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

20 to 26 February 2006

MONDAY, 20 FEBRUARY

"Frustration and Freezing in Natural and Artificial Spin Ice," Peter Schiffer, Penn State, 12:00 noon, S-5 Osmond Laboratory, Center for Nanoscale Science/MRSEC and Department of Physics (863-8999).

"The Synthesis and Biology of Macrocyclic Peptides," Shelli McAlpine, San Diego State University, 2:30 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Blake Peterson, Department of Chemistry (865-2969).

"Poly-Pattern Processes for Image Segmentation and Compression: Images, Maps, and Mosaics," Wayne Myers, Penn State, 3:35 p.m., 158 Willard Building, Institute for Computational Science (865-1172 or www.ics.psu.edu/springsem.html).

"Some Recent Results on the Fluctuation Theorem: Singularities, Stochasticity, and Subsystems," Federico Bonetto, Georgia Institute of Technology, 3:35 p.m., 106 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"Anaerobic Ways to Make a Living," J. Gregory Ferry, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: Robert Schlegel, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (865-3072).

"Post-Harvest Performance of Geogenanthus 'Inca,'" Amy Burton, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 108 Tyson Building, Department of Horticulture (865-2571).

"Role of Nutrition and Building Peak Bone Mass," Connie M. Weaver, Purdue University, 4:00 p.m., S-209 Henderson Building, Graduate Program in Nutrition (865-3448).

"The Impact of Parallel-Programming Models on the Performance of Preconditioned Iterative Solvers for Finite-Element Simulations," Kengo Nakajima, University of Tokyo (Japan), 4:00 p.m., 333 Information Sciences and Technology Building, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (865-9505).

TUESDAY, 21 FEBRUARY

"Microfabricated-Biochemial Analysis: Cells to Single Molecules," Mark A. Burns, University of Michigan, 10:00 a.m., 111 Wartik Laboratory, host: Costas Maranas, Department of Chemical Engineering (863-9958).

"Tracing the Role of Anemia in Manganese Neurotoxicity," Kristy Thompson (faculty candidate), Harvard University, 10:00 a.m., 117 Henderson Building, Department of Nutritional Sciences (865-3448).

"A Computational Model for the Learning of Precise Temporal Sequences in Neural Networks," Joseph Jun, Penn State, 3:30 p.m., 339 Davey Laboratory, host: Dezhe Jin, Department of Physics (863-6673).

"Conservation and Divergence of Plant MicroRNAs," Michael Axtell (faculty candidate), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 4:00 p.m. (refreshments served at 3:45 p.m.), 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: Hong Ma, Department of Biology (865-4562).

"Gaia Revisited: Mass-Independent Fractionation of Sulfur Isotopes and Implications for Archean Climate," Shawn Goldman, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 22 Deike Building, Department of Geosciences (865-2622).

"Negative Curvature," John Roe, Penn State, 4:40 p.m., 113 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

WEDNESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY

"Using System Support to Improve Software Dependability," Feng Qin, University of Illinois, 10:00 a.m., 333 Information Sciences and Technology Building, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (865-9505).

"Global Environmental Issues" (video), 12:15 p.m., 105 Deike Building, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library (863-7073).

(title to be announced), Luca Stefanini, University of Zurich (Switzerland), 2:30 p.m., 106 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

ADDITIONAL SPEAKER ADDED AFTER EMAIL DISTRIBUTION:
"Utilizing Microfabricated Tuning Forks for Chemical Engineering" by Billy-Paul Holbrook and "Three-Dimensional Shotgun Proteomics" by Nate Hohman, Penn State, 2:30 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Paul Weiss, Department of Chemistry (865-4041).

(title to be announced), John Roe, Penn State, 3:35 p.m., 106 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"Dynamic Immune Response to Tuberculosis in the Lungs," JoAnne Flynn, University of Pittsburgh, 4:00 p.m., 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, host: Eric Harvill (863-8522 or eth10@psu.edu).

"The Auger Observatory: Energy Systematics and the Cosmic-Ray Spectrum," Michael Roberts, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 117 Osmond Laboratory, host: Irina Mocioiu, Department of Physics (865-3721).

THURSDAY, 23 FEBRUARY

"Density-Functional-Theory Studies of Acid Catalysis and Electrocatalysis," Michael J. Janik, University of Virginia, 10:00 a.m., 111 Wartik Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering (865-2574).

"What We Can Solve With a Sublinear Number of Samples," Sofya Raskodnikova, Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), 10:00 a.m., 333 Information Sciences and Technology Building, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (865-9505).

"Some Ideas on Chemical Education," Roald Hoffmann, Cornell University, 12:30 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Joseph Keiser, Department of Chemistry (863-3209).

"Hot Versus Cold Subduction Zones," Maureen Feineman, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 202 Research West Building, Department of Geosciences (865-7965).

"Microarray Normalization and Partial Consistency," Tao Huang, Yale University, 4:00 p.m., 201 Thomas Building, Department of Statistics (865-1348).

"Vorticity in the Phase of Cuprates: Evidence From Nernst Effect and Torque Magnetometry," Phuan Ong, Princeton University, 4:00 p.m., 119 Osmond Laboratory, host: Qi Li, Department of Physics (863-5347).

FRIDAY, 24 FEBRUARY

"Fuzzy Extractors, or Correcting Errors Without Leaking Too Much Information," Adam Smith, Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), 10:00 a.m., 333 Information Sciences and Technology Building, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (865-9505).

"Nitric-Oxide Bioavailability During Reflex Cutaneous Vasodilation," Lacy A. Holowatz, Penn State, 11:15 a.m., 127 Noll Lab, Noll Physiological Research Center (865-3453).

"Variability in Impact of the Fungal Pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga on Gypsy Moth," Ann Hajek, Cornell University, 11:15 a.m., 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Entomology (865-1895).

(title to be announced), Lung-an Ying, Xiamen University (China) , 3:30 p.m., 106 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"How Diffusion Causes Problems for Nanotechnology (and How to Overcome Them)," Paul E. Sheehan, U. S. Naval Research Laboratory, 3:30 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Paul Weiss, Department of Chemistry (865-3693).

"Interested in Buying Beachfront Property? Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Coastal Storm Surge," Brent Yarnal, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 22 Deike Building, Department of Geography (865-3433).

SATURDAY, 25 FEBRUARY

"Open-House for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences," 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Deike Building Lobby, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (865-6546).

SUNDAY, 26 FEBRUARY

(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] [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].

NOTICE: PRESS RELEASES AVAILABLE
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.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

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 06-91

This issue of SCIENCE SEMINARS was produced by Barbara K. Kennedy and Kristen Devlin.