Use of social and economic modeling to plan vocational education and training

The Workforce Education and Development program at Penn State University applies input-output and social accounting models to provide information for planning vocational education and training. These models are specified, and several applications of these models to training investment research are described

Identifying and responding to skills shortages

Skills shortages limit economic growth. Tight labor markets in the United States have highlighted for policy–makers the problems that skills shortages create for the economy. Yet, it is difficult to document and respond to skills shortages. No single, direct measure identifies a skills shortage. Identification requires multiple economic indicators. When skills shortages are identified, prescription of responses to alleviate shortages is equally problematic. Selection of investment in training as one response requires that other factors affecting labor supply and price must be ruled out as contributing causes of shortages

143 Wing (RCAF) Typhoons Over Normandy: Some Operational, Geographical and Archaeological Perspectives

This article presents the first attempt to conduct a geographical analysis of every air-to-ground attack conducted by a tactical fighter-bomber wing over the period 1 May–31 August 1944 in support of Operation Overlord. Ninety-five per cent of the 606 attacks made by 143 Wing Typhoons on single or multiple targets can be resolved to a map reference or place name, and their chronology and distribution reveal new insights into the Wing’s operational history. Commemorative and heritage perspectives are also highlighted for attacks on targets in woodland settings where archaeological survey of bomb craters can be linked to specific raids

Willingness to pay for WASH education services: a case study in Honduras

Many organizations provide education and training services to improve the sustainability of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions; however, it can be challenging to develop financially sustainable models for delivering such services. To address this, the University of Cambridge, the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology, and Agua Pura Para el Mundo (APPM) completed a Willingness to Pay (WTP) study for WASH education services in Honduras. Rural community members had some WTP for education services, despite low income levels, and preferred when a product, e.g. a water filter, was provided as well. Individual WASH practitioners had moderate WTP (~25% of cost) for short courses. Organisations had relatively high WTP, compared with the other two groups (~50% of cost). The results were used to investigate potentially sustainable business models for APPM’s education services. The methodology presented can support other organizations to develop sustainable business approaches for their capacity development services

Studies on Recombination within the Mouse H-2 Complex I.: Three Recombinants Which Position the Ss Locus within the Complex

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65149/1/j.1399-0039.1972.tb00140.x.pd

A drag coefficient for application to the WLTP driving cycle

The aerodynamic drag characteristics of a passenger car have, typically, been defined by a single parameter: the drag coefficient at a yaw angle of 0°. Although this has been acceptable in the past, it does not provide an accurate measure of the effect of aerodynamic drag on fuel consumption because the important influence of the wind has been excluded. The result of using drag coefficients at a yaw angle of 0° produces an underprediction of the aerodynamic component of fuel consumption that does not reflect the on-road conditions. An alternative measure of the aerodynamic drag should take into account the effect of non-zero yaw angles, and a variant of wind-averaged drag is suggested as the best option. A wind-averaged drag coefficient is usually derived for a particular vehicle speed using a representative wind speed distribution. In the particular case where the road speed distribution is specified, such as for a driving cycle to determine fuel economy, a relevant drag coefficient can be derived by using a weighted road speed. An effective drag coefficient is determined with this approach for a range of cars using the proposed test cycle for the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, WLTP. The wind input acting on the car has been updated for this paper using recent meteorological data and an understanding of the effect of a shear flow on the drag loading obtained from a computational fluid dynamics study. In order to determine the different mean wind velocities acting on the car, a terrain-related wind profile has also been applied to the various phases of the driving cycle. An overall drag coefficient is derived from the work done over the full cycle. This cycle-averaged drag coefficient is shown to be significantly higher than the nominal drag coefficient at a yaw angle of 0°

Can Chatbots like GPT-4 replace human coaches: Issues and dilemmas for the coaching profession, coaching clients and for organisations

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has led to the speculation that chatbots could revolutionise the coaching industry in the coming decade, replacing humans as the main provider of coaching conversations. The development of GPT4 has led to these bots becoming increasingly sophisticated and effective at providing support and guidance in various fields. Coaching providers have been quick to operationalise these generative language tools to create new products like AIMY, evoach and Vici. This paper examines the potential of AI chatbots and their integration into coaching tools. It will review the advantages and current limitations of AI coaching chatbots and offer a preliminary definition for the field, seeking to differentiate chatbots from human coaching. The paper also explores the role of coaching psychology, professional bodies and governments in the development and evolution of AI systems and coaching chatbots, and suggests the urgent need for action to protect clients and organisations from unregulated and unethical practices

Monitoring Wellness, Training Load, and Running Performance During a Major International Female Field Hockey Tournament

The current observational study quantified players\u27 activity profiles during a major international female field hockey tournament and determined whether an association exists between well-being measures and running performance within elite female hockey players. Elite female field hockey players (23 6 3 years; 162.6 6 13 cm; and 66 6 6 kg) participated in the study. Participants running performance was monitored using global positioning system technology (S5; Catapult Innovations , Scoresby, Victoria, Australia), with daily well-being questionnaires used to quantify player responses during the tournament. Thresholds for the magnitude of the observed change for each variable were determined using the Hopkins Spreadsheets for analysis of controlled trials. Relative distance (m$min 21) was likely lower when compared with game 1 in game 7. Relative high speed (m$min 21 .16 km$h 21) was likely lower in games 5, 6, and 7 when compared with game 1. Subjective load was very likely higher in game 2 and very likely lower in game 3 when compared with game 1. Mood and sleep quality were likely lower in game 1 when compared with game 4 and game 7. Muscle soreness was likely higher when compared with game 1 in game. During the tournament, it was observed that a decrease in players\u27 daily well-being was accompanied by changes in running performance. Furthermore , changes to players\u27 muscle soreness and sleep quality result in decreased players\u27 high-speed running performance during match-play. Therefore, to prevent the observed effects, coaches should adopt strategies to enhance sleep quality and incorporate specific recovery modalities to reduce musculo-skeletal soreness