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Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for March
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Fri, Mar 01, 2013 @ 08:00 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: $6095
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $6095
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@mapp.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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Oral Defense Dissertation
Fri, Mar 01, 2013 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Hossein Ataei, CE Ph.D. Candidate
Talk Title: Effect of the Air Blast on Glazing Systems Safety:
Abstract: Glass fragments are a prime source of injury to occupants of buildings subjected to explosive events. During an air blast, window glass breaks into flying shards (or fragments) that account for civilian injuries ranging from minor cuts to severe wounds and in many cases to death.
Through balancing the safety and security of the window panels with physical appearance and cost-effectiveness, a successful blast-resistant glazing design considers the principles of a reasonable degree of protection against explosive threats based on the proposed level of security and previous lessons learned. Therefore, it is necessary to have a better understanding of the mechanics of glass panel responses to different glazing systems parameters and the blast load characteristics.
In this research, the responses of annealed glass and fully tempered glass panels subjected to air blast loadings are studied by application of the explicit finite element analysis in conjunction with fracture micromechanics principles. The window panel failure patterns and the glass crack propagation paths are investigated and analyzed using advanced finite element modeling techniques.
The results of this study indicate that the response of the window panels to blast loading cases is dependent upon the glazing material properties, window panel sizes, window framing fixity and the blast load intensities.
These findings will eventually be helpful in development of a more comprehensive flying glass injury model that uses the appropriate structural, architectural and building perimeter choices to better assess the threats that face the building occupants' safety and the civilian communities' security against the flying glass debris.
Advisor: Professor James C. Anderson
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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W.V.T. Rusch Honors Program; Emerging Issues for Southern California’s Water System
Fri, Mar 01, 2013 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Carlene Wong and John Bednarski, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Talk Title: Emerging Issues for Southern Californiaââ¬â¢s Water System
Host: W.V.T. Rusch 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 Ph.D. Seminar
Fri, Mar 01, 2013 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Hadi Meidani,, Ph.D., USC-Astani Civil Engineering
Talk Title: Toward Smart Cities: Uncertainty Management for Complex Systems of Systems
Abstract: Today, cities are under extreme stress due to their growing population and ageing infrastructure. To alleviate this stress, a more efficient and sustainable management of urban systems is needed. To this end, the myriad of Big Data from sensors and mobile devices together with efficient computational tools can help improve our descriptive and predictive capacities and subsequently materialize the idea of Smart Cities. A true Smart City requires coordinating social systems, transportation networks, and water and electricity distribution systems. In this presentation, I will focus on the systems-of-systems approach for the management of Smart Cities, and describe our research contributions to the uncertainty management of these systems of systems. First, I will discuss the representation of the uncertainties in the study of systems of systems. These uncertainties can incur from inaccurate input-output models, erroneous mathematical approximations, and data incompleteness. As an example, I will describe our probabilistic model for Markov transition matrices and its application in multiscale energy demand modeling. Second, I will share our algorithmic development for efficient propagation of these uncertainties through numerical models to obtain random performance metrics. In closing, I will elaborate on how our efforts can enhance decisions related to the robust optimal management of Smart Cities
as complex systems of systems.
"
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Boeing Career Development Event
Fri, Mar 01, 2013 @ 05:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Rick Stephens & Scott Strode, Senior VP of Human Resources & VP of Quality and Operations, respectively, at the Boeing Company
Talk Title: Successful Career Development
Abstract: The Boeing Company is hosting an event for SUCCESFUL CAREER DEVELOPMENT. The event will feature speakers USC Alumnus Rick Stephens, Senior VP of Human Resources at the Boeing Company and Scott Strode, VP of Quality and Operations at Boeing. Come and learn how these success businessmen got to where they are today. There will be FOOD provided, so please arrive promptly at 5pm in SGM 123, the event should last until about 6:30pm.
Resumes will be accepted, so please bring edited versions to give to the Boeing Company, whether youââ¬â¢re seeking an internship or full-time offer, and dress business casual. It is important that all those who plan on attending RVSP to the Google Doc, which the link to can be found on the Facebook page. Click the event link to find it.
Host: ADT, SGT, SWE, PTS
More Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/582982725062535/?ref=2
Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 123
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: SGT Sigma Gamma Tau
Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/582982725062535/?ref=2
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Mar 04, 2013 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Wei (Jack) Chen, Ph.D., Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology
Talk Title: Mechano-sensing of Immune Cells: From Cell Adhesion to the Triggering of Immune Response
Host: Norberto Grzywacz
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Rich Representations for Detailed Visual Recognition
Mon, Mar 04, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Subhransu Maji, TTI Chicago
Talk Title: CS Colloquium: Subhransu Maji (TTI Chicago)
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: As humans, we have the remarkable ability to perceive the world around us in minute detail -- we can estimate material and metric properties of objects, localize people in images, describe what they are doing, and even identify them! Despite many successes, computational models for reliably inferring such fine-grained properties from images are lacking. I'll describe our attempts in developing models for such detailed recognition by improving the interplay of data, computation and humans in three ways.
First, I'll present computationally efficient classifiers for visual recognition which is a key ingredient of many recognition systems. These approximate non-linear kernel SVM classifiers that are widely used in computer vision, while being exponentially faster during training and testing, making them practical for large-scale recognition tasks or detection. Second, I'll show how humans can enable better and interpretable models for detailed recognition. Visual categories are decomposed using novel parts called "poselets" that are semantically aligned to human annotations. These provide a basis for high-level recognition and lead to simple, accurate and interpretable architectures for learning and recognition. The proposed models rely on annotations of landmarks and attributes during learning. Unfortunately, deciding on the right set of landmarks or attributes to annotate can be a challenging task. In the third part of the talk, I'll present a relative annotation framework that overcomes some of the fallacies of traditional annotation methods, while enabling discovery of rich semantic structure within the category when the set of the annotation labels are not known ahead of time. I'll present experiments on semantic part and attribute discovery for visually diverse categories such as buildings, airplanes and birds.
Biography: Subhransu Maji received the BTech degree in computer science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, in 2006, and the PhD degree in computer science from the University of California, at Berkeley, in 2011. He is currently a research assistant professor at TTI Chicago. Earlier he was an intern in Google's image search group and INRIA's LEAR group, and a visiting researcher at Microsoft Research India and the CLSP center at Johns Hopkins University. He received the medal for the best graduating student in the computer science department from IIT Kanpur. He was one of the recipients of the Google graduate fellowship in 2008 and a best paper award at ICIF 2009. His primary interests are in computer vision and machine learning, with focus on representations and efficient algorithms for rich visual recognition.
Host: Gerard Medioni
Location: Hedco Neurosciences Building (HNB) - 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Accelerating Image Reconstruction using Variable Splitting Methods
Tue, Mar 05, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Jeff Fessler, University of Michigan
Talk Title: Accelerating Image Reconstruction using Variable Splitting Methods
Abstract: Statistical image reconstruction methods have been used in PET and SPECT commercially for well over a decade and have recently begun to appear commercially in X-ray CT systems, offering the possibility of reducing X-ray dose. Iterative methods are also poised to impact clinical MRI. Computation time is a significant challenge for iterative image reconstruction methods, particularly in X-ray CT and MRI. This talk will describe new developments in accelerating optimization methods for image reconstruction.
Biography: Jeff Fessler received the BSEE degree from Purdue University in 1985, the MSEE degree from Stanford University in 1986, and the M.S. degree in Statistics from Stanford University in 1989. From 1985 to 1988 he was a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow at Stanford, where he earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1990. He has worked at the University of Michigan since then. From 1991 to 1992 he was a Department of Energy Alexander Hollaender Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Division of Nuclear Medicine. From 1993 to 1995 he was an Assistant Professor in Nuclear Medicine and the Bioengineering Program. He is now a Professor in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Radiology, and Biomedical Engineering. He became a Fellow of the IEEE in 2006, for contributions to the theory and practice of image reconstruction. He received the Francois Erbsmann award for his IPMI93 presentation. He has served as an associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging and the IEEE Signal Processing Letters, and is currently serving as an associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Image Processing. He has chaired the IEEE T-MI Steering Committee and the ISBI Steering Committee. He was co-chair of the 1997 SPIE conference on Image Reconstruction and Restoration, technical program co-chair of the 2002 IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI), and general chair of ISBI 2007. His research interests are in statistical aspects of imaging problems, and he has supervised doctoral research in PET, SPECT, X-ray CT, MRI, and optical imaging problems.
Host: Prof. Justin Haldar
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
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Hierarchical processing and the neurobiology of language
Tue, Mar 05, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky and Matthias Schlesewsky, Department of Germanic Linguistics, University of Marburg, and Department of English and Linguistics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
Talk Title: Hierarchical processing and the neurobiology of language
Abstract: Hierarchical processing has been posited as a basic property of neurobiological organisation both in the visual (e.g. Felleman & Van Essen, 1991) and auditory (Rauschecker, 1998) systems. It is also an important characteristic of a recent neurobiological model of speech processing (Rauschecker & Scott, 2009), which builds upon insights from the auditory system of non-human primates. By contrast, long-standing neurocognitive assumptions about the organisation of language in the brain (e.g. the notion that Broca's region in left frontal cortex is crucial for grammatical processing) are often incompatible with the tenet of hierarchical processing. Here, we outline a new neurobiological approach to language processing which applies the principle of hierarchical organisation to sentence and discourse comprehension (Bornkessel- Schlesewsky & Schlesewsky, in press). We show how the architectural consequences of this basic design principle help to reconcile a number of theoretical and empirical puzzles within the existing literature on the neuroscience of language. Furthermore, they lead to novel and sometimes surprising hypotheses (e.g. regarding the neural bases for structuring sentences in time).
Biography: Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky
Department of Germanic Linguistics, University of Marburg
and Matthias Schlesewsky
Department of English and Linguistics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
Host: Michael Arbib
Location: Ray R. Irani Hall (RRI) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Big Data Analytics with Parallel Jobs
Tue, Mar 05, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, UC Berkeley
Talk Title: CS Colloquium: Ganesh Ananthanarayanan (UC Berkeley)
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Extensive data analysis has become the enabler for diagnostics and decision making in many modern systems. These analyses have both competitive as well as social benefits. To cope with the deluge in data that is growing faster than Mooreââ¬â¢s law, computation frameworks have resorted to massive parallelization of analytics jobs into many fine-grained tasks. These frameworks promised to provide efficient and fault-tolerant execution of these tasks. However, meeting this promise in clusters spanning hundreds of thousands of machines is challenging and a key departure from earlier work on parallel computing.
A simple but key aspect of parallel jobs is the all-or-nothing property: unless all tasks of a job are provided equal improvement, there is no speedup in the completion of the job. This talk will demonstrate how the all-or-nothing property impacts replacement algorithms in distributed caches for parallel jobs. Our coordinated caching system, PACMan, makes global caching decisions and employs a provably optimal cache replacement algorithm. A highlight of our evaluation using workloads from Facebook and Bing datacenters is that PACManââ¬â¢s replacement algorithm outperforms even Beladyââ¬â¢s MIN (that uses an oracle) in speeding up jobs. Along the way, I will also describe how we broke the myth of disk-localityââ¬â¢s importance in datacenter computing and solutions to mitigate straggler tasks.
Biography: Ganesh Ananthanarayanan is a PhD candidate in the University of California at Berkeley, working with Prof. Ion Stoica in the AMP Lab. His research interests are in systems and networking, with a focus on cloud computing and large scale data analytics systems. Prior to joining Berkeley, he worked for two years at Microsoft Researchââ¬â¢s Bangalore office. More details about Ganeshââ¬â¢s work can be found here: http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~ganesha/.
Host: Ramesh Govindan
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Epstein Institute / ISE 651 Seminar Series
Tue, Mar 05, 2013 @ 03:45 PM - 05:00 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Simge Küçükyavuz, Associate Professor, Integrated Systems Engineering Department, Ohio State University
Talk Title: "Valid Inequalities and Formulations for a Dynamic Optimization Problem under a Chance Constraint"
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: We consider a finite-horizon stochastic mixed-integer program involving dynamic decisions under a constraint on the overall performance or reliability of the system. We formulate this problem as a multi-stage (dynamic) chance-constrained program, whose deterministic equivalent is a large-scale mixed-integer program. We study the structure of the formulation, and develop a branch-and-cut method for its solution. We illustrate the efficacy of the proposed model and method on a dynamic inventory control problem with stochastic demand in which a specific service level must be met over the entire planning horizon. We compare our dynamic model with a static chance-constrained model, a dynamic risk-averse optimization model, a robust optimization model, and a rolling horizon method, and show that significant cost savings can be achieved at high service levels using our model.
This is joint work with Minjiao Zhang and Saumya Goel.
Biography: Simge Küçükyavuz is an associate professor in the Integrated Systems Engineering Department at the Ohio State University. Prior to joining the faculty at Ohio State, Dr. Küçükyavuz was an assistant professor at the University of Arizona and a research associate at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories. She received her MSc and PhD degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and BS degree from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Her interests are in mixed-integer programming, large-scale optimization, optimization under uncertainty, and their applications. Her research is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, including the 2011 CAREER Award. She serves on the editorial boards of Computational Optimization and Applications, and Wiley Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science. She is the treasurer and secretary of the INFORMS Computing Society.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Küçükyavuz.doc
Location: Von Kleinsmid Center For International & Public Affairs (VKC) - Room 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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AME - Department Seminar
Wed, Mar 06, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jie Yao, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Stanford University
Talk Title: Manipulating Light with Novel Optical Materials and Structures
Abstract: Manipulation of light is of great importance for both research and industrial applications. It is realized through the interaction between light and matter. Therefore investigation of the interaction mechanism and design of novel optical materials and structures have become a vital part of scientific and engineering research. Here I will demonstrate my discoveries of the first visible light negative refraction, 3-dimensional deep-subwavelength optical cavity and extraordinary optical transmission based on different categories of novel optical materials, including metamaterials, naturally formed 2D structures. On the other hand, conventional materials with innovative structural designs can also provide new opportunities. I will discuss my work on silicon nanostructures that greatly improved the light trapping capability for energy harvesting purposes. Novel designs of optical materials and structures are enhancing our understanding of lightâ⬓matter interaction mechanism and leading to new applications of light manipulation.
Biography: Jie Yao is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Stanford University. He holds a PhD in Applied Science and Technology from UC Berkeley. His research interests include metamaterials design and applications, light management for energy conversion, optomechanics and optical nano-cavities. He has demonstrated for the first time the negative refraction of visible light in bulk metamaterials, which promotes the research of metamaterials and potential applications such as invisible cloaks. He also designed and demonstrated the world's smallest three-dimensional indefinite optical cavities. His work was among the top 10 scientific discoveries of the year 2008 selected by TIME magazine.
Host: Professor Spedding
More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/3-6-13-Yao.shtml
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - Room 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/3-6-13-Yao.shtml
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EPSTEIN ISE SEMINAR
Thu, Mar 07, 2013 @ 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Please contact Julia L. Higle at julie.higle@usc.edu for speaker's name, and afiliation
Talk Title: Please contact Julia L. Higle at julie.higle@usc.edu for speaker's title
Abstract: Some of the significant features in our era include the design of large scale systems, the prevalence of large data-sets, numerous advancements in medicine; healthcare; and public policy, and the presence of multiple stakeholders with multiple objectives and incentives structures. A unifying theme that arises in these areas is the need for sound decision making. This talk will present recent advances in one of the foundational aspects of decision making: the accurate representation of preferences using a multiattribute utility function. These new methods include (i) using a general expansion theorem for multiattribute utility functions and the notion of a utility diagram; (ii) using a utility copula function to incorporate dependence using single attribute assessments, and (iii) deriving the functional form by asserting the number of preference switches that may occur for lotteries defined on a subset of the attributes as the level of the remaining attributes varies. Ongoing research projects on decision Making using crowd-sourcing and decision making in large-scale systems will also be presented.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - Room 526
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Focused on parallel and distributed computingThu, Mar 07, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA, TBA
Talk Title: TBA
Series: EE598 Seminar Course
Abstract: Weekly seminars given by researchers in academia and industry including senior doctoral students in EE, CS and ISI covering current research related to parallel and distributed computation including parallel algorithms, high performance computing, scientific computation, application specific architectures, multi-core and many-core architectures and algorithms, application acceleration, reconfigurable computing systems, data intensive systems, Big Data and cloud computing.
Biography: Prerequisite: Students are expected to be familiar with basic concepts at the level of graduate level courses in Computer Engineering and Computer Science in some of these topic areas above. Ph.D. students in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science can automatically enroll. M.S. students can enroll only with permission of the instructor. To request permission send a brief mail to the instructor in text format with the subject field ââ¬ÅEE 598ââ¬Â. The body of the mail (in text format) should include name, degree objective, courses taken at USC and grades obtained, prior educational background, and relevant research background, if any.
Requirements for CR:
1. Attending at least 10 seminars during the semester
There will be a sign-in sheet and a sign-out sheet at every seminar. All students must sign-in (before 2:00pm) and sign-out (after 3:00pm). The sign-in sheet will not be available after 2:00pm, and the sign-out sheet will not be available before 3:00pm.
2. Submitting a written report for at least 5 seminars
The written report for each seminar must be 1-page single line spaced format with font size of 12 (Times) or 11 (Arial) without any figures, tables, or graphs. The report must be submitted no later than 1 week after the corresponding seminar, and must be handed only to the instructor either on the seminar times or during office hours. Late reports will not be considered.
The report must summarize studentââ¬â¢s own understanding of the seminar, and should contain the following:
- Your name and submission date [1 line]
- Title of the seminar, name of the speaker, and seminar date [1 line]
- Background of the work (e.g., applications, prior research, etc.) [1 paragraph]
- Highlights of the approaches presented in the seminar [1-2 paragraphs]
- Main results presented in the seminar [1-2 paragraphs]
- Conclusion (your own conclusion and not what was given by the speaker) [1 paragraph]
Reviewing papers related to the topic of the seminar, and incorporating relevant findings in the
reports (e.g., in the conclusion section) is encouraged. In such cases, make sure to clearly indicate
the reference(s) used to derive these conclusions.
Host: Professor Viktor K. Prasanna
More Information: Course Announcement_EE598_Focused on parallel and distributed computing_(Spring 2013).pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Janice Thompson
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EE 598: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH SEMINAR COURSE #8
Thu, Mar 07, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Alok Kumbhare, PhD Student, Computer Science, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Talk Title: Dynamic Dataflows & Resilient Execution on Clouds
Series: EE598 Seminar Course
Abstract: The emergence of ââ¬ÅBig Dataââ¬Â, due to improvements in scientific processes, deployment of pervasive sensors, and connected devices, coupled with improvements in communication technologies as well as storage and processing capabilities, has led to the need for development of data-intensive applications and application frameworks to analyze this huge collection of stored and continuous streams of Data. In this talk, we discuss the notion of Continuous Dataflows, as an extension to traditional workflows, for processing continuous data streams. In addition, we introduce the concept of Dynamic Dataflows to allow for both domain-driven and infrastructure-driven changes to the application at runtime. In this context, we discuss several challenges due to the dynamic nature of the application as well as the underlying Cloud infrastructure and present several opportunities and preliminary solutions to address those.
Biography: Alok Kumbhare is a PhD student working with Prof. Viktor K. Prasanna and Prof. Yogesh Simmhan in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. His research focuses on distributed data and computing platforms, especially on the Cloud computing infrastructure. His current research interests include dynamic dataflow programming abstractions and their resilient execution on the dynamic infrastructure provided by the Cloud. In addition, he is working on a distributed Graph oriented file system and to leverage the dynamic dataflows for efficient execution of graph algorithms on extremely large data sets. He earned his BS degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Indian Institute of technology Guwahati in 2008.
Host: Professor Viktor K. Prasanna
More Information: Course Announcement_EE598_Focused on parallel and distributed computing_(Spring 2013) 2.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Janice Thompson
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EE Distinguished Lecturer Series
Thu, Mar 07, 2013 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mathukumalli Vidyasagar, Ph.D., University of Texas, Dallas
Abstract: In this talk I will review some problems in cancer biology, specifically reverse-engineering gene interaction networks, predicting the responsiveness of patients to specific therapies, and time to recurrence of tumors, and explore how methods of graph theory, machine learning, and compressive sensing can be used to study these problems. Some promising preliminary results will also be presented, and open problems for future research will be indicated.
Biography: Mathukumalli Vidyasagar received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1969. Between 1969 and 1989, he was a Professor of Electrical Engineering, mostly in Canada. In 1989 he returned to his native India, and spent the next twenty years in the Government, and in the private sector. In 2009 he retired and joined the University of Texas at Dallas. His current research interests are computational biology of cancer, and control theory. He has received a number of awards in recognition of his research contributions, including Fellowship in The Royal Society, the world’s oldest scientific academy in continuous existence, the IEEE Control Systems (Field) Award, and the Rufus Oldenburger Medal of ASME. He is the author of ten books and nearly 140 papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Host: Dr. Michael Safonov
More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/dls/
Webcast: http://geromedia.usc.edu/Gerontology/Play/359011cc9ae04dd29fa949ddf97f4a471dMore Information: 20130307 Vidayasagar Print.pdf
Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - 124
WebCast Link: http://geromedia.usc.edu/Gerontology/Play/359011cc9ae04dd29fa949ddf97f4a471d
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Estela Lopez
Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/dls/
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Bootstrapping Vehicles: a Formal Approach to Unsupervised Sensorimotor Learning Based on Invariance
Thu, Mar 07, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Andrea Censi, Caltech
Talk Title: CS Colloquium: Andrea Censi (CalTech)
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Imagine you are a brain that wakes up in an unknown (robotic) body. You are connected to two streams of uninterpreted observations and commands. You have zero prior information on the body morphology, its sensors, its actuators, and the external world. Would you be able to "bootstrap" a model of your body from scratch, in an unsupervised manner, and use it to perform useful tasks? This bootstrapping problem sits at the intersection of numerous scientific questions and engineering problems. Biology gives us a proof of existence of a solution, given that the neocortex demonstrates similar abilities.
I am interested in understanding whether the bootstrapping problem can be formalized to the point where it can be solved with the rigour of control theory. I will discuss a tractable subset of the set of all robots called the "Vehicles Universe", which I consider a pimped-up version, with modern sensors, of Braitenberg's Vehicles. I will show that the dynamics of three "canonical" robotic sensors (camera, range-finder, field sampler) are very similar at the "sensel" level. I will present classes of models that can capture the dynamics of those sensors simultaneously and allow exactly the same agent to perform equivalent spatial tasks when embodied in different robots. I will discuss immediate applications to intrinsic sensor calibration and fault detection.
A key concern of mine is to precisely characterize the "assumptions" of the agents. I will show that assumptions regarding the representation of the data can be described by the largest group of transformations on observations/commands to which the agent behavior is invariant. This suggests that one of the basic concerns of a bootstrapping agent is being able to reject these "representation nuisances".
Reference: the homonymous dissertation, available at http://purl.org/censi/2012/phd
Biography: Andrea Censi is a postdoctoral scholar in Computing and Mathematical Sciences at the California Institute of Technology. He received the Laurea and Laurea Specialistica degrees (summa cum laude) in control engineering and robotics from Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, in 2005 and 2007, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Control & Dynamical Systems from the California Institute of Technology in 2012. He is broadly interested in perception and decision making problems for natural and artificial embodied agents, and in particular in estimation, filtering, and learning in robotics.
Website: http://andrea.caltech.edu/
Host: Fei Sha
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Excursions Through Flatland: Braiding Interactions of Anyons
Fri, Mar 08, 2013 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Gavin Brennen, Macquarie University, Sydney
Talk Title: Excursions Through Flatland: Braiding Interactions of Anyons
Abstract: In systems with physics constrained to two dimensions, point like particles named anyons can occur which have more general exchange statistics than bosons or fermions. While these particles emerge as quasiparticle excitions from strongly correlated ``vacuum" states, they are long- lived and robust to perturbations. I will describe the transport properties of anyons in the presence of ordered and random topological environments. Using both a discrete time quantum walk model and a continuous time Hubbard model we find very distinct behaviours for Abelian and non-Abelian anyons which could be observed in experiment.
Biography: Gavin Brennen grew up in Alaska and did his studies at the U. of Alaska and U. of New Mexico receiving his PhD in theoretical physics from UNM in 2001. Afterward he worked as a research fellow at U. Maryland/NIST Gaithersburg, MD and as senior scientist at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Innsbruck Austria. In 2007 he was appointed Assoc. Prof. at Macquarie University, Sydney where he and his group work on quantum information theory, coherent control of atomic/molecular/optical systems, and topological phases.
Host: Todd Brun
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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W.V.T. Rusch Honors Colloquium; Liquidmetal Technologies, An Overview and Applications of Amorphous Metallic Alloys
Fri, Mar 08, 2013 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dennis Ogawa, Vice President Marketing, Liquidmetal Technologies
Talk Title: Liquidmetal Technologies, An Overview and Applications of Amorphous Metallic Alloys
Host: W.V.T. Rusch 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
Fri, Mar 08, 2013 @ 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Gerhard Sollner, Raytheon Company
Talk Title: Aging Treatments for CMOS Analog and Digital Circuits
Abstract: One beauty of Complementary Metal-oxide-Silicon (CMOS) transistors is that the carriers travel between source and drain in a nearly atomically smooth channel in the semiconductor adjacent to the oxide gate insulator. However, as device dimensions shrink, electric fields increase, carriers travel at higher velocities, and any imperfections in the channel-oxide interface become increasingly important.
CMOS transistors age when high-speed carriers in the channel break chemical bonds and dislodge atoms at the oxide-semiconductor interface. These uncompensated bonds are charged. They change the gate potential necessary to attract charges to the channel, that is, they change the threshold voltage. In addition, they act as scattering centers for carriers in the channel. These scattering centers reduce carrier mobility, which in turn reduces several parameters important to circuit performance such as gain and the maximum frequency of operation.
In this talk we will look carefully at the two most important physical processes of CMOS aging. It turns out that one is most important for digital circuits, the other is most important for analog circuits. Then, after a brief introduction to how aging processes are accelerated (so that you don’t have to measure for 10 years to predict a 10-year lifetime), we will show expressions from the literature that predict how these aging processes depend on temperature , electric fields, and time, for any CMOS device technology. Then some of our recent measurements on 65-nm digital devices will be described, along with their agreement with the literature.
The ultimate goal of this work is to develop anti-aging techniques, i.e. healing for CMOS circuits that undergo aging. To this end we designed several circuits, both analog and digital, in 45-nm CMOS. These all include internal circuits that measure the effects of aging and other circuits that adjust transistor biases to cure the aging and return the circuit to the performance level for which it was designed. To tie all this together, we will describe an algorithm that has demonstrated excellent results when finding the optimum bias levels in multi-dimensional nonlinear cases such as these.
The bottom line: we will show that aging effects can seriously degrade circuit performance. The cure is to either over-design the circuit, which reduces performance, or to apply anti-aging techniques, which result in compact, efficient circuits with high performance.
Biography: Dr. Sollner joined the Advanced Technology group at Raytheon Company in November 2009 where he now manages several programs. Before his current position Gerry founded and was CEO of a company, Kenet Inc, which successfully developed families of very-low-power analog-to-digital converters based on technology invented in his group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Kenet was acquired by Intersil Corporation. Prior to starting Kenet, Gerry spent 20 years at Lincoln Laboratory, leading the Analog Device Technology Group for his last 10 years there. In 1997 he was elected to Fellow of the IEEE for "his work in resonant-tunneling structures and contributions to understanding of high-speed semiconductor devices." Dr. Sollner has published over 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals, has given over 30 invited lectures, and holds 8 patents.
Host: Prof. Hossein Hashemi and Prof. Mike Chen
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Hossein Hashemi
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CEE Ph.D. Seminar
Fri, Mar 08, 2013 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Nancy Daher and Wael Elhaddad, CEE Ph.D. Candidates
Talk Title: Chemical Characterization and Source Apportionment of Fine and Coarse Particulate Matter Inside the Cenacolo Vinciano, Home of Leonardo Da Vinciââ¬â¢s ââ¬ÅLast Supper
Abstract: Nancy Daher - 4:00-4:30pm
The association between exposure to indoor particulate matter (PM) and damage to cultural assets has been of primary relevance to museum conservators. PM-induced damage to the ââ¬ÅLast Supperââ¬Â painting, one of Leonardo da Vinciââ¬â¢s most famous artworks, has been a major concern, given the location of this masterpiece inside a refectory in the city center of Milan, one of Europeââ¬â¢s most polluted cities. To assess this risk, a one-year sampling campaign was conducted at indoor and outdoor sites of the paintingââ¬â¢s location, where time-integrated fine and coarse PM (PM2.5 and PM2.5 -10) samples were simultaneously collected. Findings showed that PM2.5 and PM2.5- 10 concentrations were reduced indoors by 88 and 94% on a yearly average basis, respectively. This large reduction is mainly attributed to the efficacy of the deployed ventilation system in removing particles. Furthermore, PM2.5 dominated indoor particle levels, with organic matter as the most abundant species. Next, the chemical mass balance model was applied to apportion primary and secondary sources to monthly indoor fine organic carbon (OC) and PM mass. Results revealed that gasoline vehicles, urban soil, and wood-smoke only contributed to an annual average of 11.2% of OC mass. Tracers for these major sources had minimal infiltration factors. On the other hand, fatty acids and squalane had high indoor-to-outdoor concentration ratios with fatty acids showing a good correlation with indoor OC, implying a common indoor source.
Wael Elhaddad - 4:30-5pm
Talk: "Towards Optimal Design of Semiactive Structural Control".
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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EE-EP Seminar
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Han Wang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Talk Title: 2D Materials, Devices and Systems â A New Paradigm for Electronics and Optoelectronics
Abstract: In the past eight years, the research community has seen rapidly growing interests in two-dimensional (2D) crystals and their applications. The 2D carrier confinement in this versatile family of materials - whose members range from the well-known semi-metal graphene to the insulator boron nitride, or the semiconducting layered transition metal dichalcogenides (LTMD) -
confers to them unique band structures with correlated electronic states where charge, spin, orbital, valley and lattice degrees of freedom play an important role in defining their exceptional properties of carrier transport, tunable bandgaps, mechanical strength, piezoelectricity, thermoelectric effects and their interactions with light. These materials, still in their infancy, carry great potential to redefine nano-electronics, optoelectronics and their interaction with biological systems in the coming years. In this talk, I will present my work on understanding the material synthesis, device technology, carrier transport and the forward-looking engineering efforts to develop electronic applications based on 2D crystals at the device and circuit level. I will conclude with remarks on how these new materials are expected to change energy generation, biological sensors, medical electronics at both device and system levels.
Biography: Han Wang received the B.A. and M.Eng. degrees in electrical and information science, both with highest honors, from Cambridge University, England, in 2007 and 2008. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In summer 2012, he held an internship at IBM T. J. Watson Research Center. His research interests include the synthesis, device technology and
novel circuit applications of two-dimensional (2D) materials â including graphene, hBN, MoS2, WS2, etc., and their heterostructures â with emphasis on exploring both the fundamental understanding and forward-looking applications of 2D materials in ubiquitous electronics, optoelectronics, energy efficient applications, and interaction with biological systems. His past research also includes GaN-based III-V HEMTs for high power millimeter-wave applications and Si power electronic devices.
His work has been recognized with multiple awards including Cambridge University Agilent Prize, IEEE IEDM Best Student Paper Award, International Conference on Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (CS MANTECH) Best Student Paper Award and numerous fellowships. Mr. Wang has authored or coauthored more than 40 publications in distinguished journals and conferences, 8 of them invited, 1 book chapter and 1 patent.
Host: EE-Electrophysics
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Roberta Diaz Brinton, Ph.D., R. Pete Vanderveen Chair in Therapeutic Discovery and Development Professor, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering and Neurology, Director USC STAR Science Education Program
Talk Title: Systems Biology Approach to Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease: Discovery and Translational Implications
Host: David Dââ¬â¢Argenio
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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AME - Department Seminar
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Yongjie Hu, Battelle/MIT Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Talk Title: NanoEngineering for High Performance Devices and High Efficient Energy Systems
Abstract: In our everyday devices, about 60% of the primary energy is lost when converted from one form to another during operation. Nanotechnology holds the promise of dramatically improving device performance and energy efficiency. In this talk, I will discuss our efforts in engineering fundamental energy carriers at the nanoscale, in particular, for solid-state energy conversion, high-performance electronics and coherent quantum computation. First, I will present our recently developed hybrid nanostructures engineered to characterize nanoscale thermal transport. I will discuss how we can independently control the heat flow in a rationally designed path and selectively detect the local temperature. Coupling the system with ultrafast optical spectroscopy and modeling, we determined the mean free path dependent thermal conductivity in different materials. Our approach can serve as generic metrology for high throughput screening of energy materials and as a guidance tool for next-generation energy device design through phonon engineering. Second, I will present a novel material system achieved through bottom-up chemical synthesis and band structure engineering design. I will discuss our work in building high-performance electronics and integrated circuits, where the developed transistors outperformed the state-of-the-art MOSFETs and can also be applied for nano-bio interfaces. I will then talk about our development of a highly sensitive charge sensor integrated with coupled quantum dots, and show that we demonstrated full control and detection over charge dynamics, inter-coupling and lifetimes with GHz pulse manipulations. Finally, I will show that we developed the first long coherent Quantum Bit in Group-IV materials, which encodes information in the smallest energy quanta â⬓ spin, for next generation of efficient computation. We believe our efforts in developing new functional nanomaterials and structures will lead to advanced energy-conversion and device-operation paradigm in the future.
Biography: Yongjie Hu is currently the Battelle/MIT Postdoc Fellow in the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Professors Gang Chen and Mildred Dresselhaus, focusing on material optimization and device design for thermal transport and solar energy conversion. He obtained his M.A. (2006) and Ph.D. (2010) from Harvard University with a research focus in the areas of nanotechnology, including nanomaterials synthesis, structure characterization, high-performance devices and transport physics under the supervision of Professor Charles M. Lieber. Dr. Hu is a recipient of Micro & Nano: Heat Transfer Division Award from ASME (2012), Battelle/MIT Fellowship from MIT (2012), Chinaââ¬â¢s National Award for Outstanding Students Studying Abroad (2011) and Fieser Fellowship from Harvard University (2004, 2005).
Host: Professor Spedding
Location: Hedco Neurosciences Building (HNB) - Room 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Kristi Villegas
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CS Colloquium: Wyatt Lloyd (Princeton): Stronger Consistency and Semantics for Geo-Replicated Storage
Mon, Mar 11, 2013 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Wyatt Lloyd, Princeton
Talk Title: Stronger Consistency and Semantics for Geo-Replicated Storage
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Geo-replicated storage systems provide the backend for massive-scale websites such as Google and Facebook. These storage systems seek to provide an always-on experience where every operation completes quickly because of a widely demonstrated link between page load times, user engagement, and revenue. We term systems that provide an always-on experience and can handle data at the required scale "ALPS"
systems because they provide four key properties: Availability, Low latency, Partition tolerance, and Scalability.
Previous ALPS systems made large usability sacrifices in pursuit of their scale and performance goals. They settled for eventually consistent replication between datacenters and inconsistent batch operations within them. My research shows that these sacrifices are not fundamental.
In this talk, I will present the first ALPS system to provide consistency that is stronger than eventual. Specifically, I will show how to provide causal consistency for data stored in multiple datacenters, each of which spreads the data across many servers. Then, I will show how to strengthen the semantics of that system with a richer data model as well as read-only and write-only transactions.
Biography: Wyatt Lloyd is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at Princeton University. His research interests include the distributed systems and networking problems that underlie the architecture of large-scale websites, cloud computing, and big data. He received his masters degree in Computer Science from Princeton University, and a bachelors degree in Computer Science from Penn State University.
Host: Ethan Katz-Bassett
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Six Sigma Green Belt for Process Improvement
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Larry Aft, Viterbi School of Engineering
Talk Title: Six Sigma Green Belt for Process Improvement
Abstract: Learn how to integrate principles of business, statistics and engineering to achieve tangible results. Master the use of Six Sigma to quantify the critical quality issues in your company. Once the issues have been quantified, statistics can be applied to provide probabilities of success and failure. Six Sigma methods increase productivity and enhance quality. As a Six Sigma green belt, you will be equipped to support and champion a Six Sigma implementation in your organization. To earn the Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate, you will be required to pass the Institute of Industrial Engineer's green belt exam (administered on the final day of the course).
During this course you will have the opportunity to apply what you have learned to an actual issue you face in your organization. Prior seminar participants have reported significant savings from implementing their projects.
*A financial services organization saw $128,000 in cost savings per quarter when they reduced transaction processing rework
*A state agency reduced project cost over-runs by 28 percent
*A transportation company saved more than $875,000 per year in turnover costs by improving the employee communications process
*Reduced errors in a painting operation led to increased first pass acceptance and more than $197,000 in annual savings
*A Web developer increased annual profits by 10 percent by cutting cycle time
*A wave solder operation saw defects reduced by half and costs reduced by $60,000 per year
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%2526systems/six-sigma-green-belt-process-improvement
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) -
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
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CS Colloquium: Barzan Mozafari (CSAIL MIT): Building the Next Generation of Data-Intensive Systems: From Complex Event Processing to Large-Scale Analytics
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Barzan Mozafari, CSAIL MIT
Talk Title: Building the Next Generation of Data-Intensive Systems: From Complex Event Processing to Large-Scale Analytics
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Databases have been a successful abstraction for accessing and managing data in traditional workloads. However, the rapid growth of data and the demand for more complex analytics have significantly hindered the scalability and applicability of these systems beyond classic business data processing scenarios. In my talk, I will explain how my research addresses these two challenges. First, I will introduce a system that I have built for supporting complex event processing over both stored and streaming data. This system extends existing database query languages with minimal but powerful constructs that enable a wide range of advanced applications, such as high-frequency trading, click-stream analysis, and the analysis of function-call traces. Using the recently proposed Visibly Pushdown Automata as the underlying model of this system, I will present several optimization techniques for efficient implementation of these languages, leading to higher throughput than its predecessors by several orders of magnitude. In the second part of my talk, I will turn to the scalability challenges, and briefly introduce a parallel query engine called BlinkDB that enables interactive, ad-hoc queries over massive volumes of data in a MapReduce cluster. I will demonstrate how BlinkDB employs sophisticated optimization and sampling strategies to achieve sub-second latency on tens of terabytes to petabytes of data.
Biography: Barzan Mozafari is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned his PhD in Computer Science from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is passionate about building practical, large-scale data-intensive systems, with a particular interest in database-as-a-service, distributed systems, and the integration of machine learning and crowdsourcing into database systems. He has received several fellowships and awards, including SIGMOD 2012's best paper award for his work on high-performance complex event processing.
Host: Cyrus Shahabi
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Epstein Institute / ISE 651 Seminar Series
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 @ 03:45 PM - 05:00 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Amy Cohn, Associate Professor and Thurnau Professor/Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan
Talk Title: "Applications of Operations Research in Healthcare at the University of Michigan Health System"
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: In this talk, I will demonstrate some of the challenges and opportunities of applying operations research techniques to healthcare problems. I will focus in particular on the importance of close collaboration with healthcare practitioners and the variety of methodologies that can be of use. Examples will be drawn from cardiothoracic transplant surgery, asthma in pediatric emergency medicine, and the scheduling of medical residents.
Biography: Professor Amy Cohn is an Associate Professor and Thurnau Professor in the Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan College of Engineering. She is also the Associate Director of the University of Michigan Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety, as well as an Affiliate of the MIT Global Airline Industry Program. Her research interest is in applied combinatorial optimization, primarily in aviation and healthcare. She received her Ph.D. in Operations Research from the Operations Research Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2002 and earned the A.B. in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University in 1991.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Cohn.doc
Location: Von Kleinsmid Center For International & Public Affairs (VKC) - Room 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Six Sigma Green Belt for Process Improvement
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Larry Aft, Viterbi School of Engineering
Talk Title: Six Sigma Green Belt for Process Improvement
Abstract: Learn how to integrate principles of business, statistics and engineering to achieve tangible results. Master the use of Six Sigma to quantify the critical quality issues in your company. Once the issues have been quantified, statistics can be applied to provide probabilities of success and failure. Six Sigma methods increase productivity and enhance quality. As a Six Sigma green belt, you will be equipped to support and champion a Six Sigma implementation in your organization. To earn the Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate, you will be required to pass the Institute of Industrial Engineer's green belt exam (administered on the final day of the course).
During this course you will have the opportunity to apply what you have learned to an actual issue you face in your organization. Prior seminar participants have reported significant savings from implementing their projects.
*A financial services organization saw $128,000 in cost savings per quarter when they reduced transaction processing rework
*A state agency reduced project cost over-runs by 28 percent
*A transportation company saved more than $875,000 per year in turnover costs by improving the employee communications process
*Reduced errors in a painting operation led to increased first pass acceptance and more than $197,000 in annual savings
*A Web developer increased annual profits by 10 percent by cutting cycle time
*A wave solder operation saw defects reduced by half and costs reduced by $60,000 per year
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%2526systems/six-sigma-green-belt-process-improvement
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) -
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
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CS Colloquium: Dennis Shasha (Courant Institute - NYU)
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dennis Shasha , NYU
Talk Title: Storing Clocked Programs Inside DNA: A Simplifying Framework for Nanocomputing
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: In the history of modern computation, large mechanical calculators preceded computers. A person would sit there punching keys according to a procedure and a number would eventually appear. Once calculators became fast enough, it became obvious that the critical path was the punching rather than the calculation itself. That is what made the stored program concept vital to further progress. Once the instructions were stored in the machine, the entire computation could run at the speed of the machine.
This work shows how to do the same thing for DNA computing.
Rather than asking a robot or a person to pour in specific strands at different times in order to cause a DNA computation to occur (by analogy to a person punching numbers and operations into a mechanical calculator), the DNA instructions are stored within the solution and guide the entire computation. We show how to store straight line programs, conditionals, loops, and a rudimentary form of subroutines. We propose a novel machine motif which constitutes an instruction stack, allowing for the clocked release of an arbitrary sequence of DNA instruction or data strands. The clock mechanism is built of special strands of DNA called "tick" and "tock." Each time a "tick" and "tock" enter a DNA solution, a strand is released from an instruction stack (by analogy to the way in which as a clock cycle in an electronic computer causes a new instruction to enter a processing unit). As long as there remain strands on the stack, the next cycle will release a new instruction strand. Regardless of the actual strand or component to be released at any particular clock step, the "tick" and "tock" fuel strands remain the same, thus shifting the burden of work away from the end user of a machine and easing operation. Pre-loaded stacks enable the concept of a stored program to be realized as a physical DNA mechanism.
We demonstrate by a series of experiments conducted in Ned Seeman's lab that it is possible to "initialize" a clocked stored program DNA machine. We end with a discussion of the design features of a programming language for clocked DNA programming. There is a lot left to do.
Biography: Dennis Shasha is a professor of computer science at the Courant Institute of New York University where he works with biologists on pattern discovery for network inference; with computational chemists on algorithms for protein design; with physicists and financial people on algorithms for time series; on clocked computation for DNA computing; and on computational reproducibility. Other areas of interest include database tuning as well as tree and graph matching. Because he likes to type, he has written six books of puzzles about a mathematical detective named Dr. Ecco, a biography about great computer scientists, and a book about the future of computing. He has also written five technical books about database tuning, biological pattern recognition, time series, DNA computing, statistics, and causal inference in molecular networks. He has written the puzzle column for various publications including Scientific American.
Host: Shahram Ghandeharizadeh
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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AME - Department Seminar
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Néstor O. Pérez-Arancibia, Post-doctoral Fellow at Harvard University
Talk Title: Design, Fabrication, and Control of Flapping-Wing Flying Artificial Insects
Abstract: In this talk, I will discuss the theoretical and experimental challenges that arise in the design, fabrication, and control of biologically inspired at-scale flapping-wing flying robotic insects. In the course of the research presented in this talk, analytical and experimental tools were developed for extracting the relevant dynamics of flapping-wing mechanisms from a systems-and-control perspective. Then, the estimated dynamics were used for developing new robotic designs and fabrication methods in order to obtain better flying prototypes, and for devising flight control strategies in one degree of freedom(altitude). Finally, the proposed approach was extended to other degrees of freedom and to the multiple-inputâ⬓multiple-output case with the purpose of creating the flying prototypes and control strategies that allowed us to achieve the first unconstrained controlled flight of a flapping-wing artificial insect of this size (< 100 mg).
Biography: Néstor O. Pérez-Arancibia is a postdoctoral fellow with the Microrobotics Laboratory and with the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. His current research focuses on the design and development of control systems for biologically inspired at-scale flying robotic insects. Since April of 2010, he has been part of the team working on the design, fabrication, and control of flapping-wing microrobots, toward the goal of creating a completely autonomous sub-gram flapping-wing flying robot by 2014, as part of the NSF Expeditions in Computing RoboBees project. Dr. Pérez-Arancibia received his Ph.D. from the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2007. From October 2007 to March 2010 he was a Postdoctoral Scholar with the Laser Beam Control Laboratory and also with the Mechatronics and Controls Laboratory at UCLA.
Host: Professor Spedding
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - Room 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Kristi Villegas
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Six Sigma Green Belt for Process Improvement
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Larry Aft, Viterbi School of Engineering
Talk Title: Six Sigma Green Belt for Process Improvement
Abstract: Learn how to integrate principles of business, statistics and engineering to achieve tangible results. Master the use of Six Sigma to quantify the critical quality issues in your company. Once the issues have been quantified, statistics can be applied to provide probabilities of success and failure. Six Sigma methods increase productivity and enhance quality. As a Six Sigma green belt, you will be equipped to support and champion a Six Sigma implementation in your organization. To earn the Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate, you will be required to pass the Institute of Industrial Engineer's green belt exam (administered on the final day of the course).
During this course you will have the opportunity to apply what you have learned to an actual issue you face in your organization. Prior seminar participants have reported significant savings from implementing their projects.
*A financial services organization saw $128,000 in cost savings per quarter when they reduced transaction processing rework
*A state agency reduced project cost over-runs by 28 percent
*A transportation company saved more than $875,000 per year in turnover costs by improving the employee communications process
*Reduced errors in a painting operation led to increased first pass acceptance and more than $197,000 in annual savings
*A Web developer increased annual profits by 10 percent by cutting cycle time
*A wave solder operation saw defects reduced by half and costs reduced by $60,000 per year
Host: Corporate and Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%2526systems/six-sigma-green-belt-process-improvement
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) -
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
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Focused on parallel and distributed computing
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA, TBA
Talk Title: TBA
Series: EE598 Seminar Course
Abstract: Weekly seminars given by researchers in academia and industry including senior doctoral students in EE, CS and ISI covering current research related to parallel and distributed computation including parallel algorithms, high performance computing, scientific computation, application specific architectures, multi-core and many-core architectures and algorithms, application acceleration, reconfigurable computing systems, data intensive systems, Big Data and cloud computing.
Biography: Prerequisite: Students are expected to be familiar with basic concepts at the level of graduate level courses in Computer Engineering and Computer Science in some of these topic areas above. Ph.D. students in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science can automatically enroll. M.S. students can enroll only with permission of the instructor. To request permission send a brief mail to the instructor in text format with the subject field ââ¬ÅEE 598ââ¬Â. The body of the mail (in text format) should include name, degree objective, courses taken at USC and grades obtained, prior educational background, and relevant research background, if any.
Requirements for CR:
1. Attending at least 10 seminars during the semester
There will be a sign-in sheet and a sign-out sheet at every seminar. All students must sign-in (before 2:00pm) and sign-out (after 3:00pm). The sign-in sheet will not be available after 2:00pm, and the sign-out sheet will not be available before 3:00pm.
2. Submitting a written report for at least 5 seminars
The written report for each seminar must be 1-page single line spaced format with font size of 12 (Times) or 11 (Arial) without any figures, tables, or graphs. The report must be submitted no later than 1 week after the corresponding seminar, and must be handed only to the instructor either on the seminar times or during office hours. Late reports will not be considered.
The report must summarize studentââ¬â¢s own understanding of the seminar, and should contain the following:
- Your name and submission date [1 line]
- Title of the seminar, name of the speaker, and seminar date [1 line]
- Background of the work (e.g., applications, prior research, etc.) [1 paragraph]
- Highlights of the approaches presented in the seminar [1-2 paragraphs]
- Main results presented in the seminar [1-2 paragraphs]
- Conclusion (your own conclusion and not what was given by the speaker) [1 paragraph]
Reviewing papers related to the topic of the seminar, and incorporating relevant findings in the
reports (e.g., in the conclusion section) is encouraged. In such cases, make sure to clearly indicate
the reference(s) used to derive these conclusions.
Host: Professor Viktor K. Prasanna
More Information: Course Announcement_EE598_Focused on parallel and distributed computing_(Spring 2013).pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Janice Thompson
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Astani CEE Seminar
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Jerome P. Lynch, Anne Voshel and Gerald Nudo CEE Faculty Scholar Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Computer Science, University of Michigan
Talk Title: Compressive Sensing in Asynchronous Wireless Sensor Networks for High-Performance Infrastructure Monitoring
Abstract: Low-cost wireless sensors have been designed for dense instrumentation in civil infrastructure systems to monitor structural responses and estimate structural conditions (i.e., automated structural health monitoring). Ongoing field deployments in operational infrastructure systems have confirmed that wireless sensors can serve as accurate and reliable alternatives to traditional tethered sensors. However, these same deployments have brought to the fore a number of technical challenges that must be adequately addressed before widespread adoption can occur. First, viable long-term energy solutions for wireless sensors remain elusive. Second, wireless communications come with limited communication bandwidths that limit the amount of data that can be communicated by the network in real-time. In this presentation, compressive sensing is explored to resolve some of the aforementioned hurdles of wireless sensor networks including energy consumption and limited communication bandwidths. Compressive sensing exploits signal sparsity in a specific domain to perform accurate signal reconstruction using a smaller set of data than that required by the traditional Nyquist-Shannon criterion. Compressive sensing presents a significant advantage to sensor networks when considering the amount of work saved in the acquisition, storage, and transmission of sensor data. In a wireless sensor network where a premium is placed on energy and transmission bandwidth, the energy efficiency of the compressive sensing framework proves to be an even more valuable asset. In this presentation, two compressive sensing strategies are proposed: compressive sensing of randomly sampled time-history data using the compressive sampling matching pursuits algorithm (CoSaMP) and compressive sensing based on bio-inspired time-frequency decomposition. In both approaches, traditional synchronous sample-transmit data acquisition strategies are abandoned for asynchronous ones. The methods proposed are applied to real structural monitoring data collected from wireless sensor networks installed in full-scale structures.
Biography: Dr. Jerome Lynch is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan; he is also holds a courtesy faculty appointment with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Dr. Lynch completed his graduate studies at Stanford University where he received his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2002, MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1998, and MS in Electrical Engineering in 2003. Prior to attending Stanford, Dr. Lynch received his BE in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Cooper Union in New York City. His current research interests are in the areas of wireless cyber-physical systems, cyberinfrastructure tools for management of massive structural monitoring datasets, and nanoengineered thin film sensors for damage detection. Dr. Lynch has been awarded the 2005 ONR Young Investigator Award, 2009 NSF CAREER Award, 2009 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and 2012 EMI Leonardo da Vinci Award.
Host: Dr. Erik Johnson
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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EE 598: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH SEMINAR COURSE #9
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Robert F. Lucas, Information Sciences Institute (ISI) and USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Talk Title: Multifrontal Factorization on Heterogeneous Multicore Systems
Series: EE598 Seminar Course
Abstract: When solving the sparse linear systems that arise in mechanical computer aided engineering (MCAE), and other applications, the multifrontal method is particularly attractive as it transforms the sparse matrix factorization into an elimination tree of dense matrix factorizations. The vast majority of the floating point operations can be performed with calls to highly tuned BLAS3 routines, and near peak throughput is expected. Such computations are performed today on clusters of multicore microprocessors, often accelerated by by graphics processing units (GPUs). This talk discusses how concurrency in the multifrontal computation is processed with message passing (MPI), shared memory (OpenMP), and GPU accelerators (CUDA), exploiting the unique strengths of each.
Biography: Dr. Robert F. Lucas is the Director of Computational Sciences at the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute (ISI) and a Research Associate Professor in Computer Science at the Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California. At ISI he manages research in computer architecture, VLSI, compilers, and adiabatic quantum computing. Prior to joining ISI, he was the Head of the High Performance Computing Research Department in the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Prior to joining NERSC, Dr. Lucas was the Deputy Director of DARPA's Information Technology Office. He also served as DARPA's Program Manager for Scalable Computing Systems and Data-Intensive Computing. From 1988 to 1998 he was a member of the research staff of the Institute for Defense Analyses's Center for Computing Sciences. From 1979 to 1984 he was a member of the Technical Staff of the Hughes Aircraft Company. Dr. Lucas received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1980, 1983, and 1988 respectively.
Host: Professor Viktor K. Prasanna
More Information: Course Announcement_EE598_Focused on parallel and distributed computing_(Spring 2013) 2.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 110
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Janice Thompson
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EE Seminar
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Sophie Schirmer, Senior Lecturer a t Swansea University
Talk Title: Controlling quantum dynamics: from physical principles to quantum engineering?
Abstract: Since its discovery a century ago, quantum theory has proved hugely important in explaining many scientific phenomena and enabling new technologies from lasers to superconductors. The new frontier for quantum science and engineering is probing and coherently manipulating quantum dynamics. Systematic control of quantum dynamics is crucial for the development of novel quantum devices and applications in many areas from quantum information processing to quantum metrology and beyond. The latter goal has proved to be considerably more challenging but â as the 2012 Nobel prize in physics for example shows â much progress has been made in this area, opening the door for the development of new tools for control of quantum dynamics and quantum device design.
In the talk I will attempt to explain in basic terms what we mean by control of quantum systems and why control of quantum dynamics is important. I will give various examples and applications in physics, chemistry and biology, and explain different paradigms for quantum control and some of the theoretical tools developed for control design. The ideas and operation will be illustrated using simulations of quantum gates, information flow in quantum networks and molecular cooling.
Biography: Sophie Schirmer is a Senior Lecturer a t Swansea University. She recently completed a five-year term as an Advanced Research Fellow of the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and has held positions at the University of Cambridge, Kuopio University in Finland, the Open University, and the University of Oregon, in various capacities including as Marie Curie Fellow, Research Fellow of the Cambridge-MIT Institute and Coordinator of the Quantum Technologies Group. Her research interests include nano-science at the quantum edge and quantum engineering, especially modeling, control and characterization of quantum systems and devices.
Host: Dr. Edmond Jonckheere
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Estela Lopez
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Maya Cakmak (Willow Garage): Enabling End-Users to Program General-Purpose Robots
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Maya Cakmak, Willow Garage
Talk Title: CS Colloquium: Maya Cakmak (Willow Garage): Enabling End-Users to Program General-Purpose Robots
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Advances in robotics research and supporting technologies are enabling the development of more and more sophisticated general-purpose robots. These robots could carry out useful tasks for and with humans, in application domains ranging from elder care to manufacturing. Given the diversity of the operation environments and user needs for such robots, it is infeasible to fully program them prior to their deployment. Therefore, a key challenge is to enable end-users to program a general-purpose robot for their own unique purposes. In this talk, I will highlight some of the challenges in allowing everyday people, who have no prior experience with robots or programming, to teach new skills or tasks to a robot. I will present techniques that I have developed for addressing those challenges, focusing on mechanisms for the robot to ask questions to its user. I will demonstrate how user-studies involving real human-robot interactions can lead to alternative representations, algorithms and user-interfaces that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the robot, as well as the user experience. I will conclude with a research agenda towards long-term deployment of end-user programmable robots.
Biography: Maya Cakmak is a post-doctoral research fellow at Willow Garage. She received her Ph.D. in Robotics from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2012. Her research interests are at the intersection of Human-Robot Interaction and Programming by Demonstration. In particular, her research aims to develop functionalities and interfaces for personal robots that can be programmed by their end-users to assist everyday tasks. Maya's work has been published at major Robotics and AI conferences and journals, demonstrated live in various venues and has been featured in numerous media outlets.
Host: Fei Sha
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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CEE Ph.D. Seminar
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Charles DeVore, CEE Ph.D. Candidate
Talk Title: Damage Detection Using Substructure Identification
Abstract:
As civil infrastructure ages, occupants and users are placed at risk.
Due to limited funding, agencies are required to push structures past their original design lifetime. This creates an imperative for the civil engineering community to develop robust and accurate methods for monitoring the health of civil structures and ensuring public safety.
This goal is realized by developing methods to detect both long-term degradation and immediate post-event health assessment. New methods are required because current practice, based on subjective time- and labor-intensive visual inspection is unable to adequately meet these needs. This requires novel research to transform the current state-of-the-art of visual inspection into a new paradigm of continuous monitoring.
Substructure identification has emerged as a promising damage detection and long-term monitoring tool for civil structures. Substructure identification starts by applying a reduced order model to a portion of the structure --- analogous to a coarse finite element model --- and then forms an estimator of the reduced order behavior using response measurements from the global structure. Its benefits are increased sensitivity to common structural damage, decentralized data processing, improved statistical performance, and others. This work develops a generalized framework for formulating substructure estimators. Moreover, it develops two important predictors of estimator performance: model function curvature and an identification error analysis. This allows the analyst to develop an improved estimator and evaluate its performance.
These theoretical developments are applied to several simulations including uncertainty propagation, damage detection, and damage localization. These simulations demonstrate that substructure identification is well-suited for chain structures. Next, a controlled substructure identification procedure is described and the performance is evaluated. An active control law is developed using non-convex constrained optimization.
Experimental verification is provided by two studies. First, a two-story, bench-scale flexible structure is identified. Then, improved identification precision is provided by passive structural control. The second study uses a 12 ft, four-story, steel structure. This structure is identified and damage, caused by releasing a story-level's boundary condition, is detected. Moreover, second-floor identification is not achieved, which is correctly predicted by the identification error analysis developed herein.
Concluding remarks are provided and avenues for future work are detailed. Specifically, an active control experiment using the 12 ft structure is proposed. Semi-active control design is discussed and substructure identification estimators for frame and bridge structures are outlined.
Advisor: Dr. Erik Johnson
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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BME
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 @ 12:00 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Nan-Keui Chen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Radiology Brain Imaging and Analysis Center Duke University Medical Center, NC
Talk Title: Mapping the Neuronal Connectivity Networks with High-Resolution
Abstract: Intrinsic functional connectivity refers to the spatiotemporal coherence of spontaneous, low-frequency (Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 100C
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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CENT Distinguished Speaker Series
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 @ 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Professor Chennupati Jagadish, Dept. of Electronic Materials Engineering, The Australian National University
Talk Title: Semiconductor Nanowires for Optoelectronic Device Applications
Abstract: Semiconductors have played an important role in the development of information and communications technology, solar cells, solid state lighting. Nanowires are considered as building blocks for the next generation electronics and optoelectronics. In this talk, I will introduce the importance of nanowires and their potential applications and discuss about how these nanowires can be synthesized and how the shape, size and composition of the nanowires influence their structural and optical properties. I will present results on axial and radial heterostructures and how one can engineer the optical properties to obtain high performance optoelectronic devices such as lasers, solar cells. Future prospects of the semiconductor nanowires will be discussed.
Biography: Professor Jagadish is an Australian Laureate Fellow, Distinguished Professor and Head of Semiconductor Optoelectronics and Nanotechnology Group in the Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University. He is also serving as Vice-President and Secretary Physical Sciences, Australian Academy of Science, Convenor of the Australian Nanotechnology Network (more than 1400 members) and Director of Australian National Fabrication Facility, ACT Node. He served as President of the IEEE Nanotechnology Council (NTC) during 2008, 2009 and Vice-President of IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (LEOS) during 2006, 2007 and currently serving as Vice-President of IEEE Photonics Society. Prof. Jagadish is an Editor of IEEE Electron Device Letters, Progress in Quantum Electronics and an Associate Editor of Applied Physics Reviews, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics and Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology and serves on editorial boards of 17 other journals. He has published more than 710 research papers (480 journal papers), holds 5 US patents, co-authored a book, co-edited five books and edited 12 conference proceedings and 10 special issues of journals. He won the 2000 IEEE Millennium Medal and received Distinguished Lecturer awards from IEEE NTC, IEEE LEOS and IEEE Electron Devices Society. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, IEEE, APS, MRS, OSA, AVS, ECS, SPIE, AAAS, IoP (UK), IET (UK), IoN (UK) and the Australian Institute of Physics. He received Peter Baume Award from the ANU in 2006, the Quantum Device Award from ISCS in 2010, IEEE Photonics Society Distinguished Service Award in 2010, ANU Top Supervisor Award in 2010, IEEE Nanotechnology Council Distinguished Service Award in 2011 and Electronics and Photonics Division Award of the Electrochemical Society in 2012.
Host: Professor Dan Dapkus
Location: Hedco Neurosciences Building (HNB) - 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Eliza Aceves
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W.V.T. Rusch Honors Program; Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Design and Development within Real-World Constraints
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Gabriel Torres, Director of Project Engineering and Program Manager, AeroVironment Inc.
Talk Title: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Design and Development within Real-World Constraints
Host: W.V.T. Rusch Honors Program
Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Christine Viterbi Admission & Student Affairs
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Guest Lecture in ISE 576 (Industrial Ecology)
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Roland Geyer, PhD, Associate Professor, Bren School of Environmental Science, UC Santa Barbara
Talk Title: Spatially Explicit LCA of Sun to Wheels Transportation Pathways in the U.S.
Abstract: In this guest lecture, Dr. Geyer will expand and enhance the traditional Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) theory and practice by coupling LCA tools with the spatial functions of geographic information systems (GIS). Integration of LCA and GIS allows assessment of two different pathways of solar energy to vehicles or ââ¬Åsun-to-wheelsââ¬Â: (1) photosynthesis biomass production to fuel/electricity production to gasoline/electric vehicle and (2) photovoltaic electricity production to electric vehicle. The research, conducted in collaboration with geographers at UCSB, compares direct land use, life cycle GHG emissions and fossil fuel requirements of different sun-to-wheels conversion pathways for every county in the contiguous U.S. The results demonstrate the importance of accounting for spatially explicit data because solar insolation and crop yields vary widely between regions.
Biography: Roland Geyer is assistant professor at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. In his research, he uses the approaches and methods of industrial ecology, such as life cycle assessment and material flow analysis, to assess pollution prevention strategies based on recycling, reuse, and material and technology substitution. Dr. Geyer also combines these approaches with research methods from operations management and other fields in order to study the relationship between environmental performance, economic viability, and technical and operational feasibility of pollution prevention strategies. His overarching goal is to help develop the science and knowledge necessary to reduce the environmental impact from industrial production and consumption. Prior to his current appointment, he has held positions as research fellow at the Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey, UK; research associate at the Centre for the Management of Environmental Resources, INSEAD, France; and consultant in financial risk management for AMS (now part of CGI) in Germany. Since 2000 he has worked on environmental sustainability issues with a wide range of governmental organizations, trade associations, and companies. He has a graduate degree in physics from the Technical University Berlin and a PhD in engineering from the University of Surrey.
Host: Bob Vos, PhD, and Mansour Rahimi, PhD
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mansour Rahimi
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Astani CEE Ph.D. Seminar
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Nastaran Bassam Zadeh , CEE Ph.D. Students
Talk Title: Optimal and reliable management of smart grids in an uncertain environment
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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CENT Distinguished Speaker Series
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 @ 11:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Professor Chennupati Jagadish, Dept. of Electronic Materials Engineering, The Australian National University
Talk Title: Semiconductor Nanowires for Optoelectronic Device Applications
Abstract: Semiconductors have played an important role in the development of information and communications technology, solar cells, solid state lighting. Nanowires are considered as building blocks for the next generation electronics and optoelectronics. In this talk, I will introduce the importance of nanowires and their potential applications and discuss about how these nanowires can be synthesized and how the shape, size and composition of the nanowires influence their structural and optical properties. I will present results on axial and radial heterostructures and how one can engineer the optical properties to obtain high performance optoelectronic devices such as lasers, solar cells. Future prospects of the semiconductor nanowires will be discussed.
Biography: Professor Jagadish is an Australian Laureate Fellow, Distinguished Professor and Head of Semiconductor Optoelectronics and Nanotechnology Group in the Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University. He is also serving as Vice-President and Secretary Physical Sciences, Australian Academy of Science, Convenor of the Australian Nanotechnology Network (more than 1400 members) and Director of Australian National Fabrication Facility, ACT Node. He served as President of the IEEE Nanotechnology Council (NTC) during 2008, 2009 and Vice-President of IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (LEOS) during 2006, 2007 and currently serving as Vice-President of IEEE Photonics Society. Prof. Jagadish is an Editor of IEEE Electron Device Letters, Progress in Quantum Electronics and an Associate Editor of Applied Physics Reviews, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics and Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology and serves on editorial boards of 17 other journals. He has published more than 710 research papers (480 journal papers), holds 5 US patents, co-authored a book, co-edited five books and edited 12 conference proceedings and 10 special issues of journals. He won the 2000 IEEE Millennium Medal and received Distinguished Lecturer awards from IEEE NTC, IEEE LEOS and IEEE Electron Devices Society. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, IEEE, APS, MRS, OSA, AVS, ECS, SPIE, AAAS, IoP (UK), IET (UK), IoN (UK) and the Australian Institute of Physics. He received Peter Baume Award from the ANU in 2006, the Quantum Device Award from ISCS in 2010, IEEE Photonics Society Distinguished Service Award in 2010, ANU Top Supervisor Award in 2010, IEEE Nanotechnology Council Distinguished Service Award in 2011 and Electronics and Photonics Division Award of the Electrochemical Society in 2012.
Host: Professor Dan Dapkus
Location: 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Eliza Aceves
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Evolutive Video Coding
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Seishi Takamura, NTT, Kanagawa, Japan
Talk Title: Evolutive Video Coding
Abstract: Evolutive methods based on genetic programming (GP) enable dynamic algorithm generation, and have been successfully applied to many areas such as plant control, robot control, and stock market prediction. However, conventional image/video coding methods such as JPEG, H.264/AVC and HEVC all use fixed (non-dynamic) algorithms without exception. In this talk, we introduce and investigate GP-based, highly nonlinear o pixel predictor to reduce lossless bit rate o image filter to enhance coding gaino transform to enhance coding gain that are specifically evolved for each input image.
Biography: Seishi Takamura (1991, 1993, 1996 B.E., M.E. Ph.D. The University of Tokyo) joined NTT in 1996, where he is engaged in research on efficient video coding. During 2005-2006 he was a visiting scientist at IVMS Group, Stanford Univ. In 2009 he was elevated to Distinguished Technical Member of NTT. He has been Involved in HEVC standardization activity since 2010. He has been Vice Chair (2009-2010) and Chair (2011-2012) of the IEEE Tokyo SectionTPC. Since 2013 he is also the treasurer of the above section and of the IEEE Japan Council. Since 2006 he has been an Associate Editor of the IEEE Tr. CSVT (2007-2010 Certificate of Appreciation from IEEE CAS Society recipient). He is a member of MENSA, IPSJ, IIEEJ and ITE. A senior member of IEEE and IEICE. He is the recipient of 23 academic awards and inventor of 100+ patent applications.
Host: Prof. Antonio Ortega
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
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NL Seminar- Carlos Strapparava: "Computational Explorations of Creative Language"
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Information Sciences Institute
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Carlos Strapparava, Fondazione Bruno Kessler - Istituto per la ricerca scientifica e Tecnologica
Talk Title: Computational Explorations of Creative Language
Series: Natural Language Seminar
Abstract: Dealing with creative language and in particular with affective, persuasive and even humorous language has often been considered outside the scope of computational linguistics. Nonetheless it is possible to exploit current NLP techniques starting some explorations about it. We briefly review some computational experiences about these typical creative genres. We will start introducing techniques for dealing with emotional and witty language. Then we will talk about the exploitation of some extra-linguistic features: for example music and lyrics in emotion detection, and an audience-reaction tagged corpus of political speeches for the analysis of persuasive language. As examples of practical applications, we will present a system for automatized memory techniques for vocabulary acquisition in a second language, and an application for automatizing creative naming (branding).
Biography: Carlo Strapparava is a senior researcher at FBK-irst (Fondazione Bruno Kessler - Istituto per la ricerca scientifica e Tecnologica) in the Human Language Technologies Unit. His research activity covers artificial intelligence, natural language processing, intelligent interfaces, human-computer interaction, cognitive science, knowledge-based systems, user models, adaptive hypermedia, lexical knowledge bases, word-sense disambiguation, affective computing and computational humour. He is the author of over 150 papers, published in scientific journals, book chapters and in conference proceedings. He also played a key role in the definition and the development of many projects funded by European research programmes.
He regularly serves in the program committees of the major NLP conferences (ACL, EMNLP, etc.). He was executive board member of SIGLEX, a Special Interest Group on the Lexicon of the Association for Computational Linguistics (2007-2010), Senseval (Evaluation Exercises for the Semantic Analysis of Text) organisation committee (2005-2010).
On June 2011, he was awarded with a Google Research Award on Natural Language Processing, specifically on the computational treatment of creative language.
Host: Zornitsa Kozareva
More Info: http://nlg.isi.edu/nl-seminar/
Webcast: http://webcasterms1.isi.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=23224ee225654a44a628a46f8cc2e9381dLocation: Information Science Institute (ISI) - 11th Flr Conf Rm # 1135
WebCast Link: http://webcasterms1.isi.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=23224ee225654a44a628a46f8cc2e9381d
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Peter Zamar
Event Link: http://nlg.isi.edu/nl-seminar/
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CS Colloquium: Dr Yael Moses (IDC Israel): Photo-Sequencing
Tue, Mar 19, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Yael Moses, IDC Israel
Talk Title: Dr Yael Moses (IDC Israel): Photo-Sequencing
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Dynamic events such as family gatherings, concerts or sports events are often captured by a group of people. The set of still images obtained this way is rich in dynamic content but lacks accurate temporal information. We propose a method for photo-sequencing -- temporally ordering a set of still images taken asynchronously by a set of uncalibrated cameras. Photo-sequencing is an essential tool in analyzing (or visualizing) a dynamic scene captured by still images. We demonstrate successful photo sequencing on several challenging collections of images taken using a number of mobile phones.
This is a joint work with Tali Basha and Shai Avidan from TAU.
Biography: Yael Moses received a Ph.D. in computer science from the Weizmann Institute, Israel. She is currently a senior lecturer in the EﬠArazi School of Computer Science at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya. Her early work concentrated on theoretical aspects of object recognition. Recently, she has been focusing on various aspects of multi-camera systems and distributed computer vision.
Host: Gerard Medioni
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Using Electromagnetics to Image Shale Reserve Applications
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 @ 12:45 PM - 02:30 PM
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Kurt Strack, KMS Technology / University of Houston
Talk Title: Using Electromagnetics to Image Shale Reserve Applications
Series: Lyman L. Handy Colloquium Series
Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 159
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Ryan Choi
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Focused on parallel and distributed computing
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA, TBA
Talk Title: TBA
Series: EE598 Seminar Course
Abstract: Weekly seminars given by researchers in academia and industry including senior doctoral students in EE, CS and ISI covering current research related to parallel and distributed computation including parallel algorithms, high performance computing, scientific computation, application specific architectures, multi-core and many-core architectures and algorithms, application acceleration, reconfigurable computing systems, data intensive systems, Big Data and cloud computing.
Biography: Prerequisite: Students are expected to be familiar with basic concepts at the level of graduate level courses in Computer Engineering and Computer Science in some of these topic areas above. Ph.D. students in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science can automatically enroll. M.S. students can enroll only with permission of the instructor. To request permission send a brief mail to the instructor in text format with the subject field ââ¬ÅEE 598ââ¬Â. The body of the mail (in text format) should include name, degree objective, courses taken at USC and grades obtained, prior educational background, and relevant research background, if any.
Requirements for CR:
1. Attending at least 10 seminars during the semester
There will be a sign-in sheet and a sign-out sheet at every seminar. All students must sign-in (before 2:00pm) and sign-out (after 3:00pm). The sign-in sheet will not be available after 2:00pm, and the sign-out sheet will not be available before 3:00pm.
2. Submitting a written report for at least 5 seminars
The written report for each seminar must be 1-page single line spaced format with font size of 12 (Times) or 11 (Arial) without any figures, tables, or graphs. The report must be submitted no later than 1 week after the corresponding seminar, and must be handed only to the instructor either on the seminar times or during office hours. Late reports will not be considered.
The report must summarize studentââ¬â¢s own understanding of the seminar, and should contain the following:
- Your name and submission date [1 line]
- Title of the seminar, name of the speaker, and seminar date [1 line]
- Background of the work (e.g., applications, prior research, etc.) [1 paragraph]
- Highlights of the approaches presented in the seminar [1-2 paragraphs]
- Main results presented in the seminar [1-2 paragraphs]
- Conclusion (your own conclusion and not what was given by the speaker) [1 paragraph]
Reviewing papers related to the topic of the seminar, and incorporating relevant findings in the
reports (e.g., in the conclusion section) is encouraged. In such cases, make sure to clearly indicate
the reference(s) used to derive these conclusions.
Host: Professor Viktor K. Prasanna
More Information: Course Announcement_EE598_Focused on parallel and distributed computing_(Spring 2013).pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Janice Thompson
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USC Physical Sciences in Oncology Center Monthly Seminar Series
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 @ 11:45 AM - 01:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dino Di Carlo, PH.D., Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering at University of California, Los Angeles
Talk Title: Manipulating and Measuring Cell Mechanics for Medicine
Abstract: Cell deformability (i.e., the ability to change shape under an applied force) is a promising physical marker indicative of underlying structural changes associated with various disease processes and changes in cell state. We are combining precision microfluidic control of cells with automated high-speed image analysis for high-throughput cell classification based on intrinsic biomechanical properties. I will first discuss general strategies we are developing to passively manipulate particles and fluids using simple geometric modifications within microchannels. Our approaches make use of fluid inertia, generally neglected in microfluidic systems, to create well-defined directional forces and fluid deformations that can be combined in a sequential and hierarchical manner to program complex particle and fluid motions. Low complexity modular components to manipulate cells, particles, and fluid streams in which inertial fluid physics is abstracted from the designer has the capability transform biological, chemical, and materials automation in a similar fashion to how modular control of electrons and abstraction of semiconductor physics transformed computation. We apply these fundamental techniques to position cells for high-speed fluid-based deformation and optical analysis. The ââ¬Ådeformability cytometerââ¬Â instrument shows promise in identifying cancer cells, activated white blood cells, and stem cells in mixed populations â⬓ without labels - for a variety of clinical and regenerative medicine applications.
Biography: USC was selected to establish a $16 million cancer research center as part of a new strategy against the disease by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and its National Cancer Institute. The new center is one of 12 in the nation to receive the designation. During the five-year initiative, the Physical Sciences-Oncology Centers will take new, nontraditional approaches to cancer research by studying the physical laws and principles of cancer; evolution and the evolutionary theory of cancer; information coding, decoding, transfer and translation in cancer; and ways to de-convolute cancer's complexity. As part of the outreach component of this grant, the Center for Applied Molecular Medicine is hosting a monthly seminar series.
Host: USC Physical Sciences in Oncology Center
Location: Clinical Science Center (CSC) - #250 Harkness Auditorium
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Kristina Gerber
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AI Seminar- Monica Lam:
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Information Sciences Institute
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Monica Lam, Stanford University
Series: Artificial Intelligence Seminar
Abstract: Every computer revolution changes our lives dramatically; so will mobile devices. Mobile devices enable billions of people to capture, share, interact, and consume real-time personal media in new and creative ways. In addition, being devices owned by individuals, they can form an autonomous computing fabric that frees us from the domination of existing centralized proprietary social networking services.
This talk presents an open social mobile (OSM) architecture that combines a novel and natural mobile social experience with a clean architecture that lets users choose different cloud backup services. In addition, OSM is an app platform that makes it easy to create privacy-honoring social apps. This can open up new markets for social and collaborative apps in fields like education, health and businesses, where centralized proprietary services are inappropriate.
Biography: Monica S. Lam has been a Professor in the Computer Science Department at Stanford University since 1988, and the Faculty Director of the Stanford MobiSocial Computing Laboratory. She received her PhD in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University. Her current research interest is in creating open social computing platforms. She has worked in the areas of high-performance computing, computer architecture, compiler optimizations, security analysis, virtualization-based computer management, and mobile/social software architectures. She is a co-author of the "Dragon Book". Together with her students, she founded MokaFive Inc. in 2005 and MobiSocial Inc. in 2012. Monica is an ACM Fellow.
Home Page:
http://suif.stanford.edu/~lam/
Host: David Chiang
More Info: http://drop.isi.edu/technology_groups/insy/events/ai_seminar-_monica_lam_how_mobile_disrupts_social_we_know_it
Webcast: http://webcasterms1.isi.edu/mediasite/SilverlightPlayer/Default.aspx?peid=1e1e57c525184757b19a436e2c0b3eeb1dLocation: Information Science Institute (ISI) - 11th Flr Conf Rm # 1135
WebCast Link: http://webcasterms1.isi.edu/mediasite/SilverlightPlayer/Default.aspx?peid=1e1e57c525184757b19a436e2c0b3eeb1d
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Peter Zamar
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 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 youâve 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 IIEâs 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: $6095
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $6095
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@mapp.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 â 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 â 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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Compression and Modern Data Processing
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Thomas Courtade, Stanford University
Talk Title: Compression and Modern Data Processing
Abstract: At first glance, modern applications of data processing -- such as clustering, querying, and search -- bear little resemblance to the classical Shannon-theoretic problem of lossy compression. However, the ultimate goal is the same for modern and classical settings; both demand algorithms which strike a balance between the complexity of the algorithm output and the utility that it provides. Thus, when we attempt to establish fundamental performance limits for these "modern" data processing problems, elements of classical rate distortion theory naturally emerge.
Inspired by the challenges associated with extracting useful information from large datasets, I will discuss compression under logarithmic loss. Logarithmic loss is a penalty function which measures the quality of beliefs a user can generate about the original data upon observing the compressor's output. In this context, we characterize the tradeoff between the degree to which data can be compressed and the quality of beliefs an end user can produce. Notably, our results for compression under logarithmic loss extend to distributed systems and yield solutions to two canonical problems in multiterminal source coding.
I will also briefly discuss recent work on compression for identification, where we seek to compress data in a manner that preserves the ability to reliably answer queries of a certain form. This setting stands in stark contrast to the traditional compression paradigm, where the goal is to reproduce the original data (either exactly or approximately) from its compressed form. Under certain assumptions on the data sources, we characterize the tradeoff between compression rate and the reliability at which queries can be answered.
Biography: Thomas Courtade received the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2007, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from UCLA in 2008 and 2012, respectively. In 2012, he was awarded the Inaugural Postdoctoral Research Fellowship through the Center for Science of Information. He currently holds this position, and resides at Stanford University. His recent honors include a Distinguished Ph.D. Dissertation award and an Excellence in Teaching award from the UCLA Department of Electrical Engineering and a Best Student Paper Award at the 2012 International Symposium on Information Theory.
Host: Giuseppe Caire, x04683, caire@usc.edu
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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USC's Homeland Security Center (CREATE) Monthly Seminar Series
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Seth Guikema , Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University
Talk Title: ââ¬ÅTerrorism risk - definitions, models, and prediction?ââ¬Â
Series: CREATE Monthly Seminar Series
Abstract: While terrorism risk analysis is an important topic within the risk analysis community with a considerable base of activity in both research and practice, a lack of agreement on the fundamental concepts and aims of the field continues to persist. How is terrorism risk defined? Is the concept of the probability of a terrorist attack well-defined? What are the goals and requirements of terrorism risk analysis models? In this talk I first discuss different conceptualizations of "risk" and how they apply specifically to terrorism risk. I then discuss conflicting goals in terrorism risk analysis models, understanding and explanation vs. prediction, showing examples of different types of models, concluding that many of the existing modeling framework are focused on explanation and understanding, not prediction. I next argue that an increased focus on prediction is needed, suggest a set of necessary conditions that terrorism risk models should meet, and discuss the challenges of verification and validation of predictive terrorism risk models.
Biography: Dr. Seth Guikema is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University in the Geography and Environmental Engineering department with joint appointments in Civil Engineering and Earth & Planetary Science. He is also an Adjunct Professor II at the University of Stavanger (Norway) in the Department of Industrial Economics, Risk Management, and Planning and a Senior Decision Analyst with Innovative Decisions, Inc. He completed degrees in Civil & Environmental Engineering (BS, ME, MS) and Management Science and Engineering (PhD - Stanford), with a focus on engineering risk and decision analysis. The focus of his research is on risk analysis for natural hazards impacting infrastructure systems, climate adaptation for urban areas and infrastructure, and terrorism risk analysis. He is a Councilor for the Society for Analysis and the INFORMS Decision Analysis Society. He received the Chauncey Starr Distinguished Young Risk Analyst award from SRA in 2010 as well as two Best Publication on Awards from Risk Analysis in 2012 for two of his papers on terrorism risk analysis.
To ensure that I order your lunch, please RSVP to calicchi@usc.edu no later than Wednesday, March 20, 2013.
Please advise if you require a vegetarian option.
Hope to see you there!
Best Regards,
Erin Calicchio
Administrative Assistant
University of Southern California
U.S. Department of Homeland Security - National Center for
Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE)
3710 McClintock Ave, RTH 313
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2902
213-740-3863
calicchi@usc.edu
www.usc.edu/create
Host: Homeland Security Center @ USC (CREATE)
Location: Ralph And Goldy Lewis Hall (RGL) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Kelly Buccola
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ian Y. Wong, Ph.D. Harvard Medical School,
Talk Title: Biosystems Engineering and the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer
Host: Norberto Grzywacz
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Speech and Multimedia Research at ICSI
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Roberto Pieraccini, CEO and Director, ICSI
Talk Title: Speech and Multimedia Research at ICSI
Abstract: ICSI, the International Computer Science Institute, is an independent organization affiliated with the University of California at Berkeley. Its mission is that of pursuing advanced computer science research through international collaboration. The Institute is involved in research in many areas, including Networking and Security, Computer Vision, Speech, Audio and Multimedia, Artificial Intelligence, and Computational Biology. In this talk I will give a general overview of the research carried out in the different fields, with particular attention to the areas of speech, audio, and multimedia. Speech research at ICSI is focused on trying to address the limitation of the current speech recognition systems both in terms of modeling and needs for data. Audio and multimedia research is mostly involved in different video retrieval tasks and has shown that interesting results can be achieved by applying a mix of techniques typically used in tasks such as speaker verification and diarization.
Biography: Roberto Pieraccini is the CEO and Director of the International Computer Science Institute (ICSI) in Berkeley, CA. Prior to that he was the Chief Technology Officer of SpeechCycle, a company specializing in advanced spoken human-machine interaction. He was also a research manager at IBM T.J. Watson Research and SpeechWorks International, and a member of the technical staff at Bell Labs and AT&T Shannon Laboratories. He started his career in the 1980s as a researcher at CSELT, the research laboratories of the Italian telephone company. His is the author and co-author of more than 130 publications in the fields of speech recognition, spoken language understanding and dialog, multimodal interaction, and machine learning. His book ââ¬ÅThe Voice in the Machineââ¬Â published by MIT Press in 2012, traces the history of speech recognition and understanding technology during the past 60 years.
Host: Prof. Shrikanth Narayanan
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 320
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mary Francis
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EE-EP Seminar
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mina Rais-Zadeh, University of Michigan
Talk Title: Resonant MEMS for Timing and Integrated Sensing
Abstract: Invention of transistors and development of microelectronics unleashed a revolution in computing and communication. This revolution was mostly brought about by the fact that transistors and ICs could be miniaturized at an unprecedented level. Following the same trend, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), have been extensively employed for sensing and in mobile applications. In the next few decades, the MEMS field is expected to grow even more rapidly and find wider applications. A vast majority of systems used for sensing, communications, and signal processing rely on accurate clocking signals that are generated by micro-resonators. In this talk, I will go over the design of micro-resonators and resonant sensors, and discuss the application of these devices in timing and integrated sensing. I will explain the need for high quality factor and discuss the physical phenomena that limit the performance and scaling of resonant MEMS.
Biography: Professor Mina Rais-Zadeh received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Sharif University of Technology and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees both in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005 and 2008, respectively. From August 2008 to 2009, she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Integrated MEMS Group, Georgia Institute of Technology. Since January 2009, she has been with the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Mina is the recipient of the NSF CAREER Award (2011), IEEE Electron Device Society Early Career Award (2011), NASA Early Career Faculty Award (2012), and the Crosby Research Award from the University of Michigan (2013). She was the finalist in student paper competitions at the SiRF (2007) and IMS (2011) conferences. She is the chairperson of the Display, Sensors and MEMS (DSM) sub-committee at the 2013 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) and a senior member of IEEE. She has served as a member of the technical program committee of IEEE IEDM, IEEE Sensors Conference, and the Hilton Head workshop. Her research interests include RF MEMS, passive micromachined devices for communication applications, resonant micromechanical devices, gallium nitride MEMS, and micro/nano fabrication process development.
Host: EE-Electrophysics
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 324
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
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AME - Department Seminar
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Wenting Sun, Princeton University
Talk Title: Non-Equilibrium Plasma-Assisted Combustion for Advanced Energy Conversion and Propulsion
Abstract: About 85% of the energy in the world is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels. However, the growing concerns about emissions, and the development of advanced energy conversion and propulsion systems have pushed traditional combustion technology to challenging limits. To continue to develop these technologies, it is critical to develop new approaches to improve the performance of combustion. This presentation will discuss controlling combustion kinetics using non-equilibrium plasmas - plasma-assisted combustion. Plasma introduces new chemical pathways into the combustion process. This plasma chemistry occurs on very different time scales compared to conventional combustion chemistry and also introduces a large number of new species and reactions which have not been previously considered in combustion research.
The kinetic enhancement mechanisms of non-equilibrium plasmas on combustion are investigated through plasma-flame interactions in counterflow systems. It is found that the radical production from the plasma can dramatically modify the reaction pathways of combustion to create a new flame region at low temperatures. Advanced laser diagnostic techniques are used to quantify radical (atomic O and OH) productions from plasmas. Both experimental and simulation results show that atomic O is critical in controlling fuel oxidation at low temperature conditions.
Biography: Wenting Sun is currently a postdoctoral researcher of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University. He received his B.E/M.E degrees from Tsinghua University, department of Engineering Physics in 2005 and 2007, respectively, and Ph.D degree from Princeton University, department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2013. His current research focuses on plasma-assisted combustion, laser diagnostics, and combustion kinetics for advanced energy conversion and propulsion systems. He also works on numerical modeling of reacting flows, chemical kinetic mechanism reduction, and high pressure plasma technology. He has been awarded the Bernard Lewis Fellowship from the Combustion Institute, the Britt and Eli Harari Fellowship and the Guggenheim Fellowship from Princeton University, and Distinguished Paper Award at the 33rd International Symposium on Combustion.
Host: Professor Spedding
More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/3-25-13-sun.shtml
Location: Hedco Neurosciences Building (HNB) - Room 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Kristi Villegas
Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/3-25-13-sun.shtml
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CS Colloquium: Huijia Rachel Lin (Boston U): Concurrent Security
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Huijia Rachel Lin, Boston U, CSAIL, MIT
Talk Title: Concurrent Security
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Cryptographic protocols have been developed for a variety of tasks, including electronic auctions, electronic voting systems, privacy preserving data mining and more. Traditionally, these cryptographic protocols were analyzed in a simple ââ¬Åstand-aloneââ¬Â model which considers a single execution of the protocols taking place in isolation. Yet, in open networks, such as the Internet, executions of cryptographic protocols may occur concurrently. This concurrency undermines the security of protocols designed for the simple ââ¬Åstand-aloneââ¬Â model. As a consequence, in the past two decades, the study of concurrent security has been a main effort in Cryptography.
In this talk, I will present the first concurrently-secure protocols that enable securely performing general tasks (including all the above-mentioned ones), without relying on any trusted infrastructures or strong hardness assumptions. In particular, I introduce a novel technique that transforms any cryptographic protocol designed for the simple "stand-alone" setting, into one that is secure under concurrent executions. On the way, I solve a two-decade-old open problem, originating in the seminal paper introducing concurrent security.
Biography: Huijia Lin is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and the Department of Computer Science at Boston University. Earlier, she obtained a PhD in Computer Science from Cornell University. Her research interests are in the field of Cryptography.
Host: Shaddin Dughmi
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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EPSTEIN ISE SEMINAR
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Please contact Julie Higle at julie.higle@usc.edu for speaker , and afiliation
Talk Title: Please contact Julie Higle at julie.higle@usc.edu for title
Abstract: This capstone presentation gives a bird's-eye view of the speaker's 40-year journey in the research of finite-dimensional variational inequalities (VIs) and complementarity problems (CPs) and their applications in modern-day engineering and economics domains. The contemporary study of the VIs/CPs was born in the mid-1970s out of the need to understand a large-scale, real-life energy model developed at the U.S. Department of Energy that was coincidental with the fusion of several milestones in related engineering applications. Today, this subject is rich in fundamental theories and equipped with effective solution methods, and has far-reaching impacts in many applied areas that include market equilibria of various kinds; frictional contacts in mechanics; flow congestion and user behavior in traffic networks; competitive resource allocation; energy generation, distribution, and pricing; gaming problems in digital communication; hybrid engineering systems; financial option pricing; and most recently, structural estimation in econometrics. The speaker has contributed to the core of the subject and all these areas of applications. The presentation will highlight the speaker's contributions in a few of these areas and shed lights on some new directions of the field and its promise in further applications.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - Room 526
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Tue, Mar 26, 2013 @ 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 youâve 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 IIEâs 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: $6095
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $6095
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@mapp.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 â 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 â 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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Dom Massaro: Technology Assisted Reading Acquisition (TARA): Children Acquiring Literacy Naturally
Tue, Mar 26, 2013 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dom Massaro, University of California, Santa Cruz
Talk Title: Technology Assisted Reading Acquisition (TARA): Children Acquiring Literacy Naturally
Series: ICT Distinguished Lecture
Abstract: Society faces increasing challenges in the ability to support the infrastructure of a literate world. Virtual teachers, the internet, and the ceaseless access to information hold promise. To date, however, these potential solutions do not consider research in cognitive science and the potential of the learning brain. As background, the talk reviews our previous research, technology, and applications in speech perception and language learning using our computer-animated face, Baldi. Included is a project to enhance the ability of hearing-challenged and deaf persons to understand conversational speech in face-to-face spoken interactions. The talk offers the possibility of how universal literacy can be achieved with minimal cost, allowing a revolutionary new age that challenges the survival of our educational institutions and society as we know them. It questions the commonly held belief that written language requires formal instruction and schooling whereas spoken language is seamlessly acquired from birth onward by natural interactions with persons who talk. The objectives are to prototype physical systems that exploit developments in behavioral science and technology to a) automatically recognize speech, objects, and actions and b) to display corresponding written descriptions. The goal is to create an interactive system TARA to allow infants, toddlers, and preschool children to acquire literacy naturally.
http://mambo.ucsc.edu/people/dominic-massaro.html
Psyentific Mind
http://psyentificmind.com/
Biography: Dom Massaro is currently a Research Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz and has had an extended career of innovative language research with preschool and school children as well as adults. Dom has researched both reading and speech perception for four decades, and has advanced these fields empirically, theoretically, and technologically. He also has valuable experience of applying technology and behavioral science to real-world problems. He invented Kid Klok, an educational easy-to-read analog clock, available in both physical and software embodiments. Based on his scientific scholarship and his concomitant development of technology, he co-founded several companies which developed successful products for language learning for language-challenged children such as those with hearing loss and autism. Dom is currently president of Psyentific Mind, a company aimed at using technology and psychology to expand the reach of the human mind. His current focus is Technology Assisted Reading Acquisition (TARA).
Massaro (1989). Child's Easy-To-Read Timepiece. United Startes Patent Number 4,885,731. December 5,1989.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kid-klok/id461743662?mt=8
Massaro, D. W. (1998). Perceiving Talking Faces: From speech perception to a behavioral principle, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Massaro, D. W. (2011). Method And System For Acquisition Of Literacy. Patent Application Number 13/253,335, October 5, 2011. http://www.google.com/patents?id=AwAMAgAAEBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=13/253,335&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cz7fT4jEEqS42QXTwOmuDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA
Massaro, D. W. (2012). Acquiring Literacy Naturally: Behavioral science and technology could empower preschool children to learn to read naturally without instruction. American Scientist, 100, 324-333. http://mambo.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/2012-07MassaroFinal2.pdf
Massaro, D. W. (2012). Speech Perception and Reading: Two Parallel Modes of Understanding Language and Implications for Acquiring Literacy Naturally. American Journal Psychology, 125, 307-320.
Massaro, D. W. (2012). Method And System For Representing Capitalization Of Letters While Preserving Their Category Similarity To Lowercase Letters. Patent Application Number 13/669,522, November 6. 2012.
Host: Ari Shapiro
Location: Institute For Creative Technologies (ICT) - Theatre
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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CS Colloquium: Prateek Mittal (UC Berkeley): Trustworthy Communications Using Network Science
Tue, Mar 26, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prateek Mittal, UC Berkeley
Talk Title: Trustworthy Communications Using Network Science
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Our online communications are plagued by increasing threats to security and privacy. Sophisticated surveillance technologies can compromise user privacy, and the insecurity of network protocols threatens the safety of our critical infrastructure. In this talk, I argue that network science can play an important role in cybersecurity by illustrating how understanding and manipulating structural properties of networks can inform the design of trustworthy communication systems.
First, I will discuss how network structure can be leveraged to detect and isolate malicious (Sybil) accounts in online social networks. The SybilInfer system that I developed uses this approach by exploiting differences in mixing properties between benign accounts and malicious accounts. SybilInfer demonstrates how graph theoretic machine learning techniques can be applied to security problems. Second, I will discuss how specially designed network structures can help protect users' privacy by enabling them to communicate anonymously. The ShadowWalker system that I developed for anonymous communication is built around a novel network topology, which is both fast mixing and inherently verifiable. This allows ShadowWalker to scale to millions of users while being resilient to attacks on user privacy. Finally, I will conclude by highlighting the potential of leveraging complex network structures in a broad range of security and privacy problems.
Biography: Prateek Mittal is a postdoctoral scholar in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on building secure and privacy-preserving systems, drawing on techniques from applied cryptography, distributed systems, large scale machine learning and network science. His work has influenced the design of widely-used systems such as the Tor network.
He received the M.E. Van Valkenburg graduate research award for outstanding doctoral research, the Rambus Computer Engineering fellowship, and the ACM CCS 2008 outstanding paper award. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Host: Ramesh Govindan
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Epstein Institute / ISE 651 Seminar Series
Tue, Mar 26, 2013 @ 03:45 PM - 05:00 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Maria E. Mayorga, Associate Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University
Talk Title: "A Model for Optimally Dispatching Ambulances to Emergency Calls with Classification Errors in Patient Priorities"
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: The decision of which servers to dispatch to which customers is an important aspect of service systems. Such decisions are complicated when servers have different operating characteristics, customers are prioritized, and there are errors in assessing customer priorities. We formulate a Markov Decision Process (MDP) model that captures how to optimally dispatch ambulances to prioritized patients in an emergency medical service (EMS) system. It is assumed that patients arrive sequentially, with the location and perceived priority of each patient becoming known upon arrival. The proposed model determines how to optimally dispatch ambulances to patients to maximize the long-run average utility of the system, defined as the expected coverage of true high-risk patients. The utilities and transition probabilities are location dependent, with respect to both the ambulance and patient locations. The analysis considers two cases for approaching the classification errors that correspond to over- and under-responding to perceived patient risk. The optimal policies under different classification strategies are compared to a myopic policy and the effect that classification errors have on the performance of these policies is examined.
Since EMS systems are a public process, expectations of equity arise. Thus we build on the basic model by introducing a set of equity constraints. Four types of equity constraints are consideredâ⬔two of which reflect customer equity and two of which reflect server equityâ⬔all of which draw upon the decision analytic and social science literature to compare the effects of different notions of equity on the resulting dispatching policies. The Markov decision processes are formulated as equity-constrained linear programming models. For both the basic and equity-constrained models, a computational example is applied to an EMS system and simulation is used to confirm that the policies remain effective when they are applied to more realistic situations.
Biography:
Maria E. Mayorga is an Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering at Clemson University. She received her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research from the University of California, Berkeley. She has research and teaching interests in probability models and stochastic processes and optimization, with applications to healthcare systems engineering. She has authored over a forty publications in archival journals and refereed proceedings. Her research has also been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and industry partners, among others. She is a member of INFORMS and the Institute of Industrial Engineers; area editor for the journals Health Systems and Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering; and associate editor for IIE Transactions.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Mayorga.doc
Location: Von Kleinsmid Center For International & Public Affairs (VKC) - Room 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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NATURAL GAS PANEL DISCUSSION: THE IMPACT OF ABUNDANT NATURAL GAS ON EVOLVING ENERGY MARKETS
Tue, Mar 26, 2013 @ 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: John Mork, Don Paul, Amir Angha,
Talk Title: The Impact of Abundant Natural Gas on Evolving Energy Markets
Abstract:
An expert panel will discuss the effect of cheap natural gas on energy markets. Their range of perspectives will provide insight into recent advances in shale gas technology, and how the natural gas industry and related markets are evolving in response.
Date: Tuesday, March 26th
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Location: The Vineyard Room, Davidson Conference Center (DCC)
There will also be FREE FOOD
RSVP to Dan Jennejohn (jennejoh@usc.edu)
Biography:
John Mork - Founder, President & CEO of Energy Corporation of America (ECA)
ECA is a privately held energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production, gathering, aggreagation and sale of natural gas and oil; it owns and operates more than 5,000 oil wells in the US. Mork holds a BS and MS in petroleum engineering from USC and an MBA from Stanford.
http://tfm.usc.edu/autumn-2012/john-mork-a-man-of-energy2/
Don Paul - Executive Director of the USC Energy Institute, William M. Keck Chair of Energy Resources; former VP and Chief Technology Officer at Chevron Corp.; Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
At USC, Paul's initiatives include the Center for Smart Oil Field Technologies, the DOE Regional Smart Grid Demonstration Program, the Center for Energy Informatics, the recently formed programs on unconventional hydrocarbon resource development and cyber-physical security systems for energy infrastructures. Paul holds an BA in applied mathematics, an MS in geology and geophysics, and a PhD in geology from MIT.
Amir Angha - Manager of Gas Planning, Southern California Edison
At Southern California Edison, Amir oversees the evaluation of natural gas assets as well as the formulation of natural gas strategy. Previously, as senior project manager, Amir was directly involved in asset evaluation, strategy planning, energy planning, and transmission planning. Amir holds a MDE in management and MS electrical engineering from UCLA.
Host: USC Energy Club, and Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
More Info: http://uscenergyclub.com/2013/03/natural-gas-panel/
More Information: Flyer. Nat Gas Panel. Final version.pptx
Location: Charlotte S. & Davre R. Davidson Continuing Education Conference Center (DCC) - Vineyard Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: USC Energy Club
Event Link: http://uscenergyclub.com/2013/03/natural-gas-panel/
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 @ 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 youâve 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 IIEâs 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: $6095
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $6095
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@mapp.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 â 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 â 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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Distinguished Lecture Series in Energy Informatics
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. John Shen, Nokia Research Center
Talk Title: Innovation a la Silicon Valley: Chronicle of NRC North America Lab
Series: Distinguished Lecture Series in Energy Informatics
Abstract: Nokia Research Center (NRC) Palo Alto Lab officially opened in November 2006. It was renamed NRC North America Lab in 2011 with the addition of teams located in Berkeley and Cambridge. The original motivation for establishing a brand new research lab in Palo Alto with a broad research agenda was to leverage the innovation spirit and research talents of the Silicon Valley to help transform Nokia from mainly a mobile phone company into a mobile internet solutions company.
In this talk, I will share the experience and insights gained in building and leading this research lab for the past six years. The talk highlights the results from a fairly diverse collection of projects. These projects span the areas of: 1) Rich Interactive Content Experience, 2) Seamless Cross-device Mobile Computing, 3) Car As a Mobile Platform, 4) Next Generation Mapping Platform, and 5) Visual Computing & Mixed Reality. I will also share my perspective on the dominant industry trends that will likely influence my future research directions.
Biography: John P. Shen is a Nokia Fellow (7th in the company) and was the founding director of Nokia Research Center - North America Lab (formerly NRC Palo Alto) with research teams pursuing a very wide range of research projects in mobility and mobile computing. Prior to joining Nokia in 2006, John was the Director of the Microarchitecture Research Lab at Intel. Prior to joining Intel in 2000, John was a tenured Full Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University, where he supervised a total of 17 PhD students and dozens of MS students, received multiple teaching
awards, and published two books and more than 100 research papers. One of his books, ââ¬ÅModern Processor Design: Fundamentals of Superscalar Processorsââ¬Â (McGraw-Hill 2005) is still being used in the EE382 Advanced Processor Architecture course at Stanford University. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at CMU Silicon Valley campus and has co-taught courses and given guest lectures at Stanford and CMU-SV.
Host: Prof. Viktor Prasanna
More Info: http://cei.usc.edu/
Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Annie Yu
Event Link: http://cei.usc.edu/
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AME - Department Seminar
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Part I: Jeannette Yen; Part II: Marc Weissburg, Jeannette Yen: Director in the Center for Biologically Inspired Design at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Marc Weissburg: Professor of Biology and Co-Director of CBID in Center for Biologically Inspired Design at the Georgia Institute of Technology
Talk Title: Part I: Aquatic Propulsion and Wake Signatures at Re = [1,1000]; Part II: What Do Crabs Know, and What Can They Teach Us?
Abstract: Part I: Plankton are aquatic organisms that form the base of the aquatic food web and therefore, aquatic ecosystem balance depends on their survival. Plankton operate at intermediate Reynolds numbers, generating watery signals that can be attenuated by viscosity and confused with small-scale turbulence. Yet messages are created, transmitted, perceived and recognized. These messages guide essential survival tasks of aquatic organisms. At the small-scale where biologically-generated behavior differs from physically-derived flow, we find plankton self-propel themselves, are aware of each other, and evolve in response to the fluid environment in surprising ways.
Part II: We currently lack strategies by which we can implement autonomous chemically-guided navigation in remotely operated or fully independent vehicles. Although this ability would be useful for a variety of purposes, a primary stumbling block is we don't have robust, computationally efficient and adaptive algorithms for encoding information in turbulent chemical plumes. Animals, of course, do this extremely well. I will describe how we have used 3D laser fluorescence measurements around freely navigating animals to analyze the information content of turbulent chemical plumes and understand strategies to encode this information. I will discuss current efforts to develop adaptive and robust algorithms using biological principles and present some tests of our ideas on both hardware and simulations.
Biography: Jeannette Yen is the Director of the Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for Biologically Inspired Design (CBID). The goals of CBID are to bring together a group of interdisciplinary faculty who seek to facilitate interdisciplinary research and education for innovative products and techniques based on biologically-inspired design solutions. The participants of Georgia Tech's CBID believe that science and technology are increasingly hitting the limits of approaches based on traditional disciplines, and Biology may serve as an untapped resource for design methodology, with concept-testing having occurred over millions of years of evolution. Experiencing the benefits of Nature as a source of innovative and inspiring principles encourages us to preserve and protect the natural world rather than simply to harvest its products. Jeannette team-teaches the interdisciplinary course in biologically inspired design.
Marc Weissburg is Professor of Biology and Co-Director of the Center for Biologically Inspired Design. He is an ecologist/sensory biologist who examines the mechanisms and consequences of information transfer via aquatic chemical signals. He uses multidisciplinary approaches and field ecological investigations to study the structure of aquatic plumes and the dynamics of fluids in the marine environment and to behaviorally analyse the sensory strategies of aquatic organisms and their capability to rely on turbulent chemical plumes for guidance and navigation. He has used biological principles to devise artificial sensory processing strategies for autonomous navigation in chemical plumes. He has applied principles of ecological organization to human infrastructure in his search for more sustainable practices. He has co-taught Biologically Inspired Design for seven years to a variety of audiences ranging from undergraduates to professional engineers and scientists.
Host: Professor Spedding
More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/3-27-13-yen-weissburg.shtml
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - Room 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Kristi Villegas
Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/3-27-13-yen-weissburg.shtml
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2013 Albert Dorman Distinguished Lecture Series
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Greg DiLoreto, 2013 ASCE President
Talk Title: Making the Case for Infrastructure Investment: Highlights from the 2013 Report Card for Americaââ¬â¢s Infrastructure
Series: Albert Dorman Distinguished Lecture Series
Abstract: Just released in March, the 2013 Report Card for Americaââ¬â¢s Infrastructure provides a comprehensive look at infrastructure conditions across sixteen categories. This session offers an opportunity to get the first look at the new interactive app version of this nationally-recognized report issued once every four years. Get new information on trends in infrastructure conditions and needs including bridges, roads, and inland waterways, as well as a suite of tools and information available as part of the app to help develop tailor-made messages for your local community. A new emphasis on state and local statistics will make the report even more relevant for local decision-makers, and the online capability means that you donââ¬â¢t need a hard copy of the report to have information at your fingertips.
Biography: Gregory E. Diloreto, P.E., P.LS., D. WRE, F.ASCE
ASCE President 2013
Greg DiLoreto is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tualatin (To-wal-a-tin) Valley Water District located in metropolitan Portland Oregon. He has worked in the public works field for 34 years, 17 years as a public works director/city engineer. Mr. DiLoreto holds a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University and a Masters degree in Public Administration from Portland State University. He is registered as a civil and environmental engineer and a professional land surveyor in Oregon. Mr. DiLoreto is a fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers. He served on the ASCE Board of Direction 2004-06. He has received the 1986 ASCE Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award, the 1995 ASCE Oregon Section Outstanding Civil Engineer Award and the 2005 ASCE Government Engineer of the Year Award. In 2003 he was inducted into the Oregon State University Academy of Distinguished Engineers.
Host: Astani CEE Department
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 526
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 @ 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 youâve 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 IIEâs 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: $6095
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $6095
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@mapp.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 â 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 â 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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Focused on parallel and distributed computing
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: TBA, TBA
Talk Title: TBA
Series: EE598 Seminar Course
Abstract: Weekly seminars given by researchers in academia and industry including senior doctoral students in EE, CS and ISI covering current research related to parallel and distributed computation including parallel algorithms, high performance computing, scientific computation, application specific architectures, multi-core and many-core architectures and algorithms, application acceleration, reconfigurable computing systems, data intensive systems, Big Data and cloud computing.
Biography: Prerequisite: Students are expected to be familiar with basic concepts at the level of graduate level courses in Computer Engineering and Computer Science in some of these topic areas above. Ph.D. students in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science can automatically enroll. M.S. students can enroll only with permission of the instructor. To request permission send a brief mail to the instructor in text format with the subject field ââ¬ÅEE 598ââ¬Â. The body of the mail (in text format) should include name, degree objective, courses taken at USC and grades obtained, prior educational background, and relevant research background, if any.
Requirements for CR:
1. Attending at least 10 seminars during the semester
There will be a sign-in sheet and a sign-out sheet at every seminar. All students must sign-in (before 2:00pm) and sign-out (after 3:00pm). The sign-in sheet will not be available after 2:00pm, and the sign-out sheet will not be available before 3:00pm.
2. Submitting a written report for at least 5 seminars
The written report for each seminar must be 1-page single line spaced format with font size of 12 (Times) or 11 (Arial) without any figures, tables, or graphs. The report must be submitted no later than 1 week after the corresponding seminar, and must be handed only to the instructor either on the seminar times or during office hours. Late reports will not be considered.
The report must summarize studentââ¬â¢s own understanding of the seminar, and should contain the following:
- Your name and submission date [1 line]
- Title of the seminar, name of the speaker, and seminar date [1 line]
- Background of the work (e.g., applications, prior research, etc.) [1 paragraph]
- Highlights of the approaches presented in the seminar [1-2 paragraphs]
- Main results presented in the seminar [1-2 paragraphs]
- Conclusion (your own conclusion and not what was given by the speaker) [1 paragraph]
Reviewing papers related to the topic of the seminar, and incorporating relevant findings in the
reports (e.g., in the conclusion section) is encouraged. In such cases, make sure to clearly indicate
the reference(s) used to derive these conclusions.
Host: Professor Viktor K. Prasanna
More Information: Course Announcement_EE598_Focused on parallel and distributed computing_(Spring 2013).pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Janice Thompson
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EE 598: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH SEMINAR COURSE #10
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Lizhong Chen, PhD Candidate, Electrical Engineering USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Talk Title: Energy-efficient On-chip Networks for Many-core Processors
Series: EE598 Seminar Course
Abstract: Energy-efficient processors are of paramount importance to designing computing systems that deliver superior performance-cost trade-offs. However, as the key communication subsystem of many-core processors, the on-chip network consumes a substantial percentage of the chipââ¬â¢s power and energy. In this talk, we analyze the energy consumption of on-chip networks and discuss the opportunities and challenges in reducing it, with an emphasis on minimizing static power by developing effective power-gating schemes. Two novel designs, namely node-router decoupling and proactive power-gating are proposed to provide architectural support for effective power-gating. These designs not only reduce static power, but also open up new opportunities for optimizing power-gating that is particularly needed for current on-chip networks.
Biography: Lizhong Chen is a PhD candidate working with Prof. Timothy Pinkston in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. His research focuses on energy-efficient and high-performance interconnection networks for chip multiprocessors and super-computers. His research has been published at top venues in computer architecture, including MICRO, HPCA and IPDPS. He received his BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Zhejiang University in 2009 and MS degree in Electrical Engineering from USC in 2011.
Host: Professor Viktor K. Prasanna
More Information: Course Announcement_EE598_Focused on parallel and distributed computing_(Spring 2013) 2.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Janice Thompson
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CS Colloquium: Manuel Egele (Carnegie Mellon University): Opposites Attract -- Static analysis on mobile apps for security and privacy
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Manuel Egele, Carnegie Mellon University (CyLab)
Talk Title: Opposites Attract -- Static analysis on mobile apps for security and privacy
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: Mobile devices are ubiquitous. Apple sold more than 400 million iOS devices to date, and it has been reported that more than 500 million Android-based devices are in customers' hands. These devices open exciting new avenues of innovation such as location-based services and mobile payment. Of course, the user has a legitimate desire to keep the privacy-sensitive data maintained and collected by these smart devices safe and secure. Unfortunately, mobile devices frequently expose such information to prying third-party applications (apps). In this talk, I will demonstrate how novel static analysis techniques can be used to automatically assess whether apps adhere to the user's expectation of privacy. My binary static analysis platform (PiOS) has the capability to evaluate many different security properties on iOS applications. For example, PiOS automatically detected numerous popular applications that leak privacy sensitive data, such as address book contents or location information over the Internet. Furthermore, based on PiOS, we were also able to retrofit iOS applications with control flow integrity protection. Android recently surpassed Apple as the most popular smart phone operating system. Thus, in this talk, I will also cover my research to leverage static analysis techniques to detect misuse of cryptographic primitives in Android apps. Furthermore, I will illustrate how these techniques can be used to refine and improve the existing coarse-grained Android permission system.
Biography: Manuel Egele is a post-doctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, Cylab. Before starting at CMU, he was a post-doctoral researcher at the Computer Security Group of the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He received his MSc (2006) and Ph.D. (2011) degrees in computer science from the University of Technology in Vienna. His research interests span numerous areas of systems security -- in particular, mobile security, privacy, and malicious code analysis. His PiOS work received a distinguished paper award at the Network and Distributed Systems Security Symposium 2011. Lately, he started investigating techniques to aid developers in avoiding common pitfalls when applying cryptographic primitives in their mobile applications.
Host: Ramesh Govindan
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
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Six Sigma Black Belt
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 @ 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 youâve 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 IIEâs 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: $6095
Includes continental breakfasts, lunch and all course materials. The fee does not include hotel accommodations or transportation.
Online Participant with Live Session Interactivity: $6095
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@mapp.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 â 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 â 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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W.V.T. Rusch Honors Colloquium; Mathematics of Voting
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Michael Orrison, Mathematics Professor, Harvey Mudd College
Talk Title: Mathematics of Voting
Host: W.V.T. Rusch 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 Seminars Series
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 @ 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Dimitrios Peroulis, Purdue University
Talk Title: High-Q Widely Tunable Miniaturized RF Front-Ends
Abstract: This seminar will begin by reviewing the state of the art in commercially-available RF MEMS and tunable front-ends. New directions for creating widely-tunable high-performance circuits in mobile form factors will be presented. We will discuss novel solutions at the fabrication technology, device, and sub-system levels. As an example, we will present unique three dimensional architectures for obtaining base-station quality tunable microwave filters in mobile form factors. These filters are based on low-cost silicon technology and simultaneously exhibit a very wide tuning range (>3:1) and a very high quality factor (Q>300-1,000) at 1-20 GHz and beyond. We will also present novel filter synthesis methodologies for developing field-programmable filter-arrays. Furthermore, we will also present power amplifier/filter co-design solutions. Specifically we will demonstrate that significant benefits can be obtained when co-designing power amplifiers with high-Q tunable bandpass filters for all-digital burst-mode transmitters and with high-Q tunable bandstop filters for obtaining high efficiencies in over 3:1 bandwidths.
Biography: Dr. Dimitrios Peroulis received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 2003. He has been with Purdue University since August 2003 where he is currently leading a group of graduate students on a variety of research projects in the areas of RF MEMS, sensing and power harvesting applications as well as RFID sensors for the health monitoring of sensitive equipment. He has been a PI or a co-PI in numerous projects funded by government agencies and industry in these areas. He has been a key contributor in two DARPA projects at Purdue focusing on 1) very high quality (Q>1,000) RF tunable filters in mobile form factors (DARPA Analog Spectral Processing Program, Phases I, II and III) and on 2) developing comprehensive characterization methods and models for understanding the viscoelasticity/creep phenomena in high-power RF MEMS devices (DARPA M/NEMS S&T Fundamentals Program, Phases I and II). Furthermore, he is leading the experimental program on the Center for the Prediction of Reliability, Integrity and Survivability of Microsystems (PRISM) funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration. In addition, he led the development of the MEMS technology in a U.S. Navy project (Marines) funded under the Technology Insertion Program for Savings (TIPS) program focused on harsh-environment wireless micro-sensors for the health monitoring of aircraft engines. He has over 170 refereed journal and conference publications in the areas of microwave integrated circuits, sensors and antennas. He received the National Science Foundation CAREER award in 2008. His students have received numerous student paper awards and other student research-based scholarships. He is a Purdue University Faculty Scholar and has also received eight teaching awards including the 2010 HKN C. Holmes MacDonald Outstanding Teaching Award and the 2010 Charles B. Murphy award, which is Purdue University's highest undergraduate teaching honor.
Host: Prof. Hossein Hashemi and Prof. Mike Chen
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Hossein Hashemi
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Ph. D. Seminar
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Woonhoe Kim and Chanin Chuen-Im , CE Ph.D. Candidates
Talk Title: Phosphate removal model by calcium ion and oyster shell powder
Abstract: Second Presenter:
Chanin Chuen-Im.
A Coastal Development Idea for Gulf of Thailand to Improve Global Trades
Social-Pizza is served immediately following the seminar
Location: KAP 209
Time: 5:00pm
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
