Functional Bandits

We introduce the functional bandit problem, where the objective is to find an arm that optimises a known functional of the unknown arm-reward distributions. These problems arise in many settings such as maximum entropy methods in natural language processing, and risk-averse decision-making, but current best-arm identification techniques fail in these domains. We propose a new approach, that combines functional estimation and arm elimination, to tackle this problem. This method achieves provably efficient performance guarantees. In addition, we illustrate this method on a number of important functionals in risk management and information theory, and refine our generic theoretical results in those cases

Assessing the Software Control Autonomy of System Functions in Safety-Critical Systems

Software Control Category (SCC) denotes the degree of control autonomy, command and control authority, and redundant fault tolerance software has over hazardous system functions of safety-critical systems. The use of SCC for determining the software contribution to system risks is a unique feature of the MIL-STD-882E System Safety Standard. A lower SCC designation means that the software system has a greater control autonomy over hazardous system functions, whereas SCC 1 means complete autonomous control. Software with greater control autonomy over hazardous system functions require greater effort to assure reliability and safety. Correct assessment of the SCC level of hazardous system functions is crucial for optimizing the safety property of a system developed under budget, schedule, and resource constraints. Beyond the categorical definitions provided by the MIL-STD-882E Standard, there is little information on conducting an SCC assessment. To close this knowledge gap, we present an SCC assessment method. Our paper will describe in detail the process and rules for assessing SCC. For illustration, we apply our method to assess the SCC of several safety-significant functions of an automobile’s brake-assist system

subtle asian womxn

My involvement with the Global Honors Program culminates with a senior capstone project for T GH 496 Experiential Learning in Global Honors. Over the course of spring quarter, I had the opportunity to produce a documentary film, under the supervision of my faculty advisor, Dr. David Coon, to fulfill the requirements to graduate with a minor in Global Engagement and earn the full distinction from the program. My film actively engages with the intersection of the historical representations of Asian womxn and their lived experiences with dating. As of Wednesday, May 1, 2019, I have been able to interview 14 Asian womxn from around the world for the purpose of this project. My research question is: “How does xenophobia, racism, and sexism influence the public perception of Asian womxn and how they experience romantic relationships?” The film title I have selected is “subtle asian womxn.

Hydraulic Fracturing Water Recycle through Optimal Ultrafiltration and Nanofiltration Membranes System Design

Innovations in hydraulic fracturing technology have created opportunities for petroleum and natural gas production. This technology injects water, sand, and additives to create fissures in rock formations and discharge oil and gas to the surface. The average amount of water used per well is approximately 4.4 million gallons. The large water demand and the complexities involved in wastewater treatment make this process very expensive and not sustainable as far as water use is concerned. Flexible membrane technology has not been developed to process fracking water for re-use across the U.S. The objective of this project is to compare and analyze the recovery of contaminated fracking water through different types of ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes. Through ultrafiltration, the hydraulic fracture water is pretreated to remove the majority of total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity. The water flux, chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, TSS, and salt level concentrations are then measured. Afterwards, the treated water is filtered using flat sheet nanofiltration membranes of Osmonics and SEPA Membrane Element Cell Equipment. The process is repeated with different membranes to determine optimal operating pressure, flux, and salt rejection. This study reveals that the highest performing membranes could remove 70 percent of divalent ions with an 85 percent water recovery in the permeate. Therefore, the process reduces significant amount of wastewater, which is disposed to the deep wells injection. With these promising results, our process can recycle water for reuse in hydraulic fracturing while minimizing environmental damage due to water contamination. Through this project, we are confident that hydraulic fracking can become a more sustainable process

Queer History Through a Hollywood Lens

Film festivals have been important platforms for promoting independent films that bring to the forefront issues of marginalized communities, especially the struggle for queer justice and visibility. This paper pursues a hypothetical opportunity for programming a film festival screening centered on queer stories. The direction of this paper will take the form of a film festival curator’s statement that links three films with common themes and issues. The overarching, common thread holding the proposed films together is the mainstream Hollywood influence behind the exhibition and consumption of the films—The Academy Awards (otherwise known as The Oscars). Three major Academy Award-winning and nominated feature films will be used to exemplify the type of films that film festivals ought to program, thus, making more of an impact for queer representation in both the public discourse and mass media. The three films proposed for this hypothetical film festival program are, in order of appearance in this paper: Tom Hooper’s The Danish Girl (2015), Morten Tyldum’s The Imitation Game (2014), and Gus Van Sant’s Milk (2008). Programming three films that utilize queer history to positively represent queer individuals and experiences will catalyze more queer opportunities in Hollywood, politics, and society at large. Moreover, this paper will combine scholarly research, press articles, and a variety of media, to create a discourse regarding the importance of screening the aforementioned films. Although these films were, by and large, produced and distributed by independent production companies, they garnered success in Hollywood via nominations and wins at the Academy Awards