Policy Learning with Constraints in Model-free Reinforcement Learning: A Survey

Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms have had tremendous success in simulated domains. These algorithms, however, often cannot be directly applied to physical systems, especially in cases where there are constraints to satisfy (e.g. to ensure safety or limit resource consumption). In standard RL, the agent is incentivized to explore any policy with the sole goal of maximizing reward; in the real world, however, ensuring satisfaction of certain constraints in the process is also necessary and essential. In this article, we overview existing approaches addressing constraints in model-free reinforcement learning. We model the problem of learning with constraints as a Constrained Markov Decision Process and consider two main types of constraints: cumulative and instantaneous. We summarize existing approaches and discuss their pros and cons. To evaluate policy performance under constraints, we introduce a set of standard benchmarks and metrics. We also summarize limitations of current methods and present open questions for future research.

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Care in the COVID-19 Era: Shared Experiences

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly altered the global health-care system and stretched scarce resources to the limit. Resource limitations include personal protective equipment and medical devices; however, limited resources also include the more valuable health-care professional. Recent focus has been on the acute management of COVID-19. Still, there is a need to focus on the long-term rehabilitation of patients moving out of the acute treatment phase and into survivorship due to chronic respiratory concerns and other COVID-19 complications. Multidisciplinary, collaborative teams will support positive outcomes. Thus, speech-language pathologists too must carefully consider their role in patient care during a global pandemic. What makes the COVID-19 pandemic unique is the rapid minimally mitigated spread of the disease from close contact to most regions of the world. However, what appears to be true is a collective experience and common bond across regional borders. Conclusions Perhaps, this global pandemic may lead to a global partnership, a shared experience, and mutually dependent relationships. Global health is no longer “international service” or something that happens “over there”; global health is our reality.

Sport for Vulnerable Youth: The Role of Multi-Professional Groups in Sustaining Intersectoral Collaboration

Intersectoral actions in the sport-for-development field constitute a pre-condition for the implementation of sport-based interventions. At an operational level, the multi-professional group is the tool through which intersectoral collaboration may successfully achieve its aims. Despite the prominent role of the group, this topic is under-researched in terms of understanding intersectoral actions in the sport-for-development field. By applying a psycho-sociological perspective, our research explores the role of the multi-professional group as a limit/resource for sport-for-development workers that operate with vulnerable youth. Following a phenomenological interpretive approach, 12 practitioners (six sport workers and six social workers) participated in semi-structured interviews to explore the role of multi-professional groups as a resource/limit in working with socially vulnerable youth through sport. The results indicate that, in the participants’ experience, belonging to a multi-professional group is a meaningful resource to trigger reflexivity, promote collaboration and integrate their different professions. The interviews highlighted the positive potential of this tool to address the challenges that emerge when working with socially vulnerable youth, including the management of negative emotions, unexpected events and the relationship with young people. Some interviews also suggested that the presence of multiple professions, under certain circumstances, may be a risk when working with youth. These findings have significant value for programme design, strategy and management as they show the value of trans-disciplinary practices as an agenda for social inclusion through sport.

THE INFLUENCE OF ORGANIZATION CAPABILITIES AND ENTREPRENUERSHIP TO COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN GOODNESS OF TASTE AND THE IMPLICATION TO BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN SME RESTAURANTS, SEMARANG

This research was aimed to analyze the influence of capabilities organization and entrepreneurship to increase business performance that can be moderated by competitive advantage, which is focused on goodness of taste, for restaurants in Semarang. Based on pre – survey in 20 owners of restaurant, it can be concluded that there was decreasing income about 22% (Rp 335.000,00) and was followed by decreasing of market share about 0,56% during 3 months. It was interesting because the restaurants are one of SME that many people interested in it. In other hand, many people work in this sector as their main job.The samples of this research are the restaurants that include in SME, which employ 5 – 19 employees. This research used 150 respondents, but only 124 respondents who fulfill the requirement. The data were collected by using questionnaires and direct interviews to the owners of restaurants in Semarang. This research proves 5 (five) hypothesis that were built by capabilities organization, entrepreneurship, competitive advantage in goodness of taste, and business performance. The results was analyzed by AMOS.It can be concluded that the model is feasible. The results of this study indicate that the business performance can be increased directly by a good management of capabilities organization and indirectly can be reached by focusing to maintain the resources. It because the restaurants that include as SME have a limit resource.

The effect of snow on space use of an alpine ungulate: recently fallen snow tells more than cumulative snow depth

Snow is one of the most limiting environmental factors for large wildlife of temperate and arctic zones during winter. Snow depth may limit space use, increase energy expenditure related to movement, limit resource availability, and ultimately affect individual survival. Most of the studies on the effect of snow on animal space use have used cumulative snow depth. The amount of recently fallen snow, however, could be more relevant for wildlife, especially in alpine and northern environments, where wind shifts and hardens the snow cover constantly. From 2011 to 2013, we studied space use of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus (Blainville, 1816)) within Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. During winter, daily and weekly movements decreased with the amount of recently fallen snow, but not with cumulative snow depth. These results indicate that recently fallen snow should be included in wildlife space-use studies during winter. Limited movement and range size of mountain goats also highlight the energy-saving tactic used in winter by this species.