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Dynamic Maze Puzzle Navigation Using Deep Reinforcement Learning, Luisa Shu Yi Chiu

Master's Theses

The implementation of deep reinforcement learning in mobile robotics offers a great solution for the development of autonomous mobile robots to efficiently complete tasks and transport objects. Reinforcement learning continues to show impressive potential in robotics applications through self-learning and biological plausibility. Despite its advancements, challenges remain in applying these machine learning techniques in dynamic environments. This thesis explores the performance of Deep Q-Networks (DQN), using images as an input, for mobile robot navigation in dynamic maze puzzles and aims to contribute to advancements in deep reinforcement learning applications for simulated and real-life robotic systems. This project is a step …

Investigation Of Temperature, Solution Strength, And Applied Stress Effects On Cation Exchange Processes In Different Geosynthetic Clay Liner Products, Kendra Fuller

Master's Theses

An extensive laboratory test program was conducted to analyze and compare the cation exchange processes in three different varieties of sodium bentonite (Na-B) geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) over increased conditioning durations up to 32 days and investigate the effects of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress. The goal of this test program was to establish whether the variables of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress improved or degraded the engineering properties of GCLs in laboratory testing and municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill applications. The GCLs were conditioned in liquids of increasing ionic strength, using deionized water and 2, 50, and …

History & Evolution Of Plastic Mulching Technology: An Ethnography Of California Strawberry Plasticulture, Kalea Conrad

Master's Theses

This ethnography draws on key informant interviews and participant observation to produce a case study about plastic mulching as an important industry standard in specialty crop production. It documents the historic adoption and present role of plastic mulching technology in California strawberry production and addresses the characteristics of commercial standard management that inhibit the adoption of alternative mulching practices. It complements extensive research on strawberry pathology and fumigation, breeding innovations, fertilizer and pesticide treatments, and maximization of yields to incorporate participants’ lived experiences and knowledge of mulch origins, the technology adoption process, mulch benefits and drawbacks, the state of agricultural …

Dual Base Sige Is-Hbt For Use In Biosensing Applications, Liam Stephen Hayes

Master's Theses

The proposed research is for a novel SiGe-based Ion-Sensitive Dual Hetero-junction Bipolar Transistor (IS-HBT) to be used in both trans-dermal biological sensing as well as Lab-on-Chip (LOC) applications. The end goals for the device designed are two: For one, the research done for this work will be used to substantiate the claims made by Zafar et al. [1] that an HBT-style structure is better suited for biosensing application rather than a conventional Field Effect Transistor (FET) based geometries. Secondly, it provides the final element to be integrated along with a selectivity membrane, as well as with a reverse-iontophoresis system to …

Design And Implementation Of An Inverted Short Baseline Acoustic Positioning System, Jakob Frabosilio

Master's Theses

This document details the design, implementation, testing, and analysis of an inverted short baseline acoustic positioning system. The system presented here is an above-water, air-based prototype for an underwater acoustic positioning system; it is designed to determine the position of remotely-operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in the global frame using a method that does not drift over time.

A ground-truth positioning system is constructed using a stacked hexapod platform actuator, which mimics the motion of an AUV and provides the true position of an ultrasonic microphone array. An ultrasonic transmitter sends a pulse of sound towards …

Burnout: Half A Century Of Controversy, Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Burnout has become a focal point of concern in the contemporary workplace. The syndrome has elicited undiminished interest among occupational health specialists. The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome "resulting from chronic workplace stress." Burnout is said to comprise three components: (i) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; (ii) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism toward one’s job; and (iii) a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment. This definition mirrors the conceptualization of burnout embodied in the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the ‘gold standard’ for the assessment of burnout. However, controversies …

Finance, Technology, & Operations Newsletter (Volume 9), Csusb Finance, Technology, & Operations

Finance, Technology, & Operations Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Blow To Reunification: How The Supreme Court Of North Carolina’S Ruling In In Re J.M. Eviscerates The Hopes Of Parents In Reunifying With Their Children, John J. Choi

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Forging Future Frontiers: Pioneering Union Progress Through Training Centers, Ciara S. Alagao

Nevada Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Insufficiency Of Battered Women’S Syndrome Evidence And The Need For Resentencing Legislation For Criminalized Survivors Of Domestic Violence, Alice Samberg

Nevada Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Behavioral Threat Assessment And Management Program Capabilities: Plain Language Summary, Tin L. Nguyen, Mario J. Scalora, Denise Bulling

Reports, Projects, and Research

The National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE) conducted a work analysis to understand the core program-level elements of behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) implementation in support of BTAM research and capacity-enhancing efforts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and National Threat Evaluation and Reporting (NTER) Program Office.

Operational Components Related To The Development, Implementation, And Sustainability Of Behavioral Threat Assessment And Management Programs, Mario J. Scalora, Denise Bulling

Reports, Projects, and Research

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the operational components of developing, implementing, and sustaining Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) programs. It explores strategies for gaining support from relevant groups, outlines essential processes and procedures for maintaining BTAM programs, and examines the common challenges in initiating and executing these programs. A successful BTAM program requires planning, effective team management, clear policies, and ongoing support to address and manage potential threats effectively.

Behavioral Threat Assessment And Management Programs: Practitioner-Informed Baseline Capabilities, Tin L. Nguyen, Mario J. Scalora, Denise Bulling

Reports, Projects, and Research

The National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE) conducted a work analysis to understand the core program-level elements of behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) implementation in support of BTAM research and capacity-enhancing efforts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and National Threat Evaluation and Reporting (NTER) Program Office.

Artificial Intelligence In Human Resource Development: An Umbrella Review Protocol, Sangok Yoo, Kim Nimon, Sanket Ramchandra Patole

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

The recent surge in artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed work dynamics, particularly in human resource development (HRD) and related domains. Scholars, recognizing the significant potential of AI in HRD functions and processes, have contributed to the growing body of literature reviews on AI in HRD and related domains. Despite the valuable insights provided by these individual reviews, the challenge of collectively interpreting them within the HRD domain remains unresolved. This protocol outlines the methodology for an umbrella review aiming to systematically synthesize existing reviews on AI in HRD. The review seeks to address key research questions regarding AI’s contributions …

Navigating The New Norm: The Fda’S Final Rule On Laboratory Developed Tests (Ldts) And Its Impact On Clinical Laboratory Operations, Rob E. Carpenter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

On April 29, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a transformative final rule impacting the regulatory landscape for laboratory-developed tests (LDTs). This new regulation categorizes in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) used as LDTs under the same stringent oversight applied to other medical devices, thereby phasing out the agency’s long-standing policy of enforcement discretion. This paper offers a concise historical overview and examines the FDA’s revised regulatory framework scheduled for the next four years, examining its impact on laboratory operations in terms of safety, efficacy, and innovation. It explores how the new rule’s increased compliance demands and economic implications …

Physical Decline Rates: Men Versus Women, Ray C. Fair

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper uses world records by age in running, swimming, and rowing to estimate a biological frontier of decline rates for both men and women. Decline rates are assumed to be linear in percent terms up to a certain age and then quadratic after that, where the transition age is estimated. The use of world records avoids the possible problem of survivor bias in a sample. The decline rates are smallest for rowing, followed by swimming and then running. Decline rates for women are roughly the same as those for men for the swimming events. They are slightly larger for …

The Integration Of Mobile Learning In Student Interpreters' Out-Of-Class Learning In China, Jingyun Sun

International Journal of Interpreter Education

No abstract provided.

Volume 15, Issue 1, Table Of Contents

International Journal of Interpreter Education

No abstract provided.

Editorial - Research Leads To Results, Kim B. Kurz, Danielle Hunt

International Journal of Interpreter Education

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Maladaptive Perfectionism On Interpreting Training Sessions: Emotional Competencies And Self-Care, Annachiara La Manna

International Journal of Interpreter Education

This study explores the potential links between emotional competencies and perfectionism in graduate interpreting students. Specifically, the effect of Emotional Intelligence (EI) on maladaptive perfectionism was studied, using two questionnaires and a scale of responses. This current study aimed to clarify the link between Trait Emotional Quotients (TEQs) and maladaptive perfectionism symptoms, since it has emerged that maladaptive psychopathology is closely related to the ability to cope with stressors. A sample of native Italian students from the interpreting course at the University of X were provided with the EQ-i test scale to track the participants’ TEQs. The findings highlighted a …

Growing Identity Over A Decade: Asl-English Interpreter Education, Kimberly Hale

International Journal of Interpreter Education

The employment context of ASL-English Interpretation programs (ASLIPs) has not been analyzed in a decade. In this study, I compared the institutional type and disciplinary category of 38 ASLIPs operating in 2011 and 57 programs operating in 2021 to determine whether there had been a standardization of academic profile. Over half of the programs in 2021 are in doctoral/research granting institutions (52.6%) compared to only 31.6% in 2011. While the number of programs classified under Schools/Colleges of Education has nearly doubled (11 and 20, respectively), the proportion has remained steady (45.8% and 45.5%, respectively). The proportion of language and/or culturally-related …

Signed Language Interpreter Education: A Comparison Of First-Generation And Non-First-Generation Bachelor's Students, Kierstin S. Muroski

International Journal of Interpreter Education

Studies have shown that first-generation college students (FGCS), those who are the first in their families to earn a bachelor's degree, have unique experiences, perceptions, and needs when compared to non- first-generation college students (NFGCS) whose parents have graduated from college. A recent survey of 201 signed language interpreting bachelor's degree students found that FGCS and NFGCS differ in their academic lives. The results of this study support previous research that indicates that FGCS often face obstacles that can impede their academic success. By recognizing the challenges that FGCS may encounter, interpreter educators can create learning environments that better support …

How Do Sign Language Students' Attitudes Toward Minority Languages Evolve Over The Course Of Learning A Sign Language?, Stacey Webb, Danielle Morgan, Jemina M. Napier, Robert Adam

International Journal of Interpreter Education

How do sign language learners’ language attitudes toward minority languages evolve over the course of learning a sign language? Students enrolled in the 4-year British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreting degree at Heriot-Watt University in the UK present an interesting case study since they (1) are speakers of a majority language studying a minority language and (2) seek employment opportunities where they will work with the minority-language community (in this case BSL users) as they interact with majority- language users (in this case English) as interpreters upon completing their degree. To investigate shifts in language attitudes, this study explores how a …

Perceptions Of Non-Deaf Parties In A Student Interpreted Transaction, Stephen Fitzmaurice, Jessica Bentley Sassaman

International Journal of Interpreter Education

Judgements about people are formed based on how ideas are communicated. In an interpreted interaction, Deaf and non-deaf people are judged via the interpreter. This quantitative study examined non-deaf participants and supervising interpreters’ perceptions during an interpreted interaction by an interpreting intern student. Students scored well in presenting self-confidence, professional appearance, and adhering to the role of an interpreter in the setting where the interaction took place. Students also used effective volume and clear speech but were found to be less confident in their way of speaking. Non-deaf participants’ perceptions of Deaf participants varied by student but held significantly lower …

Finally Free From The Interpreter's Gaze? Uncovering The Hidden Labor Of Gaze Work For Deaf Consumers Of Interpreter Services, Maartje De Meulder, Christopher Stone

International Journal of Interpreter Education

No abstract provided.

“Can You Hear Me Now?” Evaluating Virtual Interpreted Healthcare Simulations, Mark A. Halley, Linda Connelly

International Journal of Interpreter Education

In this paper, we evaluate virtual healthcare simulations with undergraduate American Sign Language/ English interpreting students and undergraduate nursing students. To evaluate this educational innovation, we conducted a focus group interview with key stakeholders – undergraduate nursing and interpreting students, graduate interpreting student mentors, and deaf standardized patients – who participated in the simulations. The focus group data were thematically analyzed, which allowed for an evaluation of instructional effectiveness and identification of areas for quality improvement in future iterations. Taken together, the findings suggest that virtual simulations offer students a powerful experiential learning experience and the opportunity to apply theoretical …

Asl To English Interpretations Of Employment Interviews With Deaf Job Applicants: The Influence Of Verbal Disfluency On Impression, Erica Alley, Elizabeth Otto

International Journal of Interpreter Education

Interpretations of employment interviews delivered by signed language interpreters may be considered high stakes by the deaf applicant who aims to gain employment. The information shared in a job interview and the language used to express the information have a direct influence on the impression the applicant makes to the hiring manager/committee. Job applicants aim to portray qualification for the position, experience in the field of interest, motivation to become a member of the team, and confidence in their ability to contribute their knowledge and skills to the position. Historically, attaining employment may be challenging for deaf applicants for a …

The Current Rural Sign Language Interpreter Landscape: Examining The Fields' Collective Accountability, Kelly L. Decker, Schawn M. Hardesty

International Journal of Interpreter Education

Historically overlooked by training entities and professional organizations, rural interpreters are too often unable to attain the necessary and appropriately sequenced training that recognizes existing competencies, accumulates academic credentials, or acquires professional certification (Shaffer, 2013; Trimble, 2014). As educators and practitioners cultivating this vital interpreting workforce demographic, we have contributed to these gaps and are accountable. The Improving Rural Interpreter Skills (IRIS) Project is a $2.1M, five-year interpreter training grant project awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration to the University of Northern Colorado's (UNC) American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies (ASLIS) department, that aims to uncover …

Peer Support For Medical Interpreters: Is Confidentiality A Barrier?, Josie Carballido, Amy Olen, Paulina Lim, W. Hobart Davies, Kristin Nordness

International Journal of Interpreter Education

In this commentary, the authors explore medical interpreters’ views on confidentiality and sharing feelings with other interpreters about emotionally difficult interpreting encounters. Confidentiality is presented as a potential barrier for interpreters seeking peer support for coping with distress related to their work in a hospital. Interpreter insights were gathered in a mixed methods research project. We present a confidentiality training tool that the authors developed in response to interpreter perspectives. The aim of this training tool is to provide a decision-making mechanism for interpreters when they want to access peer support while also respecting legal stipulations and interpreter ethics on …

Book Review Of The Routledge Handbook Of Conference Interpreting, Keming Peng, Hui Dai, Yueli Zhan

International Journal of Interpreter Education

No abstract provided.