Events for August 2008

Friday, August 1

BME Thesis Defense, 1 pm, ME Conference Room A228 (300 Main)

Presenter: Katherine J. Langley, M.S. Biomedical Engineering

Co-Advisors: Sarah Baxter, Department of Mechanical Engineering | Edie Goldsmith, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and Anatomy

Title: Correlation of Collagen Receptor Distribution with Extracellular Matrix Deformation Using Gold Nanorods

Abstract:
The high demand areas of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine rely heavily on the basic understanding of cellular remodeling. Cellular responses are closely linked to the cells’ mechanical environment and this relationship is critical to cell function. Investigations into these responses often use fibroblasts embedded in collagen matrices as a material model. Study of these two-dimensional films can provide much insight into the mechanical interactions between cells and their extracellular matrices. In particular, cell surface receptors, which connect cells to their extracellular matrix, are of interest due to their ability to signal and initiate various mechanotransduction events. By studying local mechanical environments along with biochemical signals in these films, greater insight could be gained into the relationship between biochemical remodeling and the local mechanical effects. In particular, understanding these interactions within the heart tissue is critical to gaining a better understanding of fundamental processes such as development, tissue maintenance and would healing.

In this work, neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts are plated on gold nanorod (~500 nm long) embedded thick collagen films. Over the given time course these fibroblasts migrate in, remodel and adapt the collagen matrix to fit their functional needs. Because gold nanorods have the unique optical property of elastically scattering light, when viewed under dark field microscopy a visual pattern produced by the scattered light can be recorded in an image. Images collected over a period of time allow for the tracking of the local deformations characterizing the local mechanical environment within the thick films. Digital image correlation is then used to calculate the magnitudes and directions of matrix deformation around the fibroblasts. From these measurements, the local displacement produced by the cells as they remodel the matrix can be determined. Distributions of β1-integrin on the cell surface as well as vinculin inside of cardiac fibroblasts were captured using confocal microscopy and overlaid on the deformation fields. Analysis of the displacement fields and localization of vinculin and β1-integrin provides visual evidence for the correlation of protein distribution with respect to the changing mechanical environment.

Tuesday-Friday, August 5-8

FIRST LEGO^® League 10th Anniversary Global Summit

Over 150 Worldwide Partners Converge on USC Campus to Prepare for 2008/09 “Climate Connections” Challenge Season

More than 150 Operational Partners representing non-profit organizations, universities, and corporations that organize the FIRST LEGO League around the world are expected to attend the sessions during the four-day conference. Partners from North America, Central America, South America, Asia, Europe and South Africa will receive training on the upcoming “Climate Connections” Challenge -- which presents the topic of climate in a broad view, inspiring kids to consider their local community as a part of the complicated systems of the globe -- and program updates from FIRST and The LEGO Group. FLL Partners will participate in panels and roundtable discussions on best practices and issues and attend a special recognition 10th anniversary celebration dinner.

more

^ top

Wednesday, August 6

Last day of Summer II classes

^ top

^ top

Friday-Sunday, August 8-10

DEFCON 16

For the second year in a row, Computer Science and Engineering is sending a cyber defense team to DEFCON in Las Vegas to participate in the amateur "Capture the Flag" (aCTF) competition. The competition consists of teams of participants presented with various levels of challenges with the goal of attempting to break, or "hack," into computers and services to put their team's name into a file – a file for each different component of the competition -- capturing the virtual flag for each challenge. Challenges include different levels of difficulty from traditional vulnerabilities and exploits, to cryptographic challenges, to simple computer games of hangman and blackjack, with each challenge gaining different numbers of points. The total amount of points a team earns by the end of the competition determines their ranking.

"Competitions such as this allow students to learn things that cannot be taught in a classroom situation, allowing them to learn techniques and methods that make the theory taught in the classroom concrete and relevant. The more we participate, the more we learn what our students know and what they need to be taught – all to strengthen our computer science and engineering program and make sure what we are teaching will be relevant when they get jobs later in the computer security field." says IT manager Ronni Wilkinson (DEFCON team leader).

^ top

Saturday, August 16

University Move-in Day

All faculty and staff are invited to participate in this year's Move-in Day, set for August 16.

Volunteer crew members will help roll out the red carpet for new students. All participants will receive a free t-shirt and lunch.

For more information, go to www.sc.edu/moveincrew, e-mail Denise Wellman, or call the Visitor Center at 777-0169.

Sunday, August 17

New Student Day

Convocation is the coming together of the members of a group -- a formal assemblage. Our Convocation marks a new beginning, a special time for faculty, new students, and families. Convocation opens with an academic procession, led by the President of the University of South Carolina Student Government Association carrying the Mace, followed by the recipient of 2008 Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor the Year ; the Provost of the University; representatives of the University's schools and colleges; the University's vice presidents; the secretary of the Board of Trustees; and the President of the University.

NEW CEC STUDENTS: Get to know Dean Amiridis and the faculty and staff of your new college by attending the reception hosted by CEC. Family members are welcome and encouraged to attend! CEC's recepton will be at Swearingen Engineering Center in AMOCO Hall. Please contact Student Service to RSVP at 777-4177 or click to e-mail.

^ top

Monday, August 18

College Faculty/Staff Forum

For all college faculty and staff, a day long forum to discuss various issues and policies affecting the college. To be held at the Columbia Conference Center (same location as last year). Lunch will be included. All faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.

Tuesday, August 19

Happy Birthday, Dean Amiridis!

• Don’t Fumble: Find the Right Major for You
• Get Your Head in the Game: Gain Experience
• Get Cocky: How to Showcase Yourself for Career Success
• What’s in Your Playbook?: Career Winning Resources

Each 20-minute session will be offered four times at 2:00, 2:30, 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. Attend one or all!

Food and Prizes

Sponsored by: Macy's

^ top

Thursday, August 21

Fall 2008 classes begin

^ top

Friday, August 22

BME Seminar Series, 2 pm, Faculty Lounge (SWGN)

Speaker: Anand Ramamurthi, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clemson University-Medical University of South Carolina Bioengineering Program; Adjunct Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Title: Matrix Engineering Technologies for Regeneration and Repair of Elastic Fiber Networks

Abstract:
This seminar details our efforts to regenerate vascular elastin networks in vitro and in vivo. The extracellular matrix (ECM) within native vessels consists predominantly of cross-linked elastin and collagen that contribute to vessel elasticity and stiffness respectively. The congenital absence or accelerated, disease-induced degradation of vascular elastin or its malformation within native vessels can severely compromise vascular homeostasis. Unfortunately, faithful elastin matrix regeneration and repair are challenged by (a) the complexity of elastin matrix assembly, which renders it difficult to simulate, and (b) progressively poor tropoelastin mRNA expression by post-neonatal cells.  To address these limitations, we seek to evaluate novel ECM-based molecules that will provide elastogenic cues and may be stabilized into a scaffolding biomaterials that can up-regulate elastin synthesis and regenerate biologically and ultra structurally faithful mimics of native elastin matrices on demand.

Our recent studies strongly attest to the utility of biomaterials (hylans) based on hyaluronan (HA), a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) component of the vascular connective tissues, as scaffolds for elastic matrix regeneration. HA has been implicated to play key roles in the synthesis, organization, and stabilization of elastin by vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs).  Our and other studies suggest that bioactive and potentially pro-inflammatory HA fragments and not the highly biocompatible, native long-chain HA are pro-elastogenic, although long-chain HA may post-translationally stabilize the elastin matrix. Our approach to fabricating elastogenic cell scaffolds is thus to mix long-chain HA with HA fragments of defined sizes in quantity ratios optimized based on their individual and combined effects on desired (i.e., elastogenic) cell responses. In this seminar, we report on our efforts to faithfully engineer fibrous elastin matrices by designing and integrating of innovative tools (e.g., growth factor cocktails, biomaterial scaffolds, cell types, dynamic culture protocols) to (a) up-regulate elastin precursor synthesis, (b) recruit and assemble these precursors into ultrastructural and functional mimics of native elastin, and (c) stabilize the matrices against physiologic or pathologic breakdown.

The scientific impact of this work is that it will enable us to (a) augment elastin synthesis, assembly, and maturation by healthy patient-derived cells within tissue engineered constructs and thus manufacture faithful mimics of native elastin on demand, and (b) regress elastic tissues to a healthy state by targeted therapeutic repair and in situ regeneration elastin matrix networks in diseased tissues.

^ top

Monday, August 25

Fellowships and Scholars Program: Fulbright Grant, 4 pm, Gressette Room, Harper College 3rd Floor

Available to graduating seniors and graduate students who present a clear program of study to be carried out in a particular academic setting abroad. Thegrant allows students to conduct research or undertake advanced study or a teaching assistantship for one year in a foreign country. Fluency in the hostlanguage is preferred, a strong background in American Culture and current events of the host country are critical in selection.

USC Nomination Deadline: September 2, 2008

^ top

Tuesday, August 26

Fellowships and Scholars Program: Mitchell & Gates-Cambridge Scholarships, 4 pm, Legare College, Room 322

The highly competitive Mitchell and Gates-Cambridge Scholarships will be discussed. These cover one to three years of graduate study at variousinstitutions in the UK or Ireland. Each competition requires applicants to have a record of superior academic achievement, record of service and leadership,and be well informed on global issues. The University must nominate applicants in each competition.

USC Nomination Deadline: September 2, 2008

^ top

Wednesday, August 27

Last day to change/drop a course without a grade of "W" being recorded

^ top

Thursday, August 28

Pendley Memorial Portrait to be Unveiled, Scholarship Awarded

All are invited to the College of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina on August 28, 2008, at 2 pm, for the unveiling of a memorial portrait of Cassidy Fae Pendley. The memorial portrait will be located in the Reading Room on the first floor of the Swearingen Engineering Center. Ms. Pendley, a beautiful, generous, and intelligent young woman, was a 2007 Chemical Engineering freshman and pledged to Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Her life was tragically cut short by a house fire at Ocean Isle Beach, NC, in October 2007.

In addition to the memorial portrait, Mr. and Mrs. Howard A. Pendley, II have established the Cassidy Fae Pendley Memorial Scholarship in Engineering Fund. According to Mr. Pendley, "We are doing this as a means of keeping our daughter’s spirit alive." The first recipient selected for the Pendley Memorial Scholarship is Ms. Stephanie M. Johnson, a biomedical engineering major. She is the daughter of Donna P. Johnson of North Augusta, SC.

Friday, August 29

AIChE Kick-Off Meeting, 12:50 pm, Faculty Lounge (SWGN)

Speaker: USC alum Gopal Chakrabarti, Marathon Petroleum Company

Questions? Contact Caitlin Molloy, molloy@engr.sc.edu

Upcoming Events
(click on dates below for expanded event info)

• Sept 1: Labor Day holiday -- no classes
• Sept 8: Fellowships and Scholar Programs: Truman Scholarship
• Sept 9: Fellowships and Scholar Programs: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fellowship
• Sept 10: Fellowships and Scholar Programs: National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship
• Sept 11: Last day to apply for Dec graduation
• Sept 15: Fellowships and Scholar Programs: Goldwater Scholarship
• Sept 17: Career Fair Blitz
• Sept 26-28: Parents Weekend
• Sept 29: Fellowships and Scholar Programs: Udall Scholarship

Have something to announce? E-mail Cyndy with details.