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1. Knowing When to Fold: For Proteins, Timing Is Everything |
It's no good when proteins go bad.
In the brains of Alzheimer's patients, for instance, they form inert masses of fibrous tissue that eventually choke off memory, mobility and finally life itself.
The difference between a good protein and a bad one does not necessarily lie in its chemistry, however. Just as carbon can be a lump of coal or the Hope diamond, a protein can be a building block of life or a leading cause of disability and death.
It's all in the folding. These hugely long molecules bend and twist into the most intricate of shapes, flawlessly sculpted to do their jobs. One wrong fold, and a critical hormone becomes a useless or even destructive blob of amino acids.
As with road maps, there are lots of wrong ways to fold up a protein and only one right way, so scientists have puzzled over why proteins assemble themselves as well as they do.
"We asked ourselves, 'Why don't they misfold more often?'" said Ulrich Hansmann, a physics professor at Michigan Tech. With the help of the IBM Blue Gene Computer at the John von Neumann Institute for Computing, in Julich, Germany, he believes he has found an explanation for at least one class of proteins.
Some proteins have very flat sections, called beta-strands, that fit on top of each other during the folding process and form structures called beta-sheets. Among the parts of a protein, strands are prone to misfolding when not paired in a beta-sheet. The risk of misfolding is greatest in proteins where the strands are at the ends, because one end is formed before the other.
Using computer modeling, Hansmann and his team determined that as the folding process starts up, the strands are hidden out of the way, or "cached," inside extensions of spiral sections of the protein called helixes.
Then, with perfect timing, the strands emerge at the end of the process to fold neatly in place.
"They are parked out of the way until they are needed, which is a smart way of doing it," Hansmann said.
The computer model is based on a small, simple protein created in a lab, but the model can be applied broadly.
"This could be a very common mechanism," he said, "and is likely weakened in proteins that are prone to aggregation," such as those in Alzheimer's.
Using this information, statistical geneticists may be able to identify variations in DNA that could predispose individuals to create misfolded proteins and perhaps pave the way to a cure.
Hansmann's work is published in the April 11 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The coauthors are Sandipan Mohanty, Jan H. Meinke and Olav Zimmermann of the John von Neumann Institute for Computing. |
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2. Commencement Is Almost Here—Know an Interesting Graduate? |
Spring Commencement is about two weeks away (really). This is a time when reporters want to talk with graduates. They are especially interested in grads with interesting stories to tell.
Please contact me, Marcia Goodrich, if you know of a student who, for instance, got a job in Antarctica, or has overcome exceptional difficulties to earn a degree, or is graduating with his/her parent, or . . . well, the possibilities are endless.
Email me at mlgoodri@mtu.edu with their name and a little information about what makes them special. The only constraint is that they must be participating in the commencement ceremony on May 3. |
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3. Community Passover Seder on Saturday |
The Michigan Tech Jewish Student Group and Temple Jacob invite the Michigan Tech community to celebrate the upcoming Passover holiday, which starts Saturday, April 19, and ends Sunday, April 27.
Please join us for a community Passover Seder at Temple Jacob in Hancock on Saturday, April 19, at 6 p.m. All are welcome, and students are always guests of the congregation.
To RSVP or for more information, please contact Anna Colvin at ascolvin@mtu.edu . |
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4. Survey to Gauge University's Image |
Michigan Tech's marketing firm, Stamats, is surveying faculty, staff and students to gauge the institution's image.
Everyone who received an email regarding the survey is asked to take a few minutes to answer the questions. All answers will be confidential. Stamats will be compiling and analyzing the results.
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5. MTU Preschool Fall Registration Open Now |
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Fall registration is open for the MTU Preschool, a nonprofit organization bringing the best in preschool education to the Copper Country. Children ages 3-5 may be enrolled. For more information or to register your child, please call Brita Odegard at 482-5193. |
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6. Undergrad Expo April 17 |
submitted by Kim Geiger, College of Engineering
What do "Agua," a sustainable water pump system for developing countries; "Winrobo," the automated window-washing robot; and the "Energy Dashboard," a conservation monitor for homeowners, have in common? They're all student projects on display at Michigan Tech's Undergraduate Expo on Thursday, April 17, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom on campus.
Presentations, projects and posters will on display throughout the day. Other highlights include a blended hydrogel to help heal spinal cord injury and the buried forest of Little Traverse Bay. Refreshments will be served, and the event is free.
Competing for cash prizes this year are participants in the University's Enterprise, Senior Design and Undergraduate Research programs, as well as independent student research teams. More than 50 student presentations will be made, and close to 100 student posters will be on display, encompassing a variety of disciplines.
A panel of judges made up of University faculty members and corporate representatives critique the projects. Many of the projects are supported by industry sponsors—more than 70 this year.
This year's Undergraduate Expo has two new features, the High School Enterprise and the Elevator Pitch Competition.
Michigan Tech has expanded its Enterprise Program to three Michigan high schools, Calumet High School, Utica High School and Cass Tech. All three teams will compete. Calumet students are building a scaled-down yurt; Cass Tech students are creating a computer game based on ninth-grade math; and Utica students are building an underwater remotely operated vehicle.
While the judges' scores are being tallied, prepare to be entertained by 15 Michigan Tech student teams competing for cash prizes totaling $1,750 in the first annual CenTILE Elevator Pitch competition, in which they attempt to promote their business ideas in 30 seconds.
Afterward, everyone is invited to the Undergraduate Expo social hour and awards ceremony from 4 to 6 p.m. in Fisher 135. At the ceremony, a keynote address will be delivered by FedEx corporate account executive Marie Cleveland, who earned a BS in Business Administration from Michigan Tech in 1982.
The Expo is a combined effort of the College of Engineering, the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies and Educational Opportunity. For more information, contact Kim Geiger, 906-487-4317, kmgeiger@mtu.edu . |
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7. Campus Weight Watchers Group Begins with Informational Meeting April 23 |
An initial informational meeting for the Weight Watchers group starting on campus will be held Wednesday, April 23, 11:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge. The Weight Watchers leader will discuss the program in more detail at the meeting, which should last no longer than 30 minutes.
The group will be open to the University members, as well as the community. If you have friends and family outside Michigan Tech interested in joining Weight Watchers, please feel free to invite them. A grand-prize drawing will be held for those who complete the 12-week program.
If you have any questions, please email Renee Hiller at rlhiller@mtu.edu . |
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8. Midday at the Rozsa Today Features Michigan Tech Brass Quintet, Chamber Winds |
Midday at the Rozsa continues through Thursday in the Horner Lobby of the Rozsa. Drop in today, Wednesday, April 16, to enjoy the sunshine and music by the Michigan Tech Brass Quintet, plus Chamber Winds.
For more information, visit www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/ttoday/previous.php?issue=20080410#7 or contact Visual and Performing Arts, 487-2067. |
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9. Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour at Tech Friday |
submitted by the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour
The spirit of American enterprise is alive and well and poised to take northern Michigan’s youth by storm on Friday, April 18, when the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour—the first ever collegiate entrepreneur tour—will be visiting Michigan Tech. The University is committed to helping its students and members of the community succeed in the changing economy, and everyone is invited to take part in the day's events, which begin at 3 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. in the Wadsworth Hall Annex. You are welcome to attend all or part of the afternoon's events.
The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour is presented by VenturePort.org and sponsored by Inc. Magazine. Founded by award-winning 25-year-olds Michael Simmons and Sheena Lindahl of Extreme Entrepreneurship Education, the tour is comprised of many of America’s top young entrepreneurs who've made, earned or sold a company for millions and/or made a huge impact before the age of 30. The vision of the tour is for all of America's college students to graduate with this entrepreneurial mindset.
Simmons will attend the day's events, along with keynote speaker Patrick Cuatero. Cuatero is the co-founder of www.YoYoNation.com , the world's number one specialty online retail store, online yo-yo community, and vehicle for all things yo-yo related. The day’s events will be moderated by New York-based Arel Moodie, known as “America's Top Young Speaker” and founder of www.ThePlaceFinder.com , a website that helps students find off-campus housing.
This event will provide inspiration and practical advice. Both emerging entrepreneurs and students of all disciplines are invited to come and learn how they can apply the entrepreneurial mindset to their lives regardless of career choice.
For more information, visit www.extremetour.org . |
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10. Engineering Olympics Friday at the Student Ice Arena |
Engineering Olympics 2008 will be held Friday, April 18, at the MacInness Student Ice Arena from 8:45 a.m. to about 1 p.m.
About 260 students from 14 high schools will compete in seven different events.
•Projectile Launcher—Students build a catapult that sends "food" (candy) across an ocean to a starving country.
•Mackintooth Bridge—By far the most popular competition, students build toothpick bridges that sometimes can hold an amazing amount of weight.
•Lego League–Power Puzzle—Lego robots compete to complete a course.
•Satellite Antenna Deployment—Brand new this year, this event was designed by aerospace engineering students.
•Mousetrap Skidding—Mousetrap vehicles "skid" a stack of "logs" up a hill to the mill.
•Mystery On-Site Engineering—Students are given a subject to research this week. Teams are sequestered for 1.5 hours to complete an engineering building project.
•On-Site—Everyone in the audience gets involved. Packets are passed out to groups of four who are given a set time to complete the project.
The Engineering Olympics are sponsored by Engineering Fundamentals. For more information, visit www.geneng.mtu.edu and click on Engineering Olympics. |
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11. Bio Sci Faculty Search Seminar Tomorrow |
Jonathan Vogel of the University of Florida will give a presentation, "Carotenoid Cleavage Enzymes: Roles in Hormone Biosynthesis, Nutrient Composition and Flavor Quality," tomorrow, Thursday, April 17, 1 p.m. in EERC 100 as part of the Biological Sciences Faculty Search Seminar Series.
A reception will follow in the Dow atrium. |
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12. Physics Colloquium Thursday |
Christopher Monroe from the University of Maryland will present a physics colloquium, "Quantum Information Networks of Atoms and Photons," Thursday, April 17, 4 p.m. in Fisher 139. This colloquium is sponsored by the Society of Physics Students.
Monroe is a professor of physics at the University of Maryland; he also has an appointment in the Joint Quantum Institute, a collaborative venture between UMD, NIST and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences. He has published over 75 papers, which have more than 6,000 citations. His recent articles have appeared in Science, Nature, Physical Review Letters and Scientific American.
For more information, contact Yoke Khin Yap, ykyap@mtu.edu or 487-2900, or Ranjit Pati, patir@mtu.edu or 487-3193. |
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13. Post-it Note Inventor to Speak Friday |
Art Fry, inventor of the Post-it note, will be speaking Friday, April 18, at 10:05 a.m. in Fisher 139. Fry will talk about how the Post-it note came to be. Don't miss this informative and interesting presentation open to everyone.
This talk is sponsored by CenTile, through the Executive in Residence program. |
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14. Job Postings |
Staff job descriptions are available in the Human Resources Office or at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/postings . For more information regarding staff positions, call 487-2280 or email jobs@mtu.edu .
Faculty job descriptions can be found at www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/facpers/facvac.htm . For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.
Staff Job Postings
04/16/08-04/22/08
Food Service Utility
Dining Services
AFSCME internal posting only
Regular, full-time, nine-month position
Trades Helper
Housing Facilities/Michigan Tech Apartments–Daniell Heights
AFSCME internal posting only
04/16/08
Campus Visit Coordinator
Admissions
Supervisor, Dining Services
Dining Services
Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer. |
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15. On the Road |
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Assistant Professor David Orozco (SBE) gave an invited lecture on his research, "Apple's Trademark Strategy," April 11 at Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management. |
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