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Mets Mailbag: On team’s chemistry with Yoenis Cespedes and what Marcus Stroman adds – SNY.tv

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Danzig

With the rest of spring training suspended and the start of the regular season pushed back at least two weeks, there's plenty of time to answer some Mets questions ...

I doubt it, though typically any sort of anomaly like this will no doubt involve the MLB Players Union and/or is already is addressed in the contract -- especially given the man injured himself in an incident with a boar.

That said, overall it is an advantage for him and the Mets because it means he'll be needed for fewer games and allows more time for him to rehab, which is a good thing for everyone involved.

I don't think so. The bold play he's known for on field is something he did more toward the early part of his career and in 2015. Since then, he's been much quieter and probably humbled by how he's struggled to get back to where he wants to be in his career.

To be honest, those who know him and cover him repeatedly talk about how soft-spoken and somewhat private he is. For example, the reason you never hear about him partying or getting into trouble is because he's far more likely to have friends, family, and teammates over for a private barbecue in the backyard of his ranch in Florida.

He's described as a nice guy, not the selfish, cocky, 24-and-1 (now 25-and-1) type guy that people seem to think.

The point I'm making, which directly answers your question is that, no, I don't think him being injected into this roster that he has not spent a lot of time with will be any sort of issue. Alonso wants to win and no doubt will welcome anyone, no matter how they act, if it's going to help the lineup. And Conforto and Nimmo have played with Yo, as have most of the pitching staff. They will be fine together...

I mean, you laid it out exactly the same way I see it.

My expectation is he will be fine. He had just one really bad start out of eight last season after the Mets traded for him, the rest of which were worthy of being a mid-to-top-of-the-rotation starter. His time pitching for them extrapolated across a full 30 games would have played out to be a roughly 3.25 ERA, 3.0 WAR and 160 strikeouts in 170 innings. This is also on par with 2020 projections from FanGraphs.

Also, he now knows what it's like to pitch in front of friends and family and deal with the pressure and expectations that come along with it. He has an apartment, knows the reporters, etc., all of which he had to adjust to on the fly, while dealing with the unique experience of returning home and dealing with expectations and pressure from family and friends, all of whom likely called to welcome him, get together and pick up free tickets.

I'm sure it was a lot, but that's all behind him, leaving him able to focus entirely on baseball.

Matthew Cerrone (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Contact) is a senior writer of MetsBlog.com, which he created in 2003. His book,The New York Mets Fans' Bucket List, details 44 things every Mets fan should experience during their lifetime.

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Mets Mailbag: On team's chemistry with Yoenis Cespedes and what Marcus Stroman adds - SNY.tv

Indian chemist has key chemical reactions named after him – BusinessLine

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Danzig

In modern Chemistry, names do matter, especially in pathbreaking chemical reactions or phenomenon.

Here is a sample of few chemical reactions -Grignard, Wittig & Barton, the Claisen condensation, Friedel-Crafts acylation, the Sharpless epoxidation, Grubbs olefin metathesis and Suzuki coupling.

These are all top scientists, discoverers or developers after whose names have been given to the reactions that they are identified with.. A few hundreds such reactions exist, especially in organic Chemistry.

DB Ramachary, a professor from the University of Hyderabad (UoH), has also joined this list with some outstanding research work in developing new and novel reactions.

The laboratory's contributions in terms of a slew of reactions are focused on using bio-friendly, amino acids as catalysts in developing novel approaches for drug development which is also sustainable as compared to chemical methods which use heavy metals like copper, Gold etc, which are both toxic and finite in resources, says Ramachary.

Some of these are the Ramachary Reductive Coupling, Ramachary-Bressy-Wang cycloaddition, Ramachary 2-Aminobuta 1,3 enyne catalysis, Ramachary Base Induced Ring Opening (BIRO) Reaction, Asymmetric Supramolecular-Organocatalysis: Ramachary, Organocatalytic AzideCarbonyl [3+2]-Cycloaddition etc. are also routinely used in the US, Japan, UK, China, Germany etc.

During the 20th century, as organic chemistry developed, chemists started associating useful reactions with the names of the discoverers or developers.

Many chemists from different nations contributed to this privileged list . In 1934, Indian chemist, K Venkataraman also contributed through his reaction and that was named after him along with Wilson Baker as BakerVenkataraman rearrangement.

During the past two decades, a few reactions developed in the Ramachary Lab at the School of Chemistry in UoH , have been recognised as highly useful for organic to medicinal to material chemists. Consequently, they have become well known organic reactions to be named after him.

These findings have received wide attention among researchers world-wide; it is expected that they will pave way to utilize for the design and synthesis of new drugs, materials and natural products in more economical manner, Ramachary told BusinessLine.

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Indian chemist has key chemical reactions named after him - BusinessLine

Good chemistry: helping business to come within REACH rules – Euronews

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Danzig

Business Planet heads to Latvia to see how the country's biggest household chemical and cosmetics maker is profiting thanks to its eco-minded strategy.

Chemicals are essential to our daily lives, but some can pose a risk to human health and the environment. Europe's chemical legislation known as REACH places a high responsibility for chemical management on industry. For small firms using substances and mixtures in their production, dealing with such strict requirements can be tough. In this episode, the Business Planet team looks at what the European Union is doing to help SMEs cope with their legal responsibilities.

When an enterprise makes a concerted effort to reduce its environmental impact, that is, of course, better for the planet, but it can also be good for business. JSC Spodriba is one such company. Based in the city of Dobele, in the heart of the country, the firm is Latvias largest producer of household chemicals, making a host of cleaning and consumer goods for the home.

Since 2012, the company has worked on developing more ecologically friendly products, like its Seal brand range. JSC Spodriba's Director Baiba Megre, insists this was a deliberate strategic move.

"...it was the companys choice and it fitted very well with the companys values and philosophy, for a greener future for {the} next generation. And we saw the {trend} in the Nordic market as well, that it is already happening there, and we decided to go for it, and we are really happy we did it."

That move to produce more environmentally friendly products has paid off. The firms eco-range now represents nearly 25 per cent of total turnover. But JSC Spodriba is not resting on its laurels. The company has recently obtained new equipment to develop even greener household products through an EU funded project called LIFE/Fit for REACH.

Coordinated by the Baltic Environmental Forum Latvia, the project is designed to help firms in the Baltic region to comply with Europes stringent chemical rules.

"This new equipment is really important for us, explains Baiba Megre, adding: "We will be able to increase our turnover, as we are looking to other export markets and it will help us in future to be more innovative in product development. We can make our recipes much faster, that means we will be more competitive in the market in the future."

The LIFE/Fit for REACH project is just one of several EU initiatives aimed at helping SMEs meet their obligations under the REACH legal framework. Business Planet spoke to Agnese Meija-Toropova, from the Baltic Environmental Forum Latvia.

Paul Hackett, Business Planet: "Agnese...what kind of support are you offering companies?"

Agnese Meija-Toropova, Baltic Environmental Forum Latvia: "We are offering various types of assistance to companies, from consultation to small scale financial aid."

Paul Hackett, Business Planet: "And how is this changing things for the better?"

Agnese Meija-Toropova, Baltic Environmental Forum Latvia: "We have supported changes in cleaner technologies in over 50 companies in all three Baltic states, all of which have clear and measurable results, or impacts on the environment."

"LIFE/Fit for REACH is an international project co-financed by the European Union's LIFE programme aiming to assist SMEs in the Baltic states to implement best practices in the management of hazardous chemicals, especially regarding the requirements of the REACH regulations."

"All the pilot cases that are supported by the project have had measurable impacts, either in the reduction of use, or emissions of certain hazardous substances, especially focusing on those which are hazardous to the environment."

"I would say that first and foremost the national regions CLP helpdesk that are trained by the European Chemicals Agency to answer questions from industry regarding correct chemical management and implementation of legal acts."

REACH is the European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It entered into force in 2007, replacing the former legislative framework for chemicals in the EU.

The REACH regulations aim to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, promote alternative testing methods, and ensure the free circulation of goods in the EU, while enhancing competitiveness and innovation.

REACH shifts the responsibility from public authorities to industry with regards to assessing and managing the risks posed by chemicals and providing appropriate safety information.

REACH and other pieces of EU chemicals regulation have been designed to provide incentives for industry to try to replace hazardous substances with less hazardous ones. Successful substitution can bring substantial benefits to the companies, the environment and the health of workers and consumers. It can also have a significant positive impact on the implementation of a circular economy.

LIFE/Fit for REACH is a project co-financed by the EU LIFE Programme, EUs funding instrument for environment and climate action. The project aims to support SMEs in the Baltic region (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) transition to sound chemicals management, especially when it comes to helping them substitute hazardous substances with safer alternatives.

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Good chemistry: helping business to come within REACH rules - Euronews

Louisiana students learn business of chemistry at summer science program – The Advocate

Posted on September 7, 2017 by ev1

GEISMAR Maggie Britton, of East Ascension High School, Zoey OConnor, of Dutchtown High, and Garret Paxton, of Zachary High School,jump-started their college experience and learned the business of chemistry at the seventh annual BASF Science Academy.

The three students were among 20 high school seniors who earned the opportunity to participate in the program designed to prepare students for a career in science, technology, engineering or math.

The two-week summer science program, developed by BASF Corp., is held at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. Working in teams, students use BASF chemistry to formulate their own personal-care products and develop a go-to-market plan and strategy. At the end of the program, students present their product to a panel of BASF executives and university academic leaders.

Providing students access to high-quality learning opportunities in STEM is a priority, said Tom Yura, senior vice president and general manager for BASF in Geismar. This two-week academy continues to play an important role in the students enduring appreciation of science and will serve as an inspiration to pursue higher education and a career in STEM.

Following the curriculum theme From Molecules to Marketplace, students gained invaluable hands-on experience in college chemistry labs, while developing a marketing strategy to link their product to the consumer.

Students also experienced chemistry in action by visiting the BASF research and development labs in Tarrytown, New York, and by meeting with cosmetic chemists and subject matter experts. Through exposure to real world chemistry, students observed how the fundamental building blocks of many everyday products are comprised, a news release said.

Science Academy was a great experience where I met people from all over North America and developed teamwork skills, Paxton said.

Britton said the two-week academy is an unmatched experience where chemistry meets business to create an awesome product.

Science Academy is an opportunity to meet like-minded people, take challenging classes and experience college life, OConnor said.

Students graduate from the program with three transferable college science credits to encourage their pursuit in a STEM field. In addition, Fairleigh Dickinson Universityoffers Science Academy alumni $5,000 scholarships if they elect to attend the school in fall 2018.

Of the 140 students who have participated in the program to date, several Science Academy alumni have returned to BASF through the summer hire internship program and the Professional Development Program. This fall, Michelle West, a 2013 Science Academy graduate will begin a full-time role in the program at the BASF site in Geismar.

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Louisiana students learn business of chemistry at summer science program - The Advocate

Chemistry | California State University Stanislaus

Posted on September 27, 2018 by Danzig

Featured Events

Oct 20: Chemistry Science Saturday

Oct 22-26:National Chemistry Week: "Chemistry is Out of This World"

Yellowstone Steaming Acid Pools of Death

Sept 21st:Dr. Christopher H. Hendon,University of Oregon

"Chemical and Physical Considerations in the Production of Coffee"

Oct 5th:Dr. Michal Marszewski, University of California Los Angeles

Oct 12nd:Dr. Keisuke Ikehata, PACE Advanced Water Engineering

Nov 2nd:Colin Selby, MS, ChemicalEngineering,Turlock Irrigation District

Nov 9th:Dr. Bryon Purse, San Diego State University

Outstanding Chapter Award Received by the ACS

The Warriors Chemistry Club, an ACS student affiliate chapter, received an Oustanding Chapter Award for their work done during the 2016-2017 academic year. The club was recognized in the November/December issue ofinChemistrymagazine and at the 255rdACS National Meeting in New Orleans.Congratulations!

The Department of Chemistry offers programs of study for students seeking the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Students may also elect to complete a concentration in Environmental Sciences or a Teaching Credential as part of their degree program. Students should consult with their department adviser to determine which degree and program is best suited to their career objectives.

The Chemistry Department is well equipped with modern instrumentation and facilities. Check out our inventory.

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Chemistry | California State University Stanislaus

Bucks show they’re at the top of the class in chemistry once again in opener – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Posted on October 26, 2019 by Danzig

George Hill was one of several Bucks players that had Giannis Antetokounmpo's back after the reigning MVP fouled out of the team's opener against the Rockets on Thursday.(Photo: Eric Christian Smith, Associated Press)

When the Milwaukee Bucks get ready to take the Fiserv Forum floor for Saturday's 4 p.m. game against the Miami Heat, time will be carved out for introductions.

That's what you do that's what every team does for thehome opener.

There will be pyrotechnics and light displays as each player gets introduced, but those are all just formalities. If you have been following the Bucks for at least the past year, you pretty much already know this team no introductions necessary.

We talked about it a lot this summer that our continuity, we thought, was one of the biggest things we had in our favor," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "Jon Horst and the front office and ownership just did an amazing job to bring back so much of a really good team, which is hard in todays age, todays game."

Yes, some faces have changed. There's a limit to how much continuity a team can have year over year. Wesley Matthews, Kyle Korver and Robin Lopez all got some run on opening night while new additions Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Dragan Bender were on the bench, inactive.

But if Milwaukee's117-111 win in Houston on Thursday night taught us anything, it's that the Bucks at their core are very much the same team as last year's 60-win squad. They can put points up in a hurry, lock down on defense and,on the negative side, they can fall into early holes. They're also cohesive,selfless, deep and unrelenting all traits that have carried over from a shift in organizational culture cemented a season ago following the arrival ofBudenholzer.

"Our chemistry is amazing," Giannis Antetokounmpo said after Thursday's win. "I think when the game started, guys werent able to get in rhythm. My first shot was an airball, Khris (Middleton) had zero points. We werent playing the best basketball we could play, but at the end of the day we stuck together, we played together.

"As I said, the chemistry is amazing. Weve got to keep working on that. Youre going to find adversities throughout all the season, but at the end of the day youve got to play together and face moments like this because moments like this make you better.

It didn't take long for that chemistry to undergo its first test, though. The Bucks went into halftime Thursday trailing the Rockets by 16 points and lookingalmost nothing like their former selves. Their offense was stagnated by Houston's switching, their defense was out of whack and very little was going right.

RELATED:Miami star and Marquette alumnus Jimmy Butler won't play vs. Bucks

But in the locker room, voices old and new piped up and none of them in a negative way. Korver, Antetokounmpo, Hill, Matthews, Middleton and Eric Bledsoe all had their say offering various reminders that the game was not yet over.

These arethe same kind of stories that would come out of last year's locker room, one that was unusually close, loose and positive. This year, though, there's a new twist in the form of the veteran free-agent additions who arrive with plenty of experience and already have earned the respect and listening ear of their teammates.

And all of that is obvious on the bench, too, where those off the court are locked into what's happening on it, constantly trying to assist their teammates.

"Everybody was talking," Giannis Antetokounmpo said."Most important, those guys Kyle, Wes and George Hill they know how to win. Theyve been in the league for 12, 13 years now and Kyle for 18, 19 Im not sure, a lot. They know how to win.

"They know what to say. In the fourth quarter I saw Kyles face, he had like how you guys say veins, like popping out of his face yelling, Get it done, get the job done. I love that.

Antetokounmpowas one of those guys at the end of the bench on Thursday. The reigning league MVPfouled out with 5 minutes, 18 seconds remaining. He paced and he cheered and he hung around the huddle during timeouts trying to stay involved during crunch time.

His teammates on the court picked him up, working selflessly together to finish off the victory. Lopez ran the offense from the block, finding teammates for good looks. Matthews made big shots and did yeoman's work defending James Harden. Middleton came up with clutch three-pointers late to shake off an otherwise rough night. Ersan Ilyasova, playing in Antetokounmpo's stead, made multiple big buckets, grabbed critical rebounds and put his body in harm's way time and again.

Just a lot of guys on our team just want to win," Hill said."I think none of us care about who scores or who gets this or that. All of us have the same goal and thats to just play the best we can on both ends of the floor and win the game.

Lopez added:The great thing about our team, and Giannis especially, is that we all trust whoever is out there, whichever five we have out there. We all believe in them fully and we all trust in each other.

On Saturday, the Bucks will be back at Fiserv Forum for the first meaningful game since Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. Most of the faces are the same and a few are different, but the ethos of the team remains unchanged.

They're the same old Bucks and it's a good thing.

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Bucks show they're at the top of the class in chemistry once again in opener - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Faculty Chemistry Pays Off at Georgia Gwinnett College – Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Danzig

August 16, 2017 | :

Can you imagine a new state college having a junior faculty member chairing an open rank chemistry search committee? This occurred at a new college, Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), which is within the university system of Georgia.

Dr. C. Douglas Johnson

GGC was established in 2006 with 13 charter faculty and 120 students, and has now grown to 458 full-time faculty, 240 adjunct faculty and well over 11,000 students. The nine searches for full-time chemistry faculty have resulted in a diverse group of colleagues.

Students tend to look to faculty as role models. And it is greatly encouraging for a student to identify with the person in authority in the classroom. The accompanying graph shows that the statistics of gender, race and ethnicity of the faculty at GGC actually reflects the student population it serves.

Experts say faculty diversity and inclusion within STEM is attainable through two approaches: top-down and bottom-up.

The top-down approach epitomizes most chemistry departments across the country in which the chairs sometimes with the help of diversity officers, committees and/or teams are working to change the culture, policies and practices of the existing department in order to increase diversity.

Dr. David Pursell

The bottom-up approach focuses on encouraging minorities to pursue chemistry through primary school exposure to training and mentoring programs so that students will pursue careers in chemistry academe.

The chemistry faculty at GGC used a top-down approach to achieve a cooperative working team. The primary goal, however, was not to increase diversity, per se, but to develop a functional working team that was inclusive and collaborative.

Several factors contributed to what happened at GGC. The chemistry faculty chair was a junior faculty member (owing to the age of the school) who led searches that resulted in multiple hires in the same year. The searches were open to all ranks (instructors as well as assistant, associate and full professors) and the advertisement included language not only describing broadly-defined chemistry professionals specializing in traditional areas but also engineers, environmentalists, toxicologists and chemical educators. The hiring committee embraced non-traditional career paths and expanded its network beyond prestigious institutions.

The strategy to mentor and retain faculty after the hiring process at GGC has been developed over the last decade. It is essential to provide ongoing professional development to faculty members at all career levels through mentoring, collaborations and training in new pedagogical methods and technologies. Active mentoring of adjunct faculty has also been implemented so that they become competitive for full-time positions.

Dr. Patrice Bell

The initial college leadership namely, the charter president, the provost and the dean were retired Army officers. Their collective experience in the Army allowed them to recognize the significant value of diversity and inclusivity to organizational effectiveness and mission accomplishment. They brought this emphasis to the college. This view of racial and ethnic equity continues to guide the GGC culture and explains the unique composition of GGCs chemistry faculty.

The motivation to hire faculty was to identify those who would best fit with the GGC culture regardless of ethnicity, race, gender or sub-discipline. Additionally, a military framework, which helped guide the culture of the institution, facilitated hiring of competent contributors who subscribe to the schools mission.

In fact, research on this topic has also resulted in other potential strategies to solve diversity issues. There was a realization that change can occur through open dialogue among chairs, social scientists and representatives of diverse communities. More specifically, the GGC chemistry department has fostered an equitable, respectful environment that other disciplines use as a model for collegiality, diversity and productivity.

Dr. Patrice Bell is an associate professor of chemistry and Dr. David Pursell is a professor of chemistry in the School of Science and Technology at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), Lawrenceville, Georgia. Dr. C. Douglas Johnson is a professor of management in the School of Business at GGC.

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Faculty Chemistry Pays Off at Georgia Gwinnett College - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

‘Micromotors’ alter your gut’s chemistry to safely deliver medicine – Engadget

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Danzig

Conventionally, the medication used to treat maladies like ulcers or bacterial infections, have to be administered alongside a secondary compound known as proton pump inhibitors. These chemicals temporarily halt the production of stomach acid, allowing the medicine to do its work without being destroyed. However, long term use of PPIs can make matters much worse, from headaches and fatigue to anxiety and depression.

UCSD's "micromotors" are made up of a titanium dioxide protective shell surrounding a spherical magnesium core. Above the TiO2 layer is a layer of antibiotic medication and above that,is another layer made up of a positively-charged polymer that helps the motor stick to the gut wall.

Now here's the really cool part. These motors use the stomach's own acid as a fuel source. The magnesium layer reacts to the gastric acid to generate a stream of hydrogen bubbles to produce thrust, while also reducing the amount of acid present. Once the stomach's pH hits the correct level, the motors release their medication and finish dissolving.

These devices are still in the early days of their development so don't expect to have your antibiotics squirming through your belly for a few years yet at least.

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'Micromotors' alter your gut's chemistry to safely deliver medicine - Engadget

McKewon: More players communicating as younger Husker football … – Omaha World-Herald

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Fredricko

LINCOLN No word yet on whether itll win any more games, but the 2017 version of Nebraska is a bigger democracy among teammates than in recent seasons.

Its a lot more free, junior left guard Jerald Foster said. Youre able to get your word in. If you have something thats really going to help out an older guy, just say it. Get it going. Im happy with what were doing right now.

Previously, Foster said, the seniors would talk and everybody else would sit back and listen to what they say.

Since that large senior class left after the Music City Bowl, it changed. Sure, Foster said, the true freshmen dont know the lay of the land. But redshirt freshmen are able to get a word in.

On a team as young and inexperienced as Nebraska, thats logical. Conventional wisdom about team building suggests that this squad might still be finding its way in terms of chemistry, culture and player leaders.

Coach Mike Riley sees just the opposite. The first week of training camp, he said, was seamless. Two practices viewed by reporters revealed much the same. Riley credited the player leaders, many of whom werent leaders in previous years.

Theres no doubt that talent is respected, and that can cloud that real leadership deal sometimes, Riley said. But with this group, I dont have to worry about anybody being misguided in that way. When your good players are doing the right thing and working at the highest level, thats what you have to have.

Riley likes it when he can steer young players toward the veterans and say, Watch how he does it. When the players, Riley said, are the main teachers. Sometimes hell call them magnets.

On Saturday, Riley pointed to inside linebackers Chris Weber and Dedrick Young as examples. Weber is a sit-in-the-front-of-the-class walk-on. Young is a shy interview who may be more chatty with his teammates, but is far from a screamer.

Theres guys who are dynamic about lets go, but theyre not overly dramatic, Riley said. Theyre just great example guys. Those two inside linebackers, you just dont have to worry about those guys. The football phase, the school phase, life. To me, thats tremendous leadership. They do everything theyre supposed to do.

Its hard not to contrast that with a 2016 captain who was suspended for the first and last games of the season because of academic issues. Or the 2015 captain who went on a Twitter rant after the loss to Miami, suggesting fans would kiss my feet. A few weeks later, he blew sarcastic kisses to fans after a loss to Illinois. He got to remain captain.

Nate Gerry and Alex Lewis are going to play in the NFL a long time, Id bet. It wouldnt surprise me if both make Pro Bowls one day.

But this Husker squad less experienced than either of those teams and facing what I think is a harder schedule needs as much smooth, seamless practice as it can get, especially as camp drags into that fourth week, when guys start school but are 12 days away from a game.

Coaches, players and training staff were prescient in understanding this team would need great chemistry. So it set up those offseason conditioning groups, with 11 captains, to help. And it appears to have worked. It probably benefited quarterback Tanner Lee the most; installed as a group leader months ago, Lee built up cachet with his teammates.

Hes a workaholic, receiver DeMornay Pierson-El said of Lee.

Pierson-Els on-field story is interesting, perhaps more so than any current Huskers. As a freshman, he was a big part of that final Bo Pelini team. The edge that Pierson-El plays with easily fit into the old Bo-to-the-troops leadership paradigm.

Like all players under Riley, Pierson-El has more personal freedom to figure out where he fits in, and coupled with two injuries and a slow road back to full health, he seemed a little restless. At times last season he seemed, to this reporters eyes, to press a little. Like Jamal Turner used to, and not just trust that he was as good of an athlete as he was.

You sensed a big jump in the spring. Pierson-El had that extra gear back and he shifted into it often. His routes were cleaner and more exact; he seemed more confident Lee was delivering the ball where Pierson-Els route was actually headed. Nebraska needs Pierson-El at the top of his game; this is not a deep receiving corps.

Though Pierson-El said hes never been shy to speak up if something needed to be said, his answer about how he views his senior season is a portal into what might happen. Getting back to the basics and just having fun, for real, for real, Pierson-El said. Enjoy myself, let things come to me, have a blast and enjoy the team, friends. Just have fun.

Young guys speaking up. Seniors trying to find a good groove.

Its a different culture inside Nebraska football.

Five stats

Three: Years since Nebraska has been ranked in the preseason Top 25, in either the coaches or Associated Press poll. NU received votes in the coaches poll in 2017, but fell short of the Top 25. I dont expect the AP to be any kinder. In 2014, NU was No. 22 in both polls to start the season. In 2013, the Huskers were 18th in both, and 17th (AP) and 16th (coaches) in 2012.

Five: Ohio State Buckeyes projected in the first round of NFL analyst Matt Millers 2018 mock draft. Miller, who writes for Bleacher Report, has long been one of the scouts I follow. Four of the five Buckeyes play defense, and two (end Sam Hubbard and tackle DreMont Jones) play on the defensive line. There may never be a better defense than 2011 Alabama which gave up 8.2 points and 184 yards per game but this OSU unit could make a run at 10 points and 250 yards, if it finds a way to slow down Oklahoma.

6.26: Average number of Nebraska penalties per game since joining the Big Ten. Over that same time, Wisconsin has averaged 4.42 penalties per game. Iowa averaged 4.52 penalties per game. Fewer penalties doesnt always mean better teams, but its interesting to compare the three teams.

Minus-10: Nebraskas penalty margin in its last six games against Wisconsin and Iowa. NU has committed 39 penalties in those six games while Wisconsin (13) and Iowa (16) have committed a combined 29 penalties in those games.

Minus-105: Nebraskas penalty yardage margin in those six games. Divided over six games, thats 17.5 yards, or roughly two first downs. NU is 1-5 in those games.

Opponent watch

You may remember last week when I wrote about Penn State embracing a quick-tempo spread offense and riding that to a Big Ten title. Under P.J. Fleck, Minnesota is going to run a similar style of offense, and its practices are being run at a furious tempo to accommodate it.

We get in 90 plays a day within an hour and 20 minutes, Gopher Carter Coughlin told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. That tempo is honestly faster than a game tempo, so its preparing us for a game. Its going to slow things down for us in a game.

Said Fleck: We condition during practice and put them in a lot of very tough positions in practice. We put them in situations that youd like to say will be harder here than in a game.

Flecks a lot of PR flash and catchphrases, but this thing how his offense runs is what will determine his success in Minnesota. Pay attention to that. Flecks betting on not needing four- and five-star recruits to win. Hes betting on his leadership style and this system. Im curious to see if it works.

According to the Daily Chronicle, Northern Illinois opened its camp at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. The Huskies have a three-man quarterback race, and one player is Chad Beebe, whose last name might ring a bell: His dad, Don Beebe, played in the NFL for the Bills and at Chadron State.

Forecast

After a week of all smiles, Im guessing the training camp grind starts to settle in.

As a freshman, Husker wide receiver De'Mornay Pierson-El had 1,090 all-purpose yards, including 596 on 34 punt returns, 147 on on 10 kickoff returns, 321 on 23 receptions, 16 on one completion and 10 on five rushing attempts. Do you think he'll break that total this y
ear?

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Husker football coach Mike Riley greets players.

Husker linebacker Willie Hampton stretches.

Husker wide receiver Jaevon McQuitty stretches.

Husker defensive back Dicaprio Bootle runs through drills.

Husker Mikale Wilbon walks onto the practice field.

Husker wide receiver Stanley Morgan, left, and defensive back Dicaprio Bootle greet each other.

Husker kicker Drew Brown practices his field goals.

Husker wide receiver Conor Young runs through drills.

Husker linebacker Mohamed Barry stretches.

Husker defensive lineman Peyton Newell walks onto the outdoor field.

Husker Zack Darlington holds for kicker Drew Brown.

Husker quarterback Tanner Lee warms up before the start of practice.

Husker running back Mikale Wilbon warms up before practice.

Husker Caleb Lightbourn punts a ball during practice.

Husker defensive line coach John Parrella talks with his players during practice.

Husker offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh works with his players during practice.

Husker offensive lineman Nick Gates arrives for practice.

Husker defensive linemen Mick Stoltenberg, left, and Matt Jarzynka walk onto the field.

Husker wide receiver De'Mornay Pierson-El.

Banners commemorating Nebraska's five national championships hang in the Hawks Championship Center.

Husker football coach Mike Riley greets players.

Husker linebacker Willie Hampton stretches.

Husker wide receiver Jaevon McQuitty stretches.

Husker defensive back Dicaprio Bootle runs through drills.

Husker Mikale Wilbon walks onto the practice field.

Husker wide receiver Stanley Morgan, left, and defensive back Dicaprio Bootle greet each other.

Husker kicker Drew Brown practices his field goals.

Husker wide receiver Conor Young runs through drills.

Husker linebacker Mohamed Barry stretches.

Husker defensive lineman Peyton Newell walks onto the outdoor field.

Husker Zack Darlington holds for kicker Drew Brown.

Husker quarterback Tanner Lee warms up before the start of practice.

Husker running back Mikale Wilbon warms up before practice.

Husker Caleb Lightbourn punts a ball during practice.

Husker defensive line coach John Parrella talks with his players during practice.

Husker offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh works with his players during practice.

Husker offensive lineman Nick Gates arrives for practice.

Husker defensive linemen Mick Stoltenberg, left, and Matt Jarzynka walk onto the field.

Husker wide receiver De'Mornay Pierson-El.

Banners commemorating Nebraska's five national championships hang in the Hawks Championship Center.

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McKewon: More players communicating as younger Husker football ... - Omaha World-Herald

SSRN Launches ChemRN – A New Network Dedicated to Chemistry – Markets Insider

Posted on August 7, 2017 by ev1

ROCHESTER, New York, August 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Elsevier, the information analytics business specializing in science and health, announces SSRN, its world leading working paper repository and preprint server, today launches the Chemistry Research Network - ChemRN.

The launch of ChemRN follows hot on the heels of the BioRN launch in June 2017, SSRN's new network dedicated to biology and its first outside the social sciences. BioRN already has nearly 5,000 papers live from approximately 6,500 authors.

Gregg Gordon, Managing Director of SSRN, said: "The launch of ChemRN is part of our strategy to extend the expertise and knowledge we have in building community driven networks to benefit even more people in the research community. It's been a little over a month since we launched BioRN, our network dedicated to biology research. It has been a huge success and we look forward to ChemRN being just as a popular."

Chemistry researchers can share ideas and other early stage research, including posting preprints and working papers on ChemRN. Users can quickly upload and read papers for free, across all of Chemistry, including the fields of Energy, Environmental and Materials Sciences.Join Gregg's live webcast on August 17.

Chemistry researchers can post preprints and working papers on ChemRN, share ideas and other early stage research, and collaborate. It allows users to quickly upload and read abstracts and full text papers, free of charge.

A preprint is the author's own write-up of research results and analysis that has not been peer-reviewed, nor had any value added to it by a publisher (such as formatting, copy-editing, technical enhancements). A preprint server, or working paper repository as they are also known, allows users to share these documents.

SSRN has been serving the research community since 1994 and was acquired by Elsevier in May 2016. Since joining Elsevier, SSRN has completely redesigned its website making it cleaner and easier to use. It has also launched full-text search. SSRN is now working towards deeper integration with Elsevier's other research products, particularly Mendeley's reference management software and Pure's research management system.

Chemistry Means Business – Royal Society of Chemistry

Posted on June 16, 2017 by ev1

Solving challenges together

The emphasis on the second day was on bringing together expertise from a wide variety of companies, from start-ups to multinationals, to work together on some of the challenges facing chemists working in industry.

Future proofing your business, and cross-sector collaborations were key themes of the event, and these were addressed in a number of talks and panel discussions.

Ian Shott, from the Chemistry Growth Partnership, kicked off day two with a talk about his companys industrial strategy he highlighted the need to work across all sectors to build a strong UK chemistry industry.

He was followed by a panel discussion looking at where chemistry is going in the next 20 years, further highlighting the need for cross-sector and interdisciplinary collaborations. Attendees were then able to get a flavour of what this could be like by exploring industrial challenges spanning across food and drink, health, energy and environment, materials and enabling technologies.

Chemistry Means Business Project Manager Nazma Rahman was pleased with the enthusiasm and engagement of the delegates "The atmosphere was one of people really engaging with each other and making connections", she said. "There was a great energy and buzz throughout the two days."

Plans are underway for Chemistry Means Business 2018. Watch this space!

The Emerging Technologies Competition was judged by industry experts. Picture: Royal Society of Chemistry

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Chemistry Means Business - Royal Society of Chemistry

This girl watched her London apartment burn, then took her chemistry exam – Washington Post

Posted on June 16, 2017 by ev1

Ines Alves had just seconds to figure out what to take with her.

A few minutes earlier, her parents arrived home from dinner with friends to find Grenfell Tower on fire. Alves's father rushed up to their 13th-floor apartment, first by elevator, and then, when the smoke thickened, by stair.

The building was on fire, he told his two children, when he rushed through the door. They had to go. Now.

SoAlves, 16, threw on jeans and a T-shirt, then grabbed her phone and rushed down the fire escape.

She grabbed one other thing too her chemistry notes.

Once outside, the family watched the fire spread. I never thought it would escalate to the whole building, Alvestold the Guardian.

Even as this crisis unfolded, though, she modeled that most British of behaviors: She kept calm and carried on.I had my revision notes, so I was like, 'I may as well just sit down and read through my notes,' she told the Guardian. Later, she told theDaily Mirror that I want to do A-level chemistry and I need an A in science, so I was thinking of my future when I decided to sit the exam.

Not all of her neighbors were so lucky. According to police, at least 30 people perished in the fire. And that number may rise to 100, authorities warn. The cause of the fire that's captured the world's attention is unknown. But a slew of factors like a lack of working fire alarms and sprinklers, and cheap, flammable cladding on the building's exterior helped it spread quickly and account for the high death toll.

One issue seems to have been the poorly considered fire escape plan. According to Alves's brother, Tiago, firefighters told their mother thather family and others should remain inside their apartments. But because my mum had my dads phone, she didnt have any way to tell us, Tiago told the Guardian. It's a coincidence that probably saved their lives.

Finally, in the middle of the night, Alves left the scene to get a bit of sleep. At 8 a.m., just hours after she watched flames consume her family's home, she sat for her final exam in chemistry at Sacred Heart.

She decided to take the test, even though her school told her she didn't have to.Her brother told theIndependent thatwe had told her she didn't have to sit the exam because of the extenuating circumstances, but she had studied so hard for it she was determined she was going to take it.Her school had even contacted the exam board and told her she didn't have to come in.

She told the newspaper that she was devastated by the fire, but there was nothing else she could to.Everything was already burned, so there was really nothing to worry about, she said. It was at the back of my mind, but I managed to do the exam. There were a few questions where I didnt know the answer, so I thought about the fire, but I managed to complete the test.

Her school has offered Alves and her familyfood, clothing, travel expenses and dispensation from her other exams. She said that her family has been visiting others affected by the fire with donations of food, clothing and other gifts.

We're just trying to help other people as much as we can, Tiago told the Independent. The future is still uncertain and we will look to the future when it arrives.

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This girl watched her London apartment burn, then took her chemistry exam - Washington Post

The return of chemical weapons? – Chemistry World (subscription)

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Danzig

Civilians in Syria were exposed to the nerve agent sarin in April, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed at the end of June. This was the second documented use of sarin in Syria, and follows cases of chlorine and mustard gas being used as weapons. So can the world expect to see more chemical warfare?

There is a lot of concern within the OPCW, says Alastair Hay, professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, UK. If the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) cant be upheld, and perpetrators held accountable, then that is a problem.

Syria crossed President Obamas red line in 2013 when it used chemical weapons in Ghouta, and, although the threatened US retaliation did not happen, the result was that Syria reluctantly joined the CWC. Hay doesnt think that Syria will use chemical weapons again, because it will be wary of triggering further US missile attacks following those ordered by President Trump in response to the April attack. The gains are marginal, while the outcry is huge, he says.

If the Chemical Weapons Convention cant be upheld, and perpetrators held accountable, that is a problem

Alastair Hay, University of Leeds

Tim Eaton, research fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, agrees that Trumps military response will make Syria hesitate before using chemical weapons again. Now Trump has threatened heavy retaliation if they use sarin again. This is the first time that the Assad regime has been punished materially for human rights abuses in this conflict.

However, security consultant Dan Kaszeta believes Syria will use chemical weapons again, eventually. Trump is a roulette wheel, the least predictable leader on the world stage at the moment, and so he has no deterrent value.

Weapons expert Richard Guthrie also worries that there are significant implications if no one is held to account for the use of sarin in Syria. As it stands today, one lesson of Syria that could be drawn by other dictatorships is that a chemical weapons programme may buy you time within a civil war. If fear of being deposed, or getting caught and brought to trial, are the major disincentives to using chemical weapons, then the Syria case has illustrated neither of them.

Another security threat, says Eaton, is the potential of non-state actors, such as terrorist organisations, to obtain chemical weapons technology, particularly in ungoverned or contested areas. This is seen as a greater threat than a state using chemical weapons.

Hay agrees that there are indications that some terrorist organisations are considering using chemical weapons, but so far there is only one instance verified by the OPCW which was ISIS using mustard gas.

While the threat of countries using chemical weapons has diminished, chemical terrorism is no longer a theoretical proposition or even imminent threat, but a stark reality, says OPCW Director General Ahmet zmc. The OPCW describes various scenarios for chemical terrorism including non-state actors acquiring chemical weapons through the black market, illicit trade or theft; acquiring or producing chemical agents then deploying them with improvised devices; finding ways to disperse industrial chemicals, or contaminating the food chain, for example with ricin.

chemical terrorism is no longer a theoretical proposition or even imminent threat, but a stark reality

Ahmet zmc, OPCW Director General

The organisation notes terrorists still need to overcome the challenges of producing chemical agents, which involves having the right expertise, equipment and facilities, and sufficient funds. The least scientifically demanding scenario involves the use of industrial toxic chemicals, such as chlorine, which is widely available on the commercial market in large quantities and is relatively easy to disperse.

Hay agrees that, in terms of making new weapons, such as nerve agents, there are several barriers. Turning them into weapons requires expertise that is not widely available outside the military. While chlorine is easier to obtain, non-state actors are limited by their lack of aircraft or weaponry with which to deliver it as a weapon. Whats more, it would be hard for them to get hold of sufficient quantities to have an effect. The OPCW has destroyed almost 95% of global stockpiles, and is working with the chemical industry to secure and police their stocks. Hay believes access to major stocks is now reasonably well controlled.

For Kaszeta, the main reasons that both states and non-state actors are unlikely to use chemical weapons in future are because they are impractical, unaffordable and ineffective. To make one ton of nerve agent you need 9-10t of precursors which OPCW control and then youre left with 8t of toxic waste. You need a testing and evaluation programme, and military-trained personnel Chemical weapons are obsolete for a reason. The message should be: they just arent worth the bother.

But Guthrie is not so positive. He highlights four key risks and threats around future chemical weapon use: governments outside of the CWC possessing weapons (Egypt, Israel, North Korea and South Sudan are all non-signatories); national controls on relevant materials and technologies varying between countries; lack of capacity to attribute attacks to the perpetrators; and a complacency that international conventions will deal with problems.

But perhaps the greatest political challenge, he says, is maintaining political focus. [Syrias sarin attacks] brought a huge amount of political attention, but most of this has faded now.

The challenge of preventing the use of [chemical weapons] will go on for longer than the lifetime of individual governments.

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The return of chemical weapons? - Chemistry World (subscription)

Chemistry Makes Rough Night Surprisingly Smooth – Vegas Seven

Posted on June 16, 2017 by ev1

moviesFriday, June 16 2:58pmBy Amber Sampson

(L to R) Blair (Zo Kravitz), Alice (Jillian Bell), Jess (Scarlett Johansson), Frankie (Illana Grazer) and Pippa (Kate McKinnon). Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Theres no denying Rough Night draws inspiration from a number of successful comediesVery Bad Things, Bridesmaids and The Hangover among them. But its the chemistry among the films cast that generates something special and downright hilarious.

The story follows five friends on a bachelorette weekend for the prim and proper Jess (Scarlett Johansson), whos traded her party days for politics and the incredibly sensitive Peter (film co-writer Paul W. Downs). Joined by the lethally horny Alice (Jillian Bell), well-off Blair (Zo Kravitz), fuck the man Frankie (Ilana Glazer) and Australian sensation Pippa (Kate McKinnon), Jess and crew do what anyone in Miami would do: Snort a bunch of cocaine, perform synchronized dances to My Neck, My Back and accidentally kill a stripper.

Shenanigans, of course, ensue when they try to hide said strippers body. Farce is expected, but Rough Night takes much of what audiences have seen in similar comedies and flips it on its head (youll never hear pizza or see wax strips the same way again).

Broad Citys Lucia Aniellos writing brings just the right amount of femininity and relatability to each scene with sharp, punchy and well-timed dialogue. Chemistry is evident between these women and their camaraderie is believablenot a glance nor a wink is mistimed or misrepresented. And thats even before Demi Moore and Modern Familys Ty Burrell show up as the very open couple Pietro and Lea.

Even with such star power, McKinnon swoops in to steal the spotlight with her rib-shakingly funny Australian accent, rivaled only by Bells shameless fixation with stripper peen. Johanssons performance is another pleasant surprise, her deadpan delivery just right. And if were talking package deals, Glazer and Kravitz make the ultimate one. The actresses communicate so naturally, youd think they spent years bickering as much as their characters do in the movie.

Overall, Rough Night might not break any new ground, but it does expand well on whats already been done.

Chemistry Makes Rough Night Surprisingly Smooth

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Chemistry Makes Rough Night Surprisingly Smooth - Vegas Seven

MSU soil scientist honored with prestigious Jackson Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy Award – MSUToday

Posted on June 16, 2017 by Danzig

MSUToday

MSU soil scientist honored with prestigious Jackson Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy Award
MSUToday
Hui Li, an associate professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences is the recipient of the 2017 Jackson Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy Award. The honor, presented by the Soil Science Society of America, is given to a midcareer ...

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MSU soil scientist honored with prestigious Jackson Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy Award - MSUToday

Coronavirus: Made in Hong Kong face masks a joint effort by ‘chemistry godfather’ and social enterprise – Hong Kong Free Press

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Danzig

A reusable face mask initiativeattempts to address a pressing local problem by offering a global solution: The design should be universal so Im not charging for the patent. Everyone can download the template and tailor their own masks, said Dr Kenneth Kwong, the mastermind behind the HK MASK project an efforttotackle Hong Kongs shortage of surgical masks amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Thanks to filters manufactured by a local company and a textile workshop organised by a local social enterprise, the reusable masks were launched on February 21 and an open day for the media to view the production line was held the Sunday before.

K Kwong holding metal wire and fabric used in making the face masks. Photo: Rachel Wong/HKFP.

Kwong, widely known as K Kwong,holds a PhD in chemistry: Some people online question whether Im qualified to pull off thisproject. I am no face mask expert but I know a lot of the experts, he said.

Having been a celebrity tutor for more than 30 years and a former lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kwong estimated that he has taught around 100,000 students: I maintain good relationships with a lot of [former students] who hold important positions in various industries, he said, adding that the project was a collaborative effort made possible bycrowdsourcing talent.

Each mask consists of cloth pieces manufactured by social enterprise Sew On Studio. The material is then sewn together to create a hollow pocket, filled withreplaceable filters made by local company FOCUS Filtration and Engineering Limited.

Kwong said he does not mind if other factories mass-produced his design: No one should monopolise healthcare businesses I got requests for printing Hongkongers, keep it up!. Everyone can customise their masks so long as they fit on faces with a good seal, he said.

Volunteer cutting fabrics under the face mask design template. Photo: Rachel Wong/HKFP.

Most cloth face masks dont work. It is true that they start off as anti-bacterial fabric, but you need to disinfect the mask after each use, Kwong said.

The outer cloth jacket of the HK MASK can be sterilised at high temperatures by boiling or microwaving the material at home, although the filter needs to be replaced, Kwong added. Each bundle sold contains one cloth mask with20 to 50 filters, costing HK$1-2 per use, which may be lowered depending on future circumstances.

Elastic straps used in the face masks. Photo: Rachel Wong.

There are many reusable face masks with replaceable filters on the market but I doubt their effectiveness, Kwong said. During the design stage, he and his team prioritised having themask fit tight around users faces to ensure all air breathed would pass through the filter: You need to weigh up every fine detail when assessing its effectiveness, he said.

Elastic straps age the quickest and need to be replaced after approximately 100 uses: Or else it will loosen up and allow unfiltered air to enter from the sides, Kwong said. We tested a mask using airtight fabric. It felt tight so it meant the design worked and hence safely covered the face.

Volunteer sewing the face masks. Photo: Rachel Wong/HKFP.

Kwong invited English and Japanese simultaneous interpreters and foreign media to his product launch event: I hope to export the idea and attract talent in order to refine our design. This version needs to be perfected and I am open to teaming up with people on ideas, he said.

Social enterprise collaboration

Forty volunteers from Sew On Studio have been working relentlessly for weeks on each stage of production, fromits design to cutting fabrics and sewing them using machines.

[The studio] approached Dr Kwong to collaborate after we saw his Facebook post, founder of Sew On Studio, Winsome Lok, said.

Founded in 2016, the studio mostly serves the elderly: Some of them become reclusive and introverted because they feel embarrassed about their out-of-fashion and ill-fitting clothing. They think of themselves as socially unacceptable and become reluctant to go out. We are dedicated to rebuilding their dignity with better clothing, Lok said.

Founder of Sew On Studio Winsome Lok and K Kwong. Photo: Rachel Wong/HKFP.

Kwong said he enjoyed working with the Studio: Our discussion time added up to no more than one hour. There was no hesitation. We have been [working] with full force, he said.

The original design attached one long piece of string but it was later modified to several shorter sections to prevent misuse, Kwong wrote in a Facebook post describing his collaboration with the Studio, which helped to refine the design by taking its user base into consideration.

Sew On Studio. Photo: Rachel Wong/HKFP.

We have a network of talent made up of old tailor masters, textiles and fashion graduates, and volunteers like housewives good to go for K Kwongs master plan, Lok said.

Mask shortage solution?

Amid the virus outbreak, face mask supplies have dwindled, with long queues forming outside pharmacies as people scramble to buy the in-demand product.The government said in a press release last Monday that it would be counterproductive to control mask distribution and prices through legislation because the problem was about inadequate supply.

Tuen Mun District Councillor Sam Cheung said the city has been struggling with the shortage: Even if I could secure 40,000 face masks, that would only be enough for 20,000 residents to consume in one day, he said at a visit to Kwongs face mask workshop.

Citizens are very anxious about the scarcity of face masks. Even as district councillors, we dont have exclusive access to face masks. We shop like everyone else. I was Dr Kwongs past student and contacted him for further information, hoping that this could be the solution to the shortage of mask supplies.

Tuen Mun District Councillor Sam Cheung and K Kwong. Photo: Rachel Wong/HKFP.

The Tuen Mun District Council approved HK$1 million for purchasing and distributing free face masks but the project has been beset by problems: Our orders oftengot rejected. We have encountered incidents of shipments being stolen. There have been too many uncertainties. We never post about face masks until we have the actual stock in hand. We dont want to give people false hope, Cheung added.

In response to Chief Executive Carrie Lams announcement last Friday of an HK$30 billion fund a portion of which will go to supporting local face mask manufacturers Kwong said in a Facebook post on Friday that he had not received any support from the government yet.

Regardless of whether you are yellow or blue, masks are what save Hong Kong, reads Kwongs Facebook page cover photo. Photo: Facebook.

Kwongs Facebook page cover photo reads: Regardless of whether you are yellow or blue, masks are what save Hong Kong, with the two colours vaguely representing pro-democracy and pro-government political stances.

Ive said this multiple times. Masks for all comes before anything, profit or politics, Kwong said.

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Coronavirus: Made in Hong Kong face masks a joint effort by 'chemistry godfather' and social enterprise - Hong Kong Free Press

Phil Janowicz, a chemistry professor-turned-candidate who says he … – Los Angeles Times

Posted on June 16, 2017 by Fredricko

June 15, 2017, 6:00 a.m.

Phil Janowicz might have been your favorite chemistry teacher in college. His youthful enthusiasm, sense of humor and willingness to chat are all as clear as the safety glasses on his nose.

But this former Cal State Fullerton chemistry professor is now looking to form a different kind of bond with the Orange County voters he hopes to represent in Washington, D.C.

The 33-year-old Janowicz is going after a big target: Republican Congressman Ed Royce of Fullerton, who was first elected to represent Californias 39th District in 1992 and is chairmanof the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Janowicz, a Democrat, announced his candidacy in April at an amphitheater in the heart the universitys campus. His chemistry background (and love of puns) are evident in his campaign slogan: Solutions for Congress.

It was something hehad been mulling for a long time, and the turning point came on Nov. 8, 2016. Janowicz and his wife were watching the election returns together. Angela Janowicz, an English teacher, was wearing her Nasty woman T-shirt, and the two were geared up for a Hillary Clinton victory.

But as it became clear that Donald Trump had won, Angela turned to Phil and told him he should go for it.

Be the change you want to see in the world, she said. Itll be our next adventure.

To ready himself for a run, Janowicz reluctantly left his tenured teaching position at Cal State Fullerton. Jumping in head firstwas the only proper way to take on a challenge like this, he said.

There were so many things I wanted to do to help in this community, he said. Teaching chemistry only went so far.

But Janowicz said he wouldcontinue to think like a scientist a habit that will protect him from succumbing to ideological rigidity.

My mind can be changed by data, he said. Science will work, whether we believe in it or not.

Minutes after he declared his candidacy, the National Republican Congressional Committee issued a statement that mocked his academic background: Liberal professor Janowicz may hypothesize he has a snowballs chance challenging Royce, but in the real world, hell find Royces support runs deep and wide in Orange County.

Janowicz, who studied cognitive psychology at MIT before earning a doctoratein chemistry at University of Illinois, was quick to pick up on the Republican committee'scode for elitist. He had his comeback ready.

Theres nothing wrong with being a professor, Janowicz said. Its teaching the next generation how to be good, functioning members of society and get good jobs to support their families.

By early June, Janowicz had hired a campaign manager, a communications consultant, a fundraising specialist and a firm to keep his electoral paperwork in order.

Janowicz has been critical of Royces positions on healthcare, education and the environment. He says at least 1 in 5students in the Cal State system struggles with food or shelter insecurity, and many are afraid their parents could be apprehended by immigration officials if they show up for graduation.

Im so inspired that theyre working so hard, he said. We need a system that works as hard for them.

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Phil Janowicz, a chemistry professor-turned-candidate who says he ... - Los Angeles Times

MEL Science Launches Virtual Reality Chemistry Lessons – T.H.E. Journal

Posted on June 16, 2017 by ev1

STEM and VR

MEL Science, based in London, has launched a series of virtual reality (VR) chemistry lessons for K12. The 3-year-old company this week released a MEL Chemistry VR app, featuring a virtual chemistry lab, for free on Google Daydream. This free version, which contains the first six chemistry lessons, is available at this MEL Science site.

According to MEL Science, chemistry is filled with abstract concepts that may prove difficult for young students to understand. The best method for kids to learn is through hands-on interaction, so MEL Science developed these VR chemistry lessons to enliven molecular-level science and illustrate it on an immersive, enlarged level.

The lessons follow K12 curricular guidelines, and are designed to be used in the classroom or at home. A special version for educators will be released soon, the company said.

In these first six lessons, students should be able to see what its like to dive into a pencil (graphite) or a diamond and discover what these objects look like on an atomic level.

Students should be able to learn about basic chemistry principles in an interactive, friendly way, including topics such as:

Students will also get the opportunity to build an atom of any known element with their hands and/or a guiding tool. Anything that appears on the modern periodic table should be available to build, said Vassili Philippov, CEO of MEL Science.

MEL Science aims to release more than 150 lessons covering all the main topics included in K12 schools chemistry curriculum. Later this year, MEL Science also aims to add support for other VR platforms, including Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR.

MEL Science is known for its subscription service, offering educational science sets through the mail. Through this service, parent subscribers get two new chemistry sets every month, allowing them to perform engaging educational experiments at home with their children.

Wed like to change science education, Philippov said in an interview. Virtual reality is the perfect language for science, because you can see what is happening on the micro level. You cant see molecules. But with virtual reality, you can be inside a chemical reaction. You can memorize facts and forget later, or I can put you inside a chemical reaction. Then youll really understand what is happening there. So fundamentally, its a better way to teach science.

Philippov continued, If you understand how to motivate kids, youll really teach them. In science, there is one trick hands-on experience. They have to see it with their eyes. Then theyll really fall in love, and youll inspire their natural curiosities. If you combine those two together engagement and using VR theyll understand what is happening on a fundamental level. Thats the way to teach science.

To witness the MEL Chemistry VR app in action, view the video below:

More information on MEL Chemistry VR can be found at the companys site.

About the Author

Richard Chang is associate editor of THE Journal. He can be reached at rchang@1105media.com.

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MEL Science Launches Virtual Reality Chemistry Lessons - T.H.E. Journal

Chemists unveil the structure of an influenza B protein – MIT News

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Danzig

A team of MIT chemists has discovered the structure of a key influenza protein, a finding that could help researchers design drugs that block the protein and prevent the virus from spreading.

The protein, known as BM2, is a proton channel that controls acidity within the virus, helping it to release its genetic material inside infected cells.

If you can block this proton channel, you have a way to inhibit influenza infection, says Mei Hong, an MIT professor of chemistry and senior author of the study. Having the atomic-resolution structure for this protein is exactly what medicinal chemists and pharmaceutical scientists need to start designing small molecules that can block it.

MIT graduate student Venkata Mandala is the lead author of the paper, which appears today in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. Other authors include graduate students Alexander Loftis and Alexander Shcherbakov and associate professor of chemistry Bradley Pentelute.

Atomic-scale resolution

There are three classes of influenza virus A, B, and C and each of them produces a different version of the M2 protein. M2 is an ion channel that carries protons through the viruss outer membrane, known as the lipid envelope. These protons usually flow into the virus, making the interior more acidic. This acidity helps the virus to merge its lipid envelope with the membrane of a cellular compartment called an endosome, allowing it to release its DNA into the infected cell.

Until now, most structural studies of the M2 protein have focused on the version of M2 found in influenza A, which is usually the most common form, especially earlier in the flu season. In this study, the researchers focused on the version of M2 found in influenza B viruses, which usually dominate in March and April. However, in contrast to previous patterns of seasonal flu infections, this winter, influenza B has been unusually dominant, accounting for 67 percent of all flu cases reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control since last September.

The A and B versions of M2 vary significantly in their amino acid sequences, so Hong and her colleagues set out to study what structural differences these proteins might have, and how those differences influence their functions. One key difference is that the BM2 channel can allow protons to flow in either direction, whereas the AM2 channel only allows protons to flow into the viral envelope.

To investigate the structure of BM2, the researchers embedded it into a lipid bilayer, similar to a cell membrane, and then used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to analyze the structure with atomic-scale resolution. Very few ion channels have been studied at such high resolution because of the difficulty of studying proteins embedded within membranes. However, Hong has previously developed several NMR techniques that allow her to obtain accurate structural information from membrane-embedded proteins, including their orientation and the distances between atoms of the protein.

This model depicts an M2 protein channel embedded in the viral envelope of an influenza B virus.Credit: Venkata Shiva Mandala

The M2 channel is made of four helices that run parallel to each other through the membrane, and Hong found that the alignment of these helices changes slightly depending on the pH of the environment outside the viral envelope. When the pH is high, the helices are tilted by about 14 degrees, and the channel is closed. When the pH goes down, the helices increase their tilt to about 20 degrees, opening up like a pair of scissors. This scissoring motion creates more space between the helices and allows more water to get into the channel.

MIT chemists created this model of how the four helical proteins that make up the BM2 channel tilt when the channel is open. Credit: Venkata Shiva Mandala

Previous studies have found that as water flows into the M2 channel, the amino acid histidine grabs protons from the water in the top half of the channel and passes them to water molecules in the lower half of the channel, which then deliver the excess protons into the virion.

Unlike the AM2 channel, the BM2 channel has an extra histidine at the virion-facing end of the channel, which the MIT team believes to explain why protons can flow in either direction through the channel. More study is needed to determine what kind of advantage this may provide for influenza B viruses, the researchers say.

Blocking the channel

Now that chemists know the structure of both the open and closed states of the BM2 channel at atomic resolution, they can try to come up with ways to block it. There is precedent for this type of drug development: Amantadine and rimantadine, both used to treat influenza A, work by wedging themselves into the AM2 channel pore and cutting off the flow of protons. However, these drugs do not affect the BM2 channel.

Hongs research group is now investigating another one of BM2s functions, which is generating curvature in lipid membranes in order to allow progeny viruses to be released from cells. Preliminary studies suggest that a portion of the protein that sticks out from the membrane forms a structure called a beta sheet that plays a role in inducing the membrane to curve inward.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

See more here:
Chemists unveil the structure of an influenza B protein - MIT News

The chemistry of Disha Patani and Varun Dhawan in these images is adorable – Up News Info

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Danzig

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Cool couples in Bollywood always attract attention. Be it a movie or a brand filming, every time two beloved stars come together for the first time, a lot of buzz is generated among their fans. The last to join this group are Disha Patani and Varun Dhawan, who collaborated for the first time today for a brand. The two joined in California to film a special announcement. Disha turned to social networks to publish several stories with Varun and the result was nothing but surprising.

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The chemistry of Disha Patani and Varun Dhawan in these images is adorable - Up News Info

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