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

6 to 12 December 2004

MONDAY, 6 DECEMBER

"Role of Xyloglucan and Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylase in Plant Cell Growth," Takumi Takeda, Penn State, 12:20 p.m., 107 Wartik Laboratory, Intercollege Graduate Program in Plant Physiology (863-3892).

"Three Family Models from the Heterotic String," Stuart Raby, Ohio State University, 2:30 p.m., 339 Davey Laboratory, host: Murat Gunaydin, Department of Physics (863-0144).

Discussion Session, Horticulture Instructors, Penn State, 3:30 p.m., 112 Buckhout Laboratory, Department of Horticulture (865-3761).

"Modeling the Impact of Soil Biota on Fine-Root Dynamics," Christina Wells, Clemson University, 3:50 p.m., 111 Tyson Building, Department of Horticulture (865-2571).

"Dietary Intake and Bone-Mineral Density in the Framingham Osteoporosis Study: Beyond Calcium," Katherine Tucker, Tufts University, 4:00 p.m., 209 Henderson Building, Graduate Program in Nutrition (865-3448).

"Updating the Definition of Cancer Metastasis," Danny Welch, University of Alabama, 4:00 p.m., 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: Andrea Mastro, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (865-3072).

"Dinosaurs on Drifting Continents" (Marker Lecture #1 of 2), Paul C. Sereno, University of Chicago, 8:00 p.m., Kern Building Auditorium, Eberly College of Science and Department of Biology (865-4562).

TUESDAY, 7 DECEMBER

"Spatio-Temporal Resources in the Mobile Peer-to-Peer Networks," Ouri Wolfson, University of Illinois, 11:00 a.m., 333 Information Sciences and Technology Building, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (865-9505).

"Molecular Genetics and Epigenetics of Breast Cancer Metastasis," Danny Welch, University of Alabama, 11:15 a.m., 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: Andrea Mastro, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (865-3072).

"Searching for the Critical Nucleus in Phase-Separating Polymer Blends," Nitash Balsara, University of California, 11:30 a.m., 108 Wartik Laboratory, host: Antonios Armaou, Department of Chemical Engineering (865-5316).

"Spectroscopy of Spontaneous-Spin Noise as a Non-Perturbative Probe of Spin Dynamics and Magnetic Resonance," Scott Crooker, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 3:30 p.m., 339 Davey Laboratory, host: Nitin Samarth, Department of Physics (863-0090).

"Birds as Dinosaurs: The Fossils Speak" (Marker Lecture #2 of 2), Paul C. Sereno, University of Chicago, 4:00 p.m., 117 HUB-Robeson Center, Eberly College of Science and Department of Biology (865-4562).

"Exploring Cooperativity in Multiunit Biomotor Assemblies with Single-Molecule Sensitivity," Michael Diehl, California Institute of Technology, 4:00 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, Department of Chemistry (865-6553).

"The Geochemical Cycling of Iron and Calcium: Applications of Isotope Systems to Questions of Paleoenvironment and Weathering," Matt Fantle, University of California, 4:00 p.m., 22 Deike Building, Department of Geosciences (865-2622).

"Designer Genes in Your Food: Any Reason for Concern?" Henry Miller, Stanford University, 4:15 p.m., 108 Wartik Laboratory (with video conferencing to Lecture Room D at the College of Medicine), Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences (863-3650).

WEDNESDAY, 8 DECEMBER

"Aspects of Central Place" (video), 12:15 p.m., 105 Deike Building, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library (863-7073).

"Infection by Injection: Role of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type-III Secretion System in Disease," Alan Hauser, Northwestern University, 4:00 p.m., 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, host: Eric Harvill, Department of Veterinary Science (863-8522).

"Rocking the Parks: Big Canyons, Big Craziness, and a Big Team Innovating in General Education" (Mitchell Lecture), Richard Alley, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 301 Steidle Building, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (865-6546).

THURSDAY, 9 DECEMBER

"Interfaces in Biomaterials," Antoni Tomsia, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 11:15 a.m., 135 Reber Building, Department of Materials Science and Engineering (865-4992).

"Orange is the New Green, or Elucidating the Bacteriochlorophyll c Biosynthesis Pathway in Chlorobium tepidum through Genetic and Biochemical Analysis," Aline Gomez Maqueo Chew, Penn State, 11:15 a.m., 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: Donald Bryant, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (865-3072).

ADDED AFTER EMAIL DISTRIBUTION:
"Homo erectus Gets Small: New Hominin Finds from Kenya and Flores," Fred Spoor, University College London (United Kingdom), 3:00 p.m, 104 Keller Building, Department of Anthropology (865-2509).

"The Karmic Afterlife of Tropical Cyclones," Bob Hart, Florida State University, 4:00 p.m., 112 Walker Building, Department of Meteorology (863-8566).

(title to be announced), James Sauls, Northwestern University, 4:00 p.m., 117 Osmond Laboratory, host: Ying Liu, Department of Physics (863-0090).

(title to be anounced), Heather Savage and Jason Sitchler, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 202 Research West Building, Department of Geosciences (865-7965).

FRIDAY, 10 DECEMBER

ADDED AFTER EMAIL DISTRIBUTION:
"Fractal Analysis of Soil-Aggregate Structures and Associations with Organic Carbon," Jody Gibson, Penn State, 12:20 p.m., 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (863-1601).

"Morse Theory in Real Symplectic Geometry," Tara Holm, University of California, 2:30 p.m., 113 Osmond Laboratory, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"Sulfur Geochemistry of Mars," Rosemary Capo and Brian Stewart, University of Pittsburgh, 2:30 p.m., 341 Deike Building, Penn State Astrobiology Research Center (865-4074).

"The Influence of Gall-Forming Insects on Host-Plant Chemistry," John Tooker, Penn State, 2:30 p.m., 118 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Intercollege Graduate Program in Ecology (865-5557).

"Geography Abridged: All You Need to Know Was on the Comic Pages," (speaker to be announced), 4:00 p.m., 301 Steidle Building, Department of Geography (863-1806).

"Syntheses and Properties of Magnetic Materials Not Likely to be Found on Your Refrigerator," Matthew Shores, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 4:00 p.m., 102 Chemistry Building, Department of Chemistry (865-6553).

SATURDAY, 11 DECEMBER and SUNDAY, 12 DECEMBER

(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 and Charles Mancino] [anthropology: Alan Walker] [astrobiology: Linda Decker] [astronomy and astrophysics: Sue Tighe and Laura Sproat] [biochemistry and molecular biology: Tamara Housel] [biology: Paula Farwell] [center for gravitational physics and geometry: Karen Brewster] [center for materials physics: Barbara Itinger] [ceramic science and engineering: April Benson] [chemical engineering: Ruth Smith] [chemistry: Teresa Beck] [computer science and engineering: Nancy Clark and Karen Alise Corl] [earth and mineral sciences: Linda Spangler] [intercollege graduate program in ecology: Debra Putt] [education: Tom Dana] [energy institute: Kelly Jo Rhoades] [entomology: Thelma Brodzina] [intercollege graduate program in genetics: Paula Farwell] [life sciences consortium: Janice Kennedy] [mathematics: Flossie Dunlop] [intercollege graduate program in nutrition: Judy Jones] [physics: Amy Long] [intercollege graduate program in physiology: LuAnn Weatherholtz] [intercollege graduate program in plant physiology: Janice Kennedy] [poultry science: Ruth Nyman] [science, technology, and society program: 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 05-52

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