Mathematics learning support and engagement in first year engineering

This paper considers the effects of both free optional mathematics learning support and engagement on the mathematics performance in a foundation mathematics subject of a cohort of engineering students entering university with poor mathematical skills. New engineering students were directed to either a foundation or standard mathematics subject based on the results of a placement test. For students in the foundation subject, it was found that high levels of learning support were associated with greater improvement over the semester. Some form of learning support was used by 57.9% of the students, a reasonably high proportion of the cohort. Some factors for this high level of use of learning support are considered. One possible factor, the placement test, appears to have had a positive effect. Engagement in the subject activities as measured by tutorial attendance and learning management system use was found to have a positive association with final mark. Students who utilized a high level of learning support were more likely to be more engaged with the subject, making it impossible to draw conclusions about improvements being solely due to the use of learning support.     

Crystal structures of two isomeric oximes. (EE)-2-methyl-3-phenyl-3-thiocyanatopropenaldoxime and (Z)-5-methyl-6-phenyl-1,3-thiazin-2-one oxime

The crystal structure of two isomeric oximes, C₁₁N₁₀N₂OS have been studied by X-ray diffraction. The open-chain thiocyanato derivative is somewhat'less dense and crystallizes with the orthorhombic space group Pbcn;a,b,c=18.718(1), 10.601(3), 11.528(1) Å,Z=8. The heterocyclic isomer occurs as pseudo-orthorhombic (Cmma)twinned crystals of space group P2₁/n, a, b, c, =12.11(1), 7.46(1), 12.12(1) Å, 100.09(1)^o,Z=4. Twinning occurs as a result of the near-equality of the monoclinica andc cell constants.     

PEGylation of porous silicon using click chemistry

Porous silicon has received considerable interest in recent years in a range of biomedical applications, with its performance determined by surface chemistry. In this work, we investigate the PEGylation of porous silicon wafers using click chemistry. The porous silicon wafer surface chemistry was monitored at each stage of the reaction via photoacoustic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, whereas sessile drop contact angle and model protein adsorption measurements were used to characterize the final PEGylated surface. This work highlights the simplicity of click-chemistry-based functionalization in tailoring the porous silicon surface chemistry and controlling protein-porous silicon interactions.     

Stress-induced chemical detection using flexible metal-organic frameworks

In this work we demonstrate the concept of stress-induced chemical detection using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by integrating a thin film of the MOF HKUST-1 with a microcantilever surface. The results show that the energy of molecular adsorption, which causes slight distortions in the MOF crystal structure, can be converted to mechanical energy to create a highly responsive, reversible, and selective sensor. This sensor responds to water, methanol, and ethanol vapors, but yields no response to either N2 or O2. The magnitude of the signal, which is measured by a built-in piezoresistor, is correlated with the concentration and can be fitted to a Langmuir isotherm. Furthermore, we show that the hydration state of the MOF layer can be used to impart selectivity to CO2. Finally, we report the first use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to characterize the structure of a MOF film. We conclude that the synthetic versatility of these nanoporous materials holds great promise for creating recognition chemistries to enable selective detection of a wide range of analytes.     

An electrochemiluminescence-based competitive displacement immunoassay for the type-2 brevetoxins in oyster extracts

A new competitive electrochemiluminescence-based immunoassay for the type-2 brevetoxins in oyster extracts was developed. The assay was verified by spiking known amounts of PbTx-3 into 80% methanol extracts of Gulf Coast oysters. We also provide preliminary data demonstrating that 100% acetone extracts, aqueous homogenates, and the clinical matrixes urine and serum can also be analyzed without significant matrix interferences. The assay offers the advantages of speed ( 2 h analysis time); simplicity (only 2 additions, one incubation period, and no wash steps before analysis); low limit of quantitation (conservatively, 50 pg/mL = 1 ng/g tissue equivalents); and a stable, nonradioactive label. Due to the variety of brevetoxin metabolites present and the lack of certified reference standards for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry confirmation, a true validation of brevetoxins in shellfish extracts is not possible at this time. However, our assay correlated well with another brevetoxin immunoassay currently in use in the United States. We believe this assay could be useful as a regulatory screening tool and could support pharmacokinetic studies in animals and clinical evaluation of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning victims.     

Crystal Structure of Bis(5,17-dihydroxy-3,7,15,19,25,26-hexa-azatricyclo(19.3.1.19,13)hexacosa-1(25),2,7,9(26),10,12,14,19,21,23-decaene-μ1,2-perchlorato barium) diperchlorate: a Schiff-Base Macrocyclic Complex Derived from 2,6-Diformylpyridine and 1,3-Diaminopropan-2-ol

Abstract  

The title complex, [Ba(L1)(μ_1,2-ClO₄)]₂(ClO₄)₂ (where L1 = 5,17-dihydroxy-3,7,15,19,25,26-hexa-azatricyclo(19.3.1.19,13)hexacosa-1(25),2,7,9(26),10,12,14,19,21,23-decaene), was synthesised by a Schiff base condensation of 2,6-diformylpyridine with 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol in dry methanol using barium(II) as template ion. The complex was characterised by IR, ¹H NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. The structure was solved in the triclinic space group P [`\text1] {\bar{\text{1}}} with a = 8.4587(9), b = 8.7360(9), c = 17.7722(19) ?, α = 79.786(2), β = 88.780(2), γ = 83.048(2)°, V = 1283.0(2) ?³, Z = 1 and R1 = 0.0433. The macrocycle is folded and the complex dimerises via perchlorate anions which bridge the barium ions, and this interaction is supported by hydrogen bonding between neighbouring alcohol groups. The dimers are further linked into chains via intermolecular O–H···OClO₃ hydrogen bonds.     

Gallium hydride complexes stabilised by multidentate alkoxide ligands: precursors to thin films of Ga2O3 at low temperatures

The donor-functionalised alkoxides {Me(3-x)N(CH(2)CH(2)O)(x)} (L(x); x = 1, 2) have been used to form gallium hydride complexes [{GaH(2)(L(1))}(2)] and [{GaH(L(2))}(2)] that are stable and isolable at room temperature. Along with a heteroleptic gallium tris(alkoxide) complex [Ga(L(1))(3)] and the dimeric complex [{GaMe(L(2))}(2)], these compounds have been used as single-source precursors for the deposition of Ga(2)O(3) by aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) with toluene as solvent. The resulting films were mostly transparent, indicating low levels of carbon contamination, and they were also mainly amorphous. However, [Ga(L(1))(3)] did contain visibly crystalline material deposited at a substrate temperature of 450?°C, by far the lowest ever observed for the CVD of gallium oxide.     

Dispiroketals in synthesis (Part 5): A new opportunity for oligosaccharide synthesis using differentially activated glycosyl donors and acceptors

The reactivity of dispiroketal protected thioglycosides makes them useful new precursors for oligossaccharide synthesis as is illustrated by the preparation of a protected pentasaccharide unit common to the variant surface glycoprotein of Trypanosoma brucei.     

Reactive scattering of a neon seeded oxygen atom beam

A high pressure microwave discharge source operating with a dilute mixture of O₂ in Ne has been used to produce a supersonic nozzle beam of O atoms seeded in Ne. This low energy supersonic O atom beam has been used to study the reactive scattering of O atoms with Cl₂ and CS₂ molecules at an initial translational energy E = 13 kJ mol^?1. The results are compared with rective scattering from the same reactions using a high energy O atom beam formed by seeding O atoms in He. The O + Cl₂ reaction proceeds via a short-lived collision complex where the lifetime of the collision complex depends upon the initial translational energy. However the O + CS₂ reaction follows a stripping mechanism which is unaffected by initial translational energy.     

Reactive scattering of a helium seeded oxygen atom beam

A high pressure microwave discharge source operating with a dilute mixture of O₂ in He has been used to produce a supersonic nozzle beam of O atoms seeded in He. This source has been used to study the reactive scattering of O atoms with Cl₂ and CS₂ molecules at an initial translational energy E = 38 kJ mol^?1. Velocity distribution of reactive scattering were measured over a wide angular range by cross-correlation time-of-flight analysis. The O + Cl₂ reaction proceeds via a short-lived collision complex while the O + CS₂ reaction follows a stripping mechanism.