[BNC-all] MONDAY Memo: 11.26.07

[Deborah Starewich]

MONDAY MEMO, November 26, 2007
 
 
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1. Announcements
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1.1:  None at this time
 
 
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2. Seminars
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2.1:  Mondays, November 26, and December 3, 2007, 2:30PM, POTR 234 ­ Fu
Room:  ³Lectures on molecular dynamics modeling of materials,² by Alejandro
Strachan
ABSTRACT:  Molecular dynamics simulations are playing an increasingly
important role in many areas of science and engineering, from biology and
pharmacy to nanoelectronics and structural materials.  Recent breakthroughs
in methodologies and in first principles-based interatomic potentials
significantly increased the range of applicability of MD and the accuracy of
its predictions even for new materials not yet fabricated or synthesized.
Such predictive power indicates that MD has the potential to play a key role
in guiding the design and optimization of new materials with improved
properties tailored for specific applications. The goal of this short course
is to provide an introduction to the theory behind MD simulations, describe
some of the most exciting recent developments in the field and exemplify its
use in various applications. The short course consists of a brief
introduction and three lectures:
Introduction: molecular dynamics simulations. This short presentation will
describe the idea behind MD simulations and demonstrate its use in real
applications.
Lecture 1: the theory behind molecular dynamics. The first lecture will
provide a brief description of classical mechanics and statistical mechanics
necessary to understand the physics and approximations behind MD and how to
correctly interpret and analyze its results. The power, range of
applicability and limitations of MD will be discussed.
Lecture 2: interatomic potentials. I will describe the various models used
to describe the interactions between atoms in a wide range of materials
including metals, ceramics and soft materials as well as new recent advances
like reactive force fields. The key physics of widely used force fields will
be described as well as their accuracy.
Lecture 3: simulation details and coarse grain approaches. The last
presentation will describe simulation techniques to simulate materials under
isothermal and isobaric conditions. We will also describe coarse grain or
mesodynamical approaches (where mesoparticles describe groups of atoms)
focusing on recent advances in theory that enable thermodynamically accurate
simulations including the description of quantum effects in the thermal
properties of high-frequency vibrational modes.
The lectures will be complemented with hands-on exercises utilizing the
nanoMATERIALS simulation toolkit at the nanoHUB that enables running MD
simulations simply using a webbrowser.
BIO:  Alejandro Strachan is an Assistant Professor of Materials Engineering
at Purdue University. He received his doctoral degree in Physics from the
University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before joining Purdue, Professor
Strachan was a staff member in the Theoretical Division of Los Alamos
National Laboratory and worked at the California Institute of Technology.
Prof. Strachan¹s research focuses on developing and validating atomic and
mesoscale computational methodologies aimed at predicting the behavior of
materials from first principles and their application in technologically
relevant areas where a molecularlevel understanding can help solve
outstanding problems. Areas of interest include: nanoscale and
nanostructured materials for electronics and electro-mechanical systems,
active and energetic materials, mechanical properties of molecular solids,
and computational materials design.
 
2.2: Tuesday, November 27, 4:00PM, WSLR 116, Biochemistry Seminar: ³Role of
a CHD3 Chromatin Remodeler in Transcriptional Repression in Arabidopsis,² by
Joe Ogas, Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University


2.3:  Wednesday, November 28, 12:30PM, LILY G-416, Ecolunch Seminar: ³Living
on the edge: Responses of tropical montane communities to edge effects,² by
Keiller Kyle, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University
 
2.4:  Wednesday, November 28, 1:30PM, LILY 1-117, Structural Seminar:
³Swiveling domains in phosphotransfer reactions,² by Osnat Herzberg, Center
for Advanced Research in Biotechnology (CARB), University of Maryland
Biotechnology Institute
 
2.5:  Wednesday, November 28, 3:30PM, WSLR 116, Botany Seminar:
³Manipulation of calcium oxalate crystal formation and its potential use for
improving the nutritional quality and production of plant foods,² by Paul
Nakata, Baylor College of Medicine/USDA -ARS

2.6:  Thursday, November 29, 4:00PM, ME 161, ³Measurements of Flow and
Micro-Plankton Dynamics in the Laboratory and in the Ocean Using Digital
Holography,² by Joseph Katz, The Johns Hopkins University
ABSTRACT: The presentation introduces several examples where recent advances
in cinematic digital holography including holographic microscopy enable
measurements of 3D flow structures and particle dynamics at unprecedented
resolution. Examples include: Tracking of thousands of fuel droplets in a
locally isotropic turbulent flow enables measurement of their turbulent
diffusion coefficient as a function of turbulence level and droplet
properties; Studying the near-wall flow within a turbulent boundary layer
over a smooth wall, while fully resolving the viscous sublayer, buffer layer
and lower portion of logarithmic layer. Resolution is sufficient for
measuring the instantaneous wall shear stress distributions from velocity
gradients in the viscous sublayer. Conditional sampling based on local shear
stress magnitude identifies characteristic 3-D flow structures that generate
extreme wall stress events; Measuring the flow generated by swimming of a
copepod, a mm size marine organism, and its effect on its swimming behavior.
A recirculating flow pattern in the copepod¹s frame of reference is caused
by the combined effects of sinking and a propulsive force generated by the
feeding appendages. The low Reynolds numbers associated with motion of 0.1
mm naupleus, a baby copepod, cause it to recoil as it brings its swimming
appendages forward to propel itself; Characteristics of the generally
helical but complex swimming of 10-30 mm dinoflagellates change dramatically
with introduction of prey into the sample volume, demonstrating different
predation strategies. The presentation will conclude with introduction of a
submersible, free drifting oceanic holography system. Data from recent
deployments display behavior of and interactions among several organisms,
such as a dinofalgellate escaping from a naupleus, and clouds of particles
around swimming Appendictularians.
JOSEPH KATZ received a B.S degree from Tel Aviv University and M.S and PhD
from the California Institute of Technology, all in Mechanical Engineering.
After several years at Purdue University, Dr. Katz joined The Johns Hopkins
University in 1988, and has been a professor of mechanical engineering for
over 10 years. He is currently the William F. Ward, Sr. Distinguished
Professor of Mechanical Engineering. In addition, he manages the Laboratory
for Experimental Fluid Dynamics and is Technical Editor of the Journal of
Fluids Engineering. Dr. Katz¹ research is focused on experimental fluid
mechanics and development of advanced diagnostics techniques for laboratory
and field applications, including Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and
holography.  His research interests include turbulent multiphase flows,
complex flow structure and turbulence within turbomachines, flow induced
vibrations, boundary layers on smooth and rough walls including the bottom
boundary layer of the coastal ocean and canopy flows, as well as
measurements of swimming behavior of plankton both in the laboratory and in
the ocean.

2.7:  Thursday, November 29, 4:30PM, WTHR 104, Chemistry Seminar:
³Bioinorganic Solar Photochemistry,² by Harry Gray, Walton Lecture, Beckman
Professor of Chemistry, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
California Institute of Technology
 
2.8:  Thursday, November 29, 6:00PM, KRAN 140, ³Product Lifecycle Management
in Support of Globalization and Issues of Sustainability,² by Michael
Grieves, co-director, Product Lifecycle Management Center of Excellence,
Purdue University
Michael Grieves is an international expert and author of Product Lifecycle
Management: Driving the Next Generation of Lean Thinking, published in 2006.
This talk, which is free and open to the public, is hosted by the College of
Technology, Department of Organizational Leadership and Supervision, and
supported by the College of Technology, Departments of Mechanical
Engineering Technology, Industrial Technology, Computer Graphics Technology;
College of Engineering ‹ School of Mechanical Engineering; Discovery Park ‹
Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Center for the Environment, Product
Lifecycle Management Center of Excellence.  Grieves serves as Co-Director,
Purdue University, Product Lifecycle Management Center of Excellence, and is
also the director of industry research at the University of Arizona MIS
Department, a former visiting professor at Purdue¹s College of Technology,
and chairman emeritus of the board of visitors at Oakland University¹s
School of Business Administration. Grieves co-founded the PLM Development
Consortium at the University of Michigan College of Engineering.
 
2.9:  Friday, November 30, 3:30PM, MSEE B12, ³Trends and Challenges in
Designing Practical Biosensors for Environmental and Clinical Monitoring,²
by Dr. Silvana Andrescu, Clarkson University
ABSTRACT: In the last decade, an emerging area of research is the
development and implementation of biological sensors that could respond to
the today¹s needs for low cost, rapid detection, higher selectivity and
sensitivity for the analyte of interest. However, despite extensive research
in biosensors and their enormous potential compared to laboratory-based
analytical techniques, the biosensor market is relatively small and numerous
problems still remain to be solved. This presentation will discuss new ways
of designing biosensors with improved selectivity and lower detection
limits. Novel materials and advanced immobilization methods capable of
depositing biologically active material, particularly enzymes, onto or in
close proximity of the transducer surface and applications of these devices
for the detection of clinically and environmental important analytes will be
presented. Problems associated with a direct detection of hydrogen peroxide,
enzyme stability, interferences and overlapping signals in clinical samples
will also be addressed.
BIO: Dr. Silvana Andreescu received her PhD in 2002 in Agrochemistry from
the University of Perpignan, France and in Analytical Chemistry from the
University of Bucharest, Romania. In the same year she was awarded a
NATO-NSF postdoctoral fellowship award when she joined the Department of
Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton as a postdoctoral
fellow. Since 2005, she is an assistant professor at Clarkson University,
Potsdam, NY. Her main research interests include the development of
biosensors for monitoring different analytes of interest in clinical, food
quality and environmental control. Other interests include development of
multifunctional biocapsules for use in alternative energy production and
bioremediation. 
 
2.10:  Friday, November 30, 10:30AM, LILY 1-117, Biophysics Seminar:
³Mapping protein folding landscapes,² by Harry B. Gray, Arnold O. Beckman
Professor of Chemistry, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
California Institute of Technology
 
 
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3. Birck Visitors
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3.1:  Tuesday, November 27, 3:00PM: Videotaping crew capturing scenes of
Purdue for recruiting purposes; the group will be hosted by Bernie Tao.
Items to consider capturing include growing films by chemical vapor
deposition (i.e., Dave Ewoldt using the Aixtron), someone using an AFM
(i.e., Roya Lahiji or Laura Biedermann), demonstrating the TEM (i.e., Eric
Stach or Dimitri Zemlyanov).
 
 
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4.  Life on the Outside
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4.1:  Get your holiday shopping started now:  CRAFT SALE, Dec. 4 from
12-1:00 in the MRGN Cafe. Items included:  Handmade knitted scarves and
blankets, jewelry, baskets, cloth diapers made into burp rags, and baked
goods; also available may be Longaberger Baskets, knick knacks, CD's, books,
dragonflies, and rag quilts.
 
4.2:  Toy Donations:  If you would like to donate a toy to the Marine Toys
for Tots Foundation please drop it off MRGN 120.  The Marines will pick up
our donations on December 10th. Through the gift of a shiny new toy, the
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation provides happiness and hope to disadvantaged
children who might otherwise be overlooked this holiday season.  This year
marks the 60th anniversary for the Toys for Tots tradition of the US Marine
Corps Reserves.  In 2006, Toys for Tots delivered more than 19.2 million
toys to over 7.6 million children. Unfortunately, with over 13 million
children living in poverty, Toys for Tots needs your help more than ever to
achieve the goal of delivering a toy to every child in need.
 


Deborah S. Starewich
Administrative Assistant to Timothy D. Sands, Director
Birck Nanotechnology Center
Purdue University

765-494-3509
dstarewi at ecn.purdue.edu

http://www.nano.purdue.edu/



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