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GCL-LLDPE Geomembrane Interface Friction Angle Evaluation and Stability Analysis of a Valley Fill Leach Pad Project
No full textThis paper was presented at the Heap Leach Solutions Conference, October 19-21, 2025, Sparks, Nevada.The Los Chancas mining project, initiated in 1998, is a copper mine focused on extracting copper sulfides and oxides. In 2020, a mine plan update required a review of the constructability design and an evaluation of the Permanent Leach Pad and Filtered Waste/Rock Dump's physical stability. This paper presents results from an evaluation study regarding friction angles at the liner interface and stability analysis in the VLF pad. Previously, an internal friction angle of 23 degrees was established for the basal liner interface (LLDPE-GCL) to meet stability requirements. However, due to the high required friction angle, the pad design was updated with lower slopes. The study evaluated various GCL materials from two suppliers using direct shear tests, revealing that the GCL from the second supplier achieved a high friction angle of 22.3 degrees at the interface. Stability analysis considered two critical sections, examining three types of failure under both static and pseudo-static conditions. Results showed a need for a minimum friction angle of 16 degrees in static conditions and 20.5 degrees in pseudo-static conditions to ensure compliance. These results suggest the potential use of high strength geosynthetic materials in the studied areas, with a preference for the GCL material offering the highest friction angle
Using a Minority Stress Framework to Explore Psychological Distress in Gay Asian American Men: A Moderation Analysis
No full textThe number of Asian Americans and individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ is increasing in the United States. Mental health disparities exist for both of these populations and their intersections. The intersection of being both gay and Asian American has been understudied. Dual identity development for Gay Asian American men produces a conflict of allegiance, which requires the negotiation of Asian cultural values. Within the current study, Meyer’s (2003) minority stress theory was utilized to conceptualize the stressful impact of marginalized identities and their overall mental health and psychological distress. This exploratory study utilized moderation analysis to examine the role of conflict of allegiance, Asian cultural values, and psychological distress in a sample of 118 gay Asian American men. Results indicated significant predictors of conflict of allegiance and Asian cultural values on psychological distress. No significant moderation was supported. The practical significance of counseling implications and interventions are discussed for gay Asian American men
An Introduction to Academic Reading - Student Version
No full textThis in-class activity aims to introduce students to what gets called “strategic reading.” By framing reading as “strategic inquiry,” this activity advances the concept that academic reading is an interrogative process. However, this activity does not touch on close reading. Students will practice reading as strategic inquiry on Saira MehMood’s five page, 2024 peer-review article, “Anthropology Unbound: A Vision for a Flourishing, Inclusive, and Accessible Future.” Mehmood is writing into a conversation about the future of anthropology, utilizing her experience outside of the academy and her intersectionality to demonstrate the limits of anthropology’s contemporary academic disciplinaril
An Early Evaluation of a Radically Individualized and Functional Approach to Assessment and Intervention for Individuals with Emergent Verbal Repertoires
No full textThis dissertation presents an early evaluation of genArete, a functionally oriented, radically individualized assessment system. Grounded in behavioral principles and informed by Relational Frame Theory (RFT), genArete integrates person-centered planning, free-operant measurement, and flexible programming to support the development of socially meaningful skills. The system aims to move beyond traditional assessments by focusing on adaptable approaches to functional classes of behavior and context-sensitive recommendations. Study 1 examined the internal structure of genArete’s Complex Verbal Behavior domain to evaluate whether item hierarchies and relational nesting reflected a logically sequenced, empirically coherent framework. Results suggested that the vast majority of items performed in accordance with their intended level of difficulty, although a few composite hierarchies, such as Broad Object Naming, revealed a need for further refinement.
Study 2 investigated the inter-rater reliability of the Complex Verbal Behavior domain. Clinicians generally demonstrated high levels of agreement in spite of the challenge of interacting with a scoring system anchored to functional objective, complex and flexible pre-teaching shaping and guidance.
Study 3 consisted of five single-subject case studies comparing genArete-informed interventions to various assessments and versions of ‘treatment as usual’ for early Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) interventions. Monte Carlo simulations were used for one or more programs in each case to determine whether observed behavior changes could be attributed to the intervention. Many cases yielded significant outcomes despite challenges presented by applied settings, highlighting notable skill acquisition even in a short-term service. Collectively, these findings support the feasibility and value of a flexible, functionally grounded assessment model. genArete demonstrates potential to improve decision-making in clinical settings by emphasizing individualized reinforcement profiles, contextually relevant goals, and functional fluency over normative comparisons. This research contributes to the broader call for modern behavior analytic tools that align with the principles of dignity, self-determination, and dynamic responsiveness in support of learners with complex needs
Seasonal Moments in the Spaces Between Us
No full textThe thesis is a collection of poetry in various forms, dealing with a range of subjects. The author draws on his experience gained during his extensive career in psychotherapy, individual experiences facing human problems, and observing the nature of the world and the history of the humans in it. The firsthand experiences include childhood moments, facing life-threatening medical issues, love, grief, and others. Among the historical items are references to Vietnam, including an echo of Melville's "Shiloh: A Requiem", the Carthaginian wars, and the results of the fall of the Soviet Union. Content warnings are offered for child abuse, medically graphic scenes, and death of loved ones. In psychotherapy, the separation of the personal and professional hover together in the therapy room. The professional must determine the action of the treatment while monitoring the personal, so it does not interfere or damage the treatment or patient. The poet lives in both places
Outcomes among College Students in Online Courses: Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textThe purpose of this study was to explore the success of recent high school graduates enrolled in college online courses through an examination of online course retention rates before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative methodology was used to analyze how the shift to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic affected the preparedness of recent high school graduates and their subsequent success in online college courses. Existing data were collected with a focus on academic and socio-economic factors, retention rates of online courses in college among two cohorts of recent high school students who enrolled in college before and after the pandemic. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, chi-square test for independence, multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. These analyses were used to answer the research question: How has college student retention in online courses been impacted when examining key variables before and after the COVID-19 pandemic? Findings revealed that, while most demographic variables remained stable across time periods, minoritized students were more likely to enroll in online courses post-pandemic, and ACT Composite Scores declined slightly. However, GPA emerged as the strongest predictor of online course retention. Retention rates improved slightly after the pandemic, suggesting enhanced online learning environments and student adaptability. It is recommended that institutions invest in academic support services, such as structured tutoring and early intervention strategies, and continue to refine online course delivery to promote equitable access and persistence, particularly for underrepresented student populations.
Components of Categorical Analogical Reasoning
No full textAnalogical reasoning has been noted by researchers and educators for its importance in cognition, development, and academic domains. Analogical reasoning is frequently studied/assessed by using analogy problems in which individuals are given two stimuli/terms that exist in a particular relation to one another, and individuals must “solve” the problems by providing either one or two different stimuli/terms that exist in an equivalent relation. Early research suggested that analogical reasoning emerged through development/maturation (i.e., it emerges at a certain age), but contemporary behavioristic research suggests that it may be taught directly. However, the latter research was conducted with arbitrary/”nonsense” stimuli with which individuals were expected to have no history, and histories with these stimuli were directly established in the context of experiments. The aim of this study was to expand understanding of the teaching/learning of analogical reasoning by 1) using verbal stimuli with which Participants likely have preexisting histories and are similar to those used in educational contexts, 2) assessing participants’ histories with these stimuli and their relations, and 3) using this information to provide individualized training in the component skills presumed to be necessary for solving analogy problems. Participants received categorical analogy problem Pre-Tests (item:category or category:item), followed by assessments of components skills. After this, targeted training in needed component skills was provided, and analogy problem solving was assessed in a Post-Test. Results provide insight into the role of individual histories with educational stimuli in analogy problems and the skills that are necessary and sufficient for solving them
Design and Installation of Liner Systems for Heap Leach Facilities with Steep Slopes
No full textThis paper was presented at the Heap Leach Solutions Conference, October 19-21, 2025, Sparks, Nevada.The heap leach expansion project Phase IX, aimed to ensure the operational continuity of the hydrometallurgical process at Codelco Chile's Radomiro Tomic Operation, extending the mine life from 2024 to 2028 for stacking and secondary leaching of 200 million tons of ore. The project required a redesing of the construction plan and a detailed evaluation of heap stability of the heap due to steep slope conditions of the ground. This paper presents the results of using geosynthetics for protection and stability enhancement in topographically irregular areas. As part of the liner system, 5 mm thickness geonets, 400 g/m2 geotextiles, and 2 mm thickness LLDPE single side textured geomembrane were installed on 50% maximum slopes gradients. The selection of these materials was based on their capacity to improve interface shear resistance and protect the integrity of the liner system against located high loads and differential settlements. Laboratory testing and numerical modeling demonstrated that the combination of these geosynthetics provides effective shear stress dissipation and stable performance of the lining system even under non-uniform loading conditions. In addition, the use of high-strength geotextiles contributed significantly to the mechanical protection of the geomembrane during operation and long term. The hydraulic performance of the system was also evaluated, showing efficient leached flow toward collection pipes avoiding localized high phreatic levels that could compromise slope stability. Field installation was carried out under strict quality assurance protocols, providing proper continuity between panels and adequate anchoring at the trenches upside and drainage ditches
Leveraging Social Support to Enhance Approach in Interoceptive Exposure
No full textAnxiety sensitivity is a transdiagnostic construct that impacts the maintenance of various anxiety disorders. Exposure therapy is one of the most potent techniques for reducing symptoms of anxiety sensitivity. However, estimates suggest that about 50% do not fully respond to treatment and about 45% dropout due to avoidance. Therefore, strategies to enhance exposure therapy and facilitate fear extinction are needed. One potential target for enhancing fear extinction could be through leveraging social support. We randomized 48 participants with high levels of anxiety sensitivity to look at either a social support image (N = 24) or a neutral control image (N = 24) during interoceptive exposure. We assessed both approach behavior and peak fear during the brief exposure therapy session using a straw breathing task. Additionally, participants completed behavioral approach tasks in the training context (straw breathing) and in a generalization context (hyperventilation), and symptom measures, at baseline, post-treatment, and one-week follow-up. Analyses (2 x 3 ANOVAs) suggest that viewing a social support image during interoceptive exposure decreased peak fear during both a straw breathing and hyperventilation behavioral approach test. However, participants did not differ in their approach behavior during interoceptive exposure. These findings suggest that presenting a social support cue may facilitate fear extinction, even with similar levels of exposure. Therefore, leveraging social support cues during exposure therapy can be a potential avenue for augmenting exposure therapy