Spring 2007

Environmental Mathematics

Dr. Ben Fusaro
Florida State University

Hosting Dept: Mathematics and Computer Science & Biology

 

Abstract:  It is quite natural to use differential equations to model systems that deal with storage, flows, and their interactions but it is not necessary. A five-stage modeling process will be introduced that starts with a qualitative analysis, moves to a simple energy diagram, a flow equation, a computation, and then a standard graph. Liberal arts majors can model scenarios that confuse many engineering majors (who charge in with d.e.'s at the ready). This visual approach makes autocatalytic systems transparent, introduces the environmentally-crucial concept of embodied energy, and leads to a money-time-energy equivalence.

 

 

Thursday, January 25, 2007 4pm

Mathematical Biology Modeling

Dr. Jemal Mohammed-Awel
Mathematics and Computer Science Department

Hosting Dept: Mathematics and Computer Science

 

Abstract:  Mathematical biology is an exiting and fast growing field. Most of the current topics of mathematical biology consist of the formulation and analysis of various mathematical models, usually in the form of difference equations or differential equations. To demonstrate the application of mathematics in biological sciences I will present simple deterministic and stochastic population growth models, population dynamics, and infectious disease modeling. And finally I will give a brief description of my research interest and my current research work.

Thursday, February 1, 2007 4pm

Stem Cell Research

Dr. Stephen Stice
University of Georgia

Hosting Dept: Biology

 

Abstract:  The American Heart Institute estimates that 128 million Americans could be helped today with advances in stem cell therapies. In the US 1.5 million people suffer from Parkinson’s disease and there is no long-term treatment for this disease. Embryonic stem cell based therapies hold great promise for curing and can be used to discover new drugs for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injury, ALS, SMA and other devastating diseases. However there are two significant and fundamental roadblocks that must be overcome before safe and effective treatments are developed. First, human embryonic stem cells undergo spontaneous differentiation, even when cultured on fibroblast feeder layers. Therefore, producing large quantities of homogenous stem cells is technically difficult if not impossible today. It is essential to obtain scaled up homogenous populations of stem cells because it’s likely that tens of millions of starting stem cells are needed to isolate a subpopulation of specialized cells for transplants. Isolating stem cell populations less susceptible to undesirable differentiation cues (non neuronal) can lead to stable stem cell populations and prevention of spontaneous differentiation. Our goal has been to develop methods of culturing a stable cell line that can be directed homogenously down neural pathways rather than randomly differentiating down lineages that happen to include neural cells. To this end, in 2006 we published the first paper on the extend culture of neural stem cells and the production differentiated neurons from these cells. Thus we have developed the first renewable stem cell population that can be used in developing neural drug discover and toxicity assays. We are actively collaborating with several groups to provide these cells to the research community so that they can be used to develop treatments and possibly cures for many neurological diseases.

Thursday, February 8, 2007 4pm

TBA

Dr. Eric Stabb
Dept of Microbiology, UGA

Hosting Dept: Biology

Thursday, February 15, 2007 4pm

Heating the Solar Corona: A Hot Topic in Plasma Astrophysics

 

Dr. Christopher Watts
University of New Mexico

Hosting Dept: Physics, Astronomy, Geosciences

 

Abstract:  The surface or photosphere of the sun is a blackbody with a temperature of about 5800° C, and the basic mechanism that heats the sun, nuclear fusion, is well understood. However, there is a disconcerting paradox: The temperature of the solar atmosphere or corona starts to rise away from the surface to about 1,000,000° C. It’s like walking away from a fire … and you suddenly feel hotter. The energy that heats the corona is almost certainly stored in the magnetic field of the sun. There are two main competing models for how this energy is released: 1) Magnetic waves and 2) Tearing and reconnection of the magnetic field. Both models are probably valid in different regimes. In this talk, I will present an overview of the coronal heating paradox and the two heating models. Then I’ll talk about current research by plasma physicists, using both remote observations and laboratory simulations, focused on substantiating these models.

Sponsored by the Division of Plasma Physics of the American Physical Society under a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy

Thursday, February 22, 2007 4pm

TBA

TBA

Hosting Dept:

Thursday, March 1, 2007 4pm

TBA

Dr. Patricia H. Kelley
Department of Geography & Geology, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Hosting Dept: Physics, Astronomy, Geosciences

Thursday, March 8, 2007 4pm

Spring Break Week

TBA

Hosting Dept:

Thursday, March 15, 2007 4pm

Analysis of polyadenylation in RNase E-mediated mRNA decay in E. coli

Nikkii Dubose
University of Georgia

Hosting Dept: Biology

Thursday, March 22, 2007 4pm

TBA

Dr. Anna Karls
Dept of Microbiology, UGA

Hosting Dept: Biology

Thursday, March 29, 2007 4pm

TBA

Dr. Peggy L. Moch
Valdosta State University, Mathematics and Computer Science Department

Hosting Dept: Mathematics and Computer Science Department

Thursday, April 5, 2007 4pm

TBA

Dr. David Malcolm
Dept. of Psychology, Fordham, University of New York

Hosting Dept: Psychology

Thursday, April 12, 2007 4pm

TBA

John Costello

Hosting Dept: Physics, Astronomy, Geosciences

Thursday, April 19, 2007 4pm

TBA

TBA

Hosting Dept:

Thursday, April 26, 2007 4pm