The United States Department of Energy funded program: Summer schools in nuclear and radio-chemistry

Following several national surveys that clearly indicated both a paucity of universities offering nuclear chemistry courses, and a severe shortage of personnel trained and educated in nuclear sciences, the US Department of Energy (DOE) agreed to fund a special summer program. This program would take 12 undergraduates on a competitive scholarship basis from across the nation, and provide them with an intensive 6 week course in the fundamentals of nuclear science. The first such course was taught in the summer of 1984 at San Jose State University in California, and has met each summer since that time. In this course, the students cover material equivalent to approximately 2 semester units of health physics and radiological safety, 3 semester units of lecture material on nuclear chemistry, radiochemistry, uses of radionuclides, and nuclear instrumentation, and 3 semester units of laboratory work in radiochemistry, radiation chemistry, and associated topics in nuclear science. A second course was opened in 1989, with the same curriculum and intent, and sited at the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York. With regard to intent, both courses are very successful, with a majority of persons going on to complete graduate degrees in some aspect of nuclear science (nuclear chemistry, nuclear physics, health physics, nuclear medicine PhD programs, and synthesis with radio-nuclides or programs such as nuclear pharmacy or pharmacology) or nuclear medicine and oncology via MD programs.Presently a member of the Chemistry Department, formerly Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, and now Dean of the College of Science at SJSU.     

Variational derivation and extensions of distributed approximating functionals

Summary Extensions of the "Distributed Approximating Functional (DAF) approach to approximating functions and their derivatives are given. The method, although inherently approximate, can be made arbitrarily accurate, numerically stable, and computationally efficient by appropriate choice of parameters. It also provides approximate representations of quantum operators which are analytic and which can be accurate. Differences between the DAFs and more standard basis set approaches are discussed in order to clarify the properties of the DAFs. Some illustrative examples are given.Supported in part under National Science Foundation Grant CHE92-01967.The Ames Laboratory is operated for the Department of Energy by Iowa State University under Contract No 2-7405-ENG82.Supported under National Science Foundation Grants CHE-8907429 and CHE-9403416.Supported under R.A. Welch Foundation Grant E-0608.Supported under National Science Foundation Grants CHE-8907429 and CHE-9403416.     

A web-based course in nuclear and radiochemistry

Over the last six years through a Department of Energy Radiochemistry Education Award Program (REAP) we have developed a completely web-based course in nuclear and radiochemistry given at the University of Texas at Austin. This course has had nuclear and radiation engineering and chemistry graduate students. While the course also has an extensive laboratory component only the lectures are web based. The lectures begin with a historical introduction of radiochemistry followed by two movies on Madame Curie. This is followed by the usual lectures on radioactivity, fundamental properties, radioactive decay, decay modes, and nuclear reactions. As section on radioactive waste management and nuclear fuel cycle is also presented. Lectures in neutron activation analysis, geo- and cosmochemistry, and plutonium chemistry have also been developed. All lectures are in power point with many animations and a significant number of solved problems. All students are required to make a short oral presentation on some aspect of nuclear and radiochemistry in their research or a chosen topic.     

Effects of the shutdown of a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant on nearby streams

In a study conducted in 1971, levels of tritium were found in Cattaraugus-Creek, a stream in Western New York State. This material was attributed to the operation in West Valley, New York of the world's first commercial nuclear fuels reprocessing plant. Several fission fragment isotopes in addition to tritium were also observed in Buttermilk Creek, one of the tributaries of Cattaraugus Creek that runs through the reprocessing plant grounds. The plant ceased processing nuclear fuel in December 1971, and a new set of measurements in these streams were made to assess the effect of the ending of the plant's operation. Substantially lower concentrations of tritium and no fission produced isotopes have been observed.     

纽约城市大学城市学院化学系普通化学教学模式分析

介绍了纽约城市大学新生普通化学课程的学习过程,分析和探讨了纽约城市大学和河北工业大学教学方式的差异,纽约城市大学学生的分散式学习方式能有效督促大学生的自主学习,通过分析纽约城市大学教学模式,揭示了两校的教学差异,为河北工业大学化工学院教学方式改革提出建议和双方学生交流互访提供更有利的先决条件。     

Teaching Metrology at the Department of Chemistry of Irkutsk State University

The fundamentals of the three-stage teaching of metrology at the Department of Chemistry of Irkutsk State University are considered. The course Mathematical Theory of Experiment in Chemistry, which consists of two parts, Mathematical Statistics in Chemistry and Mathematical Methods of Experiment Design, is delivered at the first stage. For fourth-year students, the courses Metrology of Analytical Control (a mandatory course for one specialization) and Algorithms for Determining Performance Characteristics in the Certification of Analytical Procedures (an optional course) are taught.     

The American Chemical Society's Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology's summer schools in nuclear and radiochemistry

This successful educational program in nuclear and radiochemistry for advanced undergraduate students is described. Funding from the U.S. Department of Energy supports 24 fellowships for participants in the intensive six-week programs at San Jose State University (CA) and Brookhaven National Laboratory (NY). Students are provided transportation to and from the school site, room and board, books, lab supplies, and six units of college credit. The instructional program consists of lectures and laboratory exercises that cover the fundamentals of nuclear theory, radiochemistry, nuclear instrumentation, radiological safety, and applications in research, midicine, and industry. Guest lectures and field trips broaden the students' exposure to nuclear science. Assistance is provided in the following year to those students who wish to join a research project at a university or national laboratory, and thereafter, in their applications to graduate or professional school.     

Thermodynamic and structural properties of a fluid with a rectangular well potential

Thermodynamic and structural properties of a system with a rectangular well potential are investigated in the supercritical region using the approximate Martynov-Sarkisov (MS) integral equation for the binary distribution function. It is shown that, in contrast to other approximations, in particular the Percus-Yevick equation (PY) and hypernetted chain approximation (HNC), the MS equation describes the limits of existence of the homogeneous phase.Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino. State University of New York, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, USA. Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 88–95, March–April, 1993.     

Separation of the alkali group by thin-layer chromatography using a binary solvent mixture

Summary The use of a binary solvent mixture (nitromethane/benzene) is shown to result in an improved separation of the polyiodides of the entire alkali group on thin-layers of air-most silica gel.

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Zusammenfassung Die Verwendung eines binären Lösungsmittelgemisches (Nitromethan-Benzol) führt zu einer verbesserten Trennung der Polyjodide der ganzen Alkaligruppe auf luftfeuchten Silikagel-Dünnschichten.

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Undergraduate Research Participant, State University of New York at Binghamton, 1966.     

Development and distribution of radon risk maps in New York State

Radon maps for each county in New York State have been developed onthe township level indicating the percent of homes with .148 Bq/m 3 (4 pCi/l)in the indoor air of the basement and living area. Estimates are based ona combination of nearly 45,000 basement-screening measurements and correlationsto surficial geology. Many of the towns and cities in the State with the highestaverage indoor radon concentrations are located on highly-permeable gravellysoils formed during the retreat of the Wisconsinan Glaciation. As many towns(32% of total) had .5 measurements, a project to obtain additional measurementsin high-risk towns produced results comparable to estimates based on correlationsto surficial geology. Radon risk maps for each county have been distributedto municipal governments, schools, and professionals in activities relatedto homes, buildings, and indoor air quality.     

Property characterization and formation mechanism of anticorrosion film coated on AZ31B Mg alloy by SNAP technology

Despite tremendous efforts in research and development after the discovery of high-temperature perovskite-type layered superconductors, and high expectations expressed in market projection potential electrical commercial applications of these materials, the popularity of these superconductors is taking off very slowly. One of the biggest hurdles facing the widespread application of the (RE)Ba₂Cu₃O₇ is developing a manufacturing process of flexible multifilamentary coated conductors, comprised of a buffered metallic substrate and a superconducting layer (Glowacki, in Frontiers in Superconducting Materials. Springer, New York, 2005), that will produce it in long lengths and at prices competitive with copper for applications such as motors, generators, transmission cables, and other power systems (Lectures on Superconductivity, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 2008). The low-cost powder-in-tube or screen-printing processes, that are successful in the manufacturing of medium temperature superconductor MgB₂ and high-temperature Bi-family superconductors cannot be used for (RE)Ba₂Cu₃O₇ conductors due to their granularity and ceramic-like mechanical bulk properties. Deposition of a (RE)Ba₂Cu₃O₇ coating using physical deposition techniques is too expensive to provide low-cost highly textured coated conductor for AC applications (Lectures on Superconductivity, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 2008). Therefore, the obvious choice is the chemical route and the sol gel deposited using ink-jet printing (Glowacki, in Frontiers in Superconducting Materials. Springer, New York, 2005; Lectures on Superconductivity, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 2008) is currently recognised as potentially the best way to manufacture 3D multifilamentary high temperature superconductor (Glowacki, in Frontiers in Superconducting Materials. Springer, New York, 2005). In this paper the perspective of deposition of buffer layer and multifilamentary (RE)Ba₂Cu₃O₇ superconducting layer by sol gel ink-jet printing is discussed with respect to best conductor AC performance, and also addresses the future research that is required.     

Efficacy of the academic competition (Olympiad) system of admission to higher educational institutions (in Chemistry)

The association between the academic competition (Olympiad) results and subsequent academic performance during the first two years at a higher educational institution was examined. The data for three cohorts (N = 738) of students of the Chemistry Department, Moscow State University, were analyzed, including the results of international and nationwide academic competitions in chemistry, university grade point averages, and Unified State Examination scores. It was shown that students admitted on the basis of academic competition results (winning or prize-winning) perform significantly better during the first two years at the university than those admitted on the basis of Unified State Examination scores. It was shown that the results of academic competitions of different levels are not equal in predicting subsequent academic performance for students.     

Sorption of uranyl ions on TiO2: Effects of contact time, ionic strength, concentration and humic substance

Ambient aerosol and gas phase mercury samples at five, and wet deposition samples at two rural sites were collected for two years (1991-1993) in New York State, USA. Element concentrations of more than 2000 samples were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) to explain probable source types and source regions of observed trace elements. Concentrations for many of the elements displayed distinct seasonal patterns. This, among other reasons may be due to changes in the prevailing winds over the region and seasonal changes in some of the source strengths.     

Angularly correlated two-electron repulsion operators

The Bohr model for two-electron atoms is modified to include angular correlation effects in an empirical fashion. An extension of the model to two-centers is given. Simple expressions for one- and two-center Coulomb repulsion integrals are derived and compared with semi-empirical approximations.

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Zusammenfassung Die Bohrsche Modellvorstellung für ein Atom mit zwei Elektronen wird so modifiziert, daß die Winkelkorrelation empirisch berücksichtigt wird. Die Erweiterung dieses Modells auf zwei Zentren wird angegeben. Einfache Ausdrücke für Ein- und Zweizentren-Coulombintegrale werden abgeleitet und mit semiempirischen Näherungen verglichen.

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Based on a thesis submitted by RWS to the State University of New York at Albany in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Ph. D.     

Nuclear science summer school for high school students

We have developed a two-week summer lecture and laboratory course that introduces high school students to concepts in nuclear science. The program has operated at the San Jose State University Nuclear Science Facility for two years. Experienced high school science teachers run the summer school, assisted by other science teachers. Students consider the program to be effective. Its popularity is shown by numerous requests for reservations and the necessity to offer multiple sections in 1997. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A0553010 00006     

Contemporary concepts in toxicology: a novel multi-instructor general education course to enhance green chemistry and biomedical curricula

ABSTRACT

An undergraduate course in contemporary toxicology was developed by the Chemistry Department at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) with assistance and participation from the Dow Chemical Company Toxicology and Environment Research and Consulting department (DOW-TERC). It was designed as an overview of xenobiotic effects on human health and environment and focuses on new predictive approaches used early in sustainable product development. Planned as a hybrid, administrated by GVSU, with lectures by both GVSU and DOW-TERC scientists, the course included classical elements of dose/response, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and newer advances in predictive toxicology, bioprofiling, databases, and product stewardship. Student performance assessments on a series of scaffolded case study, journaling, and exams, indicated their emerging ability to think critically and to apply their growing toxicology knowledge in solving problems. Opinion surveys indicate students’ positive responsiveness to the multi-instructor format. This course can serve as a model for programs at other institutions.     

Modern Russian higher education and the role of federal subject Olympiads for schoolchildren

A discussion and comparison was presented for the current trajectories of gaining admission to a higher educational institution: the traditional entrance examinations combined with USE, high-level subject Olympiads for schoolchildren, and subject Olympiads for applicants, organized and conducted by universities. It was noted that, despite recent changes in the forms and methods of attracting students to higher education, the “geography” of students enrolled in the first year at the Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, does not significantly vary and remains fairly wide. The academic quality of the students admitted has been declining steadily. It was shown that the strategy of attracting students to the university through Olympiads is well justified. Under conditions of the ongoing modernization of the entire national education system, the combination of the three methods of selection of applicants allows the leading Russian universities to admit new students more effectively.     

基于中国大学MOOC、慕课堂和QQ群三结合的分析化学课程在线教学实践

中国地质大学(武汉)分析化学课程团队采用国家精品在线开放课程作为课程资源、慕课堂作为智慧教学工具、QQ群作为在线讲授和辅导答疑的平台,成功地开展了分析化学课程在线教学实践。实践表明,基于MOOC、慕课堂和QQ群三结合的在线教学形式受到了学生的欢迎和喜爱,学生普遍易于接受,参与积极性高,初显教学效果较好。     

Teaching nuclear and radiochemistry at undergraduate colleges

A large fraction of the potential graduate students in chemistry come from undergraduate colleges. The exposure of these students to the field of nuclear and radiochemistry is limited by the fact that few professionals actively involved in the field teach at these schools. There is also increasing competition for the limited number of chemistry students by other chemical specializations. Innovative approaches such as a short course to introduce students to nuclear and radiochemistry and some of the needs for undergraduate teaching are discussed.     

Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Novel Discussion Exercises for First-Year Chemistry Students

In the Fall of 1999, Illinois State University (ISU) piloted a new General Chemistry I course. This course now includes cooperative learning exercises that were developed and implemented in biweekly discussion sections over the past four semesters. We now have discussion exercises all taught by six different tenured and tenure-track faculty members. This study focuses on the effect on student behaviors and learning in General Chemistry I. Data were obtained from student surveys, student interviews, instructor feedback, and examination results. The results obtained in this study show that student interest in chemistry can be maintained or increased by the incorporation of cooperative learning into the general chemistry curriculum. In addition, this cooperative learning approach promoted attendance, was enjoyable for many students, and seemed to have some positive effect on achievement.