Monday, October 30
MSCS Colloquium: Predictive Modeling & Insurance 101: How Generalized Linear Models Transformed the Insurance Agency
Nathan Hubbell & Zach Westermeyer, Travelers Insurance
The use of predictive modeling and advanced analytics in insurance has grown significantly in recent years. One type of regression modeling widely used in insurance is generalized linear models (GLMs), a generalization of simple linear models. In our talk, we’ll discuss the mathematics and usage of GLMs in insurance, as well as approaches used to help avoid modeling pitfalls such as overfitting, which occurs when a model does not correctly capture the underlying relationship between the predictors and response variable. The presenters for this talk are Nathan Hubbell and Zach Westermeyer. They both graduated from St. Olaf and currently work in actuarial roles at Travelers Insurance. 3:30 pm, RNS 310 – Everyone Welcome !
Joint Biology-Chemistry Seminar: Reversible alkylation of DNA by quinone methides
Steven Rokita, Director, Chemistry-Biology Interface graduate program, Johns Hopkins University
Abstract:Research on the mutagenic and therapeutic potential of DNA alkylation has historically focused almost exclusively on irreversible reactions. For these processes, electrophiles have only one chance to react with their target nucleophiles and typically off-target processes dominate the product distribution as illustrated by the well-known nitrogen mustards and cis-platinum derivatives. In contrast, reversibly reacting intermediates have the potential to avoid consumption by non-specific processes and continually maintain a distribution of products regulated by thermodynamics rather than kinetics. Reversible quinone methide formation offers a highly efficient method for DNA alkylation and crosslinking that is amenable to conjugation for sequence and structure specific targeting. The reversibility of quinone methide adducts additionally supports their ability to migrate along duplex DNA. The ultimate goal of our research is to develop covalent but dynamic cross-linking agents that bewilder cellular repair processes to enhance the potency of chemotherapy.
4:00 pm, RNS 410
Tuesday, October 31
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Wednesday, November 1
Psychology – Job Talk
Jim Pomonis, Director of Pharmacology, American Preclinical Services
5:00 p.m., Buntrock 142
Thursday, November 2
No Events
Friday, November 3
Seminar: Iron, sulfur, and plant life cycle controls on wild rice root surface chemistry
Sophie LaFond-Hudson ’13, University of Minnesota Duluth
Abstract:Wild rice (Zizania palustris), an annual aquatic plant native to Minnesota with ecological, economic and cultural importance, is sensitive to elevated surface water sulfate. In anoxic sediment, common in wild rice beds, sulfate-reducing bacteria consume sulfate and produce sulfide, which inhibits nutrient uptake in aquatic plants. Most aquatic plants release oxygen into the rhizosphere through their roots, a process called radial oxygen loss. This oxygen may directly oxidize sulfide, or it may oxidize available ferrous iron (Fe2+) to insoluble iron (hydr)oxides (Fe3+) at the interface of the oxidized root surface and the reduced sediment. Together, radial oxygen loss and iron (hydr)oxide plaques provide a continuous supply of electron accepting compounds at the root surface, creating an electron accepting buffer that protects the plant against sulfide. However, root surface redox potential declines during the seed production phase of the plant’s life cycle as photosynthesis and radial oxygen loss decline. The physiologically-induced decline in radial oxygen loss near the end of the plant’s life cycle initiates a transition from ferric iron (Fe3+) to ferrous iron (Fe2+) which can then precipitate with the sulfide as iron sulfide (FeS) on root surfaces. These black FeS root plaques form rapidly during seed production, a life stage at wild rice takes up a burst of nitrogen to fill out their seeds. Wild rice plants with FeS plaques on roots produce fewer and smaller seeds, suggesting that FeS plaques may inhibit nitrogen uptake. Life-cycle-induced perturbations of root surface redox conditions may control iron sulfide accumulation and other redox active reactions in wetland sediments.
3:15 pm, RNS 310