Southeast Ireland Research Articles

Flagging Up Buddhism: Charles Pfoundes (Omoie Tetzunostzuke) Among the International Congresses and Expositions, 1893–1905

Charles James William Pfoundes (1840–1907), a young emigrant from Southeast Ireland, spent most of his adult life in Japan, received a Japanese name ‘Omoie Tetzunostzuke’, first embraced and then turned against Theosophy and, from 1893, was ordained in several Japanese Buddhist traditions. Lacking independent means but educated, intellectually curious, entrepreneurial, fluent in Japanese and with a keen interest in Asian culture, Pfoundes subsisted as a cultural intermediary, explaining Japan and Asia to both Japanese and foreign audiences and actively seeking involvement in global expositions and congresses, in Asia and beyond. Drawing on a previously unstudied collection of Pfoundes' personal documents, this paper first outlines Pfoundes' unusual career and then focuses on his engagement, in the last 15 years of his life, in actual or proposed international congresses and expositions in London, Chicago, Japan, Hanoi, St Louis and Oregon. The paper thereby draws attention, through the forgotten figure of Charles Pfoundes, to the distinctive nineteenth century phenomenon of great international expositions and their associated congresses, viewing these complicated events as another kind of crossroads; innovative nodes and material stimuli to the kinds of travel, cultural communication and interaction which, like monastic, trade, political and ethnic networks, helped to exchange and promote modern representations of Buddhism.

Patient’s perception of their readiness for discharge following hip fracture surgery

BackgroundHip fractures are one of the most serious injuries due to a fall (approximately 2800 hospital admissions each year); 80% are over 75years of age; their length of hospital stay is 18days; less than one-third go directly home after their hospital treatment. The impact of a hip fracture cannot be underestimated in terms of lifelong implications particularly in older people. AimTo examine patient’s perception of their readiness for discharge post hip fracture and to establish whether relationships existed between patient’s perception of their readiness for discharge and demographic variables such as age, gender and social circumstances. MethodsThe research design used was quantitative, descriptive and correlational. Questionnaires were disseminated to 50 patients who had received hip fracture surgery in one hospital in the South-East of Ireland. The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) by Weiss and Piacentine (2006) was used to measure perception of readiness and comparisons between the demographic variables and the RHDS scale were explored. ResultsHip fracture patients have a lower perception of readiness than other medical-surgical groups. The mean perception of readiness for discharge of hip fracture patients was 6.677 (SD 0.123) compared to medical-surgical patients 8.1 (SD 1.3) (Weiss et al., 2007). ConclusionsImprovements in the discharge preparation of hip fracture patients and nursing knowledge is needed so that patients feel adequately prepared for discharge and what comes next. Post discharge outcomes of patients post hip fracture surgery is an important area for research and practice development.

Simulating the impacts of land use in Northwest Europe on Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE): The role of arable ecosystems, grasslands and forest plantations in climate change mitigation

In this study, we compared measured and simulated Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) values from three wide spread ecosystems in the southeast of Ireland (forest, arable and grassland), and investigated the suitability of the DNDC (the DeNitrification–DeComposition) model to estimate present and future NEE. Although, the field-DNDC version overestimated NEE at temperatures >5°C, forest-DNDC under-estimated NEE at temperatures >5°C. The results suggest that the field/forest DNDC models can successfully estimate changes in seasonal and annual NEE from these ecosystems. Differences in NEE were found to be primarily land cover specific. The annual NEE was similar for the grassland and arable sites, but due to the contribution of exported carbon, the soil carbon increased at the grassland site and decreased at the arable site. The NEE of the forest site was an order of magnitude larger than that of the grassland or arable ecosystems, with large amounts of carbon stored in woody biomass and the soil. The average annual NEE, GPP and Reco values over the measurement period were −904, 2379 and 1475gCm−2 (forest plantations), −189, 906 and 715gCm−2 (arable systems) and −212, 1653 and 1444gCm−2 (grasslands), respectively. The average RMSE values were 3.8gCm−2 (forest plantations), 0.12gCm−2 (arable systems) and 0.21gCm−2 (grasslands). When these models were run with climate change scenarios to 2060, predictions show that all three ecosystems will continue to operate as carbon sinks. Further, climate change may decrease the carbon sink strength in the forest plantations by up to 50%. This study supports the use of the DNDC model as a valid tool to predict the consequences of climate change on NEE from different ecosystems.

Spatial and Temporal Variations of Nutrient Loads in Overland Flow and Subsurface Drainage from A Marginal Land Site in South-East Ireland

In Ireland, Food Harvest 2020 focuses on increasing productivity while enhancing environmental sustainability of agricultural land. On underutilised or marginal land, drainage systems may be installed to expand agricultural enterprises. Mixed nutrient losses are inevitable from any drainage system, but assessing processes leading to differences in nutrient speciation, fractionation and losses in grasslands between locations or flow paths is important to achieve sustainability. This study investigates these processes in overland flow and subsurface drains over three rainfall events from four non-grazed plots recently converted from marginal land in the south-east of Ireland. A shallower water table and smaller plot size resulted in greater water and nutrient losses in overland flow per unit of land area. Nutrient losses were less in subsurface drains. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) dominated, but dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was more abundant in the drains. Particulate phosphorus generally dominated in drains, except in plots with a shallow water table where dissolved unreactive phosphorus (DUP) was more abundant. In overland flow, a shallower water table resulted in a switch from dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) to DUP. Fertilisation increased phosphorus losses in overland flow, with DRP dominating. These results highlight the importance of an integrated assessment of the controls on flow and nutrient losses to design drainage systems in marginal lands.

Effects of over-winter green cover on groundwater nitrate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations beneath tillage land

Application of over-winter green cover (e.g. cover crops) as a measure for reducing nitrate losses from tillage land has been frequently investigated, especially in the unsaturated zone. Monitoring of groundwater is less common in these studies. Studies on groundwater responses to different land treatments can be challenging because they can be influenced by various conditions, such as recharge, seasonal variations, and aquifer properties, often occurring at different time scales than surface water processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate groundwater nitrate (NO3−N) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration responses to different over-winter green covers: mustard, natural regeneration and no cover. A field experiment was designed and run for three years on tillage land underlain by a vulnerable sand and gravel aquifer in the south-east of Ireland. Results showed that over-winter green cover growth on tillage land can be an effective measure to reduce groundwater NO3−N concentrations. A significant decrease in groundwater NO3−N concentrations was observed under the mustard cover compared to no cover. All treatments, including no cover, showed a decline in groundwater NO3−N concentrations over time. A significant increase in groundwater DOC was also observed under the mustard cover. Although the overall groundwater DOC concentrations were low, the increased DOC occurrence in groundwater should be accounted for in carbon balances and could potentially enhance groundwater denitrification in cases where aquifer conditions may favour it.

PS54 Biomarkers Associated With Mortality In A Community Based Population With Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Data From The Screening To Prevent Heart Failure (STOP HF) Study

BackgroundThe STOP HF cohort is an ongoing longitudinal study of 1,040 individuals with cardiovascular risk factors and no known ventricular dysfunction at baseline. The study is located in South Dublin...

The effects of the frequency of spatially proximate and distant interaction on innovation by Irish SMEs

This paper tests whether more frequent interaction at different spatial levels has a positive effect on the innovation performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the South-West and South-East of Ireland. Based on an original survey, it finds that more frequent interaction generally increases innovation likelihood, but at a diminishing rate, thus suggesting a trade-off between resources dedicated to transforming knowledge into new products and processes. Spatially distant interaction is found to be at least as valuable as proximate interaction, which questions the received wisdom that the best sources of knowledge are regional. Given the value of distant interaction, the results indicate that regional lock-in may be an obstacle to superior innovation performance of SMEs.

Management and climate effects on carbon dioxide and energy exchanges in a maritime grassland

This study investigated the effects of grassland management and climate on the exchanges of carbon dioxide (CO2) (i.e. net ecosystem CO2 exchange, NEE; gross ecosystem production, GEP; and ecosystem respiration, ER) and energy (i.e. latent heat flux, LE; sensible heat flux, H; and Bowen ratio, β) in an intensively managed grassland in the maritime climate of southeast Ireland using six years (2004–2009) of eddy-covariance data. The observed effects on CO2 (reduction of net CO2 uptake (i.e. NEE), GEP and ER) and energy exchanges (LE decreased while H and β increased) were more pronounced following harvest compared to grazing practices and were further dependent on their seasonal timing. Most importantly, a net loss of CO2 occurred for 2–3 weeks following harvest whereas net uptake continued during grazing periods. Whereas the environmental conditions were in general non-constraining and similar among years, the predominant annual management regime varied widely among years including cattle grazing, grass harvesting, kale planting, and grass re-seeding. For the years 2004–2009, the NEE was −385, −202, −109, +134, −101, and −201gCm−2year−1 (negative sign indicating uptake) and the mean growing season midday β was 0.97, 0.66, 0.82, 1.07, 0.78 and 0.79. During similar environmental conditions, about twice as much annual CO2 uptake and greater H flux occurred under the cattle grazing regime in 2004 compared to the grass harvesting regime in 2005. Kale planting and re-seeding during the early summer likely caused the reduced annual CO2 uptake in 2006 and net emission combined with a greater β in 2007. A 2-week drought period in summer 2006 further affected GEP, ER and energy fluxes, while its impact on NEE was limited. Recognizing additional effects from climate, this study finds that the choice of grassland management regime is a key control on grassland ecosystem carbon, water, and energy exchanges in this maritime climate region.

Foaming Scum Index (FSI) – A new tool for the assessment and characterisation of biological mediated activated sludge foams

The formation of thick stable brown foams within the activated sludge process has become a familiar operational problem. Despite much research having already been carried out into establishing the causes of activated sludge foaming there is still no general consensus on the mechanisms involved. Historically investigation into activated sludge foaming has involved either measuring, under aeration conditions, the propensity of mixed liquor samples to foam, or evaluating different physico-chemical properties of the sludge which have previously been linked to activated sludge foaming. Both approaches do not present a means to quantify the risk posed to the treatment plants once foams have started to develop on the surface of aeration basins and final clarifiers. The Foaming Scum Index (FSI) is designed to offer a means to quantify risk on the basis of different foam characteristics which can easily be measured. For example, foam stability, foam coverage, foam suspended solids content and biological composition. The FSI was developed by measuring foam samples taken from several different domestic and municipal wastewater treatment sites located in Greater Dublin area (South-East Ireland). Path analysis was used to predict co-dependencies among the different sets of variables following a number of separate hypotheses. The standardized beta coefficients (β) produced from the multivariate correlation analysis (providing a measure of the contribution of each variable in the structural equation model) was used to finalise the weighting of each parameter in the index accordingly. According to this principal, foam coverage exerted the greatest influence on the overall FSI (β = 0.33), whilst the filamentous bacterial composition in terms of the filament index of foam, provided the least (β = 0.03). From this work it is proposed that the index can be readily applied as a standard tool in the coordination of research into the phenomenon of activated sludge foaming.

The effect of introducing a winter forage rotation on CO2 fluxes at a temperate grassland

Temperate grasslands have the potential to sequester carbon, helping to mitigate rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The ability of grasslands to absorb CO2 is influenced by site elevation, soil type, management practices, climate and climatic variability. There is a need for long-term observations and field experiments to quantify the effects of the key drivers of management and climate variability. This paper presents over 4 years of eddy covariance measurements of CO2 flux over a managed temperate grassland site in south-east Ireland. For the first 2 years the entire study area was under grass. During the second 2 years a winter forage crop was grown over part of the site. The site was found to have a net uptake of CO2 during all years. However, the magnitude of the CO2 uptake varied considerably from year to year, with a maximum net uptake of 1.32kg CO2m−2 in 2004, a year with no winter forage crop. Net uptakes were much lower in the 2 years of mixed grass and kale cultivation, but detailed analysis of the measurement footprint and statistical comparisons showed that this was not due to the introduction of the forage rotation. For a short period following sowing of the forage crop, daytime CO2 uptake was less than that of the area under grass, but over subsequent months daytime CO2 uptake of the kale areas recovered strongly and exceeded that of the grass areas. The net effect over the year following kale planting is close to CO2-neutral.

Experimental Evaluation of the Scale of Fluctuation for Spatial Variability Modeling of Chloride-Induced Reinforced Concrete Corrosion

AbstractThis paper provides experimentally determined estimates of the scale of fluctuation of the principal variables employed in modeling chloride-induced corrosion for reinforced concrete; i.e., the surface chloride content (Cs) and apparent diffusion coefficient (Dapp). The estimation of the scale of fluctuation, θ, is based on the analysis of experimental data recorded on a bridge in South East Ireland prior to its extensive rehabilitation in 2007. In determining the scale of fluctuation the paper considers two commonly used methods; i.e., the maximum likelihood method and the autocorrelation curve-fitting method. The reliability of both methods is discussed. Introduction of the kriging statistical interpolation method is demonstrated to improve the reliability of the estimates of the scale of fluctuation. The results obtained from the analysis are compared with values in the literature proffered by other researchers.

From farm to fork

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore the attitudes and behaviour of the hospitality sector, in the south east of Ireland, with regard to direct selling relationships with primary food suppliers. The paper also presents the motivations and challenges for hospitality practitioners in developing and maintaining direct relationships with primary suppliers.Design/methodology/approachIn order to enable the collection of information about both behaviour and attitudes in regard to direct supply relationships, a multi‐stage survey approach is used. This involves a questionnaire followed by a structured focus group; this dual approach seeks to provide opportunity for a richer dataset and also enables some triangulation of data so as to optimise the validity and reliability of the study.FindingsThe paper gives an initial picture of the level and types of supply relationships in the hospitality sector and makes clear that there is scope for a more strategic approach to supply chain management across the sector. The evidence from this study gives support to the assertion that there are strong social, economic, organisational and market rationales for a more concerted effort to promote higher levels of direct supply chain relationships in the hospitality sector.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is exploratory in nature and uses a relatively small sample to identify the benefits and challenges.Practical implicationsThe study aims to provide guidance and recommendations for industry stakeholders as to the benefits of direct supply relationships.Originality/valueThis study is the first of its type to look at the practice and attitudes of hospitality providers towards direct supply relationships with primary food suppliers.

Suicide ideation, psychological adjustment and mental health service support: A screening study in an Irish secondary school sample.

The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the extent of suicide ideation, psychological maladjustment and views of mental health service support in a sample of secondary school pupils. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a purposive sample of participants (n=93) recruited from a secondary school located in the south east of Ireland. Participants completed a Background Information Questionnaire (BIQ); the Suicide Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ); and the Reynolds Adolescence Adjustment Screening Inventory (RAASI). Approximately ten percent of participants displayed high levels of suicide ideation whilst one third reported having previously had suicidal thoughts; one quarter reported psychological adjustment difficulties, although these varied by age and sex. Participants' drug use and their levels of parental closeness were both individual factors that significantly predicted both suicide ideation and psychological adjustment. Females reported higher levels of parental closeness than males. Forty percent of respondents rated mental health support services as insufficient to meet their needs. The findings raise serious concerns about the extent of suicidal thoughts amongst young people in Ireland; they also highlight a potentially important role for parents in this regard. Further research should ascertain national prevalence rates whilst appropriate school-based mental health education/promotion and support services should also be implemented.

Stability and Continuity of Operations for Small and Medium Sized ICT Firms: Regional Study on Business Model Utilisation in South-East Ireland

The Small and Medium Enterprise is the backbone of business and innovation internationally. Information, Communication and Technology firms in this enterprise category are important innovators and exporters. Prevailing economic conditions, however, create instabilities which require understanding and resolution. This South-East region of Ireland case study is representative of many international regions who suffer similar problems. Understanding and addressing systems issues, in this region, through the utilisation of business models can create new knowledge and generate solutions which can inform systems related policy and practices, enhancing international regional stability and sustainability.

Spatial and temporal variations in groundwater nitrate at an intensive dairy farm in south-east Ireland: Insights from stable isotope data

Achievement of at least “good ecological status” in all waterbodies under the EU Water Framework Directive by 2015 will in some cases be a challenge. The twin challenge is to manage expectations of policy makers for such waterbodies as to a realistic length of time required for improvement in water quality. Hence, understanding the source, transformation processes and residence time of nitrate in a hydrological system is an essential part of meeting such challenges. On a dairy farm with 24 shallow groundwater wells, the dual isotopic composition of nitrate (δ 15N and δ 18O) was used to clarify nitrate sources, to assess spatial and temporal variability in nitrate concentrations and to determine if and where denitrification was occurring. Vertical travel time was estimated to correlate nitrate concentrations with management practices. Organically derived nitrogen was the predominant source contributing to groundwater nitrate concentrations. Denitrification was identified as prevalent within specific regions of the study site. The distinct low temporal variability in the isotopic data suggests constancy among nitrate sources and processes over time across the study site. Vertical travel times of up to 3 years were estimated on site indicating the influence of recent management practices on nitrate concentrations. Very slow horizontal migration of groundwater (decades) indicates a legacy of older management practices. Stable isotope techniques, together with an understanding of time lag, provide an extra mechanism to test the efficacy of monitoring and mitigation programmes.

Pastoral farmland habitat diversity in south-east Ireland

In this study, habitat surveys were undertaken on 50 grass-based farms in SE Ireland and data digitised onto aerial photography. Additional data i.e. stocking rates, and participation (or otherwise) in the Irish Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) were collected and analysed as possible explanatory variables for farm habitat composition. Results indicated that approximately 14.3% of the land area of sampled farms comprised of semi-natural habitat types, a proportion substantially greater than has been reported for many other European countries. The most frequently recorded semi-natural habitats included, field boundaries, scrub, and deciduous and riparian woodlands. Multivariate analysis of farm habitat configuration showed a strong dichotomy between dairy and non-dairy farming systems. Habitats such as intensively managed grassland and built ground were closely associated with dairy-based enterprises. In contrast, the incidence of other habitat types was associated with non-dairy and/or REPS participating enterprises. The ecological quality of field boundaries as assessed by the Field Boundary Evaluation and Grading System (FBEGS) Index was significantly greater on dairy, compared with dry-stock farms. This dichotomy in farm habitat composition is not reflected within current Agri-Environment (AE) policy. Integration of locally important drivers of habitat diversity into the design and implementation of AE policy, is integral to the successful performance of AE schemes.

Present and future horizons for Irish English

The English language was first taken to Ireland in the late twelfth century and enjoyed a modest position in late medieval Irish society, a position which betrayed no sign of the later dominance of English in Ireland as in so many countries to which the language was taken during the period of English colonialism. The fate of the English language after initial settlement was determined by the existence of Irish and Anglo-Norman as widely spoken languages in the country. Irish was the continuation of forms of Celtic taken to Ireland in the first centuries BCE and the native language of the great majority of the population at the time settlers from Britain first arrived in Ireland. Anglo-Norman was the form of French used by the nobility in England and particularly in the marches of south and south-west Wales, the region from which the initial settlers in the south-east of Ireland came.

Integrated constructed wetlands: water management as a land-use issue, implementing the ‘Ecosystem Approach’

Awareness of the need for social, economic and environmental coherence in the management of water is becoming evermore apparent. Water supply as well as treatment is becoming more costly; a challenge that is not only limited to developing countries. The use of wetlands, natural and constructed, is now more widely accepted as a means of tackling a range of problems in water management to deliver this coherence. The use of 16 Integrated Constructed Wetlands that mimic shallow, emergent-vegetated, palustrine wetlands in a 2,500 ha catchment in County Waterford, Southeast Ireland, has shown a number of distinct advantages in implementing the all encompassing 'Ecosystem Approach', addressing the key elements for sustainable water management in an intensively used agricultural area. The significant increase in water quality, biodiversity, social amenities and acceptance by the local rural community provided by this 'real' field-scale demonstration show the benefits that such a joined-up approach can have on catchment management in the widest sense.

Meso-scale systems used for the examination of different integrated constructed wetland operations

Meso-scale constructed wetlands have not been commonly used for the examination of interactions and operations within differently designed wetland systems. Sixteen meso-scale constructed wetland systems (4 operations with 4 replicates each) were therefore evaluated between November 2008 and June 2010. These systems were used to examine key operations identified in the literature including hydraulic loading rates, nutrient loading rates and nutrient recycling modes. The wetlands were managed in the following modes: normal, recycling, high nutrient loading and high flow rate. The designs were such that the influents could be varied at set loading rates and concentrations. The ammonia removal rates for the meso-scale integrated constructed wetland (ICW) systems were similar to other full-scale ICW systems that have been in operation in the south-east of Ireland for the past decade. These comparable results highlight the potential cost-effectiveness of these meso-scale experimental designs for the examination of novel operations for future ICW developments.

An energy balance and greenhouse gas profile for county Wexford, Ireland in 2006

In this paper an energy balance and a greenhouse gas profile has been formulated for the county of Wexford, situated in the south east of Ireland. The energy balance aims to aggregate all energy consumption in the county for the year 2006 across the following sectors; residential, agriculture, commerce and industry, and transport. The results of the energy balance are compared with the previous energy balance of 2001 where it is found that the residential sector is the biggest emitter of CO 2 with 38% of total emissions with the transport and industry/commerce sectors sharing second place on 28%. Consumption of oil is seen to have increased significantly in nearly all sectors, accounting for over 70% of the total final energy consumed (TFC) while the total primary energy requirement (TPER) sees oil consumption accounting for 91% of all fuels consumed. To take into account the contribution of agriculture in total GHG emissions the gases CH 4 and N 2O will be estimated from the agricultural and waste sectors. The results show that methane contributes 25% of total GHG emissions with agriculture being the primary contributor accounting for 36% of total emissions.