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Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for November
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“Geometric Methods for Brain Image Registration and Signal Analysis”
Tue, Nov 01, 2011 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Anand A. Joshi, Postdoctoral Associate, Signal and Image Processing Institute, USC
Talk Title: âGeometric Methods for Brain Image Registration and Signal Analysisâ
Abstract: My talk will focus on applications of techniques from Riemannian geometry to signal and image processing, with the emphasis on human brain imaging. Studies of anatomical changes in the brain over time or of differences between populations are often performed to understand changes in disease and development. Such studies require that the imaging data first be registered to a common coordinate system. Registration and analysis of neuroimaging data presents a challenging problem due to the complex folding patterns in the human brain. Specifically, the anatomical and functional brain data is often modeled as a highly convoluted 2D curved image. Since it is non-flat, the non-Euclidean geometry of this data needs to be accounted for performing registration and subsequent signal processing. Techniques from differential geometry offer a powerful set of tools to deal with the convoluted nature of the cortex. I will present a method based on p-harmonic mapping when performing cortical surface parameterization as well as surface and volumetric registration techniques for inter-subject alignment of brains. Furthermore, I will present techniques for filtering, pattern classification and spectral analysis that use the heat kernel and the eigenspectrum of the Laplace-Beltrami operator that forms a basis for analysis on the cortical surface. I will conclude the talk with a description of recent work on the use of brain imaging data to elucidate structural and functional connectivity in the human brain.
Biography: Bio: Dr. Anand Joshi received his B.E. degree in Electronics from Shivaji University and MTech in electrical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He also worked for Siemens and later for Sasken. Dr. Joshi received his Ph.D degree in electrical engineering from USC in 2008 followed by postdoctoral training in the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at UCLA. Dr. Joshi's research interests lie in the area of brain imaging, geometric methods and brain connectivity.
Host: Dr. Alexander A. Sawchuk
More Information: Seminar-Joshi_110111.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mayumi Thrasher
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Seminar in Astronautical Engineering
Wed, Nov 02, 2011 @ 12:00 PM - 01:50 PM
Astronautical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Michael E. Lisano, Technical Manager & Senior Engineer at JPL
Talk Title: In-Flight Thruster Calibration for the 2007 Mars Phoenix Lander
Abstract: After the Phoenix spacecraft was launched on its way to Mars in August 2007, the mission team worked feverishly to create, validate and use an all-new Kalman filter tool that could process a combination of deep-space tracking Doppler data and spacecraft IMU data to precisely characterize the thrust of the individual reaction-control thrusters, which were not coupled in all axes (with interesting implications), to enable pinpoint navigation to the entry point at the top of the Martian atmosphere. Come hear how this novel âSigma-Point Consider Filterâ tool was created, tested and used on Phoenix, as the spacecraft was en route to the Red Planet!
Host: Department of Astronautical Engineering
More Information: ASTE Seminar (Dr. Lisano) 11.2.pdf
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Ana Olivares
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Communications, Networks and Systems (CommNetS) Seminar: Decision-making in Decentralized Systems
Wed, Nov 02, 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: Ashutosh Nayyar, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Talk Title: Decision-making in Decentralized Systems
Series: Communications, Networks & Systems (CommNetS) Seminar
Abstract: Decentralized systems are ubiquitous in the modern world. Communication systems, sensor networks, power generation and transmission systems, supply chain networks, economic systems like markets and auctions are all examples of decentralized systems. Such systems are characterized by the presence of multiple decision-making agents with different information. In this talk, I focus on the problem of finding optimal decision-strategies for co-operative agents in a decentralized system. In particular, I consider a decentralized stochastic decision-making problem with multiple decision-makers that share information with each other with a fixed time delay. Such decision problems arise in queuing networks, wired communication networks, distributed control systems, surveillance systems etc. In spite of initial conjectures as early as 1971, finding the general structure of agents' optimal decision-strategies with delayed information sharing had remained an open problem for 40 years. My research provides a conceptual framework that not only identifies the structure of optimal decision strategies but also provides a sequential decomposition of the optimization problem. Moreover, the conceptual methodology developed here is shown to be applicable to a broader class of decentralized decision making problems as well.
Biography: Ashutosh Nayyar received the B. Tech. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India and M.S. and Ph.D in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is currently a post-doctoral researcher at Coordinated Science Laboratory at the University of Illinois. His research interests include decentralized stochastic control, stochastic scheduling and resource allocation, controlled sensing in sensor networks, game theory and mechanism design.
Host: Rahul Jain
More Info: http://csi.usc.edu/~dimakis/CommNetS/doku.php?id=decision-making_in_decentralized_systemsLocation: 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=decision-making_in_decentralized_systems
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AME Department Seminar
Wed, Nov 02, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Rich Axelbaum, Jens Professor of Environmental Engineering Science. Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering. Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO.
Talk Title: The Global Dependence on Coal and How Oxy-Combustion Can Help
Abstract: The global demand for energy is rapidly rising, while at the same time there is growing concern that the continued use of fossil fuels, specifically coal, is irreversibly damaging our environment. Coal accounts for 50% of electricity production in the U.S., 80% in China and 75% in India. Why has coal become such an integral part of our energy mix? Does it need to be? Are there ways to utilize coal while having minimal impact on the environment? The first part of this talk will address these questions and give the audience an appreciation of the global challenges and possible solutions to our demand for clean, affordable energy. In the second part of the talk, one of the more promising solutions, Oxyfuel combustion with carbon capture and storage (CCS), will be described. Then the characteristics of oxy-fuel combustion will be addressed from a fundamental sense, and will be shown to have the potential to produce soot-free, stable flames provided the stoichiometric mixture fraction is sufficiently high. The reason for the suppression of soot chemistry under conditions of high stoichiometric-mixture-fraction will be discussed.
Host: Prof. P. Ronney
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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USC Libraries Discovery Fellows Event
Wed, Nov 02, 2011 @ 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science, Information Sciences Institute, Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Margaret Wertheim, USC Libraries Inaugual Discovery Fellow
Talk Title: The Marine Sublime
Abstract: Art and science come together in the library as Margaret Wertheim curates The Marine Sublime, her first event as the USC Libraries' inaugural Discovery Fellow.
The event starts at 4:00 p.m. in Doheny Memorial Library's Friends of the USC Libraries Lecture Hall. Wertheim, a science writer, curator, and director of the Institute For Figuring, will moderate a discussion about the intersections of art, science, nature, and culture with filmmaker David Lebrun and independent curator Marina McDougall.
An adjunct professor at the California College of the Arts, McDougall co-edited "Science is Fiction: The Films of Jean Painlevé" and organized the first retrospective of the French directorâs pioneering underwater films in the United States.
The program will include a viewing of rare editions of Ernst Haeckelâs writings and illustrations from the librariesâ special collections and an introduction by a USC marine biologist. A reception with refreshments will immediately follow the event. RSVP by calling (213) 740-1744
Faculty members are encouraged to invite their students to this unique multidisciplinary event.
Host: USC Libraries
More Info: http://dotsx.usc.edu/newsblog/index.php/main/comments/art_and_science_come_together_in_the_library_for_the_marine_sublime_onLocation: Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library (DML) - Doheny Lecture Hall
Audiences: Everyon invited but RSVP to (213) 740-1744
Contact: Patty Johnson
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AME Department Seminar
Thu, Nov 03, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: G. Paul Neitzel , Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA 30332-0405.
Talk Title: Permanent Noncoalescence and Nonwetting: Science and Applications
Abstract: Under the proper conditions it is possible to press together two drops of the same liquid without experiencing coalescence or to press a liquid droplet against a surface normally wetted by the liquid without wetting occurring. By permanent noncoalescence and nonwetting we distinguish cases in which the phenomena may be observed for unlimited time from transient examples such as two drops of liquid bouncing off one another or a liquid droplet bouncing off a solid wall. To achieve permanent noncoalescence or nonwetting, a mechanism is needed for establishing a lubricating film of surrounding fluid (usually air) and sustaining this film as the liquid/liquid or solid/liquid surfaces are moved toward each other.
This talk will address means for the establishment of such lubricating films and discuss measurements and theory conducted to understand the behavior of such systems. Finally, possible applications of permanent noncoalescence and nonwetting will be described, including a demonstration of droplet levitation above a solid surface using non-contact, optical methods and a technique for the generation of nanoliter-scale encapsulated droplets of varying volume ratio.
Biography: G. Paul Neitzel has been a Professor in The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology since 1990; he presently also serves as Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. Prior to arriving at Georgia Tech, he served for eleven years on the faculty of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Arizona State University and worked ten years at the U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory, during which time he received his Ph.D. in fluid mechanics from The Johns Hopkins University. He has conducted research on the hydrodynamic stability of unsteady swirling flows and flows associated with materials processing, vortex breakdown, suppression of coalescence/wetting and bioreactor fluid dynamics. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the recipient of a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award and an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship. He has served as a visiting professor at the Universität Karlsruhe (Germany), Imperial College of Science and Technology (London) and the Université d'Aix-Marseille II and a visiting scientist at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Germany).
Host: Prof. Spedding
More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcomingLocation: Robert Glen Rapp Engineering Research Building (RRB) - 208
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
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CSI Feedback Allocation in Multicell MIMO Channels
Fri, Nov 04, 2011 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Paul de Kerret, Eurecom Institute
Talk Title: CSI Feedback Allocation in Multicell MIMO Channels
Abstract: In this talk, we will discuss the joint precoding across K transmitters (TXs), sharing the knowledge of the user's data symbols to be transmitted towards K single-antenna receivers (RXs). We consider a distributed channel state information (DCSI) configuration where each TX has its own local estimate of the overall multiuser MIMO channel. The focus of this work is on the optimization of the allocation of the CSI feedback subject to a constraint on the total sharing through the backhaul network. Building upon the Wyner model, we derive a new approach to allocate the CSI feedback while making efficient use of the pathloss structure to reduce the amount of feedback necessary. We show that the proposed CSI allocation achieves good performance with only a linear scaling in the number of cooperating TXs instead of a quadratic scaling when the CSI is shared to all the TXs, thus making the joint transmission from a large number of TXs more practical than previously thought.
Biography: Paul de Kerret was born in 1987 in Paris, France. In 2009, he graduated from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications de Bretagne, France. Via a double degree program, he continued his studies in Munich and obtained a diploma degree in electrical engineering from Munich University of Technology (TUM), Germany. Furthermore, he also earned a four year degree in mathematics at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale, France in 2008. From January 2010 to September 2010, he has been a research assistant at the Institute for Theoretical Information Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany. Since October 2010, he is pursuing a doctorate at Eurecom Institute under the supervision of David Gesbert. The thesis is focused on the cooperation of transmitters in interference limited wireless networks. Some of his research interest are MIMO networks, multiuser information theory, and distributed optimization.
Host: Prof. Urbashi Mitra, ubli@usc.edu, x04667
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 539
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Nuclear Safety Engineering and the Fukushima Disaster
Fri, Nov 04, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Joseph E. Shepherd, Johnson Professor of Aeronautics and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Aeronautics
Talk Title: Nuclear Safety Engineering and the Fukushima Disaster
Abstract: Prof. Joseph E. Shepherd; Johnson Professor of Aeronautics and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Aeronautics; will present "Nuclear Safety Engineering and the Fukushima Disaster" 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, Nov 04, 2011 @ 03:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. David Su, Qualcomm Atheros
Talk Title: Challenges in designing CMOS Systems-on-a-Chip for Wireless Communications
Host: Hossein Hashemi
More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Sue_2011_11_4.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, Nov 07, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Chester Koh, MD, Assistant Professor â Division of Pediatric Urology Director â CHLA Robotic Surgery Program, Developmental Biology, Regenerative Medicine, & Surgery Program Childrenâs Hospital Los Angeles, USC Keck School of Medicine
Talk Title: Pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery
Abstract: BME Seminar
Chester J. Koh, MD, FACS, FAAP
Assistant Professor â Division of Pediatric Urology
Director â CHLA Robotic Surgery Program, Developmental Biology, Regenerative Medicine, & Surgery Program
Childrenâs Hospital Los Angeles, USC Keck School of Medicine
"Pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery"
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
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, Nov 08, 2011 @ 04:00 PM - 05:20 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Shivakumar Raman, John A. Myers Professor, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Oklahoma
Abstract: Aerospace, long recognized as one of the United Statesâ strongest and most competitive global industries, has been responsible for the creation of many of the nationâs best and highest paying technology jobs. Shape Engineering for Advanced Manufacturing (SEAM) is a blend of innovative technologies, methodologies and expertise designed to provide rapidly reconfigurable measurement and manufacturing to support the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) activities of the increasing number of military, commercial and general aviation industries.
SEAM is an Oklahoma Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) funded project. SEAM presents a unique business model: the combination of two entities within a SEAM enterprise: a world class research and development organization (SEAM Center), feeding technologies, products and services into a related corporation (SEAM Aero LLC) that in turn determines their best markets, and sells aggressively into those markets. The two entities continue to engage in cooperative product marketing to keep the technology set ahead of the competition.
Shape Engineering (SE) is the creation of engineering data from a damaged component through precision measurement. SE envelopes scanning and imaging, metrology and precision measurement, CAD and design rendering, and material identification and substitution analysis. Advanced Manufacturing (AM) is the use of newer manufacturing methods such as rapid manufacturing (and prototyping), deposition and powder net-shape manufacturing, and precision CNC machining to fabricate highly complex geometries in an accurate fashion. SEAM seeks to provide cheaper, faster, safer and better solutions for SE, AM and integrating logistics. Integrating logistics in this context extends from process specific factors such as tribology and material property modification, to systemic factors such as factory planning, process/system integration, tooling design, process planning and tolerance design.
Further to serving as next generation technology incubators, three elements of uniquenessâResearch, Training and Education-- will serve to create and sustain the nationâs technical workforce. Together we have the power to act as agents of change, by creating a superior workforce that leads to even further development of cutting-edge technologies.
Biography: Dr. Shivakumar Raman, a tenured full-professor in IE, is David Ross Boyd Professor, and John A. Myers Professor in Engineering in the School of Industrial Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. Earlier, he held a S.R. Noble Foundation Presidential Professorship. He teaches courses in the areas of materials, manufacturing processes and metrology. He is an Elected Fellow of 3 major engineering societies: SME, ASME and IIE. He is the current Scientific Committee Chair (Chief Editor) for the North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME (NAMRI/SME) and also serves on its Board of Directors (2008-2010).
He has served as an associate editor for the Journal of Manufacturing Systems and Journal of Manufacturing Processes (both of SME), and ASME Transactions: Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering; and as an editorial board member for IIE Transactions (Journal of Design and Manufacturing), and International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing (KSPE). He has organized satellite symposia in advanced manufacturing processes and advanced materials for ASME. He was the Manufacturing Engineering Division (MED) program chair for ASME in the National Manufacturing Week (NMW) 2003 and 2004. He was also the MED program committee chair for ASME IMECE 2005, and organized 37 sessions in manufacturing engineering.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Raman.doc
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - Room 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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AME Department Seminar
Wed, Nov 09, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Matthew West. Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Urbana-Champaign, Illinois., Assistant Professor
Talk Title: Variance Reduction for Efficient Stochastic Particle Simulation and Estimation
Abstract: Stochastic particle methods are efficient numerical algorithms for the simulation and estimation of high-dimensional systems, such as population balance models for aerosol suspensions and particle filters for nonlinear filtering. While particle methods avoid the curse of dimensionality that limits grid-based numerical schemes in high dimensions, they can still be very expensive as the number of particles becomes large.
In this talk we present two new variance reduction schemes for particle methods for Markov jump systems. The first variance reduction scheme uses particle weighting functions for a single simulation to enable variable and adaptive resolution in particle space, thereby focusing computational resources on the system components contributing the greatest variance. The second variance reduction scheme couples multiple simulations in an anti-correlated ensemble by extending the classical antithetic and stratified sampling techniques to time-evolution Markov systems. Both of these variance reduction techniques are able to accelerate particle methods for stochastic jump systems by several orders of magnitude.
We apply these new reduced-variance particles methods to simulation and estimation problems in atmospheric aerosol dynamics and chemistry. By using variance reduction, we are able to simulate the largest particle-resolved models to date of ship-plume emissions and polluted urban scenarios, thus giving new insight into aerosol mixing states and their climate and health impacts.
Biography: Matthew West is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining Illinois he was on the faculty of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University and the Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Davis. Prof. West holds a Ph.D. in Control and Dynamical Systems from the California Institute of Technology and a B.Sc. in Pure and Applied Mathematics from the University of Western Australia.
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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Industry Night with HATCI (Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc.)
Wed, Nov 09, 2011 @ 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Michael Csakan, Senior Engineer of Vibration & Noise
Talk Title: Industry Night with HATCI (Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc.)
Abstract: Are you interested in the auto industry? Love cars? Want to know what itâs like to work for one of the biggest automobile companies out there? Then be sure to bring yourself to this monthâs Industry Night presented by Pi Tau Sigma and Sigma Gamma Tau:
Michael Csakan
Senior Engineer of Vibration & Noise
HATCI (Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc.)
Wednesday, November 9th 6:30-7:30 pm
SGM 101
Michael is an SC alumnus, and has worked for other major car companies in the past. He will be giving an overview of the automotive process, from styling to development to production. He will be focusing on the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) aspect of vehicle development, and may also answer questions you have about specialties in the auto industry.
Be sure to take advantage of this great opportunity!
Host: Pi Tau Sigma
Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Felipe Figueroa
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CREATE Distinguished Speaker Series
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 @ 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Maria Ressa, Author of Seeds of Terror & Former CNN Bureau Chief, Jakarta
Talk Title: âFrom Bin Laden to Facebookâ
Series: CREATE Distinguished Speaker Series
Abstract:
National Center for Risk & Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events at the University of Southern California
You are cordially invited to attend
the CREATE Distinguished Speaker Series
presenting
Maria Ressa
Author of Seeds of Terror
Former CNN Bureau Chief, Jakarta
November 10, 2011
10:00 a.m. â 11:30 a.m.
University of Southern California
Lecture Title:
âFrom Bin Laden to Facebookâ
A look at how terrorism has evolved in Southeast Asia through an exciting new discipline thatâs come of age in the past decade: social network theory.
The study of social networks merges personal psychology, group dynamics and sociology with new technology to look at how emotions and complex behavior spread through societies. Maria Ressa fuses this with lessons learned from personal experiences in two areas: as head of a crisis team during an Abu Sayyaf kidnapping; and as head of a multi-media election campaign for the Philippinesâ largest television network (the campaign won numerous international awards for its use of citizen journalism and social media).
She looks specifically at Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah, the spread of the ideology, the evolution of both groups and provides a paradigm for analyzing the future.
Biography: Maria A. Ressa has been a journalist in Asia for 25 years, nearly two decades as CNNâs bureau chief in Manila then Jakarta. As the former CNN lead investigative reporter focusing on terrorism, Ms. Ressa wrote the first book from the region documenting the growth of Jemaah Islamiyah and its links to Al-Qaeda, Seeds of Terror: An Eyewitness Account of Al-Qaedaâs Newest Center of Operations in Southeast Asia. For the past six years, she determined strategic direction and managed about 1,000 journalists for ABS-CBN, the largest multi-media, multi-platform news operations in the Philippines. Her work aimed to redefine journalism, combining traditional broadcast, new media and mobile phone technology for social change.
A graduate of Princeton University, she taught courses in broadcasting and political science at the University of the Philippines and Princeton University. She is writing her next book as the Author-in-Residence at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at RSIS in Singapore.
~~~
This event is by invitation only and will be held on the campus of USC at:
Leonard Davis Auditorium
Andrus Gerontology Center
3715 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Please RSVP to http://www.usc.edu/esvp with the code âRESSAâ by October 23rd.
Detailed directions and parking instructions will be sent to attendees by November 1st.
Host: CREATE
More Info: http://www.usc.edu/esvpLocation: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - Auditorium
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Erin Calicchio
Event Link: http://www.usc.edu/esvp
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Distinguished Lectures Series
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 @ 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Talk Title: To Be Announced
Series: Distinguished Lectures Series
Host: Rajiv Kalia
Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 159
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Petra Pearce
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Electrophysics Seminar
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 @ 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Mercedeh Khajavikhan, University of California, San Diego
Talk Title: Thresholdless Nanoscale Coaxial Lasers
Abstract: Metal coated nanolasers have been a subject of growing interest, owing to both the altered laser physics at small volumes and the promise in future photonic circuit technology. The metal at optical frequencies provides strong confinement of the optical field, but at the same time present a challenge by introducing high dissipation losses, which potentially results in prohibitively high threshold for lasing.
In this talk, I present our recent experimental findings about lasing in nanoscale sub-wavelength metallic coaxial cavities, which include room-temperature continuous wave laser action in the smallest cavities to date at telecom wavelengths. Furthermore, by utilizing the unique properties of the coaxial cavities, which may have a single non-degenerate mode, we demonstrate thresholdless lasing at cryogenic temperatures, thus providing a scalable solution to overcoming the metal losses.
Biography: Mercedeh Khajavikhan received B.S. and M.S. in Electronics from Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2000 and 2003, respectively, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of Minnesota in 2009. Her Ph.D. dissertation was on coherent laser beam combining for high power laser applications. In 2009, she joined University of California, San Diego as a post-doctorate researcher. Her research interests have also shifted to nanooptics, plasmonics, and silicon photonics.
Host: Ming Hsieh Institute
More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eepLocation: Charles Lee Powell Hall (PHE) - 333
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eep
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W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium: Innovate or Die (note: dying is easier...)
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Bran Ferren, Co-chairman & CCO, Applied Minds
Talk Title: Innovate or Die (note: dying is easier...)
Abstract: Bran Ferren, Co-chairman & CCO of Applied Minds, will present "Innovate or Die (note: dying is easier...)" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium.
Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium
More Info: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Amanda Atkinson
Event Link: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/
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Integrated Systems Seminar Series
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 @ 03:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. David Wentzloff, University of Michigan
Talk Title: Synthesizing RFICs from Digital Standard Cell Libraries
Host: Hossein Hashemi
More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Wentzloff_2011_11_11.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, Nov 14, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Abraham Lee, Ph.D., William J. Link Professor and Chair, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UC Irvine
Talk Title: Microfluidic Delivery of Medicine at the Biological Scale
Abstract: Microfluidic Delivery of Medicine at the Biological Scale
Abraham P. Lee
1*Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California at Irvine
2Micro/nano Fluidics Fundamentals Focus (MF3) Center
E-mail: aplee@uci.edu
ABSTRACT
Life at the fundamental level is an intricate network of compartmentalized volumes of molecules with specialized functions and energy fields that drive them. This compartmentalization enables precise reactions that allow complex operations such as the immune response, regulation and adaptation, repaire and maintenance, parallel processing, and hierarchical self-assembly. The same compartmentalization also inspired âdigital biologyâ where molecules and purified reagents are co-located in âdigital reactorsâ and manipulated by microfluidic operations. Microfluidic technologies enable the processing and manipulation of volumes that are equivalent to the fundamental units in biology (cells â 10s picoliters, organelles â femtoliters, viruses, biomolecules - < attoliters). In this talk I will focus on these digital microfluidic processors that are developed in my lab. These devices are capable of detection and manipulation at the cellular and molecular level with high throughput for large-scale molecular and cellular analyses. In this talk, I plan on introducing three projects in my lab: (1) a 1-million droplet array platform for DNA studies and genetic analyses. In this platform, we take advantage of droplet microfluidics to develop bioreactors at the cellular scale that confine the reagents for single molecular amplification and large-scale detection. We developed the microfluidic techniques that enable the self-assembly of tunable 3D droplets for ultra-high-density digital micro-reactor arrays. This project has implications in personalized medicine. (2) A microfluidic platform to produce lipid vesicles as artificial cells that can mimic cellular machinery in a controlled and high throughput manner. The same platform is also used to produce acoustically-activated artificial cells with the potential for theranostic (therapeutic and diagnostic) applications. (3) Lateral cavity acoustic transducers (LCATs) towards sample-to-answer point-of-care applications. These LCATs are versatile microfluidic platforms capable of pumping, mixing, sorting, and separation.
Biography: 1*Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California at Irvine
2Micro/nano Fluidics Fundamentals Focus (MF3) Center
E-mail: aplee@uci.edu
Host: BME Department
More Information: Abstract USC.doc
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Integrated Systems Seminar Series
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Thomas Kazior, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems
Talk Title: Advanced Microelectronics Technology: Heterogeneous Integration of III-V Devices and Si CMOS on a Silicon Substrate
Host: Hossein Hashemi
More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Kazior_2011_11_14.pdf
Location: Hedco Neurosciences Building (HNB) - 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Hossein Hashemi
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AME Department Seminar
Tue, Nov 15, 2011 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Tony Maxworthy, Smith International Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Professor. Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. University of Southern California.
Talk Title: A Fascination with Fluids: Vortices and Vortex Breakdown
Abstract: The problem of the dynamics of long slender vortices, e.g., tornadoes, dust devils,
waterspouts, fire whirls, internal flow in rotating machinery, leading edge and trailing
vortices on lifting surfaces, etc, has been a fascination for me for close to 50 years. A
sequence of experimental studies will be presented, together with reasoned physical
explanations and related theoretical arguments, that attempt to bring some order to the
sometimes-controversial discussion that has swirled about the subject during that time.
More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcomingLocation: Robert Glen Rapp Engineering Research Building (RRB) - 208
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
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Joint Seminar of USC Center on Public Diplomacy & Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Tue, Nov 15, 2011 @ 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Massoud Pirbazari, USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Talk Title: Safe Water for All Nations & Engineering Public Diplomacy CPD Conversations in Public Diplomacy
Abstract: The USC Center on Public Diplomacy is pleased to host Professor Massoud (Mike) Pirbazari and the student research team from his project, âSafe Water for All Nations (S.W.A.N.)â to discuss how environmental engineering and public diplomacy intersect at the most basic human needâwater. This talk will be led by Naomi Leight, CPDâs Assistant Director for Research and Publications.
Water, essential to humankindâs existence, is increasingly unavailable because of pollution, failure to develop conservation programs, and mismanagement of water resources. During the near future, water shortages could lead to conflict in many parts of the world. Water-related problems are global in scope, and although international bodies actively support initiatives to conserve and fairly allocate water, not enough is being done to address this critical topic.
With this conversation, the USC Center on Public Diplomacy launches its Water Diplomacy Initiative which will result in a number of academic publications on Water Diplomacy, a major conference on the topic in spring of 2012, a briefing in Washington, D.C., and continuing research activities addressing this critical issue.
During the conversation, Dr. Pirbazari and his team will present their research projects and how the S.W.A.N. project has addressed some of the most pressing water issues. S.W.A.N is an initiative that focuses on the improvement of drinking water quality for citizens of developing countries. S.W.A.N.'s goal is to provide comprehensive and visually based information so that people, at the household level, can treat their water, and in turn, improve their health and well-being.
For more information on the initiative, please click here.
Refreshments will be served.
This event is free and open to the public, however you must R.S.V.P. below.
Parking is available on the USC campus for $8. Please enter through USC Gate 3 at Figueroa St. and McCarthy Way and purchase parking for Parking Structure X.
Tags: water diplomacy ⢠public diplomacy
RSVP
Please note that you must RSVP separately for each day of a multi-day event.
Host: USC Center on Public Diplomacy
Location: Social Sciences Building (SOS) - 250
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Wed, Nov 16, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Salar Niku, Ph.D., P.E., Vice-President, Tetra Tech, Pasadena Division, Pasadena, CA
Talk Title: Innovative and economical measures in remediation of contaminated sites (example: A site in Downtown Los Angeles)
Abstract: The methods used to investigate and remediate several former manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites will be discussed, focusing on one site located in Downtown Los Angeles. There are about 2,500 of MGP sites in United States. Several innovative measures that were applied during the investigation, in determination of cleanup goals, for risk assessment, during design and feasibility studies, and during remedial actions will be discussed, with some documentary photos. These measures were applied for technical as well as economic reasons. The major chemicals of concern for such contaminated sites are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Biography: Dr. Niku completed his graduate studies in the field of civil-environmental engineering at Stanford University and University of California, Davis. He has been an instructor of environmental as well as project management courses at the University of Southern California (USC), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and University of California at San Diego (UCSD).
Host: Prof. Ronald Henry
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Communications, Networks and Systems (CommNetS) Seminar: On source-channel separation over networks
Wed, Nov 16, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Suhas Diggavi, UCLA
Talk Title: On source-channel separation over networks
Series: Communications, Networks & Systems (CommNetS) Seminar
Abstract: One of the important architectural insights from information theory is the Shannon source-channel separation theorem. For point-to-point channels, the separation theorem shows that one can compress a source separately and have a digital interface with the noisy channel coding; and that such an architecture is (asymptotically in block size) optimal. Therefore the importance of this is that one can 'layer' the architecture by separating the data compression into bits and the 'physical layer' of coding for noise. The optimality of this attractive architecture is known to break down in networks, for example for broadcast channels or multiple access channels. Nonetheless, this architecture is the basis for network layering in many of the current network architectures.
A natural question is to study the 'cost' of separation, that is, how much do we lose through separation, and cases where we can demonstrate that separation is indeed optimal. We show that the separation approach is optimal in two general network scenarios, and is approximately optimal in a third general scenario. We will also connect the approximate optimality of separation to work on multiple description data compression. We will also mention special situations where one can demonstrate explicit optimal (hybrid) source-channel coding strategies.
Parts of this work are joint with Chao Tian, Shlomo Shamai and Jun Chen.
Biography: Suhas N. Diggavi received a B. Tech. degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA. After completing his Ph.D., he was a Principal Member Technical Staff in the Information Sciences Center, AT&T Shannon Laboratories, Florham Park, NJ. After that he was on the faculty of the School of Computer and Communication Sciences, EPFL, where he directed the Laboratory for Information and Communication Systems (LICOS). He joined UCLA as Professor of Electrical Engineering in 2010.
He is a recipient of the 2006 IEEE Donald Fink prize paper award, 2005 IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference best paper award and the Okawa foundation research award. He was an associate editor for Communication Letters and was a guest editor for a special issue in the IEEE Journal on Special Topics in Signal Processing. He is currently an associate editor for the ACM/IEEE Transactions on Networking and the IEEE Transactions on Information Theory (Shannon theory). He has 8 issued patents.
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, Nov 16, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Hagop Barsamian, Section Manager. Contamination Control Engineering. Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. Space Systems Division. Redondo Beach, CA 90278.
Talk Title: Keeping the House CleanâThe Control of Spacecraft Contamination
Abstract: Contamination can degrade the performance of spacecraft systems. Accumulation of particulate and molecular contamination will cause undesired changes in optical, thermal control and guidance systems of spacecraft. These changes include increase in solar absorptance of thermal control surfaces, and the reduction in transmittance or scatter of light in optical systems. Identification of contamination sensitivities and quantification of the allowable contamination levels on these systems is a logical first step. Once identified, plans are implemented to mitigate the effects of contamination and maintain an acceptable level of hardware cleanliness. The controls that are put in place throughout the manufacture, assembly and testing of these spacecraft systems include selection of materials for the hardware design, use of cleanrooms to control the environment, and monitoring of contamination levels. These efforts will help minimize system performance degradation due to contamination and lead to mission success.
More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcomingLocation: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
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An Information-Theoretic Characterization for Sparse Signal Processing and Applications
Thu, Nov 17, 2011 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: George Atia, U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Talk Title: An Information-Theoretic Characterization for Sparse Signal Processing and Applications
Abstract: We present an information-theoretic characterization for problems in sparse signal processing. First, we consider the group testing problem where the goal is to recover a small distinguished subset of items from a large population while efficiently reducing the total number of tests. Establishing its connection to Shannon-coding theory, we formulate the group testing problem as a channel coding/decoding problem and derive a unifying result that characterizes the sample complexity through computation of a mutual information expression. We show that this result is fairly general and applicable to many interesting scenarios in sparse signal processing, including Bayesian compressive sensing and relevant features' identification. We derive precise sample complexity bounds for these cases.
Biography: George Atia joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Fall 2009, where he is currently a postdoctoral research associate with the Coordinated Science Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Boston University, Massachusetts, in 2009. He received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees, both in Electrical Engineering, from Alexandria University, Egypt, in 2000 and 2003, respectively. He is the recipient of many awards including the outstanding graduate teaching fellow of the year award in 2003-2004, the 2006 College of Engineering Deans Award at the Science and Engineering Research Symposium, and the best paper award at the International Conference on Distributed Computing in Sensor Systems (DCOSS) in 2008. His main research interests are in wireless communications, statistical signal processing and information theory. His current research focus is on controlled sensing for inference and sparse signal processing.
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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USC Physical Sciences in Oncology Monthly Seminar Series
Fri, Nov 18, 2011 @ 11:45 AM - 01:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Jorge Nieva, Clinical Hematologist and Oncologist, Department of Oncology, Billings Clinic
Talk Title: Cancer Metastasis and the Fluid Biopsy
Abstract: Prognostic serum markers in cancer therapy have existed for decades primarily as protein based tumor markers. While providing information on prognosis they have failed to inform treating physicians on the evolution of cancer. The advent of technology that permits the re-capture and analysis of tumor cells allows the study of cancer cell phenotypic and genotypic changes over the natural history of the disease. We have developed a platform for the capture and analysis of epithelial cancer cells from the circulation that provides a significant advance over existing technological platforms. This seminar will review the history of protein based cancer biomarkers, describe the existing and future technology platforms for analysis of epithelial cells in circulation and describe the future uses of this technology both in drug development and clinical cancer care.
Biography: USC was selected to establish a $16 million cancer research center as part of a new strategy against the disease by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and its National Cancer Institute. The new center is one of 12 in the nation to receive the designation. During the five-year initiative, the Physical Sciences-Oncology Centers will take new, nontraditional approaches to cancer research by studying the physical laws and principles of cancer; evolution and the evolutionary theory of cancer; information coding, decoding, transfer and translation in cancer; and ways to de-convolute cancerâs complexity. As part of the outreach component of this grant, the Center for Applied Molecular Medicine is hosting a monthly seminar series.
Host: Center for Applied Molecular Medicine
Location: Clinical Science Center (CSC) - #250 Harkness Auditorium
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Yvonne Suarez
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W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Computer animation production - a software perspective
Fri, Nov 18, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Saty Raghavachary, Head of Digital Training for DreamWorks Feature Animation
Talk Title: Computer animation production - a software perspective
Abstract: Dr. Saty Raghavachary, Senior Training with Digital Training for DreamWorks Feature Animation, will present "Computer animation production - a software perspective" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium.
Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium
More Info: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Amanda Atkinson
Event Link: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/
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Integrated Systems Seminar Series
Fri, Nov 18, 2011 @ 03:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Michael Flynn, University of Michigan
Talk Title: Techniques for Efficient Data Conversion and Flexible Wireless Transceivers in Nanometer CMOS
Host: Hossein Hashemi
More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Flynn_2011_11_18.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, Nov 21, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jacques Van Dam, M.D., Professor of Clinical- Med (USC Keck School of Medicine)
Talk Title: Optical Biopsy: Fad or Fantastic?
Host: BME Department
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Model-Based Control and Optimization Challenges in Reservoir Engineering
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 @ 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Paul M.J. Van den Hof, Delft University of Technology & Eindhoven University of Technology
Talk Title: Model-Based Control and Optimization Challenges in Reservoir Engineering
Abstract: Due to urgent needs to increase efficiency in oil recovery from subsurface reservoirs new technology is developed that allows more detailed sensing and actuation of multiphase flow properties in oil reservoirs. One of the examples is the controlled injection of water through injection wells with the purpose to displace the oil in an appropriate direction. This technology enables the application of model-based optimization and control techniques to optimize production over the entire production period of a reservoir, which can be around 25 years. Large scale reservoir flow models are used for optimizing production settings, but suffer from high levels of uncertainty and limited validation options. One of the challenges is the development of reduced complexity models that deliver accurate long-term predictions, and at the same time are not more complex than can be warranted by the amount of data that is available. In this seminar an overview will be given of the problems and opportunities for model-based control and optimization in this field aiming at the development of a closed-loop reservoir management system.
Biography: Paul Van den Hof received the Ph.D. degree from Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands in 1989. Since 1986 he is with Delft University of Technology, where he was appointed as full professor in 1999. Since 2003 he has been founding co-director of the Delft Center for Systems and Control (DCSC), with appointments in the faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engingeering, and the faculty of Aplied Sciences. As of 2011 he holds a full professor position in the Electrical Engineering department of Eindhoven University of Technology. Since 2005 he is also scientific director of the national research and graduate school "Dutch Institute of Systems and Control" (DISC). His research interests are in issues of system identification, identification for control, and model-based control and optimization, with applications in industrial process control systems, including petroleum reservoir engineering systems, mechanical servo systems and physical measurement systems. He has been a member of the IFAC Council (1999-2005), the editorial board of Automatica (1992-2005), and the Board of Governors of IEEE Control Systems Society (2003-2005). He is IFAC Fellow and Fellow of IEEE.
Host: Prof. Antonio Ortega
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
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Astani CEE Seminar
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ruchi Choudhary , Professor, Cambridge University, UK
Talk Title: Uncertainty Quantification of future energy consumption of buildings
Abstract:
We quantify uncertainties in energy consumption of the built environment using Bayesian approaches and demonstrate examples of recent applications on individual buildings and for an entire population of buildings. We use the Kennedy Oâ Hagan framework to calibrate energy models of representative buildings in a city, and argue that this approach is better suited than other existing protocols for evaluating retrofits of existing buildings. We consider alternative techniques, namely, Bayesian regression analysis and inverse methods to evaluate an entire set of buildings in a city. This work is driven by the need to quantify future energy demand of buildings in their urban context as a function of projected growth of buildings and populations, refurbishments, policies incentivizing energy efficiency measures, and changes in building operation.
Biography:
Dr Ruchi Choudhary specializes in building simulation with a particular interest in multicriteria modelling of energy demand and environmental characteristics of the built environment. Choudharyâs research is embedded within a wider multi-disciplinary project called the `Energy Efficient Cities Initiative', in which she leads the work on the built environment. Her recent research focuses on developing tools and methods for analysing energy consumption of large sets of buildings. These have resulted in two parallel investigations: one on how to represent and evaluate relevant and large-scale research and policy questions through physics-based models, and second, how to quantify uncertainties in model outcomes.
Host: Prof. Roger Ghanem
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 @ 03:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Professor Ruchi Choudhary, Civil Engineering, Cambridge University, UK
Talk Title: Energy Efficient Cities Initiative
Abstract:
TBA
Host: Prof. Roger Ghanem
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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From Magic Mirror to Autism: Using Computational Multimedia for Video Self-modeling Therapy
Tue, Nov 22, 2011 @ 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Sen-ching Samson Cheung, MIA Laboratory, University of Kentucky
Talk Title: From Magic Mirror to Autism: Using Computational Multimedia for Video Self-modeling Therapy
Abstract: If you have ever been on a diet, you would know that having an old picture of a thinner "you" on the bathroom mirror or the refrigerator can be a powerful motivating tool. This is the idea behind the psychological theory of self-efficacy -- you can learn or model to perform certain tasks because you see yourself doing it. Even more powerful is to use modified imagery to trick your brain into believing a positive personal experience that has not occurred before. Perhaps the most famous example is the mirror box therapy for amputees -- seeing the mirror reflection of an intact arm conjures up an illusion of the presence of the amputated limb and provides an effective means to alleviate the phantom limb pain. Another example is video self-modeling (VSM) therapy in which the patient acts as his/her own model by taping several hours of behavior in video and splicing together a chain of clips depicting the new skill for instruction. Mirror and VSM therapies are widely used in the treatments of many neurological disorders. In practice, these therapies are challenging to administer due to the difficulties in constructing the mirror device or preparing the appropriate video content. This is where multimedia engineers can help -- by creating fictitious multimedia contents that require little manual input and are perceptually indistinguishable from those captured by sensors. In this talk, I will discuss a number of on-going projects in my lab that use computational multimedia approaches for therapy. I will demonstrate our SpeakToMe system for creating VSM content for voice-disorder patients. The system replaces the coarse voice of a patient with a perceptually-similar but healthy voice, and then renders a new video sequence with automated lip-synchronization. I will also discuss the MagicMirror system for helping children with autism spectrum disorders in their behavioral therapy. The MagicMirror system is a large-size computer display that uses a network of depth and color cameras to render a view-dependent mirror image of a virtual mirror. By injecting new behaviors into the mirror images, we are hoping to provide the instant visual feedback that is crucial to learning but completely lacking in the current form of VSM.
Biography: Sen-ching (Samson) Cheung is an associate professor from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Kentucky (UKY). He also has a joint appointment with the UKY Center of Visualization and Virtual Environments. Before joining UKY in 2004, he was a computer scientist in the Scientific Data Mining group at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Samson got his Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley in 2002. His work spans a number of different areas in multimedia including video copy detection, data mining, video surveillance, privacy protection, encrypted-domain signal processing, and computational multimedia for therapy. He is an associated editor of IEEE Transactions of Multimedia, Signal Processing: Image Communications, Statistical Analysis and Data Mining, and EURASIP Journal on Information Security. He is a senior member of IEEE.
Host: Professor Shrikanth Narayanan
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mary Francis
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Blind Multimedia Processing
Tue, Nov 22, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Sen-ching Samson Cheung,Ph.D. , MIA Laboratory, University of Kentucky
Talk Title: Blind Multimedia Processing
Abstract: The right to privacy has long been regarded as one of the basic universal human rights. The combination of ubiquitous sensors, wireless connectivity, and powerful recognition algorithms makes it easier than ever to monitor every aspect of our daily lives. From the use of sophisticated video surveillance systems to the theft of biometric signals, people are increasingly wary about the privacy of their multimedia data. To mitigate public concern over privacy violation, it is imperative to make privacy protection a priority in developing the next-generation multimedia processing algorithms. Due to the high dimensionality, high data-rates and stringent real-time requirements of multimedia systems, developing provably-secure privacy protection schemes for multimedia often leads to a blowup in complexity and remains impractical for most applications. In this talk, I will discuss a number of active projects in my group that aim at alleviating such an efficiency barrier. I will present the anonymous biometric access control system that can validate a biometric signal without knowing the identity of the owner. Anonymity is guaranteed by performing the matching on biometric signals that are encrypted with a homomorphic public-key cryptosystem. To reduce complexity of the encrypted-domain processing, we propose a k-anonymous quantization scheme that can optimally tradeoff efficiency with privacy. To realize the holy grail of privacy-protected signal processing at the pixel level, I will also discuss our recent work on secure cloud-based image processing with secret shares. The focus of this work is on the use of information-theoretic, rather than computationally, secure protocols for image processing. Image data and parameters are decomposed into secret shares and distributed in the cloud for processing. Giving a non-colluding distributed computing environment, such an approach is significantly faster and requires less bandwidth than other computationally-secure multiparty computation. I will use the example of a wavelet image denoising to illustrate our core framework of image processing with secret shares.
Biography: Sen-ching (Samson) Cheung is an associate professor from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Kentucky (UKY). He also has a joint appointment with the UKY Center of Visualization and Virtual Environments. Before joining UKY in 2004, he was a computer scientist in the Scientific Data Mining group at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Samson got his Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley in 2002. His work spans a number of different areas in multimedia including video copy detection, data mining, video surveillance, privacy protection, encrypted-domain signal processing, and computational multimedia for therapy. He is an associated editor of IEEE Transactions of Multimedia, Signal Processing: Image Communications, Statistical Analysis and Data Mining, and EURASIP Journal on Information Security. He is a senior member of IEEE.
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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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Nov 28, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Eun Jin Lee, BME, Neuroscience
Talk Title: Principles for the Re-engineering of Photoreceptor Mosaics in Retinal-degeneration Disorders
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, Nov 29, 2011 @ 04:00 PM - 05:20 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Daniel D. Frey, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Talk Title: "Detecting Mistakes in Engineering Models: The Effects of Experimental Design"
Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series
Abstract: This seminar will focus on the results of an experiment with human subjects to explore their ability to discover a mistake in a model used for engineering design. For the purpose of this study, a known mistake was intentionally placed into a model that was to be used by engineers in a design process. The treatment condition was the experimental design that the subjects were asked to use to explore the design alternatives available to them. The engineers in the study were asked to improve the performance of the engineering system and were not informed that there was a mistake intentionally placed in the model. Fourteen of the twenty seven engineers who pursued the design by varying one factor at a time independently identified the mistake during debriefing after the design process. Only one of the twenty seven engineers who used a factional factorial experimental design independently identified the mistake during debriefing. Regression analysis shows that relevant domain knowledge improved the ability of subjects to discover mistakes in models, but experimental design had a larger effect than domain knowledge in this study. Analysis of video tapes provided additional information about the likelihood of subjects to appear surprised by data from a model. This experiment suggests that the complexity of factor changes during the design process is a major consideration influencing the ability of engineers to critically assess models.
Biography: Daniel D. Frey is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Systems, He currently serves as a Co-director of the Singapore-MIT International Design Center, a large-scale ($100M) effort to undertake significant design projects and simultaneously to learn from them how to improve the design process. Freyâs main research thrust concerns robust design of engineering systems. Robust design is a set of engineering practices whose aim is to ensure that engineering systems function despite variations due to manufacture, wear, deterioration, and environmental conditions. Frey is also actively involved in design of engineering devices for the developing world.
Professor Frey has received an NSF CAREER award, best paper awards from ASME, INCOSE, and IEEE, two R&D 100 Awards, and several teaching awards. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado, and a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
More Information: Seminar-Frey.doc
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - Room 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Georgia Lum
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American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Seminar with AME Chair Geoffrey Spedding
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 @ 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Geoffrey Spedding , AME department chair
Talk Title: Bird Design and Aircraft Evolution
Abstract: Alternative flying machines (in the sense that they differ from our usual designs) can be invented, or studied. In all cases, it is reasonable to wonder whether a particular design is optimal, or perhaps what it is optimal for. Definitions of optimality quickly become complex: âminimum drag:lift ratio for n passengers that allows our company to outcompete our rival(s)â or âsomething that can be grown fast, still works when 50% of
the aft surfaces are missing, and that fits in a nestâ. We will consider two examples of flying devices, one evolved and one invented, and we will look for parallels that exist
between them, or perhaps ought to. The talk will also attempt to make specific connections with basic classes we teach/learn from at USC.
Biography: Education:
1981 Ph.D. in Zoology (with Civil Engineering Department) from the Department of Zoology, University of Bristol, Bristol, England.
1978 B.Sc.(Hons, 1st class) in Zoology from the Department of Zoology, University of Bristol, Bristol, England.
USC Academic Positions:
2010-: Professor and Chairman, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
2005-2008: Professor, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
1998-2005: Associate Professor, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
1994-1998: Research Associate Professor, Departments of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
1988-1994: Research Assistant Professor, Departments of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering; Member of Center for Neural Engineering
1981-1988: Research Associate, Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Other Professional Positions:
2008-2009: Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
1998-: Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University, Sweden.
1997: Stagiaire, Coriolis Research Laboratories, Institute de Mécanique Grenoble, France.
Host: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics with co-host Sigma Gamma Tau
More Information: USC_AIAA_GRS_Abstract_Nov29.pdf
Location: SAL 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: -- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
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Seminar in Astronautical Engineering
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 @ 12:00 PM - 01:50 PM
Astronautical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: De. William M. Owen, Jr., Member of JPL;s Optical Navigation Group
Talk Title: How to Give Presentations and Write Papers
Abstract: This seminar will describe and demonstrate important communication skills for every engineer or anyone:
⢠Tactics for coping with stage fright
⢠Mastering the 3 Bs of presentation (be clear, be concise and be seated)
⢠Organization of your ideas
⢠Tips for writing professional-looking papers
Biography: Dr. Owen is a member of JPLâs Optical Navigation Group since 1979. He has navigated missions from Voyager and Galileo through NEAR Shoemaker, Cassini and Deep Impact to EPOXI and Stardust/NExT when he was not busy obtaining his own astrometric observations of âanything up there that moves.â He holds a B.S. from Caltech, M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida, all in astronomy, and likes to say that he has one leg on either side of the razor blade which divides science from engineering.
Host: Department of Astronautical Engineering
More Information: ASTE Seminar (Dr. Owen) 11.30.pdf
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Ana Olivares
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Astani CEE Department Seminar
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jose C. Borrero, Ph.D., ASR Marine Consulting and Research, Raglan, New Zealand; Adjunct Assistant Professor, USC -Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Talk Title: Modelling âPollution Pathwaysâ From Seashore Litter to Oceanic Garbage Gyres:
Abstract:
Transforming Scientific Investigations into Tools for Education and Raising Awareness
This presentation will discuss a recent project designed to convert technical output from scientific investigations into education and outreach materials aimed at raising public awareness of the environmental hazards associated with oceanic plastic pollution and floating debris.
The project began with our participation on a research cruise across the South Atlantic Ocean, one of several recent and ongoing research voyages aimed at documenting and quantifying the distribution and concentration of plastic pollution within the five subtropical convergence zones (also known as gyres or âgarbage patchesâ) of the World Ocean. Samples of floating debris were collected along the route from Rio de Janeiro to Ascension Island using both standard and high-speed tow trawls along the shipâs path.
Following the voyage, we began an investigation into existing literature describing marine debris, plastic pollution and the formation of the oceanic garbage gyres. Noting a gap in existing models, we focused on developing a model linking realistic representations of debris released in to the oceanic environment and the formation of the accumulation zones. To accomplish this, a global oceanic circulation model was coupled to a Lagrangian particle-tracking model to simulate the input, transport and accumulation of floating debris. The volume of material introduced into the model is based on factors such as coastal population density and watershed area and is assumed to increase with time.
Using hindcast data sets of global oceanic currents to drive the circulation, the modeling results clearly show the formation of five accumulation zones in the subtropical latitudes of the major ocean basins. The relative size and concentration of each clearly illustrate the dominance of the accumulation zones in the northern hemisphere, while smaller seas surrounded by densely populated areas are also shown to have a high concentration of floating debris. We also determine the relative contribution of different source regions to the total amount of material in a particular accumulation zone.
This study provides a framework for describing the transport, distribution and accumulation of floating marine debris which can be scaled to focus on regional effects and can be continuously updated and adapted to assess scenarios reflecting changes in the production and disposal of debris worldwide. The output from our study is currently being used to develop unique interactive tools and web-based âexperiencesâ designed to raise public awareness of this issue.
Biography: Dr. Borrero has earned his Ph.D. in civil (coastal)engineering from the University of Southern California in 2002. Since 2006 he has worked with ASR Ltd., a consulting firm based in Raglan New Zealand, specializing in hydrodynamic modelling of aquatic systems, the design and implementation of innovative shore protection schemes and the design and construction of artificial surfing reefs.
Host: Dr. Patrick Lynett
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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AME Department Seminar
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Barnaby Wainfan, Technical Fellow, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. Redondo Beach, CA 90278.
Talk Title: The Very Light Car
Abstract: The Edison2 Very Light Car is the most efficient highway-capable 4-seat car in history. In 2010, the Very Light Car won the Mainstream Class of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize. The 4-seat VLC achieved over 100 MPG combined, while demonstrating highway-capable performance. Mr .Wainfan will discuss the design and development of the car, and the future of the VLC project and efficient road transport.
Host: Dr. Geoff Spedding
More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcomingLocation: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
