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Events for April 17, 2014
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Six Sigma Green Belt for Process ImprovementThu, Apr 17, 2014
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Talk Title: Six Sigma Green Belt for Process Improvement
Abstract: This seminar, an introductory course in Six Sigma, will give you a thorough understanding of Six Sigma and its focus on eliminating defects through fundamental process knowledge. Topics covered in addition to DMAIIC and Six Sigma philosophy include basic statistics, statistical process control, process capability, financial implications and root cause analysis. This seminar is offered both in the classroom and online.
Host: Professional Programs
More Info: http://gapp.usc.edu/professional-programs/short-courses/industrial%2526systems/six-sigma-green-belt-process-improvement
Audiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
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PhD Defense - Yili Zhao
Thu, Apr 17, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
University Calendar
PhD Candidate: Yili Zhao
Comittee member:
Jernej Barbic (Chair)
Ulrich Neumann
Igor Kukavica (Math Department)
Location:
SAL 322
Time:
10:00AM - 12:00PM
Title:
Plant Substructuring and Real-time Simulation Using Model Reduction
Abstract:
This research is focusing on real-time, physically-based simulation of plants undergoing large deformations. To achieve this goal, we first propose a novel algorithm based on model
reduction and domain decomposition. It extends 3D nonlinear elasticity model reduction to open-loop multi-level reduced deformable structures. We decompose the input mesh into
several domains, build a reduced deformable model for every domain, simulate each one separately, and connect domains using proper inertia coupling. This makes model reduction deformable simulations much more versatile: localized deformations can be supported without prohibitive computational costs, parts can be re-used and precomputation time can be shortened. Our method does not use constraints, and can handle large domain rigid body
motion in addition to large deformations, due to our derivation of the gradient and Hessian of the rotation matrix in polar decomposition. We show real-time examples with multi-level
domain hierarchies and thousands of reduced degrees of freedom.
Then we design a pre-processor which takes a plant “polygon soup” triangle mesh as the only input and quickly pre-compute necessary data for the subsequent simulation. This tool breaks the ice for adoption of our multidomain dynamics simulator in practice. Our
pre-processor is robust to non-manifold input geometry, gaps between branches or leaves, free-flying leaves not connected to any branch, small unimportant geometry (“debris”) left in
the model, and plant self-collisions in the input configuration. Repeated copies (instances) of plant subparts such as leaves, petals or fruits can be automatically detected by our preprocessor. We enhanced our multidomain dynamics simulator to provide plant fracture, and inverse kinematics to easily pose plants. It can simulate complex plants at interactive rates, subjected to user forces, gravity or randomized wind. We simulated over 100 plants from diverse climates and geographic regions, including broadleaf (deciduous) trees and conifers,
bushes and flowers. Our largest simulations involve anatomically realistic adult trees with hundreds of branches and over 100,000 leaves.
Finally, we propose our future research in several directions including adding hierarchical instancing, collision detection and handling, etc.
Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 322
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Lizsl De Leon
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EE-Systems Seminar
Thu, Apr 17, 2014 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Wonsun Ahn , Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Talk Title: High-Performance JIT-Compiled Frameworks: Hardware/Compiler Co-Optimization
Abstract: JIT-compiled frameworks are gaining increasing use for their cross-platform portability, performance portability, and runtime adaptability. In particular, scripting languages such as JavaScript, Python, and R are gaining wide acceptance. In these emerging frameworks, there is great opportunity for performance improvement through hardware/compiler co-optimization. In this talk, I present a few novel techniques that I have developed to improve performance.
First, I show how the compiler can use Hardware Transactional Memory (HTM) support to enforce high-performance Sequential Consistency (SC) for programmability and security. The idea is to wrap large sections of code inside a transaction, and then optimize the code inside each transaction without concern for memory-consistency-model restrictions. The optimizations speculate that any violation of the memory model will not be seen by other threads; otherwise, the transaction is aborted. Using this approach, the compiler can even outperform current compilers by a significant margin by allowing optimization across synchronization boundaries.
Next, I also show how the compiler can use the same HTM support to perform alias speculation. The approach consists of performing optimizations assuming the alias relationships that are true most of the time, and using the hardware to detect when such relationships are found not to hold through runtime checks. If the assumptions are correct, the code experiences good speedups; otherwise, the transaction is aborted.
Lastly, I show a compiler enhancement for JavaScript. A key feature of scripting languages that gives them their flexibility is dynamic typing. However, the absence of declared types makes it very challenging for the compiler to generate efficient code. Advanced compilers cope with it by introducing type systems of their own behind the scenes, and maintaining the type of each object at runtime as metadata. In this work, I focus on the Google Chrome V8 JavaScript compiler, and show that its type system is too brittle. While it works well for applications that display static behavior, it causes type specialization to fail in real website code. I go on to modify V8's type system to match the more dynamic behavior of real websites, and show significant savings in execution time, energy, and memory consumption.
Overall, these three approaches allow JIT compilers to achieve high performance while still maintaining programmability and security.
Biography: Wonsun Ahn is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests are parallel computer architecture and compilation systems. He is currently the co-PI of an NSF grant on improving the performance of scripting languages. He received a PhD in Computer Science from the same university in 2012. His PhD work was recognized by an IEEE Micro's Top Picks award publication. He has (co-)authored 12 journal and conference papers that have appeared in top compiler and architecture venues, and has two industry patents. He has served in the program and organizational committees of conferences, and is a member of the Samsung Frontier Membership.
Host: Michel Dubois
More Information: print_Ahn.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Estela Lopez
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USC DEN@Viterbi Limited Status Information Session
Thu, Apr 17, 2014 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
DEN@Viterbi, Viterbi School of Engineering Graduate Admission
Workshops & Infosessions
Limited Status allows qualified individuals to begin taking classes via DEN@Viterbi before being formally admitted to a degree program. The Viterbi School uses a state-of-the-art, proprietary Web-based delivery system that enables students from around the world to access classes live, on demand or by download. To find out if you are eligible for this enrollment offering and to see how you can begin taking classes this spring, join us for this online information session.
Click to RSVPAudiences: RSVP Required
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
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Distinguished Lectures: Nanoengineering and Integration of Materials with Unique Functionalities Research Findings and Visions
Thu, Apr 17, 2014 @ 12:45 PM - 01:50 PM
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Haiyan Wang,
Talk Title: Nanoengineering and Integration of Materials with Unique Functionalities Research Findings and Visions
Series: Distinguished Lectures
Host: Prof. Nutt
Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 159
Audiences: Graduate
Contact: Ryan Choi
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Andrew J. Viterbi Distinguished Lecture in Communication
Thu, Apr 17, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Professor Abbas El Gamal, Stanford University
Talk Title: Common Information
Series: Distinguished Lecturer Series
Abstract: Entropy, introduced by Shannon in 1948, arises naturally as a universal measure of information in single-source compression, randomness extraction, and random number generation. In distributed systems, such as communication networks, multiprocessors, distributed storage, and sensor networks, there are multiple correlated sources to be processed jointly. The information that is common between these sources can be utilized, for example, to reduce the amount of communication needed for compression, computing, simulation, and secret key generation. My talk will focus on the question of how such common information should be measured.
While our understanding of common information is far from complete, I will aim to demonstrate the richness of this question through the lens of network information theory. I will show that, depending on the distributed information processing task considered, there can be several well-motivated measures of common information. Along the way, I will present some of the key models, ideas, and tools of information theory, which invite further investigation into this intriguing subject.
Some parts of this talk are based on recent joint work with Gowtham Kumar and Cheuk Ting Li and on discussions with Young-Han Kim.
Biography: Abbas El Gamal is the Hitachi America Professor in the School of Engineering and Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. He received his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1978. He was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) from 1978 to 1980. His research interests and contributions have spanned the areas of information theory, wireless networks, CMOS imaging sensors and systems, and integrated circuit design and design automation. He has authored or coauthored over 200 papers and 30 patents in these areas. He is coauthor of the book Network Information Theory (Cambridge Press 2011). He has won several honors and awards, including the 2012 Claude E. Shannon Award, and the 2004 Infocom best paper award. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the IEEE. He has been active in several IEEE societies, including serving on the Board on Governors of the IT society where he is currently its President. He cofounded and/or served in various leadership roles at several semiconductor, EDA, and biotechnology companies.
Host: Professor Sandeep Gupta
Location: Seeley Wintersmith Mudd Memorial Hall (of Philosophy) (MHP) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mayumi Thrasher
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International Student Assembly (ISA) workshop: Presentation, Interview and Networking Tips
Thu, Apr 17, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
Please join the International Student Assembly and the USC Career Center on Thursday April 17, 2014 from 4:00-6:00pm in TCC 227 (Rosen Family Screening Room) for a workshop concerning presentations, interviews, and networking tips. In the first part of the workshop, a prestigious Business Communication professor will go through academic presentations and the necessary skills international students need to understand in order to be confident during presentations. The second half will comprise of a USC Career Center counselor going over interview and networking skills, and applying those to international students.
Location: Ronald Tutor Campus Center (TCC) - 227
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Services
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Wonderland Unbound
Thu, Apr 17, 2014 @ 08:00 PM - 10:00 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
University Calendar
RSVP TO: http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/event/903810
Aliceââ¬â¢s Adventures in Wonderland, The Hunting of the Snark and other rare materials from the USC Librariesââ¬â¢ Cassady Lewis Carroll Collection will come to life in a multimedia event that will transform Doheny Memorial Library. In celebration of the tenth anniversary of the USC Libraries Wonderland Award, experience the joy of discovery in a wonderfully creative installation comprising digital animation, light projection and more.
The Wonderland Unbound opening will be the culminating event of the tenth anniversary celebration of the USC Libraries Wonderland Awardâ⬔a multidisciplinary competition in which students create scholarly and imaginative pieces inspired by the life and works of Lewis Carroll and the Cassady Lewis Carroll Collection.
Organized by the USC Libraries.
For further information on this event:
visionsandvoices@usc.eduLocation: Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library (DML) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Visions and Voices
