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TCU Box 298840
Fort Worth, TX 76129
Phone: (817) 257-7375
Fax: (817) 257-7742
Email:physics@tcu.edu

This page maintained
by Kaoru Yoshida

Spring 2007 Seminar Information

Monday, April 30, 2007 at 3:00pm in SWR 357
Refreshments Served at 2:45 pm
The Pre-Dissertation Oral Examination will follow at 4:00pm

Christopher R. Fuse
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University

Isolated Early-type Galaxies

Sponsor: Dr. Marcum/Dr. Fanelli

 

Friday, April 27, 2007 at 1:00pm in SWR 357
Refreshments will be served

Wei Chen
Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019

Nanoparticle Fluorescence Based Technology For Biomedical Applications

Abstract:

In this presentation, I will mainly discuss the potential applications of both doped and undoped nanoparticles for biomedical applications. I will start by discussing the definition of so called nanotechnology. Then, I will introduce the methods for making highly luminescence semiconductor nanoparticles and for nanoparticle bioconjugation. Next, I will focus on my projects for using near-infrared and upconversion nanoparticles for in vivo cancer imaging, particularly for tumor vascular imaging, hypoxia and dose imaging. Further, I will present the basic concepts for nanoparticle photodynamic therapy in combination with radiation therapy for cancer treatment. Finally, I will discuss the application of nanoparticle systems for bacteria and virus detection based on energy transfer and antigen-antibody interaction.

Sponsor: Dr. Zerda

 

Friday, March 30, 2007 at 1:30pm in SWR 357
Refreshments will be served 2:30pm
The Pre-Dissertation Oral Examination will follow at 2:45pm

Guillermo Garcia
Department of Physics and Astronomy Texas Christian University

A DEPERTURBATION METHOD TO AID IN THE INTERPRETATION OF ISOTOPIC INFRARED SPECTRA

Sponsor: Dr. Rittby

 

Monday, March 19, 2007 at 2:00pm in SWR 357
Refreshments will be served

Matt Ferguson
Laboratory of Integrative and Medical Biophysics, National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
and
Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

A Biophysical Study of Clathrin:Utilizing Light Scattering, Neutron Scattering and Structure Based Computer Modeling

Abstract:

A principal component in the protein coats of certain post-golgi and endocytic vesicles is clathrin, which appears as a three-legged heteropolymer (known as a triskelion) that assembles into polyhedral baskets principally made up of pentagonal and hexagonal faces. In vitro, this assembly depends on the pH, with baskets forming more readily at low pH and less readily at high pH. We have developed procedures, based on static and dynamic light scattering, to determine the radius of gyration, Rg, and hydrodynamic radius, RH, of isolated triskelia, under conditions where basket assembly occurs. Calculations based on rigid molecular bead models of a triskelion show that the measured values can be accounted for by bending of the legs and a puckering at the vertex. We also show that the values of Rg and RH measured for clathrin triskelia in solution are qualitatively consistent with the conformation of an individual triskelion that is part of a "D6 barrel" basket assembly, measured by cryoEM tomography.

We extended this study by performing small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments on isolated triskelions in solution under conditions where baskets do not assemble. SANS experiments were consistent with previous static light scattering experiments but showed a shoulder in the scattering function at intermediate q-values just beyond the central diffraction peak (the Guinier regime). Theoretical calculations based on rigid bead models of a triskelion showed well defined features in this region different from the experiment. A flexible bead-spring model of a triskelion and Brownian dynamics simulations were used to generate a time averaged scattering function. This model adequately described the experimental data for flexibilities close to previous estimates from the analysis of electron micrographs.

Sponsor: Dr. Miller

 

Friday, February 23, 2007 at 1:00pm in SWR 357
Refreshments will be served 2:30 pm
The Pre-Dissertation Oral Examination will follow at 2:45

Eric Gonzalez
Department of Physics and Astronomy Texas Christian University

Infrared Spectroscopy of Germanium-Carbon Clusters

Sponsor: Dr. Graham

 

The Eleventh Annual
Joseph Morgan Lecture

(General information on the Morgan Lecture)

Monday February 12th, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Lecture Hall 1, Sid Richardson Building

Prof. Yury Gogotsi

Department of Materials Science and Engineering and A.J. Drexel Nanotechnology Institute Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, Gogotsi@drexel.edu

"Nanotechnology - the next technological revolution"

The goal of this lecture is to introduce you to the "state-of-the-art" in the area of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology literally means any technology done on a nanometer scale (1-100 nm) — in other words, manipulating atoms, molecules and clusters to develop materials and structures with new properties and to build machines and devices that are only as big as a handful of atoms. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, which is only several atoms across. Why do we need to go to nanoscale to develop new materials? Because matter behaves differently at the nanoscale and has properties which differ from that of bulk materials. What might these things do? Nanomachines may be sent into human bodies to identify the location of a sick organ, then make and deliver drugs on the spot. They might be the chips and memory of next-generation computers, thousands of times more powerful than those that run on silicon technology, but being more widely distributed and wearable.  They can be built into t-shirts, watches, belts and other items that we wear every day. Nanodevices could be inserted into tires as tiny pressure gauges and pumps capable of knowing the air pressure inside and keeping the tire inflated. It's hard to think of an industry that isn't likely to be revolutionized by nanotechnology. Carbon nanotubes and other new nano-structured materials will be discussed. They may enable such futuristic projects as a space elevator, provide drinking water to people around the world and cure cancer and other diseases. Nanotechnology requires an interdisciplinary approach by combining basic ideas from physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.  Therefore, whatever area of science or engineering you study, you may participate in the nanotechnological revolution.

Contact person: Dr. Strzhemechny

Prof. Yury Gogotsi will also give a colloquium on February 13th entitled:

"Designing materials at the nanoscale:
from nanotubes to diamonds and porous carbons"

Tuesday February 13, 2007, at 2:00 p.m.
Room 357, Sid Richardson Building

Carbon nanomaterials show a great promise for energy, biomedical, structural and other applications.¹  This presentation describes a variety of carbon nanomaterials, including nanotubes, nanodiamond, and porous carbide derived carbons, which are being developed at Drexel University. Design of carbon nanomaterials for energy related and biomedical applications will be particularly addressed in this presentation. The behavior of liquids inside carbon nanotubes and development of nanotube-based attofluidic devices will be described. Nanotubes have been receiving more attention than any other nanomaterials, but nanodiamonds may offer a unique combination of physical and chemical properties as well. Porous graphitic carbon (charcoal) has been used in medicine starting from ancient time and is widely used in numerous applications nowadays. However, only recently we have learnt how to tailor the pore structure in carbons to optimize them for sorption of various species, ranging from small gas molecules, such as hydrogen, to fairly large proteins such as cytokines. These nanoporous carbide-derived carbons can be used in hydrogen storage, water purification/desalination, electrochemical capacitors, blood cleansing, and many other applications. Advanced techniques for surface modification and characterization of nanodiamonds, nanotubes and other carbon nanoparticles will also be described.
¹Y. Gogotsi, Nanomaterials Handbook, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2006, 800 pp.

Contact person: Dr. Strzhemechny