BIOE 391 Fall 2006

SYMONDS II LAB (DH)

Carolyn A. Nichol, Ph.D.

cnichol@rice.edu

Office:  111 Ryon Labs

Office hours:  Thursdays noon-1PM

Or email me to set up at time

 

TA:  Brian Kirk    Brian.D.Kirk@rice.edu

 

Homework sessions:   see TA schedule on homepage

 

Prerequisites:  CAAM 210 (or 211) and MATH 211

 

Required Textbooks:            Applied Numerical Methods with Matlab for Engineers and Scientists

By S.C. Chapra           ISBN: 007-239265-7

Available as a  hardback ($117.50) or digital book ($76.50)

 

Biostatistics:  A Foundation for Analysis in the Health Sciences, 8th Edition**

                                                            By W.W. Daniel         ISBN: 0471-45654-3

                                                            Comes bundled with a student solutions manual

 

Optional Textbook:                Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering **

                                                By S.M. Dunn, A. Constantinides, P V Moghe

 

Numerical methods for engineers : with software and programming applications**

By Steven C. Chapra, Raymond P. Canale

                                                **  Library Reserve (24 hour)

                                               

Course Objectives

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to numerical and statistical methods that they may use to solve bioengineering problems.  Emphasis will be application and general skills needed for engineers with a focus on the pitfalls and limitations of different methods. 

 

Prerequisites

            CAAM  210 / 211

            Math 211

 

Additional course material will be handed out the class before it is needed.  See the reading list in the syllabus for the dates we will be covering the different chapters of the textbooks.

 

Grading will be based on:

Homework assignments (9)                25%     Lowest problem set grade will be dropped

Quiz 1                                                 15%     In class, closed book

Quiz 2                                                 15%     In class, closed book

Quiz 3                                                 15%     In class, closed book

Group project                                      10%     Presentation to class and report

Take-home Final Exam                       20%     Open book

 

Final Course Grades :

Letter grades(A, B, etc.) will be determined by the distribution of grades in the class, but you will not receive a letter grade lower than your average numerical grade (A=90, B=80, etc., Pass = 60 and above).  Depending upon the class average, there may be a curve but this is not guaranteed.  These grades reflect student performance on the assignments turned in.  If assignments totaling 10% or more of the final course grade are not turned in, the instructor retains the right to fail the student for the course. 

 

Types of assignments:

·         Homework problem sets.  These will be due on Thursdays one week after they are assigned.  The lowest problem set grade will be dropped.

·         Quiz.  There will be 3 in-class tests.  The tests will be similar in format to the previous year’s tests that are posted on the schedule page.  While the homework is focused on teaching and evaluating how well you can solve the problems, the tests are designed to evaluate how well you know the concepts, potential problems and your understanding of the material.  You will have the whole class period to complete them.  The tests will be closed book and no programmable calculators are allowed.  However, you can bring an 8.5x11” page of notes with any information you might want to use during the test and simple calculators will be available if needed.  No exam grades will be dropped.

·         Group Project.    Groups of 2-4 people will prepare a short research paper (5 pages maximum) and present it to the classroom on a numerical or statistical topic of their choice.   Appropriate projects could include writing a Matlab program to quantify or image a biological system, conducting a statistical analysis of a data set, conducting a review of an application of numerical methods on a specific topic (i.e analysis of a physiological measurement), or investigating a numerical or statistical tool that was not covered in class (with the goal of teaching it to a BIOE audience).  Peer reviewed journal articles that could be used to help with topic ideas will be distributed in class.  The projects will be presented during the last 2 weeks of class.  A preliminary proposal will be due (see schedule) that  specifies the group members and project topic (1 paragraph abstract).   A rubric of the grading criteria will be distributed in class.

·         Take-home final exam during finals week.  Open book, open notes, can use all of your files and programs written throughout the semester.  Approximately 3 hours in duration.

 

Assignment Policy:  ALL homework assignments are due in class, at the START of class (10:50 am) on the date that they are due.  No late homework will be accepted without permission of the instructor before the homework is due.  If an assignment is turned in late (after the start of class) without a valid excuse, the grade will be reduced 10% per day.  If your assignment is late, you must write the number of days it is late on the first page (Honor Code).  Valid reasons such as illness and family emergencies will be dealt with on an individual basis. If assignments totaling 10% or more of the final course grade are not turned in, the instructor retains the right to fail the student for the course.

 

No emailed homework will be accepted.  No exceptions.

 

If you would like to contest any graded work, it must be done in writing with an explanation of why you want the homework or test re-graded – no exceptions.  It must be placed the TA’s mailbox within a week of receipt of the homework, otherwise the grade is considered final. 

 

 

The homework assignments will be taken from the exact textbooks listed above and some additional problems that will be written on the assignments.  If you choose to purchase/use an alternate version of the textbook (e.g. international, full year version), where the homework problems may be slightly different, it is YOUR responsibility to coordinate with a classmate to get the correct homework assignment.  If you do the wrong homework problem, you will have to turn in the correct problem late.

 

All assignments should be neatly prepared. Hand drawn figures and handwritten equations are acceptable but they need to be very easy to read.  Using a computer to draw figures and type equations is encouraged.  Use a computer program (i.e., Excel, Matlab) to tabulate and plot data. Neatness and correct grammar are important.  This will significantly help the TAs to grade your homework and give you the most partial credit possible.  All MATLAB files should be in a cell block format, preferably printed as an HTML publication.  THEY MUST BE WELL COMMENTED. It is YOUR responsibility to try to debug your own programs before asking for help.

 

All assignments must include:

·         The assignment number, student name, course number, and date

·         The statement of the problem, significant detail about the methods used in the solution

·         A clearly identified solution

·         They must be stapled and not be torn from spiral notebooks.

·         If you used reference material other than the textbooks in the preparation of any and all work, proper citations should be included (author, title of book/article/webpage, publishing information/URL).

·         There will be a 5 point deduction for each of these infractions.

 

Honor code

·         Students are encouraged to study together for exams and homework.

·         It is a violation of the HONOR CODE to copy other students work.  All homework solutions and programs must be uniquely yours.

·         It is a violation of the HONOR CODE to use homework solutions from previous years and to use any solutions that are found on the internet.

·         It is a violation of the HONOR CODE on the final exam to use any resources that were not generated by you during this course (other than the textbooks and course handouts).

 

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all classes.  TA sessions are optional.

NO INTERNET USE DURING CLASS.  If the TAs or instructor observes a student surfing the internet, using email, instant messaging, etc., 10 points will be deducted from that students next test grade.  The computers are for MATLAB, excel, digital text and other numerical methods software.

 

Any student with a disability requiring accommodations in this class is encouraged to contact the instructor after class or during office hours. Additionally, students should contact the Coordinator for Disabled Student Services in the RMC Cloisters.