Kellyn Acosta reflects on his game-winning goal vs. Ghana, his desire to bag more, and his partnership with Dax McCarty.

Kellyn Acosta says the United States' team chemistry was "pretty high" after a 2-1 friendly win over Ghana on Saturday, in spite of a number of new faces being called in for the Gold Cup.

Acosta curled a free kick around the wall for his first international goal after debutant Dom Dwyer opened the scoring and the U.S. comfortably saw out the victory in East Hartford, Connecticut.

The friendly was the new-look U.S. squad's only test before the Gold Cup begins next weekend, but Acosta said the team was already coming together.

"I thought we stuck as a team," Acosta told ESPN after the game. "New faces, but our chemistry was pretty high. We got guys moving around for each other, working hard, battling. It was a great start to what's going to be a good tournament.

"I'm glad the guys battled and fought for 90-plus minutes and got the result that we wanted."

U.S. coach Bruce Arena put Acosta in as a holding midfielder alongside Dax McCarty, and the FC Dallas man had no complaints about playing with a new partner.

"I thought it went well," Acosta said. "Obviously it's definitely tough getting to know a new face, we kind of just jumped right in there, but overall I thought we had a good game. I thought there were times I went forward, he fell back and vice versa, so I thought for the first game plan, we did a pretty good job."

Acosta has recently become the American's go-to taker from free kick situations and delivered his first goal in his ninth international appearance.

"It was definitely a proud moment, a happy moment," he said. "I've been working hard for it and I was happy to put it away. Hopefully it's the first of many. I was glad just to get that first one under my belt so hopefully I can continue scoring. I mean, Gold Cup's approaching, big game next week and hopefully I can get a goal then as well.

"I saw the keeper kind of cheating a little bit. My first one, I tried to put it over the wall and he was kind of already over there, so that means second one, I just tried to put it low in the corner and hope for the best -- maybe a rebound or going straight in and fortunately enough it went straight in, so I'm happy with it."

Dwyer was also thrilled to score his first goal and was optimistic that the team chemistry would only improve before next week's opener against Panama in Nashville.

"It was a fantastic feeling," he said of his goal. "I was very happy to get out there and get the start. I just wanted to show myself well and make an impact. ...

"There's a lot of positives to take from the game. We're still getting to know each other as players. It's going take a bit of time, but I think we're jelling well.

"It's a real good group, they welcomed me in well and a few of the other new guys, so we're just excited to get going and hopefully we can win the tournament."

Follow @ESPNFC on Twitter to keep up with the latest football updates.

Read more from the original source:
Kellyn Acosta: Chemistry solid in US squad despite new players - ESPN FC

In anticipation of their debut LP, New Jersey rockers Modern Chemistry released their second single, Tripping Over You.

The single carries a heavy emotional weight, using slow, sad verses that build into a huge, powerful chorus.

This is one of my favorite songs weve ever made, vocalist/guitarist Joe Zorzi said in a press release. I actually wrote the chorus years ago. I always loved it, but never found the right place for it. I started working on the verses and prechorus of this song and all the sudden, it just fell together perfectly. I think Brendan (Hourican)s guitar work really stands out on this track, with the ambient drones throughout and that huge, spacey chorus lead.

The single comes in anticipation of their upcoming LP,Everything In Gold.Since forming in 2012, Modern Chemistry has self-released three EPs including 2016s Dreaming Adjacent,which was produced by Taking Back Sundays Adam Lazarra.Everything In Goldis also being self-released and will be available July 7. Preorders are available here.

Check out the music video for the first single from the upcoming LP:

Modern Chemistry is Joe Zorzi (Lead vocals/guitar), Brendan Hourican (guitar/backing vocals) and Jesse Slachman (drums/backing vocals). Catch them on tour this summer with Taking Back Sunday and Every Time I Die.

Writer of news and novels, album reviews and artist profiles. A seasoned concert photographer who has lost the ability to attend a concert without bringing a camera.

See more here:
Modern Chemistry release new single 'Tripping Over You' - AltWire (press release) (blog)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Science is hidden in everything around us. Getting close to the Fourth of July the science staring us all in the face will be fireworks!

Everyone has their favorite Fourth of July tradition, but fireworks usually tops most peoples list.

Claire Benedict, a little girl who loves fireworks told us, I like the finale because its my favorite part.

Her sister Emily Benedict told News 4, I like when the loud fireworks go on!

You hear the oohs and ahhhs and see the bright explosions but have you ever wondered what makes the fireworks so magnificent? Its a combination of science and innovation! Jason Benedict, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Buffalo, told News 4, Its basically this great combination of using high energy chemical reactions to put on a light show.

But how and why do they fly high into the air and what causes the light? Benedict said, Basically what it is, is were mixing together a series of high energy compounds that are going to create explosions. And some of those explosions are what propel your fireworks up into the air and then cause them to separate once they are up there.

The explanation of the colors these explosions exhibit has a different reasoning. He said, Were now using the energy from those reactions to super heat atoms. These hot atoms give off light and those are the colors you see in the firework.

Different elements give off different shades. Strontium, gives rise to a red color. Barium, gives rise to a green color. Copper, creates a blue color and sodium creates an orangish yellow color. Color isnt the only show stopping part to a show. Creating different shapes has become trendy. Benedict said, When I was a kid, at least, we didnt have smiley face fireworks, but this has to do with organizing stars within these shells and they can give rise to these interesting new patterns.

The color combinations and basic chemistry that creates fireworks will not change but that the possibilities are endless when it comes to making new and interesting designs into the future.

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The chemistry behind fireworks: What makes them so magnificent ... - wivb.com

This image shows night on Venus in infrared from orbiting Akatsuki. Credit: NASA

Bromine species, and hydrogen bromide (HBr) in particular, could play an important part in the photochemistry of the lower atmosphere of Venus. This conclusion was made by researchers from MIPT and the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences after comparing the data of Earth-based observations of Venus with the predictions of a photochemical model. The paper detailing their study was published in the journal Icarus.

Since the 1960s, numerous space probes have been sent to Venus. Because 17 out of 24 successful missions were launched by the Soviet Union, scientists dubbed it the Russian planet. Back in the middle of the 20th century, sci-fi writers imagined Venus as a habitable planet covered entirely by ocean, expecting that it would welcome future generations of earthlings. But the morning star had many surprises in store for its would-be colonists.

The first Soviet probes that attempted to land on Venus were crushed by immense pressures in the lower atmosphere before they could reach the surface of the planet. Eventually, it became clear that Venus has a unique atmosphere, which is very dense near the surface and harbors terrific winds at higher altitudes. They blow at many times the speed of the planets rotation. Venus generates a great deal of scientific interest by virtue of its being so unusual and largely unexplored. Recent studies like this one further our understanding of the inner workings of this highly complex world.

The temperature of the surface of Venus and its lower atmosphere is extremely high: 460 degrees Celsius at the surface, and atmospheric pressure on Venus is 93 times that on Earth. Under these extreme conditions, rather peculiar compounds are formed and released into Venusian atmosphere, such as hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride. The discovery of these species on Venus half a century ago was unexpected and surprising. That said, it would be reasonable to suppose then that hydrogen bromide the next hydrogen halide could also be found in Venusian atmosphere.

Vladimir Krasnopolsky and Denis Belyaev conducted their observations of Venus from one of the Mauna Kea observatories, which are leading astronomical research facilities based on the Big Island, Hawaii, at an elevation of 4.2 kilometers. The researchers used the 3-meter telescope of NASAs Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF), coupled with CSHELL, a high-resolution spectrograph with a spectral resolving power of about 40,000.

To search for hydrogen bromide on Venus, the researchers observed the strongest spectral lines of this molecular species, whose associated wave numbers are 2605.8 and 2606.2 units per centimeter, which corresponds to a wavelength of roughly 3.8 micrometers. By analyzing 101 spectra of Venus and searching for hydrogen bromide lines in them, the astrophysicists came to a conclusion that the abundance of this species relative to other molecules in the cloud tops, at an altitude of 70 kilometers above the planets surface, does not exceed one part per billion.

Retrieval of atmospheric parameters from spectroscopic data is far from trivial, says Vladimir Krasnopolsky, the head of the Laboratory of Applied Infrared Spectroscopy at MIPT. It is possible to infer the temperature of the atmosphere at a given altitude from spectral line profiles and widths. As for the abundance of a given molecule relative to other atmospheric species, it can be determined by comparing the intensity of its spectral line to the intensities of lines of other molecules whose concentrations are known.

In 2012, Krasnopolsky created a photochemical model incorporating numerous components of the atmosphere of Venus. His model has now been updated to include the main photochemical processes involving bromine. According to the updated model, hydrogen bromide is roughly 300 times less abundant at 70-80 kilometers above the surface than at 60 kilometers due to its depletion by photolysis and reactions with atomic hydrogen and oxygen. Reanalysis of the observational data yielded an upper limit of between 20 and 70 parts per billion of hydrogen bromide below 60 kilometers. The relative abundances of various bromine species at different altitudes are shown in the figure below.

Despite the estimated bromine abundance being so low, it could still be an important component of the atmosphere of Venus, says Denis Belyaev, a senior researcher at the Space Research Institute, RAS. Thermodynamic calculations based on the chemical kinetic model of Vladimir Krasnopolsky indicate that hydrogen bromide is the dominant bromine species in the lower atmosphere.

Original post:
Researchers find out how bromine fits into Venusian chemistry - Astrobiology Magazine (registration)

Leominster's Connor Wironen (6) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run during Thursday's win over Main South in Worcester. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / ASHLEY GREEN

Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

LEOMINSTER -- Year in and year out, the Leominster American Legion Post 151 baseball team is one of the top dogs in Zone 4.

Leominster may not always have the best pound-for-pound talent, but there's something about Post 151 baseball that leads to outstanding team chemistry and success on the diamond.

A group all getting along all summer and working for the same championship goals, that's what Leominster Legion baseball is all about.

"The chemistry has been great since Day 1," Leominster manager Jeff Dedeian said. "We have 12 returning players, which helps, but our leaders are our older kids. They are not here to screw around. They are here to have fun and win. That's a key. Our young guys, as the games have gone on, have been better and better.

Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

Historically, Leominster is always near the top of the ultra-tough Zone 4 standings and is considered one of the elite programs in the state.

"There's a long line of history through this Post," Leominster second baseman Brandon Lefebvre said. "It's great to be able to put (the uniform) on every day and come to the ballpark and be part of this long chain of history and adding onto the legacy.

"I think one through 18 can probably play three or four positions and it's good to have that versatility on the entire roster. We have a very deep bullpen with a lot of arms and a lot of fielders who can play anywhere."

Leominster's overall talent, depth and great team chemistry have been on display this summer.

Leominster's lone loss was a 5-2 defeat at Northboro on Wednesday.

"Our mentality is to just come to the ballpark every day and just have a blast," Leominster shortstop Cooper Bigelow said. "I think that's the biggest difference from last year to this year. We're all having fun and want to play baseball and play it well. Everything is falling into place."

It's certainly fun when you're winning.

Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

Luckily, Post 151 has the horses on the mound to compete in each and every game.

The mound mastery has been orchestrated by Lucas Amico (2-0, 0.00 ERA), Connor Palma (4-0, 1.68 ERA), David Neuhaus (2-0, 3.68 ERA), Richie Sharp (3-0, 0.47 ERA) and Tyler Brandt (2-1, 2.75 ERA).

"Each guy has a shutout," said Dedeian, whose team ERA was a mind-boggling 1.67 headed into the weekend.

When these pitchers serve up a pitch down the heart of the plate, you can bet someone in the field is going all out to try to register the out. Leominster's defense behind the plate, in the infield and in the outfield has been exceptional.

"It's good to know they can miss spots and we'll field the ball behind them," Lefebvre said.

Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

According to Dedeian, the deadly double-play combination of Bigelow and Lefebvre in the middle has been the true key to success on defense.

"They make all the plays, Cooper and Lefebvre," Dedeian said. "Twelve games in and Cooper hasn't made an error and B made two errors in the first game and he's been phenomenal since. Parker (Bigelow), when he's at third, has been huge for us. And our outfield has been good."

The chemistry in the middle has been developing for many years now, says Cooper Bigelow.

"We've been playing together since we were in the first year of Babe Ruth," he said. "Last year helped our chemistry and we kind of know what each other is going to do when the time comes."

Another bright spot has been the beastly hitting of St. Bernard's star Connor Wironen (2 HRs, 8 RBIs .310 BA). The smooth-swinging lefty hitter never gets cheated when he digs into the batters box and has had the knack of driving the ball out of the ballpark.

"Wironen's bat has been great," Dedeian said. "He's been a great addition. He brings a bit of energy to us."

Leominster was hitting a robust .314 as a team, while Lefebvre is putting together a monster summer with a .452 batting average and a team-high 19 RBIs.He also has six doubles, one triple and one dinger.

Cooper Bigelow is hitting .308 with a team-high 24 runs scored. Leominster outfielder Matt Baron has knocked in 10 runs and is hitting .297, while Sharp is hitting an impressive .462 with 9 RBIs. Catcher Rocco Pandiscio checks in with a .353 average, and Andrew Harrington is at .500 with 10 hits in 20 at-bats.

When you wear the orange and blue of Post 151, you are expected to act and play a certain way. It's called the right way to play baseball in Leominster.

"You have to carry yourself like you would at any place," Cooper Bigelow said. "Carry yourself with the mentality that you want to be the best, but also show people that we have class. Coach treats us all the same. If you don't run out of the box, he will sit you. That's how it is. You have to bust your butt all day long."

Everyone is expected to work hard and play hard. Everyone.

"Some people have shown up in different spots when we've needed them and picked someone up," Lefebvre said. "They come in and get the job done. It's great to have that in the lineup."

Added Dedeian: "We've got guys filling in voids and playing. We can only get better, if they want to get better."

Of course Leominster wants to get better. The players want to be the best team out there.

With this type of team chemistry, anything is possible for Post 151. Perhaps another appearance in the prestigious Elite 8 state tournament is attainable?

"It's definitely a goal and it's in our heads, but we're taking every game one step at a time, every pitch at a time and every single inning," Cooper Bigelow said.

Follow Chad Garner on Twitter @CGARNER23.

Read more here:
Chemistry is the key for Post 151 - Sentinel & Enterprise - Sentinel & Enterprise

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL March 5, 2020 Zacks Equity Research Shares of KB Home KBH as the Bull of the Day, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation SNP asthe Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on SunPower Corporation SPWR, Tesco PLC TSCDY and Mitek Systems, Inc. MITK.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

In case you havent noticed, interest rates are low. Very low. Historical lows, in fact. That makes buying a house a very attractive proposition. You can now guess what industry my Bull of the Day today is going to be in. This Bull of the Day is also a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). That means over the last few months, analysts all over Wall St. have been increasing their earnings estimates. That bullish behavior could be a sign of good things to come.

Im talking about Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) KB Home. KB Home operates as a homebuilding company in the United States. It operates through four segments: West Coast, Southwest, Central, and Southeast. The company builds and sells various homes, including attached and detached single-family residential homes, townhomes, and condominiums primarily for first-time, first move-up, second move-up, and active adult homebuyers. It also offers financial services, such as insurance products and title services. It has operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington.

The reason for the favorable Zack Rank lies in the series of estimate revisions coming in to the upside recently. Over the last 60 days, six analysts have increased their estimates for the current year, while two have followed suit for next year. The bullish sentiment has pushed up the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year from $3.46 to $3.70 while next years number is up from $3.81 to $4.04.

Whats more impressive is the EPS growth. Current year EPS growth is slated to come in at 29.82% year-over-year. Next years EPS growth is 9.19%. Thats coming on revenue growth of 14.35% this year and 6.96% next year.

Bear of the Day:

If you were going to put together two areas of the market which are complete duds, I bet that China and oil would be on that list. Oil prices have been in free fall since topping out over $64 at the start of the year, tumbling down to $47 during Wednesdays trade. Then, theres China. Not only have they taken a hit due to the trade war, but now they are taking a punch because of the coronavirus. Mix these two terrible parts of the market together and you get a stock or two that you should probably avoid. One of these stocks is todays Bear of the Day.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, an energy and chemical company, engages in oil and gas, and chemical operations in the People's Republic of China. It operates through five segments: Exploration and Production, Refining, Marketing and Distribution, Chemicals, and Corporate and Others. The company explores for and develops oil fields; produces crude oil and natural gas; processes and purifies crude oil; and manufactures and sells petroleum products.

China Petrol is currently a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). The reason for the negative Zacks Rank is the series of earnings estimates coming in to the down side. Analysts have cut their earnings estimates for the current year and next year recently. Over the last sixty days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has come down from $6.92 to $6.75 while next years number is off from $6.75 down to $5.53. Given horrendous China PMI numbers, I expect these numbers will continue to get worse.

The Oil and Gas Integrated Emerging Markets industry ranks in the Bottom 24% of our Zacks Industry Rank. That doesnt bode well for the industry as a whole, however, there are two stocks within the industry which have favorable Zacks Ranks.

Additional content:

3 Stocks Under $10 to Buy as Coronavirus Fears Linger

The Dow, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq all quickly plummeted into a correction last week as the coronavirus spreads outside of China. Apple, Microsoft and others have all lowered their guidance based on negative impacts in both supply and demand in the worlds second-largest economy.

The novel coronavirus has continued to spread around the world and more cases are popping up in the U.S. Yet the market surged on Monday and popped again Wednesday, after Joe Bidens strong performance in Super Tuesday primaries.

Story continues

Plus, the Fed announced Tuesday that it cut its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point, to between 1% and 1.25%. The move is aimed to help provide a boost to the U.S. economy amid coronavirus worries. Plus, the 10-year U.S. Treasury note had already slipped to all-time lows below 1.0% and currently rests at 0.96%.

Clearly, market uncertainty will remain, and stocks are likely to stay somewhat volatile until there is some end in sight to the coronavirus and more companies update their outlooks.

With that said, investors should still be on the lookout for stocks to buy, or least add to their watchlists with interest rates so low and stocks down big from their recent highs.

Today, we are focusing on cheap stocks trading under $10 per share. Stocks trading under $10 can be more volatile than their pricier peers, but investors can still grab solid returns with the right low-priced stocks. So, lets dive into 3 that we found today

SunPower Corporation

Prior Close: $8.91 USD

SunPower designs, manufactures, and sells solar panels and systems to everyone from homeowners to businesses and utility customers. The San Jose, California-headquartered firm crushed our Q4 earnings estimates last month, with fiscal 2019 sales up 8%. SPWR also announced a proposed spin-off of Maxeon Solar and completed a successful capital raise and partial convertible bond retirement to further strengthen our balance sheet.

SPWR shares went on a tear last year, climbing from $7 a share in March to over $14 by July. The stock then fell, but it is up 26% in the last three months. Looking ahead, our Zacks estimates call for SunPowers fiscal 2020 sales to surge 13%, with 2021 projected to climb another 15% higher to $2.58 billion. Meanwhile, SunPowers adjusted 2020 earnings are projected to climb from a loss of -$0.29 a share to +$0.04 a share. Then its 2021 EPS figure is set to skyrocket over 800% to $0.37 a share.

SunPower is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) that sports an A grade for Momentum in our Style Scores system. The stock is also part of a highly ranked Zacks industry that includes Enphase Energy and SolarEdge. And Wall Street has been behind renewable energy stocks recently, including Tesla.

More broadly, the traditional oil and gas-heavy Energy space was theworst-performingsector of the S&P 500 over the last decade. And the U.S. Energy Information Administrationforecaststhat generation from non-hydropower renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, will grow by 15% in 2020.

Tesco PLC

Prior Close: $8.94 USD

Tesco is a UK multinational grocery and retail powerhouse. In November, Tesco became the first major British supermarket chain to offer a subscription customer loyalty program. Tescos Clubcard Plus is designed to help it fight off discount retail encroachment and management has been pleased with its early results. And the supermarket giant isclosing in on a dealto sell its stores in Asia for roughly $10 billion.

Shares of Tesco are up 9% in the last six months to easily top its industrys 8% decline. This run is part of a 33% climb over the past three years. TSCDY has also consistently traded at a discount compared to its industry over the last two years. And the companys 2.28% dividend yield tops U.S. giants Kroger, Walmart and Costco.

Tescos positive earnings estimate revision activity helps it hold a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) right now. TSCDY also holds an A grade for Value and a B for Growth to help it earn an overall A VGM grade. Looking ahead, the companys adjusted fiscal year e
arnings are projected to jump over 27% to $0.70 a share on the back of 13.5% sales growth.

Mitek Systems, Inc.

Prior Close: $8.64 USD

Mitek Systems utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning to help financial institutions and other enterprises verify a users identity during digital transactions. Miteks solutions are embedded into the apps of over 6,500 organizations and used by more than 80 million consumers to perform tasks such as mobile check deposit. Mitek, topped our Q1 FY20 estimates at the end of January, driven by double-digit growth in mobile deposit and identity verification products.

Since the report, Miteks fiscal 2020 and 2021 earnings revisions have climbed to help it earn a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). MITK also sports an A grade for Growth and it has crushed our bottom-line estimates in the trailing four quarters by a 32% average. Mitek shares have surged 22% in the last three months and 180% in the last five years from under $4 a share to its current price point. And the stock still has plenty of room to run before it hits its 52-week highs of $13 a share.

Peeking ahead, the San Diego-based companys adjusted 2020 earnings are projected to surge 21.4% to $0.51 per share on 18.3% higher revenues. Then the companys sales and earnings are both expected to climb another 15% higher in 2021. And the mobile capture and digital identity verification firm could be poised to grow for years to come in our online and mobile-heavy economy.

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

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Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

See the pot trades we're targeting>>

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Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free reportChina Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SNP) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSunPower Corporation (SPWR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportKB Home (KBH) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTesco PLC (TSCDY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMitek Systems, Inc. (MITK) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.

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KB Home, China Petroleum & Chemical, SunPower, Tesco and Mitek Systems highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day - Yahoo Finance

Donald J. Darensbourg, distinguished professor of chemistry at Texas A&M University, is one of 65 named as 2017 fellows of the American Chemical Society.

The honor was created to recognize "outstanding achievements in chemistry and contributions to science, the profession and the society," officials said.

Darensbourg, who joined the university in 1982, is now the 14th member of the university's department of chemistry to be recognized as fellows of the society.

"I am delighted that Don has been recognized by the American Chemical Society for his important scientific and service contributions to the field," said Simon W. North, professor and head of the A&M Department of Chemistry in a statement. "This honor in consistent with his dedication to teaching and service, and the exceptional quality of his scholarly work."

Darensbourg and his peers will be honored Aug. 21 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Read the original post:
Texas A&M chemistry professor recognized by American Chemical Society - Bryan-College Station Eagle

Photo: Tim Warner/For The Chronicle

As the second half of the regular season begins Saturday with a game at Colorado, A.J. DeLaGarza (20) and the Dynamo are in a much better spot than they were when the season began.

As the second half of the regular season begins Saturday with a game at Colorado, A.J. DeLaGarza (20) and the Dynamo are in a much better spot than they were when the season began.

Chemistry improving as Dynamo begin second half of season

A.J. DeLaGarza came to the Dynamo with eight years of pro experience and three MLS Cup titles. He had played for ultra-successful coach Bruce Arena and with league legends David Beckham and Landon Donovan.

If any of the Dynamo's new players had a chance to start fast under first-year coach Wilmer Cabrera it was him. Unfortunately for DeLaGarza, it wasn't that easy.

The right back never had played in a 4-3-3 formation.

"This was a new system for a lot of people," DeLaGarza said this week. "Just knowing where my support and my cover is, is all different."

As the second half of the regular season begins Saturday with a game at Colorado, DeLaGarza and the Dynamo are in a much better spot than they were when the season began.

(Story continues below ... )

A last-place finish in 2016 forced a roster overhaul in the off-season. New players came from Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Uruguay, Los Angeles, Seattle, Rio Grande Valley FC, and the NCAA. They all were tasked with the challenge of meshing together in Cabrera's system.

It has taken six months, but Cabrera said the progress has been impressive.

"They are more bound to each other," he said. "They are more comfortable with each other. That is something you can feel every day when we practice."

Despite the newness, the team won early and often. Using an all-out attack that put pressure on opponents all over the field during home games, the Dynamo (7-6-4) sprinted to three wins in their first four games.

As they prepare to play their 18th of 34 regular season games, they remain undefeated at home and are tied for second place in the Western Conference.

Their road woes have been a big story. With a record of 0-6-2, they're still looking for their first win away from BBVA Compass Stadium. Recent road performances have been better, and had a linesman correctly raised his flag for offside in the dying moments of the road game against the LA Galaxy, they would not be winless on the road.

The improved performances prove to them they finally are ready to break through.

"It has been little steps, but consistent steps to improve, to adjust to each other as a team," Cabrera said. "(We have had) good mentality. The mentality has been getting stronger and stronger."

The consistent mentality has allowed the players to remain calm and positive during the low points. Despite their lacking number of road points, they're still in great position to challenge for one of the West's top two seeds.

DeLaGarza said that is significant because the team still believes it has a lot of improving to do compared to other teams whose players have been together longer than six months.

"We know quality is going to come," DeLaGarza said. "We are 17 games into playing with one another. It takes years of time together. Trying to put something together doesn't come overnight, so we are halfway through the season and we have to start ramping it up a little more."

The rest is here:
Chemistry improving as Dynamo begin second half of season - Chron.com

Revelations have major implications for animal rights as well as public and environmental health.

Jonathan Latham

February 17, 2020

The case of an animal rights activist who infiltrated an independent German chemical testing laboratory has triggered the discovery of an apparently extensive chemical testing fraud.

LPT Hamburg, with around 175 employees, is one of the largest contract laboratories in Germany. It is a family owned private company. It prepares regulatory studies on behalf of the pharmaceutical and pesticide industries and has three locations: Mienenbttel in Lower Saxony, Neugraben in Hamburg and Wankendorf in Schleswig-Holstein.

An initial case of fraud was reported in 2019 by the German magazine FAKT, which worked with the animal rights organisations Cruelty Free International and SOKO-Tierschutz to expose the findings of the undercover employee. The disturbing irregularities they discovered included the death and replacement of animals without this being reported to authorities.

This distressing video from FAKT summarises the findings and was filmed at LPT.

But since the initial investigation by FAKT five former employees of LPT Hamburg have come forward with new information.

In interviews broadcast by FAKT in November of 2019, one employee told the magazine of testing fraud:

I not only experienced it, I did it myself. I forged documents; our studies. If the results did not meet expectations, I was asked to improve them. The data that did not fit in were marked so that I could enter it on the blank protocol the new values that were given to me. The new report was also marked with the old date and my signature

A second employee who came forward told FAKT:

These animals, especially in the high-dose group, actually had completely open skin - so it was the raw meat that was visible, miserable really miserable. [...] In fact, one animal died in the high-dose group and was replaced by another animal. Here, too, the tattoo number, which is in the chest area of the animal, was cut out of the dead animal and added to the organs of the replaced animal after the end of the study. So that it looks as if this animal had not died at all.

A third told FAKT that they had observed repeated falsification of studies and that they later reported this to the German authorities:

So, a few months after I left LPT, I contacted the responsible authorities here. And had an appointment. And in this appointment we discussed the LPT issue together. It was also about manipulation of data and of course about the fact that studies were so strongly influenced that it was not compatible with my conscience.

However, the employee never heard from the authority again.

These revelations have major implications for public and environmental health. They undermine the idea that testing by commercial laboratories is independent of the chemical industry, thereby challenging the validity of the entire system of toxicological evaluation of chemicals like pesticides and pharmaceuticals. These allegations echo previous cases of chemical testing fraud, such as the IBT scandal of the late 1970s, including the more recent realization that this fraud was covered up by the overseeing government agencies, such as the US EPA.

A further implication, according to a new report on the LPT case carried out by PAN Germany, Corporate Europe Observatory and Global 2000 of Austria, is that many of the studies supporting the EUs reapproval of glyphosate came from LPT.

According to the EUs reassessment of glyphosate, all industry-derived studies on genotoxicity concluded that glyphosate was safe, or nearly so. On the other hand, the majority of peer-reviewed studies concluded it was not. In its reauthorization process the EU agency which evaluated glyphosate concluded that the industry studies submitted were reliable and the peer-reviewed studies were not reliable. This designation cleared the way for reauthorization. At least 21 studies submitted by Monsanto supporting glyphosates reauthorization came from LPT.

The primary given reason why peer reviewed studies are deemed inadmissible by regulators is that they do not have the technical certification known as Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). GLP follows OECD guidelines which were adopted by the EU in 2004.

GLP has long been criticized as failing to guarantee high quality research (Elliott et al. 2016, Myers et al. 2009, Wagner and Michaels 2004). It has always been defended, however, on the basis that it prevented exactly this kind of fraud.

The rest is here:
Extensive Chemical Safety Fraud Uncovered at German Testing Laboratory - Earth Island Journal

The members of My Chemical Romance, the emo band whose T-shirts have never gone out of style with shoppers at Hot Topic, are reuniting for a big 2020 tour.

And the tour coming to the Bay Area.

My Chemical Romance is set to perform Oct. 6 at Oakland Arena.

Tickets go on sale Jan. 31. See http://www.mychemicalromance.com/tour for details.

Its the bands first U.S. tour in nine years.

The tour announcement was made in a 13-plus-minute creepy, horror movie-style video dubbed A summoning And, yes, that seems entirely fitting for this band.

Watch the video here:

The band is also set to perform at Sacramentos huge Aftershock Festival, which runs Oct. 9-11. My Chemical Romance headlines the festival on Oct. 10, while oh, yeah! Metallica headlines on both Oct. 9 and 11.

Read more about Aftershock festival here.

Billboard lists the tour dates as:

Sept. 9: Detroit, Mich. Little Caesars Arena

Sept. 11: St. Paul, Minn. Xcel Energy Center

Sept. 12: Chicago, Ill. Riot Fest

Sept. 14: Toronto, Ontario Scotiabank Arena

Sept. 15: Boston, Mass. TD Garden

Sept. 17: Brooklyn, N.Y. Barclays Center

Sept. 18: Philadelphia, Penn. Wells Fargo Center

Sept. 20: Atlanta, Ga. Music Midtown

Sept. 22: Newark, N.J. Prudential Center

Sept. 26: Sunrise, Fla. BB&T Center

Sept. 29: Houston, Tex. Toyota Center

Sept. 30: Dallas, Tex. American Airlines Center

Oct. 2: Denver, Col. Pepsi Center

Oct. 4: Tacoma, Wash. Tacoma Dome

Oct. 6: Oakland, Cali. Oakland Arena

Oct. 8: Los Angeles, Cali. The Forum

Oct. 10: Sacramento, Cali. Aftershock Festival

Oct. 11: Las Vegas, Nev. T-Mobile Arena

See the article here:
My Chemical Romance brings reunion tour to Oakland, Sacramento - East Bay Times

HOUSTON Its the first thing we want to know after theres a fire or an explosion: whats inside that chemical facility?

But what KHOU 11 has learned is theres really no way to find out before something happens.

For the ITC fire, it was Naphtha, Xylene and Toulene, and for the KMCO fire, it was Isobutylene.

In Fridays explosion, what we know so far is Propylene was involved.

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These are chemicals youve probably never heard of, but know they can have catastrophic consequences.

What was in that facility, and how are they exposed to the explosion thats happened?" said Marcus Spagnoletti with Spagnoletti Law Firm.

Houston Attorney Marcus Spagnoletti said these are the questions we have every time this happens.

We also, over the last 12 or 18 months, have seen some tragedy," Spagnoletti said.

As of 2017, there were 2,927 chemical facilities in Harris County alone, but as for whats going on inside them, specifically what chemicals are being used there, they dont have to tell you.

Other than the workers that are in the facility, the folks living around, approximate to the facility are not going to have intimate knowledge or any knowledge readily available to them as to the dangers theyre potentially exposed to," Spagnoletti said.

And he said theres not much you can do to get that information. We only learn whats inside after its too late.

I might have certain masks or equipment in my home to protect my home in the event that something happened," Spagnoletti said.

A rule was almost put in place under former President Obama that wouldve made companies publicize their chemicals, but it was rolled back when President Trump took office in 2017 in part because companies said it made them a easier target for terrorists.

Until a rule is implemented again, those chemicals can stay a secret.

I think it would do more good than harm by telling people what chemicals may be floating around in the air in the event that a tragedy happens like it did today," Spagnoletti said.

But one tool you can use now to give you a little information is this interactive map from the EPA.

It reports locations of air pollution emissions in your neighborhood as well as the companies involved and the chemicals released.

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Attorney: Chemical facilities don't have to tell you what they have on site - KHOU.com

There may well come a time this season when the Celtics are just not good enough, when a talent deficit sends them home from the postseason while the other kids keep playing in the warm weather.

After 43 games, however, we feel fairly certain in stating that any mortal wound this club sustains will not come from within. No doubt, that could happen in a given game or two, and weve seen that recently when the Celts foolishly ignored their better angels at both ends of the floor.

But whereas last years edition suffered the effects of a chemical spill to the point where its alternate uniform should have been a hazmat suit, the 2019-20 Celtics are far more likely to pull in closer and steer out of skids.

It was just a few games ago that the Cs were a rather individualistic mess on offense, with the ball moving so infrequently it had to pay rent in certain locations. And the failure to get back on defense was even more damning.

But course corrections were made in large wins over the Lakers and Memphis. The Celtics got back to playing together.

Everybody knows chemistry matters, said president of basketball ops Danny Ainge. Its always to what level and what extent, and how bad is it and how good is it?

I think Ive seen pretty much all levels of it, but the chemistry on this team is good, and I think its going to get better because theyre a good group of guys and I think everybody has a role. I mean, theres obviously a few guys that wish they were playing more minutes, but theyre good guys. And I sense that Brad (Stevens) is having a fun time coaching these guys.

I think our teams going to improve as the year goes on in all aspects of the game, including chemistry. I mean, chemistry is one thing about liking people or working with guys that you like and enjoy, but another thing is just knowing what each other are doing on the court.

Giving a damn about each other also plays an essential role.

I think being able to lean on teammates and picking guys up, for sure, is very helpful, said Gordon Hayward. And if you have better relationships, youre able to do that. In the NBA, its such a long season. Also, youve got to remember that guys are going through things off the court sometimes. So different things can be hampering different guys, and if you do have some tight chemistry, you can definitely be better at picking each other up.

Former Celtic Jae Crowder still keeps an eye on his old club, and he noted the difference in chemistry after his Grizzlies were waxed by 24.

Yeah, Crowder said, for sure. These guys are all connected. They look like theyre having fun. You can tell by how they play and the way they play, guys are having fun with it. All the guys are touching the ball, guys are moving well, turning down good shots for great ones. When you see that as a team, you have a good thing going.

These guys are playing really, really good right now and moving the ball well. Everybodys a threat on the court. You can tell its a really good team. Theyve got a good camaraderie and Brad is doing a hell of a job. Theyre moving the ball, even though they have so many weapons, and I think its coming together beautiful. Its a tough team obviously. You see what they did to one of the best teams in the league, L.A. Theyre a tough team to beat, especially on their home court.

Said Kemba Walker, Were just kind of getting back to ourselves, you know, realizing the way we play in wins. We play with great energy thats just the way weve been playing in these wins, so we want to continue that and just keep going.

When we are playing well, were feisty and scrambling and just playing for each other. Were just kind of realizing that.

While Hayward believes this group is built to weather storms, he doesnt want to get too far from shore with any pronouncements.

This is just a couple of games now, so hopefully we can continue like this, he said. I mean, this time last week it was a completely different story. You cant get too high on the highs or too low on the lows, and how we are together helps.

See the article here:
Celtics overall GPA still to be decided, but theyre acing chemistry - Boston Herald

Atlanta, Georgia A teacher presenting a flashy demonstration to get her students excited about chemistry made a mistake that caused a fire to burn "out of control" and seriously injure a student, says a report released Wednesday. The high school teacher, Bridgette Blowe, "froze in pure shock" when it grew out of control, spread across the desk and set her student in the front row on fire, according to students and staff, CBS Atlanta affiliate WGCL-TV reports.

Staff and students said the student, 16-year-old Malachi McFadden, had his head down and didn't see the flame coming. He suffered third-degree burns on his face, neck and torso and was hospitalized after the botched "burning money demonstration," which happened at Redan High School, just outside Atlanta, on the second day of his junior year, his lawyers said.

On Wednesday, his lawyers released a report by an investigator for the DeKalb County school system that uses witness statements from students and teachers to piece together what happened August 6. They say Blowe didn't provide protective equipment or advise the boy to stand 10 feet away, as mandated, WGCL-TV reported.

Blowe, 36, wrote in a statement included in the report that she's successfully done the demonstration lighting an accelerant-soaked bill on fire in previous years and for two other classes this year. In this particular class, the flame didn't burn out completely, Blowe wrote, "so I attempted to extinguish the flame with water, but I reached for the alcohol instead, by mistake."

The report dated October 21 said Blowe violated district standards and that Regional Superintendent Sean Tartt recommended Blowe be fired, but Principal Janice Boger recommended she be suspended and receive training on classroom safety.

The school district said Wednesday Blowe is on administrative leave with pay, that no disciplinary action has been taken and the district is "reviewing training and safety protocols for its science labs."

Boger called Blowe a good teacher who "made an awful mistake."

L. Chris Stewart, a lawyer for McFadden, said they will likely end up suing for damages to cover his pain and suffering, as well as past and future medical costs, including plastic surgery. "The only thing for them to do is to accept responsibility for it," Stewart said of the school district.

The demonstration Blowe was attempting is popular on the internet and the premise is simple: Soak paper money in a mixture of water and alcohol, light it and amaze your friends when the bill comes through unharmed. But numerous videos also show the experiment going horribly wrong.

Blowe had tried to do the experiment the first day of classes using a mixture of water and alcohol, but it didn't work, according to witness statements. She tried again the next day using a mixture of water and ethanol. After soaking a $5 bill and lighting it, she put it in a bowl and "added more ethanol to make the flame bigger," the investigator concluded. That "caused the flame to become out of control."

Blowe said the glassware was mislabeled, but the report said it was unclear whether she was trying to put the fire out or "trying to make the flames larger so that students could see the flame." The investigator wrote that it was "inconclusive as to whether or not Ms. Blowe's use of water or alcohol was accidental."

Reached by phone Wednesday, Blowe declined to comment.

McFadden told The Associated Press in a September interview that his hands still hurt constantly and he misses playing baritone saxophone in the band along with playing football and basketball. He hopes to return next semester.

He likes math and wants to be an engineer but has never really liked science. He'll have to take chemistry next year to graduate but said he feels nervous about that.

News outlets across the country have reported about students injured in chemistry class demonstrations in recent years, including one at a Manhattan high school that caused burns over about 31% of a student's body in 2014. In July, a jury awarded that student nearly $60 million in damages for past and future pain and suffering.

The problem isn't new, said Ken Roy, chief safety compliance adviser for the National Science Teaching Association. There's no national database that tracks such accidents, but Roy said he has anecdotal knowledge of at least 30 since the late 1990s that have ended up in court after students were seriously injured.

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Chemistry teacher "froze in pure shock" after botched experiment injured teen at Redan High School outside Atlanta, report says - CBS News

Michael Inkpen underwent treatment for lymphoma, played indie rock and studied chemistry internationally before joining USC Dornsife. [4 min read]

While making scientific inroads to molecular electronics and energy storage, chemist Michael Inkpen also aims to be a science communicator. (Photo: Rhonda Hillbery.)

Ten years ago, Michael Inkpen had a busy schedule, shuttling from the chemistry lab where he pursued his Ph.D. studies by day to the London clubs and bars where he performed with an indie rock band well into the night. That changed abruptly when one day he felt a lump in his neck.

In retrospect, Inkpen sees something worthwhile in the life-interrupting diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma that followed. His cancer turned out to be highly treatable, and experiencing serious illness firsthand elicited a philosophical outlook that has stuck with him in the years since.

Life is too short to get hung up on small things, said Inkpen, assistant professor of chemistry at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. It was a humbling journey, realizing that youre essentially just a bag of water, and amazing, really, that youre here at all.

After chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Inkpens cancer was in remission. He returned to juggling chemistry and club gigs before ultimately pulling back from performing to focus entirely on earning his Ph.D. Then, after a postdoctoral stint at Imperial College in the U.K., he spent two years at Columbia University in New York and one year at the University of Rennes 1 in France on an EU-funded Marie Skodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Global Individual Fellowship. This past January, his path led to Los Angeles, where he joined USC Dornsife and set about designing his own lab.

Moving to Los Angeles and joining USC offered a dream opportunity to design and build my own independent lab and create a research group at a top university in a world-class city, Inkpen said.

Building blocks

Inkpens research is located at the interface of chemistry and physics; his goal is to better understand how molecular systems can be used to transport electric charges. Building on his interdisciplinary training, he aims to both synthesize new materials and then study their properties by connecting them between tiny, nanoscale electrodes.

His approach is reminiscent of LEGO bricks he explores relationships between individual molecular building blocks and their extended, assembled chemical structures in one, two and three dimensions. This research might eventually bring about insights into and breakthroughs in energy storage or molecular-scale electronics.

Moores Law famously predicted in the 1960s that improvements in microchip transistor manufacturing would yield ever smaller components, resulting in steadily increasing computing capability. This principle has so far held true, as seen in todays compact, more powerful devices. (Think smartphones.)

If you extrapolate Moores Law, you eventually get to molecular-sized circuit components, Inkpen said. In addition to their small size, molecular components are highly customizable and demonstrate unique properties tied to quantum mechanics. Today there is growing interest in exploring what molecules can do that traditional silicon-based technologies cannot.

Inkpen is particularly interested in how the introduction of positive or negative charges may change the electronic properties of materials. This is akin to how charging a balloon by rubbing it against hair will let it stick to a wall, whereas, demonstrating a different behavior, an uncharged balloon simply falls to the ground.

Scientific storytelling

Beyond the science itself, Inkpen is fascinated by how science can be shared with diverse audiences in innovative, creative ways. Human connection is important in science, he said, and the desire for it is what led him to cofound a band so many years ago.

The Ph.D. can sometimes be a lonely business, particularly when your experiments arent working out and you dont know why, Inkpen said. Writing songs and gigging was fun, and provided a healthy counterpoint to long hours at the chemistry bench.

Today, Inkpen attends science cafes and follows science bloggers and vloggers, including Derek Lowe of In The Pipeline, Dianna Cowern of Physics Girl, and the University of Nottinghams Periodic Videos. Inkpen is a fan of the late physicist Richard Feynman, legendary for popularizing science in unique ways as well as for bongo drumming. Feynman, a Nobel laureate, published accessible works on the philosophy of science and delivered TV interviews and lectures in a timeless, inimitable style.

These scientific rock stars didnt stay in their ivory towers doing experiments, they embraced unconventional approaches to show millions of people why what they do, and how they think, is fascinating and relevant, Inkpen said.

Its no surprise that besides teaching and mentoring graduate students, Inkpen enjoys occasionally blogging about chemistry and life as a researcher and plans to boost his involvement in science outreach to K-12 and underserved college populations.

For me, being a scientist is not only about the results and hard data; you are part of a community, he said. I have frequently been inspired over the years by captivating school experiments, science documentaries, blog posts or even simple tweets, and I am determined to pay it forward.

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Cancer experience inspires chemist both as a researcher and a science communicator > News > USC Dornsife - USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts...

Kansas forward David McCormack (33) loses control of the ball as he tries to score past Texas forward Kai Jones (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) by Associated Press

Anyone out there pondering the pros and cons of the Kansas basketball team continuing to start two bigs even though it ends up playing more four-guard lineups isnt alone.

Bill Self is right there with you.

While the Jayhawks head coach has started sophomore forward David McCormack in 16 of KUs 17 games, Self these days seems more contemplative on the matter.

The way he explained on Monday his recent line of thinking, Self suggested slightly altering the starting five was on his mind this past week. He may have even come closer than ever to switching it up for one of KUs road games at Oklahoma and Texas, but the moving parts gave him pause.

The Jayhawks didnt know for certain going into those games whether sophomore point guard Devon Dotson, who was dealing with a hip pointer, would be able to play. Before the game at UT, Self said, if he decided to start senior guard Isaiah Moss instead of McCormack, and then Dotson wasnt cleared to play, he would have essentially been taking McCormack out of the starting five just to put him right back in. The coach didnt want to mess with his big mans mind with any juggling.

So I thought it was best just to leave a status quo, Self explained, so youre only messing with one guy, as opposed to messing with two.

Dotson, of course, ended up returning and starting at Texas, so Moss, who started in Dotsons place at OU, was the only Jayhawk waiting to find out his role at UT.

The approach worked, as Kansas (14-3 overall, 4-1 Big 12), now ranked No. 3 in the nation, won back-to-back road games. But the fact that he thought so hard about the starting five leads one to wonder whether Selfs more open than ever to making a change.

He said Monday, ahead of KUs Sunflower Showdown with Kansas State at Allen Fieldhouse, he doubted one was imminent. Even so, Self went on to describe a potential benefit of starting Moss.

We know that our five most productive players on the floor is with Isaiah in the lineup, Self said, clarifying that five-man group teams Moss with four other KU starters, Dotson, Marcus Garrett, Ochai Agbaji and Udoka Azubuike. Stats, analytics prove that out.

To Selfs point, in Saturdays win at Texas, that lineup played 15:36 and outscored the Longhorns, 28-18, while committing three turnovers. The starting five, with McCormack on the court instead of Moss, played 7:32, was outscored, 15-10, and turned the ball over once.

McCormack, a 6-foot-10, 265-pound sophomore, still brings a different kind of presence to the floor that Self appreciates. The coach valued the big mans play so much at UT that McCormack logged 20 minutes, a new high for him this season in Big 12 play. The starting forward who so often plays a backups minutes contributed 6 points and seven rebounds.

More importantly, overall, lineups with McCormack worked against Texas. When he was in the game, the Jayhawks outscored UT, 34-24. When McCormack sat, Texas outscored KU, 33-32.

From a chemistry standpoint, I think up until this point its still been best for us to go the way that we've been going, Self said of starting McCormack, because you're still going to have ample opportunities to have that other lineup.

Self wants KU to have experience playing bigger in case the Jayhawks need that type of lineup at some stage of the NCAA Tournament. And while a change to the starting lineup wouldnt make getting those in-game repetitions impossible, its easy to see how it could be less appealing. Self didnt hide the fact that KU has been better with four guards this season. If he removed McCormack from the starting lineup and gave the spot to Moss, carving out time to use two bigs probably isnt going to give KU much of a spark against most teams.

Plus, if KU started four guards around Azubuike and didnt at some point play two bigs, it would become even harder to find McCormack the minutes Self thinks the big man deserves.

Right now, Self is trying to take into account both chemistry and data as best he can.

It's something that I thinks fair, Self said of sticking with McCormack, and I've actually thought quite a bit about.

To McCormacks credit, hes amenable to his coachs instincts, even when those lead Self to play smaller. At Texas, KU opened the second half with its best four-guard look, and Moss in for McCormack.

Same approach as always, McCormack said of the eight minutes he spent as essentially a second-half reserve. Control what you can control. Coach felt like it was a better lineup, like going smaller would give us a better chance to win. And thats what I want. I want the benefit of the team. And, you know, its not the first time that hes done that. So I just stick to it and give myself up for the team.

Happy with McCormacks play at Texas, Self said it was an example of why people shouldnt get hung up on starting roles, based on how a certain player performs in one game, because McCormack was probably better than Moss versus the Longhorns.

He just has a different type of role, Self said of his sophomore big man. But I know what I hope for, and it doesn't have anything to do with who starts. It has everything to do with how are we able to be successful playing two bigs? Because we're going to some. And then how do we maximize the opportunity to play small, which we have to the majority of time?

Moss (24.8 minutes a game in Big 12 play, 23.2 minutes on the season) is playing more than McCormack (14.6 minutes in the Big 12, 16.3 overall) anyway. Swapping one out for the other in the starting five isnt going to change that.

Were still going through the process of trying to figure that out, Self said of finding the proper combination of two-big and four-guard lineups, but I do think getting some offense off the bench (Moss is averaging 8.1 points per game this year) hasnt been bad for us.

See the article here:
Bill Self considering both data and chemistry while sticking with KU's two-big starting five | Smithology - KUsports

Rams rookie wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been much talked about coming out of camp. On Saturday night in Oakland, he showed why with six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Kupp has demonstrated dynamic route running capabilities to go along with hands that are impressively secure, especially for a rookie. He quickly found himself working alongside Rams starters, with his level of production that will not be changing anytime soon. His relationship with quarterback Jared Goff is likely his reason for his rapid production. The two have shown very strong chemistry in the offseason program and preseason games.

Kupp holds many all-time receiving records in the FBS from his college career at Eastern Washington University. Kupp was a third round pick, going 69th overall to the Rams. Many teams did not value Kupps statistics as highly as the Rams did due to the strength of his competition. However, even when facing high profile corners such as Sidney Jones, Kupp fared quite well.

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Given his draft position and the numbers he has been producing so early on in his professional career, Kupp is shaping up to be a true steal for the Rams. Kupps rapport with quarterback Jared Goff seems to be incredibly strong even though they have not been teammates for too long.

Saturday night Goff targeted Kupp seven times, the most of any of the seven receivers that he completed passes to. This is a clear sign that Goff trusts Kupp, especially given a number of targets that he receives in traffic and in the red zone. Goff often makes throws that demonstrate his chemistry with Kupp. He locates the ball exactly where it needs to be in order for his receiver to make the play in a crowd of defenders.

Teams around the league should be on the lookout for this flourishing young duo. Additionally, fantasy owners may want to be aware of the volume of targets Kupp has been receiving. He is a rookie who has very refined skills. Kupps skill level allows him to play at a skill level comparable to players much more experienced than he is. It looks as though the Rams may have found a diamond in the rough in Kupp, and his story has just begun.

Andrew Kelly is a Staff Writer for cover32/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. Like and follow on

The post Rookie Cooper Kupp shines, shows chemistry with Goff appeared first on Cover32.

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Rookie Cooper Kupp shines, shows chemistry with Goff - Yahoo Sports

The five-year Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Chemistry is a combined program within the College of Science and Technology. Chemistry majors at the beginning of their junior year may apply for admission to the fifth-year M.S. Program. Upon admission to the program and satisfactory completion of the program requirements, the student is assured of having a master's degree at the end of the fifth year. Interested students should contact their advisor for details. For more information, see the following program pages: Chemistry B.S. and Chemistry M.S.

Undergraduate Contact Information:

Dr. Dan Strongin, ChairBeury Hall, Room 130215-204-7118

Dr. Ann Valentine, Vice ChairBeury Hall, Room 352215-204-7118

Dr. Steven Fleming, Faculty Advisor (Last names A-C)Beury Hall, Room 344215-204-0359sfleming@temple.edu

Dr. Roy Keyer, Faculty Advisor (Last names D-G)Beury Hall, Room 440215-204-7286roy.keyer@temple.edu

Dr. Spiridoula Matsika, Faculty Advisor (Last names H-K)Beury Hall, Room 242215-204-7703spiridoula.matsika@temple.edu

Dr. Andrew Price, Faculty Advisor (Last names L-M)Beury Hall, Room 222C215-204-1048acprice@temple.edu

Dr. Vince Voelz, Faculty Advisor (Last names N-R)Beury Hall, Room 240215-204-1973vincent.voelz@temple.edu

Dr. Vladi Wilent, Faculty Advisor (Last names S-T)Beury Hall, Room 440215-204-7186vladi.wilent@temple.edu

Dr. Michael Zdilla, Faculty Advisor (Last names U-Z)SERC, Room 656215-204-7886michael.zdilla@temple.eduNote: Due to restricted access to the 6th floor of SERC, please email Dr. Zdilla to set up an appointment.

Graduate Contact Information:

Dr. Rod Andrade, Graduate Program ChairBeury Hall, Room 452215-204-7155randrade@temple.edu

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Chemistry, B.S./M.S. < Temple University

A new polymer worm that can make wave-like motions in response to light, can crawl and even carry objects. The researchers behind the material hope that it might one day be used in self-cleaning surfaces.

The new liquid crystal polymer incorporates an azobenzene-derived dye which quickly changes from a cis to trans conformation when stimulated by ultraviolet radiation, and returns to its original state when in shadow. This switching of molecular configuration when in light or dark is key to the materials ability to propel itself at speeds comparable to those of a caterpillar.

With respect to the light source, the wave can be moving away or moving towards the light source. This is achieved by positioning the molecules in the plastic film in an asymmetric way, says Dirk Broer of the Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands, who led the project.

On one surface, the rod-shaped liquid crystal molecules have planar alignment parallel to the ribbons long axis like pencils lying parallel on a table, explains Robin Selinger who led a team at Kent State University, US, that developed computer simulations to explain how the materials movement is brought about. On the other surface the rod-shaped molecules have homeotropic alignment, lying perpendicular to the surface like pencils standing up balanced on their points.

This structural arrangement means that when the film is treated with light, one side of the polymer will expand while the other contracts. This causes the material to flex in such a way that parts of the material that were illuminated become shadowed and vice-versa, leading to the wave-like movements.

By attaching a 2cm strip to a rectangular frame and shining UV light at it from a fixed source, the research team created a light-driven robot that crawls forwards in a manner somewhat resembling a break-dancer doing the worm. Other demonstrations showed strips of the polymer moving a glass rod up an incline and shaking off sand grains.

This is really a nice piece of work to bridge the fundamental findings of photoactuation and photodeformation of these materials with their practical applications, says Tomiki Ikeda, who works on photomobile polymers at Chuo University, Japan.

This is echoed by Timothy White, an expert in photonic materials who works at the US Air Force Research Laboratory in Ohio, US, who describes the research as a compelling demonstration of the interplay of photochemistry and mechanics. He is particularly impressed with the use of designer photochromic units to enable the captivating mechanics of the material.

Looking to the future, Broer hopes that at some point the polymers wave-like motions may find function in self-cleaning surfaces. For instance, when sand or debris is applied on the plastic foil it can be transported or thrown off the film by the directional transport, he says. An application field where we are active in our group is self-cleaning strategies for solar cells in remote area. One can think of solar plants in the desert where you have much sunshine, hardly any rain and no people available to clean the surface of the cell after a sandstorm. However, he also notes that as these materials currently absorb UV light, new dye molecules may need to be developed that can operate using other parts of the solar spectrum.

So far we have a proof of concept showing how liquid crystal polymer films can generate continuous mechanical wave motion when illuminated with high intensity UV light. Next steps might include further materials development to optimise material properties: reduce how much light is needed, increase how much mechanical work can be performed and increase the speed of material response, adds Selinger. In addition we might focus on using our simulation and modelling tools to optimise device design to engineer more advanced prototype devices.

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Polymer 'worm' is walking on sunshine - Chemistry World (subscription)

Department of Chemistry Professor Christopher (Kit) Cumminshas been honored with the 2017 Linus Pauling Medal, in recognitionof hisunparalleled synthetic and mechanistic studies of early-transition metal complexes, including reaction discovery and exploratory methods of development to improve nitrogen and phosphorous utilization. Cummins, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Chemistry, will be presented with the Pauling Medal at an award symposium this fall at Portland State University in Oregon.

"I was introduced to Pauling's hugely influential book 'The Nature of the Chemical Bond' as an undergraduate student at Cornell,where I had the incredible honor to meet Linus when he visited to reprise his Baker lectures from a half century earlier, out of which the book had grown," Cummins says. "It is like a dream come true for me to be selected to receive an award named for the human being who gave us so many of chemistry's central concepts. I will dedicate my award lecture to my fantastic students, past and present, for having embarked with me on a rich and still unfolding voyage of scientific discovery."

The Pauling Medal is sponsored jointly by the Portland, Puget Sound, and Oregon sections of the American Chemical Society. It is presented annually in recognition of outstanding achievement in chemistry in the spirit of, and in honor of, Linus Pauling, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1954 and the Nobel Prize for peace in 1962. Cummins joins several current members of the Department of Chemistry in being named a Linus Pauling Medal awardee, includingTim Swager(2016),Stephen Buchwald(2014), andStephen Lippard(2009), as well as former department members Alexander Rich (1995) and John Waugh (1984).

Researchers in the Cummins Group are developing new methods of inorganic synthesis to address a variety of interesting questions. The activation of small molecules by transition-metal systems is a featured area, with ongoing work in the areas of synthetic nitrogenfixation, carbon dioxidereduction, and while phosphorusutilization. They are developing thermally activated molecular precursors to reactive small molecules or transient intermediates such as diphosphorusand phosphaethyne, molecules of astrophysical importance. Studies on supramolecular anion receptor host-guest chemistry inform their work on dioxygenelectron transfer processes, which are germane to solar energy storage and approaches to improved metal-air battery technology. In addition, Cummins Group researchers work to develop new starting materials in phosphate chemistry, including acid forms that provide a starting point for synthesizing new phosphate-based materials with applications in next-generation battery technologies and catalysis. Experimental studies are supplemented with quantum chemical investigations for analysis of chemical bonding, reaction mechanisms, and property predictions.

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Kit Cummins awarded the American Chemical Society Pauling Medal - MIT News

Every Independence Day, millions of Americans gather to experience the loud cracks, booms and incandescent bursts of celebratory fireworks displays.

The mechanics of our patriotic pyrotechnics come entirely from chemistry, the driving force behind the motion, heat, light, smoke and sound of these brilliant, captivating displays.

"Everything you see in a fireworks display is chemistry in action," Washington College adjunct chemistry professor John Conkling explained in an educational video.

While the chemistry of fireworks has evolved over time, the earliest use of chemical compounds to produce a fiery reaction dates back thousands of years.

Macy's fireworks displays as seen from New Jersey. (Photo/Getty Images)

Early pyrotechnics are thought to have originated in China and India, according to Chemistry of Pyrotechnics: Basic Principles and Theory, a book penned by Conkling.

One of the main ingredients in early pyrotechnics was saltpeter, or potassium-nitrate, which was mixed with sulfur and other organic fuels for incendiary military applications. By mixing potassium-nitrate with sulfur and charcoal, black powder was created.

Black powder, or gunpowder, is considered the first modern high-energy composition, according to Conkling's book. The sulfur and charcoal act as the fuel, while the potassium-nitrate acts as an oxidizer, which is crucial for the creation of fireworks.

An oxidizing agent, a fuel, metal compounds for color and a binder are needed to create a proper firework, according to the American Chemical Society.

Metal oxides and metal salts are used to produce the vivid colors of modern firework displays. The binder holds the oxidizing agent, fuel and colorants together. All of these chemicals are packed into a cardboard aerial shell which houses a black powder mixture at the bottom.

In order to propel the shell high into the air, a lifting charge of black powder is used with a tube, or mortar.

After the lifting charge sends the shell skyward, a secondary timing fuse ignites the black powder mixture at the bottom, leading to an intense chemical reaction in the form of gas and heat.

This violent, explosive expansion releases the ignited effects pellets, or stars, inside to produce the fiery display overhead.

The secondary fuse is used to time the explosion of the shell and keep onlookers safe from harm by ensuring it releases at a safe height.

"The loud boom that accompanies fireworks is actually a sonic boom produced by the expansion of the gases at a rate faster than the speed of sound," according to the American Chemical Society.

When it comes to the unique shape and behavior of a firework, it is all dependent on the calculated arrangement of effect pellets. Different arrangements can be used to create shapes such as willows or spinners.

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Perhaps the most exciting part of a firework display comes from their wide range of colors, which are all dependent on what types of metals are used, according to Conkling.

"When fireworks explode in the sky, the gunpowder reactions create a lot of heat, causing the metallic substances present in the stars to absorb energy from the heat and emit light," according to the American Chemical Society.

"These metallic substances are actually metal salts, which produce luminescent light of different colors when they are dispersed in the air. This light is produced by electrons inside the metal atoms."

Red fireworks are the result of strontium salts or lithium salts such as lithium carbonate or strontium carbonate. Calcium chloride and sodium are used to produce orange and yellow light. For the vivid green displays, barium compounds are used.

The hardest color to produce pyrotechnically is blue, according to Conkling, which relies on copper compounds such as copper chloride. Purple can be achieved by mixing strontium compounds for the red light and copper compounds for the blue.

"Color mixing is advancing. We can usually make a pretty deep red, a nice green, a reasonable blue. Now, if you start to combine the red and the blue, you get violet, lilac, purple," Conkling said in an interview with PBS NOVA.

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