Chemistry’s Mahsa Lofti-Marchoobeh Wins Three Minute Thesis Final – University of Arkansas Newswire

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Photo submitted by the Office of Graduate Student Support.

Mahsa Lotfi-Marchoobeh delivers her 3MT presentation to the audience.

Mahsa Lotfi-Marchoobeh is the winner of the University of Arkansas Three Minute Thesis competition. She earned the top prize for her presentation A Miniaturized Neural Probe for Detection of Chemicals in the Brain.

As the top finisher, Lotfi-Marchoobeh won $750 and entry to the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools' regional Three Minute Thesis contest.

Lotfi-Marchoobeh is a doctoral student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and is advised by Ingrid Fritsch. In the regional contest Lotfi-Marchoobeh will compete against roughly 80 students from universities across the Southern Region. The contest will be held March7 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Abass Oduola and Firuze Kordshuli tied for the People's Choice award, voted on by members of the audience. They each won $500 for their presentations. Oduola, a cell and molecular biology doctoral student advised by Griffiths Atungulu, presented Impact of Selected Infrared Wavelengths on Inactivation of Microbes on Rough Rice. Kordshuli presented Incorporation of Cu-SIO2 Nano Particles in PDA/PTFE Thin Films, as part of her doctoral research in mechanical engineering with advisor Min Zou.

Lotfi-Marchoobeh, Oduola and Kordshuli were three of five students who earned a spot in the University of Arkansas final. Each student booked their spot in the final by winning contests in their academic colleges in February.

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Chemistry's Mahsa Lofti-Marchoobeh Wins Three Minute Thesis Final - University of Arkansas Newswire

There’s a Cancer Treatment That Gives People ‘Night Vision’, And We Finally Know Why – ScienceAlert

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Amongst all the different types of cancer treatment,photodynamic therapy- where light in is used to destroy malignant cells - might have one of the strangest side effects: patients are often better able to see in the dark.

Now researchers have figured out why this happens:rhodopsin,a light-sensitive protein in the retinas in our eyes,interacts with a photosensitive compound called chlorin e6, a crucial component of this type of cancer treatment.

The work builds on what scientists already know about the organic compound retinal, which is found in the eye and usually isn't sensitive to infrared light.

Visible light triggers retinal to separate from rhodopsin - this is converted into the electrical signal our brains interpret to see. While we don't get much visible light at night, it turns out this mechanism can also be triggered with another combination of light and chemistry.

Under infrared light and with a chlorin injection, retinal changes in the same way as it does under visible light.

"This explains the increase in night-time visual acuity," chemist Antonio Monari, from the University of Lorraine in France, told Laure Cailloce at CNRS.

"However, we did not know precisely how rhodopsin and its active retinal group interacted with chlorin. It is this mechanism that we have now succeeded in elucidating via molecular simulation."

Together with some high-level chemistry calculations, the team used a molecular simulation to model the movements of individual atoms (in terms of their respective attraction or repulsion), as well as the breaking or creating of chemical bonds.

The simulation was run for several months and chewed through millions of calculations before it was able to accurately model the chemical reaction caused by infrared radiation. In real life, the reaction would happen in mere nanoseconds.

"For our simulation we placed a virtual rhodopsin protein inserted in its lipid membrane in contact with several chlorin e6 molecules and water, or several tens of thousands of atoms," Monari told CNRS.

As chlorin e6 absorbs the infrared radiation, it interacts with the oxygen in the eye tissue, transforming it into highly reactive singlet oxygen as well as destroying cancer cells, singlet oxygen can also react with retinal and enable a boost in night vision, the molecular simulation shows.

Now scientists know the chemistry underpinning this weird side effect, they might be able to limit the chance of it happening in patients undergoing photodynamic therapy, who have reported seeing silhouettes and outlines in the dark.

Further down the line, this chemical reaction could even be harnessed to help treat certain types of blindness or over-sensitivity to light though it's absolutely not recommended trying to use chlorin e6 to give yourself superhuman night vision.

It's another example of the insights we can get from molecular simulations too, and how the most powerful computers on the planet are able to give us a deeper understanding of science than we would have otherwise.

"Molecular simulation is already being used to shed light on fundamental mechanisms for example, why certain DNA lesions are better repaired than others and enable the selection of potential therapeutic molecules by mimicking their interaction with a chosen target," Monari told CNRS.

The research has been published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.

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There's a Cancer Treatment That Gives People 'Night Vision', And We Finally Know Why - ScienceAlert

Why sacrificing chemistry for cash is one of the biggest mistakes agencies can make – PRWeek

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However, experience tells me that overlooking bad chemistry with a future client because it involves a sexy brand name and big budget is the biggest mistake an agency can make.

The thing is, you cant force chemistry; its a gut feeling, an emotion, and it cant be scored with a number.

But we know most business models are built around bringing home the bacon cold, hard cash.

New business teams are tasked with expanding the pipeline and jumping at every possible chance to add to the companys bottom line.

The idea of turning down work based simply on the mood in the room seems ludicrous.

But while its no secret that chemistry is important to every successful relationship, we must not underplay its significance in producing the very best work from agencies.

A relationship based on trust and respect and, lets be real, basic manners is always going to triumph and accomplish better things than one based on lack of trust and a reluctance to engage.

You can mainly tell from that initial 60-minute face-to-face meeting how a relationship is going to go.

Just like in a happy marriage, fundamental, respectful human behaviours hold things together.

It helps keep energy levels high through the ups and downs of a campaign and maintains the magic that keeps creativity flowing and results flooding in.

The tension between profit and positive working relationships is an emotional dichotomy and believe me, Ive learned this the hard way.

Short-term gain for the P&L often leads to long-term pain if the fit just isnt right; bad team morale, over-serviced accounts, staff resignations and, ultimately, leaving an agency worse off than if it had just said its polite goodbyes at the chemistry meeting and walked away.

Instinct and smart business sense tell us to partner brands and clients that share similar values.

But do we do it enough? Probably not.

PRs needs to get better at giving potential clients their own feedback after chemistry meetings.

Rather than a one-way street of clients score-carding agencies, PRs need to set their own standards and criteria for prospective clients and stick to them.

These include shared values and cultures, engagement and attention to the conversation or presentation, as well as passion, enthusiasm and energy.

How many times have agencies turned up to chemistry meetings with key decision-makers checking emails or typing away at laptops?

These behaviours can be signs of how a future relationship might turn out.

Agencies need to experience how empowering it is to turn down work because you respect your talent and team too much to put them through the pain of working with bad clients.

Good chemistry results in a motivated workforce, better results and, ultimately, more like-minded clients.

Its a cycle of good energy.

So, when do you say no? How do you know when enough is enough?

Unfortunately, its not an exact science.

Yes, there are some obvious signs but really, your best guide is your gut. Your natural intuition is the one thing that never lies; you just have to trust it and be brave.

Sometimes the chemistry just isnt there even if the money is.

Natalie Neave is a director at Tin Man Communications

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Why sacrificing chemistry for cash is one of the biggest mistakes agencies can make - PRWeek

New England governors work together to curb industrial chemical use, ease impact on climate change – Boston.com

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) The governors of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine say theyre planning new regulations to reduce the use of a group of industrial chemicals primarily used in cooling, to ease the impact of climate change.

The states are preparing to regulate hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo said they must use every tool available to take urgent action on climate change.

In the absence of federal leadership, Im proud to stand with governors on both sides of the aisle who recognize the dangers of HFCs. Its time to regulate these harmful pollutants, she said in a statement.

Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said that for Massachusetts to reach its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, it needs to act to curb high-emitting sources like HFCs. Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said states can forge important progress in fighting climate change.

Rhode Island officials expect to file new regulations this summer. The regulations will be substantially consistent with rules being developed by Massachusetts, Maine and other states that have joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, a group created in response to President Donald Trumps withdrawal from the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change, the environmental management department said.

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2-vehicle crash causes chemical spill and temporarily closes part of East Coast Highway near Newport Center – Los Angeles Times

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A stretch of East Coast Highway near Newport Center was temporarily closed Tuesday after a two-vehicle crash caused a chemical spill, police said.

At about 7:45 a.m., Newport Beach police responded to the highways intersection with Newport Center Drive following a collision between a truck and a sedan, according to Sgt. Peter Carpentieri.

Carpentieri said the truck was carrying a cleaning chemical that spilled, prompting authorities to launch a cleanup operation.

One person was taken to Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana with a complaint of pain, Carpentieri said.

He said he didnt know what chemical the truck was carrying or how much was spilled, but said there was no danger to the community and that the cleanup was out of an abundance of caution.

All westbound lanes on East Coast Highway were closed in the area until around 1:30 p.m., as were the southbound lanes on Newport Center Drive, Carpentieri said.

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2-vehicle crash causes chemical spill and temporarily closes part of East Coast Highway near Newport Center - Los Angeles Times

49ers’ bond makes them team of potential Super Bowl heroes – New York Post

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Chemistry is a fickle thing in team sports. Some teams have it. Some dont.

The 49ers have it, and its a significant reason theyll be playing for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl 2020 against the Chiefs on Feb. 2 in Miami.

The fact it was journeyman running back Raheem Mostert, playing for his seventh NFL team, who emerged as the star of the 49ers 37-20 rout of the Packers in Sundays NFC Championship game at Levis Stadium was as symbolic as it was fitting.

A week earlier, in the 49ers 27-10 divisional playoff win over the Vikings, it was a different running back, Tevin Coleman, who carried the load, rushing for two touchdowns.

We are a team that can win any kind of way, 49ers left tackle Joe Staley said. This is a really hard team to play against and hard to beat.

Ask any 49ers players or coaches and theyll point to the unmistakable chemistry on the team as a starting point to the teams success.

This is a very close locker room, Staley said. Its been really special to watch everyone work together. We have genuine fun coming to work. That is really rare.

Staley, in his 13th NFL season, should be considered an authority on this. Just three seasons ago, when coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch arrived and were about to begin their rebuild, he was strongly considering retirement because it no longer was fun coming to work after going 7-25 in the two seasons before the new regime entered the picture.

Shanahan and Lynch talked Staley into hanging in for one more rebuild, and Staley is thankful he listened, because hes having the time of his life. Hes going to the Super Bowl.

There are no egos, Staley said. Nobody cares about what credit they get.

Indeed, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was asked to throw only eight passes Sunday and, in two playoff games, hes thrown just 27 passes, completing 17 for 208 yards.

And he couldnt care less.

Tight end George Kittle, the 49ers leading receiver with 85 receptions this season and 178 in the past two years, caught one pass for 19 yards Sunday and has four receptions for 35 yards in the playoffs.

He, too, couldnt care less.

Ive been on some pretty tight teams, but this is right up there with them, said veteran cornerback Richard Sherman, who won a Super Bowl with Seattle. Its really special to be a part of.

This chemistry, Sherman noted, has not coincided with wins.

We had it before we were winning, he said, referring to last seasons 4-12 team.

Both Lynch and Shanahan actually wondered at some points last season if the team was content with losing because the players got along so well together.

Why is everyone so happy at 4-12? Lynch asked himself.

We had [chemistry] a lot better than I expected the first couple years and it didnt result in winning, Shanahan said. Sometimes we almost [wondered], Does that mean we need some worse guys? But we stuck with it. We brought in a few guys who thought the same as our [existing] guys. I feel like our team has been this way since the beginning. And when you do that and win, it only gets stronger.

Sherman, signed before last season, said, Getting the right guys, that was a big part of it. Guys who want to do everything they can to win, guys that are selfless, guys that are compassionate, guys that show humility to one another.

An incident that took place in the divisional round win exemplified the selflessness that has permeated their locker room. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was beaten on a long TD pass to Minnesota receiver Stefon Diggs early in the game and was immediately benched by Shanahan, replaced by Emmanuel Moseley.

Instead of pouting on the sideline, Witherspoon marched right up to Shanahan and offered to take Moseleys snaps on special teams to keep him fresher on defense.

Teamwork makes the dream work, kicker Robbie Gould said.

I love these guys and when you have that kind of chemistry all through the organization, the skys the limit, said veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who played on Super Bowl teams with Pittsburgh and Denver before he joined the 49ers this season.

Its the team John and Kyle built, right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. We have weapons all over the place. It doesnt matter whos up or down. We have guys all over the place that are capable of taking over football games. Raheem is the biggest proof of that.

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49ers' bond makes them team of potential Super Bowl heroes - New York Post

Advantages of characterising pharmaceuticals using DSC and TGA – Chemistry World

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Click the button below to register3rd December 3pm (GMT)

Register now

This webinar will give an overview of how APIs, excipients and formulations can be investigated by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and TGA (thermogravimetric analysis, sometimes in combination with a gas analysing system).

Presenting the webinar will be Gabriele Kaiser, who will explain the attributes and functions of DSC and TGA the most widely used thermal analytical methods for investigating pharmaceuticals.

For example, DSC is well suited to measure phase transformations such as melting, crystalization or glass transition. This is important for studying polymorphism phenomena as well as interactions between the components of a physical mixture.

In addition, TGA detects mass losses quantitatively and is ideally suited for compositional analysis or for revealing thermal stability regions of pharmaceuticals. Coupled to a gas analysing system it is additionally possible to identify the gas species evolved from a sample during heating.

This webinar has been designed to be especially useful for laboratory personnel, laboratory managers and project managers working in R&D and QC.

The NETZSCH Group is an owner-managed, internationally active technology company with headquarters in Germany. The business units Analyzing & Testing, Grinding & Dispersing as well as Pumps & Systems stand for individual solutions at the highest level. More than 3,600 employees in 35 countries and a worldwide sales and service network ensure customer proximity and competent service.

Our performance standards are high. We promise our customers Proven Excellence - outstanding performance in all areas. Since 1873, we have proven time and again that we can do this.

Dr Gabriele Kaiser studied chemistry in Erlangen, Germany. After receiving her doctorate in physical chemistry, she joined NETZSCH-Gertebau in 1991. She acquired her experience in thermal analysis of more than 25 years as Head of customer training, Head of applications laboratory and Head of scientific and technical communication department. Since 2017, she has held the position of Business field manager in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food.

Ben is the digital editor ofChemistry World magazine, producing video and podcasts to accompany the magazine and website. Prior to joining the Royal Society of Chemistry, he was the producer of the award-winning Naked Scientists, making local and national radio programmes for the BBC, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Primedia in South Africa.

Your privacy is very important to us, which is why we make sure you are always in control of what we do with your personal information

If you proceed by clicking Register below, the information you supply will be submitted toNetzsch for the purposes of enabling you to access the webinar and for marketing and communication purposes. Netzsch will store and handle your data according to their own Privacy Policy. If you want to update or remove the information stored by Netzsch, or withdraw your consent forNetzsch to use or retain your information, please contact Netzsch directly.By electing to submit this information, you are providing your consent to the information being submitted to Netzsch which will enable you to take part in the webinar. The information will be submitted to Netzsch only we will not send this information to any other third party.

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‘Christmas in the Lab’ celebrates 50 years of chemistry and comedy – University of Wisconsin-Madison

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What began as a holiday treat for long-suffering freshman chemistry students has turned into a 50-year tradition. Professor Bassam Shakhashiri took to the stage to perform Once Upon a Christmas Cheery in the Lab of Shakhashiri to packed houses Saturday and Sunday, amazing and delighting with a series of chemistry experiments. If you couldnt score a ticket, watch it on PBS Wisconsin Dec. 16 at 5 a.m., Dec. 18 at 9 a.m., Dec. 20 at 11 a.m., Dec. 22 at 7 a.m., Dec. 24 at 5 a.m. or Dec. 25 at 11 a.m.

1 On stage at far left, Shakhashiri and Rodney Schreiner, a senior scientist emeritus, perform science accompanied by the Science Is Fun Band, led by Mike Leckrone. Photo by: Jeff Miller

2 Explosions the bigger and louder, the better are a key part of the show. Photo by: Jeff Miller

3 Bucky Badger helps Shakhashiri perform a color-changing experiment. Photo by: Jeff Miller

4 A color-changing chemical reaction gives the Tin Man, played by Sam Taylor, the heart he's always wanted as Dorothy and Shakhashiri look on. Photo by: Jeff Miller

5 Dorothy, played by Faith Oldenburg, prepares to make a rainbow from monochromatic chemicals. Photo by: Jeff Miller

6 Shakhashiri says his goal "is to trigger cerebral and emotional engagement to heighten the audience's joy in learning and to celebrate the role of science in society." Photo by: Jeff Miller

7 Santa Claus and Shakhashiri swirl some liquids... Photo by: Jeff Miller

8 ... to create gleaming silver holiday ornaments. Photo by: Jeff Miller

9 Attendees received a holiday goodie bag containing a "science is fun" button and experiments to try at home. Photo by: Jeff Miller

10 The Van Rossum family of Fitchburg show off their elf attire: from left, Joey, Dakota and Brenda. Photo by: Jeff Miller

11 A cascade of balloons ends the show. Photo by: Jeff Miller

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'Christmas in the Lab' celebrates 50 years of chemistry and comedy - University of Wisconsin-Madison

Will the 2020 Washington Nationals be able to recreate the chemistry that helped them win the World Series in – Federal Baseball

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Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo talked during the Winter Meetings about all the things that came together that allowed the club to bounce back from a 19-31 start to claim the first Wild Card spot, which got them into the postseason, and, eventually, allowed them to battle their way to a World Series championship.

They counted us out, Rizzo said. They knocked us down. We had injuries early, we didnt perform like we wanted to, but not one person pointed a finger, no anonymous quotes, no clubhouse lawyers, no backbiting. Loyalty. And thats why were here today.

The clubhouse culture, and the relationship between the players on the club, allowed them to stick together and battle back after the rough start to go 74-38 from late May on and win five elimination games in the postseason on the way to the first World Series win by a D.C.-based team since 1924.

So, how do they go about recreating the vibe and the chemistry in the clubhouse that led them where they got in 2019?

Obviously you need a certain type of player, certain type of person in the clubhouse, reliever Daniel Hudson said in an MLB Network Radio interview this winter when asked about recreating what made last years Nationals special.

You need certain all different types of cultures, backgrounds in the clubhouse, and you need to have one or two or three vocal leaders, guys that have been around for a long time, like we had everybody has been talking about how we had the oldest team in baseball, but I also think and I think a lot of guys said it throughout our run, that if they had a young team, there was no way that they pull themselves out of a 19-31 start. So to have guys like [Ryan Zimmerman], to have guys like Howie Kendrick, to have guys like Matt Adams and [Max] Scherzer, and just guys that have been around the block, have seen everything thats possible in this game, except for, obviously, until we won four in a row on the road [in the World Series], its just one of those things where everybodys tugging from the same side of the rope, and its tough to create.

I think that you just have to let it manifest itself and get the right people in there.

As of this moment (8:51 EST on January 2nd), Hudson, Zimmerman, and Adams are still free agents. Kendrick returned on a 1-year/$6.25M deal.

Theres mutual interest with Zimmerman, the so-called Face of the Franchise continuing his 15-year career in D.C., and there is a bench spot still to be filled if Adams wants to bring his left-handed bat back to the nations capital for more backup work at first base.

But there have already been changes to the club that won it all (losing Anthony Rendon to free agency chief among them) and the roster the Nationals have on Opening Day will look decidedly different from the one that won it all just two months back.

Do I want all our guys back? manager Davey Martinez asked rhetorically when he spoke to reporters at the Winter Meetings early last month.

Absolutely. Is it going to happen? I dont know. But these guys, theyve got to think about their families, and things always change. So what I do know about our group of guys, our ownership, [Rizzo], myself, were very competitive, and were going to put a team out there that can compete in 2020.

Rendon is in LA. Gerardo Parra, the mastermind of the dugout dance celebrations and the Baby Shark phenomenon, signed on to play in Japan. Brian Dozier is a free agent. Asdrbal Cabrera is a free agent as well, though still unsigned.

Stephen Strasburg, whod tested the free agent market before coming back home to the Nationals on a 7-year/$245M deal, talked in the press conference announcing the contract about his comfort-level in D.C. playing a role in his decision to stick with his one employer as a pro.

Having a great support system here is key, Strasburg explained. Having Max here. Even Anbal Snchez that we brought here. [Patrick] Corbin. [Pitching Coach] Paul Menhart. The group of people that Im able to be around helps me achieve that and helps me focus on what I can do to continue to be successful.

I knew where I wanted to be, Strasburg added at another point, ... and I trust that moving forward the team is committed to winning and that we want to go out there next year keep going right where we left off.

Rizzo said during the same press conference that it took a village to win it all and it will take the same type of effort to try to repeat.

It took Stras, it took Max, it took a bunch of guys to come together when everybody was shoveling dirt on us this year, Rizzo explained. They proved that if you believe in yourself you can do special things.

Zimmerman, who is on record saying hell either play for the Nationals in 2020 or play more golf, talked during the World Series in October about the work Rizzo has done to make sure to get the right guys in the clubhouse.

Hes huge on chemistry and clubhouse stuff, not bringing in bad teammates, not bringing in bad guys, Zimmerman said.

Before he makes really any sorts of moves hell will reach out to us and ask if weve heard anything about this player or that player. So hes big on that kind of stuff.

I think weve always had good groups of guys here. And obviously talented, as well, but when you get that blend of talent and guys who are in it for the right things, you get special groups.

Martinez, whos entering the third year of the 3-year/$2.8M deal he signed with the club in late 2017, said his approach in 2020 will be the same one he pushed throughout 2019.

Status quo really, Martinez said. We went 1-0 all year. The message is going to be clear: Hey, were not going to sneak up on anybody this year, thats for sure. So weve got to be ready to go from day one. With that being said, I want them to understand, Hey, were going to do business like weve done in the past, and were just going to try to go 1-0 every day. Why change something that works?

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Will the 2020 Washington Nationals be able to recreate the chemistry that helped them win the World Series in - Federal Baseball

SVSU – Chemistry

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From the wonder of covalent bonds to the intricacy of DNA, chemistry touches every aspect of the life we live and the world we help to create. When you are at SVSU, you study those bonds and relationships up close. Whether assisting faculty with their research or conducting your own, SVSU helps you NOT ONLY CONQUER THE CLASSROOM BUT DISCOVER THE WORLD BEYOND IT. And at SVSU, were graduating chemists who go on to become doctors, analysts, professors and researchers all over the country. Join themand start your Cardinal story.

Beneath the umbrella of chemistry, SVSU offers an elite and engaging set of majors for all kinds of driven scientific minds. From training for secondary chemistry educators to more specialized approaches such as business chemistry and chemical physics, the academic options at SVSU blend rigorous study in the classroom with creative and empowering training in the lab. SVSU faculty offer both brilliance and empathy to our students, not only helping you understand critical concepts but also working hard to support you in your personal career aspirations. Whether you have a passion for organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry or prefer something in the physical, analytical and environmental chemistriesSVSU offers the support you need to cultivate your passion and thrive.

At SVSU, well teach you the basics but also take you far beyond the classroom. Cardinal undergraduate students benefit from conducting their own research projects in a chemistry laba privilege rarely experienced at bigger universities. SVSU arms you with skills that outpace all competition as you consider options such as medical school, graduate programs and career opportunities with large research companies. In addition, SVSU offers chemistry students the chance to join a variety of organizations such as the Chemistry Club as well as participate in active research in the Kawkawlin River. Click to experience more of the Cardinal opportunities available at SVSU.

Many SVSU students aspire to enter the medical profession and many achieve their goal because at SVSU we not only offer you goal setting and progress check-ins with our pre-medical adviser, we also connect you with elite in-hospital programs such as the Medical Scribes program with Covenant Hospital. SVSU students have interned with distinguished health organizations such as Michigan State and have been accepted at leading medical schools across the nation, from our backyard in Lansing to Nashville. At SVSU you will find professors and opportunities to help you succeed in your pre-medical goals.

The life of a chemist can take you anywhere, be it the classroom, the boardroom or the research lab. SVSU is proud of our Cardinal graduates who achieve a 95 percent placement rate after graduation. Students who major in chemistry go on to work for organizations such as the EPA, NASA and the CDC. Youll also have the opportunity to apply your skills in power plants, universities, agriculture and pharmaceuticals or any production industry in the world. Click to explore even more of the options available when you pursue chemistry at SVSU.

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SVSU - Chemistry

Advances in anti-ageing research: how chemistry could hold the key to better health – The Conversation UK

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Given the opportunity to live much longer lives, many of us might feel less than thrilled at the prospect. After all, you might think, who would want to live an extra 20 years dealing with arthritis, dementia or heart problems?

But what if those years could be filled with youthful vigour or at least middle-aged comfort?

The ability to reverse, or slow down, the degenerative processes that come with increased age has been a long held human aspiration. Indeed it has provided a consistent focus for decades of scientific research on ageing.

But it is only in the last ten years that the replacement of palliative treatments (which suppress the symptoms of age-related diseases) with genuine anti-degenerative medicines (which prevent and repair) has become more than a pipe dream.

This paradigm shift stems from recent research that shows that just a few biological root causes underpin almost all the diseases of old age. Such a discovery is an opportunity to address a wide range of illnesses simultaneously with treatments that target single biological mechanisms. For the first time, ageing has become druggable.

One leading cause of age-related changes, including illness, is known as cell senescence. This is a consequence of evolution that only really comes into play when organisms outlive their normal reproductive age, or are subjected to a very damaging environment. When cells become senescent they can no longer divide, and typically behave in a way that damages the tissue around them.

For many years, much of the gerontological community had considered cell senescence to be a symptom rather than a cause of age-related decline. However, recent groundbreaking research showed that removing senescent cells from mice not only prevents normal ageing, but actually reverses many of the symptoms. This proof that senescent cells cause ageing finally provides us with the potential to develop a cure.

Follow up work has revealed that the positive effects of senescent cell removal in mice extend to myocardial infarction (which causes heart attacks), Alzheimers disease and metabolic dysfunction. The challenge now is to translate these findings to treatments in ageing humans.

To that end, major investors have now joined researchers in the search for ways to kill, remove or rejuvenate senescent cells. And they have made exciting progress.

For example, when combined, dasatanib (a leukaemia drug) and quercetin (a natural product found in vegetables), show improved health and lifespan in mice. And early results from clinical trials of this combination have demonstrated the first ever alleviation of physical dysfunction in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive degenerative lung disease with no current effective treatment.

The list of common side effects associated with dasatanib means it would likely be restricted to only the most seriously ill patients. But the trials give hope for medicinal chemists to develop a more palatable second generation of similar drugs.

An alternative strategy is the rejuvenation of senescent cells. Resveratrol, found in red wine and chocolate, was shown to be able to rejuvenate senescent cells in the lab, restoring their molecular fingerprint and growth to that of normal youthful cells.

Importantly, this work also demonstrated that small synthetic modifications were able to tune the effects achieved - again demonstrating that a medicinal chemistry approach to the problem is highly likely to be successful.

Elsewhere, Fisetin, a natural product found in strawberries, apples and onions, was recently shown to confer both improvements in health and a reduction in the senescent cell load in old mice. It is now also the subject of clinical trials.

Interestingly, Fisetin also interacts with other key ageing mechanisms, such as nutrient sensing the biological mechanism that underlies the well known health and lifespan increasing effects of calorie restriction.

It is not yet clear whether this is a new kind of super-therapeutic that simultaneously targets more than one cause of ageing, or whether it will reveal a new piece of the jigsaw that allows us to integrate the known paths to morbidity into a coherent whole.

The research conducted so far, just using natural products and existing drugs, has shown unequivocally that small molecules can produce a broad spectrum of anti-degenerative effects.

Drug discovery for ageing is moving beyond its infancy, and preventative medicine that will revolutionise 21st-century healthcare is now genuinely possible. Now we need to add synthetic medicinal chemistry to the mix to develop safe and effective drugs that will help us all into a healthier and more active future.

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Advances in anti-ageing research: how chemistry could hold the key to better health - The Conversation UK

Team chemistry, experience lead Phil Hardin 10U All-Stars to World Series – Meridian Star

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The Phil Hardin 10U All-Stars were only selected a few weeks ago, but the short time to practice together didnt create any team chemistry challenges.

Just the opposite, in fact. Whether through travel ball or being on each others team during the Phil Hardin regular season, the more than a dozen members of the team were already well familiar with one another. That showed in the results: When the team traveled to Long Beach last week for the Cal Ripken state tournament, it won the 10U competition in five games by a combined score of 66-5.

Now, the 10U All-Stars turn their sights toward Paragould, Ark., where they will begin play in the Cal Ripken World Series Thursday. Head coach Michael Vaughn said he isnt surprised at last weeks dominant performance at the state tournament.

They all want to win, and they understand whats needed (to win), Vaughn said. Theyre all friends, and theyve been coached through travel ball, which helps a lot. These kids practice three times a week and get as much reps as they can get.

The team was practicing at Southeast Lauderdales baseball field Monday evening, preparing for what looks to be a tough slate of games in the upcoming World Series. Vaughn, though, said hes confident in his kids approach.

Theyre just having fun, Vaughn said. I have 14 kids, and they all put something toward winning. At 10 (years old), you dont expect dominance like that, but theyre all good kids. Im proud of every one of them.

The focus of practice this week will be getting back muscle memory, hitting and playing the best defense theyre capable of playing. Mentally, Vaughn said his players know not to put too much pressure on themselves, even if this is a World Series.

I just tell them to have fun and dont play tight or be nervous, Vaughn said. Its just a game. At 10, I dont expect them to be high school-minded.

Logan Flaskamp, 10, said he and his teammates play well together because they always have a positive word when one is needed.

We work together, and we dont put our heads down, Flaskamp said. We pick everyone up when they make an error, because they might put their heads down (if we dont), and everyone might do the same.

Left fielder Kellan Kerley, 10, said a lot of their success comes from Vaughn and his assistant coaches teaching them the right way to approach the game.

Hes nice, and he helps you when you need help, Kerley said. He tells you what you did wrong and shows you how to do it right and he plays everybody so no one is left out.

If he had to rank the teams chemistry on a scale from one to 10, Kerley said he would easily give it a 10.

We know each other and dont get into fights, Kerley said. Were all like brothers.

Hayden Backus, 11, said a typical practice includes them working on hitting, fielding ground balls and pop flies and stealing bases. Its better to learn that stuff in practice, he said, because it increases their chances of things going smoothly during a game.

You have to do everything here first, because if you learn it here first, you can do the practice stuff in a game, Backus said.

The 10U All-Stars first game is at 2 p.m. Thursday. The World Series runs through July 17.

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Team chemistry, experience lead Phil Hardin 10U All-Stars to World Series - Meridian Star

‘Quarterback whisperer’ Martellus Bennett talks chemistry with Aaron Rodgers – ESPN (blog)

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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Sure, Martellus Bennett would love more preseason snaps with Aaron Rodgers -- or any preseason snaps with his quarterback at this point -- but the Green Bay Packers' new tight end has another formula that he thinks will help them connect on the field when it counts.

"I need all the reps I can with Aaron -- practice reps, game reps, meeting room reps," Bennett said. "Any rep I can get with him I'll try to get, whether it's just whispering to him, try to be the quarterback whisperer. It's just a lot of communication and a lot of reps. Over-communicate and over-rep every single thing we could possibly do."

Rodgers probably doesn't need to play in the preseason for his own good, but he might for Bennett's.

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It was no surprise that Rodgers didn't play in last Thursday's preseason opener against the Eagles, although he did surprisingly take part in pregame warm-ups. And given that Rodgers took only the first rep of every period on Tuesday with the No. 1 offense and then jumped over to the scout team like he did last week, it looks like this preseason might mirror last year's -- when Rodgers played just two series (26 total snaps) in the second-to-last preseason game.

If that's the case, then Rodgers' only preseason snaps likely will come on Aug. 26 at Denver.

And that's fine with him even though last year he didn't exactly start the regular season fast. Rodgers said last week that there's no correlation between playing time in preseason games and how an offense starts the season.

"I felt great, I felt great," Rodgers said of how he felt going into last season. "It was nice. Body felt really good. You know, we do things on the side conditioning wise to make sure we're ready to go. So I initially felt great. I would assume this year with Denver being the third preseason game I'll play for sure in that one. And that altitude will help with the conditioning because it's tough to play out there.

"We played out there in 2008 in the preseason, I had a good half of football, but yeah, it's preseason. Mike [McCarthy] wants to look at the other guys for sure [in] extended time. He feels good about what we've got, we're trying to work our timing in practice with the young guys and the new tight ends. We'll figure it out as we go."

Bennett said he believes he and Rodgers will be on the proverbial same page come Sept. 10 for the regular-season opener against the Seahawks.

Rodgers has raved about Bennett almost ever since he arrived for the offseason program back in April and there's been nothing on the practice field to indicate the two won't have an immediate chemistry, but the reality is they may not know until the games count.

"I'm like everybody's type, so I have chemistry with everybody," Bennett said. "I never really had problems having chemistry with anyone. Chemistry was one of my best classes, and in real life chemistry is one of my best traits. So I have a lot of good chemistry with a lot of good people, so I don't lack in the chemistry field."

Bennett played 11 snaps -- all with Brett Hundley as the quarterback -- in the preseason opener and caught the only pass that came his way, a 13-yard pickup on a third-and-2 slant.

"It doesn't matter who throws the ball or who's back there, I've just got to do my job," Bennett said. "That's what I try to do, make it easy for the quarterbacks."

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‘Chemistry is magic’ – The Daily Evergreen

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Qiang Zhang demonstrates how a glove box works Thursday in Troy Hall on Thursday.

OLIVER MCKENNA | The Daily Evergreen

OLIVER MCKENNA | The Daily Evergreen

Qiang Zhang demonstrates how a glove box works Thursday in Troy Hall on Thursday.

NINA WILLIS, Evergreen reporterAugust 28, 2017

Exploding gummy bears and elephant toothpaste represent seemingly magical concepts of chemistry in a youth summer program.

Through Pullman Parks and Recreation, youth ranging from ages six through 15 could register for Outdoor Sciences: Campus Adventures over the past summer.

This program consisted of several five day sessions touring around the science facilities of WSU and engaging in related activities, such as helping feed the bears at the bear facility, watching chemistry demonstrations and eating Ferdinands ice cream.

Jamie Gaber, science instructor of the program and WSU research neuroscientist, created her own science classes through Pullman Parks and Recreation after realizing how fast her own kids were growing and wanting to spend more time with them.

During the campus adventure program, Gaber meets up with the kids at Reaney Park and they all walk to a different WSU lab each day, she said.

Gaber set up the trips and demos by starting with people she knew from the neuroscience department, she said. Then she reached out to other departments she wanted to take her own kids, such as entomology.

Or she happened to get these opportunities by chance, such as in the case of Kara Whitman, who offered her lab after overhearing information about the class at the grocery store, Gaber said. In the case of Professor Qiang Zhang, his son enrolled in the first session and asked to volunteer afterward.

Regular people are in these labs, Gaber said. Its not people that are way out there or only old people. You can make it so much more familiar. Our brain works on expectations so much.

During the chemistry presentation, Zhang gave the group a tour of a new chemistry lab in the renovated Troy Hall, followed by an hour-long demonstration of chemical reactions.

When a lot of kids hear about science, they think oh, its so difficult when they get to college, Zhang said. So a lot of kids chose law school or business.Upon entering the lab, each student was given a set of goggles and shown some of the main equipment. Unlike the previous summer camp session, this tour featured the brand-new labs in Troy while the previous session toured Fulmer Hall.

OLIVER MCKENNA | The Daily EvergreenQiang Zhang gives a tour of the new chemistry lab to a a group of children Troy Hall on Thursday.

Starting in the instrument lab, Zhang said all the analysis takes place there. Zhang also showed them the main equipment inside the lab, and students were allowed to practice using select things, such as depressurizing the glove box by stepping on the pedals.

Its not only about getting people to study more science. Getting people to know science is more important, Zhang said. In your kitchen, for example, you put baking soda in vinegar and you get bubbles. Those things are very common and kids should know why.

For the demos, teaching assistants (TA) took turns conducting each experiment. First, the TA showed them a flask with a liquid that turned blue upon shaking it.A series of reactions that produced beverage-looking liquids, like milk or beer came next. In another flask, glucose and two clear liquids formed a thin coating of silver on the glass upon shaking.

The next TA dipped a dollar bill into a solution named magic water, which consisted of a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. The dollar bill caught fire, but stayed intact due to the water.

Then two pieces of paper, one with Megatron from transformers and the other with Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony. As the control test, the Megatron picture did not get dipped in the magic solution, and quickly turned to ash.

Twilight Sparkle received a coating of the solution and reacted the same way as the dollar bill, although many of the students requested destroying the picture of Twilight Sparkle as well.

A reaction named elephant toothpaste, used soap, food coloring, a clear solution and magic crystals to initiate the reaction. After adding the crystals, the solution quickly foamed and expanded out of its container, much like a volcano, a few students said.

Each student received a balloon to blow up, while Zhang pulled several balloons out of a small container of liquid nitrogen. While in the liquid nitrogen, the air inside the balloon solidified, shrinking the balloon in size. Once removed from the nitrogen, the balloon quickly returned to its original size.

The death of a gummy bear featured potassium chlorate, heated in a test tube, and combusted with the sugar in the gummy bear. Then another gummy bear turned hard and brittle after a liquid nitrogen bath. Under the fume hood, a mercury compound created a reaction resembling growing tentacles once ignited.I call it chemistry is magic, Zhang said. A lot of times in the old days, a lot of whats called magic had science in them. Theres always a scientific explanation about things. Thats what we try to deliver to the kids.

Gaber also stated that she hopes to lead the campus adventures program every summer in the future. Registration for the event will be found on the Pullman Parks and Recreation website.

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'Chemistry is magic' - The Daily Evergreen

Chemistry Professors Promote Cycling and Transit, On and Off Campus – CSUN Today

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Avid cyclists Kayla and Mike Kaiserhave been married for 10 years and share a passion for health and public service, which inspired their nonprofit organization, BikeCar101.

As professors at California State University, Northridge in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the pair promote travel by train and bicycle to increase environmental sustainability and public health.The couple has been commuting to campus via Metrolink and bikes since 2013.

Over the past few years, the Kaisers have seen a growing interest in public transit and healthier commutes among CSUNstudents, professors and others in the workforce, they said. According tometro.nets active mode of transportation page, they state that, Active transportation improves public health by providing more opportunities for physical activity and safe places to walk, bike or travel by other human-powered means improves access to transit and provides more travel choices.

We were on the same [Metrolink] line with other professionals, and wed start bringing our bikes on there, Mike said.They saw us bringing our bikes [to campus to ride together], and they started to bring theirs.

He also pointed out that students are the biggest advocates for sustainability and alternative modes of transportation.

Ultimately, students have the greatest voice in change with respect to where the university heads toward sustainability, Mike said. Thats powerful. I cant overstate that.

The nonprofit BikeCar101 promotes using alternative forms of transportation, such as traveling by train and biking to destinations.The Kaisers hope to lobby the Metrolink Board to add additional Metrolink Bike Cars with more bicycle stalls for greaterbicycle storage. In the future, the Kaisers hope to expand theirlobbying efforts toward theMetro Transit Agency tofollow Metrolinks Board initiativeand provide a dedicated Bike Car to each Metro light rail train.Similar to what Amtrak does with its Surfliner line.

We rode the train with a group of about five commuters with bicycles, and there was only enough room for three bicycles, Kayla said. The conductor started to give us a hard time [because we had] too many bicycles, so I said, Weve got to petition the transit agencies for more space.'

BikeCar101 uses the 3T Program to educate those who need help riding Metrolink and need help mapping their destination. According to BikeCar101s website, the 3T program is about educating the public about bringing bicycles on board Metro rail and Metrolink trains to encourage them to engage in future active transportation.The nonprofits 3T Program provides the three Ts a t-shirt with BikeCar101s logo, a train ticket to the transporters destination, and that the transporter provides a testimonial for their website.The user does not have to pay for their ticket, all the nonprofithopes is that they educate someone else from this program.

The pair is determined to promote carbon-neutral travel and use secondary forms of transportation to get around town.

We wanted to improve the environment, live in a more sustainable fashion, Mike said. [Incorporating] a bicycle into our commute with a train relieves the stress of driving. Its amazing what a stress reduction it is when you dont have to drive, and you get your workout through a bicycle.

Riding the train also helps the community interact,Kayla added.

Rather than being stuck in a car, or by yourself, you can chat, catch up, meet new people, talk about current events or what youre doing this weekend, Kayla said. It makes for a nice community, [and] its a lot more friendly and relaxing.

For more information about BikeCar101, please visit theirwebsiteat https://sites.google.com/site/bikecar101test/.

BikeCar101, bikes, Chemistry and Biochemistry, chemistry professors, Sustainability, Wellness

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In ‘Last Train to Nibroc,’ a chance encounter leads to lifelong chemistry – Press Herald

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Deertrees new repertory company is getting the theaters season rolling with Arlene Huttons Last Train to Nibroc, a touching story that follows two strangers and their intertwined journey through life after a chance meeting on a train in 1940.

Nestled in the foothills of western Maine, the rustic 1930s playhouse offers a picturesque location for the intimate two-actor production, directed by artistic and executive director Andrew Harris. The exposed wooden beams and on-site refreshment shop, the Salt Lick Caf, recall a bygone era that sets the mood for the plays rural Kentucky locale.

The production is stripped down, with two benches serving as the primary props for the two-act, three-scene performance. The minimalistic set shifts the audiences focus to the actors and the plays endearing storyline.

Emily Grotz and Luis Del Valle star as May and Raleigh. When the pair meet, May is a young woman returning home to Kentucky from California, her hopes of marriage dashed after being jilted by her soldier fianc. Raleigh dreams of going to New York City to be a writer, desperate to rebuild his life after being prematurely discharged from the service for fits that make it impossible for the young pilot to fly in the war.

Last Train to Nibroc uses the train as a metaphor that carries into the characters lives. Like the two dead writers Nathanael West and F. Scott Fitzgerald who are being transported by the train to their final resting places, Raleigh fears that he is hurtling toward his final destination in life. Upon meeting May, his view shifts and he begins to see opportunity in stops along the way. But May, a wannabe missionary, has a tendency to be judgmental, as demonstrated by her harsh recollection of her fellow passengers on the train.

Grotz and Del Valle, both theater majors at the University of Southern Maine, embrace their characters and the plays symbolism with a heartwarming maturity. Real-life chemistry seems to emanate from the two as their characters verbally spar onstage. Grotz brings just the right amount of sanctimoniousness to her otherwise good-hearted character, and Del Valle matches her with a winsome boyishness as his character playfully chides and teases May.

The pair are pure fun to watch when May, now a teacher of 51 students, tries to correct Raleighs grammar, which has become atrocious since moving back to his parents farm in the South. Its a witty battle of seen versus saw, with Raleigh delivering a series of digs that delightfully challenge Mays suppositions.

Over the half-year time span of the play, the two characters grow, solidifying the bond struck when they first met on the train. The actors bring out this blossoming maturity, delivering a tenderness that is sincere.

Deertrees Theatres Last Train to Nibroc is an engaging love story that embraces the ups and downs of life with humor and tenderness. It also serves as a gentle reminder to avoid judging by appearance or assumption. As May comes to discover about Nibroc, a festival in her hometown, preconceived notions often hinge incorrectly on our view of the world or in this case, word order.

April Boyle is a freelance writer from Casco. She can be contacted at:

[emailprotected]

Twitter: ahboyle

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In 'Last Train to Nibroc,' a chance encounter leads to lifelong chemistry - Press Herald

After chemical attack and kidnapping, migrant mom tries again to enter U.S. – NBC News

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A Guatemalan mom who says she sustained severe chemical burns and was sexually assaulted in front of her young daughter during a kidnapping in Mexico is asking the U.S. government to let her into the country while her asylum case plays out.

The woman is currently under the Trump administration's remain in Mexico program, and her attorney says sending her there was an incredibly egregious example of the types of cases the U.S. said would be exempt from the policy.

Theyre putting us at risk. Were at risk of being kidnapped, tortured, said Elizabeth, who asked that only part of her name be used out of fear of retaliation.

Elizabeth, who went to Juarez, Mexico, in the summer to claim asylum with her 11-year-old daughter after fleeing gender-based violence in Guatemala, said she was tortured and sexually assaulted after arriving there and held for around 18 days in July and August.

In this line of work you see horrific things, but this is incredibly egregious, said Nico Palazzo, an attorney with the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center who is representing Elizabeth.

At a court hearing in the U.S. on Friday morning, she asked immigration officials for a third time to allow her to stay in the United States and receive treatment while her case plays out. Her hearing came on the same day the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to reinstate a block on the policy in a long-anticipated decision that dealt a blow to the Trump administration.

Elizabeth's attorneys are calling on immigration officials to release her from custody and allow her to be in the United States as a result of the ruling.

"We are hopeful but proceeding with caution," Palazzo said. "The implications of this are monumental and clearly illustrate this policy is not only appalling and dehumanizing but clearly unlawful."

"The mandate of this ruling is clear - they cannot return her and her daughter," he said.

Elizabeth was chemically burned down large portions of legs during the kidnapping and is still at great risk of infection, her lawyer said. But the U.S. has twice turned Elizabeth back to Mexico, once in November and once in January, under the Trump administration policy forcing asylum-seekers to wait there for court cases in the U.S., he said.

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About 60,000 migrants have been forced to wait in Mexico under the program, which is formally called the Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP.

Customs and Border Protection said in its guiding principles, published in January 2019, that migrants with known physical/mental health issues would not be amenable to the program.

On its website, the Department of Homeland Security said unaccompanied children will not be subject to the policy and others from vulnerable populations may be excluded on a case-by-case basis. Migrants who claim a fear to return to Mexico could be exempt from the policy if they are determined to be more likely than not to face persecution or torture in Mexico.

But immigration advocates and attorneys say that standard places an unfair burden on migrants and that some with serious health issues are still being sent back. Elizabeth has been turned back on two occasions, despite showing immigration officials her wounds and detailing her kidnapping, her attorney said.

She clearly fits the medical exception to MPP based on the severity of her wounds but also based on the fact that she is afraid of returning to Mexico because she's been tortured, Palazzo said.

According to Elizabeth and her attorney, the harrowing ordeal began after Elizabeth and her daughter got off a bus taking her to Juarez and took what she believed to be an Uber. She believes she was targeted because she is a migrant.

Elizabeth said she was threatened, kidnapped and taken to an unknown location where she was held for around 18 days.

They told us not to make noise, that they would kill us, she said.

Her captors sexually assaulted her in front of her daughter and demanded ransom money from relatives, she and her attorney said. When they could not get it, they used a chemical to burn her legs, Elizabeth said.

I just screamed and screamed and my daughter covered her eyes and ears because of my cries, she said.

Eventually, the two were able to escape and when Elizabeth was found she was described as being disoriented and having suffered a heat-stroke, Palazzo said.

She spent days in a hospital but has not received the full medical treatment she needs and is still at great risk of infection, Palazzo said.

Photos provided by her attorney appear to show massive injuries all along both of her legs. Palazzo provided a letter from a doctor saying he had reviewed her medical records and photographs and said her open wounds are still at risk of infection.

Like all burn victims, victims of chemical assault need to be treated in a multidisciplinary burn center that has the resources to provide holistic care and recovery across a lifetime to achieve a good outcome, wrote Dr. Barclay Stewart, an assistant professor at the University of Washington Medicine Regional Burn Center.

"By being denied access to a multidisciplinary burn center or the services aforementioned, she will suffer needlessly and unconscionably," he wrote.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to request for comment about the program Friday, but has previously defended it.

In late January, the one-year anniversary of the policy, spokesperson Heather Swift, said in a statement to NBC News that the U.S. and Mexican governments 100 percent support MPP, which is firmly authorized by bipartisan Congressional statute and has allowed the U.S. to provide the opportunity for due process to more than 57,000 migrants.

DHS is always looking at ways to expand and strengthen the program to include new locations, populations, and procedures in order to further enhance protections for migrants and ensure safe and lawful migration, while deterring smugglers and traffickers, she said. We continually work with Mexico and have provided more than $17 million in aid for safety and security measures. MPP is one of the most important and effective tools we have implemented to confront the crisis on the border and we will continue to strengthen and expand.

On Friday, Palazzo and Elizabeth are called on the government to allow her and her daughter to stay in the United States and receive the treatment she needs.

The reason we are putting so much emphasis at this point is this is the third time now that she's coming into the country and she just cannot afford to be returned back, he said.

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After chemical attack and kidnapping, migrant mom tries again to enter U.S. - NBC News

The Right Chemistry: Cure-all claims have a long history – Montreal Gazette

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Constantine Rhodocanaces came to England sometime in the 17th century from the Greek isle of Chios. He seems to have been an alchemist of sorts, brewing up medicine in a Physicall Laboratory in London, next door to the Three Kings-Inne. I know this because it says so right on the cover of a booklet he published in 1663. A booklet that I now have. Not a copy, not a facsimile, but the original!

I have a penchant for unusual historical items, especially if they deal with chemistry or pseudoscience. My interest is aroused even more if these two coalesce. That is just the case for Rhodocanacess publication about Spirit of Salt of the World, his wonder product. I came across a reference to this epic when I was doing some research for my own recent book, A Grain of Salt, which also deals with chemistry and pseudoscience. When I saw that Spirit of Salt of the World was available from an antique book dealer, I jumped, and I now am the proud owner of this wonderful little relic.

The first word that strikes your eye as you peruse the cover is ALEXICACUS, which is Greek for averter of evil. And that is just what Spirit of Salt of the World promises to do: avert all sorts of evil diseases, from scurvy and inflammation of the feet to kidney stones and the French Disease. Rhodocanaces enlightens the reader that he works in a lab Where all manner of Chymicall preparations are carried on without any Sophistication or abuses whatsoever. This is where his Spirits of Salt of the World is now Philosophically prepared and purified from all hurtful or Corroding Qualities, far beyond anything yet known to the World, being both safe and pleasant for the use of all Men, Women and Children. In those days, sophistication meant deception, and when today we would say scientifically in 17th century England the equivalent term was philosophically. While there certainly was science involved in preparing the product, there was also a dose of deception.

So, what was Spirit of Salt of the World? Spirit of salt is an old term for hydrochloric acid. And that is what Rhodocanaces was peddling and claiming that it was a virtual panacea. Hydrochloric acid was well known at the time, having been discovered some 800 years earlier by the alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan, who produced it by mixing salt with sulphuric acid. Hayyan is also credited with having discovered that distillation of a solution of a mineral we now know as iron sulphate heptahydrate yields sulphuric acid.

Rhodocanaces was not the first to use hydrochloric acid as medicine, but he did claim that his product was superior to others. Ordinary Spirit of Salt, he said, was outright dangerous. He writes about hearing from the Right Worshipfull Thomas Middleton, apparently a trustworthy nobleman, that not long since a sick person making use of the common Spirit of Salt bought at the Apothecaries, died upon the taking of it. Having been so informed, charity towards my Neighbour commandeth me to make publick that hereafter greater caution may be had in using the vulgar Corrosive Spirit of Salt, instead whereof I make publick this, which is most innocent, and healthful, as may be seen in the following testimonies.

And there are testimonies galore. Mrs. Bird gave some of Rhodocanacess acid to her children who were troubled with worms, which it presently killd and brought away. A man sick of an inveterate Head-ach, which afflicted him at certain times every day, having been left by Physicians, and in opinion near death, did after purgation once and again prescribed, make use of this Spirit of Salt for the space of a week and was thereby suddenly and strangely recovered. Strange indeed.

There is more. Rhodocanacess concoction procures a good appetite and prevents putrefaction of anything in the Stomak, prevents Drunkennesse and sickness therefrom, expels diseases that arise from corrupted blood, by purifying it, that lay before idle, and settled in the veins, and makes it volatile, and to proceed more regularly in its circulation. It also keeps arteries from all filth, or slime, and sends away the water that lurks betwixt the skin and flesh, by Stool and Urine.

Of course, only the original will work. There are some who pretend to make this Spirit according to my preparation, wherefore I think good to let the world know, that as yet this Secret hath not been communicated to any.

Why do I find this booklet so fascinating? Because it could have been written today. All you have to do is substitute Spirit of Salt with the name of one of the current outlandish products that some maverick blogger, doctor, naturopath or chiropractor is making available despite the efforts of Big Pharma to muffle the sales. The desperate and the worried-well are enticed with the same type of testimonials, smearing of competing products, besmirching of conventional medicine and secret breakthroughs as featured in my centuries-old document. Of course, all these claims should be taken with a grain of salt. Plus a change, plus cest la mme chose.

joe.schwarcz@mcgill.ca

Joe Schwarcz is director of McGill Universitys Office for Science & Society (mcgill.ca/oss). He hosts The Dr. Joe Show on CJAD Radio 800 AM every Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m.

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University community mourns the death of Mary Thompson, CSJ, ’53, professor emerita – St. Catherine University (press release)

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Professor emerita Mary Thompson, CSJ (Sister Gertrude), died on Sunday, June 25, 2017, at age 89. A St. Catherine University alumna, class of 1953, she was a professor of chemistry at the University from 1964 to 2000.

Mary attended St. Kates after graduating from Visitation High School. In 1949, she joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and was given the name Sister Gertrude. She took her first vows in 1952, and her final vows in 1958. During that time, she earned her bachelors degree in chemistry from St. Kates, where she became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She went on to earn a masters degree in chemistry at the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

Marys teaching career began at Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, where she was a science and mathematics teacher. In 1964, she joined the faculty at St. Kates, teaching chemistry and natural sciences. She was promoted to associate professor in 1969 and to full professor in 1978. She served as chair of the chemistry department 19691990 and as Endowed Professor of Science 19861989.

Under Mary's leadership, chemistry at St. Kates was strengthened through grant-funded acquisition of modern scientific instrumentation, the inclusion of undergraduate research as an integral part of the curriculum, and American Chemical Society verification of the chemistry major.

Recognized by her students and colleagues as a superb role model for women pursuing science careers, Mary challenged students to engage in demanding research projects and to continue their education at the graduate level. She received many research fellowships, which enabled her to maintain an active scholarly life. Her work as a teacher and mentor set the stage for St. Kates increasing commitment to preparing women scientists.

Mary was a finalist for the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Professor of the Year award in 1984 and, in 1997, received the American Chemical Societys Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences.

Upon her retirement in 2000, she was given the title of faculty emerita. That same year, alumnae and friends of St. Kates chemistry department established the Sister Mary Thompson Scholarship to honor her dedication to women in science. The scholarship provides assistance to a St. Kates student pursuing a degree in either chemistry or pre-medicine.

During St. Kates 100th anniversary celebration in 2005, Mary was named one of the Centennial 100 for her influential role in the Universitys history and development.

Her hobbies included calligraphy and playing piano and cello. In retirement, she wrote grants for the CSJ Ministries Foundation and served as the treasurer of the CSJ St. Paul Province.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 5, 2017 in Our Lady of Presentation Chapel in St. Paul, Minnesota.

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University community mourns the death of Mary Thompson, CSJ, '53, professor emerita - St. Catherine University (press release)

Chemical Recycling Could Transform Plastic Recycling by Returning Waste to Its ‘Virgin’ State – Newsweek

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Scientists have come up with a new way of recycling plastic, returning the material to its "virgin" state.

The U.S. recycles hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic each year, which is still just a tiny fraction of the sum chucked into the landfill, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

One of the problems with traditional methods of recycling is that it lowers the quality of the substance, so that the recycled plastic is of a lower grade than that of the original.

In practical terms, this means a plastic water bottle cannot be recycled and turned into another plastic water bottle over and over again. Rather, the recycled plastic can be used for products like piping and traffic cones that can be made from a lesser quality material.

The method developed by scientists, writing in ChemSusChem, is a form of chemical recycling as opposed to mechanical recycling, which is frequently used in everyday recycling processes.

The latter involves chipping the plastic into parts and melting it so that it can then be molded into something new. The actual material (or resin) doesn't change, except to degrade in quality.

Chemical recycling, on the other hand, alters the physical state of the plastic, returning the material to its constituent parts (or building blocks) and thus a more purified (or "virgin") form, by dissolving it in chemicals or breaking it down it with heat. It can then be returned to the industry and made into brand-new, high-quality plastic objects.

"Essentially, we are taking a repeating chain and cutting it up at regular intervals to give molecules that we can use again and again," lead author Professor Matthew Jones, from the Centre for Sustainable & Circular Technologies at the U.K.'s University of Bath, told Newsweek.

"We can use the material for its intended use and then more easily recycle it."

"Our method of chemical recycling could allow carbon to be recycled indefinitely," Paul McKeown from the University of Bath in the U.K. said in a statement.

This could help create a "circular economy," removing the need to "dig up" more fossil fuel from the ground to create new plastic or release it into the air as greenhouse gas, he added.

So far, the method has been tested with plant-based polylactic acid (PLA), a more environmentally-friendly type of plastic made using starch and crop waste (as opposed to fossil fuels) found in food packaging and disposable cutlery.

"PLA is being increasingly used as a sustainable alternative for single-use plastics," said McKeown. "Whilst it's biodegradable under industrial conditions, it doesn't biodegrade with home composting, and isn't currently recycled, so at the moment it commonly ends up contributing to the tonnes of plastic waste in landfill and oceans."

Jones, McKeown and colleagues have begun tests on PETa plastic used for bottles and containersemploying a similar process. They are also working with scientists at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. to scale up the process so that it can be used on a more industrial scale, as opposed to the much smaller scale discussed in the paper.

When it comes to scaling up, there are two main challenges, Jones told Newsweek.

"One is the stability of our catalysts, which do all the work," he said. "The other is designing the reactor, defining reaction parameters and deciding how long the process needs to be to get the optimum results."

"Our method of chemical recycling overcomes this problem by breaking down plastic polymers into their chemical building blocks, so they can be used all over again to make virgin plastic without losing any properties"

"The problem of plastic recycling is unlikely to be solved by one solution due to the diverse range of materials available," Jones told Newsweek. "However, for PLA there is good reason for chemical recycling and we hope our work inspires further work into this recycling method."

The article has been updated to include comments from Professor Matthew Jones.

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Chemical Recycling Could Transform Plastic Recycling by Returning Waste to Its 'Virgin' State - Newsweek