Tests of Manhood: Uncovering the History and Popularity of Stone Lifting in Ireland

The general public, both within Ireland and further abroad, has begun to take an interest in Irish lifting stones. A simple premise, lifting stones are historically significant stones which were typically lifted as tests of manhood within rural and fishing communities in Ireland. It is an Irish practice with global parallels in Europe and Asia. The popular history of this endeavour is currently being written with claims that this practice, once popular, was wiped out during the Great Famine. This article marks the first academic study of lifting stones in Ireland. It situates them in a domestic and global context, discusses the sources one can use in studying the topic and uses a combination of folklore, anthropology and fiction to evaluate known written sources on the topic. More importantly it highlights the multifaceted and gendered histories which can be told through this topic. The article thus seeks to do three things: first to raise awareness of the public histories being written on this topic, second to implore a more rigid groundwork for studying this practice and third to stress the value such an area has in the growing field of masculinity studies in Ireland

Consensus Statements—Optimizing Performance of the Elite Athlete

The International Consensus Conference “Optimising Performance of the Elite Athlete,” held in November 2024, brought together 29 scientists, some coaches, and athletes to establish evidence-based consensus statements aimed at enhancing elite athletic performance and health. The conference addressed critical themes including training strategies, nutrition, female athlete considerations, injury management, and emerging technologies. Key conclusions emphasize individualized, sportspecific approaches to training and nutrition, integrating concurrent training modalities to improve endurance, resilience, and efficiency. Nutrition strategies highlight the importance of tailored energy and macronutrient periodization, recognition of low energy availability risks, and cautious use of dietary supplements. Special attention was directed to female athletes, advocating for improved monitoring of menstrual cycles and hormonal status, while acknowledging current knowledge gaps in hormonal influences on performance and injury risk. Injury prevention remains a challenge, with tendon overuse and Achilles tendon ruptures significantly impacting athlete careers; rehabilitation should rely on criteria-based progression and multidisciplinary input. Emerging technologies, including wearable sensors and multi-omics analyses, hold promise for personalized training and nutrition but require further validation in elite contexts. Despite robust consensus, the panel identified substantial research gaps, particularly regarding female athletes, longitudinal training effects, and efficacy of novel interventions. This consensus provides a practical, scientifically grounded framework to optimize elite athlete performanceand health, while underscoring the need for continued research to address outstanding questions and promote inclusive evidence-based practices

MemoriEase 3.0: A RAG-Enhanced Conversational Lifelog Retrieval System at LSC’25

We present the third version of the MemoriEase lifelog retrieval system. This system is a conversational lifelog retrieval system built on an embedding-based retrieval method. For LSC’25, we enhance our system with a RAG approach to the question-answering task. In addition, we also incorporate two embedding models, CLIP and BLIP2, for the embedding-based retrieval. We improve our relevance feedback for visual similarity search by adjusting the query embedding. We describe the results of our system at the LSC’25 challenge, where it achieved third place overall and second place in the QA task. The enhancements in this version of the system improve our performance in the LSC’25 challenge

Corruption and SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All

This chapter explores the relationship between corruption and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) – ensuring clean water and sanitation for all. We begin by reviewing key literature on the impact of corruption in the water and sanitation sector. We then use a case study of the wastewater sector in Bangkok’s Extended Metropolitan Region (EBMR) to illustrate these issues in practice. Through interviews with key stakeholders, the chapter examines how corrupt practices, weak governance, and regulatory fragmentation hinder access to clean water and sanitation, exacerbating social inequalities. Finally, we offer recommendations aimed at improving transparency, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and empowering local groups to combat corruption and promote sustainable water management

Staidéar agus Athbhreithniú Leantach ar Chur bhfeidhm Shonraíochtaí Gaeilge na Sraithe Sóisearaí (T1 & T2). Tuarascáil Eatramhach: Céim a hAon. Study and Continuing Review of the Implementation of Junior Cycle Irish Specifications (T1 & T2). Interim Report: Phase One.

Tá sé mar aidhm ag an taighde staidéar agus athbhreithniú leantach a dhéanamh ar chur i bhfeidhm Shonraíochtaí Gaeilge na Sraithe Sóisearaí (T1 agus T2) i scoileanna iar-bunleibhéil i réimse an teagaisc, na foghlama agus an mheasúnaithe. Díríonn an taighde go háirithe ar chur i bhfeidhm an leagan de na sonraíochtaí Gaeilge a cuireadh ar fáil i Meán Fómhair 2023 agus leanfaidh an taighde cohórt scoláirí i scoileanna cás-staidéir a thosaigh sa chéad bhliain in 2024-2025. Mar sin féin, is próiseas diaidh ar ndiaidh atá in aon athrú curaclaim agus tugann cuid de na sonraí a bailíodh léargais ar thaithí agus ar thuairimí a bhain leis na leaganacha 2017 de na Sonraíochtaí Gaeilge T1 agus T2. Mar a cuireadh i láthair san iarratas ar thairiscintí, tabharfaidh an taighde léargais spéisiúla ar gach gné de na sonraíochtaí, agus cruthófar deis do rannpháirtithe réitigh fhéideartha a mholadh d’aon chonstaicí atá ann do chur i ngníomh na sonraíochtaí (CNCM, Iarratas ar Thairiscintí, lch. 21). Breathnófar go háirithe, ar an taithí atá ag scoileanna ar an múnla idirdhealaithe don Ghaeilge sa tSraith Shóisearach, chomh maith leis na hathruithe sa chleachtas de bharr Chreat na Sraithe Sóisearaí (2015). The aim of the research is to continue the study and review of the implementation of Junior Cycle Irish Specifications (T1 & T2) in post-primary schools in the area of teaching, learning and assessment. In particular, the research focuses on the enactment of the September 2023 version of the specifications, and follows a cohort of students who began First Year in 2023-2024. However, due to the gradual nature of curriculum change some data collected will refer to experiences and opinions regarding the 2017 T1 and T2 specifications for Irish. As set out in the research for tender, the study will provide interesting insights into all aspects of the specifications, allowing for the natural emergence with participants of possible solutions to challenges met in the enactment of the specifications (NCCA Tender, p.21). Particular consideration will be given to schools’ experiences of the model of differentiation for Irish at Junior Cycle, as well as the changes in practice brought about by the 2015 Junior Cycle Framework

‘Don’t do anything special for us coming’: the mental health impact of Ofsted inspections on teacher educators in England

Ofsted inspections of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers aim to enhance training quality for pre-service teachers in England. However, research rarely examines the impact of these inspections on the wellbeing of Teacher Educators (TEs) based in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This study, part of a broader investigation into burnout among HEI-based TEs in Ireland and the UK, focuses on the English context, where the inspection practices of Ofsted have been identified as significant stressors. Drawing on data from the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), open-ended survey questions and interviews, this study provides preliminary insights into the mental health effects of Ofsted inspections on TEs. It reveals that inspection processes contribute to anticipatory stress, increased workload, and performative pressures, negatively impacting TEs’ professional morale and wellbeing. The paper recommends reforms such as predictable inspection schedules, streamlined documentation, and dedicated mental health support for TEs during the inspection period

Impact of the EuroPsy: A European Benchmark for Psychology Education and Training

The EuroPsy is a set of standards for education and training in psychology, overseen by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) since 2010 and currently implemented in 28 countries across Europe. This paper examines how the EuroPsy certification process has impacted psychology in Europe. Methods: We reviewed data from individual countries, including annual reports, approval and reapproval applications, and minutes of annual meetings over the 13-year period from 2010 to 2023. We conducted a small number of interviews online where clarification was needed. Results: Three key areas have been impacted by the EuroPsy process: University psychology programmes across Europe have been revised in line with the EuroPsy curriculum; supervised practice has now been accepted as a core component of training; and many countries have revised their legislation on licensing in psychology to be consistent with the minimum standards outlined in the EuroPsy regulations. Conclusion: Contrary to expectations, the impact of the EuroPsy is reflected less in the number of certificates issued and more in the recognition of the certificate as a hallmark of quality, representing a benchmark that has influenced education, training, and legislation at a systemic level in European countries

1.5 Terabit/s IM/DD Transmission with Kerr Soliton Frequency Comb for DCI Application

We experimentally demonstrate 1.575 Terabit/s aggregated transmission rate with 75 GBd on-off keying signal employing a dissipative Kerr soliton optical frequency comb. The system is scalable to provide multi-Terabit/s optical interconnects