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  • PhD Defense - Daniel Moyer

    Fri, Aug 23, 2019 @ 09:30 AM - 11:30 AM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

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    PhD Candidate: Daniel Moyer
    Date: Friday August 23rd, 2019
    Time: 9:30 am - 11:30 am
    Location: GFS 213
    Committee: Greg Ver Steeg, Paul Thompson, Aram Galstyan, Aiichiro Nakano

    Title:
    Representation Problems in Brain Imaging

    Abstract:
    Diffusion weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) is a imaging modality that, conditional on direction, queries the propensity for water diffusion in living tissue. These images are desirable for studying tissues with anisotropic diffusion profiles, e.g. the white matter of the human brain. I here describe two problems at the interface between diffusion imaging and computational science, as well as proposed solutions for those problems, reconciling differences between current methodology, existing theory, and practical constraints.

    The first part of this thesis describes methodology from the intersection of network science and neuroscience. Previous literature has worked to estimate white matter axon bundles (fasiculi) from dMRI. Combined with segmentations of the grey matter, this leads intuitively to the construction of macro-scale brain networks, where nodes are cortical regions and edges are estimates of axonal connections. The work I present here deconstructs this progression, reconciling the inherently spatially continuous cortex with discrete network theory. The resulting model is a generalization of discrete graphs, using point process theory to create continuous interaction densities (continuum adjacency functions).

    The second part of this thesis describes a method for learning representations of data that invariant under changes in specified outside factors. These can be applied to diffusion imaging data, which in particular suffers from instrument/observer biases ("site/scanner" biases). Due to the relative complexity of the domain, modelling the particular effects of each instrument may be difficult; moreover, such an approach does not generalize to unseen instruments. Instead, the described method can learn representations that are minimally informed of the imaging site. Subsequent derived data will then be at least as uninformed of the site variable.

    Location: Grace Ford Salvatori Hall Of Letters, Arts & Sciences (GFS) - 213

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Lizsl De Leon

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  • Viterbi New Transfer Student BBQ

    Tue, Aug 27, 2019 @ 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM

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

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    All new Viterbi transfer students are invited to the New Transfer Student BBQ!

    Tuesday, August 27, 2019

    11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

    SAL Lawn

    Mix and mingle with new and returning Viterbi transfer students, get to know Viterbi staff, and learn about programs and resources. RSVPs are encouraged, but not required. We look forward to seeing you there!

    For more info: http://viterbiundergrad.usc.edu/newstudentprograms/

    Location: SAL Lawn

    Audiences: Undergrad

    Contact: Amanda McCraven

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