Digital Commons Network^™

Component Level Em Emission Assessment And Management For Rf Desensitization, Xiangrui Su, Wenchang Huang, Junghee Cho, Joonki Paek, Chulsoon Hwang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Radio frequency (RF) desensitization is a common issue caused by high-speed components in modern electronic devices. Consequently, numerous studies have focused on characterizing and quantifying electromagnetic (EM) emission sources by using near field scanning to detect EM noise sources. However, before near field scanning, no predetermined threshold is available to quickly assess whether an EM noise source will pose RF desensitization risks in the receiving antenna. This article presents a method to optimize near field scanning settings through EM emission management analysis. Drawing on experience from numerous EM emission studies, we introduce an EM emission management procedure for two common …

Explainable And Safety Aware Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Control Of Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems Using Neural Network Gradient Decomposition, Behzad Farzanegan, S. Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents an explainable deep-reinforcement learning (DRL)-based safety-aware optimal adaptive tracking (SOAT) scheme for a class of nonlinear discrete-time (DT) affine systems subject to state inequality constraints. The DRL-based SOAT utilizes a multilayer neural network (MNN)-based actor-critic to estimate the cost function and optimal policy while the MNN update laws are tuned both using the singular value decomposition (SVD) of activation function gradient in order to mitigate the vanishing gradient issue and safety-aware Bellman error at each layer. An approximate safety-aware optimal policy is developed using Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions by incorporating the higher-order control barrier function (HOCBF) into the …

Adaptive Nussbaum Design For Nonholonomic Systems With Asymptotic Stabilization Against False Data Injection, Guilong Liu, Yongliang Yang, Weinan Gao, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article addresses the stabilization challenges of nonholonomic systems under the threat of false data injection (FDI) attacks, which compromise the integrity of state information. A novel adaptive control strategy using Nussbaum-type gains is proposed to ensure the asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system while maintaining signal boundedness. The approach extends conventional Nussbaum designs to handle multiple unknown control directions. It integrates online learning mechanisms to mitigate the impact of FDI attacks. Additionally, adaptive backstepping and fuzzy-logic systems are utilized to approximate and compensate for unknown nonlinear dynamics. The methodology transforms nonholonomic systems into equivalent cascade structures to address inherent …

Safe Optimal Control Of Quadrotor Formations Using Multilayer Neural Networks And Continual Learning, Ehsan Soleimani, Irfan Ahmad Ganie, S. Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article presents an integral reinforcement learning-based optimal formation tracking scheme for multiple quadrotors unmanned aerial vehicles (QUAVs) experiencing nonlinear coupled dynamics and subject to constraints. We use multilayer neural networks (MNN) within an actor-critic framework where the MNN weights are tuned using singular value decomposition (SVD) of the activation function gradient to approximate optimal control policy via backstepping. Additionally, barrier Lyapunov functions (BLF) are introduced to ensure set invariance, thereby maintaining the quadrotors within a defined safety space due to constraints. A novel weight update law for each layer is derived using the HJB approximation error and control input …

An Extensive Analysis Of Match-Tracking Methods For Artmap, Niklas M. Melton, Leonardo Enzo Brito Da Silva, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper identifies and studies five match-tracking (MT) methods in the adaptive resonance theory (ART) literature and conducts a detailed comparative analysis of these in ARTMAP applications. We focus on model performance for each MT method with respect to time and space efficiency as well as classification accuracy. Experimental results indicate that one MT variant, used in ARTMAP applications for the first time in this work, provides significant improvements in computational efficiency: depending on the ARTMAP variant, it was able to achieve up to one order of magnitude reduction in both time and space requirements, albeit with a compromise in …

Prescribed-Time Nash Equilibrium Seeking For Pursuit-Evasion Game Under Intermittent Control With Undirected/Directed Graph, Lei Xue, Jianfeng Ye, Yongbao Wu, Jian Liu, D. C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper studies the prescribed-time Nash equilibrium (PTNE) seeking problem of the pursuit-evasion game (PEG) with second-order dynamics under the intermittent control (IC) strategy. To achieve Nash equilibrium (NE) in a user-defined prescribed-time, a time-varying high-gain function is incorporated into the design. The core challenge lies in applying IC to NE seeking, which complicates the convergence analysis and control design. To address this sticking point, we construct an auxiliary function and propose a Lyapunov function considering second-order dynamics to solve the PTNE seeking problem of PEG. Building upon the results for undirected graphs, we further extend our findings to directed …

Active And Reactive Power Flow Control Of The Dual Active Bridge Converter, Lauryn Morris, Thomas W. Francois, Jonathan Saelens, Oroghene Oboreh-Snapps, Arnold Fernandes, Praneeth Uddarraju, Sophia A. Strathman, Jonathan W. Kimball

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Dual Active Bridge (DAB) is a reliable and efficient converter capable of providing bi-directional power transfer and galvanic isolation. An ac-ac DAB can control both active and reactive power flow. The present work introduces a combined feedback/feed-forward current control system, utilizing the calculated and measured converter currents translated into the dq reference frame, to control the output power. The system was simulated in PLECS to demonstrate the control algorithm's ability to track the dq currents and provide the necessary output power.

Large-Range And High-Sensitivity Displacement Sensing Based On Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer Assisted Microwave Photonic Filter, Shiyu Li, Ruimin Jie, Osamah Alsalman, Jie Huang, Chen Zhu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Displacement is a pivotal physical parameter, and advancements in displacement sensor technology have enabled the creation of a diverse array of physical and mechanical sensors through seamless integration with mechanical transducers. In this study, we introduce a displacement sensing technique leveraging an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) assisted microwave photonic filter. By translating displacement-induced variations in the EFPI's optical reflection into peak frequency shifts within its frequency response, we achieve large-dynamic-range displacement measurements with outstanding signal quality and demodulation ease. Proof-of-concept demonstrations showcase a substantial 5 mm range with a remarkable sensitivity of 1.148 GHz/mm, achieved using a basic single-mode fiber-based …

A Data-Driven Adaptive Control Approach For Enhancing The Dynamic Response Ff Vsgs In Varying Grid Conditions, Shah Fahad, Buxin She, Junjie Yin, Fangxing Li, Hantao Cui, Rui Bo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Conventionally, a virtual synchronous generator (VSG) is designed for islanded mode (IM) operation to meet specific operational requirements such as the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF). However, the operation of VSG designed for IM may not meet the operational and control criteria in grid connected mode (GCM) when the grid conditions vary. In addition, conventional VSG control technology does not consider the influence of the presynchronization scheme when connected to a weak grid, which degrades the RoCoF in IM. To overcome the aforementioned challenges, the proposed study presents a twin-delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (TD3) algorithm to improve the …

Print Quality Assessment Of Additively Manufactured Resonant Structures, Logan M. Wilcox, Alexander Hook, Emma T. Bohannon, Cody Morrow, Doyle T. Motes, Kristen M. Donnell

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Due to the increased popularity of additive manufacturing (AM) and availability of electrically conductive filaments, the potential for using AM to fabricate high frequency resonant structures has been realized. As these structures require specific operating conditions to provide the desired resonant response (such as substrate/superstrate material, operating frequency, polarization, etc.), print quality validation through an assessment of the resonant response can be difficult to accomplish. To this end, active microwave thermography (AMT) is proposed as an alternative technique to assess and validate an AM resonant structure. Two AM resonant structures were manufactured using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and the resonant …

Young Feminist Organizing Fanzine—Defender, Insistir Y Resistir Desde El Territorio, Feministas Jóvenes Organizadas

Adolescents and Young People

No abstract provided.

Young Feminist Organizing Fanzine—To Defend, To Insist And To Resist From The Territory, Feministas Jóvenes Organizadas

Adolescents and Young People

No abstract provided.

Growing The Abriendo Oportunidades® Ecosystem: Equipping Young Mentors With Skills And Resources To Expand Girl-Centered Programming In Belize, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

Building on the success of the Abriendo Oportunidades^® (AO^®) program in Guatemala, in 2014 Population Council Guatemala (PC-Guatemala) and Toledo Mayan Women’s Council established the Toledo Adolescent Girls program (TAG), a safe space initiative that equipped young Indigenous girls and female mentors with life skills. The project demonstrated that neighboring countries are interested in expanding the AO model, and that the Council can successfully support programmatic adaptation to meet the needs of other Indigenous communities in Mesoamerica. This was achieved by introducing age-segmented groups, prioritizing transportation funding for mentors and supervisors, and continuing to tailor to local …

Growing The Abriendo Oportunidades® Ecosystem: Spotlight On Escuela De Oportunidades, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

Developed in partnership with the Office of the Vice President in 2021, Escuela de Oportunidades is a national internship program that intentionally invests in young female Indigenous professionals to increase their visibility in governance structures. Through a combination of mentorship, training, and practical experience, Escuela de Oportunidades has successfully facilitated the entry of Indigenous Guatemalan women into government institutions, enhancing gender and ethnic inclusivity in public service. This brief is part of the Abriendo Oportunidades^® Legacy Series, celebrating and highlighting 20 years of impactful program implementation.

Growing The Abriendo Oportunidades® Ecosystem: Sowing Seeds Of Change Within Government Systems, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

Population Council-Guatemala (PC-Guatemala) is supporting and shaping a movement led by young Indigenous leaders to expand inclusive education and civic participation opportunities. Through mechanisms such as professional internships, school re-integration programs, and other government collaborations, young Indigenous women are building the knowledge, skills, and relationships to lead community development efforts and inform inclusive national policies. This brief is part of the Abriendo Oportunidades^® Legacy Series, celebrating and highlighting 20 years of impactful program implementation.

Growing The Abriendo Oportunidades® Ecosystem: Spotlight On Mentor Networks, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

The emergence of REDMI Aq’ab’al and Na’leb’ak ONG, two civil society networks of young Indigenous women, represents a monumental evolution of the Abriendo Oportunidades^® (AO^®) program. As AO^® successfully supported young female Indigenous mentors to increase their autonomy, community visibility, and professional skills, the formation and growth of these independent networks now promotes a larger movement of sustainable, responsive, and community-led social progress. It also provides a new platform for mentors to be recognized and credited for their work, even after they have “graduated” from direct participation in AO^®. This brief is part of …

The Social Life Of The Abriendo Oportunidades® Program In Guatemala: Three Decades Of Enabling Community And Civic Spaces For Indigenous Girls And Women, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

Since 2004, Abriendo Oportunidades^® (Opening Opportunities, AO) has emerged as a gender transformative social program to support Indigenous girls and young women in Guatemala’s post-war context. Following an evidence-based, community-anchored approach, AO began as a program and has evolved into a social movement. AO has continuously demonstrated its impact in reducing girls’ exposure to gender-based violence and pioneered alternative education through utilizing mentors as tutors. Over time, AO has successfully reached more than 25,000 Indigenous girls and adolescents across 500+ rural Guatemala communities and built a pathway of professional opportunities for the young women who lead the program. AO …

Girls First Fund: External Evaluation—Endline Evaluation Report, Brian Medina Carranza, Neelanjana Pandey, Angel Del Valle, Fatima Zahra

Adolescents and Young People

The Population Council is leading an evaluation of programs funded by the Girls First Fund (GFF) in the Dominican Republic (DR), India, and Niger. These three countries were chosen to maximize geographic, social, cultural, and economic diversity across contexts, but common to all three is the continued persistence of child marriage and the presence of collective efforts to eliminate it. The broader goal of this evaluation is to: 1) demonstrate proof of concept for the impact of  GFF-supported programs; 2) examine key outcomes of interest to the GFF and the community-based organizations that it funds, including education, child marriage, and …

Is Originalism Bullshit?, Michael L. Smith

Lewis & Clark Law Review

It’s finally time to answer the big question. This Article draws on the surprisingly robust literature examining the definition, essence, and significance of bullshit and evaluates whether originalist constitutional interpretation fits the bill. I begin with Harry Frankfurt’s definition of bullshit as utterances made in pursuit of the speaker’s goals without regard for their truth value. I also rely on alternate formulations, including bullshit as unclarifiable nonsense as well as contextual and audience-centric variations of bullshit.

While not all instances of originalism are bullshit, I identify those instances which are, and go on to demonstrate that originalism is uniquely prone …

The Public Trust Doctrine And Lake Abert: Saving Oregon’S Only Salt Lake, Joseph Arzt

Lewis & Clark Law Review

The public trust doctrine creates a relationship between states and their citizens under which the states are entrusted with protecting natural resources for public use. Though Oregon recognizes the public trust doctrine, recent decisions from Oregon’s Supreme Court have displaced and fractured this doctrine, leaving the current legal landscape surrounding the public trust doctrine in disarray. This Note focuses on Lake Abert, Oregon’s only saline lake, which in recent years, due to mismanagement and neglect, has undergone dramatic ecological shifts. By looking at arguments rooted in Oregon’s Constitution, as well as judicial approaches taken in neighboring states, this Note examines …

Affording Oral Tradition Evidence Due Weight Before The International Court Of Justice, Terrence Neal

Lewis & Clark Law Review

Oral traditions are irreplaceable sources of historical information, particularly with regard to Indigenous Peoples’ histories and cultures. However, when states have submitted oral traditions as evidence of historical practices, events, and circumstances in cases before the International Court of Justice (“Court”), the Court has been reluctant to afford them significant weight. This Article, which is the first detailed study on the Court’s treatment of oral traditions, examines whether the Court is failing to provide them due or appropriate weight. Based on historical, archaeological, and anthropological research, it establishes that oral traditions can be as reliable as written documents for reconstructing …

Admitting Science: Problems With Current Admissibility Standards, William O'Donohue, Sneha Gupta

Lewis & Clark Law Review

Attorneys use expert testimony to advance legal positions in courtrooms. Because expert testimony can have tremendous influence over judges and juries, it is admitted only if it meets specific admissibility standards, i.e., Frye and Daubert. These standards provide different admissibility criteria, have been adopted by distinct sets of jurisdictions, and, we argue, are of questionable validity. These standards are attempts to ensure that only knowledge is admissible and are, then, essentially an epistemic matter. Science serves as a proxy for knowledge because science is the epistemic process that has been successful at generating knowledge. However, both epistemology and the philosophy …

Mitigating And Preparing For Disasters At The Organizational Level: A Global Systematic Literature Review, Abdul-Akeem Sadiq, Ratna B. Dougherty, Rebecca Entress, Bikash Adhikari, Katherine Wilson Mccoy, Emilie Rott, Grace L. Chikoto-Schultz, Shannon Maharajh

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Organizations play significant roles in society by providing goods and services and contributing to the economies of communities, globally. Amid the predicted increase in the frequency and impact of disasters, which will invariably lead to higher disaster costs, there is an urgent need to ameliorate disaster impact on society and organizations. Disaster mitigation and preparedness are strategies for stemming disaster impact and losses within organizations. Cognizant of the importance of disaster mitigation and preparedness, researchers have conducted a myriad of studies on both concepts at the organizational level. To advance knowledge on this topic, this study conducted a comprehensive systematic …

A Social-Ecological Justice Approach To Ecotourism: Examples From Cockpit Country, Jamaica, Laurel Ann C. Curry

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Ecotourism aims to support local social, ecological, and economic systems sustainably, but its implementation often perpetuates social and environmental injustices. This work applies a new social-ecological justice (SEJ) framework to ecotourism, combining Pope et al.’s holistic approach with principles like ecological stewardship, economic repositioning, and collaboration tailored to specific contexts. Importantly, basic capabilities for full functioning of humans and other species were used in this research to measure areas of justice and injustice. Using a case study approach with the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA) in Jamaica's Cockpit Country, co-created interview data were analyzed to evaluate its ecotourism program’s alignment …

Taking God's Country: The University Of Montana, Morton J. Elrod, And Allotment On The Flathead Reservation, Dylan Tate Yonce

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In the early decades of the twentieth century, the University of Montana (UM) developed from a small frontier college into an influential research institution. During its maturation process, the University relied on the acquisition of land to expand. In addition to its main campus in Missoula, the university sought land for research and recreation. When Congress passed the Flathead Allotment Act (1904), UM became one of many non-Native beneficiaries of federal land dispossession policy in the United States. Existing scholarship has largely homed in on “land grant” universities established through the Morrill Act (1862), which effectively dispossessed ten million acres …

Love At First Words: A Communication Competency Approach To Romantic Relationship Initiation, Grace E. Wiegand

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Initial interactions are essential to romantic relationship formation, and both parties must desire a second interaction after an initial encounter for the relationship to advance. Many studies have explored the communication styles and tactics that are effective in a person desiring a second interaction from a dating initiation scenario. However, existing research has yet to explain why some communication strategies do or do not result in second interactions. The current study seeks to examine this phenomenon further, testing the extent to which perceived partner communication competence influences a person to want to see another again after an initial interaction. In …

An Interdisciplinary Unit For Today's Learners: Integrating Science, English, And Art To Teach Climate Change, Sydney M. Ruby-Pasternak

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

As today’s global challenges grow increasingly complex, interdisciplinary thinking is essential for students to make meaningful connections in their learning. Despite this need, high school students continue to have educational experiences in one-subject classrooms, often preventing them from engaging in integrated learning models. This professional project addresses the gap by developing a five-week interdisciplinary unit titled Brushstrokes of Change, which combines climate science with English language arts and visual arts to amplify student understanding of climate change concepts. This unit was designed for grades 9-12 and prioritizes 21^st-Century skills in critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration through …

A Culture-Centered Approach To Exploring The Impact Of Culturallyappropriate Communication On Patient-Provider Communication Satisfaction For Blackfeet Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Zita K. Ottersbach

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This study explores how culturally appropriate communication influences perceived quality of care and communication satisfaction among patients with T2D. Grounded in the Culture-Centered Approach (Dutta, 2008), this study explores how cultural identity, systemic structures, and communication practices shape the ways that Amskapi Pikuni individuals navigate their care, and seeks to ask: How, if at all, does a provider’s culturally competent communication influence a Blackfeet patient’s management of their T2 Diabetes? This project is based on in-depth, qualitative interviews with 13 Blackfeet participants, most living within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet reservation and receiving their primary healthcare at the local …

Eros And The Sublime: Tools For Reaching Toward An Altered Ecological Consciousness, Aineka Carlson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis explores connections between the Kantian sublime and Anne Carson’s ideas regarding “eros.” Since Kant’s Critique of Judgement was published in 1790, the Kantian sublime has grown in popularity and been utilized by theorists and creative writers alike. While the Kantian sublime is often associated with nature in popular culture, there are certain egocentric and phallocentric elements of this mode of thinking that might inhibit a biocentric mindset. Through a character study of Oryx from Margaret Atwood’s novel Oryx and Crake, this thesis draws relations between the subjugation of women, nature, and the ways in which the popularized …

Mitochondrial Dna Diversity In West Mexico, Emma Zoiss

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The long-standing movement of people, exchange of goods, and transmission of cultural traits are imprinted not only in the archaeological record but also within the genomes of individuals, making ancient DNA a powerful tool for uncovering past interactions and population dynamics. Despite attempts at systematic research, we are still missing critical information about pre-Columbian Mesoamerican populations in the Aztatlán region. This research will focus on those individuals recovered from archaeological sites located both in the highlands of the Lake Chapala Basin, as well as the coast of the Aztatlán core region. The integration of genetics into our understanding of the …