Cost of Services and Incentives in the UK Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) Demonstration: Preliminary Analysis

This report presents a preliminary analysis of the cost of operating Britain's Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) demonstration, which is being evaluated though a large-scale randomised control trial. This assessment of costs will become an important element of the full cost-benefit analysis to be presented in future ERA reports. Aimed at helping low-income individuals sustain employment and progress in work, ERA is distinguished by a combination of job coaching and financial incentives that it offers to participants once they are working. The ERA demonstration project began operations in late 2003 as a pilot programme administered by Jobcentre Plus in six regions of the country

Investing social security trusts funds in the stock market

Social security ; Stock market

All the King’s Horses: Stable Administration in New Kingdom Egypt

Horses were an important part of Egyptian society during the New Kingdom as tools of warfare, status symbols of the elite, and an emblem of the power of kingship. However, little is known about how these animals were trained and cared for, or who was working in horse stables and their roles. There are no texts or images that explicitly explain methods of horse management. Therefore, this topic has been generally overlooked in the literature. This thesis combines two threads of evidence to create a more complete picture of the organization, purpose, and function of horse stables and the treatment of horses. First, this work identifies and examines the surviving evidence from archeological, textual, and artistic sources relating to horse stables and horse care. Particular attention is given to the limited archaeological remain of horse stables in Egypt, texts that speak to the duties of Stable Masters and grooms, and depictions of interaction between handlers and grooms, feeding, as well as images of natural horse behaviors. In addition, examples of horse stables and management from neighboring contemporary cultures are surveyed to identify potential parallels. Then, the titles of people associated with horse stables from the 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties are analyzed to better understand how the hierarchy, roles, and titles changed throughout the New Kingdom and explain the development of horse care and training. This study concludes that the size of complexity of the stable administration expanded significantly from the 18th to the 19th Dynasty. In the 19th and 20th Dynasties, the position of Stable Master became more numerous with a greater variety of roles and responsibilities. In contrast, the role of Overseer of Horses transitioned from a practical position to one that was largely ceremonial. Furthermore, this thesis maintains that horse stables were present in a variety of contexts, including private, royal, military, and mobile military camps. However, horse management activities were not restricted only to the stables. It is likely that chariot horses were sometimes kept in pastures or with their charioteers during times of peace. This study also argues that breeding operations took place outside the stables, likely in the Delta

Field Test of a Remote Multi-Path CLaDS Methane Sensor

Existing technologies for quantifying methane emissions are often limited to single point sensors, making large area environmental observations challenging. We demonstrate the operation of a remote, multi-path system using Chirped Laser Dispersion Spectroscopy (CLaDS) for quantification of atmospheric methane concentrations over extended areas, a technology that shows potential for monitoring emissions from wetlands

Does diet mediate associations of volume and bouts of sedentary time with cardiometabolic health indicators in adolescents?

Objective: Examine the mediating role of diet in the relationship between volume and duration of sedentary time with cardiometabolic health in adolescents. Methods: Adolescents (12-19 years) participating in the 2003/04 and 2005/06 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were examined. Cardiometabolic health indicators were body mass index z-scores (zBMI) (n 5 1,797) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) (n 5 812). An ActiGraph hip-worn accelerometer was used to derive total sedentary time and usual sedentary bout duration. Dietary intake was assessed using two 24-hour dietary recalls. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine five dietary mediators [total energy intake, discretionary foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), fruits and vegetables, and dietary quality] of the relationship between total sedentary time and usual sedentary bout duration with zBMI and MetS. Results: Total sedentary time was inversely associated with zBMI (b 5 21.33; 95% CI 22.53 to 20.13) but attenuated after adjusting for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. No significant associations were observed between usual sedentary bout duration with zBMI or either sedentary measure with MetS. None of the five dietary variables mediated any of the relationships examined. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to explore associations of specific time periods (e.g., after school) and bout durations with both cardiometabolic health indicators and dietary behaviors

The Effectiveness of Teacher Resource Centre Strategy

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Evidence of Large Scale Tectonic Processes on the Tharsis Rise, Mars

Past observations of Mars have led scientists to believe that tectonic kinematics stopped early in its planetary development. Recent exploration of Mars has led to new theories that support an active tectonic regime on the Tharsis rise. With the advancement of new satellite imagery and technologies such as Thermal Emission Imaging System, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment satellite imagery, the Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter, and interactive software such as J-Mars and Esri GIS, we have identified additional large-scale surface features in the Tharsis Rise and surrounding areas. Large-scale Martian lineations, folds, and conjugate joints can be compared to similar structures on Earth to interpret potential plate boundaries. For example, a northeast-trending set of lineations with significant left-lateral strike-slip displacement and conjugate jointing located to the northeast of the Tharsis Rise could accommodate transform motion between two plates. Our observations allow the designation of multiple potential plate margins in the region. We propose a tectonic model showing relative motions along plate boundaries in a potentially active multiple-plate system on Mars

Alcohol Licensing Decision-Making: A Qualitative Study of Official Stakeholder Perceptions

Background – In England, the Licensing Act 2003 informs regulation of alcohol sale with local authorities having devolved responsibility for many aspects including decision-making about license applications. Representations of objection and support from members of the public regarding a license are permitted that can lead to conflict between applicants and objectors as well as among members of the public. Previous studies explicated decision-making in terms of steps in processing an application, procedures of Licensing Committee hearings and whether decisions are compatible with the legal principles of the Act. Although a few studies provided insights, none have directly examined how decisions are made in situations of conflict. Thus, the purpose of this study is to clarify how such decisions are made and what factors influence this. Methods – Using qualitative methodology, 15 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of licensing officers, chairs of licensing committees, police licensing officers and members of public health teams from 11 local authorities in five regions in England – Northwest, Northeast, London, Southeast, and Yorkshire and the Humber. Subsequent analysis was undertaken using the Framework Method. Results – Alcohol licensing decision-making where it involves conflict among members of the public including between license applicants and complainants involves four key processes: (1) ensuring fairness in process; (2) balancing objectivity and subjectivity; (3) displacing decision-making; (4) addressing asymmetry in power. Results showed that licensing authorities put prime importance to fairness in process. They also actively avoid imposing an objective decision based on the Act by encouraging applicants and local residents to identify mutually acceptable solutions based on their subjective perceptions. Why licensing authorities adopt these practices is influenced by two key factors: (1) attributes of members of the public; and (2) relationships. Conclusion – It is important for licensing authorities that the process by which licensing decisions are arrived at is perceived to be fair. Because the principle of ultra vires is both flexible and complex, licensing authorities use considerable effort to transfer decision-making to the rival license application parties. This raises uncertainty on whether the goal of preventing and reducing alcohol-related harms will be achieved, but ultimately represents a pragmatic process that seeks to restore balance in powers, improve transparency in decision-making and empower communities

Sedentary work. Evidence on an emergent work health and safety issue

Safe Work Australia’s Emerging Issues Programme involves a 3-stage process to identify, prioritise and systematically consider emerging work health and safety (WHS) issues of national importance. The programme involves extensive consultation with all of Safe Work Australia’s tripartite stakeholders. As part of this programme Safe Work Australia commissioned a team of experts to examine the most recent evidence from Australia and overseas on sedentary work, its likely consequences and potential control options. The literature review was conducted by academics from Curtin University, the Baker IDI group and the University of Queensland

Buckling Testing and Analysis of Honeycomb Sandwich Panel Arc Segments of a Full-Scale Fairing Barrel Part 4: Six-ply Out-of-Autoclave Facesheets

Four honeycomb sandwich panel types, representing 1/16th arc segments of a 10-m diameter barrel section of the Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLLV), were manufactured and tested under the NASA Composites for Exploration program and the NASA Constellation Ares V program. Two configurations were chosen for the panels: 6-ply facesheets with 1.125 in. honeycomb core and 8-ply facesheets with 1.000 in. honeycomb core. Additionally, two separate carbon fiber/epoxy material systems were chosen for the facesheets: in-autoclave IM7/977-3 and out-of-autoclave T40-800b/5320-1. Smaller 3 ft. by 5 ft. panels were cut from the 1/16th barrel sections. These panels were tested under compressive loading at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). Furthermore, linear eigenvalue and geometrically nonlinear finite element analyses were performed to predict the compressive response of each 3 ft. by 5 ft. panel. This manuscript summarizes the experimental and analytical modeling efforts pertaining to the panels composed of 6-ply, T40-800b/5320-1 facesheets (referred to as Panels D). To improve the robustness of the geometrically nonlinear finite element model, measured surface imperfections were included in the geometry of the model. Both the linear and nonlinear models yield good qualitative and quantitative predictions. Additionally, it was correctly predicted that the panel would fail in buckling prior to failing in strength. Furthermore, three-dimensional (3D) effects on the compressive response of the panel were studied