Physics Colloquium, "Lipid Membrane-Assisted 2D Assembly of Bionanoparticles at Liquid Interfaces" by Masafumi Fukuto, Brookhaven National Lab Monday, 11/9/2009, 4:00 PM-5:00 AM
Lipid monolayers at planar aqueous solution-vapor and solution-substrate interfaces provide an ideal platform for facilitating two-dimensional(2D) assembly of biomolecular nanoparticles like proteins and virus particles. In order to illustrate the utility and versatility of this approach to promoting the ordered assembly of nanoscale objects, we will describe the results of two of our recent studies: (i) the effects of surface biotin density on the 2D crystallization of the soluble protein streptavidin, and (ii) the electrostatic 2D assembly of virus particles, with emphasis on cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV). The structures of these systems have been probed by synchrotron x-ray scattering (GISAXS & XR), AFM, and optical microscopy measurements. We will also illustrate the capability of these techniques for in-situ characterization of structures at liquid interfaces.
Sponsored by: WPI Physics Department, Dr. Erkan Tuzel
Physics Colloquium, "Building Complexity 1-2-3" by Dr. Jennifer Ross, Department of Physics, UMASS Amherst Monday, 11/16/2009, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein are microtubule-based motor proteins that actively transport material throughout the cell. This transport is vital to effectively moving cargo around the cell. This is especially important in the very long axons that connect the spine to the extremities. Impediments of cargo transport down the axons leads to neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, which is the disease affecting physicist Stephen Hawking. To understand the physical properties of these motors, we investigate the innate transport abilities of these motor proteins in vitro. We find that dynein has a greater ability to stay bound in the presence of obstacles on the microtubule track. Kinesin, on the other hand, can move robustly, but dissociates when confronted by a blocked path. Dynein's ability to hang on is likely due to its inherent flexibility and ability to move in reverse. These in vitro capabilities have implications for the cellular roles of these motors.
Sponsored by: WPI Physics Department, Dr. Erkan Tuzel
Physics Colloquium, "Sudden Death of Non-local Properties of Compound Quantum Systems", by Professor Gregg Jaeger, Department of Natural Science and Mathematics, Boston University Monday, 11/23/2009, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Entanglement and non-locality are non-classical global characteristics of quantum states that bear directly on the foundations of Quantum Mechanics. The recent investigations of my research group have explored the extent to which these characteristics are susceptible to the influence of local noise sources and how their degradation properties can differ from that of decoherence arising from that very same mechanism. In particular, I will discuss our results showing that in all the quantum systems in which these phenomena have been considered entanglement and Bell non-locality can be entirely destroyed in finite time when decoherence is lost only in the infinite time limit for some classes of initial state.
Sponsored by: WPI Physics Department, Dr. Erkan Tuzel
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Physics Colloquium, "Lipid Membrane-Assisted 2D Assembly of Bionanoparticles at Liquid Interfaces" by Masafumi Fukuto, Brookhaven National Lab Monday, 11/9/2009, 4:00 PM-5:00 AM
Lipid monolayers at planar aqueous solution-vapor and solution-substrate interfaces provide an ideal platform for facilitating two-dimensional(2D) assembly of biomolecular nanoparticles like proteins and virus particles. In order to illustrate the utility and versatility of this approach to promoting the ordered assembly of nanoscale objects, we will describe the results of two of our recent studies: (i) the effects of surface biotin density on the 2D crystallization of the soluble protein streptavidin, and (ii) the electrostatic 2D assembly of virus particles, with emphasis on cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV). The structures of these systems have been probed by synchrotron x-ray scattering (GISAXS & XR), AFM, and optical microscopy measurements. We will also illustrate the capability of these techniques for in-situ characterization of structures at liquid interfaces. Sponsored by: WPI Physics Department, Dr. Erkan Tuzel
Physics Colloquium, "Building Complexity 1-2-3" by Dr. Jennifer Ross, Department of Physics, UMASS Amherst Monday, 11/16/2009, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein are microtubule-based motor proteins that actively transport material throughout the cell. This transport is vital to effectively moving cargo around the cell. This is especially important in the very long axons that connect the spine to the extremities. Impediments of cargo transport down the axons leads to neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, which is the disease affecting physicist Stephen Hawking. To understand the physical properties of these motors, we investigate the innate transport abilities of these motor proteins in vitro. We find that dynein has a greater ability to stay bound in the presence of obstacles on the microtubule track. Kinesin, on the other hand, can move robustly, but dissociates when confronted by a blocked path. Dynein's ability to hang on is likely due to its inherent flexibility and ability to move in reverse. These in vitro capabilities have implications for the cellular roles of these motors. Sponsored by: WPI Physics Department, Dr. Erkan Tuzel
Physics Colloquium, "Sudden Death of Non-local Properties of Compound Quantum Systems", by Professor Gregg Jaeger, Department of Natural Science and Mathematics, Boston University Monday, 11/23/2009, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Entanglement and non-locality are non-classical global characteristics of quantum states that bear directly on the foundations of Quantum Mechanics. The recent investigations of my research group have explored the extent to which these characteristics are susceptible to the influence of local noise sources and how their degradation properties can differ from that of decoherence arising from that very same mechanism. In particular, I will discuss our results showing that in all the quantum systems in which these phenomena have been considered entanglement and Bell non-locality can be entirely destroyed in finite time when decoherence is lost only in the infinite time limit for some classes of initial state. Sponsored by: WPI Physics Department, Dr. Erkan Tuzel
Powered by the Social Web - Bringing people together through Events, Places, & Common Interests