Tuning In to Local Labor Markets: Findings From the Sectoral Employment Impact Study, Executive Summary

This executive summary highlights the main findings and conclusions from "Tuning In to Local Labor Markets: Findings From the Sectoral Employment Impact Study" -- the first random assignment evaluation of sector-focused training efforts. We studied three nonprofit organizations -- a community-based organization focused on medical and basic office skills in Boston, a social venture focused on information technology in the Bronx, and an employer-union partnership focused on healthcare, manufacturing and construction in Milwaukee -- and found that participants in these programs worked more, had higher earnings and found better jobs (as measured by hourly wages and access to benefits) than members of the control group.The executive summary examines strategies used by the three organizations in the study, describes the people served, and outlines common elements that likely contributed to the programs success

Tuning In to Local Labor Markets: Findings From the Sectoral Employment Impact Study

Over the past two decades, an innovative approach to workforce development known as sectoral employment has emerged, resulting in the creation of industry-specific training programs that prepare unemployed and underskilled workers for skilled positions and connect them with employers seeking to fill such vacancies. In 2003, with funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, P/PV launched the "Sectoral Employment Impact Study" to rigorously assess whether mature, nonprofit-led sector-focused programs could increase the earnings of disadvantaged workers and job seekers. P/PV selected three organizations to participate in the study -- a community-based organization focused on medical and basic office skills in Boston, a social venture focused on information technology in the Bronx, and an employer-union partnership focused on healthcare, manufacturing and construction in Milwaukee. The study's findings show that program participants earned about $4,500 -- 18 percent -- more than the control group over the course of the study and$4,000 -- 29 percent -- more in the second year alone. Study participants were also more likely to find employment, work more consistently, work in jobs that paid higher wages, and work in jobs that offered benefits. Furthermore, there were earnings gains for each subgroup analyzed, including African Americans, Latinos, immigrants, formerly incarcerated individuals and young adults. Tuning In to Local Labor Markets also examines the strategies employed by the three organizations that took part in the study, as well as the common elements that appeared to be critical to their success. Implications for practice, policy and future research are explored; a forthcoming piece will provide detailed recommendations for policymakers

Pre-Service Portfolios: A Base for Professional Growth

We studied first-year teachers who had developed professional portfolios in their pre- service program. Data came from two interviews with 11 graduates. Participants valued the portfolio process, most continuing to maintain their professional portfolios and to use aspects of the process with their students. Two frameworks, “The Portfolio Organizer” and “retell, relate, reflect,” supported portfolio use. Factors affecting continued portfolio implementation included first-year teaching pressures, the influence of other teachers, and external expectations. The first-year teachers experienced a positive change in attitude and acquired confidence as they refined their use of portfolios. L’étude porte sur l’utilisation des portfolios professionnels par des enseignants en formation des maîtres. Les données proviennent de deux entrevues menées auprès de 11 étudiants diplômés. Les participants apprécient la méthode du portfolio ; la plupart les tiennent à jour et en utilisent certains éléments avec leurs élèves. Deux systèmes, « The Portfolio Organizer » et « retell, relate, reflect », favorisent l’utilisation des porfolios. Parmi les facteurs ayant une incidence sur le recours aux portfolios, les auteures mentionnent les pressions inhérentes à l’enseignement lors de la première année, l’influence des autres enseignants et les attentes externes. Au cours de leur première année, les enseignants deviennent plus sûrs d’eux-mêmes à mesure qu’ils raffinent leur utilisation des portfolios.

Three courtyards

Thesis (M.Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1982.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH.Bibliography: p. 145-147.by Carol Rose Schwartz.M.Arch

Phase-Contrast OCT Imaging of Transverse Flows in the Mouse Retina and Choroid

Purpose. To test the hypothesis that a novel phase-contrast optical coherence tomography (OCT) system can image retinal and choroidal vessels in the living mouse. Methods. A high-speed spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) system, which measures the reflections for the entire depth of the retina at once with each axial scan (A-scan), was developed for mouse retinal imaging. Acquiring multiple A-scans over a transverse line across the mouse retina offers a two-dimensional cross-sectional image (B-scan); several neighboring B-scans can be assembled into a three-dimensional OCT image. To visualize mobility and transverse flow in retinal vessels, the statistical variance of phase for each location was calculated from multiple B-scans acquired successively for the same retinal cross-section. Such measures of phase variance offer a direct measure of motions over a large dynamic range of flow velocities. Results. Three-dimensional phase-contrast images of the live mouse retina were created using multiple two-dimensional cross-sectional image slices through the retina. For the data presented here, each cross-sectional phase-contrast slice resulted from five images of 100 or 200 transverse pixels, acquired over 25 ms or 50 ms, respectively. The approach offered clear identification of motion regions at different depths, including flow in the retinal microvasculature and in the choroidal vessels. Conclusions. Phase-contrast OCT enables three-dimensional visualization of retinal and choroidal vasculature in vivo

Sugary Drink FACTS 2014: Some Progress but Much Room for Improvement in Marketing to Youth

This report updates a 2011 report on the same topic. Using the same methods as the last report, researchers examined changes in the nutritional content of sugar-sweetened drinks including sodas, fruit drinks, flavored waters, sports drinks, iced teas, as well as zero-calorie energy drinks and shots. They also analyzed marketing tactics for 23 companies that advertised these products, including amount spent to advertise in all media; child and teen exposure to advertising and brand appearances on TV and visits to beverage company websites, including differences for black and Hispanic youth; advertising on websites popular with children and teens; and marketing in newer media like mobile apps and social media. Researchers also examined changes in advertising of diet beverages, 100% juice, and water

The Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances 2016

The Center for Global Prosperity (CGP) at the Hudson Institute is pleased to present the 2016 Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances. Over a 10-year period, the ninth edition of the Index reports on the sources and magnitude of global philanthropy from developed and emerging economies to the developing world. As in previous editions of the Index, private financial flows—including philanthropy, remittances, and private capital investment—continue to grow and surpass government aid. In addition to the magnitude of the developed and emerging economies’ total economic engagement with the developing world, the 2016 Index highlights the new partnerships and infrastructure that support philanthropic giving around the world

The Fourier Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (FIXS) for the Argentinian, Scout-launched satelite de Aplicaciones Cienficas-1 (SAC-1)

The Fourier Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (FIXS) is one of four instruments on SAC-1, the Argentinian satellite being proposed for launch by NASA on a Scout rocket in 1992/3. The FIXS is designed to provide solar flare images at X-ray energies between 5 and 35 keV. Observations will be made on arcsecond size scales and subsecond time scales of the processes that modify the electron spectrum and the thermal distribution in flaring magnetic structures

The interactive effect of change in perceived stress and trait anxiety on vagal recovery from cognitive challenge

The present study tested the hypothesis that the change in state negative affect (measured as perceived stress) after cognitive challenge moderates the relationship of trait anxiety and anger to vagal recovery from that challenge. Cardiac vagal control (assessed using heart rate variability) and respiratory rate were measured in a sample of 905 participants from the Midlife in the United States Study. Cognitive challenges consisted of computerized mental arithmetic and Stroop color–word matching tasks. Multiple regression analyses controlling for the effects of the demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors influencing cardiac vagal control showed a significant moderating effect of change in perceived stress on the relationship of trait anxiety to vagal recovery from cognitive challenges (Beta = .253, p = .013). After adjustment for respiratory rate, this effect became marginally significant (Beta = .177, p = .037). In contrast, for the relationship of trait anger to vagal recovery, this effect was not significant either before (Beta = .141, p = .257) or after (Beta = .186, p = .072) adjusting for respiratory rate. Secondary analyses revealed that among the individuals with higher levels of trait anxiety, greater reductions in perceived stress were associated with greater increases in cardiac vagal control after the challenge. In contrast, among the individuals with lower levels of trait anxiety, changes in perceived stress had no impact on vagal recovery. Therefore, change in perceived stress moderates the relationship of trait anxiety, but not trait anger, to vagal recovery from cognitive challenge