Positional, Reorientational and Bond Orientational Order in DNA Mesophases

We investigate the orientational order of transverse polarization vectors of long, stiff polymer molecules and their coupling to bond orientational and positional order in high density mesophases. Homogeneous ordering of transverse polarization vector promotes distortions in the hexatic phase, whereas inhomogeneous ordering precipitates crystalization of the 2D sections with different orientations of the transverse polarization vector on each molecule in the unit cell. We propose possible scenarios for going from the hexatic phase, through the distorted hexatic phase to the crystalline phase with an orthorhombic unit cell observed experimentally for the case of DNA.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Critiquing and Constructing HRE in Higher Education

This workshop will explore the histories of human rights programs in various institutional contexts; share promising practices and current challenges in the areas of teaching, research, and engagement; and present a draft roadmap for collaborative efforts to advance HRE in colleges and universities. The steering committee of the University and College Consortium will address these themes and present outcomes from a meeting of human rights higher education programs that takes place in August 2019. That meeting included representatives from more than a dozen leading US human rights programs, and featured in-depth and candid discussions of the past, present, and future of human rights in higher education. Workshop participants will then be asked to review, critique, and comment on the draft roadmap in small groups based on their perspectives and experiences. This input will be incorporated in the final published report, scheduled for late 2019/early 2020