Item Objective Congruence Analysis for Multidimensional Items Content Validation of a Reading Test in Sri Lankan University

This paper presents the findings of a study that intended to seek the content validity (CV) evidence of an instrument to measure the reading ability of university students in Sri Lanka. The reading passages and items were adapted from CEFR aligned Learning Resource Network (LRN) materials. The items were designed based on the cognitive processing involved in completing each reading task as prescribed by Khalifa and Weir (2009). As a part of collecting evidence for content validation of the instrumentation, Item Objective Congruence (IOC) analysis is used in this study. In IOC, the congruence between the cognitive processing of reading and the test items were studied providing quantified data for CV. A pool of twelve experts examined a total of 41 test items against eight cognitive processing effectively. As the experts had chosen more than one objective for an item, the IOC formula simplified by Crocker and Aligna (1986) for multi-dimensional assessment of multiple combinations of skills was applied in the present study. The findings of the IOC indicate the experts’ varying degrees of agreement in terms of what some of the items were designed to assess. 38 items had acceptable IOC indices, one item was removed from the study and two items were modified. Items having high congruence show that they test only one skill and those indicating low congruence notify that, items assess more than one cognitive processing skill. The study demonstrates the utility of the IOC method in gathering evidence for CV. Test development and validation are crucial in assessment which is the first and foremost process to evaluate educational management.   

Work-Life Integration in Academia: From Myth to Reality

Work-life integration is often considered the stuff of myth, especially for women in academia. The inherent conflict between an identity as a mother or parent and that as a working professional effectively limits diversity efforts in STEM. Addressing this conflict is therefore crucial to creating a more inclusive academic environment. Work-life integration has two fundamental components—structural and cultural. Workplace polices need to enable attainment of work and life goals; at the same time, the work culture is important in assuring individuals take advantage of existing policies. In this chapter, we review several work-life integration interventions at UC Davis, including the Partner Opportunity Program and Capital Resource Network. We discuss the challenges associated with these and other efforts during the implementation of our ADVANCE programs. We also make recommendations for improving work-life integration in academia and beyond—to turn myth into reality.

Construction of the Reverse Resource Recovery System of e-Waste Based on DLRNN

The research on the reverse resource network of e-waste at home and abroad is still in its infancy, and most of it is only based on traditional forward logistics. Reverse resources are the process of moving goods from their typical final destination for recycling value or proper disposal. With the intensification of market competition and the strengthening of environmental protection legislation by the government, reverse resources are no longer a neglected corner in the supply chain. The DLRNN model of the e-waste reverse resource recovery system constructed in this paper can provide an important theoretical and empirical basis for the rational utilization of waste electronic products and fully tap the potential value of waste electronic products, which is of great significance to the recycling of natural resources. In this paper, a hybrid network framework DLRNN based on deep learning (DL) and cyclic neural network (RNN) is designed for problem classification. Experimental results show that the classification accuracy of this framework is improved by 2.4% on TREC and 2.5% on MSQC without additional word vector conversion tools.

Flows in strongly regular periodic dynamic resource networks

This paper is devoted to studying the processes of resource allocation in dynamic resource networks. In such networks, the capacities of the arcs depend on time. Resource allocation in the network occurs in discrete time. The resource of each vertex is distributed only between adjacent vertices according to some rules. The study of the processes of resource redistribution in such networks is carried out. The main goal is to develop methods for finding the limit state (distribution) of a resource in a dynamic resource network. It is shown that the approach based on the construction of an auxiliary network is also applicable to reduce the problem of resource allocation in a dynamic network to a similar problem in an auxiliary network. Theorems on the existence of a limit state on an auxiliary graph are proved for strongly regular periodic dynamical networks. To find the limit states, one can use the approaches which are developed for the shortest path problem in dynamic networks.

Single-Threshold Model Resource Network and Its Double-Threshold Modifications

A resource network is a non-classical flow model where the infinitely divisible resource is iteratively distributed among the vertices of a weighted digraph. The model operates in discrete time. The weights of the edges denote their throughputs. The basic model, a standard resource network, has one general characteristic of resource amount—the network threshold value. This value depends on graph topology and weights of edges. This paper briefly outlines the main characteristics of standard resource networks and describes two its modifications. In both non-standard models, the changes concern the rules of receiving the resource by the vertices. The first modification imposes restrictions on the selected vertices’ capacity, preventing them from accumulating resource surpluses. In the second modification, a network with so-called greedy vertices, on the contrary, vertices first accumulate resource themselves and only then begin to give it away. It is noteworthy that completely different changes lead, in general, to the same consequences: the appearance of a second threshold value. At some intervals of resource values in networks, their functioning is described by a homogeneous Markov chain, at others by more complex rules. Transient processes and limit states in networks with different topologies and different operation rules are investigated and described.

Insights from homeless men about PRISM, an innovative shelter-based mental health service

PRISM (Projet Réaffiliation Itinérance Santé Mentale–mental health and homelessness reaffiliation project), is a new shelter-based mental health service in Montreal, Canada. It offers short-term residential services in a shelter with the aim of housing and connecting the person to the appropriate services in the community. This qualitative research project was designed to gain a rich understanding of service-user experience within this program, and to apply these impressions to a broader reflection concerning how to best serve the needs of homeless people living with severe mental illness. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 clients from the all-male PRISM-Welcome Hall Mission at program intake and departure between May 2018 and March 2019. We used methods stemming from grounded theory to analyze themes emerging from the interviews. Analysis revealed three core aspects endorsed by PRISM clients as helpful to their recovery: first, the community-based and flexible PRISM structure allows for continuity in daily routine through the preservation and expansion of the client’s existing informal resource network; second, the secure environment is conducive to improving one’s physical and mental health; and third, the multimodal mental health and social service approach used at PRISM is appreciated and stands in contrast to what most have experienced during other inpatient experiences. This led us to reflect more broadly on the benefits of a shelter-based intervention, as a catalyst to the achievement of longer-term goals such as housing, as well as flexible care adapted to the specific needs of these individuals. Even though this study took place in a specific program in Quebec, it sheds light more broadly on how to best meet the needs of individuals with mental illness living in homeless situations and contributes to the growing literature on men’s mental health.

Minimality of SRPT Networks With Resource Sharing

A general multi-resource network with users requiring service from a number of shared resources simultaneously is considered. It is demonstrated that the Shortest Remaining Processing Time (SRPT) service protocol minimizes, in a suitable sense, the system resource idleness with respect to customers with residual service times not greater than any threshold value on every network route. Our arguments are pathwise, with no assumptions on the model stochastic primitives and the network topology.

Analysis on the Application of Big Data Technology in “Internet + Wisdom Judicial Expertise”

It can be seen from the current development process of the field of forensic expertise that there are many problems in the application of the mechanism of the information structure. These problems lead to imperfect informatization construction process and too limited identification forms, which will have a great impact on the final identification results. This article summarizes the main content of big data technology in the construction of “Internet + Wisdom Judicial Expertise”. This article discusses the specific application recommendations of big data technology in the “Internet + smart forensic appraisal”, from focusing on forensic appraisal data collection and sorting, understanding forensic appraisal big data application requirements, building forensic appraisal big data analysis platform, and strengthening big data analysis platform resource network sharing four aspects.