Training Manager Research Articles

Spare Parts Management Strategy of High-Speed Railway Running Department Based on Performance Prediction

Spare parts management is a critical aspect of high-speed train health management, playing a vital role in maximizing in-service time and minimizing maintenance costs. However, traditional spare parts management methods, which rely solely on historical experience and suggest spare parts quantities or ratios in equipment manuals, often lack practicality and fail to meet real-world demands. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a performance prediction-based spare parts management strategy for high-speed trains. The strategy comprises three main components. First, a performance degradation model is developed using performance evaluation results to define a performance degradation envelope. Next, the required quantity or ratio of spare parts for multiple devices in different performance states is determined using the expected performance score method. Finally, the timing of spare parts orders is scientifically optimized by accounting for production and transportation lead times. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, we conducted experiments using the spare parts management of a specific high-speed train running gear as a case study and compared it with existing spare parts management methods.

Institutional Mechanisms for Enhancing Production of Doctoral Research Outputs at Makerere University

In the contemporary knowledge society, research production is being re-purposed in terms of not just its academic value, but also its wider societal value. As such, doctoral research ought to be produced in the context of application. Therefore, universities have a responsibility to enhance the uptake and use of doctoral research outputs. This necessitates institutional mechanisms for enhancing the production of doctoral research outputs for uptake and use beyond the academia. We examined the institutional mechanisms for enhancing production of doctoral research outputs at Makerere University using the research knowledge infrastructure (RKI) framework as the analytical lens. This was in light of the dismal uptake and use of research produced at Makerere University by students and staff. We used qualitative single case study research design. We collected data through interviewing and review of documents. We interviewed 10 doctoral program coordinators, three managers of research and graduate training and 13 PhD students we selected purposively. We reviewed seven institutional documents pertaining graduate training at Makerere University: two plans, three policies, one framework and one guideline. We used thematic data analysis to make sense of the data. The findings revealed that due to policy-practice gaps and funding constraints, mechanisms to enhance doctoral research production to facilitate uptake and use of doctoral research outputs beyond the academia were not adequately integrated into doctoral research training. This was shown by the lack of mechanisms to enhance doctoral research commissioning and execution, and gaps in priority setting. Opportunities for productive interactions between doctoral researchers and potential users were missed. As such, doctoral research outputs largely remained within the scholarly community. We recommend that the university should establish interface structures and co-creation spaces to leverage doctoral research commissioning, execution and priority setting to facilitate the uptake and use of doctoral research outputs beyond the scientific community

Spoofing attack recognition for GNSS-based train positioning using a BO-LightGBM method.

Trustworthy positioning is critical in the operational control and management of trains. For a train positioning system (TPS) based on a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), a spoofing attack significantly threatens the trustworthiness of positioning. However, the influence and recognition of GNSS spoofing attacks are not considered in the existing research on GNSS-enabled TPS. Spoofing attacks affect the performance of GNSS observations and the positioning results, allowing the development of data-driven spoofing recognition solutions. This study aims to achieve effective spoofing recognition for active security protection in TPS. Different features were designed to reflect the effects of a spoofing attack, including GNSS observation-related indicators and odometer-enabled parameters, and a novel Bayesian optimization-light gradient boosting machine (BO-LightGBM) solution was proposed. In particular, a Bayesian optimization technique was introduced into the LightGBM framework to improve the hyperparameter determination capability for recognition model training. Using a GNSS spoofing test platform with a specific GNSS signal generator and the SimSAFE spoofing test tool, different spoofing attack modes were tested to collect sample datasets for model training and evaluation. The results of model establishment and comparison of the model performance indicators illustrated the advantages of the proposed solution, its adaptability to different spoofing attack situations, and its superiority over state-of-the-art modeling strategies.

Institutional Mechanisms for Enhancing Production of Doctoral Research Outputs at Makerere University

In the contemporary knowledge society, research production is being re-purposed in terms of not just its academic value, but also its wider societal value. As such, doctoral research ought to be produced in the context of application. Therefore, universities have a responsibility to enhance the uptake and use of doctoral research outputs. This necessitates institutional mechanisms for enhancing the production of doctoral research outputs for uptake and use beyond academia. We examined the institutional mechanisms for enhancing production of doctoral research outputs at Makerere University using the research knowledge infrastructure (RKI) framework as the analytical lens. This was in light of the dismal uptake and use of research produced at Makerere University by students and staff. We used qualitative single case study research design. We collected data through interviewing and review of documents. We interviewed 10 doctoral program coordinators, three managers of research and graduate training and 13 PhD students we selected purposively. We reviewed seven institutional documents pertaining graduate training at Makerere University: two plans, three policies, one framework and one guideline. We used thematic data analysis to make sense of the data. The findings revealed that due to policy-practice gaps and funding constraints, mechanisms to enhance doctoral research production to facilitate uptake and use of doctoral research outputs beyond the academia were not adequately integrated into doctoral research training. This was shown by the lack of mechanisms to enhance doctoral research commissioning and execution, and gaps in priority setting. Opportunities for productive interactions between doctoral researchers and potential users were missed. As such, doctoral research outputs largely remained within the scholarly community. We recommend that the university should establish interface structures and co-creation spaces to leverage doctoral research commissioning, execution and priority setting to facilitate the uptake and use of doctoral research outputs beyond the scientific community.

Transgenerational impact of maternal adverse childhood experiences on children's mental health among families experiencing homelessness

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) threaten the livelihood of individuals and their families. This may be particularly detrimental for mothers facing homelessness and their children's behavioral adjustment. ObjectiveThis study compared two models to examine the impact of maternal ACEs on children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Rather than using the cumulative approach to conceptualize ACEs, we analyzed a model that assessed the effect of each maternal ACE individually (i.e., specificity model) and another model that categorized them into two subtypes of maltreatment and household dysfunction (i.e., dimensional model). Participants and settingWe evaluated a sample of 164 children and their mothers in a residential vocational training program in Northern California. MethodsACEs for both mother and children and children's behavioral outcomes were collected via questionnaires completed by the mothers with the assistance of trained researchers. Additional demographic data was collected via trained case managers at the residential facility. Two models (i.e., specificity model; dimensional model) were utilized to better understand how to best assess adversity in settings with limited resources. ResultsResults of the specificity ACE model identified maternal childhood physical abuse and parental incarceration as predictors of internalizing problems and parental substance problems as a predictor of externalizing behaviors. The dimensional ACE model indicated that only the broad category of maltreatment predicted internalizing behavioral difficulties. The individual ACE model demonstrated a better fit for the data and highlighted specific events relevant to children's outcomes. ConclusionsThese results suggest that programs focusing on ending generational trauma may benefit from screening participants for individual ACE and tailoring services for mothers and children accordingly.

Managerial Instructional Communication Strategy On The Quality Of Graduates Of Administrator Leadership Training At The Human Resources Development Agency Of North Sumatra Province

<p><em>This study aims to analyze the instructional communication strategies that training managers apply to the quality of graduate administrator leadership training at the North Sumatra Provincial Human Resources Development Agency. The qualitative research method was conducted by in-depth interviews with training managers, instructors, and trainees. The study results show that the training manager implements various instructional communication strategies, including using learning methods that are responsive to the participants' learning styles. The application of communication technology is also an integral part of this strategy, providing diversity in learning approaches. It was found that two-way interaction between managers and trainees significantly increased participants' understanding and engagement. This research contributes to a further understanding of the importance of instructional communication strategies in the context of administrator leadership training. It guides the development of training programs in similar institutions.</em></p><p class="TableParagraph"><strong><em>Keywords:</em></strong></p><p><em><em>Instructional Communication; Quality of Graduates; Administrator Leadership Training</em><br /></em></p>

Routing and scheduling of trains and engines in a railway marshalling station yard

In a busy railway marshalling station, train and engine traffic management in the receiving/departure yard plays a crucial role in efficient and stable operations. Traditionally, a track assignment problem (TAP) is solved to assign tracks to trains for berthing at a receiving/departure yard. However, the TAP does not encompass shunting operations in the yard (e.g., engine replacement and train disassembly), which can result in additional scheduling challenges for dispatchers and route conflicts between operations. This paper investigates a train and engine routing and scheduling problem (TERSP) in a receiving/departure yard of railway marshalling stations, which involves simultaneously assigning routes and scheduling route-setting start times for both train and shunting operations to be conducted in the yard. By introducing the concepts of task, activity, and pattern, we transform the original problem into assigning pre-generated patterns incorporating both route and route-setting start time alternatives to activities. The transformed problem is formulated into a compact binary integer linear programming model with a linear number of constraints and the objective of minimizing the total time deviation of all involved tasks. An improved technique that relies on listing all maximal (bi)cliques in a constructed graph is designed to effectively model the time coherence and track section occupation constraints. A heuristic that gradually expands the patterns for the identified key activities by adding more start time alternatives is applied to remedy an infeasible model caused by potential route conflicts. In addition, a rolling horizon algorithm that decomposes the original problem into consecutive smaller stages using either a time-rolling or a train-rolling rule is developed to efficiently solve instances. Finally, numerical experiments based on the physical layouts and real timetables of a receiving yard and a departure yard of a large marshalling station in China are conducted to assess the performance and applicability of our proposed approaches. The results demonstrate that our approaches typically find (near-)optimal solutions within several minutes for the investigated instances by simultaneously addressing different classes of yard operations and resources.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Asia: Physician and Patient Perspectives on Surveillance, Diagnosis, and Treatment

PurposeIn several Asian countries, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths. HCC risk factors in Asia differ from those elsewhere and are changing with the treatment landscape as systemic treatment options increase. This study was conducted to gain insight from physicians and patients into HCC screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies in Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.MethodsTwo cross-sectional, anonymized, online surveys were completed between July and December 2022 by physicians diagnosing and treating HCC (55 questions on risk factors, surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment) and patients ≥ 18 years old diagnosed with HCC (36 questions on disease knowledge, quality of life, and experiences of diagnosis and treatment).ResultsResponses were received from 276 physicians in all 7 countries and 130 patients in Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. From the physician’s perspective, surveillance programs are widespread but identify insufficient HCC cases; only 18% are early-stage HCC at diagnosis. From the patient’s perspective, knowledge of risk factors increases after diagnosis, but few seek support from patient associations; patients would benefit from better communication from their doctors. Treatment affordability and side effects are key issues for patients.ConclusionsAwareness of the risk factors for HCC should be raised in primary care and the general population, and surveillance should identify early-stage HCC. Because patients rely on their doctors for support, doctors should better understand their patients’ needs, and patients could be supported by trained nurses or case managers. Programs are needed to increase patients’ access to proven HCC treatments.

Do employee perception of HR training quality and manager innovation signals employee thrive?

Using signalling and self‐perception theory, we propose and test a multilevel model that investigates the impact of aggregated high‐quality HR training on individual‐level thriving through the innovative behaviour of managers. We collected data from 192 respondents in 45 teams from various multinational organizations and analysed it using a multilevel path analytic method, specifically Hierarchical Linear Modelling. The study's findings indicate that team‐level perceived high‐quality HR training positively predicts individual‐level employee‐rated managers' innovative work behaviour and employee‐rated managers' innovative work behaviour is positively related to employees' thriving at work. This finding supports our hypothesis of an indirect positive effect from HR training quality to thriving via managers' innovative work behaviour. Furthermore, the cross‐level analysis revealed that aggregated HR training quality strengthens the relationship signal that favours the manager's innovative work behaviour, which, in turn, positively affects their own thriving at work. Our research offers novel insights into the thriving process, underscoring the importance of considering both contextual and individual factors. Our findings' theoretical and practical implications are discussed in detail, including their limitations. In conclusion, this study provides valuable knowledge to organizations, managers and employees, highlighting the significance of high‐quality HR training and innovative work behaviour in promoting employee thriving.

Monitoring the Training of School Management Teams in Educational Institutions of the Novosibirsk Region

Introduction. The article discusses topical problems of team building typical for state educational organizations. The problems of team formation, formal leadership and the differences between a team and a working group are considered. The purpose of this article is to present the methodological grounds for the use of team building in the management activities of school leaders, as well as to show the monitoring of the training of management teams in the Novosibirsk region. Methodology. The study of the possibilities of using the technology of team building in the organization of innovative activities of teachers of educational organizations (on the example of management teams of schools in the Novosibirsk region) was carried out in several stages: organizational, diagnostic, approbation, and reflexive-evaluative. The purpose of the monitoring was to study the conditions created for the professional growth of members of school management teams at the regional and municipal levels, as well as the demand for various forms of training. Also, in the course of monitoring, information was collected on organizations that train management teams. Results. The analysis of the information provided has shown that the heads of general educational organizations and representatives of municipal educational authorities often do not understand what the concept of “training of management teams” includes and often replace it with a referral to advanced training courses and training events of the group. Conclusion. The monitoring recorded the need to form a system of work at the regional and municipal levels to organize the training of school management teams. Heads of educational institutions should consciously approach the issues of team building and assess the need to create a team based on the actual need.

Effectiveness evaluation indicators of organizational E-learning courses

Many organizations have turned to e-learning courses to train their employees, as a result of which the evaluation of the effectiveness of these courses has become an important issue in organizations. The study aims to design a construct that evaluates the effectiveness of e-learning courses in the industry. Effectiveness can be evaluated with measurable indicators specific to this type of training and it can investigate the results of organizational managers' investment in training programs. Data were collected in three consecutive stages; first, using a mixed methods systematic review, the effectiveness evaluation dimensions were identified; second, the effectiveness evaluation indicators were determined by using semi-structured interviews with three groups including trainees in the industry, instructors of e-learning courses in the industry, and university professors; third, the indicators were validated by using a quantitative method. Finally, 46 measurable indicators from 6 main dimensions including content, instructor, learner, organization, assessment, and technical system were identified as effective evaluation indicators of e-learning courses in the industry. In evaluating the effectiveness of e-learning courses, different aspects of different dimensions were identified that managers of organizational training can use in evaluating organizational e-learning courses. It is similar to a system that includes input, process, output, and all factors together affect the effectiveness of these courses.

Basketball Training Institutions Coaching Level of Coaches Investigation and Analysis

Coaches are the direct organizers and managers of sports training. They they undertake the main task of training athletes, to promote the all-round development of athletes, improve the level of sports athletes play a leading role. With the development of basketball, basketball coaches play an increasingly important role in modern basketball. Therefore, it is of great significance to fully understand the current situation of qinghai youth basketball coach team, stabilize the coach team, improve the ability of the coach, and train and bring up a group of excellent coaches who have rich practical experience and master advanced sports training theory and scientific knowledge. This paper takes the coaches of basketball training institutions in Xining as the investigation object, deeply understands the current situation of the coaching level of the coaches of basketball training institutions in Xining, and through the investigation and analysis results of the coaching level of the coaches of basketball training institutions in Xining, puts forward countermeasures for the training of coaching ability of the coaches of training institutions to provide help.

Analysis of the Implementation of Training on Digital-based Learning Media to Enhance Teachers’ Digital Literacy

This study aimed to analyze the implementation process, impact of digital-based learning media training on Tahfiz teachers' digital literacy and identified factors influencing the success or limitations of these programs. Utilizing a descriptive method, the study encompassed observations, interviews, and document analysis involving five Tahfiz teachers, a training manager, and a school administrator. The data analysis procedure followed the Miles and Huberman model, comprising three key stages: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, underpinned by triangulation for validity. The findings revealed that the training enhanced teachers' access to digital resources, flexibility in learning, and provided personalized, interactive learning experiences. However, challenges like limited technology access, lack of technical skills, resistance to change, and inadequate resources tailored to Islamic values were notable. The study concludes that comprehensive training in digital literacy is crucial for Tahfiz teachers to effectively integrate technology into their teaching. The study contributes to the discourse on technology integration in religious education, offering insights for policy and practice in Tahfiz education.

Enhancing Early Childhood Education Teachers' Creativity through Professional Development Training Program

This study aimed to examine the implementation and impact of professional development on the creativity of early childhood educators, focusing on creating an innovative teaching medium known as the Magic Box. This research used a qualitative approach with a case study method; the research subjects comprised ten early childhood educators, one resource person, and one training manager. Data were collected using in-depth interviews, observations, and document studies. The Miles and Huberman method was used to analyze the collected data. The research findings reveal a substantial transformation in educators' creativity levels after participating in Magic Box's professional development and training programs. Through a structured and hands-on approach, educators gain practical experience and motivation to infuse creativity into their teaching practices. Educators report increased confidence in generating creative ideas for teaching materials and a shift in their instructional approach to encourage more engaging and interactive learning experiences for children.

A Qualitative Analysis of the Perceptions of Knowledge Management Practices in a Public Utility Organisation

This study aims to determine what procurement professionals think are important and inspiring parts of an organisation's Knowledge Management (KM) plan. This study completed the indicated goal with one case study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and analyse it using content analysis. The primary motivations for implementing Knowledge Management were managerial concern and dedication to a knowledgeable staff. This study found that respondents had average management expertise. The study also found that senior management should commit to comprehensive knowledge management methods and believed to commit to them to support worker empowerment. More resources are needed to train and teach Knowledge Management strategies to enhance commitment.

Financial Management Training and Education Implementation in Elevating Low Income Family Empowerment

This research aims to explores the implementation of financial management training in empowering low-income families in Kabupaten Cianjur. Using a qualitative approach and a case study method, data was collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document study. The informants in this research consists of a training manager, a training resource person, and 10 trainees. The findings provided a holistic view of the training's implementation and outcomes. Data analysis involved coding, theme identification, and interpretation to extract meaningful insights. The findings highlight the importance of expert involvement, tackling financial misconceptions, and the use of effective pedagogical strategies for comprehensive understanding. The positive reception from participants and observed behavioral shifts emphasize the tangible benefits of the training. The study concludes by emphasizing the critical role of financial education in fostering genuine, sustained financial empowerment among low-income populations.

Supporting children with vision impairment in early years: A guide for practitioners

Karen Hirst, CYPF Early Support, Education and Training manager at the RNIB shares how to spot sight loss in babies and very young children in time for World Braille Day on 4 January. She discusses how practitioners can provide support to children in early years who are visually impaired, and ways to introduce these children to learning braille as part of their literacy skills.

Effects of intervention by trained care managers on advance care planning engagement among long-term care service users in Japan: a pre- and post-pilot comparative study across multiple institutions.

A majority of Japanese care managers lack medical qualifications, feel uncomfortable discussing future medical choices and believe that it is not their responsibility. As there is a paucity of care manager intervention studies, this study aimed to measure changes in advance care planning engagement among long-term care service users before and after intervention by care managers with communication training. A multi-institutional pre- and post-pilot comparative study. A multi-institutional pre- and post-trial study was performed from August 2022 to January 2023 (trial ID: 000048573). Nine trained care managers communicated with 30 long-term care service users regarding advance care planning, and the pre- and post-trial advance care planning engagement scores were compared. Additionally, the post-trial impact of events score was investigated. All 30 long-term care service users completed the trial. The advance care planning engagement score increased after the trial. The sample size was considered adequate for future trials. Years of experience as a care manager, impact of events score, and having a clinical frailty scale of ⩾5 were significant explanatory variables that affected the objective variable of the difference between pre- and post-trial advance care planning engagement score. This study on the impact of advance care planning communication interventions by trained care managers offers insights into determining appropriate sample sizes and identifying factors influencing future research outcomes. Advance care planning engagement of long-term care service users might change before and after intervention by care managers through advance care planning communication. University Hospital Medical Information (UMIN) Network Trial ID: 000048573.

Examining factors driving inequities in water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management services in healthcare facilities in Ghana: An analysis of routine national data

Abstract In Ghana, little is known about the drivers of inequities of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in healthcare facilities (HCFs). We aim to examine the status and factors driving access to basic WASH services in Ghana. This survey involved an analysis of routine health service data submitted to the District Information Management System 2 (DHIMS 2). Complete data were available for 1,646 HCFs across Ghana for analysis. Coverage of basic Water, Sanitation and hygiene services was 69, 58, and 64%, respectively. About 50% had a WASH-IPC action plan, and 67% had a WASH-IPC manager who is responsible for the day-to-day WASH management. Regional inequities in access to basic WASH services exist, with the newly established regions and those in Northern Ghana being disadvantaged. Significant drivers of basic WASH services were the location of HCF, the level of service delivery, and availability of a trained facility-based assistant WASH manager. WASH services in Ghanaian HCFs have improved, but it is still not up to the standards set by the Sustainable Development Goals for WASH. Universal access to basic WASH services can be attained by mounting targeted WASH interventions and appointing WASH-IPC managers at all levels of the health system.

Sistema de gestión energética usando un controlador difuso de velocidad optimizada con enjambre artificial de peces basado en un clasificador de aprendizaje neuronal recurrente profundo

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) must ensure power demand through minimum fuel consumption and a control strategy. Existing control methods were easy to implement, showing quick response and good performance. Power demand is linked to numerous factors such as level of social and economic expansion, industrialization, urbanization, and technological growth. However, power demand problems like higher energy waste, poor quality, less accuracy, lack of robustness, and limited operating range were not reduced in existing controller methods. This paper presents an Artificial Fish Swarm Speed Optimization Fuzzy PID Controller (AFSSOF-PIDC). AFSSOFPIDC-DRNLC includes different layers in drive train management. Initially, different vehicle data is considered in the input layer and then sent to hidden layer 1. Fitness is identified by improved Artificial Fish Swarm Speed Optimization to find optimal values that minimize the power demand, and then send it toward hidden layer 2. A Mamdani Fuzzy PID Controller is used in hidden layer 2. If the fitness value of the vehicle information is less than the threshold value, fuel consumption is minimized in the HEV. Otherwise, consumption of fuel is not minimized in the HEV. Finally, energy management is achieved through minimal power demand. The results indicate that the performance of the proposed AFSSOFPIDC-DRNLC technique minimizes fuel consumption by increasing the performance of the controller as compared with existing methods.