Last year, world population surpassed 7 billion, and over the next four decades, it is expected to grow by 2 billion more. The impact this will have on the planet and society can be staggering -- increasing demand for material goods, growing strains on natural resources and energy supplies and more waste generated. To meet these needs, we will need more sustainable products and infrastructure -- in short, a more sustainable economy.

Recently, I participated in a dialogue on the building blocks of a sustainable economy at the GLOBE 2012 conference in Vancouver, and my role was to discuss how sustainable chemistry can build a more sustainable economy.

In the chemical industry, we have "chemical building blocks," which are basic chemicals from which many others can be made. With more than 95 percent of all manufactured goods relying on chemistry in their value chain, integrating sustainability and green chemistry concepts -- "sustainable chemistry" -- as a building block is a vitally important part of building a more sustainable economy.

Green chemistry is a set of principles to design, but sustainable chemistry looks beyond only a science. It is a catalyst for change, an innovative approach to problem-solving and a long-term solution to global sustainability challenges.

What do I mean by sustainable chemistry? At Dow, we embrace green chemistry principles and apply them across four pillars:

Applying the four pillars of sustainable chemistry to enable a more sustainable economy takes collaboration. Today, there are unlimited options for companies to come together to promote a more sustainable future. Through collaboration, companies, governments and NGOs can help further applications of green chemistry across each of these four pillars.

At Dow, we've taken advantage of opportunities to work towards a more sustainable future with other organizations. Technologies emerging from collaboration and our approach to sustainable chemistry include: roofing shingles with integrated photovoltaics that make harnessing the power of the sun affordable; advanced lithium-ion batteries for improved hybrid and electric vehicle efficiency; corn seed traits that increase crop productivity; and a joint venture with Mitsui in Brazil to make plastics from sugar cane.

Building up powerful collaborations with emerging leaders are fundamental to expanding green chemistry's impacts. In March, Dow expanded its Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge Award program, more than doubling the number of schools participating around the world. The program drives collaboration and advancement in social and environmental responsibility by inspiring and rewarding students who develop sustainable solutions.

We've made progress on developing the building blocks for a sustainable economy. Collective and collaborative human ingenuity will continue to utilize science to overcome what sometimes looks like a dire environmental situation. Too often, people draw a straight line from the problems we face today to the negative impacts they will have tomorrow -- depleted natural resources, compromised living conditions due to ecosystem degradation and other doom and gloom scenarios.

But scientists and organizations around the world need to collaborate to better understand what the buildings blocks of a sustainable economy are, and how we can work together to put them in place. Ultimately, chemistry and collaboration and people have the power to bend that straight line to a more positive point in the future, where nature and therefore human prosperity are in balance.

Read more:
The 4 pillars of sustainable chemistry and a green economy

Staff Writer

Jackie Ricciardi/staff Augusta State chemistry professor, Stephanie Myers poses for a photo in her office on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. She will be starting a new forensic science program.

Augusta State University is creating a new chemistry track for students who want to become behind-the-scenes scientists.

The Department of Chemistry and Physics will debut a forensic science track in fall 2012, which can lead to jobs testing blood stains on clothes from crime scenes or determining types of drugs found in the bloodstream.

We are a very hands-on department, said Stephanie Myers, professor of chemistry and forensic science advisor. Students get lots of real lab experience. Theyre not watching someone else do it.

Students who sign up for the new track will still graduate with a chemistry degree but with a concentration in the forensic field. ASU Vice President for Academic Affairs Carol Rychly said adding this track to the chemistry department compliments the goals of the merger with Georgia Health Sciences University - creating more options for students and producing more qualified graduates.

One of the things that were looking to as we move toward the new (university) is to build up the programs we already have and making them more robust, Rychly said. Its a win-win. Youre meeting the students needs and youre providing the community employable people.

Rychly said she expects other departments to add more tracks or programs within their field in the next few years. The expansion also provides a chance for collaboration between liberal arts and health sciences, like a possible medical humanities course in the works, she said.

Myers said the forensic track was born out of an interest from the students and opportunity after she received a certificate in forensic science from The University of Florida in 2010.

Students will take standard chemistry requirements their freshman and sophomore years and move toward more specialized forensic courses as upperclassmen.

Read the original here:
ASU creating new chemistry forensics study

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/w5vzp6/clinical_chemistry) has announced the addition of GlobalData's new report "Clinical Chemistry - Global Pipeline Analysis, Competitive Landscape and Market Forecasts to 2018" to their offering.

GlobalData's new report, Clinical Chemistry - Global Pipeline Analysis, Competitive Landscape and Market Forecasts to 2018 provides key data, information and analysis on the global clinical chemistry market. The report provides market landscape, competitive landscape and market trends information on the clinical chemistry market. The report provides comprehensive information on the key trends affecting the market, and key analytical content on the market dynamics. The report also reviews the competitive landscape and technology offerings.

Scope

- Key geographies covered include the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, China, India, Australia, and Brazil.

- Key segments covered include Clinical Chemistry Rapid Tests & POC, Enzyme Chemistry Reagents, Metabolite Chemistry Reagents, Electrolyte Chemistry Reagents, Clinical Chemisty Analyzers, and Urine Analysis.

- Annualized market revenues data from 2004 to 2011, forecast forward for seven years to 2018. Company shares data for 2011.

- Qualitative analysis of key market trends, market drivers, and restraints by each category within the clinical chemistry market.

- The report also covers information on the leading market players, the competitive landscape, and the leading pipeline products and technologies.

- Key players covered include F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Siemens Healthcare, Abbott Laboratories, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics and Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Continue reading here:
Research and Markets: Clinical Chemistry - Global Pipeline Analysis, Competitive Landscape and Market Forecasts to 2018

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fd2rw3/chemistry_2nd_edi) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Chemistry, 2nd Edition" to their offering.

The second edition of this market leading textbook, with a multimedia-integrated approach to the presentation of Chemistry for University students!

This is the second edition of this market leading text book. The text and digital package is engineered to cater for the content needs of the first year chemistry course as it is generally taught at universities.

The success of the 1st edition has been attributed to the student friendly and engaging writing style, the relevance to real life, and the clear worked examples; which all help demystify chemistry for the 1st year student. In addition to this, our online teaching and learning system, WileyPLUS which is fully integrated with the text, provides lecturers and students with an equitable multimedia platform to enhance their teaching and learning.

Following its success, the first edition was rigorously reviewed, and enhancements made to both the text and the digital resources. The 2nd edition has been enriched in both the text (by addition of new Main Groups chapter and other minor improvements).

New to this Edition:

- Chapter 2 has new content on dimensional analysis and errors and significant figures

- Chapter 8 has been broken into smaller sections allowing mathematical content to be ignored if not required

- NEW! Chapter 14 The p-block elements' - previously available as an additional supplement, this chapter has now been integrated into the text based on market demand

More:
Research and Markets: Chemistry, 2nd Edition Is Engineered To Cater For the Content Needs of the First Year Chemistry ...

13-05-2012 12:43 This is a second example of how to balance a redox reaction in an acidic solution by using the method of half-reactions.

Originally posted here:
Chemistry 13.6b More Balancing by Half-Reactions (Acidic) - Video

13-05-2012 10:53 Step by step instructions on how to balance a redox reaction in an acidic solution using the method of half-reactions.

Excerpt from:
Chemistry 13.6a Balancing Redox by Half-reactions (Acidic) - Video

13-05-2012 08:36 This lesson shows how to balance redox reactions using the method of oxidation numbers or oxidation states. This method is useful for simpler redox reactions that do not take place in acids or bases.

More:
Chemistry 13.5 Balancing Redox by Oxidation Number - Video

To get that job done, I need to get Scott Brown on the reform team, Romney declared, as the crowd burst into chants of We want Brown!

At that point, they agreed on virtually every major issue - opposing gay marriage, abolishing bilingual education, rolling back taxes, instituting the death penalty, cutting budgetary waste and inefficiency.

But despite the stage they shared that day, Brown and Romney never developed more than a passing political partnership, according to friends and associates. As Browns star has risen as a moderate proud of his bipartisan appeal, and Romney has worked hard to court the Republican base in his bids for the presidency, their paths have diverged, and their relationship has become more complicated as a result.

Brown no longer features Romney on his website or in his political ads, as he did in that 2004 race. Now, he advertises the three times when he has stood behind President Obama at the White House as Obama has signed Browns bills into law.

Browns campaign is also working subtly to distance him from Romney, whose sagging popularity in Massachusetts could make him a liability for Brown.

The Brown campaign declined to make the senator available to discuss his relationship with Romney and instead issued a statement declaring that Brown is his own person who doesnt line up entirely with any political party or candidate. Included with the statement was an analysis boasting of how many times Brown voted to override Romneys vetoes in the Legislature.

Brown did, however, endorse Romney for president last year as soon as the former governor made it clear he was running again. And Democrats are trying to make hay out of the relationship. A Web ad released by the Massachusetts Democratic Party calls them BFF - best friends forever - and shows clips of them yukking it up and praising each other at political events.

Brown also employs the same campaign advisers as Romney, making their pas de deux all the more intriguing to political insiders.

Those who know both men say they respect and admire each other but could hardly be called friends who get together off the campaign trail.

Read more here:
Between Brown, Romney, support but little chemistry

13-05-2012 13:48 Joanne provides suggestions of books to read and refer to in order to understand the ingredients found in household items and in particular, those found in cosmetics, hair care and skin care. If you are serious about understanding the science behind these products, these books will give you a good start. A different type of video in that I filmed this with my webcam and less than optimal lighting. More videos about the science behind your favorite products coming soon. Why There's Antifreeze in Your Toothpaste: The Chemistry of Household Ingredients Chemistry Connections: the chemical basis of everyday phenomena Can You Get Hooked on Lip Balm Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary The Beauty Brains About Joanne: Website-- Twitter-- http Google+-- Video content © 2012 Joanne Manaster

The rest is here:
Book suggestions for future cosmetic chemists, aestheticians and make-up artists | Joanne Manaster - Video

REVIEWED BY ZSUZSI GARTNER From Saturday's Globe and Mail Published Friday, May. 11, 2012 4:00PM EDT

Annotated plans for the (de)construction of Peter Careys The Chemistry of Tears (including various figures, captions, gears, and essential diagrams):

Fig. 1. Canard Digrateur, 1738. Its fitting that Jacques de Vaucansons Digesting Duck, or the idea of it, squats at the centre of Peter Careys latest novel.

The famous mechanical duck, one of the early roboticists automatons, had 400 moving parts and could purportedly eat grain and then defecate. Its miraculous anatomy was fraudulent the feces was pre-stored in a compartment and pushed out by a mechanism as the duck swallowed and digested the grain but the lifelike automaton still compelled.

Carey has explored creation and authenticity before, most recently in Theft: A Love Story and My Life as a Fake, as well as constructed identities in His Illegal Self. In The Chemistry of Tears, the twice-laurelled Booker Prize winner again takes on complex fraudulence and subterfuge, in both the past and present of his story.

Fig. 2.a. Catherine Gehrig, 2010. A rational sensualist and British museum horologist, Gehrig is charged with reassembling an 18th-century automaton. Its an exquisitely demanding task her avuncular and crafty boss thinks will soothe as Catherine grieves the sudden death of her secret lover and fellow conservator. (All of this unfolds in the first brisk dozen pages Carey is one of the dabber hands with plot among literary writers.)

Fig. 2.b. Henry Brandling, 1854. The Englishmans Grimm Brothers-like adventure in the Black Forest illuminates the Victorians fondness for quack cures (pun only noted in hindsight, honestly!).

Brandlings young son is ill (consumptive?) and is subjected to the fashionable treatment of freezing hydrotherapy when all else fails. Henry is convinced, after showing Percy reproduced plans for Vaucansons century-old duck in a London newspaper and witnessing his sons surge of energy, that he has found a cure, a clockwork Grail.

The German clockmaker he commissions to recreate the mechanical canard is a mad, bullying neo-genius who claims to have worked with Dr. Albert Cruikshank an avatar of Charles Babbage, the 19th-century inventor of the Analytical Engine, godfather of the computer, and an icon of the Steampunk genre (viz. William Gibson and Bruce Sterlings seminal The Difference Engine.)

Caption 1. Always remember that almost any treatment is safer than the condition you are treating. Percys physician.

Read more:
The Chemistry of Tears, by Peter Carey

Select a Publication: N E W S P A P E R S ---------------------------------------------- ---Alberta--- Airdrie - Airdrie Echo Banff - Banff Crag and Canyon Beaumont - Beaumont News Calgary - The Calgary Sun Camrose - Camrose Canadian Canmore - Canmore Leader Central Alberta - County Market Cochrane - Cochrane Times Cold Lake - Cold Lake Sun Crowsnest Pass - Crowsnest Pass Promoter Devon - Dispatch News Drayton - Drayton Valley Western Review Edmonton - Edmonton Examiner Edmonton - The Edmonton Sun Edson - Edson Leader Fairview - Fairview Post Fort McMurray - Fort McMurray Today Fort Saskatchewan - Fort Saskatchewan Record Grande Prairie - Daily Herald Tribune Hanna - Hanna Herald High River - High River Times Hinton - Hinton Parklander Lacombe - Lacombe Globe Leduc - Leduc Representative Lloydminster - Meridian Booster Mayerthorpe - Mayerthorpe Freelancer Nanton - Nanton News Peace Country - Peace Country Sun Peace River - Peace River Record Gazette Pincher Creek - Pincher Creek Echo Sherwood Park - Sherwood Park News Spruce Grove - Spruce Grove Examiner Stony Plain - Stony Plain Reporter Strathmore - Strathmore Standard Vermilion - Vermilion Standard Vulcan - Vulcan Advocate Wetaskiwin - Wetaskiwin Times Whitecourt - Whitecourt Star ---Manitoba--- Altona - Alton Red River Valley Echo Beausejour - Beausejour Review Carman - Carman Valley Leader Gimli - Interlake Spectator Lac Du Bonnet - Lac Du Bonnet Leader Morden - Morden Times Portage la Prairie - Portage Daily Graphic Selkirk - Selkirk Journal Stonewall - Stonewall Argus and Teulon Times Winkler - Winkler Times Winnipeg - The Winnipeg Sun ---Ontario--- Amherstburg - Amherstburg Echo Bancroft - Bancroft this Week Barrie - Barrie Examiner Barry's Bay - Barry's Bay this Week Belleville - Intelligencer Bradford - Bradford Times Brantford - Expositor Brockville - The Recorder & Times Chatham - Chatham Daily News Chatham - Chatham This Week Chatham - Today's Farmer Clinton - Clinton News-Record Cobourg - Northumberland Today Cochrane - Cochrane Times Post Collingwood - Enterprise Bulletin Cornwall - Standard Freeholder Delhi - Delhi News-Record Dresden - Leader Spirit Dunnville - Dunnville Chronicle Elliot Lake - Standard Espanola - Mid-North Monitor Fort Erie - Times Gananoque - Gananoque Reporter Goderich - Goderich Signal-Star Grand Bend - Lakeshore Advance Haliburton - Haliburton Echo Hanover - The Post Ingersoll - Ingersoll Times Innisfil - Innisfil Examiner Kapuskasing - Kapuskasing Northern Times Kenora - Kenora Daily Miner and News Kenora - Lake of the Woods Enterprise Kincardine - Kincardine News Kingston - Frontenac This Week Kingston - Kingston This Week Kingston - Kingston Whig Standard Kirkland Lake - Northern News Leamington - Leamington Post Lindsay - The Lindsay Post London - The London Free Press London - The Londoner Lucknow - Lucknow Sentinel Midland - Free Press Minden - Minden Times Mitchell - Mitchell Advocate Napanee - Napanee Guide Niagara-on-the-Lake - Niagara Advance Niagara Falls - Review Niagara Falls - Niagara Shopping News Niagara Falls - W. Niagara Community Newspapers North Bay - North Bay Nugget Northumberland - Northumberland Today Norwich - Norwich Gazette Orillia - Packet and Times Ottawa - The Ottawa Sun Owen Sound - Sun Times Oxford - Oxford Review Paris - Paris Star Online Pelham - Pelham News Pembroke - Daily Observer Peterborough - Peterborough Examiner Petrolia - Petrolia Topic Picton - County Weekly News Port Colborne - Inport News Port Hope - Northumberland Today Port Elgin - Shoreline Beacon Sarnia - Observer Sarnia - Sarnia This Week Sault Ste Marie - Sault Star Sault Ste Marie - Sault This Week Seaforth - Seaforth Huron Expositor Simcoe - Simcoe Reformer St. Catharines - St. Catharines Shopping News St. Catharines - Standard St. Thomas - St. Thomas Times-Journal Stirling - Community Press Stratford - The Beacon Herald Strathroy - Strathroy Age Dispatch Sudbury - Sudbury Star Thorold - Thorold News Tillsonburg - Tillsonburg News Timmins - Daily Press Timmins - Timmins Times Toronto - The Toronto Sun Trenton - Trentonian Wallaceburg - Wallaceburg Courier Press Welland - Tribune Welland - Welland News West Lorne - The Chronicle Wiarton - Wiarton Echo Woodstock - Sentinel Review ---Saskatchewan--- Meadow Lake - Meadow Lake Progress Melfort - Melfort Journal Nipawin - Nipawin Journal MAGAZINES & SPECIALTY PUBLICATIONS --------- Biz Magazine Business London Cottage Home and Property Showcase Food and Wine Show Hamilton Halton Weddings Hamilton Magazine InterVin International Wine Awards Kingston Life London Citylife Muskoka Magazine Muskoka Trails Niagara Food and Wine Expo Niagara Magazine Ontario Farmer Ontario Golf Sault Good Life Simcoe Life The Home Show Vines Magazine What's Up Muskoka

Continue reading here:
ENT: Chemistry came together for album

In Peter Carey's new novel, The Chemistry of Tears, the hero and the heroine are separated by 150 years. It is an object a piece of technology that brings Catherine and Henry together: An enormous, 19th-century, mechanical duck.

Catherine, a horologist an expert on the inner workings of clocks is restoring it in the present day. It's a distraction from the sudden death of her married lover. Henry, more than a century earlier, commissions the duck as a giant toy for his beloved, but very sick child.

As the two narratives unfold, the duck becomes a swan, and many of its inner workings are revealed. This is not exactly true for the difficult, mysterious characters who populate the book. Carey, a two-time Booker Prize winner, talks with NPR's Rachel Martin about his 12th novel.

On humans as inventors and victims of technology:

"I began thinking about how all of that wonderful, bright invention of the 19th century and the Industrial Revolution and before that demonstrates human beings as playful and inventive and capable of amazing things, and how all of that has really led us to the present plight we face on the planet, where we appear to be poisoning ourselves. So that's the relationship between humans and technology, in which the humans are at once the pure inventors and pure souls and then also the victims of technology."

On the use of a dual narrative:

"I was interested in the present, and I was interested in the past. And the only reason I'm ever really interested about the past is because of its effect on the present. And although part of this book is set in the 19th century, with characters living in the 19th century, we, too, are living in the consequences of the 19th century. So, it's really quite simple in this case. I mean, you have one character who's living in 2010 and one character who's living in 1858, and these are ways to know them directly, to know them from inside."

On tears and combining science and feeling:

"I shouldn't really admit this, but what the title came from was a Google search. Because I thought, I don't know anything about tears, but I bet you they do all sorts of things I don't know about. And indeed, they do."

"It seemed to me to encapsulate the book, in the sense that we are looking at human yearning and human pain and loss and fear of death and searches for other meanings. And at the same time, the notion of chemistry, which seems to sort of go against the feeling of things. So I wanted to combine science and feeling, I suppose."

View post:
History, Heartbreak And 'The Chemistry Of Tears'

Originally published May 12, 2012 at 11:42 p.m., updated May 12, 2012 at 11:42 p.m.

Chemistry instructor Ron Reese was recognized during Victoria College's spring 2012 commencement ceremony Saturday with the Distinguished Teaching Award.

Reese has been teaching chemistry in VC's Division of Science, Mathematics and Physical Education since he joined the faculty in 2008. He teaches organic chemistry along with general, analytical and instrumental chemistry.

"Dr. Reese is a highly motivated teacher who cares about each of his students," said Dean of VC's Division of Science, Mathematics and Physical Education Jerry Hamilton. "His dedication and willingness to help every student makes him very popular on campus. Most importantly, he provides his students with a fundamental understanding of chemistry that will allow them to be successful in their future endeavors."

Following his nomination by current students Jason Zissa, Luke Kelly and Aaron Escalante, Reese received supportive acclaim from numerous students and colleagues citing his dedication to teaching and outstanding student support.

"I enjoy interacting with my students," Reese said. "I encourage them to work hard in their current studies and strive to help them get ahead."

According to his peers, Reese possesses a collaborative work ethic that elevates the quality of instruction for the entire department. His fellow instructors also recognize his passionate dedication to teaching chemistry along with his ability to challenge his students while making his classes interesting and enjoyable.

His students also appreciate his teaching style, which former student Daniel Welder said fostered a new appreciation for chemistry and gave him a new perspective on education in general.

"Dr. Reese instills in students the importance of learning and retention, providing countless real-world applications of the subject material," said Welder.

Reese encourages his students not to settle for mediocrity, but to reach as high as they can reach. He is impressed with the heights some of his students have attained.

Go here to read the rest:
VC chemistry instructor honored

SALT LAKE CITY A scientist accused of stealing secret formulas from a Utah chemistry company has pleaded guilty to a federal computer charge.

Prabhu Mohapatra entered the plea Friday in U.S. District Court to one count of unlawful access to a protected computer, in exchange for prosecutors dropping 25 other charges against him, the Deseret News reported (http://bit.ly/JOw00o ).

Mohapatra, 42, had worked for North Logan-based Frontier Scientific Inc. from 2009 to 2011. He admitted to accessing a company chemical resource notebook and emailing the formula for meso-Tetraphenylporphine, or TPP, to his brother-in-law in India.

Investigators say that relative was setting up a competing company to undercut Frontier Scientific on prices it charges for pharmaceutical chemicals. Frontier Chemical, which supplies chemicals for research and drug discovery, says no other company in the world produces TPP in such large quantities.

The case marked the first time federal authorities filed industrial espionage charges in Utah, according to FBI officials. Until 1996, the theft of trade secrets wasn't a federal crime, and the FBI had spotty success trying to prosecute such cases using other statutes.

Congress then passed the Economic Espionage Act, giving the FBI full authority to pursue the cases. Many companies handle such cases internally, afraid the news will lower their company's stock or send investors fleeing, federal authorities said.

Mohapatra in December pleaded not guilty to federal charges, including computer fraud and theft of trade secrets. He was arrested Nov. 14 and released the same day after his moves were tracked on a company computer.

He was placed on leave Oct. 26 and later confessed his role in a meeting with company executives, according to court documents.

Mohapatra faces up to five years in prison when he's sentenced Aug. 28.

Go here to see the original:
Scientist accused of stealing secret formulas from Utah chemistry company pleads guilty

OKLAHOMA CITY - It started with a few amateur music videos, a couple kids emerging from their teenage years getting together to hang out.

These days, just about anyone can get a taste of the friendship that has blossomed between All-Star Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City Thunder teammate James Harden, most famous in the past two weeks or so for the elbow to the head he took from the Los Angeles Lakers' Metta World Peace.

Along with developing into a dangerous third scoring threat for the Thunder, Harden is starting to gain notoriety by starring alongside Durant in commercials. Harden stars opposite Durant in a spot for the movie "Battleship," the two playing one-on-one at the Thunder's old practice gym between images of ships exploding at sea. They show their goofier side alongside Kate Upton in a "Take a Supermodel to Work" commercial for Skullcandy headphones.

"We just instantly clicked when he got here," Durant said. "He's one of those guys you really respect for what he does, and just a good person to hang around. We've been like brothers ever since he's been here. It's kind of hard to explain. When he first got here, it was like we've known each other for a long time."

Away from basketball, Durant and Harden started getting together with Jeff Green - who was drafted the same year as Durant but has since been traded to Boston - during Harden's rookie year two seasons ago. Harden was 20 and Durant 21 and both had the same taste in music, even if Durant had a more reserved personality than Harden, shown by the way he dresses and refuses to trim his beard.

"I bring it out of him," said Harden, the No. 3 pick in the 2009 draft. "That's what I'm here for, on the court off the court. I make him have a good time and laugh. Opposites attract."

Lately, he's also playing the best basketball of his three-year career. Harden had the first 40-point game of his career last month in Phoenix, close to where he played at Arizona State, and he took over in the fourth quarter to lead Oklahoma City back from 13 points down for a 103-97 win in Game 4 in Dallas to complete a first-round sweep.

"I think I've gotten into a groove this past month, month and a half, just getting a feel for it, especially going into the playoffs, knowing where we came from last year and where we want to go this year," Harden said. "Obviously, I want to play my best basketball even when I'm not making shots."

Harden was the NBA's top-scoring reserve (averaging 16.8 points) and is a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, while Durant won the league's scoring title for the third straight year this season.

Combined with All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, Harden and Durant make up the highest-scoring threesome in the league - better even than Miami All-Stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Coach Scott Brooks said Harden's offensive performance in the fourth quarter of Game 4, when he scored 15 of his team-high 29 points, went beyond being the best Harden could play.

Link:
Perfect chemistry

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA - News) has received Responsible Care Energy Efficiency Awards, Facility Safety Certificates and a Performance Award from the American Chemistry Council (ACC) for implementing energy efficiency improvements and achieving certain safety and product stewardship milestones.

Individual ACC member companies nominated specific energy efficiency projects and safety milestone achievements for recognition. Winners were selected by members of the judging committee, and were recognized at the 2012 Responsible Care Conference and Expo in Hollywood, Florida on April 30.

The Responsible Care Energy Efficiency Awards Program is among ACCs many ongoing initiatives to improve energy efficiency in the chemical industry. In 2011, the total annual energy savings achieved by all of the projects that won ACC awards was 16.9 trillion BTUsenough to power all the homes in a city the size of Norfolk, Virginia for one year (95,000 housing units, according to the U.S. Census Bureau).

The Energy Efficiency Program Award is given to companies with broad programs to achieve energy-efficiency improvements, with components such as establishing energy teams, goal setting, communications, management support and recognition. Graces Alumina manufacturing plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana received an Energy Efficiency Program Award for reducing its steam and natural gas usage by 80% and 15%, respectively, from 2010 to 2011.

The Environmental Impact Award is given for initiatives with substantial environmental benefits, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to improvements in energy efficiency. Graces Lake Charles facility won an Environmental Impact Award for reducing the volume of waste water requiring treatment by 25% from 2010 to 2011.

The Non-Manufacturing Improvement Award is given for improvements resulting from energy-efficient lighting, insulation and other building improvements, and other non-manufacturing energy improvements. Graces global headquarters in Columbia, Maryland won a Non-Manufacturing Improvement Award for reducing its electricity and natural gas usage by 12% and 7%, respectively, from 2010 to 2011.

These changes reduced the companys annualized emissions of carbon dioxide by 8,594 short tons.

A total of 13 Grace locations received Facility Safety Certificates. Facilities in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Chattanooga and Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee; Chicago 51st Street and 65th Street, Illinois; Columbia, Maryland; East Chicago, Indiana; Edison, New Jersey; Hesperia, California; and Houston, Texas received Certificates of Excellence for having operated without fatalities, days away from work, safety-related job transfers or restricted work among both employees and contractors in 2011.

Graces facility in Chicago 71st Street, Illinois, received a Certificate of Honor for having operated without fatalities, days away from work or safety-related restricted work in 2011.

See the original post:
Grace Receives Awards for Energy Efficiency, Safety and Product Stewardship Improvements

Chemistry making Metuchen dangerous tournament team

MHS baseball team sports 12-4 mark

BY JIMMY ALLINDER Correspondent

Within the confines of the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division, Metuchen High Schools baseball team has fared well, posting a 12-4 record and finishing in second place to unbeaten Middlesex. The question is, can the Bulldogs make their mark in the upcoming conference state tournaments?

Tournaments always come down to which teams have the most effective pitching, reliable defense and timely hitting, says Leo Danik, Metuchen coach. This year, both [GMC and Central Jersey Group I] tournaments arewide open, so it will be quite a challenge for us to win.

Metuchen appears to have all the ingredients to not only go far in the states, but make its mark in the GMCs. The pitching has been reliable with seniors Steve Fortuna, Michael Redshaw and Jon Pertakakos receiving the majority of starting assignments. Fortuna sports a 5-0 record, has given up just two earned runs and struck out 55. Redshaws record is 4-2, and Pertakakos has posted a 3- 1 mark.

Fortuna has helped himself at the plate by leading the Bulldogs in hits (25) and runs batted in (25) and is hitting a team-leading .532. No less than five other regulars are also hitting above .300 to help the offense. Junior Michael Hronich is hitting .465 with 20 hits and 22 RBIs, junior Kyle Salmon is batting .460 with 23 hits and 12 RBIs, Petrakakos has a .375 average with 15 hits and 9 RBIs, senior Tim Redshaw maintains a .317 average with 23 hits and a team-leading 16 runs scored, and Nicholas Aretino is hitting .423 with 17 hits.

Danik says Redshaw and sophomores Paul Rhoades and Chris Micak have come up in big spots and have delivered at the plate and in the field.

The chemistry thats developed with this team, says Danik, has been a big factor for us coming together sooner than I expected. A lot of that has to do with our senior leadership. We have individuals in key positions that have come through time after time to get us to where we are now. There are no single-minded individuals here. Everything we do is focused on how it will contribute to the team winning.

The GMC will determine the seeds for its tournament on May 11, and first-round games are scheduled for May 15 at the home of the higher seed. The state tournament begins May 21. The Bulldogs traveled to Colonia for a regular-season game on May 7 and host Linden on May 9 and South Plainfield on May 11.

Read the rest here:
Chemistry making Metuchen dangerous tournament team

May 7, 2012

Hoby Wedler demonstrates his molecule builder set, which depicts the structure of ethyl acetate broken into parts. It helps him form a mental image of the chemical bonds. (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis photo)

Henry "Hoby" Wedler, a graduate student in chemistry at the University of California, Davis, will be one of 14 individuals honored today (May 7) at the White House as Champions of Change for leading the way for people with disabilities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

STEM is vital to Americas future in education and employment, so equal access for people with disabilities is imperative, as they can contribute to and benefit from STEM, said Kareem Dale, special assistant to President Obama for disability policy. The leaders weve selected as Champions of Change are proving that when the playing field is level, people with disabilities can excel in STEM, develop new products, create scientific inventions, open successful businesses, and contribute equally to the economic and educational future of our country.

Wedler, who is blind, is working toward his Ph.D. in organic chemistry. Inspired by programs offered by the National Federation of the Blind in high school and with encouragement from professors, colleagues and others, Wedler gained the confidence to challenge and refute the mistaken belief that STEM fields are too visual and, therefore, impractical for blind people.

Wedler is not only following his own passion; he is working hard to develop the next generation of scientists by founding and teaching at an annual chemistry camp for blind and low-vision high school students. Sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind, the camp's goal is to demonstrate to these students, by example and through practice, that their lack of eyesight should not hold them back from pursuing their dreams.

Wedler was nominated by Douglas Sprei of Learning Ally, a nonprofit formerly known as Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic. The organization allowed Wedler to excel in school.

The Champions of Change program was created as part of President Obamas Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

To watch this event live, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/live at 1:30 p.m. ET, 10:30 am Pacific Time today (May 7).

For more than 100 years, UC Davis has engaged in teaching, research and public service that matter to California and transform the world. Located close to the state capital, UC Davis has more than 32,000 students, more than 2,500 faculty and more than 21,000 staff, an annual research budget that exceeds $684 million, a comprehensive health system and 13 specialized research centers. The university offers interdisciplinary graduate study and more than 100 undergraduate majors in four colleges Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science. It also houses six professional schools Education, Law, Management, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing.

Continued here:
White House hails blind chemistry grad student as “Champion of Change”

ScienceDaily (May 8, 2012) The overwhelming majority of proteins and other functional molecules in our bodies display a striking molecular characteristic: They can exist in two distinct forms that are mirror images of each other, like your right hand and left hand. Surprisingly, each of our bodies prefers only one of these molecular forms.

This mirror-image phenomenon -- known as chirality or "handedness" -- has captured the imagination of a UCLA research group led by Thomas G. Mason, a professor of chemistry and physics and a member of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA.

Mason has been exploring how and why chirality arises, and his newest findings on the physical origins of the phenomenon were published May 1 in the journal Nature Communications.

"Objects like our hands are chiral, while objects like regular triangles are achiral, meaning they don't have a handedness to them," said Mason, the senior author of the study. "Achiral objects can be easily superimposed on top of one another."

Why many of the important functional molecules in our bodies almost always occur in just one chiral form when they could potentially exist in either is a mystery that has confounded researchers for years.

"Our bodies contain important molecules like proteins that overwhelmingly have one type of chirality," Mason said. "The other chiral form is essentially not found. I find that fascinating. We asked, 'Could this biological preference of a particular chirality possibly have a physical origin?'"

In addressing this question, Mason and his team sought to discover how chirality occurs in the first place. Their findings offer new insights into how the phenomenon can arise spontaneously, even with achiral building-blocks.

Mason and his colleagues used a manufacturing technique called lithography, which is the basis for making computer chips, to make millions of microscale particles in the shape of achiral triangles. In the past, Mason has used this technique to "print" particles in a wide variety of shapes, and even in the form of letters of the alphabet.

Using optical microscopy, the researchers then studied very dense systems of these lithographic triangular particles. To their surprise, they discovered that the achiral triangles spontaneously arranged themselves to form two-triangle "super-structures," with each super-structure exhibiting a particular chirality.

In the image that accompanies this article, the colored outlines in the field of triangles indicate chiral super-structures having particular orientations.

Here is the original post:
Chemistry: Scientists unlock mystery of how 'handedness' arises in proteins, other functional molecules

NASHVILLE, TENN. The Nashville Predators can console themselves knowing they aggressively made moves in an all-out effort to win the Stanley Cup. Now they will spend the off-season finding out just how costly those decisions will be after coming up short in the Western Conference semifinals for a second straight year.

The Predators lost 2-1 to Phoenix on Monday night and dropped the semifinals in five games a game less than a year ago when they lost to eventual Western champ Vancouver.

We had high expectations as an organization, but we didnt get it done, coach Barry Trotz said after the loss. The teams that made the playoffs in the West, everyone had a legitimate chance to represent the West and win the Cup. There are no poor hockey teams this year. That is parity. That is the NHL.

The Predators showed their commitment to winning by sending a second-round pick in Junes draft and young forward Blake Geoffrion to Montreal in February for defenceman Hal Gill, and they followed that at the trade deadline by sending this years first-round pick to Buffalo for centre Paul Gaustad.

The moves helped a roster that started the season as the NHLs youngest roster and a group that remained the leagues second-youngest coming out of the All-Star break. Nashville also welcomed back wayward forward Alexander Radulov in March, four years after he bolted back home to Russia to the Kontinental Hockey League.

All the trades resulted in Nashville finishing with 104 points, the third-highest in franchise history. The Predators grabbed the No. 4 seed and finished ahead of Detroit in the final standings. They also beat the Red Wings in the playoffs all for the first time, which made the quick loss to the Coyotes that much more stunning.

It is tough to swallow, said goalie Pekka Rinne, a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist. When you lose a series, it goes by so fast. It is over even before you realize it. It is hard to realize right now. We played a lot of good hockey this year, and now it is done.

The Predators thought the path to the Cup was wide open with Detroit, Chicago, Vancouver and San Jose all gone. Those teams all had ousted Nashville in the post-season.

Instead, the NHLs best power-play unit in the regular season fizzled in the post-season. They went 0 of 23 on home ice, and they never could solve Phoenix goalie Mike Smith or the Coyotes, who simply beat the Predators at the defensive, grinding style theyve used since hitting the ice in 1998.

Were past the expansion stage. Were past that, and youve got to go through these hard lessons sometimes, Trotz said.

See the original post here:
Chemistry doesn’t concoct playoff magic for Predators; tough choices for roster ahead