In-work support : what is the role of in-work support in a successful transition to sustained employment? (TM Case Study Summary Theme Report)

This report focuses on the role that in-work support plays in helping employment programme beneficiaries move into sustained employment. It draws on finding from the Talent Match (TM) National Evaluation. TM is a Big Lottery Fund strategic programme investing £108 million in 21 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas, which have experienced particularly high levels of youth unemployment. The focus of the programme is on developing holistic approaches to combating worklessness amongst long-term NEETs (i.e. young people who are not in education, employment or training). A key aspect of the programme is to bring young people closer to, and into employment. Part One of this report outlines what in-work support is and why it is important. Part Two presents findings from analysis of programme monitoring data on the provision of in-work support and insights from qualitative research in four TM partnerships and case studies of provision of in-work support. Part Three sets out the learning on in-work support emerging from this research

Employer participation in active labour market policy : from reactive gatekeepers to proactive strategic partners

Active labour market policy (ALMP) is a well-established strategy but one aspect is greatly neglected – employer participation – about which there is a lack of systematic evidence. The question of why and how employers participate in ALMP, and whether there may be some shift from employers solely being passive recipients of job-ready candidates to having a more proactive and strategic role, is addressed by drawing on new research into Talent Match, a contemporary UK employability programme which places particular emphasis on employer involvement. The research findings point to a conceptual distinction between employers’ roles as being reactive gatekeepers to jobs and/or being proactive strategic partners, with both evident. It is argued that the Talent Match programme demonstrates potential to benefit employers, jobseekers and programme providers, with devolution of policy to the local level a possible way forward. The conclusion, however, is that the barrier to wider replication is not necessarily a problem of practice but of centralised control of policy and, in particular, commitment to a supply-side approach. Empirical, conceptual and policy contributions are made to this under-researched topic

Key worker models : what key worker approaches, capacity and capabilities are important at different stages of the journey to employment? (Talent Match Case Study Theme Report)

This report focuses on the role of key workers (i.e. individuals providing one-to-one advice and support to beneficiaries) in employment programmes and the approaches, capacity and capabilities that are important at different stages of the journey to employment. It draws on findings from the Talent Match (TM) National Evaluation about how key worker support is being delivered, how it has evolved over the lifetime of TM and what key worker support looks like. Talent Match is a Big Lottery Fund strategic programme investing £108 million in 21 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas, which have experienced particularly high levels of youth unemployment. The focus of the programme is on developing holistic approaches to combating worklessness amongst long-term NEETs. A key aspect of the programme is to bring young people closer to, and into employment. Part One of this report outlines what key workers are and the different approaches they adopt in employment programmes. Part Two presents findings from a survey of all TM partnerships and case studies in four TM partnerships comprising qualitative interviews with partnership leads, key workers and beneficiaries. Based on these findings it presents a model of how key workers support young people on their journey to employment, highlighting the experience, attributes and skill sets needed by key workers at different stages of a young person’s journey to employment. Part Three sets out the learning on key worker approaches, capacity and capabilities emerging from this research

Simulation and observations of stratospheric aerosols from the 2009 Sarychev volcanic eruption

We used a general circulation model of Earth’s climate to conduct simulations of the 12-16 June 2009 eruption of Sarychev volcano (48.1°N, 153.2°E). The model simulates the formation and transport of the stratospheric sulfate aerosol cloud from the eruption and the resulting climate response. We compared optical depth results from these simulations with limb scatter measurements from the Optical Spectrograph and InfraRed Imaging System (OSIRIS), in situ measurements from balloon-borne instruments lofted from Laramie, Wyoming (41.3°N, 105.7°W), and five lidar stations located throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The aerosol cloud covered most of the Northern Hemisphere, extending slightly into the tropics, with peak backscatter measured between 12 and 16 km in altitude. Aerosol concentrations returned to near background levels by Spring, 2010. After accounting for expected sources of discrepancy between each of the data sources, the magnitudes and spatial distributions of aerosol optical depth due to the eruption largely agree. In conducting the simulations, we likely overestimated both particle size and the amount of SO2 injected into the stratosphere, resulting in modeled optical depth values that were a factor of 2-4 too high. Model results of optical depth due to the eruption show a peak too late in high latitudes and too early in low latitudes, suggesting a problem with stratospheric circulation in the model. The model also shows a higher annual decay rate in optical depth than is observed, showing an inaccuracy in seasonal deposition rates. The modeled deposition rate of sulfate aerosols from the Sarychev eruption is higher than the rate calculated for aerosols from the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

Systematic Multi-Domain Alzheimer's Risk Reduction Trial (SMARRT): Study Protocol.

This article describes the protocol for the Systematic Multi-domain Alzheimer's Risk Reduction Trial (SMARRT), a single-blind randomized pilot trial to test a personalized, pragmatic, multi-domain Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk reduction intervention in a US integrated healthcare delivery system. Study participants will be 200 higher-risk older adults (age 70-89 years with subjective cognitive complaints, low normal performance on cognitive screen, and ≥ two modifiable risk factors targeted by our intervention) who will be recruited from selected primary care clinics of Kaiser Permanente Washington, oversampling people with non-white race or Hispanic ethnicity. Study participants will be randomly assigned to a two-year Alzheimer's risk reduction intervention (SMARRT) or a Health Education (HE) control. Randomization will be stratified by clinic, race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white versus non-white or Hispanic), and age (70-79, 80-89). Participants randomized to the SMARRT group will work with a behavioral coach and nurse to develop a personalized plan related to their risk factors (poorly controlled hypertension, diabetes with evidence of hyper or hypoglycemia, depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, contraindicated medications, physical inactivity, low cognitive stimulation, social isolation, poor diet, smoking). Participants in the HE control group will be mailed general health education information about these risk factors for AD. The primary outcome is two-year cognitive change on a cognitive test composite score. Secondary outcomes include: 1) improvement in targeted risk factors, 2) individual cognitive domain composite scores, 3) physical performance, 4) functional ability, 5) quality of life, and 6) incidence of mild cognitive impairment, AD, and dementia. Primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed in both groups at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months

COMPILING, SYNTHESIZING AND ANALYZING EXISTING BOREAL FOREST FIRE HISTORY DATA IN ALASKA

Wildland fires play a critical role in maintaining the ecological integrity of boreal forests in Alaska. Identifying and maintaining natural fire regimes is an important component of fire management. There are numerous research projects that directly or indirectly address historical fire regimes in the Alaskan boreal forest, but many are unpublished, have many unprocessed dendrochronological (tree age and fire scar) samples, or their data were used for other purposes. Furthermore, no assessment of these data exists to understand how fire has historically affected the boreal forest ecosystems of Alaska. The goal of this project was to compile and synthesize existing Alaska boreal-forest fire-history literature and datasets (http://frames.nbii.gov/alaska/borealfirehistory). We include a literature review and synthesis of publications related to fire regimes in boreal forests in Alaska (the pending general technical report “Fire Regimes of the Alaskan Boreal Forest”), and incorporate the reference information into the Alaska Fire Effects Reference Database (http://frames.nbii.gov/alaska; funded by JFSP as part of project 05-4-2-03: Expanding FIREHouse to Alaska). Fourteen published and unpublished fire-history or stand-age datasets were compiled and processed into the Alaska Fire History Database (http://frames.nbii.gov/documents/alaska/fire_history/ak_fire_history_db.zip), and data summarized by plot are available through a dynamic map interface (within the Alaska Fire and Fuels Research Map; http://afsmaps.blm.gov/imf/imf.jsp?site=firehouse). Data compiled in the Alaska Fire History Database have also been submitted to the International Multiproxy Paleofire Database (IMPD). Finally, some of the project funds were used to clean up and improve data within the Alaska Large Fire Database, a database started in the early 1990s that includes reported fire locations since 1939 and fire perimeters since 1942 (http://afsmaps.blm.gov/imf/imf.jsp?site=firehistory)

Fate of methoprene in temperate salt marsh ditches following aerial applications

Aerial applications of liquid methoprene are used in salt marshes to control mosquitoes by preventing adult emergence. Despite concern about toxicity to non-target organisms, little is known about environmental concentrations after applications, nor methoprene\u27s persistence in salt marsh environments. Aqueous and sediment samples were collected from two marshes receiving weekly applications. Aqueous samples were collected as early as 30 minutes after applications and as long as nine days afterwards; sediment samples were taken within hours of application and as long as 19 days post-application. Use of time-of-flight liquid chromatography – mass spectral analysis allowed for ultra low detection limits (0.5 ng/L) in water samples. The data show loss of nearly all methoprene from 1 m deep marsh ditches within 1 day and presence but not accumulation of methoprene in marsh sediments despite repeated applications. Methoprene concentrations observed in salt-marsh mosquito ditches were below those found to be of toxicological significance in other studies

The UK's skills system : training, employability and gaps in provision

Examines current trends and challenges for policymakers in the UK skills system. Explains that this review was commissioned as part of Foresight's future of skills and lifelong learning project (see further reports at B47282-3 and B47825). Outlines the changing demand for skills. Considers gaps in provision, skills shortages, the skills equilibrium and geographical gaps. Looks at access by individuals to skills and training. Considers the role of migration in addressing skills shortfalls. Looks at the role of careers information and guidance in addressing skills gaps

The UK's skills system : training, employability and gaps in provision

Examines current trends and challenges for policymakers in the UK skills system. Explains that this review was commissioned as part of Foresight's future of skills and lifelong learning project (see further reports at B47282-3 and B47825). Outlines the changing demand for skills. Considers gaps in provision, skills shortages, the skills equilibrium and geographical gaps. Looks at access by individuals to skills and training. Considers the role of migration in addressing skills shortfalls. Looks at the role of careers information and guidance in addressing skills gaps