Training Occupations Research Articles

Cognitive reserve is associated with quality of life: A population-based study

ObjectivesTo assess the association between cognitive reserve (CR) and quality of life (QoL), as well as the role of depression, cognitive functioning, and disability in this association. MethodsNationally-representative cross-sectional population-based data on 1973 individuals aged ≥50years from the Spanish sample of the Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe (COURAGE) study were analysed. CR was a composite score ranging from 0 to 25 obtained from the Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire, which is composed of items on training courses, occupation, musical training, languages, reading activities, intellectual games, and level of education of the participants and their parents. QoL, ranging from 0 to 100, was assessed with the WHOQOL-AGE. Multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were performed. ResultsHigher levels of CR were associated with higher QoL, after controlling for potential confounders (Coef. 0.53; 95% CI=0.36, 0.70). The strongest mediator in this association was disability, which explained about half of the association, while depression and cognition explained 6–10% of this association. DiscussionCR is associated with higher QoL in older adults. Interventions targeting determinants of CR that can be modified or trained across the lifespan may lead to successful ageing by prolonging autonomous functioning and enhancing QoL.

Reliability and validity of a computer-based assessment of cognitive and non-cognitive facets of problem-solving competence in the business domain

To measure higher-order outcomes of vocational education and training (VET) we developed a computer-based assessment of domain-specific problem-solving competence. In modeling problem-solving competence, we distinguish four components of competence: (1) knowledge application, (2) metacognition, (3) self-concept, and (4) interest as well as thirteen facets of competence, each of which is assigned to one of the four components. With regard to ecological and content validity, rather than apply highly structured items (e.g. multiple choice items), we developed three authentic problem scenarios and provided an open-ended problem space in terms of an authentic office simulation. The assessment was aimed at apprentice industrial clerks at the end of a 3-year apprenticeship program and focused on the domain of controlling (i.e., support of managerial decisions, cost planning, cost control, cost accounting, etc.). The computer-based office simulation provided typical tools (e.g., email client, spreadsheet software, file system, notebook, calculator, etc.). In order to assess the non-cognitive components in our competence model, we implemented an integrated measurement of self-concept and interest that we refer to as ‘Embedded Experience Sampling’ (EES). Test-takers are requested to spontaneously answer short prompts (EES items) during the test that are embedded in typical social interactions in the workplace. The empirical section is based on a study with 780 VET students from three commercial training occupations in Germany (industrial clerks and apprentices from two similar VET programs). The focus of the contribution is on testing a theoretically derived competence model based on item response theory, the implemented scoring methods and reliability of the instrument. Fine-grained response patterns from automated codings and human ratings were condensed into one partial credit item for each scenario and each of the facets in the cognitive component ‘knowledge application’. The multidimensional Rasch analysis revealed satisfactory EAP/PV reliabilities, which are between .78 and .84 for the ‘knowledge application’ facets and between .77 and .85 for the non-cognitive facets. Furthermore, the achievement differences between the industrial clerks and their comparison groups are as assumed. In our study, we introduced an innovative method to measure non-cognitive facets of problem-solving competence in the course of complex problem scenarios. Furthermore, by using authentic problem scenarios and providing an open-ended and authentic problem space, our assessment of domain-specific problem-solving comeptence focuses on ecological validity but also ensures reliability.

The Social Factors that Influence Growth of Women owned Businesses in the Informal Sector in Kenya: A Case of Women Street Vendors in Bungoma town, Bungoma District

This study was set to investigate the social factors that influence the growth of the women owned Small Enterprises in Kenya, A case study of women roadside traders in Bungoma town, Bungoma West District. The specific objectives of the study were to identify these social factors and determine those that influence growth of these women owned roadside enterprises. The study also explained why these women chose to operate along roadsides and other open areas. The social factors included level of education, age bracket, family size and marital status, training and previous occupation of the women entrepreneurs. The factors investigated, some were deemed to stimulate growth while others inhibited the rates of growth of informal sector so much so that these enterprises do not break into the domain of small-medium and large enterprises sector usually referred to as the missing-middle. Studies done earlier also indicated that there is an influx of women entrepreneurs into the informal sector because of low yields and shrinking farm sizes. The research revealed that half of these women were married and had families and 84 percent of them had not been employed before, most of the women entrepreneurs had no training or previous skills in the business they were engaging in, 60 percent o f the women entrepreneurs were within the productive prime age of between 24 years to 45 years. The study therefore revealed that social factors have a diverse effect on the growth of the women owned informal enterprises.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ СТРУКТУРИ ПРОГРАМ ТРЕНУВАЛЬНИХ ЗАНЯТЬ ЮНИХ БОДИБІЛДЕРІВ НА ЕТАПІ ПОЧАТКОВОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ СТРУКТУРИ ПРОГРАМ ТРЕНУВАЛЬНИХ ЗАНЯТЬ ЮНИХ БОДИБІЛДЕРІВ НА ЕТАПІ ПОЧАТКОВОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ

National Sports in the Sphere of Physical Culture as a Means of Forming Professional Competence of Future Coach Instructors

Background/Objectives: Theoretical and experimental justification of national sports influence in the course of formation of readiness for development of students physical culture. Method/Statistical Analysis: Theoretical analysis of philosophical, sociological, psychology and pedagogical literature; studying of developing experience through questioning, supervision, conversation, testing; theoretical and methodical interpretation of pedagogical experiment; the analysis of own work experience with students of the International Kazakh-Turkish university by H. A. Yasavi, in the specialty 5B010800 - Physical culture and sport; mathematical and statistical processing of results of research. Findings: The research results allowed specifying and proving the character of the students' attitude to traditions and national sports in the sphere of physical culture; the pedagogical analysis and systematization of national sports by the classification features was carried out; use of national sports in the physical training physical training program has been scientifically proved on the basis of a humanistic orientation in educational process of higher education institution; positive influence of physical training occupations with the use of national sports on the students' physical fitness has been shown. Improvements: The developed variable part of the physical training program with use of national sports is recommended for application in the classes of physical culture in all the specialties of higher educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Valuation of sitting and standing in metro trains using revealed preferences

The estimation of differences in the value of in-vehicle time sitting and standing is usually made with stated choice (SC) data, partly due to the lack of revealed preference data. In this paper, we use the observed behaviour of a subset of metro users in Singapore, who are willing to travel a longer time (into the opposite direction or backwards) to secure a seat for the actual trip in the direction towards their destination. We use smart card transactions to estimate the share of users who are willing to travel in the opposite direction during the first part of their trip and the average train occupancy per section to estimate differences in the valuation of travel time sitting and standing – translated into a standing multiplier or standing premium, which is analogous to the crowding multiplier that is usually found in the crowding valuation literature. We find that the standing multiplier is between 1.18 and 1.24 with the current crowding levels in the morning peak and can be as much as 1.55 with a density of 3 standing passengers per square metre. The results are compared to previous SC studies from other countries. The values found here are an indication of a standing premium that can be used to assess the social benefit of increasing the seat capacity of a public transport system and of applying peak spreading strategies.

Disaster complexity and the Santiago de Compostela train derailment.

This disaster complexity case study examines Spain's deadliest train derailment that occurred on July 24, 2013 on the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. Train derailments are typically survivable. However, in this case, human error was a primary factor as the train driver powered the Alvia train into a left curve at more than twice the posted speed. All 13 cars came off the rails with many of the carriages careening into a concrete barrier lining the curve, leading to exceptional mortality and injury. Among the 224 train occupants, 80 (36%) were killed and all of the remaining 144 (4%) were injured. The official investigative report determined that this crash was completely preventable.

The organization of interaction of subjects of educational process when using platforms of distance learning

Within research in article the special attention is paid to the organization of distance training by means of the specialized local tool information systems oriented to provision of a certain set of educational services on the Internet. On the basis of the carried-out analysis advantages of platforms of distance training are noted: availability, a personifitsirovannost, a modularity on structure, usability, etc. Characteristics «the subject - subject» interactions are described in case of remote form of education: an active position trained in the course of activities, equality of persons training and trained, the joint problem resolution, game, dialogue, work in microgroups, admissibility of coexistence and acceptance of the opposite points of view. Specifics of process of interaction of subjects of educational process in higher education institution of physical culture on the basis of use of the Moodle platform, performed with participation of students athletes, teachers, the trainer, the staff of department of information technologies, managerial control are considered. Feature of such interaction is caused by need students athletes to combine sport and training in the conditions of long sports trainings and participation in competitions in the cities remote from educational institution. The accurate list of functions of each of subjects in the scheme of interaction is provided. In tabular option the example of a matrix of elements of the training remote rate for students of different forms of education (internal, correspondence and full-time according to the individual training plan) which implementation is impossible without harmonious work of all subjects involved in educational process is given. The schemes «the subject-subject» of interaction in case of distance training in higher education institution of physical culture with use of the Moodle platform are described. So for example, for students athletes of full-time courses educational and informative process happens, generally internally – in audiences of educational institution. The practical tasks provided for independent work (at the discretion of the teacher), are carried out by students in an internal or remote form. The students athletes who are trained internally according to the individual plan visit lecture and seminar occupations partially provided that there are no training occupations and competitions at this time. All required training materials for independent studying are available to students in any time, convenient for them. Unlike two previous forms, students athletes of extramural studies as much as possible use possibilities of the Moodle platform for implementation of educational process. For such students only adjusting lectures and small part of a practical training are internally provided. Dependence of form of education on quantity of the used remote forms of education is established: for full-time – 2 remote rates, for c full-time the individual training plan – 6 and for extramural studies – 8 rates. The determining role of the independent work accompanied with a certain support of students athletes from all subjects of educational process is emphasized: methodical (from the teacher) and coordinating (from the trainer, employees of managerial control, technical support of department of information technologies).

Research on Professional Quality Training and Occupation Adaptability of Higher Vocational Students Majoring in Economic Management

In order to realize the docking of students’ professional quality training and enterprise occupation adaptability, we research on graduates’ employment, professional quality and enterprises demand of a higher vocational college in Wuhan. Based on the data, we analyze existing problems of the students’ professional quality training and occupation adaptability and put forward suggestions for further reform of the talent training scheme.

Prevalencia de ansiedad en estudiantes universitarios

<p align="justify">Los universitarios constituyen un grupo de riesgo para la ansiedad por sus exigencias psicológicas, sociales, académicas y elevado estrés. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la prevalencia de ansiedad en estudiantes de una universidad privada de Medellín y su asociación con aspectos sociodemográficos y académicos. El método de estudio de prevalencia se llevó a cabo con 200 estudiantes seleccionados mediante muestreo probabilístico estratificado. La tamización de ansiedad se realizó con la escala de Zung. Se evaluó la fiabilidad de la escala con el α de Cronbach, el análisis se realizó con medidas de resumen, frecuencias, U de Mann Whitney y chi cuadrado, en SPSS 21®. Los resultados evidencian que la prevalencia de ansiedad fue 58 %. La escala de Zung presentó una excelente fiabilidad con α de Cronbach de 0,8. La prevalencia de ansiedad presentó una distribución estadísticamente igual según el sexo y el grupo etario; no se halló asociación con el ciclo de formación, el programa académico, la edad, los créditos matriculados, ni la ocupación. La ansiedad fue estadísticamente menor en los estudiantes de clase media. Se halló una elevada prevalencia de ansiedad, lo que pone de manifiesto la necesidad de desarrollar de estrategias educativas, identificar estudiantes de mayor riesgo e iniciar intervenciones en salud de manera oportuna.</p>

Personality Traits and Career Satisfaction in Training and Development Occupations: Toward a Distinctive T&D Personality Profile

As careers in training and development (T&D) continue to evolve, almost no human resource development (HRD) research has investigated personality traits in today's T&D occupations, despite evidence linking personality with work success. Toward filling this lacuna, we identified four Big Five personality traits and four narrow traits with content matching T&D competencies. Based on person–career fit theory, we hypothesized that the trait profile would differentiate T&D from other occupations, and the traits would correlate with T&D career satisfaction. From 90,000+ individuals receiving private career transition services, we compared trait scores of 284 individuals in T&D occupations and the others via bootstrapping (5,000 random samples, n = 284, with the same age and gender distributions). The T&D personality profile was significantly elevated, with greatest differences on the narrow trait empathy, closely followed by assertiveness and customer service orientation plus optimism (small difference), and significant differences on Big Five traits extraversion, openness, and agreeableness (small difference), but no difference on emotional stability. T&D career satisfaction correlated significantly with five traits in the profile, most strongly with emotional stability and optimism. Also, emotional stability correlated more highly with career satisfaction for T&D than non‐T&D occupations. The distinctive T&D personality profile raises questions for further HRD research and carries practical value for training and development of T&D personnel.

Youth Unemployment After Apprenticeship Training and Individual, Occupation, and Training Employer Characteristics

SummaryThis paper analyses the risk of unemployment, unemployment duration, and the risk of longterm unemployment immediately after apprenticeship graduation. Unemployed apprenticeship graduates constitute a large share of unemployed youth in Germany but unemployment incidence within this group is unequally distributed. Our paper extends previous research in three dimensions. It shows that (i) individual productivity assessment of the training firm, (ii) initial selection into high reputation training firms and occupations, and (iii) adverse selection of employer moving graduates are correlated with unemployment after apprenticeship graduation. The empirical evidence is obtained from the second longitudinal version of the linked employer-employee panel data from the IAB (LIAB). This large data set allows us to calculate the exact unemployment spell length of apprenticeship graduates. In addition, we can include individual, employer, occupation as well as industrial relation characteristics before and after apprenticeship graduation into our list of explanatory variables for unemployment risk. We show in several robustness checks that our results are remarkably stable when we vary the employees included in the sample, the definition of unemployment, and the list of explanatory variables.

고전압임펄스궤도회로(HVITC)와 AF 궤도회로간의 간섭에 대한 연구

Two types of track circuits are used in high speed railway car depots: one is High Voltage Impulse Track Circuit(HVITC); the other is AF track circuit. HVITC detects train occupation of blocks and broken rail; the AF track circuit is used for train onboard control system pretesting before departure. This testing is used to transmit train control information through the AF track circuit. The two systems are switched in turns for testing. We propose a system in which the AF track circuit is replaced by a loop cable that is installed on the inside rail; as such, engineers do not need to switch the systems. In cases in which the two systems run simultaneously, mutual interference may occur. In this paper, we identified this mutual interference by modeling of the two circuits.

Passengers’ valuations of train seating layout, position and occupancy

The layout of seating within train carriages, of which there are numerous possibilities, and also the occupancy of that seating can be expected to impact on passengers’ experiences of a train journey. However, there is very little evidence on how rail passengers value different seating experiences. On the back of exploratory research, and including attitudinal evidence, this paper provides significant and original insights into rail passengers’ preferences in this area. The primary evidence base is a Stated Preference experiment, complemented by a novel Revealed Preference exercise that uses CCTV footage to observe where rail passengers prefer to sit.The valuations, expressed as travel time multipliers, obtained from the Stated Preference exercise are generally plausible and exhibit a wide range according to the precise seating configuration, the occupancy level and the seating position within a layout. The innovative Revealed Preference analysis provides an encouraging degree of support to the Stated Preference results which, reassuringly, can themselves be reconciled with related valuations widely used in the railway industry in Britain and also the findings of the exploratory and attitudinal research. Whilst we are interested here solely in obtaining valuations, we demonstrate how they can be used in demand forecasting.

RESEARCH OF REGULARITIES OF PASSENGER FLOWS IN THE RAIL SUBURBAN TRAFFIC

Purpose. Determining regularities of changes of trains occupancy and the approach commuters on landing for determining the technical and technological parameters of suburban passenger services. Methodology. To achieve this goal were identified research methods of train occupancy, basic approach periods of passengers to platform affecting the occupancy of carriages in different periods of the day. Findings. On the basis of conducted researches can be carried out comlex, systematically related calculations of important technical and technological parameters of suburban passenger transportations. To such parameters can be attributed parameters of trains timetable, occupancy of carriages, the number of ticket offices, passenger platforms size, number and location on them turnstiles, providing the comfortable and safe boarding of passengers on commuter trains. It is proposed to use the relative indicators of trains occupancy and generalized theoretical dependencies of approach intensity of passengers on landing in trains. There are graphs where there is unevenness of transportation demand, which is estimated by actual train occupancy that is established by direct natural supervision in train carriages. Results of the study hourly of passenger flow distribution have allowed to establish that irregularity by period of day has a pronounced character of manifestation, especially in the morning and evening during the "peak" periods. Dimensions of transportations in these hours do not meet comfortable conditions of passenger travel in suburban trains. Originality. It was suggested the new approach to determine regularities of changes of the suburban trains occupancy to approach commuters to platform. It is presented the comparisons of actual distribution curves and approximated theoretical curves of approach intensities of passengers and filling of trains, and the formula by which the described patterns are identified. These formulas can be used to construct appropriate mathematical models describing the process to approach of passengers on landing in trains. Practical value. Using of obtained regularities will allow in future predict the number of passengers in specific trains, thus optimizing the schedule of commuter trains the interval between trains, as well as the required number of rolling stock.

Youth Unemployment After Apprenticeship Training and Individual, Occupation and Training Employer Characteristics

This paper analyses the risk of unemployment, unemployment duration and the risk of long-term unemployment immediately after apprenticeship graduation. Unemployed apprenticeship graduates constitute a large share of unemployed youth in Germany but unemployment incidence within this group is unequally distributed. Our paper extends previous research in three dimensions. It shows that individual productivity assessment of the training firm, initial selection into high reputation training firms and occupations, and adverse selection of employer moving graduates are correlated with unemployment after apprenticeship graduation.

The life cycle energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions of high-capacity urban transport systems: A case study from Vienna's subway line U2

ABSTRACTThis article calculates the impact of three measures in order to reduce the global warming potential (GWP) and cumulative energy demand (CED) of Vienna's subway line U2. Results show that the increase of the train occupancy rate has the highest reduction impact (–30%/–30%), followed by new rolling stock (–26%/–34%), and a change in energy mix (–8%/–4%). The total reduction to be achieved with all measures combined is around –55% for GWP and CED, leading to a GWP of 91 [g] and 1.653 [MJ] per passenger kilometer traveled (PKT). With all these measures applied, the subway has lower GWP and CED than other modes of transport presented in the literature.

A short-turning policy for the management of demand disruptions in rapid transit systems

Rapid transit systems timetables are commonly designed to accommodate passenger demand in sections with the highest passenger load. However, disruptions frequently arise due to an increase in the demand, infrastructure incidences or as a consequence of fleet size reductions. All these circumstances give rise to unsupplied demand at certain stations, which generates passenger overloads in the available vehicles. The design of strategies that guarantee reasonable user waiting time with small increases of operation costs is now an important research topic. This paper proposes a tactical approach to determine optimal policies for dealing with such situations. Concretely, a short-turning strategy is analysed, where some vehicles perform short cycles in order to increase the frequency among certain stations of the lines and to equilibrate the train occupancy level. Turn-back points should be located and service offset should be determined with the objective of diminishing the passenger waiting time while preserving certain level of quality of service. Computational results and analysis for a real case study are provided.

Adaptation of Quantitative Indices of High-Speed and Power Preparation of Football Players of High Qualification

Football is one of the most popular sports in the majority of the countries of the world. Questions of training of high quality soccer players, the organizations of training occupations excite both specialists’ trainers, and athletes and fans. In this article theoretical and practical sides of power and high-speed training of sportswomen (female soccer) are shined, the characteristic is given to development of explosive strength of soccer players; stages of high-speed and power preparation are defined. The table is provided in article with indicators of data of the high-speed and power preparation received by means of the universal dinamographical stand, on experimental and control groups, the maintenance of stages of physical training of sportsmen is described. The special attention is paid to rational distribution of loadings in process of the preparatory period and the description of exercises taking into account physiological features of sports trainings for women. The author defined methods of carrying out the exercises, providing gradual increase in physical activities.

Training participation of internationalized firms: establishment-level evidence for Switzerland

BackgroundSwitzerland is host to many international companies, and a large share of Swiss firms is exporting goods and services abroad. While the vocational education and training (VET) system in Switzerland has a long tradition, there is a paucity of studies investigating the effects of the ongoing internationalization on the training participation of internationalized firms.MethodsThe empirical analysis uses representative cross-sectional survey data for Switzerland to estimate a firm’s training decision in 2009. I apply multivariate regression techniques to account for observable differences between domestic and internationalized firms.ResultsThe results show that small and internationalized firms with less than 50 employees have a significantly lower training probability than comparable domestic firms, while this is not the case for larger firms – mainly because internationalized firms are too specialized and provide internal training to workers without a VET degree. Relating the results to the theory of the varieties of capitalism, I find no statistically significant differences in the training participation of similar-sized firms with headquarters in typical liberal market economies (United States, United Kingdom) and a coordinated market economy (Germany), stressing the importance of other factors such as location, sector, firm size, and the local labor market environment.ConclusionWhile large internationalized firms show a similar training participation as domestic firms, a large fraction of small and internationalized firms does not offer apprenticeships even though they are aware of a potentially suitable training occupation. Thus policies promoting alternative forms of training, such as training networks that facilitate access to apprenticeship training for small and specialized firms, may possibly increase the future training participation of internationalized firms.JEL-codesJ24; M51; M53