Search

Policies aiming to restore ecosystems, achieve thriving fisheries and reverse biodiversity loss require knowledge of their former status and long‐term variation. As quantitative fish data is typically only available for recent decades long after changes may have occurred, a greater use of qualitative sources has been encouraged in marine historical ecology. We examined diverse historical information (including maritime history, fisheries reports, naturalists' accounts, recipes, nautical charts and newspapers) across a multi‐century time span (13th–20th century) for a wide range of species to document their long‐term trajectories in an understudied Northeast Atlantic ecosystem (Irish Sea coast of Wales). We find strong evidence of the loss of both a pelagic fishery for herring, which was of fundamental socio‐ecological importance since at least the 13th century, and the loss of significant multi‐species demersal and intertidal fisheries. Local, commercial and/or functional extinction has occurred for taxa spanning a wide range of diversity (crustacean, elasmobranchs, sturgeon, and teleosts), body size and ecological role, suggesting far‐reaching changes to food webs. This raises fundamental questions about the present‐day health and integrity of this coastal ecosystem and the long‐term viability of current fisheries which depend on a few shellfish species. Our century‐scale synthesis of qualitative data for multiple taxa allows the collective breadth of losses to be fully appreciated and may reduce the risk of 'shifting baselines'. Restoration to historical baselines may not be achievable, but our findings provide evidence of long‐term change relevant to policies for recovery, and prevention of further decline of fishes, fisheries and ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite increasing evidence of the potential inaccuracy and unwarranted practice of regular GRV measurement in critically in adults, this practice persists within the United Kingdom. Aim: To explore adult intensive care nurses' decision‐making around the practice of GRV measurement to guide enteral feeding. Study Design: A cross‐sectional 16 item electronic survey in four adult intensive care units (ICUs) in England and Wales. Results: Two hundred and seventy‐three responses were obtained across four ICUs with acceptable response rates for most [Unit 1 74 /127 = 58.2%; Unit 2 87/129 = 67.4%; Unit 3 77/120 = 64.1%; Unit 4 35/168 = 20.8%]. Most (243/273 (89%) reported measuring GRV 4–6 hourly, with most (223/273 82%) reporting that the main reason was to assess feed tolerance or intolerance and 37/273 (13.5%) saying their unit protocol required it. In terms of factors affecting decision‐making, volume obtained was the most important factor, followed by the condition of the patient, with aspirate colour and appearance less important. When asked how they would feel about not measuring GRV routinely, the majority (78.2%) of nurses felt worried (140/273 = 51.2%) or very worried (74/273 = 27%). Conclusions: Factors affecting the nurses' decision‐making around GRV were based largely on fear of risk (around vomiting and pulmonary aspiration) and compliance with unit protocols. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Despite increasing evidence suggesting it is unnecessary, nurses' beliefs around the value of this practice persist and it continues to be embedded into unit protocols around feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the research problem that arises from evidence that, despite supportive policy contexts, enactment of pedagogies that attend to young children's participation rights in classroom settings is highly variable. We report our exploration of the ways in which the child, and child participation are constructed in early education settings in Wales, where legislation and policy around children's rights has been a key feature of the Welsh Government agenda post‐devolution. Data were gathered via a qualitative online bilingual (English and Welsh) survey offered via email to teachers of children aged 3–7 in Wales. The overarching research question of the project was: How do teachers of children 3–7 years understand and enact the notion of participation as it relates to the children they teach? Data analysis focused on research participants' apparent constructions of the children they teach and their capabilities, and unpacked the ways in which these constructions relate to the reported opportunities for participation. The discussion is informed by the notion of the threshold concept, described by Meyer & Land as akin to a portal that opens new and previously inaccessible ways of thinking. We consider the extent to which the conceptual construction of the capable child maybe a threshold concept in shaping the realisation of children's participation rights in educative contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co‐production values lived experience as it promotes individuals as assets and offers insight where little is known about a problem. This paper critically considers the pragmatic approach to co‐design adopted in Wales with young people and parents affected by child criminal exploitation during the COVID‐19 pandemic. It suggests that combining co‐design with data collection facilitated the recruitment, sensitisation and facilitation of vulnerable groups. By placing informed consent at the forefront of co‐design, young people and parents decided how they wanted their voices heard. Further, combining data gathering with co‐design contextualised solution development within their lived experiences. However, embedding these solutions into policy and practice remains subject to existing power imbalances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eighteenth century saw antiquaries taking an increased interest in evidence arising from the Roman occupation of Britain. Sir Richard Colt Hoare explored Wales. From 1793 to 1804, his tours follow in the footsteps of Giraldus de Barri. His journals describing the Welsh tours are known, except for the year 1804. These have recently been uncovered at Stourhead. The 1804 tour was taken '[...] with a view to [...] exploring the Roman Roads and Stations through the Principality'. Colt Hoare's translation of the The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin Through Wales, a.d. MCLXXXVIII/by Giraldus de Barri; ..., followed in 1806. Comparison of Colt Hoare's journals with his translation of Giraldus' Latin text, which is mostly silent on the Romans, shows how he uses the translation to privilege his observations on Roman Wales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: On 1 May 2018, Scotland introduced minimum unit pricing (MUP), a strength‐based floor price below which alcohol cannot be sold, throughout all alcoholic beverages. The legislation necessitates an evaluation of its impact across a range of outcomes that will inform whether MUP will continue beyond its sixth year. We measured the impact of MUP on per‐adult alcohol sales (as a proxy for consumption) after 3 years of implementation. Design, setting and participants: Controlled interrupted time‐series regression was used to assess the impact of MUP on alcohol sales in Scotland after 3 years of implementation, with England and Wales (EW) being the control group. In adjusted analyses, we included household disposable income, on‐trade alcohol sales (in off‐trade analyses) and substitution between drink categories (in drink category analyses) as covariates. Measurements: Weekly data were assessed on the volume of pure alcohol sold in Scotland and EW between January 2013 and May 2021, expressed as litres of pure alcohol per adult. The impact of MUP on total (on‐ and off‐trade combined), off‐trade and on‐trade alcohol sales was assessed separately. Results: The introduction of MUP in Scotland was associated with a 3.0% (95% confidence interval = 1.8−4.2%) net reduction in total alcohol sales per adult after adjustment for the best available geographical control, disposable income and substitution. This reflects a 1.1% fall in Scotland in contrast to a 2.4% increase in EW. The reduction in total alcohol sales in Scotland was driven by reduced sales of beer, spirits, cider and perry. The reduction in total sales was due to reductions in sales of alcohol through the off‐trade. There was no evidence of any change in on‐trade alcohol sales. Conclusion: Minimum unit pricing has been effective in reducing population‐level alcohol sales in Scotland in the 3 years since implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charity regulation is increasing internationally, leading to divergent views on what might constitute "better regulation." The purpose of a charity regulator and appropriate regulation may also be contested. Many modern charity regulators are required to maintain public trust and confidence in charities in order to bolster ongoing charity support from funders and the donating public. Nevertheless, public trust and confidence is precarious. At its nadir, in England and Wales "the person in the street" was deemed more trustworthy than charities, with donations diminishing in the current environment and the charity sector close to crisis. Further, charities contribute to crises when they incite negative media interest in their operations, fail to comply with regulatory filing deadlines, and/or manipulate their accounts. Charity regulators must maintain legitimacy within a changing regulatory space, despite often being resource‐constrained themselves. Yet, some suggest regulators could "do more" to increase sector‐wide resilience and to increase public trust and confidence. Hence, this raises the question of how charities should be regulated and whether (and how) a regulator could build resilience. We depict charity‐sector crises as a vehicular incident and ponder: should the regulator act as a "Guardian Angel" to prevent crises through interventions to build and maintain sectoral resilience, or should it appear postincident as a "Tow Truck" to clear the road for other traffic through closely bounded regulatory action focused on sanctions and deregistration. We address this question by analyzing publicly available regulatory data from the Charity Commission of England and Wales and semistructured interviews, which provide additional "behind the scenes" depth to our analysis and findings. We contribute to literature on charity regulation and expected regulatory responsibilities within a confined but permeable regulatory space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of what seems like a perpetual cycle of crisis for policing in modern day England and Wales, this introduction synthesises some of the core challenges facing the police. A catalogue of crimes committed by serving officers, missed opportunities for reform, and a scathing review of the internal culture of the Metropolitan Police culminating in a recommendation for a ‘complete overhaul’, might initially leave some readers with the view that there is little hope for fixing an outdated and buckling police service. Yet this collection of articles, authored by academic experts, senior police—both current and former—and commentators, not only summarises some of the problems facing policing as the new Government beds in. The contributions also brim with a diverse set of ideas for changing policing for the better and rebuilding trust and confidence. We conclude with the idea that a fundamental review and reconceptualization of the police role, of the type that might be provided by a Royal Commission, is needed if we are to meet the challenges that lie ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article revisits the concept of police culture and its explanatory value in understanding the recent scandals that have rocked policing in England and Wales. It focusses on concerns around the prevalence of sexism and violence against women and girls (VAWG) within policing and explores whether an increase in the diversity of police officers has pushed aspects of police culture into specific specialist and less visible areas of policing. The article suggests that any attempts at substantive police reform need to consider radical organisational and structural change, including a new narrative for British policing. Such a narrative needs political and social support and will require wider engagement beyond internally focussed police discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A focus on improvements to the recruitment rates of women in policing in England and Wales simplifies the issue of organisational integration and hides the complex task of addressing the structural and cultural gendered inequalities running throughout the service. This article considers the structural barriers to women's progression within the police service and presents a cultural analysis of the impact of this environment on women's organisational inclusion. It concludes by suggesting that a different style of policing, one which prioritises fairness and compassion, might have a positive impact on all of those serving as police officers in England and Wales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological evidence shows a substantial increase in adolescent emotional problems in many countries, but reasons for this increase remain poorly understood. We tested change in emotional problems in a national sample of young people in Wales in 2013, 2017 and 2019 using identical symptom screens, and examined whether trends were accounted for by changes in youth friendship quality and bullying. Methods: The present study of 230,735 11–16‐year olds draws on repeat cross‐sectional data obtained on three occasions (2013, 2017 and 2019) in national school‐based surveys in Wales (conducted by the School Health Research Network). Emotional problems were assessed with a brief validated symptom screen (the SCL‐4). Results: There was a significant increase in emotional problem scores between 2013 and 2019 (b[95% CI] = 1.573 [1.380, 1.765]). This increase was observed for all ages and was more pronounced for girls than boys (interaction b [95% CI] = 0.229 [0.004, 0.462]) and for young people from less affluent families (interaction b [95% CI] = −0.564[−0.809, −0.319]). Of the total sample, 14.2% and 5.7% reported frequent face‐to‐face and cyberbullying respectively. There were modest decreases in friendship quality and increases in rates of bullying between 2013 and 2019, but accounting for these changes did not attenuate estimates of the population‐level increase in emotional problems. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of a substantial increase in emotional problems among young people in Wales, particularly for young people from less affluent backgrounds. Changes in bullying or friendship quality did not explain this increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To predict how biodiversity will respond to global change, it is crucial to understand the relative roles of abiotic drivers and biotic interactions in driving associations between the biodiversity of disparate taxa. It is particularly challenging to understand diversity–diversity links across domains and habitats, because data are rarely available for multiple above‐ and below‐ground taxa across multiple sites.Here, we analyse data from a unique biodiversity data set gathered across a variety of oceanic temperate terrestrial habitats in Wales, comprising 300 sites with co‐located soil microbial, plant, bird and pollinator surveys along with climate and soil physicochemical information. Soil groups are analysed using metabarcoding of the 16S, ITS1 and 18S DNA regions, allowing in‐depth characterisation of microbial and soil animal biodiversity.We explore biodiversity relationships along three aspects of community composition: First, we assess correlation between the alpha diversity of different groups. Second, we assess whether biotic turnover between sites is correlated across different groups. Finally, we investigate the co‐occurrence of individual taxa across sites. In each analysis, we assess the contribution of linear or nonlinear environmental effects.We find that a positive correlation between alpha diversity of plants, soil bacteria, soil fungi, soil heterotrophic protists, bees and butterflies is in fact driven by complex nonlinear responses to abiotic drivers. In contrast, environmental variation did not account for positive associations between the diversity of plants and both birds and AM fungi, suggesting a role for biotic interactions.Both the diversity and taxon‐level associations between the differing soil groups remained even after accounting for nonlinear environmental gradients. Above‐ground, spatial factors played larger roles in driving biotic communities, while linear environmental gradients were sufficient to explain many group‐ and taxon‐level relationships.Synthesis. Our results show how nonlinear responses to environmental gradients drive many of the relationships between plant biodiversity and the biodiversity of above‐ and below‐ground biological communities. Our work shows how different aspects of biodiversity might respond nonlinearly to changing environments and identifies cases where management‐induced changes in one community could either influence other taxa or lead to loss of apparent biological associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The last 3 years have seen substantial changes in Great Britain (GB) including the COVID‐19 pandemic, cost‐of‐living crisis and policy changes such as minimum unit pricing. We examined changes in purchasing cross‐border, illicit and home‐brewed alcohol among risky drinkers over this period. Methods: Data were used from 22,086 adult (≥18 years) increasing/higher‐risk drinkers (AUDIT‐C ≥5) participating in a monthly cross‐sectional survey between October 2020 and August 2023. We estimated time trends in the proportion reporting obtaining alcohol from: (i) cross‐border (any/within‐GB/international); (ii) illicit; and (iii) home‐brewed sources in the past 6 months. Results: Between October 2020 and August 2023, the proportion reporting cross‐border alcohol purchases increased (from 8.5% to 12.5% overall; prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.47 [95% CI 1.17–1.86]). This was largely driven by an increase in cross‐border purchases abroad (PR = 1.52 [1.13–2.05]), with a smaller, uncertain increase in cross‐border purchases within GB (PR = 1.37 [0.96–1.95]). The prevalence of cross‐border alcohol purchasing was higher in Wales (13.8% [12.3–15.4%]) and Scotland (6.1% [5.4–6.8%]) than England (3.6% [3.3–3.9%]). There was little change in illicit alcohol purchasing in England or Wales (4.1% [3.7–4.4%]; 4.2% [3.2–5.1%]), but in Scotland it fell from 5.7% to 2.4% (PR = 0.42 [0.19–0.81]). Home‐brewed alcohol was rare (GB: 3.1% [2.9–3.4]) and stable. Discussion and Conclusions: The proportion of increasing/higher‐risk drinkers in GB purchasing cross‐border alcohol increased between October 2020 and August 2023, due to an increase in people buying alcohol abroad. Cross‐border alcohol purchases within GB were more commonly reported in Wales and Scotland. The small proportion purchasing illicit alcohol did not change substantially in England or Wales, but fell by half in Scotland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earliest crocodylomorphs, known as non‐crocodyliform crocodylomorphs, first appeared during the Late Triassic. In contrast to extant crocodylians, which are all semi‐aquatic, early crocodylomorphs represent terrestrial taxa with a fully erect posture and in most cases a small body size. Their gracile skeletons suggest an active mode of life, possibly similar to contemporaneous, bipedal theropod dinosaurs. Despite this remarkable body plan, the postcranial morphology of early crocodylomorphs has rarely been documented in detail, restricting our ability to infer aspects of their functional morphology and evolution. Here, we provide a detailed description of the postcranium of Terrestrisuchus gracilis, a small‐bodied crocodylomorph from the Late Triassic of Pant‐y‐Ffynnon Quarry (southern Wales, UK), including a description of long bone tissues based on histological thin sections. Almost all elements of the postcranial skeleton have been preserved. The skeleton of Terrestrisuchus gracilis is highly gracile, even for a non‐crocodyliform crocodylomorph. Osteological correlates of the appendicular skeleton suggest that Terrestrisuchus gracilis had a digitigrade, quadrupedal posture. A quantitative analysis of limb robustness corroborates that Terrestrisuchus gracilis was a quadruped. Histological analysis suggests that all sampled specimens were skeletally immature and had fast growth at the time of death, as indicated by the lack of an external fundamental system and the predominance of fibrolamellar bone. The bone tissue is similar to that recently described for Saltoposuchus connectens and certain non‐crocodylomorph pseudosuchians, but differs from Hesperosuchus agilis and crocodyliforms, in which parallel‐fibred bone is more prevalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent river studies in the United Kingdom have observed an increase in riparian vegetation and its potential impact on river channel change and sedimentation. Here, we quantify changes in floodplain and riparian vegetation during the first two decades of the 21st century along reaches of eight gravel‐bed rivers in England and Wales that exhibit varied active and stable, single and multi‐thread planforms. The analysis employs information drawn from open‐access sources including national LiDAR surveys and the photographic analysis of repeat aerial and satellite imagery. Most reaches show an increase in woody vegetation across their floodplains reflecting both natural colonisation and deliberate planting, and all but one of the reaches show an increase in woody riparian vegetation cover along their riverbanks. Of the six reaches that have exposed riverine sediments, five show a reduction in exposed sediment area as a result of vegetation encroachment. Contrasts in the rate, extent and location of riparian change were associated with the stability of the channel planform, with differences seen between stable and more active reaches. The significance of riparian woodland in promoting riverbank stability is demonstrated. Riparian vegetation development varies between river reaches, largely in response to differing rates of channel movement but also because of multiple and diverse local decisions regarding the management of in‐channel and channel‐adjacent vegetation by landowners rather than a single national policy. We consider the relevance of our findings and the value of remote monitoring for future river management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a detailed picture of how the on‐going challenge of teacher shortages in England and Wales is driving the deployment of teaching assistants (TAs) to cover classes in place of teachers. Analyses of data from a survey of nearly 6000 TAs in mainstream and special schools found that TAs cover classes for up to 4 h a week, with one in four covering classes because schools do not have enough teachers and/or are unable to get external supply teachers. The conditions under which TAs cover classes are challenging and a cause of stress and anxiety. Unlike teachers, TAs cover classes without a lesson plan or support from another TA. The majority of TAs said that covering classes inevitably involves them having to teach pupils – despite national guidance stipulating that cover by TAs should not involve ‘active teaching’. Three in four TAs report that their own role is not covered when they cover for teachers. Being deployed to cover classes disrupts and diverts TAs from carrying out their regular duties of delivering curriculum interventions and providing classroom support. Consequently, TAs feel that undertaking cover negatively impacts the quality of learning and provision for pupils with additional needs, as well as their workload, wellbeing, sense of effectiveness and job satisfaction. The conclusion that TAs actively teach lessons to whole classes has potentially significant real‐world consequences and implications for policy and practice. This paper calls for an urgent policy response to what is, in essence, a troubling symptom of the current teacher recruitment and retention crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients who are malnourished and have emergency general surgery, such as a laparotomy, have worse outcomes than those who are not malnourished. It is paramount to identify these patients and minimise this risk. This study aimed to describe current practices in identifying malnutrition in patients undergoing a laparotomy, specifically focusing on screening, assessment, nutrition pathways and barriers encountered by clinicians. Methods: Following piloting and validity assessment, anaesthetic and surgical National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) Leads at hospitals across England and Wales were emailed an invitation to a survey. Responses were gathered using Qualtrics. Descriptive analysis and correlation with laparotomy volume and professional role were performed in SPSSv26. University of Sheffield ethical approval was obtained (UREC 046205). The results from the survey are reported according to the CHERRIES guidelines. Results: The survey was completed by 166/289 NELA Leads from 117/167 hospitals (57.4% and 70.1% response rates, respectively). Participants reported low rates of nutritional screening (42/166; 25.3%) and assessment (26/166; 15.7%) for malnutrition preoperatively. More than one third of respondents (40.1%) had no awareness of local screening tools; indeed, the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) was used by approximately half of respondents (56.6%). Contrary to guidelines, NELA Leads report albumin levels continue to be used to determine malnutrition risk (73.5%; 122/166). Postoperative nutrition pathways were common (71.7%; 119/166). Reported barriers to nutritional screening and assessment included a lack of time, training and education, organisational support and ownership. Participants indicated nutrition risk is inadequately identified and is an important missing data item from NELA. There was no significant correlation with hospital laparotomy volume in relation to screening or assessment for malnutrition, the use of nutritional support pathways or organisational barriers. There was interprofessional agreement across a number of domains, although some differences did exist. Conclusions: Wide variation exists in the current practice of identifying malnutrition risk in NELA patients. Barriers include a lack of time, knowledge and ownership. Nutrition pathways that encompass the preoperative phase and incorporation of nutrition data in NELA may support improvements in care. Highlights: Emergency general surgical patients, in particular those who undergo a laparotomy and are malnourished, are at high risk of worse outcomes than those who are not malnourished.There is wide variation in current practices in relation to screening and assessment of malnutrition in laparotomy (NELA‐eligible) patients.A number of barriers to identifying malnutrition in laparotomy patients exist, including a lack of time, training and education, access and ownership of the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The common whelk Buccinum undatum is of great commercial and ecological importance, but little information is known regarding the gear selectivity of the fishery. Understanding gear selectivity is key for the long‐term sustainability of a stock and has applications in stock assessments and fishery management. Methods: We investigated the effect of gear (pots) on the selectivity of catch within the common whelk commercial fishery through a mark–recapture study and comparative gear trials across Wales. The size composition of the population in the water was estimated by dividing the numbers at size brought onboard by the selectivity of the pots. The selectivity of experimental pots (commercial pots that were modified to catch a wider size range) was estimated by comparing the size composition of whelks caught in the experimental gear to the estimated size composition of the population. Result: Peak selectivity of commercial pots occurred around the current minimum landing size (65 mm total shell length) for common whelks, with selectivity sloping off gradually for larger individuals and rapidly for undersized individuals. Across regions, less than 30% of the catch from baited lay‐down pots was discarded. Experimental pots were found to have a more variable but generally dome‐shaped selectivity curve similar to that of the commercial pots. Conclusion: The fishery appears to be well designed, with gear successfully targeting the legal‐sized catch, which is promising for the conservation of the stock if discards have a high survival rate. Experimental gear is ideal for stock assessment purposes, and methods developed to estimate the selectivity of the experimental pots reduce the need for further intensive mark–recapture studies as fishing gear evolves over time. Impact statementThe common whelk is regarded as a data‐poor stock; other than total landings, little information is currently known about the fishery. This study used mark–recapture surveys and comparative gear trials to estimate the selectivity of whelk pots and to determine the composition of whelks in the population. Our findings will facilitate the ongoing development of management strategies for this commercially important species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chronological age (CAge), biological age (BAge), and accelerated age (AAge) are all important for aging‐related diseases. CAge is a known risk factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); However, the evidence of association of BAge and AAge with BPH is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the association of CAge, Bage, and AAge with BPH in a large prospective cohort. Method: A total of 135,933 males without BPH at enrolment were extracted from the UK biobank. We calculated three BAge measures (Klemera–Doubal method, KDM; PhenoAge; homeostatic dysregulation, HD) based on 16 biomarkers. Additionally, we calculated KDM‐BAge and PhenoAge‐BAge measures based on the Levine method. The KDM‐AAge and PhenoAge‐AAge were assessed by the difference between CAge and BAge and were standardized (mean = 0 and standard deviation [SD] = 1). Cox proportional hazard models were applied to assess the associations of CAge, Bage, and AAge with incident BPH risk. Results: During a median follow‐up of 13.150 years, 11,811 (8.690%) incident BPH were identified. Advanced CAge and BAge measures were associated with an increased risk of BPH, showing threshold effects at a later age (all P for nonlinearity <0.001). Nonlinear relationships between AAge measures and risk of BPH were also found for KDM‐AAge (P = 0.041) and PhenoAge‐AAge (P = 0.020). Compared to the balance comparison group (−1 SD < AAge < 1 SD), the accelerated aging group (AAge > 2 SD) had a significantly elevated BPH risk with hazard ratio (HR) of 1.115 (95% CI, 1.000–1.223) for KDM‐AAge and 1.180 (95% CI, 1.068–1.303) for PhenoAge‐AAge, respectively. For PhenoAge‐AAge, subgroup analysis of the accelerated aging group showed an increased HR of 1.904 (95% CI, 1.374–2.639) in males with CAge <50 years and 1.233 (95% CI, 1.088–1.397) in those having testosterone levels <12 nmol/L. Moreover, AAge‐associated risk of BPH was independent of and additive to genetic risk. Conclusions: Biological aging is an independent and modifiable risk factor for BPH. We suggest performing active health interventions to slow biological aging, which will help mitigate the progression of prostate aging and further reduce the burden of BPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly forty years ago, Stenhouse argued that the function of the curriculum was to stimulate teachers' everyday reflection about and learning from practice. This suggestion, alongside his support for teachers as researchers, aligns with the Welsh Government's commitment to build an evidence‐informed profession as part of ongoing major education system‐level reforms, including the implementation of the new Curriculum for Wales from September 2022. University initial teacher education (ITE) partnerships are playing an important role in building collaborative research capacity. This paper describes a case study of one such partnership which aims to promote research‐informed, reflective practice among its postgraduate primary student teachers. We use one of Stenhouse's principles of empirical study to frame our discussion of how student teachers' reflective practice is supported through brief conversations with their teacher educators (mentors) during lessons. Using a mixed methods approach, the findings show that student teachers value in‐the‐moment feedback. The intervention also helps them to question aspects of teaching and learning, although such reflection is at a technical level. Our study is useful for teacher educators who are interested in supporting reflective practice through coaching and mentoring. It also cautions school leaders and policymakers implementing major curriculum reforms not to lose sight of Stenhouse's view that ‘it is teachers who, in the end, will change the world of the school by understanding it’. The paper concludes by discussing the research implications in shaping emerging practice and policy in the context of ongoing system‐level reform and curriculum implementation in Wales, with potential applicability and portability to other contexts and jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Health Technology Wales sought to evaluate the clinical and cost‐effectiveness of contact X‐ray brachytherapy (CXB) for early‐stage rectal cancer. Methods: Relevant studies were identified through systematic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus. A cost‐utility model was developed to estimate the cost‐effectiveness of CXB in National Health Service Wales, using results of the Organ Preservation in Early Rectal Adenocarcinoma (OPERA) trial. Patient perspectives were obtained through the Papillon Patient Support group and All‐Wales Cancer Network. Results: The OPERA randomized controlled trial showed that CXB improved complete response and organ preservation rates compared with external‐beam boost for people with T2–3b, N0–1, M0 rectal cancer who are fit for surgery. Managing more of this population non‐operatively after CXB was estimated to provide 0.2 quality‐adjusted life years at an additional cost of £887 per person. CXB was cost effective compared with external‐beam boost at a cost of £4463 per quality‐adjusted life year gained. This conclusion did not change in scenario analysis and CXB was cost effective in 91% of probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Patients valued receiving clear information on all available options to support their individual treatment choices. The detrimental impact of a stoma on quality of life led some patients to reject the idea that surgery was their only option. Conclusion: This evidence review and cost‐utility analysis indicates that CXB is likely to be clinically and cost effective, as part of a watch and wait strategy for adults fit for surgery. Wider access to CXB is supported by patient testimonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 2022/23 influenza season in the United Kingdom saw the return of influenza to prepandemic levels following two seasons with low influenza activity. The early season was dominated by A(H3N2), with cocirculation of A(H1N1), reaching a peak late December 2022, while influenza B circulated at low levels during the latter part of the season. From September to March 2022/23, influenza vaccines were offered, free of charge, to all aged 2–13 (and 14–15 in Scotland and Wales), adults up to 49 years of age with clinical risk conditions and adults aged 50 and above across the mainland United Kingdom. Methods: End‐of‐season adjusted vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates against sentinel primary‐care attendance for influenza‐like illness, where influenza infection was laboratory confirmed, were calculated using the test negative design, adjusting for potential confounders. Methods: Results In the mainland United Kingdom, end‐of‐season VE against all laboratory‐confirmed influenza for all those > 65 years of age, most of whom received adjuvanted quadrivalent vaccines, was 30% (95% CI: −6% to 54%). VE for those aged 18–64, who largely received cell‐based vaccines, was 47% (95% CI: 37%–56%). Overall VE for 2–17 year olds, predominantly receiving live attenuated vaccines, was 66% (95% CI: 53%–76%). Conclusion: The paper provides evidence of moderate influenza VE in 2022/23. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent, chronology and dynamics of the pre‐Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2 last British–Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) are not well known. Although the BRITICE‐CHRONO Project has detailed the maximum extent and retreat phases of the last BIIS for the period after 30 ka and into the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Project identified several pre‐existing datasets and generated new data that implied glaciation pre‐dating the LGM but which post‐dated the Last Interglacial (Eemian; MIS5e); these data are reviewed here. There are no dated till units but are other indicators clearly indicative of glaciation: deep‐sea ice‐rafted detritus flux into the adjacent NE Atlantic, cosmogenic rock‐exposure age dating from glaciated surfaces in Wales and the island of Lundy (Bristol Channel), and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages of proximal glacifluvial sequences on the Isle of Lewis (Outer Hebrides) and in the Cheshire Basin. Taken together these indicate BIIS inception during MIS5d, growth into MIS4 and evidence for dynamic retreat–advance phases during MIS3. OSL evidence for high relative sea level indicated by raised beaches in southern Ireland during MIS4 and 3 at a time of lowered glacio‐eustatic sea level indicates substantial glacial isostatic loading, explained by the early growth of the BIIS during the last cold stage. High relative sea level during MIS4 and 3 coincident with adjacent calving ice sheet margins provides an explanation for the rafted giant erratics found around the shores of southern Britain and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional explanations of neighbourhood ethnic transitions consider what drives differential growth in ethnic group populations without regard to household composition. We enrich these nonhousehold approaches by using consistent Census data on neighbourhoods and households for England and Wales for 2001, 2011 and 2021 to analyse connections between mixed‐ethnicity households and neighbourhood ethnic diversity. We employ a neighbourhood typology of ethnic diversity that identifies neighbourhoods as either low‐ or moderate‐diversity, or high‐diversity, where no single ethnic group is in the majority. We focus particularly on White‐majority and highly diverse neighbourhoods given the dominance of the former in residential spaces in England and Wales, and because they are the principal source of transitions to highly diverse neighbourhoods. Mixed‐ethnicity households have become an increasingly important feature of the ethnic diversification of England and Wales; by 2021, almost 15% of multiperson households were mixed, a growth from 12% in 2011 and 9% in 2001. We find that higher levels of neighbourhood ethnic diversity are associated with higher shares of mixed‐ethnicity households. In high‐diversity neighbourhoods, for example, around 30% of multiperson households (nearly a quarter of a million households) were ethnically mixed in 2021. Levels of household mixing in moderate‐diversity White neighbourhoods were considerably higher than in low‐diversity White neighbourhoods. The same is found for diversifying neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods that become more ethnically diverse were typically home to higher rates of mixed‐ethnicity households. Stably moderately diverse White neighbourhoods also had a higher proportion of mixed households. Studies of neighbourhood transition that focus on individuals in neighbourhoods may be missing important processes operating in the intimate spaces of the home. Including this intermediate scale of analysis adds to our understanding of neighbourhood ethnic mixing and processes of integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses the full sample of the 1851 census enumerators' books (CEBs) to revisit and reanalyse the well‐known phenomenon of female kin servants in the British census. We find that the recording of female kin servants points to three distinct possibilities – day servants, domestic work at relatives' homes, and work at relatives' homes as part of the family business unit. Accordingly, we argue that female kin servants offer a rare opportunity to look into the interaction between gendered work, household economy, and market economy, and they should be considered as much in the labour force as classic servants. We further offer tentative methods to revise the number of female domestic servants. Our revision suggests that domestic service probably employed more women than manufacturing activities of all sorts put together. It highlights the limited impacts of industrialization on most women's work experiences as well as traditional sector's importance for women's employment, even as late as the mid‐nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Conservative Party has usually done well in rural areas, but its 'green wall' is now under threat from Labour more than the Liberal Democrats. Farmers did not support Brexit any more than the general population, and in income terms they are currently doing well, but fear for the future. In addition, food security issues are more complex than they are portrayed, as are the relations with the devolved governments. In Scotland, the government there is much more popular among Scottish farmers whilst the government in Wales is doing much worse among farming communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Compare by occurrence era and age group how opioid‐related deaths (ORDs) and their counterpart evolved in Scotland vs. England and Wales during 2006–2020. For Scotland, compare coimplication rates between ORDs and non‐ORDs for any benzodiazepine, cocaine or gabapentin/pregabalin, and consider whether coimplication in ORDs depended on opioid‐specificity. Methods: Cross‐tabulations of drug misuse deaths (DMDs) obtained by 3 yearly occurrence era (2006–2008 to 2018–2020) and age group (under 25, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55+ years) for England and Wales and subdivided by whether at least 1 opiate was mentioned on death certificate (DMD‐Os or not); and of Scotland's opioid‐related deaths (ORDs vs. non‐ORDs) together with (i) coimplication by any benzodiazepine, cocaine or gabapentin/pregabalin; and (ii) opioid‐specificity of ORDs. ORD is defined by heroin/morphine, methadone or buprenorphine being implicated in DMD. Results: Per era between 2012–2014 and 2018–2020, Scotland's ORDs increased by 54% and non‐ORDs by 34%. Increase in DMD‐Os in England and Wales was more modest. Cocaine was implicated in 83% of Scotland's 2690 non‐ORDs during 2006–2020; and any benzodiazepine in 53% of 8409 ORDs. However, in 2018–2020, coimplication rates in 2926 ORDs (880 non‐ORDs) were 81% (33%) for any benzodiazepine, 30% (74%) for cocaine and 38% (22%) for gabapentin/pregabalin. Coimplication rate in 2018–2020 for any benzodiazepine was lowest at 70% (616/877) for heroin/morphine ORDs; and, by age group, at 66% (160/241) for ORDs aged 55+ years. Conclusions: Drug testing to inform users, shared intelligence between police and public health for earlier detection of changes in supply and monitoring of prescribed daily‐dose of methadone are urgent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One approach for measuring the potential biodiversity in new urban construction projects is through ecological models that predict how wildlife will respond. For the United Kingdom, such models have only been developed for birds, but to maximise the extent to which models represent overall biodiversity, species from different indicator groups must be considered.Here, we assess this possibility for butterflies by combining citizen science survey data with high‐resolution digital maps. We derive detailed characteristics of urban landscapes around survey sites using previously established methods and quantify their relationship to counts of adults of 18 butterfly species in urban and peri‐urban settings.Higher butterfly counts were found when traversing urban sites with larger areas of semi‐natural grassland, other managed greenspaces and adjacent arable land. Most of the butterfly community were found to have negative relationships with highly built‐up or fragmented landscapes.We found high species‐specificity for different details of urban form, particularly in habitat elements such as gardens, vegetation around railways and grass verges.Policy implications. Improving biodiversity is now part of legislation governing new construction projects from England and Wales. However, predicting quantitative changes from hypothetical land‐use modifications remains challenging. Our models provide the foundation through which butterfly abundance could be integrated into an urban biodiversity assessment tool, providing species‐ and community‐level statistics to non‐specialists from the urban planning and design sector. This would allow them to hone configurations for built surfaces, private gardens, greenspaces and wildlife areas and assess their capacity to provide residents with the intended access to nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Population‐wide, person‐level, linked electronic health record data are increasingly used to estimate epidemiology, guide resource allocation, and identify events in clinical trials. The accuracy of data from NHS Digital (now part of NHS England) for identifying hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), a key HF standard, is not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of NHS Digital data for identifying HHF. Methods and results: Patients experiencing at least one HHF, as determined by NHS Digital data, and age‐ and sex‐matched patients not experiencing HHF, were identified from a prospective cohort study and underwent expert adjudication. Three code sets commonly used to identify HHF were applied to the data and compared with expert adjudication (I50: International Classification of Diseases‐10 codes beginning I50; OIS: Clinical Commissioning Groups Outcomes Indicator Set; and NICOR: National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research, used as the basis for the National Heart Failure Audit in England and Wales). Five hundred four patients underwent expert adjudication, of which 10 (2%) were adjudicated to have experienced HHF. Specificity was high across all three code sets in the first diagnosis position {I50: 96.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 94.1–97.7%]; NICOR: 93.3% [CI 90.8–95.4%]; OIS: 95.6% [CI 93.3–97.2%]} but decreased substantially as the number of diagnosis positions expanded. Sensitivity [40.0% (CI 12.2–73.8%)] and positive predictive value (PPV) [highest with I50: 17.4% (CI 8.1–33.6%)] were low in the first diagnosis position for all coding sets. PPV was higher for the National Heart Failure Audit criteria, albeit modestly [36.4% (CI 16.6–62.2%)]. Conclusions: NHS Digital data were not able to accurately identify HHF and should not be used in isolation for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study reports the impact of the Covid‐19 pandemic and lockdowns on jobs for people with intellectual disabilities and autism. The study focuses on the impact of the first and the fire‐break lockdowns and the actions taken to support young people. Method: Data was collected from the cohort of young people currently working in Wales, and that received job coach support from the Engage to Change Project, on furlough arrangements, job retainment and job losses. Innovative initiatives to support young people are described. Results: Review of the working situation during the pandemic was conducted for 184 jobs, evaluating the proportion of young people being furloughed or working remotely and compared with the general population in Wales. Conclusions: Supported employment agencies adapted their practice during the COVID‐19 pandemic, offering new and innovative ways to support young people and facilitate their return to work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While gender inequalities in employment (paid public work) and domestic and reproductive labour (unpaid private work) are a prominent focus within the sociological literature, gender inequalities in volunteering (unpaid public work) have received much less scholarly attention. We analyse a unique longitudinal dataset of volunteer leaders, that follows through time every individual to have served as a board member (trustee) for a charity in England and Wales between 2010 and 2023, to make three foundational contributions to our understanding of gender inequalities in unpaid public work. First, the salience of vertical gender stratification and horizontal gender segmentation in trusteeship shows that gendered inequalities in work extend to public work in general—encompassing unpaid public work, and not only paid public work. In terms of gender segmentation, we find that women are over‐represented as trustees in a small number of fields of charitable activity but under‐represented across the majority of fields. In terms of gender stratification, we find that women are under‐represented on the boards of the largest charities; under‐represented as chairs of trustee boards; and particularly under‐represented as chairs of the largest charities. Second, the dynamics underlying gendered differences in unpaid public work, which show higher rates of resignation for women trustees, resonate with research on paid employment which emphasises the importance of attrition to an understanding of how gendered inequalities in work are reproduced. This means that increasing the retention of women, not only the recruitment of women, becomes central to the policy agenda. Third, we show that there has been a decline in gender stratification and gender segmentation in trusteeship since 2010. This decline over time in gendered inequalities in unpaid public work provides an interesting counterpoint to influential research documenting a 'stall' in the reduction of gendered inequalities in paid employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal mitigating factors (PMFs) such as good character, remorse and addressing addiction help sentencers evaluate an offender's past, present and future behavior. We analyzed data from the 2011–2014 Crown Court Sentencing Surveys in England and Wales to examine the relationship between these PMFs and custodial sentences passed on assault and burglary offenses, controlling for other sentencing relevant factors. Beyond revealing the distribution and co‐occurrence of the three PMFs, it was found that good character, remorse and addressing addiction all had a significant mitigating effect. The effects of addressing addiction were the strongest of the three across both offense types, while good character had a stronger effect on burglary than assault. In addition, some mitigating factors appear to be underweighted when they occur together. We consider the implications of these findings for sentencing policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Increasing effectiveness and sustainability of universal school‐based eating disorder prevention is needed. This study adapted two existing selective prevention programmes for universal delivery, investigating feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects when delivered by trained teachers to classes of mixed‐gender adolescents. Method: A three‐arm controlled pilot study with Year 9 students (N = 288; Mage = 13.61 SDage =.50). Three schools in south Wales and south‐west England were allocated to mindfulness‐based intervention (MBI), dissonance‐based intervention (DBI), or classes‐as‐usual (CAU) control. Self‐reported eating disorder risk factors were collected at baseline, 6‐week post‐intervention, and 2‐month follow‐up. Focus groups were conducted post‐intervention. Results: Delivery and evaluation were feasible, allowing for flexibility in scheduling, with good retention. Student and teacher ratings indicated moderate acceptability of both interventions, with recommendations for refinement. Mixed model analyses, controlling for baseline, showed significant effects of condition across post‐intervention and follow‐up for body esteem (DBI > CAU; Cohen's d =.34) and positive affect (MBI > CAU, d =.58). For girls only, both MBI and DBI improved body satisfaction and internalization, and the MBI additionally resulted in improved weight and shape concerns, negative affect, and life disengagement (d's =.39–1.12), across post‐intervention and follow‐up. Discussion: Selective eating disorder prevention programmes based on cognitive dissonance and mindfulness can be delivered universally in schools, by teachers, allowing for appropriate flexibility necessary for real world implementation. Moderate acceptability indicates areas for improving content and delivery; positive effects on key outcomes are encouraging. These findings provide support for further robust evaluation. Public Significance: Existing universal eating disorder prevention is limited by small effects and reliance on highly trained facilitators. This study is the first to adapt mindfulness‐ and dissonance‐based interventions for delivery by teachers, to adolescents of all genders in a classroom setting. Delivery was largely feasible and acceptable, and both interventions showed significant effects across key risk factors for eating disorders, with larger effect sizes than found previously. This underpins further robust evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient and public involvement (PPI) is an increasing priority in health‐related research and education. Attracting and supporting people from different demographic groups to give up their time and get involved is important to help ensure that all parts of society are empowered, represented and their voices heard in decisions that may affect their health and quality of life. Objectives: (1) To determine if a demographically diverse cross‐section of society would be interested in contributing to healthcare research and education. (2) To understand factors that can act as barriers and enablers to effective and diverse PPI. Method: PPI survey data was collected via engagement events, with the aim of scoping interest in PPI from a diverse public. A Focus Group study involving members of the public, academic and professional service staff, was then conducted to gain a deeper understanding around the barriers and enablers of diversity within PPI. Results: 71% of a diverse rich public indicated they would like to get involved in healthcare research and teaching. 76% of survey respondents indicated that they would be happy to share a personal or family experience of healthcare. The two biggest factors impacting on our cohort getting involved are' availability of time' and 'being aware of PPI opportunities'. These factors may disproportionally affect specific groups. Shared and individual PPI enablers and barriers were identified across all stakeholder groups within the Focus Group Study, as well as generic and novel factors that would impact on an institutions' ability to improve PPI diversity. Conclusion: These data points confirm a demographically diverse public's appetite to get involved in academic health research and teaching. This needs to be recognised and harnessed to ensure public contributor networks are representative of society. Equality Impact Assessments should be undertaken in relation to all PPI opportunities. There is a need to recognise the investment of time and resources required to build mutually beneficial relationships with diverse communities as well as the development of inclusive 'fit for purpose' PPI infrastructures to support the uptake of diverse PPI contributors. Public Contribution: This study involved members of the public responding to a short survey. Public contributors made up one of the three focus groups. The School of Medicine lead public contributor was also involved in the preparation of this manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sitka spruce is a widely planted and economically important tree species in the United Kingdom; hence, identifying any future biotic or abiotic threats to its productivity is important. Defoliating insects are widely considered to be major forest disturbance agents, and these can include the sawflies (Symphyta), which are well known to reach high population densities that can cause significant outbreak events, leading to tree mortality or impacts on growth.The aim of the current study was to investigate the abundance and diversity of sawflies within stands of Sitka spruce over an elevation range and to evaluate whether there were any potentially important species present. Experimental plots were established in two commercial forest plantations in mid‐Wales, and the adult sawfly community was assessed over a 3‐year period using yellow pan traps.Sixty species of sawfly were caught over the 3‐year period, which accounted for >11% of all known British sawfly species. Results indicated that there were generally greater abundance and diversity of sawflies at lower elevational plots, where temperatures were higher. The most abundant sawfly species captured in the study was the notable defoliator species, the mountain spruce sawfly (Epicenematus montanus), which was found in particularly high numbers in the low‐elevation plot in Hafren forest. A further seven spruce‐associated sawfly species were also caught across the experimental plots.The study highlighted the presence of a number of notable spruce‐associated sawfly species (E. montanus and Pristiphora spp.), some of which have caused significant defoliation of spruce (Picea) species in Europe. The generally higher abundance of these sawflies at lower elevations indicated that Sitka spruce may potentially become more vulnerable to defoliation events caused by sawfly outbreaks in the future, especially when considering current projected climate change predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is one of the suggested pathways linking exposure to neighbourhood air pollution and greenspace to psychological distress. Yet, inflammation has not been tested formally as a mediating factor in an adult human sample.Using data from 6813 adults participating in Understanding Society, the present study examines longitudinally the joint role of the two neighbourhood‐level exposures in psychological distress and the mediating role of inflammation. Annual concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and availability of greenspace in participants' neighbourhoods across England and Wales were examined. Psychological distress was measured with the General Health Questionnaire. Inflammation was assessed with C‐reactive protein and fibrinogen.A structural equation model path analysis showed that, in fully adjusted models, an increase in the amount of greenspace in one's neighbourhood was related to lower psychological distress 4 years later, but inflammation did not mediate this relationship.Neighbourhood‐level air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide, was not associated with psychological distress. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As in other UK nations, public service broadcasting (PSB) is facing an uncertain future in Wales as a result of threats to funding from government and competition from streaming services and other content providers. Partly because of this, calls for the devolution of broadcasting powers have intensified over the past couple of years to the point where it is now an aim of the Welsh government to see such powers being transferred to Cardiff from Westminster. In a nation of two languages and two cultures, PSB has played, and continues to play, a crucial role in Welsh life—but for how long? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on topical academic and practitioner accounts, our contribution examines the challenges of accreditation in digital forensics (DF), specifically, the adoption of ISO/IEC 17025 standard for forensic science support providers in England and Wales. We built on the debate generated by the Forensic Science Regulator's introduction of this standard in DF to reflect on the position and status of DF community of practice. We argue that a social science approach can help illuminate the organizational and professional tensions generated by this development and to understand better the implications for the role of DF specialists and their position in the wider forensic science community. This article is categorized under:Digital and Multimedia Science > Cybercrime InvestigationCrime Scene Investigation > Education and Formation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To quantify maternal hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) prevalence in late preterm and term infants admitted to neonatal units (NNU) and assess opportunities to avoid admissions. Design: A retrospective population‐based study using the National Neonatal Research Database. Setting: England and Wales. Population: Infants born ≥34 weeks' gestation admitted to NNU between 2012 and 2020. Methods: Outcomes in HDP infants are compared with non‐HDP infants using regression models. Main outcome measures: Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, primary reason for admission, clinical diagnoses and resource use. Results: 16 059/136 220 (11.8%) of late preterm (34+0 to 36+6 weeks' gestation) and 14 885/284 646 (5.2%) of term (≥37 weeks' gestation) admitted infants were exposed to maternal HDP. The most common primary reasons for HDP infant admission were respiratory disease (28.3%), prematurity (22.7%) and hypoglycaemia (16.4%). HDP infants were more likely to be admitted with primary hypoglycaemia than were non‐HDP infants (odds ratio [OR] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0–2.2, P < 0.0001). 64.5% of HDP infants received i.v. dextrose. 35.7% received mechanical or non‐invasive ventilation. 8260/30 944 (26.7%) of HDP infants received intervention for hypoglycaemia alone (i.v. dextrose) with no other major intervention (respiratory support, parenteral nutrition, central line, arterial line or blood transfusion). Conclusions: The burden of maternal HDP on late preterm and term admissions to NNU is high, with hypoglycaemia and respiratory disease being the main drivers for admission. Over one in four were admitted solely for management of hypoglycaemia. Further research should determine whether maternal antihypertensive agent choice or postnatal pathways may reduce NNU admission. This article includes Author Insights, a video abstract available at: https://youtu.be/WduDjFDGUTo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: SARS‐CoV‐2 infection has had a significant impact on vulnerable individuals including transplant patients. Socioeconomic deprivation negatively affects outcomes of many health conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of socioeconomic deprivation on the incidence and severity of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection among Welsh transplant patients. Methods: This study is a retrospective, cross‐sectional study on the transplant population of Wales. The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) was used to assess the influence of socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes of Welsh transplant patients who developed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Outcome measures were the incidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, rates of hospital and ICU admission, development of acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality. A logistic binomial regression analysis was used to correlate the various risk factors with the incidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Results: Two hundred and sixty‐six (25%) of regular follow up patients had SARS‐CoV‐2 infection; of these 55 (20.7%) were admitted, 15 (5.6%) to ICU, 37 (13.9%) developed AKI, and 23 (8.6%) died. In a regression analysis, patients of younger age were associated with more (p =.001) and those with SPK (simultaneous pancreas kidney) transplant less chance of infection (p =.038), whereas social deprivation was not associated with the chance of infection (p =.14). In regression analysis increased social deprivation was associated with higher chance of AKI post SARS‐CoV‐2 (p =.049). Conclusions: Socioeconomic deprivation did not affect the rates or severity of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection apart from the degree of AKI in Welsh Transplant patients. Adherence to the preventive measures for this high‐risk population must continue to remain a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child neglect poses many issues for social work, notably in terms of effective assessment leading to informed intervention targeting the needs of children and families. In response to this challenge, our multiphase research project is developing a new multiagency child neglect measurement tool. The phase of the project reported in this article administered an online survey via Qualtrics to explore the views of children and families social workers on assessing child neglect. One hundred and twenty‐nine completed responses were received from registered children and families social workers in England and Wales. The main findings are that social workers are regularly undertaking child neglect assessments and feel relatively confident in completing them. They also feel relatively confident that their assessments are inclusive of social harms such as poverty and social isolation, but less confident they are accurate and informed by research evidence. Almost two‐thirds are using a child neglect assessment tool, but they lack confidence in these accurately assessing neglect or being quick and simple to use. The findings illustrate that social workers require both the work conditions and tools to use in which they feel confident to undertake balanced and accurate assessments of child neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a pregnancy ends in England and Wales, statutory time away from paid employment is limited to circumstances where there is a live birth or stillbirth. Forms of leave, such as Maternity Leave or Paternity Leave, depend on parental status derived from the civil registration of a new person or a post‐viability stillbirth. Other early pregnancy endings, such as miscarriage or abortion, do not provide specific time off work after pregnancy. This paper uses the concept of reproductive governance to analyze current and shifting biopolitical truth discourses, strategies of intervention, and modes of subjectification around post‐pregnancy leaves. It shows how different inclusions and exclusions are generated by the classificatory boundaries which act as political technologies in this field. Contributing to an area that is under‐researched in the literature, we provide a review of post‐pregnancy statutory employment leave entitlements in this context. We then consider proposals for change presented in the United Kingdom political system in relation to more inclusive leave benefits offered by some employers and different pregnancy ending leaves offered in other jurisdictions. We argue that current arrangements and proposals do not adequately reflect the complexity and diversity of pregnancy endings. We conclude with a call to policymakers in all contexts to carefully assess the consequences of new ideas around leaves for pregnancy endings and to formulate inclusive and fair proposals for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Important clues about the ecological effects of climate change can arise from understanding the influence of other Earth‐system processes on ecosystem dynamics but few studies span the inter‐decadal timescales required. We, therefore, examined how variation in annual weather patterns associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) over four decades was linked to synchrony and stability in a metacommunity of stream invertebrates across multiple, contrasting headwaters in central Wales (UK). Prolonged warmer and wetter conditions during positive NAO winters appeared to synchronize variations in population and community composition among and within streams thereby reducing stability across levels of ecological organization. This climatically mediated synchronization occurred in all streams irrespective of acid–base status and land use, but was weaker where invertebrate communities were more functionally diverse. Wavelet linear models indicated that variation in the NAO explained up to 50% of overall synchrony in species abundances at a timescale of 4–6 years. The NAO appeared to affect ecological dynamics through local variations in temperature, precipitation and discharge, but increasing hydrochemical variability within sites during wetter winters might have contributed. Our findings illustrate how large‐scale climatic fluctuations generated over the North Atlantic can affect population persistence and dynamics in inland freshwater ecosystems in ways that transcend local catchment character. Protecting and restoring functional diversity in stream communities might increase their stability against warmer, wetter conditions that are analogues of ongoing climate change. Catchment management could also dampen impacts and provide options for climate change adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has often linked socioeconomic decline and 'left behind' places with out‐migration and depopulation. Few analyses have reflected on the role of connectivity in the migratory system, and how this varies across groups and places to produce peripheralisation. Using detailed migration in England and Wales, we examine the level of spatial focusing of migration flows between local authority origins and destinations, using the Gini index. The study extends the established spatial focusing literature to consider the role of age and investigates the phenomenon in 'left behind' places. Our findings show the complexity of the role of migration in the production of left behind places, with implications for population redistribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]