disciplines - Snapshots of an emerging complexity informed approach to progress, evolution and sustainability
(Routledge, 2016-06-17) Byrne, Edmond; Byrne, Edmond; Mullally, Gerard; Sage, Colin
This chapter explores the informed and critical analysis of techno-optimism', informed by an explicitly transdisciplinary approach. It offers a precautionary analysis of the role of technology within the transition from unsustainability, through a focus on critically interrogating techno-optimism. The chapter also offers a middle path between a Luddite green rejection of technology and simplistic techno-optimism. A radical extension or ramping up of techno-optimism within the climate change energy nexus is the recent research on and growing support for geo-engineering solutions to climate change and non-renewable energy solutions to the transition to a low carbon energy future. As Michael Keary perceptively notes, technology is at its most powerful in environmental policy not when it harnesses what is, but when it harnesses what is possible'. In many respects a more political and ethical framework for understanding and making judgments and decisions about the place of technology in the transition from unsustainability is at the same time a more interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspective.
“Give a Man a Fish . . . .”
(SAGE Publications, 2026-08-22) Brady, Adrian P.
Seismic characterisation and geomorphological interpretation of the summit area palaeoenvironment of Tropic Seamount, offshore Western Sahara: A sediment starved, ferromanganese crust and nodule rich guyot
(2026-07-30) Commissario, Lucrezi; Recouvreur, Audrey; Arosio, Riccardo; Terrinha, Pedro Antonio; Batista, Luis; Yeo, Isobel; Wheeler, Andrew James; Horizon Europe
To understand and reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental development of Tropic Seamount, a guyot offshore Western Sahara, an assessment of landforms morphology and seismic facies interpretation was conducted. High resolution multibeam echosounder bathymetry and backscatter, two hours of ROV footage and 23 TOPAS-acquired seismic lines were analysed to derive a morphological model and define seismic facies and units. The seabed morphology was classified into seven morphological classes. Eight seismic (sub)facies were identified on the basis of their internal configuration, forming five seismic units separated by reflectors with distinct morphological geometries. The link between geomorphologies and seismic units allows for the reconstruction of the morphogenetic processes which have likely originated the landforms. According to the reconstructed geological history, Tropic Seamount, a former volcanic island, began to sink after the end of its eruptive activity. Wave action and erosion washed away the islands' terrigenous sediment. Tropic Seamount may then have experienced reefal deposition, with the formation of syn-depositionally cemented hardgrounds. The continuous sinking may have brought its summit in correspondence of the oxygen minimum zone where reduced Fe and Mn ions have undergone oxidation and precipitation on the seamount's summit, leading to the formation of Fe-Mn crusts and nodules. The onset of the glacial/interglacial climate pattern and the consequent aridification of the Sahara may have led to ocean fertilization due to iron-rich continental dust input, which enhanced pelagic sedimentation. Finally, submarine resedimentation processes have reshaped the seamount's summit. The reconstruction of Tropic Seamount's depositional history may help shed light on the geological evolution of deep-sea environments and on the processes shaping them.