Evaluation of Integrated Multi-Agency Operational Safeguarding Arrangements in Wales

The evaluation requirement set out two key elements to be achieved from the evaluation work: 1. A full UK/National literature review of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements of both adults and children (the ‘Front Door’ approach) 2. Ascertain the range of current arrangements operating in Wales and their key features. The evaluation team made contact with 33 nominated safeguarding leads with assistance from NISB, with 29 included in the data analysis across all 22 Local Authorities within Wales. Due to the global pandemic of Covid-19, planned telephone interviews with each individual lead were also offered to be completed via an open survey, which could be returned via email in Welsh, or English. Data was transcribed and analysed using N-vivo for thematic analysis. In summary, the data highlighted some key areas: • There is evidence of effective adoption of ‘Front Door’ services, with this seen as open and accessible to all (via various forms of communication: email, phone, to all users: general public through to specialist services/organisations). • There is evidence of successful adoption of language and vision from the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (2014) and new All Wales Safeguarding Policy in terms of being ‘person centred’, emphasising the individual and family at the heart of decision making processes. • All 22 Local Authorities are engaged in multi-agency collaborative working, however, the way these operate vary significantly (see Table 7). • It was clear when trying to identify relevant individuals to interview that children and adult services were often seen as separate. Initial plans were to interview 1 safeguarding lead from each LA, but on speaking to nominated leads they often had responsibility for one area, for example children safeguarding, and would therefore provide an additional name to follow-up with regarding adult safeguarding processes and provision. o Discussions with safeguarding leads furthered this issue with disagreement as to whether these should be more joined up, or distinctive, specialised and purposely separated. • Some adult safeguarding nominated leads spoke extremely passionately about recent policy and legislative amendments with focus on adults having an equal statutory footing within safeguarding. However, frustrations from adult safeguarding leads still emphasised the need to use ‘duty to enquire’ to push for action, indicating that adult safeguarding still had much more work to be done to achieve similar level of response to children. • Although ‘Front Door’ arrangements were said to be well established in all 22 LA’s, it is clear from the various arrangements (see Table 7) that these were not always co-located with safeguarding teams, with concerns about how processes and pathways across the whole system can be seen, shared, audited and importantly how learning can be taken forward. Those co-located (‘Front Door’ and safeguarding teams’) seemed to have better collaborative working, with talk of more support and learning coming from face to face conversations about cases as they come in. • The above point was furthered in regards to difficulties with Information sharing systems that inhibit understanding data across services (children and adults, also for ‘Front Door’ to safeguarding), which then limits capacity to plan resources and conduct quality assurance (QA) processes. o All those that engaged with the study were asked for referral numbers to give estimation of size of demand across each service. However, some were able to give all parts of the system, for example, ‘Front Door’ through to safeguarding including adults and children, whereas others were only able to provide their service and could not access further data. This once again highlights issues with being able to see the whole system. • There were different viewpoints and implementation of multi-agency arrangements between those using more virtual multi-agency arrangements compared to physical MASHs, particularly when these are in rural and urban areas. o Covid-19 restrictions have further emphasised variances within rural and urban safeguarding provisions. Rural areas seemed more prepared and functional with remote working, compared to urban areas stating concern about eroding relationships between organisations if remote working continued. • There was evidence of effective engagement from key agencies in information sharing and decision making processes, with high levels of engagement with police, but issues with other organisations engaging as necessary. Education and CAMHS were often mentioned. • Although not mentioned frequently, some safeguarding leads discussed issues regarding resourcing and turnover of staff. In addition, a couple mentioned their concerns in being able to adequately support their team dealing with vulnerable families, when they have lost their physical support (peer) network (due to covid-19 restrictions and remote working). • Overall nominated safeguarding leads talked confidently about their safeguarding aims and how they were achieving these, with most acknowledging that there is still much work to be done

Actomyosin drives cancer cell nuclear dysmorphia and threatens genome stability

Altered nuclear shape is a defining feature of cancer cells. The mechanisms underlying nuclear dysmorphia in cancer remain poorly understood. Here we identify PPP1R12A and PPP1CB, two subunits of the myosin phosphatase complex that antagonizes actomyosin contractility, as proteins safeguarding nuclear integrity. Loss of PPP1R12A or PPP1CB causes nuclear fragmentation, nuclear envelope rupture, nuclear compartment breakdown and genome instability. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of actomyosin contractility restores nuclear architecture and genome integrity in cells lacking PPP1R12A or PPP1CB. We detect actin filaments at nuclear envelope rupture sites and define the Rho-ROCK pathway as the driver of nuclear damage. Lamin A protects nuclei from the impact of actomyosin activity. Blocking contractility increases nuclear circularity in cultured cancer cells and suppresses deformations of xenograft nuclei in vivo. We conclude that actomyosin contractility is a major determinant of nuclear shape and that unrestrained contractility causes nuclear dysmorphia, nuclear envelope rupture and genome instability

Constraining a model of punctuated river incision for Quaternary strath terrace formation

In the small fraction of Earth's surface with the highest erosion rates such as the Alps and Himalayas quantifying rates of incision, rock uplift and inferring climatic controls on the landscape can be relatively straightforward once the ages of river terraces cut in bedrock (strath terraces) are constrained. However, in many mid to lower relief settings that are more typical of mountain belts worldwide, periods of net river incision and riverbed lowering are relatively short (punctuated), interrupted by long periods of sediment aggradation or stasis. We define a conceptual model of punctuated river incision and strath terrace formation for the calculation of incision and rock uplift rates, and recommend strategies for geochronological sampling and interpretation. An approach using OSL dating of terrace gravels allows us to constrain a detailed ~150 kyr history of punctuated river incision and strath terrace formation spanning two stratigraphic landform levels in the High Atlas Mountains (NW Africa). Extensive preservation and exposure of strath-top gravels, within a post-orogenic setting unaffected by eustatic influences, enables the derivation of rates of base-level fall, integrated over periods of strath-top aggradation and incision, that are consistent with independently constrained regional rock uplift rates. Combining a punctuated river incision model with our well-constrained terrace formation history allows us to demonstrate how assumptions concerning Quaternary river incision and aggradation can lead to the problematic Sadler Effect, an apparent dependence of incision rates on measured time interval. Subsequently, we demonstrate that an approach to reinterpreting previously published data using the punctuated incision model, even when combined with limited terrace age data, results in more consistent conclusions about rates of river incision, rock uplift and base-level lowering across the mountain belt. Our recommendations for sampling strategies to constrain rock uplift rates require samples to be taken just above the strath surface, and in addition towards the top of the deposit for river incision rates. In a setting with punctuated river incision and strath terrace formation, both rock uplift and incision rates require burial dates, as exclusive use of abandonment ages will not yield constraints on accurate rates of rock uplift or incision. Furthermore, we find that only with multiple along-stream locations and multiple burial dates in each terrace deposit, could a reliable climatic signal be extracted: this signal would not have shown up in terrace abandonment ages such as those derived from cosmogenic exposure dates. The demonstrated effects of assumptions about strath terrace formation, and the recommended approaches for sampling and interpretation, have implications for those attempting to constrain palaeoclimatic, tectonic, and geomorphic histories from strath terrace records in regions exhibiting punctuated river incision

The Ctf18 RFC-like complex positions yeast telomeres but does not specify their replication time

Peer reviewedPreprin

The Ku Heterodimer and the Metabolism of Single-Ended DNA Double-Strand Breaks

Single-ended double-strand breaks (DSBs) are a common form of spontaneous DNA break, generated when the replisome encounters a discontinuity in the DNA template. Given their prevalence, understanding the mechanisms governing the fate(s) of single-ended DSBs is important. We describe the influence of the Ku heterodimer and Mre11 nuclease activity on processing of single-ended DSBs. Separation-of-function alleles of yku70 were derived that phenocopy Ku deficiency with respect to single-ended DSBs but remain proficient for NHEJ. The Ku mutants fail to regulate Exo1 activity, and bypass the requirement for Mre11 nuclease activity in the repair ofcamptothecin-induced single-ended DSBs. Ku mutants exhibited reduced affinity for DNA ends, manifest as both reduced end engagement and enhanced probability of diffusing inward on linear DNA. This study reveals an interplay between Ku and Mre11 in the metabolism of single-ended DSBsthat is distinct from repair pathway choice at double-ended DSBs

Multifocal electroretinogram and Optical Coherence tomography spectral-domain in arc welding macular injury: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>the purpose of this study was to report a binocular photic retinal injury induced by plasma arc welding and the follow-up after treatment with vitamin supplements for a month. In our study, we used different diagnostic tools such as fluorescein angiography (FA), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG).</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>in the first visit after five days from arc welding injury in the left eye (LE) the visual acuity was 0.9 and 1.0 in the right eye (RE). FA was normal in both eyes. OCT in the left eye showed normal profile and normal reflectivity and one month later, a hyperreflectivity appeared in the external limiting membrane (ELM). The mfERG signal in the LE was 102.30 nV/deg2 five days after the injury and 112.62 nV/deg2 after one month and in the RE respectively 142.70 nV/deg2 and 159.46 nV/deg2.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>in cases of retinal photo injury it is important for the ophthalmologist to evaluate tests such as OCT and the mfERG in the diagnosis and follow-up of the patient because the recovery of visual acuity cannot exclude the persistence of phototoxic damage charged to the complex inner-outer segment of photoreceptors.</p

Relationships between the Seasonal Variations of Macroinvertebrates, and Land Uses for Biomonitoring in the Xitiaoxi River Watershed, China

The impacts of differences in watershed land uses, and differences in seasonality on benthic macroinvertebrate communities, were evaluated in 12 stream sites within the Xitiaoxi River watershed, China, from April 2009 to January 2010. The composition of macroinvertebrate community differed significantly among three land use types. Forested sites were characterized by high taxa richness, diversity and the benthic‐index of biotic integrity (B‐IBI), while farmland and urban disturbed stream sites presented contrary patterns. The percentage of urban land use, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus were the major drivers for the variations. The land use related water quality stress gradients of the four sampling seasons were determined by means of four independent Principal Component Analyses. The responses of macroinvertebrate community metrics, to anthropogenic stressors, were explored using Spearman Rank Correlation analyses. All the selected metrics, including total numbers of taxa, numbers of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera taxa, percentage of non‐insect abundance, percentage of scrapers abundance, Pielou’s evenness index, Simpson diversity index, and the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity were correlated significantly with environmental gradients (PC1) in autumn. In other seasons such correlations were less pronounced. Our results imply that autumn is the optimal time to sample macroinvertebrate communities, and to conduct water quality biomonitoring in this subtropical watershed. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/92105/1/184_ftp.pd

Intensive versus conventional glycaemic control for treating diabetic foot ulcers

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of intensive glycaemic control compared to conventional control on the outcome of foot ulcers in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Reduction of volatile acidity of wines by selected yeast strains

Herein we isolate and characterize wine yeasts with ability to reduce volatile acidity of wines using a refermentation process, which consists in mixing the acidic wine with freshly crushed grapes or musts or, alternatively, in the incubation with the residual marc. From a set of 135 yeast isolates, four strains revealed ability to use glucose and acetic acid simultaneously. Three of them were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and one as Lachancea thermotolerans. Among nine commercial S. cerevisiae strains, strains S26, S29 and S30 display similar glucose and acetic acid initial simultaneous consumption pattern and were assessed in refermentation assays. In a medium containing an acidic wine with high glucose/low ethanol concentrations, under low oxygen availability, strain S29 is the most efficient one, whereas L. thermotolerans 44C is able to decrease significantly acetic acid similar to the control strain Zygosaccharomyces bailii ISA 1307, but only under aerobic conditions. Conversely, for low glucose/high ethanol concentrations, under aerobic conditions, S26 is the most efficient acid degrading strain, while under limited-aerobic conditions, all the S. cerevisiae strains studied display acetic acid degradation efficiencies identical to Z. bailii. Moreover, S26 strain also reveals capacity to decrease volatile acidity of wines. Together, the S. cerevisiae strains characterized herein appear promising for the oenological removal of volatile acidity of acidic wines.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Programa POCI 2010 (FEDER/FCT, POCI/AGR/56102/2004, PTDC/AGRALI/71460/2006