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Events for November 16, 2007

  • Meet USC (AM session)

    Fri, Nov 16, 2007 @ 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Undergraduate Admission

    Workshops & Infosessions


    This half day program is designed for prospective freshmen and family members. Meet USC includes an information session on the University and the Admission process; a student led walking tour of campus and a meeting with us in the Viterbi School. Meet USC is designed to answer all of your questions about USC, the application process and financial aid.Reservations are required for Meet USC. Please visit http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/visit/events/meet_usc/ to check availability and make an appointment. Be sure to list an Engineering major as your "intended major" on the webform!

    Location: USC Admission Center

    Audiences: Prospective Freshmen and Family Members - RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

    Contact: Viterbi Admission

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  • A Non-Linear Neural Classifier and its Applications in Testing Analog/RF Circuits

    Fri, Nov 16, 2007 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Yiorgos MakrisAbstract: In this talk, I will be discussing a machine learning-based test paradigm for mixed-signal/RF circuits. I will first describe an ontogenic neural classifier that learns to separate the nominal from the faulty chip distributions in a low-dimensional space of inexpensive measurements. The key novelty of this classifier is that its topology is not fixed; rather, it adapts dynamically, in order to match the inherent complexity of the separation problem. Thus, it establishes separation hypersurfaces that reciprocate very well even in the presence of complex chip distributions. I will then discuss the construction of guard-bands, which provide a level-of-confidence indication and support a two-tier test method. In this method, the majority of chips are accurately classified through inexpensive measurements, while the small fraction of chips for which the decision of the classifier has a low level of confidence is re-tested through traditional specification testing. The ability of the proposed method to drastically reduce the cost of mixed-signal/RF testing without compromising its quality will be demonstrated using two example circuits, a switched-capacitor filter and a UHF receiver front-end. Additionally, its application in specification test compaction and its potential for developing a stand-alone analog/RF BIST method will be discussed. Bio: Yiorgos Makris received the Diploma of Computer Engineering and Informatics from the University of Patras, Greece, in 1995, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, in 1997 and 2001, respectively. He then joined Yale University where he is currently an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and leads the Testable and Reliable Architectures (TRELA) Laboratory. His research interests are in the areas of test and reliability of analog, digital, and asynchronous circuits and systems.

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Annie Yu

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  • Meet USC (PM session)

    Fri, Nov 16, 2007 @ 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Undergraduate Admission

    Workshops & Infosessions


    This half day program is designed for prospective freshmen and family members. Meet USC includes an information session on the University and the Admission process; a student led walking tour of campus and a meeting with us in the Viterbi School. Meet USC is designed to answer all of your questions about USC, the application process and financial aid.Reservations are required for Meet USC. Please visit http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/visit/events/meet_usc/ to check availability and make an appointment. Be sure to list an Engineering major as your "intended major" on the webform!

    Location: USC Admission Center

    Audiences: Prospective Freshmen and Family Members - RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

    Contact: Viterbi Admission

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  • Mechanism and Chemical Kinetics of H2S Formation from ...

    Fri, Nov 16, 2007 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM

    Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Thermochemical Sulfate Reduction (TSR)Speaker: Dr. Tongwei Zhang, Research Geochemistry, Power, Environmental and Energy Research Center, (PEER), Caltech, Covina, CAAbstract:H2S generation from Thermochemical Sulfate Reduction (TSR) is a complicated organic-inorganic interaction and greatly depends on formation water chemistry, oil types, temperature and pressure. Our theoretical evidence suggests that magnesium plays a significant role in controlling the rate of TSR in petroleum reservoirs. Ab initio quantum chemical calculations have been determined the activation energy for MgSO4 contact ion-pair (CIP) reduction by hydrocarbons is about 56 kcal/mol, which is almost equivalent to that for HSO4- reduction (about 55kcal/mol). The theoretical discovery provides a base of the extrapolation from the H2S generation kinetics of HSO4- ion reduction by hydrocarbons derived from laboratory’s conditions to the geological condition with MgSO4 CIP reaction scheme. Two-stage reaction pattern of H2S generation from sulfate reduction is experimentally observed. The first stage is the sulfate reduction by hydrocarbons without H2S catalyzed, and the reaction rate is slow and depends on the concentration of HSO4 ion or MgSO4 CIP. After accumulating a sufficient amount of hydrogen sulfide, H2S catalyzed sulfate reduction kicks off and the reaction rate is much faster than the initial H2S uncatalyzed reaction. Detailed experimental work confirms that the presence of H2S is capable of catalyzing sulfate reduction and significantly increases the rate of reaction, which may help to explain why previous estimates of TSR activation energies were so divergent.
    Formation water chemistry, in particular the concentration of HSO4- or MgSO4 (aq) contact ion-pair is critical to control the TSR reaction rate. The activation energy for oils reacting with HSO4- or MgSO4 (aq) contact ion-pair is experimentally determined and is in the range of 55.3kcal/mol to 58.9kcal/mol, which is close to that of the theoretical calculated activation energy. Oil types can significantly affect the rate of TSR reaction, in particular the presence of labile sulfur species (thiols, sulfides) in oils. The presence of labile sulfur can reduce the activation energy of TSR. Experimental evidence suggests that H2S catalysis of TSR actually involves the formation of labile organic sulfur compounds. The presence of H2S can significantly lower the activation energy of TSR reaction.
    A new technique, PH2S prediction tool is now available that specifically assess H2S risk prediction and TSR effect to petroleum thermal stability and petroleum quality. By combining hydrocarbon types (mainly labile sulphur contents in oils), the formation water chemistry including Mg, Ca and SO4 concentration and reservoir thermal history with a PC-based model of hydrocarbon oxidation kinetics, we are able to predict: H2S risk degree, onset temperature of TSR, gas quality (e.g., sourness), and oil quality (organic sulphur incorporation).

    Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Evangeline Reyes

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  • Renewable Energy and Water in the Developing World with a Focus on Southeast Asia and Latin America

    Fri, Nov 16, 2007 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM

    Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Jason Selwitz, Service Learning Coordinator, Portland, OregonJason Selwitz works at Green Empowerment (GE), a Portland, Oregon-based organization that supports renewable energy, water delivery, and watershed restoration projects in Latin America and Southeast Asia. GE works with local, in-country, non-government organizations (NGO) to aid rural communities living outside the national electricity grid. Major projects have been undertaken in the Philippines, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Peru.Jason is a graduate of Penn State and is currently a graduate student at Cal Poly Pomona in "Regenerative Studies," an area of research seeking to integrate healthy ecosystems with human settlement. Jason's work and research has also included novel wastewater treatment techniques, biodiesel processing, photovoltaics, and alternative building materials. His international work began with Peace Corps work in the Philippines.

    Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Evangeline Reyes

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  • SWE Charm School

    Fri, Nov 16, 2007 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations

    Student Activity


    Ever wonder...- Is my drinking cup or my bread plate on my right ?- What does business casual REALLY mean?- What do I do with a stain on my white shirt?- Where do you put I put the napkin when I'm done?- Can I wear flip flops to work?- Where do I put my name tag?- Do I order caviar if the company is paying?Come find out at Charm School, an interactive etiquette workshop on dining etiquette and business dress.

    Location: Tommy's Place

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

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