Risk factors for eating disorder symptoms at 15 years of age: a 9-year longitudinal cohort study

Eating disorders (EDs) are typically diagnosed in the later stages of puberty, but risk factors for EDs are present in pre-pubertal children. This longitudinal, population-based birth cohort study aimed to examine prospective predictors of eating disorder symptoms in 15-year-olds. Specifically, we sought to test an adapted dual pathway model of disordered eating aetiology in this group. Participants in the Gateshead Millennium Study birth cohort (n = 326; 187 girls and 175 boys) completed self-report questionnaires assessing eating disorder symptoms and risk factors at ages 7, 9, 12, and 15 years. Measures included body image, depressive symptoms, and pubertal development; we also measured BMI at each age. The data were fitted to a model of eating disorder symptom development to help us understand the role of puberty, adiposity, body dissatisfaction, depressive symptoms, and previous eating disorder symptoms. We found that previous eating disorder symptoms were the strongest predictor of eating disorder symptoms at 15, and that depressive symptoms prospectively predicted eating disorder symptoms in girls. We furthermore found that depressive symptoms at 12 partially mediated the relationship between body dissatisfaction at 12 and eating disorder symptoms at 15 in girls. Pubertal development predicted concurrent eating disorder symptoms at 12 in girls but not boys. Overall, our findings support the roles of pubertal development, body dissatisfaction, and depressive symptoms in the pathogenesis of eating disorder symptoms across puberty. They add to growing evidence that there are different pathways to eating disorder symptoms in girls and boys

World Café on addressing bullying behaviour summary report on consultation with students

DCU Anti-Bullying Centre held a World Cafe-style workshop at the Helix in DCU in Co. Dublin on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024 on the current issues facing young people. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss four broad areas to inform DCU Anti-Bullying Centre’s research on bullying, which were Online, Home, Schools and Promoting Kindness

Optimizing diesel engine performance and emissions with mahua biodiesel blends using taguchi methodology

This study investigates how adjusting operational parameters influences the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine operating on a blend of traditional diesel fuel and mahua biodiesel. The biodiesel was obtained using the transesterification method, and fuel blends were formulated with diesel proportions ranging from 80% to 100% and biodiesel content from 0% to 20%. Key engine parameters such as engine load (20 –100%), mahua biodiesel blend (0 –20%), and engine speed (1300 –1450rpm) were varied systematically during the experiments, while the compression ratio was held constant at 18:1. The aim was to determine the most effective combination of settings to enhance combustion efficiency and reduce harmful exhaust emissions. The findings demonstrated a modest yet meaningful improvement in engine efficiency, with gains of approximately 2–3%. While seemingly incremental, this enhancement becomes significant when coupled with concurrent reductions in harmful emissions, aligning with global efforts to transition toward sustainable fuel alternatives. The optimized biodiesel blends not only improved fuel utilization but also advanced environmental objectives by mitigating pollutant emissions, underscoring their dual role in enhancing performance and ecological sustainability. The outcomes of this study support the potential of mahua biodiesel as a viable and eco-friendly supplement to petroleum diesel. Overall, the results contribute meaningful data toward improving diesel engine performance while reducing environmental pollution

Clinical Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Gaelic Games Players

Gaelic games, specifically Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie, are high-intensity, level 1 field sports. However, there is a lack of data regarding the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in Gaelic games player

The challenges of audio description in Ireland: Bridging education, users and industry (ADESI)

Around 5% of the population in Ireland is blind or visually impaired, highlighting the urgency of improving access to media and culture. Although progress has been made, the provision of audio description (AD) remains inconsistent, with variations in quality, availability, and sectoral coverage. European directives such as the European Accessibility Act and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive set important standards, yet their implementation across Member States, including Ireland, has been uneven. National measures like the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act (2022) mark progress, but enforcement gaps and limited application across non-broadcast settings persist. The ADESI report identifies multiple barriers: insufficient training pathways, lack of certification, and unsustainable funding models that undermine professionalism and trust. Smaller organisations face particular challenges due to resource constraints, reliance on external providers, and the high costs of producing quality AD. Opportunities exist in fostering in-house expertise, encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, and users, and ensuring active end-user involvement in service design. Awareness also remains low; most users encounter AD informally, reflecting weak promotional strategies. While AI technologies offer potential, skilled human describers remain essential. To secure an inclusive cultural landscape, Ireland must adopt unified standards, strengthen accountability, and embed accessibility as a consistent, long-term priority across all entertainment platforms

Trends in digital technologies to address children's online safety education: A systematic scoping review

This scoping review aims to identify trends in studies related to children's online safety education facilitated by digital technologies. The review is guided by the five-stage framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley. We searched in four electronic databases: ERIC,Web of Science, Scopus, and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). The studies identified in the search were independently reviewed by two authors using the PRISMA checklist for scoping reviews and the Rayyan software. Following the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria, we incorporated 34 papers into the scoping review. Our analysis revealed a growing number of educational technologies designed for children's Internet safety education over the years. Among various approaches, game-based learning emerged as the most popular method for delivering educational content within the broader domain of online safety education for children. The majority of the studies focused on children aged 11–14 years old, with sample sizes ranging from 6 to 976 child participants. Additionally, intervention-based research designs were the most frequently employed methodology. Our study advances the knowledge base on technology-based education in online safety training of children by mapping the literature of this field and unveiling the trends over the past decade. These insights can shape future research directions in online safety education and inform the educational technology industry

Mortality Modelling for Actuarial applications: Challenges and Implications for Pension Sustainability and Insurance Pricing

Mortality forecasting and longevity risk are critical concerns for insurers, employers offering occupational pension schemes, and governments providing state pensions and social welfare benefits. Moreover, as many countries, including Ireland, experience an ageing population, increased longevity raises pension costs, potentially undermining the sustainability of funding models used by both Companies and the state. However, accurately estimating mortality rates and forecasting future trends remains a significant challenge. For instance, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a profound impact on mortality rates from 2020-2022 with potential long-term effects. While the death toll of a country often serves as the ultimate indicator of pandemic impact, the calculation of excess deaths (deaths beyond expected levels) is complex and subjective. Seasonal mortality variations also pose risks, with factors such as climate change, medical advances, and improvements in living standards disrupting established patterns, adding uncertainty for insurers and policymakers. Accurate mortality estimation for those retiring due to ill health is another complex issue.Ill-health retirement rates increase with age and are higher for females. As pension schemes raise retirement ages in line with increasing life expectancy and more females join the workforce, the mortality of ill-health retirees will become increasingly important. This is an especially important consideration for employers providing occupational pensions and insurers providing insurance for these benefits and/or selling impaired life annuities. Modelling these mortality challenges is particularly difficult for smaller populations, where mortality rates can be highly volatile. In Ireland and Northern Ireland, current national life tables have shown inconsistent patterns, lack regional coherence, and exhibit volatile mortality trends. By jointly modelling mortality across different populations, the accuracy and coherence of forecasts can be improved. Joint modelling, or multi-population modelling, enhances the robustness of final graduated rates by allowing populations to borrow strength from each other. This thesis provides insights into these evolving mortality challenges, contributing to more informed decision-making and ultimately improving the long-term sustainability of pension schemes (both private and public) and increasing the offering of accurately priced pension products

Challenges in Forest Carbon Governance: Insights From Southeast Asia

Meeting global climate change mitigation targets will require enhanced nature-based carbon sequestration, in which forest carbon schemes play a major role. This is despite criticisms of forest carbon schemes' efficacy, social impacts, and downgrading of other forest functions and services. Against this backdrop, we reviewed existing social science research on the governance of terrestrial forest carbon schemes in Southeast Asia, a forest-rich region with high deforestation rates that is in many respects representative of the wider tropics. Our narrative review focused on four themes: (i) finance and the political economy; (ii) knowledge; (iii) implementation; and (iv) inclusivity, equity, and justice for local communities. We found that forest carbon schemes have been unable to compete with large-scale drivers of deforestation, tend to privilege scientific and expert knowledge in relation to carbon accounting and geospatial analyses, are significantly limited by national and local governance issues, and have often not provided the intended benefits for local communities. The literature reviewed largely focuses on donor-supported and project-scale REDD+. However, forest carbon governance is rapidly changing. We thus make the case for a governance research agenda that focuses on jurisdictional approaches, increasing levels of private sector investment, the diversification of forest interventions, and efforts to restore the legitimacy of forest carbon credits. These directions for future research are essential for ensuring that forest carbon schemes contribute to effective climate change mitigation and the conservation of forest ecosystems in just and equitable ways that benefit local communities in Southeast Asia and tropical latitudes more widely

Unheard voices: The critical role of nurses and midwives in climate resilience and disaster preparedness in Small Island Developing States

Island nations such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Tonga face rising threats from climate change, including hurricanes, flooding, and sea-level rise. Nurses and midwives are crucial frontline responders, leading disaster preparedness, emergency care, and community recovery. This paper highlights their leadership, resilience, and innovation in addressing the health impacts of climate-related disasters. Drawing on realworld examples, it shows how these professionals bridge clinical care with public health strategies, ensuring vulnerable populations receive timely, culturally appropriate interventions. Through education, emergency planning, and clinical support, they foster resilience and recovery. The experiences from these islands emphasize the urgent need to strengthen nursing and midwifery leadership within climate adaptation efforts. Recognizing and investing in their role is vital to building sustainable, climate-resilient health systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The paper calls for increased policy support, funding, and capacity-building to empower nurses and midwives as essential agents of change

Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 3: Eco-efficient Mobility Systems

The book series Lecture Notes in Mobility (LNMOB) reports on innovative, peer-reviewed research and developments in intelligent, connected and sustainable transportation systems of the future. It covers technological advances, research, developments and applications, as well as business models, management systems and policy implementation relating to: zero-emission, electric and energy-efficient vehicles; alternative and optimized powertrains; vehicle automation and cooperation; clean, user-centric and on-demand transport systems; shared mobility services and intermodal hubs; energy, data and communication infrastructure for transportation; and micromobility and soft urban modes, among other topics. The series gives a special emphasis to sustainable, seamless and inclusive transformation strategies and covers both traditional and any new transportation modes for passengers and goods. Cutting-edge findings from public research funding programs in Europe, America and Asia do represent an important source of content for this series. PhD thesis of exceptional value may also be considered for publication. Supervised by a scientific advisory board of world-leading scholars and professionals, the Lecture Notes in Mobility are intended to offer an authoritative and comprehensive source of information on the latest transportation technology and mobility trends to an audience of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and advancedlevel students, and a multidisciplinary platform fostering the exchange of ideas and collaboration between the different groups