181229 Enhanced Photon Coupling of ALP Dark Matter Adiabatically Converted From the QCD Axion

Title:
Enhanced Photon Coupling of ALP Dark Matter Adiabatically Converted From the QCD Axion

Speaker:
何書宇 (Shu-Yu Ho), PhD student, 日本東北大學 (Tohoku University)

Time:
12/29 (Sat.) 6 pm PST, 7 pm MST, 8 pm CST, 9 pm EST
12/30 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Particle cosmology, Dark matter, Axion

Abstract:
We revisit the adiabatic conversion between the QCD axion and axion-like particle (ALP) at level crossing, which can occur in the early universe as a result of the existence of a hypothetical mass mixing. This is similar to the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein effect in neutrino oscillations. After refining the conditions for the adiabatic conversion to occur, we focus on a scenario where the ALP produced by the adiabatic conversion of the QCD axion explains the observed dark matter abundance. Interestingly, we find that the ALP decay constant can be much smaller than the ordinary case in which the ALP is produced by the realignment mechanism. As a consequence, the ALP-photon coupling is enhanced by a few orders of magnitude, which is advantageous for the future ALP and axion-search experiments using the ALP-photon coupling.

181208 The Birth of Solar-Like Stars: an Inseparable Entanglement of Dynamics and Chemistry

Title:
The Birth of Solar-Like Stars: an Inseparable Entanglement of Dynamics and Chemistry

Speaker:
楊燿綸 (Yao-Lun Yang), PhD candidate, UT Austin

Time:
12/08 (Sat.) 6 pm PST, 7 pm MST, 8 pm CST, 9 pm EST
12/09 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Astronomy, Star formation, Infall, Radiative Transfer, Astrochemistry

Abstract:
How did we get here? For decades, this question drives us to explore star-forming regions, protoplanetary disks, and exoplanets. Molecular emission is a powerful tool for probing the kinematics during the star formation; however, star formation processes not only regulate the dynamics but also increase the complexity of molecules; thus, we need to consider the chemical processing, such as freeze-out and dissociation, simultaneously when using the molecular emission to probe gas kinematics. I will focus on the infall, which dominates the conversion from dense clouds to protostars, and how the infall may also determine the formation of complex organic molecules, such as methanol. We use the line profile of molecular emission to traces the infall, which can be modeled with radiative transfer calculations. Furthermore, we developed an observing strategy to probe the dynamics (infall) and chemistry (complex organics molecules) within a single shot of ALMA observations. By following the trails of dynamics and chemistry, we will start to constrain the formation history of our own solar system.

181201 Use Single-Cell RNA-Seq to Tackle Complex Biology

Title:
Use Single-Cell RNA-Seq to Tackle Complex Biology

Speaker:
孫楷惠 (Kai-Hui Sun), PhD, Genentech

Time:
12/01 (Sat.) 5:30 pm PST, 6:30 pm MST, 7:30 pm CST, 8:30 pm EST
12/02 (Sun.) 9:30 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Diseases & Drug Discovery, Molecular & Cell Biology, Computational Biology, Single Cell Genomics

Abstract:
This presentation aims to target a broad spectrum of audience and to avoid complicated jargon. Starting with the most basic and relevant Molecular and Cell Biology, I will focus on using Single-cell RNA-sequencing as a tool to tackle complex biological questions and diseases.

181117 Game Theoretic Notions of Fairness in Multi-Party Coin Toss

Title:
Game Theoretic Notions of Fairness in Multi-Party Coin Toss

Speaker:
林偉楷 (Wei-Kai Lin), PhD student, Cornell University

Time:
11/17 (Sat.) 7 pm PST, 8 pm MST, 9 pm CST, 10 pm EST
11/18 (Sun.) 11 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Computer science, Cryptography, Coin toss, Multi-party computation, Fairness

Abstract:

Coin tossing 是密碼學的一個基礎協定，參與這個協定的兩個或多個成員透過遠端通訊，讓所有成員產生一個共同的 "公正" 隨機變數。Coin tossing 困難的地方在於參與協定的惡意成員可能想改變 X 的取值，使得 X 變得不 "公正"。因此，不同的 "公正" 定義，就會產生不同的 coin tossing 問題。

在這個演講，我會討論傳統的定義 "完全公正"，新的定義 "極大極小公正"，以及在新的定義下 coin tossing 問題是否可解。

181110 Germ-Band Development and Embryogenesis Rate in Atta texana

Title:
Germ-Band Development and Embryogenesis Rate in Atta texana

Speaker:
方棋羣 (Chi-Chun Fang), PhD candidate, UT Austin

Time:
請注意：本週起，北美地區日光節約時間結束，與台灣時差增加 1 小時

11/10 (Sat.) 6 pm PST, 7 pm MST, 8 pm CST, 9 pm EST
11/11 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Evolutionary biology, Ecology, Leafcutter ant, Myrmicinae, Fungus, Symbiosis

  為配合本研究發表時程，本次錄影將延遲上傳

Abstract:

Ants (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) are useful model systems for ecological, behavioral, and evolutionary studies due to their complex social structures. However, the developmental biology of ant embryos has been neglected. Unlike Drosophila or well-studied Hymenopteran species (Apis, Nasonia) whose embryogenesis had been characterized and which undergo long germ-band development, we observed several characteristics of short/intermediate germ-band development in the ant Atta texana by examining expression of the segment polarity gene wingless (wg). We discovered that wg signals were sequentially expressed in developing segments during embryogenesis. We confirmed for A. texana the well-known phenomenon that broods from foundresses develop at a faster rate than the broods from mature colonies. This posed the question of whether growth was accelerated across all of the development stages, or was it focused at a particular stage. During the egg-stage in Atta, we observed that growth acceleration occurs during the elongation and segmentation phases of embryogenesis. The accelerated phases effectively accelerate egg development by around 25% compared to eggs from mature Atta colonies. These findings suggest future studies examining the biochemical and genetic factors underlying this rapid embryogenesis.

181103 穿戴式裝置於個人健康管理之應用

Title:
穿戴式裝置於個人健康管理之應用

Speaker:
周資傑 (Tzu-Chieh Chou), PhD candidate, Caltech

Time:
11/03 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
11/04 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Electrical engineering, MEMS and biomedical device, Wearable device, Health monitoring

Abstract:
In the first half of the talk, I will justify the logical reasoning behind the wearable technology and what kind of health-related information can the wearable devices provide. Then I will go through the currently available commercial devices and comment on their pros and cons. In the second half of the talk, I will introduce the technologies developed in my lab and how they can approach the unmet needs in continuous health monitoring.

181027 Mixed Quantum-Classical Electrodynamics: A New Route for Light-Matter Interactions

Title:
Mixed Quantum-Classical Electrodynamics: A New Route for Light-Matter Interactions

Speaker:
陳信達 (Hsing-Ta 'Theta' Chen), PhD, University of Pennsylvania

Time:
10/27 (Sat.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
10/28 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Chemistry, Chemical Physics

Abstract:

The conclusion of recent developments in novel spectroscopic techniques and optoelectronic devices are challenging to simulate with current theoretical approaches of quantum electrodynamics (QED). This challenge is attributed to the fact that the underlying dynamics involve many degrees of freedom rendering a full quantum treatment prohibitively difficult. This difficulty reveals a significant gap at the interface of chemical dynamics and QED and raises many open questions that need to be addressed to advance material science and device technology. To develop a feasible approach for these problems, we investigate mixed quantum-classical theories for the dynamics of an electronic system interacting with an electromagnetic field.

We first consider three flavors of existing mixed quantum-classical dynamics and find that certain quantum features of the photon field, such as spontaneous emission and fluorescence, cannot be captured qualitatively. Then we propose a new Ehrenfest+R method to recover spontaneous emission while also distinguishing between electromagnetic fluctuations and coherent emission. More importantly, we have shown that Ehrenfest+R dynamics can correctly describe Raman scattering, resonant energy transfer, and the fluorescence triplet. With these promising results, the proposed semiclassical approach provide a viable route for bridging the gap between chemical dynamics and QED.

181020 Why Do Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) Holders Implement the Bundled Rebate Programs? Analyses from Legal and Business Perspectives

Title:
Why Do Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) Holders Implement the Bundled Rebate Programs? Analyses from Legal and Business Perspectives

Speaker:
盧憶 (Thomas Y. Lu), J.S.D. Candidate, Washington University

Time:
10/20 (Sat.) 7:30 pm PDT, 8:30 pm MDT, 9:30 pm CDT, 10:30 pm EDT
10/21 (Sun.) 10:30 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Law, Intellectual property law, Antitrust law

Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to explain the reasons behind a standard essential patents (SEPs) holder’s behavior: why does a (SEPs) holder, Qualcomm for instance, insist to implement bundled rebate program for its customer, Apple for instance, under the risk of violation of antitrust law? This question is originated from the story between Qualcomm, FTC and Apple. In early 2017, both FTC and Qualcomm’s customer, Apple, sued Qualcomm for violating antitrust law. Qualcomm was alleged to manipulate “web of contracts” which are implemented by so-called “no-license, no- chips” policy to achieve its anticompetitive purpose. By addressing the case law of antitrust regime related to bundled rebate and loyalty discount, we can understand the legal risk that Qualcomm might face with is enormous. However, through the game- theoretic models in this paper, we find the reasons why Qualcomm insists to implement the bundled rebate program and loyalty discount, no matter what legal risks they face with--Qualcomm might want to prepare the future fierce competition from potential competitors. In order to ease the future loss, based on the models, Qualcomm desires to implement the bundled rebate and loyalty discount program in advance. Finally, this article will conclude into the expectations for the future of the businesses, especially for Asian businesses, which wish to implement the bundled rebate and loyalty discount in the U.S.

181013 Studying Extragalactic Background Light with CIBER

Title:
Studying Extragalactic Background Light with CIBER

Speaker:
鄭昀庭 (Yun-Ting Cheng), PhD candidate, Caltech

Time:
10/13 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
10/14 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Astronomy, Observational cosmology

Abstract:
The extragalactic background light (EBL) is the integrated intensity of all of the photons emitted along the line of sight through the universe. In this talk, I will first give an brief overview of the cosmic history, and discuss the sources and the measurement methods of the EBL. Then I will introduce the CIBER experiment (The Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment), a sounding rocket experiment optimized for measuring the EBL at near infrared wavelengths, and it has flown four times from 2009 to 2013.

180929 空氣汙染的健康風險推估

Title:
空氣汙染的健康風險推估

Speaker:
黃教彥 (Jiaoyan Huang)

Time:

09/29 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
09/30 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Air quality, Modeling development, Photo-chemical modeling, Air pollutant emissions, Toxic air pollutants

Abstract:
二十一世紀初，科學家開始將空氣污染對於人體健康危害量化，2010年之後進一步將空氣污染與人類壽命連結。以美國為例，從發電廠大量顆粒物排放對人類壽命影響最大，而檢視臭氧生成，則是交通汙染源及境外傳輸影響最大。如果考慮美國人均壽命受到微細顆粒物及臭氧影響的時間趨勢，因為不同空氣汙染法規的介入，及美國能源結構的改變，排放源對於美國人壽命減少的貢獻也在改變中。台灣目前使用大氣網格模式配合風險模式研究較少，目前主要研究為台中燃煤火力發電廠，與興建中深澳火力發電廠的風險推估。今天的討論會包括兩個電廠的空氣污染模式及風險推估結果。

180922 Recent Progress in Quantum Computation

Title:
Recent Progress in Quantum Computation

Speaker:
謝明修 (Min-Hsiu Hsieh)

Time:
09/22 (Sat.) 6:30 pm PDT, 7:30 pm MDT, 8:30 pm CDT, 9:30 pm EDT
09/23 (Sun.) 9:30 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Quantum Physics, Quantum computation

Slides:
https://slides.com/lawrencemin-hsiuhsieh/deck-9/fullscreen#/

Abstract:
I will introduce recent theoretic progress in quantum information theory and quantum computation. In particular, I will focus on some interesting development of quantum machine learning algorithms.

180908 Novel Applications of Hyperbolic Metamaterials

Title:
Novel Applications of Hyperbolic Metamaterials

Speaker:
林宏易 (Hung-I Lin)

Time:
09/08 (Sat.) 6:30 pm PDT, 7:30 pm MDT, 8:30 pm CDT, 9:30 pm EDT
09/09 (Sun.) 9:30 am Taiwan

Keywords:
metamaterials, laser science, 2D material, hyperbolic metamaterials, random laser, graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, upconversion nanoparticle, metal–organic framework nanoparticle, piezo-phototronic effect

Abstract:
Recently, a research highlight is hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs), defined by the iso-frequency curve in momentum-space owing to its unique hyperbolic shape. To achieve this artificial structure with promising functionality that provides the increased photonic density of states (PDOS) from the unbounded wave-vector. HMMs can enhance the transition rate of the optical gain media to achieve the lasing action and reduce the threshold, which is very useful to be a suitable candidate for all-optical communication. Furthermore, we also report the demonstration of white random laser action using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) deposited on top of HMMs. These combination is capable of producing white random laser from a single segment. The porous structure of the UCNP clusters functions as the microcavity for photon scattering that provides the optical feedback gain for the emitted light. With a suitable design of HMMs superlattice, it is possible to tune the high PDOS that enables to induce emission enhancement at the region of interest to produce a broadband lasing action device that covers the red, green, and blue.

180901 All about Arctic Ocean Sea Ice 北冰洋海冰的介紹、觀測與區域研究

Title:
All about Arctic Ocean Sea Ice 北冰洋海冰的介紹、觀測與區域研究

Speaker:
陸可凡 (Kofan Lu)

Time:
09/01 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
09/02 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Oceanography, Physical Oceanography, Ocean Instability, Ice-Ocean Model

Abstract:
This study investigates the role of oceanic heat flux convergences in the summertime retreat of sea ice over the central Chukchi Sea. It is motivated by observations and preliminary numerical model results indicating that eddies generated along the marginal ice zone front carry substantial quantities of heat laterally beneath the ice. The lateral eddy heat flux is via intrusions of warm water into the pycnocline separating cold, dilute surface melt waters and near-freezing, salty bottom waters. This process is potentially important in heating the underside of the ice and thus enhancing summer ice melt and retreat. In addition, the mean summer currents in the Central Channel may be thermodynamically important in the summertime retreat of sea ice directly and, indirectly, as a source of the eddies to other portions of the shelf. We use the Regional Ocean Model System (ROMS) to: 1) determine the contributions to ice melt from the oceanic heat flux compare to that from the net air-sea heat flux into the ice surface; 2) evaluate the role of mesoscale fluctuations versus the mean background flow in providing this sub-surface heat flux; and 3) evaluate the role of bathymetry in modifying the subsurface heat flux to the ice.

180825 Conference Highlight：Annual Meeting of Ecology Society of America 2018

Title:
Conference Highlight：Annual Meeting of Ecology Society of America 2018

Speaker:
張峰勳 (Feng-Hsun Chang)

Time:
08/25 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
08/26 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Ecology, Aquatic ecology, Community ecology, Biodiversity

Abstract:

Annual meeting of the Ecology Society of America (ESA) is the most popular ecology annual meeting in the world. There are over 4000 ecologists across the world to attend this meeting to discuss a variety of ecological topics from population to ecosystem level as well as from terrestrial to aquatic systems. The meeting consist of contributed sessions that will regularly occur each year and organized sessions that are organized voluntarily and approved by the ESA according to the pre-determined common theme of the meeting each year.

In this talk, I would like to first introduce/review what is ecology and the commonly seen sub-fields in ecology, including community ecology and ecosystem ecology. I will then review an old ecology question that still hunted nearly all, if not every, ecologists - why and how are there are so many species? An interesting follow up question is - what are those species doing in the system and are we human rely on them? This burgeoning question is what I think at least the community ecologists are pursuing contemporarily. I will finally summarize my talk with a take home message that we should conserve the species before we figure out the consequences of losing them.

180818 project Tyra 工作人員招募工作坊

project Tyra 是一個致力於台灣年輕研究人才分享研究成果的跨國網路平台 。

感謝各位一直以來的支持，project Tyra・三・歲・了！今年我們有了新版的部落格、臉書粉絲專頁，並且加入了更多來自歐亞地區的朋友。隨著人數與工作內容日益增加，現在我們也希望有更多新朋友加入 Tyra 工作小組，增添更多活力和人手！

活動資訊

• 時間：
  08/18 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
  08/19 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan
• 線上會議連結*：(活動開始 30 分鐘前開放連線)
  https://bluejeans.com/824096987 (Meeting ID: 824096987)
• 直接填寫工作人員報名表：
  https://goo.gl/forms/qg6bL5JBNCEY2VPC3

不論是想加入 Tyra 工作小組，或是想提供你寶貴的意見，都歡迎活動當天上線參加招募工作坊，或直接填寫工作人員報名表，與我們分享你的熱情和想法！

* 會議使用 BlueJeans，建議於活動前 10 分鐘預先測試網頁版，亦可下載桌面軟體增進使用體驗。

180811 臺灣國小臺語教學研究

Title:
臺灣國小臺語教學研究

Speaker:
楊佳穎 (Chia-Ying Yang)

Time:
08/11 (Sat.) 12 pm PDT, 1 pm MDT, 2 pm CDT, 3 pm EDT
08/12 (Sun.) 3 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Applied linguistics and Education, Language education, Language maintenance and shift, Language and identity, Translanguaging, Language attitude

Abstract:
Daighi (臺語) is one of the languages going through an intergenerational language shift. The threatened status of it is, however, overlooked by the majority. This study explores the implementation of Daighi education at primary school level, focusing on the effect of Daighi education on the maintenance of Daighi.

180804 Coherent Effects in 2D Excitons

Title:
Coherent Effects in 2D Excitons

Speaker:
洪仕安 (Jason Horng)

Time:
08/04 (Sat.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
08/05 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Optics, Condensed matter, Ultrafast optics, 2D semiconductor, Ultrafast laser, Excitons

Abstract:
超快光學 (ultrafast optics) 是利用光-物質交互作用來研究物質內超快現象的學問，一般指時間尺度從皮秒 (10^-12 s)、飛秒 (10^-15 s) 至阿秒 (10^-18 s) 的現象。許多超快現象無法直接使用電學方法觀察，這時超快光學裡的激發-偵測技術 (pump-probe) 即可用來觀測電子、電洞或其他載子在物質內的動態反應。其他的超快現象如光致相變、化學反應、電漿反應也都可用類似方法觀測。在本次演講，我會介紹超快光學的基本原理以及應用，接著討論我們利用激發-偵測技術發現二維半導體中雙激子 (biexciton) 的研究過程。

180728 Towards Real-world Alertness Estimation using Brain-Computer Interfacing

Title:
Towards Real-world Alertness Estimation using Brain-Computer Interfacing

Speaker:
魏群樹 (Chun-Shu Wei)

Time:
07/28 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
07/29 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Neuroengineering, Brain-computer interface, Alertness estimation, EEG signal processing, Machine learning, Cognitive sensing

Abstract:
A brain-computer interface (BCI) allows human to communicate with a computer by thoughts. Recent advances in brain decoding have shown the capability of BCIs in monitoring physiological and cognitive state of the brain, including alertness. Since drowsy driving has been an urgent issue in vehicle safety that causes numerous deaths and injuries, BCIs based on non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) are developed to monitor drivers’ drowsiness continuously and instantaneously. Nonetheless, on the pathway of transitioning laboratory-oriented BCI into real-world applications, there are major challenges that limit the usability and convenience for alertness monitoring. To completely understand the association between human EEG and alertness level, this study employed a large-scale dataset collected from simulated driving experiments with a lane-keeping task and EEG recordings. Overall, this study presents the contributions to developing a BCI for real-world alertness monitoring with maximal usability and convenience. The methodologies and findings could further catalyze the exploration of real-world BCIs in more applications.

180721 Speed Up Drug Discovery with Chemical Proteomics and Machine Learning

Title:
Speed Up Drug Discovery with Chemical Proteomics and Machine Learning

Speaker:
吳泓儀 (Hung-Yi Wu)

Time:
07/21 (Sat.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
07/22 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Proteomics, Computational proteomics, Drug discovery, Proteomics, Machine learning, Data science

  本次演講未提供錄影

Abstract:
A chemical proteomic tool, called SIM-PAL, transforms wet-lab drug discovery into a computational pattern recognition problem. This is an on-going, unpublished project. I'm going to present how I approach this problem, and open to feedback from the audience.

(延期) 180714 分子交互作用與動力學：一個偽化學系的觀察筆記

Title:
分子交互作用與動力學：一個偽化學系的觀察筆記

Speaker:
陳信達 (Hsing-Ta Chen)

Time:
07/14 (Sat.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
07/15 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Chemical physics, Quantum dynamics

Abstract:
今年 7/8-7/12 是兩年一度的分子交互作用與動力學 (Molecular Interactions and Dynamics, MID) Gordon Research Conference，有許多美國及國際知名的教授及專家參與會議，演講內容包含大氣化學、光化學、界面反應，分子動力學、量子動力學。其中，與空氣污染息息相關的懸浮微粒 (PM) 以及其在大氣中的化學反應，也是本次會議的討論重點之一。我將會以化學物理學 (Chemical Physics) 的背景，從理論的角度分享我所觀察到 MID 領域的發展。

project Tyra 已正式更名為 Taiwanese Young Researcher Association

各位會員大家好，

有鑑於 project Tyra 人數快速成長，許多成員自 15 年草創至今已移動到不同的國家地區，也十分慶幸許多來自非北美地區的新朋友加入我們，隨著 project Tyra 的成長，草創時期所取名的 project Tyra - Taiwanese Young Researchers in America 已無法代表目前的 project Tyra。在此告知各位成員，我們已於上週將全稱改為

　　project Tyra - Taiwanese Young Researcher Association

，期待未來能以更多元包容的視野與世界各地的台灣年輕學者合作。感謝各位長久以來的支持，希望大家持續和朋友同事們推廣我們的理念和活動。

- project Tyra 工作小組

180707 Academic Presentation Tools: LaTeX, TikZ, and Beamer

Title:
Academic Presentation Tools: LaTeX, TikZ, and Beamer

Speaker:
劉俊麟 (Chun-Lin Liu)

Time:
07/07 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
07/08 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Presentation tools, LaTeX, TikZ, Beamer

Abstract:
Academic presentation aims to deliver precise and concise messages to the audience. Apart from Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, LaTeX is an alternative typesetting system well-suited for this purpose. This talk first reviews the history and several advantages of LaTeX, and then introduces two of the enhancements: TikZ for drawing and Beamer for slides. First, LaTeX is widely used in typesetting academic papers, technical reports, books, and other scientific documents, with high efficiency. Then, TikZ is a powerful drawing package, which is able to produce high quality vector graphics in LaTeX. Finally, presentation slides can be created readily by the Beamer class in LaTeX. Several examples using LaTeX will be demonstrated.

180701 用 Python 來玩粒子物理實驗吧：An Example of Using Deep Learning to Correct Energy Measurement in the Belle II Experiment

Title:
用 Python 來玩粒子物理實驗吧：An Example of Using Deep Learning to Correct Energy Measurement in the Belle II Experiment

Speaker:
黃坤賢 (Kunxian Huang)

Time:

*注意：本週演講時間調整至週日 (US) / 週一 (TW)

07/01 (Sun.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
07/02 (Mon.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
物理, 實驗高能物理, Physics, Experimental high energy physics, Belle II, CsI crystal, Convolutional Neural Network

Abstract:

粒子物理實驗是一門探求物質最小組成法則和相互作用的科學，隨著時代的演進，現在的粒子物理實驗必須要面對數以千萬計大量的資料和自動化儀器的需求。近十幾年來，在傳統的數據分析，到機器學習的數據分析，到儀器監控介面等方面採用 Python 語言的物理學家們越來越多，也對 Python 社群做出許多的貢獻。

位於日本筑波市的 Belle II 實驗即將於今年春天開始啟動運轉，目的是尋找反物質與物質不對稱之謎，更是第一個全採用 Python 來作為主要開發及分析的大型粒子物理實驗。 本次分享 Belle II 實驗中使用 Python 進行數據分析的現況，並用一個使用深度學習 CNN 方法來校正伽瑪射線能量量測之實例，來展示在粒子物理的資料分析中使用 TensorFlow in Python API 之過程。

180623 The air we breathe. The water we drink.

Title:
The air we breathe. The water we drink.

Speaker:
余哲瑨 (Che-Chin "Joseph" Yu)

Time:
06/23 (Sat.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
06/24 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Chemical engineering, Catalysis photocatalysis, Electrochemistry, Environmental remediation, Air, Water

Abstract:
Recently, serious air pollution, such as PM2.5 and smog, has raised public awareness of air quality. NOx (NO+NO2) is one of the most detrimental pollutants, both to the environment and human beings, because it not only possesses toxicity but also contributes to the aforementioned problems. This talk begins with a introduction of the NOx (pollutant) abatement technique to coal-burning flue gas in our state-of-art pilot-scale photoreactor, followed by the modification of photocatalysts, with the intention of improving photocatalytic efficiency using titania nanosheet (TiO2 nanosheet) photocatalysts. Finally, this talk will end up in a additional study of electrochemical wastewater treatment using carbon-based electrodes with Fenton and ozonation reaction. Ultimately, these findings promise to provide better air and water quality and even greater quality of life for future generation.

180617 Medium-Range Cloud-Resolving Typhoon Rainfall Ensemble Forecasts for Taiwan through Time-Lagged Approach

Title:
Medium-Range Cloud-Resolving Typhoon Rainfall Ensemble Forecasts for Taiwan through Time-Lagged Approach

Speaker:
陳鑫澔 (Shin-Hau Chen)

Time:

*注意：本週演講往後調整到週日 (US) / 週一 (TW)

06/17 (Sun.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
06/18 (Mon.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Atmospheric science, Typhoon forecast, Precipitation forecast, Typhoon, Quantitative precipitation forecast, Cloud-resolving model

Abstract:

For typhoon hazard reduction in Taiwan, realistic rainfall scenarios associated with different tracks are the most demanded information by the authorities, and can be best provided only by cloud-resolving models (CRMs). However, at high computational expense, such models are deterministic and generally regarded as having inadequate lead time and no probability information to quantify forecast uncertainty, compared to a multi-member ensemble. Thus, this study designs a new forecast strategy to solve the two major drawbacks of CRMs through a time-lagged approach. The ensemble system using the Cloud-Resolving Storm Simulator (CReSS) has a grid size of 2.5 km, a large domain of 1860 x 1360 km2, and an extended range of 8 days, and combines the strengths of high resolution for quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) and longer lead time for preparation in an innovative way. Its performance is evaluated for six typhoons in 2012-2013.

For the six typhoons, in addition to at short ranges within 3 days, the system produced a high-quality QPF at a longest range up to day 8, 4, 6, 3, 6, and day 7 beforehand, respectively, providing much extended lead time, especially for slow-moving ones that pose higher threats to Taiwan. Moreover, demonstrated in the highlight case of Kong-Rey (2013), since forecast uncertainty (reflected in spread) reduces with lead time, this system can provide a wide range of rainfall scenarios in Taiwan early on at longer lead time (beyond 4-5 days), each highly realistic for its track, for early warning and advanced preparation for the worst case. Then, as the typhoon approaches and the predicted tracks converge at short range, the authority can make adjustments toward the scenario with increasing likelihood. This strategy fits well our conventional wisdom to “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst” when facing natural hazards like typhoons.

Requiring only about 1500 cores to execute four 8-day runs per day, our system compares much favorably in usefulness to a typical 24-member ensemble (5-km grid size, 750 x 900 km2, 3-day forecasts) currently in operation at comparable computational expenses. Thus, it is not only powerful, but also already affordable and feasible.

180603 Miniaturization and Integration of MEMS Vibratory Inertial Sensors

Title:
Miniaturization and Integration of MEMS Vibratory Inertial Sensors

Speaker:
林昱維 (Yu-Wei Lin)

Time:
06/03 (Sun.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
06/04 (Mon.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Mechanical engineering, Micro-electro-mechanical Systems (MEMS), Transducers, Inertial measurement unit, Inertial sensors

  仍與講者商討細節中，本次演講錄影暫緩上傳

Abstract:
There have been increased adaptations of MEMS inertial sensors in the consumer electronics and bio-medical fields for applications such as drones, wearable electronics, and motion tracking devices. In this presentation I will briefly introduce navigation solutions based on inertial measurement unit and basics of accelerometers and gyroscopes. Recent research focus that will be discussed/touch base on include: features in sensor design (mechanical levers and mode ordering), gyroscope control loops, sensors integration through 3D folded MEMS structure, personal navigation algorithm (ZUPT), fabrication process, and sensor packaging.

180609 Examining Transfer Credit Mobility and Baccalaureate Degree Attainment

Title:
Examining Transfer Credit Mobility and Baccalaureate Degree Attainment

Speaker:
許薰儷 (Shelly Hsu)

Time:
06/09 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
06/10 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Education, Higher education, Transfer students, Articulation agreement, Educational policy

Abstract:
The purposes of this study are to investigate (a) the effectiveness of curriculum alignment based on Transfer Model Curricula articulation agreements among various majors and community colleges, and (b) the influence of articulation agreements on baccalaureate degree attainment for community college students.

180520 How Robust Are Canonical Experimental Economics Results?

Title:
How Robust Are Canonical Experimental Economics Results?

Speaker:
林伯軒 (Po-Hsuan Lin)

Time:

*注意：本週演講往後調整到週日 (US) / 週一 (TW)

05/20 (Sun.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
05/21 (Mon.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Economics, Experimental Economics, Experimental Methodology

Abstract:
Conventional wisdom suggests that experimental results due to other regarding preferences may vary greatly across cultures, while results that concern markets institutions will remain constant. However, existing data that supports such conclusion is sparse; it is often cost-prohibitive and not pragmatic to run the same experiment across a large number of countries. Thus, we are either left to compare results of slight variations of designs across many countries or the same design across very few countries. Our paper provides an alternative. Utilizing data from MobLab educational platform, we are able to examine data from 10 different countries to test whether the players’ behavior is consistent with theoretical prediction across different countries. We focus on results of identical experiments of the well-known Ultimatum Game and Double Auction.

Results generally support conventional wisdom. In ultimatum game data, we note a significant country heterogeneity in proposer offers but not responders' behavior. We also note subtle effects of 50/50 offers on responder's behavior both in response and decision time previously not reported in studies with smaller sample time. In the double auction, we find little differences in “mean error deviation”, “Smith’s alpha”, and “efficiency”, three commonly calculated measures of market convergence.

180512 The Evaluation of Alternative Exposure Metrics for Traffic-related Air Pollutant Exposure in North Carolina

Title:
The Evaluation of Alternative Exposure Metrics for Traffic-related Air Pollutant Exposure in North Carolina

Speaker:
張世穎 (Shih-Ying Chang)

Time:

*注意：本週演講時間略有調整

05/12 (Sat.) 2 pm PDT, 3 pm MDT, 4 pm CDT, 5 pm EDT
05/13 (Sun.) 5 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Environmental science, Air pollution, Exposure assessment, Air quality modeling, Environmental health, Indoor air quality

Abstract:
Human exposure to air pollution in many studies is represented by ambient concentrations from space-time kriging of observed values. Space-time kriging techniques based on a limited number of ambient monitors may fail to capture the concentration from local sources. Further, because people spend more time indoors, using ambient concentration to represent exposure may cause error. To quantify the associated exposure error, we computed a series of six different hourly-based exposure metrics at 16,095 Census blocks of three Counties in North Carolina for CO, NOx, PM2.5, and elemental carbon (EC) during 2012. These metrics include ambient background concentration from space-time ordinary kriging (STOK), ambient on-road concentration from the Research LINE source dispersion model (R-LINE), a hybrid concentration combining STOK and R-LINE, and their associated indoor concentrations from an indoor infiltration mass balance model. Using a hybrid-based indoor concentration as the standard, the comparison showed that outdoor STOK metrics yielded large error at both population (67% to 93%) and individual level (average bias between (10% to 95%). For pollutants with significant contribution from on-road emission (EC and NOx), the on-road based indoor metric performs the best at the population level (error less than 52%). At the individual level, however, the STOK-based indoor concentration performs the best (average bias below 30%). For PM2.5, due to the relatively low contribution from on-road emission (7%), STOK-based indoor metric performs the best at both population (error below 40%) and individual level (error below 25%). The results of the study will help future epidemiology studies to select appropriate exposure metric and reduce potential bias in exposure characterization.

180505 Strong Low-Frequency Squeezed Light from Dual-Seeded Four-Wave Mixing

Title:
Strong Low-Frequency Squeezed Light from Dual-Seeded Four-Wave Mixing

Speaker:
吳孟昌 (Meng-Chang Wu)

Time:

*注意：本週演講時間略有調整

05/05 (Sat.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
05/06 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Quantum physics, Quantum measurement, Four-wave mixing

  為配合本研究發表時程，本次錄影將延遲至年底上傳

Abstract:
Quantum correlated twin beams generate entanglement that can be used as a resource for quantum information processing and quantum communication. Furthermore, intensity-difference squeezing at low-frequencies has applications such as quantum calibration of large area photodiodes. One way to generate these twin beams is by performing four-wave mixing (4WM) in a hot rubidium vapor. In previous experiments, the imbalanced power between the seeded probe beam and the conjugate beam limited the squeezing to frequencies above a few kilohertz. Here, by locking our diode laser via polarization spectroscopy and utilizing a “dual-seed” technique, we achieve intensity difference squeezing at frequencies as low as 10 Hz.

180428 台美人傳統週

Title:
台美人傳統週

Speaker:
彭琪庭 (Chichi Peng)

Time:
04/28 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
04/29 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Abstract:
介紹每年五月在美國各大城市舉辦的台美人傳統週，並討論其意義和反思其對多族裔社會文化的影響。

Keywords:
歷史, 文化, 族裔, 亞裔美國人, 台美人, 亞裔傳統週
History, Culture

180422 A Taiwanese veterinarian pursuing PhD and veterinary clinical pathology training in the US.

Title:
A Taiwanese veterinarian pursuing PhD and veterinary clinical pathology training in the US.

Speaker:
朱珮華 (Candice Chu)

Time:

*注意：本週演講因故往後調整到週日 (US) / 週一 (TW)

04/22 (Sun.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
04/23 (Mon.) 8 am Taiwan

Abstract:
The American veterinary education system is very different from Taiwan's. In the US, the graduate-level professional school goes along with a comprehensive post-graduate training includes internship, residency, and specialty boards. Moreover, research is often considered as an essential component of clinical training. As a Taiwanese veterinarian who pursues PhD and clinical pathology training in the US, I will share some fun facts about the American veterinary education as well as my PhD study: "urine, serum, and kidney miRNA and gene expression characterization in dogs with chronic kidney diseases".

Do you know that American veterinary students are 90% female? How could Taiwanese veterinarians practice in the US? Are there "specialty doctors" in veterinary medicine as well? Find the answers in my talk!

Keywords:
Veterinary Medicine, Nephrology

180414 Anatomy of Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone from seismic observation

Title:
Anatomy of Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone from seismic observation

Speaker:
吳欣玫 (Sin-Mei Wu)

Time:
04/14 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
04/15 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Abstract:
Old Faithful geyser has been the iconic hydrothermal feature in Yellowstone over a century since the National Park was founded in 1872. The spectacular eruption with water ejected over 30 m from the surface and the intrigued periodic eruptions attract millions of tourists per year to Yellowstone.

In this presentation, I will introduce the applications of seismology in order to understand the nature of Old Faithful geyser system. The focus of the presentation will be 1) how we can utilize the seismic signals to study the geyser system, 2) what has been done before, and 3) what can we do to reach further understanding of Old Faithful geyser in the future.

Keywords:
Seismology, Yellowstone

180407 線上討論會：玉山計劃？好爬嗎？

嗨，大家好，

由於本週原定的講者突然有事，無法分享，我們把本週的演講改為「線上圓桌討論會」。討論的議題是台灣教育部 / 科技部最近提出的 玉山計畫 / 玉山青年學者計畫 /  哥倫布計畫 / 愛因斯坦培植計畫，任何相關意見、看法、支持或反對或疑問，都歡迎在討論會提出交流。

時間：4/7 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 8 pm EDT, 4/8 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

主題：台灣政府各項攬才計畫 (請見以上連結)

180317 Flat Optical Components with Meta-Optics

Title:
Flat Optical Components with Meta-Optics

Speaker:
吳品頡 (Pin Chieh Wu)

Time:
03/17 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT
03/18 (Sun.) 6 am Taiwan

Abstract:
Optical/plasmonic metamaterials composed of artificial structures have attracted a huge number of interests due to their extraordinary optical properties, such as negative refractive index, optical invisibility, etc. Their single layer configuration, optical metasurfaces, enable abrupt changes to the properties of electromagnetic wave like phase, amplitude as well as polarization within a subwavelength spatial region, which is promising for the development of flat optics systems. In this presentation, I will talk about the intriguing light control through flat optical metasurfaces, which enables feasible applications of versatile polarization generations, high efficiency metalens with multi-functionality, and achromatic metasurface devices. By incorporating metasurfaces with active materials/systems, one can dynamically control the optical properties of metasurface devices on demand like beam steering, and tunable polarization conversion.

180310 Flux reconstruction/correction procedure via correction in computational fluid dynamics

Title:
Flux reconstruction/correction procedure via correction in computational fluid dynamics

Speaker:
莊璧躍 (Pi-Yueh Chuang)

Time:
03/10 (Sat.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
03/11 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Abstract:
In this talk, I will give an introduction to a recently proposed high-order numerical methods -- flux reconstruction (FR), also known as correction procedure via reconstruction (CPR). Discussion of FR in the context of computational incompressible flow will also be addressed.

In CFD (computational fluid dynamics) area, high-order methods are considered to be computationally cheaper than low-order ones (such as finite difference/volume/element). Traditional high-order methods, however, pose many problems, such as numerical stability, ill-conditioned systems, difficult implementations, and challenging adaption to HPC (high-performance computing) systems. Therefore nowadays, in production CFD codes and practical uses, the use of high-order methods is still limited. The FR method may become a game changer to this situation. FR has been proved to be numerically stable and computationally efficient on modern heterogeneous HPC systems. While FR is initially designed for hyperbolic conservation laws and compressible flow, applying FR to incompressible flow is still a challenge and leaves us many open questions. In this talk, I will try to bring these questions out after the introduction to FR.

180303 Topological quantum phase transitions in Haldane spin chains

Title:
Topological quantum phase transitions in Haldane spin chains

Speaker:
曾郁欽 (Yu-Chin Tzeng)

Time:
03/03 (Sat.) 11 am PDT, 12 pm MDT, 1 pm CDT, 2 pm EDT
03/04 (Sun.) 2 am Taiwan

Abstract:
I will give some introductions to the 2016 Nobel price in physics, particular in the Topological phases and Topological quantum phase transitions in one-dimensional quantum spin chains. In quantum mechanics, the volume of the spin can only be half-odd-integer (S=1/2, 3/2, 5/2,...) or integer. (S=1,2,3,...) When the spins are aligned into a 1D array, by their spin-spin interactions, the behaviors are very different between half-odd-integer spin chain and integer spin chain. This is the so-called "Haldane conjecture" which was made by D.Haldane in 1980's. Nowadays we further know the odd-integer (S=1,3,5,...) spin chains belong to the Symmetry-Protected-Topological phase, and the even-integer (S=2,4,6,...) spin chains are connected with trivial phases. Haldane won the Nobel price in 2016 for his contributions to ​the ​ theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.

Tyra新年會議結果報告

各位親愛的project Tyra會員大家好：

經過年底的會議討論，在這個新的一年裡，Tyra的活動規則將會有些改變。我代表與會的成員整理結論如下：

1) 2018年第一次的網路演講暫定於2/3，在此之前將不會有例行周末演講。

再次提醒，講者「不」一定需要提到自己團隊的新研究發現，演講內容是各位專業領域的介紹亦可。

2) 請各位點這裡登記預期能夠提供演講的時間。

每人每個主題(不同主題分開計算)可暫定至多兩個時段，又每個時段有三個空位，以便之後挪動調整。

由於會員人數大於演講時段，請注意這個表格只是暫定時段，我們會主動與各位聯絡確認演講並協調時間。

3) 我們將在2/1將未登記任何演講時段的會員刪除會員資格。

被刪除的會員未來若希望參與並分享研究進展仍可再次申請加入。

我們希望所有成員在享受大家的付出之餘，也能有一樣的回饋意願與責任意識。

4) 感謝駐洛杉磯台北經濟文化辦事處教育組/科技組的協力支持，今年每場演講我們計劃提供講者十至二十元美金酬勞。

5) 我們預計在今年安排兩場非Tyra會員的演講，邀請專家（如科技部/教育部高教司代表）討論台灣學術、產業、或高教發展。

日期再行公布，請各位拭目以待。

6) 若各位有興趣加入Tyra工作小組，協助行政事項（如安排演講、聯絡講者、維護部落格；每周工作時間小於一小時），

請寄信至 gixandy@gmail.com 標題: [Working group] 參與工作小組。

謝謝大家，新年快樂囉 :)

張硯評, Tyra committee