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Events for March 08, 2007

  • Large-Scale Quantum Architectures

    Thu, Mar 08, 2007 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    "Large-Scale Quantum Architectures"Tzvetan MetodiUniversity of California, DavisAbstract:Quantum computing is an emerging field that offers revolutionary and exciting new means in the way we process, store, and transport information. Moreover, realizing large-scale quantum systems requires advances in science and engineering that are now very close to reality. Such systems will need the orchestration of many classical and quantum parts that fit together into one unified architecture in which each component plays an integral role over the course of the application execution. Therefore, it is important that we draw upon the experiences gained from traditional architectures, to develop a model for a large-scale quantum system that provides the methodology necessary for the many different components to work together.In this talk, I will first present the design of the Quantum Logic Array (QLA) architecture, which tackles critical scalability issues such as the cost of error correction and data distribution over large-distances. To accurately model the performance of the QLA architecture, we employ the ion-trap technology, where every component necessary for universal quantum computation has been demonstrated in the laboratory. However, due to its design approach for maximizing parallelism, the QLA system suffers from large area overhead. To combat the area problem, I describe a different architecture system that uses the concept of hardware specialization employed in traditional architectures. The new architecture is based on the QLA model, but is divided into separately optimized quantum memory hierarchy and logic specific regions. The result is a scalable system design that exploits the available parallelism to balance both quantum and classical resources while both reducing the area of the chip and increasing its performance. I end my talk with a discussion on the many open issues remaining when designing systems to perform quantum computation.Speaker Bio:Tzvetan Metodi received his Bachelors degree in physics from the University of California at Davis. He is currently a 5th year PhD student in Computer Science also at UC Davis and a visiting researcher at UC Santa Barbara for Professor Fred Chong. Tzvetan's current work focuses on the development of balanced architectural models of organization and specialization for emerging nanoelectronic computing devices. While a member of the Quantum Architecture Research Center (QARC), which is organized by faculty at UC Berkeley, University of Washington, MIT, and UC Davis, he spent parts of 2004 and 2006 as a visiting scholar at MIT under the guidance of Professor Isaac Chuang. Tzvetan is the principle author of a book titled "Quantum Computing for Computer Architects" published as part of the Synthesis Lectures on Computer Architecture by Morgan & Claypool Publishers in November, 2006.Hosted by: Prof. Viktor Prasanna, prasanna@usc.edu

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - -248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Rosine Sarafian

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  • INFLUENCE OF MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY ON THE FUEL EFFICIENCY OF AEROTURBINES

    Thu, Mar 08, 2007 @ 12:45 PM

    Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Handy Colloquium INFLUENCE OF MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY ON THE FUEL EFFICIENCY OF AEROTURBINES Professor Anthony G. EvansDepartment of Materials & Mechanical Engineering
    University of California
    Santa Barbara, CAAbstractThe fuel efficiency of aero-turbines has been improved systematically during recent decades. The trend is strongly correlated with the increase in achievable temperature in the hot sections of the turbine. In turn, this temperature increase is attributed to combined advances in materials and active cooling technologies. This presentation examines the materials innovations that continue to be implemented due to advancements at the frontiers of materials and mechanics. The most recent advances have been enabled by multilayer coatings that impart thermal and oxidation protection. The former is provided by an oxide with exceptionally low thermal conductivity. The latter is achieved using alloy coatings that form alumina. For continued performance enhancement using such multilayer concepts a systems-level methodology is needed. The materials and mechanics formulations that have been devised for this purpose are described.

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Petra Pearce

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  • The Anatomy of a Turnaround: Blue Cross ---> WellPoint

    Thu, Mar 08, 2007 @ 01:00 PM - 04:20 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    University Calendar


    HEALTH MANAGEMENT & POLICY PROGRAMS: The Anatomy of a Turnaround: Blue Cross --> WellPointThis is a unique opportunity to hear four healthcare industry veterans discuss the turnaround of an ailing Blue Cross of California and its transformation into WellPoint, Inc.--one of the nation's leading managed care companies. Thursday, March 8, 2007 — Ralph & Goldy Lewis Hall (RGL) Auditorium, 1:00-4:20 p.m.FEATURING: LEONARD D. SCHAEFFER, Founding Chairman and CEO, WellPoint GUEST FACULTY:TOM GEISER, JD --Senior Advisor, Texas Pacific Group and former WellPoint EVP and General CounselSUSAN MAERKI, Director, Healthcare Practice, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and former Manager of Corporate Strategy and Planning, Blue Cross of CADENNY WEINBERG: CEO, ARCUS Enterprises, Inc. and a founding director of WellPoint, Inc.Due to space limitations, please RSVP to Lois Green at greenl@usc.edu if you wish to attend. Guest Speaker Bios:Thomas C. Geiser is a Senior Advisor to Texas Pacific Group He has been an advisor and legal counsel to numerous healthcare organizations with a focus on healthcare financing. Mr. Geiser served as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of WellPoint Health Networks Inc. and was involved with WellPoint from its inception. He was involved extensively in company mergers and acquisitions and in numerous public securities offerings. He was also responsible for WellPoint's legal, legislative and regulatory affairs in 50 states and served as its principal contact with state and federal regulators. Before to joining WellPoint, Mr. Geiser spent 15 years as an attorney in private law practice, coming to WellPoint from Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison in San Francisco. Prior to that, he was a partner in Epstein, Becker, Stromberg & Green and in Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos & Stromberg in San Francisco. Susan Maerki is a director in the healthcare practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Her areas of expertise include health insurance, managed care and health care financing, health policy, and government public programs, particularly Medicaid. She has nearly 25 years of experience working in academic health services research, a major health plan, public programs and consulting. Ms. Maerki led the health market assessment component for the PwC teams that advised the Kansas and the Washington State Departments of Insurance on the proposed conversion of local Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans from non-profit to for-profit status. More recently, she has been involved in engagements with health plans to develop competitive bid proposals for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans. Prior to joining PwC, Ms. Maerki was an independent consultant working on the development and implementation of Medicaid managed care in California and on international health care projects in Africa in and Southeast Asia. Previously she was at Blue Cross of California, where served as Manager of Provider Network Evaluation. As Manager of Corporate Strategy and Planning, she worked with the plan's president during a period of corporate restructuring. Ms. Maerki began her career doing research at the Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco. Denny Weinberg is CEO of ARCUS Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. He was one of the founding directors of WellPoint in the early 1990's, and is an 18-year veteran of WellPoint or its predecessor companies. During his tenure, he helped structure one of the most publicized financial turnarounds in the managed care industry, which resulted in WellPoint's creation. Most recently as CEO of ARCUS, he has been responsible for creating and launching a long-term business diversification venture for WellPoint. Previously, Mr. Weinberg served as group president and/or founder for a number of WellPoint's key operating companies and divisions. Prior to this Mr. Weinberg was a principal with the consulting division of accounting firm Deloitte & Touche in Chicago, and he served also as general manager for the CTX Products Division of Pet, Inc., a subsidiary of I.C. Industries in St. Louis, MO. Weinberg is a general partner in FRW-I, LLC, a medical device developer and Skyview Development, LLC, a residential land development company, and is a limited partner in a half dozen other early-stage development projects.

    Location: Ralph And Goldy Lewis Hall (RGL) - Auditorium

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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  • Flow Variability and Labor Productivity Loss for Construction Projects

    Thu, Mar 08, 2007 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    University Calendar


    Civil Engineering Seminar - USC-CEE Faculty Candidate in Construction Management "Flow Variability and Labor Productivity Loss for Construction Projects"Speaker: Min LiuPh.D. Candidate, UC BerkeleyABSTRACT: Lost labor productivity loss is one of the primary contributors to the cost and schedule overruns that affect many construction projects. Quantifying lost labor productivity on construction projects is difficult and sometimes subjective. A widely accepted way to quantify losses is the measured mile approach. In this research the measured mile and a variant, the baseline method, are analyzed and compared to a new, proposed statistical clustering method. The research explored applying a statistical clustering method in the measured mile and baseline calculation to inject objectivity in the analysis. The test on real data showed that the clustering method is more objective and therefore more convincing to both owners and contractors. The research also explored the relationship between flow variation and labor productivity. Identifying and quantifying the benefit of improving flow reliability can provide guidance for project managers to focus on the root causes of productivity loss in the planning stage. The research findings can also help consultants locate the causes and quantify responsibility of productivity loss in claims. Computer simulation and case study approaches were used to explore the correlation between flow variation and labor productivity. THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2007, 2:30-4:00 PM, KAPRIELIAN HALL, ROOM 203

    Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 203

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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  • FLOW VARIABILITY AND LABOR PRODUCTIVITY LOSS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

    Thu, Mar 08, 2007 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM

    Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker:
    Min Liu,
    Ph.D. Candidate, University of California, Berkeley,Abstract
    Lost labor productivity loss is one of the primary contributors to the cost and schedule overruns that affect many construction projects. Quantifying lost labor productivity on construction projects is difficult and sometimes subjective. A widely accepted way to quantify losses is the measured mile approach. In this research the measured mile and a variant, the baseline method, are analyzed and compared to a new, proposed statistical clustering method. The research explored applying a statistical clustering method in the measured mile and baseline calculation to inject objectivity in the analysis. The test on real data showed that the clustering method is more objective and therefore more convincing to both owners and contractors. The research also explored the relationship between flow variation and labor productivity. Identifying and quantifying the benefit of improving flow reliability can provide guidance for project managers to focus on the root causes of productivity loss in the planning stage. The research findings can also help consultants locate the causes and quantify responsibility of productivity loss in claims. Computer simulation and case study approaches were used to explore the correlation between flow variation and labor productivity.

    Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - rielian Hall, 203

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Evangeline Reyes

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  • Raytheon Information Session

    Thu, Mar 08, 2007 @ 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Join representatives of this company as they share general company information and available opportunities.

    Location: Grace Ford Salvatori Hall Of Letters, Arts & Sciences (GFS) - 106

    Audiences: Current Engineering Undergraduate/Graduate Students

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Services

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