Chemical Surface Treatment Market: Know about Impact of Covid-19 by Top Companies like PPG Industries, Inc. (US)., Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd.,…

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The latest report published by Zeal Insider provides an in-depth analysis on the Chemical Surface Treatment Market with actual market values for the years 2018 and 2019 along with forecast for a period from 2020 to 2028. Thereby, the report provides historic market figures for the years 2018 and 2019 and offers an insight into the impact of COVID-19 on the Chemical Surface Treatment market for the forecast period from 2020 to 2028. The purpose of this study is to provide a detailed overview on the Chemical Surface Treatment market in pre-COVID-19 conditions and further provide information of how the market has changed since the onset of the pandemic.

Key players profiled in the report includes:PPG Industries, Inc. (US)., Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd., Platform Specialty Products Corporation, Atotech Deutschland GmbH, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, NOF Corporation

Request for a Sample Report of Chemical Surface Treatment Market: https://www.zealinsider.com/report/2728/chemical-surface-treatment-market#sample

The investigative report provides a detailed analysis of the Chemical Surface Treatment market covering several aspects such as market dynamics, growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, challenges and recent developments in the market. The study has been collated based on exhaustive secondary research after studying numerous industry publications, government reports, company news and press releases. Further, these findings are backed by detailed primary research after interviewing numerous key opinion leaders, market participants, end-users and various other stakeholders in the Chemical Surface Treatment market.

The research report provides a detailed analysis on the Chemical Surface Treatment market segmented on the basis of type, application, end-use and geography. Thereby, the report aims to provide granular information on the performance of various product types based on its applications and end-use across key market countries across the world. The idea behind the report is to provide its audience with actionable insights on which market segments are more profitable currently and others which offer growth opportunities during the forecast period from 2020 to 2028.

The report provides a detailed competitive landscape including company profiles for leading market participants in the Chemical Surface Treatment market. Some of the details included in the company profile are product/service offering, financial information, business strategies and recent developments, among others. Furthermore, the report provides an in-depth company mapping based on their market share, revenues, growth and geographic presence. Thereby, the report includes a detailed analysis of various companies operating across the globe. Leading companies covered in the report include PPG Industries, Inc. (US)., Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd., Platform Specialty Products Corporation, Atotech Deutschland GmbH, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, NOF Corporation, among others.

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Chemical Surface Treatment Market Segmentation:

The report offers in-depth analysis of the Chemical Surface Treatment market based on various segments such as type, application and end-use industry. The Chemical Surface Treatment market is segmented as follows:

Chemical Surface Treatment Market, by Type:Metals, Plastics, Others

Chemical Surface Treatment Market, by Application:Transportation, Construction, General Industry, Industrial Machinery, Packaging, Others

Companies included in the Chemical Surface Treatment Market report:PPG Industries, Inc. (US)., Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd., Platform Specialty Products Corporation, Atotech Deutschland GmbH, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, NOF Corporation

Geographic Coverage

The report on the Chemical Surface Treatment market provides a detailed country-level cross-sectional analysis across various regions around the globe. The report contains detailed market size and forecast for the following countries and regions:

North America Chemical Surface Treatment Market Revenue and Forecast

Europe Chemical Surface Treatment Market Revenue and Forecast

Asia Pacific Chemical Surface Treatment Market Revenue and Forecast

Latin America Chemical Surface Treatment Market Revenue and Forecast

Middle East and Africa Chemical Surface Treatment Market Revenue and Forecast

Access Full Report, here: https://www.zealinsider.com/report/2728/chemical-surface-treatment-market

This report provides an investigative analysis of the Chemical Surface Treatment market encapsulated in detailed sections such as

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Chemical Surface Treatment Market: Know about Impact of Covid-19 by Top Companies like PPG Industries, Inc. (US)., Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd.,...

Today’s Office: Chemistry’s Tim Smith on finding time for work and play – The Drum

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Chemistrys Tim Smith is working out of Atlanta, which is re-opening slowly. He talks us through his day-to-day routine right now, which has seen him park up to work everywhere from his local park to a near-empty office. Lockdown, he says, has also given him more time to spend on his true passion: painting.

Im based in Atlanta, which is slowly re-opening with precautions. With this in mind, I am either working from our Atlanta office, my house or somewhere outside depending on the weather. Grant Park in my neighborhood is one of my favorite spots right now the fall has been great to sit outside until my computer battery dies.

My days are a lot more relaxed now than they used to be and Im exercising at the end of the day which wasnt possible pre-pandemic. I always had to make sure to get any physical activity before work as there would always be something keeping me late. I can manage anything remotely now, which makes my routine more flexible.

My painting has also benefited. This year has given me more time dedicated to creating and marketing some of my art, even reinvigorating a New Years resolution of putting some paintings online and selling them. I was able to sell a few via Saatchi Art. I am not sure I actually have more time, but I have been able to shift and create a schedule that allows me to stay longer in the studio.

The start of my day was much more chaotic this time last year. My daughter is now at college and my son just goes to the kitchen table for school. The traffic is minimal and I actually have the option each day of will I go into the office or work outside?

I love our office, but I also love the people that make the office. These days Im usually looking at empty desks around me, but we have a handful of rotating folks that visit on various days of the week.

Since lockdown began, communication across offices, between creative, account, media, strategy, is tougher. Folks in every group are talking all the time, but implementing interaction across groups is key. Client interaction outside of the timed-focused Zoom meetings is challenging. We have great relationships and enjoy going beyond the work deliverables, but just hanging out is never on the video call agenda.

I miss the energy and buzz of the agency on full push mode and feeling the adrenaline. I am very ready to go back to normal and incorporate some of what we have learned about how people can and prefer to work. I love what I do and enjoy the mingling of work and play.

One thing Ive noticed about this new way of working is that Its hard to accept change when you have been successful. So the challenge has been how to work differently with the same results. The uncertainty makes it hard to plan, which can create apathy. We are built to make quick decisions and react nimbly to fast-paced client needs, so we have had to implement the same thinking for our own agency needs.

The energy and passion here are inspiring to me and its tough to feel the pulse of the agency over video calls, so in October I decided to meet with each person individually, including interns, either via Zoom or safely in-person. I have learned a lot about what inspires others and that, in turn, has inspired me. There are certainly a lot of big dreams in this agency.

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Today's Office: Chemistry's Tim Smith on finding time for work and play - The Drum

The chemical BPA is widespread on beaches around the world – Environmental Health News

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Beach sands around the world are laced with the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), according to new research that calls attention to a less well-known source of exposure to the hormone-mimicking chemical.

Scientists from South Korea and Japan analyzed sand and seawater samples from beaches in 19 countries. They found BPA to be ubiquitous. Substantial amounts of the chemicalused in can liners, paper receipts and plastic products including food and beverage containerslittered all of the beaches, peaking at upwards of 200 milligrams of BPA per kilogram of sand in Greece. That would be equivalent to about 200 credit cards scattered across an American football field.

"The high BPA concentrations found on sandy beaches in this study should be a global concern," write the authors.

Scientists had already shown that people can be exposed to BPA through many sources including the air, food and water. "This is another study inventorying the extent of plastics contaminating our living environment," Rolf Halden, a sustainability scientist at Arizona State University, who was not involved in the study, told EHN. "It makes us aware that when we lie on the beach, we're not only lying on a bed of sand but a bed of plastics."

BPA-containing plastics break down over time into tiny pieces, known as microplastics and nanoplastics, often with the help of the sea, surf and sand. The sand samples tested by the researchers included these fragments mixed with sand, as well as sand particles on which BPA and other chemicals have hitched a ride. They discovered that BPA concentrations were significantly higher in the sand than in seawater, and varied widely between beaches. A factor of nearly 10,000 separated levels in sands sampled from Greece and Slovenia, for example. Samples from six U.S. beaches ranged between 0.4 and 45 milligrams per kilogram, or parts per million.

The BPA concentrations uncovered in the new study surprised Thomas Zoeller, a biologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "Parts per million quantities, in many of these places, is pretty outrageous," Zoeller, who was not involved in the study, told EHN.

Zoeller noted that exposure to such highly contaminated sand could be enough to cause health effects. However, he also cautioned that the study faced some significant limitations. "It's difficult to extrapolate from these numbers. They don't represent some average for a country, or even a single beach," he said. "Still, everywhere they looked they found it."

In a statement to EHN, Steven G. Hentges, senior director of the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group at the American Chemistry Council, an industry trade group, said that "government agencies around the world consider BPA to have a low potential to accumulate to any appreciable extent in organisms that come into contact with it in the environment." BPA is "one of the most widely studied chemicals in the world, and government scientists around the globe have found that it does not pose a health risk at typical exposure level," he stated.

Thousands of peer-reviewed studies from academics, however, have concluded that absorbing or ingesting BPA may harm people at doses 20,000 times lower than what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says is safedoses comparable to levels at which most of us are exposed. In November 2019, EHN published a year-long investigation which found U.S. regulators were willfully ignoring research that increasingly links low-dose BPA exposures to harmful health impacts ranging from birth defects to cancer.

"This is a chemical people should not be exposed to," Frederick vom Saal, a professor of biology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, told EHN. He lamented the lack of progress in the U.S. on regulating BPA. "There are other parts of the world that are taking this seriously," said vom Saal, who was not involved in the new study. France banned the use of the chemical in food and beverage packaging and utensils after an assessment by the French Agency for Food, Environmental Health and Safety determined that it is hazardous at much lower levels than the FDA considers hazardous.

Beachgoers may be particularly at risk due to the use of sunscreen and other oils and lotions. Vom Saal published a study in 2014 that found chemical mixtures used in a variety of personal care products facilitate the movement of BPA and other chemicals through the skin. More than 300 different chemicals can act as permeation enhancers. The use of hand sanitizer before handling receipts can increase BPA absorption through the skin by up to 200-fold, according to vom Saal's study. Beachgoers today, amidst a pandemic, may well be lathering up with sanitizer, too.

"BPA is a very sticky chemical," said vom Saal. "So, would it stick to sand? Absolutely. And if you're using sunscreen or skin lotions or hand sanitizer, then this stuff goes right through your skin."

Meanwhile, Halden's research team has detected BPA and other molecules from commonly used plastics in liver and fat of all 47 human tissue samples investigated.

"These are materials we're using on a tremendous scale without thinking about their afterlife and the consequences they pose to our health," said Halden.

Bum Gun Kwon from Chosun College of Science and Technology in South Korea, and author on the study, expressed the same concern. "Although there may be differences in degrees, large amounts of discarded plastic are too common," he told EHN in an email.

"Strict new rules for the use of sandy beaches should be set and followed," said Kwon. "For example, rules restricting the use of plastic materials derived from petroleum."

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The chemical BPA is widespread on beaches around the world - Environmental Health News

Simplifying Quality Control in Production and Manufacturing – Combining Microscopy and Chemical Analysis – Technology Networks

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Electronics have become imbedded into products in almost every area of life. Along with this expansion, numerous industries, from automotive to medical device, have a growing need for robust and efficient methods to assess quality [1]. The many components used in end products are all subject to safety regulations and regularly have to undergo quality control analyses. Researchers, engineers, and technicians need to be able to determine the visual quality and chemical composition of the components quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively.In electronics, components like soldering materials often need to be analyzed to show that they comply with non-toxicity regulations (e.g., the absence of lead) and to address any quality claims that may emerge [2]. The method of analysis generally involves two discrete stepsvisual inspection via an optical microscope to observe microstructure and chemical analysis via energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS or EDX) on a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the materials composition [2]. The process involves considerable skill and preparation time, not to mention processing time and cost.

The growing, legitimate concern among industry professionals is that this technology is too slow, ultimately not cost-effective, and that manufacturers may be ignoring other more recent, faster, and potentially better solutions.

One of these solutions, which has been shown to save significant amounts of time, money, and effort, is to combine the two key elements into a single system - in other words, a microscope that can simultaneously analyze chemical composition. Using this two-in-one system, researchers, engineers, and technicians can focus in on the material structure of interest through the microscope and simultaneously trigger the composition analysis with a single click.

The key to this second step is laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in which a high energetic laser pulse ablates a small piece of the sample and generates a plasma plume [3-5]. When the plasma cools down, it emits a light of characteristic wavelength. The spectrum is the chemical fingerprint of what you see in the microscope image and the chemical composition can be identified.

Compared to typical downstream analysis with electron microscopy, this solution can save upwards of 90% of the time that it takes to complete the two steps separately. Part of this time savings is because far less sample preparation is needed downstream, relative to other methods, an advantage that made LIBS the system of choice on the NASA Mars rover Curiosity [6]. Quality control analysis can take just a few minutes compared to a few hours for SEM-EDS.

Optical microscope images, displayed in 2D (top) and 3D (bottom), of salt contamination on an aluminum/silicon (Al/Si) surface. Credit: Gerweck GmbH, Germany.

LIBS spectrum taken of salt on the Al/Si surface (red) shown in comparison to a reference spectrum for pure Al (green). Credit: Gerweck GmbH, Germany.

A German company, that provides surface processing and plating of electronic components with various materials, including gold, silver, copper, and nickel, offers a great example of an organization that is seeing the benefits of switching to LIBS. It regularly receives requests for proof of quality claims from customers which precipitates root-cause analysis (comparison between raw material and returned parts). Common root-cause issues are contamination or surface defects (e.g., via salts or lubricant residues) of the raw material or process contamination. For failure analysis, after optical inspection, the company needs to identify the materials in a spot on the scale of m. For automotive customers, an 8D report is expected within 10 days, including root-cause analysis and countermeasures.

The company had previously sent samples out to an external laboratory for advanced SEM-EDS, which leads to extra cost and processing time, with additional lab runs required on occasion. The company wanted to switch to a process that did not require advanced user training, sample preparation, nor external processing, and which saved time and money overall. The aim was to be able to carry out optical examinations, evaluation of surface topographies, and qualitative analyses with little effort.

The company began utilizing the two-in-one microscope and LIBS system and achieved significantly faster results turnaround time became less than a day which freed up time for additional investigations and allowed 8D deadlines to be easily met. The other benefit was reduced analysis cost. Savings were also seen in reduced quality-related issues and by the identification of possible root causes of defects upfront in production. The results are used as strong evidence, showing a decrease in the number of claims.

Materials inspection is important in areas beyond quality control its needed in research and development (R&D), technical cleanliness, and failure analysis (FA) across multiple industries and fields, including transportation, automotive, aerospace, metal alloys, semiconductors, ceramics, electronics, medical devices, earth science, forensics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, with each area having its own subsets of uses. For instance, in technical cleanliness, particle analysis is essential for automotive parts and components, fuels and lubricants, electronic components, as well as chemical and pharmaceutical products [1,2,7-9]. These areas could all benefit from a more streamlined, efficient materials inspection system offering both visual and chemical analysis.

At a time when the manufacturing sector is under huge economic and production pressure from the COVID-19 crisis, efficiencies like these, and the associated cost savings, could go a long way in helping manufacturers not only survive, but also thrive. Researchers, engineers, and technicians shouldnt be wary of embracing new technology simply because this is what weve always done. The pandemic has provided a powerful push to embrace new technology that is faster, simpler, and smarter.

References1) M. Oravec, A. Divokov, P. Lipovsk, M. Karsek, R. Janok, Technical Cleanliness a Requirement of Precision Manufacturing, Acta Mechanica Slovaca (2019) vol. 23, iss. 4, pp. 46 - 51, DOI: 10.21496/ams.2020.008

2) Technical Cleanliness in Electrical Engineering: Dirt is simply matter in the wrong place, 2nd edition, Guideline (2018) ZVEI. https://www.zvei.org/en/press-media/publications/guideline-technical-cleanliness-in-electrical-engineering3) D.A. Creamers, L.J. Radziemski, Handbook of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., New York, 2006). DOI:10.1002/97811185673714) T. Kim, C-T. Lin, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Chapter 5 in Advanced Aspects of Spectroscopy, M.A. Farrukh, Editor, IntechOpen (2012) DOI: 10.5772/482815) R. Kohli, Methods for Monitoring and Measuring Cleanliness of Surfaces, Ch. 3, Developments in Surface Contamination and Cleaning, Volume 4: Detection, Characterization, and Analysis of Contaminants, Eds. R. Kohli & K.L. Mittal (Elsevier, 2012) pp. 154-155, DOI: 10.1016/C2009-0-64375-06) All About the Laser (and Microphone) Atop Mars 2020, NASA's Next Rover, News, Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology/NASA, February 7, 2020. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=75917) VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry), QMC (Quality Management Center), Volume 19, Part 1, Inspection of Technical Cleanliness, Particulate Contamination of Functionally Relevant Automotive Components, 2nd Revised Edition, March 2015. https://webshop.vda.de/qmc/de/volume-1918) VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry), QMC (Quality Management Center), Volume 19, Part 2, Technical cleanliness in assembly, Environment, Logistics, Personnel and Assembly Equipment, 1st edition 2010. https://webshop.vda.de/qmc/de/volume-1929) ISO/DIS 16232 Road Vehicles, Cleanliness of components and systems, International Organization for Standardization. https://www.iso.org/st
andard/70267.html

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Simplifying Quality Control in Production and Manufacturing - Combining Microscopy and Chemical Analysis - Technology Networks

Global Flow Chemistry Market 2016 Size, Trends, Share, Latest Innovations, Fastest Upcoming Growth and Competitive Strategies Forecast to 2028 – The…

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Increasing demand in sustainable equipment and energy-saving devices is projected to fuel the growth of the Flow Chemistry Market during the forecast period through healthy and versatile processes. This has culminated in some of the key trends that companies operating in the industry are trying to expand their market positions and further growth for niches.

Flow chemistry can be described as a technology where a chemical reaction occurs in a continuously flowing stream rather than in the production of a sample. Such modern flow reactors can help deliver a number of distinct benefits over traditional batch reactor technology.

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Segmentation for better understanding of this market and its growth prospects

The global market for flow chemistry is segmented by type and application. It is segmented into plug flow reactors, micro-reactor systems, microwave systems, and continuously stirred tank reactors based on the type. The plug flow reactors are ideally suited for fast reactions and large capacity processes that are expected to increase their use in pharmaceutical and chemical processing. Such reactors offer immense incentives for the production process to be scaled up and are therefore most commonly used and favored. It is segmented by application into chemical pharmaceutical, petrochemical, biofuel, perfume & fragrance industries. Due to the increasing need for high yield with low energy and material usage and high-cost savings, the petrochemical sector mainly makes use of flow chemistry. This market has also been guided by the rapidly increasing demand for cost-effectiveness and protection combined with strict environmental regulations.

Strategic Factors Impacting Market Growth:

o Increased demand for sustainable equipment and energy-saving tools through safe and versatile processeso This provides significantly high yields and helps to reduce energy and solvent loss by more than 90%.

Regional segmentation and analysis to understand growth patterns

Based on the region, the flow chemistry market has been segmented by North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, & Rest of the World. North America and Western Europe are also typical producers of ingredients, such as specialty chemicals, bulk chemicals, and so on. Big North American and Western European firms are headquartered in this region. This area has undergone a number of transformations by end-use industries in terms of the production of chemicals and their respective applications. In designing the green alternatives in these areas, preference for bio-based feedstock was instrumental. In addition, regulatory authorities have placed strict guidelines on environmental concerns and potential hazards to safety due to exposure. This has been more competitively influential in Western Europe. Some of these regions major economies include the US, Germany, the UK, France, Canada, Italy, Spain and so on.

Over the forecast period, the Asia Pacific and the Middle East are projected to show substantial growth in the flow chemistry sector. This market is for the growth of major applications including Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Petro Chemicals, Biofuels, Perfume & Fragrance Industries. Big Asia-Pacific economies include China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and so on. The Middle East includes the UAE, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc. With operations by major chemical giants in the region, Eastern Europe was largely dominated by Russia and Turkey. Rest the world that includes South America and Africa has good flow-chemistry market potential. Global companies have gradually made investments in these regions to deepen their presence and to leverage the potential market. Big flow-chemistry markets economies in these regions include Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, Argentina, Colombia, and others.

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Major companies playing a crucial role in the growth of this market are:The top players in the flow chemistry market were discussed in detail in the competitive scenario. This industrys leading players have been profiled with their recent developments and other key sector activities includesChemtrix, DSM, Syrris, Thales Nano, IMM, AM Tech U.K, Uniqsis, Future Chemistry, Little Things Factory, Velocys, Lonza, YMC.

Market Segmentation:

By Type:Plug Flow ReactorsMicro Reactor systemsMicrowave systemsContinuous Stirred Tank Reactors

By Application:ChemicalsPharmaceuticalsPetro ChemicalsBiofuelsPerfume & Fragrance Industries

By Region:North AmericaBy Country (US, Canada, Mexico)By TypeBy Application

Western EuropeBy Country (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Rest of Western Europe)By TypeBy Application

Eastern EuropeBy Country (Russia, Turkey, Rest of Eastern Europe)By TypeBy Application

Asia PacificBy Country (China, Japan, India, Rest of Asia Pacific)By TypeBy Application

Middle EastBy Country (UAE, Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Rest of Middle East)By TypeBy Application

Rest of the WorldBy Region (South America, Africa)By TypeBy Application

Contact:Quince Market InsightsAjay D. (Knowledge Partner)Office No- A109Pune, Maharashtra 411028Phone: +91 9850603687 / 7972869557Email: [emailprotected]Web:www.quincemarketinsights.com

ABOUT US:QMI has the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services available on the web. We deliver reports from virtually all major publications and refresh our list regularly to provide you with immediate online access to the worlds most extensive and up-to-date archive of professional insights into global markets, companies, goods, and patterns.

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Global Flow Chemistry Market 2016 Size, Trends, Share, Latest Innovations, Fastest Upcoming Growth and Competitive Strategies Forecast to 2028 - The...

DOD Approaches Goal of Destroying All Stockpiled Chemical Weapons – Department of Defense

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This month, the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant team at the Army's Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado completed the destruction of nearly 300,000 155mm projectiles, which each contained 12 pounds of mustard agent, said Walton Levi, site project manager.

Chemical agent destruction operations in Colorado began in March 2015 and are scheduled to be completed by 2023, said Levi. More than 780,000 munitions were in the original chemical weapons stockpile in Pueblo.

Mustard agent is a blister-producing chemical weapon contained within three types of munitions stored at the Pueblo Chemical Depot, each named after the diameter of its shell: 155mm projectile, 105mm projectile and 4.2-inch mortar round, he said.

This marks the end of the 155mm projectile campaign at PCAPP and the safe elimination of approximately two-thirds of the original chemical agent stored at the depot, said Levi. ''We proudly completed this campaign ahead of schedule and while implementing strict, new protocols to keep our workforce safe amid the coronavirus pandemic,''he said.

Since the late 1960s, the U.S. government has been taking steps to reduce and eliminate the U.S stockpile of chemical weapons. This was reinforced by a presidential directive and the U.S. ratification in 1997 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international treaty that calls on all member nations to destroy their chemical weapons and production facilities.

To comply with the treaty, the U.S. is destroying its last remaining chemical weapons stockpile, said Levi.

''Our ultimate goal is keeping the workforce and community safe from these World War II-era weapons,''said Army Col. Michael Cobb, commander of the depot. ''We use the utmost care and follow strict safety procedures when delivering the munitions from their storage igloos to PCAPP.''

''Destruction of 155mm projectiles is a great accomplishment for the PCAPP team,''said Ken Harrawood, project manager of the Bechtel Pueblo Team. ''Innovative solutions are key to solving issues that arise with a complex and one-of-a-kind operating facility like PCAPP. This would not have been possible without the dedication and professionalism of our amazing workforce.''

''I give credit to our team of employees dedicated to the munitions destruction effort, as many have spent their entire careers ridding the world of these weapons,''said Kim Jackson, plant manager. ''We reached this milestone because of the amazing workforce and their diligence, hard work and support to the PCAPP mission.''

''The United States is fully committed to destroying 100% of its remaining chemical weapons stockpile by Dec. 31, 2023,''said Mike Abaie, program executive officer of Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives.

As of Aug. 14, the destruction of 1,673.5 tons of mustard agent in the U.S. has been reported to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, an intergovernmental organization whose goal is to eradicate chemical weapons worldwide, said Abaie.

Under the close supervision of trained operators, the pilot plant uses dozens of automated systems to disassemble and drain the munitions and thermally heat the drained munition bodies, said Levi.

The liquid agent is neutralized, and the product, hydrolysate, is then fed to living microorganisms in a process known as biotreatment, Levi explained. Water is recycled at the pilot plant and the remaining salt is shipped off-site to a permitted treatment, storage and disposal facility. The plant is equipped with a robust pollution abatement system made up of 12 carbon filter banks that filter out particles before air from inside the plant is released back into the atmosphere.

During the next several months at PCAPP, technicians will retrofit the plants robots and systems to begin processing the next munitions campaign, which are the 105mm projectiles, said Levi.

In July, workers finished assembling three static detonation chambers to augment PCAPP by destroying problematic munitions, which are unsuitable for processing using the main plants automated equipment, said Levi. The SDC units will destroy the 4.2-inch mortar rounds, which is the third and final destruction campaign.

The other remaining chemical weapons facility in the U.S. is PCAPP's sister site, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant near Richmond, Kentucky. BGCAPP is safely destroying 523 U.S. tons of the nerve agents VX and GB (sarin) and mustard agent stored in rockets and projectiles at the site, Levi said.

BGCAPP is using neutralization or an explosive destruction technology to safely destroy the munitions, he continued. BGCAPP began agent destruction operations with explosive destruction technology on June 7, 2019, and its main plant began operations on Jan. 17, 2020. Operations will be completed by Dec. 31, 2023.

An important element in the process of safely destroying chemical weapons is the coordination and collaboration with the local communities. The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program works closely and supports state and local governments and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to educate, prepare and protect communities surrounding the stockpile sites, Levi said.

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DOD Approaches Goal of Destroying All Stockpiled Chemical Weapons - Department of Defense

With better practice numbers, Vols hoping to build chemistry – 247Sports

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Brandon Johnson and Deandre Johnson, two players that Jeremy Pruitt spoke highly of on Monday after they flashed for Tennessee in the 31-27 win at South Carolina Saturday night, performed the way they did for a reason.

They were able to practice this fall. Everyday. No time missed due to active COVID cases or contact tracing. Right now, thats a rare feat.

Brandon Johnson caught three passes for 73 yards, including a one-handed grab on third-and-2 it was Tennessees only third down conversion of the game for 33 yards to help spark the Vols, who trailed 7-0 at the time following a slow start.

Brandon is a guy that hadnt missed any reps during camp, Pruitt said. He was at every practice.

Deandre Johnson was the SECs Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording 2.5 sacks, six tackles and two tackles for loss.

Hes been here every day, Pruitt added, and it showed.

Moving forward, with No. 21 Tennessee (1-0) set to host Missouri (0-1) on Saturday (Noon Eastern Time; TV: SEC Network) in the home opener at Neyland Stadium, Pruitt is hoping he can say the same about more players.

He said on Monday that his team couldnt work on special teams during the first four practices of camp, due to a shortage in bodies. Tennessee botched its first punt attempt at South Carolina after the snapped rolled back to punter Paxton Brooks.

Pruitt added that the numbers kept climbing as camp continued, with 50 or more players out for 10 of the next 14 practices.

With no spring ball, so its not like theres any carryover, he said. So just being able to get the guys back and hopefully, through the testing in the next couple days, well get good results and well be able to rep guys in the same spots.

If so, it would be some long overdue continuity on the practice field, which could lead to more players standing out on game day.

I think probably creating a routine and the guys understanding this is the position Im going to play, and what goes with that, thats the things we need, Pruitt said. Its not necessarily more periods.

Tennessees climb in COVID-related practice absences coincided with students returning for the fall semester and a spike in numbers on campus. Those numbersfor the Vols started trending in a more positive direction two weeks ago, when Pruitt said at the time it was the most players available for practice since the first week of camp.

Its hard to get good at football if you dont practice, Pruitt said on Monday. Its hard to get chemistry as a team if you dont practice. The last week, with the exception of the guys that didnt travel, and Warren Burrell and Jaylen McCollough, we had most everybody there.

Hopefully we can continue this week and create some momentum, create some chemistry in all three phases of our team. From the first game to the second game lots of times is when you improve the most. We have lots of areas that we need to improve on.

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With better practice numbers, Vols hoping to build chemistry - 247Sports

New kid on the block: Transfer athlete fitting in with new team at Terrebonne – Houma Courier

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Chris Singleton|The Courier

For a young high school athlete, moving to a new state is never easy, but new Terrebonne High School senior football player Aavion Pierce has made the most of it.

Now Pierce, who moved from Florida to Houma earlier this year, is expecting to contribute in many areas for the Tigers this fall.

He will beanother big talent as a cornerback at Terrebonne, joining forces with senior defensive tackle and five-star Maason Smith and junior standouts Kadan Lewis and Jaylin Lucas.

Its been really tough transferring from Florida to here, but being with Maason Smith, Jaylin Lucas and Kadan, it has been a great experience, Pierce said. I love this team. Its very different where I come from. Its nothing new. I know what I got to do to help the team win. I just enjoy everybody thats on the team. That's all I can say.

Pierce, a native of Davenport, Florida, said he and his family used to travel to Houma for Mardi Gras parades in the past.

When his mother Avarin Holton asked him if he wanted to move to Houma and play his senior year at Terrebonne, Pierce said he was all for it.

When I came here in the past, I enjoyedit, so I was like yes, Pierce said. I got homesick, but when I met everybody here at Terrebonne, it just changed. I like it out here now. Its been a great experience.

Pierce is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound cornerback. He is ranked as a three-star athlete by both 247sports.com. He has received offers from Tennessee State and Western Michigan to go with interest from the University of Nebraska, Georgia State and Cincinnati.

Terrebonne head coach Gary Hill said Pierce is talented enough to play at cornerback on defense, receiver on offense and on special teams.

Hes developing real well in our scheme, Hill said. Hes starting to understand what hes got to do and what his role is in the secondary. He might have some offensive things that hes going to do in the next couple of weeks once he has learned everything he needs to do on the defensive side of the ball. Hes come along. He has been a hard worker. Were trying to figure out what he has to do to have his role on the team and become a playmaker for us.

Even Terrebonne defensive backs coach Aaron Butler, a former Vandebilt Catholic standout who played college ball at City College of San Francisco and the University of Cincinnati, said Pierce has brought great energy to the defense and team.

Aavion is a great young man and a player that wants to be great, Butler said. When I received the news he was coming here, I evaluated him and saw things in his game that could be improved. But, I immediately saw an upside in his length. He can make plays that an average defensive backs cant make do to those attributes.My job was to critique those flaws and polish his technique and coverage concepts."

During summer workouts and fall camp practices, Butler said he has tried his best to challenge Pierces talents. They were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, but they have taken advantage of their time together before the regular season starts in October.

After losing most of his defensive backfield to graduation last season, Butler said Pierce's talent and experience will be beneficial.

"I feel hell control his island and be an asset," Butler said."Im an optimistdue to COVID. It has been a challenge. When you lose your entire secondary, its tough, but we have a saying,'Its still DBU and its the next man up.' That being said, he will be the man in the secondary.

Pierce said he likes playing in Terrebonnes scheme so far.

Its competition. I just cant wait until the season starts, Pierce said. How we played down there in Florida is kind of similar to here. I love to learn new things. Coach Butler is a great coach. All I can say is I'm ready whenever they are ready."

Pierce said he has also enjoyed the bond with his new teammates.

In recent years, Terrebonne has enjoyed success on the football field and have sent many athletes to the next level, including former players in Florida States JaKhi Douglas and Lamar Universitys Chaz Ward, Anthony TJ Ruffin and Ko Clark.

The pattern will continue this year. Smith is ranked as Louisianas top football recruit and top defensive tackle prospect according to rankings on 247sports.com with offers from LSU, Georgia and top colleges. Both Lewis and Lucas are two more rising young athletes getting interest from colleges.

Pierce said it has inspired him to work with Terrebonnes top college recruits.

Being with them, it made me realize it dont come easy because they put in a lot of work, Pierce said. I just got with the program. They are great guys. I look up to them. They are great teammates. We are on the same page on what weve got to do on the field and off the field. I like to play with them.

Pierce said he has also getting college looks. Although the pandemic affected his recruitment this summer, he expects to get more offers during the course of his senior year

I like to get more, Pierce said. Im a high recruit right now. A lot of coaches got me on the radar so I just have to be patient and work.

Pierce didnt get a chance to show his talents at camps this summer, but he managed to work with local trainer Ernest Harvey and Camp Moula.

Camp Moula helped a lot. Shoutout to Coach Turk (Harvey). He helped a lot. He got me fundamentally ready. Its a good deal to have him in the area as well.

As he prepares for his senior season, Pierce said his goals are simple. He wants to help the Tigers improve on their 5-6 overall record from last season and make a run through the Class 5A state playoffs.

My main focus is going to the Dome, Pierce said. Im ready to go to the Dome and get this state championship ring.

In the meantime, Pierce said he is having the time of his life living in Houma. He has a new favorite food in boiled crawfish and he has loved being in the community.

Its just the people, Pierce said. It has a great people and great atmosphere. I like to be around everybody and I love all of the food.

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New kid on the block: Transfer athlete fitting in with new team at Terrebonne - Houma Courier

3 moments that prove the Los Angeles Lakers have the best chemistry – Lake Show Life

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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Los Angeles Lakers

On October 22nd of 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers opened their season against the Los Angeles Clippers. Ever since this moment, weve pit both teams against one another and questioned which team would build chemistry faster.

However, despite sharing headlines, fans, and even the same arena, the Lakers have done an excellent job of distancing themselves from the Clippers in both the standings and their collective conscience as a team.

When the Denver Nuggets shocked the basketball world by completing their second 3-1 comeback in as many playoff series, the Lakers barely reacted at all.

When asked why, Kyle Kuzma summed it up best:

Were not focused on the Clippers, and we never really were.

With Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum taking shots at Patrick Beverly and Paul George after the disheartening loss, its easy to perceive Kuzmas comments as yet another slight against the overzealous Clippers.

However, Kuzma may be right. The Lakers have had an emotional roller coaster of a season. There has been plenty to focus on internally and, frankly, Id have to agree that theres some truth to his statements.

As proof, here are three chemistry-building moments when the Lakers strength came from within:

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The Suns best and worst chemistry experiments over last decade – Bright Side of the Sun

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This past decade has been the worst of times for the Phoenix Suns franchise. After making the playoffs in 29 of their first 42 seasons, the Suns have missed the playoffs for 10 straight years. TEN STRAIGHT YEARS.

To (hopefully) put a stopper on this painful decade, to exorcise the inhuman demons that spoiled the franchise, we will spend the day recapping the decade in the form of best and worst team-wide chemistry experiments with Suns rosters.

I am keeping this analysis on a team-wide level, rather than focusing on individual failures, because I dont live my life pointing fingers at individuals. I judge the whole, not the individual parts. Because its the whole that really matters. So while we will mention individuals in each section, its their impact on the whole team record, sustainability that will be the deciding factor on grading team chemistry. Capice?

Without further ado, lets recap the best and worst team-wide chemistry experiments of the 2011-2020 playoff-less decade.

2013-14 Playing stupid Suns win 48 games!

New GM Ryan McDonoughs first roster gutting was supposed to yield a young, rebuilding team that would likely win less than 20 games. The roster was a mishmash of one-year rentals and young prospects led by a novice rookie coach who had no business winning games.

Yet win they did! The playing stupid Suns (actual P.J. Tucker quote after a big win, I swear) ran out to a 19-11 start, survived the loss of Eric Bledsoe, and finished 48-34 tied for the winningest non-playoff season in league history. The surprising Suns had a grip on the 7th seed with less than a week to go, but Goran Dragics ankle injury and a team-wide bout of the yips doomed those final games and the Suns finished 9th.

Nearly every player on the roster enjoyed their career-best year, and they all seemed to love each other. Dragic was the golden boy, Gerald Greens girl was buds with coach Jeff Hornaceks wife, Bledsoe and the Morrii were the future and postseason recaps were just about incremental improvements for the next season.

But because of the short-term roster construction the only player among the 10-man rotation with more than a year left on his contract was Miles Plumlee. Most of them were free agents in some form the day the season concluded. Youll see in the worst section how money and impatience quashed that euphoria.

2020 Bubble Suns go 8-0!

Over the last ten years, theres only two chemistry experiments that shot fireworks of joy. And one of the two only lasted eight games. But what an eight games this was!

Amid a pandemic that forced the entire worlds population into lockdown, the NBA created a Bubble of 22 teams to compete for playoff seedings and ultimately declare a league champion. The Suns were the 21st of 22, barely invited because the 26-39 Suns managed to stay within shouting distance of the 8th and final seed, and the NBA wanted some drama before the playoffs began.

The Suns were given eight games to make up a six-game deficit a 1 in 10,000 chance. But in the spirit of Lloyd Christmas they made the most of that chance. Not one player complained about the weird conditions. Instead, they locked in and embraced the chance to prove themselves worthy of being a playoff contender. The youngest team in the league went 8-0, blowing out teams by more than 12 points per game on average, and came one failed jumper short of qualifying for a play-in game for that 8th seed. They were truly this close to breaking that playoff drought! The euphoria didnt end in Orlando. After the season, three different players posted requests on social media to spend the rest of their careers in Phoenix.

Whats different about this 2020 Suns team from the 2013-14 team is that five of the top six players in the rotation have 2+ years left on contract, role players who love their role, and a coach/GM tandem who intentionally built this roster for the long term.

2012-13 Lindsey Hunter All-Stars

My first year with media credentials began with a fresh-faced Goran Dragic saying why not? about making the playoffs. Well, because he was surrounded by the likes of Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson, Luis Scola, Marcin Gortat and Shannon Brown, thats why. The Suns were so bad they fired beloved Alvin Gentry after an abortion (Gentrys word) of a loss that dropped them to 13-28 on the year, promoting NeverCoached Lindsey Hunter for a limping finish that not only had Jared Dudley begging for massive roster change but also killed any hope for a under-24 future including Beasley, the Morrii and Kendall Marshall.

Hunter was fired. GM Lance Blanks was fired. Most of Gentrys well-heeled coaching staff literally quit mid-season when Hunter was promoted. And only four of the players survived that summers roster purge.

2014-15 Hydra Lineup

As mentioned above, the 2013-14 Suns were a fireworks display that quickly became a dumpster fire. With most of the roster fighting over money in new contracts that off-season, why not bring in Isaiah Thomas to further engender angst over roles and playing time? Oh and lets piss off the free-agent-to-be golden boy by turning him into a small forward in order to get on the court? As the season opened, Green and IT complained about playing time in their own ways while Dragic quietly seethed over his own demise. A token signing of his younger brother Zoran did nothing to ease Gorans discontent.

Then the worst possible thing happened: despite a winning record at the All-Star break, Dragic blasted the front office and demanded a trade, which triggered the oh my god (Wojs words) trade deadline fire sale that destroyed the team for years to come. That team, despite having the best players coming or going (McDs words) in Markieff Morris and Brandon Knight, wilted from playoff contention to losers in 10 of their last 11 games.

While all this Hydra stuff was going on, the Morrii thanked the organization for their $52 million contract by starting their Timeline of Self-Destruction that bled into the next season too.

2015-16 Morrii Drama

For the second summer in a row, McDonough swung big and mostly missed on free agency. And he managed to make matters even worse by dumping one of the Morrii for cap space they didnt end up needing. That left Markieff Morris openly angry and playing awful basketball when he wasnt traded by opening day, scuttling the entire 2015-16 season before it even started.

And for the second time in three years, the popular head coach and his entire coaching staff were gone by the All-Star break, replaced by a first-year player development coach and leftovers.

All the joy of 2014 was now gone gone gone. But at least we could look forward to some great picks in the 2016 Draft plus the (finally!) addition of combo guard Bogdan Bogdanovic from overseas! Yeahhhh...

2017-18 Klutch Fail

But that is not all the worst chemistry experiments of the decade. Oh no, that is not all. How can we forget I Dont wanna be here after the team set an NBA record for losing margin in their first three games of a season (93 points in 3 games). The ongoing crown jewel of McDonoughs tenure, Eric Bledsoe, checked out on the Suns along with head coach Earl Watson when owner Robert Sarver gave Watson an ultimatum: dump your agent, or we dump you as coach. Bledsoe and Watson shared Klutch Sports agent Rich Paul, and they chose their agent over their team.

They added one more embarrassing losing season to the decades toll, and only had by this time gotten Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender and Josh Jackson out of the last three years of abject losses. The only silver lining to the 2017-18 season was getting in position for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 Draft.

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The right chemistry – The Bay’s News First – SunLive

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Aquinas College has won first place over 11 other Bay of Plenty and Waikato schools at a chemistry competition held at the University of Waikato.

The team of four Year 13 students won prize money and a trophy for their effort.

It involved them spending a day in a university laboratory analysing the makeup of a sample of zinc sulphate and then determining how many water molecules were associated with each zinc sulphate molecule.

It was a process that involved carefully using the equipment and information provided for the task, to get an accurate result.

Attention to details and precise calculations were key, Elise Oxenham, 17, says.

Sponsored by the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry, the competition gives students a peek at the sophisticated resources of tertiary laboratories and the way the professors and technicians run them.

"It's great for students looking at doing the chemistry scholarship exams to understand university doesn't need to be daunting," Aquinas teacher Richard James says.

Student Janelle Dawber-Mair, 18, wants to study biomedical science next year and hopes to enter a career where shes able to help benefit lots of people's lives.

Being able to participate in some practical chemistry was a really fun and rewarding opportunity, she says.

Fellow winner Put Suthisrisinlpa, agrees.

The competition allowed him to apply the knowledge hed gained from school to solve a practical problem and reinforced his passion for chemistry.

Its helped prepare me for the undergraduate degree in chemical engineering that Im pursuing next year, he says.

Elise intends to go on and study engineering, while Daniel Nirmalaraj is planning a career in medicine.

Aquinas College Principal Matt Dalton says the school is very proud of the teams competition achievement.

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Armie Hammer and Lily James dont have much chemistry in Ben Wheatleys Rebecca remake of Hitchcock classic – LaineyGossip

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Everyone loves a remake of an already perfect film, so get ready to welcome Ben Wheatleys Rebecca with open arms when it premieres in October. No matter how much Wheatley or anyone else insists this is not a remake of Alfred Hitchcocks Best Picture-winning psychological thriller, it will, of course, be ruthlessly compared to Hitchcocks film. Hitchcocks Rebecca is perfect, and no matter how well-intentioned or executed other adaptations arethere is a 1960s Indian version called Khora, a 1970s BBC production, a 1997 mini-series starring Charles Dance and Emilia Fox, and a 2000s Pakistani television adaptationnone have come close to Hitchcocks vision. Everyone should probably stop trying it with Rebecca because Hitch already did it to perfection, but that has never stopped a filmmaker determined to put their own spin on a famous story.

I like Ben Wheatleys films a lot, and Im sure his Rebecca will be stylish and in some way unsettling, as he specializes in disturbing imagery and tense, high-wire dramatics. Adapting Daphne du Mauriers novel, Rebecca tells the story of a young woman driven to the edge of madness by a spiteful housekeeper who taunts the unnamed young woman with the specter of her husbands first wife, the impossibly perfect Rebecca. Wheatley has cast Lily James as the young woman; Armie Hammer as her husband, Maxim de Winter; and Kristin Scott Thomas as the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. I am SUPER into Kristin Scott Thomas and the way her eye twitches like a velociraptor spotting its prey when she sees the new Mrs. de Winter, but literally everything else about this trailer is blah.

Armie Hammer and Lily James just dont look like they have much chemistry, do they? Maxim and his new wife wed after a whirlwind, Riviera courtship, they should be crazy sexy and totally besotted, but their scenes in the trailer look as cold as anything in the famously unsexy Fifty Shades movies. Maybe their chemistry will spark in the context of the full movie, but Im not inspired by the chilliness of their interactions here. Seems more likely Mrs. Danvers would take one look at their total lack of chemistry and huff quietly and then just wait for their marriage to fizzle on its own. Dont get me wrong, Ill watch this entirely for Kristin Scott Thomas, but Im not expecting much otherwise.

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Armie Hammer and Lily James dont have much chemistry in Ben Wheatleys Rebecca remake of Hitchcock classic - LaineyGossip

Retired science teacher bungles easy chemistry question on Who Wants To Be Millionaire? – The Sun

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WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire? viewers were shocked last night when a retired science teacher bungled an "easy" chemistry question.

Pat Lucas was gently mocked by WWTBAM host Jeremy Clarkson after leaving the show early - with just 1,000.

Read ourcelebrity news live blogfor the latest showbiz gossip

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She was asked: "A skull and crossbones is a warning symbol that specifically indicates a material is what?"

The science teacher then surveyed the answers: "A. Toxic. B. Corrosive. C. Hazardous to the environment, or D. Flammable."

Pat mused: "OK, being a science teacher I see a lot of this symbol. You'd think I would have paid more attention to it."

She then used her 50/50 lifeline, whittling the answers down to just: "A. Toxic and C. Hazardous."

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The player told Jeremy: "I wish one of the others was gone, I am sure it means hazardous to the environment.

"So I will go for hazardous to the environment - final answer."

Jeremy, 60, replied: "Well you are a science teacher, so you should have got that right - but I'm afraid you didn't.

"You've just lost a thousand pounds, I'm sorry about that. It's a long way to come from Lincoln for a thousand pounds. I hope you had a nice minute or two in the chair."

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Viewers were shocked, with one writing: "How the hell does a science teacher get that wrong!!"

Another wrote: "I cant believe Im sat here watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and a science teacher for that toxic sign question wrong lmfao."

A third tweeted: "A 'science teacher'....obviously skipped the health and safety training."

Pat left the show without a lot of cash to enjoy - but there is a mega-winner on the way with someone having scooped the 1million prize for the first time in 14 years.

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Jeremy has spoken about the moment the winner - whose identity is staying secret until the show airs - bagged the jackpot.

He said: "It felt like we whizzed through the questions. All of a sudden, confetti was falling from the ceiling and I was saying, Youve just won one million pounds.

I wasnt sure Id ever get to utter those immortal words. It was a little emotional - but, boy, did it feel good.

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Retired science teacher bungles easy chemistry question on Who Wants To Be Millionaire? - The Sun

Chemical Insights Publishes Educational Guide on Managing IAQ During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond – Business Wire

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ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chemical Insights, an Institute of Underwriters Laboratories, published today an interactive, educational guide on understanding the potential impact of hazardous airborne particles, such as respiratory viruses, and disinfectant chemicals on indoor air quality (IAQ) and human health. The four-part resource, Clearing the Air on COVID-19, highlights how aerosols tiny airborne particles or droplets are produced and provides guidance to business and schools for mitigating spread and improving IAQ.

The science community believes that respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, may spread when an infected person speaks, coughs, sneezes or simply breathes, said Dr. Marilyn Black, vice president and senior technical advisor for Chemical Insights. With about 40,000 aerosol particles released by single sneeze, good IAQ practices are essential in businesses and schools both during and after the current pandemic. We developed this interactive guide in the hopes that it will help facilities understand how they can improve IAQ.

Chemical Insights is a nonprofit research organization committed to delivering the scientific insight policymakers, healthcare providers, business leaders, educators and consumers depend on to make informed environmental health decisions. The organizations new guide is a culmination of Chemical Insights own research as well as best practices on IAQ improvement and the prevention of viral transmission.

The four parts of the guide are:

To view the interactive guide, visit https://chemicalinsights.org/covid-19/.

About Chemical Insights

As an Institute of Underwriters Laboratories, we deliver the scientific insight policymakers, healthcare providers, business leaders and consumers depend on to make informed environmental health decisions. Combining the best minds, rigorous scientific research and a commitment for thorough and accurate results, Chemical Insights is improving the health of people and the planet.

Our work lets people around the world know what chemicals are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the products we interact with every day. Our research and initiatives gives them the knowledge of exactly what those chemicals are, how they may affect human health, and how to manage their impact. Our leadership role is to provide science or knowledge to implement improved practices, alternative product design, and changes that enable safer products and healthier environments.

To learn more, please visit chemicalinsights.org/.

Follow updates from Chemical Insights here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chem_Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChemicalInsights/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chemicalinsights/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chemicalinsights YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzkBhjTluRUY6S2F56HycrA?view_as=subscriber

About Underwriters Laboratories

Underwriters Laboratories is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the UL public safety mission through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being. To learn more, visit UL.org.

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Chemical Insights Publishes Educational Guide on Managing IAQ During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond - Business Wire

Hair Dye and Cancer – The Chemistry Behind the Scare – American Council on Science and Health

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There are so many chemicals accused of causing human cancers that it's a wonder that any of us are still breathing. Yet, we are. In fact, since 1975 rates of most cancers have been either steady or slowly declining (Figure 1). So, these claims must be false; either the chemicals in question are not really carcinogenic or humans are not being exposed to enough of them to make a difference.

Rates of cancers of all sites 1975-2020. Source: CDC

When friendsand relatives ask me whetherChemical A or Chemical B will give them cancer my reply is usually "nonsense." But not with hair dyes. There is a chemical in hair dyes called para-phenylenediamine, a/k/a4-aminoaniline, or PPD,that at least warrants some respect and consideration. At least as seen through the eyes of a chemist. Here's why.

The chemical structure andfour common names of PPD

PPD itself is not carcinogenic (1), but it is rather toxic. Some people develop skin hypersensitivity that can be rather nasty. But other chemicals are used in the dying process; one of them is hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide reacts with PPD to give something calledBandrowski's base (Figure 2, left), which is highly mutagenic and possibly carcinogenic. Bandrowski's base is a trimeric oxidation product of PPD. The three PPD units are shown in red ovals. The blue arrows indicate the chemically reactive (dangerous) portion of the molecule - the carbon-nitrogen double bonds.

Tylenol (Figure 2, right) provides a similar case - a molecule being activated by oxidization(in this case by the liver) to form something more dangerous than the parent compound. Tylenol itself is not harmful, but once oxidized by younow have in your blood aseriously bad liver toxin called N-acetylbenzoquinone imine (NAPQI), which is the bad actor, not Tylenol itself. The red arrow shows the chemically reactive (2) fragment of the molecule, a carbon-oxygen double bond.

Life doesn't always follow the rules of chemistry and biochemistry. It would be difficult for any well-trained medicinal chemist tolook at the structures of the oxidation products of PPD and Tylenol and not raise an eyebrow or two. While the structures of both oxidation products are potentially harmful, NAPQI(from Tylenol)is, while Bandrowski's base (from PPD) is not, at least no as used (3). Just one of the many quirks of organic chemistry. No reason to pull your hair out. Or let it get gray.

WHAT ABOUT HAIR DYE AND CARCINOGENICITY?

My colleague Alex Berezowjust published an article on the results of a very large 36-year study that looks at the hair dye-cancer link (or lack thereof). You can read his analysis here.

NOTES

(1) IARC(International Agency for Research on Cancer), a subsidiary of the WHO, isn't the least bit reluctant to label a chemical a carcinogen, deserved or not. But even they don't claim that PPD is a carcinogen. It is categorized as not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans See my colleague Dr. Alex Berezow's vicious takedown of IARC's corrupt decision to categorize glyphosateas a carcinogen, even though it isn't.

(2) Chemical reactivity is almost always a big no-no in drugs. Reactive molecules modify different amino acids in proteins. Your body doesn't appreciate this.

(3) Why isBandrowski'snot carcinogenic? Hard to say. It could be any number of reasons, likeinsufficient exposure orlack of absorption through the skin. My money says it's the second.

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Hair Dye and Cancer - The Chemistry Behind the Scare - American Council on Science and Health

Sportin Life Review: Abel Ferrara and Willem Dafoes Chemistry Is the Best Part of Rambling Doc – IndieWire

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Roger Ebert often paraphrased what his onscreen sparring partner Gene Siskel said about films he didnt enjoy: Wouldnt it have been better to watch a documentary about the same actors having lunch together? Its a thought experiment that might come to mind watching Sportin Life, a rambling, hour-long documentary directed by Abel Ferrara. These days, Ferraras fiction films rarely go far beyond the festival circuit, even those starring his friend and frequent collaborator Willem Dafoe. Its been some time since the likes of Bad Lieutenant and King of New York reached a wider audience. But seeing Ferrara and Dafoe shooting the breeze is so entertaining, you might wish the 69-year-old auteur would concentrate on an Abe and Will podcast instead.

Most of the documentary was shot while Ferrara was promoting his last film with Dafoe, Siberia, at the Berlin Film Festival in February. Not that he bothers to explain that with anything as commonplace as captions or voiceovers. All the film offers is the chance to hang out with Ferrara for a while, seeing what he got up to this year, and hearing what was on his mind; if you dont fancy doing that, well, he obviously couldnt care less.

Sportin Life is essentially a glorified DVD extra, partly funded by SAINT LAURENT, as the massive block capitals at the start declare. Its self-indulgent, but never boring. It was surreal to watch when it debuted at the Venice Film Festival, and to see what a difference a pandemic makes. Sportin Life provides a piquant last glimpse of an era, a few months and a thousand years ago, when film festivals meant packed screenings and press conferences, and people hugging in crowded clubs. At one party, one prescient guest is wearing a face mask: in a zombie film, that might be our first hint of the horror to come.

Back in February, though, Ferrara was having a blast, especially when he and Dafoe were beguiling interviewers with their double act in a hotel room. Ferrara could be Dafoes dissolute older brother, or the portrait he keeps in his attic. The director may have worse teeth and whiter hair, but how could they not become buddies when they both have such magnificent lupine jaws?

Courtesy Venice Film Festival

Theyre certainly good value as interviewees. Dafoe is generous, upbeat, and articulate, unspooling perfectly formed sentences about the pleasure he gets from the technical aspects of acting, such as standing wherever the lighting is best, rather than disappearing into a character. Ferrara mixes highbrow references with indie pragmatism and down-to-earth New York street smarts. When asked about the deeper meaning of his films, he snaps: Were not playin games, were trying to get shots off, you dig? He isnt even sweatin story, he adds. Who cares about story? Everyone knows that Alice goes down the rabbit hole and that Ulysses is coming home. And who among us cant chuckle at the chutzpah of a hepcat in a black suit and sunglasses dismissing Homers Odyssey?

These conversations deserve a whole film, but Ferrara throws in whatever other footage he had lying around. There are snippets of live performances by his bluesy rock n roll band, a group he showcased in his 2017 documentary Alive in France. These snippets are intercut with clips of the original artists who played the songs he covers, a sweet tip of the hat, although the main points of interest at these gigs are Dafoes squawky but tuneful falsetto when he joins in a rendition of Del Shannons Runaway, and the more accomplished guitar and vocals of Paul Hipp, known and worshipped by sitcom fans as the roving Reverend Tim Tom from The Middle.

There are also excerpts from Ferraras earlier films typically these excerpts arent supplemented with titles, dates, or any kind of context and home videos of him with his wife, actress Cristina Chiriac, and their young daughter at home in Rome. But the director hasnt ignored what else has been going on, and he includes news reports of this summers rioting in America, and Donald Trumps promise in February that coronavirus would vanish like a miracle before many people caught it. The hazy suggestion that these crises are linked to the darkness in Ferraras films is the least compelling part of Sportin Life. But, again, its hard to imagine he cares whether anyone is compelled or not. His documentary is a 65-minute scrapbook of snapshots, but once you accept that, you can find a lot to admire in Ferraras energy, street-fighter confidence, love of cinema, and lust for life. Who knows, he might even persuade you want to give his recent fiction films a try.

Sportin Life premiered out of competition at the Venice International Film Festival.

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Sportin Life Review: Abel Ferrara and Willem Dafoes Chemistry Is the Best Part of Rambling Doc - IndieWire

Thermo Fisher Scientific Partners with Mindray on Clinical Chemistry Analyzers for use with Drugs of Abuse Immunoassays – PRNewswire

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FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announced a partnership with Mindray, a leading global developer, manufacturer and supplier of medical devices, to make available to customers two clinical chemistry analyzers in the United States (U.S.) and Canada for drug screening in clinical and drug court laboratories.

"Systematically and reliably testing for drugs of abuse is key to helping addicted individuals rehabilitate, ensuring prescribed drugs are not abused and ultimately, helping to combat this crisis," said Stefan Wolf, president of the clinical diagnostics business at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Through this exclusive partnership with Mindray we are able to address the needs of our customers in commercial labs, hospitals and the criminal justice field. Now we can better cater to the needs of those laboratories seeking to expand or increase their testing volumes, and laboratories working to consolidate and centralize their testing sites with these two medium- to high-throughput instruments."

To provide access to drug testing, Thermo Fisher and Mindray have entered into an agreement to offer the FDA-cleared and Health CanadaapprovedBS-480 (400 tests/hour) and BA-800M (800 tests/hour) analyzers to toxicology labs. Thermo Fisher will also provide an extensive menu of wet labvalidated Thermo Scientific DRI and CEDIA drugs of abuse immunoassay reagents with the instruments to enable the screening of urine samples for the presence of a given drug or a class of drugs.

Taken together, the world-class DRI and CEDIA drugs of abuse immunoassay reagents, validated on Mindray's instruments, bring a combination of performance and reliability from a single source in a cost-effective, plug-and-play solution. The solution streamlines the drug screening workflow and automates it to reduce risk of human error. The instruments also come with onboard software that has many advanced features, including sample/reagent probe collision protection, sample aggregate detection and a five-minute daily push-button self-service maintenance program.

Thermo Fisher began distributing, installing, training and servicing Mindray BS-480 and BA-800M instruments in the U.S. and Canada last month.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $30 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 80,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit http://www.thermofisher.com.

Media Contact Information: Kathy Ruzich 510-979-5157 [emailprotected]

Secondary Contact Information: Romeo Goia 317-908-8978 [emailprotected]

SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific

http://www.thermofisher.com

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Partners with Mindray on Clinical Chemistry Analyzers for use with Drugs of Abuse Immunoassays - PRNewswire

Ravens’ Jimmy Smith on Earl Thomas Release: ‘Chemistry Is Everything’ – Bleacher Report

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Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith alluded to the behind-the-scenes friction with Earl Thomas when explaining why the team moved on from the star safety.

Smith told reporters that "chemistry is everything" and players on the team are expected to maintain "a certain culture."

The Ravensannouncedlast month they released Thomas, citing "personal conduct that adversely affected the Baltimore Ravens."

ESPN'sAdam Schefterreported the three-time All-Pro punched teammate Chuck Clark during a practice, which was the final straw for the team.Jason La Canforaof CBS Sports added that Baltimore's leadership council "made it clear to decision makers they would prefer Thomas not be around."

ESPN'sJamison Hensleywrote the problems with Thomas went beyond his altercation with Clark. He had an argument with Ravens nose tackle Brandon Williams last season and "also missed or was late to several meetings."

Thomas had 47 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in 2019 en route to his seventh trip to the Pro Bowl. His value on the field isn't in doubt, but the timing of his release and circumstances behind his departure are probably hindering his chances of joining a new team ahead of the 2020 season.

Most coaches have already finalized their secondaries, and they might be wary of relying on Thomas given how quickly his Ravens tenure unraveled.

The Dallas Cowboysreleasedsafety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on Thursday, naturally leading to speculation about a move for Thomas. ESPN'sTodd Archerand NFL Network'sJane Slaterboth threw cold water on that rumor for the time being.

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Ravens' Jimmy Smith on Earl Thomas Release: 'Chemistry Is Everything' - Bleacher Report

How Artist Omer Arbel Fuses Molten Metal With Glass to Create Otherworldly Sculptures – Robb Report

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Any idea how youd make a recipe for glass? Sculptor Omer Arbel, who, when not busy with his personal projects, is the brains behind design-forward lighting manufacturer Bocci,brought in chemists to reformulate the substance and master glassblowers to shape it. Then he could get to the showstopping part: quickly pouring a molten copper alloy into the newly formed vessel, causing the metal to wash around in its still-hot container. When both harden, the glass cracks, and its altered chemical makeup causes it to fall off the alloy, leaving behind a frozen metal wave, caught mid-spatter within a bottle that no longer exists. I wanted these pieces to, as much as possible, be a pure reflection of a chemical reaction, Arbel says. Materials are the artist here.

And react it does. Because one side of the copper is exposed to the glass in the process and the other to open air, half of the final product oxidizes, while the other does not. The former is smooth and iridescent, while the latter becomes black and coarse, almost like charcoal.

The designer has long used substances in unexpected ways: concrete that resembles a slice of a tree stump, aluminum shaped into the coral-like arms of a chandelier and fabric pleats that replace the seat cushion of a chair. This latest series of copper-alloy vessels, dubbed 113 because, well, its Arbels 113th idea, will be displayed at Carwan Gallery in Athens, Greece, through November 7.

Clifton Li

The pieces will be displayed on a large table in the middle of the gallery, so people can walk around and observe them from all sides. Theyre arranged in a way that I can only describe as being as intuitive as a constellation is, says Arbel. Its not a grid, it doesnt have any other order other than my own idea of which pieces look better than others.

Check out more of Omer Arbels work below:

Clifton Li

Clifton Li

Clifton Li

Clifton Li

Clifton Li

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How Artist Omer Arbel Fuses Molten Metal With Glass to Create Otherworldly Sculptures - Robb Report

Market for Analytical Instruments in Chemical and Petrochemical Industries to Jump to $3.5 Billion by 2026 – PR Newswire India

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"Digital analytics in the chemical and petrochemical segments will enable machine-to-machine communication, resulting in automated solutions," said Janani Balasundar, Measurement & Instrumentation Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "Vendors can generate demand for analyzers by improving operational efficiency through automated runs to help deduce mistakes early in the analytical process, thus helping companies struggling with pressures on pricing and margins."

Balasundaradded: "From a regional perspective, Asia-Pacific (APAC) has the largest market share for global aliphatic hydrocarbons in the petrochemical industry. Similarly, North America will witness considerable growth in the chemicals and petrochemicals market due to the presence of significant manufacturing industries. Europe, however, will have slow growth in the chemical and petrochemical segments due to strict environmental regulations."

To tap into the growth prospects presented by analytical instruments in the chemical and petrochemical industries, market participants need to focus on:

Market for Analytical Instruments in the Chemical and Petrochemical Industries, Forecast to 2026is the latest addition to Frost & Sullivan's Measurement & Instrumentation research and analyses available through the Frost & Sullivan Leadership Council, which helps organizations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Market for Analytical Instruments in the Chemical and Petrochemical Industries, Forecast to 2026

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Contact:Jaylon BrinkleyCorporate CommunicationsT: +1.210.247.2481E: [emailprotected]

http://ww2.frost.com

http://www.frost.com

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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Market for Analytical Instruments in Chemical and Petrochemical Industries to Jump to $3.5 Billion by 2026 - PR Newswire India