Evaluation of European Social Fund Priority 1 and Priority 4: extending employment opportunities to adults and young people

This evaluation report forms part of a suite of research gathering evidence on the delivery of the European Social Fund (ESF). It aims to improve understanding of the processes, range and delivery of ESF Priority 1 and Priority 4 provision within the 2007-2013 England and Gibraltar ESF Operational Programme (OP). Priority 1 and Priority 4 seek to increase employment and tackle worklessness through a mix of employment and skills provision, intended to support people to enter jobs and in some instances progress within work. The research is based on ten in-depth case studies of the delivery of Priority 1 and 4 provision, involving a total of 182 interviews with stakeholders in ESF Co-Financing Organisations, Jobcentre Plus, and ESF delivery contractors. Fieldwork for the evaluation was undertaken between January and March 2011. The evaluation was part-funded by ESF technical assistance under the 2007-2013 England and Gibraltar ESF programme evaluation strategy

The preparation and properties of a glass-ceramic with an aligned microstructure

The work described in this thesis was performed on glass-ceramics in which a random arrangement of crystals is grown as a dispersed phase. The physical properties of this material are isotropic. The technique of hot extrusion has been used to produce a material with an aligned crystal microstructure in a Li₂O-SiO₂ glass-ceramic. The extruded material consists of a glass matrix and two crystalline phases; one of these phases is aligned morphologically and crystallographically parallel to the extrusion axis. The microstructure of this extruded material was analysed statistically in terms of the volume fraction of crystalline phases, the mean crystal- crystal spacing and the distribution function of the number of crystals N(Ɵ), making an angle Ɵ with a reference direction. Control specimens of the same composition heat-treated at the same temperature and for the same time as the extruded samples were also analysed statistically. The following physical properties were measured on the control and extruded specimens: (i) the coefficient of thermal expansion (ii) Young's modulus, rupture strength and microhardness (iii) Resistivity, dielectric constant and loss tangent. In the case of the extruded samples these measurements were made in directions parallel and perpendicular to the extrusion axis; the coefficient of thermal expansion, the mechanical properties and the resistivity were found to be anisotropic for these specimens

Young People’s Workforce Reform Programme : evaluation report

"The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) commissioned Ecorys and H.J. Giller & Associates to independently evaluate the 2008–2011 Young People's Workforce Reform Programme (YPWRP). The YPWRP was introduced in 2008 as part of a ten year government strategy to help develop help develop a more skilled, confident workforce able to work in an effective and integrated way to deliver the best possible outcomes for young people. The main evaluation methodology used was semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, supplemented by telephone surveys and a small number of focus groups and event observations. Desk review of programme information was also undertaken. This summary assesses the main YPWRP strands and workstreams along with its cross cutting themes of communications and data collation in light of intended outcomes. It concludes by assessing the outcomes of the programme overall." - page iv

Nitrogen fixation and soil nitrogen in organic ley arable rotations

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. Nitrogen (N) fixation in a white clover/ryegrass mixture was measured in 1,2,3 and 4-year-old organically managed leys during 2000. N fixation varied between 73.7 in 1-year-old leys and 33.5 kg ha-1 in 4-year-old leys. Soil nitrate-N, grass N yield and N content of grass and clover were all lowest in 2-year-old leys and highest in 3-year-old leys. The proportion of clover nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (pNdfa) was significantly lower in 3-year-old leys

Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Environmental Contaminants, Protein Structure and Expression

There are a wide array of sciences at our disposal to further our understanding of the roles of toxins in the environment and their effects on living organisms. Of these disciplines, the field of mass spectrometry offers a powerful analytical means to identify compounds in varying and complex sample media. The presence of altered expressions of biomolecules upon exposure to toxins, the effects that these toxins may have on biomolecule structure and the identity of toxins in the sample all can be determined by mass spectrometry. In this study mass spectrometric analysis has been applied to environmental toxicological problems. First, the altered protein expression under various metal stress in Helianthus annuus (dwarf sunflower), a proven hyperaccumulator of toxic metals was analyzed by this research. Second, a model was developed for mass spectrometrically determining the location and structural effects that another class of environmental toxins, poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can have on proteins. Third, the presence of PAHs in environmental samples taken from Lake Bolgoda and Lake Beira, Sri Lanka, was analyzed by mass spectrometry to determine the types, relative concentrations and potential sources of these toxins. Th e work has demonstrated the versatility and effectiveness of the methodology, discovering novel protein expression in H. annuus upon metal exposure, pinpointing site mediated adductions reactions on protein structure, and the qualitative and quantitative determination of toxins in environmental sample

Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Environmental Contaminants, Protein Structure and Expression

There are a wide array of sciences at our disposal to further our understanding of the roles of toxins in the environment and their effects on living organisms. Of these disciplines, the field of mass spectrometry offers a powerful analytical means to identify compounds in varying and complex sample media. The presence of altered expressions of biomolecules upon exposure to toxins, the effects that these toxins may have on biomolecule structure and the identity of toxins in the sample all can be determined by mass spectrometry. In this study mass spectrometric analysis has been applied to environmental toxicological problems. First, the altered protein expression under various metal stress in Helianthus annuus (dwarf sunflower), a proven hyperaccumulator of toxic metals was analyzed by this research. Second, a model was developed for mass spectrometrically determining the location and structural effects that another class of environmental toxins, poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can have on proteins. Third, the presence of PAHs in environmental samples taken from Lake Bolgoda and Lake Beira, Sri Lanka, was analyzed by mass spectrometry to determine the types, relative concentrations and potential sources of these toxins. Th e work has demonstrated the versatility and effectiveness of the methodology, discovering novel protein expression in H. annuus upon metal exposure, pinpointing site mediated adductions reactions on protein structure, and the qualitative and quantitative determination of toxins in environmental sample

Disabled patients in acute hospital wards: the limitations of role theory for understanding the problems of patients and nurses

This study explores the care provided for physically disabled people who are admitted to acute hospital wards for the treatment of short -term illness. Two groups of 75 disabled and 75 non - disabled patients were recruited for the study on a matched pair basis, and a survey of 205 nurses was undertaken. The study involved an assessment of how well disabled patients could manage eight activities of daily life at home and in hospital. The experiences of disabled and non -disabled patients in acute hospital wards were compared by assessing patient satisfaction with six different aspects of care. The views of nurses about caring for disabled patients in acute hospital wards, their experience and training in the care of disabled patients are also explored.The study demonstrates no difference in the levels of satis- faction with care experienced by disabled and non- disabled patients. Patient satisfaction with all aspects of care was found to be associated with satisfaction with the communication of information, a factor shown to be equally important for both disabled and non -disabled patients.It was hoped that the theory of social roles would provide a theoretical framework for understanding the position of the disabled patient on an acute hospital ward. However, in the event, role theory proved not to be entirely adequate for this purpose. An alternative model is developed which takes into account the attitudes and experiences of nurses as well as the experiences of disabled patients on acute hospital wards. This is used to suggest ways in which improvements could be made in the care of disabled patients

Conserving Plants as Evolutionary Entities: Successes and Unanswered Questions from New Zealand and Elsewhere

Saving a species from extinction may not insure that its future will continue as before, even when the surviving population is in a wild habitat. Former selection forces may be missing or replaced by others so that the species develops along a different evolutionary pathway. Such disruption of evolutionary direction may be particularly important for island taxa given that modification by humans and their introduced organisms is making many islands more similar to continental habitats. In restoring habitats for island species, special attention should therefore be given to identify ing the major selective forces likely to have been operating during the evolution of those species. It will not always be practical to reinstate all these selective forces. However, there are sometimes opportunities to restore, or reconstruct by species substitution, the biotic selection formerly brought about by herbi vores, predators, competitors, pollinators and seed dispersers. Systems restored in this way will not be authentic replicas but may function more like systems of the past than those operating at present. Data from New Zealand, where restorative action has been taken on more than 40 islands, are used to examine these general principles. The ongoing restoration of Round Island, Mauritius, is used to illustrate the kinds of questions that this approach generates: should species thought likely to have once been present on Round Island be re-established?; should a giant tortoise be introduced to the island to substitute for the extinct species of tortoise that was lost last century

Channel estimation and transmit power control in wireless body area networks

Wireless body area networks have recently received much attention because of their application to assisted living and remote patient monitoring. For these applications, energy minimisation is a critical issue since, in many cases, batteries cannot be easily replaced or recharged. Reducing energy expenditure by avoiding unnecessary high transmission power and minimising frame retransmissions is therefore crucial. In this study, a transmit power control scheme suitable for IEEE 802.15.6 networks operating in beacon mode with superframe boundaries is proposed. The transmission power is modulated, frame-by-frame, according to a run-time estimation of the channel conditions. Power measurements using the beacon frames are made periodically, providing reverse channel gain and an opportunistic fade margin, set on the basis of prior power fluctuations, is added. This approach allows tracking of the highly variable on-body to on-body propagation channel without the need to transmit additional probe frames. An experimental study based on test cases demonstrates the effectiveness of the scheme and compares its performance with alternative solutions presented in the literature