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Impact characteristics of suspected concussions in elite Gaelic football and hurling: a video-based analysis
Get PDFBackgroundSport-related concussion is a significant concern in contact sports, yet research in amateur Gaelic games is limited.AimsTo examine the characteristics and mechanisms of suspected concussions in elite Gaelic football and hurling using video-based analysis.Methods A retrospective video analysis was conducted on 96 suspected concussions (58 Gaelic football, 38 hurling) identified from broadcast footage during the 2018–2019 inter-county seasons. Events were coded for type of play, player role, object/body part striking the head, collision direction, legality, referee penalisation, and match quarter. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square Goodness-of-Fit test and standardised residuals assessed distributions.ResultsIn Gaelic football, suspected concussions were evenly distributed across quarters, χ²=6.23, p = 0.101. In hurling, incidents were overrepresented in the fourth quarter, χ²=14.00, p = 0.003, residual = + 3.08. Tackles were significantly more frequent in football (residual = + 8.63, χ²=95.79, p < 0.001) and hurling (residual = + 4.14, χ²=28.58, p < 0.001), while off-the-ball collisions and goalpost impacts were less frequent. Ball carriers were overrepresented in football (residual = + 5.99, χ²=48.38, p < 0.001) and hurling (residual = + 3.41, χ²=16.32, p = 0.001). Arms were the main impact source in football (residual = + 8.08, χ²=79.93, p < 0.001) with shoulders/torsos in hurling (residual = + 4.24/+2.87, χ²=36.53, p < 0.001). Front-on collisions predominated in both codes. Illegal play was significant in football (residual = + 2.6, χ²=13.52, p < 0.001), with illegal incidents penalised (residual = + 3.34, χ²=22.35, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe findings underscore the need for targeted rule enforcement, player education, and management to reduce concussion risk in Gaelic football and hurling
Achieving agricultural and environmental targets in a changing climate requires a whole-system based approach
Get PDFFeeding the large future population is associated with severe environmental challenges to which climate change is adding further complications and stress to the global food supply system. The strategies to the challenges posed on ecosystem conservation and climate neutrality would be best achieved by integrating the most current scientific findings in ‘best practice’ policies and their implementation. This paper presents the outcomes from the fourth International Catchment Science Conference in Ireland, a three-day multi-actor conference, and calls for action to improve soil fertility, reduce GHG emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce pollution loss to waters. It was concluded that an accountable management of the agricultural landscape requires a multi-actor, multidisciplinary and multi-scale approach with collaboration between the scientific community, policy makers and farmers. Importantly there should be a focus on linking research, technology, education, information, engagement and innovation. Following needed requirements were identified: (i) long-term monitoring, high-temporal and high-spatial resolution data collection, (ii) combining temporarily and spatially rich datasets, (iii) long-term planning horizons to be adopted by key institutional stakeholders, (iv) mitigation strategies to adapt to changing climate and agricultural practices, and (v) an adequate advisory support and training for farmers. Some progress has been achieved to a situation where it is possible to counter or mitigate some of the more urgent issues in the food systems under consideration in the review
Monitoring methane emissions at Hassi Messaoud from 2021 to 2024 using CH4 Sentinel and integrated methane inversion: assessing Algeria’s progress toward its 2030 GHG reduction target
Get PDFMethane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with an outsized impact on near-term warming, and the oil and gas sector is the largest man-made contributor to post-industrial revolution anthropogenic CH4 emissions. Accurate measurement and localisation of CH4 emissions is crucial for mitigating the near-term effects of climate change, and for improving the efficiency of petrochemical facilities. A novel, open source, software tool - CH4 Sentinel - was developed to process Sentinel-2 data and quantify CH4 super emitting point sources using a machine learning approach. CH4 Sentinel was applied to the Hassi Messaoud oil field in Algeria for the years from 2021 to 2024, to determine if progress was being made to Algeria’s 2030 GHG reduction goal. CH4 Sentinel processed Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) data from Sentinel-2’s Multi Spectral Instrument (MSI) using a Multi-Band Multi-Pass method (MBMP) to visualise the plumes. Then a novel processor-light machine learning approach with an XGBoost regressor was employed to quantify superemitting plumes in tonnes per hour (t/h). The regressor model showed an R2 value of 0.81 and a RMSE of 1.57 t/h on unseen evaluation data. To provide context for plume measurements Sentinel-5P Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) data was processed using the Integrated Methane Inversion tool (IMI) for the years 2020 to 2024 to estimate total yearly emissions for the field. The IMI analysis revealed that while overall emissions at Hassi Messaoud are significantly underestimated by the Global Fuel Exploitation Inventory (GFEI), there has been a decrease since 2021 of 29,352 t/y. The Sentinel-2 analysis indicates that CH4 super emissions have significantly reduced at Hassi Messaoud between 2021 and 2024 by an estimated as 25,220 tonnes per annum, approximately 86% of the IMI reduction for that period.</div
Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Image Extraction in Neonatal Echocardiography for Congenital Heart Disease Diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for Model Development
Get PDFBackground:Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) bears the highest global burden of under-5 mortality, with congenital heart disease (CHD) as a major contributor. Despite advancements in high-income countries, CHD-related mortality in SSA remains largely unchanged due to limited diagnostic capacity and centralized health care. While pulse oximetry aids early detection, confirmation typically relies on echocardiography, a procedure constrained by a shortage of specialized personnel. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a promising solution to bridge this diagnostic gap.Objective:This study aims to develop an AI-assisted echocardiography system that enables nonexpert operators, such as nurses, midwives, and medical doctors, to perform basic cardiac ultrasound sweeps on neonates suspected of CHD and extract accurate cardiac images for remote interpretation by a pediatric cardiologist.Methods:The study will use a 2-phase approach to develop a deep learning model for real-time cardiac view detection in neonatal echocardiography, utilizing data from St. Padre Pio Hospital in Cameroon and the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in South Africa to ensure demographic diversity. In phase 1, the model will be pretrained on retrospective data from nearly 500 neonates (0-28 days old). Phase 2 will fine-tune the model using prospective data from 1000 neonates, which include background elements absent in the retrospective dataset, enabling adaptation to local clinical environments. The datasets will consist of short and continuous echocardiographic video clips covering 10 standard cardiac views, as defined by the American Society of Echocardiography. The model architecture will leverage convolutional neural networks and convolutional long short-term memory layers, inspired by the interleaved visual memory framework, which integrates fast and slow feature extractors via a shared temporal memory mechanism. Video preprocessing, annotation with predefined cardiac view codes using Labelbox, and training with TensorFlow and PyTorch will be performed. Reinforcement learning will guide the dynamic use of feature extractors during training. Iterative refinement, informed by clinical input, will ensure that the model effectively distinguishes correct from incorrect views in real time, enhancing its usability in resource-limited settings.Results:Retrospective data collection for the project began in September 2024, and to date, data from 308 babies have been collected and labeled. In parallel, the initial model framework has been developed and training initiated using a subset of the labeled data. The project is currently in the intensive execution phase, with all objectives progressing in parallel and final results expected within 10 months.Conclusions:The AI-assisted echocardiography model developed in this project holds promise for improving early CHD diagnosis and care in SSA and other low-resource settings.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID):DERR1-10.2196/75270JMIR Res Protoc 2025;14:e7527
Variations in guidance, policy, and scope of practice for radiographers in interventional radiology and cardiology: An international survey of professional body representatives in Europe
Get PDFIntroduction Interventional radiology (IR) and interventional cardiology (IC) are increasingly central to modern healthcare delivery. Radiographers play a key role in these procedures, particularly in radiation safety and procedural support. However, regulation and formal guidance concerning their roles remain inconsistent across countries. This study explored how professional bodies, and national societies define and support radiographer practice in IR and IC. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive survey was distributed to representatives of radiographer professional bodies and societies across Europe using purposive sampling. The 11-item online questionnaire was piloted and disseminated via SurveyMonkey®, with promotion through social media, conferences, and the European Federation of Radiographer Societies (EFRS). Data were analysed using SPSS (v27), with descriptive statistics and cross-country comparisons. Results Responses from 36 society representatives across ten countries revealed substantial variation in whether IR and IC are formally recognised as radiographic specialisations, the skills expected at graduation, and support for advanced practice roles. While basic IR skills were widely endorsed, roles such as cannulation, consent, and drug administration were inconsistently reported. Only three respondents confirmed the publication of national guidance documents for radiographers in IR and IC. Notably, discrepancies within individual countries, particularly Ireland, Portugal, and the UK, highlight internal communication gaps between the societies, its representatives and general members. Conclusion The findings indicate significant gaps and inconsistencies in the regulation, training expectations, and scope of radiographer practice in IR and IC. These disparities have implications for patient safety, workforce development, and professional mobility across borders. Implications for practice Harmonised guidance from national societies and European bodies is needed to support radiographer competency, reduce training inequities, and enable safe and consistent IR and IC service delivery
The Impact of a Leadership Support Programme on Care Home Residents and Their Families: A Qualitative Study From the Perspective of Participating Care Home Leaders
Get PDFBackground: Older people are entering care homes with more complex conditions and higher levels of physical and cognitive impairment than in previous years. Internationally, it is recognised that there is a need for high‐performing leaders who can inspire and support colleagues to use their initiative and respond to the needs of an increasingly frail population in long‐term care. The My Home Life Leadership Support Programme is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of care home managers and other staff with leadership roles in their care homes. The programme is grounded in relational, appreciative and collaborative approaches to creating a positive culture of mutually respectful relationships. These relationships include those that are between individuals who use services, their families and care home staff, and between care homes and the wider community. Aim: To explore participating care home leaders' perspectives of the impact of the My Home Life Leadership Support Programme on people who live in care homes and their families. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach drawing on two different data sources was used in the study. Qualitative summative data were collected at the end of the programme using one‐to‐one semi‐structured interviews with participants (n = 56), and detailed field notes were captured by the My Home Life facilitators over the course of the programme. Thematic analysis was used to analyse interview data. Conventional content analysis was used to analyse the facilitators' documentary evidence. The two analytical techniques were combined for the final results using the process of cognitive mapping. Results: Three key themes were identified by care home leaders as mattering most to residents and their families. These were (1) supporting residents and families to share their feelings; (2) enhancing relationships between residents, relatives and staff; and (3) involving residents and families in decision‐making. Conclusions: The study provides significant evidence of the impact of the My Home Life Leadership Programme on care home leaders' ability to enhance the care experience of residents and relatives and create a relationship‐centred culture. Implications for Practice: My Home Life resources and approaches can support care home leaders in facilitating caring conversations that build trust and engagement, and enhance relationships between residents, relatives and staff
Blue Whiting (<i>Micromesistius poutassou</i>) Protein Hydrolysates Elicit Hydrolytic Enzyme-Dependent Improvements in Acute Postprandial Blood Glucose and Pancreatic Islet Health in a High-Fat Fed Diet-Induced Obese Mouse Model
Get PDFImprovement of dietary protein content is of high interest for increasing the success of dietary intervention for management of metabolic diseases such as obesity/type-2 diabetes. The prevalence of metabolic diseases is increasing globally, and most patients progress to long-term pharmaceutical management. Blue whiting is an underutilized fish species with a high protein quality, representing a sustainable opportunity to improve upon current dietary intervention strategies. This study investigated the antidiabetic and appetite-suppressant potential of blue whiting protein hydrolysates (BWPHs) in an acute in vivo setting and in a chronic, diet-induced obese model. In acute studies in healthy mice, one BWPH (BW-SPH-A) elicited a 24.1% reduction in food intake (p < 0.05) and another BWPH (BW-SPH-C) induced a significant improvement in blood glucose excursion (p < 0.05). The effect of these two BWPH in a disease model was then assessed using C57Bl/6J mice fed a high-fat (45% kcal), high-sucrose (30% kcal) diet for 12 weeks. In this setting, neither BWPH appeared to significantly influence bodyweight or blood glucose. However, BW-SPH-C appeared to induce significant increases in average pancreatic islet area (p < 0.001) and proliferation of beta-cells (p < 0.01), along with a significant decrease in α-cell proliferation (p < 0.001), which highlights the potential of this BWPH for the long-term management of T2DM. Further investigation of this BWPH in more severe models of T2DM is warranted.</p
Augmented Reality and Gaming Technology for Maritime Heritage Tourism: An Immersive Experience along Ireland’s Coast
Get PDFct: The integration of gaming technology with augmented reality (AR) offers opportunities for enhancing tourism experiences, particularly in the area of cultural heritage. This project explores the development of an AR application using game technology such as the Unreal Engine, integrated with ARCore (Android) and ARKit (Apple), aimed at attracting international tourists to Ireland’s significant maritime locations. The application’s aim is to immerse users in the country’s rich coastal heritage through interactive storytelling, visual media, and 3D digital replicas of historically significant boats, scanned and rendered for real-time AR viewing. By blending historical education with immersive technology, the project seeks to both engage and educate tourists, transforming their visits into interactive learning experiences. The application’s multimedia approach including text narratives, archival images, and maps adds additional storytelling layers, creating an engaging tourist experience that encourages users to explore Ireland’s maritime tradition. This approach aligns with contemporary digital storytelling trends, where layers of content contribute to richer, more immersive tourism experiences. Furthermore, by promoting lesser-known sites along Ireland’s coast, this project also aims to support sustainable tourism practices by helping to distribute visitor traffic more evenly across the region, thus preserving both the cultural and natural landscape. In demonstrating AR’s potential to reimagine cultural heritage experiences, this project contributes to the broader discourse on digital technology in heritage tourism. Through AR and gaming technology, it not only modernizes the way tourists experience maritime history but also promotes Ireland as an innovative destination in global touris
Promoting staff retention in social work: Identifying the ‘push’ and the ‘pull’ factors from the perspective of newly qualified social workers
Get PDFThis study explores the push and pull factors influencing retention of Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs). A mixed methods design, using standardized measures were used alongside questions capturing demographic data, motivation, employment preferences, and satisfaction with supervision. A sample of 122 NQSWs who graduated from one of three participating universities consented to participate. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS. Well-being and resilience scores were analysed to examine the effects of participants’ age, sex, caring responsibilities, disability, and if they worked in children’s or adult services. Levels of motivation to be a social worker, satisfaction with supervision and support during their Assessed Year in Employment were examined. Findings demonstrate that 60 percent of participants had mild or probable clinical depression. Well-being scores were significantly higher for those working within adult services compared to those in children’s services. Whereas resilience scores were significantly higher for those working in children’s services. NQSWs are committed to their career but almost 40 percent reported decreased levels of motivation. Participants recommended pull factors (i.e., increased pay, better work-life balance, manageable workloads, access to specialist training) to stabilize the workforce to improve continuity of care, build stronger relationships with service users and develop expertise to navigate complex situations
Finite Size Effects on Seismicity Induced by Fluid Injection in a Discrete Fault Network With Rate‐and‐State Friction
Get PDFThe seismicity rate model of J. Dieterich (1994, https://doi.org/10.1029/93jb02581) has been used extensively in recent years to model induced seismicity in fluid injection settings. In this study, we highlight its major assumptions and examine how they may bias the interpretations of inferred model parameters when applied to induced seismicity observed in real reservoirs. We do so by comparing the model to numerical simulations of induced earthquakes in a discrete fault network (DFN). The seismicity patterns show significant differences between the DFN and Dietrich model. In particular, DFN simulations show the development of a backfront during the injection due to the exhaustion of available nucleation sources and a shut-off of near-well seismicity due to aseismic slip at high pore pressure. When matched to the DFN catalogs, both the background seismicity rate parameter, R b, and the direct effect rate-and-state friction parameter, a, of the Dieterich model both significantly underestimate the same parameters of the DFN. We recall the seismicity induced by the 1993 stimulation of the GPK1 injection well in Soultz-Sous-For (Formula presented.) ts for evidence of co-injection backfronts and aseismic slip among small faults. We do not discount the use of the Dieterich model—they successfully reproduce seismicity simulated from a wide range of initial conditions and fault network conditions—but emphasize that interpretations of inferred parameters must take into account finite size effects that are neglected by the model's original assumptions.</p