‘I’m excluded – who’s gonna care?’ Multi-agency teams supporting the care of excluded children in educational settings – policy into practice, what works and what doesn’t? (Sharing our experience, Practitioner-led research 2008-2009; PLR0809/062)

The aim of the research was to discover who meets the needs of children at risk of exclusion, an interest sparked by meeting vulnerable children and listening to their stories. The research team wanted to discover whether strategies used do meet policy and best practice guidance. Are multi-agency teams successful? How do children feel about those who provide their care? Semi-structured interviews were used, as well as discussion groups, with the following professionals and young people: • one Further Education administrator • two Further Education programme co-ordinators • one primary school Pastoral Support team member • one primary school head teacher • two secondary school Pastoral Support team members • three social workers • one sports coach • one sports coach assistant • three foster carers • seven young people. In addition, we carried out a literature review to discover that when schools work in conjunction with a range of other professionals, in a manner which includes children and parents and makes the process comfortable and child-led, results are good. Children feel supported and are able to achieve. The research also identified that our agencies appear, at times, to misinterpret the guidance, or simply ignore it – allowing egos, personalities and inconsequential agendas to interfere with pastoral care. Examples of good practice to share with others have been identified, as have a few challenges, the avoidance of which might make the difference for some children. The research discovered that behaviour support personnel in schools appear to have a valuable role to play for vulnerable children, as do many others however; also, excitingly there are instances of good practice which may limit incidents of exclusion. This PLR project has provided opportunity to discover how outcomes for children can be improved by working together, also that one person alone can make all the difference

Pyridazine-bridged cationic diiridium complexes as potential dual-mode bioimaging probes

A novel diiridium complex [(N^C^N)2Ir(bis-N^C)Ir(N^C^N)2Cl]PF6 (N^C^N = 2-[3-tert-butyl-5-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]pyridine; bis-N^C = 3,6-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)pyridazine) was designed, synthesised and characterised. The key feature of the complex is the bridging pyridazine ligand which brings two cyclometallated Ir(III) metal centres close together so that Cl also acts as a bridging ligand leading to a cationic complex. The ionic nature of the complex offers a possibility of improving solubility in water. The complex displays broad emission in the red region (λem = 520–720 nm, τ = 1.89 μs, Φem = 62% in degassed acetonitrile). Cellular assays by multiphoton (λex = 800 nm) and confocal (λex = 405 nm) microscopy demonstrate that the complex enters cells and localises to the mitochondria, demonstrating cell permeability. Further, an appreciable yield of singlet oxygen generation (ΦΔ = 0.45, direct method, by 1O2 NIR emission in air equilibrated acetonitrile) suggests a possible future use in photodynamic therapy. However, the complex has relatively high dark toxicity (LD50 = 4.46 μM), which will likely hinder its clinical application. Despite this toxicity, the broad emission spectrum of the complex and high emission yield observed suggest a possible future use of this class of compound in emission bioimaging. The presence of two heavy atoms also increases the scattering of electrons, supporting potential future applications as a dual fluorescence and electron microscopy probe

The Mediterranean deep-water kelp Laminaria rodriguezii is an endangered species in the Adriatic Sea

Acknowledgments Thanks are due to Klaus Lüning for a gametophyte culture of L. abyssalis, and to Britta Schaffelke for a herbarium specimen of L. rodriguezii from the western Mediterranean. We are grateful to the Total Foundation (Paris) for funding this study within the framework of the project “Brown algal ecology and biodiversity in the eastern Mediterranean Sea”, and to the MASTS pooling initiative (Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland, funded by the Scottish Funding Council and contributing institutions; grant reference HR09011), as well as Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports for supporting project “Benthic communities in the Adriatic Sea (Project ID: 0001005)”. Open access via Springer Compact AgreementPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Israel's Spyware Law: A Step Towards Authoritarianism?

In November 2024, the Israeli Knesset preliminarily approved the controversial Spyware Law, granting expanded surveillance powers to the police. While presented as a measure to combat crime and terrorism, it has faced sharp criticism for undermining civil liberties. Critics warn that, alongside inadequate oversight and outdated laws, this bill poses a serious threat to Israel’s democracy. The proposed law authorises the use of court-approved surveillance technology for serious offences punishable by ten years or more in prison, where covert searches are crucial to effectively investigate and prevent criminal acts. However, offences related to public integrity, such as corruption, are excluded. The proposed law risks being exploited to target demonstrators under Section 157 of the Penal Code. The proposed law can be viewed as yet another attempt by the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, to consolidate police authority under his leadership, while circumventing and undermining the role of existing intelligence bodies. Both the Public Defender's Office and the Attorney General strongly oppose the law, deeming it a significant threat to democratic values and the rule of law. Since October 7th, judicial-reform efforts have shifted towards advancing smaller legislative proposals instead of comprehensive laws, strategically straining legal advisers and the opposition while minimising public backlash

Arctic marine phytobenthos of northern Baffin Island

This project was supported by SAMS and NFSD core funding (Oceans 2025 WP 4.5 from the UK Natural Environment Research Council), the European Commission (ASSEMBLE, grant agreement no. 227799), and the TOTAL Foundation (Paris; Project “Macroalgal and oomycete benthic diversity in the Canadian Marine Arctic”). This work also received funding from the MASTS pooling initiative (The Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland) and their support is gratefully acknowledged. MASTS is funded by the Scottish Funding Council (grant reference HR09011) and contributing institutions. We also would like to thank Laura Grenville-Briggs (KTH, Stockholm) for help with bioinformatics analyses as well as Cindy Grant and Philippe Archambault (University of Quebec, Rimouski) for help with preparing the map of the study area (Fig. 1).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Quantifying the Methods of Monitoring Timers in Electric Water Heater for Grid Balancing on Demand Side Management: A Systematic Mapping Review

Electric water heater (EWH) is a powerful appliance that uses electricity in residential, commercial, and industrial settings, and the ability to control them properly will result in cost savings and the prevention of blackouts on the national grid. This article discusses the usage of timers in EWH control strategies for demand-side management (DSM). To the authors' knowledge, there is no systematicmapping review focusing on the utilization of EWH control strategies in DSM has yet been conducted. Consequently, the purpose of this research is to identify and examine main papers exploring EWHprocedures in DSM by quantifying and categorizing information with regard to publication year and source, kind of methods, and source of data for monitoring control techniques. In order to answer the research questions, a total of 31 publications published between 1999 and 2023 were selected depending on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data indicate that direct load control (DLC) has been somewhat more prevalent than indirect load control (ILC). Additionally, the mix method is much lower than the other techniques, and the proportion of real-time data (RTD) to non-real-time data (NRTD) is about equal

Cascade oxime formation, cyclization to a nitrone, and intermolecular dipolar cycloaddition.

Simple haloaldehydes, including enolisable aldehydes, were found to be suitable for the formation of cyclic products by cascade (domino) condensation, cyclisation, dipolar cycloaddition chemistry. This multi-component reaction approach to heterocyclic compounds was explored by using hydroxylamine, a selection of aldehydes, and a selection of activated dipolarophiles. Initial condensation gives intermediate oximes that undergo cyclisation with displacement of halide to give intermediate nitrones; these nitrones undergo in situ intermolecular dipolar cycloaddition reactions to give isoxazolidines. The cycloadducts from using dimethyl fumarate were treated with zinc/acetic acid to give lactam products and this provides an easy way to prepare pyrrolizinones, indolizinones, and pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolinones. The chemistry is illustrated with a very short synthesis of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid macronecine and a formal synthesis of petasinecine

European nightjar and upland plantation woodland management

Plantation woodland is increasing in extent globally and as a proportion of global forest cover. Plantation woodland is not only an important element of the U.K. economy, but also is an important woodland habitat in the U.K., given the pre-historic and historic loss of woodland cover. Woodland policy aspirations in the U.K. are currently heavily focused on increasing woodland extent, coupled with maximising the ecosystem services delivered by these habitats, including the provision of renewable energy developments and increasing the provision of biodiversity services. Such broad management objectives often necessitate trade-offs, where management to deliver different desired outcomes conflict. This thesis focuses on the conservation management of European nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus and is intended to inform the development of evidence-based conservation interventions that can support nightjar and the moth species on which they feed, in plantation coniferous woodland and in particular in the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. Specifically, I use European nightjar life history parameters (e.g. nest success) and movement data, to explore nightjar ecology in areas of changing land use and management. In order to inform subsequent nest success analysis a comparison of the observed nesting success of tagged birds and untagged birds, whilst controlling for the potential confounding effects of weather, is used to explore and confirm the lack of observed tag effects on measures of nest success (e.g. fledging success) in nightjar breeding at Brechfa Forest Wind Farm (South Wales, UK). Moth diversity and biomass data from open habitats within forests across a gradient of ages, is then used to confirm the importance of native vegetation primary productivity and stand management in driving moth biomass and diversity. Moth biomass is then combined with GPS tag movement data to explore nightjar foraging behaviour within the forest matrix. This analysis confirms that nightjar movement is driven by spatial and temporal variation in the availability of moth biomass. Nest record data from sites across Wales is then used to explore the potential for wind farm construction disturbance effects on nest success (e.g. fledging success). Alongside this, I also examine the role of habitat management and foraging habitat availability. Overall, my results show that forest management can have significant effects on both nightjar nest success, movement and food (moth) availability. I also show that forest management has an important effect on the presence or absence of moths of conservation concern. These results also confirm that modifications to the spatial and temporal patterns of forest management can be used to support the conservation of both moths and nightjar, with likely cascading benefits for other aerial insectivores

What determines growth potential and juvenile quality of farmed fish species?

Enhanced production of high quality and healthy fry is a key target for a successful and competitive expansion of the aquaculture industry. Although large quantities of fish larvae are produced, survival rates are often low or highly variable and growth potential is in most cases not fully exploited, indicating significant gaps in our knowledge concerning optimal nutritional and culture conditions. Understanding the mechanisms that control early development and muscle growth are critical for the identification of time windows in development that introduce growth variation, and improve the viability and quality of juveniles. This literature review of the current state of knowledge aims to provide a framework for a better understanding of fish skeletal muscle ontogeny, and its impact on larval and juvenile quality as broadly defined. It focuses on fundamental biological knowledge relevant to larval phenotype and quality and, in particular, on the factors affecting the development of skeletal muscle. It also discusses the available methodologies to assess growth and larvae/juvenile quality, identifies gaps in knowledge and suggests future research directions. The focus is primarily on the major farmed non-salmonid fish species in Europe that include gilthead sea bream, European sea bass, turbot, Atlantic cod, Senegalese sole and Atlantic halibut

The effectiveness of deterrent measures to minimize disturbance impacts to breeding European nightjar at an upland wind farm site in South Wales, UK

The Pen y Cymoedd windfarm in South Wales, UK, is set in an upland area currently dominated by coniferous forestry with a varied age structure resulting from standard forestry management practices.The site supports an important population of European nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus. The activities associated with wind farm construction have the potential to damage and disturb nightjar nests during the breeding season whilst long term operation has the potential for collision mortality. To mitigate for potential impacts during construction, we implemented measures to allow nest avoidance including the identification and demarcation of active nest sites. Due to the difficulty in locating nightjar nests and the potential for false negative results, additional measures were deployed at 17 turbine locations to deter nightjars from establishing nesting territories. Deterrent measures involved regular removal of vegetation on the construction areas. We tested the effectiveness of the deterrent measures by comparing levels ofmale nightjar territorial display activity in treated and untreated locations over one breeding season.Territorial behaviour was recorded using standard nightjar presence-absence survey methods. We found no significant difference between levels of territorial display activity in treated and untreated areas. This suggests that the deterrent measures utilised at Pen y Cymoedd in 2016 were ineffective in deterring male nightjar display activity during windfarm construction