The retention effect of training - portability, visibility, and credibility

This paper analyses the effect of training participation on employees’ retention in the training company. It for the first time empirically combines the human capital and the monopsony theory by jointly controlling for the portability, visibility, and credibility of training. Based on an extensive German linked-employer-employee data set with detailed information on training history (WeLL-ADIAB), we show that training increases employees’ retention. We compare the probability to stay at the same employer between training participants and accidental training non-participants (those who could not participate in planned training on the basis of exogeneous reasons). Higher portability of general human capital contents and visibility of training induced by training certificates however reduce the retention effect of training. Retention is further reduced when training is credibly provided and certified by external institutions, the full training effect on retention is still positive, however. We are careful to control for endogeneity of training participation in retention equations, unobserved time-invariant effects, and extensive individual and employer characteristics including wage increases and general job satisfaction

Fecal vs. Rumen Contents to Determine White-tailed Deer Diets

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and determine the feasibility of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) diet composition of rumen versus fecal contents during winter months in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Sixty-two deer were shot over five winters (December – May). Major plant composition was approximately the same; however, juniper, pine, lichen, and Astragalus species showed significant differences between fecal and rumen comparisons. Spearman rank order correlation indicated ranks were in good agreement (r = 0.82, P = 0.01). Average Kulczynki’s similarity was 75 percent overall and is considered very good for major forage species. Significant differences were observed for shrubs and lichen when considering all forage species.. Overall, fecal analyses for major forage species will provide excellent information and help managers make more informed decisions with regard to habitat resources for deer. Key words: diet composition, methods, microhistological, forage, plant

White-Tailed Deer Habitat and Winter Diets in the Black Hills, South Dakota

The purpose of this study was to determine available plant production, gain a better understanding of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus ) diets from rumen contents and to determine the relationship between availability of plants and diets during winter months. This study was conducted in the Black Hills of South Dakota in two areas, Experimental Forest and McVey Burn. Available plant production was collected on the McVey burn during 1972-1973 and one year in the Experimental Forest in 1981, on 14 m2 / ha basal area, representative of Forest Management. Microhistological analysis of white tailed deer rumens was used to identify and quantify diets by plant species and life forms. Deer diets on the Experimental Forest consisted of 63 percent shrubs, 22 percent graminoids and 6 percent forbs. Diets of deer on the McVey Burn were similar with 59 percent shrubs, 14 percent graminoids, and 12 percent forbs. For both study areas, five common species comprised the greatest portion of deer diets. Key forage species were prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida ), willow (Salix species ), kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa ), and bluegrasses (Poa species ). Shrubs were the most important food items in deer diets. Future habitat management efforts should be directed toward improving shrub production for white-tailed deer winter consumption. Similarity indices ranged from 0 to 88 percent, an indication that some plants were highly selected or avoided by deer (low similarities) and other plants were consumed in similar proportions as available on both areas. Rank order correlations were low and ranged from r = -0.22 on the Experimental Forest to r = 0.11 indicating white-tailed deer were not selecting plants in the same proportions as their availability

Angiotensin II blockade and aortic-root dilation in Marfan's syndrome

Background: Progressive enlargement of the aortic root, leading to dissection, is the main cause of premature death in patients with Marfan's syndrome. Recent data from mouse models of Marfan's syndrome suggest that aortic-root enlargement is caused by excessive signaling by transforming growth factor (beta) (TGF-(beta)) that can be mitigated by treatment with TGF-(beta) antagonists, including angiotensin II-receptor blockers (ARBs). We evaluated the clinical response to ARBs in pediatric patients with Marfan's syndrome who had severe aortic-root enlargement. Methods: We identified 18 pediatric patients with Marfan's syndrome who had been followed during 12 to 47 months of therapy with ARBs after other medical therapy had failed to prevent progressive aortic-root enlargement. The ARB was losartan in 17 patients and irbesartan in 1 patient. We evaluated the efficacy of ARB therapy by comparing the rates of change in aortic-root diameter before and after the initiation of treatment with ARBs. Results: The mean (+/-SD) rate of change in aortic-root diameter decreased significantly from 3.54+/-2.87 mm per year during previous medical therapy to 0.46+/-0.62 mm per year during ARB therapy (P<0.001). The deviation of aortic-root enlargement from normal, as expressed by the rate of change in z scores, was reduced by a mean difference of 1.47 z scores per year (95% confidence interval, 0.70 to 2.24; P<0.001) after the initiation of ARB therapy. The sinotubular junction, which is prone to dilation in Marfan's syndrome as well, also showed a reduced rate of change in diameter during ARB therapy (P<0.05), whereas the distal ascending aorta, which does not normally become dilated in Marfan's syndrome, was not affected by ARB therapy. Conclusions: In a small cohort study, the use of ARB therapy in patients with Marfan's syndrome significantly slowed the rate of progressive aortic-root dilation. These findings require confirmation in a randomized trial

Design of a Bearingless Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine with a Star Point-Connected Axial Active Magnetic Bearing

The bearingless synchronous machine is considered with slotted stator, cylindrical rotor with sleeve-protected surface-mounted permanent magnets and six actively controlled degrees of freedom as high-speed drive. The focus is set on two key aspects: The machine design under consideration of size-dependent scaling effects and a novel kind of feeding the excitation winding of the axial active magnetic bearing. Since the considered bearingless PM machines typically exhibit a low degree of magnetic saturation and are equipped with distributed windings, the two-dimensional analytical calculation is used to calculate the rotor suspension force and disturbing rotor forces. These calculations are used in the subsequent electromagnetic design process. At the beginning of the design process, boundary conditions are discussed, that are derived geometrically for the combined drive and suspension winding, structural mechanically for the sleeve height and thermally for the loss and output power density. On the basis of two different machine sizes, on the one hand approximately 1.5 kW and on the other hand approximately 60 kW at 75 mm and 130 mm outer diameter, respectively, at corresponding active axial length of 40 mm and 125 mm, this work shows, how the choice of pole count, bore diameter and magnet height influences the properties relevant for the rotor position control. It is concluded that an increase in pole count, a reduction in bore diameter and an increase in magnet height reduce the undesired parasitic lateral rotor forces, caused by rotor eddy currents and armature reaction. In order to investigate scaling effects, an analytical calculation is used, where the focus is set on the two-dimensional electrodynamic field calculation. By means of a 1 kW / 60000 rpm-prototype drive, consisting of a bearingless machine and a combined active radial-axial magnetic bearing, the accuracy of the results from calculation and simulation is verified. In order to reduce the number of required power electronic half-bridges, a concept is investigated, in which the axial magnetic bearing is supplied by a current between the star points of the combined winding sections in the bearingless machine. To do so the concept of the widely used space vector pulse-width modulation for 3-phase systems is extended to a double 3-phase system in a way that the axial magnetic bearing current corresponds to the sum current in the star point of one 3-phase system. This current can be controlled by the variation of the two star point electric potentials. However, additional current oscillations in the axial bearing current and in the 3-phase current can occur if the inverter is operated close to its voltage limit or if relatively high axial bearing currents must be provided at high dynamics. Anyway, the concept is considered a promising approach, since in this application as turbo-charger drive the disturbing effects do not occur

Community Resilience: A Dynamic Model for Public Health 3.0.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a model for Public Health 3.0 in order to define and measure community resilience (CR) as a method to measure equity, address structural racism, and improve population health. DESIGN: To develop the CR model, we conducted a literature review in medicine, psychology, early childhood development, neurobiology, and disaster preparedness and response and applied system dynamics modeling to analyze the complex interactions between public systems, policies, and community. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The CR model focuses on community and population health outcomes associated with the policies and practices of the housing, public education, law enforcement, and criminal justice sectors as CR measures. The model demonstrates how behaviors of these systems interact and produce outcome measures such as employment, homelessness, educational attainment, incarceration, and mental and physical health. RESULTS: The policies and practices within housing, public schools, law enforcement, and criminal justice can suppress resilience for families and communities because they are shaped by structural racism and influence the character and nature of resources that promote optimal community health and well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Community resilience is relational and place-based and varies depending on the demographic makeup of residents, historical patterns of place-based racism and discrimination, jurisdictional policy, and investment priorities-all influenced by structural racism. IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE: Using system dynamics modeling and the CR approach, chief health strategists can convene partners from multiple sectors to systematically identify, measure, and address inequities produced by structural racism that result in and contribute to adverse childhood and community experiences

Caragana Establishment, Survival and Regeneration in the Black Hills, South Dakota

The purpose of this study was to determine the adaptability and potential wildlife value of Caragana also known as Siberian peashrub for establishment, survival, growth, regeneration, and nutritional qualities. This study was initiated in 1968 in the Black Hills, South Dakota on the McVey Burn (1939), within an open stand of a ponderosa pine forest. Bare rootstock was planted in 1968, and after 35 years survival was 74 percent. Average height was 3 m (10 feet) and plants did regenerate by seed bt did not expand into adjacent habitat. Ideal growing condition evaluated at 35 years, was in a closed tree canopy with 35 percent overstory and basal area 17.7 m2/ha (77 ft2/ acre). Open growing conditions was had exposed areas, canopy cover 17 percent and basal area 5.4 m2/ha (24 ft2/acre). Tree overstory cover on North facing slopes was approximately 2 times greater than on more open south facing slopes. Caragana has not shown signs of spreading from original planting sites. A model developed for habitat assignment defining Closed and Open tree overstory cover for growth, regeneration, and establishment for future sites was 90 percent accurate. Utilization of Caragana by deer based on volume (length x width x height) was 77 percent, 12 years after establishment, with greatest use on south facing slopes. Nutritional qualities of Caragana are generally greater than native shrubs for winter use, with only phosphorous being marginal. The adaptability of Caragana and its qualities makes this browse species suitable for white-tailed deer use for winters. Plantations of Caragana in key wintering areas for white-tailed deer on south facing slopes with Open tree overstory cover and low basal area is recommended for restoration on over browsed ranges

System and Method for 3D Imaging using Structured Light Illumination

A biometrics system captures and processes a handprint image using a structured light illumination to create a 2D representation equivalent of a rolled inked handprint. The biometrics system includes an enclosure with a scan volume for placement of the hand. A reference plane with a backdrop pattern forms one side of the scan volume. The backdrop pattern is preferably a random noise pattern and the coordinates of the backdrop pattern are predetermined at system provisioning. The biometrics system further includes at least one projection unit for projecting a structured light pattern onto a hand positioned in the scan volume on or in front of the backdrop pattern and at least two cameras for capturing a plurality of images of the hand, wherein each of the plurality of images includes at least a portion of the hand and the backdrop pattern. A processing unit calculates 3D coordinates of the hand from the plurality of images using the predetermined coordinates of the backdrop pattern to align the plurality of images and mapping the 3D coordinates to a 2D flat surface to create a 2D representation equivalent of a rolled inked handprint. The processing unit can also adjust calibration parameters for each hand scan from calculating coordinates of the portion of backdrop pattern in the at least one image and comparing with the predetermined coordinates of the backdrop pattern

System and Method for 3D Imaging using Structured Light Illumination

A biometrics system captures and processes a handprint image using a structured light illumination to create a 2D representation equivalent of a rolled inked handprint. A processing unit calculates 3D coordinates of the hand from the plurality of images and maps the 3D coordinates to a 2D flat surface to create a 2D representation equivalent of a rolled inked handprint

Training in the Great Recession - evidence from an individual perspective

This paper analyses the effect of the economic crisis in 2008 and 2009 on individual training activities of different employee groups within establishments. We use a unique German linked employer–employee panel data set with detailed information on individual training history (WeLL-ADIAB). The so-called Great Recession can be seen as an exogenous, unexpected, and time-limited shock. Therefore, our quasi-experimental setting using Diff-in-Diff analyses reveals the causal impact of the crisis on the training participation and the number of training measures. We find a direct negative effect of the crisis on individual training activities in 2009 and 2010. The negative effect therefore sets in with a time lag and lasts until after the recession. Furthermore, the recession effect is stronger for employees in unskilled jobs than for employees in skilled jobs