Digital Commons Network^™

Relative Value Iteration For Average Reward Semi-Markov Control Via Simulation, Abhijit Gosavi

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper studies the semi-Markov decision process (SMDP) under the long-run average reward criterion in the simulation-based context. Using dynamic programming, a straightforward approach for solving this problem involves policy iteration; a value iteration approach for this problem involves a transformation that induces an additional computational burden. In the simulation-based context, however, where one seeks to avoid the transition probabilities needed in dynamic programming, value iteration forms a more convenient route for solution purposes. In this paper, hence, we present (to the best of knowledge for the first time) a relative value iteration algorithm for solving average reward SMDPs via …

Three Dimensional Polarization Controllable Electromagnetic Cell, Bo Zhu, Weng Cho Chew, Lijun Jiang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We demonstrate an electromagnetic (EM) cell that can generate uniform electric field with three dimensional (3D) polarization dynamic control for the EM compatibility/interference (EMC/EMI) testing. 3D orthogonal slotline structures are designed and utilized to build the walls of the EM cell. By feeding the slotlines in phase and terminating them with matching loads, the uniform electric field similar to a standing wave is produced by two slotline modes propagating in opposite directions inside the cell. Microwave switches are integrated into the slotlines so that we can choose the operating slotline dynamically and change its orientation in a 3D manner by …

Co-Simulation Of Distributive And Lumped Systems Using The Discontinuous Galerkin Time Domain Finite Element Method, Ping Li, Li (Lijun) Jun Jiang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The signal integrity and power integrity analysis of 3D integrated circuits or other EMC/EMI systems usually separate the lumped circuit modeling and the distributive system modeling. However, due to the high density of integration, it is not proper to separate them in the modeling process anymore. In this paper, a hybrid electromagnetics (EM)-circuit simulator is proposed for incorporating multiport lumped circuit networks through their admittance matrices into the discontinuous Galerkin time-domain finite element method (DGTDFEM). The admittance matrix in the Laplace-domain can be derived analytically or obtained from network parameters such as S-parameters in the frequency domain. To convert frequency …

A New Coulomb Gauge Based Electric Field Integral Equation Method, Xiaoyan Y.Z. Xiong, Li (Lijun) Jun Jiang, Wei E.I. Sha, Yat Hei Lo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The electric field integral equation (EFIE) method is one of the most commonly-adopted computational electromagnetic methods. Its popularity stems from the efficient surface triangulation, excellent numerical precision, and the powerful capability of handling open and complex geometries. However, when the frequency tends to zero, the method-of-moment (MoM) solution of EFIE using the Rao-Wilton-Glisson (RWG) basis functions suffers from the low-frequency breakdown, where the contribution from the vector potential is extremely imbalanced with that from the scalar potential. As a result, the matrix representation of EFIE operator is highly ill-conditioned and cannot be inverted reliably and efficiently. © 2013 IEEE.

Solutions To Finite Horizon Cost Problems Using Actor-Critic Reinforcement Learning, Ivo Grondman, Hao Xu, Sarangapani Jagannathan, Robert Babuska

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Actor-critic reinforcement learning algorithms have shown to be a successful tool in learning the optimal control for a range of (repetitive) tasks on systems with (partially) unknown dynamics, which may or may not be nonlinear. Most of the reinforcement learning literature published up to this point only deals with modeling the task at hand as a Markov decision process with an infinite horizon cost function. In practice, however, it is sometimes desired to have a solution for the case where the cost function is defined over a finite horizon, which means that the optimal control problem will be time-varying and …

Eagle-Eye: A Near-Optimal Statistical Framework For Noise Sensor Placement, Tao Wang, Chun Zhang, Jinjun Xiong, Yiyu Shi

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The relentless technology scaling has led to significantly reduced noise margin and complicated functionalities. As such, design time techniques per se are less likely to ensure power integrity, resulting in runtime voltage emergencies. To alleviate the issue, recently several works have shed light on the possibilities of dynamic noise management systems. Most of these works rely on on-chip noise sensors to accurately capture voltage emergencies. However, they all assume, either implicitly or explicitly, that the placement of the sensors is given. It remains an open problem in the literature how to optimally place a given number of noise sensors for …

Two-Stage List Sphere Decoding For Under-Determined Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Systems, Chen Qian, Jingxian Wu, Yahong Rosa Zheng, Zhaocheng Wang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A two-stage list sphere decoding (LSD) algorithm is proposed for under-determined multiple-input multiple-output (UD-MIMO) systems that employ N transmit antennas and Msystem; while Group 2 contains layers M+1 to N that contribute to the rank deficiency of the channel Gram matrix. Tree search algorithms are used for both groups, but with different search radii. A new method is proposed to adaptively adjust the tree search radius of Group 2 based on the statistical properties of the received signals. The employment of the adaptive tree search can significantly reduce the computation complexity. We also propose a modified channel Gram matrix to …

Zero-Sum Two-Player Game Theoretic Formulation Of Affine Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems Using Neural Networks, Shahab Mehraeen, Travis Dierks, S. Jagannathan, Mariesa L. Crow

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, the nearly optimal solution for discrete-time (DT) affine nonlinear control systems in the presence of partially unknown internal system dynamics and disturbances is considered. The approach is based on successive approximate solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs (HJI) equation, which appears in optimal control. Successive approximation approach for updating control and disturbance inputs for DT nonlinear affine systems are proposed. Moreover, sufficient conditions for the convergence of the approximate HJI solution to the saddle point are derived, and an iterative approach to approximate the HJI equation using a neural network (NN) is presented. Then, the requirement of full knowledge …

Capacitance Calculation For Via Structures Using An Integral Equation Method Based On Partial Capacitance, Hanfeng Wang, Siming Pan, Jingook Kim, Albert E. Ruehli, Jun Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, a new integral equation formulation for via structures is developed for the capacitance extraction between vias and planes. The formulation is initially developed for axially symmetric geometries and then extended to axially asymmetric geometries by changing the circular ring cells to arc cells. The extended method can be used to calculate the shared-antipad via structure, which is widely used in high-speed differential signal interconnects. In addition, the image theory is used to handle inhomogeneous media, and a new technique is given to reduce computational costs for via-to-plane structures based on properties of the capacitance-matrix elements. The proposed …

Asian Carp: Toxicology Study, Justice W. Pirkey

Collection of Engaged Learning

This toxicology study of Asian Carp, an invasive species of fish prevalent in the Mississippi River, looked at the safety of the fish as a food source in the United States.

Role Of The Cipa Scaffoldin Protein In Cellulose Solubilization, As Determined By Targeted Gene Deletion And Complementation In Clostridium Thermocellum, Daniel G. Olson, Richard J. Giannone, Robert L. Hettich, Lee R. Lynd

Dartmouth Scholarship

The CipA scaffoldin protein plays a key role in the Clostridium thermocellum cellulosome. Previous studies have revealed that mutants deficient in binding or solubilizing cellulose also exhibit reduced expression of CipA. To confirm that CipA is, in fact, necessary for rapid solubilization of crystalline cellulose, the gene was deleted from the chromosome using targeted gene deletion technologies. The CipA deletion mutant exhibited a 100-fold reduction in cellulose solubilization rate, although it was eventually able to solubilize 80% of the 5 g/liter cellulose initially present. The deletion mutant was complemented by a copy of cipA expressed from a replicating plasmid. In …

An Augmentative Gaze Directing Framework For Multi-Spectral Imagery, Libby Hsiao

Theses

Modern digital imaging techniques have made the task of imaging more prolic than ever and the volume of images and data available through multi-spectral imaging methods for exploitation is exceeding that which can be solely processed by human beings. The researchers proposed and developed a novel eye movement contingent framework and display

system through adaption of the demonstrated technique of subtle gaze direction by presenting modulations within the displayed image. The system sought to augment visual search task performance of aerial imagery by incorporating multi-spectral image processing algorithms to determine potential regions of interest within an image. The exploratory work …

The Quantum Gromov-Hausdorff Propinquity, Frédéric Latrémolière

Mathematics Preprint Series

We introduce the quantum Gromov-Hausdorff propinquity, a new distance between quantum compact metric spaces, which extends the GromovHausdorff distance to noncommutative geometry and strengthens Rieffel’s quantum Gromov-Hausdorff distance and Rieffel’s proximity by making *-isomorphism a necessary condition for distance zero, while being well adapted to Leibniz seminorms. This work offers a natural solution to the long-standing problem of finding a framework for the development of a theory of Leibniz Lip-norms over C*- algebras.

Forward Model For Temperature Derivation From Atmospheric Lidar, Jaren Hobbs

Physics Capstone Projects

Atmospheric Lidar takes advantage of Rayleigh backscattering to create a relative density profile of the atmosphere. The method for temperature derivation is based on the work of Chanin and Hauchecorne (CH). Beginning with an initial temperature, and utilizing the ideal gas law, a downward integration procedure is applied to create a temperature profile from the density profile down to forty- five kilometers. Since this initial temperature is only a best guess, the temperatures towards the top of the profile may not be accurate. However, so long as the guess is reasonable, within perhaps a fifty Kelvin margin (though hopefully not …

Balancing The Presentation Of Information And Options In Patient Decision Aids: An Updated Review, Purva Abhyankar, Robert J. Volk, Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby, Paulina Bravo, Angela Buchholz, Elissa Ozanne, Dale C. Vidal, Nananda Col, Peep Stalmeier

Dartmouth Scholarship

Standards for patient decision aids require that information and options be presented in a balanced manner; this requirement is based on the argument that balanced presentation is essential to foster informed decision making. If information is presented in an incomplete/non-neutral manner, it can stimulate cognitive biases that can unduly affect individuals’ knowledge, perceptions of risks and benefits, and, ultimately, preferences. However, there is little clarity about what constitutes balance, and how it can be determined and enhanced. We conducted a literature review to examine the theoretical and empirical evidence related to balancing the presentation of information and options.

Recent Accumulation Variability In Northwest Greenland From Ground-Penetrating Radar And Shallow Cores Along The Greenland Inland Traverse, Robert L. Hawley, Zoe R. Courville, Laura M. Kehrl, Eric R. Lutz, Erich C. Osterberg, Thomas B. Overly, Gifford J. Wong

Dartmouth Scholarship

Accumulation is a key parameter governing the mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet. Several studies have documented the spatial variability of accumulation over wide spatial scales, primarily using point data, remote sensing or modeling. Direct measurements of spatially extensive, detailed profiles of accumulation in Greenland, however, are rare. We used 400 MHz ground-penetrating radar along the 1009 km route of the Greenland Inland Traverse from Thule to Summit during April and May of 2011, to image continuous internal reflecting horizons. We dated these horizons using ice-core chemistry at each end of the traverse. Using density profiles measured along the …

Bending Stresses Of Steel Web Tapered Tee Section Cantilevers, Boksun Kim, Andrew Oliver, Joshua Vyse

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Revealing The Ubiquitous Effects Of Quantum Entanglement-Toward A Notion Of God Logic, Wen-Ran Zhang, Karl E. Peace

Biostatistics: Faculty Publications

Following Spinoza-Einstein’s interpretation of God or nature, the notion “God Logic” is proposed. This notion is to serve as an elicitation for a consistent set of necessary criteria for: 1) developing the logical foundation of quantum gravity as envisaged by Einstein, 2) revealing the ubiquitous effects of quantum entanglement as suggested by Roger Penrose, and 3) programming the universe as proposed by Seth Lloyd. An evolving set of eleven criteria is proposed for the notion. The possibility of inventing such a logical system is analyzed. A supersymmetrical candidate logic of negative-positive energy dynamic equilibrium is introduced and assessed against the …

Time And Place In The Prehistory Of The Aslian Languages, Michael Dunn, Nicole Kruspe, Niclas Burenhult

Human Biology

The Aslian language family, located in the Malay Peninsula and southern Thai Isthmus, consists of four distinct branches comprising some 18 languages. These languages predate the now dominant Malay and Thai. The speakers of Aslian languages exhibit some of the highest degree of phylogenetic and societal diversity present in Mainland Southeast Asia today, among them a foraging tradition particularly associated with locally ancient, Pleistocene genetic lineages. Little advance has been made in our understanding of the linguistic prehistory of this region or how such complexity arose. In this article we present a Bayesian phylogeographic analysis of a large sample of …

Climate Change Influenced Female Population Sizes Through Time Across The Indonesian Archipelago, Elsa G. Guillot, Meryanne K. Tumonggor, Stephen J. Lansing, Herawati Sudoyo, Murray P. Cox

Human Biology

Lying at the crossroads of Asia and the Pacific world, the Indonesian archipelago hosts one of the world’s richest accumulations of cultural, linguistic, and genetic variation. While the role of human migration into and around the archipelago is now known in some detail, other aspects of Indonesia’s complex history are less understood. Here, we focus on population size changes from the first settlement of Indonesia nearly 50 kya up to the historic era. We reconstructed the past effective population sizes of Indonesian women using mitochondrial DNA sequences from 2,104 individuals in 55 village communities on four islands spanning the Indonesian …

November 27, 2013 Cal Poly Report, Public Affairs Office

Cal Poly Report

No abstract provided.

Design, Synthesis And Cytotoxic Evaluation Of O-Carboxamido Stilbene Analogues, Mohamad Nurul Azmi, Mohd Fadzli Md Din, Chin Hui Kee, Munirah Suhaimi, Kheng Ping Ang, Kartini Ahmad, Mohd Azlan Nafiah, Noel Francis Thomas, Kok Hoong Leong, Khalijah Awang

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Resveratrol, a natural stilbene found in grapes and wines exhibits a wide range of pharmacological properties. Resveratrol is also known as a good chemopreventive agent for inhibiting carcinogenesis processes that target kinases, cyclooxygenases, ribonucleotide reductase and DNA polymerases. A total of 19 analogues with an amide moiety were synthesized and the cytotoxic effects of the analogues on a series of human cancer cell lines are reported. Three compounds 6d, 6i and 6n showed potent cytotoxicity against prostate cancer DU-145 (IC50 = 16.68 µM), colon cancer HT-29 (IC50 = 7.51 µM) and breast cancer MCF-7 (IC50 = 21.24 µM), respectively, which …

Development Of Freight Performance Measures Using Gps Truck Data, Zach Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The availability of GPS technology has allowed for significant advances in the research of freight transportation. Current systems enable information to be gathered on an individualistic scale including informations such as speed, direction and location within feet of their actual location. Several agencies have begun the process of collection and archiving data into large databases to make access and continuity of the information readily available to researchers. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is contracted with freight companies to collect their truck GPS information and add it to a large database. This is one of the most extensive truck GPS …

Minimum-Energy Exploration And Coverage For Robotic Systems, Serge Antoun Salan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This dissertation is concerned with the question of autonomously and efficiently exploring three-dimensional environments. Hence, three robotics problems are studied in this work: the motion planning problem, the coverage problem and the exploration problem. The work provides a better understanding of motion and exploration problems with regard to their mathematical formulation and computational complexity, and proposes solutions in the form of algorithms capable of being implemented on a wide range of robotic systems.Because robots generally operate on a limited power source, the primary focus is on minimizing energy while moving or navigating in the environment. Many approaches address motion planning …

A Statistical Analysis Of The Beneficial Effects Of Ferrous Chloride At The T. E. Maxson Treatment Plant, Bjorn Carlsson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Addition of ferrous chloride can improve wastewater treatment plant process outcomes. In the study, a municipal wastewater treatment plant ceased adding ferrous chloride to its anaerobic lagoon and belt filter press filtrate return streams. Total suspended solids (TSS) and five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) effluent concentrations and percent removals, primary clarifier BOD5 and TSS effluent concentration and percent removals, sludge volume index (SVI), sludge polymer feed demand, and H2S concentration in biogas on days with ferrous chloride addition were all compared using non-parametric randomization statistical techniques to days without ferrous chloride addition. It was found that plant performance on days …

Moocs, Learning Analytics And Learning Advisors, Ron Monson, Diane Bunney, Teresa Lawrence

eCULTURE

The advent of Massive Open Online Courses has been variously described as heralding the end of the modern university or alternatively, an over-hyped re-badging of existing online content whose advantages have already been realised. Appeals to ideology however, have typically characterised coverage of both polarities rather than hard evidence; in particular, there has been much less analysis on just how learning outcomes are impacted by either “face-to-face” interaction or online/digital environment. Less dichotomously and even more rarely addressed is perhaps a more pertinent question: What blending of the two learning modes works best and in what circumstances? In this paper …

Contrast Adaptation In The Lateral Eye Of Limulus Polyphemus, Tchoudomira Valtcheva

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Luminance and contrast adaptation are neuronal mechanisms that the retina applies for continuous adjustment to light sensitivity though a collection of cellular and synaptic mechanisms distributed across the retinal network, thus accommodating the wide input range of the visual system within the constricted output range of retinal ganglion cells. Luminance mean adaptation has been demonstrated in the output neurons of the invertebrate eye (eccentric cells), and the aim of the study was to investigate whether the homology in visual processing extends to luminance variance (contrast) adaptation as well. The spike trains of individual eccentric cells were recorded from live horseshoe …

Timely Doctoral Completion Rates In Five Fields: A Two-Part Study, Angela Miller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Roughly half of all doctoral students who begin a program do not continue through graduation, and many of them face significant financial losses and emotional burdens as a result. Although this completion rate has stayed fairly constant for the past few decades, it has recently gained attention on a national level. In 2011, the National Research Council published the Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs in the United States, and provided a wealth of data on over 5,000 programs in 212 universities. This study used that dataset to examine the relationship between timely doctoral completion rates and 22 Program, Faculty and …

Skeletal Muscle Contraction Simulation: A Comparison In Modeling, Jonathan M. Ford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Computer generated three-dimensional (3-D) models are being used at increasing rates in the fields of entertainment, education, research, and engineering. One of the aspects of interest includes the behavior and function of the musculoskeletal system. One such tool used by engineers is the finite element method (FEM) to simulate the physics behind muscle mechanics. There are several ways to represent 3-D muscle geometry, namely a bulk, a central line of action and a spline model. The purpose of this study is to exmine how these three representations affect the overall outcome of muscle movement. This is examined in a series …

Cal Poly Names Recipients For Provost Leadership Award For Partnership In Philanthropy, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.