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Mathematics


Speaker: Sergey Belov

Wednesday, September 10, 2008
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM


227 Hamman Hall
Rice University
6100 Main St
Houston, Texas, USA

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies


Speaker: James Christian

Wednesday, September 10, 2008
1:30 PM to 2:30 PM


NULL Duncan Hall



The ability to study the genetic basis of gene expressions over the whole genome is possible for the first time due to the new technology of microarrays in molecular biology. Estimating the links between genes and gene expression from this microarray data presents a unique statistical environment characterized by ``small' sample sizes in high dimensional spaces, multiple testing issues and the presence of different types of correlation. The primary contribution of this thesis is the construction of biological distance metrics, as well as its use in gene mapping.

Chemistry


Speaker: T.V. RajanBabu

Wednesday, September 10, 2008
12:00 PM


180 Dell Butcher Hall
Rice University
6100 Main St
Houston, Texas, USA


In this era of heightened environmental awareness and ever-increasing demand for higher efficiency from chemical processes, one of the major challenges facing organic synthesis is how to use abundantly available carbon sources for fine chemical synthesis. The dual problems of activation of thermodynamically stable precursors and their stereoselective incorporation into other readily available prochiral substrates pose new challenges, solutions of which may have broader implications in homogeneous catalysis. In this context, we have discovered new protocols for a nearly quantitative and highly selective codimerization of ethylene or propylene, and various functionalized vinylarenes, dienes and strained olefins. This talk will present various strategies for stereochemical control in an enantioselective version (ee’s up to 99%, ~99 % yield) of this reaction. These include design and synthesis of new ligands and applications of ‘hemi-labile ligand concept’ and counter-ion effects. The products of this reaction are potentially useful for the synthesis of several pharmaceutically relevant targets. We will also discuss the scope and limitations of intramolecular cyclization of ???-diynes and allenynes using [X-Y] (X-Y, silicon, tin and boron) reagents. Since the X and Y groups are incorporated into the products as the respective vinyl or allyl derivatives, there is an increase in the number of functionalizable groups and, in certain cases, serviceable novel chiral elements after the reaction. New ways of exploiting the high chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity observed in these reactions will be discussed. Novel aspects of this chemistry include: (a) dynamic properties and reactions of axially chiral 1,3-dienes; (b) use of axial chirality to control atropselectivity elsewhere in a molecule; (c) a general approach to highly functionalized, axially chiral benzocyclooctadienes such as cytotoxic interiotherins and gomisins.

Student Judicial Programs


Wednesday, September 10, 2008
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM


Cohen House (Faculty Club)
Rice University
6100 Main St
Houston, Texas, USA

Bioengineering


Speaker: Frances S. Ligler

Tuesday, September 9, 2008
3:30 PM to 4:30 PM


102 Keck Hall
Rice University
6100 Main St
Houston, Texas, USA


Optical biosensors are moving from the laboratory to the point of use. New concepts for molecular recognition, integration of microfluidics and optics, simplified fabrication technologies, systems integration concepts, and public concerns drive this movement. These factors are discussed and examples of innovations are identified that will lead to smaller, faster, cheaper optical biosensors with capacity to provide effective and actionable information. Research on two NRL biosensors, the array biosensor and the microflow cytometer, will be described to illustrate the process of biosensor systems design.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Bioengineering


Speaker: Anne van de Ven

Tuesday, September 9, 2008
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM


102 Keck Hall



Molecular-specific optical contrast agents have shown promise as potential non-invasive probes for the detection of cancer and its precursors. The topical use of optical contrast agents in vivo has been hindered, however, by the difficulty of delivering macromolecules through mucosal tissue. In this talk, I will describe the development of a surfactant-based strategy to deliver targeted and untargeted optical contrast agents into live cells and tissues. I will provide evidence that cell- and tissue-impermeant contrast agents can be delivered into mucosal tissue in a sufficiently controlled and uniform manner to allow for cancer biomarker detection.

Rice Global Forum
Civil and Environmental Engineering


Tuesday, September 9, 2008
All Day


McMurtry Auditorium Duncan Hall
Rice University
6100 Main St
Houston, Texas, USA

Registration Required / Admission Charge


All day forum - Banquet for participants on the preceding night.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology


Monday, September 8, 2008
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM


123 Anderson Biological Laboratories
Rice University
6100 Main St
Houston, Texas, USA

Physics & Astronomy


Speaker: Xi Lin

Monday, September 8, 2008
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM


116 Herzstein Hall (Physics Lab)
Rice University
6100 Main St
Houston, Texas, USA


Liquid 4He enters the superfluid state and flows without friction below 2.176 K. Thin liquid films adsorbed on solid substrates undergo the same transformation, although at a lower temperature. When the substrate is subjected to oscillatory motion a portion of the film, known as the superfluid fraction, decouples from the oscillation. A similar phenomenon has been observed in solid 4He, in which a fraction of the solid seems to decouple from the motion of the surrounding lattice. This observation has been replicated in various laboratories. In addition, a heat capacity peak, on top of the phonon contribution, that coincides with the onset of mass decoupling has been found. The excess specific heat peaks with a magnitude that decreases with increasing sample quality, in a way similar to the NCRI sample quality effect.

Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics


Speaker: Fritz Gesztesy

Monday, September 8, 2008
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM


1064 Duncan Hall
Rice University
6100 Main St
Houston, Texas, USA