[This is the old program from WS 2007/08. The current program and contact information can be found here.]

05 October 2007, 16:00

Atsushi Tero (Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan)
Traffic-adaptive networking by a real amoebae of Physarum [Abstract]

Toshiyuki Nakagaki (Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan)
Amoebae anticipate periodic events [Abstract]

12 October 2007, 16:00

Takao Ohta (Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Japan)
Turing patterns in three dimensions [Abstract]

02 November 2007, 16:00

Karsten Kruse (Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes)
Active behavior of the cytoskeleton [Abstract]

09 November 2007, 16:00 Haber-Villa

Peter Tass (Institut für Neurowissenschaften und Biophysik, Forschungszentrum Jülich)
Model based development of desynchronizing brain stimulation techniques [Abstract]

30 November 2007, 16:00

Pablo Kaluza (Fritz-Haber-Institut der MPG)
Evolutionary design of complex functional networks [Abstract]

14 December 2007, 16:00 Haber-Villa

Hans-Günther Döbereiner (Institut für Biophysik, Universität Bremen)
Dynamic Phase Transitions and Collective Modes in Cell Spreading [Abstract]

18 January 2008, 16:00

Hiroya Nakao (Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Berlin)
Phase coherence in an ensemble of uncoupled nonlinear oscillators induced by correlated noise [Abstract]

08 February 2008, 16:00

Stefan Luther (Max-Planck-Institut für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation, Göttingen)
Noninvasive adaptive multisite pacing of the heart

Abstract:
Spatially extended excitable media like cardiac tissue exhibit defect (or phase singularity) mediated turbulence in terms of irregular wave fronts or turbulent spiral dynamics. In heart dynamics this spatio- temporal chaotic state corresponds to an electro-mechanical malfunction of the heart and may result in sudden cardiac death. Low frequency arrhythmias (up to 4 Hz) can be terminated gently and effectively by pacing from a single site only. It has been demonstrated, that the termination of high frequency - and often lethal - arrhythmias is possible, but requires a very large number of pacing sites. Pacing from many sites could not be achieved yet, because installing and connecting many leads may damage the contracting heart. Here we show, that multisite pacing can be achieved non-invasively by applying a pulsed low-energy electric field to the cardiac tissue. We found in canine heart preparations that such a pulsed far-field may result in the emission of waves from tissue heterogeneities, which are anatomical objects of various sizes present within the cardiac muscle. How many of these objects may act as a wave source depends on the electric field strength. We demonstrate that this approach can be used to effectively terminate turbulent spiral dynamics in cardiac tissue.

22 February 2008, 16:00

Wolffram Schröer (Institut für Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie, Universität Bremen)
Criticality and corresponding states in ionic systems [Abstract]