Latest news with #ConorO'Brien
Sunday World
27-05-2025
- Sunday World
Duo to face Special Criminal Court over large haul of ammo, rifle and pistol parts
Mark McCourt and Conor O'Brien will be tried before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court Two men will be tried before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court accused of possessing various parts for semi-automatic rifles and pistols and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Mark McCourt (34) of Edencrieve, Newry, Co Down faces 24 counts that on July 19, 2024, he possessed multiple parts for .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifles at John St, Blackstick, Ardee, Co Louth. It is further alleged that he possessed parts for various pistols, including Lugers and Sig Sauers, along with pistol magazines and ammunition. All alleged offences are contrary to the Firearms Act. Some of the seized haul His co-accused, Conor O'Brien (28) of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, is charged with 24 similar offences on the same date and at the same location. Mr O'Brien faces a further count that between 10 February 2023 and 19 July 2024, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he participated in or contributed to activity intending, or being reckless as to whether such participation could facilitate that criminal organisation in importing firearms and ammunition into the State. Conor O'Brien and Mark McCourt Mr O'Brien is also charged under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act that on July 19, 2024, he converted, transferred, handled, acquired or possessed €7,450 and $20 Canadian while knowing, believing or being reckless as to whether the cash was the proceeds of criminal conduct. He faces a similar charge for the alleged possession of €9980 in criminal proceeds at The Court, Hazelbrook Square, Dublin 14. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor agreed to an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions to have both men tried before the Special Criminal Court. Neither man was present for today's application, but they will be required to appear before the court at a sitting in June.
Agriland
17-05-2025
- Science
- Agriland
Watch: How a bulk milk tank test calculates individual SCCs
Munster Bovine and Progressive Genetics, in association with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), recently launched Genocells, a ground-breaking technology that allows dairy farmers to determine individual somatic cell counts (SCC) using a single bulk tank milk sample. This service is now available exclusively from Munster Bovine and Progressive Genetics to Irish dairy farmers who are milk recording and whose herds are 100% genotyped. Conor O'Brien, a dairy farmer from Loughrea, Go. Galway was one of 85 herds involved in a Genocells pilot trial. According to Conor: 'Genocells is very simple, very straightforward, simply take a sample from the bulk tank, agitate it and post it away and the information that you get back is invaluable.' It was in fact this level of information that impressed Conor the most and he is very keen to incorporate Genocells into his testing schedule to give him that additional security blanket of more information points throughout the year. 'Genocells is another tool available to me when it comes to Selective Dry Cow Therapy at the back end of the year,' the Co. Galway farmer said. How does Genocells calculate SCC? Genocells works by extracting the DNA from the somatic cells in the milk and comparing the genotype of this extracted DNA to the recorded genotype of the cows contributing milk to the bulk tank. As somatic cells are the only milk components that contain DNA, the percentage of DNA that each cow contributes to the overall DNA volume in the bulk tank is equivalent to the percentage of somatic cells that each cow contributes to bulk tank SCC. This is known as percentage cellular responsibility. Individual SCCs are then calculated using the percentage cellular responsibility, the percentage of the milk volume that the cow contributed to the tank (calculated using milk recording yields), and the bulk tank SCC result. Genocells' SCC results are reported using bands (0-5;51-199;200-249;250-499;500-999;1000+). Munster Bovine, Progressive Genetics and ICBF undertook a comprehensive pilot study in July/August of 2024 where 85 herds submitted three samples each over a number of weeks to validate the following; Accuracy of Genocells : The test consistently identified the highest SCC cows with an accuracy rate ranging from 90-98%, confirming the reliability of Genocells in detecting high SCC contributors. : The test consistently identified the highest SCC cows with an accuracy rate ranging from 90-98%, confirming the reliability of Genocells in detecting high SCC contributors. Administrative Process : The administrative procedures involved in managing Genocells testing were streamlined, ensuring ease of use for participating farmers. : The administrative procedures involved in managing Genocells testing were streamlined, ensuring ease of use for participating farmers. Logistical Turnaround Time : The time from farm sample collection to receiving results was consistently within 7 days, ensuring a quick and efficient service. : The time from farm sample collection to receiving results was consistently within 7 days, ensuring a quick and efficient service. Reporting Results: Results were made available through the ICBF HerdPlus app and website, providing farmers with a clear indication of the top 10 cows contributing to the bulk tank SCC. At the conclusion of the trial, a survey was conducted to gather participants' feedback on the Genocells programme. The results were overwhelmingly positive: 93% of respondents saw value in using Genocells alongside their existing milk recording practices. saw value in using Genocells alongside their existing milk recording practices. 97% of respondents would recommend Genocells to other farmers. Who is Genocells suitable for? Genocells will provide more points of information over and above the four milk recordings to manage herds with high or fluctuating cell counts; Genocells is also suitable for low cell count herds that experience spikes in cell count throughout the milking season, as it is a simple and convenient way of identifying high SCC cows relatively quickly; Genocells can also provide more points of information about individual cows before dry off to make better decisions regarding dry cow therapy and cow retention. What does a dairy farmer have to do to avail of Genocells? All cows contributing milk to the bulk tank must be genotyped. If a non-genotyped cow contributes milk to the bulk tank, this will affect the accuracy of the results for other cows; The herd must be a member of ICBF HerdPlus; The herd owner must download the ICBF HerdPlus app. There is no cost associated with this; The herd must be signed up to do four milk recordings in the year and the first milk recording must be completed before a Genocells test can take place, as yield is essential to calculate individual SCCs from the percentage cellular responsibility. Genocells is now available to Munster Bovine and Progressive Genetics milk recording customers.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Everyone can see the Eurovision singers & dancers – but can you spot five hidden microphones in under 60 seconds?
Conor O'Brien Published: Invalid Date, THE Eurovision final is right around the corner, but can you crack this challenging brainteaser? Everyone can see singers and dancers in the image - but are you able to spot the five hidden microphones? 3 The image by Best New Bingo Sites shows a group of performers on the Eurovision stage. It will take eagle-eyed focus to spot the five concealed microphones in under 60 seconds. This may seem daunting at first, but the answer is quite literally staring you in the face. Scroll down to find out the solution, but how about attempting some other mind-bending brainteasers? A boggling challenge from Jackson's shows a series of written colours - but there's a catch. The text colour doesn't match the words - leading to colourful confusion in the process. This is because one half of your brain processes the world, while the other focuses on the colour. Puzzle lovers must read from top to bottom saying the colour of the text, rather than the word itself. It is deceptively tricky, with only one in five people completing it successfully - could you be one of them? In another, can you spot the dice, and three other lucky charms, in the time limit? Think you can crack the tricky brainteaser- Spot all 7 eggs in 10 seconds This image is known as an optical illusion, meaning there could be other less obvious elements to be found. Everyone can quickly see the busy poker scene in the frame. But only those with 20/20 vision and a high IQ will be able to solve this mind-bending puzzle in time. Need a handy hint? Try squinting slightly to allow your brain to really hone in on the colours. How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me? Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions. Some benefits include: Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility. Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function. Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes. Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus. Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief. Certain brainteasers and optical illusions, particularly those that involve patterns or sequences, can help strengthen both short-term and long-term memory. By working through puzzles on a regular basis, you will actively engage the brain's memory systems and directly improve your future attempts at visual challenges. If these brain teasers are not hard enough for you, then have a go at spotting the hidden broom amongst the clothes in less than five seconds. Or you can have a go at figuring out the hidden message in this band's cover art that has confused fans for years. 3 3
Associated Press
10-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
US Tariffs on Silver to Drive Innovation in the Conductive Inks Market, Reports IDTechEx
Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2025) - The conductive inks market has been forecast to exceed US$6.5 billion by 2034; however, market intelligence firm IDTechEx reports that the imposed tariffs by the United States of America could have a dramatic impact on the technology landscape for conductive inks. Silver flake-based ink is the dominant ink type globally, but up to 80% of the required silver is imported to the USA. As the market adjusts, emerging manufacturers and different ink materials will require validation, while varied applications have specific requirements when it comes to ink properties. IDTechEx has provided market insights into the printed electronics and conductive inks industry for almost fifteen years, reporting on commercial and technological updates within the space. Their independent report, " Conductive Inks Market 2024-2034: Technologies, Applications, Players", includes granular 10-year market forecasts across eight different ink types and 15 application areas. The report leverages extensive in-depth coverage of many end-use markets for conductive inks, combined with profiles of 30+ key players in the conductive inks industry. Ink technology IDTechEx Senior Technology Analyst, Dr Conor O'Brien, explains: 'The conductive inks market is dominated by silver flake-based inks, which offer multiple benefits, including lower cost (primarily due to simple processing), compatibility with scalable printing technologies, and relative durability. Although other types of ink may tout higher conductivity, for many applications the printability and durability are the most important factors. The major drawback for silver flake-based inks is exposure to the volatility of raw material costs. With fewer value-adding processing steps compared to other inks, raw material costs make up a significant portion of the price of flake-based silver inks. Any increases in bulk silver costs will lead to a greater percentage increase in silver flake-based inks. The recently announced tariffs on imports to the United States could have a drastic impact on the price of silver flake-based inks. With 80% of the silver used in the US imported from abroad, mostly from Mexico, the effect of the trade tariffs will significantly impact the market. Not only will the price of raw materials be impacted, but the uncertainty surrounding the long-term implementation of tariffs must also be considered. At LOPEC 2025, it was reported to IDTechEx by multiple suppliers of raw materials to the conductive inks market that bulk silver typically trades at US$32 per troy ounce, with minor fluctuations of 15%, but that tariffs could see the troy ounce price point exceed US$40.' Alternative inks Dr O'Brien was recently invited to join a meeting of the IEC Technical Committee 119: Printed Electronics, discussing the various required properties of conductive inks for different applications, contributing to defining key terminology and developing a standardization roadmap for the field. As alternative inks to silver-flake based inks are developed, this topic is of increasing importance. Some of the most promising non-silver ink types include copper inks and stretchable/thermoformable inks. Copper inks offer lower price points, with dramatically reduced raw material costs, while stretchable and thermoformable inks are platform technologies for non-conformal form factors through 3D electronics and in-mold electronics. The IDTechEx report provides comprehensive coverage of the properties that must be considered for emerging technology types. Conductive Inks Market 2024-2034: Technologies, Applications, Players". Downloadable sample pages are available for this report. About IDTechEx Charlotte Martin
