Spring Seminar Series 2024 – Dr. René Vidal

Learning Dynamics and Implicit Bias of Gradient Flow in Overparameterized Linear Models

René Vidal, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Date:
04/19/2024

Time:
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST

Location:
UTSA Main Campus, Student Union, Mesquite Room 2.01.24 (Second Floor)

Zoom: https://utsa.zoom.us/j/94807623288

Abstract:
Contrary to the common belief that overparameterization may hurt generalization and optimization, recent work suggests that overparameterization may bias the optimization algorithm towards solutions that generalize well — a phenomenon known as implicit regularization or implicit bias — and may also accelerate convergence — a phenomenon known as implicit acceleration. This talk will provide a detailed analysis of the dynamics of gradient flow in overparameterized two-layer linear models showing that convergence to equilibrium depends on the imbalance between input and output weights (which is fixed at initialization) and the margin of the initial solution. The talk will also provide an analysis of the implicit bias, showing that large hidden layer width, together with (properly scaled) random initialization, constrains the network parameters to converge to a solution which is close to the min-norm solution.

Spring Seminar Series 2024 – Dr. Eirini Tsiropoulou

Revolutionizing Public Safety:
6G Wireless Unleashes Precision Positioning and Navigation

Eirini Tsiropoulou, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM

Date:
04/12/2024

Time:
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST

Location:
San Pedro 1, Yotta Room 430
506 Dolorosa St, San Antonio, TX 78204

Zoom: https://utsa.zoom.us/j/94807623288

Abstract:
The imperative need for accurate Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems, vital to critical infrastructure and advanced location-based services, has spurred the development of alternative technologies. This talk addresses the potential degradation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) under varying conditions by proposing an innovative PNT solution. Leveraging Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs), we present a symbiotic game-theoretic framework that enhances PNT accuracy and efficiency. The heart of our approach lies in the orchestration and configuration of RISs. Game Theory and Reinforcement Learning (RL) are harnessed to address this challenge. Through a novel Satisfaction Game, targets autonomously determine the optimal count of contributing RISs for PNT services. The specific RISs ensemble is selected via an advanced RL algorithm. Further optimization involves phase shifts of the RISs, maximizing signal strength at targets through reflected signals. The proposed approach is grounded in a mutualistic symbiotic concept drawn from biological systems. Collaborator nodes, supported by RISs and anchor nodes with known coordinates, forge a symbiotic relationship with targets of unknown positions. Minimizing positioning and timing errors becomes a non-cooperative game among these entities, showcasing the existence of a Nash Equilibrium through the potential game principles. Performance evaluation is conducted through modeling and simulation, unveiling trade-offs between game-theoretic and RL approaches. The proposed methodology presents a promising avenue for robust PNT solutions, bridging accuracy and reliability gaps in GNSS and catering to critical sectors dependent on precise positioning, navigation, and timing. 

Spring Seminar Series 2024 – Dr. Jenny Du

Anomaly Detection from Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Imagery

Jenny Du, Ph.D.
Professor
Mississippi State University

Date:
04/05/2024

Time:
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST

Location:
San Pedro 1
506 Dolorosa St, San Antonio, TX 78204

Zoom: https://utsa.zoom.us/j/94807623288

Abstract:
Anomaly detection from remote sensing images is to detect pixels whose spectral signatures are different from their background. Anomalies are often man-made targets. With such target signatures being unknown, anomaly detection has many important applications, such as crop stress surveying, water quality monitoring, and law enforcement related uses, where prior information of targets is often unavailable. The key to success is accurate background modeling. Anomaly detection from remote sensing images is challenging, because spatial coverage is very large and background is highly heterogeneous. Hyperspectral imaging with very high spectral resolution offers the advantage in background-anomaly separation. In this talk, the major machine learning techniques in anomaly detection from hyperspectral remote sensing images will be introduced, and the recent advances using transfer learning and deep learning for anomaly detection will be presented. In particular, autoencoder, generative adversarial network, and adversarial autoencoder are deployed and compared with traditional approaches. Practical issues and future development trends will also be discussed.

Spring Seminar Series 2024 – Dr. Chen Pan

Advancing Intermittent IoT Systems with Resiliency and Intelligence

Chen Pan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX

Date:
03/29/2024

Time:
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST

Zoom: https://utsa.zoom.us/j/94807623288

Abstract:
This presentation will present innovative solutions to enhance IoT systems under intermittent energy conditions. First, it will introduce a sparsity-aware data sensing framework for efficient energy management in data acquisition. Then, the presentation will discuss a novel software paradigm for optimizing energy utility in edge devices for transient computing. After that, it will present a self-healing MAC protocol to ensure resilient communication against power interruption. Finally, the presentation will introduce an adaptive deep reinforcement learning-based routing policy for optimizing energy allocation and routing to improve networking performance. These approaches collectively aim to advance IoT infrastructure, emphasizing sustainability, intelligence, and resiliency under power-intermittent scenarios.

Spring Seminar Series 2024 – Dr. Nawar Shara

Through the Lens of Innovation: AI-powered Healthcare Solutions for Enhanced Outcomes and Health Equity

Nawar Shara, Ph.D.
Chief, Research Data Science
Co-Director of the Center of Biostatistics, Informatics and Data Science (CBIDS)
MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington D.C.

Date:
03/22/2024

Time:
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST

Location:
San Pedro 1, Yotta Room 430
506 Dolorosa St, San Antonio, TX 78204

Zoom: https://utsa.zoom.us/j/94807623288

Abstract:
My talk will focus on the power of innovative solution such as AI-powered chatbots and ML-based clinical decision support systems in healthcare and the impactful role they can play. The power of AI coupled with the catalytic role of data in redefining patient experiences and in improving healthcare utilization and patients outcomes. I will demonstrate how the integration of AI and data from different sources is reshaping healthcare paradigms, driving inclusivity, and paving the way for a patient-centric future that hopefully will leave no one behind.

Spring Seminar Series 2024 – Dr. Maria Gorlatova

Edge and IoT-supported Intelligent Augmented Reality: Promise, Challenges, and Solutions

Maria Gorlatova, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Duke University, Durham, NC

Date:
03/08/2024

Time:
9:30 am – 10:30 am CST

Location:
San Pedro 1, Weston Conference Center
506 Dolorosa St, San Antonio, TX 78204

Zoom: https://utsa.zoom.us/j/94807623288

Abstract:
Mobile augmented reality (AR), which integrates virtual objects with 3D real environments in real time, has been showing outstanding potential in many application domains including education, retail, and healthcare. AR is broadly expected to redefine how we interact with technology and the world around us. Yet current AR falls short of many of the expectations. This talk presents our vision of multi-device, edge computing-supported and Internet-of-Things (IoT)-integrated platforms for next-generation intelligent context-aware AR. I describe shortcomings in modern AR platforms’ spatial and semantic awareness capabilities and identify key gaps that need to be addressed to enable AR to become robust and resource-efficient; I present solutions to some of the challenges, touching on topics in edge computing, machine learning, and resource-efficient simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). I also highlight opportunities associated with close integration of AR platforms and their users and describe a set of solutions for robust gaze-based user context awareness in AR. The talk showcases several applications of next-generation context-aware AR, such as AR-based surgical guidance and AR support for mental and behavioral health and well-being.