Forest expansion and irrigated agriculture reinforce low river flows in southern Europe during dry years

This study analyses the evolution of annual streamflow across Europe between 1962 and 2017, focusing on the connection of streamflow trends with climate dynamics and physiographic and land cover characteristics and changes. The spatial pattern of trends in streamflow shows strong agreement with the spatial patterns of climate trends, suggesting a climate control of these trends. However, analysing temporal evolution at the basin scale shows that the strong decrease in streamflow in southern Europe cannot be directly associated with climate dynamic. In fact, a negative trend related to non-climate factors clearly emerges. Rather, we show that forest growth and irrigated agriculture are the leading drivers of negative streamflow trends in southern Europe, particularly during dry years due to the greater proportion of green water consumption compared to blue water generation. These findings have significant implications, particularly in the context of widely embraced nature based solutions for mitigating climate change, including carbon sequestration through forests and the planned expansion of irrigated agricultural lands in central and northern European countries as a response to rising crop water demands. These developments could potentially diminish water resources availability, leading to an increased occurrence and severity of low flow periods

Optimisation of heterogeneous wave energy converter arrays: A control co-design strategy

The commercial development and deployment of wave energy converters (WECs) will require arranging these devices in groups known as ‘arrays’, similar to the deployment other large-scale renewable energy systems, such as wind farms, or tidal arrays. This study explores a novel control co-design (CCD) strategy for heterogeneous arrays of point absorber-type WECs, focusing on the simultaneous optimisation of buoy hull geometry and array layout to harness multi-directional wind and swell wave energy. The WEC array operates under a newly developed global centralised control algorithm, which supports displacement constraints, but allows for the assessment of array performance in the frequency domain. This approach has the potential to significantly speed up the numerical solution of the control co-design optimisation problem, compared to more traditional time-domain-based methods. The array optimisation problem is solved using a global optimisation method. The performance function aims to optimise the positive network effect of interactions between devices in the array, while simultaneously considering cost issues, quantified by device sizes. The investigation identifies optimal device geometry and array layouts for clusters of three, four, and five WECs, in two different wave climates: Irish and Portuguese coasts, allowing the sensitivity of optimal solutions to different wave climates to be studied

Edward Baker Littlehales: The evolution of military governance and the demise of the military under-secretary 1801-1819.

Edward Baker Littlehales arrived in Ireland in 1798, beginning a career which would not see him depart until 1819. His tenure would see him witness and act in a variety of significant historical events in Ireland, including the 1798 rebellion, the passing of the Act of Union, Emmet's rebellion, as well as the recurrent threat of invasion from France. From 1801 to 1819 he worked in Dublin Castle as military under-secretary, one ofthe more senior members of the administration. Despite this he remains an understudied figure in Irish history. Drawing from primary sources, including Littlehales' personal papers, military and governmental records, and contemporary correspondence, this study reconstructs Littlehales' career trajectory as under-secretary and his contributions to military governance and administration between 1801 and his retirement in 1819. The research situates Littlehales within the broader context oflrish military and administrative history, highlighting the centrality of his role in shaping military policy in post-union Ireland. Littlehales' length of service offers a unique prism through which to view the attempts to implement and normalise the Act of Union. In conclusion, Edward Baker Littlehales emerges from this research as a key architect of post-union administration in Ireland. This dissertation not only recovers the significance of his contributions but also provides a framework for analysing the evolution of administrative practices in the context of broader historical developments. Importantly, the critical role of personality in these administrative practices is given due consideration

Indicators of Global Climate Change 2024: annual update of key indicators of the state of the climate system and human influence

In a rapidly changing climate, evidence-based decision-making benefits from up-to-date and timely information. Here we compile monitoring datasets (published at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15639576; Smith et al., 2025a) to produce updated estimates for key indicators of the state of the climate system: net emissions of greenhouse gases and short-lived climate forcers, greenhouse gas concentrations, radiative forcing, the Earth's energy imbalance, surface temperature changes, warming attributed to human activities, the remaining carbon budget, and estimates of global temperature extremes. This year, we additionally include indicators for sea-level rise and land precipitation change. We follow methods as closely as possible to those used in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) Working Group One report. The indicators show that human activities are increasing the Earth's energy imbalance and driving faster sea-level rise compared to the AR6 assessment. For the 2015–2024 decade average, observed warming relative to 1850–1900 was 1.24 [1.11 to 1.35] °C, of which 1.22 [1.0 to 1.5] °C was human-induced. The 2024-observed best estimate of global surface temperature (1.52 °C) is well above the best estimate of human-caused warming (1.36 °C). However, the 2024 observed warming can still be regarded as a typical year, considering the human-induced warming level and the state of internal variability associated with the phase of El Niño and Atlantic variability. Human-induced warming has been increasing at a rate that is unprecedented in the instrumental record, reaching 0.27 [0.2–0.4] °C per decade over 2015–2024. This high rate of warming is caused by a combination of greenhouse gas emissions being at an all-time high of 53.6±5.2 Gt CO2e yr−1 over the last decade (2014–2023), as well as reductions in the strength of aerosol cooling. Despite this, there is evidence that the rate of increase in CO2 emissions over the last decade has slowed compared to the 2000s, and depending on societal choices, a continued series of these annual updates over the critical 2020s decade could track decreases or increases in the rate of the climatic changes presented here

Learning from making and doing: taking the makerspaces to the next level at Maynooth University

What do you do when you already have one makerspace that is well-used and popular? Answer – create an even better one! And then start thinking about what other types of content need to be created and embark on a Media Lab to complement this. This is exactly the journey that Maynooth University is currently embarking on. From its launch in 2015, the Makerspace developed a well-used 3D printing service which continued up until the pandemic when it had to be put on hold as a library-based service. The recommencement of the service in 2022 coincided with staff moving on and recruitment of new staff giving the impetus to take the services to another level. This has led to a successful bid to create a new, more ambitious makerspace, and as well as opening up new opportunities, the most significant of these to date being the collaboration with the Media Studies department and other interested parties to launch a Media Lab. Building on their experience the team have been able to make the case for good locations for both the new Makerspace and Media Lab, putting their ‘lessons learned’ to good use. Extensive and imaginative use of social media channels has helped to embed the Makerspace within the university conscience and opened up avenues for collaboration. Through the Makerspace, the library has been able to offer creative and practical support to an expanding portfolio of research projects across the university as well as being an active supporter in undergraduate recruitment

Investigating MSC Immunomodulation in the Obese Microenvironment

The proportion of people living with obesity is constantly on the rise, which makes it an important factor to consider in any clinical setting. The obese microenvironment introduces a range of pro-inflammatory factors and other molecules that can affect immune cells and treatments. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a valuable asset for the treatment of inflammatory conditions due to their immunomodulatory and their tissue regenerative abilities. MSCs are able to communicate with surrounding immune cells and respond to signals from the microenvironment. However, this makes MSCs vulnerable to perturbations in that microenvironment. This thesis investigates how certain prominent factors from the obese microenvironment, the free fatty acids oleate and palmitate and the adipokine leptin, affect MSC phenotype and function. Differences between T cell suppression and macrophage suppression by palmitate exposed MSCs were discovered, and the underlying mechanism for how palmitate affects macrophage suppression by MSCs was further elucidated. In addition to the direct effects of these factors on MSCs, we were also interested in the concept of innate immune training of macrophages by factors elevated in the obese microenvironment, and how MSCs might be able to interfere with this training. Innate immune training can lead to a hyperinflammatory activation of macrophages, which, while protective in many cases of infectious disease, has the potential to result in a more severe outcome of chronic autoimmune disease. MSCs, which are powerful suppressors of macrophage inflammation, have already been shown to suppress house dust mite-mediated training in our lab. Building on this research, a training protocol was established and pathways through which MSCs may be inhibiting training were investigated. Overall, this research revealed avenues to be explored in MSC-macrophage interactions, highlighting the potential for the use of MSCs in patients with inflammatory conditions who are living with obesity, and identifying pathways through which innate immune training could be controlled

A review of energy storage systems for facilitating large-scale EV charger integration in electric power grid

The swift increase in electric vehicle (EV) into modern power grids presents both significant opportunities and challenges, particularly in maintaining power quality (PQ) and managing peak loads. This review synthesizes current research, providing a comprehensive analysis of the pivotal role of energy storage systems (ESS) in enabling large-scale EV charger integration while addressing critical PQ issues. A key contribution is the comparative evaluation of various ESS typologies—battery ESS (BESS), hybrid ESS (HESS), and distributed ESS (DESS)—each offering distinct advantages in mitigating PQ challenges such as harmonic distortion, voltage regulation, and peak demand control. Ensuring compliance with IEEE-519 standards is emphasized as vital for maintaining grid reliability and high PQ standards. This review paper further examines the diverse impacts of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) on power grids, including their charging and storage characteristics, which influence grid stability and efficiency. It highlights the transformative potential of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which facilitates bidirectional power flow to support grid stabilization, energy balancing, and ancillary services. Additionally, it addresses the mitigation of harmonic distortion from PEV charging, preserving transformer performance and lifespan, and explores strategies to manage large-scale PEV integration through predictive and adaptive control techniques. This study introduces innovative approaches to improving grid recovery following disturbances and evaluates the synergistic integration of renewable energy sources with PEVs to foster sustainable energy systems. Models for PEV interaction with microgrids are also discussed, emphasizing their role in enhancing energy resilience and grid flexibility. This paper underscores the critical role of advanced energy management strategies (EMS) in optimizing EV-grid integration and improving overall system efficiency. These strategies include rule-based EMSs employing fixed rules, fuzzy logic, and wavelet transforms; optimization-based EMSs utilizing techniques such as dynamic programming, genetic algorithms, model predictive control, and particle swarm optimization; and intelligent EMSs leveraging neural networks and reinforcement learning for adaptive and predictive control. By outlining innovative solutions and highlighting the importance of strategic collaboration among utilities, policymakers, researchers, and technology developers, this review provides a comprehensive roadmap for overcoming the technical, economic, and regulatory challenges associated with EV charger integration, laying the groundwork for a reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy future

Franz Schubert: a Pathway to Explore Illness and Healing in the Final Symphonies – A Conductor’s Perspective

Generally regarded as a dark work, Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony in B minor (D. 759) was written while he was sick from syphilis, and questions abound as to why he never returned to complete this work. During a period of latency, which is part of the cycle of this illness, Schubert wrote what is generally thought of as a very positive work, and his longest symphony: the ‘Great’ Symphony in C major (D. 944). Did Schubert compose in a vacuum separated from his illness? Is there any correlation to be drawn between his newly found health and that of the C-major Symphony? If so, what is to be learned? Both symphonies offer themselves as a pathway to explore issues around illness and healing. Combining my experience as a conductor with my knowledge of the philosophical works of Hans-Georg Gadamer and contemporary research in both psychology and mindbody medicine, I tackle these questions, and in doing so, challenge many received truths about Schubert. The question is not any more if Schubert’s brain was affected, but how. By undertaking an analysis on how Schubert’s varying states of illness and health might be seen to be represented in his music, I open up a whole new perspective in Schubertian scholarship, and demonstrate the rich and diverse ways in which music may be integrated into the health humanities

Dance as a Powerful Tool to Advance Disability Inclusion: Reflections from an Interdisciplinary Collaboration

This article discusses the collaboration between the academic socio-legal project DANCING, funded by the European Research Council, and the inclusive dance company Stopgap Dance Company (Stopgap). DANCING, among other objectives, aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to cultural participation experienced by disabled people. In pursuing this objective, DANCING established a partnership with Stopgap aimed at the creation of a choreographic piece in which accessibility measures, intended to facilitate the participation of dancers with disabilities and the enjoyment of the choreography by audience with and without disabilities, were intrinsic to the creative process. By presenting findings of qualitative research conducted with Stopgap and audience, it explores how inclusivity and accessibility were experienced by both performers and spectators. This article focuses on three interlinked themes, which elucidate processes, challenges, and outcomes of engaging in inclusive dance at a professional level. In doing so, this article situates at the intersection of disability and dance research and endeavours to provide a theoretical and practical bedrock for future dance projects wishing to adopt more inclusive processes. Further, this article aims to contribute to broader scholarship in the field of arts that positions disability as a cultural identity worth celebrating

Opinion 2/13 and Accession to the ECHR

Opinion 2/13, handed down just before Christmas 2014, is a landmark decision in both European Union (EU) human rights law and EU external relations law. It showed that the EU’s rhetorical commitment to international human rights protection is not necessarily matched by action: Opinion 2/13 was the second time the Court of Justice put the brakes on the EU’s ambition to become a party to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) for reasons rooted in the EU’s constitutional set-up. Having comprehensively assessed the fairly elaborate ECHR Draft Accession Agreement (DAA), the CJEU provided the yardstick for any future attempt at accession: the constitutional hurdles identified will have to be taken for any reworked DAA to pass muster. The Opinion is also a landmark judgment in the wider field of EU external relations. By clarifying and strengthening the principle of the autonomy of the EU legal order, the Court reiterated the legal limits governing the EU’s ability to integrate into the wider international order at a time when EU external relations and EU treaty-making are becoming increasingly important