Internet Teaching: Laboratory Course in Analytical Chemistry

The enormous potential of the Internet has stimulated the development of new forms of knowledge communication. Special attention was paid to the creation of multimedia teaching material for lab exercises dealing with the most important instrumental methods in Analytical Chemistry. Testing students knowledge with dynamic documents is a procedure providing great advantages for both students and teachers. The interpretation of measurements by teleconferencing via the Internet provides access to sophisticated research experience. The development of virtual instruments, e.g. a virtual IR spectrometer or gas chromatograph, proved to make lab exercises less prone to accidents. Moreover, it provides animations of processes which may hardly be described in words.Received January 12, 2003; accepted March 7, 2003 Published online August 8, 2003     

蛋白–配体复合物的结构及其相互作用分子机制的虚拟仿真实验项目的建设与教学实践——COVID-19肺炎疫情防控时期线上教学的案例

The scale gap between the macro world and the micro world makes it impossible to directly observe the micro-structure, but chemical researchers must elucidate the properties of macro matter based on the micro-structure. Therefore, characterizing the micro-structure through the X-ray diffraction and other instruments is an important means to understand the micro world. However, it is hard for undergraduates to learn and understand the microstructure by using these scientific instruments due to the high instrumental running cost, complicated operation procedure and radiation safety issue. By integrating the construction concept of "combination of reality and practice", protein-ligand complexes crystallography research, the latest results of the theory of accurate prediction of ligand binding conformation, and the basic theoretical knowledge in the "Structural Chemistry Curriculum Group", we developed this virtual simulation experimental project by using modern information technology such as "3D virtual reality". This project will provide a useful method for the study of the theoretical foundation of chemistry, and development of thinking with chemical knowledge, scientific expression, and application abilities.     

Computer control of microprocessor-based instruments by keypad emulation

A keypad emulation method for controlling microprocessor-based instruments by laboratory microcomputers is presented. It is applicable to instruments that use "polled" keypad arrays; the instrument can be controlled by the laboratory computer or operated independently by manual keypad entry. To illustrate the approach, a microprocessor-based HPLC solvent-delivery system was controlled by a laboratory microcomputer which synchronized and sequenced the entire HPLC experiment, including solvent delivery, valve control for column switching and back-flushing, data-acquisition, and dataprocessing.     

有机化学实验线上课程之扬长避短教学设计与实践篇

It has been two months since a boom of online education triggered by the epidemic in China. At present, we are keeping focus on how to optimize our online class. In the case of chemistry laboratory courses, there's not much that can be done to experimental operations through online teaching. While for the traditional teaching procedure, there is still room for improvement in terms of integrating research to teaching, interactivity, etc. This paper will present some design strategies for improving teaching the organic chemistry laboratory online. To be specific, it describes how teaching materials like the lesson plan and virtual lab were coordinated into the online teaching. And we will also discuss the holistic approach to a better outcome for students' active learning and integration research into teaching by redesigning multiple phases, such as the pre-laboratory preparation, live online class, experimental operations.     

虚拟恒电位仪的研制及其在腐蚀电化学测量中的应用

恒电位仪是腐蚀电化学测量最重要的基本设备.虚拟恒电位仪用图形程序软件取代复杂硬件来实现恒电位功能.它的结构和参数灵活,构建简单,能满足多方面腐蚀电化学测试方法的需求,虚拟恒电位仪的实现是发展虚拟腐蚀电化学仪器的重要步骤.本文采用LabVIEW 2010编程系统和比例-积分-微分(PID)控制技术,研制了虚拟恒电位仪,并组建了VEC11-A腐蚀电化学测试系统,该系统能满足不同阻抗体系的腐蚀电化学测试需求.其腐蚀电位、稳态极化曲线、线性极化曲线、循环伏安、动电位扫描、恒电位阶跃等常规腐蚀电化学测量结果与2263电化学测试系统相近,能够满足常规腐蚀电化学测试要求,具有很大的发展空间.     

Application of portable Raman instruments for fast and non-destructive detection of minerals on outcrops

Raman spectral signatures have been obtained in situ for a series of minerals using portable Raman instruments. Cerussite, anglesite, wulfenite, titanite, calcite, tremolite, andradite and quartz were detected using portable Raman spectrometer First Defender XL (Ahura). Baryte, almandine and realgar Raman spectra obtained by this instrument in the field were compared to the data measured by the other mobile Raman instrument Inspector Raman (DeltaNu). Bench Raman dispersive microspectrometer (InVia Reflex, Renishaw) was used for comparative purposes. All spectra were obtained using a 785nm diode excitation. Although displaying lower spectral resolution comparing with the laboratory confocal instrument both portable instruments permit unambiguous detection of minerals in the field. These possibilities designate portable Raman machines as excellent tools for field geological applications. Miniaturised Raman instrument combined with LIBS will be included in the payload of the EXO Mars mission and would open interesting research possibilities in other in situ field planetary studies.     

Twenty years of the Me.Tos. Project: an Italian national external quality assessment scheme for trace elements in biological fluids

The Me.Tos. Project, started in 1983 and still running, is an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for laboratories performing specialized analyses in occupational and environmental laboratory medicine. Besides the organization of EQA exercises, initiatives for further education of the participants and the harmonization of EQA procedures at a European level are carried out. Participation in EQA schemes allows laboratories to comply with the international standards for the quality and competence of testing and clinical laboratories. The organization of the scheme includes the preparation of control materials, their distribution to the participants, according to strategies aimed to avoid identification of the samples, the statistical analysis of the results and the evaluation of laboratories' performance according to international guidelines and criteria set by the organizers. An overview of the scheme operation and the current performances of participants will be given.     

Student Questionnaries

We have developed several alternative practical laboratory examinations for the beginning organic chemistry course and have field tested these laboratory exercises as a component of the final examination in the laboratory component of that course. Data correlating practicum scores with overall scores in the laboratory course show significant scatter, suggesting to us possible shortcomings in the traditional methods of evaluation of laboratory skills.     

检测/校准实验室仪器设备及标准物质期间核查实施方法

对检测/校准实验室仪器设备及标准物质期间核查的具体实施进行了讨论,重点介绍编写期间核查作业指导书需明确的内容,包括明确核查对象、确定核查项目、选择核查方法、规定核查间隔、获取核查判据及如何判定对核查不合格的处置.指出既能利用期间核查确保仪器设备及标准物质的可靠性,又不浪费人力物力的措施.     

Facility-based inspection training in a virtual 3D laboratory

In order to train postgraduate students in the evaluation of a quality system in the pharmaceutical industry, it would be desirable to have installations constructed in accordance with the quality standards. This is very costly and unusual in universities. Virtual 3D worlds allow simulating immersive professional contexts for training. The first aim of this project is to design and construct a virtual analytical laboratory adapted to good laboratory practices (GLP) in the Second Life? (SL) virtual world. The second aim is to set up a practice based on the inspection of the virtual laboratory installations. Finally, the students’ acquisition of knowledge and satisfaction were assessed. The laboratory is available online on the Usalpharma Island of SL. The installations, equipment and tools were created using SL’s building tools. During two academic years, a total of 30 students made an inspection of the laboratory to identify and classify nonconformities of a GLP quality system (supplementary video). They report the results in an assessment report. The following evaluation of the practice shows that the scores concerning the assessment of skills (7.1 ± 0.5 out of 10) and knowledge acquired (7.8 ± 0.3 out of 10) met the expectations of the authors. In an anonymous questionnaire, 81 % of the students assessed the experiment as satisfactory. The virtual laboratory allows, at very low cost, training postgraduate students in facilities not available at university. Tools like this could be implemented not only at universities, but in professional field in order to assess competencies or support the essential lifelong learning of the laboratory staff.     

Keeping the spotlight on quality from a distance

 Maintaining the quality of testing in remote locations can be demanding of laboratory resources in terms of daily visits to instruments and providing support outside of normal working hours. Recently technology and software solutions have appeared to reduce this burden for laboratory scientists dramatically. The AVL Auto QC unit, in conjunction with OMNILink software, allow laboratory staff to perform many quality control and maintenance procedures on instruments in wards and medical units from a PC in the central laboratory. Assessment of this technology and software in the Special Baby Care Unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary has demonstrated many benefits including reduction in ward visits, better support out of hours, regular quality control checks, and improved analytical quality. Received: 15 April 2000 · Accepted: 15 April 2000     

Improved model for improving the inter-instrument agreement of spectrocolorimeters

A proposal by Robertson slightly modified by Berns and Petersen, to use spectral differences to predict systematic errors in spectrophotometers has found limited success in practical application. Porter suggested a way to improve the level of agreement between standardizing laboratories based on the Berns and Petersen method but suggested using derivatives calculated from piecewise polynomial splines. He did not know it at the time, but such a model was already in use. That model now has over five years of successful field testing and this paper discloses how the model was developed, the efficiency with which it can reduce systematic errors and the kinds of errors that cannot presently be corrected by computational comparison of reflectance or transmittance factor readings. For instruments of the same basic design, this model will produce a reduction of the systematic errors in colorimetric coordinates on the order of factors of 2–3. The magnitude of the initial color differences appears to be irrelevant. The corrective power of the model is limited by the numerical noise generated by the process of simulating analytical derivatives. We show that instruments with average color differences of 1.0 CIELAB unit can be reduced to a level of 0.5–0.3 units. Our testing has included a large variety of material samples including textiles, plastics, inks, paints and ceramics. Over 400 samples have been measured in proving this method. In addition, the model has been in place in industrial environments where multiple instruments of different manufacturer have been made to operate successfully from the same set of laboratory standards at reproducibility levels that rival those of national standards laboratories.     

Low-background counting systems compared

A comparison of special low-background germanium counting systems used at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory will be presented. These vary from specially modified instruments in the laboratory to low-cosmic-exposure detectors operated deep underground. The underground detectors have copper cryostats completely electroformed from low-background copper. Electroforming is a process analogous to zone refining in its ability to remove chemical impurities. Shielding techniques and their merit are compared as to difficulty and benefit. Active cosmic veto is directly compared to passive overburden shielding. Special attention is paid to cosmic activation of the cryostat and the germanium crystal itself.Operated for the U. S. Department of Energy by Battelle Memorial Institute under Contract DE-AC06-76RL0 1830.     

A review of autovalidation software in laboratory medicine

Although autovalidation procedures have been around for many years, through the use of computers and the application of (medical) protocols, they are now becoming part of the production environment of medical laboratories. The introduction of high volume instruments within routine medical laboratory testing certainly speeded up their application as well. After defining autovalidation, autoverification and autoconfirmation, this paper provides a framework for the different ways and places where these tools can be applied within laboratory medicine. Technology as well as organization are essential building blocks to reach well-defined, transparent and assured quality. A laboratory automation system (LAS) brings both areas together in a logical, future-oriented way. Strengthening the information loop, reaching guaranteed quality (analytical, turnaround times and efficiency), leads towards strict management of the laboratory processes. This includes all laboratory processes and here autovalidation and autoreporting become essential. A survey of currently available software routines and their appraisal from a managerial viewpoint are given. It can be concluded that autovalidation software in laboratory medicine is maturing and is rapidly becoming a critical success factor in any medical laboratory. Quality can be automated for sure and autovalidation software will prove to be a valuable aid to do so. Received: 23 August 2002 Accepted: 26 August 2002 Presented at the European Conference on Quality in the Spotlight in Medical Laboratories, 7–9 October 2001, Antwerp, Belgium     

Inter-laboratory comparisons: Determination of actinides in excreta

Inter-laboratory tests are a means of assessing the analytical coherence of medical laboratories. In radiotoxicology, this kind of exercise makes it possible to keep up with laboratory know-how and with the evolution and relative performances of analytical techniques (precision and reproducibility). However, the goal of the laboratories taking part in these annual exercises is not only to check the accuracy of their results. The analytical discussions and the chance to compare experiences enrich the group's general competence.French biologists have been organizing annual radiotoxicology intercomparison exercises since 1978. The exercises are carried out within the framework of a working group (GT1) operating under the aegis of the French Atomic Energy Commission's (CEA) Medical Coordinator. Using reports and diagrams which present the results obtained by the participants in the form of syntheses, the authors describe how the exercises for determining actinides in excreta (urine and faeces) are organized, how the results are evaluated in terms of the analytical methods used, and the improvements made in analytical and metrological performance.Up until 1985, these exercises were limited to French laboratories. Since then, the exercises have acquired an international dimension, opening up to include interested foreign radiochemists, initially from European laboratories, and now from laboratories worldwide. At the present time, 35 laboratories representing 9 countries take part regularly in these intercomparison exercises.     

原位变温X射线衍射虚拟仿真实验建设与实践

原位变温X射线衍射实验是物理、化学等相关专业综合和创新性实验项目,基于“以虚代实,虚实结合”的思想开发原位变温X射线衍射虚拟仿真实验系统非常必要。本系统完整地模拟了仪器认知、样品测试、数据计算及应用等实验实景,教学中采用线上线下虚实结合的教学方法,培养学生利用大型仪器解决复杂问题的综合能力和高级思维。     

Capillary electrophoresis and the clinical laboratory

Over the past 15 years, CE as an analytical tool has shown great promise in replacing many conventional clinical laboratory methods, such as electrophoresis and HPLC. CE's appeal was that it was fast, used very small amounts of sample and reagents, was extremely versatile, and was able to separate large and small analytes, whether neutral or charged. Because of this versatility, numerous methods have been developed for analytes that are of clinical interest. Other than molecular diagnostic and forensic laboratories CE has not been able to make a major impact in the United States. In contrast, in Europe and Japan an increasing number of clinical laboratories are using CE. Now that automated multicapillary instruments are commercially available along with cost-effective test kits, CE may yet be accepted as an instrument that will be routinely used in the clinical laboratories. This review will focus on areas where CE has the potential to have the greatest impact on the clinical laboratory. These include analyses of proteins found in serum and urine, hemoglobin (A1c and variants), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, forensic and therapeutic drug screening, and molecular diagnostics.     

Purification of Three Spectral Isoforms of Recombinant Fluorescent Protein from Insect Bioreactors Infected with Recombinant Baculovirus

Recombinant peptides and proteins have a wide range of applications, especially in medicine and biomedical research. Methods to rapidly and inexpensively manufacture recombinant proteins are needed to realize the full potential of proteins in medicine and to broaden their applications. A one-semester-length laboratory exercise is reported here demonstrating the use of the insect bioreactor system to create recombinant proteins. These laboratory exercises are suitable for students majoring in biochemistry or biotechnology and can be used to teach students basic biochemistry laboratory techniques including bacterial transformation, plasmid DNA isolation, insect cell culture, production of recombinant virus, use of recombinant viruses to deliver transgenes to a living organism, protein isolation by precipitation and chromatography, and protein quantification and protein characterization by electrophoresis and western blotting. The techniques acquired can also be used as the basis for related independent research projects in the second semester.     

虚拟实验在大学基础化学实验教学中的探索与应用

针对复杂酸碱体系的滴定问题和氯化铅溶度积常数测定两个典型基础化学实验进行了虚拟实验设计与建设。借助于软件平台创建的虚拟实验交互系统涵盖了大量的基本理论、实验仪器与设备等信息,提供了各种反应条件下的组合实验、实验数据的计算结果与检验等,满足了学生不同层次的学习要求。