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

28 March to 3 April 2005

MONDAY, 28 MARCH

"Sci-Finder Scholar Demonstration: Interface to Chemical Abstracts Database," Nancy Butkovich, Penn State, 11:00 a.m., 105 Deike Building, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library (863-7073).

ADDED AFTER EMAIL DISTRIBUTION:
"Chemically-Mediated Ecological Interactions Among Plants, Herbivores, and Parasitoids," Consuelo M. De Moraes, Penn State, 12:20 p.m., 106 Wartik Laboratory, host: Daniel Cosgrove, Intercollege Graduate Program in Plant Physiology (863-3892).

ADDED AFTER EMAIL DISTRIBUTION:
"Regulators of Cortical Microfilament Dynamics in the Early Drosophila Embryo," Eyal Schejter, Weitzmann Institute (Israel), 12:30 p.m., 317 Mueller Laboratory, host: Graham Thomas, Department of Biology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (863-0716).

"COX-2-Enzyme Inhibitors: Chemistry and Biology," Sheryl Dykstra, Penn State, 2:00 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Blake Peterson, Department of Chemistry (865-2969).

ADDED AFTER EMAIL DISTRIBUTION:
"Investigating the Use of Living Mulches in Edamame (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) Production and Evaluating Consumer Demand for Edamame," Dru Montri, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 108 Tyson Building, Department of Horticulture (863-3371).

TUESDAY, 29 MARCH

"Dark Matter Caustic," Pierre Sikivie, University of Florida, 11:00 a.m., 151 Davey Laboratory, host: Murat Gunaydin, Department of Physics (863-0144).

"Sci-Finder Scholar Demonstration: Interface to Chemical Abstracts Database," Nancy Butkovich, Penn State, 12:30 p.m., 105 Deike Building, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library (863-7073).

"How e-Education and e-Collaboration Can Contribute to Sponsored Research Proposals in Materials Sciences and Engineering," David DiBiase, Penn State, 1:00 p.m., 423 Earth-Engineering Sciences Building, John A. Dutton e-Education Institute (863-1590).

"Jamming and the Low-Temperature Properties of Glasses," Sidney R. Nagel, University of Chicago, 3:30 p.m., 339 Davey Laboratory, host: Gerald Mahan, Department of Physics (865-6092).

"Phylogenomic Insights into Genome Dynamism, Gene Conservation, and Functional Divergence in Flowering Plants," Jeff Bennetzen, University of Georgia, 4:00 p.m. (refreshments at 3:45 p.m.), 101 Althouse Laboratory, hosts: Claude dePamphilis and Jim Leebens-Mack, Department of Biology (865-0549).

"Ion Conduction and Selectivity of the Potassium Channel," Benoit Roux, Cornell University, 4:00 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: Sharon Hammes-Schiffer, Department of Chemistry (865-6442).

"The Behavior of El Nino in Past Centuries," Michael Mann, University of Virginia , 4:00 p.m., 22 Deike Building, Department of Geosciences (865-2622).

WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH

(title to be announced), Anton Nekrutenko, Penn State, 12:10 p.m., 317 Mueller Laboratory, host: Masatoshi Nei, Institute of Molecular Evolutionary Genetics (863-7334).

"Cloves: Nature's Little Nails" (video), 12:15 p.m., 105 Deike Building, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library (863-7073).

"Biochemical and Genetic Characterization of Conformational Changes That Occur in the T7 RNAP Enzyme During the Transition From Initiation to Elongation," William McAllister, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 4:00 p.m., 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, host: Biao He, Department of Veterinary Science (863-8533).

"Physics at the Breakfast Table," Sidney R. Nagel, University of Chicago, 8:00 p.m. (reception at 7:30 p.m.) 101 Thomas Building, host: Gerald Mahan, Department of Physics (865-6092).

THURSDAY, 31 MARCH

"A Local Equilibrium Model for Internal Oxidation," John E. Morral, Ohio State University, 11:15 a.m., 26 Hosler Building, Department of Materials Science and Engineering (865-4992).

"Self-Healing Polymers," Jeff Moore, University of Illinois, 12:30 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, host: W. Paxton, Department of Chemistry (863-7058).

"Air-Sea Carbon-Dioxide Flux Variability: Ocean Models and Atmospheric Inversions," Galen McKinley, University of Wisconsin, 4:00 p.m., 112 Walker Building, Department of Meteorology and Center for Advanced Carbon-Cycle Research and Education (863-8566).

"Breaking Away, Selective Withdrawal, and Islets in the Stream: The Role of Singularities in Fluid Flow," Sidney R. Nagel, University of Chicago, 4:00 p.m. (refreshments at 3:30 p.m. in Davey/Osmond Overpass), 117 Osmond Laboratory, host: Gerald Mahan, Department of Physics (865-6092)

"Life Within the Endeavour System: One of the Most Extreme Environments on Earth," Deborah S. Kelley, University of Washington, 4:00 p.m. (refreshments at 3:45 p.m.), 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: Chuck Fisher, Department of Biology + Department of Geosciences + Penn State Astrobiology Research Center + Office of the Dean of the Graduate School + Worldwide Univeristies Network (865-3365 or 865-4074).

"Structures and Mechanisms of a DNA Polymerase: Nature's Copier and Spellchecker in Action," Lorena Beese, Duke University, 4:00 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, Department of Chemistry (865-6553).

FRIDAY, 1 APRIL

"House Hunting by Honey Bees: A Study in Group Decision Making," Tom Seeley, Cornell University, 11:15 a.m., 118 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Entomology (865-1895).

"Morning, Noon, and Night: Dissolved Organic Material, Photochemistry, and River Ecosystems," Diane McKnight, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and University of Colorado, 4:00 p.m., 114 Earth-Engineering Sciences Building (865-1781).

SATURDAY, 2 APRIL

"Humic Quinones and Environmental Redox Processes," Diane McKnight, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and University of Colorado, 3:00 p.m., 114 Earth-Engineering Sciences Building (865-1781).

SUNDAY, 3 APRIL

(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] [astrobiology: Linda Decker] [astronomy and astrophysics: SherryDawn Jackson and Laura Sproat] [biochemistry and molecular biology: Tamara Housel] [biology: Paula Farwell] [gravitational physics and geometry: Karen Brewster] [ceramic science and engineering: April Benson] [chemical engineering: Sandra Brown] [chemistry: Clare Eckley] [computer science and engineering: Nancy Clark and Karen Alise Corl] [earth and mineral sciences: Debra Lambert] [ecology: Rosemarie Hibbler] [energy: Kelly Jo Rhoades] [engineering science and mechanics: Elaine Sanders] [entomology: Thelma Brodzina] [genetics: Lauren Esposito] [life sciences: Janice Kennedy] [mathematics: Flossie Dunlop] [nutrition: Judy Jones] [physics: Amy Long] [physiology: Rosemarie Hibbler] [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 05-112

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