David LaBrecque: Projects and
Publications
Questions
or Comments: DavidLab@Maine.edu
Link to
Department Instruments Link
to Publications
Link
to Instrument Workshops
Recent
Projects
Software developed and distributed.
MIST: Mass Identification Smart
Tool. This is software used with a mass spectrometer to help identify injected
samples. The software can perform an extensive search through combinations of
all the elements in the periodic table, including isotopes and any compounds
such as DNA fragments included in its database. Using various search techniques,
the software performs searches in minutes rather than years if performed by a
brute force approach. Freeware available. (Collaborator: T.
Solouki)
ICN: Inter-Chem-Net. This
projects combines modern instrumentation with computer networks. This allows
students to perform more hands-on experiments in a more cost-effective way as
compared to traditional labs. www.icn.umeche.maine.edu (Collaborators:
P.I.: M. Bruce, F. Amar, R. Kirk, B. Stewart)
IGF7: Interactive Gaussian
Fit. Users
can extract multiple gaussian peaks occurring in spectroscopic data. February 2004 (Collaborators: H.
Patterson)
QED: Quantum Electrodynamics
slit/mirror/diffraction grating draw and calculate tool. Users can place slits,
mirrors and diffraction gratings and a point source of light anywhere on the
screen. The program then calculates the resulting diffraction patterns that
would occur at different places on the screen. The program uses Richard
Feynman's graphical description of Quantum Electrodynamics found in "QED: The
Strange Theory of Light and Matter". The fundamental description eliminates the
need to introduce the uncertainty principle or optics equations. The uncertainty
principle and many optics equations can be derived from the description. The
program might be used to enhance our existing spectrometers and design new
ones.
Instrumentation
PC-Controlled
Instrumentation: Take an older scientific
instrument and couple it to a modern PC. This approach has been used to develop
state-of-the-art Raman and Lifetime Luminescence instruments. (Collaborators: H.
Patterson, T. Solouki, C. Tripp)
Nicolet FTIR computer
conversion:
A $20,000+ FTIR was about to be parted out because its dedicated computer was
obsolete and unserviceable. A replacement would cost $8000. Using 2
bidirectional parallel ports and an RS232 port on a PC the system is up and working. Thanks
to Nicolet for providing important support documentation on the FTIR hardware
and its powerful but primitive command language. (Collaborator: C.
Tripp)
Cold Trapping Heavy
Molecules:
Coupling a mass spectrometer to a gas chromatograph has the inherent problem
where the carrier gas corrupts the vacuum pressure decreasing the mass
spectrometer’s sensitivity. This problem is overcome by using rapid
(millisecond) high current heating of a capillary in a cryogen bath and
mini-pulse valves. (Collaborator: T. Solouki)
200 NMR
Restoration: Older NMRs have dedicated computers that
are prone to failure and can not be repaired due to lack of manufacturer support
and discontinued replacement parts. However, the dewar and much of analog electronics can be repaired with
available parts. Interfacing a modern computer can restore a worthless
instrument back to valuable research and educational tool.
Educational
Fourier Transforms and
Analytical Instrumentation: This lab, written for
Analytical Chemistry, utilizes low-cost AD converters and a wave source to read
in data from simple electrical circuits. The data is then Fourier Transformed
and analyzed using Excel's FT ability. Real transient data from an FTIR is
transformed using Excel. The lab creates a great hands-on learning environment.
(Collaborator: T. Solouki)
The Physics of Teaching and
Learning:
Originally developed back in 1998 to help provide insight into the ICN project,
this project has become at least for me, an interesting framework for evaluating
how we teach and how students learn. Implementing the physics analogy is an
on-going process and I list it here to encourage those interested to provide
feedback.
Statistical Data on the
Physics of Learning: (Work in
progress)
The Physics of Learning:
Emotions and Artificial Intelligence: (Work in
progress)
For
Fun
WeeBot: Water Exploration Electronic roBOT. An underwater camera with lights and 3 small motors sends video through a small cable to the surface. (Note: Small low-cost DC motors and lamps work well underwater and require no special waterproofing.) Explorers direct the robot while observing and recording WeeBot’s exploits on a TV/VCR in the comfort of a boat. Video of the Marian, a sunken steamship in Sebec lake, is available.
Metallophilic Interactions
in Closed-Shell d10 Metal-Metal Dicyanide Bonded Luminescent Systems
Eu[AgxAu1-x(CN)2]3 and Their Tunability for Excited State
Energy Transfer, Julie Clarissa F. Colis,
Richard Staples, Carl Tripp, David Labrecque, Howard Patterson, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA. Journal of Physical Chemistry,
Accepted for publication (2004)
A Temperature Controller for
Mass Spectrometer Inlet Systems or Similar Applications, T. Solouki, D.
LaBrecque Technical Report, ICR/Ion Trap Newsletter, 2000,
57, 8-11.
Curing studies of new polyimide
model compounds with molecular weights of about 1000 g/mol. Schulze, T.; Saini, A.
K.; Labrecque, D.; Patterson, H. H. Department of
Chemistry, University of
Maine, Orono, ME, USA. Journal of Macromolecular Science,
Pure and Applied Chemistry (1997),
A34(9), 1535-1552.
Combined use of MIST (David
LaBrecque) and ESI FT-ICR MS for Fingerprinting Milk Samples: In Search of
Biomarkers for Diabetes, T. Washburn (Skowhegan
High School Student), T. Solouki, Maine Research Internships for Teachers and
Students (MERITS) program, August 2002, Augusta,
ME.
Determination of the water content
of snow by dielectric measurements. Camp, P. R.; LaBrecque, D. R.. Dep. Phys. Astron., Univ. Maine, Orono, ME, USA. Avail. NTIS. Report (1992), (CRREL-SR-92-18; Order No.
AD-A256299), 45 pp. From: Gov. Rep. Announce. Index (U. S.)
1993, 93(4),
Abstr. No.
311,052.
Long-term intensity
variations of 20 pulsars. Labrecque, D. R.; Rankin,
J. M.; Cordes, J. M. The Astronomical Journal (ISSN 0004-6256), vol. 108, no. 5,
p. 1854-1859 (1994)
PC Science Lab, LaBrecque, D. R., Computers in
Physics, 4th Annual Educational Software Award
(1993)
Inter-Chem-Net
Strategies for using instrumentation
for assessment of student performance in the lab. Bruce, Mitchell R. M.; Amar,
Francois G.; Kirk, Robert E.; Stewart, Barbara; LaBrecque, David. Department of
Chemistry, University of
Maine, Orono, ME, USA. Book of Abstracts, 219th ACS
National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, March 26-30, 2000 (2000), CHED-983. Publisher: American Chemical
Society, Washington, D. C
Personalized instruction in the
large general chemistry lab program: The role of instrumentation and computer
technology. Amar, Francois G.; Bruce, Mitchell
R. M.; Kirk, Robert; LaBrecque, David; Stewart, Barbara. Department of
Chemistry, University of
Maine, Orono, ME,
USA. Book of
Abstracts, 219th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, March 26-30, 2000 (2000), CHED-146. Publisher: American Chemical
Society, Washington, D. C
From mastery to discovery: Using
inter-chem-net to create individualized student pathways in general
chemistry. Bruce, Mitchell R. M.; Amar,
Francois G.; Kirk, Robert E.; LaBrecque, David. Department of
Chemistry, University of
Maine, Orono, ME, USA. Book of Abstracts, 217th ACS
National Meeting, Anaheim, Calif., March 21-25 (1999), CHED-827. Publisher: American Chemical
Society, Washington, D. C
Individualized student learning
paths using inter-chem-net. Amar, Francois G.; Bruce, Mitchell
R. M.; Kirk, Robert; LaBrecque, David. Department of
Chemistry, University of
Maine, Orono, ME, USA. Book of Abstracts, 217th ACS
National Meeting, Anaheim, Calif., March 21-25 (1999), CHED-047. Publisher: American Chemical
Society, Washington, D. C
Inter-Chem-Net: Making modern
chemical instrumentation accessible to students in large introductory lab
programs. Bruce, Mitchell R. M.; Amar,
Francois G.; Kirk, Robert; LaBrecque, David. Department Chemistry, University Maine, Orono, ME, USA. Book of Abstracts, 216th ACS
National Meeting, Boston, August 23-27
(1998),
CHED-090. Publisher:
American Chemical Society,
Washington, D. C