Hearing new voices: re-viewing youth justice policy through practitioners’ relationships with young people

The relationship between young people and practitioners is the centre-piece of youth justice provision, yet little research-based knowledge has accumulated on its minutiae. After reviewing reforms affecting professional discretion, the paper draws on the concepts of dyadic relationships and praxis to reinvigorate a research agenda aimed at delineating a more nuanced understanding of practice relationships. Drawing on practice wisdom from across related social work fields, we argue that centralizing the practitioner-young person relationship remains the key to successful practice and thus needs greater, more detailed research attention. These claims are supported with a number of pilot interviews with youth justice workers about successful interventions that complement and extend related studies. The paper concludes with suggestions for research to enable joint activity between young people and practitioners to ‘rethink’ youth justice

General CMB and Primordial Trispectrum Estimation

We present trispectrum estimation methods which can be applied to general non-separable primordial and CMB trispectra. We present a general optimal estimator for the connected part of the trispectrum, for which we derive a quadratic term to incorporate the effects of inhomogeneous noise and masking. We describe a general algorithm for creating simulated maps with given arbitrary (and independent) power spectra, bispectra and trispectra. We propose a universal definition of the trispectrum parameter $T_{NL}$, so that the integrated bispectrum on the observational domain can be consistently compared between theoretical models. We define a shape function for the primordial trispectrum, together with a shape correlator and a useful parametrisation for visualizing the trispectrum. We derive separable analytic CMB solutions in the large-angle limit for constant and local models. We present separable mode decompositions which can be used to describe any primordial or CMB bispectra on their respective wavenumber or multipole domains. By extracting coefficients of these separable basis functions from an observational map, we are able to present an efficient estimator for any given theoretical model with a nonseparable trispectrum. The estimator has two manifestations, comparing the theoretical and observed coefficients at either primordial or late times. These mode decomposition methods are numerically tractable with order $l^5$ operations for the CMB estimator and approximately order $l^6$ for the general primordial estimator (reducing to order $l^3$ in both cases for a special class of models). We also demonstrate how the trispectrum can be reconstructed from observational maps using these methods.Comment: 38 pages, 9 figures. In v2 Figures 4-7 are altered slightly and some extra references are included in the bibliography. v3 matches version submitted to journal. Includes discussion of special case

Effect of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy on preeclampsia: The folic acid clinical trial study

Copyright © 2013 Shi Wu Wen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Preeclampsia (PE) is hypertension with proteinuria that develops during pregnancy and affects at least 5% of pregnancies. The Effect of Folic Acid Supplementation in Pregnancy on Preeclampsia: the Folic Acid Clinical Trial (FACT) aims to recruit 3,656 high risk women to evaluate a new prevention strategy for PE: supplementation of folic acid throughout pregnancy. Pregnant women with increased risk of developing PE presenting to a trial participating center between 80/7 and 166/7 weeks of gestation are randomized in a 1: 1 ratio to folic acid 4.0 mg or placebo after written consent is obtained. Intent-to-treat population will be analyzed. The FACT study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in 2009, and regulatory approval from Health Canada was obtained in 2010. A web-based randomization system and electronic data collection system provide the platform for participating centers to randomize their eligible participants and enter data in real time. To date we have twenty participating Canadian centers, of which eighteen are actively recruiting, and seven participating Australian centers, of which two are actively recruiting. Recruitment in Argentina, UK, Netherlands, Brazil, West Indies, and United States is expected to begin by the second or third quarter of 2013. This trial is registered with NCT01355159. © 2013 Shi Wu Wen et al.The Canadian Institutes of Healt

Rapid Separable Analysis of Higher Order Correlators in Large Scale Structure

We present an efficient separable approach to the estimation and reconstruction of the bispectrum and the trispectrum from observational (or simulated) large scale structure data. This is developed from general CMB (poly-)spectra methods which exploit the fact that the bispectrum and trispectrum in the literature can be represented by a separable mode expansion which converges rapidly (with $n_\textrm{max}={\cal{O}}(30)$ terms). With an effective grid resolution $l_\textrm{max}$ (number of particles/grid points $N=l_\textrm{max}^3$), we present a bispectrum estimator which requires only ${\cal O}(n_\textrm{max} \times l_\textrm{max}^3)$ operations, along with a corresponding method for direct bispectrum reconstruction. This method is extended to the trispectrum revealing an estimator which requires only ${\cal O}(n_\textrm{max}^{4/3} \times l_\textrm{max}^3)$ operations. The complexity in calculating the trispectrum in this method is now involved in the original decomposition and orthogonalisation process which need only be performed once for each model. However, for non-diagonal trispectra these processes present little extra difficulty and may be performed in ${\cal O}(l_\textrm{max}^4)$ operations. A discussion of how the methodology may be applied to the quadspectrum is also given. An efficient algorithm for the generation of arbitrary nonGaussian initial conditions for use in N-body codes using this separable approach is described. This prescription allows for the production of nonGaussian initial conditions for arbitrary bispectra and trispectra. A brief outline of the key issues involved in parameter estimation, particularly in the non-linear regime, is also given

Evaluating the mechanical behaviour of orthotropic 3D woven carbon fibre reinforced composites

Laminated composites are increasingly employed in a variety of industries ranging from Aerospace to Wind Power. The high specific stiffness and strength of these materials renders their wider application advantageous in many fields. However, the broader implementation of such composites is frequently restrained by their poor impact resistance and damage tolerance. Even events as innocuous as a dropped tool can impart significant damage to such materials. Such damage can lead to drops in the strength and stiffness that are unacceptable for many applications, particularly those in Aerospace. 3D woven composites present a possible means of improving the impact resistance and damage tolerance of composite materials. The incorporation of out-of-plane fibres, transversely passing through layers of in-plane fibres, is the means by which this improvement in performance is obtained. This body of work presents an investigation into the behaviour of three dimensionally woven carbon fibre composites. Specifically, the subject composite fabric had an orthogonally woven three dimensional structure. The novelty of these materials is such that knowledge and understanding of their mechanical behaviour is very limited. The purpose of this work was to remedy this through experimental and analytical analysis of these composites. The 3D woven materials were characterized experimentally using a variety of techniques. In addition to evaluating the material experimentally, analytical methods were also used. Current analytical methods were found to be deficient in their incapacity to account for in-plane crimp on a micro scale. As a result a new micro scale approach for predicting the stiffness and strength of these 3D woven materials was developed. The composites used for this thesis were tested using a variety of means. The range of test methodologies used subjected the materials to in-plane, out-of-plane, dynamic and quasi- static loadings. Techniques used included; tension, shear, impact, compression after impact, bolt shear out and bearing pull through. Other means implemented included microscopy, C-scanning and Digital Image Correlation. In addition, conventional composites made from unidirectional pre-pregs or Non-Crimp Fabrics (NCFs) were tested to provide a basis for comparison. Analysis and prediction of the behaviour of conventional laminated composites can be performed using a variety of methods. While the range of methods available is broad, they commonly use individual plies of composite as their fundamental building blocks. This is both convenient analytically and experimentally as the properties of such individual lamina may be found with reasonable ease. However, 3D woven composites are integrated laminates due to the out‐of‐plane fibres they possess. As a result, the accuracy of conventional experimental or analytical methods for evaluating these materials is likely to be poor. In order to gain a better understanding of the behaviour of these 3D woven materials a new micromechanics model was developed. In contrast to other available methods, this micromechanics approach examines the effect of crimp at the fibre level. The method proposed is also distinct in its capability of simultaneously accounting for varying crimp across and along a section of composite

Universal Non-Gaussian Initial Conditions for N-body Simulations

In this paper we present the implementation of an efficient formalism for the generation of arbitrary non-Gaussian initial conditions for use in N-body simulations. The methodology involves the use of a separable modal approach for decomposing a primordial bispectrum or trispectrum. This approach allows for the far more efficient generation of the non-Gaussian initial conditions already described in the literature, as well as the generation for the first time of non-separable bispectra and the special class of diagonal-free trispectra. The modal approach also allows for the reconstruction of the spectra from given realisations, a fact which is exploited to provide an accurate consistency check of the simulations.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Functional Imaging of the Outer Retinal Complex using High Fidelity Imaging Retinal Densitometry

We describe a new technique, high fidelity Imaging Retinal Densitometry (IRD), which probes the functional integrity of the outer retinal complex. We demonstrate the ability of the technique to map visual pigment optical density and synthesis rates in eyes with and without macular disease. A multispectral retinal imaging device obtained precise measurements of retinal reflectance over space and time. Data obtained from healthy controls and 5 patients with intermediate AMD, before and after photopigment bleaching, were used to quantify visual pigment metrics. Heat maps were plotted to summarise the topography of rod and cone pigment kinetics and descriptive statistics conducted to highlight differences between those with and without AMD. Rod and cone visual pigment synthesis rates in those with AMD (v = 0.043 SD 0.019 min-1 and v = 0.119 SD 0.046 min-1, respectively) were approximately half those observed in healthy controls (v = 0.079 SD 0.024 min-1 for rods and v = 0.206 SD 0.069 min-1 for cones). By mapping visual pigment kinetics across the central retina, high fidelity IRD provides a unique insight into outer retinal complex function. This new technique will improve the phenotypic characterisation, diagnosis and treatment monitoring of various ocular pathologies, including AMD

Investigating the transfer of toughness from rubber modified bulk epoxy polymers to syntactic foams

Syntactic foams are lightweight, high specific strength materials used in the aerospace and naval 10 industries. Their utility is limited by their brittleness. The epoxy polymer matrix in an epoxy/hollow 11 glass microsphere (GMS) syntactic foam was modified using carboxyl-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile 12 (CTBN) rubber with the aim to increase fracture toughness. The microstructure and fracture properties 13 were investigated, and compared to CTBN modified bulk epoxy polymers. The formation of complex CTBN microstructures was responsible for the increase in fracture energy, from 193 J/m2 14 for the unmodified syntactic foam, to 296 J/m2 15 at 12 wt% CTBN modification. However, this increase is much smaller than for the CTBN modification of bulk epoxy polymers, where an increase from 101 J/m2 16 to 1112 J/m2 17 was measured for the same CTBN concentration. There is little toughness transfer from the 18 bulk epoxy polymers to the syntactic foams, attributable to small interstitial regions between the GMS, 19 restricting plastic zone size. A statistical approach to the analytical modelling of fracture energy in the 20 bulk epoxy polymers highlights the importance of considering the underlying distribution of rubber 21 particle and void sizes. The increase in fracture energy achieved in this work can increase the overall 22 usefulness of syntactic foams in structural applications

The CMB Bispectrum

We use a separable mode expansion estimator with WMAP data to estimate the bispectrum for all the primary families of non-Gaussian models. We review the late-time mode expansion estimator methodology which can be applied to any non-separable primordial and CMB bispectrum model, and we demonstrate how the method can be used to reconstruct the CMB bispectrum from an observational map. We extend the previous validation of the general estimator using local map simulations. We apply the estimator to the coadded WMAP 5-year data, reconstructing the WMAP bispectrum using $l<500$ multipoles and $n=31$ orthonormal 3D eigenmodes. We constrain all popular nearly scale-invariant models, ensuring that the theoretical bispectrum is well-described by a convergent mode expansion. Constraints from the local model \fnl=54.4\pm 29.4 and the equilateral model \fnl=143.5\pm 151.2 (\Fnl = 25.1\pm 26.4) are consistent with previously published results. (Here, we use a nonlinearity parameter \Fnl normalised to the local case, to allow more direct comparison between different models.) Notable new constraints from our method include those for the constant model \Fnl = 35.1 \pm 27.4 , the flattened model \Fnl = 35.4\pm 29.2, and warm inflation \Fnl = 10.3\pm 27.2. We investigate feature models surveying a wide parameter range in both the scale and phase, and we find no significant evidence of non-Gaussianity in the models surveyed. We propose a measure \barFnl for the total integrated bispectrum and find that the measured value is consistent with the null hypothesis that CMB anisotropies obey Gaussian statistics. We argue that this general bispectrum survey with the WMAP data represents the best evidence for Gaussianity to date and we discuss future prospects, notably from the Planck satellite