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SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for March
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Epstein ISE Department Seminar
Mon, Mar 03, 2014 @ 03:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. David Papp, Harvard Medical School & Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Talk Title: "Optimization Models for Cancer Treatment Using Arc Therapy"
Abstract: During radiotherapy, cancer patients are irradiated with beams of ionizing radiation that kill both cancerous and healthy cells. Treatment, therefore, has to be carefully designed in order to deliver the prescribed radiation dose to the tumor while sparing critical organs and healthy tissue from damage. Recently, radiotherapy delivery using arc therapy has been gaining popularity in clinics, since it has the potential to improve treatment plan quality while shortening treatment time. During this type of therapy, patients can be irradiated from virtually every angle, with a beam whose shape is continuously changing as the radiation source revolves around the patient. Optimizing such a treatment is much more challenging than designing conventional treatments, because natural formulations of this problem are both large-scale and non-convex optimization models. As a result, currently there is little support of this modality in treatment planning software, and the solutions are based on rather weak heuristics. The talk will present a novel optimization model that can be solved approximately using convex optimization methods, and can also be used in multi-criteria treatment planning. Computational results show that the approach provides high quality treatment plans for a variety of treatment sites.
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2014
ANDRUS GERONTOLOGY BLDG (GER) ROOM 206
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Biography: Dr. Papp has received his PhD in Operations research from Rutgers University in 2011, for his dissertation on polynomial programming methods for statistical estimation problems. He currently holds a joint appointment with Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Prior to joining HMS, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences at Northwestern University. His primary interest is in computational optimization; his research involves developing deterministic and stochastic optimization approaches to solve problems in healthcare, statistics, and engineering.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Papp.doc
Location: GER 206
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Six Sigma Black BeltMon, Mar 03, 2014 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA,
Talk Title: Six Sigma Black Belt
Abstract: Course Overview
This course teaches you the advanced problem-solving skills you'll need in order to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. Project assignments between sessions require you to apply what you've learned. This course is presented in the classroom in three five-day sessions over a three-month period.
Learn the advanced problem-solving skills you need to implement the principles, practices and techniques of Six Sigma to maximize performance and cost reductions in your organization. During this three-week practitioner course, you will learn how to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. You will be required to complete a project demonstrating mastery of appropriate analytical methods and pass an examination to earn IIE's Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate.This practitioner course for Six Sigma implementation provides extensive coverage of the Six Sigma process as well as intensive exposure to the key analytical tools associated with Six Sigma, including project management, team skills, cost analysis, FMEA, basic statistics, inferential statistics, sampling, goodness of fit testing, regression and correlation analysis, reliability, design of experiments, statistical process control, measurement systems analysis and simulation. Computer applications are emphasized.
NOTE: Participants must bring a laptop computer running Microsoft Office to the seminar.
Course Topics
* Business process management
* Computer applications
* Design of experiments (DOE)
* Design for Six Sigma (DFSS)
* DMAIIC
* Enterprisewide deployment
* Lean enterprise
* Project management
* Regression and correlation modeling
* Statistical methods and sampling
* Statistical process control
* Team processes
Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
* Analyze process data using comprehensive statistical methods
* Control the process to assure that improvements are used and the benefits verified
* Define an opportunity for improving customer satisfaction
* Implement the recommended improvements
* Improve existing processes by reducing variation
* Measure process characteristics that are critical to quality
Who Should Attend
* VPs, COOs, CEOs
* Employees new to a managerial position
* Employees preparing to make the transition to managerial roles
* Current managers wanting to hone leadership skills
* Anyone interested in implementing Lean or Six Sigma in their organization
Program Fees
On-Campus Participants: $7,245
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $7,245
Includes attendee access codes for live call-in or chat capabilities during class sessions. Also includes all course and lecture materials available for live stream or download.
Reduced Pricing:
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE): Reduced pricing is available for members of IIE. Please contact professional@gapp.usc.edu for further information.
Trojan Family: USC alumni, current students, faculty, and staff receive 10% reduced pricing on registration.
Boeing: Boeing employees receive 20% off registration fees (please use Boeing email address when registering).
Location
Two course delivery options are available for participants, on-campus and online with interactivity:
On-Campus Course is held in state-of-the-art facilities on the University of Southern California campus, located in downtown Los Angeles. Participants attending on-campus will have the option to commute to the course or stay at one of the many hotels located in the area. For travel information, please visit our Travel section.
Overview of on-campus option:
* The ability to interact with faculty and peers in-person.
* Access to hard copy course materials.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information - up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
* If there is a conflict during any on-campus course dates, on-campus participants can elect to be an online/interactive student.
* Parking, refreshments and lunch are provided for on-campus participants unless otherwise specified.
Online (Interactivity) Course delivery is completely online and real-time, enabling interaction with the instructor and fellow participants. Participants have the flexibility of completing the course from a distance utilizing USC's Distance Education Network technology. Students are required to be online for the entirety of each day's session.
Overview of online (interactive):
* Virtually participate in the course live with the ability to either ask questions or chat questions to the entire class.
* WebEx technologies provide the option to call into the class and view the entire lecture/materials on a personal computer, or to participate on a computer without having to utilize a phone line.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
Continuing Education Units
CEUs: 10.5 (CEUs provided by request only)
USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants upon successful completion of course.
Upon completion, participants will also receive their Institute of Industrial Engineers certification in Six Sigma Black Belt.
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
Event Link: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
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Astani CEE Oral Defense
Mon, Mar 03, 2014 @ 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Armen Derkevorkian , Astani CEE Ph.D. Student
Talk Title: Studies into Data-Driven Approaches for Nonlinear System Identification, Condition Assessment, and Health Monitoring
Abstract:
The recent advancements in computational capabilities and sensing technologies provide an excellent opportunity to develop, test, and validate data-driven mathematical models for system identification, condition assessment, and health monitoring of structural systems that may be vibrating in linear and/or nonlinear ranges. In this study, measurements from various large-scale, complex, experimental systems, as well as full-scale real-life multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) structures are used to develop robust mathematical frameworks for response prediction, change detection, nonlinear damping estimation, in addition to displacement-field and operating-load estimation. The systems under consideration are the Yokohama Bay Bridge which was subjected to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake; large-scale experimental soil-foundation-superstructure interaction systems subjected to various earthquake excitations with systematically increasing levels of intensity; swept wing-like experimental aluminum plates developed at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and instrumented with state-of-the-art fiber-optic sensors; and a four-story experimental test-bed designed, developed and fabricated at the University of Southern California. The vibration signatures from these systems are used to assess the viability of existing parametric and nonparametric identification approaches, and to propose new hybrid data-driven computational modeling methods that can accurately capture the correct physics of the underlying complex systems. This dissertation is a collection of analytical, computational, and experimental studies that capitalizes on the availability of large datasets to develop tools that can interpret these datasets, and to establish robust frameworks that can extract physically meaningful information, for an informed decision-making.
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Mar 03, 2014 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Karina Kulangara, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University
Talk Title: Cell-Substrate Interactions: From Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms to Improving Fibroblast to Neuron Reprogramming
Host: David D'Argenio
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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CS Colloquium: Yevgeniy Vorobeychik (Vanderbilt U) - Cyber Games: Attack Plan Interdiction and Adversarial Machine Learning
Mon, Mar 03, 2014 @ 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Yevgeniy Vorobeychik, Vanderbilt University
Talk Title: Cyber Games: Attack Plan Interdiction and Adversarial Machine Learning
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Over the last few years I have been working on game theoretic models of security, with a particular emphasis on issues salient in cyber security. In this talk I will give an overview of some of this work. I will first spend some time motivating game theoretic treatment of problems relating to cyber and describe some important modeling considerations. In the remainder, I will describe two game theoretic models, and associated solution techniques and analyses. The first is the "optimal attack plan interdiction" problem. In this model, we view a threat formally as a sophisticated planning agent, aiming to achieve a set of goals given some specific initial capabilities and considering a space of possible "attack actions/vectors" that may (or may not) be used towards the desired ends. The defender's goal in this setting is to "interdict" a select subset of attack vectors by optimally choosing among mitigation options in order to prevent the attacker from being able to achieve its goals. I will describe the formal model, explain why it is challenging, and present highly scalable decomposition-based integer programming techniques that leverage extensive research into heuristic planning in AI. The second model addresses the problem of using machine learning to separate malware from goodware, where an adversary actively attempts to circumvent the resulting classifier. I will show how to formulate the problem of computing optimal randomized defense in this setting as a linear program which accounts both for adversarial response and operational constraints. Finally, I will show that our approach outperforms state of the art on several metrics.
Biography: Yevgeniy Vorobeychik is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Computer Engineering at Vanderbilt University. Previously (2010-2013), he was a Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories. Between 2008 and 2010 he was a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Pennsylvania Computer and Information Science department. He received Ph.D. (2008) and M.S.E. (2004) degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan, and a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering from Northwestern University. His work focuses on game theoretic modeling of security, algorithmic and behavioral game theory and incentive design, optimization, complex systems, epidemic control, network economics, and machine learning. Dr. Vorobeychik has published over 50 research articles on these topics. Dr. Vorobeychik was nominated for the 2008 ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award and received honorable mention for the 2008 IFAAMAS Distinguished Dissertation Award. In 2012 he was nominated for the Sandia Employee Recognition Award for Technical Excellence. He was also a recipient of a NSF IGERT interdisciplinary research fellowship at the University of Michigan, as well as a distinguished Computer Engineering undergraduate award at Northwestern University.
Host: Teamcore Group
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 306
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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An Evening with Aimee Bender
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Mon, Mar 03, 2014 @ 07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Aimee Bender, Author of "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake"
Talk Title: An Evening with Aimee Bender The Provostââ¬â¢s Writers Series
Series: The Provost's Writers Series
Abstract: The Provostââ¬â¢s Writers Series highlights the extraordinary talents of USC authors. Throughout the year, Provost Elizabeth Garrett will host four evenings featuring USC faculty, who will read from and discuss their recent publications. The series will provide opportunities for students and the community to engage with USC authors, learn about the incredible diversity of their work and celebrate the written word.
Aimee Bender is a professor of English at USC. Her surreal, playful stories read like modern fairy tales. Bender finds the mythic in the mundane, illuminating contemporary life from unexpected angles. Her stories ââ¬Åintroduce the world to honest, inspiring, brutal and beautiful peopleââ¬Â (MSNBC). In a magical evening, Bender will read from her work and engage in a conversation with Brighde Mullins, director of the Master of Professional Writing Program at USC.
Bender is the author of several books, including the best-selling novel The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and the New York Times Notable Book The Girl in the Flammable Skirt. Benderââ¬â¢s latest book, The Color Master, is a collection of short stories. Her short fiction has been published in Granta, Harperââ¬â¢s, The Paris Review, McSweeneyââ¬â¢s, Tin House and other publications, as well as heard on NPRââ¬â¢s This American Life.
Host: Elizabeth Garrett
More Info: http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/event/903818
Location: Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library (DML) - 240
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daria Yudacufski
Event Link: http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/event/903818
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Tue, Mar 04, 2014 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA,
Talk Title: Six Sigma Black Belt
Abstract: Course Overview
This course teaches you the advanced problem-solving skills you'll need in order to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. Project assignments between sessions require you to apply what you've learned. This course is presented in the classroom in three five-day sessions over a three-month period.
Learn the advanced problem-solving skills you need to implement the principles, practices and techniques of Six Sigma to maximize performance and cost reductions in your organization. During this three-week practitioner course, you will learn how to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. You will be required to complete a project demonstrating mastery of appropriate analytical methods and pass an examination to earn IIE's Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate.This practitioner course for Six Sigma implementation provides extensive coverage of the Six Sigma process as well as intensive exposure to the key analytical tools associated with Six Sigma, including project management, team skills, cost analysis, FMEA, basic statistics, inferential statistics, sampling, goodness of fit testing, regression and correlation analysis, reliability, design of experiments, statistical process control, measurement systems analysis and simulation. Computer applications are emphasized.
NOTE: Participants must bring a laptop computer running Microsoft Office to the seminar.
Course Topics
* Business process management
* Computer applications
* Design of experiments (DOE)
* Design for Six Sigma (DFSS)
* DMAIIC
* Enterprisewide deployment
* Lean enterprise
* Project management
* Regression and correlation modeling
* Statistical methods and sampling
* Statistical process control
* Team processes
Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
* Analyze process data using comprehensive statistical methods
* Control the process to assure that improvements are used and the benefits verified
* Define an opportunity for improving customer satisfaction
* Implement the recommended improvements
* Improve existing processes by reducing variation
* Measure process characteristics that are critical to quality
Who Should Attend
* VPs, COOs, CEOs
* Employees new to a managerial position
* Employees preparing to make the transition to managerial roles
* Current managers wanting to hone leadership skills
* Anyone interested in implementing Lean or Six Sigma in their organization
Program Fees
On-Campus Participants: $7,245
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $7,245
Includes attendee access codes for live call-in or chat capabilities during class sessions. Also includes all course and lecture materials available for live stream or download.
Reduced Pricing:
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE): Reduced pricing is available for members of IIE. Please contact professional@gapp.usc.edu for further information.
Trojan Family: USC alumni, current students, faculty, and staff receive 10% reduced pricing on registration.
Boeing: Boeing employees receive 20% off registration fees (please use Boeing email address when registering).
Location
Two course delivery options are available for participants, on-campus and online with interactivity:
On-Campus Course is held in state-of-the-art facilities on the University of Southern California campus, located in downtown Los Angeles. Participants attending on-campus will have the option to commute to the course or stay at one of the many hotels located in the area. For travel information, please visit our Travel section.
Overview of on-campus option:
* The ability to interact with faculty and peers in-person.
* Access to hard copy course materials.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information - up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
* If there is a conflict during any on-campus course dates, on-campus participants can elect to be an online/interactive student.
* Parking, refreshments and lunch are provided for on-campus participants unless otherwise specified.
Online (Interactivity) Course delivery is completely online and real-time, enabling interaction with the instructor and fellow participants. Participants have the flexibility of completing the course from a distance utilizing USC's Distance Education Network technology. Students are required to be online for the entirety of each day's session.
Overview of online (interactive):
* Virtually participate in the course live with the ability to either ask questions or chat questions to the entire class.
* WebEx technologies provide the option to call into the class and view the entire lecture/materials on a personal computer, or to participate on a computer without having to utilize a phone line.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
Continuing Education Units
CEUs: 10.5 (CEUs provided by request only)
USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants upon successful completion of course.
Upon completion, participants will also receive their Institute of Industrial Engineers certification in Six Sigma Black Belt.
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
Event Link: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Tue, Mar 04, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ngai Yin Yip, Yale University
Talk Title: Harnessing Natural Salinity Gradients for Sustainable Power Generation with Pressure Retarded Osmosis
Abstract: The development of alternative power sources is necessary to enable a global shift to a sustainable energy future. Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) can produce renewable energy from natural salinity gradients by harvesting the free energy of mixing released when fresh river water or brackish water combines with seawater. This presentation will discuss the potential of sustainable power generation with natural salinity gradients, the recent membrane advancements toward realization of the technology, and the challenges that can hinder the implementation of PRO energy production. Firstly, a thermodynamic and energy analysis of PRO is presented to identify the intrinsic limitations and determine the efficiency of the process. The findings are then employed to assess the global potential of power generation with natural salinity gradients. In the second part of the study, the fabrication of thin-film composite membranes capable of achieving high performance in PRO is demonstrated. By thoughtful selection of the fabrication conditions to methodically suppress the detrimental effects that limit productivity, the hand-cast membranes advanced the achievable power densities to ~10 W/m2, twice the benchmark necessary for the technology to be cost-effective. Lastly, the detrimental impact of membrane fouling in PRO is examined and the cleaning efficiency of a quick, chemical-free osmotic backwash is evaluated. The fouling phenomenon and cleaning protocol were systematically analyzed and the implications for PRO power generation with natural salinity gradients are discussed.
Biography: Ngai Yin Yip is a doctoral student in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale University. He received his bachelor's degree in Environmental and Civil Engineering (First Class Honors) from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His dissertation work focuses on novel membrane technologies for the sustainable production of energy and water. He received the ACS Environmental Chemistry Graduate Student Award in 2011 and the C. Ellen Gonter Best Paper Award from ACS in 2013.
Host: Astani CEE Department
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Cassie Cremeans
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Methods for Detecting Focal Lesions in Brain Images
Tue, Mar 04, 2014 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Frithjof Kruggel, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
Talk Title: Methods for Detecting Focal Lesions in Brain Images
Series: Medical Imaging Seminar Series
Abstract: The development of neuroimaging methods to detect and diagnose intracranial pathology is a success story in modern medicine. In contrast, the potential of using quantitative image-based parameters that describe the properties and progression of pathological processes has not yet been realized. We will review methods for quantifying properties of focal brain lesions, discuss strategies for method development, and pinpoint issues that still impede routine clinical usage.
Biography: Frithjof Kruggel joined the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UC Irvine as a Professor in 2005. His research focuses on developing Computer Vision algorithms to extract meaningful, quantitative information from neuroimaging data to understand the relation between structure and function of the human brain, and to support clinical diagnosis and therapeutic decisions. Frithjof received his M.S. in Chemistry from Ruhr-University, Bochum (Germany) in 1983, and his M.D. and Ph.D. from Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich (Germany) in 1989. Following his training in Clinical Neurology, he assisted in building up the Max-Planck-Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, where he headed the Workgroup on Signal and Image Analysis from 1995-2004. From 2002-2004, he served as a Professor for Image Analysis and Computer Graphics in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Leipzig (Germany).
Host: Prof. Richard Leahy
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
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Epstein Institute / ISE 651 Seminar Series
Tue, Mar 04, 2014 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. J. Cole Smith, Professor & Interim Chair of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Interim Director of the UF Informatics Institute, University of Florida
Talk Title: "Revisiting Fortification Algorithms for Facility Interdiction Problems"
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: Interdiction and fortiï¬Âcation studies of p-median facility location problems have received a substantial attention in the past decade. These problems can be seen as three-stage games in which the network owner (which we call the defender) fortifies facility locations in a first stage, an interdictor disables a subset of unfortified facilities in a second stage, and the defender assigns demand points to facilities that were not attacked in a third stage. This talk discusses an alternative approach to those in the literature, which is capable of handling a broad class of these fortification problems, including those arising under p-median and p-center objectives. Additionally, we examine problems in which there exist constraints restricting the number of demand points that can be assigned to each facility. We also illustrate the relationship between our approach and previously derived ad-hoc strategies for solving special cases of these problems. This talk discusses the computational effectiveness of our proposed strategies, and discusses classes of problems that warrant future research.
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014
VON KLEINSMID CENTER (VKC) ROOM 100
3:30 - 4:50 PM
Biography: Dr. J. Cole Smith is a professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at the University of Florida, where he serves as the Interim Chair of ISE and the Interim Director of the UF Informatics Institute. His funding has been supported by the NSF, DARPA, AFOSR, and the ONR, and he has spent one summer as a distinguished visiting professor in the National Security Agencyââ¬â¢s summer program in operations research technology. His research regards mathematical optimization models and algorithms, especially those arising in combinatorial optimization. Dr. Smith has had the pleasure of collaborating with colleagues across many different disciplines, including Mathematics, Ecology, Psychology, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering. His awards include the Young Investigator Award from the ONR, the Hamid K. Elden Outstanding Young Industrial Engineer in Education award, the Operations Research Division Teaching Award, and the best paper award from IIE Transactions in 2007.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Smith_Cole.doc
Location: Von Kleinsmid Center For International & Public Affairs (VKC) - Room 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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CS Colloquium: Damon McCoy (George Mason University) - Data-Driven Security: A Socio-Economic Approach to Disrupting Cybercrime
Tue, Mar 04, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Damon McCoy, George Mason University
Talk Title: Data-Driven Security: A Socio-Economic Approach to Disrupting Cybercrime
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Modern day cybercrime is largely profit-fueled and much of modern day computer security is focused on developing new defenses that close security gaps, which allow criminals to exploit vulnerable systems. However, this focus on understanding the technical methods used by cyber criminals has not been matched by a complimentary effort to understand the underlying socio-economic factors that drive much of this large scale cybercrime. In this talk, I will describe my work on understanding the economics, capabilities and limitations of cybercriminal enterprises and how this has led to the disruption of two cybercrime ecosystems. First, I will describe the counterfeit pharmaceutical spam ecosystem from a socio-economic perspective and how this approach resulted in an effective payment processing level intervention. I will then describe an approach that also relies on a socio-economic understanding to disrupt the market for fraudulent accounts, which are sold by the thousand and are used to perpetrate scams, phishing, and malware via webmail and online social networking sites. These examples illustrate that, by understanding the socio-economic underpinnings of cybercrime, we can undermine cybercriminal ecosystems more efficiently than by using purely technical approaches.
Biography: Damon McCoy is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science department at George Mason University. Previously he was a Computer Innovation Fellow at the University of California, San Diego. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. His research has focused on the economics of cybercrime, cyber-physical security, privacy enhancing technologies, and censorship-resistant systems. McCoy's work has been covered by the BBC, CNN, KrebsOnSecurity, MSNBC, NPR and NY Times. He was awarded a Google faculty research award and a CRA/NSF Computer Innovation Fellowship. He only refers to himself in the third person when requested.
Host: Ethan Katz-Bassett
Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Wed, Mar 05, 2014 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA,
Talk Title: Six Sigma Black Belt
Abstract: Course Overview
This course teaches you the advanced problem-solving skills you'll need in order to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. Project assignments between sessions require you to apply what you've learned. This course is presented in the classroom in three five-day sessions over a three-month period.
Learn the advanced problem-solving skills you need to implement the principles, practices and techniques of Six Sigma to maximize performance and cost reductions in your organization. During this three-week practitioner course, you will learn how to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. You will be required to complete a project demonstrating mastery of appropriate analytical methods and pass an examination to earn IIE's Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate.This practitioner course for Six Sigma implementation provides extensive coverage of the Six Sigma process as well as intensive exposure to the key analytical tools associated with Six Sigma, including project management, team skills, cost analysis, FMEA, basic statistics, inferential statistics, sampling, goodness of fit testing, regression and correlation analysis, reliability, design of experiments, statistical process control, measurement systems analysis and simulation. Computer applications are emphasized.
NOTE: Participants must bring a laptop computer running Microsoft Office to the seminar.
Course Topics
* Business process management
* Computer applications
* Design of experiments (DOE)
* Design for Six Sigma (DFSS)
* DMAIIC
* Enterprisewide deployment
* Lean enterprise
* Project management
* Regression and correlation modeling
* Statistical methods and sampling
* Statistical process control
* Team processes
Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
* Analyze process data using comprehensive statistical methods
* Control the process to assure that improvements are used and the benefits verified
* Define an opportunity for improving customer satisfaction
* Implement the recommended improvements
* Improve existing processes by reducing variation
* Measure process characteristics that are critical to quality
Who Should Attend
* VPs, COOs, CEOs
* Employees new to a managerial position
* Employees preparing to make the transition to managerial roles
* Current managers wanting to hone leadership skills
* Anyone interested in implementing Lean or Six Sigma in their organization
Program Fees
On-Campus Participants: $7,245
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $7,245
Includes attendee access codes for live call-in or chat capabilities during class sessions. Also includes all course and lecture materials available for live stream or download.
Reduced Pricing:
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE): Reduced pricing is available for members of IIE. Please contact professional@gapp.usc.edu for further information.
Trojan Family: USC alumni, current students, faculty, and staff receive 10% reduced pricing on registration.
Boeing: Boeing employees receive 20% off registration fees (please use Boeing email address when registering).
Location
Two course delivery options are available for participants, on-campus and online with interactivity:
On-Campus Course is held in state-of-the-art facilities on the University of Southern California campus, located in downtown Los Angeles. Participants attending on-campus will have the option to commute to the course or stay at one of the many hotels located in the area. For travel information, please visit our Travel section.
Overview of on-campus option:
* The ability to interact with faculty and peers in-person.
* Access to hard copy course materials.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information - up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
* If there is a conflict during any on-campus course dates, on-campus participants can elect to be an online/interactive student.
* Parking, refreshments and lunch are provided for on-campus participants unless otherwise specified.
Online (Interactivity) Course delivery is completely online and real-time, enabling interaction with the instructor and fellow participants. Participants have the flexibility of completing the course from a distance utilizing USC's Distance Education Network technology. Students are required to be online for the entirety of each day's session.
Overview of online (interactive):
* Virtually participate in the course live with the ability to either ask questions or chat questions to the entire class.
* WebEx technologies provide the option to call into the class and view the entire lecture/materials on a personal computer, or to participate on a computer without having to utilize a phone line.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
Continuing Education Units
CEUs: 10.5 (CEUs provided by request only)
USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants upon successful completion of course.
Upon completion, participants will also receive their Institute of Industrial Engineers certification in Six Sigma Black Belt.
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
Event Link: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
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Extracting Hidden Structure From Data: Provable Phase Retrieval by Non-Convex Optimization
Wed, Mar 05, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mahdi Soltanolkotabi, Stanford University
Talk Title: Extracting Hidden Structure From Data: Provable Phase Retrieval by Non-Convex Optimization
Abstract: A major challenge in modern data analysis is to reliably and automatically discover hidden structure in data with little or no human intervention. However, many mathematical abstractions of these problems are provably intractable in their most general form. Nevertheless, it may be possible to overcome these hardness barriers by focusing on realistic cases that rule out intractable instances.
In this talk we consider the question of recovering the seemingly hidden phase of an object from intensity-only measurements, a problem which naturally appears in X-ray crystallography, speech analysis and related disciplines. We study a physically realistic setup where one can modulate the signal of interest and then collect the intensity of its diffraction pattern. We show that a non-convex formulation of the problem recovers the phase information exactly from a number of near minimal random modulations. To solve this non-convex problem, we develop an iterative algorithm that combines a careful initialization together with a novel update that escapes all local minima and provably converges to the global optimum with a geometric rate. Our proposed scheme is near optimal in terms of usage of computational and data resources. We illustrate our methods with various real data experiments.
We will also briefly discuss other problems involving hidden structure in data (in particular subspace clustering and sparse recovery with coherent and redundant dictionaries) and conclude with a discussion of directions for future research.
Biography: Mahdi Soltanolkotabi is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, advised by Emmanuel Candes. Previously, he received a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University (2011) and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology (2009). His research interests include optimization, machine learning, signal processing, high-dimensional statistics, and geometry with emphasis on applications in the information and physical sciences. He was awarded the Benchmark Stanford Graduate Fellowship (2009-2012) as well as the Stanford teaching fellowship in electrical engineering (2011).
Host: Salman Avestimehr, avestimehr@ee.usc.edu, EEB 526, x07326
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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CS Colloquium: Arunesh Sinha (CMU) - Audit Games
Wed, Mar 05, 2014 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Arunesh Sinha , Carnegie Mellon University
Talk Title: Audit Games
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Audits complement real time access control in enforcement of policies (e.g., security and privacy policies). It is the primary tool for policy enforcement in scenarios where threats arise from authorized insiders. Considering the lack of provable guarantees of audit mechanisms in real world, there is a pressing need to develop mathematical models to study the audit process and design effective audit mechanisms. Our work aims to provide foundational work in the area of auditing by developing models that capture the essential characteristics of the audit process.Our approach is to model the audit interaction as a game between the organization and the auditees. As a first cut, we proposed an audit mechanism Regret Minimizing Audits, that provably optimizes cost for the organization, when the auditees’ incentives to violate are unknown. This is useful in scenarios like outsourced work, etc., where the auditee behavior cannot be modeled.
A natural intuition is that costs can be further optimized if assumptions are made about the auditee behavior. Following this intuition, we model a simple audit scenario with rational auditees as a Stackelberg game [2]. The main modeling novelty is the inclusion of different levels of punishment in the organization’s action space. The organization chooses a punishment level that maximizes its utility. The model is simple as it allows only one audit inspection. However, even the simple model results in a non-convex optimization problem for computing the equilibrium. Non-convex optimization problems are hard in general; we present a fully polynomial time approx. scheme (FPTAS) for our problem.
Biography: Arunesh Sinha is a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, where he is pursuing a PhD. He completed his undergraduate studies at IIT Kharagpur, where he majored in Electrical Engineering. Arunesh worked for four years as a software engineer in Trilogy Software, Bangalore, India, before deciding to do a Ph.D. Arunesh is fortunate to be advised by Prof. Anupam Datta. Arunesh's research interests lie at the intersection of security/privacy, game theory and machine learning.
Host: Teamcore Group
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 306
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Wavefield Modeling and Signal Processing for Sensor Arrays of Arbitrary Geometry
Wed, Mar 05, 2014 @ 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mário Costa, Aalto University
Talk Title: Wavefield Modeling and Signal Processing for Sensor Arrays of Arbitrary Geometry
Abstract: This talk considers wavefield modeling and its application to sensor array signal processing. In particular, we will see that wavefield modeling allows one to develop computationally-efficient and asymptotically-optimal array processing methods regardless of the array geometry. Wavefield modeling also facilitates incorporating array nonidealities, commonly present in real-world arrays, into array processing methods and performance bounds. Parameter estimation and beamforming in the azimuth-elevation-polarimetric domain will be addressed. Tools from harmonic analysis on the sphere, which are needed in wavefield modeling and manifold separation, will also be covered and novel results in the field will be provided. In addition to a review of well-known results in wavefield modeling, on-going research and open-problems in the area will be given.
Biography: Mário Costa was born in Portugal in 1984. He received the M.Sc.(Tech.) degree with distinction in Communications Engineering from Universidade do Minho, Portugal, in 2008, and the D.Sc.(Tech.) degree in Electrical Engineering from Aalto University (former Helsinki Univ. of Technology), Finland, in 2013. He has been with the Department of Signal Processing and Acoustics, Aalto University, Finland, since 2007. During 2007 as a Research Assistant, from 2008 to 2013 as a Researcher, and currently as a postdoctoral Researcher. From January to July 2011 he was an External Researcher at Connectivity Solutions Team, Nokia Research Center. His research interests include sensor array and statistical signal processing as well as wireless communications.
Host: Andreas Molisch, molisch@usc.edu, EEB 530, x04670
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 349
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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EE-Electrophysics Seminar - Axel Scherer
Wed, Mar 05, 2014 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Axel Scherer, California Institute of Technology
Talk Title: From Lab-on-a-Chip to Lab-in-the-Body: The Role of Nanotechnology in the Miniaturization of Medical Diagnostic Tools
Abstract: Miniaturization of devices has fueled the rapid evolution of microelectronic systems over the past decades. More recently, silicon has also emerged as an opto-electronic and electro-mechanical material. The manufacturability of high resolution silicon micro- and nanostructures is unparalleled, and the control over the precise geometry of silicon devices has followed the predictable path of Moore's law. In anticipation of the evolution of this trend, we will describe the opportunities of reducing the sizes of silicon devices to below 10nm to control mechanical, optical and electronic properties of silicon â with particular applications in medical instruments. We show some examples of nanostructures with dimensions below 10nm in all dimensions. This control enables many interesting devices with new optical, electrical and mechanical opportunities.
As the size of devices is reduced, it is possible to contemplate their integration within more complex and compact optical and electronic systems. During the second part of the presentation, the opportunities for integrated spectroscopy and data communications systems for implantable health monitors will be explored. The combination of power supply, data communications and biochemical detectors within small chips enables us to contemplate new microsystems for healthcare monitoring. Such systems could be implanted as glucometers, neural probes and other metabolic measurement tools and will enable a new class of continuous digital health monitors that hopefully leads to preventative healthcare at lower cost.
Biography: Axel Scherer is the Bernard A. Neches Professor of Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Medical Engineering and Physics at Caltech as well as a visiting professor at Dartmouth. He received his PhD in 1985, and after working in the Microstructures Research Group at Bellcore, joined the Electrical Engineering option at Caltech in 1993. Professor Scherer's group now works on micro- and nanofabrication of optical, magnetic and fluidic devices and their integration into microsystems. He has co-authored over 300 publications and holds over 100 patents in the fields of optoelectronics, microfluidics, and nanofabrication. Professor Scherer has co-founded three high-technology companies and built a state of the art cleanroom at Caltech. He has pioneered vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, microdisks, photonic crystals, silicon photonics and surface plasmon nanodevices, as well as microfluidic technologies. His group has perfected the fabrication and characterization of ultra-small structures with sizes down to 2nm, which are used in transistors and sensors. Presently, Professor Scherer works on the integration of microfluidic, electronic, photonic and magnetic devices for the purpose of building wireless implantable health monitors. The goal of this effort is to build inexpensive medical diagnostic tools that can provide feedback for the patients to control their health. Professor Scherer’s group also develops inexpensive and automated point-of-care instruments for clinical pathology.
Host: EE-Electrophysics
Location: EEB 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Thu, Mar 06, 2014 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA,
Talk Title: Six Sigma Black Belt
Abstract: Course Overview
This course teaches you the advanced problem-solving skills you'll need in order to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. Project assignments between sessions require you to apply what you've learned. This course is presented in the classroom in three five-day sessions over a three-month period.
Learn the advanced problem-solving skills you need to implement the principles, practices and techniques of Six Sigma to maximize performance and cost reductions in your organization. During this three-week practitioner course, you will learn how to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. You will be required to complete a project demonstrating mastery of appropriate analytical methods and pass an examination to earn IIE's Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate.This practitioner course for Six Sigma implementation provides extensive coverage of the Six Sigma process as well as intensive exposure to the key analytical tools associated with Six Sigma, including project management, team skills, cost analysis, FMEA, basic statistics, inferential statistics, sampling, goodness of fit testing, regression and correlation analysis, reliability, design of experiments, statistical process control, measurement systems analysis and simulation. Computer applications are emphasized.
NOTE: Participants must bring a laptop computer running Microsoft Office to the seminar.
Course Topics
* Business process management
* Computer applications
* Design of experiments (DOE)
* Design for Six Sigma (DFSS)
* DMAIIC
* Enterprisewide deployment
* Lean enterprise
* Project management
* Regression and correlation modeling
* Statistical methods and sampling
* Statistical process control
* Team processes
Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
* Analyze process data using comprehensive statistical methods
* Control the process to assure that improvements are used and the benefits verified
* Define an opportunity for improving customer satisfaction
* Implement the recommended improvements
* Improve existing processes by reducing variation
* Measure process characteristics that are critical to quality
Who Should Attend
* VPs, COOs, CEOs
* Employees new to a managerial position
* Employees preparing to make the transition to managerial roles
* Current managers wanting to hone leadership skills
* Anyone interested in implementing Lean or Six Sigma in their organization
Program Fees
On-Campus Participants: $7,245
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $7,245
Includes attendee access codes for live call-in or chat capabilities during class sessions. Also includes all course and lecture materials available for live stream or download.
Reduced Pricing:
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE): Reduced pricing is available for members of IIE. Please contact professional@gapp.usc.edu for further information.
Trojan Family: USC alumni, current students, faculty, and staff receive 10% reduced pricing on registration.
Boeing: Boeing employees receive 20% off registration fees (please use Boeing email address when registering).
Location
Two course delivery options are available for participants, on-campus and online with interactivity:
On-Campus Course is held in state-of-the-art facilities on the University of Southern California campus, located in downtown Los Angeles. Participants attending on-campus will have the option to commute to the course or stay at one of the many hotels located in the area. For travel information, please visit our Travel section.
Overview of on-campus option:
* The ability to interact with faculty and peers in-person.
* Access to hard copy course materials.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information - up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
* If there is a conflict during any on-campus course dates, on-campus participants can elect to be an online/interactive student.
* Parking, refreshments and lunch are provided for on-campus participants unless otherwise specified.
Online (Interactivity) Course delivery is completely online and real-time, enabling interaction with the instructor and fellow participants. Participants have the flexibility of completing the course from a distance utilizing USC's Distance Education Network technology. Students are required to be online for the entirety of each day's session.
Overview of online (interactive):
* Virtually participate in the course live with the ability to either ask questions or chat questions to the entire class.
* WebEx technologies provide the option to call into the class and view the entire lecture/materials on a personal computer, or to participate on a computer without having to utilize a phone line.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
Continuing Education Units
CEUs: 10.5 (CEUs provided by request only)
USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants upon successful completion of course.
Upon completion, participants will also receive their Institute of Industrial Engineers certification in Six Sigma Black Belt.
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
Event Link: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Fri, Mar 07, 2014 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA,
Talk Title: Six Sigma Black Belt
Abstract: Course Overview
This course teaches you the advanced problem-solving skills you'll need in order to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. Project assignments between sessions require you to apply what you've learned. This course is presented in the classroom in three five-day sessions over a three-month period.
Learn the advanced problem-solving skills you need to implement the principles, practices and techniques of Six Sigma to maximize performance and cost reductions in your organization. During this three-week practitioner course, you will learn how to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. You will be required to complete a project demonstrating mastery of appropriate analytical methods and pass an examination to earn IIE's Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate.This practitioner course for Six Sigma implementation provides extensive coverage of the Six Sigma process as well as intensive exposure to the key analytical tools associated with Six Sigma, including project management, team skills, cost analysis, FMEA, basic statistics, inferential statistics, sampling, goodness of fit testing, regression and correlation analysis, reliability, design of experiments, statistical process control, measurement systems analysis and simulation. Computer applications are emphasized.
NOTE: Participants must bring a laptop computer running Microsoft Office to the seminar.
Course Topics
* Business process management
* Computer applications
* Design of experiments (DOE)
* Design for Six Sigma (DFSS)
* DMAIIC
* Enterprisewide deployment
* Lean enterprise
* Project management
* Regression and correlation modeling
* Statistical methods and sampling
* Statistical process control
* Team processes
Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
* Analyze process data using comprehensive statistical methods
* Control the process to assure that improvements are used and the benefits verified
* Define an opportunity for improving customer satisfaction
* Implement the recommended improvements
* Improve existing processes by reducing variation
* Measure process characteristics that are critical to quality
Who Should Attend
* VPs, COOs, CEOs
* Employees new to a managerial position
* Employees preparing to make the transition to managerial roles
* Current managers wanting to hone leadership skills
* Anyone interested in implementing Lean or Six Sigma in their organization
Program Fees
On-Campus Participants: $7,245
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $7,245
Includes attendee access codes for live call-in or chat capabilities during class sessions. Also includes all course and lecture materials available for live stream or download.
Reduced Pricing:
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE): Reduced pricing is available for members of IIE. Please contact professional@gapp.usc.edu for further information.
Trojan Family: USC alumni, current students, faculty, and staff receive 10% reduced pricing on registration.
Boeing: Boeing employees receive 20% off registration fees (please use Boeing email address when registering).
Location
Two course delivery options are available for participants, on-campus and online with interactivity:
On-Campus Course is held in state-of-the-art facilities on the University of Southern California campus, located in downtown Los Angeles. Participants attending on-campus will have the option to commute to the course or stay at one of the many hotels located in the area. For travel information, please visit our Travel section.
Overview of on-campus option:
* The ability to interact with faculty and peers in-person.
* Access to hard copy course materials.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information - up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
* If there is a conflict during any on-campus course dates, on-campus participants can elect to be an online/interactive student.
* Parking, refreshments and lunch are provided for on-campus participants unless otherwise specified.
Online (Interactivity) Course delivery is completely online and real-time, enabling interaction with the instructor and fellow participants. Participants have the flexibility of completing the course from a distance utilizing USC's Distance Education Network technology. Students are required to be online for the entirety of each day's session.
Overview of online (interactive):
* Virtually participate in the course live with the ability to either ask questions or chat questions to the entire class.
* WebEx technologies provide the option to call into the class and view the entire lecture/materials on a personal computer, or to participate on a computer without having to utilize a phone line.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
Continuing Education Units
CEUs: 10.5 (CEUs provided by request only)
USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants upon successful completion of course.
Upon completion, participants will also receive their Institute of Industrial Engineers certification in Six Sigma Black Belt.
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
Event Link: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
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The Maturing of Scan Compression Technology
Fri, Mar 07, 2014 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Rohit Kapur, Synopsys
Talk Title: The Maturing of Scan Compression Technology
Abstract: The topic is IC testing. In the year 2000 scan technology went through a complete overhaul and complex IP was inserted in the scan chains to control the cost of test. The new architectures now go under the name scan compression where a few inputs and outputs are used to feed test data to the ICs that have many internal scan chains. The presenter will give a historical perspective of scan compression technology before describing one of the latest architectures being developed at Synopsys today.
Biography: Rohit Kapur is an IEEE Fellow and a Scientist at Synopsys. At Synopsys he has been the inventor of many technologies including the ones delivered by Synopsys for Scan Compression. Rohit is known for his work in CTL an IEEE standard, and he currently chairs all the standard activities in test within IEEE.
Host: Prof. Sandeep Gupta
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 110
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Annie Yu
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The W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquim
Fri, Mar 07, 2014 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Rick Rubin, P.E., Executive Vice President for RBF Consulting, a Company of Michael Baker Corporation
Talk Title: Keeping Up With Civil Engineering: Industry Trends and Advancements
Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Program
Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Christine Viterbi Admission & Student Affairs
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Integrated Systems Seminar Series - Spring 2014
Fri, Mar 07, 2014 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jacques Rudell, University of Washington
Talk Title: CMOS RF & mm-Wave ICs enter the Era of “Big Data”
Abstract: The last 15 years has witnessed revolutionary changes in mobile computing and wireless communication. This was fueled in large part through Moore’s Law, coupled with research and development of new highly-integrated, silicon CMOS devices which transformed large bulky transceiver components into a single chip for wireless applications. These single-chip radios freed up valuable space for more memory and powerful processors, making the modern smartphone, as we know it today, so common and ubiquitous. Although the architectures, circuits, and system-level design methodologies to realize these low-cost, highly-integrated ICs have largely been defined, questions remain on how to enable chips for emerging applications in an era of large scale data acquisition, and communication, for a variety of devices ranging in use from wireless sensing, to high-speed mobile and point-to-point data communication. Recent work at the University of Washington’s FAST lab has explored some of these challenges and developed all-CMOS chip sets to demonstrate concepts which address some of the future IC challenges associated with ultra-broadband communication.
This presentation will describe a 50-70 GHz broadband receiver intended for use in a high-element phased-array system which utilizes a low-power heterodyne architecture to reduce LO power consumption, while passing the entire 20 GHz bandwidth through the IF, to baseband. The IF stage has one of the highest fractional bandwidths reported to date. Other broadband techniques are described with a compact 24-54 GHz bandpass distributed amplifier which exploits recursive Norton Transforms to reduce silicon area while improving selectivity and maintaining a high fractional bandwidth. In addition, a new PA/transmitter approach is described for long-range sensor standardized data communication. This talk will also briefly highlight some of the other work from our lab with respect to medical devices, including PET imaging systems and stimulation electronics for neural interface applications. Lastly, thoughts are presented on reducing transmit-to-receive self-interference by utilizing a low spurious emission PA, and TX-to-RX cancellation network to enable broadband RF transmission, possibly removing the need for any front-end RF or duplex filters.
Biography: Jacques “Chris”tophe Rudell received degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan (BS), and UC Berkeley (MS, PhD). After completing his degrees, he worked for several years as an RF IC designer at Berkana Wireless (now Qualcomm), and Intel Corporation. In January 2009, he joined the faculty at the University of Washington, Seattle as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering. While a PhD student at UC Berkeley, Dr. Rudell received the Demetri Angelakos Memorial Achievement Award, a citation given to one student per year by the EECS department. He has twice been co-recipient of the best paper awards at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference, the first of which was the 1998 Jack Kilby Award, followed by the 2001 Lewis Winner Award. He received the 2008 ISSCC best evening session award, and the 2011 RFIC Symposium best student paper award. Dr. Rudell served on the ISSCC technical program committee (2003-2010) and on the MTT-IMS Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFIC) Symposium steering committee (2002-2013) where he was the 2013 General Chair. He is also an Associate Editor for the Journal of Solid-State Circuits (2009-present).
Host: Hossien Hashemi, Mike Chen, Mahta Moghaddam, Sushil Subramanian
More Info: http://mhi.usc.edu/activities/integrated-systems/
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Sushil Subramanian
Event Link: http://mhi.usc.edu/activities/integrated-systems/
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Astani CEE Ph.D. Seminar
Fri, Mar 07, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Pedram Oskouie, Astani CEE Ph.D. Students
Talk Title: A framework for automated monitoring and movement analysis of highway retaining walls using 3D laser scanners
Abstract: The architecture engineering and construction (AEC) industry has adopted innovative and novel alternative methods to ensure faster, more economical, and higher quality project delivery. Recently, there has been an increase in the use of laser scanners in the industry to create as-built models for accurate (millimeters) and rapid assessment of progress, productivity, and quality assurance. As part of this research, the data from an ongoing highway construction project are processed and analyzed. The project uses 3D laser scanners for regular monitoring of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls that retain the soil supporting the highway alignment. In order to start up processing the generated point clouds (3D as-built points), the accuracy of scans in terms of capturing all the geometrical features and details has to be verified. Additionally, the point clouds have to be cleaned from unwanted objects as well as noises. Once the point clouds are pre-processed, the vertical settlements and lateral displacements of the walls are calculated by comparing point clouds from different dates. This research aims to fill the current research and practice gaps by (1) Defining an automated scan plan and data collection framework to minimize scanning and point cloud registration- related errors (2) Defining an automated point cloud cleaning and noise removal process (3) Improving the quality and efficiency of change detection and movement analysis using 3-D laser scanners.
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Mon, Mar 10, 2014 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Debora F. Rodrigues , University of Houston
Talk Title: Environmental Engineering Implications and Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials
Abstract: Carbon-based nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphene oxide, have unique antimicrobial, physical, chemical, electrical, optical and mechanical properties that make them very valuable materials for materials science, high-energy physics, and a wide range of technological applications. In fact, the market for carbon-based nanomaterial products is projected to reach nearly $675 million by 2020, hence it is expected that large quantities of graphene-based wastes will be generated by then. If nanomaterials are to be widely utilized, they will find their way into the environment through human activities, wastewater discharge, industrial effluents, and runoff from nearby contaminated land. Aquatic systems are expected to be the ultimate repository for nanomaterials, which poses a special concern because aquatic systems are composed of diverse microorganisms that keep the aquatic environment ecologically balanced. These microorganisms are also responsible for removing unwanted wastes released into the wastewater treatment system through various biogeochemical cycles, such as nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, and carbon cycles. The theme of my research is to understand the toxicological mechanisms and effects on microbial biogeochemical cycles of emerging graphene-based nanomaterials. Additionally, I investigate alternative solutions to reduce the use of these nanomaterials, and therefore reduce their release into the environment. The approach used by my research group is the utilization of polymers, such as polyvinyl-N-carbazole (PVK), to develop nanocomposites that contain small amounts of carbon-based nanomaterials as fillers. The PVK polymer was selected to generate carbon-based nanocomposites since it stabilizes the dispersion of the nanomaterials in any solution chemistry due to the ( ) stacking interaction of the PVK carbazole group with the aromatic rings of the carbon-based nanomaterials. The well-dispersed nanocomposite can, then, be easily used to modify membranes for water purification. These modified membranes are much more effective in the inactivation and removal of viruses and bacteria from water than unmodified ones.
Biography: Debora F. Rodrigues received her BS and MS in Biology and Microbiology, respectively, from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and her PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Michigan State University in 2007 under the supervision of Prof. James Tiedje. In her MS research she demonstrated the presence of genes involved in the degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hydrocarbons in Brazilian estuaries. Her PhD work focused on the physiology and diversity of microorganisms in the Siberian permafrost. She was a postdoctoral associate in the Environmental Engineering Program at Yale University in the group of Prof. Menachem Elimelech from 2007 to June 2010. Her research at Yale dealt with toxicity of carbon nanotubes to microorganisms as well as the effect of bacterial surface structures on bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation and maturation. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her research interests involve investigation of the toxicological effects of carbon-based nanomaterials and polymer nanocomposites
Host: Astani CEE Department
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Cassie Cremeans
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Intelligent Power Systems: From Physics of Power Flows to Data Analytics
Mon, Mar 10, 2014 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Baosen Zhang, Stanford University
Talk Title: Intelligent Power Systems: From Physics of Power Flows to Data Analytics
Abstract: The power system is undergoing a dramatic transformation to the meet the challenges and opportunities of renewable and distributed energy resources. In this talk, I will show how an understanding between the energy producers, consumers and the physical network allows us to design a smarter and more efficient grid. The first part of this talk will give a geometric understanding of the geometry of power flows in the network through the optimal power flow (OPF) problem, which is known to be non-convex and difficult to solve. By investigating the feasible injection region of the problem, we show that the Pareto-Front of the injection region is invariant under the convex hull operation for distribution networks. Therefore the OPF problem can be solved exactly in the distribution networks. Furthermore, this geometric picture allows us to design algorithms that are either distributed or even without any explicitly communication. The second part will focus on consumer behaviors to illustrate how and who should implement these algorithms in practice. Using real smart meter data from households in Northern California, I will show that there is a natural set of customer groupings that there are much more efficient customer management architectures than those employed by current utilities. The key is to identify the optimal trade-off between managing the uncertainties in the system and efficiency loss bought on by large groups. Extending this idea to large scale renewable producers, a central theme emerges: there is a “correct” level of collaboration among the resources that is crucial to the design for new power systems.
Biography: Baosen Zhang is a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University, jointly hosted by the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Management Sciences and Engineering. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Before that, he received his B.A.Sc. Degree from the University of Toronto. His interest is in the control and optimization of power systems, especially the connection between data and the physical system. He is a recipient of the Canadian Graduate Scholarship from the government of Canada and a EECS fellowship from Berkeley.
Host: Rahul Jain
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Annie Yu
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Mar 10, 2014 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Nicholas Schweighofer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy
Talk Title: Computational Neurorehabilitation: Modeling Recovery Post-Stroke
Host: David D'Argenio
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Epstein ISE Department Seminar
Mon, Mar 10, 2014 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Victor Zavala, Assistant Computational Mathematician, Mathematics and Computer Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Talk Title: "A Stochastic Electricity Market Setting with Fair Pricing Properties"
Abstract: We argue that deterministic market clearing settings introduce strong price distortions (difference between day- ahead and expected real-time prices) that lead to arbitrage, biased (unfair) payments, and the need for uplifts. We propose a stochastic market clearing formulation in which deviations between day-ahead and real-time quantities are penalized using $\ell_1$ terms with parameters given by incremental bid prices. We prove that the formulation yields price distortions that are bounded by the incremental bid prices and prove that adding a similar penalty term to transmission flows ensures boundedness throughout the network. We provide conditions under which the stochastic formulation yields day-ahead quantities and flows that converge to the medians of real-time counterparts. This result implies that day-ahead variables only converge to expected value quantities when the distributions are symmetric. We demonstrate that convergence to expected value quantities can be induced using squared $\ell_2$ penalty terms. Our arguments against deterministic settings suggest that comparisons between deterministic and stochastic settings based solely on social surplus are insufficient to fully appreciate the benefits of stochastic settings. We thus present a new set of metrics to perform benchmarks. This is joint work with John Birge and Mihai Anitescu.
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014
ANDRUS GERONTOLOGY BLDG (GER) ROOM 206
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Biography: Victor M. Zavala is an assistant computational mathematician in the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory and he is a fellow in the Computation Institute at the University of Chicago. He received his B.Sc. degree from Universidad Iberoamericana (2003) and his Ph.D. degree from Carnegie Mellon University (2008), both in chemical engineering. He is currently a recipient of the DOE Office of Science Early Career Award under which he develops scalable algorithms for optimization under uncertainty. He also leads an advanced grid modeling project funded by DOE Office of Electricity to develop and test large-scale power grid models and he participates in the Multifaceted Mathematics for Complex Energy Systems project funded by DOE Office of Science. His research interests are in the areas of mathematical modeling of energy and power systems, uncertainty modeling, stochastic optimization, and real-time operations.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Zavala.doc
Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - Room 206
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Engineering, Neuroscience & Health (ENR)
Mon, Mar 10, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Eve Marder, Brandeis University
Talk Title: TBA
Series: Engineering, Neuroscience & Health (ENH Seminars)
Biography: http://blogs.brandeis.edu/marderlab/research/
Host: Francisco Valero-Cuevas
More Info: Refreshments will be served from 3.30 to 4 pm.
Webcast: http://capture.usc.edu/Mediasite/Catalog/Full/946350f1ca8440e7b867e16adba01e4e21/?state=xJE9EJIqlAdw4AAliKfpLocation: Hedco Neurosciences Building (HNB) - 100
WebCast Link: http://capture.usc.edu/Mediasite/Catalog/Full/946350f1ca8440e7b867e16adba01e4e21/?state=xJE9EJIqlAdw4AAliKfp
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
Event Link: Refreshments will be served from 3.30 to 4 pm.
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Lean Green Belt
Tue, Mar 11, 2014 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Talk Title: Lean Green Belt
Abstract: Course Overview
This three-day course provides an in-depth understanding of lean enterprise principles and how to apply them within your organization. Your lean journey begins with a series of interactive simulations that demonstrate how each lean concept is applied and its impact on the process. Mapping the process flow and identifying the activities that add value from the customer's perspective is the cornerstone of this class. The class is then given a scenario and the students simulate the conversion from traditional to lean in a practical hands-on environment. The course also provides a structure for how to manage a lean process for continuous improvement. Participants will learn how to structure their organizations to support and continuously improve a lean process. Participants will also fully understand how to implement 5S within their plants and how to begin reducing setup time using the SMED process.
Course Topics
5S and muda
Point of use
Pull
SMED
Value-added
Value stream mapping
SMED
7 Wastes
Visual Workplace
Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
Create and improve a lean process
Implement 5S to develop a safe, clean working environment
Map the process flow and identify activities that add value
Reduce setup time using the SMED process
Who Should Attend
Engineers new to a managerial position
Engineers preparing to make the transition to managerial roles
Current managers wanting to hone leadership skills
Program Fees
On-Campus Participant: $1,545
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $1,400
Includes attendee access codes for live call-in or chat capabilities during class sessions. Also includes all course and lecture materials available for live stream or download.
Continuing Education Units
CEUs: 2.1 (CEUs provided by request only)
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants upon successful completion of the course.
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Completion and the Institute of Industrial Engineering certification in Lean Green Belt will be awarded to those participants that pass the assessment on the final day of the course.
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/lean-green-belt
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Corporate and Professional Programs
Event Link: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/lean-green-belt
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EE Seminar
Tue, Mar 11, 2014 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Di Wang , Ph.D. Candidate, Pennsylvania State University
Talk Title: Provisioning and Harnessing Energy Storage in Datacenters
Abstract: Power consumption of datacenters continues to pose serious economic, societal and environmental concerns. A large datacenter spends millions of dollars in yearly operational expenditures (op-ex) paying its electricity bills. An even larger capital expenditure (cap-ex) goes into provisioning the power delivery network, to accommodate the peak power draw, even if this draw is never or rarely sustained. With consumers demanding more for less, extracting the maximum value out of every provisioned and consumed watt in these datacenters is critical to profitability and sustenance.
In this talk, we will focus on leveraging energy storage such as batteries, ultra-capacitors, flywheels, and even compressed air based energy storage device to reduce cap-ex and op-ex costs. Specifically, we will discuss the challenges and issues in provisioning and harnessing these devices for enhancing datacenter power demand response capabilities. First, we will look at our modeling and optimization framework to figure out which devices to use, where to place them and how much capacity to provision given different cost-benefit trade-offs. Then, we will explore the problem from a practical setting, and discuss system software support for virtualizing datacenter power distribution hierarchy. Finally, datacenter power demand characterization and analysis for these studies will be presented.
Biography: Di Wang is currently a Ph.D. candidate, advised by Prof. Anand Sivasubramaniam, in the Computer Science and Engineering department at Penn State University. He received B.E. in computer science and technology from Zhejiang University of China in 2005 and M.S. in computer systems engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in 2008. He worked for Teklatech (an EDA startup company in Copenhagen) as an R&D engineer in 2008, and interned at IBM Almaden research center in the summer of 2011 as well as Microsoft Research in the summers of 2012 and 2013.
Host: Prof. Michel Dubois
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Estela Lopez
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CS Colloquium: Alice Gao (Harvard University) - Understanding Incentives in Social Computing
Tue, Mar 11, 2014 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Alice Gao , Harvard University
Talk Title: Understanding Incentives in Social Computing
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Social computing is an emerging field where human intelligence is harnessed in algorithmic problem solving. In particular, humans have or can efficiently gather relevant information about products, services and uncertain events and these information can be used to solve difficult problems. I have developed and analyzed such mechanisms for eliciting and aggregating dispersed information using both theoretical and experimental approaches. In this talk, I will focus on our online experiment on peer prediction mechanisms for eliciting truthful subjective feedback from participants. Peer prediction theory leverages the stochastic correlation of participants’ information and designs monetary rewards to induce a truthful equilibrium among the participants. However, these mechanisms also admit uninformative equilibria where participants provide no useful information. We conduct the first comprehensive empirical evaluation of a peer prediction mechanism in a repeated setting. Our results show that, in contrast to the theory, participants are not truthful and successfully coordinate on uninformative equilibria. In the absence of peer prediction, however, most players are consistently truthful, suggesting that these mechanisms may be harmful when truthful reporting has similar cost to strategic behavior. I will also describe some of my theoretical work on analyzing the strategic behavior of participants in prediction markets, and conclude by discussing some future directions.
This is based on joint work with Ryan P. Adams, Yiling Chen, Rick Goldstein, Ian A. Kash, Andrew Mao, and Jie Zhang.
Biography: Xi (Alice) Gao is a PhD candidate in Computer Science at Harvard University. Her research focuses on designing and understanding algorithms and systems in social computing, crowdsourcing and human computation, using both theoretical and experimental approaches. As part of her PhD work, Alice designed and analyzed the incentives in mechanisms for eliciting and aggregating dispersed information, for applications such as eliciting subjective feedback about products and services and forecasting future events. Alice is the recipient of the Canadian NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship for Doctoral Students and the Siebel Scholarship. Before Harvard, Alice received her undergraduate degree from University of British Columbia in computer science and mathematics.
Host: Teamcore Group
Location: Charles Lee Powell Hall (PHE) - 223
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Epstein Institute/ISE 651 Seminar Series
Tue, Mar 11, 2014 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Lisa Maillart, University of Pittsburgh
Talk Title: Dynamic Abandon/Extract Decisions for Failed Cardiac Device Leads
Abstract: Pacemaker and defibrillator lead wires fail stochastically, requiring the surgical implantation of a new lead. Whenever a lead fails, it may be beneficial to extract one or more of the failed leads currently implanted, including previously abandoned leads. Extracting a lead carries life-threatening risks that increase in the dwell time of the lead. However, there are situations in which extraction is not optional: the total number of implanted leads (both failed and functioning) is subject to a maximum limit, typically five, and infections can occur requiring the mandatory extraction of all implanted leads. To study the tradeoff between avoiding risky extractions and maintaining space for future leads, we develop Markov decision process models to determine patient-specific extraction policies for various types of cardiac devices as a function of patient age and the age of every implanted lead. We use clinical data to calibrate the model and present insightful numerical results, including comparisons to heuristics commonly used in practice.
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014
VON KLEINSMID CENTER (VKC) ROOM 100
3:30 - 4:50 PM
Biography: Expertise: Stochastic Optimization, Maintenance Optimization, Medical Decision Making.
Profile: Dr. Maillart joined the faculty in 2006. She completed her BS and MS in industrial and systems engineering at Virginia Tech and her PhD in industrial and operations engineering at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Maillart was a faculty member in the Department of Operations at Case Western Reserve University�s Weatherhead School of Management. Dr. Maillart's primary research interest is in decision making under uncertainty. Her research typically involves applications of Markov decision processes and stochastic processes to problems in maintenance optimization, medical decision making, sports and entrepreneurship.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Maillart.pdf
Location: Von Kleinsmid Center For International & Public Affairs (VKC) - 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Neha Mundada
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CS Colloquium: Sanjam Garg (IBM Research) - How to Obfuscate Software
Tue, Mar 11, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Sanjam Garg, IBM Research
Talk Title: How to Obfuscate Software
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Software obfuscation aims to make the code of a computer program "unintelligible'' while preserving its functionality. This problem was first posed by Diffie and Hellman in 1976, and so far, most cryptographers believed that realizing obfuscation was impossible.
My research provides the first secure solution to this problem. Consequently several other long-standing open problems have been resolved. In this talk, I will describe these new developments and their implications.
Biography: Sanjam Garg is a Josef Raviv Memorial Postdoctoral Fellow at IBM Research T.J. Watson. His research interests are in cryptography and security, and more broadly in theoretical computer science. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2013 and his undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 2008. Sanjam's Ph.D. thesis provides the first candidate constructions of multilinear maps that have found extensive applications in cryptography, most notably to software obfuscation. He has published several papers in top cryptography and security conferences and is the recipient of various honors such as the Outstanding Graduating Ph.D. Student award at UCLA and the best paper award at EUROCRYPT 2013
Host: Shaddin Dughmi
Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Lean Green Belt
Wed, Mar 12, 2014 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Talk Title: Lean Green Belt
Abstract: Course Overview
This three-day course provides an in-depth understanding of lean enterprise principles and how to apply them within your organization. Your lean journey begins with a series of interactive simulations that demonstrate how each lean concept is applied and its impact on the process. Mapping the process flow and identifying the activities that add value from the customer's perspective is the cornerstone of this class. The class is then given a scenario and the students simulate the conversion from traditional to lean in a practical hands-on environment. The course also provides a structure for how to manage a lean process for continuous improvement. Participants will learn how to structure their organizations to support and continuously improve a lean process. Participants will also fully understand how to implement 5S within their plants and how to begin reducing setup time using the SMED process.
Course Topics
5S and muda
Point of use
Pull
SMED
Value-added
Value stream mapping
SMED
7 Wastes
Visual Workplace
Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
Create and improve a lean process
Implement 5S to develop a safe, clean working environment
Map the process flow and identify activities that add value
Reduce setup time using the SMED process
Who Should Attend
Engineers new to a managerial position
Engineers preparing to make the transition to managerial roles
Current managers wanting to hone leadership skills
Program Fees
On-Campus Participant: $1,545
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $1,400
Includes attendee access codes for live call-in or chat capabilities during class sessions. Also includes all course and lecture materials available for live stream or download.
Continuing Education Units
CEUs: 2.1 (CEUs provided by request only)
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants upon successful completion of the course.
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Completion and the Institute of Industrial Engineering certification in Lean Green Belt will be awarded to those participants that pass the assessment on the final day of the course.
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/lean-green-belt
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Corporate and Professional Programs
Event Link: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/lean-green-belt
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Wed, Mar 12, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ioannis A. Kougioumtzoglou , University of Liverpool
Talk Title: Wavelet Techniques & Path Integral Methods for Diverse Civil Engineering Applications
Abstract: Limitations pertaining to available information and the interpretation of underlying mechanisms, as well as inherent uncertainty and nonlinearity of critical engineering problems, have necessitated the study of nonlinear systems with stochastic parameters, input and initial/boundary conditions. In such cases, a stochastic approach constitutes a rational basis for modeling, analysis, design, monitoring and maintenance of resilient complex engineering systems. Further, stochastic dynamics has been the focus of diverse engineering and scientific disciplines for more than a century. Consequently, theoretical research has already led to seminal advancements towards analyzing and predicting the stochastic behavior of complex nonlinear dynamic phenomena. Nevertheless, the development of novel mathematical tools and of potent signal processing techniques, originating from computer science, applied mathematics and theoretical physics, offers a new framework for addressing complex problems for the first time and even posing new challenging questions.
In this regard, in the first part of the seminar talk, recent work related to the development of signal processing techniques for spectral analysis, stochastic modeling, and nonlinear system joint time/space-frequency response determination and parameter identification will be presented. A common denominator of the above techniques is the use of wavelets, and in particular, generalized harmonic wavelets which have proven to be particularly useful for engineering dynamics/mechanics related applications due to their non-overlapping, box-shaped frequency spectrum, their orthogonality properties, and the convenience of combining harmonic balance with statistical linearization techniques. Further, ongoing work related to the development of signal processing techniques which couple the localization capabilities of wavelets with compressive sensing methodology features for handling cases where available/measured data are highly sparse/incomplete will be delineated as well. Current and potential applications include translating (limited/incomplete/sparse and non-stationary) raw data into engineering load models and system/material properties, vibration diagnostics and mitigation, damage detection/assessment, cost-efficient structural health monitoring, and real-time risk optimization and decision making towards addressing the big challenge of analysis/design and operation of resilient and intelligent complex systems and civil infrastructure.
In the second part of the seminar talk, recent work related to the development of uncertainty quantification techniques for efficient response determination and reliability assessment of complex nonlinear systems will be presented. A common denominator of the above techniques is the use of path integrals. In this regard, it is noted that although path integrals have revolutionized the field of theoretical physics, the engineering community has neglected their potential as a potent uncertainty quantification tool. Current and potential applications include response analysis and reliability assessment of engineering systems following the versatile Preisach (hysteretic) model (e.g. smart materials), or modelled using fractional derivative elements (e.g. viscoelastic materials), as well as the determination of the capsizing probability of a ship model. Overall, it is shown that the path integral constitutes a versatile tool which can treat complex engineering problems and potentially address current and future challenges in engineering mechanics, such as nonlinearity and stochasticity at a multi-physics/scale level.
Biography: Dr. Ioannis Kougioumtzoglou (IK) is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor equivalent) in Uncertainty & Engineering, and a member of the Institute for Risk and Uncertainty and of the Centre for Engineering Sustainability in the School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, UK. He obtained his M.Sc. (2009) and Ph.D. (2011) degrees from the Civil and Environmental Engineering department of Rice University, TX, USA, under the supervision of Professor Pol D. Spanos. He also holds a five-year Diploma (2007) in Civil Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece.
IK's primary research interests focus on the general area of Uncertainty Quantification and Modeling/Analysis of Complex Systems with applications mainly in Civil/Mechanical Engineering & Engineering Mechanics, and in diverse disciplines such as Financial Mathematics. Specifically, the development of numerical and/or analytical techniques for Stochastic Engineering Dynamics/Mechanics constitutes one of the main research themes. Systems exhibiting nonlinear/hysteretic behavior and/or exposed to hazard/risk inducing conditions are of particular interest.
IK has been awarded several scholarships for outstanding academic performance from the National State Scholarships Foundation (Greece), the Eugenides Foundation (Greece) and the Hellenic Professional Society of Texas (USA). He has also received an invited Visiting Professor appointment at the Structural Engineering Department, University of Sao Paulo, sponsored by the Sao Paulo State Research Funding Agency (Brazil). He is a member of the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI), an associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and a Registered (Licensed/Chartered) Professional Civil Engineer in Greece. He is the co-Editor of the Encyclopedia of Earthquake Engineering (Springer) and currently serves as a Guest Editor for two Special Issues in the Journal of Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics and in the International Journal of Reliability and Safety. He currently supervises and co-supervises nine PhD students, many of them in multi/cross-disciplinary topics.
Host: Astani CEE Department
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Cassie Cremeans
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Epstein ISE Department Seminar
Wed, Mar 12, 2014 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: S. Ayca Erdogan, PhD, Visiting Assistant Professor, Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Southern California
Talk Title: "Data-Driven Disease Modeling and Health-Care Operations Management "
Abstract: This talk will include data-driven modeling approaches to guide decisions related to health care operations management and public health. I will first present our micro-simulation model which was used to provide input for the recently announced guidelines of US Preventative Services Task Force on lung cancer screening. I will describe our model that simulates progression of lung cancer in the absence and in the presence of screening considering individual heterogeneity, and the data sources used during model building, calibrating and validating phases. The model is used to predict the observed results of clinical studies and estimate long term effects of screening both in terms of mortality reduction and overdiagnosis which were not possible to estimate reliably from previous screening trials due to ethical concerns and limited period of follow-up.
In the second part of my talk, I will introduce variants of stochastic programming models for optimal scheduling of patient appointments with uncertainty in service durations and in patient demand caused by no-shows and dynamic arrivals of urgent requests. Unlike most scheduling models, our models do not rely on specific assumptions caused by service time distributions. I will discuss structural properties of the models and present optimum schedules under different demand and cost structures.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014
ANDRUS GERONTOLOGY BLDG (GER) ROOM 206
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Biography: Ayca Erdogan is a visiting assistant professor at Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at University of Southern California. Before coming to USC, she was a postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine between 2011 and 2013. She received her PhD in Operations Research from North Carolina State University, and B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey. Her main research area is decision making under uncertainty with an emphasis on problems related to health care. She is working on both operations management problems including optimal patient scheduling and on individual and population level medical decision making problems specifically related to cancer screening.
More Information: Seminar-Erdogan.doc
Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - Room 206
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Lean Green Belt
Thu, Mar 13, 2014 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Talk Title: Lean Green Belt
Abstract: Course Overview
This three-day course provides an in-depth understanding of lean enterprise principles and how to apply them within your organization. Your lean journey begins with a series of interactive simulations that demonstrate how each lean concept is applied and its impact on the process. Mapping the process flow and identifying the activities that add value from the customer's perspective is the cornerstone of this class. The class is then given a scenario and the students simulate the conversion from traditional to lean in a practical hands-on environment. The course also provides a structure for how to manage a lean process for continuous improvement. Participants will learn how to structure their organizations to support and continuously improve a lean process. Participants will also fully understand how to implement 5S within their plants and how to begin reducing setup time using the SMED process.
Course Topics
5S and muda
Point of use
Pull
SMED
Value-added
Value stream mapping
SMED
7 Wastes
Visual Workplace
Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
Create and improve a lean process
Implement 5S to develop a safe, clean working environment
Map the process flow and identify activities that add value
Reduce setup time using the SMED process
Who Should Attend
Engineers new to a managerial position
Engineers preparing to make the transition to managerial roles
Current managers wanting to hone leadership skills
Program Fees
On-Campus Participant: $1,545
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $1,400
Includes attendee access codes for live call-in or chat capabilities during class sessions. Also includes all course and lecture materials available for live stream or download.
Continuing Education Units
CEUs: 2.1 (CEUs provided by request only)
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants upon successful completion of the course.
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Completion and the Institute of Industrial Engineering certification in Lean Green Belt will be awarded to those participants that pass the assessment on the final day of the course.
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/lean-green-belt
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Corporate and Professional Programs
Event Link: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/lean-green-belt
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Lossy Data Compression: Non-asymptotic Fundamental Limits
Thu, Mar 13, 2014 @ 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Victoria Kostina, Princeton University
Talk Title: Lossy Data Compression: Non-asymptotic Fundamental Limits
Abstract: The basic tradeoff in lossy compression is that between the compression ratio (rate) and the fidelity of reproduction of the object that is compressed. Traditional (asymptotic) information theory seeks to describe the optimum tradeoff between rate and fidelity achievable in the limit of infinite length of the source block to be compressed. A perennial question in information theory is how relevant the asymptotic fundamental limits are when the communication system is forced to operate at a given, fixed blocklength. The finite blocklength (delay) constraint is inherent to all communication scenarios. In fact, in many systems of current interest, such as real-time multimedia communication, delays are strictly constrained, while in packetized data communication, packets are frequently on the order of 1000 bits.
Motivated by critical practical interest in non-asymptotic information-theoretic limits, we study the optimum rate-fidelity tradeoffs in lossy source coding and joint source-channel coding at a given fixed blocklength. While computable formulas for the asymptotic fundamental limits are available for a wide class of channels and sources, the luxury of being able to compute exactly (in polynomial time) non-asymptotic fundamental limits is rarely affordable. One can at most hope to obtain bounds and approximations to information-theoretic non-asymptotic fundamental limits. Our main findings include tight bounds to the non-asymptotic fundamental limits in lossy data compression and transmission, valid for general sources without any assumptions on ergodicity or memorylessness. Moreover, in the stationary memoryless case we show a simple formula approximating the non-asymptotic optimal coding rate that involves only two parameters of the source.
Biography: Victoria Kostina received the Bachelors degree with honors in applied mathematics and physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia, in 2004, where she was affiliated with the Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Masters degree in electrical engineering from the University of Ottawa, Canada, in 2006. In September 2013, she completed her Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Princeton University, and is currently a postdoctoral researcher working with Prof. Sergio Verdú. Her research interests lie in information theory, theory of random processes, coding, and wireless communications. She is the recipient of two Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada postgraduate fellowships, the Upton Fellowship in Engineering from Princeton University, the University of Ottawa Excellence Scholarship, the University of Ottawa Admission Scholarship and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Excellence Scholarship.
Host: Urbashi Mitra, ubli@usc.edu, EEB 540, x04667
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Susan Wiedem
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Astani CEE Department
Thu, Mar 13, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Kyle Doudrick, Arizona State University
Talk Title: Environmentally Responsible Use of Nanomaterials for the Photocatalytic Reduction of Nitrate in Water
Abstract: Nitrate is the most prevalent water pollutant limiting the use of groundwater as a potable water source. Current technologies available for treating nitrate in drinking water do not meet green principles and are ineffective as long-term solutions. Photocatalysis is emerging as a sustainable technology for treating contaminants that are difficult to remove using traditional treatment methods (e.g., nitrate). In this presentation, I will discuss research that leverages advances in nanotechnology to improve nitrate photocatalysis, the effect of charge transfer kinetics and pH, and the development of a framework for a nitrate-specific photocatalyst. I will also demonstrate the responsible use of nanomaterials by ensuring that appropriate detection methods are in place for the nanomaterials tested. While methods existed for the metals and metal oxides examined, there were none available for carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Acknowledging that risk assessment encompasses dose-response and exposure, new analytical methods were developed for extracting and quantifying CNTs in complex environmental (e.g., urban air) and biological matrices (e.g. rat lungs).
Biography: Kyle Doudrick is currently an NSF/ASEE Small Business Postdoctoral Research Diversity Fellow at Integrated Surface Technologies and an Adjunct Researcher at Arizona State University. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Memphis in Civil Engineering and a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in Environmental Engineering. Dr. Doudrickââ¬â¢s research is focused on the development of sustainable water treatment technologies and the impact these technologies have on human health and the environment. Within this scope, his expertise lie in photoelectrochemical water treatment systems and quantification of nanomaterials in complex environmental and biological matrices.
Host: Astani CEE Department
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Cassie Cremeans
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AI Seminar
Thu, Mar 13, 2014 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM
Information Sciences Institute
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Leslie Pack Kaelbling, MIT CSAIL
Talk Title: Making Robots Behave
Abstract: The fields of AI and robotics have made great improvements in many individual
subfields, including in motion planning, symbolic planning, probabilistic
reasoning, perception, and learning. Our goal is to develop an integrated
approach to solving very large problems that are hopelessly intractable to
solve optimally. We make a number of approximations during planning,
including serializing subtasks, factoring distributions, and determinizing
stochastic dynamics, but regain robustness and effectiveness through a
continuous state-estimation and replanning process. This approach is
demonstrated in three robotic domains, each of which integrates perception,
estimation, planning, and manipulation.
Biography: Leslie Pack Kaelbling is the Panasonic Professor of Computer Science and
Engineering
at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has made research
contributions to decision-making under uncertainty, learning, and
sensing with applications to robotics, with a particular focus on
reinforcement learning and planning in partially observable domains.
She holds an A.B in Philosophy and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from
Stanford University, and has had research positions at SRI
International and Teleos Research and a faculty position at Brown
University. She is the recipient of the US National Science
Foundation Presidential Faculty Fellowship, the IJCAI Computers and
Thought Award, and several teaching prizes and has been elected a
fellow of the AAAI. She was the founder and editor-in-chief of the
Journal of Machine Learning Research.
Host: Yu-han Chang
More Info: http://webcasterms1.isi.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=65e56103c0124c70aba0b19994a913c61d
Location: Information Science Institute (ISI) - 11th floor conference room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Kary LAU
Event Link: http://webcasterms1.isi.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=65e56103c0124c70aba0b19994a913c61d
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CS Colloquium: Thomas Karagiannis (Microsoft Research Cambridge UK) - Predictable Data Centers
Thu, Mar 13, 2014 @ 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Thomas Karagiannis, Microsoft Research Cambridge UK
Talk Title: Predictable Data Centers
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: In the talk, I will provide an overview of the Predictable Data Centers project at MSR Cambridge. The project tackles the issue of unpredictable application performance in data centers. A key contributor to such unpredictability is shared resources like network and storage, where the bandwidth across the cloud network and to the cloud storage service can vary significantly. To address this, PDC aims at designing an architecture that offers performance Service Level Agreements (SLAs) across shared resources by providing tenants with the abstraction of a dedicated virtual data center.
Host: CS Systems Group
Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 322
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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CS Colloquium: Harsha V. Madhyastha (University of California Riverside) - Enabling the Software as a Service Revolution
Thu, Mar 13, 2014 @ 01:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Harsha V. Madhyastha, University of California Riverside
Talk Title: Enabling the Software as a Service Revolution
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: We are currently in the midst of a revolution with regards to how applications are delivered to users. Instead of simply shipping binaries that users install on their devices, application providers are increasingly shifting to the model of offering software services. Google Docs, Instagram, Dropbox, and Words with Friends are popular examples of this paradigm shift. In all of these cases, the use of software services enables application providers to offload application functionality from resource-constrained client devices such as smartphones and tablets, offer a seamless user experience across multiple devices, and enable content sharing.
However, the software as a service application model requires application providers to incur additional costs associated with hosting and managing service deployments. Software services also implicitly threaten user privacy and are constrained by the Internet in terms of the performance and availability perceived by users. In this talk, I will describe the existing best practices to address these challenges, highlight the problems associated with these best practices, and present an overview of three systems that we have developed to address these problems: SPANStore, WhyHigh, and LASTor. I will also discuss some of my ongoing projects and future plans for research in this space.
Biography: Harsha V. Madhyastha is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering department at University of California Riverside. His research interests broadly span the areas of distributed systems, networking, and security and privacy. Many of the systems developed as part of his research have been widely used and have had significant impact. For example, WhyHigh has reduced latencies to Google by an order of magnitude for millions of users, the MyPageKeeper system for detecting social malware is in use by over 20,000 Facebook users, and Internet topology and performance data from the iPlane system has been used in research projects at over 100 institutions. His work has also resulted in award papers at the USENIX NSDI and ACM SIGCOMM IMC conferences. His research is supported by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Amazon, VMware, a Google Research award, a NetApp Faculty Fellowship, and an NSF CAREER award.
Host: Ethan Katz-Bassett
Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 332
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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EE Distinguished Lecturer Series
Thu, Mar 13, 2014 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Bruce Hajek, Prof. Leonard C. and Mary Lou Hoeft Endowed Chair in Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Abstract: This talk will focus on theory and practice of combinatorial auctions and their application to the sale of wireless spectrum licenses. As new wireless applications emerge worldwide, the wireless industry and government regulators are looking to reallocate wireless spectrum to better match the demand. Combinatorial auctions can play an effective role in the allocation process, but important implementation and theoretical issues remain. The talk will include an overview of recent research on the use of profit sharing contracts and core projecting auctions. (Joint work with Vineet Abhishek and Prof. Steven Williams)
Biography: Bruce Hajek received the BS in Mathematics and MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and the Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering from the
University of California at Berkeley. Since 1979 he has been on the faculty of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Coordinated
Science Laboratory, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Hajek pursues basic research in the area of modeling, analysis, and optimization in communication systems and networks. His recent research has focused on allocation based on game theory, peer-to-peer network protocols, and inference in graphical models. He received the IEEE Kobayashi Award for Computer Communications and the Donald P. Eckman Award of the IEEE Control Systems Society. He was elected to the US National Academy of Engineering in 1999.
Host: Rahul Jain & Michael Neely
More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/dls/
More Information: 20140313 Hajek Print (2).pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Estela Lopez
Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/dls/
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CS Distinguished Lecture: Leslie Kaelbling (CSAIL MIT) - Making Robots Behave
Thu, Mar 13, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: CS Distinguished Lecture: Leslie Kaelbling, CSAIL MIT
Talk Title: Making Robots Behave
Series: CS Distinguished Lectures
Abstract: The fields of AI and robotics have made great improvements in many individual subfields, including in motion planning, symbolic planning, probabilistic reasoning, perception, and learning. Our goal is to develop an integrated approach to solving very large problems that are hopelessly intractable to solve optimally. We make a number of approximations during planning, including serializing subtasks, factoring distributions, and determinizing stochastic dynamics, but regain robustness and effectiveness through a continuous state-estimation and replanning process. This approach is demonstrated in three robotic domains, each of which integrates perception, estimation, planning, and manipulation.
Biography: Leslie Pack Kaelbling is the Panasonic Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has made research contributions to decision-making under uncertainty, learning, and sensing with applications to robotics, with a particular focus on reinforcement learning and planning in partially observable domains.
She holds an A.B in Philosphy and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University, and has had research positions at SRI International and Teleos Research and a faculty position at Brown University. She is the recipient of the US National Science Foundation Presidential Faculty Fellowship, the IJCAI Computers and Thought Award, and several teaching prizes and has been elected a fellow of the AAAI. She was the founder and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Machine Learning Research.
Host: Nora Ayanian and Hao Li
Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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The W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquim
Fri, Mar 14, 2014 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Parviz Parhami, Chief Executive Officer, Scientific Applications & Research Associates (SARA) Inc.
Talk Title: Starting a R&D Business: Lessons Learned
Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Program
Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Christine Viterbi Admission & Student Affairs
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Astani CEE Oral Dissertation Defense
Fri, Mar 14, 2014 @ 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Lesley Ewing, Astani CEE Ph.D. Student
Talk Title: Community Resilience to Coastal Disasters
Abstract:
Coastal communities are some of the major economic centers in both the US and the world, and coastal hazards make these areas prone to disasters. Resilience is joining the more traditional approaches available to communities for reducing the consequences of hazard events, which include erosion, inundation, flooding and wave impacts. Traditionally community resilience has covered both the extent to which a hazard event damages a community as well as the subsequent recovery; however, no method has been developed to assess community resilience resulting from various protection options.
The Coastal Community Hazard Protection Resilience Index (CCHPR Index) provides a measure of the resilience of a community’s existing coastal protection and opportunities to compare the changes community resilience brought on by different modifications or additions to coastal protection systems. This research describes the development of this index. It starts with an analysis of the key services of a community and the interdependencies of these services. The research then establishes four phases of a disaster â the pre-event phase, the event phase, the recovery phase, and the on-going activities phase. The key community services are characterized within these four disaster phases as are aspects of coastal hazard events. Lessons about coastal protection are discussed, based on field investigations of recent disasters. Coastal protection options are identified and evaluated for their effects on resilience throughout the four phases of a disaster, and these effects on resilience are used as inputs to the CCHPR Index.
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Astani CEE Ph.D. Seminar
Fri, Mar 14, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Aycut Ayca and Nikos Kalligeris, Astani CEE Ph.D. Student
Talk Title: Current-Based Hazard Mapping in California Ports and Harbors
Abstract: First Presenter-Aycut Ayca
4:00-4:20pm(10 minutes Q&A)
As observed by recent tsunamis in California, maritime communities are the initial and primary communities to be impacted by tsunamis. These recent events which put portions of California’s coast into either an Tsunami Advisory or Warning levelâ¦2006 Kuril Islands, 2009 Samoa, 2010 Chile, 2011 Japan, and 2012 British Columbiaâ¦have caused over $100M in damages to over two dozen maritime communities in California.
In this presentation, the well-established approaches of coupling tsunami generation to seismic seafloor motion and the following trans-oceanic wave propagation will be briefly introduced. The focus of the discussion will be on the complex transformation of the tsunami as it approaches very shallow water, as well as how these possibly large and fast-moving water waves interact with coastal infrastructure. Most of the hydrodynamic results presented in this study come from the application of the âMethod of Splitting Tsunami’ (MOST) numerical model. The MOST model was developed in USC and has been used extensively for tsunami hazard assessments in the United States and is currently in operational use at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL).
First part of this study will be current based hazard mapping. This will include predicting maximum current speeds in a particular port/harbor because of a tsunami and probabilistic assessment of tsunami-induced nearshore currents. The objective of this effort is to develop a set of probabilistic current maps (PCM’s) in a specific harbor. Output will be current maps at specific recurrence levels. The use of PCM’s would primarily be for planning and engineering design â mitigation of tsunami impacts. In addition, once the current-based hazard maps are developed, it becomes feasible to quantify risk and make informed decisions regarding existing and future development.
Then the modelling of debris and sediment movement and modeling updated mitigation measures within pilot study areas will be conducted. Then these would help with the development of 1) guidance for harbors to use with regard to debris and sediment movement, and 2) fragility curves for tsunami damage within harbors. This will be achieved by coupling MOST with a sediment transport model.
Second Presenter: Nikos Kalligeris
4:30-4:50 (10 minutes Q&A)
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Mar 17, 2014 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Host: David D'Argenio
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Astani CEE Ph.D. Seminar
Mon, Mar 17, 2014 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mohammad Javad Abdolhosseini Qomi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Talk Title: A Multi-scale Approach to Sustainable infrastructure
Abstract: The fledgling state of civil infrastructure can be observed in many fronts including performance, longevity, durability, resilience, and sustainability. We produce 40% of global annual CO2 emissions in buildings, about half of which is related to space heating and cooling, and still about 1 billion people live in slums. Production of concrete, the most used man-made materials on earth with 1 cubic meter per capita per annum, is responsible for 5 to 8% of global carbon emissions; and yet it suffers from excessive aging and low durability.
Standing on the intersection of engineering and physics, I use tools from statistical physics and probabilistic mechanics to study problems ranging from the molecular structure of cement paste to retrofitability of cities. At the atomic level, I discuss the interplay between chemistry and physical properties by generating a realistic database of C-S-H (the glue of concrete) molecular structures. By screening the database against Maxwell and Lagrange constraint theory, I comment on the similarity between glass physics and cement science that provides a new venue for design of cementitious materials starting from nan-scale. At the city-scale, I explain a new Big Data approach designed to find the optimal path to reduce energy consumptions. To this end, I combine data analysis and heat transfer modeling to identify buildings with the highest energy saving potentials. Overall, I present a multi-scale mechanophysical approach toward sustainable infrastructure and discuss how this defines the outline of my future research directions. "
Biography: Mr. Abdolhosseini is a PhD-candidate in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He did his undergraduate studies in Civil engineering at Tehran University and earned master degree in structural engineering from Sharif University of Technology. He is the recipient of MITââ¬â¢s Schoettler scholarship and Tavakkoli prize for distinguished research. His focus is on quantitative sustainability of complex materials and systems at nano- and mega-scale.
Host: Astani CEE Department
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Cassie Cremeans
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Mar 24, 2014 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Talk Title: CANCELLED--NO SEMINAR
Host: David D'Argenio
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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EE-EP Faculty Candidate Talk
Mon, Mar 24, 2014 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Weihua Guan, BME/ME, Johns Hopkins University
Talk Title: Electrofluidics And Optofluidics: Bringing Moore's Law To Biomedical Diagnostics And Life Sciences
Abstract: Whereas the complex computation problems have been efficiently tackled by the exponentially growing number of transistors integrated into a single chip, solving the incredible complexity of the living organisms (especially at the molecular level) still faces many challenges. As the driving forces for Moore’s law in microelectronics, micro- and nano-scale technologies also hold great promise for unraveling the mystery in life sciences and developing the next generation of high throughput biomedical diagnostic devices and systems.
In this talk, I will discuss how microfluidic, microelectronic and optic technologies can be mingled together (electrofluidics and optofluidics) to develop lab-on-a-chip devices for highly sensitive, specific and reliable biosensing applications. Specifically, I will present three representative examples: (1) silicon-bio interfaces (electrofluidics), (2) aqueous mass spectrometer using RF fields and optical monitoring (electro-opto-fluidics), and (3) digital microfluidics for single molecule detection (opto-fluidics). Micro/nanotechnology-enabled devices and systems serve as a fascinating starting point to increase the bio-analytical power in an exponential fashion and to bring the Moore's law into biomedical diagnostics and life sciences. My vision is that the landscape for life science industry and biomedical diagnostics is set to be transformed by continuing fundamental and translational electrofluidic and optofluidics research.
Biography: Dr. Weihua Guan received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Yale University. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University. His research interests lie in the translational and fundamental understanding and application of microfluidic, microelectronic, and photonic technologies in lab-on-a-chip devices for biomedical diagnostics and life sciences. Dr. Guan is a recipient of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Student Research Fellowship and Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad.
Host: EE-Electrophysics
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
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Epstein ISE Department Seminar
Tue, Mar 25, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Ali E. Abbas, Art Davis Faculty Scholar, Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Talk Title: "Bracing for Today's National Security Decisions"
Abstract: Some of the significant features of our era include the prevalence of large-scale systems; advances in artificial intelligence, medicine and public policy; the role of social networks in predicting behavior and toppling governments, and the presence of multiple stakeholders with multiple objectives. Amidst these features lie eminent possibilities of cyber and biological attacks that pose significant threats to our infrastructure; liberty and pursuit of happiness. To remain ahead, National security policies within this era must proactively capitalize on advancements in different disciplines using multidisciplinary teams that can operate together coherently and communicate their results to policy makers.
In this talk, I will show examples of how tools derived in different disciplines can be unified into a theory of decision making that enhances national security decisions. These tools include connections between advances in utility theory (economics) and information theory to better predict adversary behavior; connections between the recent advances in multiattribute utility theory and controls theory for better mechanisms of information gathering with unmanned vehicles in hostile environments; ongoing work on connections between social networks and public policy, and essential decision analysis tools tailored to guide planetary defense missions conducted by NASA.
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014
RONALD TUTOR HALL (RTH) ROOM 526
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Biography: Ali E. Abbas received an M.S. in electrical engineering; M.S. in engineering economic systems & operations research; PhD in management science and engineering, and PhD minor in electrical engineering all from the school of engineering at Stanford University. His research interests include all aspects of decision making under uncertainty (broadly defined), information theory, signal processing, artificial intelligence, and bioinformatics. He is co-author of two forthcoming books ââ¬ÅThe Foundations of Decision Analysisââ¬Â with Ronald Howard, and the single-author book ââ¬Åthe Foundations of Multiattribute Utilityââ¬Â. He is also an associate Editor for both the Operations Research and Decision Analysis journals of INFORMS and is the decision analysis area editor for IIE Transactions.
Dr. Abbas is the Art Davis Faculty Scholar in the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He previously worked as a Lecturer in the Department of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University and in Schlumberger Oilfield Services, where he held several international positions in Wireline logging, operations management, and international training. He has organized numerous workshops including the decision analysis tracks of INFORMS 2007, 2008 and the Bayesian inference and Maximum Entropy conference in 2005. He received numerous National Science Foundation Awards including the National Science Foundation Career Award in 2008; the Decision Analysis Society of INFORMS (DAS) Best Publication Award in 2011; the National Science Foundation I-Corps award in 2012, and the Decision Analysis Society of INFORMS first runner up and second runner up publication awards in 2013. Dr. Abbasââ¬â¢ work has been featured in numerous media outlets including CBS, The Huffington Post, the WSJ, the National Science Foundation (NSF) discoveries, INFORMS Podcasts, and he has had a recent TV appearance on ââ¬ÅChicago Tonightââ¬Â. Dr. Abbas has also been invited to attend economic policy discussions on social welfare at the Houses of Parliament.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Abbas.doc
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 526
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Tue, Mar 25, 2014 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Chiara Villani , Purdue University
Talk Title: Transport Processes in Partially Saturated Concrete: Testing and Influence of Liquid Properties
Abstract: The interest of the scientific community in transport properties of cementitious materials is motivated by their relevance in the service life prediction, an attractive instrument to move towards more sustainable construction practices. This aspect has encouraged the development of several transport tests. However, designing a transport test that is sensitive, robust, easy to perform, that provides a material property seems to be a real challenge in the case of concrete. Permeability tests have been proved to be highly sensitive to several parameters. In this context, this study aimed at investigating existing gas transport tests comparing their performance in terms of repeatability and variability. The influence of several parameters was investigated such as moisture content, mixture proportions and gas flow. A closer look to the influence of pressure revealed an anomalous trend of permeability with respect to pressure. An alternative calculation is proposed in an effort to move towards the determination of intrinsic material properties.
The impact of deicing salts exposure was also analyzed with respect to gas transport of cementitious materials focusing on their alteration of the drying processes. Limited information were previously available on liquid properties such as surface tension, viscosity, water activity in presence of deicing salts over a wide range of concentrations. To overcome this limitation, this study quantified those properties in a broad concentration range and at different temperatures. Existing models were applied to predict the change of fluid properties during drying. Desorption tests were performed to investigate the influence of deicing salts presence on the non-linear moisture diffusion coefficient. In an effort to predict moisture profiles semi-empirical models were applied to quantify the initiation and the rate of drying using liquid properties and pore structure information as inputs. Concrete exposed to deicing salts resulted to have a reduced gas transport due to the higher degree of saturation (DOS). This is believed to contribute to the premature deterioration observed in concrete pavements exposed to deicing salts.
Biography: Chiara Villani is a Ph.D. candidate at Purdue University. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin. Prior to Purdue University, she worked as a researcher in the CEMEX Research Group AG characterizing low carbon footprint fiber-reinforced self-compacting composites. While at Purdue, she investigated limitations and potentials of existing and new transport tests for permeability evaluations. She analyzed the deterioration mechanisms associated with deicing salts presence focusing on their influence on the drying process of cementitious materials. She has also contributed to the mechanical and microstructural characterization of sustainable composites containing supplementary cementitious materials and of composites cured with carbon dioxide. Her research interests include development and characterization of sustainable cementitious materials, drying processes in cementitious composites and durability of concrete structures.
Host: Astani CEE Department
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Cassie Cremeans
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Sparse Representation in Highly Coherent Dictionary by Minimizing Difference of L1 and L2
Tue, Mar 25, 2014 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Jack Xin, University of California, Irvine
Talk Title: Sparse Representation in Highly Coherent Dictionary by Minimizing Difference of L1 and L2
Series: Medical Imaging Seminar Series
Abstract: Over-complete bases appear in human visual and auditory systems and related mathematical constructions such as Gabor frames and Gammatone filters. Though one gains robustness and resolution, finding an optimal compact representation requires minimization of sparsity or L0. The L1 norm is an effective convex proxy that works very well when dictionary elements (basis vectors) are incoherent enough. However, it may fail when some of the basis vectors are nearly aligned or degeneracy appears (loss of uniqueness of minimizer). We introduce a Lipschitz continuous non-convex alternative, the difference of L1 and L2 norms, and show its analytical and numerical properties for sparse recovery in highly coherent dictionaries. We present the difference of convex algorithms, their convergence and enhancement by sparsity driven simulated annealing strategies. Applications include over-sampled discrete cosine transform, optical spectroscopy, image denoising and reconstruction.
Biography: ack Xin received his B.S in computational mathematics at Peking University in 1985, and Ph.D. in applied mathematics at New York University in 1990. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Berkeley and Princeton in 1991 and 1992. He was assistant and associate professor of mathematics at the University of Arizona from 1991 to 1999. He was a professor of mathematics from 1999 to 2005 at the University of Texas at Austin. He has been a professor of mathematics in the Department of Mathematics, Center for Hearing Research, Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences, and Center for Mathematical and Computational Biology at UC Irvine since 2005. He is a fellow of the Guggenheim Foundation and the American Mathematical Society. His research interests include applied analysis and computation in nonlinear and multi-scale problems, mathematical modeling and signal processing. He authored two Springer books and is involved in undergraduate research training and mentoring such as the iCAMP funded by the NSF.
Host: Hosted By Dr. Angel Pineda
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
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Epstein Institute / ISE 651 Seminar Series
Tue, Mar 25, 2014 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jordan B. L. Smith, Ph.D. Candidate, Centre for Digital Music, Queen Mary University of London
Talk Title: "Using Large Datasets to Understand the Perception of Structure in Music"
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: The perception of grouping structure in music is one of the most fundamental and yet poorly understood aspects of listening. Grouping structure refers to how a listener divides a sequence of sounds into segments, and groups these segments together recursively. This process is somewhat automatic at the shortest timescales, but modelling how the mind forms larger groups is a formidable challenge. I will present two projects that seek to improve our understanding of what musical attributes listeners are most likely to focus on.
The first is a study of the correlation between acoustic changes and the perception of boundaries, and is based on an analysis of SALAMI, a large collection of structural annotations. While datasets like this are generally used for evaluating analysis algorithms, we have repurposed SALAMI to study the inverse problem: deducing how listeners interpret acoustic signals as structured events. We computed smoothed differential functions of a number of musical features and observed how often moments of change coincided with boundaries and non-boundaries. Reinforcing and extending results from psychological experiments, we found that a change in some musical feature is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a point in time to be considered a boundary, and that the number of simultaneous changes in different musical features correlates with the salience of the boundary.
In the second project, we developed a tool that seeks to identify the acoustic parameters a listener was plausibly focusing on when they analyzed the piece. Our approach uses multiple self-similarity matrices, which are often used to detect repeated patterns for music structure analysis. Using Quadratic Programming, we find the optimal piece-wise combination of matrices to reproduce the listener's analysis, resulting in a time-series estimate of the listener's attentional focus. Examples illustrate many aspects of listener disagreements, such as the origin and independent plausibility of conflicting interpretations.
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014
VON KLEINSMID CENTER (VKC) ROOM 100
3:30 - 4:50 PM
Biography: Jordan B. L. Smith is a Ph.D. candidate at the Centre for Digital Music at Queen Mary University of London, studying with Prof. Elaine Chew. He received his M.Sc. in operations research engineering in 2012 at University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA, USA), his M.A. in music technology in 2010 at McGill University (Montreal, QC, Canada), and in 2006 his A.B. in music and physics at Harvard College (Cambridge, MA, USA).
As a research assistant at McGill, he planned and implemented the collection of ground truth for the Structural Analysis of Large Amounts of Music Information (SALAMI) project. His current research, which focuses on differences among listeners in the perception of musical structure, has been published in IEEE Transactions on Multimedia and at the ACM Conference on Multimedia, and he has delivered talks on the subject at the Society for Music Perception and Cognition and at the Digital Music Research Network.
In 2012, Smith was awarded doctoral fellowships from both the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Fonds de recherche du Québec; both agencies also awarded him a masterââ¬â¢s fellowship in 2009. He was awarded a Provostââ¬â¢s Ph.D. fellowship from the University of Southern California in 2010.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Smith_Jordan.doc
Location: Von Kleinsmid Center For International & Public Affairs (VKC) - Room 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Epstein Institute / ISE 651 Seminar Series
Tue, Mar 25, 2014 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jordan B. L. Smith, Ph.D. Candidate, Centre for Digital Music, Queen Mary University of London
Talk Title: "Using Large Datasets to Understand the Perception of Structure in Music"
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: The perception of grouping structure in music is one of the most fundamental and yet poorly understood aspects of listening. Grouping structure refers to how a listener divides a sequence of sounds into segments, and groups these segments together recursively. This process is somewhat automatic at the shortest timescales, but modelling how the mind forms larger groups is a formidable challenge. I will present two projects that seek to improve our understanding of what musical attributes listeners are most likely to focus on.
The first is a study of the correlation between acoustic changes and the perception of boundaries, and is based on an analysis of SALAMI, a large collection of structural annotations. While datasets like this are generally used for evaluating analysis algorithms, we have repurposed SALAMI to study the inverse problem: deducing how listeners interpret acoustic signals as structured events. We computed smoothed differential functions of a number of musical features and observed how often moments of change coincided with boundaries and non-boundaries. Reinforcing and extending results from psychological experiments, we found that a change in some musical feature is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a point in time to be considered a boundary, and that the number of simultaneous changes in different musical features correlates with the salience of the boundary.
In the second project, we developed a tool that seeks to identify the acoustic parameters a listener was plausibly focusing on when they analyzed the piece. Our approach uses multiple self-similarity matrices, which are often used to detect repeated patterns for music structure analysis. Using Quadratic Programming, we find the optimal piece-wise combination of matrices to reproduce the listenerââ¬â¢s analysis, resulting in a time-series estimate of the listenerââ¬â¢s attentional focus. Examples illustrate many aspects of listener disagreements, such as the origin and independent plausibility of conflicting interpretations.
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014
VON KLEINSMID CENTER (VKC) ROOM 100
3:30 - 4:50 PM
Biography: Jordan B. L. Smith is a Ph.D. candidate at the Centre for Digital Music at Queen Mary University of London, studying with Prof. Elaine Chew. He received his M.Sc. in operations research engineering in 2012 at University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA, USA), his M.A. in music technology in 2010 at McGill University (Montreal, QC, Canada), and in 2006 his A.B. in music and physics at Harvard College (Cambridge, MA, USA).
As a research assistant at McGill, he planned and implemented the collection of ground truth for the Structural Analysis of Large Amounts of Music Information (SALAMI) project. His current research, which focuses on differences among listeners in the perception of musical structure, has been published in IEEE Transactions on Multimedia and at the ACM Conference on Multimedia, and he has delivered talks on the subject at the Society for Music Perception and Cognition and at the Digital Music Research Network.
In 2012, Smith was awarded doctoral fellowships from both the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Fonds de recherche du Québec; both agencies also awarded him a masterââ¬â¢s fellowship in 2009. He was awarded a Provostââ¬â¢s Ph.D. fellowship from the University of Southern California in 2010.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Smith_Jordan.doc
Location: Von Kleinsmid Center For International & Public Affairs (VKC) - Room 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Epstein Institute / ISE 651 Seminar Series
Tue, Mar 25, 2014 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jordan B. L. Smith, Ph.D. Candidate, Centre for Digital Music, Queen Mary University of London
Talk Title: "Using Large Datasets to Understand the Perception of Structure in Music"
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: The perception of grouping structure in music is one of the most fundamental and yet poorly understood aspects of listening. Grouping structure refers to how a listener divides a sequence of sounds into segments, and groups these segments together recursively. This process is somewhat automatic at the shortest timescales, but modelling how the mind forms larger groups is a formidable challenge. I will present two projects that seek to improve our understanding of what musical attributes listeners are most likely to focus on.
The first is a study of the correlation between acoustic changes and the perception of boundaries, and is based on an analysis of SALAMI, a large collection of structural annotations. While datasets like this are generally used for evaluating analysis algorithms, we have repurposed SALAMI to study the inverse problem: deducing how listeners interpret acoustic signals as structured events. We computed smoothed differential functions of a number of musical features and observed how often moments of change coincided with boundaries and non-boundaries. Reinforcing and extending results from psychological experiments, we found that a change in some musical feature is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a point in time to be considered a boundary, and that the number of simultaneous changes in different musical features correlates with the salience of the boundary.
In the second project, we developed a tool that seeks to identify the acoustic parameters a listener was plausibly focusing on when they analyzed the piece. Our approach uses multiple self-similarity matrices, which are often used to detect repeated patterns for music structure analysis. Using Quadratic Programming, we find the optimal piece-wise combination of matrices to reproduce the listenerââ¬â¢s analysis, resulting in a time-series estimate of the listener's attentional focus. Examples illustrate many aspects of listener disagreements, such as the origin and independent plausibility of conflicting interpretations.
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014
VON KLEINSMID CENTER (VKC) ROOM 100
3:30 - 4:50 PM
Biography: Jordan B. L. Smith is a Ph.D. candidate at the Centre for Digital Music at Queen Mary University of London, studying with Prof. Elaine Chew. He received his M.Sc. in operations research engineering in 2012 at University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA, USA), his M.A. in music technology in 2010 at McGill University (Montreal, QC, Canada), and in 2006 his A.B. in music and physics at Harvard College (Cambridge, MA, USA).
As a research assistant at McGill, he planned and implemented the collection of ground truth for the Structural Analysis of Large Amounts of Music Information (SALAMI) project. His current research, which focuses on differences among listeners in the perception of musical structure, has been published in IEEE Transactions on Multimedia and at the ACM Conference on Multimedia, and he has delivered talks on the subject at the Society for Music Perception and Cognition and at the Digital Music Research Network.
In 2012, Smith was awarded doctoral fellowships from both the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Fonds de recherche du Québec; both agencies also awarded him a master's fellowship in 2009. He was awarded a Provost's Ph.D. fellowship from the University of Southern California in 2010.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Smith_Jordan.doc
Location: Room 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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From Secure Communication to Secret Computation
Wed, Mar 26, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Hongchao Zhou, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Talk Title: From Secure Communication to Secret Computation
Abstract: Data security and privacy are of utmost importance for businesses, governments, and individuals. In this talk, I will present my research in security from three angles: emerging applications, practical systems and algorithms design.
First, I present an efficient homomorphic encryption framework that supports fast and practical basic arithmetic operations on integer vectors in the encrypted domain. It provides orders of magnitude improvement in computational time compared to existing methods and enables the feasibility of a number of practical encrypted signal-processing applications in cloud storage and distributed sensing. In addition to classical cryptosystems, I further discuss quantum communications as a solution for transmitting information with provable security. In particular, I address critical coding challenges in high-dimensional quantum key distribution, and present the first known practical quantum-communication system that achieves unprecedented performance: 7.0 secure bits per photon and 7.1 Mb/s throughput over 20 km of fiber transmission. Finally, the design and implementation of secure systems rely on the generation of high-quality random bits. Motivated by the original work of von Neumann (1951), I describe the first known optimal algorithm that generates unbiased random bits from an arbitrary finite Markov chain.
Biography: Hongchao Zhou is a postdoctoral associate in the Research Laboratory of Electronics at MIT. He received his M.S. degree and Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Caltech, in 2009 and 2012, respectively. He studied at Tsinghua University from 2004 to 2008, where he earned an M.S. in control science and a B.S. degree in physics and mathematics. His research interests include information theory and coding, algorithms and complexity, and their applications in data storage systems, secure communication systems and biological computing systems. He received the 2013 Charles Wilts Prize for the best doctoral thesis in EE at Caltech, the 2010 Chinese government award for outstanding self-financed students abroad, and the 2010 IEEE distinguished student humanitarian prize. He worked with IBM China Research as a part-time intern from 2006 and 2008, where he designed and developed the first version of IBM Smartcloud Docs.
Host: Keith Chugg, chugg@usc.edu, EEB 500A, x07294
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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CREATE Seminar w/ Jason Merrick
Wed, Mar 26, 2014 @ 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jason R. W. Merrick, Virginia Commonwealth University
Talk Title: Attacker/Defender Modeling and the Global Nuclear Detection Network
Series: CREATE Monthly Seminar Series
Abstract: Counter-terrorism decisions have been an intense area of research in recent years. Both decision analysis and game theory have been used to model such decisions, and more recently approaches have been developed that combine the techniques of the two disciplines. In this talk, we review approaches for modeling attacker and defender decisions with applications to the global nuclear detection architecture. We discuss decision trees, sequential game trees, intelligent adversary risk analysis, and adversarial risk analysis. We extend this adversarial modeling to smuggling networks for radioactive material. We use this setting to discuss the influence of defender decisions on attacker decisions through deterrence and deflection.
Biography: Jason R. W. Merrick is a professor in the Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research at Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently a visiting professor at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. He has a D.Sc. in operations research from the George Washington University and an MA in mathematics and computation from Oxford University. He teaches courses in decision analysis, risk analysis, and simulation. His research is primarily in the area of decision analysis and Bayesian statistics. He has worked on projects ranging from assessing maritime oil transportation and ferry system safety, the environmental health of watersheds, and optimal replacement policies for rail tracks and machine tools, and he has received grants from the National Science Foundation, the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, the American Bureau of Shipping, British Petroleum, and Booz Allen Hamilton, among others. He has also performed training for Infineon Technologies, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and Capital One Services. He is associate editor for the INFORMS journal Decision Analysis, the Euro Journal on Decision Processes, and IIE Transactions, and formerly at Operations Research and Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation. Email: jrmerric@vcu.edu.
To ensure that I order your lunch, please RSVP to me no later than Monday, March 24th. Please advise if you require a vegetarian option. Hope to see you there!
Thank you,
Erin Pearson (Calicchio)
calicchi@usc.edu
Host: CREATE at USC
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 306
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Erin Pearson (Calicchio)
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Thu, Mar 27, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Charles-Francois de Lannoy , Duke University
Talk Title: The Environmental Applications and Implications New Composite Materials
Abstract: Increasing our potable water supply, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of water/wastewater treatment, and decontaminating natural water systems are all cyclically dependent. Addressing future water concerns requires that we investigate all components of this water-health nexus simultaneously. As water sources are further strained, long-term solutions to efficient and effective ways of dealing with our water problems will become increasingly vital to our society. Among the many current approaches is the development and novel use of new materials. Nanocomposite materials, in particular, are leading the way towards highly effective solutions to these challenging environmental problems.
I have developed a suite of novel nanomaterials with direct environmental applications. These materials take the form of electrically conductive membrane coatings, active separation surfaces, catalytic nanomaterials for environmental decontaminations, and reactive adsorbents. In all forms, we are cognizant of the environmental implications of nanomaterials, and strive towards sustainable material development and responsible environmental use.
In this talk I will focus on two approaches: 1) new strategies for water/wastewater treatment and 2) degradation of aquatic environmental contaminants. In the former case I will introduce the development and application of our novel electrically conductive active membrane surfaces. Membrane technologies, while efficient and effective methods to treat water and wastewater, are plagued by several problems, in particular biofouling. Our active membrane surfaces demonstrate superior biofouling resistance in challenging environments and over long-term studies. The second topic of my talk will explore new nanocomposite reductive adsorbents for environmental decontamination. These nanocomposites have high reductive potential for rapid and effective degradation of emerging environmental contaminants, high transport properties for large site area coverage, and environmentally inert byproducts for safe in-situ application.
The nanocomposite materials that I have developed and the various platforms we have tested have the potential to pave the way for indiscriminately broad-scoped solutions to dynamically evolving global environmental problems.
Biography: Dr. Charles-François de Lannoy received his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Certificate in Nanoscience from Duke University in 2014 under Prof. Mark Wiesner, and his B.Sc. in Honours Physics with High Distinction from McGill University. He is currently a post-doctoral research associate at CEINT (Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology) an NSF-EPA supported center at Duke University. His research is focused on the investigation of nanocomposite materials and their application and implication to environmental systems. In his Ph.D., Charles developed, characterized, and tested polymer-carbon nanotube composite membranes for diverse applications in water purification and desalination technologies. He is among the pioneers in a new field in electrically conductive polymer membrane surfaces, which have wide applications to biofouling resistant surfaces, catalytic surfaces for contaminant degradation, and active separation surfaces for charged particle separation. He has published several papers in ES&T, Langmuir, and the Journal of Membrane Science, his work has been awarded several awards at national and international conferences, and he has two provisional patent filings at Duke University for two of the materials that he has developed.
Host: Astani CEE Department
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Cassie Cremeans
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Optimal RNA-Seq Reconstruction: From Informational Limits to Software
Thu, Mar 27, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Sreeram Kannan, University of California, Berkeley
Talk Title: Optimal RNA-Seq Reconstruction: From Informational Limits to Software
Abstract: High throughput sequencing of RNA has emerged in the last few years as a powerful method that enables discovery of novel transcripts and alternatively spliced isoforms of genes, along with accurate estimates of gene expression. In this work, we study the fundamental limits of de novo transcriptome assembly using RNA shotgun-sequencing, where the sequencing technology extracts short reads from the RNA transcripts. We propose a new linear-time algorithm for transcriptome reconstruction and derive sufficient conditions on the length of reads under which the algorithm will succeed. We also derive fundamental information-theoretic conditions for reconstruction by any algorithm, and show that the proposed algorithm is near-optimal on a real data set. Along the way, we show that the NP-hard problem of decomposing a flow into the fewest number of paths can be solved in linear time for a family of instances, and biologically relevant instances tend to fall in this family. We also describe the construction of a software package for RNA assembly based on this theory and show that it obtains significant improvements in reconstruction accuracy over state-of-the-art software.
Biography: Sreeram Kannan is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign. He is a co-recipient of the Van Valkenburg research award from UIUC, Qualcomm Roberto Padovani Scholarship for outstanding interns, the Qualcomm Cognitive Radio Contest first prize, the S.V.C. Aiya medal from the Indian Institute of Science, and Intel India Student Research Contest first prize. His research interests include applications of information theory and approximation algorithms to wireless networks and computational biology.
Host: Andreas Molisch, molisch@usc.edu, EEB 530, x04670
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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CS Colloquium: Emina Torlak (UC Berkeley) - Programming for Everyone: From Solvers to Solver-Aided Languages and Beyond
Thu, Mar 27, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Emina Torlak, University of California, Berkeley
Talk Title: Programming for Everyone: From Solvers to Solver-Aided Languages and Beyond
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: We live in a software-driven world. Software helps us communicate and collaborate; create art and music; and make discoveries in biological, physical, and social sciences. Yet the growing demand for new software, to solve new kinds of problems, remains largely unmet. Because programming is still hard, developer productivity is limited, and so is end-users' ability to program on their own.
In this talk, I present a new approach to constructing programs, which exploits advances in constraint solving to make programming easier for experts and more accessible to everyone else. The approach is based on two observations. First, much of everyday programming involves the use of domain-specific languages (DSLs) that are embedded, in the form of APIs and interpreters, into modern host languages (for example, JavaScript, Scala or Racket). Second, productivity tools based on constraint solvers (such as verification or synthesis) work best when specialized to a given domain. Rosette is a new kind of host language, designed for easy creation of DSLs that are equipped with solver-based tools. These Solver-Aided DSLs (SDSLs) use Rosette's symbolic virtual machine (SVM) to automate hard programming tasks, including verification, debugging, synthesis, and programming with angelic oracles. The SVM works by compiling SDSL programs to logical constraints understood by SMT solvers, and then translating the solver's output to counterexamples (in the case of verification), traces (in the case of angelic execution), or code snippets (in the case of synthesis and debugging). Rosette has hosted several new SDSLs, including imperative SDSLs for data-parallel and spatial programming; a functional SDSL for specifying executable semantics of secure stack machines; and a declarative SDSL for web scraping by example.
Biography: Emina Torlak is a researcher at U.C. Berkeley, working at the intersection of software engineering, formal methods, and programming languages. Her focus is on developing tools that help people build better software more easily. She received her B.Sc. (2003), M.Eng. (2004) and Ph.D. (2009) from MIT, where she developed Kodkod, an efficient SAT-based solver for relational logic. Kodkod has since been used in over 70 tools for verification, debugging, and synthesis of code and specifications. Emina has also worked on a wide range of domain-specific formal methods. She won an ACM SIGSOFT distinguished paper award for her work at LogicBlox, where she built a system for synthesizing massive data sets, used in testing of decision support applications. As a member of IBM Research, she led the development of a tool for bounded verification of memory models, enabling the first fully automatic analysis of the Java Memory Model. These experiences inspired her current research on solver-aided languages, which aims to reduce the effort of applying formal methods to new problem domains.
Host: William Halfond
Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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The W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquim
Fri, Mar 28, 2014 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Edward Loh, Editor-in-Chief, Motor Trend Magazine
Talk Title: Everything You Wanted to Know About Driving Supercars But Were Afraid to Ask
Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Program
Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Christine Viterbi Admission & Student Affairs
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Integrated Systems Seminar Series - Spring 2014
Fri, Mar 28, 2014 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Alexander Rylyakov , IBM
Talk Title: Silicon Photonics: Believe the Hype or Forget About It?
Series: Integrated Systems Seminar Series
Abstract: Silicon Photonics is certainly not a new technology with early papers published in 1980s and first commercial products available in 1990s. It also has a number of well-known and very significant technical challenges, especially when it is compared to mature III-V based optical communication devices, such as VCSELs and InP photonic integrated circuits. And yet in recent years it very clearly has entered a dramatic hype cycle, with many companies developing the technology (e.g., Cisco/Lightwire, Mellanox/Kotura, Molex/Luxtera, Samsung, IBM, Intel, and many others) and announcing products. The overall situation tends to be extremely polarizing, with hard core proponents citing only the advantages of Silicon Photonics (high level of integration, cost, compatibility with CMOS) and skeptics focusing mostly on the issues (absence of optical gain, coupling losses, device performance). I will try to provide a balanced view, based on my personal experience designing the driver/receiver circuits for Silicon Photonic devices, VCSELs and InP PICs. I will review recent IBM Research results on optical transceivers and switches, comparing key parameters (power efficiency, density, reach) of different approaches. During the review I will necessarily have to touch on sensitive subjects such as direct laser modulation vs different modulator types (MZ, ring, EA), hybrid approach vs monolithic integration of optics and circuits and so on. I don’t have a roadmap or a crystal ball, so I will not make any conclusions or forward looking statements, but so far it has been a very exciting area of research, with a clear potential for more.
Biography: Alexander Rylyakov received the M.S. degree in physics from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1989 and the Ph.D. degree in physics from State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1997, where he worked on the design and testing of superconductor integrated circuits based on Josephson junctions. In 1999 he joined the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center as a Research Staff Member, working on the design and testing of high-speed digital and mixed-signal communication circuits for optical and channel-limited wireline communications. Many of those circuits, implemented in various generations of CMOS and SiGe bipolar, are now used in IBM products and several of them have established performance records in their respective technologies. Dr. Rylyakov's current research interests are in the areas of digital phase-locked loops for communication and microprocessor clocking, high-speed low power transceivers and equalization for wireline and optical communication, and integrated circuits for silicon photonics. He has published over 80 papers and has 20 patents issued.
Recent IBM Outstanding Technical Achievement Awards: “Advancements in the Science of Silicon Nanophotonics” (2012), “Development of Digital PLL Technology and Its Establishment in IBM Product Roadmaps” (2013), “Technologies for Terabit/s Optical Transceivers” (2013)
Host: Hossien Hashemi, Mike Chen, Mahta Moghaddam, Sushil Subramanian
More Info: http://mhi.usc.edu/activities/integrated-systems/
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Sushil Subramanian
Event Link: http://mhi.usc.edu/activities/integrated-systems/
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Astani CEE Ph.D. Seminar
Fri, Mar 28, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Esther S. Lee, USC Career Center
Talk Title: USC Career
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Mon, Mar 31, 2014 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA,
Talk Title: Six Sigma Black Belt
Abstract: Course Overview
This course teaches you the advanced problem-solving skills you'll need in order to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. Project assignments between sessions require you to apply what you've learned. This course is presented in the classroom in three five-day sessions over a three-month period.
Learn the advanced problem-solving skills you need to implement the principles, practices and techniques of Six Sigma to maximize performance and cost reductions in your organization. During this three-week practitioner course, you will learn how to measure a process, analyze the results, develop process improvements and quantify the resulting savings. You will be required to complete a project demonstrating mastery of appropriate analytical methods and pass an examination to earn IIE's Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate.This practitioner course for Six Sigma implementation provides extensive coverage of the Six Sigma process as well as intensive exposure to the key analytical tools associated with Six Sigma, including project management, team skills, cost analysis, FMEA, basic statistics, inferential statistics, sampling, goodness of fit testing, regression and correlation analysis, reliability, design of experiments, statistical process control, measurement systems analysis and simulation. Computer applications are emphasized.
NOTE: Participants must bring a laptop computer running Microsoft Office to the seminar.
Course Topics
* Business process management
* Computer applications
* Design of experiments (DOE)
* Design for Six Sigma (DFSS)
* DMAIIC
* Enterprisewide deployment
* Lean enterprise
* Project management
* Regression and correlation modeling
* Statistical methods and sampling
* Statistical process control
* Team processes
Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
* Analyze process data using comprehensive statistical methods
* Control the process to assure that improvements are used and the benefits verified
* Define an opportunity for improving customer satisfaction
* Implement the recommended improvements
* Improve existing processes by reducing variation
* Measure process characteristics that are critical to quality
Who Should Attend
* VPs, COOs, CEOs
* Employees new to a managerial position
* Employees preparing to make the transition to managerial roles
* Current managers wanting to hone leadership skills
* Anyone interested in implementing Lean or Six Sigma in their organization
Program Fees
On-Campus Participants: $7,245
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $7,245
Includes attendee access codes for live call-in or chat capabilities during class sessions. Also includes all course and lecture materials available for live stream or download.
Reduced Pricing:
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE): Reduced pricing is available for members of IIE. Please contact professional@gapp.usc.edu for further information.
Trojan Family: USC alumni, current students, faculty, and staff receive 10% reduced pricing on registration.
Boeing: Boeing employees receive 20% off registration fees (please use Boeing email address when registering).
Location
Two course delivery options are available for participants, on-campus and online with interactivity:
On-Campus Course is held in state-of-the-art facilities on the University of Southern California campus, located in downtown Los Angeles. Participants attending on-campus will have the option to commute to the course or stay at one of the many hotels located in the area. For travel information, please visit our Travel section.
Overview of on-campus option:
* The ability to interact with faculty and peers in-person.
* Access to hard copy course materials.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information - up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
* If there is a conflict during any on-campus course dates, on-campus participants can elect to be an online/interactive student.
* Parking, refreshments and lunch are provided for on-campus participants unless otherwise specified.
Online (Interactivity) Course delivery is completely online and real-time, enabling interaction with the instructor and fellow participants. Participants have the flexibility of completing the course from a distance utilizing USC's Distance Education Network technology. Students are required to be online for the entirety of each day's session.
Overview of online (interactive):
* Virtually participate in the course live with the ability to either ask questions or chat questions to the entire class.
* WebEx technologies provide the option to call into the class and view the entire lecture/materials on a personal computer, or to participate on a computer without having to utilize a phone line.
* Ability to logon and view archived course information up to 7 days after the course has been offered. This includes course documents and streaming video of the lectures.
Continuing Education Units
CEUs: 10.5 (CEUs provided by request only)
USC Viterbi School of Engineering Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants upon successful completion of course.
Upon completion, participants will also receive their Institute of Industrial Engineers certification in Six Sigma Black Belt.
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
Event Link: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%26systems/six-sigma-black-belt
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Mon, Mar 31, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jun Li , California Institute of Technology
Talk Title: Time and Temperature Dependent Large Deformation of Membranes for Sustainable Technology Applications
Abstract: Membranes are becoming increasingly important and widely used in sustainable technology including deployable and lightweight structures, environmental protection and purification systems, and energy conversion and storage devices. Understanding the mechanics of membranes that exhibit time and temperature dependent large deformation behavior is critical to ensure long-term viability in applications. However, the nonlinear viscoelasticity of polymers coupled with the thinness of membranes pose challenges in characterization and modeling. In this talk, I will describe a hybrid method (experimental + computational) to develop nonlinear orthotropic viscoelastic models for the linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) membranes used in the NASA Ultra Long Duration Balloon. I will first discuss their linear viscoelastic characterization through creep tests and harmonic oscillation tests to obtain master curves of creep compliance. I will show that the master curves obtained from these approaches are not equivalent due to the semi-crystalline nature of LLDPE and one has to be careful to choose between the two approaches. A large deformation model based on the free volume theory couples the through-plane strain to the in-plane deformation of the membrane, but in practice the through-plane properties are difficult to measure. I will present a two-step computational scheme combining an evolutionary algorithm and a simplex optimization to extract model parameters through inverse analysis of experimental results. The validity of the model is then demonstrated on tests at different temperatures and strain rates. Finally, I will discuss possible avenues of future development. Effective constitutive models permit the integration with finite element models to study more complicated mechanics problems involving stress concentrations, wrinkling, structural instabilities and failure. The inclusion of other internal parameters will extend the applicability to multiphysics problems of coupled thermo-photo-chemo-electro-magneto mechanics in diverse applications.
Biography: Dr. Jun Li is a postdoctoral scholar in the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories at the California Institute of Technology. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in 2012, as well as M.S. in Mathematics and in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. At UIUC, he contributed to the mechanics of fractal and random materials resulting in over 10 journal publications. He delivered a keynote at the 10th US National Congress on Computational Mechanics and received the best poster award of ââ¬ÅEmerging Researchers in Biomedical Engineeringââ¬Â at 2011 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Prior to UIUC, he obtained B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Shanghai Jiaotong University in 2005. His research interest is to develop theoretical analysis tools integrated with computational techniques and experimental characterizations for the design, optimization, and assessment of novel materials and structures.
Host: Astani CEE Department
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Cassie Cremeans
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The constant battle for power-efficient computing
Mon, Mar 31, 2014 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: George Michelogiannakis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Talk Title: The constant battle for power-efficient computing
Abstract: Recent technology scaling has led to the realization that communication, and not computation, dominates energy costs. This realization, coupled with the constant increase of parallelism and the fact that power consumption is typically the primary design constraint, results in increased difficulty in providing sufficient communication bandwidth to keep processors busy. Power is a critical challenge for HPC, datacenters and consumer electronics. In HPC, a 1000x improvement in performance is needed with only a 10x increase in power by 2018. Moreover, datacenters require $7B just for cooling in the USA, which is projected to increase by 4x in the near future. Finally, consumer electronics require a 2x increase in performance with no increase in power every two years to remain competitive. In this talk, I will present my recent work on efficient data movement on and off chip, as well as efficient DRAM access. I will focus on collective memory transfers, which maximize DRAM performance and minimize power by guaranteeing in-order access patterns from a collection of processors to the memory. I will also present the channel reservation protocol, which eliminates congestion in system-wide networks caused by adversarial or unbalanced traffic in order to increase throughput and reduce latency for benign traffic, and therefore increase the utilization of costly network bandwidth. I will conclude this talk with an overview of related projects and ideas for the future.
Biography: George Michelogiannakis is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He is part of the computer architecture laboratory which examines key computer architecture research challenges both on and off chip. He completed his PhD at Stanford University in 2012 with Prof. William J. Dally. His past work focuses on on-chip network with numerous contributions to flow control, congestion, allocation, and co-design with chip multiprocessors. His other work includes congestion control for system-wide networks, precision loss avoidance for system-wide reduction operations, and maximizing DRAM efficiency by taking advantage of advanced language constructs. George Michelogiannakis was the recipient of the Stanford Graduate Fellowship, and numerous other awards during his studies.
Host: Massoud Pedram
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Annie Yu
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Mar 31, 2014 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Host: David D'Argenio
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Epstein ISE Department Seminar
Mon, Mar 31, 2014 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Vicki Bier, Professor & Chair, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Director, Center for Human Performance and Risk Analysis, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Talk Title: "Methods Development for Optimal Defenses Against Adaptive Adversaries"
Abstract: This talk discusses extensions to game-theoretic models for homeland security, motivated by the desire to make game theory ready for use in real-world decisions. First, I discuss a simple elicitation process where subject-matter experts can provide only ordinal judgments of the attractiveness of potential targets, and the adversary preferences among targets are assumed to involve multiple attributes such as fatalities, property loss, and symbolic value. Probabilistic inversion and/or Bayesian density estimation can then be used to derive probability distributions representing both defender uncertainty about adversary weights on the various attributes, and also defender ignorance about unobserved attributes that may be important to the adversary, but have not yet been identified by the defender.
I also discuss an approach for extending game-theoretic models to consider adversary capabilities in addition to just intent, since intelligence experts generally believe that adversary capabilities are at least as important as intent. The novel feature of this work is the use of contest-success functions from economics to capture the extent to which the success of an attack is attributable to adversary capabilities and/or defensive investment, rather than pure luck. The model allows the effectiveness of adversary capabilities to differ across targets (e.g., civilian versus military targets) and attack modes (e.g., attacks using improvised explosive devices versus nuclear weapons).
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014
RONALD TUTOR HALL (RTH) ROOM 526
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Biography: Dr. Bier is a Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she has directed the Center for Human Performance and Risk Analysis (formerly the Center for Human Performance in Complex Systems) since 1995. She received a PhD in Operations Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983, and a B.S. in Mathematical Sciences from Stanford University in 1976. Dr. Bier's current research interests focus on problems of security and critical infrastructure protection. She has been a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Committee of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board. Her areas of expertise are in risk analysis, decision analysis, and operations research (mathematical modeling).
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Bier.doc
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 526
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Engineering, Neuroscience & Health (ENR)
Mon, Mar 31, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Karen Adolph, New York University
Talk Title: Learning to Move
Series: Engineering, Neuroscience & Health (ENH Seminars)
Biography: http://www.psych.nyu.edu/adolph/
Host: Francisco Valero-Cuevas
More Info: Refreshments will be served from 3.30 to 4 pm.
Webcast: http://capture.usc.edu/Mediasite/Catalog/Full/946350f1ca8440e7b867e16adba01e4e21/?state=xJE9EJIqlAdw4AAliKfpLocation: Center For Health Professions (CHP) - 147
WebCast Link: http://capture.usc.edu/Mediasite/Catalog/Full/946350f1ca8440e7b867e16adba01e4e21/?state=xJE9EJIqlAdw4AAliKfp
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
Event Link: Refreshments will be served from 3.30 to 4 pm.
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EE-EP Seminar - Lin Han
Mon, Mar 31, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Lin Han, Biomedical Engineering, Yale University
Talk Title: Microtechnology Platforms to Interrogate Information Flow in Human Society and Single Cell Communication
Abstract: Human beings are living in a society full of information flow. The delivery of information and realization of communication are mostly based on electronic products which are assembled with displays. One important part of my research is electronic materials and devices for flexible organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) displays. A novel SiO2-silicone insulator material was invented, which was deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) from environmentally friendly hexamethyl disiloxane (HMDSO) and O2 at room temperature. This hybrid is homogeneous and combines the electrical properties of thermal silicon oxide and the mechanical flexibility of polymer. This new hybrid is not only an effective encapsulation barrier to protect OLEDs, but also an excellent gate dielectric for amorphous silicon thin film transistors. As the gate dielectric, it enables transistors with greatly improved performance including output current, electrical stability, and flexibility. This SiO2-silicone hybrid is a promising material to solve the bottleneck of flexible OLEDs displays.
On the other hand the information flow in single cells is determined by the Central Dogma, also called a DNA-RNA-PROTEIN axis, which describes how genetic information is transcribed to messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and expressed to produce proteins that form the building blocks of a living cell and fulfill all biological functions. Despite recent advances in genomic technologies and next generation sequencing, it is still challenging to investigate the genetic information flow through multiple levels of the Central Dogma (e.g., from DNA to RNA) at a single-cell level. Microfluidics-enabled approaches allow for rapid separation of cytoplasmic and nuclear contents of a single cell followed by on-chip amplification of genomic DNA and messenger RNA. This platform is potentially an enabling tool to permit multiple genomic measurements performed on the same single cells and opens new opportunities to tackle a range of fundamental biological questions. It also helps addressing clinical challenges such as diagnosing intra-tumor heterogeneity and dissecting complex cellular immune responses via underlying cell-to-cell communication at single-cell levels.
Biography: Lin Han received her PhD in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University. She is currently a Postdoctoral Associate in Biomedical Engineering at Yale University. Her research mainly focuses on 1) Microfluidic platforms for single-cell genomics, epigenetics, transcriptomics and proteomics; 2) materials and devices for flexible electronics. Microfluidic platform enables us to break the bottleneck of traditional biology technique, and extract the multi-level information (genomic DNA, mRNA, protein secretion, and phenotype) simultaneously from single cells. As a result, we could be able to effectively investigate the dynamic evolutionary dynamics of cancer initiation, progression, evolution of resistance and response to therapy. By applying flexible electronics into biology and biomedical field, we can not only conduct scientific study, but also build functional systems to contribute to human beings health care.
Host: EE-Electrophysics
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
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