Writing Across the Chemical Engineering Curriculum at the University of North Dakota

In Order to Prepare Engineering Graduates with the Written and Oral Communication Skills Needed in their Professional Careers a Coordinated Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Program Has Developed in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of North Dakota. the Students Practice and Develop their Skills with Writing Assignments in Both Lecture and Laboratory Courses from the First‐year Level through the Fourth‐year Capstone Design Course. the Coordinated Approach, especially in the Four‐semester Laboratory Sequence, Allows the Students to Develop their Skills by Building on Communication Experiences in Previous Courses. the WAC Program at UND Including Writing and Public Speaking Assignments is Described. 1994 American Society for Engineering Educatio

Teaching Statistical Experimental Design using a Laboratory Experiment

An Experimental Project Introduces the Concepts of Statistical Experimental Design to Undergraduates in a Laboratory Setting. a Safe, Inexpensive and Easily Operable Experiment Uses a Gas Chromatograph to Give Quantitative Results and to Allow Students to Concentrate on Applying Statistical Skills Without Being Impeded by Complex Equipment or Experimental Methods. One of the Unique Aspects of the Experiment is a Trade‐off between the Two Most Significant Variables, Forcing Students to Compromise in the Selection of Optimum Conditions. Such Compromises Are Typical in Many Real‐world Industrial Situations. the Experiment Has Been Used for Several Years in the Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Laboratories at the University of North Dakota. Keywords: Statistics, Experimental Design, Laboratory. 1995 American Society for Engineering Educatio

Interaction of Sodium, Sulfur, and Silica during Coal Combustion

The Interaction of Sodium, Sulfur, and Silica at Conditions Typical in a Pulverized Coal Furnace Was Investigated by using Both Model Mixtures and a Synthetic Coal. the Model Mixtures Consisted of Selected Inorganic Constituents that Were Well Mixed in Proportions Typically Found in Low-Rank Coal. the Synthetic Coal Consisted of a Furfuryl Alcohol Polymer with Appropriate Amounts of Sodium, Sulfur, and Silica to Duplicate the Characteristics of Low-Rank Coal. the Model Mixtures and Synthetic Coal Were Burned in a Laminar Flow (Drop-Tube) Furnace at 900, 1100, 1300, and 1500 °C and Residence Times of 0.1,0.5,1.5, and 2.4 S. the Resulting Char and Fly Ash Particles Were Quickly Quenched, Collected, and Analyzed with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to Determine Size and Composition. Results Indicated that the Formation of Sodium Silicates is Favored by Higher Temperatures and Longer Residence Times. Thermodynamic Calculations and the Model Mixture Studies Indicated above 1100 °C There is Little Interference in the Formation of Sodium Silicates by Sodium Sulfates. in the Synthetic Coal Studies, Sodium Sulfate Particles Were Detected on the Surface of the Larger Sodium Silicate Fly Ash Particles Formed at Lower Temperatures. the Size and Prevalence of the Sodium Sulfate Particles Decreased as Temperature Was Increased. Fly Ash Particle Formation Was Characterized by Fragmentation Followed by Coalescence. Fragmentation Was More Prevalent at Higher Temperatures and Smaller Fly Ash Particles Were Formed. Larger Particles Were Formed at Lower Temperatures, Indicating More Complete Coalescence with Some Cenosphere Formation. © 1991, American Chemical Society. All Rights Reserved

Theoretical models of nonlinear effects in two-component cooperative supramolecular copolymerizations

The understanding of multi-component mixtures of self-assembling molecules under thermodynamic equilibrium can only be advanced by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. In such systems, small differences in association energy between the various components can be significantly amplified at the supramolecular level via intricate nonlinear effects. Here we report a theoretical investigation of two-component, self-assembling systems in order to rationalize chiral amplification in cooperative supramolecular copolymerizations. Unlike previous models based on theories developed for covalent polymers, the models presented here take into account the equilibrium between the monomer pool and supramolecular polymers, and the cooperative growth of the latter. Using two distinct methodologies, that is, solving mass-balance equations and stochastic simulation, we show that monomer exchange accounts for numerous unexplained observations in chiral amplification in supramolecular copolymerization. In analogy with asymmetric catalysis, amplification of chirality in supramolecular polymers results in an asymmetric depletion of the enantiomerically related monomer pool

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Using Critical Evaluation and Peer-Review Writing Assignments in a Chemical Process Safety Course

Two techniques to help students to develop critical thinking and communication skills are presented. In the first technique, students are asked to critically review journal article and to prepare a brief evaluation of the journal article. The second technique allow the students to practice the anonymous refereeing process with their peers. It is stated that an important aspect of the peer review assignment is to give the students a structured format on how to review an article

Using Student-Produced Videos to Enhance Learning Engagement in a Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics Course

The traditional term research project report and presentation in the first chemical engineering thermodynamics course has been replaced with an assignment in which students produce short YouTube type videos that describe and demonstrate some underlying principles from thermodynamics. The students participate in this active learning project which allows them to further understand basic thermodynamic concepts and the same time as developing rudimentary video production skills and practicing good communication skills. The short video demonstrations developed are viewed by the class. In addition, video produced in previous semesters are available to students currently enrolled in the class in an asynchronous manner to help to reinforce key concepts on an as needed basis. This project addresses four focus areas, namely 1) enhance student professional development, 2) increase faculty-student interaction, 3) promote active learning and 4) improve attainment of learning outcomes. Oral and written communication skills have always been a critical component of a well rounded engineering or professional education. With the ease and availability of video recorders and platforms such a YouTube, visual communication using small videos is becoming more prevalent. More practicing professionals will be expected to develop short informational videos to share concepts, document operations and train coworkers. The video project aids in this professional development. As the students prepare their video presentations they interact more with the faculty member in a small group setting to provide feedback and direction in the development of a short video on some thermodynamic concept. The researching of the thermodynamic concept, the development of the script for their video presentation and the production of the video all lend themselves to active learning versus merely taking notes in lecture or reading the textbook. Also, reviewing the thermodynamic concept videos developed by their classmates also enhances the understanding and retention of the underlying concepts