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Machine learning has been increasingly used for making informed public policy decisions, however, its application in the area of social protection in developing societies has been largely overlooked. We have employed unsupervised machine learning K-means clustering technique for exploring a big data that comprised of 88 attributes and 570 instances for better targeting of households that are in urgent need of welfare from the government. The clusters formed showed common patterns relating to insecurities in terms of loss of income and property, unemployment, disasters and disease etc. faced by households in each cluster. We found that households falling in rural areas jurisdictions face severe insecurities compared to other localities and are in urgent need of social protection interventions. We concluded that by employing K-means clustering unsupervised machine learning approach big data (even if it is limited) can be explored effectively for better targeting of social protection interventions for both developing and smart societies. The unsupervised machine learning technique presented in this study is an efficient approach because it can be used by societies that are facing data constraints and can achieve optimal results for increasing the welfare of poor by using the said approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores how English poet Gerald Manley Hopkins used the word "cheeks" in his nineteenth-century poem "The Loss of the Eurydice." Topics discussed include the creation of the poem in response to the 1878 foundering of the British Royal Navy (RN) ship Eurydice, the critical reviews earned by the poem compared to other writings of Hopkins, and the analogies based on the human body previously used by Hopkins.

The article discusses the remarks of English poet and Jesuit priest Gerard Manley Hopkins on his terrible posthumous sonnets. Topics include Hopkins' poem "The Wreck of the Deutschland," letters by Hopkins to British poet Robert Bridges, and studies regarding the mental state of Hopkins during his years in Ireland.

This article examines the work of the New Zealand poet Ursula Bethell (1874-1945), looking in particular at her first volume, From a Garden in the Antipodes (1929). The religious reference in Bethell's two later volumes, Time and Place (1936) and Day and Night (1939), has been widely acknowledged, and those volumes position her as a significant religious writer within New Zealand poetry. In this article, I argue that her tint volume is equally rich in religious allusion, and that the religious references operate in a way that frequently calls to mind the traditional narrative of the Garden of Eden, and the loss of Paradise, alluding both to the biblical sources of that narrative, and at times to its later expressions in English literature. Although other major New Zealand poets deal repeatedly with the Fall, no one alludes to Eden so extensively and yet in such a sidelong and lighthearted fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on how Australia compares with other OECD countries in terms of family policies and their outcomes. The author stated that OECD governments are spending more money to help families reconcile work and family life. In addition, Australia scores well in family spending but its focus is largely on cash transfers rather than child and out-of school- hours care. Moreover, policies aimed at sole parents have moved towards promoting self-sufficiency and reducing the risk of long-term welfare dependency and child poverty, thus new policies must be coordinated with formal child care policies.

This article analyses China's progress in creating a national old-age insurance system, providing a detailed description of the system and an assessment of the degree to which it has so far realised its primary goal of social security for more people. Since 1997, there have been many reforms, but despite progress, the scope of the system is limited, with the coverage rate among urban employees being below 50 per cent. The rural population largely remains outside the system, and it seems likely that the majority of the population will be dependent on family support for many years to come. There is a “demographic window” until around 2015 to address these shortcomings. Extending coverage through improved compliance by employees and companies as well as the continuing financial commitment towards the National Social Security Fund are crucial to create the financial and institutional basis that can cushion the effects of a much older population in the years ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen Este artículo analiza el progreso conseguido en China en términos de creación de un sistema nacional de seguro de vejez, con una descripción detallada del sistema y una evaluación del grado en que ha conseguido, hasta el momento, realizar su principal objetivo de ofrecer seguridad social a más personas. Desde 1997 se han llevado a cabo muchas reformas pero, a pesar de los avances, el alcance del sistema es limitado, con una tasa de cobertura de los trabajadores urbanos inferior al 50 por ciento. La población rural sigue, en gran medida, sin tener cobertura del sistema, y es bastante posible que durante varios años aún la mayoría de la población siga dependiendo del apoyo familiar. Existe una «ventana demográfica» hasta 2015, aproximadamente, para hacer frente a estas deficiencias. Con el fin de crear un fundamento financiero e institucional que amortigüe los efectos en un futuro próximo de una población de edad mucho más avanzada será fundamental extender la cobertura mediante un mayor control del cumplimiento de sus obligaciones por parte de los trabajadores y las empresas y un compromiso financiero continuo orientado al Fondo Nacional de Seguridad Social. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a new interpretation of the `four disorders' that `contended' within the dying body of Felix Randal. It begins with a brief summary of what is known, or may be deduced, about the composition of the poem and the identity of its subject, then considers the charge that is sometimes levelled at the poem, that it betrays in Hopkins a lack of human empathy. Part of that charge grows from a misunderstanding of the nature of `duty' that Hopkins refers to in the poem; the priest's duty is properly to be understood within a priestly and sacramental context. The article then considers the phrase `four disorders; a phrase which has had little explication apart from the suggestion of Alfred Thomas that it refers to the four bodily humours. The article proposes, however, that a more coherent reading of the poem can be achieved if the phrase is taken as referring to the traditional four `wounds of nature' that were consequent upon original sin. The notion of the four wounds is illustrated from Aquinas (in whom the idea of disordering is unmistakable), with further connections made to Hopkins's sermons and spiritual writings. Finally, Hopkins's sense of duty is reconsidered in the light of his priestly role of administering to Felix Randal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suggests a reading of Gawain's poem "fyue wyttez," that acknowledges the artistry and design of the poem. Interpretation of Gawain's five wits as five senses, by R. W. Ackerman; Occurrences of the term wyttez; Connection between the inner wits and human reason, or rational self-control.

In common with other countries, Australia has a range of policies with the objective of providing income security to families with children. The level and means by which assistance is provided to Australian families has developed over the 20th century, reflecting changes in the social structure, the labor market, attitudes and priorities, as well as the capacity of Australians to afford the support being provided to families. At different times these objectives have included contributing to the cost of bearing and raising children and redistributing resources over the lifecycle, alleviating child poverty and boosting low family earnings, promoting equity within the tax system, redistributing within families, and relieving unemployment and low income traps. Over all, the Australian system has gone further than many other countries in emphasizing redistribution to low-income families and in particular to mothers within families. A number of types of family assistance can be distinguished. The first are supplements to family income, designed to enhance the incomes of families relative to those without children. These income supplements at different times have been provided either through the income taxation system or through direct cash benefits.

Discusses a text which describes the anticipation of heaven in a fifteenth-century Middle-English meditation. Contextual analysis of the text; Reflection on the process of salvation; Connections between the meditation and the prose poetry `Pearl.'

Traces the date of existence of the proverbial expression 'the coast was clear.' Bibliographies containing the proverbial expression; Transference of proverbial status; Uses of the expression.

This article outlines a range of issues to be considered when assessing the advantages and disadvantages of devolution strategies, specifically in the context of income support policies. The objective of the article is to provide a starting point for discussion of the relationship between devolution and interregional and intra-regional equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the discovery of an addendum to the `Index of Middle English Verse' in a manuscript in the Bodleian Library. Recording of a version of the Ten Commandments from the `Speculum Christiani'; Appearance of the verses in isolation in the Bodleian Library MS Tanner 201, for 4.

Objectives: To determine health impacts during, and following, an extended community lockdown and COVID-19 outbreak in the Australian state of Victoria, compared with the rest of Australia. Methods: A national cohort of 898 working-age Australians enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study, completing surveys before, during, and after a 112-day community lockdown in Victoria (8 July– 27 October 2020). Outcomes included psychological distress, mental and physical health, work, social interactions and finances. Regression models examined health changes during and following lockdown. Results: The Victorian lockdown led to increased psychological distress. Health impacts coincided with greater social isolation and work loss. Following the extended lockdown, mental health, work and social interactions recovered to an extent whereby no significant long-lasting effects were identified in Victoria compared to the rest of Australia. Conclusion: The Victorian community lockdown had adverse health consequences, which reversed upon release from lockdown. Governments should weigh all potential health impacts of lockdown. Services and programs to reduce the negative impacts of lockdown may include increases in mental health care, encouraging safe social interactions and supports to maintain employment relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Engagement in work is an important determinant of health. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures imposed to reduce viral transmission resulted in large-scale loss of work during the early stages of the pandemic, contributing to declined mental and physical health. As the pandemic unfolded, the Australian economy began to recover and some people could return to work, whilst localised lockdowns resulted in further loss of work for others. The long-term health effects of work loss remain unexplored within the COVID-19 pandemic context, in addition to whether any health effects are persistent upon returning to work.Methods: A prospective longitudinal cohort study of 2603 participants across Australia monitored changes in health and work between March and December 2020, with participants completing surveys at baseline and 1, 3 and 6 months later. Outcomes described psychological distress, and mental and physical health. Linear mixed regression models examined associations between changes in health and experiences of work loss, and return to work, over time.Results: Losing work during the early stages of the pandemic was associated with long-term poorer mental health, which began to recover over time as some returned to work. Physical health deteriorated over time, greater for people not working at baseline. Being out of work was associated with poorer mental health, but better physical health. These effects were larger for people that had recently lost work than for people with sustained work loss, and retaining employment played a protective role. Generally, returning to work resulted in poorer physical health and improvements in mental health, although this depended on the broader context of changes in work.Conclusions: Work cessation during the pandemic led to poor health outcomes and had long-lasting effects. Returning to work benefits mental health but may reduce physical activity in the short-term. We encourage the provision of accessible mental health supports and services immediately following loss of work, and for people with prolonged forms of work loss.Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12620000857909 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While events associated with the global financial crisis ( GFC) had a profound impact on real family incomes and well-being in many rich countries, impacts in Australia were relatively minor. One reason for this was the massive policy response by the Australian government at the outset of the GFC, which pumped billions of dollars into the pockets of low and middle income families. This article examines the impact of this stimulus on child poverty in Australia in the context of longer-term policies on income support for families with children. We show that the emphasis of longer-term policy has been to moderate support for families with children and that, since the mid-1990s, rates of relative child poverty have not fallen. We find that while the impact of the stimulus was to reduce child poverty, the underlying trajectory of policies towards family assistance and child poverty in Australia has not changed, and therefore there is no expectation that child poverty will continue to fall in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Following pandemic-related work loss, some people could return to work as restrictions eased, whilst localised lockdowns resulted in further loss of work. The long-term health effects of work loss within the pandemic remain unexplored, in addition to whether any health effects are persistent upon returning to work. Methods A prospective longitudinal cohort study of 2603 Australians monitored changes in health and work across four surveys during March-December 2020. Outcomes described psychological distress, and mental and physical health. Linear mixed regression models examined associations between changes in health and experiences of work loss, and return to work, over time. Results Losing work during the early pandemic stages was associated with long-term poorer mental health, which began to recover over time. Physical health deteriorated over time, greater for people not working at baseline. Being out of work was associated with poorer mental health, but better physical health. These effects were larger for people that had recently lost work than for people with sustained work loss, and retaining employment played a protective role. Conclusions Work cessation during the pandemic led to poor health outcomes and had long-lasting effects. Returning to work benefits mental health but may reduce physical activity in the short-term. We encourage the provision of accessible mental health supports immediately following loss of work, and for people with prolonged work loss. Key messages Remaining employed whilst not working partly ameliorates negative mental health impacts. Those experiencing persistent work loss, and the newly out-of-work, are most vulnerable to ill mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]