Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What next for children's services? Can policy at a local or national level have any significant impact on the outcomes for children and their families?

In England at both strategic and operational levels, policy-makers in the public sector have undertaken considerable work on implementing the findings of the Every Child Matters report and subsequently through the Children's Act 2004. Legislation has resulted in many local authorities seeking to implement more holistic approaches to the delivery of children's services. At a strategic level this is demonstrated by the creation of integrated directorate structures providing for a range of services, from education to children's social care. Such services were generally under the management of the Director of Children's Services, holding statutory responsibilities for the delivery of services formally divided into the three sectors of education, health and social services. At a national level, more fundamental policy developments have sought to establish a framework through which policy-makers can address the underlying causes of deprivation, vulnerability and inequality. The Child Poverty Act, 2010, which gained Royal Assent in 2010, provides for a clear intention to reduce the number of children in poverty, acknowledging that ‘the best way to eradicate child poverty is to address the causes of poverty, rather than only treat the symptoms’. However, whilst the policy objectives of both pieces of legislation hold positive aspirations for children and young people, a change of policy direction through a change of government in May 2010 seems to be in direct contrast to the intended focus of these aims. This paper explores the impact of new government policy on the future direction of children's services both at the national and local levels. At the national level, we question the ability of the government to deliver the aspirations of the Child Poverty Act, 2010, given the broad range of influences and factors that can determine the circumstances in which a child may experience poverty. We argue that poverty is not simply an issue of the pressure of financial deprivation, but that economic recession and cuts in government spending will further increase the number of children living in poverty.
Analysing the effect of lean on the performance of NPD projects using system dynamics modelling

To be able to survive in today’s fast-changing market environment companies are looking for innovative ways to improve the performance of their new product development (NPD) processes. However, uncertainty and rework are among characteristics of NPD which make them difficult to manage. Implementing lean in NPD is an innovative approach to address this issue. Using system dynamics approach to model set-based concurrent engineering as a fundamental element of lean product development, this paper shows the positive effect on of adopting this strategy on the time, cost and quality of NPD projects, in comparison with the traditional point-based design.
Dexamethasone suppresses osteogenesis of osteoblast via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo

Abstract The hypofunction of osteoblasts induced by glucocorticoids (GCs) has been identified as a major contributing factor for GC-induced osteoporosis (GIO). However, the biological mechanism underlying the effect of GC in osteoblasts are not fully elucidated. Recent studies implicated an important role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) signaling pathway in the regulation of bone growth. We propose that the PI3K/Akt signaling may be implicated in the process of GC-induced osteogenic inhibition in osteoblasts. In this study, primary osteoblasts were used in vitro and in rats in vivo to evaluate the biological significance of the PI3K/Akt pathway in GC-induced bone loss. In vivo, dexamethasone (Dex)-treated rats had low bone mineral density and decreased expression levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN), and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) in bone tissue. In vitro study shows that Dex over the dose of 10–8 M remarkably inhibited cellular osteogenesis, as represented by decreased cell viability, lessened ALP activity, and suppressed osteogenic protein expressions including ALP and OCN. Meanwhile, a dramatic downregulation in the PI3K/Akt pathway phosphorylation was also observed in Dex-treated osteoblasts. These changes were marked rescued by treatment with a PI3K agonist 740Y-P. Moreover, downregulation of ALP and OCN expressions by LY294002 can mimic the suppressive effects of Dex. These data together reveal that the suppressed PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in the regulatory action of Dex on osteogenesis.
Isolation, characterization and antibiotic susceptibility profile of Staphylococcus aureus from raw milk samples in Nagpur district, India

The study was carried out from July 2010 to June 2011. The aim of the present investigation was to isolate Staphylococcus aureus from raw milk obtained from cow from different parts of Nagpur district, India and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility profile. General biochemical tests along with the MASTASTAPHTM rapid agglutination tests were employed for bacterial identification. All the well characterized isolates were further confirmed by amplifying coa gene by PCR. A total 95 S. aureus isolates were obtained during this study from 50 raw milk samples. When all the well characterized isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing, erythromycin and chloramphenicol were the most effective antibiotics. A large proportion of isolates were found to be resistant to Co-trimoxazole (89%) followed by Linomycin (81%) and Penicillin (35%) It was concluded from the current study that the hygiene of the milk was poor and resistant strains contaminated the milk probably during the process of transportation.
Inter-regional variability of inflation rates

Theoretical considerations suggest that as market institutions are developing in Russian regions, the divergence of regional consumer price levels, which has been caused by the price liberalization of 1992, should give way to price level convergence. Using price dynamics data (overall consumer price indices, food price indices, manufactured goods price indices, service price indices) across 7 regions of West Siberia over 1992–1998, the tendency of such convergence is studied. The speed in which regional price levels converge to the national price level and to the price levels of other regions is estimated. Besides that, the price differential thresholds, below which interregional arbitrage becomes unprofitable, are also estimated.
Trade Sustainability in the Forestry Domain: Evidence from Malaysia using Johansen and Bound Test Method

This study was undertaken to explore the relationship between export and import, in the category of Forestry domain for Malaysia, which includes sub domain (1) industrial roundwood;(2) wood pulp; (3) wood fuel; (4) paper and paper board; (5) sawn wood; (6) recovered paper and (7) wood base panel. To test the robustness, Johansen (1991) cointegration method and ARDL approach were employed and the period of the study covers annual data from 1961 to 2007. The results clearly show that the export and import of forestry domain is highly cointegrated. This shows trade is indeed sustainable in the domain of forestry and a sign of good trade policies adapted and implemented by the relevant authorities Bi-directional granger causality could also be detected based on VECM (vector-error correction model) method. Imports seem to positively and significantly affect exports, both in the long run and short run, vice versa. The results are robust when we employed the Bounds test as well.
Localization, tracking, and imaging of targets in wireless sensor networks: An invited review

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have shown many attractive features in a lot of real‐world applications that motivate their rapid and wide diffusion. One of the most challenging topics when dealing with WSNs is the localization and tracking of objects from measurements collected by the nodes themselves. Once distributed in a region without the knowledge of their positions, the nodes actively take part in the localization of the network as well as to the detection and monitoring of the presence and movements of targets lying within the sensed area. This paper reviews state‐of‐the‐art systems and approaches developed for WSN‐based localization and tracking of active as well as passive targets. The main focus is on systems that exploit the strength of the received signal, always available at the WSN nodes, without ad hoc or additional hardware. Recent strategies for WSN‐based imaging are discussed as well.
15 the development of skill in sport

In this chapter we contrast two approaches to talent development in sport. The first approach is centered on a deliberate practice-oriented model in which early specialization in one sport is the main feature of talent development. The second approach is centered on a late specialization model that considers the interaction of skill development with psychosocial variables and the sampling of various sports during childhood. We draw a working distinction between learning activities that are typically regarded as practice or training and those that may be more accurately regarded as play, and draw a contrast between the concepts of early specialization and early sampling for the acquisition of skill in sport.
A process-based typology of hydrological drought

Hydrological drought events have very differ- ent causes and effects. Classifying these events into dis- tinct types can be useful for both science and manage- ment. We propose a hydrological drought typology that is based on governing drought propagation processes de- rived from catchment-scale drought analysis. In this ty- pology six hydrological drought types are distinguished, i.e. (i) classical rainfall deficit drought, (ii) rain-to-snow- season drought, (iii) wet-to-dry-season drought, (iv) cold snow season drought, (v) warm snow season drought , and (vi) composite drought. The processes underlying these drought types are the result of the interplay of temperature and precipitation at catchment scale in different seasons. As a test case, about 125 groundwater droughts and 210 dis- charge droughts in five contrasting headwater catchments in Europe have been classified. The most common drought type in all catchments was the classical rainfall deficit drought (almost 50 % of all events), but in the selected catchments these were mostly minor events. If only the five most severe drought events of each catchment are considered, a shift to- wards more rain-to-snow-season droughts , warm snow sea- son droughts, and composite droughts was found. The oc- currence of hydrological drought types is determined by cli- mate and catchment characteristics. The drought typology is transferable to other catchments, including outside Europe, because it is generic and based upon processes that occur around the world. A general framework is proposed to iden- tify drought type occurrence in relation to climate and catch- ment characteristics.
Measurement of Portal Vein Diameter, Peak Systolic Velocity and Pulsatility Index by Ultrasound Doppler Evaluation in Asymptomatic Nepalese Population.

Introduction: Portal vein diameter and Doppler studies give hemodynamic information that can correlate with disease status. Their normal values are not established in Nepalese population. This study aims to establish the normal values of portal vein diameter, PSV and PI in Nepalese population and study their variability with age, gender and ethnicity. Methods: Cross-sectional hospital based study. All adults more than 20 years of age attending ultrasound OPD of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu for general health check up were included. Patients with liver disease, cardiac disease and ascites were excluded. A single observer took all measurements. Data were entered in a predesigned proforma and analysis was performed with SPSS 21.0. Results: Two hundred patients were included in the study. The mean age was 44.34+12.9 years. The mean portal vein diameter was 10.41+1.18mm. The mean portal vein PSV was 33.35+9.3cm/s and PI was 0.76+0.07. There was a positive correlation of portal vein diameter with age (r=0.345; p<0.001). Also, mean portal vein diameter was significantly higher in males (10.9+0.99mm) than in females (9.9+1.1mm). PSV and PI did not differ with age, gender or ethnicity. Conclusions: Mean portal vein diameter in this study is comparable with previous standards.
The young stellar population of IC 1613 III. New O-type stars unveiled by GTC-OSIRIS ,,

Context. Very low metallicity massive stars are key to understand the reionization epoch. Radiation-driven winds are one of the main agents of the evolution of massive stars, and consequently an important ingredient of our models of the early-Universe. Recent findings hint that the winds of massive stars with poorer meta llicity than the SMC may be stronger than predicted by theory. Besides calling the paradigm of radiation driven winds into question, this result would impact the calculated ionizing radiati on and mechanical feedback of massive stars, and the role these objects play at different stages of the Universe. Aims. The field needs a systematic study of the winds of a large sampl e of very metal poor massive stars. The sampling of spectral types is particularly poor in the very early types. This pape r’s goal is to increase the list of known O-type stars in the dw arf irregular galaxy IC1613, whose metallicity is smaller than the SMC’s b y roughly a factor 2. Methods. Using the reddening-free Q-parameter, evolutionary masses and GALEX photometry, we built a list of very likely O-type stars. We obtained low-resolution (R∼1000) GTC-OSIRIS spectra for a fraction of them and performed spectral classification, the only way to unequivocally confirm candidate OB-stars. Results. We have discovered 8 new O-type stars in IC1613, increasing the list of 7 known O-type stars in this galaxy by a factor of 2. The best quality spectra were analyzed with the model atmosphere code FASTWIND to derive stellar parameters. We present the first spectral type ‐ e ffective temperature scale for O-stars beyond the SMC. Conclusions. The target selection method is successful. From the pre-selected list of 13 OB star candidates, we have found 8 new O-stars, 4 early-B stars and provided a similar type for a for merly known early-O star. Further tests are needed but the presented procedure can eventually make preliminar low resolution spectroscopy to confirm candidates unnecessary. The derived e ffective temperature calibration for IC1613 is about 1000K hotter than the scale at the SMC. The analysis of an increased list of O-type stars will be crucial for the studies of the winds and feedback of massive stars at all ages of the Universe.
Analogs of solid nanoparticles as precursors of aromatic hydrocarbons

Context. Aromatic =CH and C=C vibrational bands have been observed within shocked interstellar regions, indicating the presence of aromatic emission carriers such as PAHs, which may have been created from adjacent molecular cloud material by interaction with a shock front. Aims. We investigate the evolution of the aromatic =CH and C=C vibrational modes at 3.3 and 6.2 μm wavelength in heated HAC materials, PAHs and mixed PAHs and HACs, respectively, aiming at an explanation of the evolution of carbonaceous dust grains in the shocked regions. Methods. Materials used in these analogs (HAC and PAH materials) were prepared by the laser ablation and the laser pyrolysis methods, respectively. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in high-resolution mode was used as an analytical technique to characterize the aromatic layers in HACs. Spectroscopic analysis was prformed in the mid-IR range. Results. A remarkable destruction of aliphatic structures in HACs has been observed with the thermal processing, while aromatic structures become dominating by increasing the diameters of the graphene layers. The aromatic bands at 3.3 and 6.2 μm, observed in the laboratory spectra of PAHs and of the combination of the PAHs and HAC materials, are also clearly observed in the spectrum of the heated HACs. These bands agree with those of aromatic bands observed in astronomical observations. Conclusions. Aromatization of HACs could be a pre-stage in the decomposition process of hydrocarbons that form PAH-clusters in such hot interstellar medium.
Nature of a low-velocity zone atop the transition zone in northwestern Canada

Seismic studies over the past decade have identified a S-wave low-velocity zone (LVZ) above the transition zone at various locations around the globe. This layer is hypothesized to be a lens of dense, fluid-rich silicate melt ponding atop the 410 km discontinuity, beneath the silicate melt-density crossover predicted to exist within the upper mantle. We have assembled a P and S-receiver function (PRF and SRF, respectively) dataset from the CNSN Yellowknife Array (YKA), the CANOE array, and the POLARIS-Slave array, to quantify the physical properties and geographical extent of the layer in Northwestern Canada. In order to compute the Poisson’s ratio, an important discriminant of possible composition and/or fluid content, we generated a suite of 1-D velocity models based on IASP91, but with varying thicknesses and velocity ratios for a hypothetical layer above the 410 km discontinuity. From these models we computed moveout curves for the range of slowness represented in the YKA data. A grid search was performed over the model space of interval thickness and Poisson’s ratio to obtain an estimate of the model that best accounts for the data. In addition, we performed a linearized inversion of transmission coefficient amplitudes to estimate the shear velocity contrast at the bounding interfaces of the LVZ. Results indicate a LVZ of thickness ∼36 km with a shear velocity contrast of -7.8%, and Poisson’s ratio of 0.42. In combination, these two results require an associated increase in compressional velocity into the LVZ. The Poisson’s ratio lies well above the IASP91 average of ∼0.29-0.3 for this depth range and favours the presence of high melt or fluid fractions. Geographic profiles of PRFs and SRFs 1-D migrated to depth from CANOE and POLARIS-Slave arrays reveal 410 km and 660 km discontinuities at nominal depths with little variation in transition zone thickness. PRF results from the Slave craton indicate a potential LVZ beneath many stations at an average nominal depth of ∼340 km, highlighted by events from the northwest. The CANOE array SRF profile images an emergent LVZ beginning at ∼280 km depth dipping eastwards to 310 km approaching YKA.
Design, Analysis and Implementation of Ultrahigh Data Rate UWB Six-Port Receiver Up to 7 Gbps for 5 G New Spectrum Radio Access and CAR

Every generation of mobile communication has been associated with higher data rates than the previous generation. So 5G new spectrum radio access should support data rates exceeding 10 Gbps in most of its applications. An Ultra Wide Band (UWB) ultrahigh data rate full six-port receiver architecture up to 6.7 Gbps for 5G new spectrum is presented in this paper. The proposed structure is constructed using one UWB ultra-high data rate Wilkinson power divider/combiner and three UWB ultra-high data rate two-stage branch line couplers which are the essential components of any full sixport structure. The design procedure, optimization and implementation of these two UWB essential components in 21–30 GHz are completely done to achieve the optimum performance of final six-port structure. The final fabrication results show the average of −14 dB of input matching, −20 dB of isolation of isolated Ports, −4.2 dB of coupling in output ports (considering 2 SMA connectors and transitions in each path), and linear phase variation of outputs in the whole bandwidth of 21–30 GHz. To analyze and qualify the UWB six-port structure in any specific application in 5G and other UWB high data rate applications, a new analytical formulation with a new six-port structure of non-ideal UWB six-port circuit is presented. With this new analytical model and new configuration, there is no need to calibrate the outputs of in-phase and quad phase of the six-port receiver outputs. Based on the final fabricated essential components and the new analytical model, the final full six-port structure is constructed and analysed using UWB-OFDM with QPSK and 16QAM demodulation schemes in its sub-bands. To complete and verify the new analysis and to validate the final constructed UWB six-port structure and its essential components in ultra-high data rate application in 5G new spectrum, the UWB-IR impulse radio with modulated ultra-high data rate signal up to 7 Gbps and in 21–30 GHz bandwidth is completely discussed. The results show that all clusters of demodulated constellations are very well positioned and individualized in whole bandwidth in all modulation schemes. Also this new design and configuration of six-port receiver improves the dynamic range of the RF input signals up to 60 dB which is valuable. During the design procedure, a very useful method to choose the suitable laminate based on the time, frequency and two dimensional Wigner-Vile Distribution methods is presented. Also, some practical issues in design and implementation of the UWB microstrip component such as transitions are considered to achieve the best results.
Geographic Distribution and Evaluation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains Isolated from Vineyards in the Warmer, Inland Regions of the Western Cape in South Africa

The aim of this study was to examine the geographic distribution of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains indigenous to 19 sites in the warmer, inland regions of the Western Cape in South Africa. These strains were compared to those isolated previously from the cooler, coastal regions of the same province by subjecting both sets of organisms to the same characterisation procedures. Thirty isolates per sampling site were isolated and the S. cerevisiae strains subjected to the following characterisation procedures; karyotyping using pulse field gel electrophoresis (CHEF), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA, the polymerase chain reaction technique (RAPD-PCR), sugar fermentation ability, flocculation ability, stress resistance/response and extracellular enzyme activity. When considering biodiversity per sampling site, CHEF karyotypes indicated the recovery of 30 S. cerevisiae strains. This number was reduced to 21 when comparing banding patterns over sites. Addition of RAPD-PCR data expanded the number of unique strains to 29. Subsequent consideration of sugar fermentation data indicated that one of the strians with exactly equivalent CHEF and RAPD-PCR patterns was in fact galactose positive while the other was galactose negative. These data clearly indicate that characterisation of yeast strains by application of a single technique is not a sound practice. None of the S. cerevisiae strains isolated in this study occurred in the coastal regions. In addition, each site sampled in this study had its own unique collection of wine yeast strains and no strain common to all sites in the study region was found. Survival mechanisms of S. cerevisiae are obscure. Although we found that many of the isolated strains could grow invasively/form pseudohyphae and that these abilities could therefore contribute to the organism's overwintering ability, other mechanisms must also be involved.