Philosophy of chemistry in university chemical education: The case of models and modelling

If chemistry is to be taught successfully, teachers must have a good subject matter knowledge (SK) of the ideas with which they are dealing, the nature of this falling within the orbit of philosophy of chemistry. They must also have a good pedagogic content knowledge (PCK), the ability to communicate SK to students, the nature of this falling within the philosophy and psychology of chemical education. Taking the case of models and modelling, important themes in the philosophy of chemistry, an interview-based study was conducted into the SK and PCK of a sample of teachers in Brazil. This paper focuses on the results of the university chemistry teacher sub-sample in that enquiry, analyses their SK and PCK, and speculates on the implications of this for the education of school teachers. Finally, it suggests approaches to the professional development of university chemistry teachers that place an emphasis on the philosophy of chemistry. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The raised-cosine wavelets in computerized tomography

In Computerized Tomography (CT), an image must be recovered from its sampled projections in the form of values of the Radon transform. In this work a method of recovering the image is based on the properties of the raised-cosine wavelet. This wavelet has a closed form which allows for certain precomputations and avoids convolution. The rate of convergence of the resulting algorithm to the image density function is found under suitable hypotheses. This algorithm is then tested on the standard Shepp–Logan     

Sur les Transformations Simultanées de Deux Équations Différentielles Linéaires du Deuxième Ordre dans Elles-mêmes

AMS (MOS) Classification 34C20     

Neutron radiation damage in zirconium and its alloys

There has been much research and speculation recently on the nature of radiation induced defects in zirconium and its alloys, and in particular on the absence of voids at high fluences and temperatures in the range 0.3 to 0.5 T _m (T _m is the absolute melting temperature). Wolfenden and Farrell¹ have reviewed the evidence and suggest that α-Zr has so far resisted void formation during neutron irradiation because of: (a) the absence of a dislocation (loop or tangle) structure and/or (b) a low insoluble gas (e.g. helium) content.     

CHIROPTICAL PROPERTIES OF 1-DEOXY-1-THIOGALACTOPYRANOSIDES

Abstract

Continuing our studies of optically active sulfides we have investigated flexible systems incorporating the 1.3-O,S-chromophore, e.q., alkyl α-and B-D-thiogalactopyranosides and their tetraacetates. Although most substances were known from the literature, constitutional, configurational, and conformational assignments had hardly ever been proved rigorously; we therefore had to provide a firm basis by a systematic analysis of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of thioglycosides, the complexity of the carbohydrate signals necessitating high field studies. The compounds were thus, in the end, correlated with the natural thiogalactoside lincomycin, whose structure including its absolute configuration is known from X-ray investigations. CD curves have been measured at various temperatures in the range of 185–300 nm on a commercial spectropolarimeter equipped with a data processor and connected to a table calculator and plotter, directly furnishing data suitable for, e.g., Kronig-Kramers type transformations or curve analysis and displaying the results. These CD data were correlated with the UV spectra and the ORD curves of the substrates. Typically, the UV curves are devoid of detail except in the case of the acetates, where a shoulder in the region of the n→π? transition is discernible. In the ORD, the Cotton effects (CE) are largely suppressed by the background contribution of the “invisible giant” in the far UV. In the thiogalactopyranosides all accessible Cotton effects are associated with electron transitions within the sulfur or possibly the coupled O-C-S chromophore, whereas a relatively small negative, composite CE is contributed by the acetate carbonyl groups in the acetates.     

Biodegradable Cellulose Block Copolymers

Biodegradable polymers can be prepared by the incorporation of cellulose oligomeric blocks into the polymer backbone. Block copolymers prepared by reacting equimolar amounts of depolymerized cellulose triacetate (CTA) with MDI or TDI and block terpolymers prepared by reacting the CTA oligomer with poly (propylene glycol) capped with MDI or TDI were deacetylated and incubated with cellulysin at pH 5 and 50 °C. The intrinsic viscosity of each copolymer decreased substantially even after 10 hr incubation time. There was negligible acid hydrolysis. Cellulose showed a smaller decrease at the same incubation time-probably due to its lower accessibility. Methods for incorporating cellulose oligomeric blocks and other biodegradable blocks into different types of polymers are discussed.