Previous investigations of the Level of Service Inventory Ontario Revision (LSI-OR) have examined individual subgroups of offenders (e.g., women, Aboriginal offenders), which has made comparisons of its predictive validity between specific offender groups suspect. This study was conducted on a complete cohort of 26,450 offenders who were released from Ontario provincial correctional facilities, sentenced to a conditional sentence, or who began a term of probation in 2004. Participants were followed up for at least four years to collect recidivism information on numerous subgroups of offenders including males (81.7%), females (18.3%), Aboriginal (6.4%), Black (7.3%) and Caucasian offenders (59.2%). Analyses revealed that the LSI-OR scores are positively correlated with recidivism (r = .441, p < .001), and similar correlations were found for all offenders regardless of gender or race, (Aboriginal r = .377, p < .001; Black, r = .420, p < .001; Caucasian, r = .417, p < .001; Male, r = .439, p < .001; Female, r = .426, p < .001). LSI-OR scores are also correlated with severity of the recidivism offence, (r = .098, p <.001) indicating that higher LSI-OR scores are related to higher offence severity for all ethnicities, sentence types, and genders. These findings indicate that the LSI-OR is an effective risk assessment tool for use among different ethnicities, sentence types and genders for provincially sentenced offenders in Ontario.

Proteins are chemically simple molecules, being unbranched polymers of uncomplicated organic compounds. Nonetheless, they fold up into a dazzling variety of complex and beautiful configurations with a dizzying array of structural, regulatory, and catalytic functions. Despite great progress, we still have very limited ability to predict the folded conformation of an amino acid sequence, and limited understanding of its dynamics and motions. Thus, this work presents a quartet of interrelated studies that address some aspects of the detailed local conformations and motions of protein backbone. First, I used a density-dependent smoothing algorithm and a high-quality, B-filtered data set to construct highly accurate conformational distributions for protein backbone (Ramachandran plots) and sidechains (rotamers). These distributions are the most accurate and restrictive produced to date, with improved discrimination between rare-but-real conformations and artifactual ones. Second, I analyzed hundreds of alternate conformations in atomic resolution crystal structures, and discovered that dramatic conformational change in a protein sidechain is often coupled to a subtle but very common mode of conformational change in its backbone -- the backrub motion. Examination of other biophysical data further supports the ubiquity of this motion. Third, I applied a model of backrub motion to protein design calculations. Although experimental characterization of the designs showed them to be unstable and/or inactive, the computational results proved to be very sensitive to changes in the backbone. Finally, I describe how MolProbity uses my conformational distributions together with all-atom contacts and other tools to validate protein structures, and how those quality metrics can be combined visually or analytically to provide "multi-criterion" validation summaries. / dissertation

Today, the threat to humanity survival, economic crisis, financial crisis, global warming, ecological extinction, greenhouse effect ... etc., are gradually grow by both detail and dynamic complexity process. Most current humanity facing problems is because human can¡¦t handle the gradually growing complexity system problems on our environment. The main purpose of this research is to explore the causal feedback diagram model translation into stock flow diagram model, and to discover key transfer principle from current system dynamics and fundamental components. This will improve dynamic system accuracy and validity. According to model transformation design, this research is to provide a model based architecture, on simulating actual causal feedback diagram module with Maria 2 Plus provided function. Maria is the first Chinese language interface for the system dynamics simulation software. Through Software development tools transfer model and natural language operation interface to user easy use on causal feedback diagram and stock flow diagram model rapid creation. This will also decrease the learning cycle and will increase model creation speed and validity.

Keywords: EAC, full-scale experimental Validation, ABRI Lab, VRV The VRV air-conditioning system has been gaining overwhelming popularity in recent years due to its superb merits such as high energy efficiency, lower power consumption, low noise and increasing thermal comfort. During last phase of study, computer simulation using the DOE 2.1 as a tool has been performed systematically to establish a calculation equation for the EAC for Green Building Evaluation Indexes, in replacing the currently adapted fixed constant of 0.8. It is the goal of this year¡¦s project to further validate this equation by conducting a series of full-scale experiments at the ABRI Tainan Laboratory. The experimental result will be organized as a model to revise the equations established during last phase of study with good accuracy. Various different VRV systems which were commercially available on the local air-conditioning market will be adapted so that comparative study can be performed among them. The IPLV curves, which are the essential performance curve of each specific VRV system will then be obtained under local weather conditions. It is expected that through the execution of this project, the calculation equation of the VRV system to be adapted in the Green Building EAC evaluation index will be finalized and validated by the full-scale experiments. The test facilities established during this phase of study will then become the most suitable location of similar tests when building energy conservation is concerned.

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The main objective of this paper is to develop a method of removing noise from signal. This method is based on the radial-basis function networks and the principle of cross-validation in statistics. In this method, we detect noise by estimating the magnitude of validation error after training the network. Besides, this paper applies the concept of predictive coding to select data set from image when the proposed method used to deal with the noise removal problem of two-dimensional image signals. Finally, the proposed method has been employed to deal with noise removal problems of one-dimensional and two-dimensional signals. From the result of simulation, the proposed method could remove noise from signals effectively.

The objective of the current study was to provide an initial empirical test of the Schneider, Smith, and Sipe (2000) multilevel model of personnel selection. The Schneider et al. (2000) model expanded the traditional approach to validating selection systems to include the impact that selection systems have on the broader organizational system. The current project provided an empirical test of this model by extending the traditional individual-differences approach to validation research and including group- and organization-criteria (e.g., unit-level performance and customer satisfaction). Using a quasi-experimental design, archival data from a managerial development and selection program were analyzed to examine several relationships proposed in the Schneider et al. (2000) model. The current study provided limited support for the Schneider et al. (2000) model. There were several limitations in the current study associated with the use of archival data, but the current study provides an initial indication of practical problems associated with empirically testing the model. While intuitively appealing, testing the Schneider et al. model in applied settings may prove to be a practical challenge because of the nature and complexity of the data required to do so. Although the current study provided limited support for the model, there were some interesting findings that warranted additional examination. Findings from the current study may be informative for both researchers and practitioners. Ideas for future research related to the Schneider et al. (2000) multilevel model of personnel selection are also offered.

Based on the change-production-employee model proposed by Ekvall and Arvonen (1991), the present study developed a theoretical framework of creative leadership and constructed the Creative Leadership Scale for Elementary School Teachers. Eighteen elementary school teachers and education graduate students were recruited to receive semi-structured interviews. Content analysis indicated that the notion of creative leadership in elementary school teachers was congruent with the Ekvall and Arvonen¡¦s model. After content validity, the initial 37-item scale was administrated item analysis with a pretest sample consisting of 263 elementary school teachers. Item analysis reduced the initial scale to a 17-item formal scale. Exploratory factory analysis demonstrated a three-factor oblique model. In term of internal consistency aspect, Cronback¡¦s Alpha coefficient for the entire scale was .93. The coefficients of internal consistency for three subscales were .81 to .85. Later, the large sample which consisted of 1013 elementary school teachers was used to conduct confirmatory factor analysis and criterion-related validity. First-order orthogonal model, first-order oblique model, and second-oblique model were employed to conduct model comparisons in confirmatory factor analysis. The results indicated that the first-order oblique model was the most appropriate among the three models in terms of model fitness, in which the construct reliability coefficients were .82 to .85. The organizational innovative climate, creative teaching performance, and effectiveness of class management were used as criterion for validation. Findings in criterion-related validity revealed that the concurrent validity of the scale was satisfactory, showing creative leadership correlated positively with the criterions. Besides, sex differences and differences of advantageous hand were not observed. The scale was marginally associated with social desirability. Finally, future directions for scale validation and applications were discussed.

Mathematical model-building is one kind of mathematical thinking, which uses mathematical signs and methods to build a mathematical tool which can describe and solve practical problem. However, System Dynamic is to solve complicated non-linear dynamic problem. It uses the model-building software of diagram interface to make dynamic simulation. Behind the dynamic simulation is the calculation of a set of mathematical equation. The purpose of this research is , by the transition between Mathematics Model and System Dynamic Model, to discuss the mathematical principle of System Dynamic ,and to avoid distorting model and making the model validation harder due to the model-builder's misusing function. Using the conclusion of the transition will help validating the model and raising the reliability and the efficiency of the model. From the conclusion of this research, we find out that System Dynamic is non-linear dynamic mathematical model. Both are exchangeable. From the transition, we also find that the graph function used in the process of System Dynamic model-building is a piecewise-linear- approximate function. The numerical value setting of the graph function can influence the system action. After the transition from System Dynamic model to mathematical model, we can use some other mathematical software to draw the phase-plane-plot or phase-portrait-plot. It will analyze clearly the system action in any situation, and validate the correction of model construction.

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