Research Showcase

Environmental Health Sciences Institute(EHSI)

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An interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach to researchThe Environmental Health Sciences Institute (EHSI) is a dedicated national translationalresearch platform, uniquely based on collaboration between the Dublin Institute ofTechnology (DIT), the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Dublin City Council (DCC),building national and regional capacity and capability.

EHSI is an all-island initiative, involving strategic partnerships with the University of Ulster(UU), Dublin City University (DCU), the Institute of Public Health (IPH) and otherstakeholders. It is uniquely positioned to facilitate an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoralapproach, integrating academic research with the knowledge and expertise of relevantprofessionals to generate collective responses to public health issues (Fig. 1). EHSI forgesnew ground in understanding the interactions between environment and health, in additionto developing evidence-based interventions to address environmental health problems.

Contact DetailsDr. Noreen Layden,

Head of Environmental Health Sciences Institute (EHSI)

Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street,

Dublin 8, IRELAND

Tel: +353 (0)1 402 4704

E-mail: [email protected]

Research at EHSIThe research programme builds on respective and complementary expertise ofEnvironmental Health Academics and Practitioners (EHAPs). Interdisciplinary teamspursue Specific Areas Of Research Focus (SARFs) to provide the evidence base anddevelop interventions consistent with the objectives of Ireland‘s National EnvironmentalHealth Action Plan (NEHAP). EHSI’s research is underpinned by Cross-CuttingResearch Activities (CCRA’s):

Specific Areas of Research Focus (SARF’s)

• Water

• Energy

• Food Safety & Quality

• Bio-monitoring

• Policy & Lifestyle

Cross-Cutting Research Activities (CCRA’S)• Teaching, Learning & Outreach

• Technology Development & Commercialisation

� Hygiene & Infection Control Technologies

� Assistive Technology

� Monitoring Technologies

� Healthcare Technologies

• Maths & Computational Methods

New Research facility, Grangegorman EHSI will be central to DIT’s research hub on the Grangegorman campus and it willcomplement the HSE’s existing health facilities already on site. EHSI will occupy a new,dedicated research facility (2500m2); work is currently underway and the new building istargeted for occupation in 2015

The EHSI partners develop a scientific evidence base to:

1. Provide practical solutions to environmental health problems,

2. Inform environmental health policy, planning, decision making

3. Impact on health of vulnerable populations and facilitate investments toreduce the burden of chronic disease and injuries

Ultimately, the overarching mission and vision is to achieve healthier lives for children,the elderly and vulnerable populations.

PolicyPolicyScience

& Innovation

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InnovationGAP

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Fig. 2 EHSI bridging the science-policy-innovation gap

Fig. 1 Sphere of Environmental Health and potential Interventions by EHSI

By integrating scientific and technical expertise with policy and regulatory capability inaddition to relevant industry partners, EHSI bridges the science-policy-innovation gap(Fig. 2). EHSI exploits new ways of working together and offers access to the collectiveresources to facilitate research and training for practitioners.

Factors that impact health & well being

The living environment and key exposure routes that impact human health & well being

Interventions (e.g. by the Environmental Health Sciences Institute)

F R h I tit tFocas Research InstituteFocas Research InstituteCORE LABORATORIESCORE LABORATORIESFocas now houses an unrivalled suite of instrumentation for spectroscopic (UV tof IR) h t i ti d i i (R FTIR) d ti l (C f lfar IR) characterisation and imaging (Raman, FTIR) and optical (Confocalfluorescence) scanning probe (AFM conductive AFM) and electron microscopyfluorescence), scanning probe (AFM, conductive AFM) and electron microscopy(SEM, WDX, EDX, variable pressure/cryo SEM, TEM).

RESEARCHRESEARCHRESEARCHFocas contrib tes strongl to the de elopment of self s staining researchThe Focas Research Institute, DIT, (www.focas.dit.ie) was established under

the Higher Education Authority Programme for Research in Third LevelFocas contributes strongly to the development of self-sustaining researchteams in a number of strategic areas, such as Bio and Nano technologies.the Higher Education Authority Programme for Research in Third Level

Institutions, Cycle 1 (1999-2001), co-funded by the EU.teams in a number of strategic areas, such as Bio and Nano technologies.Recent notable research outputs include novel technologies for cervical cancerInstitutions, Cycle 1 (1999 2001), co funded by the EU.

The facility addresses the common needs of research activities in Science andscreening and antibacterial surface coatings It furthermore underpinspostgraduate research as well as undergraduate project work andThe facility addresses the common needs of research activities in Science and

Engineering. The venture is founded on established expertise within thepostgraduate research as well as undergraduate project work andundergraduate and postgraduate course curriculum development.

Institute and aims to consolidate and develop this expertise, while nurturingdeveloping research activities within the DIT

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developing research activities within the DIT.

Th it t i t di i li ll b ti ithi th I tit t d ithThus it promotes interdisciplinary collaborations within the Institute and withother national and international bodies and provides a support service forother national and international bodies, and provides a support service fornational industry.

The 3200m2 facility, to the rear of the DIT Kevin Street site in the heart ofy,Dublin, provides state of the art core laboratory support in microscopy and

t f f h d ti iti Th f ilitispectroscopy for a range of research groups and activities. The facilities wereconsolidated under PRTLI Cycle 4 (2007-2013) co-funded by the EU Regionalconsolidated under PRTLI Cycle 4 (2007 2013), co funded by the EU RegionalDevelopment Fund, through the Integrated NanoScience Platform for Ireland(www.inspirenano.ie) and the National Biophotonics and Imaging Platform,Ireland (www nbipireland ie) and are incorporated as a pilot site in theIreland, (www.nbipireland.ie) and are incorporated as a pilot site in theEuroBioImaging programme (www.eurobioimaging.eu).EuroBioImaging programme (www.eurobioimaging.eu).

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The Focas Research Institute is a one-stop-shop for characterisation of

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materials and processes and operates an open access policy with experttechnical and scientific support Year

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Full details of available facilities are available at www dit ie/focas and at

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Full details of available facilities are available at www.dit.ie/focas and atwww.attlas.ie/

CONTACT DETAILSCONTACT DETAILSProf Hugh J. Byrne: [email protected]

CollegeInvesting in Your Future College Logo

Investing in Your Future

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SUMMARY BioNanoScienceSUMMARY The materials characterised will be screened for

Funded under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI)C ( ) f S

In vitro toxicologyE t i lCtcle 4 (2007-2013), with support from the EU Structural Fund, the Integrated

NanoSciences Platform of Ireland (INSPIRE) networks nanoscience andEcotoxicologogy

NanoSciences Platform of Ireland (INSPIRE) networks nanoscience andnanotechnology research activity nationally, which will result in building A variety of different exposure scenarios will be mimicked (inhalation,

dermatological) using dispersed and aggregated nanoparticlesgy y y gcollaborations across the nanoscience community nationally, leveraging existing

biliti d l ti th ti l ti it t b i iti f l di

dermatological) using dispersed and aggregated nanoparticles.

Emphasis is placed on the development of structure activity relationship as thecapabilities and elevating the national activity to be in a position of leadinginternationally The aims of INSPIRE are:

Emphasis is placed on the development of structure activity relationship as thebasis of an understanding of the physico-chemical basis ofinternationally. The aims of INSPIRE are:

Creation of a shared national infrastructural capability that will fill the

basis of an understanding of the physico chemical basis ofBionanointeractions.Creation of a shared national infrastructural capability that will fill the

acknowledged gaps and be serviced effectively by trained support staff, in order tog g y yenhance the national capacity for delivering innovative research in nanoscience

d l t h l iand nanoscale technologies.

D l t f h d ti l i d t th t ill hDevelopment of shared national nanoscience graduate programmes that will haveinternational appeal and will enable an increase in graduate numbers aligned withinternational appeal and will enable an increase in graduate numbers aligned withstated SSTI goals.

Expansion of existing institutional linkages to facilitate new collaborations, locally, The Bionanostrand is co ordinated by Prof Fiona Lyng of the Radiation andp g g , y,regionally and nationally across institutions and across disciplines. The Bionanostrand is co-ordinated by Prof Fiona Lyng of the Radiation and

Environmental Science Centre . DIT is a partner in the FP7 EU NanoImpactNetEnvironmental Science Centre . DIT is a partner in the FP7 EU NanoImpactNetmultidisciplinary European network on the health and environmental impact of

Focas on INSPIREnanomaterials

Focas on INSPIREWithin INSPIRE, the DIT, through NanoLab and RESC, is undertaking a three-Within INSPIRE, the DIT, through NanoLab and RESC, is undertaking a threepronged interdisciplinary approach from the perspectives of nanomaterialcharacterisation, toxicological assessment and education. The programme is co-ordinated by Prof Hugh J Hyrne Head of the Focas Research Institute NanoEducation/Public Awarenessordinated by Prof Hugh J. Hyrne, Head of the Focas Research Institute.

The structure emphasises the development of higher throughput characterisation

NanoEducation/Public Awareness

The technical workprogramme will be intimately linked with the NanoeducationThe structure emphasises the development of higher throughput characterisationtechniques, the physico-chemical characterisation/toxicology interface and the

The technical workprogramme will be intimately linked with the Nanoeducation programme which considerstechniques, the physico chemical characterisation/toxicology interface and the

feed-through from research to education and public awareness. Nanoeducation at the 4th levelThe platform adds capacity and capability to those existent within the Focas Nanoeducation at the 3rd levelInstitute in terms of personnel, equipment, and an extension to the FocasInstitute and interfaces them with those nationally

Nanoeducation at the 3rd level

Public perception and outreachInstitute, and interfaces them with those nationally. Public perception and outreach

The Nanoeducation workprogramme explores novel pedagogical methods andNanoMaterials

The Nanoeducation workprogramme explores novel pedagogical methods andtransfers knowledge to the DIT and INSPIRE Postgraduate Education

A comprehensive physico- chemical characterisation of a range oft h l i ll l t t i l ill b d t d N h t i ti

g gProgramme as well as the DIT Science with Nanotechnology degree

A b f K l d t f t h ifi ll t t dtechnologically relevant nanomaterials will be conducted. Nanocharacterisationwill utilize the techniques of AFM TEM and SEM to characterise the identified

programme. A number of Knowledge transfer events have specifically targetedpublic perception and outreach both within DIT and the consortiumwill utilize the techniques of AFM, TEM and SEM to characterise the identified

materials in as prepared and dispersed form. Both surface area and specificpublic perception and outreach, both within DIT and the consortium.

Several workshop and discussion for a have been organized through thesurface area are of interest. Emphasis is placed on the formulation of protocolsto disperse the materials A niq e aspect of this orkprogramme is the effort to

Several workshop and discussion for a have been organized through theFocas Institute to date.to disperse the materials. A unique aspect of this workprogramme is the effort to

translate the results of the labour intensive, low throughput microscopic Nanotalks: Interfacing Industry, Academia and Society: December 2005translate the results of the labour intensive, low throughput microscopiccharacterisation techniques to higher throughput methods such as light

Nanotalks: Interfacing Industry, Academia and Society: December 2005

Nanotechnology: implications for human health the environment and foodscattering, Raman and UV/vis/NIR spectroscopies. In this way routine protocolscan be established to both efficiently disperse and characterise these materials

Nanotechnology: implications for human health, the environment and food safety: Nov 2007can be established to both efficiently disperse and characterise these materials.BioNano: Inspiring Respnsible Development for Society and the Environmentp g p p y2009

Added materials characterization capabilities of Focas:

Horiba J-Y High Resolution Multiline Raman spectroscopic microscope with duali ht d i t d i A l MFP 3D Bi At i F Mi INSPIRE IIupright and inverted microscopes Asylum MFP-3D-Bio Atomic Force Microscope

which can be fitted to the Raman instrument for simultaneous Raman and AFM INSPIRE IIwhich can be fitted to the Raman instrument for simultaneous Raman and AFMmeasurement In 2011 the National NanoScience Graduate School was launched fundedAditional techniques addd include DLS, Zeta sizing, BET and SEM.

In 2011, the National NanoScience Graduate School was launched, fundedunder PRTLI Cycle 5 (2011-2915). In the opening academic year, 20 studentsq , g,

NanoMaterials Research is co-ordinated by Dr Gordon Chambers of the Schoolf Ph i d N L b

y ( ) p g y ,were enrolled nationwide

of Physics and NanoLab



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Hugh Byrne@dit [email protected]

SUMMARY ResearchSUMMARY Research Funded under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI)C ( ) f S f

Within the DIT, Research in Biophotonics and Imaging bridges the Physical andLife sciences Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytommetry is used to monitorCtcle 4 (2007-2013), with support from the EU Structural Fund, The mission of the

National Biophotonics Imaging Platform is to provide an integrated nationalLife sciences. Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytommetry is used to monitornontargetted effects of radiation and identify associated cell signaling pathways.National Biophotonics Imaging Platform is to provide an integrated national

access and training infrastructure in research, education, technology developmentnontargetted effects of radiation and identify associated cell signaling pathways.Spectroscopic microscopy, both infrared and Raman is employed for diseaseg gy p

and industry collaboration for the State’s investment in Biophotonics and Imaging.It id ti l f k t t d th d l t f

diagnostics as well as cellular analysis of the effects of radiation, nanotoxins andanticancer agents The Biospectroscopy group collaborates with the NationalIt provides a national framework to support and encourage the development of

centres of expertise The provision of adequate core technologies in advancedanticancer agents. The Biospectroscopy group collaborates with the NationalMaternity and the Coombe Hospitals, as well as in a number of EU projects.centres of expertise. The provision of adequate core technologies in advanced

imaging greatly enhances the national research infrastructure. This ensures thaty p , p j

the recent investment in research equipment and buildings translates to anincreased efficiency of usage which in turn provides a solid foundation for Fluorescence Imagingincreased efficiency of usage, which in turn provides a solid foundation fordevelopment of key research areas. Major objectives of the NBIP Consortium:

Fluorescence Imaging

Th Fl I i L b t ff id f fl t t i dp y j j

To provide a structured research and training framework for Ireland's investment inThe Fluorescence Imaging Laboratory offers a wide range of flow cytometric andmicroscopy techniques Microscopy lab includes light microscopes configuredTo provide a structured research and training framework for Ireland s investment in

advanced imaging applied to the Life Sciences (PRTLI, SFI, HRB, Wellcomemicroscopy techniques. Microscopy lab includes light microscopes, configuredspecifically for wide-ranging applications such as phase contrast, fluorescence,

Trust) bright field and dark field. The equipment allows the 2-D and 3-D observation andst d of ph sical chemical and biological samples The Zeiss LSM confocal laserTo establish Graduate Training Programmes in Cell Signaling and Imaging study of physical, chemical and biological samples. The Zeiss LSM confocal laserscanning microscope allows blur-free, crisp images of thick specimens at various

To bridge the Physical and Life Sciences interface and, through partnership withI d t h t h l d l t i Bi Ph t i d I i

scanning microscope allows blur free, crisp images of thick specimens at variousdepths. In addition, a CO2 and temperature control system is available for live cell

Industry, enhance technology developments in BioPhotonics and Imaging imaging.

Focas on NBIPIFocas on NBIPIThe Focas Institute, DIT, provides nationally unique facilities and expertise inSpectroscopic Imaging for Diagnostic Applications to the Molecular and CellularSpectroscopic Imaging for Diagnostic Applications to the Molecular and CellularImaging Core. The associated expertise is based on the collaboration, since 2000,g g pof the Radiation and Environmental Science Centre and NanoLab ResearchC t l di t th Bi t t Th Bi t t i thCentre, leading to the Biospectroscopy team. The Biospectroscopy team is theonly group active in the use of vibrational spectroscopy for cellular and tissueonly group active in the use of vibrational spectroscopy for cellular and tissueanalysis within Ireland. Spectroscopic Imaging is employed to characterise (i) cell Partec CyFlow Cytometer provides analysis and sorting of single-cell populationssignalling (ii) disease diagnostics and progress (iii) cellular response to externalagents In all areas the workprogramme is linked to other Platform partners The

Partec CyFlow Cytometer provides analysis and sorting of single cell populations.The system providing an extensive range of applications such as light-scattering

agents. In all areas the workprogramme is linked to other Platform partners. Theworkprogramme l demonstrates the additional dimension provided by the

properties, DNA content, cell cycle, apoptosis, as well as the measure ofintracellular biochemical changes such as calcium flux and pHp g p y

characterisation and mapping of molecular markers. The techniques are employedl h Pl f i i h i DIT id i i d

intracellular biochemical changes such as calcium flux and pH.

to complement other Platform imaging techniques. DIT provides training andmodules in microscopy and spectroscopy to the Graduate Enhancementmodules in microscopy and spectroscopy to the Graduate EnhancementProgramme. Biospectroscopyg

Infrared and Raman spectroscopies have been widely used in chemistry for manyyears for the identification of new compounds or testing of purity. Over the lastdecades a new field of application has appeared utilising the techniques fordecades a new field of application has appeared, utilising the techniques fordisease diagnostics and cellular analysis.g y

Through PRTLI Cycles 1 and 4, the Focas Institute has positioned itself at the

NBIPI i E Bi I iThrough PRTLI Cycles 1 and 4, the Focas Institute has positioned itself at theforefront of research in this field, boasting 3 State of the art Raman imaging

NBIPI in EuroBioImaging systems and two infrared microscopes allowing rapid imaging and analysis oftissues and cells with sub cellular resolution

g gEuroBioImaging is a large scale panEuropean research infrastructure

tissues and cells, with sub cellular resolution.EuroBioImaging is a large scale panEuropean research infrastructure

project on the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)Roadmap.

EuroBioImaging will deploy a distributed biological and biomedical imaging

i f t t i E i di t d d h i dinfrastructure in Europe in a coordinated and harmonized manner.

By providing access to and training in imaging technologies, and by sharing ofbest practice and image data EuroBioImaging will become an engine that willbest practice and image data, EuroBioImaging will become an engine that willdrive European innovation in imaging research and technologies. Current research in the group is targeting the development of biospectroscopy forp g g g

the diagnosis of cervical cancer and precancer, the diagnosis of spectral andbiological changes in human skin with exposure to UV radiation and the modelingbiological changes in human skin with exposure to UV radiation, and the modelingof spectral response in nanotoxicology, chemo-therapeutics and radiobiology. Inp p gy, p gyaddition to development of the applications, the group continues to explore thef d t l d t di f th t h i th l

NBIPI is an Associated Partner of EuroBioImaging and the facilities of NBIPI atfundamental understanding of the techniques themselves

NBIPI is an Associated Partner of EuroBioImaging and the facilities of NBIPI atFocas were utilised as a Proof og Concept Pilot Access Site in 2012.g p



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Hugh Byrne@dit [email protected]

Nanolab Research Centre

PRTLI cycle 5, INSPIRE 2 Nanotechnology GREP , €309,000

SFI Research Frontiers Program “NanoFood” €198,000

PRTLI cycle 4 INSPIRE shared funding €4.1 million

Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).Marie-Curie Training NetworkNanotoxicology and process identification €200,000

NanoTalks “ Public Perception of nanotechnology and its role in society”–December 2005 –Focas Institute.

Nanotox “ Nanotechnology: implications for human health the environmentMaterials

Nanotox “ Nanotechnology: implications for human health, the environmentand food safety”– November 2007 – Carlton Hotel.

BioNano “Inspiring Responsible Development for Society and theEnvironment”– October 2009 – Carlton Hotel

Policy Documents –members of the research centre have sat on advisorypanels namely the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Nanotechnologyposition panel and the Irish Health and Safety Authority (HSA) working groupon Nanotechnology .

28 PhD and 5 MSc students supervised to completion as of 2012

Currently 8 full time and 1 part time postgraduate research students

Characterisation

Bio-Screening

Bio-Tracking

Risk Assessment

The Nanolab research centre was awarded DIT DRE Research Centre Status in 2010 and has unparalleled expertise in state of the art nano material characterisation and the analysis of the interaction of Nanomaterials with biological systems, both mammalian and aquatic (fresh and marine water) systems. Its researchers explore standards and methods for the characterisation of nanomaterials with respect to physical, chemical and biological properties including the toxicity and biocompatibility of a variety of nanomaterials such as carbonaceous, polymeric, metallic and composite nano material

Over 250 peer reviewed publications to date

“Identifying and localizing intracellular nanoparticles using Raman Spectroscopy", Jennifer Dorney, Franck Bonnier, Amaya Garcia, Alan Casey, Gordon Chambers Hugh J Byrne Analyst 137 1111-1119 (2012)

Currently 8 full time and 1 part time postgraduate research students

pypsystems.

The centre’s emphasis is on establishing structure activity relationships governing particle uptake, trafficking, fate and organism response. Model systems are employed to improve fundamental understanding, to validate current and develop new biological testing protocols for nanomaterials, while real life exposure scenarios are explored to assess risk.

Nanolab is active in promoting awareness of the impacts of nanotechnology among stakeholders through national and international workshops as well as in pedagogical research for the advancement of education in nano sciences.

Gordon Chambers, Hugh J. Byrne, Analyst, 137, 1111 1119 (2012)

“Comparative in vitro cytotoxicity study of silver nanoparticle on two mammalian cell lines”, Sanchali Gupta Mukherjee, Niall O'Claonadh, Alan Casey, Gordon Chambers, Toxicology in Vitro, 26, 238-251 (2012)

“Minimal analytical characterization of engineered nanomaterials needed for hazard assessment in biological matrices”,Hans Bouwmeester, Iseult Lynch, Hans J. P. Marvin, Kenneth A. Dawson, Markus Berges, Diane Braguer, Hugh J. Byrne, Alan Casey, Gordon Chambers, Martin J. D. Clift, Giuliano Elia,

Dr. Gordon Chambers

Currently a lecturer in the School of Physics of DIT and consults on the implementation and societal impacts of nanotechnology to both private industry and government bodies. Research interests include nano-bio interactions, safe use of nanotech in the food sector and bio-spectroscopy for cellular tracking.

Dr. Alan Casey

J. Byrne, Alan Casey, Gordon Chambers, Martin J. D. Clift, Giuliano Elia, Teresa F. Fernandes, Lise B. Fjellsbo, Peter Hatto, Lucienne Juillerat, Christoph Klein, Wolfgang G. Kreyling, Carmen Nickel, Michael Riediker, Vicki Stone,Nanotoxicology, 5, 1-11 (2011) .

“In vitro mammalian cytotoxicological study of PAMAM dendrimers -towards quantitative structure activity relationships”, Sourav Prasanna Mukherjee, Maria Davoren, Hugh J. Byrne, Toxicology in Vitro, 24,169-177 (2010)

PhD awarded by the Dublin Institute of Technology for a study entitled “Physiochemical Indicators of Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Toxicity”. Joined nanolab as research staff in 2007 and current research interests include, nano-bio interactions, drug screening, cellular uptake mechanisms and programmed cell death pathways.

Prof. Hugh J Byrne

Appointed to staff of DIT in January 1996, as lecturer in the School of Physics. Seconded as manager of FOCAS at DIT in 2000. Awarded Honarary Professorship of DIT (internationally reviewed), December 2008 Recent research activities have extended to biospectroscopy for diagnostics and biochemical analysis and nano-bio interactions.

Dr. Gordon Chambers Dr. Alan Casey,

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10972041353+ :xaF88942041353 +xaF

Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected]

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Website: http://www.dit.ie/nanolab/

Key Achievements

Contact Details

Team

Research Interests Recent Publications

Nanolab Facilities .

With the combined equipment of the Nanolab research centre and the core instrumentation of the Focas institute, Nanolab has access to and expertise in an impressive array of materials characterisation equipment. Particles size, zeta-potential, surface area, pore size analysis, electronic and atomic microscopy's are routinely performed on materials in a variety of different environments.

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.With the combined equipment of the Nanolab research centre and the core instrumentation of the Focas institute, Nanolab has access to and expertise in variety and biological and analytical techniques to aid in the biological tracking of materials upon instillation in biological systems.

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With an internal cell bank of 30 cell lines Nanolab routinely performs large scale in vitro cytotoxicity screening with a variety of biological endpoints of materials and chemicals for both internal and external research partners. Please contact us for further information.

Through collaborative projects with the RESC (http://www.dit.ie/resc/) Nanolab also has the capabilities to culture and test a variety of aquatic cell lines and a multi-trophic battery of freshwater and marine test species, comprising of the Microtox® test system and several algal, copepod, and amphipod cultures for ecotoxicity tests.

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Nanolab Research PersonnelDr Gordon Chambers CURRENT RESEARCHERSDr. Gordon ChambersResearch interests include nano-bio interactions, safe use of nanotech in the food sector and bio-spectroscopy for cellular tracking. Graduated from Dublin Institute of Technology with a Diploma in Applied Science (Physics and Chemistry) in 1997 and with a first class honours BSc in Physics and Chemistry from Trinity College Dublin in 1997. Received PhD, from Dublin Institute of Technology, in 2001 with a research thesis entitled "In situ spectroscopic monitoring of the electronic transport properties of fullerene thin films". In the past he has held a Senior Research Fellow position within the Nanostructures group in Media Lab Europe, research partner of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Working on the development of molecular electronics and nano sensor technology After which he joined the

CURRENT RESEARCHERS

molecular electronics and nano-sensor technology. After which he joined the Physics of Molecular Materials group in the DIT as Postdoctoral Researcher. At same time he held a Research Associate position in Trinity College Dublin working with the Functional Materials Group. Currently he is a lecturer in the School of Physics of DIT and consults on the implementation and societal impacts of nanotechnology to both private industry and government bodies.

Dr. Alan CaseyCurrent research interests include, materials toxicity, nano-bio interactions, drug screening, cellular uptake mechanisms and programmed cell death pathways. PhD awarded by the Dublin Institute of Technology for a study entitled “Physiochemical Indicators of Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Toxicity”. Joined nanolab as research staff in 2007. Successfully achieved status of DIT Centre of Excellence of Research from the Institutes Directorate of Research of Enterprise to Nanolab 2010. Member of the Irish Society of Toxicology. Member of the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland’s (HSAI) ad-hoc working group on Nanotechnology, Co author of the HSAI’s initial draft of a policy document on the safe usage of nanotechnology in the workplace. One of two nationally nominated Irish representatives to attend a Workshop on “Enabling Standards for Nanomaterial Characterization” in NIST, Maryland, Washington, USA. Oct 2008. Actively involved in the development of

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Anna Murphy SFI Funded PhD Student Joined Nanolab in 2011 “The effects of bio-fluids on nanoparticle size distribution, agglomerative state and associated in vitro toxicity”

Kate Sheehy SFI Funded PhD Student Joined Nanolab in 2011 “Assessing the Biological Significance of Real – World Exposure of Silver Nanoparticles from food products”

S h li G t M kh j SFI d DIT F i i h f d d PhD t d t J i d N l btaught modules for Graduate Research Education Program (GREP) within DIT. Sanchali Gupta Mukherjee SFI and DIT Foisraaigh funded PhD student Joined Nanolab in 2009 “Mechanistic Studies of Temporal Evolution of Cellular Responses upon Silver

Nanoparticle Exposure to Human Cell Lines: Correlation of Dosimetric and Size Dependant effects

Maria Casado EPA funded PhD Student Joined Nanolab in 2009 “Visualisation and quantification of the interaction of fluorescent nanoparticles with ecotoxicologically

relevant species”

Mark Keating PRTLI cycle 5 funded PhD Student Joined Nanolab in 2011 “Spectroscopic

Prof. Hugh J ByrnePrinciple research interests are in applications of spectroscopy and the study of molecular and nano-materials. Recent activities have extended to bio-spectroscopy for diagnostics and biochemical analysis and nano-bio interactions. Received his PhD in Experimental Physics, from Trinity College Dublin, 1989 with a research thesis entitled "On the Origins and Nature of the Nonlinear Optical Properties of Organic One Dimensional Polymers", supervised by Prof. Werner Blau. Held a postdoctoral

h f ll hi i Ph i D t t T i it C ll D bli f O t b 1989 Mark Keating PRTLI cycle 5 funded PhD Student Joined Nanolab in 2011 “Spectroscopic Imaging of Nanoparticles in Cells”

Marcus Maher DIT R&D Excellence Foisraigh Award funded PhD student joined Nanolab in 2011 “Structure Activity Relationships Governing the Interaction of Nano-Particles with

Human Cells – Predictive models for Toxicology and Medical Applications”

Humza Khalid PRTLI cycle 5 funded PhD student joined Nanolab in 2011 “Toxic mechanisms of Polymer dendrimers in mammalian cells”

research fellowship in Physics Department, Trinity College Dublin from October 1989-April 1991. Research Scientist at the Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart, from April 1991-July 1995, funded in part by a Marie-Curie Fellowship. Visiting Research Scientist at the National Institute of Materials and Chemistry Research, Tsukuba, Japan, October 1995- January 1996. Appointed to staff of DIT in January 1996, as lecturer in the School of Physics. Seconded as manager of FOCAS at DIT in 2000. Awarded Honarary Professorship of DIT (internationally reviewed), December 2008.

Karina Carey Part-time MPhil student joined nanolab in 2008 “The Determination of the Potential risks associated with Engineered Nanoparticles in Aquatic Environments”

Jennifer Dorney PRTLI cycle 4 funded PhD student joined Nanolab in 2008” Identifying and localizing intracellular nanoparticles using Raman Spectroscopy”


DIT Centre for Radiation and Environmental Science

RESEARCH INTERESTS KEY ACHIEVEMENTSRESEARCH INTERESTSRadiation Biology

We are investigating how cells and tissues respond to radiationexposure. This helps to understand the risks associated withradiation and to work out ways to optimise patient response toradiotherapy

Environmental Toxicology and Testing of New Materials

KEY ACHIEVEMENTSIn the last 5 years:

� ‘One to Watch’ Award, 2011

� 1 License, 1 patent and 4 invention disclosures

� Over 70 peer reviewed publications

� Over €3.5 million in research funding

� 20 PhD l tiWe investigate toxic effects of different contaminants ofenvironmental concern using a multi-trophic battery offreshwater and marine test species. Our current researchfocuses on the environmental impacts of nanomaterials.

We are also screening novel anti-cancer compounds andinvestigating the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mechanism ofaction.

Biophotonics and Imaging

RECENT PUBLICATIONSO'Connor M, Kellett A, McCann M, Rosair G, McNamara M,Howe O, Creaven BS, McClean S, Kia AF, O'Shea D, DevereuxM. Copper(II) Complexes of Salicylic Acid CombiningSuperoxide Dismutase Mimetic Properties with DNA Binding andCleaving Capabilities Display Promising ChemotherapeuticP t ti l ith F t A ti i Vit C t t i it i t Ci l ti

� 20 PhD completions

We investigate the use of Raman and FTIR spectroscopy forbiomedical applications such as cancer screening anddiagnosis. We also use these techniques to identify novelbiomarkers of cellular response to, for example, radiation,chemotherapeutic drugs, nanomaterials etc.

Potential with Fast Acting in Vitro Cytotoxicity against CisplatinSensitive and Resistant Cancer Cell Lines. J Med Chem.2012;55(5):1957-68

Kellett A, McCann M, Howe O, O'Connor M, Devereux M. DNAcleavage reactions of the dinuclear chemotherapeutic agentcopper(II) bis-1,10 phenanthroline terephthalate. Int J ClinPharmacol Ther. 2012;50(1):79-81

Nawaz H, Bonnier F, Meade AD, Lyng FM, Byrne HJ.Comparison of subcellular responses for the evaluation andComparison of subcellular responses for the evaluation andprediction of the chemotherapeutic response to cisplatin in lungadenocarcinoma using Raman spectroscopy Analyst. 2011136(12):2450-63

Ostrowska KM, Garcia A, Meade AD, Malkin A, Okewumi I,O'Leary JJ, Martin C, Byrne HJ, Lyng FM. Correlation ofp16(INK4A) expression and HPV copy number with cellularFTIR spectroscopic signatures of cervical cancer cells. Analyst.2011 136(7):1365-73.

TEAM

Zanchetta LM, Garcia A, Lyng F, Walsh J, Murphy JE. Mitophagyand mitochondrial morphology in human melanoma-derivedcells post exposure to simulated sunlight, Int J Radiat Biology2011 87(5):506-1

Lyng FM, Howe OL, McClean B. Reactive oxygen species-induced release of signalling factors in irradiated cells triggersmembrane signalling and calcium influx in bystander cells. Int JRadiat Biol. 2011 87 (7) 683-695

The RESC team comprises an interdisciplinary group of 16researchers including Centre Manager, Prof Fiona Lyng, SeniorResearchers Dr Orla Howe (School of Biological Sciences) andDr Aidan Meade (School of Physics), 3 postdoctoral levelscientists, 1 research assistant and 10 postgraduate students, themajority at PhD level.

CONTACT DETAILSFor more details on RESC, please visithttp://www.dit.ie/resc or contact Prof. Fiona Lyng [email protected]

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Radiation Biology / RESC

http://www.dit.ie/resc/

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SUMMARY DIT research in Radiobiology has been ongoing since the 1970s with the Radiation Science Centre established in 1990. The effects of ionising and non-ionising radiation have been investigated. The main goals are to understand the risks associated with radiation exposure and to identify ways of optimising patient response to radiotherapy .

Non-targeted (non-DNA) effects such as bystander effects (effects in cells not hit by a radiation track), genomic instability (effects in the progeny of irradiated cells) and adaptive responses (in cells exposed to a high challenging dose after pretreatment with a low adapting dose) have been the main focus over the last 10-15 years.

Translational radiation research, involving the correlation of patient radiosensitivity with radiotherapy response and the investigation of biomarkers of radiosensitivity, is also a key focus.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE � Over 100 peer reviewed journal publications;

� Over €6 million in competitive funding;

� Member of EU FP6 Consortium ‘NOTE’;

� Member of EU FP7 Consortium ‘DoReMi’

KEY PUBLICATIONS � Lyng FM, Howe OL, McClean B. Reactive oxygen species-induced release of signalling factors in irradiated cells triggers membrane signalling and calcium influx in bystander cells. Int J Radiat Biol. 2011 87 (7) 683-695

� Nugent S, Mothersill CE, Seymour C, McClean B, Lyng FM, Murphy JE., Altered mitochondrial function and genome frequency post exposure to g-radiation and bystander factors Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 2010, 86, 829–841

� Meade AD, Byrne HJ, Lyng FM, Spectroscopic and Chemometric Approaches to Radiobiological Analyses, Mutation Research Review 2010 704(1-3):108-114

� Meade AD, Clarke C, Byrne HJ, Lyng FM, Fourier Transform Infrared microspectroscopy and multivariate methods for biological dosimetry Radiation Research 2010 173(2):225-37.

� Howe O, O’ Sullivan J, Nolan B, Vaughan J, McClean B, Clarke C, Lyng FM. Do radiation-induced bystander effects correlate to the intrinsic radiosensitivity of individuals and have clinical significance? 2009, Radiation Research 171(5):521-9.

� Nugent, S.M.E. Mothersill, C.E. Seymour, C. McClean B. , Lyng F.M. and Murphy, J.E.J Increased mitochondrial mass in cells with functionally compromised mitochondria post exposure to both direct g radiation and bystander factors, Radiation Research 2007 168(1):134-42

� Maguire P, Mothersill C, McClean B, Seymour C, Lyng FM, Modulation of Radiation Responses by Pre-exposure to Irradiated Cell Conditioned Medium. Radiation Research 2007 167(4):485-492

TEAM / FUNDERS � Prof. Fiona Lyng;

� Dr. Aidan Meade;

� Dr. Orla Howe;

� Dr. Isabel Vega Carrascal;

� SFI RFP, EU FP7 (DoReMi), PRTLI Cycle 4 (National Biophotonics and Imaging Platform)

Environmental Toxicology and Testing of New Materials / RESC


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SUMMARY The RESC has a longstanding international reputation for their expertise in the environmental and toxicological assessment of many fresh water and marine based organisms by incorporating techniques such as primary culture and battery testing mechanisms. In recent years this experience has been aligned to interdisciplinary collaborations nationally and internationally and has been extended to include toxicity screening of many novel therapeutic agents such as chemotherapeutic drugs/NSAIDS and nanomaterials by incorporating cytotoxicity and genotoxicity screening and further molecular mechanistic work to elucidate the modes of action of novel compounds/materials.

Environmental toxicology There have been over 100 publications in the RESC specifically in environmental toxicology. Many of these projects were in close collaboration with the Marine Institute and more recently NIVA (Oslo). This work was done on mussels, shrimp, rainbow trout from different areas and testing has also been done using both fresh water and marine test batteries. More recently the focus has been on nanotoxicology to test the ‘Effects of environmental factors on the toxicity & bioavailability of standard manufactured nanoparticles using a battery of marine species ‘(DIT, NIVA Norway, University of Oslo [Yggdrasil funded]) and ‘Interaction of nanoparticles with ecotoxicologically relevant species’ [EPA funded].

Collaborators & Funders Internal : Focas Research Institute, Environmental Health Sciences Institute, Nanolab, IPBRC, School of Biological Science

National: Marine Institute, Dr Kellett (DCU), Dr McCann (NUIM),

International: NIVA OSLO, University of Leuven, Belgium

Funders: SFI, EPA, PRTLI Cycle 4, Cycle 5

[Cu(phen)2(ph)] (1) [Cu(phen)2(isoph)] (2) {Cu(phen)2(μ-terph)}2terph (3)

Nucella lapilus

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Genotoxicity screening There has been more than 25 publications (more recently) screening genotoxicity of radiation, novel drugs and nanomaterials. This incorporates assays measuring chromosomal damage, single strand DNA damage (Comet assay), double strand DNA damage (γ-H2AX assay) and nuclease scission activity.

Microtox®

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D. magna

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Secondary

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Fish cell lines e.g. RTG-2

Chlorella vulgaris

T. platyurus

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S. costatum T. suecica

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Fresh water Battery testing Marine water Battery testing

Over 60 publications have incorporated cytotoxicity screening of environmental pollutants, radiation, novel drugs and nanomaterials. An array of in vitro cytotoxicity assays on normal and tumor cells line from a central cell bank of approx 150 cell types are described. These assays measure a variety of biological endpoints such as viability, ROS induction, apoptosis etc.

Cytotoxicity screening

Biophotonics and Imaging, RESCSUMMARY / ABSTRACT KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALSUMMARY / ABSTRACTBiophotonics is the application of spectroscopic and optical methods to themeasurement or imaging of processes in biology and medicine. It can involvethe use of standard confocal imaging or fluorescence imaging technologies, ormore novel technologies, such as Raman and/or Fourier Transform Infrared(FTIR) microspectroscopy. These devices measure the spectrum of lightinelastically backscattered from the sample in the case of confocal Ramanmicrospectroscopy, or the spectrum of light transmitted by the sample in thecase of FTIR microspectroscopy. These measurements can be made withdiffraction-limited resolution using both spectroscopic modalities, which tends tothe submicron level using Raman microspectroscopy and similar resolution

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIAL•Key outputs:

• Licence to Raman Diagnostics, Dec 2011

• 4 PhD and 1 MPhil graduates since 2005, 3 PhD’s in progress;

• Over 40 journal and proceedings publications;

• Potential for expansion into development of methods for detection of food, air and water borne pathogens, imaging of materials and bio-interactions;

the submicron level using Raman microspectroscopy and similar resolutionwhen FTIR is coupled with attenuated total reflection (ATR). In the RESC at theFocas Research Institute, DIT we are fortunate to have access to state-of-the-art Raman and FTIR imaging spectrometers. These have enabled us to pioneerthe use of biospectroscopy for the development of platforms and devices forcancer diagnostics, particularly from cervical cancer tissue and smears, andlatterly for use in prognostic and therapeutic applications such as radiotherapyand chemotherapy. Some of this work has moved to device development andcommercialisation.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATEHIGHLIGHTS TO DATE•Prof. Fiona Lyng winner of the Enterprise Ireland ‘One-to-Watch’ award, 2011;

•Over €4.5 million competitive funding secured since 2004;

•Member of National Biophotonics and Imaging Platform, Ireland;

•Member of EU FP7 Consortium ‘DoReMi’;

Highly Cited:

A.D. Meade, P. Knief, F.M Lyng, H.J. Byrne, Growth substrate induced functional changes elucidated by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy in in-vitro cultured human

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Other Key Publications

A. D. Meade, C. Clarke, H. J. Byrne, and F. M. Lyng, "Fourier TransformInfrared microspectroscopy and multivariate methods for radiobiologicaldosimetry " Radiation Research, 173, 225-237, (2010) (IF: 2.95)

Kamila M. Ostrowska, Amaya Garcia, Aidan D. Meade, Alison Malkin,Ifeoluwapo Okewumi, John J. O’Leary, Cara Martin, Hugh J. Byrne and Fiona

keratinocytes, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 387 (5), 1717-1728, 2007 (IF: 3.5)

F.M. Lyng, E.Ó Faoláin, J. Conroy, A.D. Meade, P. Knief, B. Duffy, M.B. Hunter, J.M. Byrne, P. Kelehan and H.J. Byrne, Vibrational Spectroscopy for Cervical Cancer Pathology, from biochemical analysis to diagnostic tool, Experimental and Molecular Pathology, 82(2), 121-129 (2007) (IF: 2.1)

p , y, , g yM. Lyng, Correlation of p16INK4A expression and HPV copy number withcellular FTIR spectroscopic signatures of cervical cancer cells", Analyst, DOI:10.1039/C0AN00910E (2011) (IF: 3.8)

K. W. C. Poon , F. M. Lyng , P. Knief , O. Howe , A. D. Meade , J. F.Curtin, H. J. Byrne, J. Vaughan,Quantitative reagent-free detection offibrinogen levels in human blood plasma using Raman spectroscopy, Analyst,DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35042D (2012) (IF: 3.8)

A.A. Shvedova, A.A. Kapralov, W.H. Feng, E.R. Kisin, A. Murray, R.R. Mercer,C.M. St Croix, M. Lang, S.C. Watkins, N. Konduru, B.L. Allen, J. Conroy, G.P.Kotchey, B.M. Mohamed, A.D. Meade, Y. Volkov, A. Star, B. Fadeel, V. E.y, , , , , ,Kagan, Impaired clearance and enhanced pulmonary inflammatory/fibroticresponse to carbon nanotubes in myeloperoxidase-deficient mice, PLoS One,7(3):e30923 (2012) (IF: 4.411).

TEAM / FUNDERS• Prof. Fiona Lyng;

• Dr. Aidan Meade;

• Dr. Orla Howe;

• Dr. Franck Bonnier;

• Dr Dmitriy Dubovitskiy

• Funding:

• SFI RFP, EI Technology Development, EU FP7 (DoReMi), PRTLI Cycle 4 (National Biophotonics and Imaging Platform)

• Colleagues at:

• Department of Surgery, Trinity College Dublin;Department of Radiation Oncology, Trinity College Dublin; Department of Pathology, Coombe

http://www.dit.ie/nbip/

Women and Infants University Hospital

Environmental Toxicology and Testing of New Materials / RESC

SUMMARY Cytotoxicity screeningSUMMARYThe RESC has a longstanding international reputation for their expertise in theenvironmental and toxicological assessment of many fresh water and marine basedorganisms by incorporating techniques such as primary culture and battery testingmechanisms. In recent years this experience has been aligned to interdisciplinarycollaborations nationally and internationally and has been extended to includetoxicity screening of many novel therapeutic agents such as chemotherapeuticdrugs/NSAIDS and nanomaterials by incorporating cytotoxicity and genotoxicityscreening and further molecular mechanistic work to elucidate the modes of action ofnovel compounds/materials.

Over 60 publications haveincorporated cytotoxicityscreening of environmentalpollutants, radiation, noveldrugs and nanomaterials. Anarray of in vitro cytotoxicityassays on normal and tumorcells line from a central cellbank of approx 150 cell typesare described. These assays

Cytotoxicity screening

Environmental toxicologyThere have been over 100 publications in the RESC specifically inenvironmental toxicology. Many of these projects were in close collaboration withthe Marine Institute and more recently NIVA (Oslo). This work was done onmussels, shrimp, rainbow trout from different areas and testing has also beendone using both fresh water and marine test batteries. More recently the focus hasbeen on nanotoxicology to test the ‘Effects of environmental factors on the toxicity& bioavailability of standard manufactured nanoparticles using a battery of marine

Genotoxicity screeningThere has been more than 25 publications (more recently) screeninggenotoxicity of radiation, novel drugs and nanomaterials. Thisincorporates assays measuring chromosomal damage single strand

are described. These assaysmeasure a variety of biologicalendpoints such as viability,ROS induction, apoptosis etc.

y p g yspecies ‘(DIT, NIVA Norway, University of Oslo [Yggdrasil funded]) and ‘Interactionof nanoparticles with ecotoxicologically relevant species’ [EPA funded].

incorporates assays measuring chromosomal damage, single strandDNA damage (Comet assay), double strand DNA damage (�-H2AXassay) and nuclease scission activity.

[Cu(phen)2(ph)] (1) [Cu(phen)2(isoph)] (2) {Cu(phen)2(�-terph)}2terph (3)

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S. costatum T. suecica

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Fresh water Battery testing Marine water Battery testing

Collaborators & FundersInternal : Focas Research Institute, Environmental Health Sciences Institute, Nanolab, IPBRC, School of Biological Science

National: Marine Institute, Dr Kellett (DCU), Dr McCann (NUIM),

International: NIVA OSLO, University of Leuven, Belgium

Funders: SFI, EPA, PRTLI Cycle 4, Cycle 5

minor

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T. platyurus

C. tenuicorne

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(Macrophyte

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Secondary

Consumer


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Photonics Research Centre

RESEARCH THEMESThe DIT Photonics Research Centre undertakes research in a number ofareas of photonics, with a particular emphasis on optical fibre sensing.

FIBER OPTIC SENSORS

Temperature SensorsStrain SensorsRefractive Index Sensors

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND COLLABORATIONSThere are currently nine research projects ongoing in the Photonics ResearchCentre, funded by Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and otherswith the total external funding income in excess of 1.4 Million Euro. The PRChas graduate four PhDs in recent years with four more on-going. The Centrewas recently awarded a Patent for a new form of disposable temperature

z axis: propagating di i

Multimode Fiber

Singlemode Fiber

Displacement SensorsVoltage and Current Sensors

FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS FOR SENSING APPLICATIONS

Passive Wavelength Measurement SystemsFBG Interrogation Systems

Modelling, Design and Fabrication of Fibre FiltersFibre Optic Systems for Acoustics

sensor.

The Centre has active collaborations with:� Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, UK;� Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China;� Warsaw University of Technology, Poland;� Moscow Institute of Radio-Electronics & Automatics, Russian Federation;� Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India

directionSinglemode Fiber

Fibre Optic Systems for Acoustics

SMART FIBER STRUCTURES

Smart Sensors for Engineering StructuresSensors for Surgical Instruments RECENT PUBLICATIONS

The Centre publishes over 30 peer-reviewed journal publications yearly.

MODELLING OF PHOTONIC DEVICES

Fibre Optic WaveguidesPlanar Lightwave Circuits

Photonic Crystal Fibres

PHOTONIC CRYSTAL FIBRE

Liquid Crystal Infiltrated PCF Devices/SensorsPCF Interferometric Sensors

Some very recent journal papers from the last few months are:

1. Wang, P., Lee, T., Ding, M., Dhar, A., Hawkins, T., Foy, T., Semenova, Y.,Wu, Q., Sahu, J., Farrell, G., Ballato, J. and Brambilla, G. “A germaniummicrosphere high-Q resonator”, Optics Letters, accepted for publication.

2. Wu, Q., Semenova, Y., Wang, P., Farrell, G. “A comprehensive analysisverified by experiment of a refractometer based on an SMF28- Small-Core Singlemode fiber (SCSMF) -SMF28 fiber structure”, Journal ofOptics, vol. 13, no. 12, 125401, 2011.

3. Mathew, J., Semenova, Y and Farrell, G. “Photonic crystal fiberinterferometer for dew detection” Journal of Lightwave Technology

SILICA CORE

PCF Interferometric SensorsSensors for Humidity and Dew-point

NANOPHOTONICS

Tapered Fibre Devices and SensorsMicroresonators

Surface Plasmon Resonance Devices

interferometer for dew detection , Journal of Lightwave Technology,accepted for publication, DOI 10.1109/JLT.2011.2170815.

4. Rajan, G., Ramakrishnan, M., Lesiak, P., Semenova, Y., Wolinski, T.,Boczkowska, A. and Farrell, G. “Composite materials with embeddedphotonic crystal fiber interferometric sensors”, Sensors and Actuators A:Physical”, accepted for publication.

5. Wang, P., Murugan, G. S., Lee, T., Ding, M., Brambilla, G., Koizumi, F.,Semenova, Y., Wu, Q., Farrell, G. “High-Q bismuth silicate nonlinearglass microsphere resonators”, IEEE Photonics Journal, accepted forpublication.

TEAMThe Centre is in the School of Electronic and Communications Engineering atthe Dublin Institute of Technology on the Kevin St. Campus. The Centre is ledby its Director Prof. Gerald Farrell, supported by senior researchers, post-doctoral researchers and several doctoral graduate students.

CONTACT DETAILSFor further information please visit www.prc.dit.ie

Email: [email protected]

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Fibre Optic Sensors for Measurement of Electric Voltage and Current

ABSTRACTResearchers in the Photonics Research Centre (PRC) have developed a novelall-fibre electrical current and voltage sensor technology using a ferronematicliquid crystal (LC) infiltrated photonic crystal fibre. The operating principle of theproposed sensor is based on magneto-electric effect in the LC which results inthe change of light transmittance by the optical fibre.

The resultant change in the transmittance serves as a measure of electriccurrent in the conductor inducing the magnetic field or voltage applied to theelectrodes surrounding the optical fibre

SILICA CORE

Photonic Crystal Fiber Cross-Section LCPCF Sensor Head

~ 1 mm

electrodes surrounding the optical fibre.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATEDue to the nature of the LC molecules, when an external electric or magneticfield is applied to the liquid crystal, the dipole molecules tend to orientthemselves along the direction of the field.

Recent studies of LCs doped with nanoparticles have pointed the way towardinnovative improvement of the physical and electro-optical properties of LCs.Such enhancement of the electro-optical properties of LCs is dependent on thesize type concentration and intrinsic characteristics of the nanoparticles used

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALThe optical fibre solution developed by the PRC offers the potential forsimultaneous current and voltage sensing at multi-kHz response rates.

The potential applications of the proposed technology are:

~ 125 �m

size, type, concentration, and intrinsic characteristics of the nanoparticles usedfor doping. In the case of ferromagnetic nanoparticles, the large permanentmagnetic moments couple with the LC director, leading to improvements in theirmagnetic properties. This is known as a ferronematic LC. In comparison withpure LCs ferronematic LCs are more sensitive to low electric and magnetic fieldshence making these materials very attractive for sensing applications.

One possible approach to sensing which would benefit from both very highsensitivity of the doped LC materials to electric and magnetic fields and the wellknown advantages of the fibre optics is the use of LC infiltrated photonic crystalfibres.

� Grid monitoring/Smart grids.

� Phase measurement within networks

� Protection for so-called frequency convertors as a part of subsystemsassociated with wind turbines and other large scale electrical systems.

SEM micrograph of a PM-1550-01 PCF, Orientation of LC molecules within PCF holes below and above the threshold electric field.

Power distribution networksPhase measurement units

Protection of frequency converters Smart grids

TEAM / FUNDERSPhotonics Research Centre

DIT Hothouse

The Commercial Feasibility Study project is funded by Enterprise Ireland A similar approach is used for the design of a magnetic field sensor. As themagnetic field induced by a conductor is proportional to the current in theconductor inducing this magnetic field (Ampere’s law), the proposed structure issuitable for current sensing assuming the necessary calibration.

converters

Linear transmission response of the LC infiltrated PCF PM-1550-01 in the range of voltages from 100 V to 400 V; LC infiltrated PCF probe for electric field sensing

with electrodes.

Contact: Dr. Yuliya Semenova [email protected]

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Fibre Optic Sensorized Minimally Invasive Surgical Devices

ABSTRACTSurgeons involved in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) rely on their sense oftouch and experience to feel the interaction between their instruments/devicesand the tissue structures of the patient. The use of optical fibres has proven tobe a promising sensing technique to enable feedback of the instrument - tissueforce interaction to a surgeon.

The Photonics Research Centre (PRC) based in DIT is carrying out research inthe integration of optically based sensing schemes into laparoscopic surgicalinstruments As a consequence of this work new and alternative optical fibre 0.15

0.20

LMA 10

Experimental arrangement for strain/force characterization

End facet of PCF

Sensorized laparoscopic surgical blade

instruments. As a consequence of this work new and alternative optical fibreforce sensing solutions have been developed specifically for Minimally InvasiveSurgery (MIS) with the following advantages,

� MRI compatibility, bio-compatibility, can withstand high autoclavetemperatures and pressures during sterilisation.

� Miniature (~ 125 microns) design suitable for embedding in MIS devices.

� Easy embedding within polymeric and metallic host structures.

� Temperature insensitive

� Low cost sensor, due to ease of manufacture, and sensor interrogation unitKEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIAL

20 30 40 50 60-0.10

-0.05

0.00

0.05

0.10

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shift

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nm

Temperature �CWavelength shift in PCF sensor on application of strain/force

Strain/force sensitivity of the embedded PCF sensorLow temperature sensitivity of the PCF strain

sensor

(also developed by PRC) . Some of the potential areas are within radioactive medical environmentsand in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems where electronicsensors cannot operate.

In laparoscopic anastomosis procedures current practice relies on thejudgement of the surgeon to ensure that required compressive forces areapplied to the tissue during the surgery.

Fiber optic sensors developed by the PRC can improve the quality andreliability of instrument/tissue interaction force measurement. For intra-luminal staplers, fiber optics sensors can provide small, low cost,unobtrusive force sensing transducers to facilitate the measurement off / f

Positional Information

Visual Feedback Force Sensing

Issues Surgical scissor blades

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATEThe Photonic Research Centre has developed fiber optic sensor technologybased on fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) and photonic crystal fiber (PCF) to provideaccurate and real-time force feedback during MI surgical procedures.

A FBG based strain sensing system employs a macro-bend filter based FBGinterrogation system which eliminates the influence of temperature and

forces at the instrument/tissue interface, which are then relayed to thesurgeon, thereby reducing complications arising during anastomosisprocedures.

Lack of FORCE Feedback

g y psubstantially reduces the cost of the entire sensing system.

The measurement of interaction forces for MIS devices, sensorized with PCFinterferometric sensors, has also been demonstrated. Due to the lowtemperature sensitivity of PCF sensors, a temperature insensitive forcecharacterization and feedback can be implemented to assist MIS.

TEAM / FUNDERS

Laparoscopic Surgical Staplers from Ethicon Endo-Surgery

Telerobotic surgical system with robotic arms

TEAM / FUNDERSPartners:

Photonics Research Centre (PRC), Dublin Institute of Technology, IrelandSchool of Manufacturing & Design Engineering, DIT

Funders:

With support from SFI/EI – Technology Innovation Development Award(TIDA) Feasibility Study (SFI) and Enterprise Ireland (EI)Experimental arrangement for

strain characterization and a surgical blade surface mounted

with FBG sensor

Schematic of the sensing system

Contact Prof. Gerald Farrell - [email protected]

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RESEARCH INTERESTS The Applied Intelligence Research Centre (AIRC), a recognised R & D centre

of the Dublin Institute of Technology, engages in researching the application

of computational intelligence technologies to real world problems. The core

competencies of the AIRC include data analytics, machine learning, language

technologies, intelligent agents, and security. Examples of real world

problems the AIRC have addressed involve spam filtering, sentiment

analysis, dialogue management, custom search tools for language teachers,

human-robot interaction, secure mobile financial transactions, engaging

game characters, companion agents for mobile devices and the management

and visualisation of large data collections.

TEAM Dr. Brian Mac Namee [email protected]

Dr. Sarah Jane Delany [email protected]

Dr. John Kelleher [email protected]

Dr. Fred Mtenzi [email protected]

Dr. Robert Ross [email protected] CONTACT DETAILS

Web: www.comp.dit.ie/aigroup


RECENT PUBLICATIONS Delany, S.J., Segata, N. & Mac Namee, B., "Profiling Instances in Noise Reduction", Knowledge-Based Systems. (2012)

Schutte, N., Kelleher, J & Mac Namee, B., "Automatic Annotation of Referring Expression in Situated Dialogues", International Journal Of Computational Linguistics And Applications, 2 (1-2). (2011)

Sloan, C., Mac Namee, B. & Kelleher, J.D., "Utility-Directed Goal-Oriented Action Planning: A Utility-Based Control System for Computer Game Agents", In Proceedings of the 22nd Irish Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science. (2011)

Kelleher, J.D., Ross, R.J., Sloan, C. & Mac Namee, B., "The effect of occlusion on the semantics of projective spatial terms: a case study in grounding language in perception.", Cognitive Processing 12(1). (2011)

Sloan, C., J. D. Kelleher, B. Mac Namee, "Feeling the Ambiance: Using Smart Ambiance to Increase Contextual Awareness in Game Agents", In proceedings of the Sixth International ACM Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games. (2011)

K. Kennedy, B. Mac Namee, S.J. Delany, "Using semi-supervised classifiers for credit scoring", The Journal of the Operational Research Society. (2011)

Kelleher, J.D., Ross, R.J., Mac Namee, B. and Sloan, C., "Situating Spatial Templates for Human-Robot Interaction", In Proc. of the AAAI Symposium on Dialog with Robots. (2010)

Shoniregun, Charles A., Dube, Kudakwashe, Mtenzi, Fredrick, Electronic Healthcare Information Security, Springer. (2010)

Fredrick Mtenzi, Modified improvement heuristics for the Sparse Travelling Salesman Problem, International Journal of Software Engineering and Computing. (2009)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Members of the AIRC are involved in all aspects of academic life in DIT and

beyond. Members of the centre contribute to major national and international

conferences and publish their work in recognised international journals. The

projects undertaken by the group are funded by major national and

international funding agencies – e.g. SFI and Enterprise Ireland. The centre

also has a vibrant postgraduate student body working on a broad range of

research projects – in 2012 the centre expects to produce 6 PhD graduates.

The centre are also involved in a range of commercialisation activities that seek

to make the research outcomes available to Irish and international industry. For

example, in 2011 the spin-out company LingleOnline Ltd

(www.lingleonline.com) was formed based on research from the centre funded

by the NDRC (www.ndrc.ie). Finally, the centre led the development of the

pioneering and successful DIT MSc in Computing (Data Analytics)

(www.comp.dit.ie/dt285).

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Antenna & High Frequency Research CentreResearch Profile

ahfr.dit.ie

AHFR responds to communication technology demands for smaller antennas to provide wider bandwidths for multi-standard radio platforms.

Meeting requirements for new design approaches that exploit advances in modelling, materials and manufacturing innovation.

Opportunity for the DIT to partner with other academic and industrial technologists to broaden commercialisation exploitation.

To build up the research team to sustain a critical level of expertise and experience.

Research on Modelling and Optimisation� Integration of Full Wave Electromagnetic Simulations with Evolutionary Global Optimisation algorithm

� Suited for computationally-expensive multi-objective optimisation challenges

� Wideband and multiband designs were researched to enable reconfigurable radio system technologies

� ultra wide bandwidth

� stable radiation patterns

� linear and circular polarization

2D UWB Structures� Bézier Spline shape proposed for antenna geometries

� Genetic Algorithm optimisation

� Extremely wide bandwidth realised 1.4–15 GHz

� Stable omni-directional properties

� Optimisation extended to groundplane shapes and produced significant advances

3D UWB Structures� Mechanically reconfigurable rolled planar monopole

� Multiple bandwidths are obtained within the 2–10 GHz range

� Low-profile/high efficiency

� Reconfigurable band-notching

Ceramic Chip Antenna� Surface mounted UWB antenna

� UWB band groups 3 and 6.

� Efficiency >50% across 6.3–9 GHz

� Very small volume of 57.6 mm3

� Combination of the PIFA resonance and a second resonance due to the ceramic block

Antenna & High Frequency Research CentreIndustrial Liaison

ahfr.dit.ie

Taoglas� AHFR antenna solutions for Long Term Evolution (LTE) machine-to-machine communications

� LTE/4G Flex Circuit Antenna

� 690-940MHz and 1720-3130MHz

� High Efficiency Ultra Wide-Band Antenna

� 100×38×0.1mm

� WiMax communications

� WiMAX 2100-4320MHz

� 100mm 1.13 coaxial cable IPEX MHF(U.FL)

� 31×53×0.2mm

decaWave� AHFR antennas ship with decaWave product development/evaluation boards

� A single AHFR antenna addresses all the multi-jurisdictional channel allocations

� Key optimisation goal to preserve signal pulse fidelity

AirVOD� Antennas for aircraft seat mounted in-flight entertainment systems

� Low powered receiver for in cabin movie, music, news broadcasts

Sequoia / RPA� RFID antenna for Leap Card integrated ticketing reader system

� Deployed on Avego

� Licensed for Luas, Dublin Bus, Dart / IrishRail

� Increased ticket read range from 17mm to >50mm over previous solution in IrishRailgate

Smart Structures with Embedded Fibre Optic Sensors ABSTRACTABSTRACTThePhotonics Research Centre (PRC) in collaboration with Warsaw Universityof Technology and Aero AT - Aviation Technologies (Poland) has developedtechnology for measurement of various physical parameters of compositematerials. The technology is based on embedding optical fibre sensors in thecarbon fibre-reinforced matrix composites at the manufacturing stage.

Techniques for embedding and interrogation of multiple types of fibre sensors in the composite parts developed by the project partners allow for:

� Local and average strain measurement across a composite component;

T h i n

F il m

F il te r

Schematic of the hybrid interrogation

system for embedded fibre optic

sensors

� Temperature monitoring;� Crack detection;� Measurements of amplitude and frequency of vibrations.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATEThe novel hybrid technology proposed by the PRC involves embedding varioustypes of fibre sensors for sensing of multiple parameters and a commoninterrogation system which allows for real-time monitoring of the parameters ofinterest

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALIn aviation, transport, marine, wind turbine applications composites reduceweight without compromising strength. The next generation of airplanes,trains, yachts, racing vessels, cars, wind turbine blades etc., will be lighterand stronger when made with carbon fibre composites. Continuous structuralinterest.

Fibre Bragg gratings and photonic crystal fibre sensors can be used for localstrain and temperature measurements, while polarimetric fibre sensors can beused for average strain, temperature and vibration measurements.

While each individual sensor has drawbacks (e.g., a cross-sensitivity betweentemperature and strain), the proposed hybrid sensing approach offers a solutionto this problem by the application of different fibre sensors in a complimentarymanner to eliminate the drawbacks of individual sensors and to providesimultaneous measurements of multiple parameters.

g phealth monitoring over the lifecycle of the composite parts becomes veryimportant for minimizing inspection costs increasing aircraft/vehicleavailability by improving efficiency and accuracy of maintenance. Theoutcomes of this project are not limited to aviation industry and will includepotential licensing of IP in future commercial aerospace, transport, marineand wind energy applications.

-28zero deflection

-12.5d fl ti

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1535 1540 1545 1550 1555 1560 1565 1570

-48

-46

-44

-42

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-38

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nsity

dBm

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zero deflection 5 mm deflection 10 mm deflection

1500 1510 1520 1530 1540 1550 1560 1570 1580 1590 1600

-16.5

-16.0

-15.5

-15.0

-14.5

-14.0

-13.5

-13.0

Inte

nsity

dB

m

Wavelength nm

zero deflection 5 mm deflection 10 mm deflection

TEAM / FUNDERSPartners:

Strain responses of various sensors in intensity, polarization and wavelength domains: polarimetric and fibre Bragg grating sensors

Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Optics Division of the Faculty of Physics, Warsaw University of Technology, Photonics Research Centre, Dublin Institute of Technology, IrelandAero AT ltd. Aviation Technologies, Poland

Funders:

Enterprise IrelandPolish Ministry of Science and Higher EducationWith the support of European MATERA ERA-NET Call on materials

Sensor embedding: schematic, laboratory hand lay-up method, sensor placement in a helicopter rotor blade part

PRC researchers have also developed a flexible hybrid sensor demodulationsystem and its fabrication technique using post lift off process for interrogation ofhybrid sensors embedded in composite parts. The flexible nature of the proposeddemodulator allows it to be embedded inside the host composite materialtogether with the optical fibre sensors. Fabrication of the proposed flexible deviceis currently ongoing using National Access Programme facilities in TyndallInstitute, Cork.

Contact Prof. Gerald Farrell - [email protected]

CREST

KEY ACHIEVEMENTSCREST accounted for 10% of the national total of all third level commerciallicences and assignments to industry in 2011.

Only Irish exhibitors at the first EU Innovation Convention in Brussels Dec.2011

CREST funding history 2004-2012: >€6M with >€1m from industry.

CENTRE ACTIVITIES

g y y

Secured international recognition with three FP7 awards since 2010, one ofwhich involves two Irish SME’s in FP7 for the first time.

Successful in the US-Ireland project, co-funded by SFI, Invest NI and NSF,USA (total value 1 million).

Ten companies involved in Innovation Partnerships in 2011.

Recipient of four Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Awards and four DIT

Bringing Innovation to the Surface

The Centre for Research in Surface Engineering Technology (CREST) is aDIT designated research centre based in the Focas research institute thatsuccessfully provides the link between research and production. As the onlydedicated surface coatings laboratory in Ireland, it serves the SMARTeconomy by means of translating in-house fundamental knowledge from thebench-top to the market.

The CREST model relies on an expert and professional coatings consultancyservice to front-face its activity with over 60 years combined commercialsurface coating experience. In addition to its consultancy service, CRESTengages in collaborative projects with industries throughout Europesuccessfully securing funding from agencies including Enterprise Ireland RECENT PUBLICATIONS

p pHothouse Commercialisation Awards in 2011.

Sixteen license agreements with two commercial products in the market(HyGen, Lo-Noise).

Radical Coatings Ltd. spinout achieved in 2011.

successfully securing funding from agencies including Enterprise Ireland,Science Foundation Ireland and the EU Seventh Framework Programme(FP7).

Companies with a commitment to develop an innovative technology work withCREST in areas such as hygiene & corrosion control and photocatalysis. Inpartnership with these R&D-active companies, CREST has activelydemonstrated technology translation by means of licensing to Irishmanufacturing companies.

TEAM

RECENT PUBLICATIONSNolan, T., Synnot, D., Seery, M., Hinder, S., Van Wassenhaven, A., Pillai,S.:Effect of N-Doping on the Photocatalytic Activity of Sol–Gel TiO2. Journalof Hazardous Materials, 211-212, 2012, p.88-94.

S. Jaiswal, et al., Preparation and rapid analysis of antibacterial silver, copperand zinc doped sol–gel surfaces, Colloids Surf. B: Biointerfaces (2012),doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2012.01.035

Nolan, N., Seery, M., Pillai, S.: Crystallisation and Phase TransitionTEAMProf. Declan Mc Cormack , Academic Director

Dr. Yvonne Cadogan, Commercialisation Manager

Dr. Brendan Duffy, Senior Research Manager

Dr. Suresh Pillai, Senior Research Manager

Dr. Nigel Leyland, Research Scientist

Dr. Joanna Carroll, Research Scientist

Mr. Damian Synnott, Research ScientistCONTACT DETAILS

Characteristics of Sol-Gel-Synthesized Zinc Titanates. Chem. Mater. 2011,23, 1496–1504. doi.org/10.1021/cm1031688

Varma, R., Oubaha, M., Periyat, P., McDonagh, C., Duffy, B.: Application ofNiobium Enriched Ormosils as Thermally Stable Coatings for AerospaceAluminium Coatings. Surface and Coatings Technology, Volume 205, Issue16, 15 May 2011, Pages 3992-3998.

y ,

Ms. Ashley Allen, Consultant Materials Engineer

Mr. Paul Quinn, Senior Associate Consultant

Ms. Swarna Jaiswal, PhD Student

Mr. Michael Whelan, PhD Student

Mr. Garrett Melia, PhD Student

Mr. Craig Hicks, PhD Student

Ms. Rachel Fagan, PhD Student

Dr. Yvonne Cadogan

t: 01-4027945

m: 087-0629616

e: [email protected]

w: www.crestdit.com

CREST, Focas Institute, DIT Kevin St., Camden Row, Dublin 8

College Logo

Mr. Christopher Braiden, Intern

CREST CONSULTANCY

SERVICESCREST offers a professional consultancy service and engages with up to one

hundred companies/agencies in any one year with over 600 industrial

engagements since 2003. CREST works with a wide range of companies from

SMEs to multinationals with an expertise in surface treatment and material

characterisation that comply with the requirements of international standards

(ISO BS EN d ASTM) C biliti f t h i l i ti

ISO 9001:2008 ACCREDITEDCREST operates within an ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System to

guarantee consistent and reliable project delivery. The adoption of the

standard provides a consistent framework for developing processes and a

quality system that strives for continual improvement, business growth and

both customer and employee satisfaction.

(ISO, BS, EN and ASTM). Capabilities range from technical inspection,

specification, fit-for-purpose validation, corrosion control and hygiene control to

the development of novel surface coating solutions for diverse industries.

ANALYTICAL FACILITIESAccelerated exposure analysis – durability/weathering

Physical analysis – hardness, impact, adhesion, scratch etc.ys ca a a ys s a d ess, pact, ad es o , sc atc etc

Paint application, dispersion and cure

Surface area analysis

Viscometry

Microscopy – FESEM, AFM

Spectroscopy – UV-Vis, FTIR, Raman, GC MS

Material characterization - XRD and DSC & TGA

CREST recently acquired an openair plasma system from PlasmaTreat with 1KW l t d t ti j t MISSION1KW plasma generator and rotating jet

EXPERTISE

MISSIONOur mission is to provide new opportunities for Ireland’s

economic growth through superior customer service, excellence in

innovation, consultancy, education and training in surface coating and

advanced material technologies

EXPERTISESol-gel coatings and testing

Solvent, water-borne and powder coatings

Metallic and inorganic coatings

Physical & chemical testing

Specification & validation

Technical support

Innovation through R&DBRINGING INNOVATION

TO THE SURFACE

Dr. Yvonne Cadogan e: [email protected]

College Logo

FP7: AeroMUCO

SUMMARYCREST (DIT) is participating in a EADS (Ger) led project funded through the

Seventh Framework Programme developing advanced coatings for aircraft. The

objective is drag reduction on the aircraft using laminar air flow concepts with

multifunctional coatings. The coatings will function to provide anti-icing and anti-

contamination propertiescontamination properties.

The anti-icing research will deliver a set of resilient coatings that capable of

reducing ice formation. There is also the potential to reduce the use of

environmentally harmful de-icing fluids. The anti-contamination work will

develop surface coatings that minimise or eliminate adhesion of biological

matter from airborne insects.

RESEARCH STRATEGYIMPACT POTENTIAL

RESEARCH STRATEGYThere are different routes that will be exploited to achieve the project’s objective.

These routes include

• Sol-gel materials providing multi-functionality

• Freezing point suppressants that prevent ice formation

• Multilayered hard coatings increasing particulate impact resistance

The major impact of AEROMUCO will be on the conservation of fuel by

making air transport more economic by supporting laminar flow measures.

The use of efficient anti-ice coatings will lead to the potential employment of

light weight devices (electric) for active de-icing and thusly to reduced energy

consumption. The present de-icing system using bleed air consume abound

5 % of the engine power when turned on. By means of new innovative

coatings, considerable savings of fuel can be realized and therefore

contribute to the desired reduction in CO• Low surface energy coatings increasing hydrophobicity

• Coatings with immobilised enzymes breaking down biological matter

contribute to the desired reduction in CO2

Enabling and improving as well as maintaining laminar flow conditions during

flight by avoiding contamination and ice-formation will decrease CO2

emissions in aviation by an estimated 7 – 10 %. This correlates to 50 to 70

billion tons of CO2 reduction based on the annual CO2 emission of 680 billion

tons caused by aircraft.

TEAM

RESULTS TO DATEImproved performance of anodised aluminium for leading edges

TEAM

Novel enzyme nano-reservoirs

prepared

Novel low surface energy coatings

synthesised

Insect adhesion investigated Surface cleaning evaluated

Dr. Brendan Duffy, [email protected], Ph: 087-7805142

ChAT

CreativeMe

DECIPHER

FluenCi

MobiSurround

StratAG

DUBLIN ENERGY LABDUBLIN ENERGY LABDUBLIN ENERGY LAB

KEY ACHIEVEMENTSKEY ACHIEVEMENTSO 30 A d i R hOver 30 Academic Researchers

Ab 30 P d R h d P d� �

About 30 Postgraduate Researchers and Postdocs

100 journal and 200 conference papers in last 6 years

€6m research funding from European, national funding bodies

Patents, licenses and spin outs

Strong industry links with SMEs, utilities and corporates� � ��

Core member of the national Graduate Research Education Programme in gengineering and energy

Access to very wide range of indoor and outdoor laboratory facilities in the f l t i l hi d t i l t ti blareas of: electrical machines and power; materials testing; renewable

technology labs; field energy monitoring; solar field trials; thermodynamics andtechnology labs; field energy monitoring; solar field trials; thermodynamics and fluids.

� � �

RESEARCH INTERESTS Links with almost all Irish third-level energy researcher groupsRESEARCH INTERESTS gy g p

Strong relationships with other international research organisationsBasic and applied research in

Strong relationships with other international research organisations

energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency

The Dublin Energy Lab (DEL) is an interdisciplinary research group working in the fields of energy, renewable energy and energy efficiency research It specialises in: RECENT PUBLICATIONSresearch. It specialises in:

d i d l t

RECENT PUBLICATIONSM L hli F D ff A C l M Ch t i i d ti l t i it• energy device development McLoughlin, F., Duffy, A., Conlon, M.: Characterising domestic electricity consumption patterns by dwelling and occupant socio-economic variables: An• energy systems modelling and optimisation consumption patterns by dwelling and occupant socio economic variables: An Irish case study. Energy and Buildings. 2012.

• policy research Huang, M., Eames, P., Norton, B., Hewitt, N.:Natural Convection in an The DEL operates in the following main fields:

g, , , , , , ,Internally Finned Phase Change Material Heat Sink for the Thermal M t f Ph t lt i S l E M t i l d S l C ll A ti l• renewable energy supply (including solar) Management of Photovoltaics. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Article in Press 2011

• smart networks in Press, 2011

Ayompe L Duffy A McCormack S Conlon M : Projected costs of a grid• energy storage

Ayompe, L., Duffy, A., McCormack, S., Conlon, M.: Projected costs of a grid-connected domestic PV system under different scenarios in Ireland, using gy g

• others (transport, behaviour, marketing)

y , gmeasured data from a trial installation. Energy Policy, 38, pp. 3731-3743. 2010others (transport, behaviour, marketing)

We offer research consulting and demonstration support For further2010.

We offer research, consulting and demonstration support. For further information see <dit.ie/dublinenergylab/> Doherty, W., Reynolds, A., Kennedy, D.: Computer Simulation of a Biomass

Gasification Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Power System Using Aspen Plus EnergyGasification-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Power System Using Aspen Plus. Energy, 2010, Vol.35, pp.4545-4555.

TEAM, , pp

Yueping Fang, Trevor Hyde, Neil Hewitt, Philip C. Eames, Brian NortonTEAM Yueping Fang, Trevor Hyde, Neil Hewitt, Philip C. Eames, Brian Norton Thermal performance analysis of an electrochromic vacuum glazing with low emittance coatings Solar Energy, 84, 516-525, 2010

CONTACT DETAILSCONTACT DETAILSDr. Aidan DuffyCentre ManagerCentre Manager, Dublin Energy Lab, gyc/o School of Civil and Building Services Engineering, D bli I tit t f T h lDublin Institute of Technology, Bolton StreetBolton StreetDublin 1.

IRELAND

t: + 353 1 402 3940

e: aidan duffy@dit ie

Collegee: [email protected]

College Logoin collaboration with Logoin collaboration with….

E Wi dEnergy WizardEnergy WizardgyEnergy Efficiency Retrofit PerformanceEnergy Efficiency Retrofit Performance gy y

PROBLEM / MARKET NEED PREFERRED ROUTE TOPROBLEM / MARKET NEED PREFERRED ROUTE TOCOMMERCIALISATION1. Recent European legislation on energy efficiency and end use has shifted

f f ff f fCOMMERCIALISATION

some of the responsibility for the efficient use of energy in the home from the consumer to the energy supply company

CO C S ODIT is currently working with Electric Ireland who will be using this product tothe consumer to the energy supply company.

• There is an onus on energy supply companies to reduce customerDIT is currently working with Electric Ireland who will be using this product to support their customer base. Further commercial potential exists for licencing • There is an onus on energy supply companies to reduce customer

demand through energy services and advice.suppo t t e custo e base u t e co e c a pote t a e sts o ce c gto utilities and other energy providers. Such options will be considered as the g gy

• Energy supply companies do not know the amount and type of energyproject progresses.

Energy supply companies do not know the amount and type of energy used by customers, thus presenting a barrier to energy advice.

• To promote consumer investment, they must provide confident rational yadvice on a dwelling specific basis.

2. There is no accurate, impartial information for consumers regarding the fi i l f f t fit ffi i ifi t th ifinancial performance of retrofit energy efficiency measures specific to their dwelling In the Irish energy market the economic performance of suchdwelling. In the Irish energy market, the economic performance of such interventions is typically given by the company supplying the product and average figures are quoted to all potential customers.

• Customers are interested in the balance between the financial savings hi bl th h t fit f th i d lli d th it l t f thachievable through retrofit of their dwelling and the capital cost of the

remedial measure In order to promote investment in the sector theremedial measure. In order to promote investment in the sector, the potential financial savings must be linked to the consumers demand on a case by case basis.

3. There are technologies available to model the thermal performance of d lli i t ti l fl id d i t h i th t ld b ddwellings using computational fluid dynamics techniques that could be used to model the performance of such technologiesto model the performance of such technologies

• But; they are time consuming expensive require expertise with the• But; they are time consuming, expensive, require expertise with the product, are data intensive and require detailed survey of the dwelling in p , q y gquestion. A simpler solution is required.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONTECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONThe technique that is used to estimate energy demand in the dwelling forThe technique that is used to estimate energy demand in the dwelling for Building Energy Ratings (BERs) is called an asset rating technique. It is a heat balance approach that makes standardised assumptions regarding heating season and required internal temperature Our approach was to simplify the dataseason and required internal temperature. Our approach was to simplify the data requirements of the asset rating approach and calibrate it using the consumersrequirements of the asset rating approach and calibrate it using the consumers actual annual demand. The programme is used on a dwelling by dwelling basis and multiple simulations are carried out simultaneously to represent each of the energy efficiency remedial measures consideredenergy efficiency remedial measures considered.

Retrofit MeasuresRetrofit Measures

Attic Insulation Cavity Wall insulation

IP POSITIONExternal Wall Insulation Internal Dry Lining IP POSITIONIP developed as part of the project is owned by DIT and ESB Electric Ireland.

High efficiency Boilers Window upgrade

Energy Efficient Lighting Lagging Jacket

CollegeCollege LogoLogo

Daire Reilly (dairereilly@gmail com)Daire Reilly ([email protected])

ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH CENTREELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH CENTREELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH CENTREKEY ACHIEVEMENTSKEY ACHIEVEMENTSAchieved Funding from,

i) Enterprise Ireland Commercialization fund for UPQC

ii) CaBS Award from Research Support Unit of DIT for Smart Grid Technology

iii) Strand 1 for Power Quality in DG integrated Network with UPQC

iv) HEA Equipment Grant for Real Time Simulation Laboratory Set up

v) UK EPSRC collaboration Grant

vi) DIT Fiosraigh research grant for Smart Microgrid

International Research Collaboration:International Research Collaboration:

i) Institute of Energy Technology (IET) at Aalborg Universityi) Institute of Energy Technology (IET) at Aalborg University

ii) Purdue UniversityEPRC@DIT ii) Purdue University

iii) University of UlsterTowards a Clean, Secured and Sustainable Electricity Network iii) University of Ulster

iv) Durham Universityiv) Durham University

v) UPC, Spain

RESEARCH INTERESTSv) UPC, Spain

RESEARCH INTERESTSS t G id d Mi id N t k

PhD & PostDoc Researchers: Completed - 5, Continuing – 3� Smart Grid and Microgrid Networks

� Autonomous OperationAcademic Researchers: 10

p� Efficient and Economic Performance

I t ti f R bl E ith FACTS d iPublished Papers in Journal and Conferences: more than 30 within last 5 years

� Integration of Renewable Energy with FACTS devices� Wind Energy RECENT PUBLICATIONSgy� Solar Photovoltaic Energy

� Grid tie Inverter TopologyRECENT PUBLICATIONS

� Grid-tie Inverter Topology� Voltage Source Inverter S K Khadem, M Basu and M F Conlon, "UPQC for Power Quality Improvement in

DG Integrated Smart Grid Network A Review " International Journal of Emergingg� Z-Source Inverter� Control

DG Integrated Smart Grid Network – A Review, International Journal of Emerging Electric Power Systems: Vol. 13: Iss. 1, Article 3, 2012

� Control� Anti-islanding Technique L Mariam, M Basu and M F Conlon, “A Review of Existing Microgrid

� Power Quality Monitoring, Analysis and Improvement� eCAR Charging Analysis

Architectures”, SEEP Conference, Ireland, pp. 179-1184, 2012� eCAR Charging Analysis

� Design and Development of FACTS devices M. Hanif, M. Basu, and K. Gaughan, "Understanding the operation of a Z-source inverter for photovoltaic application with a design example " Power Electronics

� Active Power Filter� Dynamic Voltage Restorer

inverter for photovoltaic application with a design example, Power Electronics, IET, vol. 4, pp. 278-287, 2011

� Dynamic Voltage Restorer� Unified Power Quality Conditioner S. K. Khadem, M. Basu and M. F. Conlon, “Integration of UPQC for Power

� Assessment of Urban Wind Energy Resource�Behaviour of urban wind environment

Quality Improvement in Distributed Generation Network – A Review”, ISGT Europe 2011 Manchester UK Dec 2011�Behaviour of urban wind environment

�Interaction of microwind generation and distribution networkEurope 2011, Manchester UK, Dec 2011

L Ayompe A Duffy S McCormack and M F Conlon "Measured performance� Electric networks for Wave Energy Systems� Impact of CHP on Urban Networks

L. Ayompe, A. Duffy, S. McCormack, and M. F. Conlon, Measured performance of a 1.72 kilowatt rooftop grid-connected photovoltaic system in Ireland," Energy CImpact of CHP on Urban Networks

� Vibration Analysis of Generator Stators Conversion and Management, vol. 52, pp. 816-825, 2011

I A t M B d M F C l "DC li k lt t l f UPQC f b ttI. Axente, M. Basu, and M. F. Conlon, "DC link voltage control of UPQC for better dynamic performance," Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 81, pp. 1815-

TEAMdynamic performance, Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 81, pp. 18151824, 2011TEAM Axente, I., Ganesh, J., Basu, M., Gaughan, K., Conlon, M.: Development of a 12 kVA DSP C t ll d L b t P t t UPQC IEEE T ti PkVA DSP-Controlled Laboratory Prototype UPQC. IEEE Transactions Power Electronics, Vol. 25(6), pp. 1471- 1479. June, 2010.

Faculty Members Research Scholars

CONTACT DETAILS, ( ), pp ,

Dr Michael F Conlon Shafiuzzaman Khan KhademCONTACT DETAILS

Michael Farrell Lubna MariamDr Michael Conlon

Michael Farrell Lubna Mariam

D M l bik B B i h K P llDirector, Electric Power Research Centre

Dr Malabika Basu Benish K Paelly

Head, Department of Control EngineeringKevin Gaughan Fergus Sharkey

Acting Head, School of Electrical Engineering SystemsJoseph Keraney France Darlus MengapcheDIT, Kevin Street, Dublin 8

Keith Sunderland Stefan GeidelEmail: [email protected]

Keith Sunderland Stefan Geidel

C llPh: +353-1-4022838Dr Jayanti N G David Shally

College gLogoLogo

C t ti f S l E U iConcentration of Solar Energy UsingConcentration of Solar Energy Using

S it h bl R fl tSwitchable ReflectorsSwitchable Reflectors.

SUMMARY / ABSTRACT KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALSUMMARY / ABSTRACT KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALPresently, effective concentration of sunlight at medium-high concentration

f SPotential Advantages:

ratios requires tracking of the diurnal and seasonal solar path changes. Suchmechanical tracking systems can be quite complex and add significant cost of

� Greater amount of solar energy collected.� Cost lowered by reduced area of expensive solar energy absorbermechanical tracking systems can be quite complex and add significant cost of

material, installation, use, maintenance and repair. A novel system incorporating� Cost lowered by reduced area of expensive solar energy absorber.� No moving parts; obviating need for, and cost of, motors, controls andp y p g

“switchable reflectors” has the potential to track the sun with no mechanicali t d id i d t P i ti l t h i

g p ; g , , ,associated input power.

moving parts and provide economic advantages. Prismatic, electrochromic(EC) gasochromic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC or LC) and

� Minimal maintenance requirement.(EC), gasochromic, polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC or LC) andelectrophoretic or suspended particle device (SPD) technologies provide Potential Disadvantages:switching capabilities to modulate the transmittance of the solar spectrum. Suchtechnologies are already being used in buildings to regulate sun light

� Optical losses greater than a tracking system as insolation passes through andditi l t t l ttechnologies are already being used in buildings to regulate sun light

transmission and consequently control the solar heat flow through windows,additional transparent element.� Cost of switchable mirrors may not reduce overall cost of energy producedq y g ,

reducing heating and cooling requirements and the costs involved [1]. Emergingd l t l th it hi bilit t fl t Th it hi

� Cost of switchable mirrors may not reduce overall cost of energy producedtaking optical losses into account.

developments apply the switching capability to reflectors. The switchingreflectors can be used as a transmissive or reflective window or possibly at an

� Long-term optical performance of switchable mirrors is unproven.reflectors can be used as a transmissive or reflective window or possibly at anintermediary state. An additional advantage offered by LC, SPD and Presently absorption transmission and switching speed measurements haveelectrochromic devices is their electrical control. The combination of traditional

d it h bl fl t i t th d i f l t t ld ll th

Presently, absorption, transmission and switching speed measurements havebeen carried out suspended particle devices (SPD) and liquid crystal switchable

and switchable reflectors into the design of solar concentrators could allow thecollection of solar energy at different angular ranges, as well as improve the

p p ( ) q ywindows of 15x15cm from SmartGlass International. Ltd. Switching Off for SPD

i d f 00 2 di h l h S i hi Ocollection of solar energy at different angular ranges, as well as improve theproportion of diffuse light component to be collected [2, 3]. occurs in order of 500ms to 2s according to the wavelength. Switching On occurs

between 200ms and 400ms Comparatively the On switching time for LC windowbetween 200ms and 400ms. Comparatively the On switching time for LC windowis in the order of 15ms and between 25ms and 55ms for the Off switching time.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATEg

Note switching times lengthen with the window size. Similar switching speed for

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE LC switchable mirrors are expected. This would make a solar concentrator usingswitchable mirrors practical to adapt to changing solar conditions maintaining

Switchable reflectors are an innovative technology that can change from beingswitchable mirrors practical to adapt to changing solar conditions, maintainingthe desired solar concentration and collecting a greater amount of the diffusedSwitchable reflectors are an innovative technology that can change from being

transparent (fully or partially) to reflective to solar radiation. Four main types ofthe desired solar concentration and collecting a greater amount of the diffusedcomponent compared to traditional solar concentrators.

switchable mirrors are available: prismatic, gasochromic, electrochromic andliquid crystal (LC) Nowadays only the LC type appears to be commerciallyliquid crystal (LC). Nowadays only the LC type appears to be commerciallyavailable from Kent Optronics Inc.available from Kent Optronics Inc.

SR in reflective state [7]. SR semi-reflective or SR in transparent Pixels part in reflection state[ ]semi-transparent state.

pstate.

Pixels part in reflection state and transparent state.

At times when a solar ray in a specified angular range are incident on aswitchable reflector the ray is directly reflected onto the solar absorber which Above is the expected comparative representation of solar energy collected duringswitchable reflector, the ray is directly reflected onto the solar absorber whichcould be Photovoltaic (PV), Thermal (T) or an hybrid PV/T. At other times of the

bo e s t e e pected co pa at e ep ese tat o o so a e e gy co ected du gthe day for a fixed solar concentrator (eg fixed CPC), a fixed solar concentratorcould be Photovoltaic (PV), Thermal (T) or an hybrid PV/T. At other times of the

day, the switchable reflector is set to be fully or partially transparent, allowing the using switchable reflectors (eg fixed CPC with switchable mirrors) and a motorizedsun-tracking solar concentrator (eg 1-axis CPC)incident beam to reach the second reflector and consequently reflected onto the

absorber

sun-tracking solar concentrator (eg 1-axis CPC).

Simulation is being carried out using the optical properties of the parts composingabsorber. Simulation is being carried out using the optical properties of the parts composingsolar concentrators, the choice of concentrator design, the absorber properties andSummer

Mid-Day Sun

Afternoon , g , p pthe solar input conditions.

Summer Sun path

Afternoon Sun

pathEvening Sun REFERENCES

MorningS

REFERENCESWinter Sun

th

Morning Sun

S

R 1.Lampert, C. M. (1995), Chromogenic Switchable Glazing: Towards the

PV or

PV/T

S

R

path

PV or

Development of the Smart Window. Window Innovations ’95, Toronto, Canada, June 5-6 1995 The ProceedingsPV/T

module Non-

SR

PV/T

module Non-

SR

June 5-6, 1995,The Proceedings.

2 Norton B (2009) Concentrating Solar Energy without Moving Parts CISBATSR

NorthSouth

SR

EastWest

2.Norton, B. (2009), Concentrating Solar Energy without Moving Parts. CISBAT 2009, Lausanne, Switzerland, September 2009

Possible configuration to track the sun Sectional view of a possiblefi i k h h

, , , p

3 Norton B and McCormack S Dublin Institute of Technology (2009) Switchablegpath seasonal change with switchablemirrors

configuration to track the sun path attimes of the day.

3.Norton, B. and McCormack, S., Dublin Institute of Technology (2009). Switchable Mirrors for Solar Concentration.

TEAM / FUNDERSmirrors. times of the day.

TEAM / FUNDERSMy PhD, started in January 2012, is supervised by Professor Brian Norton and Dr.y y p yJohn Doran. The project is funded by IRCSET-Graduate Research EducationP i E i i (GREP E ) d b d t DIT D bli E L bProgramme in Engineering (GREP-Eng) and based at DIT Dublin Energy Lab.

Construction drawing of an inwardfacing CPC of acceptance angle �

Possible IF-CPC in a W-E orientation fordiurnal tracking using switchable mirrorsfacing CPC of acceptance angle �. diurnal tracking using switchable mirrors.The equivalent acceptance angle is 2��

Philippe Lemarchand DEL FOCAS Institute DIT philippe lemarchand@mydit ie +35314027928q p g

Philippe Lemarchand. DEL, FOCAS Institute, DIT. [email protected] +35314027928

FOOD & HEALTH RESEARCHFOOD & HEALTH RESEARCH F d d H lthFOOD & HEALTH RESEARCH Food�and�Health�

CENTRE (FHRC)Research�Centre�

CENTRE (FHRC)CENTRE (FHRC)RESEARCH INTERESTS THE TEAMRESEARCH INTERESTS THE TEAM

Functional foods and nutraceuticals: Research in the Food and Health Research Centre isFunctional foods and nutraceuticals: Research in the Food and Health Research Centre is interdisciplinary and applied and is both industry and

• bio-prospecting from dairy, marine, interdisciplinary and applied and is both industry and policy relevant The cross-disciplinary teams of

brewing fruit & vegetablespolicy relevant. The cross-disciplinary teams of researchers focus on food safety quality and nutritionbrewing, fruit & vegetables researchers focus on food safety, quality and nutrition, including nutraceutical research and the development of

• fermentationincluding nutraceutical research and the development of innovative foods that are health enhancing and novel

• genetic diversity and conservationinnovative foods that are health enhancing and novel technologies that ensure safety• genetic diversity and conservation technologies that ensure safety.

Post-harvest and non-thermal technologies:It includes DIT staff, post-doctoral researchers and post

Post-harvest and non-thermal technologies: graduates students from various Schools in the College f S i & H l h & h S h l f C li A &• quality and nutritional characteristics of Sciences & Health & the School of Culinary Arts &

F d T h l• shelf-life extension

Food Technology. shelf-life extension

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS• applied modelling for process optimisation KEY ACHIEVEMENTS� Over 100 peer reviewed publications & numerous books

Food product development and culinary innovation:� Over 100 peer reviewed publications & numerous books

&• sensory analysis and consumer evaluation � 1 License & 1 patent-pending sensory analysis and consumer evaluation� Substantial research funding (National & International)

• processing and product innovationg ( )

� Numerous PhD MSc & MPhil completions• molecular gastronomy

� Numerous PhD, MSc & MPhil completions molecular gastronomy

l d b ki t h l FACILITIES• cereal and baking technology FACILITIESF d f t d di ti t l

� Pilot and lab-scale processingFood safety and diagnostic tools:

� Pilot and lab scale processing� Commercial product preparation

• qualitative and quantitative, environmental and nutritional� Commercial product preparation

qualitative and quantitative, environmental and nutritional

h lth i k t d t� Food packaging systems

• health risk assessment and management� Fully equipped sensory laboratory

• novel and natural antimicrobials and technologies� Fully equipped sensory laboratory� Fully equipped instrumental analytical suiteg

t b li fili h t l i i d i� Fully equipped instrumental analytical suite

• metabolic profiling, hyperspectral imaging, sensor design � Food Analysis

S ll l l bi t h l � Shelf-life DeterminationSmall molecule biotechnology: � Shelf life Determination� D di t d Mi bi l Ch i t Bi h i t &• carbohydrate synthetic chemistry & enzymatic biosynthesis � Dedicated Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry &

Posthar est research laboratoriesy y y y y

molecular enzymologyPostharvest research laboratories

• molecular enzymology � Structural and functional genomic analysis• process engineering CONTACT DETAILSp g g CONTACT DETAILSHuman health and nutrition: For more details on the FHRC please contact Dr• interactions with functional ingredients

For more details on the FHRC, please contact DrCatherine Barry-Ryan College of Sciences and• interactions with functional ingredients Catherine Barry Ryan, College of Sciences andHealth Cathal Brugha St Dublin 1 Ireland at

• status and evidence based solutions at demographic levelHealth, Cathal Brugha St., Dublin 1, Ireland atcatherine barryryan@dit ie or [email protected] or 01 4024458.


New Applications for Brewing Industry By-Products

SUMMARY / ABSTRACTBrewers spent grain (BSG) is the main waste product from beer production(85%) and equates to approximately 20 kg per 100 litres of beer produced.According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 160,000 tonnes of BSG areproduced annually in Ireland, while across Europe the figure is about 3.4 milliontonnes per annum.

BSG is a valuable natural resource, containing dietary fibre (up to 70%), protein

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIAL� Valuable information on the range of bioactive phenolic compounds in BSG

as potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical ingredients

� A range of healthy snack prototypes have been developed by extrusionwith much higher fibre level and lower Glycaemic index than typicalcommercial healthy snacks suggesting possible applications in the diabeticor weight control sectors.

(25%), phenolic substances and carbohydrates and has potential benefits forhuman nutrition. However, until now it has been sold as cattle feed, compostedor disposed of in landfill and has received little attention as a marketablecommodity. The recycling of brewers spent grain has great potential due to itshigh availability, low cost and proven safety for human consumption.

This project investigates the potential of BSG in generating new potentialfunctional foods and nutraceuticals through the application of the extrusionprocess or by employing a number of physical and chemical methods to extractvaluable bioactive compounds such as arabinoxylans.

Dietary supplementation of arabinoxylans has been reported to have many

� “Green methods” for the extraction of arabinoxylans

� Water extractable arabinoxylans has potential use in the food industry asfood hydrocolloids.

� Alkaline extractable arabinoxylans has potential applications in materialsciences including textiles and packaging.

health benefits including lower cholesterol absorption and control of type-2diabetes.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE� Fibre content, phenolic content and antioxidant capacity increased with the

incorporation of up to 30% of BSG in extruded healthy snacks.

� The insoluble fibre arabinoxylans is a major dietary fibre in BSG withsignificant antioxidant activity and offers may possibilities for new ingredientg y y p gmanufacture. Arabinoxylans showed bifidogenic properties (promote thegrowth of bifidobacterium in the gut).

� Current research is focusing on developing “Green methods” incorporatingwater, ultrasound and a combination treatment of pressure and temperatureto enhance the levels of arabionxylans extraction from BSG for applications inthe food and pharmaceutical industries.

Figure 2 Schematic of arabinoxylans extraction procedureSpent grainFreeze-dried spent grain

Extrusion process

TEAM / FUNDERSDr. Nissreen Abu-Ghannam (Principal Investigator, research supervisor)

Sofia Reis (PhD student)

The researchers acknowledge funding from the Irish Department of Agriculture,

Figure 2 Schematic of arabinoxylans extraction procedureSpent grain spent grain

Food and Marine. FIRM project No. 08RDTAFRC665

Figure 1 Schematic for the generation of healthy extruded snacks

Extruded snacks

E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

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School of Food Science and Environmental Health

College of Sciences & Health

Utilization of by-products from Cheese Industry for Quality

Retention of Canned Irish Tomatoes Lubna Ahmed and Catherine Barry-Ryan

SUMMARY KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALSUMMARYTomato is a versatile vegetable that is consumed either as fresh or, mainly, asprocessed products (more than 65 % of the world tomato production beingprocessed). It is considered as an important source of dietary antioxidants as itis rich in vitamins, carotenoids and phenolic compounds.

However, processing and storage of commercial tomato-based products mayresult in a decrease in some quality attributes, including loss of colour andnutrients. Retention of the quality and shelf-life of fresh tomato and processedtomato products is now the interest of the industry and consumers.

Whey permeate is a by product of whey protein concentrate from cheese Whey

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALThe application of DWP significantly retained the phyto-chemical andantioxidant contents and maintained firmness of canned tomato throughoutthe storage.

Since thermal processing has an adverse effect on retention of mostphytochemicals, addition of natural thermo-stable antioxidants like DWP iswarranted in food industries.

The work described here has been published in Food Chemistry

“Ahmed, L., Patras, A., Martin-Diana, A. B., Rico, D. and Barry-Ryan, C.

(2012) The effect of delactosed whey permeate on phytochemicalWhey permeate is a by-product of whey protein concentrate from cheese. Wheyand whey permeate have been proposed to be used as a natural antioxidant infoods.

The aim of this project is to investigate the efficacy of delactosed whey

permeate (DWP) treatment on retention of the antioxidant and

phytochemical contents of canned tomatoes during storage.

(2012). The effect of delactosed whey permeate on phytochemical

content of canned tomatoes. Food Chemistry, 134, 2249–2256”.

2

3

4

5

6

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re (

N)

A

1

2

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Storage (Months)

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

sco

rbic

Acid

(m

g/1

00 g

DW

)

B

Irish Plum Tomatoes Removing the skin

Tomatoes with DWP + NaCl

+ Citric acid

80

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

As

90

100

110

120

130

140

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Lyco

pen

e(m

g/1

00 g

DW

)

Storage (Months)

C

Storage at RT Barriquand Steriflow canning machine

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATEo DWP treatment markedly inhibited the loss of firmness (40 %) over 6

months storage.

o DWP treated tomatoes had significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of vitamin C,lycopene and antioxidant activity compared to control samples (NaCl+Citric acid) throughout the storage.

Figure 1. Processing of canned tomato0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Storage (Months)

456789

10M 1

M 2

M 3

M 4

M 5

M 6

456789

10M 1

M 2

M 3

M 4

M 5

M 6

General AcceptabilityColour

D

o DWP prevented the thermal degradation of vitamin C during canning byinhibiting oxidation as well as forming a protective layer on the tissuesurface.

o DWP also have prevented the high temperature induced oxidation oflycopene in tomatoes

o DWP enhanced the retention of antioxidants in canned tomatoes duringstorage. The antioxidant activity (as measured by FRAP) of DWP treatedtomatoes was higher (7 %) than the control at the end of storage.

o The sensory analysis showed that the colour and acceptability of tomatoes

TEAM / FUNDERSo DIT Strand I Research Project,

o Glanbia (Ltd. Ingredients, Ireland),

o Amcor Flexible Ltd. UK and

Figure 2. Effect of DWP on (A) texture, (B) vitamin C, (C) lycopene and(D) sensory markers of canned tomatoes over 6 months of storage.

Contact Details: [email protected] ; Tel: +353 (0) 1 402-4442

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treated with DWP was higher than the control samples. o Sharp Interpack Ltd. UK.

Postharvest Research on the Quality of Mushrooms

(Agaricus bisporus)

Summary(2) Cold Chain assessment – effect on quality of mushroom

Ability to assess a cold chainSummaryThe Irish mushroom industry is an important production sector that is under pressureto develop market-led, value-added products for the export market. Mushrooms areexposed to a number of environmental conditions post harvest which may affect theproduct quality. Loss of whiteness during storage is particularly important in themushroom industry, depending on a white mushroom for high quality product export.Rough handling, transportation, fruiting body senescence, bacterial and viralinfections are among the main causes of mushroom discoloration. There is a definiteneed in the mushroom industry to investigate techniques that could be used to rapidlydetect/discriminate mushroom damage and also to understand the physical andbiological factors involved in the loss of mushroom whiteness.

�Ability to assess a cold chain.

�Potential to interpret and assess the effect of cold chain in fresh vegetables

biological factors involved in the loss of mushroom whiteness.

EXPERTISEo 12 Years of experience in research and innovation of Postharvest quality

vegetables and mushrooms mushrooms

o Quality of fresh vegetables.

o Using new sensors.

o Cold Chain Assessment.

Packaging

(3) HSI Systems to detect microbiological damage (brown blotch)

Figure 3. (A) Temp and relative humidity profile of the abuse and idealcondition and the effect on (B) total colour difference and (C) hardness inmushroom over 9 days of storage.

o Packaging.

o Washing and decontamination (chemical and physical) treatments.

o Experience in consulting with industry in the area of postharvest technology

o Development of Innovation Vouchers and Innovation Partnerships with industry.

Fig 5: Diagram and image of ahyperspectral imaging system

Fig 4: HSI images of the mushroomsundamaged (up), bruise damaged (center)and brown blotch infected (down)

� HSI can be used to classify mushrooms according to their damage class:Undamaged, mechanically damaged, diseased (brown blotch)

� Potential to develop automated tool in industry for the detection of damage

Fig 1: Assessing the effect of mechanical damage (i.e. damage during transportation) onmushroom quality

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIAL

(1) FTIR, NMR & GC/MS: The effect of mechanical damage on metabolism

� Potential: Rapid techniques to identify damage

(4) FTIR-imaging spectroscopy to detect MVX

� FTIR imaging could discriminate� Potential: To develop fundamental knowledge of metabolic changes in mushrooms and fresh vegetables.

� FTIR-imaging could discriminate between non-infected mushrooms and those that had been infected by the virus

� Potential Rapid technique compared to PCR technology

Fig 6: MVX infected vs non-infected mushrooms analysed by FTIR-imagingspectroscopy and the differences between their spectra

COLLABORATORS/FUNDERSCOLLABORATORS/FUNDERSo Momaghan Mushroom Research Group: John Collier and Jenna Warby. Sensors and Cold Chain Assessment.

o DIT collaborations: PJ Cullen, Paula Bourke, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam, Catherine Barry-Ryan, Lubna Ahmed.

o UCC :Pramod Mahajan, Maria Gallagher and Jorge Oliveira. Packaging.

o Funders: Science Foundation Ireland, Food Institutional Research Measure, Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnerships and IRCSET

o Teagasc: Helen Grogan, Gerry Downey. Cultivation and Sensors

o AFBI: Mairead Fitzpatrick Virus MVX

Contact Details: Jesus Frias; Tel: +353 1 4024459; email: [email protected]

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Fig 2: Spectroscopic techniques used to discriminate damaged from undamaged mushrooms

o AFBI: Mairead Fitzpatrick. Virus MVX

o UCD: Colm O’Donnell. HSI and imaging

Development of Functional Foods based on utilisation of Edible Irish Seaweeds

S / S CSUMMARY / ABSTRACT�The Atlantic cost of Ireland is one of the most productive seaweed growing areas in theworld.

�The Irish coast is home to more than 500 seaweed species but research has onlyfocused on a small number (16-18) for commercial exploitation.

�Ireland’s seaweed and biotechnology sector is currently worth €18 million per annum

��0 tonnes of seaweed (wild product) are harvested per year

�185 full time employees

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIAL�The addition of H. elongata into bakery and meat products in thedevelopment of functional foods opens up new potential for seaweedutilisation.

�Increased levels of dietary fiber and antioxidant capacity were observed forbakery and meat products upon the incorporation of up to a maximum of40% of seaweeds.

�Extension in shelf-life and reduction in lipid oxidation for meat productsincorporated with seaweeds185 full time employees

�Seaweeds are a powerhouse of natural ingredients with potent biological propertiessuch as anti-oxidants� anti-bacterial anti-cancer and anti-diabetic. Seaweed bioactivegroups are mainly polyphenols� polysaccharides� carotenoids� polyunsaturated fattyacids� proteins and peptides.

� Seaweed drying is the most typical approach that seaweed processors follow inIreland for purposes of preservation� enhancing shelf-life and convenience. However�the drying procedures as currently applied significantly compromises the biologicalcontent and activity of seaweeds.

�This research has focused on brown seaweeds due to their high antioxidant activity in

incorporated with seaweeds.

�The developed products scored high levels of sensory acceptability.

� Reduction in the Glycemic index of bread products upon the incorporationof seaweeds.

�Significant potential for the exploitation and the addition of seaweeds intraditional Irish products to enhance their nutritional image and to contributetowards the population health and well being.

�The drying procedures as applied by seaweed producers in Ireland havebeen reviewed and optimized and new time and temperature conditions havebeen developed to maximize the retention of biological activities incomparison with other seaweed species. In particular the species Himanthalia elongata

or sea Spaghetti was studies with respect to: bioactivity content� optimization of thedrying process to retain maximum bioactivity and avenues for incorporation in typicalIrish food products with a view to enhance the functional and nutraceutical characteristicof such products.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATEH l i hi h l l f bi l i l i i f i ifi i h l h

been developed to maximize the retention of biological activities inseaweeds.

�H. elongata contains high levels of biological activity of significant importance to health including high fibre content.

� Drying methods were optimized in this research to maximize the retention of biological activities as drying significantly reduces the potency of seaweed biological properties.

�Dried and rehydrated seaweeds were incorporated into commonly consumed convenience products to enhance their nutraceutical properties (dietary fibre and antioxidants)� this included bakery and meat products.

TEAM / FUNDERSD Ni Ab Gh (P i i l I ti t h i )

Figure 2 Seaweeds incorporated in bakery products

School of Food Science and Environmental ��

Dr. Nissreen Abu-Ghannam (Principle Investigator� research supervisor)

Sabrina Cox (PhD student)

The researchers acknowledge funding from the Dublin Institute of Technology under the ABBEST Programme.

Duileasc Himanthalia elongata Alaria

College of Sciences and Health

Figure 1 Typical Irish seaweed species

Nori Carrageen Moss

KelpLaminaria

digitata

[email protected], [email protected], phone: (01) 4027570

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SUMMARY / ABSTRACTCurrent cleaning validation techniques are largely based on laborious, timeconsuming and expensive swab sampling techniques, whereby swabs of thecleaned surface are taken and then tested using HPLC techniques in thelaboratory.

Equipment can be down for days, which poses enormous economic burden inthe pharmaceutical industry.

The aim of the OPTICLEAN project is to produce an effective portable

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALThe results have shown the feasibility of such technology to be used toprovide accurate information in real-time, facilitating the development of acustom-made version of the technology that will be trialed in thepharmaceutical industry as a cleaning validation tool.

A portable imaging device will be designed and built and tested on acommonly used APIs and detergents in real pharmaceutical environments inorder to validate its effectiveness and reliability.

The impact of the uptake of the technology will enable rapid turn aroundoptical system for cleaning verification in the pharmaceutical industry.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATELow limits of detection achieved � 1�m

The impact of the uptake of the technology will enable rapid turn-aroundtimes, increased through-put and profitability in EU pharmaceutical plants, aswell as increased safety standards, which are paramount to safeguarding thehealth and safety of EU citizens.

Low limits of detection achieved � 1�m

Compound identification and quantification

Direct measurement

Rapid speed of analysis

Non-contact

http://www.opticlean-fp7.eu/

TEAM / FUNDERSThe RTD providers are

Dublin Institute of Technology DIT (Ireland)

VTT Research Centre of Finland (Finland)

Innovació i Recerca Industrial i Sostenible IRIS (Spain)

Caffeine/lactose blend

60 �g/cm2 10 �g/cm2 1 �g/cm2

The SMEs involved in the project are

Innopharma Labs (Ireland) Coordinator

Merrion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Ireland)

Manufacturas Serviplast. S.A. (Spain)

Kuava Ltd. (Finland)

Rikola Ltd. (Finland)

Contact Details: [email protected]

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OPTICLEAN is a 2-year R&D project funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the EC under the “Research for SMEs” sub-programme.

This project started in November 2011 and will end in October 2013

Antioxidant rich apple peel extractAntioxidant-rich apple peel extractt o da t c app e pee e t actA t l ti t t t th lit f f dA natural option to protect the quality of foods

PROBLEM / MARKET NEED PREFERRED ROUTE TOPROBLEM / MARKET NEED PREFERRED ROUTE TOCOMMERCIALISATION• Waste prevention through resource efficiency is a top environmental priority set

CCOMMERCIALISATION

by the European Commission to ensure cost savings and promote new businessopportunities

CO C S O• Short term route:opportunities.

• The agri food waste generated by the agriculture and food & drink industry can be• Short-term route:

Th l t t b d i t d f th ti dditi ( i ti l• The agri-food waste generated by the agriculture and food & drink industry can beminimised or recycled in alternative to traditional disposal routes, such as

The peel extract can be used instead of synthetic additives (or in partialsubstitution) for the physical chemical and microbiological stabilization (shelf-y p ,

incineration or landfill.substitution) for the physical, chemical and microbiological stabilization (shelflife extension) of liquid products, e.g. water and oil-in-water emulsions (e.g.

• Apple waste left by field operations and industrial processing can be used for the juices and beverages; vegetable soups; cosmetics).preparation of plant extracts rich in bioactive compounds (e.g. phenoliccompounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties)

• Long-term route:compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties).

N t l l t t t (b t i l ) b d i f ti l f d li tiThe peel extract can be used as a nutraceutical or functional ingredient.

• Natural plant extracts (botanicals) can be used in functional food applicationsand/or in non-food products (e.g. cosmetics) as additives to prevent lipid oxidation DIT are currently seeking industry partners in the food ingredients orand/or in non food products (e.g. cosmetics) as additives to prevent lipid oxidationand/or microbial spoilage. cosmetics markets to partner with in developing this novel product for

the functional food ingredients market and/or cosmetics market• In Ireland, the growing of traditional culinary apple varieties (cv Bramley’s

the functional food ingredients market and/or cosmetics market.

Seedling) for home baking or processing has gone into decline at the beginning of2000’ l di t th i d ti t l f t i2000’s, leading to their over-production at low farm gate price.

P l f d l ll di d d d d l d f tili• Peels from processed apples are generally discarded and used as land fertiliseror as feed for cattle; however they can be valuable sources of plant compoundsor as feed for cattle; however, they can be valuable sources of plant compoundswith already reported antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. New marketopportunities can arise from their use as botanicals in food and non-foodapplicationsapplications.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONTECHNOLOGY SOLUTION• A novel approach for the recovery purification and delivery of peel flavonoids (i e• A novel approach for the recovery, purification and delivery of peel flavonoids (i.e.

flavan-3-ols, flavonols and dihydrochalcones) as a botanical extract from, y )processed apples such as cv Bramley’s Seedling has been developed on the

f ( ) fbasis of preparation techniques (e.g. brewing methods) widely used for otherherbal and herbal tea productsherbal and herbal tea products.

• The brewing process uses water in alternative to organic solvents for the• The brewing process uses water in alternative to organic solvents for theextraction of target compounds from fresh or dried-powdered plant material, thusg p p p ,avoiding further purification steps for the removal of unwanted lipoidal material ori ( hl h ll d id ) d d i h di l l f IP POSITIONpigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) and reducing the disposal volumes of

highly flammable organic solvents and/or their final presence in the dry extractIP POSITION

highly flammable organic solvents and/or their final presence in the dry extract.

• The isolated flavonoid compounds can be concentrated under vacuum by The process is patent pending. DIT are seeking licensees with a view to• The isolated flavonoid compounds can be concentrated under vacuum byremoving water through a sublimation process in order to obtain the final extract

The process is patent pending. DIT are seeking licensees with a view tocommercialisation.g g p

in the form of a dry powder.

DIT C ll f S i d H lthDIT College of Science and HealthS h l f F d S i d E i lSchool of Food Science and Environmental Health, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1g

DIT HothouseDIT HothouseTechnology Transfer OfficeTechnology Transfer OfficeAungier Street Dublin 2Aungier Street, Dublin 2

Research: Laura Massini (PhD student laura massini@dit ie) and Dr Catherine Barry Ryan (leadingResearch: Laura Massini (PhD student – [email protected]) and Dr. Catherine Barry-Ryan (leading

i h 01 402 4458 th i b @dit i )supervisor, ph. 01 402 4458 – [email protected]).

Innovation: Dermot Tierney (Licensing Executive ph 01 402 7128 – dermot tierney@dit ie)Innovation: Dermot Tierney (Licensing Executive, ph. 01 402 7128 – [email protected]).

Probiotic fermentation of Brassica vegetables

SUMMARY / ABSTRACTBrassica vegetables include a number of common vegetables such as cabbage,cauliflower, broccoli, kale and kohlrabi. These vegetables are rich in a number ofbioactive metabolites such as vitamins, phenolic acids, flavonoids andisothiocyanates, which are associated with significant health benefits such asantioxidant and anticancer properties .

Brassicas account for almost half (47%) of all field vegetable production by areain Ireland with cabbage and broccoli at 19% and 13% respectively.

Recent research has shown that consumption of fruit and vegetables is positively

POTENTIAL� Bioactive compounds of Brassica vegetables may be exploited as bio-

preservatives in food applications, or neutraceuticals for possibleapplications in functional foods for health promotion.

� Salt-free probiotic fermented vegetables with enhanced neutraceuticalproperties, flavours and aromas can offer attractive new options forvegetable consumption in the Irish diet.

� Vegetable based probiotic juice with high concentrations of active probioticbacteria enhanced levels of isothiocyanates with inherent polyphenols andRecent research has shown that consumption of fruit and vegetables is positively

associated with the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes,hypertension and strokes.

This research is exploring new processing methodologies for exploiting a range ofIrish vegetables for the development of new functional foods through theapplication of probiotic fermentation.

The products developed will capitalise on the already-established healthpromoting benefits of probiotics and the capacity of the fermentation process toproduce new products with enhanced flavours, aromas and new textures.Products developed from this research have the potential to increase vegetableconsumption in the Irish diet

bacteria, enhanced levels of isothiocyanates with inherent polyphenols andantioxidant properties can potentially be developed into innovative productsin the health drink sector.

� In comparison to the dairy industry, which has a well-established marketniche for probiotic fermentation products, the application of this technology toplant products is seriously underdeveloped. The research so far has pointedto significant opportunities to develop new functional foods from Irishvegetables.

consumption in the Irish diet.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE� Optimization of extraction procedures for polyphenols from Brassica vegetables.

� Evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Irish Brassica species.

� Probiotic fermented vegetable products shown to retain most of their initialpolyphenol content (> 80%) and antioxidant properties (> 90%).

� Probiotic fermentation under conditions established in this research, using aBioflo 415 bioreactor, successfully established methodologies for thedegradation of non-nutritive glucosinolates and generation of breakdownproducts such as isothiocyanates, which are well known for theirchemopreventive properties.

Bioflo 415 Bioreactor (7 lit capacity)

KEY OUTPUTS� Six papers were published in various peer reviewed international journals.

� Four more papers in different stages of publication.

R lt t d i i i d i t ti l fP bi ti

High

Probiotic bacteria

Antioxid-ant

Activity

Longer shelf life

White cabbage Stalk removed Cut cabbage Juice preparation

Filtration

TEAM / FUNDERSDr. Nissreen Abu-Ghannam (Principal Investigator, research supervisor) Amit Kumar Jaiswal (PhD researcher)

The researchers acknowledge funding from the Irish government under theTechnological Sector Research Scheme (Strand III) of the NationalDevelopment Plan.

� Results were presented in various symposium and international conferences.Probiotic

cabbage Juice

Polyphe-nol

Rich

Low sugar

content

High

Organic acid

content

Schematic presentation of probiotic cabbage juice preparation

Probiotic juice

Probiotic Fermentation Sterilization of Juice

e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

College LogoSchool of Food Science and Environmental Health

College of Sciences & Health

SUMMARY / ABSTRACTThe fresh-cut industry is heavily dependent on chlorine as one of the mosteffective sanitizers to assure the safety of their produce. However, in light ofconcerns about the environmental and health risks associated with theformation of carcinogenic disinfection by-products, there is increasing pressureon the industry to eliminate chlorine from the disinfection process.

The SAFE-BAG project aims at developing a novel continuous in-pack

decontamination system for fresh-cut produce.

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALThe goal of the proposed work is to optimize and validate this novelapproach to reduce pathogens in fresh produce while extending shelf-lifeand maintaining quality.

Once ready, the SAFE-BAG system will be extensively tested at fresh fruitand vegetable processing facilities. The performance of the prototype will bevalidated and the treated produce analysed to ensure its safety and tocategorize it in terms of product quality and shelf-life.

The developers of SAFE BAG are committed to making this systemPlasma (an energetic ionized gas) is widely used for industrial materialsprocessing, and has recently shown promise as a decontamination tool for foodcontact surfaces.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATERapid microbial inactivation (seconds)

Significant shelf –life extensions of food

Retention of product quality

The developers of SAFE-BAG are committed to making this systemaffordable, robust and easy to maintain. Achieving this will make thetechnology accessible to the hundreds of European fresh-cut SMEs.

Retention of product quality

Plastic or glass packaging

No chemical residues

Energy efficient technology

TEAM / FUNDERSThe SME Associations involved in the project are

Food Industry Association of Austria (Austria)

http://www.safebag-fp7.eu

Federation of the Food & Drink Industries of the Czech Republic (Czech Republic)

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sloven�a – Chamber of Agr�cultural and Food Enterpr�ses (Slovenia)

Union of Dairy, Beef, Food Industrialists and Producers of Turkey (Turkey)

The SMEs involved in the project are

OSV Srl (Italy)

N t ’ B t (I l d)

TreatedUn-treated

Nature’s Best (Ireland)

Citrus Levante (Spain)

Fullwell Mill Foods (United Kingdom)

The RTD providers are

Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland)

Dublin City University (Ireland)

Innovació i Recerca Industrial i Sostenible (Spain)

ListeriaUn-treated

Listeriatreated

Contact Details: [email protected]

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SAFE-BAG is 3 year R&D project funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the EC under the “Research for SMEAssociations” sub-programme.

grant agreement nº 285820

�All tasks in the project were completed.

�Currently, in the process of writing the thesis and scientific papers.

RESEARCH INTERESTS CURRENT RESEARCH

Seafood processing in Ireland generates big amounts of wastes. Forinstance, the wastes produced by the processing of brown crab areestimated to about 64x103 tonnes annually. The local seafood marketsales are expected to grow by 30% until 2015. Thus the quantity ofwastes in this sector are expected to increase continuously.

Th i t t f thi h j t i t fi d lt ti l ti th t Fishing/Vesselsi th tThe interest of this research project is to find alternative solutions thataim to reduce the amount of seafood processing waste going to thelandfill and also to find potential applications with scientific andeconomic interest in either food or pharmaceutical fields. This researchaims also to extract and characterise bioactive compounds in particularpolysaccharides from brown crab and Dublin Bay prawn wastes andinvestigate their bioactivities and also apply them as food preservativesto fresh-cut products.

Extension of shelf-life of fresh produce was also one of the objectivesof this research. In fact, fresh-cut fruits and vegetables is activesegment in the Irish food industry. Thus, the application of natural

Fishing/Vessels

Processing

f natural

Currently, this project was conducted to extract, characterise chitin andchitosan from brown crab and Dublin Bay prawn waste, and also to apply

seg e e s ood dus y us, e app ca o o a u aactive compound to could be a promising solution to overcome thedisadvantageous chemical compounds that are currently applied.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Waste

the extracted chitosan to fresh-cut vegetables. Several results wereachieved through the project which include:

1- Successful development of novel method to extract chitin from browncrab and Dublin Bay Prawn waste.

2- Method of extraction is friendly to the environment and also preservebetter the physicochemical properties of extracted chitosan.

3- Extracted chitin and chitosan were characterised for theirphysicochemical and bioactive properties.

4- Novel chitosan from brown crab waste was applied to extend the shelf- Food application

Treatment

life of fresh-cut carrots and the results were compare to chlorine that isconventionally applied in washing treatments.

CONTACT DETAILS

Seafood processing

Waste generation CONTACT DETAILSEmail: [email protected]

Mob: +353868876241Office: +35318146082

g

Valorisation of by-products

Potential applications

School of Food Science and Environmental Health, College of Sciences and Health (D.I.T), Dublin 1, Ireland

Extraction of Bioactive Polysaccharides from Irishseafood waste and their potential food application

This project was funded by DITunder Strand 1

[email protected] - [email protected]

Bioactive Compounds From Seaweed

SUMMARY / ABSTRACTSeaweeds, or marine macro-algae, are renewable living resources which areused as food, feed and fertilizer in many parts of the world. The consumption ofseaweed as food and nutraceuticals has been well known in the East, where theyconstitute an alternative to vegetables in human diet. In the West, many productsare manufactured with seaweeds or their derivatives, such as sauces, creams,toothpaste and milk shakes of fruits. Seaweeds are of nutritional interest as theyare a low calorie food and are rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, polyphenols,polysaccharides and dietary fibres.

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIAL�A “Greener Extraction and Processing Technology” for the extraction of

phenolic antioxidant-rich compounds has been developed and is ready forcommercialisation.

�Seaweed extracts contain excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant propertiesproviding opportunities for application as natural food preservatives ornutraceuticals, for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

�Due to the remarkable bioactivity and availability of essential elements inseaweeds their extracts can be utilised as an ingredients for the production of

Nowadays, increasingly seaweeds are being investigated for the biologicalactivity of their extracts which are finding numerous applications inpharmaceuticals, biotechnology and food preservatives. Seaweeds are animportant resource of bioactive compounds as they are able to produce a greatvariety of secondary metabolites characterized by a broad spectrum of biologicalbehaviour such as antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, anticoagulant andantiviral properties.

Recently in Europe (CE 258/97), seaweeds are considered as new foods, andthey could also be considered as functional foods. This regulation, in addition tothe novel bioactive compounds and potential nutritional properties of seaweeds,

seaweeds, their extracts can be utilised as an ingredients for the production ofnutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, functional foods and drinks.

�Due to their high thermal stability, these bioactive compounds could providenew avenues for developing new nutraceutical foods based on seaweeds withparticular considerations of processing conditions.

�Algal polyphenols, including flavonoids and tannins in seaweeds show highantimicrobial and antioxidant potency in comparison to their counterparts inland vegetables.

S dallows the food and pharmaceutical industry to include seaweeds as raw or semi-processed materials in the formulation of food and health based products.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE�Optimisation of extraction solvents to extract a range of hydrophilic and

lipophilic bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant and antimicrobialactivity.

�Selective extracts demonstrated high potential against various food bornebacteria and free radicals which are responsible not only for the deterioration

TLC EPSPLL CC

Various Purification Approaches Purified Fractions

Seaweed

Extracts

bacteria and free radicals, which are responsible not only for the deteriorationof quality and nutritional value of food products but also human health.

�Optimisation of purification strategies to select the individual or group of activecompounds from crude extracts of seaweed.

�Purified extracts or compounds showed highly significant antioxidant andantimicrobial activity at very low concentration.

�Optimisation of various chromatographic and spectroscopic methods to isolateand identify the compounds of interest.

�Development of Hydrothermal processing approach which improved theextractability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds from seaweed matrix

Uses of Seaweeds

HPLCCharacterization of Purified Fractions/Compound

NMR LC-MS

extractability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds from seaweed matrix.

The work presented here has generated:

� 1 patent pending

� 5 full length research articles in various peer reviewed international journals

� 2 articles submitted with 4 new articles under preparation for publication.

Fresh Irish brown seaweed

Crushed with

liquid nitrogen

Powdered

seaweed

Crushed powder and extraction

solvents in a certain ratio

Dried extract used

� Work has been presented in various national and international conferences

TEAM / FUNDERSDr Nissreen Abu-Ghannam (Principal Investigator, research supervisor)Gaurav Rajauria (PhD researcher)

The researchers acknowledge funding from the Irish Government under the Technological Sector Research Scheme (Strand III) of the National Development Plan.

Incubate the flasks at

certain conditions

Filtered the

supernatant

Centrifuged Evaporate the

solvents

for further chemical

analysis

Antimicrobial Activity Antioxidant Activity

AND

Crude and purified extracts

e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

School of Food Science & Environmental Health, College of Sciences & Health

Centre for Industrial and Engineering Optics

BACKGROUNDCentre for Industrial and Engineering Optics in DIT Kevin Street, and the

holography group that it evolved from, has been working on novel photopolymermaterials and their applications for more than two decades. Over this time span theresearch has evolved from separate postgraduate projects in photopolymerdevelopment and interferometric metrology systems into a range of applications-oriented projects that exploit the various technologies that have been developed inthe centre. The centre strives to strategically balance academic research withindustrial applications and is continuously seeking out new opportunities to

COMMERCIAL RESEARCHIEO staff continue to exploit their photopolymer material and optical

systems, developing a number of key applications that have commercial potentialin security and sensing, and devices. For example, Dr Izabela Naydenova isdeveloping sensing applications for photopolymer gratings, security hologramswith unique identifiers and printable diffractive devices. A pressure sensitiveversion of the hologram which changes colour with pressure is underdevelopment by Dr Emilia Mihaylova and this has interesting applications wherecontact pressure needs to be measured.pp y g pp

collaborate with industry and other academics in developing holographic systems andmaterials.

p

Dr Suzanne Martin is developing holographic diffractive devices withapplications in light manipulation and distribution and investigating moisturesensitive systems. Professor Vincent Toal’s key area of expertise is ininterferometric systems and classic holography.

CONSULTANCY, SERVICESACADEMIC RESEARCH CONSULTANCY, SERVICES AND FACILITIES

IEO offers a wide range of consultancy services in the areas of optical engineering in our facilities in Kevin Street and FOCAS. This includes:

�Collaborative + contract R&D projects

�Problem solving and consulting

�Optical system design and technical support

�3D Surface height and surface roughness measurement

ACADEMIC RESEARCHMuch of the Centre’s current research focuses on the unique photopolymer

developed by IEO, and a great deal of the basic material and systems development iscarried out by postgraduate research students. Currently the group has five graduatestudents.

Dervil Cody is improving the photopolymer using non-toxic monomers andMohesh Moothchancery has been carrying out studies on the fundamental propertiesof the photopolymer such as shrinkage.

Hoda Akbari is developing applications in diffractive elements made in thephotopolymer Denis Bade is developing unique holographic data writing systems and 3D Surface height and surface roughness measurement

�Holographic materials and devices

photopolymer, Denis Bade is developing unique holographic data writing systems andViswanath Bavigadda recently completed his PhD thesis on interferometry usingholographic elements. Niamh Ingoldsby is doing a graduate placement at the centreinvestigating speckle interferometry and Tatsiana Mikulchyk, who spent nine months ingraduate placement with IEO in 2011, has been awarded an IRCSET postgraduatescholarship to re-join the group in September 2012.

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Contact: [email protected]

Interactive HologramsResponsive Authentication

SECURITY HOLOGRAMS WITH RESPONSIVE FEATURES

Multi-layered authentication processes are key in the fight against counterfeiters. Whilst covert features are important for customsand forensic authentication purposes, there is an increasing need to have intelligent overt authentication methods available to end userswho are at risk of unknowingly purchasing unauthentic produce. Researchers in IEO have developed, alongside the individualisedholograms, environmentally sensitive holograms which have applications in the brand protection industry, alone or combined with otherauthentication holographic devices

HUMIDITY SENSITIVE PRESSURE SENSITIVE

Pressure sensitive holograms have also been developed at IEO. Thepressure sensitive version reacts to finger pressure by changing colour locallyin the holographic image. This can also be used in authentication. Pressuresensitivity can be tailored to the application and the actual colour change isrelated to the amount of pressure applied so we are also exploring

Hologram of a coin with pressure applied at two locations.

Researchers at DIT have developed a humidity sensitive hologram which islow cost, a lightweight polymer (30–70 μm) and is easily incorporated intopackaging and graphics (logos, text, numerical data and three dimensional images).To authenticate a product the end user would simply breathe on the hologram whichwould cause a change indicating authenticity This is of particular interest because

The hologram can also work as a straightforward humidity sensor. Currentlyhumidity indicator cards record humidity from 5 to 90 percent in 10 percentincrements. However there are several limitations; the colour range is limited toonly two or three colours, the response time to show changes in humidity is slowtaking up to a few hours and a colour key is needed to interpret the reading. Thetypical size of a card is 1cm so there is limited space for graphics. Graphics can be

p pp p gapplications in pressure sensing for weight estimation and machineadjustment.

would cause a change indicating authenticity. This is of particular interest becauseauthentication doesn’t require specialist equipment.

IP POSITIONThere are several patents filed in relation to the technologies.

yp p g p pdesigned to change with humidity so information is displayed directly without theneed for a colour key. The indicator is easily read and involves a colour changeover a broad colour spectrum. One small hologram can cover the entire humidityrange. The speed of response can be adjusted to suit the application with fastresponse times of a few seconds. Detecting the humidity range from 20 – 90percent is useful for high value products which are sensitive to humidity, especiallyduring transit.


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Holographic devicesfor illumination, solar collectors and beam coupling

PROBLEMStandard optical components such as beam splitters, lenses and mirrors

are used to manipulate light in a broad range of applications from illumination oflarge buildings to optical fibres for telecommunications, to high magnificationtelescopes.

However, in some applications, for example those using compact opticalsystems, the standard optical components may be too bulky to work well or tooexpensive. In other case the problem is that more than one optical component isneeded in a confined space or it would be preferable to focus some wavelengthsneeded in a confined space, or it would be preferable to focus some wavelengthsand not others.

Commercially available polymer diffractive optical elements, mass produced bystamping processes, can be a low cost alternative in some applications, but thefunctionality is restrictive and custom made elements are prohibitively expensivebecause of the high origination costs.

Holographic diffractive optical elements have many advantages over stampedsurface elements but to date they have not been widely available because theyare difficult to fabricate with standard holographic materials. DIT’s Centre forIndustrial and Engineering Optics (IEO) have developed holographic elements,fabricated in their own photopolymer The IEO photopolymer is a self-developingfabricated in their own photopolymer. The IEO photopolymer is a self developingholographic material with minimal shrinkage which allows the direct fabrication ofthe holographic elements.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONDIT’s Centre for Industrial and Engineering Optics (IEO) have developed

h l h l hi l f b i d b di D bli

Fraction of light coupled into the diffracted beam (Diffraction Efficiency) as a function of incident angle for a range of device thickness – selectivity can be

tailored to requirements

(data from Hoda Akbari, Dublin Institute of Technology)

ADVANTAGESphotopolymer holographic elements, fabricated by direct exposure at DublinInstitute of Technology can be tailored to specific optical designs and have thedesign flexibility to re-direct light with high efficiency through angles greater than90 degrees, to focus light and to divert certain ranges of wavelengths. For specificdevices printing processes can also be used .

•Lightweight, planar elements – fractions of a millimetre thick

•Flexible design – a large range of focal lengths, angles and wavelengths.

•Multifunctional – one element can perform two or three functions, e.g focussingand beam splitting, or beam manipulation with focussing and wavelength filtering

•Highly flexible manufacture – some elements printable

RESEARCH

Diffractive lens

Split beams

One aspect of the current research explores the potential of holographicoptical elements in the collection of light from a moving source, such as the sun,and its direction into a fixed detector for application in solar concentrators.

Specific applications such as up converters are of particular interestbecause Holographic Optical Elements can be used to separate specific sectionsthe solar spectrum, as well as having useful focussing effects.

IP POSITION The photopolymer is protected by a patent application. More specific IP is under development.


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Displacement and Vibration Measurementwith Speckle Interferometry

INTERFEROMETRY EXPERTISEThe IEO Centre at the Dublin Institute of Technology have developed interferometric systems for non-destructive testing and measurement, including vibration analysis ofmaterials and components. The low cost system, based on holographic technology allows wholefield measurement to sub-micron (0.01 m) precision with results displayedas video images. Current systems are optically complex and expensive to manufacture and do not normally provide wholefield or multipoint capabilities.

ADVANTAGESAPPLICATIONS

Static Loading – Three Point Bend

ADVANTAGES• Whole field multipoint capabilities - provide a comprehensive picture of objectbehaviour.

• Low cost - the system uses off the shelf components combined with holographictechnology (estimated at one quarter of the cost of single point LDV system).

• High precision measurement

• Improved Quality Control (QC).

•Simplicity – easy to set up, use and maintain.

APPLICATIONSNon-destructive testing and measurement, including vibration analysis can beused in a wide range of industrial applications including;

• Automotive - car bodies and panels, automotive components, engines, brakingsystems and exhaust systems.

• Aerospace - turbine blades, air frames, aircraft components.

• Consumer products - sound absorption and damping materials for consumergoods such as household appliances, loudspeakers, power tools, computerequipment p y y p

•Software system including detailed analysis

•Video imaging showing contours of constant displacement and contours ofconstant phase.

equipment.

• Medical and healthcare - eardrum diagnostics, artificial heart valves,mechanical properties of replacement joints

• Environmental and hostile environmental applications - machinery in hot or highvoltage or contaminated environments, measurements at long range.

Vibration 6.6 kHz – Loudspeaker


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Centre for Industrial and Engineering Optics

HOLOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL EXPERTISE

As a research centre in DIT publications, post graduate thesis and otheracademic outputs are key to the sustainability of the centre. In the last decadecentre has produced:

•8 PHD’s and 5 MPhil

•43 Peer reviewed journal papers

Between the current staff researchers there are over 70 man yearsexperience in the areas of holography and optics. Vincent Toal recentlypublished a textbook on holography ‘Introduction to Holography’ (published byCRC Press), which has been very well received by academics around the world.

•>30 conference papers and SPIE proceedings

•2 Books

•“Introduction to Holography” (CRC press 2011) by Vincent Toal

•“Advanced Holography” (Itech 2011) edited by Izabela Naydenova

•Citations >500

Recent PhD graduates are working in a range of optics-related industries indifferent locations around the world including Singapore India and the Netherlands

SUPPORTIEO has received significant support from EI to develop a range of

holographic based technologies. Enterprise Ireland’s funding for thedevelopment of Photopolymer holography began in 2006. And are supported inall aspects of commercialisation of our research by DIT Hothouse.

different locations around the world including Singapore, India and the Netherlands.IEO postgraduate students have been very successful in presenting their researchat both European and International Conferences and have contributed to the IEO’sportfolio of 33 peer reviewed journals published within the past 5 years (seewww.arrow.dit.ie).

The centre also facilitates around six undergraduate degree and summerprojects/placements per year and is increasing the direct input of research activityinto the undergraduate curriculum. For example a Level 10 module in ‘Holography:Techniques and Application’ and a Level 8 module in ‘Invention, Innovation andCommercialization’ have been developed.

p y

Postgraduate students receive funding from IRCSET and SFI. IEO labs arelocated in DIT Kevin Street and the FOCAS research centre.COLLABORATION

Collaboration with other disciplines and Institutes is essential to theirmission to combine academic achievement and development of commercialtechnologies. Within DIT, the Centre is working with the Dublin Energy Lab onholographic optical elements for applications in solar collectors and the School ofManufacturing and Design Engineering in the area of optical system design. Mostpostgraduate students in the Centre spend at least a few months abroad gainingexperience at the laboratories of one of the IEO centre’s international partnersincluding the University of Caen in northern France, Joint Research Centre at Isprai th It l H l l b t th U i it f Li i B l i d th I tit t fin northern Italy, Hololab at the University of Liege in Belgium and the Institute ofOptical Materials and Technologies at the Bulgarian Academy of Science.

Also at the forefront of IEO’s activities is fostering industrial partnerships fori l li ti f IEO’ t h l i d lti j t i th f


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commercial applications of IEO’s technologies and consulting projects in the area ofoptics. Industry feedback is proactively sought on all technologies with strategicalliances sought in development and implementation projects. Consultancy projectshave been carried out in a wide range of industries including medical device,pharmaceutical, software, and electronic device manufacturers.

Anti Counterfeiting HologramsTransparent, Individualised, Mass Producible.

PROBLEMProduct counterfeiting is a worldwide problem which costs companies and

governments billions in revenue every year with the loss of sales and tax income.Counterfeit goods are not only inferior in quality but may also be a risk to consumersas the number of dangerous products on the market increases.

The pharmaceutical industry is particularly susceptible to counterfeiting.According to the World Health Organisation an estimated 10% of drugs worldwideare counterfeit costing the industry approximately $40 billion per year and some ofthese have even caused fatalitiesthese have even caused fatalities.

The industry is continuously increasing measures against counterfeiting andthe introduction of new regulations such as the Falsified Medicines Directive has ledto the need for improved traceability and authentication of products.

Holograms are a well accepted authentication device, but existingholograms are always identical to one another and don’t have any individualfeatures that could be used for further verification. This is because traditionallyholograms are mass produced from an expensive "master" hologram and hence it isnot commercially viable to individualise them. The typical holograms a consumersees applied to packaging are identical for each product range. These are quiteeasy for the counterfeiter to replicate and may not provide sufficient protection

http://digitaljournal.com/article/277408easy for the counterfeiter to replicate and may not provide sufficient protection.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONDIT’s Centre for Industrial and Engineering Optics (IEO) has developed a

novel hologram production technique which allows the mass production ofindividualised holograms.

With this product consumers will be able to check the authenticity of the

ROUTE TO COMMERCIALISATION

The IEO research team, under the lead of Principal Investigator DrIzabela Naydenova are currently assessing the commercial feasibility ofcreating a spin out for this novel technology which will have a significantimpact on counterfeit prevention.With this product consumers will be able to check the authenticity of the

product they have purchased. A unique holographic code on a transparent film willbe placed on the packaging of each product. When you remove and hold it up to alight source you will be able to see the code which can then be verified against acode written on the packaging. Alternatively using a web based or smart phoneapplication or a text message you can verify the product is the genuine article. Aseach code is unique counterfeiters will not be able to reproduce it.

impact on counterfeit prevention.

The work is being carried out with funding from Enterprise Ireland’scommercialisation fund. The team’s mentor, Gerard Molloy (Sales Director ofLabel Art, Dublin) was introduced to the team by Enterprise Ireland’scommercialization specialists and is providing guidance and commercialexpertise to the project.

The technical work is being carried out in IEO’s printing and opticallaboratories in DIT’s FOCAS Institute. Every aspect of the hologram’sproduction is being developed from preparation to exposure to protection.

Interaction with potential customers and commercial partners is animportant part of this work and the team frequently visit relevant companies totake into account their particular requirements and details of their productionprocesses. Industry feedback has been extremely positive and the product isexpected to have significant potential in the fight against counterfeiting.

IP POSITION There have been two patents filed on this technology. Licence and spin outopportunities are currently being consideredopportunities are currently being considered.


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MACHINE LEARNING

www.comp.dit.ie/aigroup

MACHINE LEARNING Machine Learning (ML) is about making computers learn or evolve their behaviour

using empirical data. Supervised Machine Learning is an area of ML which involves

‘learning from experience’. A model is built from available examples of data which

can then be used to make predictions for new examples. One of the requirements

of supervised learning is the availability of labelled data examples. The AIRC@DIT

has a number of research projects in the area of Supervised Machine Learning –

specifically in the area of Active Learning and Concept Drift.

ACTIVE LEARNING Active Learning is a semi-supervised approach that allows us to build prediction

systems while minimising the effort required in manually labelling the data used to

build the models.

ModelExample Example

Example

Example Example Example Example

Pool

Example Example Example Example

Ranked Pool

SelectionStrategy

Example ExampleExample

The AIRC has developed new, more effective selection strategies [1,2] and

identified deterministic, robust strategies for selecting the initial training data [3].

We have also developed tools that will allow the visualisation of different selection

strategies on datasets [4], see below.

CONCEPT DRIFT The concept being modelled can change over time. There is a need to

develop strategies to handle concept drift – i.e. to keep the model up to

date. There are two dominant approaches to handling drift: (1) assuming

drift occurs and continuously rebuilding the model at regular intervals and

(2) waiting until monitoring the data suggests that drift has occurred and

then rebuilding the model. These approaches are complicated by the lack

of available labelled data with which to rebuild the model.

The AIRC is working on comprehensive comparisons of drift handling

techniques and developing new approaches that are effective when

significant amounts of labelled data are not available [5,6,7].

REFERENCES [1] Rong Hu, Sarah Jane Delany, Brian Mac Namee, (2009) Sampling with Confidence: Using k-NN Confidence Measures in Active Learning, In: Proceedings of the UKDS Workshop at ICCBR 2009 p.181-192.

[2] Rong Hu, Sarah Jane Delany, Brian Mac Namee (2010) EGAL: Exploration Guided Active Learning for TCBR I Bichindaritz, S Montani (eds.) In: Proceedings of ICCBR 2010 LNCS 6176 pp 156-170 Springer

[3] Rong Hu, Sarah Jane Delany & Brian Mac Namee (2010) Off to a Good Start: Using Clustering to Select the Initial Training Set in Active Learning In: Proceedings FLAIRS 2010 p 26-31, AAAI Press

[4] Brian Mac Namee, Rong Hu, and Sarah Jane Delany (2010) Inside the Selection Box: Visualising Active Learning Selection strategies. In Proceedings of the Challenges of Data Visualization Workshop at NIPS 2010

[5] Sarah Jane Delany, Pádraig Cunningham, Alexey Tsymbal, Lorcan Coyle (2005) A Case-based Technique for Tracking Concept Drift in Spam Filtering Journal of Knowledge Based Systems 18 (4-5) p187-195, Elsevier

[6] Patrick Lindstrom, Brian Mac Namee & Sarah Jane Delany (2010) Handling concept drift in a text data stream constrained by high labelling cost In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Flairs Conference (FLAIRS 2010) AAAI Press

[7] Patrick Lindstrom, Brian Mac Namee, Sarah Jane Delany (2011) Drift Detection using Uncertainty Distribution Divergence, In Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Handling Concept Drift in Adaptive Information Systems (HaCDAIS)

Mac Namee et al. NIPS 2010

Lindstrom et al. FLAIRS 2011

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SECURITY RESEARCH

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RESEARCH INTERESTS Security issues in e-Healthcare (such as development of anonymised algorithms, security metrics for measuring and improving the security posture of e-Healthcare systems)

Security in Mobile Ad Hoc Network which are energy aware.

Cyber security auditing and metrics, and secure application of mobile devices in to health care.

Online evidence and investigations

Design of new algorithms for Anonymisation of sensitive data in order to increase its utility. Real world application e-Healthcare Data.

Metrics design and Testbed development for enhancing Predictive Protection in Cyber security.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Workshops Hosted:

The International Workshop in e-Healthcare Information Security (e-HISec 2011)

The International Workshop in Ubiquitous Computing Security Issues (UCSI 2012).

Publications:

The International Journal of e-Healthcare Information Systems (IJe-HIS) - http:/www.infonomics-society.org/IJe-HIS/

Electronic Healthcare Information Security, 2010, Electronic Healthcare Information Security, Advances in Information Security, Vol. 53 Shoniregun, Charles A., Dube, Kudakwashe, Mtenzi, Fredrick

CURRENT RESEARCH Development of a Cyber Range or Hacker Space for educating the next

generation of Cyber Security professionals.

Funded by the Teaching and learning Centre.

Secure mobile payment modes in low-end mobile devices and their

mobile application development .

Undertaking Security Audit at Tanzania Industrial Research and

Development Organization (TIRDO) in order to improve the security

posture of the companies web sites in Tanzania

CONTACT DETAILS Dr. Fredrick Japhet Mtenzi

School of Computing

Dublin Institute of Technology

Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland


Web Page: www.comp.dit.ie/fmtenzi

TEXT ANALYTICS Mining the Web for Business Insight

Web: www.comp.dit.ie/aigroup

Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

PROBLEM / MARKET NEED The rapid growth of the Internet and the emergence of social media and

user generated content poses exciting new opportunities and challenges to

businesses. The opportunities arise through the incredible data resources and

mass communication technologies that are now available: businesses have the

opportunity to both learn more about their customers’ needs and opinions and to

sell to a truly global market through targeted advertising. Although the Internet

and social media are inherently multimedia, language, in the form of unstructued

text, is the fabric that gives structure and meaning to this wealth of information.

Consequently, for businesses to take advantage of the opportunities that the

Internet and social media revolution provides they must be able to analyse

unstructered text on a massive scale and across the range of forms and

languages that it appears in, including emails, web pages, tweets, product

descriptions, newspaper stories, social media, and scientific articles.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION Data analytics uses machine learning techniques to create predictive models

based on patterns in large historical structured data sets. These models provide

insight into large data sets, at a scale not possible through manual inspection,

that supports business decision making. Text analytics differs from standard data

analytics in that the data it uses is typically unstructured text. As a result, text

analytics requires a tranformational preprocessing of the unstructured data, often

leveraging the semi-structured nature of language, into a structured

representation that standard data analytics techniques can then use.

Applications and business needs where text analytics has a role to play include:

customer segmentation; brand, product and reputation management; voice of

the customer and customer experience management; risk management and

fraud detection; and online commerce including shopping and price intelligence.

PREFERRED ROUTE TO COMMERCIALISATION The AIRC has a history in commercial research with the typical

commercialisation routes being either through collaborative research projects

with industrial partners, through enterprise and/or exchequer funded

PhDs, or through targeted shorter term commerical projects.

Researchers at the AIRC are open to all of these models and are open to

working with the industrial partner through the full commercialisation pipeline:

idea, feasibility and market analysis, technology development, product and

business development.

Funding for collaborative academic/industrial research is available through

Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Research Council. The AIRC has experience

with developing proposal for commercial research with both of these bodies.

IP POSITION By ts very nature as an academic research centre much of the IP

developed in house at the AIRC is in the public domain through academic

publications. The AIRC, however, has experience in developing IP in

collaboration with and shared with commerical partners.

On-Line Screening for MelanomaThe Word’s First Auto Tele-Dermatology System

The problem with Skin Cancer is that, although it is completely visible on ourskin, we tend to ignore the symptoms and not seek medical advice early enough.If detected and treated in its initial stages it is not a problem.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of Skin Cancer, it usually takes up to 18months to fully develop but once it has reached a certain depth in the skin itbegins to spread and death can follow within weeks.

MOLETEST LIMITED

PREFERRED ROUTE TOCOMMERCIALISATIONMoletest development is fully funded by Moletest Limited and commercialexploitation is underway in the UK with a view to integrating MoletestScreening into NHS pathways for patients with suspect moles.

As the UK market is untypical of most countries (as it has an entirely freehealthcare service), a pilot exercise is planned to test the concept of directon-line screening to the public elsewhere Ireland is under consideration as an

DIT has licensed the ‘core technology’ to Moletest Limited in order to develop aglobal integrated on-line screening service. The Expert System at the heart ofMoletest needs to be trained to recognise a number of different skin conditions inorder to be an effective screening system. This training exercise is a challengeboth because of the amount of work involved and the difficulty in obtainingsufficient images for each condition - this is a particular problem for ‘normal’moles as few examples are recorded by dermatologists.

The objective is to build Moletest into a powerful diagnostic aid for dermatologistsas well as an initial screening system in order to detect Melanoma early andenable successful treatment.

on line screening to the public elsewhere. Ireland is under consideration as anexample of a more typical European approach to Healthcare.

Skin Cancer, and, in particular, Melanoma, is the fastest growing cancer threatin the world. Early detection leads to simple and inexpensive treatment.Failure to identify and treat soon enough necessitates expensive treatmentand often death. Therefore, Moletest offers an efficient and cost effective wayto meet the challenge of detecting and treating skin cancer worldwide.

USER PROCESS

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONMoletest brings together advanced image recognition and fuzzy logic. Each imageof a suspect mole is analysed 42 different ways to produce a profile of botheuclidian and fractal parameters. Various skin conditions are segregated intoclasses and examples of each class are analysed by the image recognitionsystem to build a Knowledge Database.

As the Knowledge Database is trained with more and more examples and theg pnumber of classes extended to include more skin conditions the fuzzy logicdecides which class each image belongs to with an estimated degree of certainty.

Until the Expert System can be shown to perform accurately, each analysis ischecked by a qualified dermatologist. Ultimately, the process will be entirelyautomated to become a powerful diagnostic aid helping to not only detectMelanoma but to prevent unnecessary removal non-malignant moles.

PROCESS CYCLEAbove is the current process for users to upload images of suspicious moles foron-line analysis.

An important aspect of interfacing with the public is having a means to ensure thati f it bl lit b itt d f l i Thi t d d timages of suitable quality are submitted for analysis. This created a need todevelop an Image Suitability system which has been incorporated into the MoletestWebsite.

IP POSITIONIntellectual Property within the Moletest system is a mix of ‘Know-How’,protected ‘Source Code’ and a protected secret ‘Knowledge Base’ which iscrucial for system accuracy.y y

DIT has exclusively licensed the technology to Moletest Limited for worldwideexploitation.

Contact Details - [email protected] Tel: +44 8717 816855

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Algorithms Give Forex Traders The Edgeusing Fractal Market Hypothesis (FMH)

Current Financial Models are FMH based signals (The Q)Current Financial Models are

based on The Efficient Market

Hypothesis. But this Model is

flawed … take a look below.

FMH based signals (The Q)

give a statistical advantage

to Traders with their buy/sell

indicators clearly displayed

on current commercial

trading platforms.

TradersNow licenses these

signals to Financial Trading

Houses in London New York

DIT in partnership with

TradersNow have developed

Houses in London, New York

and Singapore.

TradersNow have developed

a suite of algorithms based

on the FMH which produce 3

out of 4 winning trades

Contact Details: tradersnow.com

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APPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY GROUPAPPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY GROUPAPPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY GROUP

RESEARCH AREARESEARCH AREAElectrochemistry is an important branch of physical chemistry that deals with theElectrochemistry is an important branch of physical chemistry that deals with thechemical action of electricity and/or the production of electricity by chemicaly p y yreactions. The Applied Electrochemistry Group of Dublin Institute of Technology

i t h i l t h i t ith i l h i b i l dcarries out research in electrochemistry with special emphasis being placed onpractical aspects of the subjectpractical aspects of the subject

TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGYA diverse range of important applications exist which include

Electroanalytical Chemistry which enables chemical species to be identified andy y pquantified, for example with the development and operation of electrochemicalsensors.

S fMaterials Science and Nanotechnology involving materials performance issuessuch as corrosion prevention and mitigation and development of materials found insuch as corrosion prevention and mitigation and development of materials found indevices such electrochromic displays (which change colour upon the imposition of

SEM I h i i d l d i d l lp y ( g p p

an electrical potential). SEM Image showing nano-sized electrodeposited electrrocatalysts

Electrical Energy production (through operation of devices such as batteries, fuelll d h l h i l ) d S l E i li h dcells and other electrochemical systems) and Solar Energy using light to produce

electricity and/or to effect chemical change (through use of semiconductors and PROJECTSelectricity and/or to effect chemical change (through use of semiconductors andphotoelectrochemistry).

PROJECTSNanosilver Particles in Electroanalytical Applicationsp y)

Surface Science such as electrodeposition and anodic film alteration (anodising ofy pp

Tribocorrosion of Cast Aluminium AlloysC

p ( gmetals such as aluminium, magnesium and titanium and electropolishing).. Electrochromic Dsiplays Using Conducting Polymers, and ionic Liquids

Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell ElectrocatalystsEnvironmental Electrochemistry and Green Chemistry encompassing heavy

Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell ElectrocatalystsElectroanalytical Method Development for Detection of Heavy Metals in Soils

metal remediation, industrial effluent control and the use of novel ionic liquids toreplace hazardous chemicals in various processes

y p yPhotoelectrochemical Treatment of Waste Waters

replace hazardous chemicals in various processes.

RECENT PUBLICATIONSOrganic and Industrial Electrochemistry (electrosynthesis) which provide a RECENT PUBLICATIONSOrganic and Industrial Electrochemistry (electrosynthesis) which provide ameans of producing industrially important inorganic and organic chemicals. Development of a Novel Humidity Sensor Based on a Polymer Silver Nanoparticle

Bioelectrochemistry involves the study of electrochemical reactions in biological

Development of a Novel Humidity Sensor Based on a Polymer Silver NanoparticleComposite, AC Power, A J Betts, JF Cassidy, ECS Transactions, 19, 181 (2009).

Bioelectrochemistry involves the study of electrochemical reactions in biologicalsystems which is of great importance in medicine..

p y ( )

Chemical Structure and Corrosion Behaviour of S-Phase Coatings, KL Dahm, A Jy g p g , ,Betts, PA Dearnley , Surface Engineering, 26, 4, (2010)

Silver Nanoparticle Polymer Composite Based Humidity Sensor, AC Power, A J

Cyclic Sweep (Voltammogram)Betts, J F Cassidy, Analyst, 135, 1645, (2010).

Cyclic Sweep (Voltammogram) of Ethanol Oxidation Reaction Practical Photoelectrochemical Cell Using Non-Precious Metal Electrodes, Journal

f A li d El t h i t P E i ht A J B tt J F C id 41 345 (2011)On Platinum-Palladium AlloyD it Sh i I d

of Applied Electrochemistry, P Enright, A J Betts, J F Cassidy 41, 345, (2011)

Deposit Showing Increased Activation of Surface with Non Aggregated Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles for Surface Enhanced RamanActivation of Surface with Successive Sweeps. This reaction Spectroscopy A C Power, A J Betts, J F Cassidy, Analyst, 136, 2794 (2011)

can be used in a Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell (DEFC) Effects of High Speed Laser Surface Modification on Microstructure and CorrosionFuel Cell (DEFC) g p

Characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V”, Surface Modification Technology XXV (ed. T SS d h d P N l ) Chik k AJ B D B b S N h (2011)Sudashan and P Nylen), Chikarakara, AJ Betts, D Brabazon, S Naher, (2011)

TEAMCharacterization and electrochromic properties of poly(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroaniline):Progress towards a transparent conducting polymer Lavinia Astratine EdmondTEAM Progress towards a transparent conducting polymer Lavinia Astratine , EdmondMagner,, John Cassidy, Anthony Betts, , Electrochimiica Acta 74 ,117–122 (2012),

The AEG is directed by Professor John Cassidy and Dr Tony Betts

g , y y , ( ),

The AEG is directed by Professor John Cassidy and Dr Tony Betts..

Current PhD postgraduate students include Ms Lavinia Astratine (in conjunction CONTACT DETAILSCurrent PhD postgraduate students include Ms Lavinia Astratine, (in conjunctionwith Professor Edmond Magner of the MSSI Centre in the University of Limerick) ,

CONTACT DETAILSg y )

Mr Daryl Fox and Ms Caoimhe Ni Neill. Recent graduates include Dr Aoife Power ,D D id C llit ( ith P f D id K d S h l f E i i ) D

Professor John Cassidy, Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical SciencesDr David Culliton (with Professor David Kennedy, School of Engineering), DrYanmei Ma and Dr Patrick Enright Collaborations are also taking place with the Tel 01-4024779 [email protected] Ma and Dr Patrick Enright. Collaborations are also taking place with theAdvanced Processing Technology Group of DCU and Teagasc.

Dr Tony Betts, DIT Directorate of Research and Enterprise, Tel 01-402-3346Anthony Betts@dit [email protected]


��Creating a uniform magnetic field for the equi-biaxial physical testing of magnetorheological elastomers; electromagnet design, development and testing”, (Co-authors D. Gorman, R. Ekins and N. Murphy), a chapter in the book Constitutive Models for Rubber VII, CRC/Balkema, Sept 2011��Creating a uniform magnetic field for the equi-biaxial physical testing of magnetorheological elastomers; electromagnet design, development and testing”, (Co-authors D. Gorman, R. Ekins and N. Murphy), a chapter in the book Constitutive Models for Rubber VII, CRC/Balkema, Sept 2011

Centre for Elastomer Research (CER)KEY ACHIEVEMENTS� Over 1.5m Euros in Research Earnings.

� 100+ publications.

� 6 PhD completions, 5 MPhil completions. CER is currently home to 9 PhD students (3 of whom are researching in German Industry).

� Hosted ECCMR VII (2011), Europe’s premier rubber research event.

� Developed and optimised the unique DYNAMET equi-biaxial bubble inflation system; the leading ‘real world’ fatigue test facility for rubber.

� Research partners throughout Ireland and Europe

The DYNAMET Equi-biaxial Test Facility

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research partners throughout Ireland and Europe.

�Consultancy for Irish and European Industry.

RESEARCH INTERESTS� Rubber fatigue prediction

� Biomedical applications of specialised rubber compounds

� Smart elastomer, design, fabrication and testing

� Advanced foams for seating applications

� Continuous mixing of rubber

� Optimising the determination of the dynamic physical properties of rubber

� Vibration isolation

An SEM image of interfacial layers between ferromagnetic particles and the rubber matrix in an MRE

RECENT PUBLICATIONSJerrams S, Murphy N, Hanley J, The significance of equi-biaxial bubble inflation in determining elastomer properties, a chapter in the book Vibration isolation

� Stress concentration, flaw size and crack propagation in rubber

TEAMProfessor Steve Jerrams ~ Centre Director, Principal Investigator

Dr Niall Murphy ~ Principal Investigator, Dynamic Testing

Dr Anthony Betts ~ Principal Investigator, Rubber Chemistry and Compounds

Dr Barry Duignan ~ Principal Investigator, Computer Modelling, Advanced Foams

g p p p"Elastomers", ISBN: 979-953-307-1019-5, Intech (2012)

Murphy N, Hanley J, Jerrams S, The Effect of Pre-Stressing on the Equi-Biaxial Fatigue Life of EPDM, a Chapter in the book 'Constitutive models for rubber VI', pp 269-273, (2009)

Gorman D, Ekins R, Murphy N, Jerrams S, Creating a uniform magnetic field for the equi-biaxial physical testing of magnetorheological elastomers; electromagnet design, development and testing”, a chapter in the book Constitutive Models for Rubber VII, CRC/Balkema, ISBN: 978-0-414-68389-0 pp 403-408 (2011)

Chen L Jerrams S A rheological model of the dynamic behavior ofy g p g p g

Dr Ray Ekins ~ Principal Investigator, Electromagnetic Devices

Dr Lin Chen ~ IRCSET Postdoctoral Researcher, Principal Investigator, Magnetorheological Elastomers (MREs)

Yanfen Zhou ~ PhD Student, MRE Fabrication and Testing

Mark Johnson ~ PhD Student, Equi-biaxial Dynamic Testing Optimisation

Jenny McIntyre ~ PhD Student, MRE Optimisation

Dave Gorman, ~ PhD Student, Electromagnetic Field Design for Equi-biaxial Testing

Liang Jiang ~ PhD Student Dielectrical Elastomer Fabrication and Testing

CONTACT DETAILSProf. Steve Jerrams

Chen L, Jerrams S, A rheological model of the dynamic behavior of magnetorheological elastomers, Journal of Applied Physics 110, 013513, (2011)

Jerrams S, Hanley J, Murphy N, Ali H, Equi-biaxial Fatigue of Elastomers –The Effect of Oil Swelling in Specimen Fatigue, Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Vol 81, Issue 4, P 638-649, (2008)

Liang Jiang, ~ PhD Student, Dielectrical Elastomer Fabrication and Testing

Robert Moore, ~ PhD Student, Gastrostomy Feeding Tube Investigation

Simon Wachter ~ PhD Student, Continuous Mixing of Rubber Compounds

Conor Briody ~ PhD Student, Advanced Foams for Wheelchair Seating

Dr Thomas Alshuth, Advisory Supervisor (German Institute for Rubber Technology DIK)

Dr Stephen Ronan, Advisory Supervisor (Continental Tyres)

Professor Orla Hardiman, Advisory Supervisor (Beaumont Hospital)

Professor Eric Abel, Advisory Supervisor (University of Dundee)

[email protected]

01 4022951 / 0876236887

Centre for Elastomer Research (CER)

The Focas Research Institute

Dublin Institute of Technology

Camden Row

Dublin 8

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Dr Olaf Skibba, Advisory Supervisor (VMI-AZ Extrusion)

Electromagnet design for MRE applications

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A Novel Material for Vibration Control

SUMMARY / ABSTRACTMagnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are smart materials that adapt to theirworking environment. An MRE consists of magnetic particles aligned into chainsin an elastomer matrix. The cured composite is used in the presence or absenceof a magnetic field where its material properties such as stiffness can beinstantaneously and reversibly controlled by increasing or decreasing themagnetic flux density of an external magnetic field. The response of MREsoccurs in the space of milliseconds.

The magnitude of change in material properties available depends largely on

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALIt has been suggested that MREs might have an advantage overmagnetorheological fluids (MRFs) in some applications, eliminating the needfor a vessel to contain fluid [1] and mitigating sedimentation of particles [2].Boczkowska and Awietjan reported that matrix viscosity should be low toallow a greater mobility of the magnetic particles thereby enhancing the MReffect [2]. The alignment of particles is hindered by matrix viscosity. Thisresearch has found that if the viscosity of an elastomer is too low,sedimentation may occur in MREs too. The best possible alignment ofparticle chains should be achieved prior to curing so that MR effect in theThe magnitude of change in material properties available depends largely on

the microstructure of the composite material. Good alignment of the particlechains results in a highly anisotropic material. A central theme of this workfocused on identifying a suitable compound and the optimum fabricationparameters required to produce MREs with a high magnetorheological (MR)effect.

In some cases, the particle surfaces were modified with silanes to improvedispersion throughout the elastomer matrix and to improve the bonds betweenparticles and matrix.

Materials with mechanical properties which can be altered rapidly to suit theoperating conditions and applications are beneficial to industry MREs will be

particle chains should be achieved prior to curing so that MR effect in thecured composite is maximised, but the cured matrix should be viscousenough to prevent any settling of the particles later on.

MREs are a material best suited to small strains. As strain is increased, theMR effect falls off. However, good preparation of MREs maximises the strainrange over which the material can be used and ensures a better retention ofMR effect as deformation is increased.

Chen et al. [2] have reported a reduction in some properties such as tensilestrength and tear strength but this work has found that with careful selectionof raw materials these undesirable effects can be significantly reduced.

operating conditions and applications are beneficial to industry. MREs will beuseful in sensing and damping applications over a range of frequencies.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATEAlthough MREs which exhibit high changes in material properties have beenachieved, most of the published literature describes composites which would notbe suitable for industrial use as their initial moduli has been quite low (less than1 MPa). Such materials are quite fragile and break very easily. A main reason forchoosing rubber as an engineering material is its ability to return to its originalshape after being subjected to large deformations (strains), or its ‘elasticity’.M di f h ff d l hi h ld b i bl i lMany studies so far have offered results which would not be attainable in realworld situations (for example, MREs based on hard magnetic materials, whichexhibit remanance and may require hours for the change in properties to bereversed).

Fabrication of MRE materials with suitable initial moduli (2 to 4 MPa), tensilestrength (14 MPa) and elongation at break (400 %) have been achieved in thiswork and are suitable for industrial use.

Fabrication and vulcanisation parameters have been controlled to maximise thedegree to which the composite material properties can be varied. CT scan of MnFe2O4 particles in a silicone rubber matrix

References1. S. Kashima, F. Miyasaka and K. Hirata, “Novel soft actuator using

magnetorheological elastomer,” IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, vol. 48, pp. 1649-1652, 2012.

2. A. Boczkowska and S. F. Awietjan, "Smart composites of urethane elastomers with carbonyl iron," Journal of Materials Science, vol. 44, pp. 4104-4111, 2009.

3. L. Chen, X. Gong, W. Jiang, J. Yao, H. Deng, and W. Li, "Investigation on f

TEAM / FUNDERSDeutsches Institüt für Kautschuk Technologie e.V. (DIK) (German Rubber Institute), Hannover, Germany.

Centre for Elastomer Research (CER) at Dublin Institute of Technology, dublin, Ireland.

magnetorheological Elastomers based on Natural Rubber," Journal ofMaterial Science, vol. 42, pp. 5483-5489, 2007.

SEM image of carbonyl iron powder in a natural rubber matrix

[email protected]

g y p

A novel method to improve the mechanical properties of magnetorheological elastomers

SUMMARY / ABSTRACTMagnetorheological elastomers (MREs) belong to a family of so-called smartmaterials whose rheological properties can be controlled rapidly and reversiblyby the application of external magnetic fields [1]. In MREs, micro-sizedmagnetizable particles are added to a polymeric base material. When subjectedto a magnetic field, changes in mechanical properties result. MREs havenumerous potential applications, such as automotive bushing [2] and MRE basedadaptive tuned vibration absorbers (ATVAs) [3].

However for engineering application the incompatibility of magnetic particles

KEY OUTPUTS / POTENTIALFig.1 depicts the FTIR spectra of TEOS coated CI particles. Compared withthe FTIR spectrum of pure CI particle, several new absorption peaksappeared in the spectrum of TEOS coated CI particles. The appearance ofthese peaks showed that the CI particles were encapsulated by polysilanes.

The surface morphologies of pure and coated CI particles were shown inFig.2. It was found that the surfaces of untreated CI particles are of sphericalshape with high resolution. However, the surfaces of the coated particleswere distinctively different. The coating layer resulted in a quite differentHowever, for engineering application, the incompatibility of magnetic particles

and elastomeric matrix used in MREs often leads to poor stability anddiminished mechanical properties of MREs. Hence, to improve therubber/magnetic particles interaction is an effective method to improve themechanical properties of MREs.

The main aim of the proposed research is to explore the coating technology foreffective design of interfacial layers in MREs, leading to development ofintelligent composites having practical applications in vehicle vibration control.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE

y g y qtexture and morphology.

Fig.3 shows the fractured surface morphologies of MREs fabricated usingunmodified and TEOS modified CI particles respectively. It can be noted thatpure carbonyl iron agglomerate in the silicone rubber matrix. The interfacebetween carbonyl iron particles and silicone rubber is very clear, whichindicates the interaction between the two phases is weak. Whereas incontrast, the carbonyl iron particles treated by TEOS have a betterdispersion in the rubber matrix. The improved dispersion should be attributedto the coating layer derived from the hydrolysis and condensation of TEOScan be acted as the interfacial layer to bond the carbonyl iron particles andthe silicone rubber and increase their interactionHIGHLIGHTS TO DATE

The conventional procedure to prepare MREs was by directly mixing themagnetizable particles with the rubber and then conducting the vulcanization inthe same way as in the manufacturing process of carbon black-filled rubber. Theproblem with this is the dispersion of magnetizable particles in the rubber matrix[4]. The problem with this is that the incompatibility between both materials oftenleads to phase separation.

In order to achieve adhesion and promote the formation of finely dividedinorganic domains into polymer matrices, it is common to introduce adhesionspromoters in the product formation. These molecules, also called compatibilizeror coupling agent are capable of reacting with both the inorganic filler and the

the silicone rubber and increase their interaction.

or coupling agent are capable of reacting with both the inorganic filler and thepolymer matrix, thus creating chemical bonds between the two components andbetter homogeneity of the blends results.

In this project, the magnetic particles (Carbonyl Iron, CI) were coated withtetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) through a sol-gel method. Chemical structureanalysis of the coated particles was carried out by FTIR and microstructures ofthe coated particles was observed with SEM. Coated particles have been usedto fabricate isotropic MREs using room temperature vulcanized (RTV) siliconerubber as matrix. The fracture surface morphologies of the MREs were observedwith SEM.

References

Fig.3 Fracture Surface morphologies of MREs fabricated by CI (a) and TEOS coated CI (b)

a b

References[1] J. D. Carlson, M. R. Jolly. MR fluid, foam and elastomer devices,Mechatronics, 2000, 10(4-5), 555-569

[2] J. R. Watson. Method and apparatus for varying the stiffness of a suspensionbushing, U.S. Patent 5609353, 1997

[3] A. A. Lerner, K. A. Cunefare. Performance of MRE-based Vibration Absorbers,Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 2008, 19(5), 551-563

[4] N.Kchit, and G. Bossis, Electrical resistivity mechanism in magnetorheologicalelastomer, Journal of Physics D-Applied Physics, 2009, 42,105505(8pp)

Fig.1 FTIR spectra of pure and TEOS coated CI particles

3353

1632

969

787

Tran

smitt

ance

(%)

1100-1000cm-1: Si-O-Si,

antisymmetric stretching

vibration ;

969cm-1 and 787cm-1: elastomer, Journal of Physics D Applied Physics, 2009, 42,105505(8pp)

TEAM / FUNDERSCentre for Elastomer Research (CER), Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin,Ireland.

Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET)

1000200030004000

Pure CI particlesTEOS coated CI particles

1059

969cm and 787cm :

Si-O-Si, bending vibrations.

[email protected]

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Fig.2 Surface morphology of pure and TEOS coated CI particles

Communications Network Research Institute (CNRI)

C SKEY ACHIEVEMENTS• Research funding secured to date over €2.9 million

• 3 PhD graduates

• 6 MPhil graduates

• 2 patents awarded (WLAN Probe)

• EPO patent (EP1608104) granted January 2008.

• US PTO patent (US 7664031) granted February 2010.

• 1 patent filing (Realtime VoIP Call Quality Estimator)

• British Patent Office filing (Application 0921806.6) December 2010.

• 7 licenses

• 6 invention disclosures

• WLAN Resource Monitor

• WLAN Resource Controller

• EQUAL (VoIP Call Quality Estimator)

RESEARCH INTERESTSThe Communications Network Research Institute (CNRI) specialises indeveloping innovative technologies to support the delivery of real-timeservices such as VoIP and video streaming on wireless networks, specificallyIEEE 802 11 WLAN ( l l k Wi Fi ) k

KEY PUBLICATIONSMiroslaw Narbutt The E model based quality contours for predicting

• VIDAS (Statistical Video Quality Analyzer)

• ConTPC (Conservative Transmit Power Control)

• WLAN Link Adaptation

IEEE 802.11 WLAN (or more popularly known as Wi-Fi ) networks.

To this end the CNRI has adopted a cross-layer philosophy where we seek touse information obtained at one particular layer in the communicationsprotocol stack to support and enhance the operation at another layer.

To date, the CNRI has addressed a number of the challenges for WLANmesh networks where it has investigated resource aware routing techniques,passive measurements of the characteristics of IEEE 802.11 wireless links,interference mitigation, multi-radio hardware platforms, rate selection, outputpower optimization, and fragmentation threshold tuning.

Currently, the CNRI is conducting projects in the area of optimizing VoIP call

• Miroslaw Narbutt, The E-model based quality contours for predictingspeech transmission quality and user satisfaction from time-varyingtransmission impairments, ITU-T Recommendation G.109 Appendix I,January 2007.

• Miroslaw Narbutt et al., Adaptive VoIP Playout Scheduling: Assessing UserSatisfaction, IEEE Internet Computing Magazine, July/August 2005.

• Mark Davis, Tristan Raimondi, A Novel Framework for Radio ResourceManagement in IEEE 802.11 Wireless LANs, International Symposium onModeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc, and Wireless Networks(WiOpt’05), April 2005, Riva del Garda, Trentino, Italy

Currently, the CNRI is conducting projects in the area of optimizing VoIP callquality, mobile data offload, packet aggregation to improve networkthroughput, dynamic channel selection on WLAN networks, and detectingDDoS attacks on WLAN mesh networks.

TEAMDr. Mark Davis Director

CONTACT DETAILSDr. Mark Davis

• Mark Davis, A Wireless Traffic Probe for Radio Resource Managementand QoS Provisioning in IEEE 802.11 WLANs, ACM Symposium onModeling, Analysis and Simulation of Wireless and Mobile Systems(MSWiM’04), October, 2004, Venezia, Italy.

Dr. Mark Davis Director

Dr. Miroslaw Narbutt Postdoctoral Researcher (VoIP telephony)

Dr. Tanmoy Debnath Postdoctoral Researcher (Video streaming)

Dr. Mustafa Ramadhan Postdoctoral Researcher (Mesh routing)

Jianhua Deng PhD student (Packet aggregation)

Fuhu Deng PhD student (Dynamic channel selection)

Yi Ding PhD student (Detecting DDoS attacks)

Dr. Mark Davis

CNRI Office, FOCAS Institute, DIT Kevin Street, Dublin 8.

Tel: +353-1-402 7950

Fax: +353-1-4027901


Web site: www.cnri.dit.ie

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Enhanced QUALity (EQUAL)VoIP Quality Optimisation Software

PROBLEM / MARKET NEEDIn recent years the telecommunications industry has witnessed the emergenceof packet-based or voice over IP (VoIP) communication. For example, thephenomenal success of Skype with over 170 million subscribers has pointed tothe future of this industry. However, despite the widespread take up of thesenew systems there still remains concerns regarding the quality of service (QoS)afforded by these systems. The source of these QoS concerns lies in the natureof the underlying IP network which is usually characterized as best-effort andconsequently suffers from transmission impairments such as loss, delay and

PREFERRED ROUTE TOCOMMERCIALISATIONThe commercialization route envisaged for the VoIP optimisation software isprimarily through licensing although the formation of a start-up company maybe an alternative route should it emerge as a more compelling option.EQUAL technology is protected through a patent filing which furtherenhances its licensing potential.

Currently Dublin Institute of Technology is seeking companies such as VoIPdelay variations. In VoIP systems, large delay variations (jitter) hinder the properreconstruction of the speech signal at the receiver. In order to compensate forjitter, a typical VoIP application buffers the incoming voice packets beforeplaying them out. This allows slower packets to arrive on time in order to beplayed out. However, if the buffering delay is too short, the slower packets willnot arrive before their designated playout time and are effectively lost causingthe voice quality to suffer. On the other hand, if the buffering delay is too long, itimpacts on the interactivity of the speech communication. Consequently, there isa trade off between packet loss and delay and one of the major challenges inVoIP systems is to find the optimal operating point that maximizes theconversational speech quality.

Currently, Dublin Institute of Technology is seeking companies such as VoIPservice providers, network operators, and networking equipmentmanufacturers to license the EQUAL technology.

DIT has already signed a contract with one global VoIP service provider tointegrate this technology with a number of commercial softphones.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONResearchers at DIT have developed a method that estimates user satisfaction regarding VoIP transmission quality based upon objectively measurable metrics (i.e. transmission impairments such as packet delay and loss). This method has been adopted by the ITU-T as Appendix I to the ITU-T G.109 Recommendation and consequently now enjoys a standards acceptance.

VoIP optimisation software is a real time implementation of this method in VoIPVoIP optimisation software is a real time implementation of this method in VoIPterminals and provides predictions of user satisfaction.These predictions areused as the input to any adaptive tuning scheme that seeks to optimize VoIPtransmission quality. The technology can also be used for VoIP transmissionquality monitoring, pre-deployment testing, and network troubleshooting.

VoIP optimisation software has been successfully integrated with a real VoIPsoftphone (PJSIP) that can run under Windows, Linux, and Symbian OS. Thesoftware seeks to find the optimal operating point between packet loss andpacket delay that minimises the effect of transmission impairments and thusmaximises user satisfaction. The improvement in quality is comparable with thatbetween mobile (MOS=3.9) and landline telephony (MOS=4.3). Furthermore, a

ti l l tt ti f t f thi t l i th t it i b d th d th t

EQUAL+ comprises software modules designed for easy integration in VoIPendpoints, i.e. soft-phones, IP phones, and VoIP gateways.

For more information, please visit:particularly attractive feature of this tool is that it is based upon a method thathas been accepted as part of an ITU-T Recommendation G.109.

http://www.cnri.dit.ie/research.multimedia.equal.html

IP POSITIONThe technology is protected by a patent application, “Real-Time VoIPTransmission Quality Predictor and Quality Driven Adaptive Playout Buffer”,UK Patent Office, (GB 0921806.6);

Dr. Miroslaw Narbutt, +353-1-402 7959 or [email protected]

College LogoInsert centre / institute logo, funder logos etc

Optimizing The Performance of Wi-Fi NetworksSupporting Mobile Data Offload

PROBLEM / MARKET NEEDThe explosion in the growth of mobile broadband data is being described bymobile network operators (MNOs) as a “data tsunami” that is threatening tooverwhelm 3G networks. This growth in traffic has been attributed to the adventof the smartphone and the popularity of video applications. Already some mobilenetworks are crumbling under the increased traffic, particularly in denselypopulated urban areas. Moreover, the next generation of 4G (e.g. LTE/LTE+)networks are unlikely to meet the exponentially growing demand for capacity.MNOs desperately need solutions that help them reduce network congestion.

PREFERRED ROUTE TOCOMMERCIALISATIONThe preferred route to commercialisation for the OptiWifi solution is a startupcompany. Currently, it is the subject of Enterprise Ireland CommercialisationFund project whose objective is to prepare the OptiWifi solution forcommercialisation via an investment ready startup company. This willnecessitate a number of market validation trials in order to quantify thecommercial benefits of the OptiWifi solution for network operators. The

MNOs are increasingly relying on mobile data offload to fixed wireless networksto alleviate their traffic congestion problems and Wi-Fi is rapidly becoming thedominant wireless technology for mobile data offload. However, currently Wi-Ficannot reliably support quality of service (QoS) with video traffic beingparticularly problematic owing to its large bandwidth requirements coupled withthe QoS expectations of end users.

Delivering video traffic over Wi-Fi networks has been an active research area forthe last ten years or so and the same challenges still remain, namely how toprovision bandwidth for video traffic in order to guarantee QoS.

results from the market validation trials will be used to develop and refine thebusiness plan for the startup prior to investor engagement.

A feasibility study was undertaken prior to the Commercialisation Fundproject that sought to identify the commercial opportunity presented by thistechnology and to clarify the IP landscape surrounding the technology. Thisstudy concluded that there is a clear commercial opportunity for the OptiWifisolution in the mobile data offload space. However, there is some furthertechnological development required in order to introduce the type of networkmanagement features and functionalities that would normally be expected ofcarrier grade telecommunications equipment.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONThe CNRI has developed a piece of Wi-Fi optimization technology (OptiWifi) thatleverages the IEEE 802.11e/WMM QoS enhancement functionality that is now astandard feature in all modern Wi-Fi equipment. Despite its widespreadavailability few applications actually utilize this functionality, due primarily to therebeing too many parameters to configure and furthermore it is not clear whatvalues should be used for these parameters. The standard recommends a set offixed default parameter values, however the performance benefits from usingdefault values these have been poor as there is a complex relationship between

f Q S fthe configuration parameters and QoS performance.

The OptiWifi solution is based upon an mathematical framework that accuratelymodels this complex relationship. This mathematical framework is the basis ofcontrol algorithm that has been incorporated into a bandwidth/QoS provisioningapplication. The unique feature of the OptiWifi solution is that it adaptivelyadjusts the configuration parameters in response to changing traffic loadconditions in order to deliver the required bandwidth/QoS.

The OptiWifi solution can increase the volume and reliability of mobile datadelivered across Wi-Fi networks. The OptiWifi solution allows service providersmanage their Wi-Fi networks with far greater certainty than currently exists. This

ill id f t i i th Q S i d bA number of preliminary trials of the OptiWifi solution have already taken place

will provide for greater assurance in managing the QoS experienced by users. on public Wi-Fi networks or hotspots. Specifically, two busy city centre coffeeshops were used for the OptiWifi trials. The results from these trials haveindicated a clear improvement in the performance of the hotspot in terms of adramatic reduction in the level of bandwidth congestion being experienced byusers.

For more information, please visit http://www.cnri.dit.ie/research.wrrm.html

IP POSITIONThe technology underpinning the OptiWifi solution is protected by a patent USPTO No. 7664031 (granted February 2010) that covers the mathematicalframework that models the interactions of the various WLAN processes andthat lies at the heart of the control algorithm.

Dr. Mark Davis, +353-1-402 7950 or [email protected]

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INNOVATIONS IN ZERO DISCHARGE

WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

SUMMARY KEY OUTPUTS

Development Technology

in the Community

Research Group

SUMMARY KEY OUTPUTS

Key Drivers:

• EU judgment – “Ireland has failed to fulfill its obligations as regards domesticwastewaters disposed of in the countryside through septic tanks and other individualwastewater treatment systems” .

• Legislation - Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 - introduces a system ofinspection of individual wastewater treatment facilities and places the primaryresponsibility for any remediation works on the owner.

DTC Research Sites

Science:

Zero Discharge

Key Research

Finding: DTC has

developed design

criteria for zero

discharge wastewater

treatment systems

appropriate to the

Irish climatic

10 10

DTC Research Sites

• Research studies carried out by DTC in the last ten years have shown theappropriateness of willow bed facilities as a polishing unit for small scalecommunity reed beds (4 – 60 p.e.).

• Design and sizing has evolved over this period to achieve “zero discharge”.

Design Innovations

• Present and future studies are focused on developing reed bed-willow bedsystems for new build and retro fit septic tanks.

Industry:

Potential solution for individual septic tank

systems

Innovation:

Design Criteria

conditions.

HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE

RESEARCH STUDY 1: COLECOTT REED AND WILLOW BED

FACILITY, FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL, CO. DUBLIN.

The first Irish municipal application of a hybrid reed bed treatmentsystem (RBTS) was designed and constructed at Colecott for FingalCounty Council 1996-2002. Phase 1 investigated the efficiency of theh b id db d t Ph 2 i ti t d t ti t t t

10

hybrid reedbed system. Phase 2 investigated a tertiary treatmentsystem comprising a willow bed receiving the effluent from the reedbed.

RESEARCH STUDY 2: LYNCHES LANE HYBRID REED AND

WILLOW BED FACILITY, SOUTH COUNTY DUBLIN COUNTY

COUNCIL.

This study monitored the performance of a hybrid reed willow bed facilityat Lynches Lane, for South Dublin County Council (SDCC). Monitoringincluded influent and effluent parameters, rainfall, potentialevapotranspiration, and soil classification.

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

FUNDERSRESEARCH STUDY 1: Colecott Reed and Willow

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

DTC RESEARCH GROUP AIMS TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM

OF WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION WHICH ENCOURAGES SELF RELIANCE

WITHIN COMMUNITIES IN BOTH DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

Bed facility, Fingal County Council.

RESEARCH STUDY 2: Lynches Lane Hybrid reed

and willow bed facility, South Dublin County

Council.

The authors would like to acknowledge the help andassistance of Michael Hannon of the ParksDepartment, South Dublin County Council and DonMcDonald for all his help and advice.

www.dit.ie/dtc

DTC Research Group

School of Civil & Building Services Engineering,

10


in the Community

Research Group

Development Technology in the Community (DTC) Innovations in Sustainable Environmental, Water & Sanitation Technologies

DTC RESEARCH INTERESTS DTC CURRENT RESEARCHDTC RESEARCH INTERESTSStrategic Objective:

The Development Technology in the Community (DTC) Research Group was established to develop and promote innovations in Sustainable Environmental,

Water and Sanitation Technologies.

DTC Research & Advisory Services:

• Pilot Demonstration Projects

• Innovations in Appropriate Technology

DTC CURRENT RESEARCHZero Discharge WWT Systems – Research studies carried out by DTCResearch Group in the last ten years have shown the appropriateness ofwillow bed facilities as a polishing unit for small scale community reed beds.Our design and sizing has evolved over this period to achieve zero discharge.Present and future studies are focused on developing reed bed willow bedsystems for new build and retro fit septic tanks.

Sustainable Water Infrastructure – Current research is focused oninnovations in rainwater harvesting design to improve efficiencies and reducesystem costs for domestic agricultural industrial and school applications

• Rainwater Harvesting

• Zero Discharge Wastewater Treatment (WWT) Systems

• Low cost water quality testing

• Training Courses & Applied Research Programs

Research Partners:

DTC provides technical advisory and research services to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DOEHLG), Local Authorities, International Non Government Organisations, Private Business, Community Based Organisations and Educational Institutions.

system costs for domestic, agricultural, industrial and school applications.

Technology Transfer– DTC are currently partnering with product developersin Bolivia and the UK to develop working aids, guidelines and methodologicaltoolboxes for innovative technology transfer programs in developing countries..

Innovations in Low Cost Water Quality Testing – DTC are currentlyassessing low cost water quality methodologies for use in developed &developing countries.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS• Innovation in Rainwater Harvesting Design

• Pilot Rainwater Harvesting Study 2005 – 2009, DOEHLG

• School Rainwater Harvesting Study 2009-2012, DOEHLG

• Zero Discharge Wastewater Treatment Systems

• Reed Bed WWT System, 1996-2002, - Fingal Co. Co.

Hybrid Reed Willow Bed WWT System 2007 2012 South Dublin Co Co

g

ZERO DISCHARGE

RAINWATER

HARVESTING

1

Rainwater Harvesting System

1. Roof surface

2. Rainwater Filter

3. Rainwater Storage Tank

4. Supply Management System

5. Marking & Labelling

6. Overflow to surface

water drainage

• Hybrid Reed Willow Bed WWT System, 2007-2012 - South Dublin Co. Co.

• Appropriate Technology

• Sierra Leone , 2010-2012 – EU Funded Program

• Water, Wastewater, Solar, Wind, Pump technology, 2011, EMAS, Bolivia,

• Low Cost Pump Design , 2012 CANZEE, UK

• Training Courses

• TECSPAR Technology Transfer Project, 2005-2008 EU Alfa Programme in association with Polytechnic University of Catalunia, Spain and the University of Padua Italy and University of Medellin Colombia University of San Luis Potosi

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

DTC RESEARCH GROUP AIMS TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM

5

42 3

66

Padua, Italy and University of Medellin, Colombia, University of San Luis Potosi, Mexico and the University of Conception, Chile.

DTC CONTACT DETAILSLiam McCarton , email: [email protected] Tel: 087-7722225

Dr. Sean O’Hogain, email: [email protected]

Catriona Walsh email: catriona walsh@dit ieSIERRA LEONE DTC ENVIRONMENTAL

RESOURCE CENTRE

Community Managed Water Source

OF WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION WHICH ENCOURAGES SELF RELIANCE

WITHIN COMMUNITIES IN BOTH DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

Catriona Walsh, email: [email protected]

Anna Reid, email: [email protected]

John Turner, Head of School of Civil & Building Services Engineering,

email: [email protected]

DTC Research Group,

School of Civil & Building Services Engineering,

Dublin Institute of Technology,

Bolton Street.

DTC / EMAS WORKSHOP 2011

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS

Training / Water Testing

www.dit.ie/dtc

DTC Research Group

School of Civil & Building Services Engineering

Website: www.dit.ie/dtc


in the Community

Research Group

Construction Materials Laboratory

Dr. Niall Holmes, Department of Civil & Structural Engineering, [email protected]

College Logo

INTRODUCTION The Construction and Materials Laboratory in DIT Bolton Street is involved in a wide range of research into construction materials, many with industry collaboration. Companies wishing to make use of the facilities to solve technical problems they are experiencing with new and existing construction materials are invited to discuss their issues with staff so an appropriate research project can be planned and delivered.

The laboratory has a long tradition of carrying out testing of materials for industry while utilising the expertise and experience of the academic and technical staff.

Previous private and commercial work carried out in the laboratory includes:

� Concrete strength testing

� Stone staircase load assessment

� Aggregate testing

� Concrete drying monitoring

� Structural assessment of timber

� Concrete lintel tests

� Structural steel beam testing

� Shear testing of bolts

� Vibration analysis and monitoring

� Concrete durability analysis

� Lifting eye pull-out tests

� Life-cycle analysis of wet-room products

� Tensile and compression load measurement capability in building materials

� Wireless monitoring

STAFF RESEARCH INTERESTS Staff using the laboratory are research active in the following areas:

� Concrete durability and performance behaviour

� Bridge dynamics and loading

� Structural steelwork behaviour and analysis

� Concrete impact and confinement

� Coastal engineering and wave energy

� Hempcrete as a building material

� Seismic loading of steel structures

� Post-buckling behaviour of steel plate girders

� Structural finite element modelling

� Drying concrete slabs

TEAM / FUNDERS Academic and technical staff would be delighted to discuss any research project.

Principle investigators active in the laboratory include:

o Dr. Niall Holmes ([email protected])

o Mr Henry Mullen ([email protected])

o Mr David Thompson ([email protected])

o Mr Joe Kindregan ([email protected])

o Mr Ronan Hogan ([email protected])

Funding for projects has been obtained from both private

and public sources including Enterprise Ireland Innovation

vouchers and feasibility studies

New hand held moisture meter to assess the moisture content through the depth of concrete slabs

Dr. Niall Holmes, Department of Civil & Structural Engineering [email protected]

College Logo

SUMMARY As part of an Enterprise Ireland feasibility study, this project investigates the possibility of developing a new hand-held instrument that will non-destructively measure the moisture condition through the depth of drying concrete slabs. The instrument will use 4-point electrical resistivity and impedance technology calibrated with moisture contents in the concrete.

Currently, the moisture condition through the depth is assessed by drilling a number of holes into the concrete, inserting a plastic tube to trap a pocket of air and placing relative humidity (rh) probes. This approach can be time consuming and is partially non-destructive.

The aim here is to develop a low cost, non-destructive apparatus that will measure the moisture content directly without the need for drilling etc. The instrument will be suitable for onsite measurements and data will be presented via a digital and graphical display.

The instrument, which will be lightweight and durable, will be capable of measuring the moisture content through the depth of concrete slabs and walls based on approximately 550 hours of experimental testing and analysis. These calibrations can be incorporated into a commercial prototype in a follow on full Enterprise Ireland innovation grant application between the partners.

BACKGROUND Applying an alternating electrical field to concrete placed between a pair of electrodes yields a response which will be largely dictated by the water distribution within the matrix and pore continuity between electrodes. This instrument, through variations in the spacing of the electrodes and the voltage applied, will transmit the electrical current deeper into the concrete and a measurement of the resistance will be made. This resistance measurement will then be calibrated with moisture content readings from drilled dust samples through the depth of the slabs over time. The instruments output will be the moisture content through the depth using these calibrations.

The feasibility study will be used to confirm if the proposed approach can be successfully employed in a real sense, capable of measuring the moisture condition through the depth of concrete slabs and walls. The findings from the experimental programme as part of this will yield initial calibrations between the electrical resistivity and moisture condition in the concrete and confirms if the theory is applicable. These findings will then be used in a full innovation partnership project to widen the experimental programme using a range of appropriate concretes as well as develop numerical models which will add confidence to the initial results.

KEY OUTPUTS • Confirm the science of 4-point electrical resistivity is applicable on drying concrete slabs for the ultimate measurement of the internal moisture content through the depth.

• Following an extensive experimental programme, develop accurate calibration curves between the electrical resistivity and moisture content at depth.

TEAM / FUNDERS The project is funded by an Enterprise Ireland Feasibility Study under their Innovation Partnership Programme and is supported by Tramex Ltd, an Irish company that manufacturers and sells hand-held concrete moisture meters and inspection kits (www.tramex.ie).

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