USC - Viterbi School of Engineering

Apr
21

EE-Electrophysics Seminar
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars

Speaker: Wei Wu, Senior Scientist, HP Labs, Hewlett-Packard Co.

Talk Title: Nano-Crossbar Circuits, Optical Meta-Materials and SERS Sensors

Abstract: Semiconductor industry has enjoyed great successes by following the âMooreâs lawâ for more than four decades. With the end of the roadmap looming in the horizon, great efforts have been made to look for the alternatives for âpost-Siâ electronics. I will present our work on crossbar circuits, especially crossbar memory circuits based on transition metal oxide (i.e. memristor). Memristor is a type of resistive RAM device. It stores the information by ion movements inside the switching material, instead of charge trapping as in other conventional memory devices. We have demonstrated several generations of crossbar memory circuits with record-high densities, and have also integrated memristor and Si CMOS circuits successfully. The technologies developed for nano-electronics were applied to several other areas. One example I would like to share is optical negative meta-materials (NIMs) at near-IR range. That includes NIMs with negative reflective index (both negative permittivity and permeability) at 1.55 m range, fast modulation of NIMs and non-linear effects of NIMs. Another example is highly sensitive surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensors fabricated using the 3-D nano-patterning technology we developed. The end of roadmap may be getting closer, but it is just the start of a new era, where we can leverage on what we have been developing in the past and make great impacts on the whole society.

Biography: Wei Wu graduated from Peking University with a BS in Physics in 1996, and received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University in 2003. He joined HP labs in 2003, and he is a senior scientist at nano-electronics research group (formerly known as quantum science research). His work on nanoimprint lithography has enabled nano-electronic and nano-photonic applications at HP labs for the last seven years. His work includes crossbar memory (i.e. memristor) and logic circuits with the record high densities, the first nanoimprint-fabricated optical negative index meta-material at 1.55m range, the first optical modulation using negative index meta-material at near-IR, the first third harmonic generation using meta-material, highly sensitive surface enhanced Raman sensors fabricated using 3-D nanoimprint, the first room-temperature working single electron memory and the first large area bit-patterned magnetic media fabricated using nanoimprint. The nanoimprint machine he invented has been commercialized via IP licensing. He coauthored 65 peer reviewed journal papers and more than 60 conference presentations, including 10 keynote and invited presentations. He has 49 granted US patents and 77 pending applications. He is serving as HPâs representative at SEMATECH lithography program advisory group. He is a senior member of IEEE and serving in the executive committee of IEEE SFBA nanotechnology council.

Host: EE-Electrophysics

More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eep
Location: Mark Taper Hall Of Humanities (THH) - 212
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Marilyn Poplawski

Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eep
Apr
21

Epstein ISE Research Seminar
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars

Speaker: Dr. Sanjay Mehrotra, Professor, Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University

Talk Title: "Multi-Objective Multi-Expert Optimization Using Weight Robustness and Stochastic Dominance"

Abstract: Multivariate multi-objective decision problems arise in a large number of decision situations in areas such as healthcare, security, energy, logistics, sustainability, finance, and manufacturing. The decisions involve input from multiple experts weighing in on the decision objectives. The parameters of the functions modeling objectives and constraints are uncertain, and decisions are often made in reference to a random benchmark that is to be exceeded.

This presentation will cover mathematical optimization techniques for formulating and solving such problems based on my current research. In particular, the presentation will (i) introduce the concept of Robust Pareto optimality using a multi-criteria robust optimization with weights modeling framework (McRow); (ii) present some properties of the McRow models; (iii) introduce various concepts to model problems with multiple random benchmarks using stochastic dominance (McSwd); (iv) present analytical properties and optimization algorithms for the McSwd models; (v) discuss a stylized budget allocation application in healthcare, and one in homeland security to illustrate potential uses and computational properties of McRow and McSwd models.

Biography: Professor Mehrotra received his Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Roorkee), his MS in Industrial Engineering and Ph.D. in Operations Research from Columbia University. He has made significant research contributions to major subareas, such as linear, convex, mixed integer, and stochastic programming, within the field of mathematical optimization. He is widely known for his predictor-corrector method. Professor Mehrotra has published in journals such as Mathematical Programming, SIAM Journal on Optimization, Mathematics of Operations Research, Operations Research, Optimization Methods and Software, IIE-Transactions, INFORMS Journal on Computing, Journal of Global Optimization, SIAM Journal on Computing, SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis, Analyst, Bioinformatics, and BMC BioInformatics. He is a department editor for Optimization for the Institute of Industrial Engineers society journal IIE Transactions. He is on the editorial board of Operations Research, Asia Pacific Journal of Operations Research, and the International Journal of Information Systems in the Service Sector. He has also served on the editorial boards of Mathematical Programming, and the International Journal on Modelling. He has been a vice-chair of the INFORMS optimization section on computational optimization and software, and a co-director of the Optimization Technology Center between Northwestern University and Argonne National Research Lab. He has also served as a vice-president of chapter/fora and a member of Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences Board of Directors.

Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - Room 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Georgia Lum
Apr
21

Contrast Enhanced MR Angiography, Recent Improvements in Resolution, Application, and Coverage
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 @ 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars

Speaker: Professor Stephen J. Riederer, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Talk Title: Contrast Enhanced MR Angiography, Recent Improvements in Resolution, Application, and Coverage

Abstract: Although MR Angiography (MRA) has been under study for well over two decades, the field still continues to advance. The technical innovations of parallel data acquisition, specific k-space data sampling methods, and high-count receiver coil arrays can be integrated to allow marked reductions in the acquisition times necessary to form high quality 3D MR angiograms with comparable or even improved spatial resolution compared to a decade ago. If implemented with appropriately designed receiver coil arrays, the loss of SNR can be carefully controlled. Advanced k-space sampling methods reduce the sensitivity of the reconstructed images to temporal blurring and allow time-resolved results which can readily distinguish arterial from venous phases in problematic cases. Further extensions permit high quality, multi-station imaging of the peripheral vasculature. In this presentation these methods will be described, and in vivo results from multiple vascular territories will be presented.

Host: Hosted by Professor H. Harry Hu

Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Talyia Veal
Apr
21

Distinguished Lecture Series
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 @ 12:50 PM - 02:00 PM
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars

Speaker: Professor Francis J. Doyle III, Chemical Engineering Dept University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA

Talk Title: The Role of Process Systems Engineering in the Quest for the Artificial Pancreas

Series: Distinguished Lectures Series

Abstract: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting approximately 3 million individuals in the US, with associated annual healthcare costs estimated to be $15 billion. Current treatment requires either multiple daily insulin injections or continuous subcutaneous (SC) insulin infusion (CSII) delivered via an insulin infusion pump. Both treatment modes necessitate frequent blood glucose measurements to determine the daily insulin requirements for maintaining near-normal blood glucose levels. More than 30 years ago, the idea of an artificial endocrine pancreas for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) was envisioned. The closed-loop concept consisted of an insulin syringe, a blood glucose analyzer, and a transmitter. In the ensuing years, a number of theoretical research studies were performed with numerical simulations to demonstrate the relevance of advanced control design to the artificial pancreas, with delivery algorithms ranging from simple PID, to H-infinity, to model predictive control. With the advent of continuous glucose sensing, which reports interstitial glucose concentrations approximately every minute, and the development of hardware and algorithms to communicate with and control insulin pumps, the vision of closed-loop control of blood glucose is approaching a reality. In the last 8 years, our research group has been working with medical doctors on clinical investigations of control algorithms for the artificial pancreas. In this talk, I will outline the difficulties inherent in controlling physiological variables, the challenges with regulatory approval of such devices, and will describe a number of algorithms we have tested in clinical experiments for feedback control of the artificial pancreas, based on model predictive control.

Host: Professor Qin

More Info: http://chems.usc.edu/academics/10-11/d-04-21-11.htm
Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 159
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Petra Pearce

Event Link: http://chems.usc.edu/academics/10-11/d-04-21-11.htm
Apr
21

CS Colloquium
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars

Speaker: Prof. Subhash Suri, UCSB

Talk Title: Paths, Trees and Polygons

Abstract: The growing scope of combinatorial algorithms often forces us to compute structures when the data are incomplete, uncertain, or time-varying. In this talk, we revisit three classical problems (Shortest Paths, Minimum Spanning Trees, and Polygon Guarding) under such informational and sensing models, and derive new complexity bounds or impossibility results.

In particular, we show that

(1) if the travel times for the edges of a graph are a (polynomial) functions of time, there can be super-polynomial number of shortest paths between two nodes,
(2) if each of the $n$ points in the plane is present only probabilistically, computing the expected length of their minimum spanning tree is intractable, and
(3) many basic geometric problems such as the Art Gallery coverage of a polygon can be solved in a "binary combinatorial sensing model" that does not require knowledge of coordinates.

Biography: Subhash Suri received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University in 1987 and B.S. in Electronics Engineering from University Of Roorkee, India in 1981. His research interests are in Algorithms, Wireless Sensor Networks, Data Streams, Computational Geometry, and Game Theory. For more information, see http://www.cs.ucsb.edu/~suri/

Host: Prof. Gaurav Sukhatme

Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Kanak Agrawal
Apr
21

USC AGC Construction Management Symposium
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 @ 05:30 PM - 09:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
University Calendar

The USC Construction Management Symposium is an annual event organized the the USC Associated General Contractors (AGC) Student Chapter. The Symposium is a single evening that includes a reception, dinner, and a series of speakers. Hosted this year in the vibrant JW Marriott , the Symposium attracts a multitude of individuals from the AEC industry as well as developers, lawyers, government officials, and many more.

The 17th Annual Associated General Contractors of America/University of Southern California Construction Management Symposium is focusing on the importance of Sustainability in Transportation. Since construction, architecture and engineering professionals are on the forefront of creating green and sustainable projects, the 2011 AGC USC Sustainability in Transportation Symposium is a unique opportunity to connect with those who influence and produce those green projects. High speed rail, TODâs, subway and light-rail construction are among the projects that will be explored.

Visit www.uscgreensymposium.com for more information.

contact symposium@uscagc.com with questions
Location: JW Marriott
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Events USC AGC
Apr
21

Theatre for a New Audience: The Merchant of Venice
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 @ 06:00 PM - 11:00 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Student Activity

*This trip is for current USC students only. You must use the provided transportation to participate. Space is limited and advance registration is required. RSVP at the link http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/visionsandvoices/RSVP/reserve.php?RSVPEvtCode=105 beginning Monday, March 28, at 9 a.m. Check-in for the event will begin at 5:15 p.m. on campus. Buses will depart at 6 p.m. and return to campus at 11 p.m. Dinner will be provided at check-in.

A mysteriously melancholy rich man, a dashing young lover in desperate need of cash, a moneylender with good reason to seek revenge and a witty young woman with a knack for disguise: these are the characters of The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeareâs sparkling and troubling tragicomedy. Set in the magical city of Venice, where all nations meet and the clash of cultures can lead to startling violence, the story of Antonio, Shylock and Portia has been arousing controversiesâsocial as well as literaryâfor four centuries with its astonishing mixture of elements: comedy that is both raucous and gentle, steely-eyed satire, intense compassion, tender love poetry and the perpetual struggle between Mercy and Justice.

Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham attacks the role of Shylock in this riveting update of the Bardâs darkest of comedies, where religion, race and sexuality collide with love, family and justice. The currency of society and humanity has never been so changeable in this Royal Shakespeare Companyâcommissioned production, the first production by an American company to be invited to the RSCâs Complete Works Festival.

For further information on this event:
visionsandvoices@usc.edu
Location: The Broad Stage, Santa Monica
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Daria Yudacufski
Apr
21

The 17th Annual USC AGC Construction Management Symposium gathers the architecture, construction and engineering communities to explore timely topics and opportunities facing sustainability in transportation in California.
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 @ 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Receptions & Special Events

The USC/CMAA Construction Management Symposium is gathering the best and the brightest from a variety of industries and disciplines to collaborate with state and federal infrastructure projects to maximize opportunities and create jobs for California's construction community.

Venue: JW marriott at LA Live, Los Angeles, CA

Speakers:

1. Norman Y. Mineta, Vice Chairman, Hill & Knowlton
Former Secretary of Transportation
US Department of Transportation

2. Cindy McKim
Director, California Department of Transportation

3. Arthur Leahy
CEO Metro Los Angeles

4. Gina Marie Lindsay
Executive Director, Los Angeles World Airports

5. Roelof Van Ark
Executive Director, California High Speed Rail Authority

http://cee.usc.edu/news/announcement-archive/announcement_20110204291616.htm

Audiences: By Invitation

Contact: Evangeline Reyes