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July 10, 2017

Two UT Dallas faculty members in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Dr. Sheel Dodani BS07 and Dr. Gabriele Meloni are recipients of three-year, $195,000 grants from the Welch Foundation to support research geared toward improving the understanding of cellular function.

Dodanis research focuses on the development of imaging technologies that would allow us to better understand how anions, negatively charged atoms such as chloride, contribute to human health and diseased states such as cystic fibrosis, cancer and chronic pain.

Directly visualizing the chloride anion itself has been limited by technical challenges, Dodani said. Turn-on fluorescence imaging approaches could revolutionize the field but remain largely underdeveloped. If successful, we will not only define the design criteria required for the detection of chloride and other anions in water but will also provide a more complete picture of how cells spatially and temporally position chloride for biological function.

Melonis work involveslearning more about how transition metals some of which are essential for cell metabolism while others are severely toxic are selectively transported across cellular membranes by specific transporter proteins.

We expect this work help establish a new line of groundbreaking research in a neglected aspect of bioinorganic chemistry, Meloni said. Revealing the coordination chemistry involved in transition metals transporter-mediated cellular transport will significantly contribute to our understanding of how metal substrates are recognized and translocated across lipid bilayers and biological membranes.

Founded in 1954, the Houston-based Welch Foundation is one of the nations largest private funding sources for basic chemistry research through research grants, departmental programs, endowed chairs and other special projects at educational institutions in Texas. With Dodanis and Melonis grants, UT Dallas now has eight active Welch grants.

The foundation also renewed grants to Dr. Dean Sherry, the Cecil H. and Ida Green Distinguished Chair in Systems Biology; Dr. Jung-Mo Ahn, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry; and physics professor Dr. Anvar Zakhidov. Additionally, faculty members Dr. Kenneth Balkus, Dr. Lloyd Lumata and Dr.Mihaela Stefan have ongoing projects funded by the foundation.

Media Contact: Stephen Fontenot, UT Dallas, (972) 883-4405, [emailprotected] or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [emailprotected]

Read more:
UT Dallas Chemistry Professors Receive Welch Foundation Grants - University of Texas at Dallas (press release)

There is one constant in the world of hardware hackers workshops, be they a private workshop in your garage or a public hackspace, and it goes something like this:

Everybodys a safety expert in whatever it is they are working with, right up until the accident.

In other words, it is very tempting to harbour a cavalier attitude to something that either you are familiar with or the hazards of which you do not understand, and this breeds an environment in which mishaps become a distinct possibility.

As hardware people, we are familiar with basic tool safety or electrical safety. The chances are that weve had it drummed into us at some time in our growing up, by a lab supervisor, a workshop teacher, or a parent. That you as readers and I as writer have survived this long is testament enough to the success of that education. But what about those areas in which we may not have received such an education, those things which we either encounter rarely or seem harmless enough that their safety neednt be our concern? Chemicals, for example: everything from glue through solvents and soldering consumables to PCB chemicals and even paint. It all seems safe enough, what could possibly go wrong? The answer to that question is probably something most of us would prefer never to find out, so its worth looking in to how a well-run workshop can manage its chemicals in as safe a manner as possible.

This might seem like something so obvious as to go without saying, but when you acquire a chemical, read its instruction sheet. It will have one somewhere in its packaging, or if not then there will be one available for download on its manufacturers web site. On it you will find all the information you should need about its likely hazards, how it should be used, and how it should be stored. From this information you can decide the most appropriate course of action for you to take with whatever the chemical is.

It can be easy to amass a variety of tins, jars, bottles, and tubes of random chemicals over a lifetime of tinkering. Over time it can also be easy to lose track of exactly what your collection contains. Labels fade and drop off, you lose track of where you put that bottle, and you no longer know what youve got.

In some jurisdictions there is a legal requirement for commercial organisations to maintain an inventory of their chemical stocks. Though it might seem onerous, this is a worthwhile practice for any workshop even when it is not required by law. It doesnt have to be anything fancy, just a simple notebook will do, because it really helps to have some idea what you have. If something does cause an accident then knowing something about the likely source can help you a lot in terms of how you might deal with it.

This comes back to the earlier point about reading the data sheet. On it youll find details of how the product should be stored. If you are lucky it is an inert, non-corrosive and non-toxic solid that gives off no fumes and which you can store anywhere with impunity. Its far more likely though that it will contain a solvent that gives off fumes, be flammable, an oxidising agent, or any one of a number of other hazards. You should therefore think not just about how it should be stored, but what it should be stored alongside.

Just as one example, its most likely that the majority of workshop chemicals will be of the variety containing a flammable solvent. These should be stored in a fireproof cabinet sitting in a spill tray, to both contain any fires within the cabinet and to contain any liquid spills. You might think that this would be a safe place to also store any other chemicals, but since each has its own requirements that might not be the case. Oxidising agents for example should not be stored alongside flammable solvents.

As a final point,UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should chemicals be stored in the same place as food, such as a shared refrigerator. This might seem an obvious thing to say, but in communal workshops such as a hackspace it seems that there is always a member who considers that this restriction does not apply to them. If you are on the board of such a space, bin the chemical in question and ban the member. Its far easier to do that than to deal with the police when someone is poisoned.

You might think that if you have a list of what youve got, and its all stored appropriately, that would be enough. But there is always scope for a disparity to creep in, someone puts something in the wrong cupboard, or fails to enter it in the book. Therefore you should undertake the tedious task once in a while of running an inventory. Check what you have in your inventory with what you have in your stores, and adjust accordingly.

Find the appropriate place to dispose of your chemicals. Robert Kaufmann/FEMA Photo Library [Public domain].There will always come a moment when some chemical or other has outlived its usefulness, at which point it must be disposed of. The data sheet will tell you the appropriate place to dispose of it, and you should follow its advice. If you are lucky it will be something you can simply toss in the garbage, if not you may have to find your local chemical disposal point. Some common chemicals we might find in our workshops will especially need proper disposal, for example spent PCB etchant, in which the copper salts are particularly toxic to fish.

There is little use in having a carefully planned system for managing your chemicals if it is not universally adhered to. Particularly in a shared space there will always be users who consider their qualifications to be such that the system does not apply to them, it is imperative that you ensure that all users treat it with due respect. If necessary institute a system for your shared space in which access to the chemicals is only gained after suitable training has been passed, and be prepared to wield the threat of removal of the privilege for those who fail to adhere to it.

We are fortunate in the world of hardware hackers and makers, that for most of us the chemicals we are likely to encounter will be an order of magnitude safer than those you might encounter in for example a chemistry lab. But we still encounter significant hazards, for example anyone with a 3D printer might care to look at the effects of an acetone fire. It is hoped that the points above should give us all a starting point for safe handling and storage of the chemicals in our workshops. After all, wed all prefer to spend more time making things than explaining to fire officers exactly what the person theyre going in to rescue might have been using.

Originally posted here:
Sort Out Chemical Storage For Your Shop - Hackaday

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) The Latest on President Donald Trump's second official visit to Europe (all times local):

8:10 p.m.

Russia's foreign minister says President Donald Trump has accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin's assurances that Moscow didn't meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Sergey Lavrov made the claim to reporters following Trump and Putin's lengthy meeting on the sidelines of an international summit in Germany.

That account appears at odds with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's description of the meeting.

Tillerson said the president was "rightly focused on how do we move forward from what may be simply an intractable disagreement at this point."

U.S. intelligence officials have blamed Russia for election hacking and other efforts to influence the election to help Trump win.

___

President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Hamburg.

President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Hamburg.

President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Hamburg.

President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Hamburg.

The Latest: Russia say Trump accepts Putin's meddling denial

8:02 p.m.

Russia's foreign minister says that Russian military police will monitor a cease-fire in southwestern Syria, per a Russia-U.S. deal.

Sergey Lavrov spoke to reporters after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump in Germany.

He described the lengthy talks as "very constructive" and said they touched on cybersecurity, Ukraine, North Korea and other issues.

Under the cease-fire deal Lavrov says was brokered by Russia, the U.S. and Jordan, Moscow and Washington will ensure the cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access.

A monitoring center will be set up in Jordan, and the Russian military police will oversee its implementation

___

7:55 p.m.

Leaders of the Group of 20 economic powers and their spouses have gathered at Hamburg's spectacular new Elbphilharmonie concert hall.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were seated next to French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte.

The leaders applauded the summit host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as she took her place in the row behind the Trumps.

The leaders are hearing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, conducted by American Kent Nagano.

Merkel and her husband, Joachim Sauer, are classical music fans. Sauer, who rarely accompanies the chancellor on official business, was on hand for the G-20 and to host the concert alongside Merkel.

___

7:53 p.m.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had "positive chemistry" during their first meeting.

Trump and Putin met for more than two hours Friday at an international summit in Germany. It was only scheduled to last 30 minutes.

Tillerson said the meeting was "very constructive." He added that "there was so much to talk about" that neither leader "wanted to stop."

The top U.S. diplomat also said that First Lady Melania Trump was sent into the meeting at one point to "see if she could get us out of there "

But Tillerson said the meeting lasted another hour after the visit, joking that "clearly she failed."

___

7:45 p.m.

The Russians have asked the U.S. for proof and evidence of their alleged interference in the 2016 election, which Russia denies.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the ask was made during a lengthy meeting in Germany between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Tillerson said the president pressed Putin on the issue and that they'd agreed to follow-up meetings.

That includes a new working group on cybersecurity and election interference.

Tillerson says, "the meeting was very constructive" and that the two leaders "connected very quickly."

___

7:44 p.m.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin "had a pretty good exchange" as to how to handle the threat of North Korea.

But Tillerson added Friday after the leaders' meeting that the Russians "see it a little different than we do."

The top U.S. diplomat noted that Russia's ultimate goal mirrors what the United States wants: the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

He said the differences are the tactics used to achieve that goal. He did not elaborate.

Tillerson also said that, despite Trump's recent tweet to the contrary, the U.S. has not "given up hope" that China will help with North Korea.

Trump and Putin met for more than two hours at an international summit in Germany.

___

7:35 p.m.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the Trump administration sees no long-term role for the Assad family and the Assad regime in Syria.

Tillerson tells reporters at a briefing in Hamburg, Germany that "how" Syrian President Bashar Assad "leaves is yet to be determined." But he says he thinks there will be a transition away from the Assad government.

The United States and Russia announced an agreement Friday for a cease-fire in southwest Syria set to take effect July 9.

Tillerson describes the deal as the first indication of the Trump administration and Russia being able to work together in Syria.

___

7:27 p.m.

President Donald Trump opened his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin by raising concerns about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tells reporters that Trump pressed Putin on the issue during their more than two-hour meeting on the sidelines of a summit of world leaders in Germany.

Tillerson says Putin denied any involvement during his more than two-hour meeting with Trump.

Tillerson says he thinks the president "is rightly focused on how do we move forward from something that may be an intractable disagreement at this point."

____

7:10 p.m.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he had a long conversation with President Donald Trump, and says that "many issues have piled up, including Ukraine, Syria, some bilateral and other issues."

He says he and Trump also spoke about "fighting terrorism and cybersecurity" during their two-plus-hour meeting

Putin made the comments at the beginning of a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He offered apologies to Abe for running late after his meeting with Trump stretched far longer than originally scheduled.

____

6:32 p.m.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spent more than two hours meeting Friday on the sidelines of a world leaders' summit.

State Department spokesman RC Hammond says that the meeting in Hamburg, Germany lasted two hours and 16 minutes.

It had originally been scheduled for just 30 minutes.

____

6:15 p.m.

A meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that was supposed to last a half-hour has stretched to more than 90 minutes.

Trump had originally been scheduled to depart the meeting site of the Group of 20 world leaders in Hamburg, Germany at 4:20 p.m. local time following his meeting with Putin.

But Svetlana Lukash, a Russian official accompanying Putin at the talks, said the meeting that began around 4 p.m. local time was still ongoing at 5:50 p.m.

The longer-than-scheduled meeting comes as US. officials say the United States and Russia have reached an agreement for a cease-fire in southwest Syria that is set to take effect on Sunday.

____

5:44 p
.m.

Hillary Clinton's former campaign chair is telling President Donald Trump to "Get a grip" and get his "head in the game."

John Podesta says on Twitter: "Dude, get your head in the game. You're representing the US at the G20."

Trump had tweeted earlier Friday that "Everyone" in Hamburg, Germany "is talking about why John Podesta refused to give the DNC server to the FBI and the CIA. Disgraceful!"

Trump is attending a summit of world leaders in the country.

Podesta said he saw Trump's tweet during a stop on a cross-country road trip with his wife.

He says, "God only knows what you'll be raving about on twitter by the time we get to Utah."

____

5:05 p.m.

President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of renegotiating a longstanding continental trade agreement in a meeting with his Mexican counterpart.

The White House said in a statement Friday that Trump and President Enrique Pena Nieto discussed ways "to help workers in both countries" as part of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The statement says the leaders also discussed regional challenges, including drug trafficking, illegal migration, and the crisis in Venezuela. It does not say whether they discussed Trump's proposed U.S.-Mexican border wall.

A readout from the Mexican government said the two men underscored "the importance of modernizing" NAFTA in a way that "results in tangible benefits for the economies and societies of North America."

Trump and Pena Nieto met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany.

___

5:02 p.m.

President Donald Trump's oldest son is complaining about the loud camera clicks that made it hard to hear his father and Russian president Vladimir Putin's brief remarks to the press ahead of their highly-anticipated meeting.

Donald Trump Jr. asks on Twitter: "With all the Cameras clicking away rapid fire you can't actually hear what they're saying? How many pictures do you need of the same scene?"

Professional news photographers typically take dozens or hundreds of shots of the same event to capture a variety of angles and facial expressions.

Trump and Putin are meeting at the Group of 20 world leaders' summit in Germany.

Reporters and photojournalists were allowed in the room for about two minutes to capture the scene.

Trump's son is a frequent critic of the press.

Read more:
The Latest: Tillerson: Trump, Putin had 'positive chemistry' - SFGate

WATCH LIVE

One person was injured Thursday afternoon during an adverse chemical reaction in a chemistry lab at the University of Maryland College Park.

The victim sustained injuries to the facial area, and was decontaminated and taken to a hospital for treatment, Prince George's Fire spokesman Mark Brady posted on Twitter.

Prince George's Fire is investigating the reaction, which Brady described as small, at the university's chemistry building.

A Prince George's Fire hazmat team is on the scene at 8501 Regents Drive, assisting UMd. Physical Plant and Chemistry officials with evaluation and cleanup, Brady said.

The chemistry building was evacuated shortly after the incident, and Regents Drive between Field House Drive and Stadium Drive was closed to traffic, according to the UMd. Police Department. The building and street have since reopened.

Published at 3:11 PM EDT on Jul 6, 2017 | Updated at 4:29 PM EDT on Jul 6, 2017

See the article here:
1 Injured in Chemical Reaction at University of Maryland Chemistry ... - NBC4 Washington

Whether youve been celebrating in Canada (Canada Day, July 1), the US (Independence Day, July 4), France (Bastille Day, July 14), or anywhere else in the world, you can surely appreciate the fact that fireworks are a display of chemistry at its finest.

Generally, fireworks have two main components: pea-sized salt pellets for the colorful explosions, and black powder to shoot those pellets into the sky. These are encased in a cardboard shell with a fuse in the middle.

The black powder is the more abundant of the two materials that make up the firework, filling up a pocket at the bottom, as well as a pocket in the middle of the package, that will shoot out the colorful metal. The original formula created by the Chinese in the 7th century actually used honey as a fuel source (discovered purely by luck) along with sulphur and potassium nitrate, to drive the explosion upwards, according to Andy Brunning, a chemistry teacher based in Cambridge, UK. These days, pyrotechnicians fill modern fireworks with charcoal instead of the original sweet ingredient.

Varying the amount of black powder in each of these sections can alter how far your explosion shoots into the sky, how far it explodes outwards, as well as how hot the pellets get.

The pellets that generate color are tiny balls of chemical salt. These salts are different metal and nonmetal compounds bonded together by a superstrong hold between the positively-charged metal and the negatively-charged nonmetal components.

The nonmetals are usually chemicals like nitrogen or chlorine with oxygen attached to them, and can work as another source of oxygen for the burning explosion, or can enhance its color.

The metal is responsible for each of these colors. Different chemical elements heated to a high temperature get rid of this energy by producing very specific wavelengths of light, John Conkling, a retired chemist formerly at Washington College in Maryland, explains for the American Chemical Society:

The metals used in these salt pellets are made up of atoms with electrons floating around them. Usually, these electrons hang out as close as they can to the nucleus. But when you add energy to these atoms, as you do when you heat up powder, these electrons become excited and get pushed farther and farther away. The amount of heat energy needed to push these electrons away varies for each metal. Electrons dont like being far away from the nucleus, so they bounce back down as soon as they can. When they do, they release the same amount of energy applied to them, but in the form of a unique wavelength of light instead, as Scientific American explains.

Some metals can generate multiple colors, depending on how hot they get. We see these different light wavelengths as different colors.

Heres the full list of colors you can make from metals or metal oxides, courtesy of Brunning:

The fireworks that light up the night are usually elaborate combinations of metals and black powders. Pyrotechnicians have even begun to play around with making quiet fireworks (paywall), so that children, dogs, or anyone else spooked by sudden loud bangs can enjoy the visual displays.

Next time you celebrate with fireworks, you can give a nod of thanks to the chemistry at workjust please be careful while youre at it.

Original post:
Step back and behold the explosive chemistry that gives fireworks their color - Quartz

USA Today Network Karen Croke, The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News Published 8:51 p.m. ET July 6, 2017 | Updated 7:54 a.m. ET July 7, 2017

Actress Barbara Feldon on her role as agent 99 on 'Get Smart' WOCHIT/Karen Croke

Actress Barbara Feldon attended A Get Smart Reunion at The Museum of Television & Radio November 5, 2003 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo: Giulio Marcocchi, Getty Images)

For Barbara Feldon, 99 has been herlucky number.

99 was her character's moniker on the hit 1960sTV spy spoof Get Smart.

As anagent assigned to the shadowy and comicalCONTROL, a secret government agency, 99fought evilwith her partner Agent 86, akaMaxwell Smart, played by Don Adams.

Feldon was nominated for two Emmys for her role as the smart, glam spy girl,a cool level-headed foil to Max's bumbling self-delusion and classic one-liners that included "Missed it by that much," and "Would you believe ...?"

Feldon, who began her career as a dancer and model before getting into theater and then television,will do a Q&A with artistic directorJoe Brancato at Penguin Repin Stony Point, N.Y., as the theater celebratesits 40th anniversary July 16.

The actress appeared in two Penguin Rep shows, Love Letters,with Kier Dullea and The Unexpected Manwith David Canary of All My Children fame.

"Stone Widney was a friend of mine for many years and he introduced me to the Penguin Rep," saidFeldon.

Related:

'Get Smart' actor Dick Gautier dead at 85

I 'Spy': 10 female agents who inspire us

Widney,production manager for renowned Broadway lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, suggested Feldon to Brancato when hewas casting Love Letters.

Theater led to television roles. Writers Buck Henry and Mel Brooks were developing Get Smart andwhen they saw Feldon, she became their choice to play 99.

The show was characterized by its absurd plot lines, nutty characters (Dick Gautier'sHymie The Robot) and kitschy props like Max's shoephone and the Cone of Silence, a device that allowed to Max and The Chief to speak to each other without anyone overhearing, although it always malfunctioned, causing them to shout at each other while inside.

Feldon speculated on why 99 was never invited into the Cone of Silence: "The fact is, I was so un-evolved myself at that time that I never even questioned why I couldnt play with the big toys," she said.

Don Adams as Maxwell Smart in "Get Smart."(Photo: AP)

Feldon's 99 held her own against the juggernaut that was Max. On the phone from her Manhattan home, Feldon, who is in her 80s, (would you believe ...) saidfans still yell out "99"when they see her on the street, although sometimes, it's "86."

"Timedoes erode memory," she said."But I think they are sweetand Iam very grateful. I think, in its time, our show had the advantage of being onwhen there was only three networks. People could not avoid bumping into you when you were on the screen."

Of the undeniable attraction between Agents 86and 99, who eventually married and had twins in the show,Feldon says their chemistrywas non-existent.

Don Adams was very involved in the script and the production of Get Smart,so he rarely spent any time with his co-star until the director yelled, "Action."

"Its kind of a mystery, isnt it?"she said.

"When you are doing a character mine was in love with Maxwell there is this weird thing called chemistry and we had none at all. We didnt have that much to talk about.

"There were four people in every scene: Barbara Feldon, Don Adams, 99 and Max. And then the minute they said 'Action,' both of us surrenderedto those characters and they did what they did naturally."

After a 1989TV remake called Get Smarter,the pair became close friends, "in a way that we couldnt have at that time," Feldon said.

Don Adams and Barbara Feldon co-starred in "Get Smart."(Photo: Getty Images)

For all the fan fervor, the Emmy nominations and success, Feldon never became a Hollywood casualty. After the show went off the air in 1970, she simply went about her life, doing more theater and writing several books, including Living Alone and Loving It: A Guide to Relishing the Solo Life.

Agent Maxwell Smart, played by Don Adams, and 99, played by Barbara Feldon, in the classic spy series "Get Smart."(Photo: Handout)

"When you have a success like that, out of the blue, it does knock you off balance a little bit. I had tremendous anxiety;I wasnt ready to be successful," she saidof the initial wave of recognition."Then you learn, it doesnt change anything really.

"You can get a table in a restaurant, but you still have to wake up in the morning and get your breakfast and do the laundry. And I understood: it doesnt last forever. I just saved my money like crazy and I never settled into being into a certain position in the business. When you're in Hollywood, it is sobering: Is your status rising or are you falling? It is a very insecure thing, I decided to protect myself for the future."

She has seen the 2008Get Smart filmthat starred Anne Hathaway as 99 and Steve Carrell as 86.

"I thought it was entertaining," she said. "But it wasn't the same. It couldn't be. The characters we played were from such an innocent time. It had its own flavor and youcouldn'tremake it."

She was a showgirl at the Copacabana."That was my first professional job in New York and it wasprobably the highlight of my whole career. We got to dance with Jimmy Durante. Oh, my God, it was a thrill."

She correctly answered The $64,0000 Question, winning the grand prize on the popular 1950s game show.(Shakespeare was her area of expertise)."Icrammed some trivia on Shakespeare that had nothing to do with the profundity. It was a lot of memorizing, actually," she said.

Actress Colleen Dewhurst was a mentor.They met when Feldon was in The Tender Trap,and Dewhurst was a rising star. "She immediately took me under her wing for some reason," Feldon said. "She was always so kind to me and she gave me my first, grownup drink, a martini. It was a hot night and I was thirsty and I just drank it, like lemonade. I got sick. It was my first and last martini."

Feldon turned parts of 99'smod RudiGernreichwardrobe into ... throw pillows."I got to keep all the wardrobe, all the Rudi Gernreich and all those wonderful things," she said. "And Imade pillow covers. If I had saved them ... wow."

Follow Karen Croke on Twitter: @livinghereNY

Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2tXuOci

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Barbara Feldon, 'Get Smart's' 99, celebrates theater, dishes on ... - USA TODAY

The expected anger and outrage at the Recording Academy failed to materialize at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards, undoubtedly because the audience was drained by the tragic death that morning of Kobe Bryant.

But television viewers voted with their feet, tuning out the broadcast, which largely lacked sizzle. Now we can look forward to the inevitable quiet settlement of the messy divorce between former CEO Deborah Dugan and the organization she briefly led. And the Oscars performance by Billie Eilish, who dominated the trophy take-homes.

This week in music:

GRAMMYS FINAL RATINGS: CUE SAD TROMBONE SOUND: The Grammy Awards hit a new low in the key advertiser demographic, pulling in 5.4 among adults 18-49 and 18.7 million viewers. While not reaching the all-time audience low of 2006s 17 million, the 2019 Grammys were down 6% from the TV audience that tuned in for the 61st annual Grammys.

ANDY GILL DIES: The guitarist and cofounder of the British postpunk band Gang of Four died Feb. 1 after a brief respiratory illness, according to a statement from the band. He was 64. Gill toured with the band as recently as November. He was listening to mixes for a new album in the days before he died. He produced the 1984 debut album from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as works from Killing Joke, the Jesus Lizard and others.

JUSTIN REVEALS ALL: Justin Biebers new album will be titled Changes and will arrive on Valentines Day, Feb. 14. Bieber has already shared a new track called Get Me, a collaboration with Kehlani, who will also join Bieber on his 2020 tour.

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE RETURNS: The emo adults will have to dig deep into their wallets, as My Chemical Romance has announced a reunion tour for 15 dates in the fall. Tickets are going for as much as $800 through legitimate channels, and secondary sellers can expect to double that closer to the dates.

EILISH TO OSCARS: The Grammys big winner, Billie Eilish, will now crossover to the Academy Awards for a performance. Theres no information on what she will sing, but were promised a special performance by the teenager.

ELON MUSK MUSIC: The Tesla CEO is back with a dance track called Dont Doubt ur Vibe. It arrived after the company reported a huge fourth quarter profit. The music is on Musks Soundcloub page. Meanwhile, cryptic girlfriend Grimes has revealed that she had some pregnancy complications and is hurting all over, but still on track.

LORETTA LYNN DECLARES COUNTRY DEAD: The Coal Miners Daughter has declared country music dead in a podcast interview with fellow artist Martina McBride.Theyve already let it [die], the 87-year-old declared. I think its dead. I think its a shame. I think its a shame to let a type of music die. I dont care what any kind of music it is. Rock, country, whatever. I think its a shame to let it die, and Im here to start feeding it.

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This Week In Music: Grammys Fizzle, Andy Gill Passes, Justin Bieber And My Chemical Romance Return - Deadline

A new method has been developed by researchers using chemical tools activated by light to influence lipid concentration in living cells.

So far, it has been difficult for researchers to analyse the functions of lipids in living cells. Now, scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) and the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP), both in Germany, have now developed chemical tools that can be activated by light and used to influence lipid concentration in living cells.

According to the researchers, this approach could enable medical doctors to work with biochemists to identify what molecules within a cell actually do.

Every cell can create thousands of different lipids (fats). However, little is known about how this chemical lipid diversity contributes to the transport of messages within the cell. This is mainly due to the lack of methods to quantitatively study lipid function in living cells. An understanding of how lipids work is very important because they control the function of proteins throughout the cell and are involved in bringing important substances into the cell through the cell membrane.

The research groups developed chemical tools to control the concentration of lipids in living cells, which can be activated by light. Milena Schuhmacher, the lead author of the study, explained: Lipids are actually not individual molecular structures, but differ in tiny chemical details. For example, some have longer fatty acid chains and some have slightly shorter ones. Using sophisticated microscopy in living cells and mathematical modelling approaches, we were able to show that the cells are actually able to recognise these tiny changes through special effector proteins and thus possibly use them to transmit information. It was important that we were able to control exactly how much of each individual lipid was involved.

Molecular probes (in blue) for the analysis of lipid messengers [credit: Schuhmacher et al., MPI-CBG].

Andr Nadler, who supervised the study, added: These results indicate the existence of a lipid code that cells use to re-encode information, detected on the outside of the cell, on the inner side of the cell.

The results of the study could enable membrane biophysicists and lipid biochemists to verify their results with quantitative data from living cells, say the researchers.

Andr Nadler concluded: Clinicians could also benefit from our newly developed method. In diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, more lipids that act as biomarkers are found in the blood. This can be visualised with a lipid profile. With the help of our method, doctors could now see exactly what the lipids are doing in the body. That was not possible before.

The study was published in the journal PNAS.

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Chemical tool developed to examine lipids in living cells - Drug Target Review

Ever since they were teammates as 12-year-olds on a bantam team, Maxime Comtois and Antoine Morand have shared a clairvoyance.

In that unspoken chemistry that is unique to hockey, they clicked when they were put on a line together.

I dont have to look for him, Comtois said. I know hes going to be there.

Growing up in Quebec, the French-speaking province in Canada, they were best friends, and their sixth sense surfaced off the ice last month before the NHL draft.

Coming into Chicago and the weekend, we talked to each other and we said, Wouldnt it be cool if we got drafted by the same team? Morand said. The chances were very thin, but we got lucky and were here together.

In a twist of circumstance and perhaps fate, both were drafted by the Ducks, Comtois with the 50th pick and Morand with the 60th. Ten picks apart for players who grew up 10 minutes from each other, from a bantam team, Grenadiers Chateauguay, to the Ducks.

The two were bombarded by French-Canadian media, but Comtois cut his scrum short.

I stopped all my interviews to wait for him to come, Comtois said.

The Ducks were aware of the duos friendship through their Eastern Canada scout Stephane Pilotte, whose son scouts junior teams in that area. But Martin Madden, director of professional and amateur scouting for the Ducks, said the players compatibility wasnt a factor.

Not at all, Madden said. It just happened. We liked both for different reasons.

Theres a reason for their chemistry because both slot into familiar, ying-yang hockey types. Comtois, at 6 feet 2 and 200 pounds, has the size to play down low and in the corners at left wing. He is physical and edgy and patterns his game after defensive specialist Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, as well as Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf.

Morand, listed at 5-10 and 178 pounds, is a finesse playmaker with good hockey vision and instincts at center. They were put on the same line for the Ducks development camp scrimmage. Comtois wore jersey No. 53, Morand No. 54.

Were different on the ice, Morand said. We dont have the same personality, but were a good mix together.

Morand said that hes more reserved, but a quiet confidence serves him well at crucial times.

Antoine was one of our best interviews at the combine, Madden said. You never know with kids facing 10 scouts in that interview room. But he showed lots of poise.

Comtois is probably more of a type-A personality. Both players are easygoing yet ambitious, and they leaned on each other when they were separated, at 16, on different teams in junior hockey. Comtois played for the Victoriaville Tigres and Morand for Acadie-Bathurst of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

It was a new challenge at a new level, and they tackled it with the help of text messages and FaceTime chats.

Youngest guys in the league, Comtois said. You have to try to kind of think the game the right way so we stayed connected. Even last year, I had a little bit of a tough season, so I stayed connected with him. Talking about anything else than hockey just helped me to get through that.

Projected as a potential 50-goal scorer, Comtois finished with 22 goals in 64 games last season. Hed had a good showing for Canada in a series against Russia and at the Memorial Cup, so his slow start was a bit puzzling.

But thats behind Comtois. He got a glimpse of the next chapter of his and Morands career at development camp, where they skated under the Ducks banners and were awed by seeing former Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer, who works in player development.

Fourteen years ago, the Ducks had enormous success with a center and wing drafted within 10 picks of each other who became synonymous with chemistry. Getzlaf was chosen 19th and Corey Perry 28th in the 2003 draft.

Both became franchise cornerstones.

No one is harboring those kinds of aspirations for Comtois and Morand, but the two can dream about achieving their ultimate goal together.

I think its possible that we both play in the NHL one day, Comtois said. If its not this year, were going to find a way to make it next year.

sports@latimes.com

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Former bantam teammates Comtois and Morand hope to find chemistry with the Ducks - Los Angeles Times

The cause of the May 2019 fire at a chemical plant in Kearny - which caused the closure of portions of the Pulaski Skyway - was never conclusively determined, a fire official said.

Kearny Fire Chief Steve Dyl said the investigation in the blaze at the Alden Leeds chemical plant was closed down, but the possibility of spontaneous combustion was not ruled out. Chemical reactions at the plant caused explosions days after the fire, which created large plumes of smoke that were visible in New York City

The smoke prompted officials to warn residents in Newark, Bayonne and Hoboken to close their windows and stay indoors. Dyl said this week he was not aware of any lingering air quality issues from the fire at the plant, which manufactures chlorine products for swimming pools and spas.

Officials at the companys plant, on Jacobus Avenue near the Passaic River, did not respond to a request seeking comment Wednesday.

Acute exposure to chlorine gas could result in wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or difficulty breathing. Dyl said several firefighters were treated as a result of the smoke and one civilian was injured in connection to the fire.

We had seven firefighters complain of inhalation related injury which were treated and released, Dyl said. One required additional treatment.

No criminal charges were filed in connection to the fire, authorities said.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) records show no violations have been issued at the plant since the summer of 2018. Multiple, yet brief, inspections were conducted at the plant on June 11 and August 8, and no violations were found, records show.

The plant had a second fire about two months after the May blaze too. Dyl previously said the small fire was started when leftover products being processed for disposal caused a chemical reaction that damaged pallets, The Jersey Journal reported.

The second fire drew scrutiny from the Sierra Club of New Jersey, with the groups director, Jeff Tittel, calling for an investigation of Alden Leeds.

NJ Advance Media reporter Michael Sol Warren contributed to this report.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.

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Cause of chemical plant fire that closed the Pulaski Skyway is undetermined - NJ.com

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WNCT) The Morehead City Fire Department and the Cherry Point Hazmat team are responding to a chemical spill reported at Carteret Community College.

The Carteret Community College Director of Security said custodians disposed of two boxes that were marked acid and flammable from a science class.

Officials said they disposed of it in a metal recycling bin near the welding classroom thinking they were empty metal boxes.

The welding instructor grabbed the boxes to reuse them for a project.

Twoof the vials inside the boxes broke, and the chemicals spilled creating a vapor cloud.

The instructor called campus security who then contacted Morehead City Fire Department, who then notified the Cherry Point Hazmat Team.

The welding instructor was taken to urgent care to be checked out as a precaution.

Campus security immediately evacuated the area as a precaution.

Cherry Point Hazmat is currently securing hazardous materials into a safe container, then the college will be tasked with disposing of the materials properly.

Stay with WNCT for more updates.

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Officials responding to chemical spill at Carteret Community College - WNCT

Horizon Christian Schools varsity boys basketball team began its season with their first practice Monday night. Darrin Lingel, head coach for the Hawks, said he looks forward to competing this upcoming season. One aspect that this team has is chemistry, Lingel said.

One thing that this team has is that theyre friends outside of basketball, Lingel said. So, when your friends that means that when you play something thats competitive chemistry is pretty quick to come together. Because of the young Hawk squad, Lingel said hell have them do basic drills, conditioning and work on defense. Lingel builds on defense first and expects offense to develop later in the season.

When you start any new season off part of is conditioning but its also learning the plays, Lingel said. So, were working at playing together, building that chemistry, how were going to move, how were going to screen, how were going to do things. Im starting out with fundamentals.

Despite the teams limited experience, Lingel said the team never gives up in a game.

The only thing thats going to stop them is the clock running out, Lingel said.

Another aspect Lingel is proud of is of the success the team has had in previous years. The Hawks have had multiple district championships, have been to state championships in three consecutive years and won state in 2012.

Saturday the Hawks will be doing an in-team scrimmage called Hawk Madness. Modeled after Division 1 school practice schedules, HCS will display and showcase their skill in an exhibition match starting at 5 p.m.

On the college level on a certain day and time youre allowed to have your first practice. So, when the clock strikes midnight you can officially start practice, Lingel said. That first week of our practice we have an inner squad scrimmage. So its fun. The parents come, some fans come and watch the kids.

The Hawk squad will have their first game Friday, Dec. 6, against Damascus as Horizon hosts the Hawk Invitational that weekend. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.

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Young Horizon hawks will build on good chemistry - Hood River News

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Authorities on Thursday lifted a second evacuation order in a week for thousands of people in a Texas city as U.S. safety officials began examining what caused the latest in a series of chemical plant fires in the state.

FILE PHOTO: A process tower flies through air after exploding at the TPC Group Petrochemical Plant, after an earlier massive explosion sparked a blaze at the plant in Port Neches, Texas, U.S., November 27, 2019. REUTERS/Erwin Seba/File Photo

The about 14,000 residents of Port Neches 95 miles (153 km) east of Houston were told to flee late on Wednesday when air monitors detected high levels of cancer causing petrochemicals butane and butadiene following an explosion last week.

Butadiene is the main product of the TPC Groups facility in the city struck by last weeks blast and fire, which injured three workers and prompted an initial, two-day evacuation.

The fire was put out on Tuesday after burning for six days.

This was a very serious explosion, Manuel Ehrlich, a board member of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, said at a briefing on Thursday. He described the incident as a fundamental failure in the system at the plant.

It was the fourth major petrochemical fire in Texas this year.

A March blaze outside Houston burned for days and was followed a month later by a fire at another Houston-area chemical plant that killed one worker. An Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) chemical plant fire in Baytown, Texas, injured 37 in July.

The reason why were seeing so many this year is difficult to quantify, said safety board investigator Lauren Grim.

The specific event that triggered the TPC explosion and fire has not been determined, Ehrlich said. Workers at the plant had noticed a vapor cloud before the blast.

We are not trying to assume any ideas about what the cause was, Jason Sanders, a TPC official said in response to the description of a failure in the system. The CSB is there to thoroughly investigate what happened. We need to trust their process.

The top executive of Jefferson County, Jeff Branick, lifted the latest order less than a day after warning that elevated butadiene levels measured in some parts of Port Neches could cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, irritated eyes and throats.

I dont want this being characterized as a regular occurrence, because it is not, Branick said at a media briefing.

But one resident, Johnny Powers, 70, a retiree from the Exxon Mobil Complex in Beaumont, Texas, said: Were used to smells in this area and would remain in Port Neches because his grandchildren were there.

Another resident with a family, Marissa Hearn, 26, said she had lived in the area all her life but would now consider leaving.

If we had the money wed get up and get out.

Fire officials said workers at TPC on Thursday stemmed butadiene leaks, reducing chemical levels over Port Neches, which is in Jefferson County, to non-irritating levels.

Schools in Port Neches and nearby Groves were closed for the rest of the week. Students had been allowed to return on Tuesday.

There are a lot of these old plants that ought to be shut down, said Neil Carman, clean air program director for the Texas chapter of the Sierra Club, an environmental group that has sued industrial plants over toxic emissions. TPC is 75 years old.

TPCs Sanders said it would take weeks to remove all the chemicals from the plant.

The 218-acre (88-hectare) plant makes flammable chemicals used in the production of synthetic rubber and a gasoline additive.

Reporting by Erwin Seba and Sumita Layek; writing by Gary McWilliams and Tom Brown; editing by Marguerita Choy and Grant McCool

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Second evacuation order lifted in Texas city hit by explosion, chemical fire - Reuters.com

Scientists in China have developed a method to produce ethanol using the renewable resources lignin and carbon dioxide for the first time.

The process uses a rutheniumcobalt catalyst and involves three cascade reactions breaking the ether bond, a reverse watergas shift reaction and forming a new CC bond to produce ethanol from lignin (or its aryl methyl derivatives), carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Ethanol is currently produced via ethene hydration, or fermentation. It is widely used as a solvent, feedstock and fuel, as well as in medicine, so producing it from abundant renewable resources is highly desirable.

Lignin is an industrial waste product but it is rarely used in the chemical industry and large amounts of it are burnt as a low-grade fuel and effectively wasted. Despite the quantity generated, industry does not capitalise on lignins potential to produce valuable compounds because depolymerising it usually forms mixtures of products that are difficult to separate and purify. It is a great challenge to produce a chemical with high selectivity because of the complex structure of lignin, says Qingli Qian from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, who, along with his team, are behind this process where ethanol is the only liquid product.

The process has been successfully tested with a range of aryl methyl ethers, which are commonly used as model compounds for lignin as well as lignin from different sources, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach. Bin Yang at Washington State University, US, says this new method opens up new avenues to turn the current cellulosic ethanol biorefinerys two waste carbon streams into ethanol. He is optimistic about future work, and says the design of a closed loop process would move to a higher carbon yield on the lignocellulosic ethanol biorefinery route.

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Lignin and carbon dioxide turned into ethanol | Research - Chemistry World

Alabama QB Jalen Hurts earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year under Lane Kiffin. Duplicating that kind of performance with a new offensive coordinator wont be easy, but not if you ask a former Tide QB.

Hurts dazzled with his arm and his legs as a true freshman, responsible for a single-season school record 36 TDs, while guiding Alabama to an SEC championship and a berth in the national championship game.

SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy, who played quarterback in Tuscaloosa from 2007-10, thinks Hurts could be poised for an even bigger year under new OC Brian Daboll.

McElroy talked about the major strides in the pocket made by Hurts in the offseason during a special segment with ESPNs Marty Smith inside Alabamas indoor practice facility.

Hes created a great relationship with Jalen and Jalen trusts him, McElroy said. In the short period of time, theyve developed a chemistry that I dont think Jalen had with Lane Kiffin at any point last season. Jalen was trying to learn the offense, but now hes got a good grasp of the offense.

Were going to see more pro-style passing concepts. Slow, deliberate, long-progressing routes downfield.

Last season, the 6-foot-2, 209-pound Hurts rushed for nearly 1,000 yards, going for 954, anAlabama single-season record by a QB.

However, McElroy believes Hurts will be showing off some newfound confidence as a passer, building on a season that saw him throw for2,780 yards with 23 TDs and 9 INTs.

Were going to see Jalen Hurts a little bit more under center this year, McElroy said. Now, Bo Scarbrough, 245 pounds, hes able to come straight downhill, and thats a full head of steam hitting A gap to A gap on either side of center. Thatll help with play-action.

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Greg McElroy on Jalen Hurts: Chemistry with Brian Daboll better ... - SECcountry.com

Doctoral Student Wants to make Nuclear Energy Renewable12/06/2017

Radiochemistry Ph.D. student Ingrid Lehman-Andino and two of FIUs nuclear chemistry professors are working on a solution. The researchers believe the U.S. could lessen the impact of climate change by producing nuclear power with smaller amounts of reused, short-lived radioactive waste that is less toxic than what is used now.

When research led by one of the doctoral students in his lab recently landed the cover of a top journal in chemistry and toxicology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Professor Barry Rosen likened it to a golfer getting a hole in one. Most researchers go an entire career without a cover, he said. Barry P. Rosen is a Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction (FPSE), developed by Drs. Kabir and Furton, has continued to enjoy worldwide popularity as a new generation, green analytical and bioanalytical sample preparation technique. Today, Separations, a renowned Switzerland based open access journal, has announced to publish a Special Issue of the journal on "ADVANCES IN FABRIC PHASE SORPTIVE EXTRACTION". Dr. Kabir will serve as the Guest Editor of the Specia

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Welcome | Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

PHILADELPHIA Five years Alshon Jeffery and Jay Cutler played together in Chicago.

The receiver and quarterback are no longer teammates, but they will play catch-up this week when the Eagles host the Dolphins for practices on Monday and Tuesday.

Its going to be great, Jeffery said after Sundays practice. Im pretty sure well catch up. Im always rooting for him so Im sure itll be great.

What would be great is if Jeffery and his new quarterback, Carson Wentz, could find the same page.

Receivers coach Mike Groh told reporters on Saturday that he believes Jeffery is behind in his play-study, citing a route that Jeffery turned into an out route that was supposed to go to the corner during Thursdays game against Buffalo. It was where Wentz threw the ball, but Jeffery was nowhere in the vicinity.

Alshon is not behind on anything, receiver Torrey Smith said. Weve been here all offseason. Its the same offense. Obviously youd like to get more reps on the field, but hes a pro, hes been there. Theyll be on the same page right before you know it.

Head coach Doug Pederson also jumped to Jefferys defense.

Alshon is doing fine, he said. He's working. He's getting reps whether he's not in, he's getting reps off on the side. He's getting reps when he's in there. So he's right where he needs to be. Everybody makes mistakes. You know, it's that time of the year. We've got a lot of football in right now, and he's doing well. We do have very similar plays. We have like plays where routes are very similar. And the fact is, everybody is going to make a mistake.

Added Jeffery: Its the game of football. Youre going to make some mistakes on a few plays, but Ill be all right.

Pederson has handled Jeffery with kid gloves ever since Jeffery injured his shoulder early in camp. The coach held the teams star receiver out of several days worth of team drills.

I feel pretty good, he said on Sunday.

Asked if he feels behind in his playbook, he said: Not at all. But at the same time, missing a few practices here and there, just give me some time in the offense, Ill be all right.

It would be nice if all right happens Thursday against Miami.

There seemed to be a concerted effort to get Jeffery more involved on Sunday. After practice, he and tight end Zach Ertz spent some time working on some plays.

We were just working on some routes that in the team period that he didnt get to throw so he wanted to get the reps, Jeffery said about the after-practice work. Any time you get the chance to get some extra work in, its great. We understand its more about us working and getting to know each other.

The time to get to know one another is shrinking. There is only one more meaningful preseason game and three weeks until the season opener in Washington. The final preseason game against the Jets on Aug. 31 will be reserved for second and third teamers.

It would certainly be nice to see Jeffery and Smith do something encouraging.

Its definitely important, Smith said. Its always just an extension of practice. Thats how I view preseason games, as an extension of practice, where you can get your block knocked off. So you want to go out there and compete and be better and just be ready because after that, thats the last live situation until we go to Washington. Im definitely looking forward to being as sharp as we can so we go in feeling good about ourselves leaving the field.

Jeffery missed the game in Green Bay but had five targets and two catches for 23 yards in 18 snaps against the Bills.

Smith hasnt been targeted at all in 30 snaps.

I have like 10 catches my entire preseason in six years, so I dont worry about getting the ball, Smith said.

Slot starter Nelson Agholor has played 50 snaps but has been targeted just three times and has two catches for 45 yards.

So the clock ticks toward the opener.

Will that be enough time?

It certainly didnt sound like it when Jeffery was asked about Cutler and their time in Chicago specifically about the back shoulder throw that he and his former quarterback worked to perfection.

Its over time and over years, Jeffery said. We were together a long time. He knows what I like, I know what he likes. But it takes time. We were together five years.

That sort of chemistry wont come in one game and probably not in three weeks.

In due time, Jeffery said. Each and every day we get better. We practice, so over time itll get better.

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KRACZ: Clock ticking on chemistry class with Eagles Wentz and his WRs - The Intelligencer

Remember when the biggest criticism or question mark of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during a sensational rookie season of a year ago was an alleged inability to throw the deep ball and a supposed lack of chemistry with star receiver Dez Bryant.

Never mind that Bryant missed much of training camp last year with injuries when Prescott was not yet named the starter. Or that Bryant was sidelined for three games early in with the season with a fracture in his knee.

His season-ending numbers of 50 catches for 796 and eight touchdowns were somehow linked to a shortcoming of Prescott's in what was otherwise considered the best rookie season of any quarterback in NFL history.

It took only one series against in the Cowboys 24-19 preseason victory against the Indianapolis Colts for those concerns to disappear.

It was the first action of the preseason for Prescott and Bryant and they showed the world what close observers have been seeing for the last four weeks of training camp.

Bryant caught two passes for 55 yards, a 23-yarder to open the game and a 32-yard touchdown reception to cap the opening drive.

Yeah, you know theyve played a lot of football together in a short period of time, coach Jason Garrett said. They continue to grow. I think they have a very good relationship on the field and they have a very good relationship off the field and their communication is really good. I think it reflects in the execution.

They have grown because they have do have a great relationship. Prescott is the leader and Bryant follows.

But there is an open line of communication in their second year together, born out of a friendship forged last season when Bryant was one Prescott's most vocal supporters during the brief talk of a quarterback controversy with supplanted starter Tony Romo.

What's also key is that Bryant had a healthy offseason and training camp for the first time since before the 2014 season so hes also in the best shape he has been in a long time. He missed the offseason in a contract dispute before the 2015 season and was recovering from a foot surgery before teh 2016 season.

He has been healthy all offseason, so that chemistry has grown, Prescott said. He's been a guy that his ears are wide open, wanting to know what I'm thinking, and I want to know what he's thinking. It's just been back and forth of just talking and doing it out there on the field and it's only growing.

Dez is a guy that you just give him a chance one-on-one. Film study helps, but more importantly those reps we've had in practice all camp long probably have been more valuable to us.

Prescott said Bryant is the most improved player on the team and is playing the best football of his career. That says a lot considering Bryant's had three straight seasons of over 1,000 yards receiving from 2012-2014 when he caught 273 passes and 41 touchdowns. He caught 81 passes and 11 touchdowns the past two injury-plagued seasons.

To me, it's the best Dez has been," Prescott said. "Somebody asked me the other day who I think the most improved player is and I said Dez, just the way he's been taking care of his body, his effort, his attitude. Everything from last year to this year, it's just exciting to throw him the ball and watch what he can do after the catch.

The Cowboys will remain a run-first attack even with the absence of star running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is suspended for the first six games of the season for violating the NFLs personal conduct policy.

But they also showed during a brief outing against the Colts they will rely on Prescott to make plays out of the hurry up offense.

If Bryant is the best hes even been or even close to the player he was between 2012-2014, this improved chemistry will go a long way toward mitigating Elliotts absence by keeping the big play threat in the offense, forcing double coverages and keeping the defenses honest to open holes for the running game.

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Could improved Dak Prescott-Dez Bryant chemistry offset Elliott absence? - Fort Worth Star Telegram

On a recent trip to Outback Steakhouse with the rest of Floridas offensive linemen, center T.J. McCoy was feeling generous.

Look, he told the group of 14, were going to go to Outback and Im going to order everyone cheese fries.

At $9.99 each, those three plates of fries, cheese, bacon and ranch dressing cost him $30. But they provided something McCoy, his teammates and coach Jim McElwain claim is invaluable: Chemistry. And it doesnt stop with cheese fries and wings at Outback Steakhouse.

McCoy said the group also went fishing for catfish recently, with tackle Jawaan Taylor and guard Tyler Jordan reeling in the days biggest catches before the group fried them up together. There was also a trip to Yamato, a Gainesville hibachi restaurant, where they enjoyed servings of rice, noodles, steak and chicken together. With the average weight of a UF offensive lineman on scholarship being 312 pounds, the bills from these outings can be high.

We told [offensive line] Coach [Brad] Davis, We aint guy money like that, McCoy said of the trip to Yamato. You might help us out with that.

Whether he helps them or not, Davis and the other coaches are happy about the groups cohesion. McElwain said Wednesday he believes their bonding will lead to better play on the field through better communication.

I... see a group of guys, McElwain said, who now have been together enough, have understood the communication piece, and you know what, understand that they're a little bit tired of being that group, if you understand what I mean.

Florida center TJ McCoy, left, goes through drills during practice Fri., Aug. 4, 2017.

Ethan Bauer

That group is a group that ranked 71st in nation with 28 sacks allowed last season, which was an improvement over 2015, when it ranked last in the NCAA with 45. And that criticism has been heard by the players.

Most people was bashing us for the last two years since Ive been here, left tackle Martez Ivey said. Now they think were the strong point of the offense and were supposed to carry the load. Were not going to shock ourselves. We know what weve got to do.

Aside from the groups familiarity, McElwain also said it has improved thanks to better competition. With a battle between Tyler Jordan, Fred Johnson and Brett Heggie for two starting guard spots, theres plenty of motivation for all of them. But thanks to what they do away from practice, McCoy said there arent concerns about competition getting out of hand.

I talk to [right tackle] Jawaan [Taylor] about his parents, his family, where he comes from, McCoy said. Its all about getting to know each other and then saying, you know what? This guy cares about me. Not just the football, but he cares about my life.

You get to know this person on an intellectual level and not just football, but a personal level. And that makes the bond tighter.

Luke Del Rio took reps with the first-team offense in Fridays open portion of practice, but again, McElwain said not to read much into it this early in preseason camp.

Freshman wideout James Robinson, who McElwain said Wednesday UF was waiting on some things to clear up before he could enroll, was at practice for the first time on Friday. Robinson was a rated four-star receiver in Floridas 2017 class.

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Gators offensive line improving through cheese fries - Miami Herald

In her first year as coach at Eastside after two years at Alcovy, Maggie Johnston led the Eagles volleyball team to their best season in recent memory.

Eastside was far and above the best team in the east metro area in 2016, going 23-16 overall with a 6-3 mark in Region 4-AAAA and a berth in the Class AAAA state playoffs. Although the Eagles lost three productive seniors to graduation, their 17-member roster has some nine players with game experience.

Johnston, an Iowa native who played collegiately at Charleston Southern, expressed confidence in her team entering the 2017 campaign, but said team chemistry will be an important factor in the Eagles success.

Every year, no matter how many kids you have on the team, it all depends on chemistry, said Johnston. The girls dont necessarily have to like each other, but if we can control the chemistry, we should be in good shape. Theyre already comfortable with our defensive and offensive sets, so we wont have to spend a lot of time teaching that, so that helps a lot.

The returning player Eastside will most depend upon is senior middle hitter Chasity Smith, who was named first-team all-region and was a selection on the All-Citizens volleyball team. At 5-foot-10, Smith who also plays on the Gwinnett County-based Aftershock club team didnt start playing volleyball until her freshman year but Johnston says shes seen a lot of improvement in just a short time.

Shes very athletic, with a great vertical leap, said Johnston of Smith. And shes athletically built and very explosive. Shes also got a great technique. Shes grown tremendously and is now playing club. Shes already shown me that shes gotten better over the summer. Chasity is even more powerful and explosive. Shes gotten a lot better and Im expecting her to get even better and close out strong this year.

Johnston adds that she also appreciates Smiths leadership style.

Her biggest quality in the leadership department is leading by example, said Johnston. She goes out every day and works hard and practices hard.

As she tinkers with positions in the preseason, Johnston said shes still mulling personnel moves that will involve senior defender Sierra Springston and junior setter Taylor Costley.

And like many other competitive volleyball teams, Johnston has put together a rigorous pre-region schedule and in the lag between the regular season and postseason has scheduled some best-three-out-of-five exhibitions.

Were trying to schedule teams that are obviously better than us, traditionally, because I think that will be a big help in region play, she said. And weve also got a few best-of-five matches because we were used to playing best-of-three during the season and we ran out of gas when it was best-of-five at state.

New coach Khelsea Willis promises a fresh start from Alcovys 2-20 season from a year ago. The Tigers spent time this summer working with Atlanta Elite Volleyball, building and perfecting their fundamental skills, and Willis was pleased with the teams performance in summer volleyball scrimmages against the likes of Salem and Jackson County.

Alcovys 13-member varsity roster includes a half-dozen returning veterans and Willis is encouraged by the play of sophomore outside hitter Jaelyn Tillman, who transferred from Texas.

Willis also says that as the season begins, the Tigers offense is slightly ahead of its defense.

They were not used to hitting but theyve really taken off with it, she said. Weve got some very powerful hitters and were very confident in our offense. Were still working on our blocking, but I have no doubts about our offense and ability to hit the ball.

Head coach: Maggie Johnston

2016 record: 23-16 (6-3 in Region 4-AAAA), first round of Class AAAA state tournament

Players of note: MH Chasity Smith, Sr.; OH Lillian Fowler, Jr.; MH Taylor Haff, Sr.; S Taylor Costley, Jr.; MB Sierra Springston, Sr.

Head coach: Khelsea Willis

2016 record: 2-20 (0-6 in Region 3-AAAAAA)

Players of note: OH Katherine Hopson, Jr.; S/OH Rachel Culberson, Sr.; S/MH Morgan Hathorne, Fr.; OH Jaelyn Tillman, So.

2016 record: 6-17 (1-2 in Region 8-AAAAAAA)

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NEWTON VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW: Chemistry key for Eastside, Johnston - Rockdale Newton Citizen (press release) (registration)