The Classroom Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM (COPUS): a new instrument to characterize university STEM classroom practices.

Instructors and the teaching practices they employ play a critical role in improving student learning in college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses. Consequently, there is increasing interest in collecting information on the range and frequency of teaching practices at department-wide and institution-wide scales. To help facilitate this process, we present a new classroom observation protocol known as the Classroom Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM or COPUS.

Multiple-wavelength reference based on interleaved, sampled fiber Bragg gratings and molecular absorption.

We present a wavelength calibration reference based on interleaved, sampled fiber Bragg gratings stabilized to a molecular absorption line. Such a hybrid reference can provide multiple stable calibration peaks over a wide range of wavelengths. We demonstrate a wavelength reference that has at least 20 peaks suitable for use as calibration references in each of three wavelength regions: 850, 1300, and 1550 nm.

Amperometric method for determining the degree of complexation of polyelectrolytes with cationic surfactants.

The complexation of sodium polystyrene sulfonate with monovalent cationic surfactants at a microsized liquid/liquid interface has been studied using electrochemistry. The method is based on measurement of surfactant ion transfer across the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). The complexation of various cationic surfactants (alkylpyridinium- and trimethylammonium-) with oligosized polystyrene sulfonate was measured.

Interleaved, sampled fiber Bragg gratings for use in hybrid wavelength references.

We discuss the design and fabrication of interleaved, sampled fiber Bragg gratings (ISFBGs) for use in hybrid wavelength calibration references covering the 1300-1600-nm region. We demonstrate use of sampled phase masks (SPMs) to make sampled gratings and ISFBGs. The success of the SPM technique suggests a single-exposure method with an interleaved, sampled phase mask to make ISFBGs.