AEC Cancels Contracts,Makes Grants Grants to schools will add to facilities; six contracts for reactor specialist training canceled

C J R A N T S of $3.5 million are going to 55 U. S. colleges and universities to be used to expand training facilities for nuclear scientists and engineers. These grants are part of AEC's assistance pro­gram to encourage colleges and univer­sities to set u p or broaden curricula to ease t h e shortage of trained man­power in atomic energy. Funds will be used to he lp buy lab equipment, includ­ing seven small t raining reactors.

Grants to these 55 schools bring to 91 the number of training grants made by AEC t o 68 educational institutions since March 1957.

The training reactors will be built at the following universities: Arizona, California (Los Angeles) , Delaware, Missouri (School of Mines & Metal­lurgy) , Ohio State, Oregon State, and Wyoming. Each will have to get li­censes to operate the reactors. Grants for buying or building reactors are made only to schools which have studies in nuclear technology at the graduate level and are accredited by die Engineers ' Council for Professional Development.

• Too Good es Job. Because many U. S. schools now offer programs in nuclear science, A E C is curtailing its university participation program. This involves contracts for training nuclear reactor specialists who later at tend the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technol­ogy. Six colleges and universities have been providing concentrated, basic training courses designed to develop proficiency in chemistry, mathematics, physics, a n d engineering for students accepted for ORSORT. They gave the first six months of the one-year course sponsored by AEC.

T h e university participation pro­gram, started last February, at tracted 76 students to its first session. How­ever, only 21 students applied for classes to start this February. AEC feels this is too few to justify the ex­pense of its contracts with Carnegie Tech, Case, Northwestern, UCLA, Florida, a n d Union College.

AEC believes its grants to colleges and universities for purchase of train­ing equipment allow them to enlarge their programs and thus attract t he stu­dents to schools near their homes rather chan to ORSORT.

^Unclassified Research. A E C has also awarded 59 unclassified physical research contracts with universities and private research institutions. Six of

these are new; the remainder are re­newals of contracts which have been i n force. Generally, they are for the term of one year, and t h e institutions contribute the funds and services they normally devote to work in the field. .AEC then provides additional assist­ance to permit the work to proceed more rapidly or with an expanded scope.

The six new contracts are with Louis

NSF Makes 316 Grants Totafiing $5.5 Million National Science Foundation m a d e 316 grants totaling $5.5 million in support

of science during the first quarter of the fiscal year. These grants are to support basic research, conferences in support of science, short-term research by medical science students, exchange of scientific information, and training of science teachers. Among the grants in chemistry a n d cxiemical engineering are the following:

Contract Auburn Research Foundation

Physical Constants of Organophosphorus Compounds University of Arkansas

Stereochemistry of Catalytic Hydrogénation of AJTO-matic and Hydroaromatic Compounds

University of California, Davis Thermodynamic Properties of Metallic Halides Elementary Gas Phase Radical Reactions

University of California, Los Angeles Lipid Metabolism of the Brain

California Institute of Technology Chemistry of Small Ring Compounds

University of Southern California Stereochemistry of Biphenyl Systems Thyroxine and Yeast Metabolism

University of Colorado, Boulder Mechanisms of Addition and Elimination Reactions Bridgehead Compounds

Howard University Role of Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle in the Synthesis

of ^Vitamin Bia University of Florida

Negative Ion Studies by Mass Spectrometry

Florida State University Cell Particulates in Sea Urchin Eggs

Emory University Anion Exchange Studies of Mefal Complexes

Georgia Institute of Technology Relative Acidity of Hydrocarbons and Other Weak

Acids University of Chicago

Enzyme Reactions of Chloroplasts Biochemical Environment and Protein Structure

DePaul University Reaction of Hydrazoic Acid with Ammono-Carboixic

Acids University of Illinois

Nuclear and Quadrupole Relaxation Loyola University

Exchange Reactions in Nonaqueous Ionizing Solvents Earlham College

Development of Structural Theory in Organic Chemistry

Purdue Research Foundation Organic Chemistry of Silicon, Germanium, and T i n

Compounds Cornell College

Steric Effects with Substituted Cyclohexane Com­pounds

Spectrophotometric Studies of Complexes of Transi­tion Metals

Grinnell College Halogenated Cyclobutane Acids

Iowa State College Diffusion Kinetics in Thermal Decompositions

State University of Iowa Electrophoresis of Adsorbed and of Dissolv<ed

Proteins Kansas State College

Metal Complexes and Chelates of Aromatic Acids Tulane University

Reaction of C-Nitroso Compounds with Unsaturated Groups

University of Maine Thermodynamic Properties of Fluorocarbon Solutions

Brandeis University Chemistry in Free Radicals in Solution Nucleic Acid Metabolism of Host Cells Infecte-d

with Virus Biosynthetic and Transfer Reactions involving Nitro­

gen Compounds Enzymatic and Immunochemical Factors Regulating

Cellular Activity

Investigator

Kosolapofi, G. M.

Siegel, Samuel

Allen, Thomas L. Brinton, Robert K.

Zabin, Irving

Roberts, John D .

Berson, Jerome A. Iviarx, Walter

Cristol, Stanley J. ]Vleek, John S.

^Marshall, Lawrence M.

Niuschlitz, Ε. Ε. Cramer, W. H. Bailey, T . L. Fisher, James R. Day , R. Α., Jr. Hine, Jack

"Vennesland, Birgit "Westley, John Lieber, Eugene

Outowsky, H. S-Huston, John L. Benfey, Otto T.

Benkeser, Robert A.

Culbertson, J. B. IDeskin, William A.

Xevill, William A. Hammond, George S. Bull, Henry B.

Lambert, Jack L. Boyer, Joseph H.

Dunlap, Robert Cohen, Saul G. Grossman, Lawrence Jones, Mary Ellen Kaplan, Nathan O.

Amount

$18,500 15,000

9,200 11,000 17,000 21 ,200 16,800

6,000 36 ,400 16,200 10,000

20 ,000

3 ,000 12,000

6,700

35 ,000 14,000

5,500

24 ,200 13.300

3.700

15,400

1.600 1.400

9,500 19.200 45.000

14,400 13.100

18.300 25,400 24 .000

22,000 43.S00

( Continued on page 48 )

J A N . 2 0, 1958 C & E N 4 7

RESEARCH

Gordon at Case Institute, Sister Mary Peter Coakley at Ceorgian Court, J . Wulff and D. A. Stevenson at MIT, A. V. Grosse at Temple, Herbert A. Potratz at Washington University, and J. R. Oillinger at Wisconsin.

Briefs · · ·

• An adîabat ic calor imeter providing high precision within the temperature range from 30° to 500° C. has been developed at the National Bureau of

NSF Grants (Conf.)

Contract Harvard University

Unstable Intermediates in Gas Reactions Chemical Models for Enzyme Systems

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Gas Transmission Through Polymer Films

University of Minnesota Reaction Kinetics of Hydrolytic Enzymes Crushing and Grinding Energetics

University of Missouri Role of Intestinal Microorganisms in Vitamin Nu­

trition in the Chicken Washington University (St. Louis)

Distribution of C " in the Early Products of Photo­synthesis

Characterization of Mammalian Cytochromes Montana State College

Mechanism of Glucosidic Cyanide Formation in Plants

Seton Hall Adaptive Fermentation of the Methyl Pentoses

Columbia University Introduction of Unnatural Bases into Deoxypentose

NTucleic Acids and die Genetical Effects of Such Introduction

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Primary Photochemical Act in Solution Reactions

Yeshiva University Formation of Hydroproline and Hydroxylysine Biochemical Correlates of Behavior Intexconversion of Glutamic Acid and Proline

University of Oklahoma Research Institute Dynamic Response Characteristics of a Continuous,

Agitated Reactor Oklahoma State University

Biological Oxidation of 3-Hydroxyanthranilate University of Oregon

Theoretical Studies in Statistical Chemical Thermo­dynamics

Oregon State College Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Two-

Immiscible Liquids Reed College

Cysteine and Homocysteine Desulfhydrases Carnegie Institute of Technology

Fischer Indole Synthesis Daquesne University

Reaction of Cyanide with Cystine Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital

Spectrophotometry in Biochemical Research Thiel College

Mechanism and Influence of Metallic Cation in Organo-Metallic Reactions

Clemson Agricultural College Determination of Fluoride

University of South Carolina Organic Reaction Mechanisms Reactivity Toward Free Radicals of Nonbonzenoid

Avromatic Hydrocarbons Fisk University

1J2:, Dianilinoethane and 1,3, Dianiiinopropane Derivatives

University of Tennessee Purchase of an Infrared Spectrophotometer for Bio-

cnernical Research Southern Methodist University

Magnetic and Electrical Properties of Antiferro-magnetic Semiconductors

University of Texas Solubility of Gases in Liquids Physiology and Biochemistry of Algae Nature, Role, and Metabolism of Adrenal Ascorbic-

Acid Brigham Young University

Detection of Molecular Species in Ionic Equilibria

University of Utah Theoretical and Experimental Study of Rate Processes

University of Virginia Kinetic Studies of Amines Protein Component Involved in the Photochemical

Xransformation of Photochlorophyll to Chlorophyll-a West Virginia University

Intramolecular Cyclizatioa Involving a Nitro Croup University of Wisconsin

Physical Chemical Studies of Fumarase University of Puerto Rico

Kinetics and Biological Significance of Metal Com­plexes of Oxalacetic Acid

Investigator

Kistiakowsky, George Β Westheimer, F. H. Michaels, Alan S. Lumry, Rufus Piret, Edgar L. Luckey, Thomas D.

Cayle, Theodore Strittmatter, Philipp Gander, John E.

Garner, R. L. Zamenhof, Stephen

Amount

l. 15,000 42,000 13,000 12,500 19,900 28,400

11,000 20,000

7,000

12,000 32,000

Strong, Robert L-Seifter, Sam Sharplcss, Seth K. Strecker, Harold J. Sliepcevich, C. M.

Henderson, L. M. Hill, Terrell L.

Knudsen, James G.

Butler, Eliot Λ. Anderson, Keith Eyring, Henry

Crowell, Thomas I. Kupke, Donald W.

Muth, Chester W .

Alberty, Robert A.

Tyler, David B.

11,000 15,300 23,900 18,000 25,000

31,000 32,600

22,000

Livermore, A. H . Carlin, Robert B. Gawron, Oscar

Boyd, M. John

Puterbaugh, Walter H.

Brownley, F. I., Jr.

DeTar, DeLos F . Kice, John L.

Massie, S. P.

Wood, John L.

Banewicz, John J.

Kobe, Kenneth A. Myers, Jack Salomon, Lothar L.

13,000 14,100 6,000

8,000

5,000

4,400

20,500 15,000

3.500

14,000

9,600

13,300 19,000 8,600

26,400

45,000 14,000 23,000

9,600

60,000

11,000

Standards. Accuracy is 0 . 1 % over most of the temperature range. The apparatus consists of two basic parts: the calorimeter proper, where energy added is accurately accounted for, and a surrounding adîabatic jacket. The sample container is made so that no part of the sample is more than 2.5 mm. from a good thermal conductor, assur­ing that thermal equilibrium is reached quickly. The container is heated by three heating coils, and a platinum re­sistance thermometer determines tem­perature changes—both it and the heaters are in holes in the container.

• "Typhoid M a r y s " of the vegetable world are responsible for serious crop damage by transmitting from genera-lion to generation such diseases as fun­gal and bacterial infections of vege­tables and smuts of cereals. The de­partment of plant pathology of the Uni­versity of California at Berkeley will expand its study of how these diseases may be controlled by seed treatment and disinfection. It will be assisted by funds provided b y Chas Pfizer & Co. Preliminary tests have indicated the XDOssible value of antibiotics as seed-treating agents.

• Boll weevi ls fed a semisynthetic diet in laboratories may speed solution of the problems of resistance to insecti­cides shown by these cotton insects, USD A says. Female weevils normally deposit their eggs in cotton squares (immature flowers), in which they first eat out a small hole. They will not re­produce unless cotton-flower pollen is present. Use of the special diet will make available numbers of laboratory-raised insects for studies to determine: the substance or nutrient in cotton that attracts the weevils; whether cotton breeders can develop new varieties that do not contain these substances; and the possibility of feeding into the cot­ton plant a systemic material to prevent or inhibit weevil development.

• Minute quantities of tungsten in steel can b e determined by a direct photometric method developed at the National Bureau of Standards. The method involves use of dithiol reagent ( l,2-dithiol-4-methylbenzene) which eliminates potential metal interferences by separating metal complexes. Fol­lowing removal of interfering elements, a clear blue tungsten-dithiol complex is formed. Extraction in butyl acetate allows the absorbancy of the complex to be measured in a photometer.

4 8 C & E N J A N . 2 0, 1958