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Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for April

  • Random Walk with Restart and Its Application to Computer Vision

    Mon, Apr 02, 2012 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Kyoung Mu Lee, Dept. of EECS, College of Engineering Seoul National University, Korea

    Talk Title: Random Walk with Restart and Its Application to Computer Vision

    Abstract: In this talk, we introduce the Random Walk with Restart (RWR), and a new generative framework based on RWR for semi-supervised labeling problems in computer vision. Typical semi-supervised labeling problems in computer vision include the seeded image segmentation, photomontage, image coloring, matting and feature matching, and so on, in which the initial seeds or labels are positioned by users. We solve these problems by finding the generative model for each label using RWR in a Bayesian framework. In our new formulation, the generative model is defined by the pixel likelihood of each seed, and it is estimated efficiently by the steady-state probability of RWR. Final solution is obtained by assigning the label with maximum posterior probability to each pixel. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our new framework in some computer vision problems including semi-supervised image segmentation, image colorization, and correspondence problem.

    Biography: Kyoung Mu Lee received the B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Control and Instrumentation Eng. from Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea in 1984 and 1986, respectively, and Ph. D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 1993. He is currently with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Seoul National University as a professor. His primary research interests include object recognition, MRF optimization, tracking, and visual navigation.

    Kyoung Mu Lee had been an editor of the Journal of Applied Signal Processing, and currently serving as an associate editor of the IPSJ Trans. on Computer Vision and Application, Machine Vision and Applications, the Journal of Information Hiding and Multimedia Signal Processing, and IEEE Signal Processing Letters. He has received several awards including Okawa Foundation Research Grant Award in 2006, Honorable Mention Award at the ACCV2007, the Most Influential Paper over the Decade Award at IAPR MVA2009, and the Outstanding Research Award by the College of Engineering of SNU in 2010. He is a Distinguished Lecturer of the Asia-Pacific Signal and Information Processing Association (APSIPA) for 2012-2013. He has (co)authored more than 140 publications in refereed journals and conferences including PAMI, IJCV, CVPR, ICCV and ECCV.



    Host: Prof. C.-C. Jay Kuo

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Talyia Veal

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  • BME 533 (Seminar in Biomedical Engineering)

    Mon, Apr 02, 2012 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Benjamin Cosgrove,

    Talk Title: A more youthful self-renewal: Bioengineering approaches to rejuvenate dysfunctional muscle stem cells in aging

    Host: BME Department

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta

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  • Epstein Institute Seminar Series / ISE 651 Seminar

    Tue, Apr 03, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Xiaochun Li, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and of Materials Science, Program, Director, Nano-Engineered Materials Processing Center (NEMPC), University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series

    Abstract: Research activities on nanoscience and nanotechnology have enjoyed an explosive growth over the last 10 years, while the transition from nanoscience to scale-up nanomanufacturing (high volume nanoproduction) has been the major bottleneck for nanotechnology to realize its tremendous potential. Incorporation of nanoelements (e.g. nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanofibers, and nano-platelets) into various functional materials can obtain unusual physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. However, it is extremely difficult to realize scale-up nanomaterials manufacturing. This talk will discuss about various scientific and technological aspects that are crucial for forging nanoscience and manufacturing processes to realize scalable nanomaterials manufacturing. It will particularly focus on our research activities on Solidification Nanoprocessing, a novel scalable nanomanufacturing process, for fabrication of light weight metallic nanomaterials. Bulk aluminum and magnesium based nanomaterials with superior structural and functional properties have been successfully fabricated. High performance metallic nanomaterials will significantly improve energy efficiency for numerous applications/systems, reducing use of nonrenewable fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Solidification Nanoprocessing promises to become a transformational technology for economical production of high performance nanomaterials.

    Biography: Xiaochun Li is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University in 2001. He currently serves as the founding Director of Nano-Engineered Materials Processing Center (NEMPC) at UW-Madison. Dr. Li received NSF CAREER award in 2002, Jiri Tlusty Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award from Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 2003, and 2008 Howard F. Taylor Award from American Foundry Society (AFS).

    More Information: Seminar-Li_Xiaochun.doc

    Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - Room 309

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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  • Epstein Institute Seminar Series / ISE 651 Seminar

    Tue, Apr 03, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Xiaochun Li , Professor of Mechanical Engineering and of Materials Science Program; Director, Nano-Engineered Materials Processing Center (NEMPC), University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Talk Title: "Scalable Nanomanufacturing of High Performance Metallic Nanomaterials"

    Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series

    Abstract:


    Research activities on nanoscience and nanotechnology have enjoyed an explosive growth over the last 10 years, while the transition from nanoscience to scale-up nanomanufacturing (high volume nanoproduction) has been the major bottleneck for nanotechnology to realize its tremendous potential. Incorporation of nanoelements (e.g. nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanofibers, and nano-platelets) into various functional materials can obtain unusual physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. However, it is extremely difficult to realize scale-up nanomaterials manufacturing. This talk will discuss about various scientific and technological aspects that are crucial for forging nanoscience and manufacturing processes to realize scalable nanomaterials manufacturing. It will particularly focus on our research activities on Solidification Nanoprocessing, a novel scalable nanomanufacturing process, for fabrication of light weight metallic nanomaterials. Bulk aluminum and magnesium based nanomaterials with superior structural and functional properties have been successfully fabricated. High performance metallic nanomaterials will significantly improve energy efficiency for numerous applications/systems, reducing use of nonrenewable fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Solidification Nanoprocessing promises to become a transformational technology for economical production of high performance nanomaterials.

    Biography: Xiaochun Li is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University in 2001. He currently serves as the founding Director of Nano-Engineered Materials Processing Center (NEMPC) at UW-Madison. Dr. Li received NSF CAREER award in 2002, Jiri Tlusty Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award from Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 2003, and 2008 Howard F. Taylor Award from American Foundry Society (AFS).

    More Information: Seminar-Li_Xiaochun.doc

    Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - Room 309

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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  • The Anatomy of Autonomy: An Aeronautical Systems Perspective

    Wed, Apr 04, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Michael S. Francis, Chief Advanced Programs & Senior Fellow of United Technologies Research Center; Program Lead, Autonomous & Intelligent Systems of Sikorsky Aircraft Company

    Talk Title: The Anatomy of Autonomy: An Aeronautical Systems Perspective

    Abstract: The Anatomy of Autonomy: An Aeronautical Systems Perspective

    Michael S. Francis
    Chief Advanced Programs & Senior Fellow
    United Technologies Research Center
    East Hartford, CT
    and
    Program Lead, Autonomous & Intelligent Systems
    Sikorsky Aircraft Company
    Stratford, CT

    Enabled by the many byproducts of the information revolution, autonomous capabilities are rapidly redefining many of the industrial age platforms and processes created over the last century, while concomitantly enabling a host of new ones. This presentation examines the subject of autonomy and its role in shaping contemporary aeronautical systems, encompassing its genesis, implementation and evolution, as well as its potential in shaping the future. Key capabilities such as low altitude flight, collision avoidance, contingency management and multi-vehicle collaborative operations are featured to illustrate some of the discriminating elements enabled by autonomous functionality. Related topics such as the many 'dimensions' of autonomy, along with its conceptual underpinning; the importance of autonomous functionality in contemporary systems integration; and the nature and importance of the human-system interaction are also addressed. Examples involving advanced unmanned systems, including the Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) and the micro air vehicle are employed to further illustrate concepts and provide useful insights into the promise and limitations that frame today's system designs. Key technical, institutional and cultural issues currently limiting realization of the potential of these systems are also discussed, as are some suggested ideas for their resolution.
    ________________________________________



    Refreshments will be served at 3:15 pm.


    Host: Professor Blackwelder

    More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/4-4-12-francis.shtml

    Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: April Mundy

    Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/4-4-12-francis.shtml

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  • Sparsity-Promoting Optimal Control of Distributed Systems

    Thu, Apr 05, 2012 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Mihailo Jovanovic, University of Minnesota

    Talk Title: Sparsity-Promoting Optimal Control of Distributed Systems

    Abstract: This talk is about design of feedback gains that strike a balance between the quadratic performance of distributed systems and the sparsity of the controller. Our approach consists of two steps. First, we identify sparsity patterns of the feedback gains by incorporating sparsity-promoting penalty functions into the optimal control problem, where the added terms penalize the number of communication links in the distributed controller. Second, we optimize the feedback gains subject to the structural constraints determined by the identified sparsity patterns. In the first step, we identify sparsity patterns of the feedback gains using the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers, which is a powerful algorithm well-suited to large optimization problems. This method alternates between optimizing the sparsity and optimizing the closed-loop performance, which allows us to exploit the structure of the corresponding objective functions. In particular, we take advantage of the separability of the sparsity-promoting penalty functions to decompose the minimization problem into sub-problems that can be solved analytically. In the second step, we develop Newton's method in conjunction with the conjugate gradient scheme to efficiently compute the sparse feedback matrix. Several examples of large dynamic networks are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed approach.

    Biography: Mihailo R. Jovanovic (www.umn.edu/~mihailo) received the Dipl. Ing.and M.S. degrees from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and thePh.D. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in2004. Before joining the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, he was a Visiting Researcher with the Department of Mechanics, the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, from September to December 2004. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where he serves as the Director of Graduate Studies in the interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Control Science and Dynamical Systems. He has held visiting positions with Stanford University and the Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications. Prof. Jovanovic's expertise is in modeling, dynamics, and control of large-scale and distributed systems and his current research focuses on sparsity-promoting optimal control, fundamental limitations in the control of large-scale networks, and dynamics and control of fluid flows. He is a member of IEEE, APS, and SIAM and has served as an Associate Editor of the IEEE Control Systems Society Conference Editorial Board from July 2006 until December 2010. He received a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation in 2007, and an Early Career Award from the University of Minnesota Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment in 2010.

    Host: Prof. Urbashi Mitra, ubli@usc.edu, x04667

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos

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  • Lyman L. Handy Colloquium Series

    Lyman L. Handy Colloquium Series

    Thu, Apr 05, 2012 @ 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM

    Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Yuri Gorbi, Biological Sciences, USC

    Talk Title: Recent Advances in the Emerging Field of Electromicrobiology

    Series: Lyman L. Handy Colloquium Series

    Host: Florian Mansfeld

    Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 159

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Petra Pearce

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  • W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; The Future of Human Spaceflight

    W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; The Future of Human Spaceflight

    Fri, Apr 06, 2012 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Garrett Reisman, Former NASA Astronaut and Head of Commercial Crew Development at SpaceX

    Talk Title: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; The Future of Human Spaceflight

    Abstract: Dr. Garrett Reisman, former NASA Astronaut and Head of Commercial Crew Development at SpaceX, will present "The Future of Human Spaceflight" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium.

    Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium

    More Info: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

    More Information: 220px-Garrettreismanv2.jpg

    Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Amanda Atkinson

    Event Link: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

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  • Integrated Systems Seminar Series

    Fri, Apr 06, 2012 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Mona Jarrahi, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    Talk Title: Pushing the Limits of Terahertz Optoelectronics

    Host: Hossein Hashemi

    More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Jarrahi_2012_4_6.pdf

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Hossein Hashemi

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  • BME 533 (Seminar in Biomedical Engineering)

    Mon, Apr 09, 2012 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Radha Kalluri, House Ear Institute

    Talk Title: Acoustic emissions as probes of cochlear mechanics

    Host: BME Department

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta

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  • EE-Electrophysics Seminar

    Mon, Apr 09, 2012 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Peter Catrysse, Stanford University, CA

    Talk Title: Metal Optics at the Nano-scale for Photonic Devices in Optoelectronic Applications

    Abstract: Electromagnetic waves are essential energy and information carriers in our technology-driven society. We use light to see the world, communicate over great distances, and tap into the sun as an unlimited energy source. Manipulation of light is important in all these applications. One of the emerging opportunities in manipulating light is the use of nanostructures. In information technology, it can lead to monolithic integration of photonics and electronics, and to smaller, faster information processing. In image capture technology, it enables more effective control of light inside wavelength-size pixels and can lead to novel optical components that increase imaging system resolution while maintaining efficiency.
    In this talk, I present my work on the use of high-index contrast nanostructures to control light at deep-subwavelength scales. First, I describe my theoretical contributions to the basic physics of metal optics at the nano-scale. I demonstrate a conceptual approach for designing novel material systems based on the existence of deep-subwavelength modes in metallic systems. In metamaterials, these modes act as the electromagnetic equivalent of electronic states in conventional materials and they allow unprecedented control over optical properties such as refractive index. In nano-scale aperture geometries, they enable extremely broadband, efficient light transport at optical frequencies. Next, I describe my experimental contributions to the creation of ultra-compact photonic devices in highly-integrated optoelectronic systems. As a demonstration, I employ nano-metallic structures to design wavelength-size photonic devices in solid-state image sensors. Specifically, I implement monolithically-integrated metallic color filters in a standard 180-nm mixed-signal CMOS process. I also show far-field focusing experimentally with planar nano-slit lenses implemented using semiconductor-compatible methods. Finally, I describe how nano-slit lens geometries can give rise to some very unusual optical capabilities as well, including deep-subwavelength (~λ/100) focusing and imaging. With these examples, I illustrate the rich set of opportunities for nano-scale metal optics research at the interface between fundamental physics and integrated optoelectronic systems.

    Biography: Dr. Peter B. Catrysse is an Engineering Research Associate in the E. L. Ginzton Laboratory at Stanford University. He holds Ph.D. and M.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He pioneered the integration of subwavelength metal optics in standard deep-submicron CMOS technology. His current work focuses on nanophotonics at the interface between basic physics and integrated optoelectronic systems for imaging, thin-film photovoltaic, and information processing applications. He has authored more than 85 refereed publications and holds several US patents. Dr. Catrysse is a Brussels Hoover Fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation, a Fellow of the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders, a Senior Member of the IEEE, and the recipient of a 2008 Hewlett-Packard Labs Innovation Research Award.

    Host: EE-Electrophysics

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Marilyn Poplawski

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  • AME Department Seminar

    Wed, Apr 11, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Youssef Marzouk, Professor. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge, MA.

    Talk Title: Bayesian Inference in Complex Physical Systems: Spectral Approximations and Optimal Maps

    Abstract: Predictive simulation of complex physical systems increasingly rests on the interplay of experimental observations with computational models. Bayesian statistics provides a natural framework for quantifying uncertainty in parameter estimates and model predictions, for fusing heterogeneous sources of information, and for optimally selecting experiments or observations. Posterior simulation in Bayesian inference often proceeds via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), but the associated computational expense and convergence issues present significant bottlenecks in large-scale problems.
    We present a new approach to Bayesian inference that entirely avoids Markov chain simulation, by constructing a map that pushes forward the prior measure to the posterior. Existence and uniqueness of a suitable measure-preserving map is established by formulating the problem in the context of optimal transport theory. We discuss various means of explicitly parameterizing the map and computing it efficiently through solution of an optimization problem, exploiting gradient information from the forward model when possible. The resulting scheme overcomes many of the computational bottlenecks associated with MCMC. Advantages of the map-based representation of the posterior distribution include analytical expressions for posterior moments and the ability to generate arbitrary numbers of independent posterior samples without additional likelihood evaluations or forward solves. The approach also provides clear convergence criteria for posterior approximation, and facilitates model selection through automatic evaluation of the marginal likelihood.

    Host: Prof. Paul Newton

    More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

    Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: April Mundy

    Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

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  • AME Department Seminar

    Thu, Apr 12, 2012 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Javier E. Garay, Associate Professor and Chair. Materials Science and Engineering Program. Mechanical Engineering Department. University of California, Riverside. Riverside, CA.

    Talk Title: Processing of Functional Nanocomposites for Laser, Thermoelectric and Renewable Energy Applications

    Abstract: Improved performance of devices often hinges on the development of materials with a precise blend of properties. In this talk, I will discuss our ongoing work on tailoring material properties using the platform of nanocrystallinity. Three different applications will be discussed: nanocrystalline materials for 1) improved thermoelectric performance, 2) increased laser power, and 3) improved permanent magnets for renewable energy generation. We will begin with an overview of the versatile material processing technique of current activated pressure assisted densification (CAPAD) which we use to overcome the grain growth challenge and efficiently produce materials large enough to be viable nanocrystalline parts. The method draws its effectiveness from large electric current densities that serve to heat the materials and also alter the processing kinetics. We will then discuss how precise control of nanostructure can lead to significantly improves properties for a wide range of applications. The materials produced are large-sized, fully dense materials with grain sizes much less than 100 nm. The results will be discussed in terms of crystal length scale effects and proximity of nanoscale phases.

    Host: Prof. Andrea Hodge

    More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

    Location: Robert Glen Rapp Engineering Research Building (RRB) - 208

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: April Mundy

    Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

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  • Design for Manufacturability and Reliability in Extreme CMOS Scaling and 3D-IC Integration

    Fri, Apr 13, 2012 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: David Z. Pan, The University of Texas at Austin

    Talk Title: Design for Manufacturability and Reliability in Extreme CMOS Scaling and 3D-IC Integration

    Abstract: In this talk, I will present some recent research results on design for manufacturability (DFM) and reliability (DFR) in extreme CMOS scaling and 3D-IC integration by my group (www.cerc.utexas.edu/utda). For extreme CMOS scaling beyond 20nm, I will present some recent works CAD for double/multiple patterning lithography and emerging e-beam lithography, as well as lithography hotspot detection using meta-classification. For 3D-ICs, through silicon vias (TSV) cause thermal-mechanical stress, electromigration, and reliability issues. I will discuss some key challenges and issues for reliable 3D-IC integration.

    Biography: David Z. Pan is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, where he directs the UT Design Automation (UTDA) Lab. He received his Ph.D. in computer science (with honor) from UCLA in 2000. He was a ResearchStaff Member at IBM T. J. Watson Research Center from 2000 to 2003. His research is mainly focused on design for manufacturing/reliability, nanometer physical design, intersection of physical and system-level co-design, and CAD for emerging technologies. He holds 8 U.S. patents and has published over 160 technical papers in premier journals and international conferences. He has served as an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on CAD, IEEE Transactions on VLSI, IEEE Transactions on CAS-I, IEEE Transactions on CAS-II, IEEE CAS Society Newsletter, and Journal of Computer Science and Technology. He has served as the IEEE CANDE Committee Chair, ACM/SIGDA Physical Design Technical Committee Chair, program/organizing committee member of major VLSI/CAD conferences, including ASPDAC (Track Chair), DAC (Track Chair), ICCAD (Track Chair), DATE, ISPD (Program/General Chair), ISCAS (CAD Track Chair), VLSI-DAT (EDA Chair), ISQED (Track Chair), ACISC (Program/General Chair), GLSVLSI (Publicity Chair), ISLPED (Design Tools Track Chair), SLIP (Publication Chair), among others. He is a member of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductor (ITRS) working group and has served in the Technical Advisory Board of Pyxis Technology Inc. (acquired by Mentor Graphics).

    Host: Massoud Pedram

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 306

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Annie Yu

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  • W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Green Tech at Disney Imagineering

    W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Green Tech at Disney Imagineering

    Fri, Apr 13, 2012 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Ben Schwegler, Senior Vice President & Chief Scientist, Walt Disney Imagineering

    Talk Title: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Green Tech at Disney Imagineering

    Abstract: Dr. Ben Schwegler, Senior Vice President & Chief Scientist at Walt Disney Imagineering, will present "Green Tech at Disney Imagineering" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium.

    Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium

    More Info: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

    Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Amanda Atkinson

    Event Link: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

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  • Integrated Systems Seminar Series

    Fri, Apr 13, 2012 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Anh-Vu Pham, University of California at Davis

    Talk Title: Liquid Crystal Polymer for Microwave and Millimetre-Wave Multi-layer Packages and Modules

    Host: Hossein Hashemi

    More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Pham_2012_4_13.pdf

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Hossein Hashemi

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  • BME 533 (Seminar in Biomedical Engineering)

    Mon, Apr 16, 2012 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Grodins Graduate Research Award Winner 2012, USC

    Talk Title: TBA

    Host: BME Department

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta

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  • Epstein Institute Seminar Series / ISE 651 Seminar

    Tue, Apr 17, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Jianjun (Jan) Shi, The Carolyn J. Stewart Chair and Professor, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Talk Title: "Statistics Methods Driven by Engineering Model for System Performance Improvements"

    Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series

    Abstract: The rapid advances in cyber-infrastructure ranging from sensor technology and communication networks to high-powered computing have resulted in temporally and spatially dense data-rich environments. With massive data readily available, there is a pressing need to develop advanced methodologies and associated tools that will enable and assist (i) the handling of the rich data streams communicated by the contemporary complex engineering systems, (ii) the extraction of pertinent knowledge about the environmental and operational dynamics driving these systems, and (ii) the exploitation of the acquired knowledge for more enhanced design, analysis, and control of them.

    Addressing this need is considered very challenging because of a collection of factors, which include the inherent complexity of the physical system itself and its associated hardware, the uncertainty associated with the system’s operation and its environment, the heterogeneity and the high dimensionality of the data communicated by the system, and the increasing expectations and requirements posed by real-time decision-making. It is also recognized that these significant research challenges, combined with the extensive breadth of the target application domains, will require multidisciplinary research and educational efforts.

    This presentation will discuss some research challenges, advancements, and opportunities in “statistical methods-driven by engineering models” for system performance improvement. Specific examples will be provided on research activities related to the integration of statistics, engineering knowledge, and control theory in various applications. Real case studies will be provided to illustrate the key steps of system research and problem solving, including (1) the identification of the real need and potential in problem formulation; (2) acquisition of a system perspective of the research; (3) development of new methodologies through interdisciplinary methods; and (4) implementation in practice for significant economical and social impacts.



    Biography: Dr. Jianjun Shi is the Carolyn J. Stewart Chair Professor at H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology. Prior to joining the Georgia Tech in 2008 he was the G. Lawton and Louise G. Johnson Chair Professor of Engineering, Professor of Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, and Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He got his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering at the Beijing Institute of Technology in 1984 and 1987 respectively, and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan in 1992.

    Professor Shi's research interests focus on system informatics and control for the design and operational improvements of manufacturing and service systems. He is one of the early pioneers in the field. He has produced 24 Ph.D. graduates (17 of them joined IE department as faculty members, 6 received NSF CAREER Awards, and one received PECASE award; 3 serves as executive/directors in industrial companies). He has published one book and more than 140 papers (80+Journal papers, and collectively received about 2000+ paper citations). He has also been closely worked with industrial companies and served as PI and co-PI of more than 17 millions dollars research grants. He has led various research projects funded by National Science Foundation, NIST Advanced Technology Program, Department of Energy, General Motors, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Lockheed-Martin, Honeywell, Pfizer, and various other industrial companies and funding agencies. The technologies developed in his research group have been implemented in various production systems with significant economic impacts.

    Professor Shi is the founding chairperson of the Quality, Statistics and Reliability (QSR) Subdivision at the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS). He currently leads the System Informatics and Control Group of ISyE at Georgia Institute of Technology. He also served as the Director of Program in Manufacturing, co-Director of Global Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering, and Director of Laboratory for In-Process Quality Improvement Research (IPQI) at the University of Michigan. He also served as an Associate Director of a NSF Industrial/University Corporative Research Center (IUCRC) and a thrust leader at NSF Engineering Research Center at UM. He is the founding Director of the Quality Science Center at the Chinese Academy of Science in China. He is currently serving as the Focus Issue Editor of IIE Transactions on Quality and Reliability Engineering, Editor, Journal of Systems Science and Complexity, Senior Editor of Chinese Journal of Institute of Industrial Engineering, and associate editor for the International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineering (IIE), a Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME), a Fellow of Institute of Operations Research and the Management Science (INFORMS), and also a member of ASA.

    Dr. Shi has received the IIE Albert G. Holzman Distinguished Educator Award (2011), Forging Achievement Award from Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation (2007), Monroe-Brown Foundation Research Excellence Award at The University of Michigan (2007), Excellence in Service Awards from IIE Transactions (2002, 2003), Robert M. Caddell Memorial Award 2001), and Best Paper Awards from Industrial Engineering Research Conference (2006), ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress (2000), and North America Manufacturing Research Conference (2000). He has also received the NUTN Distance Education Innovation Team Award (2007) and the Sloan-C Program Profile Team Award (2006) as the co-Director of the GAME. He was the recipients of NSF CAREER Award (1996), the 1938E Award at the COE (1998) and Faculty Achievement Awards at UM (2003).




    Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    More Information: Seminar-Shi_Jianjun.doc

    Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - Room 309

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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  • Iran's Nuclear End Game: A Talk by Tom Reed

    Iran's Nuclear End Game: A Talk by Tom Reed

    Wed, Apr 18, 2012 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Alumni

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Tom Reed, USC Viterbi alumnus

    Talk Title: Iran's Nuclear End Game

    Abstract: Join us as USC Viterbi alum Tom Reed discusses his new book, "The Tehran Triangle," which infers one possible end game for Iran's current nuclear ambitions. Please RSVP to mrschust@usc.edu or (213) 740-4880.

    Biography: Tom Reed began his career doing physics at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In Edward Teller's words, "Tom Reed was one of Livermore's most creative designers of thermonuclear devices." Two of his designs were fired over the Pacific in 1962.

    Earlier he had graduated from Cornell as an engineer, then from graduate school at USC. During the Ford and Carter years, Reed served as Secretary of the Air Force and Director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

    With the end of the Cold War, Reed turned his attention to documenting the history of those times in his "At the Abyss: An Insider's History of the Cold War," followed by "The Nuclear Express: A Political History of the Bomb and Its Proliferation." His new history-based thriller, "The Tehran Triangle" infers one possible end game for Iran's current nuclear ambitions.

    Host: USC Viterbi

    Location: Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library (DML) - Friends of the USC Libraries Lecture Hall

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Katie Dunham

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  • CENG Seminar

    Thu, Apr 19, 2012 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Daniel Limbrick, Ph.D. candidate, Vanderbilt University

    Talk Title: “Impact of Logic Synthesis on Soft Error Rate of Digital Integrated Circuits”

    Abstract: Radiation-induced soft errors are becoming a dominant reliability-failure mechanism in modern CMOS technologies. In nanometer technologies, the effects are not limited to the storage elements of a digital system, but also include vulnerabilities in the combinational logic. Reliability-aware synthesis has emerged as a method to mitigate the effects of soft errors in combinational logic. Few studies have focused on the inherent impact that non-reliability-related synthesis algorithms have on circuit topology, and therefore reliability. My work investigates the impact that area and delay optimizations, computational effort, and standard cell availability have on the error propagation probability of individual circuit nodes. Additionally, I will present circuit characteristics that can be used during synthesis that help in choosing the most reliable circuit implementation. Finally, I will present the broader implications that my findings have on reliability-aware synthesis.

    Biography: Mr. Daniel B. Limbrick is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Vanderbilt University. Mr. Limbrick is a member of the Radiation Effects and Reliability (RER) Group, where his research has been conducted under the advisement of Dr. William H. Robinson. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Texas A&M University in May 2007 and his Masters of Science degree in the same field at Vanderbilt University in December 2009. His research interests include computer architecture, logic synthesis, and reliability of microelectronics.

    Host: Dr. Timothy Pinkston

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Estela Lopez

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  • Distinguished Lectures Series

    Distinguished Lectures Series

    Thu, Apr 19, 2012 @ 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM

    Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Joe Goddard, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego

    Talk Title: Playing in Sand for Science, Engineering, and Fun

    Series: Distinguished Lectures Series

    Host: Theo Tsotsis

    Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 159

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Petra Pearce

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  • 2012 USC Game Theory & Human Behavior Symposium

    2012 USC Game Theory & Human Behavior Symposium

    Fri, Apr 20, 2012 @ 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Robb Willer, Kevin Layton Brown, Jeff Brantingham, Sam Gosling, Brian Skyrms, Paul Zak, Tom Palfrey , USC-Caltech Center for the Study of Human Law and Politics, USC Game Theory and Human Behavior Group

    Talk Title: The Behavoral Foundations of Game Theory

    Abstract: Free, but please RSVP to janorkar@usc.edu by 4/15/2012 for both the event on 4/20/2012 and the reception on 4/19/2012 evening.


    Agenda - 4/20/2012:

    08:30 - 09:15 Registration and Breakfast

    09:15 - 09:30 Welcome

    09:30 - 10:15 Robb Willer, University California Berkely

    10:15 - 11:00 Kevin Leyton-Brown, University of British Columbia

    11:00 - 11:15 Break

    11:15 - 12:00 Jeff Brantingham, University of California Los Angeles

    12:00 - 13:30 Lunch

    13:30 - 14:15 Sam Gosling, University of Texas, Austin

    14:15 - 15:00 Brian Skyrms, University of California, Irvine

    15:00 - 15:30 Break

    15:30 - 16:15 Paul Zak, Claremont Graduate University

    16:15 - 17:00 Tom Palfrey, Caltech

    Biography: Our effort is to create a campus-wide collaborative environment for Game Theory and Human Behavior promises to fuse the mathematics and formal approaches of the former with the wealth of social science insights of the latter to create new and necessary approaches for 21st century issues. The National Academy of Engineering has identified several Grand Challenge areas including preventing nuclear terror, advancing personalized learning, securing cyberspace and renewing urban infrastructure. All involve multiple decision-makers in game-theoretic and human behavior settings, thus requiring the fusion of mathematical, engineering and social sciences to make significant progress in addressing these challenges. USC is in the enviable position of being on the cusp of addressing these challenges. Over 50 faculty members have joined this effort from 13 schools and centers including the Annenberg School for Communication, the Gould School of Law, the Marshall School of Business, the College, the CREATE center, Center for Sustainable Cities, Center for Megacities, Center for Energy Informatics, Schaeffer Center for Health Economics and Policy, the School of Policy, Planning and Development, the Institute for Creative Technologies, the School of Architecture, and the Viterbi School of Engineering. We have expertise from architecture, civil and environmental engineering, computer science, economics, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, law, operations management, policy planning and development, psychology and sociology. While there have been some interdepartmental collaborations, we have not been able to connect to a degree necessary to expand our endeavors to the scope of solutions that the problems require. This effort on Game Theory and Human Behavior (GTHB) will create the momentum to overcome barriers by organizing a series of workshops, seminars, tutorials and courses culminating in a week of GTHB Showcase events that will highlight our first-year outreach and development efforts. The GTHB effort promises to put USC in a unique position to tackle many of the key challenges of the 21st century.

    Host: Viterbi School, ISI, Marshall School, Annenberg School, Gould School, Dornsife

    More Info: http://gthb.usc.edu/Events/

    Location: Seeley Wintersmith Mudd Memorial Hall (of Philosophy) (MHP) - 101

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mayuresh Janorkar

    Event Link: http://gthb.usc.edu/Events/

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  • W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Owning Your Own Engineering Company

    Fri, Apr 20, 2012 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: David Crisalli, President, Polaris, Inc.

    Talk Title: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Owning Your Own Engineering Company

    Abstract: David Crisalli, President of Polaris, Inc., will present "Owning Your Own Engineering Company" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium.

    Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium

    More Info: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

    Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Amanda Atkinson

    Event Link: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

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  • Integrated Systems Seminar Series

    Fri, Apr 20, 2012 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Vladimir Stojanovic, MIT

    Talk Title: Building Modern Integrated Systems: A Cross-cut Approach (The Electrical, Optical and Mechanical)

    Host: Hossein Hashemi

    More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Stojanovic_2012_4_20.pdf

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Hossein Hashemi

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  • Integrated Systems Seminar Series

    Fri, Apr 20, 2012 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Vladimir Stojanovic, MIT

    Talk Title: Building Modern Integrated Systems: A Cross-cut Approach (The Electrical, Optical and Mechanical)

    Host: Hossein Hashemi

    More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Stojanovic_2012_4_20.pdf

    Location: 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Hossein Hashemi

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  • BME 533 (Seminar in Biomedical Engineering)

    Mon, Apr 23, 2012 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. David Meany, University of Pennsylvania

    Talk Title: Mechanoregulation of synaptic neurotransmission following traumatic brain injury

    Abstract: Mechanical forces influence the development, maintenance, and degeneration of the nervous system at many length scales. At the synaptic scale, mechanical forces can play a role in the formation and maintenance of the synapse. One well studied synaptic receptor, the NMDA receptor (NMDAR), is considered important in regulating neuronal survival during disease or after injury. In this talk, we show the NMDA receptor is mechanosensitive, and this mechanosensitivity is a key aspect that underlies the role of the NMDA receptor in traumatic brain injury. The molecular domains of the NMDA receptor controlling mechanosensitivity are identified, and we use this molecular map to study how local synaptic signaling is modified following NMDAR mechanoactivation. Next, we use simulations of synaptic networks to identify how normal neurotransmission is altered following traumatic injury, and use these data to test the effectiveness of targeting NMDAR subpopulations for reducing neuronal death after injury. Consistent with predictions, results show that the most effective therapeutic approach is not a broad spectrum inhibition of the receptor, but a more targeted approach that stimulates synaptically localized receptors while inhibiting receptors localized extrasynaptically.

    Host: BME Department

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta

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  • Astani Civil and Environmental Engineering Seminar

    Mon, Apr 23, 2012 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM

    Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Mani Golparvar-Fard , Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, Director, Real-time and Automated Monitoring and Control (RAAMAC) lab, Virginia Tech

    Talk Title: Automated Visual Sensing and Augmented Reality Visualization of Construction Performance Metrics

    Abstract: The destructive impact of construction and operation of the built environment in forms of materials, energy consumption, and Green House Gas emissions are becoming increasingly evident. As a result, government agencies are proposing incentive-based regulations for companies to reduce carbon footprint associated with their projects. In this modus operandi, AEC professionals need to find ways by which they can set realistic goals for schedule, cost, and carbon footprint of their projects, systematically track and monitor operations to promptly identify, process, and communicate discrepancies between actual and expected performances. Maintaining focus on these goals in the minutiae of construction activities is still more of an art than a science today. Hence, many projects do not meet their potential performance. Building on advanced computer vision, graphics, and machine learning techniques, this talk addresses how the utilization of images and videos along with BIM can be streamlined to monitor actual performance of a project, highlight deviations from expected performance, and provide an opportunity to initiate proactive actions to avoid them or minimize their impacts. The underlying hypotheses, algorithmic developments, and validations on using 1) video streams for automated construction productivity and environmental impact assessments, along with 2) images and BIM for automated progress and quality assessments are discussed in detail. Experimental results on several challenging datasets are presented and perceived benefits of the proposed methods are discussed. This talk will end with the implications of current and future research aimed at development of visual sensing techniques for automated tracking of productivity, safety, quality, carbon footprint, and visualizing performance deviations in augmented reality environments.



    Host: Astani CEE Department

    Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Cassie Cremeans

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  • Speech Coding and the BroadVoice Speech Codec

    Wed, Apr 25, 2012 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Juin-Hwey (Raymond) Chen, Ph.D., Broadcom Corporation

    Talk Title: Speech Coding and the BroadVoice Speech Codec

    Abstract: This talk consists of two parts: Part 1 gives a brief introduction to speech coding in preparation for Part 2, which describes the BroadVoice® speech codec that was developed by Broadcom and was included in multiple standards for Voice over IP (VoIP) in cable telephony as standardized by CableLabs, SCTE (Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers), ANSI, and ITU-T. Speech coding is the science and art of reducing the bit-rate needed to represent speech signals while maintaining a certain level of speech quality under given constraints on coding delay and complexity. Previous medium- to low-bit-rate speech coding standards typically have medium to high coding delay and complexity, and are usually encumbered by royalties. In contrast, the BroadVoice speech codec was designed from the outset to be low-delay, low-complexity, high-quality, and most importantly, free of third-party intellectual properties so it can be freely used by anyone without royalty payments. This talk gives a brief historical overview of the development of BroadVoice and also provides a high-level description of the BroadVoice speech coding algorithm. The BroadVoice family of codecs includes a 16 kb/s BroadVoice16™ (BV16) narrowband codec and a 32 kb/s BroadVoice32™ (BV32) wideband codec. Based on a novel two-stage noise feedback coding structure with vector quantization of excitation, BroadVoice achieves a low algorithmic buffering delay of merely 5 ms and codec complexity of only 12 and 17 MIPS for BV16 and BV32, respectively. The speech quality of BV16 is better than that of the ITU-T G.728, G.729, and 32 kb/s G.726 standards, and the speech quality of BV32 is better than that of the 64 kb/s G.722 standard. Audio demonstrations will be played in this talk. Both BV16 and BV32 are not only royalty-free but also open source with both floating-point and fixed-point C source code freely downloadable (www.broadcom.com/broadvoice).

    Biography: Juin-Hwey (Raymond) Chen received his B.S.E.E. degree from National Taiwan University in 1980 and his Master and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1983 and 1987, respectively. He joined Broadcom Corporation in 2000 and is now a Senior Technical Director there. Prior to joining Broadcom, Raymond spent 8 1/2 years at AT&T Bell Labs and AT&T Labs, three years at Voxware, Inc., and one year at Lucent Technologies. His research focus is on compression and quality enhancement of speech and audio signals. He has more than 50 technical publications and is an inventor of 57 issued United States patents and 35 pending U.S. Patents. He is the primary inventor of the ITU-T G.728 speech coding standard and the BV16 and BV32 speech codecs in the PacketCable, SCTE, ANSI, and ITU-T J.161 and J.361 standards. He is also well-known for inventing a postfiltering speech enhancement technique that is used in most international speech coding standards established since 1987. Throughout his career he has invented numerous speech codecs, many of which are widely used commercially. Raymond was elected a Fellow of the IEEE in 1995. He was also elected a Broadcom Fellow in 2006.

    Host: Professor Shrikanth Narayanan

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 320

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mary Francis

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  • EE Distinguished Lecturer Series

    EE Distinguished Lecturer Series

    Wed, Apr 25, 2012 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Jelena Kovačević, Director, Center for Bioimage Informatics, Carnegie Mellon University

    Talk Title: “Problems in Biological Imaging: Opportunities for Signal Processing”

    Abstract: In recent years, the focus in biological sciences has shifted from understanding single parts of larger systems, a sort of vertical approach, to understanding complex systems at the cellular and molecular levels, a horizontal approach. Thus the revolution of "omics" projects such as genomics and now proteomics. Understanding complexity of biological systems is a task that requires acquisition, analysis and sharing of huge databases, and in particular, high-dimensional databases. Processing such a huge amount of bioimages visually by biologists is inefficient, time-consuming and error-prone. Therefore, we would like to move toward automated, efficient and robust processing of such bioimage data sets. Moreover, some information hidden in the images may not be readily visually available. Thus, we do not only help humans by using sophisticated algorithms for faster and more efficient processing, but also because new knowledge is generated through use of such algorithms.

    The ultimate dream is to have distributed yet integrated large bioimage databases which would allow researchers to upload their data, have it processed, share the data, download data as well as platform-optimized code, etc, and all this in a common format. To achieve this goal, we must draw upon a whole host of sophisticated tools from signal processing, machine learning and scientific computing. I will address some of these issues in this presentation, especially those where signal processing expertise can play a significant role.


    Biography: Jelena Kovačević received a Ph.D. degree from Columbia University. She then joined Bell Labs, followed by Carnegie Mellon University in 2003, where she is currently a Professor in the Departments of BME and ECE and the Director of the Center for Bioimage Informatics. She received the Belgrade October Prize and the E.I. Jury Award at Columbia University.
    She is a coauthor on an SP Society award-winning paper and is a coauthor of the book "Wavelets and Subband Coding." Dr. Kovacevic is the Fellow of the IEEE and was the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Image Processing. She was a keynote speaker at several meetings and has been involved in organizing numerous conferences. Her research interests include multiresolution techniques and biomedical applications


    Host: Dr. Antonio Ortega

    More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/dls/

    Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 100

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Estela Lopez

    Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/dls/

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  • AME Department Seminar

    Wed, Apr 25, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Mitchell D. Smooke, Strathcona Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science & Applied Physics. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Yale University. New Haven, CT 06520-8284.

    Talk Title: Computational and Experimental Study of Laminar Flames

    Abstract: As emissions legislation becomes more restrictive, a detailed understanding of pollutant formation in flames has become even more critical for the design of pollutant abatement strategies and for the preservation of the competitiveness of combustion related industries. It is clear that there will be continuing pressure to lower both NOx emission indices and soot volume fractions in practical combustion devices. This is in response to the toxicological effects of small particles and to the impact, for example, that soot can have on thermal radiation loads in combustors and on turbine blades. Moreover, soot emissions can enhance contrail formation and such "man made" clouds may have an impact ultimately on the Earth's climate. In this talk we discuss our research related to the effects of complex chemistry and detailed transport on the structure and extinction of hydrocarbon flames in coflowing axisymmetric configurations. We have pursued both computational and experimental aspects of the research in parallel on both steady-state and time-dependent systems. The computational work has focused on the application of accurate and efficient numerical methods for the solution of the steady-state and time-dependent boundary value problems describing the various reacting systems. Detailed experimental measurements were performed using two-dimensional imaging techniques. Our goal has been to obtain a more fundamental understanding of the important fluid dynamic and chemical interactions in these flames so that this information can be used effectively in combustion modeling.

    Host: Prof. Paul Ronney

    More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

    Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: April Mundy

    Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

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  • ISI 40th Anniversary Seminar

    ISI 40th Anniversary Seminar

    Thu, Apr 26, 2012 @ 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science, Information Sciences Institute, Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Five eminent IT experts, from five distinguished institutions

    Talk Title: The USC Information Sciences Institute, From Beginnings to Now

    Abstract: George Bekey, How ISI came to USC; Bob Kahn, Internet/networking; Rod Beckstrom, Internet/ICANN; Bert Sutherland, MOSIS creation; Bill Swartout, AI evolution; Herb Schorr, Closing Remarks

    Biography: ISI celebrates its 40th birthday this year. This program illustrates its achievements.

    Host: Herbert Schorr

    More Information: ISI 40th Anniversary Seminar program.pdf

    Location: Marina del Rey Hotel, Marina del Rey Hotel, 13534 Bali Way, MdR.

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Eric Mankin

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  • USC Physical Sciences in Oncology Center

    USC Physical Sciences in Oncology Center

    Fri, Apr 27, 2012 @ 11:45 AM - 01:00 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Mingming Wu, Associate Professor, Biological and Environmental Engineering Department, Cornell University

    Talk Title: Microfluidics for Cancer Cell Chemotaxis

    Abstract: The emerging field of micro-technology has opened up new possibilities for exploring cellular chemotaxis in real time and space, and at single cell resolution. Cancer cell chemotaxis plays important roles in cancer metastasis, where cancer cells break away from the primary tumors, migrate through the interstitial space, and establish secondary tumors at foreign sites. It is known that cells of many cancer types metastasize to lymph nodes. Despite its clinical importance, the physical and molecular cues that cancer cells use to navigate and migrate around lymph nodes are far from understood. In this talk, I will present efforts from my lab (biofluidics.bee.cornell.edu) in studying cancer cell migrating in well defined chemokine gradients, slow fluid flows (i.e. engineered interstitial flow), and biomatrix stiffness. We use microfluidic 3D in vitro model to provide physiologically realistic, 3D, microenvironment for cells, advanced imaging systems to follow cancer dynamics within a lymphoidal like environment. Using a malignant breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) as a model system, we found that cancer cell migration is tightly controlled by the chemokine gradients, the compliance of the 3D biomatrix, and the intersitial fluid flows.

    Biography: Mingming Wu received her PhD in Physics from the Ohio State University in the United States in 1992, and was a postdoctoral researcher in Ecole Polytechnique, France in year 1992 and University of California at Santa Barbara in 1993- 1995. In year 1996, she joined the physics department at Occidental College in Los Angeles as an assistant/associate professor. Since 2003, she is an adjunct associate professor in the engineering college at Cornell University. Her current research interests are: Bio-inspired engineering, microfluidics and quantitative imaging. Her role in the PS-OC center is to use advanced imaging, as well as micro-fabrication techniques to explore dynamic processes in cancer metastatic cascades.

    Host: Center for Applied Molecular Medicine

    More Information: USC-PSOC_MonthlySeminar.pdf

    Location: Clinical Science Center (CSC) - Harkness Auditorium

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Kristina Gerber

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  • Integrated Systems Seminar Series

    Fri, Apr 27, 2012 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Kenneth K. O, University of Texas Dallas

    Talk Title: Sub-millimeter Wave CMOS Integrated Circuits and Systems

    Host: Hossein Hashemi

    More Information: Seminar_Speaker_kenneth O_2012_4_27.pdf

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Hossein Hashemi

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  • Repeating EventSix Sigma Black Belt

    Mon, Apr 30, 2012 @ 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Executive Education

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Larry Aft, Professional Programs

    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: Professional Programs

    Audiences: Registered Attendees

    View All Dates

    Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs

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  • WiFi-Nano : Reclaiming WiFi Efficiency through 800 ns slots

    Mon, Apr 30, 2012 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Krishna Chintalapudi, Microsoft Research

    Talk Title: WiFi-Nano : Reclaiming WiFi Efficiency through 800 ns slots

    Abstract: The increase in WiFi physical layer transmission speeds from 1~Mbps to 1 Gbps has reduced transmission times for a 1500 byte packet from 12 ms to 12 us. However, WiFi MAC overheads such as channel access and acks have not seen similar reductions and cumulatively contribute about 150~$\mu s$ on average per packet. Thus, the efficiency of WiFi has deteriorated from over 80% at 1~Mbps to under 10% at 1~Gbps. WiFi-Nano, allows WiFi to to use 800 ns slots to significantly improve WiFi efficiency. Reducing slot time from 9 us to 800 ns makes backoffs efficient, but clear channel assessment can no longer be completed in one slot since preamble detection can now take multiple slots. Instead of waiting for multiple slots for detecting preambles, nodes speculatively transmit preambles as their backoff counters expire, while continuing to detect premables using self-interference cancellation. Upon detection of preambles from other transmitters, nodes simply abort their own preamble transmissions, thereby allowing the earliest transmitter to succeed. Further, receivers speculatively transmit their ack preambles at the end of packet reception, thereby reducing ack overhead. We validate the effectiveness of WiFi-Nano through implementation on an FPGA-based software defined radio platform, and through extensive simulations, demonstrate efficiency gains of up to 100%.

    Biography: I am a researcher in the Mobility, Networks, and Systems group at Microsoft Research India. Prior to joining MSR I was a Senior Research Engineer at Bosch Research and Technology Center in Palo Alto, CA, USA. I graduated from University of Southern California with a PhD in Computer Science in 2005. My advisor was Prof. Ramesh Govindan. I obtained my Masters in Electrical Engineering from Drexel Univerity in 1999 and my B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University in 1997. My research interests broadly lie in the area of wireless networking systems. In the past I have worked on various aspects of wireless sensor networks, WiFi, Cognitive and WhiteSpace Networking and indoor localization of mobile devices.

    Host: Urbashi Mitra, x0-4667, ubli@usc.edu

    Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos

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  • Astani Civil and Environmental Engineering Seminar

    Mon, Apr 30, 2012 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM

    Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Shengli Chen, integrated PoroMechanics Institute, the University of Oklahoma

    Talk Title: Poroelastoplastic analytical solution of a cylindrical cavity in saturated rock formation

    Abstract: The cavity expansion/contraction theory has wide applications in the areas of in-situ testing such as pressuremeter and piezocone penetrations, underground excavations and tunnel constructions in soil and rock, and wellbore instability in the oil and gas industry. In this research, a class of exact analytical solutions have been developed for the tunnel excavation/wellbore drilling problems in elastoplastic rock masses subjected to non-isotropic initial stresses, using the cavity contraction method and under both drained and undrained conditions. To provide realistic predictions of the rock behaviour, especially for the shale formation, the critical state-based modified Cam Clay and bounding surface models were adopted in the analyses. The uniqueness and novelty of the proposed analytical approach lies in the fact that the cavity boundary value problem is formulated within the Lagrangian description according to which both the constitutive relations and the equilibrium equation are described in terms of individual material particle. It is therefore possible to capture the evolution of the stress components and pore pressure/void ratio for any material point throughout the tunnel excavation/wellbore drilling processes, from elastic phase to elastoplastic and even failure phases of the deformation.
    Numerical simulations were also conducted with the use of ABAQUS software. A user defined material subroutine (UMAT) has been developed and implemented into ABAQUS for the bounding surface model (Dafalias & Herrmann, 1980). The predictions from the ABAQUS analyses are generally in excellent agreement with the analytical solutions developed for both modified Cam Clay and the bounding surface models. The results show clearly that the stress history (overconsolidation ratio) has significant influence on the stress and pore pressure distributions as well as the development and progress of the plastic/elastic zones around the cavity.


    Host: Astani CEE

    Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Cassie Cremeans

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