Photosynthetic reaction center complexes from heliobacteria

The goal of this project is to understand the early evolutionary development of photosynthesis by examining the properties of reaction centers isolated from certain contemporary organisms that appear to contain the simplest photosynthetic reaction centers. The major focus of this project is the family of newly discovered strictly anaerobic photosynthetic organisms known as Heliobacteria. These organisms are the only known photosynthetic organisms that are grouped with the gram-positive phylum of bacteria. The properties of these reaction centers suggest that they might be the decendants of an ancestor that also gave rise to Photosystem 1 found in oxygen-evolving photosynthetic organisms. Photoactive reaction center-core antenna complexes have been isolated from the photosynthetic bacteria Heliobacillus mobilis and Heliobacterium gestii. The absorption and fluorescence properties of membranes and reaction centers are almost identical, suggesting that a single pigment-protein complex serves as both antenna and reaction center. Experiments in progress include sequence determination of the 48,000 Mr reaction center protein, and evolutionary comparisons with other reaction center proteins

How the Changing Passive Microwave Observing System Challenges the Development of Water Cycle Climate Data Records

No abstract availabl

Effect of forward motion on engine noise

Methods used to determine a procedure for correcting static engine data for the effects of forward motion are described. Data were analyzed from airplane flyover and static-engine tests with a JT8D-109 low-bypass-ratio turbofan engine installed on a DC-9-30, with a CF6-6D high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine installed on a DC-10-10, and with a JT9D-59A high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine installed on a DC-10-40. The observed differences between the static and the flyover data bases are discussed in terms of noise generation, convective amplification, atmospheric propagation, and engine installation. The results indicate that each noise source must be adjusted separately for forward-motion and installation effects and then projected to flight conditions as a function of source-path angle, directivity angle, and acoustic range relative to the microphones on the ground

Correlated interaction fluctuations in photosynthetic complexes

The functioning and efficiency of natural photosynthetic complexes is strongly influenced by their embedding in a noisy protein environment, which can even serve to enhance the transport efficiency. Interactions with the environment induce fluctuations of the transition energies of and interactions between the chlorophyll molecules, and due to the fact that different fluctuations will partially be caused by the same environmental factors, correlations between the various fluctuations will occur. We argue that fluctuations of the interactions should in general not be neglected, as these have a considerable impact on population transfer rates, decoherence rates and the efficiency of photosynthetic complexes. Furthermore, while correlations between transition energy fluctuations have been studied, we provide the first quantitative study of the effect of correlations between interaction fluctuations and transition energy fluctuations, and of correlations between the various interaction fluctuations. It is shown that these additional correlations typically lead to changes in interchromophore transfer rates, population oscillations and can lead to a limited enhancement of the light harvesting efficiency

Optimal Stochastic Scheduling of Power Generation Systems with Scheduling Delays and Large Cost Differentials

The optimal scheduling or unit commitment of power generation systems to meet a random demand involves the solution of a class of dynamic programming inequalities for the optimal cost and control law. We study the behavior of this optimality system in terms of two parameters: (i) a scheduling delay, e.g., the startup time of a generation unit; and (ii) the relative magnitudes of the costs (operating or starting) of different units. In the first case we show that under reasonable assumptions the optimality system has a solution for all values of the delay, and, as the delay approaches zero, that the solutions converge uniformly to those of the corresponding system with no delays. In the second case we show that as the cost of operating or starting a given machine increases relative to the costs of the other machines, there is a point beyond which the expensive machine is not used, except in extreme situations. We give a formula for the relative costs that characterize this point. Moreover, we show that as the relative cost of the expensive machine goes to infinity the optimal cost of the system including the expensive machine approaches the optimal cost of the system without the machine

Fostering Independent Learners of Information Systems in the 21st Century Through Integrated Educational Technologies

The topic of this panel session is the management and delivery of course content through the integration of new instructional technologies to facilitate independent student learning in technical courses. The two lead panelists will provide examples and explanations of newly restructured information systems courses using a range of instructional technologies, including an online course management system, student response system, online video tutorial approach, classroom information systems synchronization tools, smart classroom technologies, and online student collaboration tools. These courses have been developed to foster a move away from the traditional classroom lecture “teaching centric” paradigm to an independent “learner centric” paradigm. This classroom methodology was developed as one result of the work completed for an NSF-funded project, Expanding Pathways for Educational Development and Information Technology Experiences (ExPEDITE). A focus of this classroom methodology is presenting technology-based course material to students with little to no technical background. These students often perceive technology-related classes as extremely difficult and many times overwhelming. The proposed methodology uses the various instructional technologies to slowly build the learner’s background through a gradual, repetitive learning process where the learner becomes more independent with each classroom activity

Topology and energy transport in networks of interacting photosynthetic complexes

We address the role of topology in the energy transport process that occurs in networks of photosynthetic complexes. We take inspiration from light harvesting networks present in purple bacteria and simulate an incoherent dissipative energy transport process on more general and abstract networks, considering both regular structures (Cayley trees and hyperbranched fractals) and randomly-generated ones. We focus on the the two primary light harvesting complexes of purple bacteria, i.e., the LH1 and LH2, and we use network-theoretical centrality measures in order to select different LH1 arrangements. We show that different choices cause significant differences in the transport efficiencies, and that for regular networks centrality measures allow to identify arrangements that ensure transport efficiencies which are better than those obtained with a random disposition of the complexes. The optimal arrangements strongly depend on the dissipative nature of the dynamics and on the topological properties of the networks considered, and depending on the latter they are achieved by using global vs. local centrality measures. For randomly-generated networks a random arrangement of the complexes already provides efficient transport, and this suggests the process is strong with respect to limited amount of control in the structure design and to the disorder inherent in the construction of randomly-assembled structures. Finally, we compare the networks considered with the real biological networks and find that the latter have in general better performances, due to their higher connectivity, but the former with optimal arrangements can mimic the real networks' behaviour for a specific range of transport parameters. These results show that the use of network-theoretical concepts can be crucial for the characterization and design of efficient artificial energy transport networks.Comment: 14 pages, 16 figures, revised versio

World Civilizations I & II (GHC)

This Grants Collection for World Civilizations I & II was created under a Round Ten ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/history-collections/1008/thumbnail.jp

Client Assistance Programs and Protection and Advocacy Services

Client Assistance Programs and Protection and Advocacy Services comprise the nationwide network of congressionally mandated, legally based disability rights agencies. Both of these programs and services were mandated as a response to the need for protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. The authors will discuss both of these programs and the services they offer. Implications will also be addressed