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SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for October
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Oct 03, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Pin Wang, Ph.D., Krishna Nayak, Ph.D., Tzung Hsiai, MD, Ph.D, Ellis Meng, Ph.D., Chem E, EE and BME
Talk Title: Pin Wang, "Engineering Nanoparticles and Biomaterials for Modulating Immunity and Drug Delivery";Krishna Nayak, "Magnetic Resonance Physics";Tzung Hsiai, "Flexible microelectronics to study injured and regenerating heart tissue"; Ellis Meng,title pending
Host: BME Department
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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EE Distinguished Lecturer Series
Mon, Oct 03, 2011 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Brian Anderso, Australian National University
Talk Title: Control and Information Architectures for Formations
Abstract: Formations of robots, underwater vehicles and autonomous airborne vehicles are progressively being deployed to tackle problems of surveillance, bush fire control, and the like. Much formation behaviour mimics the behaviour of formations of living organisms, such as birds and fish.
Several prototypical problems will be considered, starting with rendezvous and consensus. The presentation will consider the types of control, communications and sensing architecture that allow scalability for formations with many individual agents, and allow preservation of the formation shape, as well as its motion as a cohesive whole. The scalability requirement imposes a need for significant decentralization of information and control structures, and, just as in a formation of birds or fish, no one bird or fish can be expected to sense all other birds or fish and compute its own trajectory using even partial knowledge of the trajectories of all other individual birds or fish, so the amount of sensing, communication and control computation by any one agent has to be limited.
Biography: Brian Anderson was born in Sydney, Australia, and received his undergraduate education at the University of Sydney, with majors in pure mathematics and electrical engineering. He subsequently obtained a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Following completion of his education, he worked in industry in Silicon Valley and served as a faculty member in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford. He was Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Newcastle, Australia from 1967 until 1981 and is now a Distinguished Professor at the Australian National University and Distinguished Researcher in National ICT Australia Ltd. His interests are in control and signal processing. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, Royal Society London, Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, and Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Engineering. He holds doctorates (honoris causa) from the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, Universities of Sydney, Melbourne, New South Wales and Newcastle. He served a term as President of the International Federation of Automatic Control from 1990 to 1993 and as President of the Australian Academy of Science between 1998 and 2002. His awards include the IEEE Control Systems Award of 1997, the IFAC Quazza Medal in 1999, the 2001 IEEE James H Mulligan, Jr Education Medal, and the Guillemin-Cauer Award, IEEE Circuits and Systems Society in 1992 and 2001, the Bode Prize of the IEEE Control System Society in 1992 and the Senior Prize of the IEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing in 1986.
Host: Urbashi Mitra
More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/dls/More Information: 20111003 Anderson Print.pdf
Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Estela Lopez
Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/dls/
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ENH Seminar Series
Mon, Oct 03, 2011 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: André Fabio Kohn, Professor/ University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Talk Title: Simulation system of spinal networks and innervated muscles in the lower limb of humans
Abstract: The spinal cord is a complex neural machine that helps controlling the generation of commands to the muscles. A Web-based spinal cord simulator is being developed in our lab with the purpose of providing a tool for the researcher and the teacher who want to see details such as spike trains of spinal neurons, muscle force and EMG, spinal reflexes, in a large variety of situations. Spinal cord motoneurons were modeled mathematically on the basis of cat data, some classes of interneurons were included, synaptic dynamics were represented and electrical nerve stimulation was provided to reproduce experimental conditions when studying human spinal cord neurophysiology. The presentation will cover: an overall view of the simulator and the basic modeling involved; next some interesting simulation examples will be presented to show the capabilities of the simulator and emphasize the emergent properties that arise from the basic neural and muscular elements modeled. Next, some details of the mathematical modeling will be presented. Finally, I shall present the ongoing expansions that are being developed for the simulator. One of the goals for the near future will be to have the simulator control the standing posture of a human being, simplified as the problem of controlling an inverted pendulum.
Host: Francisco Valero-Cuevas
More Info: http://bbdl.usc.edu/ENHLocation: Hedco Neurosciences Building (HNB) - 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Adriana Cisneros
Event Link: http://bbdl.usc.edu/ENH
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Seminar in Astronautical Engineering
Wed, Oct 05, 2011 @ 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Astronautical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. C.C. "George" Chao, Retired Senior Engineer Specialist/Technical Manager, JPL; Consultant, Aerospace Corporation; Part-Time Lecturer
Talk Title: Stationkeeping Strategies for a Single GEO Satellite & Strategies for Collocating Multiple Geostationary Satellites
Abstract: Topic 1: Stationkeeping Strategies for a Single GEO Satellite
The dynamics and perturbations of a geostationary orbit will be introduced. The longitude (East/West) and inclination (North/South) stationkeeping strategies will be discussed. The Sun-pointing strategy and its relation to solar radiation pressure effect on eccentricity will be understood.
Topic 2: Strategies for Collocating Multiple Geostationary Satellites
The ITU (International Telecommunication Union) policies and the need for GEO collocation will be discussed. Some basic strategies for collocating 2 to 3 GEO satellites will be introduced. The concept of eccentricity and inclination vector separation will be understood with examples. The final portion of the talk will be devoted to the formation and control of a cluster of many GEO satellites in a special geometry called the âHaloâ formation. The advanced method of formation-keeping using onboard GPS measurements and GEO satellite disposal policies will be discussed.
Host: Department of Astronautical Engineering
More Information: ASTE Seminar (Dr. Chao) 10.5.pdf
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marrietta Penoliar
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Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Department Seminar
Wed, Oct 05, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Alfredo Caro, Los Alamos National Lab
Talk Title: Engineering Interfaces as a Strategy Towards New Materials for Extreme Irradiation Environments
Abstract: The LANL's Center for Materials under Extreme Mechanical and Irradiation Extremes, one of the DOE's Energy Frontier Research Center, is focused on the study of interfaces and their response to extreme conditions. This talk will cover two aspects of this research: i- radiation resistance of nanoscale foams and ii- radiation resistance of twist boundaries in fcc and bcc metals. Using computational tools and experimental measurements we we explore the behavior of these two systems to unveil details on the evolution of radiation created defects as affected by nanoscale structural features.
Host: Prof. A. Hodge
More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcomingLocation: 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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New Directions in MRI: High Field Imaging, Cell-Tracking, & Multinuclear Studies
Fri, Oct 07, 2011 @ 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Priti Balchandani, Ph.D., Radiological Sciences Laboratory, Stanford University
Talk Title: New Directions in MRI: High Field Imaging, Cell-Tracking, & Multinuclear Studies
Abstract: This talk will focus on the design of innovative radio frequency (RF) pulses and pulse sequences that harness the power of high-field magnets anexploit new contrast mechanisms in order to enable novel applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). I will present engineering solutions for MR imaging and spectroscopy at high magnetic fields such as 7 Tesla (7T). Beyond higher resolution images that elucidate finer anatomical features, high-field MR offers greater spectral resolution for spectroscopic imaging, new and enhanced contrast mechanisms and improved detection of nuclei other than protons that are essential to cell processes. Unfortunately, conventional MR imaging sequences, which work well at 1.5T and 3T, are not designed to handle some of the physical and hardware issues that emerge at 7T. I will present techniques that exploit the benefits offered by 7T magnets for neuroimaging applications by overcoming the limitations associated with their operation. Clinical value of these high-field techniques will be discussed, with a particular focus on their application to imaging epilepsy. Finally, I will focus on some creative pulse and pulse sequence designs for nontraditional MR applications such as multinuclear imaging and stem cell tracking.
Biography: Priti Balchandani, PhD, is a Research Associate in the Radiological Sciences Laboratory (RSL) at Stanford University. Her research is focused on novel RF pulse and pulse sequence design for human MR imaging and spectroscopy. She has been particularly interested in exploiting the power of high-field MR magnets to visualize the brain in unprecedented detail. Her work on overcoming some of the main limitations of operating at high magnetic fields has resulted in several first authored publications and patents as well as selection as a finalist for the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) 2008 Young Investigator Award. Dr. Balchandani is the recipient of a K99/R00 NIH Pathway to Independence Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for her grant entitled "High Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy of Epilepsy at 7T." She was also named a Junior Fellow of the ISMRM, an honor awarded to young researchers of outstanding quality and promise, with a significant potential for helping the Society achieve its mission. Dr. Balchandani received her BS in computer engineering at the University of Waterloo and her PhD in electrical engineering at Stanford University.
Host: Prof. Krishna Nayak
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
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W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century
Fri, Oct 07, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Michael Hiltzik, Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times
Talk Title: Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century
Abstract: Michael Hiltzik, Business Columnist for the Los Angeles Times, will present "Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century" 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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Biological Waveguides
Fri, Oct 07, 2011 @ 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Vasudevan (Vengu) Lakshminarayanan, Professor of Vision Science, Physics, and Electrical and Computer Engineering; University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Talk Title: Biological Waveguides
Abstract: It is well known that the photoreceptors of the eye act as classical fiber optic elements. These were first determined psychophysically by Stiles and Crawford about 75 years ago. There is considerable evidence of waveguide modal patterns in isolated photoreceptor elements. Many theoretical models have been developed to describe waveguiding in photoreceptors. This talk will review some aspects of waveguiding in photoreceptors and will introduce a possible fiber sensor based on biological waveguiding.
Biography: After finishing high school in Los Angeles, Vengu moved to India, where he received his BS and MS degrees in physics and mathematics. He then obtained a Ph.D. from University of California at Berkeley. He stayed on at Berkeley as a researcher/manager of a large NIH funded lab before moving to the medical optics industry (Allergan Medical Optics in Irvine). He is a professor of Vision Science, Physics and ECE at the University of Waterloo, prior to which he was affiliated with the University of Missouri. He has also been a Kavli Scholar at the Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics at UCSB, an adjunct professor at UC Irvine and is a current associate of the Michigan Institute for Theoretical Physics at Ann Arbor as well as a member of the Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology at UW. He has published widely in areas ranging from classical optics, quantum physics, applied math and vision science. He is on the editorial board of a number of journals including Journal of Modern Optics and Optics Letters. He has published about 10 books, including the recently published Quantum Information (McGraw Hill), and the upcoming Dihedral Fourier Analysis (Springer). He was an editor of the 5 volume Handbook of Optics (McGraw Hill). Honors include being a co-recipient of the 2011 SPIE educator award. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, OSA, SPIE, AAAS and the Institute of Physics (UK).
Host: Prof. Alexander Sawchuk
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - B18
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
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Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogues: Droplets Walking on the Impossible Pilot Wave
Fri, Oct 07, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: John W. M. Bush, Professor of Applied Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Talk Title: Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogues: Droplets Walking on the Impossible Pilot Wave - -
Series: Laufer Lecture Series
Abstract: Yves Couder and coworkers have recently reported the results of a startling series of experiments in which droplets walking on a vibrating fluid surface exhibit several dynamical features previously thought to be peculiar to the microscopic realm, including single-particle diffraction and interference, tunneling and quantized orbits. In an attempt to develop a connection between the fluid and quantum systems, we explore the Madelung transformation, whereby Schrödinger's equation is recast in a hydrodynamic form. Doing so allows us to demonstrate that the capillary pressure associated with the fluid's interfacial tension plays the role of the quantum pressure, and that the capillary Faraday waves play the role of de Broglie's matter waves. A surprising correspondence between the walking droplets and de Broglie's pilot wave theory of quantum mechanics is developed. New experiments are presented, and indicate the potential value of this hydrodynamic approach to both visualizing and understanding quantum mechanics.
Biography: John Bush is a Professor of Applied Mathematics at MIT. Having completed his BSc in Physics at University of Toronto, he went on to Harvard for his PhD in Geophysics, then the University of Cambridge for postdoctoral research. In 1998, he joined the faculty of MIT, where he is now the Director of the Applied Mathematics Laboratory. Bush's research began in geophysics, but then shifted towards the effects of surface tension. In the past five years, he has been working primarily in biological fluid mechanics and biomimicry, with a view to rationalizing and exploiting Nature's designs. Most recently, he has been exploring hydrodynamic analogues of quantum systems.
Host: Dr. Spedding
More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/10-7-11-bush.shtmlLocation: Charlotte S. & Davre R. Davidson Continuing Education Conference Center (DCC) - Club Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/10-7-11-bush.shtml
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Oct 10, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Qifa Zhou, Tzung Hsiai, Noah Malmstadt, BME
Talk Title: BME Research
Abstract: Qifa Zhou, "Integrated Ultrasound and Optical Intravascular Imaging"
Tzung Hsiai, "Flexible microelectronics to study injured and regenerating heart tissue"
Noah Malmstadt, "Biomimetic Membrances for Probing Lipid MolecularPhysiology"
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, Oct 11, 2011 @ 04:00 PM - 05:20 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Margaret L. Brandeau, Coleman F. Fung Professor of Engineering and Professor of Medicine, Stanford University
Talk Title: "Operations Research and Public Health"
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: What is the most cost-effective way to use limited HIV prevention and treatment resources? How should the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revise national immunization recommendations so that gaps in vaccination coverage will be filled in a cost-effective manner? To what extent should local communities stockpile antibiotics for response to a potential bioterror attack? This talk will describe examples from past and ongoing model-based analyses of public health policy questions. We will describe OR-based analyses can inform public health decision making. We also provide perspectives on key elements of a successful policy analysis and discuss ways in which such analysis can influence policy.
Biography: Margaret Brandeau is Coleman F. Fung Professor of Engineering and Professor of Medicine (by Courtesy) at Stanford University. Her research focuses on the development of applied mathematical and economic models to support health policy decisions. Her recent work has focused on HIV prevention and treatment programs, programs to control the spread of Hepatitis B virus, and evaluating preparedness plans for bioterror response. She is a Fellow of the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS), and has received the Presidentâs Award from INFORMS (recognizing important contributions to the welfare of society), the Pierskalla Prize from INFORMS (for research excellence in health care management science), and a Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation, among other awards. Professor Brandeau earned a BS in Mathematics and an MS in Operations Research from MIT, and a PhD in Engineering-Economic Systems from Stanford University.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Brandeau.doc
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - Room 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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CommNetS Seminar
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Vivek Goyal, MIT
Talk Title: Space-from-Time Imaging: Acquiring Reflectance and Structure Without Lenses
Series: Communications, Networks & Systems (CommNetS) Seminar
Abstract: Traditional cameras use lenses to form an optical image of the scene and thus obtain spatial correspondences between the scene and the film or sensor array. These cameras do not sample the incident light fast enough to record any transient variations in the light field. This talk introduces space-from-time imaging â a signal processing framework for imaging using only omnidirectional illumination and sensing. We show that it is possible to construct images by computationally processing samples of the response to a time-varying illumination. We also show a range sensing system that uses neither scene scanning by laser (as in LIDAR) nor multiple sensors (as in a time-of-flight camera). These technologies depend on novel parametric signal modeling and sampling theory.
Biography: Vivek Goyal completed his Ph.D. degree at the University of California, Berkeley. After working at Bell Laboratories and Digital Fountain, he joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he is currently Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering. Prof. Goyal was awarded UC-Berkeley's Eliahu Jury Award, the IEEE Signal Processing Society Magazine Award, and an NSF CAREER Award. He is a faculty co-author on student best paper award-winning papers and co-author of the forthcoming textbook Fourier and Wavelet Signal Processing (available at FourierAndWavelets.org). Along with serving on several TPCs, he is a TPC Co-Chair of IEEE ICIP 2016 and a Conference Co-Chair of the SPIE Wavelets and Sparsity conference series. He will present a tutorial on teaching signal processing at IEEE ICASSP 2012.
Host: Profs. Ubli Mitra and Antonio Ortega
More Info: http://csi.usc.edu/~dimakis/CommNetSLocation: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Rahul Jain
Event Link: http://csi.usc.edu/~dimakis/CommNetS
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AME Department Seminar
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Christophe Eloy , Professor of Physics. Aix-Marseille University, France.
Talk Title: Hydrodynamical Constraints on the Shape of Fishes and Trees
Abstract: During this talk, I will address two biomechanical problems of fluid-structure interactions. First, I will examine the relation between the shape of fishes and their performance in the case of undulatory swimming. Then, I will discuss how the resistance to wind-induced stresses constrains the architecture of trees.
Biography: Christophe Eloy is an Assistant Professor in Physics at Aix-Marseille University and at IRPHE in Marseille, France. He is currently a Marie Curie fellow at UC San Diego in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His research area is mainly Theoretical Fluid Mechanics with specific interests in Rotating Flows, Hydrodynamic Instabilities, Aeroelasticity and Animal Locomotion.
Host: Prof. E. Kanso
More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcomingLocation: 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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EE-Electrophysics Seminar
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Roger Dougal, University of South Carolina, Department of Electrical Engineering
Talk Title: From Hot Water to Hot Weapons: Managing energy flows with power electronics
Abstract: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles; Ships, Tanks, and Everyday Homes. Everything is becoming more electric. Soon your water heater will share an important characteristic with a laser weapon; its power demand will be precisely scheduled. From warships to warehouses, power electronics and high-speed data networks will provide the means for managing the flow of power. And so it turns out that the Electric Ship R&D Consortium and the Center for Grid-connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems share many technical interests. Prof. Dougal finds himself leading the activities of these two groups at the University of South Carolina (that other USC), and thereby doubling down on smart grid, distributed energy, and design tools for the next generation of electric power systems.
Biography: Roger A. Dougal received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Texas Tech. University, Lubbock, in 1983. He is currently the Thomas Gregory Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of South Carolina, where he leads the Power and Energy Systems group. He is a Director of the Electric Ship R&D Consortium, which is developing electric power technologies for the next generation of electric ships, he is co-director of the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Grid-connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems, and he leads development of the Virtual Test Bed --- a computational environment for simulation-based-design and virtual prototyping of dynamic, multidisciplinary systems. His research interests include power electronics, power systems, hybrid power sources, and simulation methods.
Host: EE-Electrophysics
More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eepLocation: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eep
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ISE 370L - Human Factors in Work Design Lecture
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:45 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: The Honorable Christopher A. Hart, Vice Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Talk Title: "Reducing Risk While Improving Productivity in Complex Industries"
Abstract: Many industries whose operations can potentially cause harm or damage if something goes wrong involve systems that consist of a complex array of subsystems that must work together effectively in order for the entire system to perform successfully. To the extent the subsystems are coupled, changes in any one subsystem can affect some or all of the other subsystems. âSystem Thinkâ refers to an awareness of the impacts throughout a system of changes in any of its subsystems.
The commercial aviation industry, in its continuing endeavor to improve safety, is using a collaborative approach to accomplish System Think â bringing all of the key parts of the industry to the table together to work in a collaborative manner to identify and address potential safety concerns. The collaborative approach resulted in a 65% reduction in the fatal accident rate in only 10 years. It also demonstrated that, contrary to conventional wisdom that safety improvements usually hurt productivity, safety improvements that result from a collaborative approach can simultaneously improve productivity.
The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the collaborative approach to other potentially hazardous industries, to help those industries determine whether a collaborative approach can help them manage their safety risks more efficiently and effectively.
http://www.usc.edu/libraries/locations/leavey/
For further information contact Professor Najm Meshkati
Telephone (213) 740-8765; Email: meshkati@usc.edu
Biography: The Honorable Christopher A. Hart was sworn in as a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board on August 12, 2009 and designated by the President for a two-year term as Vice Chairman of the Board on August 18.
Member Hart joined the Board after a long career in transportation safety, including a previous term as a Member of the NTSB. Immediately before returning to the Board, he was Deputy Director for Air Traffic Safety Oversight at the Federal Aviation Administration. He was previously the FAA Assistant Administrator for the Office of System Safety.
He served as a Member of the NTSB from 1990 to 1993. After leaving the Board, he served as Deputy Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, before moving to the FAA in 1995.
From 1973 until joining the Board in 1990, Member Hart held a series of legal positions, mostly in the private sector. He holds a law degree from Harvard University and Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association.
Member Hart is a licensed pilot with commercial, multi-engine and instrument ratings. Member Hart's family has a tradition of accomplishment in the field of transportation. His great uncle, James Herman Banning, was the first African-American to receive a pilot's license issued by the United States government, in 1926.
His term expires December 31, 2012.
More Information: Hon Chris Hart -USC Presentation - Thurs 10-13-11.pdf
Location: Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Library (LVL) - Main Auditorium
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Creativity and Opportunity in Biotechnology
Fri, Oct 14, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Robert Baker, Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California
Talk Title: Creativity and Opportunity in Biotechnology
Abstract: Dr. Robert Baker, Professor of Biological Sciences at USC, will present "Creativity and Opportunity in Biotechnology" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors program.
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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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Brian Wong, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, Professor of Otolaryngology and Bioemdical Engineering
Talk Title: Reshaping the Face" Re-engineering Cartilage in Vivo
Host: BME Department
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Six Sigma Green Belt for Process ImprovementTue, Oct 18, 2011
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Abstract: Learn how to integrate principles of business, statistics and engineering to achieve tangible results. Master the use of Six Sigma to quantify the critical quality issues in your company. Once the issues have been quantified, statistics can be applied to provide probabilities of success and failure. Six Sigma methods increase productivity and enhance quality. As a Six Sigma green belt, you will be equipped to support and champion Six Sigma implementation in your organization. To earn the Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate, you will be required to pass the Institute of Industrial Engineer's green belt exam (administered on the final day of the course).
More Info: http://mapp.usc.edu/professionalprograms/ShortCourses/SixSigmaGreenBeltforProcessImprovement.htmAudiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
Event Link: http://mapp.usc.edu/professionalprograms/ShortCourses/SixSigmaGreenBeltforProcessImprovement.htm
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Six Sigma Green Belt for Process Improvement
Wed, Oct 19, 2011
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Abstract: Learn how to integrate principles of business, statistics and engineering to achieve tangible results. Master the use of Six Sigma to quantify the critical quality issues in your company. Once the issues have been quantified, statistics can be applied to provide probabilities of success and failure. Six Sigma methods increase productivity and enhance quality. As a Six Sigma green belt, you will be equipped to support and champion Six Sigma implementation in your organization. To earn the Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate, you will be required to pass the Institute of Industrial Engineer's green belt exam (administered on the final day of the course).
More Info: http://mapp.usc.edu/professionalprograms/ShortCourses/SixSigmaGreenBeltforProcessImprovement.htmAudiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
Event Link: http://mapp.usc.edu/professionalprograms/ShortCourses/SixSigmaGreenBeltforProcessImprovement.htm
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Dynamics and Control of Large Utility-Scale Wind Turbines for Fun and Profit
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Mark Balas, University of Wyoming
Talk Title: Dynamics and Control of Large Utility-Scale Wind Turbines for Fun and Profit
Abstract: The next generation of utility-scale wind turbines will be larger and more flexible than earlier designs to
promote greater energy capture and reduce the cost of energy. It is here that the implementation of active
feedback control is crucial to meet design objectives. Not only must there be power regulation or optimization
but also load mitigation to extend the life of the turbine. Wind turbine dynamics modeling for active control is
composed of four principal parts:
1. Aerodynamics and Inflow Behavior,
2. Structural Dynamics,
3. Feedback Control Algorithms,
4. Power Electronics
Active control is a relatively new technology for wind turbines. Basic control theory used in this talk is linear
time-invariant and periodic control using disturbance accommodation, but with a strong connection to the
aerodynamics and structural dynamics of wind turbines. New work in adaptive control of wind turbines will
also be presented.
Biography: Mark Balas is the Guthrie Nicholson Professor of Electrical Engineering and Head of the Electrical and
Computer Engineering Department at the University of Wyoming. He has the following technical degrees: PhD
in Mathematics, MS Electrical Engineering, MA Mathematics, and BS Electrical Engineering. He has held
various positions in industry, academia, and government. Among his careers, he has been a university professor
for over 30 years with RPI, MIT, University of Colorado-Boulder, and University of Wyoming, and has
mentored 39 doctoral students. He has over 300 publications in archive journals, refereed conference
proceedings and technical book chapters. He has been visiting faculty with the US Air Force Research
Laboratory-Kirtland AFB, the NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, The NASA Ames Research Center, and is the
Associate Director of the University of Wyoming Wind Energy Research Center and adjunct faculty with the
School of Energy Resources. He is a fellow of the AIAA and a life fellow of the IEEE.
Host: Edmond Jonckheere
More Information: Balas.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Shane Goodoff
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The Quest for a Quantum Simultaneous Decoder
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mark M. Wilde, McGill University
Talk Title: The Quest for a Quantum Simultaneous Decoder
Abstract: Almost every channel coding theorem in classical information theory exploits a decoding technique known as "jointly typical decoding." The decoder asks the simple question: "Is the received sequence jointly typical with a sequence in the codebook?" and if so, it decides that the received sequence corresponds to the sequence with which it is jointly typical. If the choice of the code is random, then it is possible to bound the expected transmission error probability by exploiting a union bound and the properties of typicality, as long as the number of messages is not too large. The analogous decoding technique in the quantum world is not so easy. Despite Holevo, Schumacher, and Westmoreland's (HSW) early success in constructing a decoding POVM that resembles a jointly typical decoder, it is not immediately clear how the technique extends to multiparty quantum information theory. Furthermore, it is imperative to show that such a decoding POVM works if we would like to "quantize" the best known achievable rate region for the quantum interference channel. In this talk, I'll update the progress of the McGill quantum information group on solving the quantum simultaneous decoder conjecture. We have now solved it for the case of two senders, but it is not immediately clear how to extend the proof to the case of three senders.
This work is based on a collaboration with Omar Fawzi, Patrick Hayden, Ivan Savov, and Pranab Sen in arXiv:1102.2624 .
Biography: Mark M. Wilde received the B.S. degree in computer engineering from Texas A&M University in 2002, the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Tulane University in 2004, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California in 2008. Currently, he is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the School of Computer Science, McGill University. He has published over 45 articles and preprints in the area of quantum information processing. His current research interests are in quantum error correction and quantum Shannon theory, and he is the author of the recent text "From Classical to Quantum Shannon Theory."
Host: Todd Brun, x0-3503
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 539
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Atty. Jeremiah G. March, Esq., Legislative Analyst, Lecturer and Writer in Los Angeles, CA
Talk Title: Funding Opportunities Under the 2009 Stimulus for Infrastructure Projects of More Than Local Importance
Abstract:
Transportation infrastructure funding is a cornerstone of the Obama Administrationâs strategy to end the recession. The largest grants for California infrastructure projects under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appear to have been for projects with a regionwide or statewide, as opposed to merely local, impact on congestion or pollution. This policy is consistent with Federal and California law requirements for the past twenty years that transportation infrastructure projects be consistent with regionwide and statewide transportation, economic, and environmental goals before receiving Federal or state funds. After examining the types of California transportation infrastructure projects that received the largest grants under the 2009 stimulus, this presentation outlines long-standing Federal and State transportation planning and funding requirements that favor projects of more than local interest.
Biography: Jeremiah G. March, Esq. is an attorney, legislative analyst, lecturer and writer in Los Angeles, California. From 1993 to 1999, he served as Deputy Legal Counsel for the Southern California Association of Governments, the nationâs largest regional transportation planning agency. From 2000 to 2004, he advised and defended government agencies in private practice. From 2004 through 2011, he worked as a Senior Research Attorney for the Civil and Civil Complex Panels of the Orange County Superior Court. Since 2002, Mr. March has been an Adjunct Lecturer at the Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, teaching classes in transportation infrastructure finance law and government contracting law. His published works include California Transportation Law : A Guide to Federal, State and Regional Requirements, published by Solano Press Books in 2000; and California Public Contract Law : Basic Principles and Special Requirements (Solano Press, 2007); and Interpretation of Laws : A Guide to Understanding and Drafting California Statutes and Regulations (California Administrative Office of the Courts, 2011). Mr. March is currently working on a revised edition of California Transportation Law.
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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CommNetS Seminar: Net Neutrality & Wireless Net Neutrality: Why Network Researchers Should Care
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Scott Jordan, University of California, Irvine
Talk Title: Net Neutrality & Wireless Net Neutrality: Why Network Researchers Should Care
Series: Communications, Networks & Systems (CommNetS) Seminar
Abstract: Abstract: Net neutrality has become one of the hottest debates about communications public policy. Itâs resolution, or lack thereof, will largely determine whether and how Quality-of-Service mechanisms are deployed in the Internet. I will propose a unified net neutrality policy that applies both to wireline and wireless Internet. The policy is grounded in both communications law and Internet architecture. I will discuss how technical differences between wired and wireless networks should determine reasonable traffic management, and how net neutrality should address Quality of Service requirements of specialized and other services. I will argue that communication service providers should be able to charge both residential and business users for bandwidth and Quality of Service, but not to restrict applications.
Biography: Bio: Scott Jordanâs research interests include communications policy, pricing and differentiated services in the Internet, and resource allocation in wireless multimedia networks. In the communications policy area, he is working on network neutrality and traffic management. He is developing moderate network neutrality policies founded on network architecture that encourage development of network management for multimedia applications while prohibiting anti-competitive behavior. In the networks technology area, he is working on the integration of voice, data, and video on the Internet and on wireless networks. Professor Jordan received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. He has served as an IEEE Congressional Fellow, working in the United States Senate on Internet and telecommunications policy issues, and on the FCC Open Internet Technical Advisory Committee.
Host: Prof. Rahul Jain
More Info: http://csi.usc.edu/~dimakis/CommNetS/doku.php?id=startLocation: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Rahul Jain
Event Link: http://csi.usc.edu/~dimakis/CommNetS/doku.php?id=start
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AME Department Seminar
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Houman Owhadi, Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Control and Dynamical Systems. California Institute of Technology. Pasadena, CA
Talk Title: Homogenization of Wave Equations Non-Separated Scales, High Contrast and Localized Bases
Abstract: We show how to construct localized elliptic cell problems for the homogenization of wave equations with non-separated scales, high-contrast and arbitrary deterministic coefficients. Randomness, scale separation, mixing or "epsilon-sequences" are not required because the proposed method solely relies on the compactness of the solution space. The support of cell problems can be localized to arbitrarily small subsets of the whole domain and explicit approximation error estimates are obtained as a function of the size of those subsets. We show how this work extends to elastodynamics and atomistic to continuum upscaling. Various parts of this talk are joint work with L. Zhang, L. Berlyand, M. Desbrun, M. Federov, M. Desbrun, L. Kharevych and P. Mullen.
Biography: Houman Owhadi received his B.S., Ecole Polytechnique (France), 1994; M.S., Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, 1997; Ph.D., Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (Switzerland), 2001. He moved to Caltech as Assistant Professor from 2004-11, becoming Professor in 2011. His work focuses on the modeling and analysis of systems characterized by multiple scales, geometric structures, noise and uncertainties. At the center of his work are fundamental problems such as non-separated scales, anomalous diffusion, the geometric integration of multi-scale stochastic mechanical systems and the optimal quantification of uncertainties in presence of limited information.
Host: Prof. E. Kanso
More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcomingLocation: 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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Quantitative Body Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 03:45 PM - 04:45 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Kyunghyun (Kyung) Sung, PhD, Department of Radiology, Stanford University
Talk Title: Quantitative Body Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI
Abstract: Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) detects spatial and temporal variations in signal enhancements and can offer a measure of microvascular structure and pathology. Pharmacodynamic biomarkers, provided by quantitative DCE-MRI, have a promising future to be used to monitor tumor response to treatment, but there still exist several challenges to ensure consistent and reliable quantitative DCE-MRI results across different clinical trials in oncology.
In this talk, we describe our recent technical developments to overcome these challenges by 1) improving spatial- and temporal-resolution of MRI using two novel compressed sensing methods, 2) increasing accuracy of T1 measurements with B1 inhomogeneity correction in 3T breast MRI, and 3) easily facilitating data analysis of quantitative DCE-MRI with our software developments (OsiriX plug-ins). Such developments can potentially offer more robust and reproducible measures of microvascular parameters associated with human cancers.
Biography: Kyung Hyun Sung is a Research Associate in the Department of Radiology at Stanford University. He joined the Body Magnetic Resonance (BMR) Group (directed by Brian Hargreaves), which is part of the Radiological Sciences Lab, after completing the PhD program (advised by Prof.Krishna Nayak) in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Southern California.
His research interests include Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) MRI, Compressed Sensing (CS), and Fat/Water separation.
Host: Prof. Krishna Nayak
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
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Quantitative Body Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 03:45 PM - 04:45 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Kyunghyun (Kyung) Sung, PhD, Department of Radiology, Stanford University
Talk Title: Quantitative Body Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI
Abstract: Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) detects spatial and temporal variations in signal enhancements and can offer a measure of microvascular structure and pathology. Pharmacodynamic biomarkers, provided by quantitative DCE-MRI, have a promising future to be used to monitor tumor response to treatment, but there still exist several challenges to ensure consistent and reliable quantitative DCE-MRI results across different clinical trials in oncology.
In this talk, we describe our recent technical developments to overcome these challenges by 1) improving spatial- and temporal-resolution of MRI using two novel compressed sensing methods, 2) increasing accuracy of T1 measurements with B1 inhomogeneity correction in 3T breast MRI, and 3) easily facilitating data analysis of quantitative DCE-MRI with our software developments (OsiriX plug-ins). Such developments can potentially offer more robust and reproducible measures of microvascular parameters associated with human cancers.
Biography: Kyung Hyun Sung is a Research Associate in the Department of Radiology at Stanford University. He joined the Body Magnetic Resonance (BMR) Group (directed by Brian Hargreaves), part of the Radiological Sciences Lab, after completing the PhD program (advised by Prof.Krishna Nayak) in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Southern California.
His research interests include Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) MRI, Compressed Sensing (CS), and Fat/Water separation.
Host: Prof. Krishna Nayak
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
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Astani CEE Department Seminar - EERI
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Farzad Naeim, S.E., Esq., Vice President and General Counsel John A. Martin & Associates, Inc
Talk Title: Realtime Post-Disaster Performance Evaluation and Damage Detection for Buildings
Abstract: This presentation discusses the need for and utility of a new system developed for real-time performance evaluation and damage detection for buildings. First we establish the need for such as system and then proceed with describing the technological breakthroughs that have made development of such a system possible. Finally we wrap up by presenting the results that may be obtained by using such a system.
While the general public usually associates natural disasters with the visual spectacle of fallen buildings, in reality even during most severe disasters in many modern metropolitan areas, most buildings remain standing and relatively a small percentage of buildings collapse. This has been observed in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge, 1995 Kobe Japan, 1999 Taiwan, 2010 Chile, and 2011 Japan earthquakes. The dificult question, however, is what is the status of these apparently standing buildings? As my friend Dr. Mustafa Erdik has quite ably stated in a recent New York Times article: âTo say that a building is in bad condition is easy. To say that one is safe is hard.â
For building owners and facilities managersâ particularly those responsible for structures such as hospitals, emergency centers, utilities, senior living facilities, universities, and high rise apartments and hotels â the ability to detect and assess building damage in real-time is invaluable.
The technology for real-time post-disaster performance evaluation and damage detection is not a fantasy. It is here and useable today as will be demonstrated in this presentation.
Biography: Dr. Farzad Naeim is the Vice-President and General Counsel for John A Martin & Associates. He is also the past President of Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). He has won numerous awards and published many journal papers on earthquake engineering. He also taught several classes at his alma mater, USC.
Host: USC-EERI Student Chapter
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Six Sigma Green Belt for Process Improvement
Thu, Oct 20, 2011
Executive Education
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Abstract: Learn how to integrate principles of business, statistics and engineering to achieve tangible results. Master the use of Six Sigma to quantify the critical quality issues in your company. Once the issues have been quantified, statistics can be applied to provide probabilities of success and failure. Six Sigma methods increase productivity and enhance quality. As a Six Sigma green belt, you will be equipped to support and champion Six Sigma implementation in your organization. To earn the Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate, you will be required to pass the Institute of Industrial Engineer's green belt exam (administered on the final day of the course).
More Info: http://mapp.usc.edu/professionalprograms/ShortCourses/SixSigmaGreenBeltforProcessImprovement.htmAudiences: Registered Attendees
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
Event Link: http://mapp.usc.edu/professionalprograms/ShortCourses/SixSigmaGreenBeltforProcessImprovement.htm
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 @ 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Cheng Lin, Civil Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, TaichungTaiwan
Talk Title: Study on Two-Phase Velocity Field of a Steady Hydraulic Jump Using PIV and BIV
Abstract:
A hydraulic jump is widely used as an energy dissipator and is commonly seen in channel flows downstream of a spillway or sluice gate. The kinematic structure of a hydraulic jump is very complicated because of the violent turbulent mixing and air entrainments in the jump. It has confronted many investigators for several decades.
By employing both the BIV (Bubble Image Velocimetry) and PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) Professor Lin and his research group have successfully obtained the flow structure in the aerated region of a steady hydraulic jump using BIV and the flow structure outside the aerated region using PIV.
The experimental techniques to be presented will have wide ranging applications for wave breaking studies in coastal engineering as well as investigations on bubble flows for waste water treatment in environmental engineering field.
Host: Prof. J.J. Lee
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Industry Night with Boeing
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 @ 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Robert Andersen, Space & Intelligence Systems Manager The Boeing Company
Talk Title: Industry Night with Boeing
Abstract: Every engineer always has in mind what work life and his/her career path is going to be like when looking for employment opportunities. What better way to clear any doubts than hearing a first hand testimony from an experienced engineer?
Pi Tau Sigma and Sigma Gamma Tau would like to invite you to take advantage of this great opportunity:
Robert Andersen
Space & Intelligence Systems Manager
The Boeing Company
October 20th 5-6PM
SGM 101
FREE FOOD!!!
Robert will give a presentation that will help you understand what a company like Boeing can do for your career path, what the Engineering industry is all about, and what to expect from work life.
He will be happy to give everyone advice and also to share his experiences in the industry.
We hope you take advantage of this unique opportunity. We look forward to seeing you all there!
Host: Pi Tau Sigma/ Sigma Gamma Tau
Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Pi Tau Sigma
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W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Synaptic Mechanisms of Neural Plasticity
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 @ 01:00 AM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mary B. Kennedy, The Allen and Lenabelle Davis Professor of Biology at the California Institute of Technology
Talk Title: Synaptic Mechanisms of Neural Plasticity
Abstract: Mary B. Kennedy, The Allen and Lenabelle Davis Professor of Biology at the California Institute of Technology, will present "Synaptic Mechanisms of Neural Plasticity" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Program.
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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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Cancelled,
Talk Title: Cancelled
Host: BME Department
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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ENH Seminar Series
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Samuel Sober, Assistant Professor/ Emory University
Talk Title: Vocal control and sensorimotor learning - neurons, muscles, and behavior
Abstract: Our lab uses the songbird vocal control system to investigate how the brain generates behavior and learns from experience. The neural circuits governing the learning and production of song are easily accessible to measurement and manipulation, providing a rich system in which to study the interplay between sensory feedback, motor control, and neural plasticity. However, although much is known about both song behavior and the functional anatomy of the songbird brain, we know very little about how the brain uses sensory feedback signals to rewire the neural circuits driving vocal behavior.
In my talk I will present studies that employ a range of behavioral and physiological techniques to investigate song learning and vocal control. First, by developing a system for manipulating auditory experience in the singing bird, we have demonstrated that adult birds maintain vocal performance by a process of error correction. Shifting the pitch (fundamental frequency) of auditory feedback leads to compensatory changes in the pitch of song. This result suggests that song is constantly evaluated relative to an auditory target and that the resulting error signals are used to correct vocal output, a process similar to that believed to maintain the accuracy of human speech. Second, neural recordings from nucleus RA (robust nucleus of the arcopallium) in the songbird brain have begun to reveal how premotor neurons contribute to the moment-by-moment control of vocal output. Third, preliminary studies using electromyographic (EMG) recordings from the muscles controlling song describe the precise patterns of muscle activation that accompany the production of different song elements. Future work will extend and combine these techniques to understand the relationship between vocal learning, the neural encoding of motor commands, and the transformation of neural activity into vocal behavior by the motor periphery."
Host: Jason Kutch
More Info: http://bbdl.usc.edu/ENHLocation: Center For Health Professions (CHP) - 147
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Adriana Cisneros
Event Link: http://bbdl.usc.edu/ENH
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Loss Minimization for Voice Onset Time (VOT) Measurement, Phoneme Alignment, and Phoneme Recognition
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Joseph Keshet, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, TTI-Chicago
Talk Title: Loss Minimization for Voice Onset Time (VOT) Measurement, Phoneme Alignment, and Phoneme Recognition
Abstract: In discriminative learning one is interested in training a system to optimize a certain desired measure of performance, or task loss. In binary classification one typically tries to minimize the error rate. But in prediction for more complex tasks, such as phoneme recognition or voice onset time (VOT) measurement, each task has its own loss. Phoneme recognition performance is measured in terms of phoneme error rate (edit distance) and VOT measurement is quantitatively assessed by the mean deviation from the manually labeled VOT. In the talk I will present two algorithms applied to VOT measurement, phoneme alignment, and phoneme recognition, where the goal is to minimize the specific loss for each task.
In the first part of the talk I will present the problem of automatic VOT measurement and define its loss. I will describe an algorithm which is based on structural support vector machines (SVMs) to minimize this loss. Applied to initial voiceless stops from four corpora (read and conversational speech), the agreement between automatic and manual measurements was found to be near human inter-judge agreement. The experimental results also show that this algorithm provides an accurate and efficient technique for large-scale phonetic analysis.
While algorithms based on structural SVMs are aimed at minimizing the task loss, they actually minimize a surrogate to the task loss, and there is no guarantee about the actual task loss. In the second part of the talk, I will describe a new theorem stating that a general learning update rule directly corresponds to the gradient of the task loss. Based on this update rule I will present a new algorithm for minimizing the unique task loss of phoneme alignment. I will present empirical results on phoneme alignment of a standard test set from the TIMIT corpus, which surpass all previously reported results on this problem. I will show how this update rule can be applied to continuous-density HMMs and will present empirical results on phoneme recognition of TIMIT, showing our approach outperforms previous results on large-margin training of HMMs.
This is joint work with Chih-Chieh Cheng, Tamir Hazan, David McAllester, Morgan Sonderegger, and Mark Stoehr.
Biography: Joseph Keshet received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Tel Aviv University in 1994 and 2002. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2007. From 1995 to 2002 he was a researcher at IDF, and won the prestigious ``Israel Defense Prize'' award for outstanding research and development achievements. From 2007 to 2009 he was a post-doctoral researcher at IDIAP Research Institute in Switzerland. Since 2009 he has been a Research Assistant Professor at TTI-Chicago. He was the founder of and currently chairs the Machine Learning for Speech and Language Processing chapter of the International Speech Communication Association (ISCA), and was one of the organizers of the first Symposium on Machine Learning for Speech and Language Processing. His research interests are in speech and language processing, with a particular interest in speech recognition. His current research focuses on the design, analysis and implementation of machine learning algorithms for the domain of speech and language processing.
Host: Professor Shrikanth Narayanan
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mary Francis
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Path to Mobile Broadband and Cloud Computing in Taiwan
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Professor Yi-Bing Lin , National Chiao Tung University
Talk Title: Path to Mobile Broadband and Cloud Computing in Taiwan
Abstract: : This talk will consist of two recent high-tech developments in Taiwan; namely, mobile broadband and cloud computing. First, we will introduce mobile broadband reinforcement cycle and, based on this reinforcement cycle concept, we describe how fast developments in mobile broadband technologies have occurred in Taiwan. In particular, we will elaborate on the evolution path toward 4G, including the All-IP architecture (SAE). We describe the TD-LTE research in National Chiao Tung University (NCTU). With the support of Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), NCTU has deployed a TD-LTE network. In 2010, we collaborated with Chunghwa Telecom, China Mobile Ltd. and ITRI to conduct the world's first cross-strait TD-LTE trial that connected high-definition conference calls between Taiwan and Shanghai through Hong Kong, which was a great success and has pushed Taiwanâs mobile broadband communications into a new era. In the future, we will deploy a TD-LTE testing environment in Taiwan in the next stage. In the second part of the talk, we will describe the R&D efforts in cloud computing in Taiwan.
Biography: Professor Yi-Bing Lin is Vice President and Chair professor of National Chiao Tung University (NCTU). He is a senior technical editor of IEEE Network. He serves on the editorial boards of IEEE Trans. on Vehicular Technology. He is General or Program Chair for prestigious conferences including ACM MobiCom 2002. He is Guest Editor for several journals including IEEE Transactions on Computers. Lin is the author of the books Wireless and Mobile Network Architecture (Wiley, 2001), Wireless and Mobile All-IP Networks (John Wiley,2005), and Charging for Mobile All-IP Telecommunications (Wiley, 2008). Lin received numerous research awards including 2005 NSC Distinguished Researcher, 2006 Academic Award of Ministry of Education and 2008 Award for Outstanding contributions in Science and Technology, Executive Yuen. He is in the advisory boards or the review boards of various government organizations in Taiwan including Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and National Science Council. He is a member of board of directors, Chunghwa Telecom. Lin is AAAS Fellow, ACM Fellow, IEEE Fellow, and IET Fellow.
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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Astani CEE Department Oral Dissertation Defense
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 @ 01:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Sanghee Shin, CEE Ph.D. Candidate
Talk Title: Electroremediation of Offshore Muds Contaminated with Heavy Metals
Abstract:
The electroremediation process requires much needed research work to be optimized for up-scaling and improving economic efficiency. This is particularly true when applying the technology to highly heterogeneous and complex mineralogy materials such as offshore sediments and muds. Laboratory batch tests were performed on field retrieved specimens of contaminated offshore muds near Abu Dhabi Ports of United Arab Emirates. The influence of various process parameters that determine the optimum operating conditions and sustainable enhancement of electrokinetic remediation was investigated. Excellent results of decontamination of seven heavy metals were achieved. The removal of heavy metals by management of the in-situ chlorine gas (Cl2) production was also investigated. The tests showed a high removal efficiency of heavy metals at the cathode end of cores after 24 hours of EK application. Electrokinetics is also proposed to improve acidizing operations, i.e., increase the penetration distance. Aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid (usually 15%) are pumped into the carbonate formations to enlarge the pores and pre-existing fractures. However, the penetration distance of acid is very short. By applying D.C. current, one can drive the acid for long distances into the formation being acidized.
Advisor: Prof. Najmedin Meshkati
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Epstein Institute Seminar Series / ISE 651 Seminar
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 @ 04:00 PM - 05:20 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jian Cao, Department of Mechanical Engineering/Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: Manufacturing has enormous opportunities to make transiting and transformative contributions to sustainability. This talk focuses on two technologies and their fundamentals that will enhance energy and material efficiency. These two technologies are: friction/wear reduction via surface texturing and incremental forming for better energy/material utilization. It has been noted that friction/wear consumes about one third of total energy generated. Traditional friction and wear reduction strategies include: reduction of the surface roughness of contact parts, deposition of low friction coatings on the substrate surfaces, and lubrication of the interface. A relatively new approach is the creation of surface texture features in the micro-scale range on the surface of the interface part. Our work has demonstrated that significant tribological improvements for friction reduction are achieved when properly designed dimples are formed on the surface of contacting parts. Methods of producing surface texturing are reviewed, which leads to a very promising process, micro-rolling process. On increasing material efficiency, incremental forming deforms a metal piece point by point through an active control of forming tools. It has shown great process flexibility and a significant increase in forming limit to reduce material consumption. These two advantages have placed this incremental forming process as an alternative process for low volume, flexible and point-of-need production. Recent advancements on the understanding of deformation mechanism and process innovations to increase geometrical accuracy are presented.
Biography: Jian Cao received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from M.I.T. in 1995. She is currently a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University. During her tenure at Northwestern, she took a one-year leave at General Motors and a two-year leave at the National Science Foundation as a program director. Her primary interests are in the mechanics analysis, particularly instability analysis and material characterization in sheet metal forming, design of macro/micro metal forming and composite sheet forming processes. Professor Cao is a Fellow of Society of Manufacturing Engineers, a Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and an associate member of the International Academy for Production Engineering. Her awards include NSF CAREER award, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, the Young Investigator Award from the Japan-US Flexible Automation, and the Young Investigator Award from the ASME Applied Mechanics Division. Professor Cao is an associate editor for the ASME Journal of Applied Mechanics and an editor for the International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing. She is an active member of ASME. Her continuous contribution to the society was recognized by the ASME Dedicated Service Award. In addition, Prof. Cao is the President of the SME North America Manufacturing Research Institute, and a co-director of the NSF Summer Institute on Nanomechanics, Nanomaterials and Micro/Nano-manufacturing.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Cao.doc
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - Room 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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Privacy in the Smart Grid: Two New Challenges
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Lalitha Sankar , Princeton University
Talk Title: Privacy in the Smart Grid: Two New Challenges
Abstract: Two new privacy challenges in the smart grid are presented. First, at the transmission level of the network, a novel problem of competitive privacy is introduced which captures the conflicting interests of collaboration and competition amongst regional energy operators (RTOs) that are interested in estimating the state in a distributed fashion. Second, at the end-user level, the deployment of smart meters leads to the problem of managing the tradeoff between guaranteed privacy to the consumer and utility (benefit) to both consumers and electricity providers. Using the theory of rate distortion, a utility-privacy framework is presented for both problems to quantify precisely the tradeoff between the utility of either cooperating for distributed state estimation or using smart meters and the resulting privacy leakage. The talk is based on joint work with Soummya Kar, Soheil Mohajer, S. Raj Rajagopalan, Ravi Tandon and H. Vincent Poor.
Biography: Lalitha Sankar received the B.Tech degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, the M.S. degree from the University of Maryland, and the Ph.D degree from Rutgers University in 2007. Prior to her doctoral studies, she was a Senior Member of Technical Staff at AT&T Shannon Laboratories. Following her doctorate, Dr. Sankar was a recipient of a three year Science and Technology Teaching Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Council on Science and Technology at Princeton University. She is currently a Research Scholar at Princeton University. Her research interests include wireless communications, information privacy and secrecy, and network information theory. For her doctoral work, she received the 2007-2008 Electrical Engineering Academic Achievement Award from Rutgers University.
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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Neutron Tomography For Material Characterization
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Dayakar Penumadu, red N. Peebles Professor and Head of Joint Institute for Advanced Materials and Chair of Excellence; Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Talk Title: - -
Abstract: Three dimensional neutron imaging is becoming an increasingly important research tool and a diagnostic technique, providing complementary information to X-ray imaging for a wide range of applications in science and engineering. Using a well collimated neutron beam and lens coupled neutron detector system comprising of a thin scintillator screen, low-noise CCD camera, suitable mirror coupled to a high quality lens system in a light-tight box, varying resolution neutron radiography and tomography images are obtained for target materials and working systems in a controlled sample environment. In this presentation, author will present example results from his research group associated with neutron tomography of metals (steel and aluminum alloys), polymeric composites and sandwich structures, and granular materials under partial saturation. Relevant recent advances associated with energy selective neutron imaging including Bragg-edge imaging and dark-field tomography will also be included. As an example of in-situ diagnostic ability, neutron imaging of a working PEM fuel cell for water management studies will be addressed. The unique ability of neutrons to penetrate high Z materials and have extraordinary contrast to light elements such as hydrogen offers potential for many new applications. To demonstrate the multi-modality of using combined information from X-ray and neutron attenuation through matter, author will use the example results on partially saturated compacted sand sample and polymeric composites subjected accelerated sea environmental degradation conditions. Theses sample were imaged using X-ray (13.2 µm voxel size) and cold neutron (29.8 µm voxel size) tomography using unique imaging facilities at the Helmholtz- Zentrum-Berlin (CONRAD) and thermal neutrons (10 µm voxel size) at National Institute of Standards and Testing (BT2), Gaithersberg. Both imaging modality systems provide relatively large field of view (FOV) and high spatial resolution for engineering applications. High resolution tomography offers unprecedented opportunity to study materials non-invasively for evaluating the microstructure and damage characterization quantitatively in three dimensions. Direct integration of reconstructed images into numerical methods for solving boundary value problems is a promising future direction.
Host: Veronica Eliasson
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
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Game Theory and Human Behavior Seminar
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 @ 12:00 PM - 01:30 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: Aldo Rustichini, Professor of Economics, University of Minnesota
Talk Title: Why Blame?
Abstract: We provide evidence that subjects in an experimental setup blame others for outcomes for which the others cannot be considered responsible. We then provide an explanation of this apparently irrational behavior on the basis of a principal agent model. In the experiment a subject acting as agent chooses between a lottery and a safe asset, paying a fixed amount. The payment of the chosen asset goes to a player, who observes the choice of the agent and the outcome, and can then decide how much of a fixed amount to allocate between the agent and an involved third party, who is one of the subjects in the experiment participating as an agent in another pairing. Since no fraction of the amount could be retained by the principal, he has no other monetary incentive to favor one or the other; hence a shift in the allocation of rewards is a reliable measure of the valence of the affective response of the principal to the agentâs choice and the outcome. Since the agent is clearly not responsible for the outcome of the lottery, an allocation norm that obeys a merit principle (``rewards and penalties depend on responsibilityââ) prescribes that payments depend on the choice of the safe or risky asset, but not on the outcome.
Biography: Aldo Rustichini is Professor of Economics at the University of Minnesota. He has an undergraduate degree in Philosophy (University of Florence, Italy) a Master in Economics (University of Manchester, UK) and a Ph.D in Mathematics (University of Minnesota). He is Fellow of the Econometric Society, and member of the Game Theory Council. He is associate Editor in several international Journals (Journal of Mathematical Economics, Games and Economic Behavior, PLOS One). He is coordinating and directing research groups in the USA, in UK (University of Cambridge) and Italy (Bocconi University). His research interests are in Game Theory, Decision Theory, Experimental Economics and Neuroeconomics.
Host: Milind Tambe
More Information: Why blame.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Eric Mankin
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Lyman L. Handy Colloquium Series
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 @ 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Suresh Advani, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware
Series: Lyman L. Handy Colloquium Series
Abstract: This talk will focus on how the science base of materials processing, which integrates material parameters with transport phenomena at various scales during manufacturing, can be used to create multi-physics models and implemented in simulations to describe the effect of material, geometric and process parameters on the final quality of the part. The simulations can be further used as optimization and control tools to improve the yield of the process despite the variability in the incoming materials and the process parameters. Automation can be introduced with equipment designs that rely on sensors and simulations interfaced with actuators to address variability and disturbances in the process. Examples where this has been demonstrated on a laboratory scale will be presented for Liquid Molding processes such as Resin Transfer Molding, Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding and Compression Resin Transfer Molding.
Host: Steven Nutt
Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 159
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Petra Pearce
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"A Design Thinking Approach to Transportation Research"
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mary Kathryn Thompson, KAIST Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Korea
Abstract: Please see attached.
Biography: Please see attached.
More Information: MKT-Design-Thinking-Future-Transportation.pdf
Location: Ralph And Goldy Lewis Hall (RGL) - Room 103
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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METRANS Transportation Seminar
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Mary Kathryn Thompson, Associate Professor at KAIST Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in South Korea
Talk Title: A Design Thinking Approach to Transportation Research
Abstract: Transit In the Essential Tension, Thomas Kuhn argues that the âtransformation of the classical sciences during the Scientific Revolution is more accurately ascribed to new ways of looking at old phenomena than to a series of unanticipated experimental discoveries.â Modern design research can be described in much the same way. Design researchers employ a vast array of tools, theories, methodologies, and thought processes (sometimes referred to as âdesign thinkingâ) to better understand the artifacts that pervade the built environment and the processes by which successful artifacts are or could be created. New and improved ways of doing things are usually precipitated by new ways of thinking about them.
This talk will describe two examples of a design thinking approach to transportation research. First, a new method of interchange / intersection selection based on the potential impact of the coupling within the system will be presented. The second example makes use of the distinction between âfunctionalâ and âphysicalâ thinking to reexamine existing and future transportation paradigms such as taxis and personal rapid transit (PRT) systems.
Finally, an alternative concept for a smart-Â‐grid compatible robotic future transportation network will be presented that was developed with an emphasis on new functionality rather than on the development of new physical mechanisms.
Biography: Mary Kathryn Thompson, Ph.D. from MIT, is an Associate Professor at KAIST Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in South Korea. She is engaged in design research at the boundary, both within engineering and beyond, and is actively working on the development and application of formal design theories to civil, environmental, and urban engineering. She is also interested in non-Â‐traditional applications of the finite element method, especially for surface phenomena such as fluid sealing, thermal and electrical contact resistance, friction and wear. Kate is the Director of the KAIST Freshman Design Program, which earned her both the KAIST Grand Prize for Creative Teaching and the Republic of Korea Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Award for Innovation in Engineering Education in 2009. She also received the Grand Prize at the 2009 International Conference on Axiomatic Design Theory for her paper on the synthesis of formal design theories for traffic intersections.
RSVP: Lunch will be served to those who RSVP. Please RSVP by Wednesday, October 26th at noon (12 pm) to Shawn Gong, TGong@usc.edu.
Host: METRANS (http://www.metrans.org/)
More Information: Flyer_METRANS Seminar_10272011_Thompson.pdf
Location: Ralph And Goldy Lewis Hall (RGL) - 103
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: METRANS
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W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; The Importance of Engineering in Modern Society
Fri, Oct 28, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: President C. L. Max Nikias, University of Southern California
Talk Title: The Importance of Engineering in Modern Society
Abstract: Dr. C. L. Max Nikias, President of the University of Southern California, will present "The Importance of Engineering in Modern Society" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Program.
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, Oct 28, 2011 @ 03:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Saeed Mohammadi, Purdue University
Talk Title: Prospects of Semiconductor on Insulator (SOI) Technology in Power Amplifiers and Integrated Nanoelectromechanical Systems
Host: Prof. Hossein Hashemi
More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Mohammadi_2011_10_28.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Hossein Hashemi
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Charles Finley, Advanced Bionics
Talk Title: Progress and Challenges in Improving Cochlear Implant Performance
Abstract: Progress and Challenges in Improving Cochlear Implant Performance
Cochlear implants are highly successful sensory neuroprosthetics for restoring functional sound sensations to severely and profoundly deaf individuals. Despite much progress over the last two decades, the field continues to evolve as new technologies and new understanding of stimulation mechanisms become available. A significant barrier to progress is high variability in speech reception performance across patients receiving similar technology. The presentation will outline the general operational principles of cochlear implantation and will describe key issues in the design and application of these systems. New insights into the basis of the high variability of outcomes will be described along with a new perspective on how to redefine the overall cochlear implant design problem.
Host: BME Department
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
