Title: Neural network and genetic basis of acoustic communication behaviors in Drosophila Abstract: Animals use sounds to communicate in a wide range of contexts. In turn, auditory systems must encode relevant sound features to drive appropriate reactions. However, how auditory feature detection emerges in neural networks has been difficult to solve due to challenges in…
Title: PAB-1 granules as a biomarker for aging in C. elegans Abstract: TBD Host: Sharonda LeBlanc
Title: Control of Segmentation Timing in the Zebrafish Notochord Abstract: Many developmental processes require coordination across multiple cells to achieve a common function. One way to achieve this harmony is through control of developmental timing, regulated by genetic species acting as biological timekeepers. In this talk, I will discuss evidence of an oscillatory system in…
Title: Relating the Microscale to the Macroscale in Granular Materials Abstract: Granular materials, like soils and powders, play crucial roles in diverse applications from construction to agriculture to pharmaceuticals. Unlike continuous media, where strength can be determined by bulk material properties, the strength of granular materials is highly dependent on grain connectivity (fabric), force transmission,…
Title: Microscopic Insights into the Mechanics of Granular Materials Abstract: The widespread occurrence of granular materials in nature (like soil and beach sand) and industries (such as cement and pharmaceuticals) has spurred extensive research into their mechanical behavior. Key phenomena, such as stress saturation with depth, rate-independent shear stress, and large stress fluctuations, are well documented. Our study, based on…
Title: Connecting Molecules and Forces with Rings and Loops Abstract: Animal cell shape is dictated by the actomyosin cytoskeleton, including the membrane-apposed cortex. The molecular parts list of the cortex is well-characterized, and included the dynamic F-actin polymers, myosin family motor proteins, and myriad non-motor crosslinkers that scaffold the cytoskeleton, the membrane, and regulatory proteins.…
Title: Photothermal Heating with Nanoparticles: Enhancing Electrical Conductivity in Composites and Water Vapor Formation in Hydrogels Abstract: Photothermal heating is the conversion of light into heat. When nanoparticles are embedded in materials, we are able to precisely control localized heating in a sample using photothermal heating of the nanoparticles. We use this heating in two areas…
Title and abstract details are forthcoming.
Title: Understanding the emergence of microbial collective behaviors Abstract: Groups of cells of all kinds work together as part of multicellular behaviors ranging from collective migration to development. These behaviors are coordinated at the level of single cells, where information about other cells and the environment are encoded in intracellular signaling dynamics that then drive…
Title: Modeling, analysis, and control of droplet dynamics Abstract: Thin liquid films flowing down vertical fibers spontaneously exhibit complex interfacial dynamics, leading to irregular wavy patterns and traveling liquid droplets. Such droplet dynamics are fundamental components in many engineering applications, including mass and heat exchangers for thermal desalination, as well as water vapor and particle…