Spring 2011

To Infinity and Beyond

Dr. Bob Cook
Chair of the Computer Science Department
Georgia Southern University

Hosting Dept: Department of Mathematics and computer Science

Abstract:  The talk provides an inside look at a NASA Shuttle launch then reviews some of the technical challenges of establishing human habitats on the Moon and Mars. The importance of those missions to life on Earth is argued. Finally, some opportunities to be a pioneer in a modern world are presented.

Prof. Robert Cook has served on the faculty at Vanderbilt University as well as Wisconsin, Florida, Virginia, and Mississippi. He is currently the Yamacraw Professor of Computer Science at Georgia Southern University. He has been employed at Microsoft in the position of Software Architect, worked as an ASEE Fellow at the Kennedy Space Center, has written over 500,000 lines of code, and has authored six e-books on computer science topics. He is also the LEGO outreach guru.

Thursday, January 20, 2011 4pm

Abstract:  Previous research has found one specific kind of prospective memory (PM) task, commonly called focal PM, to be sensitive to early stages of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) (Ducheck, Balota, & Cortese, 2006). The present study aimed to examine both focal and non-focal PM performance, as well as examining the influences of alleles of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene. The present study found AD-related decline to be greater for focal PM performance, relative to non-focal PM performance. This suggests that spontaneous retrieval processes may be compromised in early AD. Additionally, focal PM performance was sensitive to the differences between early stages of AD, relative to normal aging. APOE status, however, was not associated with PM performance.

Abstract:  Thermodynamics is a field of physics that studies energy and its transformation. Since the beginning of the subject thermodynamics has contributed to diverse natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, and biology as well as engineering. In this presentation I will introduce the basic principles of thermodynamics from the perspective of biology such as equilibrium constant, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy. In the second part I will present my recent research on enthalpy-entropy compensation.

Is there life on other planets?

Dr. Cecilia Barnbaum
Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences
Valdosta State University

Hosting Dept: Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences

Abstract:  Certainly there is what we call "life" on Earth. But is that the only kind of life possible in this great universe? Will we recognize it when we see it? This evening we will discuss the nature of life, the prospects for finding it elsewhere in the Solar System, and on planets of other stars in the Milky Way. Are there aliens among us? A resounding "no."

Abstract:  New plants drive the ornamental nursery industry. The Tifton Campus of the University of Georgia is situated in south central Georgia, approximately 65 miles north of the Florida state line. According to the USDA hardiness zone map, Tifton is located in USDA 8a. The mean temperature of our coldest month is 10.0C, and the lowest temperature I have seen since coming to Tifton is -10.6C. The mean temperature of our warmest month is 27.2C and we regularly have 90 to 100 days per year with temperatures at or above 32.2C.

Prior to taking my current position there had never been a ornamental horticulture researcher in south Georgia. Many plant recommendations were based on observations from north Georgia, not the Coastal Plain. As differences in soil types, chilling hours, and numerous other environmental variables exist within the state, it became imperative that plant material needed to be developed and evaluated under south Georgia conditions. I will discuss some of my recent plant releases along with current breeding and selection efforts.

Abstract:  Microbial communities within animals greatly influence their hosts' ecology and evolution. These diverse microbial associates consist of commensals, pathogens and mutualists. In such systems, hosts would benefit substantially if they could selectively recognize and accept beneficial microbes while still being able to avoid or attenuate infection by microbial pathogens. Insect hosts provide an excellent opportunity to explore this dilemma, as, like humans, a single insect may often be associated with both mutualists and pathogens, but unlike humans, insect-microbe relationships have the advantage of being easily experimentally manipulated. In addition, many insect species have ancient associations with beneficial bacterial symbionts, which persist inside hosts for generations, allowing us to explore the evolutionary maintenance of microbial associations. I will overview several insect systems that our laboratory utilizes to explore ecological, physiological, behavioral and molecular responses of hosts to acquisition of diverse microbial associates.

Georgia’s Bioscience Industry: Potential for Growth

Charles Craig
Georgia Bio President

Hosting Dept: Biology

Spring Break

This seminar will be held in the Library Auditorium (First Floor; room 1160)

Thursday, March 31, 2011 4pm

Dr. Zhiguang Xu
Valdosta State University

Hosting Dept: Mathematics and Computer Science

Abstract:  Over the past two years, every major microcomputer manufacturer has introduced processor chips with multiple, dual and quad core processors for desktops and laptops, and over a hundred cores available in some Graphics Processing Units. The arrival of multi-core chips into the computing market has created a revolution in the software industry. To benefit from increases in hardware performance, software must be parallel. This talk will provide an introduction to parallel programming with a focus on the techniques that are most appropriate for multi-core architecture and the use of parallelism to improve program performance. It will also discusses how undergraduate computer science curriculum needs to be revised in face of parallelism (and related challenges like concurrency, data sharing, and load balancing), the next revolution in mainstream software development.

Fat and thin: regulatory mechanisms of metabolic homeostasis in Drosophila

Dr. Erik Johnson
Department of Biology
Wake Forest University

Hosting Dept: Biology

Abstract:  The precise mechanisms of how organisms maintain energetic homeostasis in light of dynamic food availability remains largely unknown. We have adopted an integrative approach in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to identify mechanisms of how metabolic stress is perceived, and how behavior and physiology is modulated during nutrient deprivation. The significance of these studies is that the regulatory molecules and the neuroendocrine circuitry appear to be paralleled in more complex organisms, including humans.

Last week of classes