Science Seminars is a weekly list of science-related seminars sponsored by colleges, research institutes, and other organizations throughout Penn State. Science Seminars is published by the Penn State Eberly College of Science as a service to Penn State and its surrounding communities

Science Seminars

18 to 24 September 2006

MONDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER

"Sediment, Nutrient, and Hydrologic Studies in Forested and Agricultural Watersheds of North Carolina and Louisiana," Timothy Appelboom, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10:00 a.m., 504 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Geosciences (865-2622).

(Partial Differential Equations and Numerical Methods seminar title to be announced), Zhongxuan Luo, Dalian Institute of Technology (China), 11:15 a.m., 106 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"The Organization of Plant Defenses in Milkweeds,"Anurag Agrawal, Cornell University, 11:15 a.m., 118 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Entomology (865-1895).

"Connections Between the Arabidopsis BON1/CPN1 Gene and Plant Defense," Jianxin Liu, Penn State, 12:10 p.m., 108 Wartik Laboratory, host: Daniel Cosgrove, Intercollege Graduate Program in Plant Biology (863-3892).

"N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands and Their Applications in Asymmetric Catalysis," Xiaowei Zhang, Penn State, 2:30 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Xumu Zhang, Department of Chemistry (865-4221).

"Chromatin Targeting and Transcriptional Regulation: Lessons from DNA Tumor Viruses," Cheng-Ming Chiang, Case Western Reserve University, 4:00 p.m., 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: David Gilmour, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (863-8905).

"Providing Learning Opportunities Outside the Classroom: The Hurricane-Katrina-Service Learning Experience," Kathy Kelley, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 111 Tyson Building, Department of Horticulture (865-2571).

TUESDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER

"The Effects of Plant Responses in Multi-Herbivore Systems," Jennifer Thaler, Cornell University, 10:00 a.m., 504 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Entomology (865-1895).

"General Discussion of Recent Research" (brown bag lunch), 11:15 a.m., 529 Walker Building, Earth Systems Science Center (865-0478).

"DNA Detection and Sequencing with a Semiconductor Nanopore," Maria Gracheva, University of Illinois, 3:30 p.m., 339 Davey Laboratory, host: Reka Albert, Department of Physics (865-6123).

"Future Global Warming: Are Computer Models Getting It Right?" Karen Bice, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, 4:00 p.m., 22 Deike Building, Department of Geosciences (865-2622).

"The Origins of Genome Architecture," Michael Lynch, University of Indiana, 4:00 p.m. (refreshments at 3:45 p.m.), 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: Kateryna Makova, Department of Biology (863-1619).

"Semiconductor Nanowires: Building Blocks for Nanoscale Devices," Joan Redwing, Penn State, 5:45 p.m., 301 Steidle Building, Department of Materials Science and Engineering (865-4992).

WEDNESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER

"Mystery of the Megaflood" (video), 12:15 p.m., 105 Deike Building, Fletcher L. Byrom Earth and Mineral Sciences Library (863-7073).

"A Perturbative-Gauge-Theory Perspective on Closed-String Tachyon Condensation," Radu Roiban, Penn State, 2:30 p.m., 339 Davey Laboratory, host: Stephane Coutu, Department of Physics (865-2015).

"Chemical Imaging of Nanostructured Interfaces by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy," Shigeru Amemiya, University of Pittsburgh, 2:30 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Andrew Ewing, Department of Chemistry (863-4653).

"Stable Manifolds Under Very Weak Hyperbolicity Conditions," Stefano Luzzatto, Imperial College London (United Kingdom), 3:35 p.m., 106 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"An Infestation of Rotating Radio Transients (RRATs): New Sources in the Transient Radio Sky," Maura McLaughlin, University of West Virginia, 4:00 p.m., 538 Davey Laboratory, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (865-0418).

THURSDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER

"A Simple General Throughput Model for Interconnection Networks," Timothy Pinkston, National Science Foundation, 10:00 a.m., 333 Information Sciences and Technology Building, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (865-9505).

"Avian Circadian Rhythms: From Molecules to Migration," Paul A. Bartell, Texas A & M University, 10:00 a.m., 324 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, host: Ramesh Ramachandran, Department of Poultry Science (865-5202 or email: rameshr@psu.edu).

"Partition Identities Arising from Ramanujan's Modular Equations and Theta-Function Identities," Nayandeep Deka Baruah, University of Illinois, 11:15 a.m., 106 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"Design of a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS)-Based Acoustic-Wave Biosensor," Steinar Hauan, Carnegie Mellon University, 11:30 a.m., 111 Wartik Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering (863-1375).

"Superatoms: The New Elements of the Periodic Table," Shiv Khanna, Virginia Commonwealth University, 12:30 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Will Castleman, Department of Chemistry (865-7242).

"Packing Discs in the Plane," Ronald Graham, University of California, 2:30 p.m., 113 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"Advanced Numerical Modeling of the 2005/2006 Southern-Hemisphere Tropical-Cyclone Season," Lance Leslie, University of Oklahoma, 4:00 p.m., 112 Walker Building, Department of Meteorology (863-8566).

"Imaging the 17 July 2006 Java Tsunami-Earthquake Rupture," Chuck Ammon, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 202 Research West Building, Department of Geosciences (865-7965).

"Inferences on the Proportion of Non-Null Effects in Large-Scale Multiple Comparisons," Jiashun Jin, Purdue University, 4:00 p.m., 201 Thomas Building, Department of Statistics (865-1348).

"Old and New Problems and Results in Ramsey Theory," Ron Graham, University of California, 4:00 p.m., 114 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"Spatiotemporal Pattern Formation and Control in the Brain," Steven Schiff, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 117 Osmond Laboratory, host: Dezhe Jin, Department of Physics (863-6673).

FRIDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER

"Mechanisms of Cardioprotection in Females," Elizabeth Murphy, National Institutes of Health, 11:15 a.m., 127 Noll Lab, Noll Physiological Research Center (865-3453).

"Heterogeneous Near-Surface Environment in Which Complex Interactions Involving Rock, Soil, Water, Air, and Living Organisms Regulate the Natural Habitat and Determine the Availability of Life-Sustaining Resources," Gail Ashley, Rutgers University, 12:20 p.m., 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences + Environment and Natural Resources Institute + Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (863-1601 or 865-6541).

"Molecular Mechanism of Cytochrome-C Oxidase and Biological Energy Transduction: Computational Insights," Alexei Stuchebrukhov, University of California, 2:30 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Sharon Hammes-Schiffer, Department of Chemistry (865-6442).

"Einstein’s Equation of Life and Death" (video), 3:30 p.m., 211 Davey Laboratory, Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library (865-7617 or www.libraries.psu.edu/pams/filmseries.html).

(Computational and Applied Mathematics seminar title to be announced), Suzanne Lenhart, University of Tennessee, 3:35 p.m., 106 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Visualization Tools for Monitoring Public-Health Interventions: A Case of Rwanda HIV/AIDS and the Scaling Up of Antiretroviral Therapy," Etien Kuoa, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 112 Walker Building, Department of Geography (865-3433).

SATURDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER and SUNDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER

(none)

 

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Additions or cancellations will be noted on weekly Science Seminar listings on the Web.

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Science Seminars is a weekly list of science-related seminars sponsored by colleges, research institutes, and other organizations throughout Penn State. Science Seminars is published by the Penn State Eberly College of Science as a service to Penn State and its surrounding communities. Click here for additional information about Science Seminars, or for instruction on how to SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE.

Reporters for Science Seminars and the areas they cover are as follows: [agriculture: Kay Moore] [agronomy: Madeline Laubach] [anthropology: Alan Walker] [astronomy and astrophysics: SherryDawn Jackson and Christine Selders] [biochemistry and molecular biology: Tamara Housel] [biology: Paula Farwell and Stephanie Gookin] [gravitational physics and geometry: Randi Neshteruk] [ceramic science and engineering: April Benson] [chemical engineering: Sandra Brown and Kathy Peters] [chemistry: Clare Eckley] [computer science and engineering: Beth Kennedy and Karen Alise Corl] [earth and mineral sciences: Debra Lambert] [energy: Kelly Jo Rhoades] [entomology: Thelma Brodzina] [life sciences: Janice Kennedy] [mathematics: Flossie Dunlop] [nutrition: Judy Jones] [physical and mathematical sciences library: Emily L. Rimland] [physics: Cheryl Wagner] [physiology: Jenny Edwards] [plant physiology: Janice Kennedy] [poultry science: Linda Houtz] [Vice President for Research: Emily Rowlands] [science, technology, and society: Karen Snare] [statistics: Bonnie Cain] [veterinary science: Loretta Muchinsky].

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Press releases occasionally are written for some of the lectures sponsored by the Eberly College of Science. If you would like to receive copies of these press releases in the future, send a note to Barbara K. Kennedy at SCIENCE@PSU.EDU. Your e-mail address will be added to a distribution list.

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Penn State is an affirmative action, equal opportunity university. Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the office in charge of the seminar in advance of your attendance. U.Ed. SCI 07-21

This issue of SCIENCE SEMINARS was produced by Leta A. Krumrine and Kristen Devlin.