Work-based training and job prospects for the unemployed: an evaluation of Training for Work (research report RR96)

"Training for Work (TfW) was a major DfEE programme aimed at helping people who had been claimant unemployed for over six months to find jobs and improve their skills, by providing appropriate training and work experience. After initial assessment and guidance, entrants took one of three main routes: employer placements (with either trainee or employed status), full-time off-the-job training, or project placements... A nationally representative sample of TfW participants in England and Wales who left TfW during the autumn of 1995 was interviewed in spring 1996 and a second time in summer 1997. The present analysis excluded those who had been unemployed for less than six months at the point of entry to the programme (the 'special needs' group)." - Page 1

La situació política actual

Joan Ridao Martin és portaveu d'Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya al Congrés dels Diputats, secretari general d'Esquerra i membre del Consell directiu estatal de les Nacions Unides a Espanya. Presideix la Fundació Josep Irla i va ser ponent redactor del nou Estatut d'Autonomia. Ha estat diputat del Parlament de Catalunya, conseller comarcal del Vallès Occidental i regidor de Rub

Nucleation and growth of GaN nanorods on Si (111) surfaces by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy - The influence of Si- and Mg-doping

The self-assembled growth of GaN nanorods on Si (111) substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy under nitrogen-rich conditions is investigated. An amorphous silicon nitride layer is formed in the initial stage of growth that prevents the formation of a GaN wetting layer. The nucleation time was found to be strongly influenced by the substrate temperature and was more than 30 min for the applied growth conditions. The observed tapering and reduced length of silicon-doped nanorods is explained by enhanced nucleation on nonpolar facets and proves Ga-adatom diffusion on nanorod sidewalls as one contribution to the axial growth. The presence of Mg leads to an increased radial growth rate with a simultaneous decrease of the nanorod length and reduces the nucleation time for high Mg concentrations

Stroke patients admitted within normal working hours are more likely to achieve process standards and to have better outcomes

Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to David Murphy of the SSCA for providing data and to Lynsey Waugh of ISD Scotland for linking the SSCA data with General Register Office data. The authors also acknowledge the help of all who enter data into SSCA. Funding This study was funded by Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland (Grant no R14/A156). The SSCA is funded by NHS Scotland via ISD.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Sample Identification in Hip Hop Music

Sampling is a creative tool in composition that is widespread in popular music production and composition since the 1980's. However, the concept of sampling has for a long time been unaddressed in Music Information Retrieval. We argue that information on the origin of samples has a great musicological value and can be used to organise and disclose large music collections. In this paper we introduce the problem of automatic sample identification and present a first approach for the case of hip hop music. In particular, we modify and optimize an existing fingerprinting approach to meet the necessary requirements of a realworld sample identification task. The obtained results show the viability of such an approach, and open new avenues for research, especially with regard to inferring artist influences and detecting musical reuse. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.This research was done between Jan. and Sept. 2011 at the Music Technology Group of Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. The authors would like to thank Perfecto Herrera and Xavier Serra for their advice and support. JS acknowledges JAEDOC069/2010 from Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient cas and 2009-SGR-1434 from Generalitat de Catalunya. MH acknowledges FP7-ICT-2011.1.5-287711.Peer Reviewe

Homeward Bound FDI: Are Migrants a Bridge over Trouble Finance?

Migrants can lower cross-border investment barriers, help investors by providing information about their homeland and reduce transaction costs by sharing expertise on regulations, customs and procedures. In addition to generating these well-known networking effects, migrants can also provide valuable information about local finance, thereby easing the credit constraints foreign investors faced during the 2007 financial crisis. This paper sheds new light on the underlying mechanisms through which migration may affect foreign investment in the migrant's homeland by distinguishing between the effects on FDI's intensive and extensive margins. Gravity estimates for 140 countries for the period 2003–2012 suggest that migrants exert a positive effect on bilateral FDI. However, financial constraints moderate this effect, primarily through the extensive margin. Additionally, quantile regression reveals that the interaction between migration and credit constraints is significant only for the lower levels of FDI. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the interplay among migration, financial constraints and FDI.The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (ECO2011-27619; ECO2014-58975-P; ECO2015-68057-R), Pla de Promociói de la Inves- tigació, Universitat Jaume I (P1.1B2013-22) and from the Catholic University of Valencia (PRUCV/2015/652). They are also indebted to valuable comments from an anonymous referee as well as Frederic Docquier, Amandine Aubry, Farid Toubal and the participants at the 4th Meeting of International Economics organized by the Instituto de Economía Internacional (Universitat Jaume I of Castellón, September 2015

Paper Session III-D - Elements of Space Flight Project: A Partnership for Space Education

A unique partnership for space education was formed to facilitate greater understanding of space technology and issues for K12 students world-wide. The Elements of Space Flight Project brought school children and teachers together with experts from government and industry, using the Internet, to create a one-of-a-kind learning experience. This four-week project involved thirty-one classes from all corners of the globe -- led by teachers who want to explore the universe with their students, and expand their horizons so they can take their place in the world of the future. 128 others were turned down due to a lack of funds and personnel to assist. Internet-monitored projects for the students included: construction of a space shuttle glider; rocket cars; and paper rockets. Students are tasked to conduct test flights, to analyze data and form conclusions concerning their work. They were also tasked to conduct research on a variety of space topics and answer challenge questions via e-mail. Each class was provided e-mail Experts from whom they could gather additional information or pose questions about their projects. Questions and results could also be posted to the general project membership for consideration and review. This model program, in its first year of existence, was made possible by the efforts of Ms Joan Berger of the Roslyn Public Schools, Roslyn, New York, the US Air Force Academy (USAFA), Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), NASA and the US Space Foundation (USSF). Results are presented from this first experience, as well as recommendations for changes to next year\u27s program