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Percieved Wage Disparity In The Academic Workforce: A Case Study
No full textThis case study explored the impact of perceived wage disparity on employee motivation in academia. A participant sample of 33 University of Bridgeport faculty, administrators, and staff responded to a survey consisting of 10 multiple choice and open-ended questions and the data were analyzed using qualitative coding. The study’s findings revealed that in addition to inequitable wage structures employees tend to associate wage disparity with unbalanced workload. In addition, while almost all respondents confirmed wage disparity had no impact on their motivation, they also appreciate monetary rewards for their efforts. Recommendations include the implementation of a transparent pay scale to remove perceived bias. Gaps in literature are also highlighted that provide a guide for future research
Determining Success For African-American Technology Ventures With Agent-Based Modeling
No full textThis novel research provides an artificial intelligence based computational modeling and simulation approach to determine causal relations leading to success for African-American technology ventures and entrepreneurship in a social-technical-economic-political (STEP) complex dynamic ecosystem. This methodology is called agent-based modeling (ABM) and simulates the organizational behavior of an African-American owned enterprise (AAE) as it interacts with other autonomous decision-making participants or agents: government R&D (G), research universities(R), funding institutes (F),and non-AAEs (N) (AGRFN-ABM). Findings based on emergence of aggregate behavior for AAE include government set-aside contracts are significant for success; funding can be off set by high socio-economic status; collaborations can increase funding and competencies but is only short-term for universities; and debtor equity funding create only short-term opportunities
MOSAIC OF THOUGHT: A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY ON THE INDIVIDUAL INDUCTION EXPERIENCES OF BLACK WOMEN EDUCATORS IN CONNECTICUT URBAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
No full textWhere are all the Black women educators (BWEs) in Connecticut? Connecticut grapples with the problem of recruiting a workforce that is as racially and culturally as diverse as the student population Connecticut schools serve; this notable gap of student-to-teacher demographics influences the achievement of all students (Booker, 2018; Gais et al., 2019; Henry, 2018). The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the individual induction experiences of BWEs in Connecticut urban public schools. The central phenomenon of the study was the school district practices that have influenced teacher retention among BWEs. Prior to this study, there was an absence of literature that explored the induction experiences of K–12 BWEs in Connecticut. This study sought an opportunity to add to the body of research using the lens of critical race theory (CRT), Black feminist theory (BFT), and the impostor phenomenon (IP) as racialized educational contexts are directly impacted by the prevalence of educators of color. Essentially, this study was necessary to conduct to address the critical need to build school environments that are able to meet the expanding culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse needs of students locally in Connecticut as well as internationally. The findings of this study have advanced the knowledge and body of literature of CRT, IP, and BFT as this research supports social justice reform in K–12 settings. The research questions explored in this study were: How do BWEs describe their teacher induction process in Connecticut? How do BWEs describe their teacher identities? And how, if at all, do BWEs describe the presence of the impostor phenomenon in their teacher induction process? After informed consent was received, BWEs in the study completed an electronic demographic questionnaire, an electronic Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale Survey (CIPS) (Clance & Imes, 1978) and participated in a one-on-one, semi-structured interview with the researcher. One finding is that Five of six BWEs in this study indicated their identities were both invisible and hyper visible within the work environment. As a result, BWEs benefit from culture-specific mentoring; school leaders need to intentionally make space for culture-specific educator mentoring partnerships within their induction programs. One significant finding is that diamonds are born under extreme pressure. Five of the six BWEs in this study described being inadequately supported by their supervisors and peers. Despite the unique challenges BWEs in this sample have endured that have triggered their career movement, BWEs continue to persist past adversity and remain the field
Humanlike Motion Control Algorithm for Lunar and Martian Geological Exploration and Power Generation
No full textIn the not too distant future, humans will return to the Moon and step foot for the first time on Mars. Eventually, humanity will colonize these celestial bodies, where living and working will be commonplace. Success in these endeavors will require a new set of concepts never imagined or even contemplated before. This dissertation demonstrates one (1) such novel concept with two (2) integrated applications, each of which demonstrates its own novel concept, all done in their entirety, and all of which are useful for the geological exploration and colonization of these celestial bodies.
The main concept of this dissertation is: a humanlike motion control algorithm called PID++, and the two (2) applications of this algorithm is 1) a robotic arm end effector called “Robotic End Effector for lunar and martian Geological Exploration of Space” (REEGES) with its design for interchangeability, and 2) the REEGES Power Station for day and night power generation on the Moon and Mars.
The main idea of the motion control algorithm presented in this dissertation is to define a radically new, simple, and computationally lightweight approach to humanlike motion control. A new Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller algorithm called PID++ is proposed in this work that uses minor adjustments with basic arithmetic, based on the real-time encoder position input, to achieve a stable, precise, controlled, dynamic, adaptive control system, for linear motion control, in any direction regardless of load, with characteristics that are unmistakably human.
The first PID++ algorithm application of this dissertation is to illuminate a demonstrated, substantive means to facilitate the implementation of interchangeability of Space end effectors through the concept of a Universal Interface Design (UID). The “Robotic End Effector for lunar and martian Geological Exploration of Space” (REEGES) was developed to introduce this concept to the Space Research Community. REEGES uses the PID++ algorithm to control the rotation of its wrist joint.
The second PID++ algorithm application of this dissertation is the development of a radically new method for the integrated, safe production of electrical power on the Moon and on Mars, continuously, day and night. The use of Solar Tracking by day and a Solar Rechargeable, Calcium Oxide Chemical, Thermoelectric Reactor by night is demonstrated. Called the REEGES Day/Night Power Generator Station, this form of thermoelectric power generation is mathematically modeled, simulation is performed, and a fully operational unit is built. The REEGES Power Station employs the PID++ for its operation
Computer Vision and the Eye: Determining Intraocular Pressure from Frontal Eye Images
No full textINTRODUCTION Glaucoma, the silent thief of vision, is mostly caused by the gradual increase of pressure in the eye which is known as Intraocular Pressure (IOP). An effective way to prevent the rise in eye pressure is by early detection Prior computer vision based work regarding IOP rely on fundus images of the optic nerves. OBJECTIVE This paper provides a novel computer vision based framework to help in the initial IOP screening using only frontal eye images. METHODS The framework first introduces the utilization of a fully convolutional network (FCN); as an instance of deep learning on frontal eye images for sclera and iris segmentation. Using these extracted areas, six features that include mean redness level (MRL) of the sclera, red area percentage (RAP), Pupil/Iris diameter ratio and three sclera contour features (distance, area and angle) are computed. RESULTS A database of images from the Princess Basma Hospital is used in this work, containing 400 facial images; 200 cases with normal IOP and 200 cases with high IOP. Once the features are extracted, two classifiers (support vector machine and decision tree) are applied to obtain the status of the patients in terms IOP (normal or high) The overall accuracy of the proposed framework is over 97 75 using decision tree. CONCLUSION The novelties and contributions of this work include introducing a fully convolutional network architecture for eye sclera segmentation, in addition to scientifically correlating the frontal eye view (image) with IOP by introducing new sclera contour features that have not been previously introduced in the literature from frontal eye images for IOP status determination
Behavioral Finance & SNS GameStop case
No full textRecent stock market turmoil can not be explained by traditional finance theory. Values of stocks have been linked to earnings. But current stock price movements are not closely linked to earnings in some cases. This study investigate the links between stock price movements and non earning factors. This study finds several behavioral factors like short selling ratios, SNS movements and derivative securities like call options are closely related to current stock market movements
Decision Making of Buy or Rent a House
No full textNeed for shelter is a highest priority for any human in the world, from multi-billionaires to poverty-stricken people of the world. There are various options to get a shelter in this modern era. The focus of the current study is chosen whether to lease a house or own a house with specific benefits and disadvantages of each options and make a wise decision. The current research paper investigates various considerations and alternatives to make a possible decision between buy or rent a house. Throughout this research paper, I will use the gathered information and crucial data inputs from different people and sectors, popular interviews that influence our decisions such as real estate agencies, financial institutions, and popular builders with regards to the current market statistics
A Qualitative Phenomenological Study on the Lived Experiences of Dental Hygiene Clinical Instructors on Emotional Intelligence: A Single Case Study
No full textTeaching in the clinical dental hygiene setting entails not only clinical teaching skills and content expertise but also the consideration of the role that emotions contribute to in the clinical teaching environment. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the perceptions of dental hygiene clinical faculty towards the use of emotional intelligence in the dental hygiene clinical setting. Furthermore, the researcher sought to identify factors related to the use of emotional intelligence in the clinical educational setting, such as the instructors’ emotional intelligence and students, professionalism, and faculty development programs on emotional intelligence. Fifteen surveys were completed, and eight participants were selected via purposeful sampling. Eight clinical dental hygiene instructors who participated in this study were interviewed using audio-only. Semi-structured interviews were digitally audio-taped and transcribed. The conceptual framework of phenomenology was utilized in this study. Data analysis resulted in five major themes. These themes were understanding, character traits, clinical environment, interaction dynamics, and professional development on emotional intelligence. Recommendations based on the study findings suggest that a professional development program focusing on emotional intelligence may benefit clinical instructors. Being mindful of the various attributes and character traits of emotional intelligence such as self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship management may be deemed valuable during student interactions while teaching in the clinical setting
PID++: A Computationally Lightweight Humanoid Motion Control Algorithm
No full textCurrently robotic motion control algorithms are tedious at best to implement, are lacking in automatic situational adaptability, and tend to be static in nature. Humanoid (human-like) control is little more than a dream, for all, but the fastest computers. The main idea of the work presented in this paper is to define a radically new, simple, and computationally lightweight approach to humanoid motion control. A new Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller algorithm called PID++ is proposed in this work that uses minor adjustments with basic arithmetic, based on the real-time encoder position input, to achieve a stable, precise, controlled, dynamic, adaptive control system, for linear motion control, in any direction regardless of load. With no PID coefficients initially specified, the proposed PID++ algorithm dynamically adjusts and updates the PID coefficients Kp, Ki and Kd periodically. No database of values is required to be stored as only the current and previous values of the sensed position with an accurate time base are used in the computations and overwritten in each read interval, eliminating the need of deploying much memory for storing and using vectors or matrices. Complete in its implementation, and truly dynamic and adaptive by design, engineers will be able to use this algorithm in commercial, industrial, biomedical, and space applications alike. With characteristics that are unmistakably human, motion control can be feasibly implemented on even the smallest microcontrollers (MCU) using a single command and without the need of reprogramming or reconfiguration.https://doi.org/10.3390/s2102045
Role of CMOS Image Sensors based Surveillance Systems in Demanding Fields
No full textOur research currently focusing on image sensors predominantly the sensors implemented using CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) technology. Recent technology advances in CMOS image sensors (CIS) enable their utilization in the most demanding surveillance fields, especially visual surveillance and intrusion detection in intelligent surveillance systems, aerial surveillance in war zones, Earth environmental surveillance by the satellites in space monitoring, agricultural monitoring using wireless sensor networks and internet of things and driver assistance in automotive fields. We present an overview of CMOS image sensor-based surveillance applications over the last decade by tabulating the design characteristics related to image quality such as resolution, frame rate, dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio, and also processing technology. Year wise usage of CIS models are represented