191221 High-Density Ultra-Sensitive Cameras for Future Cosmic Microwave Background Observations

Title:
High-Density Ultra-Sensitive Cameras for Future Cosmic Microwave Background Observations

Speaker:
何率菩 (Shuay-Pwu Patty Ho), PhD, Princeton University

Time:
12/21 (Sat.) 5:30 pm PST, 6:30 pm MST, 7:30 pm CST, 8:30 pm EST
12/22 (Sun.) 9:30 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Experimental cosmology, CMB, Bolometers, Polarimeter, ACT, SO

Abstract:

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) continues to reveal new aspects of the large scale universe. For example, current projects are searching for evidence of primordial gravitational waves, for signatures sensitive to the sum of the neutrino masses, and for further understanding of the formation and growth of large structures under the influence of gravity in the accelerating universe. Technologies for ground-based and balloon-borne instruments measuring the polarization of the CMB have been well established and advanced in the last decade.

In this talk, I will focus on the instrumentation on these state-of-the-art arrays, especially on ACTPol, Advanced ACTPol and future stage-3 and stage-4 experiments.

191214 Kinetic Inductance Detector for Next Generation Dark Matter Search

Title:
Kinetic Inductance Detector for Next Generation Dark Matter Search

Speaker:
張硯詠 (Yen-Yung Chang), PhD candidate, Caltech

Time:
12/14 (Sat.) 5 pm PST, 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, 8 pm EST
12/15 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, High energy physics, Dark matter, Kinetic Inductance Detector (KID), SuperCDMS

Abstract:

In recent years, development in dark matter (DM) phenomenology below GeV scale has been booming, partially due to the null results from collider and noble liquid-based searches, and partially thanks to new technologies' sensitivity in previously unreachable territory.

I will begin with the rich phenomenology in low-mass, i.e. sub-GeV to wave-like, DM candidates and discuss SuperCDMS single-electron-hole-sensitive detector and its latest result. And then I will focus the rest of the talk on the ongoing R&D with Kinetic Inductance Detector (KID) at Caltech and NASA-JAP as a promising alternative to current technologies, e.g. transition edge sensor (TES), for future larger scale, low-threshold DM searches.

191207 Microbial Ecology of Point-of-Use Drinking Water Filters

Title:
Microbial Ecology of Point-of-Use Drinking Water Filters

Speaker:
吳佳真 (Chia-Chen Wu), PhD, Wayne State University

Time:
12/07 (Sat.) 5 pm PST, 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, 8 pm EST
12/08 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Environmental Engineering, Environmental microbiology and toxicology, Drinking water microbiome, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli

Abstract:
Commercial activated carbon block (ACB) point-of-use (PoU) drinking water filters are widely used to remove chemicals of concern from tap water. ACB PoU filters, however, are an incubator of bacteria because they remove disinfectant residual and adsorb organic compounds that can serve as bacterial substrates. Bacterial growth in ACB PoU filters raises questions about whether waterborne bacteria that pose health risks can be enriched, such as enteric-related bacteria, opportunistic pathogens, and antibiotic resistant gene (ARG)-carrying bacteria. To understand how ACB PoU filters change the microbial ecology of drinking water, studies were conducted using both laboratory-based manifold systems that received Ann Arbor tap water, and filters deployed in the field in response to the Flint water crisis. This presentation will show the mechanisms of bacteria colonization in the ACB PoU filters and discuss the overall risks involved in using the filter as the sole treatment barrier for tap water.

191130 Metallurgy of Quasicrystals

Title:
Metallurgy of Quasicrystals

Speaker:
黃中人 (Jhong-Ren Huang), PhD candidate, 日本東北大學 (Tohoku University)

Time:
11/30 (Sat.) 8 pm PST, 9 pm MST, 10 pm CST, 11 pm EST
12/01 (Sun.) 12 pm Taiwan

Keywords:
Materials science, Metallurgy, Quasicrystals, Crystallography

Abstract:
準結晶 (Quasicrystals) 既不屬於傳統晶體 (Crystals) ，也不屬於非晶態物質 (Amorphous)，因而被稱為「第三種固態物質狀態」。準結晶在電子繞射圖譜具有清晰的繞射斑點，卻展現出違反傳統結晶學上定義的旋轉對稱 (5-fold symmetry) 並缺乏直移對稱性 (Translational symmetry)。一般而言，準結晶多由金屬元素組成，由於其特殊的幾何對稱性，其性質迴異於典型金屬，因而吸引許多不同領域的研究人員投入這項新型態物質的研究。本演講將從傳統結晶學的角度出發，對準結晶的發現到結晶定義的革命進行概述；並基於冶金學的角度深入描述其形成與結晶穩定性與準結晶研究的現階段問題與未來展望。

191123 Better Intelligence If and Only If Better Compression

Title:
Better Intelligence If and Only If Better Compression

Speaker:
王富民 (Fumin Wang), PhD, DeepMind

Time:
11/23 (Sat.) 5 pm PST, 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, 8 pm EST
11/24 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Machine learning, Information theory, Minimum description length principle, Rissanen bound, Kolmogorov complexity

Abstract:
In the theory of Artificial General Intelligence by Hutter and others, the optimal behavior of a rational agent is equivalent to compressing its observations. A similar statement is Occam's Razor, i.e. the simplest answer is usually the correct answer. In this talk, we provide a compression program that is stronger than zip, 7z, and tar.gz, and show how it can be used to make intelligent decisions. In particular, we apply it to DNA and protein codes and use the resulting complexity measures to reconstruct the phylogeny tree of the mammalian class, as well as that of the SARS virus.

191116 Hidden Monopole Dark Matter via Axion Portal and its Implications for Direct Detection Searches and Beam-Dump Experiments

Title:
Hidden Monopole Dark Matter via Axion Portal and its Implications for Direct Detection Searches and Beam-Dump Experiments

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

Time:
11/16 (Sat.) 7 pm PST, 8 pm MST, 9 pm CST, 10 pm EST
11/17 (Sun.) 11 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Particle Cosmology

Abstract:
我們考慮隱性磁單極暗物質 (hidden monopole dark matter) 透過軸子傳輸 (axion portal) 與核子作用。我們發現允許的參數空間可以讓磁單極暗物質和軸子被未來的實驗給探測，像是PICO-500 (暗物質直接探測實驗) 和SHiP (束轉儲實驗)。

191109 Cosmic Rays or Turbulence Can Suppress Cooling Flows

Title:
Cosmic Rays or Turbulence Can Suppress Cooling Flows

Speaker:
蘇恭毅 (Kung-Yi Su), PhD, CCA Flatiron Institute

Time:
11/09 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
11/10 (Sun.) 11 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Astronomy, Galaxy, AGN feedback, Cooling flows, Cosmic rays, Turbulence

Abstract:
The quenching "maintenance" and related "cooling flow" problems are important in galaxies from Milky Way mass through clusters. We investigate this in halos (1e12-1e14 solar mass), using non-cosmological high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations with the FIRE2 (Feedback In Realistic Environments) stellar feedback model. We first focus the various proposed "non-AGN" solution mechanisms, including Type Ia supernovae (SNe), AGB winds, cosmic rays (CR) from SNe, magnetic fields, conduction, or morphological quenching, and show that they do not substantially reduce cooling flows nor maintain "quenched". This all supports the idea that additional physics, e.g., AGN feedback, must be important in massive galaxies, but even the qualitative form of this energetic input remains uncertain. We, therefore, tested different scenarios including thermal heating, momentum injection, cosmic ray injection, or turbulent stirring of the intra-cluster medium (ICM). We explore which scenarios can quench without violating observational constraints on energetics or ICM gas. We show that turbulent stirring or CR injection, can both maintain a low-SFR halo for Gyr timescales with modest energy input, by providing a non-thermal pressure which stably lowers the core density and cooling rates. Turbulent stirring also mixes condensed core gas into the hot halo. Pure thermal heating or nuclear isotropic momentum injection require larger energy and require fine-tuning to avoid overheating/gas expulsion.

191026 Clocked Atom Delivery to a Photonic Crystal Waveguide

Title:
Clocked Atom Delivery to a Photonic Crystal Waveguide

Speaker:
彭陸 (Lucas Sky Peng), PhD, AOSense, Inc.

Time:
10/26 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
10/27 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Atomic physics, Quantum optics, Nanophotonics, Photonic crystal waveguide, Many body physics

Abstract:
Experiments and numerical simulations are described that develop quantitative understanding of atomic motion near the surfaces of nanoscopic photonic crystal waveguides (PCWs). Ultracold atoms are delivered from a moving optical lattice into the PCW. Synchronous with the moving lattice, transmission spectra for a guided-mode probe field are recorded as functions of lattice transport time and frequency detuning of the probe beam. By way of measurements such as these, we have been able to validate quantitatively our numerical simulations, which are based upon detailed understanding of atomic trajectories that pass around and through nanoscopic regions of the PCW under the influence of optical and surface forces. The resolution for mapping atomic motion is roughly 50 nm in space and 100 ns in time. By introducing auxiliary guided-mode (GM) fields that provide spatially varying AC Stark shifts, we have, to some degree, begun to control atomic trajectories, such as to enhance the flux into the central vacuum gap of the PCW at predetermined times and with known AC Stark shifts. Applications of these capabilities include enabling high fractional filling of optical trap sites within PCWs, calibration of optical fields within PCWs, and utilization of the time-dependent, optically dense atomic medium for novel nonlinear optical experiments.

191012 Coupling Cell-Cell Adhesion to Cell Polarization

Title:
Coupling Cell-Cell Adhesion to Cell Polarization

Speaker:
王成禾 (Chen-Ho Wang), PhD student, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG)

Time:
10/12 (Sat.) 11 am PDT, 12 pm MDT, 1 pm CDT, 2 pm EDT
10/13 (Sun.) 2 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Biology, Biophysics, Cell polarization, Reaction diffusion, Cell-cell adhesion, Live-cell imaging

Abstract:

Cell polarization is an essential process which is key to morphology and function of tissues. Cells in tissue polarize and align their polarization axis to create functional, tissue specific architecture. A prominent example is the organization of epithelial tissues. Here, single cells polarize into three distinct cell membrane domains: apical (free surface), lateral (cell-cell contact) and basal (cell-matrix contact). Adhesion contacts of cell-cell versus cell-matrix interface are the most obvious external cues to align polarization axis of single cells such that apical domains are forming a single closed surface or cavity. Much is still unknown about the role of cell-cell contact interface with its homophilic adhesion receptors. Even less is known about the feedback and interplay of basal and lateral domains and how this is connected to apical-basal polarization of epithelial cells.

In this research, we combine two approaches: 1) a minimal organ approach which comprising of MDCK doublets cultured in array of microcavities to precisely control the spatial organization of cellular adhesions in three dimensions, 2) To provide a minimum model of cell polarization in epithelium, computational simulation will be involved for examining sufficiency of the model.

190928 Near-Field Optical Spectroscopy 近場光譜學

Title:
Near-Field Optical Spectroscopy 近場光譜學

Speaker:
黃瓊緯 (Chiung-Wei Huang), PhD student, UNC-Chapel Hil

Time:
09/28 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
09/29 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Chemistry, Physical chemistry, Near-field, Optical characterization, Atomic force microscopy, Nanotechnology

Abstract:

本演講概述以掃描探針顯微鏡為基礎方法的近場光譜學，從技術需求背景到原理，再到近年應用於檢視材料中奈米尺度的異質結構與其光電特性。

I’d like to give an overview of near-field optical characterization based on scanning probe microscopy. The content will be presented from the technical need for the emerging materials and followed by the experimental principle. Several recent examples on investigating nanoscale heterogeneity and the associated optoelectronic properties will be discussed.

190831 Two-Dimensional Electron Gas (2DEG): Electronics and Applications

Title:
Two-Dimensional Electron Gas (2DEG): Electronics and Applications

Speaker:
張鑑元 (Chien-Yuan Chang), PhD, 日本理化學研究所 (RIKEN)

• Chien-Yuan (Ted) Chang is a postdoc researcher at Quantum Functional System Research Group at Center for Emergent Matter Science, RIKEN since 2019. Prior to this, he is a project researcher in the Tarucha Laboratory at the University of Tokyo. His current research focuses on constructing photon/spin interface in order to perform quantum state transfer and coherent entanglement transfer between entangled photon pairs to spin qubit in semiconductor.

徐晨軒 (Chen-Hsuan Hsu), PhD, 日本理化學研究所 (RIKEN)

• Chen-Hsuan Hsu is a theoretical physicist in RIKEN, Japan. His research interests lie in the field of condensed matter physics. The research topics include topological states of matter, spin-orbit interaction, and Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid phenomena in various nanoscale systems such as nanowires/nanotubes, topological insulators, andquantum dots.

Time:
08/31 (Sat.) 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
09/01 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
physics, condensed matter physics, two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), quantum dots, nanowires

Abstract:

Two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) provides a playground for studies in the exotic quantum phenomena in low dimensions. Such solid-state system, basing on a similar fabrication process widely employed by semiconductor industries, are predicted to enable many promising next-generation applications, including, but not limited to, quantum computing, quantum communication and networking technologies due to the electron (spin) coherence time. In addition, electrons in the 2DEG systems can be further confined into one and zero dimension, therefore introduce fascinating topological particles in nanoscale electronic-devices.

張鑑元 (Chien-Yuan Chang)
We report on a coherent interface established through photo-excitation that shows photon-to-spin conversion in a GaAs quantum dot system. Single shot readout of a single electron spin is demonstrated, opening a pathway to further investigation on fundamental quantum physics such as quantum entanglement between a wide variety of quantum systems.
徐晨軒 (Chen-Hsuan Hsu)
I will present our work on characterizing the interaction strength of spin-orbit-coupled quantum wires. Such a system can be realized in InAs wires formed in 2DEG. Our results suggest that InAs wires can provide a platform with both strong electron-electron interaction and strong spin-orbit coupling, which are key ingredients for stabilizing Majorana bound states without applying magnetic fields.

190818 PhD 之後怎麼辦？青年研究人員職涯發展座談會

各位 project Tyra 夥伴們，大家好！

你們的期待，我們聽到了！由於許多朋友將面臨畢業、就業的重大挑戰，project Tyra 將邀請三位來自不同領域、不同職涯階段的傑出前輩，分享他們 job hunting 的過程，選擇的道路，獲得合約及國家獎助的經驗與撇步。

我們將討論：

1. 離開學校之後的方向與可能性
2. 如何尋找 (prized) postdoc/faculty position & funding
3. 選擇前往業界/學界的心境轉變與實際考量
4. 如何順利申請國家獎助計劃，e.g. 哥倫布/愛因斯坦計畫
5. 觀眾提問對談

【座談會資訊】

題目：
PhD 之後怎麼辦？青年研究人員職涯發展座談會

講者：(alphabetical order)

• 張慕傑
• 2016 Univ. Groningen 化學博士
• 2016-2018 Univ. Chicago 博士後研究員
• 2017 科技部愛因斯坦培植計劃
• 2018- 台灣大學化學系助理教授
• 周昱薰
• 2016 國立交通大學光電博士
• 2017- Univ. Michigan 博士後研究員
• 2018- Hebrew Univ. Jerusalem 博士後研究員
• 2018 科技部愛因斯坦培植計劃
• 2019- 成功大學光電科學及工程學系助理教授
• 蘇皓瑋
• 2015 MIT 電機資訊博士
• 2015- Fitbit 高級資深研究員

時間：
08/18 (Sun.) 8 am PDT, 11 am EDT, 6 pm Israel, 11 pm Taiwan

190622 Thermotaxis of Escherichia coli in Microfludic Device

Title:
Thermotaxis of Escherichia coli in Microfludic Device

Speaker:
楊智宇 (Alex Chih-Yu Yang), PhD, UC San Diego

Time:
06/22 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
06/23 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Biophysics, Microfluidic device, Thermotaxis

Abstract:
A microfluidic device was designed to create spatial temperature gradients to study the temperature aggregation behavior of E. coli.

190615 EEG-based Brain-Computer Interfaces: Past, Present, and Future

Title:
EEG-based Brain-Computer Interfaces: Past, Present, and Future

Speaker:
徐聖修 (Sheng-Hsiou Hsu), PhD, UC San Diego

Time:
06/15 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
06/16 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Bioengineering, Computational Neuroscience, EEG, Brain-computer interfaces, Brain monitoring

  為配合本研究發表時程，本次錄影將延遲上傳

Abstract:
演講預定討論三個主題：第一，腦波與腦機介面的發展回顧與挑戰。第二，我的研究的兩個子題：如何處理腦波的大量雜訊？如何用腦波監測各種人腦狀態？。第三，腦波應用與腦機介面的未來與邊界。

190601 Under Renovation: Large-Scale Societal Events Induce Shifts between Moral Ideologies

Title:
Under Renovation: Large-Scale Societal Events Induce Shifts between Moral Ideologies

Speaker:
張硯評 (Yen-Ping Chang), PhD

Time:
06/01 (Sat.) 6 pm PDT, 7 pm MDT, 8 pm CDT, 9 pm EDT
06/02 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Psychology, Social Psychology, Morality, Culture, Social change

  為配合本研究發表時程，本次錄影將延遲上傳

Abstract:
The literature of moral foundations theory has revealed a wide array of cross-sectional differences in how societies conceptualize morality. Yet less attention has been paid to cross-temporal differences—thus, changes—in collective moral ideology within a given society. Here, we tested the hypothesis that morality is consistently redefined—renovated—in the service of the interest of the society in the face of widespread social changes. Using the U.S. President’s congressional speeches (Study 1), social media big-data (Study 2), and multi-wave questionnaires (Study 3), we report evidence of this kind of moral renovations of Americans’ moral ideologies during the 9/11 terrorist attack (Study 1), the 2007 economic recession (Study 2), and the 2016 presidential power transition (Study 3). We address three alternative explanations—participants became conservative under threat, desired to justify the status quo, or were experiencing non-foundation-specific moral hyper-activation—and discuss the findings in terms of the malleable and functional nature of morality.

190518 Machine Learning Approaches for Personalized Treatment Selection in Psychiatry

Title:
Machine Learning Approaches for Personalized Treatment Selection in Psychiatry

Speaker:
吳其炘 (Chi-Shin Wu), MD, PhD, National Taiwan University Hospital / Harvard

Time:
05/18 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
05/19 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Medicine, Epidemiology, Pharmacoepidemiology

Abstract:

Identifying the best regimen for individual patient remains challenging, clinicians need to rely on trial and error. The effect of using machine learning to select personalized treatments needs to be assessed and validated.

This study utilized Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. We focused on patients with schizophrenia, which is one of the most severe mental disorders. Prediction models based on Super Learner algorithms were used. We identified the top 3 antipsychotic regimens with the highest probabilities of treatment success. In the test dataset, we compared the rates of treatment success between patients treated with machine-selected regimens and those treated with non-selected regimens.

The results showed patients treated with machine-selected regimens had 43.0% treatment success, while those treated with nonselected regimens have 27.7% success. In conclusions, that the machine learning-based prediction models had acceptable prediction accuracies, which suggested that the use of machine-selected regimens will increase the treatment success rate for patients with schizophrenia.

190511 Understanding Biology by Replaying the Tape of Life: Experimental Evolution of Escherichia coli as an Example

Title:
Understanding Biology by Replaying the Tape of Life: Experimental Evolution of Escherichia coli as an Example

Speaker:
何韋進 (Wei-Chin Ho), PhD, Arizona State University

Time:
05/11 (Sat.) 8 pm PDT, 9 pm MDT, 10 pm CDT, 11 pm EDT
05/12 (Sun.) 11 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Microbiology

Abstract:
Where does the diversity of life come from? One way to study this question is to analyze natural data. However, the variables in natural system may be convoluted, which can hinder our ability to identify fundamental principles in evolution. To overcome it, evolutionary biologists started to perform experimental evolution in the lab, where the abiotic and biotic factors can be well controlled, and the evolutionary outcomes can be easily tracked. Particularly, we experimentally evolved bacteria Escherichia coli and used high-throughput sequencing to study how mutation rates affect evolutionary outcomes. Interestingly, the strains with high mutation rates accumulate mutations in higher rates (4-20 folds) and exhibit higher levels of mutational parallelism but do not show significant evidence for faster fitness improvement. These results suggest that clonal interference and evolvability of lower mutation rates are important in evolution. Moreover, the predictability of genomic evolution and fitness evolution are not necessarily coupled.

190504 Not Only New Offline but Also New Online: Technology to Support Immigrant Access to Social Capital and Adaptation

Title:
Not Only New Offline but Also New Online: Technology to Support Immigrant Access to Social Capital and Adaptation

Speaker:
蕭喬尹 (Joey Chiao-Yin Hsiao), PhD candidate, University of Michigan

Time:
05/04 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
05/05 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Information Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, Immigrant Adaptation, Social Capital, Newcomer

Abstract:
The key to successful adaptation for immigrants in a new country is their social capital, or those resources embedded in their social networks. Research suggests that information and communication technologies (ICTs) foster immigrants’ social capital and facilitate their adaptation. However, it is unclear how recent immigrants use ICTs to develop social capital and how this supports their adaptation needs. We performed semi-structured interviews with thirteen recent immigrants and five long-term immigrants. We found that ICTs and technology-mediated connections: (1) easily addressed immigrants’ settlement needs, (2) minimally addressed their financial and cultural needs, and (3) were not used to address their emotional needs. To support recent immigrants’ adaptation, we suggest ways for ICTs to (1) reduce uncertainty about meeting local-born populations, (2) foster reciprocity among immigrant communities, and (3) facilitate safe resource exchanges.

190427 Photoelectrochemical Solar Fuel Production -- Progress and Prospect

Title:
Photoelectrochemical Solar Fuel Production -- Progress and Prospect

Speaker:
姜昌明 (Chang-Ming Jiang), PhD, Technical University of Munich

Time:
04/27 (Sat.) 8 pm PDT, 9 pm MDT, 10 pm CDT, 11 pm EDT
04/28 (Sun.) 11 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physical chemistry, Semiconductor physics, Photochemistry

Abstract:
Transition metal oxide semiconductors are actively investigated as efficient, durable, and scalable photoelectrodes for direct conversion of solar energy to chemical fuels. However, efficiencies of many newly discovered ternary oxides fall far short of the thermodynamic limits. Optical excitation and carrier transport mechanisms in these open d-shell metal oxide systems are typically complicated by on-site electron correlation. Furthermore, the events governing overall efficiency occur over a broad range of time scales and are affected by a variety of material properties that can be difficult to disentangle in a single compound. Here, a series of copper vanadate photoanodes acts as a platform for analyzing key photoelectrochemical characteristics. As a starting point, we use X-ray and optical spectroscopies to provide a comprehensive portrait of electronic structure. Building on these results, we compare the efficiencies of light absorption, charge separation, and heterogeneous electron transfer as a function of composition. Specific strategies are then identified for improving performance of emerging transition metal oxide photoelectrodes.

190420 Advanced Network Analysis of Resting-State Functional Connectivity to Probe Executive Function In Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis

Title:
Advanced Network Analysis of Resting-State Functional Connectivity to Probe Executive Function In Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis

Speaker:
林素堇 (Sue-Jin Lin), PhD, University of British Columbia

Time:
04/20 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
04/21 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Neuroscience, Neuroimaging, Neurology, Cognitive Network Neuroscience

Abstract:
Cognitive deficits are a very troubling symptom for people with neurological disease. Understanding cognitive deficits has been difficult because there does not seem to be a simple relationship between damages to one part of the brain and the deficits. It seems that disease effects over widespread brain areas are more associated with cognitive deficits. In this research, we investigated functional connectivity (FC), i.e. how brain regions communicate through information transfer, and its relations to cognitive deficits in two diseases showing similar cognitive impairments: Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Novel analyses with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were used to examine FC and advanced statistical methods were used to link FC and cognitive function. In both diseases, we found robust associations between network level descriptions of FC and performance on cognitive tests. Determining the networks associated with cognitive performance is a first step towards targeted therapy attempting to reduce deficits.

190413 Studying the Recharge Cycle of Old Faithful Geyser with Dense Seismic Arrays

Title:
Studying the Recharge Cycle of Old Faithful Geyser with Dense Seismic Arrays

Speaker:
吳欣玫 (Sin-Mei Wu), PhD student, The University of Utah

Time:
04/13 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
04/14 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Geophysics, Hydrothermal system, Old Faithful geyser, Seismic imaging

 

Note: 

Please refer to the updated research results here.

Abstract:
Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park is the most well-known hydrothermal feature in the world. Despite abundant geophysical and geochemical studies, the detailed geometry of the plumbing system controlling the hydrothermal fluid flow of its regular eruption cycle remains elusive. In this presentation, I introduce how do we apply state-of-the-art seismic methods to illuminate Old Faithful's plumbing geometry, and reveal the water recharge evolution throughout its periodic eruption cycles.

190330 Steady-State Ultracold Sr Near Quantum Degeneracy - Applications in CW Atom Laser and Clocks

Title:
Steady-State Ultracold Sr Near Quantum Degeneracy - Applications in CW Atom Laser and Clocks

Speaker:
陳俊嘉 (Chun-Chia Chen), PhD student, University of Amsterdam

Time:
03/30 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
03/31 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Cold atom, Quantum gas, Precision measurement, Atomic clock

Abstract:
So far, BECs and atom lasers have only been demonstrated as the product of a time sequential, pulsed cooling sequence. For applications such as next generation atomic clocks, superradiant lasers or atom interferometers for gravitational wave detection, a steady-state source of degenerate atoms offers great advantages. We present an apparatus that produces a steady-state strontium sample with a phase-space density approaching degeneracy, thus taking a critical step towards demonstrating steady-state atom lasers. Our machine achieves this by simultaneously cooling atoms in spatially separated regions on both the 30-MHz and 7.4-kHz linewidth Sr transitions. We then continuously load a dipole trap where a Stark shift protected dimple collects the coldest atoms. Finally, we demonstrate a new deceleration method that might bridge the gap between the unity phase-space density now demonstrated and an eventual steady-state BEC.

190316 台灣的國際法地位：過去、現在，與未來

Title:
台灣的國際法地位：過去、現在，與未來

Speaker:
黃聖峰 (Shin-Hong Ng (Sheng-Feng Huang)), PhD student, The University of Edinburgh

Time:
注意：本週美國開始日光節約時間，時間調快一小時
03/16 (Sat.) 5 pm PDT, 6 pm MDT, 7 pm CDT, 8 pm EDT
03/17 (Sun.) 8 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Public International Law, Decolonization & Self-Determination, Sovereignty, Decolonization, Independence

Abstract:
Taiwan, as the homeland of more than 23 millions of people, is one of the active participants of international affairs. However, under the pressure imposed by the PRC, Taiwan's road to the world is narrowed and the situation is getting worse. How come the international community would ever allow this to happen? Or, besides the PRC's aggressive territorial claim, there is something behind the disadvantageous situation faced by Taiwan? My research studies the issue of Taiwan's international legal status from the historical aspect and international law. By objectively examine and evaluation the actual legal status of Taiwan, the path for Taiwan to acquire an internationally recognizable legal status as an independent sovereign state is clear, and the answer lies in the right to external self-determination under the decolonization context.

190309 自閉症核心症狀的性別差異 + School Psychologist 簡介

Title:
自閉症核心症狀的性別差異 + School Psychologist 簡介

Speaker:
陳孟筳 (Meng-Ting Chen), PhD candidate, UNC Chapel Hill

Time:
03/09 (Sat.) 5 pm PST, 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, 8 pm EST
03/10 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Psychology, Child development, School psychology, Meta-analysis, Sex difference, Assessment tools

  為配合本研究發表時程，本次錄影將延遲上傳

Abstract:
探討不同性別的自閉症個案核心症狀嚴重程度不同的可能因子。並簡介學校心理師在學校中的角色，以北卡為例介紹孩子接受特教服務的流程。

190302 How Does Omnivory Influence the Effects of Consumer Diversity on Resource Prey Biomass?

Title:
How Does Omnivory Influence the Effects of Consumer Diversity on Resource Prey Biomass?

Speaker:
張峰勳 (Oscar Feng-Hsun Chang), PhD candidate, University of Michigan

Time:
03/02 (Sat.) 7 pm PST, 8 pm MST, 9 pm CST, 10 pm EST
03/03 (Sun.) 11 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Ecology, Community ecology, Ecosystem ecology

Abstract:
It is crucial to understand what drives and regulates the biomass production of plants and animals since plant and consumer biomass provide the resources necessary to sustain numerous aspects of human life. Over the past two decades, scientists have generally agreed that plant diversity, i.e. the variety of plant species, genes and functional groups coexisting in an ecosystem, has a positive effect on plant biomass production presumably due to resource partitioning. In contrast, we still have a rudimentary understanding of how resource prey captured by consumers and, in turn, secondary production, is affected by consumer diversity. Similar to plants, consumer diversity can positively affect prey capture when consumers partition their resource prey. However, consumer diversity can also have a greater variety of impacts on prey consumption due to more complex interspecific interactions like omnivory. Omnivory occurs when animals eat each other, which is rare among plants. More complex inter-specific interactions in consumers could either weaken or strengthen the effects of consumer diversity on prey consumption depending on the strength of omnivorous consumption. To mechanistically understand how consumer diversity affects secondary production, we need to understand how omnivory interacts with resource partitioning to regulate prey consumption.

190223 Next Generation Low-Mass Dark Matter Search

Title:
Next Generation Low-Mass Dark Matter Search

Speaker:
張硯詠 (Yen-Yung Chang), PhD candidate, Caltech

Time:
02/23 (Sat.) 7 pm PST, 8 pm MST, 9 pm CST, 10 pm EST
02/24 (Sun.) 11 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, High energy physics, Dark matter, Cryogenic detector, Kinetic Inductance Detector

Abstract:
In recent years, development in dark matter (DM) phenomenology below weak scale has been booming. I will begin by discussing the rich phenomenology and rising interest in low-mass (< 10 GeV) DM candidates. I will then introduce SuperCDMS SNOLAB, one of the leading next generation experiment for DM direct detection. It will search for DM mass in 0.5-10 GeV range with a projected sensitivity down to 10^-43 cm² nucleon scattering cross section. It utilizes cryogenic Ge/Si crystal with superconducting Transition Edge Sensor (TES) for phonon-mediated recoil detection, and it will begin data taking in 2020. The second half of the talk will be focused on the ongoing R&D and proposed concepts beyond SuperCDMS SNOLAB. I will introduce Kinetic Inductance Detector (KID) as a promising alternative to TES for future larger scale, high resolution, sub-GeV DM searches. Finally, I will briefly discuss recent proposals and challenges, and conclude with future prospects toward the complete search for low-mass thermal relic DM.

190216 Scheduling Benefit-generating Jobs to Capacitated Machines with a Consideration of Fairness

Title:
Scheduling Benefit-generating Jobs to Capacitated Machines with a Consideration of Fairness

Speaker:
孔令傑 (Ling-Chieh Kung), PhD, NTU

Time:

*請注意：本週演講時間調整至週日 (US) / 週一 (TW)

*演講時間調整回週六 (US) / 週日 (TW)

02/16 (Sat.) 5 pm PST, 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, 8 pm EST
02/17 (Sun.) 9 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Information Management, Operations Research, Scheduling, Approximation Algorithm, Benefit-workload Relationship, Capacitated Machine, Fairness

Abstract:
We consider a problem of allocating jobs to identical machines. Each job has an amount of workload and a benefit collected upon completion. All machines have the same capacity. Under the constraints that jobs cannot be split and that machines have limited capacity, the objective is to maximize the benefit earned by the machine with the least benefit. Our problem is thus a capacitated job allocation problem with consideration of fairness. After showing that this problem is NP-hard, we propose an approximation algorithm modified from the longest processing time (LPT) rule. The algorithm is proved to have a worst-case performance guarantee 1/2 when job benefits are linear to workloads. Different approximation factors are also derived for convex and concave relationships. Finally, numerical studies illustrate the average performances of the algorithm and demonstrates that this algorithm works well when the jobs exhibit economy of scale but not so well when they exhibit diminishing marginal benefits.

190126 Innovative Design Thinking: A Systematic Conceptual Design Framework for Product Development

Title:
Innovative Design Thinking: A Systematic Conceptual Design Framework for Product Development

Speaker:
王筑顗 (Chu-Yi Wang), PhD, USC

Time:
01/26 (Sat.) 6 pm PST, 7 pm MST, 8 pm CST, 9 pm EST
01/27 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Engineering design, Conceptual design, Complexity, Design matrix, Functional coupling, Modularity

Abstract:
Innovative Design Thinking (IDT) is a systematic design framework for product development. In this talk, the conceptual design framework of IDT will be introduced. The framework includes concept generation phase and concept improvement phase. In concept generation, there are three steps- formation, organization, and selection. In concept improvement, it suggests an approach integrating sequencing and modularization methods. IDT guides innovators to design and develop innovative product and its family and ensures the product is logically-feasible, functionally-simple, and physically-certain in an ideal as well as practical way.

190119 Greatly Enhanced Photothermal Nonlinearity in a Silicon Nano-Resonator

Title:
Greatly Enhanced Photothermal Nonlinearity in a Silicon Nano-Resonator

Speaker:
杜懿修 (Yi-Shiou Duh), PhD student, Stanford University

Time:
01/19 (Sat.) 6 pm PST, 7 pm MST, 8 pm CST, 9 pm EST
01/20 (Sun.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Physics, Optics, Si nanophotonics, Nonlinearity, Mie scattering, Photothermal

Abstract:
For next-generation integrated circuits, photonics may take over electronics to provide fast-speed, low-loss devices. Among all potential materials, Silicon is one of the best candidates owing to its natural abundance and well-established fabrication technique.

The foundation of silicon electronics lies in the nonlinear response from pn junctions, so similar to that, the key element in silicon photonics is optical nonlinearity. However, the optical nonlinearity of silicon is not particularly large. There have been various methods to enhance silicon’s nonlinear response, including microring resonator and photonic crystal, both based on light confinement. In addition, it is also well known that photothermal effect provides the largest third-order nonlinearity in general.

In this work, we show that by amalgamating light confinement based on nanostructure engineering and photothermal effect, seven-order enhancement of nonlinear coefficient over bulk silicon is demonstrated, with mode volume. The experimental nonlinearity from scattering measurement agrees well with photothermal simulation. The exceptionally large nonlinearity not only enables all-optical control with large modulation depth and small footprint, but also paves the way towards integrated silicon nanophotonic circuits.

190113 Criminal Records and Ban the Box Legislation

Title:
Criminal Records and Ban the Box Legislation

Speaker:
周灝君 (Jo Chou), PhD student, University of South Carolina

Time:
請注意：本週演講時間調整至週日 (US) / 週一 (TW)
01/13 (Sun.) 6 pm PST, 7 pm MST, 8 pm CST, 9 pm EST
01/14 (Mon.) 10 am Taiwan

Keywords:
Criminology and Criminal Justice, Corrections, Rehabilitation, Re-entry, Correction Programming, Punitive Attitude

Abstract:

The primary purpose of this research is to examine different Ban the Box legislation in six states. This research uses a systematic literature review with three significant components as examination strategy. This presentation mainly focuses on the criminal record system and Ban the Box policy in the US. In the beginning, the presenter will introduce the production of criminal records and the impacts of incarceration, particularly in the labor market. Next, a brief historical background regarding Ban the Box campaign will be introduced. Finally, a detailed examination of the six states’ Ban the Box laws will be presented. Relevant policy implications will be discussed as well.

本研究的主要目的是檢視六個州的 Ban the Box 法律，該研究使用系統性文獻分析搭配三個重要的分析策略。本次演講主要聚焦在美國的犯罪紀錄系統與 Ban the Box 政策。講者將會介紹犯罪紀錄的產出過程，監禁對於就業市場所造成的影響，Ban the Box 社會運動的歷史背景，以及對於六個 Ban the Box 州法的檢視結果。相關的政策建議也會一併被討論。