Jeffrey DeStefano, an HIV researcher at the University of Maryland, College Park and post-doc Gauri Nair published a paper in 2008 about their development of a new inhibitor of HIV RT (reverse transcriptase), the viral enzyme which copies viral RNA into DNA in order that it might be incorporated into the host cell's chromosomes by another viral enzyme, integrase (3). The RT inhibitor consisted of a 38 base pair piece of DNA with a particular sequence which binds tightly to the enzyme.

A key element of Xraise's mission--in fulfillment of NSF's broader impacts criterion—is to connect people to Synchrotron Science. One way we do that is through the resources we offer K-12 teachers as part of our Lending Library.

Furthermore, many engineering departments have committed themselves to developing educational programs that deepen students’ understanding of fundamental concepts, enhance students’ active participation in learning, and establish engineering’s role in meeting the needs of a global society. The U.S.

Sr₃Ir₂O₇ is an unusual manifestation of a bilayer square lattice of spins (as illustrated at top of the Figure) due to the extended exchange inherent to its 5d electron valence states and their large orbital extent, not only within but also between bilayer planes. As a result, this system potentially exists in a unique parameter space where the strength of magnetic exchange coupling between these planes can approach or exceed the strength of the coupling within them.

This activity also required removing about 17 m of the storage ring where it passed through the center of CLEO, then installing bridge supports and finally re-installing the bridging I-beams, holding the accelerator magnets and vacuum system. All of this was accomplished on schedule in three months. The success of the re-installation is underscored by the fact that positron beam was stored with no adjustments to CESR on the very first attempt!

In response to teachers’ requests, the new Next Generation Science Standards that promote engineering design, and as part of Xraise’s growing mobile science program, the Xraise team developed and launched a prototype traveling Tinker Cart during the spring of 2016. The Cart holds supplies for one class of elementary school students to participate in the science and engineering activities.

Feifei Li¹, Erik Farquhar², and co-workers published, “Cobalt Kβ Valence-to-Core X-ray Emission Spectroscopy: A Study of Low-Spin Octahedral Cobalt(III) Complexes” in Dalton Transactions 45, 14191-14202 (2016).

Congressman Tonko represents New York’s 20th Congressional District, and as a member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, Paul serves on the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, which has jurisdiction over non-defense federal scientific research and development. This alignment, and Tonko’s work toward STEM Education, and engineering education in schools makes him a perfect guest for the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, a National Science Foundation funded laboratory.

However, typical thermal annealing is slow, and polymers may degrade at high annealing temperature. Recently a group at Cornell University devised a scheme for ultrafast heating of polymer films using laser spike annealing [1]. Alan Jacobs from Mike Thompson’s group and Clemens Liedel from Chris Ober’s group, both at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, brought samples to CHESS D1 station for a detailed analysis of laser annealed traces.

The materials would include donated recyclables already available at the reinvention station at the Sciencenter as well as materials provided by Xraise, including hobby motors, batteries, LED's, electrical tape and other miscellaneous items. Guests would be free to play and build whatever they would like, with the activity being open-ended and entirely creative. In order for such an initiative to be successful, staff at both organizations would need to rely on the oversight of a dedicated set of volunteers.