The purpose of this study was to analyze the current and pre-service conditions that can affect student teachers' preparedness to pass the science portion of the EC-6 Texas Examinations for Educator Standards (TExES), one of the mandatory certification exam to become a teacher in Texas. Two types of prediction models were employed in this study: binomial logistic regression and multiple linear regression. The independent variables used in this study were: final grade in BIOL 1082, classification of students, transfer status, taken college biology, taken college chemistry, taken college physics, taken college environmental science, taken college earth science, attending college part-time, number of credits taken during the semester, first-generation college student, relatives with degree in education, and current GPA. The dependent variable of this study was the posttest score on science portion of the EC-6 TExES practice exam. A total of 170 preservice teachers participated this study. This study used students enrolled in BIOL 1082, who volunteered to take a Biology for Educators QualtricsTM survey and the EC-6 TExES practice exam in a pretest (start of semester) and posttest (end of semester) form. The findings of this study revealed that the single best predictor of preservice teachers' performance on the science portion of EC-6 TExES practice certification examination was the Grade in BIOL 1082.

近幾年來，國人自殺死亡率不斷提高，且自殺死亡從1997年起已連續多年列於國人十大死亡原因之一，所以自殺防治工作刻不容緩。本研究採用自殺防治中心在桃園縣六家居家服務單位(龍祥、中國、仁愛、紅十字、家輔及寬福)所做之問卷調查資料，目的在於找出何種特性者，BSRS5 (The Five-Item Brief Symptom Rating Scale)分數及自殺意念分數可能較高。本研究屬於時序性追蹤資料，自民國96年5月份起，由居服人員針對受測對象進行訪談，大約每隔兩週收集一次，總共進行四次。 針對問卷進行基本敘述性統計、單項排名分析以及交叉分析後發現，在人口特質方面，男女性比例相當，年齡層主要皆在65~84歲，教育程度以不識字及國小為主；在BSRS5五題排名方面，以第一題「睡眠困難(難以入睡或早醒)」的平均分數最高，第四題「覺得比不上別人」平均分數最低；由交叉分析的結果發現身體狀況為一個重要的變數，身體狀況差的人BSRS5總分6分以上或自殺意念2分以上明顯較多。 對資料配適廣義估計方程式及Alternating Logistic Regressions的結果，發現在反應變數為BSRS5總分時，女性、身體狀況差及曾經看過精神科者BSRS5分數達到6分以上的可能性較高。若反應變數為自殺意念時，無論是利用廣義估計方程式或Alternating Logistic Regressions，從模型配適的結果發現只有BSRS5的效應顯著。不管利用BSRS5總分或是各題分開來看，BSRS5對自殺意念是一個相當有效的檢測工具，BSRS5分數愈高則自殺意念2分以上的機會也愈高。此外利用多層結構分析方法配適廣義估計方程式，針對BSRS5與受測次數間的關聯性分析，發現與配適傳統unstructured相關性矩陣的估計結果差異不大，但是可以減少許多參數估計，並且在電腦計算時間上是較快速的。 / In Taiwan, suicide has been among the top ten causes of death since 1997, and suicide prevention has thus attracted much attention since. Using the data provided by Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center (TSPC), this study is aimed to find out possible personal characteristics that might have some impacts on the BSRS5 (the Five-Item Brief Symptom Rating Scale) and suicide ideation scores The data come from a longitudinal study in which subjects from six elderly home service centers in Taoyuan County, Taiwan were visited four times between May and July, 2007, about two weeks between each visit. The total number of subjects is 1981. The proportions of male and female are nearly the same, the age range is from 65 to 84, and most of them have only an elementary school degree. Preliminary analyses indicate that among the five items in BSRS5, insomnia (the first item) is ranked the highest, and inferiority (the fourth item) is the lowest. In addition, health status is highly correlated to the BSRS5 and suicide ideation scores, the worse the health status, the higher the BSRS5 and suicide ideation scores. Fitting the data with Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) and Alternating Logistic Regressions models with respect to the BSRS5 score, we further find that female, those who have bad health status, and those who have ever consulted a psychiatrist have higher probability that the BSRS5 score is greater than 6. As far as the suicide ideation score is concerned, the BSRS5 score is the only covariate that is statistically significant, an indication that BSRS5 is a useful tool for screening subjects at risk of committing suicide. While the conclusions stay the same whether the data are analyzed through GEE with commonly used unstructured correlation structure or newly developed multiblock and multilayer correlation structure, the latter approach reduces the computer time significantly.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Physics / Dean Zollman / As part of a collaborative study of the science preparation of elementary school teachers, we investigated the quality of students’ reasoning and explored the relationship between sophistication of reasoning and the degree to which the courses were considered inquiry oriented. To probe students’ reasoning, we developed open-ended written content questions with the distinguishing feature of applying recently learned concepts in a new context. We devised a protocol for developing written content questions that provided a common structure for probing and classifying students’ sophistication level of reasoning. In designing our protocol, we considered several distinct criteria, and classified students’ responses based on their performance for each criterion. First, we classified concepts into three types: Descriptive, Hypothetical, and Theoretical and categorized the abstraction levels of the responses in terms of the types of concepts and the inter-relationship between the concepts. Second, we devised a rubric based on Bloom’s revised taxonomy with seven traits (both knowledge types and cognitive processes) and a defined set of criteria to evaluate each trait. Along with analyzing students’ reasoning, we visited universities and observed the courses in which the students were enrolled. We used the Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) to rank the courses with respect to characteristics that are valued for the inquiry courses. We conducted logistic regression for a sample of 18 courses with about 900 students and reported the results for performing logistic regression to estimate the relationship between traits of reasoning and RTOP score. In addition, we analyzed conceptual structure of students’ responses, based on conceptual classification schemes, and clustered students’ responses into six categories. We derived regression model, to estimate the relationship between the sophistication of the categories of conceptual structure and RTOP scores. However, the outcome variable with six categories required a more complicated regression model, known as multinomial logistic regression, generalized from binary logistic regression. With the large amount of collected data, we found that the likelihood of the higher cognitive processes were in favor of classes with higher measures on inquiry. However, the usage of more abstract concepts with higher order conceptual structures was less prevalent in higher RTOP courses.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar a Teoria da Resposta ao Item (TRI), por meio de uma abordagem pedagógica, aos professores da educação básica, que mencionaram esta necessidade por meio de pesquisa realizada pelo autor. Levar parte do conhecimento teórico que embasa esta teoria ao conhecimento do docente, principalmente a construção da curva de probabilidade de acerto do item, favorecerá a compreensão, a análise e o monitoramento do processo avaliativo educacional. Este material apresenta as principais definições e conceitos da avaliação externa em larga escala, além de fornecer insumos para a compreensão das suposições realizadas para aplicação da metodologia. Neste sentido, o texto foi estruturado de forma a apresentar didaticamente as etapas do processo de implementação de uma avaliação, desde a construção do item até a apuração e divulgação dos resultados. Todo enfoque será dado à construção do modelo da TRI com um parâmetro (dificuldade do item), também conhecido como modelo de Rasch, o que simplifica e facilita a compreensão da metodologia. O modelo utilizado nas avaliações externas em larga escala (modelo com três parâmetros) será introduzido a partir das considerações realizadas na abordagem que explicita o pensamento da construção do modelo de um parâmetro. Acredita-se que esta compreensão possa colaborar com o professor na exploração das habilidades/competências dos alunos durante os anos escolares. / This study aims to present the Item Response Theory (IRT), through a pedagogical approach, to teachers of basic education, which mentioned this necessity through research conducted by the author. To take part of the theoretical knowledge that supports this theory to the teacher\'s knowledge, especially the construction of probability curve of item correct response, it will favor for understanding, analysis and monitoring the evaluation educational process. This material presents the main definitions and concepts of the external evaluation in large scale, besides providing inputs for understanding the assumptions made to apply the methodology. In this sense, the text was structured in order to present the implementation process stages of a large scale assessment, from the item construction to the results calculation and dissemination. The focus will be given to the IRT model construction of one-parameter (difficulty of the item), also known as Rasch model, since it simplifies and facilitates the understanding of methodology. The model used in the external assessment on a large scale (three-parameter model) will be introduced from the considerations made in the approach that explicit the thought of one-parameter model construction. It is believed that understanding can collaborate with teacher in exploration of the students\' skills/competences during the school year.

Os dados de sobrevivência possuem peculiaridades que necessitam de uma atenção especial no momento em que se deseja realizar uma análise nos mesmos. Em tais dados é comum a presença de censuras e sua variável resposta é definida como o tempo de vida até a ocorrência de um evento de interesse. Existem distribuições que acolhem dados de sobrevivência, como as distribuições exponencial, Weibull, gama, gama generalizada, entre outras, assim como seus respectivos modelos de regressão adaptados para esse tipo de estudo. Os modelos de regressão exponencial e Weibull são os mais citados na literatura por terem fácil aplicação e se modelarem bem aos dados. O modelo de regressão gama generalizado geralmente se adapta melhor aos dados por ter três parâmetros, assim como o modelo de regressão log-logístico, que é visto como uma alternativa à distribuição Weibull e é muito utilizado por ter formas explícitas para a sua função de sobrevivência e de falha. No entanto, esses modelos ainda possuem restrições e, por conta disso, novas famílias de modelos de regressão estão sendo desenvolvidas na literatura, assim como a família de distribuições odd log-logística generalizada, que pretende oferecer melhores ajustes pois aparenta ter capacidade de modelar diferentes tipos de dados. O objetivo dessa dissertação foi aplicar técnicas de análise de sobrevivência na modelagem dos tempos de vida de Micrurus corallinus, ajustando os modelos já presentes na literatura e o modelo proposto odd log-logística generalizada Weibull (OLLG-W). Conclui-se que o modelo de regressão que se mostrou adequado aos dados foi o log-logístico e o modelo de regressão OLLG-W não apresentou nenhuma vantagem em relação aos que já são frequentes na literatura. / Survival data hold special attention-needed peculiarities the moment you intend to realize an analysis on. These data own censorships and their variable responses are defined as lifetime to interest- event occurrence. There are distributions that harbor these data, such as exponential distribution, Weibull, gamma, generalized gamma, among others, just as their respective event-adapted regression models. Exponential regression and Weibull models are the most literature recurrent, in view of their easy application and appropriate data modeling. The generalized gamma regression model usually is a better fit to the data, due to its three-parameter comprise, just as the log-logistic regression model, which is seen as an alternative to Weibull distribution and is heavily utilized for it\'s explicit shapes to survivability and fail functions. Nonetheless, these models still retain restrictions and, on account of that, new regression model families are being developed, as in the log logistic generalized distribution family, which intends to offer better settings due to its different real data modeling ability. The purpose of this dissertation was to apply survival analysis techniques in Micrurus corallinus lifetime modeling, adjusting already existing models and the proposed Weibull generalized odd log logistic model (OLLG-W). We came to the conclusion that the adequate regression model to Micrurus corallinus data was the log-logistic model. The OLLG-W model didn\'t offer any benefits when compared to literature-recurrent ones.

隨著產品生命週期的縮短，大量的廢棄物對人類生存環境開始造成威脅，各國開始正視廢棄物管理的議題，紛紛立法來規範廢棄物的回收管理。企業為了成本、企業形象、法律規定等因素開始將逆物流(reverse logistic)納入其營運規劃。但在逆物流資訊難以取得以及具備大量的不確定因素下，許多企業選擇將逆物流外包給專業的逆物流業者，以專注在其核心能力之上。 在單純的外包模式下，企業時常面臨回收商無法穩定供給再生物料之問題，若再生物料使用比率無法達到法規要求，則需繳納高額的回收規費，部分企業甚至以新產品分解為新再生物料來補足再生物料短缺以迴避高額的回收規費；回收商則會面臨企業再生物料需求數量不穩定或是數量不足，單次運輸成本大幅提高，使其表現出只願回收退回商品取得回收補貼，但不分解販售再生物料，而是堆放退回商品於集散處的傾向。 本研究提出一綜合回收商及製造商之緊密營運模式，考量連續時期、利潤共享的條件下，建立一數量決策模型，以整體利潤最大化為目標，探討不穩定因素下之每期穩健再生物料分配決策。因應大環境之不穩定因素，將以建構情境為基礎之穩健最佳化模式求得穩健解。 / In recent year, enterprises consider reverse logistic in their processing because of cost, corporate image and government policy. But there are lots of uncertainty factors in the reverse logistic, in order to focus on enterprise’s professional skills, more and more enterprises outsource their reverse logistics. Both enterprise and professional reverse logistic processor have to spend more costs to keep their cooperation in recent outsourcing model. Thus, this thesis builds a model which combine enterprise's business model and professional reverse logistic processor's business model. In this model, assumes that profit should be share between both of them, and apply Robust optimization methods to solve uncertainty factors in reverse logistic. The thesis finds out the best distribution ratio of regeneration materials in each period.

2007年美國爆發次級房貸違約潮造成了其經濟、房市和股市的不景氣，也波及到持有美國房貸證券化商品的各國，使其承受重大的損失，因此房屋抵押貸款違約的影響因素和金融資產證券化機制對貸款違約風險的影響又再度成為不動產與金融市場上之重要議題。而以往針對美國次貸危機的研究多指出道德風險是造成此次危機的原因之一，但是較缺乏實證研究的支持。 有鑑於此，本研究以我國的台北市和新北市的房屋抵押貸款市場作為研究對象，探討逆選擇和道德風險這兩個資訊不對稱的問題對貸款違約率的影響。研究結果顯示「貸款成數高、貸款利率高、搭配信貸和設定二胎的貸款比較容易違約」，證實逆選擇和道德風險問題確實存在於房屋抵押貸款市場，而且會增加貸款違約的機率。為了降低違約機率，從降低資訊不對稱的角度來看，本研究建議：一、建立全國房貸資料庫；二、將信貸的金額納入房貸的貸款成數中考慮，以降低款人的道德風險。 再者，本研究認為造成次貸危機的根本原因是不當政策導致的保證機制浮濫，以及高風險的房貸證券化商品的氾濫。為了避免我國發生類似次貸危機的事件，從減少資訊不對稱的角度切入，本研究建議我國的金融資產證券化機制應該：一、將道德風險內部化，消除創始機構自利的動機以減少道德風險；二、使用外部信用增強的方式，以確實發揮分散證券風險的作用。 / The 2007 subprime mortgage crisis has severely struck the stability of the worldwide financial markets. Some researches indicate that moral hazard problems are the main factors causing the crisis. However, few studies support asymmetry problems existing in a mortgage market by empirical evidences. First, using the mortgage samples from Taipei City and New Taipei City this study would like to understand if the mortgage market are information asymmetry problems, adverse selection and moral hazard, and conduct the empirical analysis for these factors’ impact on mortgage default. The results show that mortgage default is influenced significantly by the Loan-to-Value （LTV） ratio, contract interest rates, the existence of second liens and credit loans, and jobs. It shows that adverse selection and moral hazard actually exist in the mortgage market. According to the empirical results, secondly, this study proposes suggestions for mortgage lending and financial asset securitization to reduce adverse selection and moral hazard problems and enhance the regulation environment and market’s stability. It is expected that the results of this study will be applied to avoid the occurrence of similar crisis in Taiwan.

Cultural competence is widely recognized as an essential strategy for reducing health disparities. As the United States' population becomes increasingly ethno-culturally diverse, these disparities are becoming even more pronounced. One particular challenge in this regard concerns overweight/obesity prevalence among American adults, as a disproportionately high number of racial and ethnic minority adults are classified as overweight or obese. Dietary behavior assessments are often utilized by health and human services professionals to obtain the data necessary to promote goals such as the reduction and elimination of overweight/obesity across all ethno-cultural groups. The primary objective of this research study was to develop, test, and evaluate a culturally-competent dietary behavior assessment instrument by effectively synthesizing qualitative methods from Cognitive Anthropology with appropriate survey research and quantitative statistical methods. Specifically, a quantitative methods triangle of hierarchical cluster analysis, binary logistic regression, and Poisson regression in conjunction with the free listing qualitative research technique from Cognitive Anthropology was explored as a possible combined methodological approach for researchers and public health professionals wishing to develop a comprehensive understanding of dietary behaviors at the local community level. Binary logistic regression and Poisson regression enabled the relationship between selected food categories and certain demographic/cultural indicators to be modeled, while hierarchical cluster analyses enabled modeling of the distinct patterns of food category groupings that comprise individuals' regular diet. Additionally, initial qualitative analyses of the raw data promoted an understanding of the influence that the local fast food and dine-in restaurant environment has on the dietary behaviors of the target population. The results of this study suggest that a quantitative methods triangle of hierarchical cluster analysis, binary logistic regression analysis, and Poisson regression analysis founded upon qualitative research principles has potential for use as a combined methodological approach for researchers and public health professionals wishing to develop a comprehensive understanding of dietary behaviors at the local community level. By employing these techniques, researchers can analyze individual dietary behaviors and eating patterns from a multifaceted perspective. In turn, public health professionals can develop community-based, cross-culturally relevant programs and interventions that are equally effective across all ethno-cultural groups in their target population.

The diploma theses Optimization of logistics system in the Food Bank of South Bohemia, is focused on design of optimimal logistics system in the Food Bank of South Bohemia. Social benefits of food banks in general consist in solidarity and reducing of food waste. As nonprofit organizations the food bank is supported by volunteers, often students who are looking for savings in contemporary logistic processes. This thesis is focused on finding optimization in the whole contemporary system of logistics based on solving current issues in the field of distribution, transport and storage system of the Food Bank.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3532.pdf: 2375674 bytes, checksum: 8220f9b2a43401bf9ab683fd67209099 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-23 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / From the Supply Chain Management (SCM), the logistic function expands its scope within the company, going to exert or support the management and operation of key business processes. Its performance leaves to reduce only the functional sphere ( silo or vertical area ), passing to reach horizontal sphere in such processes. Various sources of literature indicate changes in the logistic function but not characterize precisely or discuss the changes in its scope within the company. In particular, the benefits generated by the involvement of the logistic function on key business processes of SCM have been identified in the literature, but were not identified logistic activities that must execute in each of the processes so that these benefits are achieved. In front of this theoretical gap, the objective of this doctorate thesis was to propose logistic activities necessary for the efficacious operation of key business processes of SCM, generating a conceptual framework that assists in implementing these activities. Such a framework is a guide that can help companies identify, characterize and select the activities that the logistic function can develop in their key business processes. More specifically, this conceptual framework presents, besides the own logistics activities, a way of characterizing these activities, according to four criterions: a) obligatoriness of existence in the company (basic or optional), b) impact on the generation of value (efficiency, efficacy and/or differentiation), c) impact on the dimension of logistic service, d) the integration and coordination with other areas or processes. This thesis used the approach of qualitative research, of descriptive character, of exploratory nature and with experimental study of field. The research method was the multi-case study and the mechanism of data collection was the personal interview realized by a semi-structured questionnaire. This research is also of theoretical-conceptual nature, because it developed a conceptual framework generated from the theoretical review. In three case studies realized, observed consistency in the proposed logistic activities and in its form of characterization. Among the 25 proposed activities, the Company 1 realizes 21 of them, the Company 2 realizes 23 activities and the Company 3 realizes all 25 activities, and all interviewed declared that the set of these proposed activities was complete and consistent. / A partir da Gestão da Cadeia de Suprimentos (Supply Chain Management, SCM), a função logística expande seu escopo dentro da empresa, passando a exercer ou dar apoio à gestão e operação dos processos-chave de negócio. Sua atuação deixa de se reduzir somente à esfera funcional ( silo ou área vertical ), passando a alcançar também a esfera horizontal de tais processos. Várias fontes da literatura apontam mudanças na função logística mas não as caracterizam precisamente nem discutem as modificações no seu escopo dentro das empresas. Em particular, os benefícios gerados pelo envolvimento da função logística nos processoschave de negócio da SCM já foram levantados na literatura, mas não foram identificadas as atividades que a logística deve executar em cada um dos processos para que esses benefícios sejam alcançados. Diante desta lacuna teórica, o objetivo desta tese de doutorado foi de propor atividades logísticas necessárias à operação eficaz dos processos-chave de negócio da SCM, gerando uma estrutura conceitual que auxilia na implementação destas atividades. Tal estrutura é um guia que pode auxiliar as empresas na identificação, caracterização e seleção das atividades que a função logística pode desenvolver nos seus processos-chave de negócio. Mais especificamente, esta estrutura conceitual apresenta, além das próprias atividades logísticas, uma forma de caracterização destas atividades, de acordo com quatro critérios: a) obrigatoriedade de existência na empresa (básica ou opcional), b) impacto na geração de valor (eficiência, eficácia e/ou diferenciação), c) impacto na dimensão do serviço logístico prestado, d) integração e coordenação com outras áreas ou processos. Esta tese utilizou a abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter descritivo, de natureza exploratória e com estudo experimental de campo. O método de pesquisa foi o estudo multi-caso e o mecanismo de coleta de dados foi a entrevista pessoal realizada por meio de um questionário semi-estruturado. Esta pesquisa também é de natureza teórico-conceitual, pois desenvolveu uma estrutura conceitual gerada a partir de revisão teórica. Nos três estudos de caso realizados, observou-se consistência nas atividades logísticas e na sua forma de caracterização propostas. Dentre as 25 atividades propostas, a Empresa 1 realiza 21 delas, a Empresa 2, 23 atividades e a Empresa 3, todas as 25 atividades, sendo que todos os entrevistados declararam que estava completo e consistente o conjunto proposto dessas atividades.