Digital Commons Network^™

A New Microsensor System For Plant Root Zone Monitoring, Chang-Soo Kim, Sandeep Sathyan, D. M. Porterfield

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The objective of this work is to develop a new microsensor system that can monitor dissolved oxygen and hydration environment at the plant root zone. A miniaturized plant growth system is prepared including the root zone layer, either a porous ceramic tube or porous ceramic wafer on which the plant is grown, and an underlying fluidic channel to deliver nutrients and water to the root zone. We demonstrate the feasibility of using a flexible microsensor array for dissolved oxygen detection, and a four-electrode impedance microelectrode for wetness detection on the surface of a porous tube nutrient delivery system. The unique …

A Novel Method For Predicting Harmonic Current Injection From Non-Linear Loads Using Neural Networks, Joy Mazumdar, Frank C. Lambert, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Generation of harmonics and the existence of waveform pollution in power system networks is one of the major problems facing the utilities. This paper proposes a neural network solution methodology for the problem of measuring the actual amount of harmonic current injected into a power network by a nonlinear load. The determination of harmonic currents is complicated by the fact that the supply voltage waveform is distorted by other loads and is rarely a pure sinusoid. A recurrent neural network trained with the backpropagation through time (BPTT) training algorithm is used to find a way of distinguishing between the load …

The Future Of Copyright, Lawrence B. Solum

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Review of Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity by Lawrence Lessig (2004).

Sometimes technological change is so profound that it rocks the foundations of an entire body of law. Peer-to-peer (P2P) filesharing systems--Napster, Gnutella, KaZaA, Grokster, and Freenet3--are mere symptoms of a set of technological innovations that have set in motion an ongoing process of fundamental changes in the nature of copyright law. The video tape recorder begat the Sony substantial noninfringing use defense. The digital cassette recorder begat the Audio Home Recording Act. The internet begat the Digital …

Love, Change, Mari J. Matsuda

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

This is morality: to include all as human and entitled to the deepest love and care. This is the distillation of everything the author fights for as a feminist, a critical race theorist, and a peace activist. Since we are at war, having sent to date 1,500 U.S. soldiers off to die, speaking against war and for peace is a current imperative. Then comes this invitation to speak as a critical race theorist on the subject of same-sex marriage.

Without marriage you can do everything that counts in marriage except that which requires the imprint of the state. What you …

An Adaptive Mamdani Fuzzy Logic Based Controller For A Static Compensator In A Multimachine Power System, Salman Mohagheghi, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An adaptive Mamdani based fuzzy logic controller has been designed for controlling a static compensator (STATCOM) in a multimachine power system. Such a controller does not need any prior knowledge of the plant to be controlled and can efficiently control a STATCOM during different disturbances in the network. A model free approach using the controller output error is applied for training purposes that adaptively changes the controller output parameters based on a gradient descent method. Moreover, shrinking span membership functions are used for a more stable and accurate control performance. Simulation results show that the proposed controller outperforms the conventional …

Tangled Up In Khaki And Blue: Lethal And Non-Lethal Weapons In Recent Confrontations, David A. Koplow

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Too often, military and law enforcement authorities have found themselves constrained by inadequate weaponry: the tools available to them, in addressing confrontations with entrenched opponents of various sorts, are either too weak (not sufficing to disarm or defeat the enemy) or too strong (generating unacceptable "collateral damage" in harming innocent people or property). An emerging category of "non-lethal weapons" carries promise for resolving this dilemma, proffering deft new capabilities for disabling, dissuading, or defeating opponents without inflicting death or permanent injury.

Some primitive non-lethal weapons (such as truncheons, tear gas, and water cannon) have long been staples in the inventories …

Two Separate Continually Online-Trained Neurocontrollers For A Unified Power Flow Controller, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Radha P. Kalyani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The crucial factor affecting the modern power systems today is load flow control. The Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) provides an effective means for controlling the power flow and improving the transient stability in a power network. The UPFC has fast complex dynamics and its conventional control is based on a linearized model of the power system. This paper presents the design of neurocontrollers to provide better damping during transient and dynamic control. Two separate neurocontrollers are used for controlling the UPFC, one neurocontroller for the shunt inverter and the other for the series inverter. Simulation studies carried out in …

Using A Neural Network To Distinguish Between The Contributions To Harmonic Pollution Of Non-Linear Loads And The Rest Of The Power System, Joy Mazumdar, Frank C. Lambert, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

The Blackout Of 2003: What Is Next?, Joel B. Eisen

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

Iterative Equalization Using Improved Block Dfe For Synchronous Cdma Systems, Sang-Yick Leong, Kah-Ping Lee, Y. Rosa Zheng

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Iterative equalization using optimal multiuser detector and trellis-based channel decoder in coded CDMA systems improves the bit error rate (BER) performance dramatically. However, given large number of users employed in the system over multipath channels causing significant multiple-access interference (MAI) and intersymbol interference (ISI), the optimal multiuser detector is thus prohibitively complex. Therefore, the sub-optimal detectors such as low-complexity linear and non-linear equalizers have to be considered. In this paper, a novel low-complexity block decision feedback equalizer (DFE) is proposed for the synchronous CDMA system. Based on the conventional block DFE, the new method is developed by computing the reliable …

Mlp/Rbf Neural-Networks-Based Online Global Model Identification Of Synchronous Generator, Jung-Wook Park, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper compares the performances of a multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPN) and a radial basis function neural network (RBFN) for online identification of the nonlinear dynamics of a synchronous generator in a power system. The computational requirement to process the data during the online training, local convergence, and online global convergence properties are investigated by time-domain simulations. The performances of the identifiers as a global model, which are trained at different stable operating conditions, are compared using the actual signals as well as the deviation signals for the inputs of the identifiers. Such an online-trained identifier with fixed optimal …

Derivation Of A Closed-Form Approximate Expression For The Self-Capacitance Of A Printed Circuit Board Trace, Todd H. Hubing, Hwan-Woo Shim

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The electric fields that couple traces on printed circuit boards to attached cables can generate common-mode currents that result in significant radiated emissions. Previous work has shown that these radiated emissions can be estimated based on the self-capacitances of the microstrip structures on a board . In general, the determination of these self-capacitances must be done numerically using three-dimensional static modeling software. In this paper, an approximate closed-form expression for the self-capacitance of microstrip traces is derived. This expression can be used to estimate the voltage-driven common-mode emissions from boards with various microstrip trace geometries. The expression also provides insight …

Human Nature, The Laws Of Nature, And The Nature Of Environmental Law, Richard J. Lazarus

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The essay is divided into three parts. Part I considers the ways in which the need for environmental law derives from the tendency of human nature to cause adverse environmental consequences and the ways in which the laws of nature make it more difficult to prevent those consequences absent the imposition of external legal rules. Part II describes how our nation's lawmaking institutions are similarly challenged by the laws of nature. This includes a discussion of how the kinds of laws necessary to bridge the gap between human nature and the laws of nature are systematically difficult for our lawmaking …

Evolving Combinational Logic Circuits Using A Hybrid Quantum Evolution And Particle Swarm Inspired Algorithm, Phillip W. Moore, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, an algorithm inspired from quantum evolution and particle swarm to evolve combinational logic circuits is presented. This algorithm uses the framework of the local version of particle swarm optimization with quantum evolutionary algorithms, and integer encoding. A multi-objective fitness function is used to evolve the combinational logic circuits in order obtain feasible circuits with minimal number of gates in the design. A comparative study indicates the superior performance of the hybrid quantum evolution-particle swarm inspired algorithm over the particle swarm and other evolutionary algorithms (such as genetic algorithms) independently.

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

Disordered Speech Evaluation Using Objective Quality Measures, Lingyun Gu, John G. Harris, Rahul Shrivastav, Christine Sapienza

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Speech quality assessment methods are necessary for evaluating and documenting treatment outcomes of patients suffering from degraded speech due to Parkinson's disease, stroke or other disease processes. Subjective methods of speech quality assessment are more accurate and more robust than objective methods but are time-consuming and costly. We propose a novel objective measure of speech quality assessment that builds on traditional speech processing techniques such as dynamic time warping (DTW) and the Itakura-Saito (IS) distortion measure. Initial results show that our objective measure correlates well with the more expensive subjective methods. © 2005 IEEE.

Modeling And Control Of Re-Entry Heat Transfer Problem Using Neural Networks, Katie Grantham, Radhakant Padhi, S. N. Balakrishnan, Dwight C. Look

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A nonlinear optimal re-entry temperature control problem is solved using single network adaptive critic (SNAC) technique. The nonlinear model developed and used accounts for conduction, convection and radiation at high temperature, represents the dynamics of heat transfer in a cooling fin for an object re-entering the earth's atmosphere. Simulation results demonstrate that the control synthesis technique presented is very effective in obtaining a desired temperature profile over a wide envelope of initial temperature distribution.

Special Session - Team Training To Promote Constructive (Not Destructive) Conflict, Ray Luechtefeld, Steve Eugene Watkins

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Advancing technology increases the need for engineering students to perform effectively on multidisciplinary teams. While conflict is a normal, and even necessary, component of team dynamics, if not managed effectively it can lead to destructive (rather than constructive) outcomes. An Action Science approach to group and individual effectiveness can help teams handle conflict constructively. This session uses a "Teach the Teacher" approach to give participants a basic understanding of skills underlying the approach. It provides practice in Action Science through a set of learning modules. These skills can be brought back and integrated into the participants' courses to provide student …

Taxonomy Of Systems-Of-Systems, James Gideon, Cihan H. Dagli, Ann K. Miller

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The study of systems-of-systems is an increasingly important topic in systems engineering. Though there is not complete agreement, a more precise definition of what these highly evolved systems are and what attributes they possess has certainly emerged. However, there are still areas in the study where the topic can be advanced by a more rigorous presentation of the basic elements. One such area is the taxonomy of systems-ofsystems. This paper will begin with the definition of systems-of-systems as it currently stands and will present the taxonomy from a broader view with additional considerations for classification. These taxonomic categories will consider …

A "Theory Of Action" Perspective On Effective Organizational Change, Ray Luechtefeld

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

A Generic, Adaptive Systems Engineering Information Model I, Ann K. Miller, Joseph J. Simpson, Scott Erwin Grasman, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper proposes a new network centric architecture that can be used by first responders to effectively respond to crisis situations. The powerful network-centric concept originally developed for and mainly used in the military environment, can be effectively used for civilian security and emergency response missions. This paper also proposes the use of a swarm of intelligent robots as a part of the network-centric architecture to aid the first responders. The swarm of robots works in tandem with the first responders and provides them with the necessary information on a real time basis. The proposed network centric architecture with a …

An Sds Modeling Approach For Simulation-Based Control, Sreeram Ramakrishnan, Kumar Mayur Thakur

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We initiate a study of mathematical models for specifying (discrete) simulation-based control systems. It is desirable to specify simulation-based control systems using a model that is intuitive, succinct, expressive, and whose state space properties are relatively easy computationally. We compare automata-based models for specifying control systems and find that all systems that are currently used (such as finite state machines, communicating hierarchical finite state machines (FSM), communicating finite state machines, and Turing machines) lack at least one of the abovementioned features. We propose using sequential dynamical systems (SDS) - a formalism for representing discrete simulations - to specify simulation-based control …

Network-Centric First Responder Architecture With Swarming Robots Entity, Lakshmanan Meyyappan, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper proposes a new network centric architecture that can be used by first responders to effectively respond to crisis situations. The powerful network-centric concept originally developed for and mainly used in the military environment, can be effectively used for civilian security and emergency response missions. This paper also proposes the use of a swarm of intelligent robots as a part of the network-centric architecture to aid the first responders. The swarm of robots works in tandem with the first responders and provides them with the necessary information on a real time basis. The proposed network centric architecture with a …

Weather Modeling, Swarna Pulavarty

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Greetings From The Technical Program Chair, Steve Eugene Watkins

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Shadow Detection By Combined Photometric Invariants For Improved Foreground Segmentation, Filiz Bunyak, Ilker Ersoy, S. R. Subramanya

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Detection and tracking of moving objects are the essential steps of many video understanding applications such as traffic monitoring, video surveillance and visual event recognition. Moving object detection process segments the scene into foreground (moving) and background regions. Moving cast shadows cause serious problems in this process because they can easily be misclassified as foreground. This misclassification may lead to drastic changes in the shapes of objects or merging of multiple objects. in this paper, we present a method to detect moving cast shadows to improve the performance of moving object detection. the foreground regions are processed in terms of …

The Inns President's Welcome, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

The Supreme Court's Mixed Messages On The Public Domain: Cases Interpreting Section 43 Of The Lanham Act, William Scott Hunt

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Testimonial Or Nontestimonial? The Admissibility Of Forensic Evidence After Crawford V. Washington, John M. Spires

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Non-Destructive Estimation Of Pavement Thickness, Structural Number And Subgrade Resilience Along Indot Highways, Samy Noureldin, Karen Zhu, Dwayne Authur Harris, Shuo Li

JTRP Technical Reports

Nondestructive testing has become an integral part for evaluation and rehabilitation strategies of pavements in recent years. Pavement evaluation employing the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can provide valuable information about pavement performance characteristics and be a very useful tool for project prioritization purposes and estimation of construction budget at the network level. FWD deflection testing is an accurate tool for determining pavement structural capacity and estimating the required thickness of overlays and hence is an accurate tool for planning for or estimating required current and future construction budgets. GPR is the only tool that …