Digital Commons Network^™

Survey Of Hidden Markov Models (Hmms) For Sign Language Recognition (Slr), Iwan Sandjaja, Ahmad Alsharoa, Donald Wunsch, Jian Liu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper surveyed several significant papers on specific topics applying the Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) for Sign Language Recognition (SLR), divided into five main episodes: Classical HMMs, Extended HMMs, HMMs and Machine Learning, HMMs and Sensor Fusion, and HMMs and Big Data. This stringent survey would contribute significantly to advanced research on unification brain models such as neural networks, adaptive resonance theory, and confabulation theory. First, the HMM was introduced as one of the popular methods of performing SLR, and each episode of its development was expounded. In each episode, a main paper and several supporting papers were summarized. Next, …

Tightening Qc Relaxations Of Ac Optimal Power Flow Through Improved Linear Convex Envelopes, Mohammad Rasoul Narimani, Daniel K. Molzahn, Katherine R. Davis, Mariesa L. Crow

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

AC optimal power flow (AC OPF) is a fundamental problem in power system operations. Accurately modeling the network physics via the AC power flow equations makes AC OPF a challenging nonconvex problem. To search for global optima, recent research has developed various convex relaxations that bound the optimal objective values of AC OPF problems. The QC relaxation convexifies the AC OPF problem by enclosing the non-convex terms within convex envelopes. The QC relaxation's accuracy strongly depends on the tightness of these envelopes. This paper proposes two improvements for tightening QC relaxations of OPF problems. We first consider a particular nonlinear …

Simultaneous Frequency Regulation And Active Power Sharing In Islanded Microgrid Using Deep Reinforcement Learning, Oroghene Oboreh-Snapps, Sophia A. Strathman, Jonathan Saelens, Arnold Fernandes, Lauryn Morris, Praneeth Uddarraju, Jonathan W. Kimball

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a novel approach that integrates deep reinforcement learning (DRL) with the conventional virtual synchronous generator (VSG) to address dual objectives of microgrid (MG) control, frequency regulation and precise active power sharing. MGs typically consist of multiple Inverter-Based-Distributed-Generators (IBDGs) connected in parallel through different line impedances. The conventional active power loop (APL) of the VSG encounters significant steady-state frequency errors as load increases/decreases during islanded operation. To mitigate this issue, secondary-level controllers like proportional-integral (PI) control are added to the APL to regulate the frequency of IBDGs. However, PI control compromises power-sharing capabilities when the impedance values of …

Towards Explainability Of Dimension Reduction Plots Of Unsupervised Learning Model Outcomes, Tony E.Astuhuaman Davila, Daniel B. Hier, Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dimension reduction methods are used to visualize the output of unsupervised learning models when applied to complex data. These techniques improve interpretability by transforming a high-dimension space to a lower-dimension space (usually 2D or 3D). The results are typically viewed as 2D scatter plots, and class centroids may be added to increase interpretability. Although useful, the relationship of these class centroids to the underlying feature space remains opaque. The innovative aspect of this work is to create a strong link between the dimension-reduced space and the underlying high-dimension feature space by adding selected feature centroids to the 2D scatter plots. …

Evaluating Electromagnetic Interference Effects On Gnss Receivers, Giorgi Tsintsadze, Haran Manoharan, Arushi Sahai, Daryl G. Beetner, Brian Booth

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electromagnetic interference can be highly disruptive to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers. Interference can be intentional but can also occur from electronics modules placed within the same system, where these modules may create sufficient unintended radiated emissions to disrupt GNSS operation. In this paper, GNSS receiver performance is evaluated in the presence of multi-tone interference. An expression for the GNSS correlator output in the presence of continuous wave interference (CWI) is derived and is extended to predict the carrier to noise density ratio, C/N0, of the receiver in the presence of multi-tone interference. C/N0 is widely used for characterizing …

Virtual Inertia Scheduling (Vis) For Microgrids With Static And Dynamic Security Constraints, Buxin She, Fangxing Li, Jinning Wang, Hantao Cui, Xiaofei Wang, Rui Bo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Microgrids feature a high penetration of inverter-interfaced distributed energy resources (DERs). The low inertia characteristic and fast dynamics of DERs pose challenges to conventional decoupled static economic operation and dynamic control design within microgrids. Hence, this paper proposed virtual inertia scheduling (VIS) for microgrids, aiming to ensure both economy and security. First, a unified framework for device-level control and grid-level operation is introduced, with VIS serving as a key application to address low inertia issues. VIS actively harnesses the controllability and flexibility of DERs to effectively manage microgrid inertia. It updates the conventional economic operation framework by incorporating the virtual …

Analytical Modeling Of Partially-Filled Tm010-Mode Dielectric Resonator For Accurate Dk And Df Extraction, Mehdi Mousavi, Chaofeng Li, Reza Asadi, Seyedmostafa Mousavi, Reza Vahdani, Xiaoning Ye, Mina Esmaeelpour, Donghyun Kim

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In high-speed printed circuit board (PCB) modeling, the accurate determination of the dielectric constant (DK) and dissipation factor (DF) is crucial for signal integrity analysis at design stage. This paper introduces an analytical approach using a partially filled TM010-mode dielectric resonator, an effective tool for DK and DF extraction of PCB material. We begin by discussing the theoretical underpinnings of TM₀₁₀-mode dielectric resonators and their applicability in measuring the DK and DF of the material under test. A mathematical model is then presented, linking the resonant characteristics directly to the DK and DF of the dielectric material. The …

Modeling Of Power Distrubition Network (Pdn) Noise Coupling Induced Clock Phase Noise, Zhekun Peng, Junyong Park, Chaofeng Li, Joey Stecher, Srinivas Venkataraman, Xu Wang, Granthana Rangaswamy, Donghyun Kim

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Phase noise analysis is important to clock design. Noise sources of spurs shown on the phase noise result are challenging to find out due to the unknown source locations and coupling mechanisms. Noise from power distribution network (PDN) is one of the most troublesome sources. A behavioral modeling methodology is proposed to simulate the clock phase noise induced by PDN noise coupling for two different mechanisms: PDN-to-clock additive coupling and PDN-to-PDN up-conversion modulation. The thermal noise and 1/f flicker noise are simplified to provide a straightforward view of spur level. The model can be applied to both single-ended clock and …

Relative Altitude Estimation Of Infrared Thermal Uav Images Using Sift Features, Shirin Nasr Esfahani, Jagannathan Sarangapani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become indispensable in various applications, including surveillance, urban scene analysis, and agricultural monitoring. Accurate altitude estimation is critical for UAV operations, especially in environments where traditional sensors like GPS, pressure altimeters, and radar may fail. This paper explores the use of infrared and thermal imaging for relative altitude estimation of UAVs, highlighting their significant advantages over traditional RGB images. Infrared and thermal imaging offer superior performance in low-light and adverse weather conditions, providing clearer visibility and more reliable feature detection. By leveraging the Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) features, this approach utilizes the inherent benefits of …

Lifelong Direct Error-Driven Learning For Uav Altitude Estimation In Different Weather Conditions, Shirin Nasr-Esfahani, Jagannathan Sarangapani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

While deep neural networks achieve remarkable visual perception capabilities for UAV position and orientation estimation, their resilience to different weather conditions still needs improvement. These models often suffer from catastrophic forgetting when adapted to new environments, losing previously acquired knowledge. Lifelong learning methods aim to balance learning flexibility and memory stability. In this paper, we present an image-based approach to estimate the relative altitude of a UAV using 2D images under varying weather conditions, including sunny, sunset, and foggy scenarios. Our experiments demonstrate significant performance degradation when the model is trained sequentially on different weather datasets, especially when new images …

Instantaneous Current And Average Power Flow Characterization Of A Dc-Dc-Dc Triple Active Bridge Converter, Jonathan Saelens, Lauryn Morris, Oroghene Oboreh-Snapps, Arnold Fernandes, Praneeth Uddarraju, Sophia A. Strathman, Jonathan W. Kimball

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Triple Active Bridge (TAB) is a Three-Port Power Converter that Facilitates Bi-Directional Power Flow and Provides Galvanic Isolation, Making It a Subject of Significant Research Attention. This is Attributed to its Diverse Applications in High-Frequency DC-DC Conversion, Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy Integration, and Micro-Grids. Controlling the System at Run-Time Involves Modification of the Two Phase-Shift Parameters between Respective Bridges. by Analyzing the Fundamental Converter Operating Equations, Future Control Designers Can Use This Framework to Optimize Control Schemes to Mitigate the Under-Determined Nature of the TAB Converter. in This Paper, We Elucidate the Foundational Operational Principles of the TAB and …

Optimal Trajectory Tracking For Uncertain Linear Discrete-Time Systems Using Time-Varying Q-Learning, Maxwell Geiger, Vignesh Narayanan, Sarangapani Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Article Introduces a Novel Optimal Trajectory Tracking Control Scheme Designed for Uncertain Linear Discrete-Time (DT) Systems. in Contrast to Traditional Tracking Control Methods, Our Approach Removes the Requirement for the Reference Trajectory to Align with the Generator Dynamics of an Autonomous Dynamical System. Moreover, It Does Not Demand the Complete Desired Trajectory to Be Known in Advance, Whether through the Generator Model or Any Other Means. Instead, Our Approach Can Dynamically Incorporate Segments (Finite Horizons) of Reference Trajectories and Autonomously Learn an Optimal Control Policy to Track Them in Real Time. to Achieve This, We Address the Tracking Problem …

Early-Career Music Teachers’ Perspectives Of Their Initial Teacher Education Program In China, Han Meng, Jason Goopy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Initial teacher education plays an important role in preparing music teachers for schools. There is a growing interest in Chinese music teacher education, though limited research currently exists. This study investigated early-career teachers’ perspectives concerning the efficacy of the initial music teacher education program at Yu Cai Normal University (pseudonym), China. This mixed-methods study used a sequential explanatory design where qualitative interview data were used to provide further explanation and detail regarding survey results. The perceptions of early-career music teachers were sought on the importance, effectiveness, and usefulness of their initial teacher education and the most rewarding and challenging aspects …

Enhancing A School Readiness Skill Through A Mindfulness-Based Intervention: Soles Of The Feet, Caitlin J. Moen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Approximately one million children enroll in kindergarten each year with varying levels of experience and school readiness. Fundamental school readiness skills parallel executive functioning skills, which multiple interventions are able to target. School readiness intervention programs can be costly and require a considerable amount of training. Teachers and other school staff need an affordable, easy-to-implement intervention that targets critical school readiness skills. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been found to improve executive functioning skills like self-regulation, which is skill for school readiness. Soles of the Feet (SOF) is an evidence-based MBI that has been found effective for increasing self-regulation in schoolaged …

The Effects Of Stigma Within The Prep Care Cascade Among People Who Inject Drugs In Rural Kentucky, Abby Burton

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background: Injection drug use has increased HIV burden in low-prevalence communities, specifically within rural Kentucky. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been successful in terms of HIV prevention, yet uptake remains low among people who inject drugs (PWID). PWID living in rural areas face unique challenges to receiving PrEP care, including significant barriers of substance use- and HIV-related stigma. Recent studies have only started to explore the overlapping effects of these two stigmas. Considering the barriers each stigma independently poses to PrEP care, it is important to investigate their role in tandem for any compounding effects. This paper is a secondary analysis …

Patterns Into Pathways For Improving Safety Culture: Refined Latent Class Analysis Informs Tailored Decision Support For South Carolina Dss Safety Culture Improvements, Michaela Voit

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The rising prevalence of exposures to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) demands a coordinated public health response, as a significant body of research details the cumulative impact of ACEs on chronic morbidities contributing to reduced life expectancy. Child welfare workers (CWW) are embedded in this public health effort, tasked with preventing and mitigating the impacts of ACEs through family and prevention services. The National Partnership for Child Safety (NPCS) may improve the wellbeing of CWWs and the effectiveness of Child Welfare (CW) services by improving the quality of safety culture within CW organizations. To inform NPCS quality improvement efforts, our project …

Culturally Responsive Teaching: High School Teachers Reflecting On Multicultural And Global Education, Giselle Pardo De Rincón

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This study explored the challenges and benefits teachers face in implementing culturally responsive teaching, multicultural education, and global education and their impact on student learning, community integration, and sense of belonging. Through qualitative narrative research, I investigated how high school educators could create inclusive classroom environments. Four high school teachers from a suburban high school in Oregon, aged 21 or older, participated in semi-structured interviews focused on culturally responsive teaching, multicultural education, and global education. The research aimed to uncover high school teachers’ experiences across different career stages, offering insights to support educators and inform policy and teacher preparation programs, …

Social Determinants Of Health & Barriers To Care In Diabetic Retinopathy Patients Lost To Follow-Up, Thomas Chang

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH & BARRIERS TO CARE IN DIABETIC RETINOPATHY PATIENTS LOST TO FOLLOW-UP

Thomas L. Chang, Akua Frimpong, Kristen Nwanyanwu. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults in the United States. More than a quarter of patients are lost to follow-up (LTFU) after they receive anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections as treatment. This study utilized a mixed-methods approach with both a quantitative and qualitative analysis. The specific aims of the quantitative analysis were to identify any potential factors or …

Evaluating The Length Of Clinical Rotations In Medical Laboratory Science Education, Kendal Beazer

Dissertations and Theses

Medical laboratory scientists and technicians play a crucial role in healthcare by utilizing advanced methods to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring, and prevention of a wide range of diseases. Certifying as an MLS or MLT professional is detailed and specific, requiring years of laboratory training that is crucial to accurately perform testing that impacts patient care. Shortages of qualified medical laboratorians have persisted for decades, causing laboratory administrators to hire individuals who lack basic laboratory training. Laboratory education programs are not keeping up with the staffing demands, in part due to the lack of clinical rotation placements needed for MLS …

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Of Oropharyngeal Cancer Post-Treatment Surveillance Practices, Rema Shah

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Post-treatment surveillance imaging for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is guided by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and often is routinely performed beyond the suggested guidelines. With the advent of biomarker-based disease surveillance, there may be an alternative option that can reduce the cost-burden of post-treatment imaging for OPSCC. This study investigates the comparative cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical miRNA biomarker test for specifically HPV-negative (HPV-) OPSCC post-treatment surveillance and also investigates whether the extra imaging practices that are often employed for both HPV+ and HPV- OPSCC are truly cost-effective in order to inform evidence-based decision making after OPSCC treatment. …

Shifting Educational Paradigms: An Analysis Of Evolving Student Expectations Within A Reformed Physical Chemistry Curriculum, Kevin E. Morales

Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Works

Students often hold negative expectations when enrolling in rigorous undergraduate courses. PhysicalChemistry is a challenging upper-level course for Chemistry majors; the course has a reputation as a demandingcourse that leads to students building negative expectations. This worsened when ambiguity existed in an instructor’s pedagogy. Not addressing those initial expectations of the students abates their motivation, which does not put them in the best place to learn, leading to poor academic performance. The course syllabus is often the first interaction a student has with the course; it can be a critical tool in (re)setting students' initial expectations and allows the instructor …

Dependence And Mixing For Perturbations Of Copula-Based Markov Chains, Mathias Nthiani Muia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work explores the impact of perturbations of copulas on dependence and mixing properties for stationary ergodic Markov chains. We focus on two types of copula perturbations and establish their impact on the mixing properties of the Markov chains they generate. Examples are provided to illustrate the different perturbations explored. Furthermore, we delve into the analysis of a discrete Markov chain that is based on the Frechet family of copulas. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of discrete marginals on copula-based Markov chains. We analyze the mixing properties of such models to emphasize the difference between …

Combined In Silico And Experimental Approaches Of Pharmacognosy To Resolve Complex Natural Product Issues, William Michael Neal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the identification of useful bioactive natural products can often involve tedious dereplication measures to decipher complex mixtures, much emphasis is placed on methods that can effectively characterize natural products. Several in silico methods, such as quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs), molecular docking, and quantum calculations, provide researchers with valuable tools to overcome the challenge of complex natural product mixtures. To exemplify the abilities of computational methodologies to further the field of pharmacognosy, this dissertation elaborates on several research projects involving computational approaches in pharmacognosy, including: (1) global assessment of pregnane X receptor (PXR) agonism via multiple QSAR models, (2) differentiation …

Summer-Wet Hydrologic Cycle During The Middle Miocene Of The United States: New Evidence From Fossil Fungi, Jennifer M.K. O’Keefe, Matthew J. Pound, Ingrid C. Romero, Noelia B. Nuñez Otaño, Martha E. Gibson, Jessica Mccoy, Margaret E. Alden, C. Jolene Fairchild, Julia Fitzpatrick, Emily Hodgson, Taylor Horsfall, Savannah Jones, June E. Lennex-Stone, Christopher A. Marsh, Alyssa A. Patel, Tyler M. Spears, Laikin Tarlton, Liberty F. Smallwood, O. L. Vanderespt, Jeremyah R. Cabrera, Cortland F. Eble, William C. Rember, James E. Starnes, Mac H. Alford, Alyson Brink, Sophie Warny

Faculty Publications

Hydrologic reconstructions from North America are largely unknown for the Middle Miocene. Examination of fungal palynomorph assemblages coupled with traditional plant-based palynology permits delineation of local, as opposed to regional, climate signals and provides a baseline for study of ancient fungas. Here, the Fungi in a Warmer World project presents paleoecology and paleoclimatology of 351 fungal morphotypes from 3 sites in the United States: the Clarkia Konservat-Lagerstätte site (Idaho), the Alum Bluff site (Florida), and the Bouie River site (Mississippi). Of these, 83 fungi are identified as extant taxa and 41 are newly reported from the Miocene. Combining new plant-based …

Whaling Logbooks: Colonial Knowledge Acquisition In The Pacific World, Aj Laird

Kaplan Senior Essay Prize for Use of Library Special Collections

Sometime in 1846, the cooper onboard the whaling bark Acushnet used the final pages of his sea journal to write up a list of the workers onboard the ship. The cooper, who was called Resolvid W. Bowles, appears ninth on his list, which he titled “Crew and Officers on Board Ship Acushnet Sailing from N.B. July 17th, 1845 - for the Pacific Ocean.” Bowles appears to have modeled this crew list off the official crew lists that were signed at the start of whaling voyages – a contract that both ensured the crew members’ share in profits from the whale …

Fostering Trust In Artificial Intelligence In Commercial Aviation: An Exploratory Study, Leila Halawi, Mark Miller, Sam Holley

Publications

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a transformative force, compelling industries to adapt their operations, management systems, and workforce capabilities. The aviation sector finds itself at the forefront of this transformation, confronted with the imperative to navigate the complex dynamics of trust amidst AI's integration. Through a comprehensive survey involving 310 professionals from across the US commercial aviation sector, the research aims to shed light on the trust construct. The exploratory study provides critical insights for strategic AI adoption within the industry. A crosstabulation explored how employee trust in AI for decision-making differed across various demographic groups. In addition, a onesample T-test …

Tractor Test #2294: Kubota M7-154, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Byzantine Consensus In Abstract Mac Layer, Lewis Tseng, Callie Sardina

Computer Science

This paper studies the design of Byzantine consensus algorithms in an asynchronous single-hop network equipped with the “abstract MAC layer” [DISC09], which captures core properties of modern wireless MAC protocols. Newport [PODC14], Newport and Robinson [DISC18], and Tseng and Zhang [PODC22] study crash-tolerant consensus in the model. In our setting, a Byzantine faulty node may behave arbitrarily, but it cannot break the guarantees provided by the underlying abstract MAC layer. To our knowledge, we are the first to study Byzantine faults in this model. We harness the power of the abstract MAC layer to develop a Byzantine approximate consensus algorithm …

Fault-Tolerant Consensus In Anonymous Dynamic Network, Qinzi Zhang, Lewis Tseng

Computer Science

This paper studies the feasibility of reaching consensus in an anonymous dynamic network. In our model, n anonymous nodes proceed in synchronous rounds. We adopt a hybrid fault model in which up to f nodes may suffer crash or Byzantine faults, and the dynamic message adversary chooses a communication graph for each round. We introduce a stability property of the dynamic network - (T, D)-dynaDegree for T ≥ 1 and n - 1 ≥ D ≥1 - which requires that for every T consecutive rounds, any fault-free node must have incoming directed links from at least D distinct neighbors. These …

Graduate Catalogue 2024-2025, Seton Hall University

Graduate Catalogues

No abstract provided.