Author Archives: ev1

Chemistry C3 – Moles, Mr, mass, concentration, volume and titration calculations – Video

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Chemistry C3 - Moles, Mr, mass, concentration, volume and titration calculations
Please feel free to post questions. Click show more to see content timings for different topics in video 00:00 - The mole and Mr 02:12 - Mass = Mr x moles 03:11 - How many atoms are there...

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Chemistry C3 - Moles, Mr, mass, concentration, volume and titration calculations - Video

Chemistry Life Hacks for Winter Survival (CLH Vol. 5) – Reactions – Video

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Chemistry Life Hacks for Winter Survival (CLH Vol. 5) - Reactions
With temperatures falling along with snow, we #39;re smack in the middle of winter. While you wait out the winter months, we #39;ve got advice on keeping your windshield fog-free, getting unstuck...

By: Reactions

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Chemistry Life Hacks for Winter Survival (CLH Vol. 5) - Reactions - Video

Dr. Michael Berman – Molecular Dynamics and Theoretical Chemistry – Video

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Dr. Michael Berman - Molecular Dynamics and Theoretical Chemistry
Dr. Michael Berman, Program Officer, presents the Molecular Dynamics and Theoretical Chemistry program at the 2014 AFOSR Spring Review. To learn more about this program, visit ...

By: AFOSR, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

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Dr. Michael Berman - Molecular Dynamics and Theoretical Chemistry - Video

MU researcher recognized for contributions to nanomedicine

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IMAGE:For outstanding achievements in radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, Katti has been named the 2015 Hevesy Medal Award winner. view more

Credit: MU News Bureau

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Gold nanoparticles have been proven useful in a number of medical applications. Scientists are developing nanoparticles to produce pharmaceuticals used in the imaging and diagnosis of diseases such as cancer, arthritis, Parkinson's disease and eye degeneration. However, problems occur in the development of these nanoparticles as toxic chemicals are sometimes released during the manufacturing process. For decades, and with funding from the National Institutes of Health, Kattesh Katti, a researcher at the University of Missouri, has been advancing the development of nano-scale molecules, including gold nanoparticles, and has been instrumental in developing environmentally friendly ways of producing these particles using "green" technologies.

For outstanding achievements in radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, Katti has been named the 2015 Hevesy Medal Award winner. The international award of excellence is named for Nobel Prize Winner George de Hevesy (1885-1966), recognizing his work on the use of isotopes as tracers in the study of chemical processes. The award is given annually to an individual in recognition of excellence through sustained career achievements in the fields of applied nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry.

"I am excited to receive this highly coveted international prize as this truly reflects the outstanding quality of scientific research being done in my laboratories, my department, and our medical school at the University of Missouri," Katti said. "This successful journey, to join the illustrious list of former awardees, wouldn't have been a reality without the painstaking efforts of my former and current students, postdoctoral fellows and scores of faculty and scientist collaborators. This award is the culmination of my success in several different areas of nuclear sciences and medicine including radiopharmaceutical sciences, nanomedicine using radioactive gold nanoparticles, bioconjugation chemistry, transition metal and radiometal chemistries, green nanotechnology and nuclear chemistry for the remediation of radioactive waste. I thank my administration for their continued logistical support and unconditional academic freedom. I thank my wife Kavita, our children and my parents for their constant support."

Katti, Curators Professor of Radiology and Physics in the School of Medicine and the College of Arts and Science and senior research scientist at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR), pioneered the development of several nanomedicine tools. Cancer specialists treating prostate cancer with gold nanoparticles, for instance, often were limited to using high doses of toxic chemotherapy. Katti and other researchers at MU found a more efficient way of targeting prostate tumors by using gold nanoparticles and a compound found in tea leaves.

"The Hevesy Medal is international recognition to Kattesh and his fundamental scientific contributions," said Wynn A. Volkert, director of the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Institute and professor emeritus of radiology, biochemistry and chemistry at MU. "He created new knowledge with applications in nuclear medicine, nanomedicine and radiopharmaceutical sciences, and his discovery of radioactive gold nanoparticles is already creating the potential for new therapeutic applications in oncology."

Katti holds a doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science. He was selected as "One of 25 Most Influential Scientists in Molecular Imaging in the World" by rt Image in recognition of his pioneering work on the utility of gold nanoparticles in imaging and therapy. Katti recently was inducted in the National Academy of Inventors, is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and is a Fellow of the St. Louis Academy of Science. Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug cited Katti as the "Father of Green Nanotechnology" in recognition of his groundbreaking green nanotechnology invention of producing gold nanoparticles by a simple mixing of soybeans with gold salt.

"The 2015 Hevesy Medal Award is a fitting tribute to Kattesh for his more than 30 years of sustained groundbreaking research, original discoveries and highly cited scientific contributions encompassing the fields of nuclear chemistry, radiopharmaceutical sciences and nanomedicine," said Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, the Virginia and D. K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research, and chair of the Department of Radiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. "He is highly deserving of this prestigious award for his contributions toward the development of nuclear waste remediation technologies, discovery of radioactive gold nanoparticles in molecular imaging and therapy, and for his plethora of allied nuclear sciences contributions."

Katti will receive the award at a formal ceremony at the Fourteenth International Conference on Modern Trends in Activation Analysis (MTAA-14) to be held at the Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, in August 2015.

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MU researcher recognized for contributions to nanomedicine

ASCO Names Cancer Advance of the Year

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Newswise ALEXANDRIA, Va. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for the first time announced its cancer Advance of the Year: the transformation of treatment for the most common form of adult leukemia. Until now, many patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have had few effective treatment options. Four newly approved therapies, however, are poised to dramatically improve the outlook for patients with the disease.

Nearly 120,000 Americans are living with CLL, and approximately 90 percent are diagnosed over age 55.[1,2] The newly approved treatments for CLL include:

- Two immunotherapy drugs for previously untreated CLL, obinutuzumab and ofatumumab (in combination with standard chemotherapy) - Two molecularly targeted drugs for treatment-resistant or relapsed CLL, ibrutinib and idelalisib

These new therapies fill an enormous need for thousands of patients living with CLL, said Gregory Masters, MD, FACP, FASCO, ASCO expert and co-executive editor of the report. For many older patients, especially, these drugs essentially offer the first chance at effective treatment, since the side effects of earlier options were simply too toxic for many to handle.

The Advance of the Year was announced as part of Clinical Cancer Advances 2015: ASCO's Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer, released today.

The report was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and on ASCOs cancer research advocacy website, http://www.CancerProgress.Net/CCA. Now in its 10th year, the report was developed under the direction of an 18-person editorial board of experts from a wide range of oncology specialties. It features:

- The top cancer research advances of the past year Identifying major trends in cancer prevention and screening, treatment, quality of life, survivorship, and tumor biology - A Decade in Review Recounting the most remarkable improvements in cancer care since the first issue of Clinical Cancer Advances - The 10-Year Horizon Previewing trends likely to shape the next decade of cancer care, including genomic technology, nanomedicine, and health information technologies, such as ASCOs CancerLinQ initiative - Progress in Rare Cancers Highlighting promising early achievements in treating certain uncommon but devastating childhood and adult cancers

The Clinical Cancer Advances report also retains its emphasis on the unique and vital role of federally funded research in advancing progress against cancer.

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ASCO Names Cancer Advance of the Year

Monkey Cage: Why you can ignore that survey showing Americans want to label food containing DNA

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Heres the headline:

80% Of Americans Support Mandatory Labels On Foods Containing DNA. DNA!

Hahaha! Americans are so dumb etc etc. As Robbie Gonzalez writes, Not GMOs. DNA, the genetic material contained in every living thing known to science and practically every food . . . The results smack of satire, but theyre real. . . . The results indicate that most Americans do not understand the difference between DNA and a genetically modified food. . . . The survey results are also symptomatic of chemophobia, an irrational fear of chemicals . . .

I dont buy it. I agree with Thomas Lumley, who writes:

Theres no way this is a sensible question about government policies: it isnt a reasonable policy or one that has been under public debate. Most foods will contain DNA, the exceptions being distilled spirits, some candy, and (if you dont measure too carefully) white rice and white flour. Nevertheless, 80% of people were in favour.

There was also a question Do you support mandatory labeling for foods produced with genetic engineering. This got 82% support.

It seems most likely that many respondents interpreted these questions as basically the same: they wanted labelling for food containing DNA that was added or modified by genetic engineering.

As Lumley puts it:

If you ask a question that is nuts when interpreted precisely, but is basically similar to a sensible question, people are going to answer the question they think you meant to ask. People are helpful that way, even when it isnt helpful.

As the philosopher H. P. Grice noted many years ago, people try to give informative answers. And this leads to problems when you try to directly interpret the responses to trick survey questions. The psychologist Gerd Gigerenzer has made related points in the context of tricky psychology experiments that make people look really foolish. Sometimes a respondent will look foolish in the context of trying to solve an artificial problem. Or, as Lumley writes, Ask a silly question, get a silly answer.

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Monkey Cage: Why you can ignore that survey showing Americans want to label food containing DNA

How do people post important life events on Facebook?

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IMAGE:Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with Open Access options and in print that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet... view more

Credit: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers

New Rochelle, NY, January 20, 2015--When Facebook users share information on important life events, do they prefer to do so directly (detailed status updated or wall posts) or indirectly (photos, change of job title)? How a person chooses to share such news depends on whether the event is positive or negative, according to a new study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website until February 20, 2015.

In the article "How Are Important Life Events Disclosed on Facebook? Relationships with Likelihood of Sharing and Privacy," Jennifer Bevan and coauthors, Chapman University, Orange, CA, focus on significant life events related to romantic relationships, health, work, and school. They report that the specific event itself did not determine how an individual would share the news on Facebook, rather whether it was positive or negative. Users tended to share positive life events indirectly and negative life events directly.

"As social networking sites become more a part of our daily lives, understanding of the delicate dance between negotiating disclosure while maintaining some level of privacy is vital," says Editor-in-Chief Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCB, BCN, Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, California and Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Brussels, Belgium.

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About the Journal

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with Open Access options and in print that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet and interactive technologies, plus cybertherapy and rehabilitation. Complete tables of contents and a sample issue may be viewed on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Games for Health Journal, Telemedicine and e-Health, and Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.

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How do people post important life events on Facebook?

Does gestational diabetes affect the therapeutic potential of umbilical cord-derived stem cells?

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IMAGE:Stem Cells and Development is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published 24 times per year in print and online. The journal is dedicated to communication and objective analysis of developments in... view more

Credit: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers

New Rochelle, NY, January 20, 2015-- Multipotent cells isolated from the human umbilical cord, called mesenchymal stromal cells (hUC-MSCs) have shown promise for use in cell therapy to treat a variety of human diseases. However, intriguing new evidence shows that hUC-MSCs isolated from women with gestational diabetes demonstrate premature aging, poorer cell growth, and altered metabolic function, as reported in an article in Stem Cells and Development, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Stem Cells and Development website until February 17th, 2015.

Jooyeon Kim and coauthors from University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Korea, compared the growth and viability characteristics of hUC-MSCs from the umbilical cords of pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes. They evaluated cell growth, cellular senescence, mitochondrial function-related gene expression as a measure of metabolic activity, and the stem cells' ability to differentiate into various cell types such as bone and fat cells. They report their findings in the article "Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Affected by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Display Premature Aging and Mitochondrial Dysfunction."

"We are only just beginning to scratch the surface of understanding how environmental and gestational stressors of all kinds affect stem cell populations," says Editor-in-Chief Graham C. Parker, PhD, The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI. "The work described offers a non-invasive assay to help determine risk of developmental clinical vulnerability."

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About the Journal

Stem Cells and Development is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published 24 times per year in print and online. The Journal is dedicated to communication and objective analysis of developments in the biology, characteristics, and therapeutic utility of stem cells, especially those of the hematopoietic system. A complete table of contents and free sample issue may be viewed on the Stem Cells and Development website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Cellular Reprogramming, Tissue Engineering, and Human Gene Therapy. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.

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Does gestational diabetes affect the therapeutic potential of umbilical cord-derived stem cells?

Does Orange Juice Have To Genetically Modify Or Die?

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Everybody loves Florida orange juice. Since its emergence in the late 1940s, the sunny beverage has survived hurricanes and anti-sugar diet crazes to become as common on American breakfast tables as scrambled eggs.

But Floridas citrus industry is facing a new existential threat: Citrus greening, a bacterial disease spread by an insect called the Asian citrus psyllid, is killing Floridas citrus trees. The disease emerged in 2005 and since then citrus production has slowed. Last year Florida produced only 104.4 million boxes of orangesits lowest in about 30 years.

Researchers and industry experts say they have a potential solution: genetic engineering. Texas A&M University and University of Florida researchers are separately testing GMO citrus. Erik Mirkov, a plant pathologist at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center who has been working on solutions to citrus greening for nine years, has developed an approach that uses spinach defensins to strengthen oranges resistance to greening.

Mirkov says if Americans want to keep orange juice on their tables, genetic engineering is the best option. "Greening is in Florida and Brazil, so the two biggest producers of oranges in the world could potentially not be able to grow them anymore," Mirkov says. "In a case like this, its not a nice-to-have, its a must-have."

But will Americans want their OJ with a side of spinach? Thats still up for debate, especially as questions about the safety of GMO foods continue. Opponents say those who want to save the citrus industry need to look elsewhere and explore non-GMO optionssuch as organic growing and using parasites to the kill the citrus psyllidwhich promote sustainable control of the disease. Genetic engineering could be a game-changer for the citrus industry, but it also could be an uphill battle to get GMO oranges from research labs to supermarket shelves to kitchen tables.

Citrus greening is a blow to an already-ailing industry. Orange juice consumption hit an 18-year low this year, and consumers increasingly have more exotic fruit juice options such as acai berry, but lower production also has affected sales.

Citrus greening is undoubtedly part of the problem. Most of the worlds citrus-producing regions, including several Asian countries, Brazil, Florida, Texas and California, have experienced greening. The disease begins in a citrus trees roots, infecting a tree before a grower can do anything to stop it, making an otherwise healthy fruit resemble a weird hybrid of a lime and orange.

"Greening disease has been in the world for a long time. Its been around for as long as it has and we havent found a non-GE cure to date," says Rick Kress, president of Southern Gardens Citrus, the worlds largest supplier of pure Florida orange juice. "Every researcher that is aware of this disease has said the ultimate solution is going to be genetic engineering."

Mirkov and Jude Grosser, a researcher at the University of Florida, agree. Mirkov is working closely with Southern Gardens Citrus, and his approach has been used on the most commonly grown oranges, grapefruits and popular lemon varieties in Texas and Florida. So far, spinach defensins have made many trees resistant to greening and others more tolerant to it, meaning they have the bacteria at lower levels than a conventional citrus tree and can still bear fruit.

Grossers research explores both GMO and conventional breeding approaches. On the GMO side, Grossers team has scoured the plant kingdom to find genes that can be introduced to citrus trees to improve their resistance. Though researchers will need to go through a thorough regulatory process to ensure GMO citrus meets the same standard as the normal fruits, Grosser says only one foreign gene is being added to the plant, so there shouldnt be a significant difference between the two. Whether consumers agree is another issue.

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Does Orange Juice Have To Genetically Modify Or Die?