2005 Courses

Fall 2005

Northeastern University

Career Management Course (GE U900) - Undergraduate Course

The Connections' Career Management course is a one-credit, highly interactive seminar designed to enhance a student's professional and career-related education through a series of classes taught by Managers, Engineers, and other professionals with Industry experience. Each week brings a different guest speaker from industry or academia to expose students to successful professionals, provide networking opportunities, and better prepare students for the issues facing them in the work place. Speakers often discuss issues that are not discussed in a traditional class. Specific topics that have been presented in the past include: striking a balance between personal and professional life, working in teams, making career choices, self-initiative, and ethics. Offered in the Fall semester. Enrollment is limited to insure an interactive dialog. For more information, contact Kristin Hicks at khicks@coe.neu.edu.

Prerequisites: None

Distance Learning: No

Day(s) and Time(s): Thursdays at 4:35

 

Biological Imaging (Bio U581 and Bio G281)
Prof. Donald O'Malley - Both Undergraduate and Graduate Level Courses

This course will introduce students to state-of-the-art imaging methodologies that are used in the biological and biomedical sciences.
Advances in Imaging Techniques, together with new Optical Probes, have fostered a revolution in Biological Imaging. Such techniques are now at the frontiers of every area of biology, especially cell, molecular and developmental biology, as well as neuroscience. The 3-fold goals of this course are to:
(1) Introduce students to the optical physics of microscopic imaging,
(2) Survey the techniques & imaging devices used in biological imaging, and
(3) Critique cutting edge imaging studies in the biomedical research literature.

Prerequisites: Genetics. This course is intended for Junior/Senior students in Biology and related disciplines, as well as graduate students. Students with a science background, but lacking genetics, should consult the instructor. Graduate students will be graded separately from undergraduate students. Having taken Biochemistry is a plus, but is certainly not necessary.

Notes: If you previously took Optical Methods in Cell Biology, you should not take this class.


Distance Learning: Available to BU and NU CenSSIS students. If RPI or UPRM students are interested in this course, please contact Kristin Hicks at khicks@coe.neu.edu.

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:30am to 11:35am for Boston-based students.

 

Electromagnetic Theory 1 (ECE G202)
Prof. Philip Serafim - Graduate Course

Examines the fundamental equations, their physical meaning, principal mathematical techniques, and important engineering applications. Topics include sources of the electromagnetic field, Lorentz force equation, integral form of Maxwell's equations and point relations (differential equations and boundary conditions), electromagnetic energy and power, propagation of uniform and nonuniform plane waves in homogeneous media, reflection and refraction, scalar and vector potentials, solutions in the absence of boundaries for static and dynamic problems, solutions to boundary value problems, duality, uniqueness, images, physical theory of diffraction, and general theory of metal and dielectric wave-guides and resonators for Cartesian and cylindrical systems.

Prerequisites: None

Distance Learning: Yes, available to all CenSSIS students.

Day(s) and Time(s): Tuesday and Friday from 1:35pm to 3:15pm for Boston-based students

 

Remote Sensing: Wave-Based Sensing (ECE G398 - special topics course)
Prof. Purnima Ratilal - Graduate Course

Wave based sensing as an imaging and inverse problem. The wave equation, propagation modelling and Green's functions. Spreading loss, attenuation, refraction, reflection and transmission. Scattering by objects and boundaries, Green's theorem, Rayleigh-Born volume scattering and rough surface Lambertian scattering. Bearing and range estimation by beamforming and match filtering, sensor array processing. Object localization in nearfield and far-field. Imaging in unbounded media and waveguides, nonlinear wave sensing. Applications focused primarily on underwater acoustic imaging, but will also discuss medical ultrasound and optical imaging, and atmospheric radar sensing.

Prerequisites: None

General Course Info: There will be no textbook for this course but there will be several reference books, the most important being Theoretical Acoustics by Morse and Ingard. Weekly homework problems will be assigned. There will be two in-class exams and a take-home final.

Distance Learning: Yes, available to all CenSSIS students.

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday and Wednesday from 9:50am to 11:30am for Boston-based students.

 

Spring 2005

Boston University

Introduction to Acoustics (AM 520)
Prof. Robin Cleveland - Graduate Course

Introduction to wave propagation and sound. General concepts such as quantitative measures of sound, plane waves, and acoustic energy density and intensity. Derivation of wave equation. Sound radiation from vibrating bodies. Basic ray-acoustic concepts: reflection, refraction, diffraction and scattering of acoustic waves. Normal modes: vibrating membranes, sound in a rectangular enclosue and propagation in waveguides. Other topics may include Helmholtz resonators, acoustic horns, propagation in startified media, acoustic arrays, and absorption and attenuation of sound waves.

Distance Learning: Available to BU and NU Students Only

Day(s) and Time(s): Tuesday, Thursday 2:00 to 4:00pm

 

Lasers (ENG SC 570)
Prof. Mal Teich -
Graduate Course

Review of wave optics. Gaussian and Hermite-Gaussian optical beams. Planar-and spherical-mirror resonators. Photon streams. Absorption, spontaneous emission, and simulated emission. Laser amplification and gain saturation. Laser oscillation; pulsed lasers. Photon interactions in semiconductors. LEDs and semiconductor injection lasers. Photon detectors. Laboratory experiments: beams; divergence and collimation; electroluminescence; semiconductor injection lasers. 4 cr.

Prerequisites: CAS PY313

Distance Learning: Available to Boston Area Students

Day(s) and Time(s): Tuesdays and Thursdays - 4:00pm to 6:00pm

 

Image Reconstruction and Restoration (ENG SC 717)
Prof. W. Clem Karl - Graduate Course

Principles and methods of reconstructing images and estimating multidimensional fields from indirect and noisy data; general deterministic (variational) and stochastic (Bayesian) techniques of regularizing ill-posed inverse problems; relationship of problem structure (data and models) to computational efficiency; impact of typically large image processing problems on viability of solution methods; problems in imaging and computational vision including tomography and surface reconstruction. Computer assignments. 4 cr.

Prerequisites: ENG SC 416 and SC 505

Distance Learning: Available to Boston Area Students

Day(s) and Time(s): Mondays and Wednesdays - 12:00pm to 2:00pm

 

Optical Measurement (ENG SC 764)
Prof. Alexander Sergienko - Graduate Course

Detailed discussion of basic principles of major optical effects such as interference, diffraction, and polarization. Analysis of practical applications of interferometry, ellipsometry, photometry, and laser spectroscopy in modern optical measurement such as characterization of industrial processes, environmental control, communication, and laboratory research. 4 cr.

Prerequisites: ENG SC 560

Distance Learning: Available to BU and NU Students Only

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday, Wednesday, 2:00pm to 4:00pm


Guided-Wave OptoElectronics (ENG SC 770)
Prof. Selim Unlu - Graduate Course

Discussion of physics and engineering aspects of integrated optics and optoelectronic devices. Semiconductor waveguides, lasers, and photodetectors. Layered semiconductor structures, quantum wells, and superlattices. QW detectors, emitters, and modulators. OEICs. Photonic switching. 4 cr.


Prerequisites:
None

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday, Wednesday, 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Distance Learning: Available to BU and NU Students Only, Fall 2005 - NU, Offered by Distance Learning to ALL CenSSIS Partners

 

 

Northeastern University


Biological Imaging (BIO U581 and BIO G281)
Prof. Donald O'Malley - Graduate and Undergraduate Course

This course will introduce students to state-of-the-art optical and imaging techniques that are used in the biological and biomedical sciences. Advances in Optical & Imaging Techniques, together with new Optical Probes, have fostered a revolution in Biological Imaging. Such methodologies now influence every area of biology, especially cell biology, developmental biology, molecular biology and neurobiology. The 3-fold goals of this course are to:

(1) Briefly introduce students to the physics underlying microscopic imaging,

(2) Survey the diverse array of techniques & devices used in biological imaging, and

(3) Explore cutting edge imaging applications in the biomedical research literature.

Course Emphasis: In the context of surveying the latest imaging techniques, this course addresses major and fundamental problems in several areas of cell biology and neurobiology. Much of the course looks at the molecular-level organization and function of eukaryotic cells, focusing upon such topics as: organelles and intracellular trafficking, membrane structure, ion dynamics, visualization of gene expression and synaptic/developmental processes in neurons. Later in the course we will learn about human brain mapping and gene chips. The range of optical techniques encountered includes: light and fluorescence microscopy, DIC-video, laser tweezers, laser ablation, atomic force microscopy, confocal and 2-photon imaging. The use of these techniques to address critical research questions is examined by reviewing prominent new findings in these fields.

Prerequisites: Biochemistry or Genetics. This course is intended for Junior/Senior students in Biology and related disciplines, as well as graduate students. Students with a science background, but lacking biochemistry, should consult the instructor. Graduate students will be graded separately from undergraduate students.

Notes: If you send me an email I will put you on my course mailing list. Also, if you previously took Optical Methods in Cell Biology, you should not take this class.

Distance Learning: Available to BU and NU Students Only

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:30am to 11:35am

 

Biomedical Signal Processing and Imaging (ECE U664)
Prof. Dana Brooks - Undergraduate Course for upperlevel (junior/senior) undergrads

The first part of this course will cover some important bioelectric signals, with particular emphasis on electroencephelograms and electrocardiograms, and relevant signal processing techniques for these signals. The second part ill be a survey of some medical imaging modalities including CT, PET and SPECT, ultrasound, and MRI, with emphasis on image formation from a signal processing point of view. The exact coverage will depend partly on student background and interest, and students will be expected to participate actively in the class.

Prerequisites: A Probability or Stochastic Processes course and a Linear Systems course

Distance Learning: Available to BU and NU students only.

Day(s) and Time(s): TBA

 

Data Structures (ISY G205)
Prof. Jennifer Black - Graduate Course

Presents data structures and related algorithms, beginning with a brief review of dynamic memory allocation. The fundamental data structures will be discussed in detail, including the abstract representation, supporting algorithms, and implementation methods. Focuses on understanding the application of the abstract data structure and the circumstances that affect implementation decisions. Covers lists, stacks, queues, trees, hash tables, and graphs. Covers recursion and searching and sorting algorithms in detail. Emphasizes data abstraction and encapsulation in code design. Time permitting, external storage structures will be explored.

Prerequisite: ISYG090, or equivalent

Distance Learning: Yes

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday, Wednesday 6:00pm to 9:30pm

 

Electromagnetic Theory 2 (ECE G270)
Prof. Philip Serafim - Graduate Course

Continues ECE G202. Examines important electrodynamic applications by the use of advanced mathematical techniques. Topics include general theory of wave-guides and resonators with application to the cylindrical geometry; dielectric rod wave-guide; optical fibers; radiation; linear antennas; loop antenna; linear arrays; ray optics; scattering and diffraction of waves for planar, cylindrical, and spherical geometries; and effects of random media.

Prerequisites: ECE G202

Distance Learning: Yes

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday, Wednesday 1:30pm to 3:10pm

 

Computational Methods in Electromagnetics (ECE G271)
Prof. Carey Rappaport - Graduate Course

Presents solutions to problems in electromagnetics using a wide variety of numerical and computational methods. Discusses in detail the finite difference approximations of partial differential equations and the finite difference time-domain method of simulating electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering. Uses moment methods to solve the integral equations related to currents and charges on wire structures. Uses finite element and higher-order finite difference methods to solve problems in electrostatics and wave propagation. Discusses efficient matrix methods, relaxation methods, the conjugate gradient technique, and multidimensional Newton's method in the context of electromagnetic field simulation.

Prerequisite: ECE G202

Distance Learning: Yes

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday, Wednesday 3:20pm to 5:00pm

 

Pattern Recognition (ECE G313)
Prof. Jennifer Dy - Graduate Course

Discusses introductory concepts, statistical classification problem, and the Bayes classifier. Covers parametric estimation and supervised learning, ML and Bayes approaches, and Bayes learning. Topics include nonparametric techniques, Parzen windows, nearest neighbor rules, convergence properties, and error bounds. Examines linear discriminant functions, linear separability, perceptrons and their training, and relaxation techniques. Discusses unsupervised learning and clustering, unsupervised Bayes learning, ML estimates, k-means algorithm, and learning vector quantization. Introduces neural network structures, feed-forward nets, ADALINE, Widrow-Hopf approach, the back propagation training algorithm, Kolmogorov's theorem, and capacity of feed-forward nets. Focuses on Hopfield model and learning, associative memory, bidirectional associative memory, stable states and convergence, and capacity of the Hopfield model. Also covers unsupervised learning, adaptive resonance theory, and self-organizing feature maps.


Prerequisites: ECE G204

Distance Learning: Available to BU and NU Students Only

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 1:30pm to 3:10pm

 

Digital Image Processing (ECE G315)
Prof. Vinaykumar Ingle - Graduate Course

Focuses on generation of digital image from the source; image digitizers and display devices; image transforms; enhancement techniques, such as histogram, equalization, and edge sharpening; restoration by Wiener and Kalman filters; image coding using run-length coding; DPCM; transform coding; and feature analysis.

Prerequisite: ECE G110

Distance Learning: Available to BU and NU Students Only

Day(s) and Time(s): Tuesday, Thursday 1:30pm to 3:10pm

 

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute


Introduction to Radar Imaging (MATH 6791)
Prof. Margaret Cheney - Graduate Course

Radar imaging is a technology that has been developed, very successfully, within the engineering community during the last 50 years. Radar systems on satellites now make beautiful images of regions of our earth and of other planets such as Venus. One of the key components
of this impressive technology is mathematics, and many of the open problems are mathematical ones.

This course will explain, from first principles, the basics of radar and the mathematics involved in producing high-resolution radar images.

Day(s) and Time(s): Monday and Thursday, 10:00am to 12:00pm

Distance Learning: NO