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EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Embargoed press releases are available on Newswise (www.newswise.com/articles/list?category=institution&search[institution]=7) and EurekAlert! (www.eurekalert.org/acsmeet.php).
**8 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 11:15 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Explaining why so many cases of cardiac arrest strike in the morning
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — Evidence from people with heart disease strongly supports the existence of the molecular link first discovered in laboratory mice between the body’s natural circadian rhythms and cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death (SCD) — the No. 1 cause of death in heart attacks, a scientist said here today.
The research, which offers the most focused explanation ever for SCD’s predilection for the morning hours, was presented today. Mukesh Jain, M.D., who reported on the research, said that it pinpoints a previously unrecognized factor in the electrical storm that makes the heart’s main pumping chambers suddenly begin to beat erratically in a way that stops the flow of blood to the brain and body.
In the press conference: Mukesh Jain, M.D., Case Western Reserve University
**9 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 12:15 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this presentation took place at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Nobel laureates and their research teams at American Chemical Society meeting
Newswise — INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — New discoveries from the labs of several Nobel laureates will be presented here this week. Research from the laureates’ teams will be among almost 7,000 presentations during the event. They are Ei-ichi Negishi, Ph.D.; Richard Schrock, Ph.D.; George A. Olah, Ph.D.; and Roald Hoffmann, Ph.D.
Negishi, the Herbert C. Brown Distinguished Professor of Organic Chemistry at Purdue University, shared the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis.” This helped develop techniques to synthesize complex carbon molecules that have had an enormous impact on the manufacture of medicines and other products.
In the press conference: Ei-ichi Negishi, Ph.D., Purdue University
**9:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 4 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Purple sweet potatoes among ‘new naturals’ for food and beverage colors
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — Mention purple sweet potatoes, or black or purple carrots, and people think of dining on heirloom or boutique veggies. But those plants and others have quietly become sources of a new generation of natural food colorings that are replacing traditional synthetic colors and colors derived from beetles. That back-to-the-future trend is on the agenda here today. Speakers described how natural colors used centuries ago are making a resurgence in response to consumer preferences, manufacturers’ needs and the promise that these antioxidant-rich substances may have health benefits.
In the press conference: Stephen T. Talcott, Ph.D., Texas A&M University
**10 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 3 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Toward understanding the health effects of waterpipe or ‘hookah’ smoking
lNDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — With water pipes or hookahs gaining popularity in the United States and other countries, scientists today described a step toward establishing the health risks of what has been termed “the first new tobacco trend of the 21st century.”
In a study that they said provides no support for the popular notion that hookahs are safer than cigarettes, they reported here today that hookah tobacco and smoke contain lower levels of four toxic metals than cigarette tobacco and smoke.
In the press conference: Joseph Caruso, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati Ryan Saadawi, University of Cincinnati
**10:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 3:30 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
New weapons on the way to battle wicked weeds
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — A somber picture of the struggle against super-weeds emerged here today as scientists described the relentless spread of herbicide-resistant menaces like pigweed and horseweed that shrug off powerful herbicides and have forced farmers in some areas to return to the hand-held hoes that were a mainstay of weed control a century ago.
The reports on herbicide resistance and its challenges, and how modern agriculture is coping, were part of a symposium on the topic.
In the press conference: Bryan Young, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University Les Glasgow, Ph.D., Syngenta Thomas Mueller, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Bob Scott, Ph.D., University of Arkansas
11 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 9:15 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Better tests for liver toxicity would mean more medicines — and safer medicines — for patients
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — How many breakthrough new drugs never reach patients because tests in clinical trials suggested a high risk of liver damage when the drug actually was quite safe? That question underpins major international research efforts to modernize tests for drug-induced liver injury, mentioned here today.
Paul B. Watkins, M.D., who made the presentation, explained that drug-induced liver damage is a rare drug side effect, but so serious — the No. 1 cause of sudden liver failure — that it has a disproportionate impact on a drug’s fate. Liver toxicity is also the No. 1 safety concern causing pharmaceutical companies to halt development of new medicines — sometimes after spending hundreds of millions of dollars on clinical trials to establish the drug’s safety and effectiveness. Likewise, it is the leading reason why drugs already on the market must be restricted or banned.
In the press conference: Paul B. Watkins, M.D., The Hamner-UNC Institute for Drug Safety Sciences
**11:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 4:30 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
A new approach to early diagnosis of influenza
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — A new technology is showing promise as the basis for a much-needed home test to diagnose influenza quickly, before the window for taking antiviral drugs slams shut and sick people spread the virus to others, scientists reported here today. In a presentation, they described how it also could determine the specific strain of flu virus and help select the most effective drug for treatment.
In the press conference: Suri S. Iyer, Ph.D., Georgia State University
Noon Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 10:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Reducing human exposure to soil contaminants from urban agriculture
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — With a boom underway in urban agriculture — growing, processing and marketing foods raised in fields inside heavily populated areas — scientists are reporting results of research on ways of reducing levels of lead, arsenic and other undesirable substances in the soil. It involved urban garden sites in Indianapolis, Kansas City, Mo. and Tacoma, Wash.
In the press conference: Ganga Hettiarachchi, Ph.D., Kansas State University
**12:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 2 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Toward pills that recruit the body’s antibodies to fight disease
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — Natural disease-fighting proteins called antibodies have been used for years to treat diseases ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to cancer. But they must be given intravenously, are very expensive and have other limitations. Scientists are reporting progress in developing drugs that can be given by mouth to have the same effect by recruiting antibodies present in patients’ blood to fight disease.
In this press conference: David A Spiegel, Ph.D., M.D., Yale University Gregory P. Adams, Ph.D., Fox Chase Cancer CenterThomas Kodadek, Ph.D., Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida Paul Roethle, Ph.D., Gilead Sciences Lyn H. Jones, Ph.D., Pfizer (invited)
**1 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 4 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
First uses of new solar energy technology: Killing germs on medical, dental instruments
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — A revolutionary new solar energy technology that turns water into steam without boiling the entire container of water has become the basis for new devices to sanitize medical and dental instruments and human waste in developing countries, scientists said here today. Prototypes of the devices, which need no electricity or fuel, were the topic of one of the keynote addresses at the opening of the meeting.
Naomi Halas, D.Sc., pointed out that almost 2 billion people live in areas of the world without a regular supply of electricity. That electricity is key to using machines called autoclaves, which produce scorching-hot steam to sterilize medical and dental instruments. Without that basic machine, doctors must rely on chemicals, which can be costly and difficult to transport, to prevent the spread of germs and disease from medical and dental instruments.
“We have developed a solution, our solar steam technology,” Halas said. She is with Rice University. “It is completely off-grid, uses sunlight as the energy source, is not that large, kills disease-causing microbes effectively and relatively quickly and is easy to operate. This is an incredibly promising technology.”
In the press conference: Naomi J. Halas, D.Sc., Rice University
**1:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 2:15 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Water-purification plant the size of a fast-food ketchup packet saves lives
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — An ambitious partnership among more than 100 organizations and governments led by Procter & Gamble’s nonprofit program, Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW), has helped provide more than 6 billion quarts of clean drinking water to families in developing countries, saving an estimated 32,000 lives. And they’re just getting started.
In the press conference: Allison Tummon Kamphuis, R.N., M.B.A., Procter & Gamble Company
2 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 6 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
New ‘Heroes of Chemistry’ developed products that improve health and protect food supply
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2012 — Scientists who developed medicines and crop protection products that improve life for millions of people around the world will be inducted into a scientific “Hall of Fame” today, becoming the newest Heroes of Chemistry, an honor bestowed by the ACS, the world’s largest scientific society. Heroes of Chemistry recognizes scientists whose innovative work in chemistry and chemical engineering led to the development of commercial products that benefit humankind.
In the press conference:Chris Hill, Ph.D., Merck George P. Lahm, Ph.D., DuPont Martin Edwards, Ph.D., Pfizer, Inc. Peter Mueller, Ph.D., Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
3 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 9:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Reverse combustion? Turning carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuel back into fuel
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — With almost 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) released each year from burning coal, gasoline, diesel and other fossil fuels in the United States alone, scientists are seeking ways to turn the tables on the No. 1 greenhouse gas and convert that troublesome CO2 back into fuel. Those efforts to unring one of the bells of global warming are the topic of a symposium here today. Converting CO2 into a renewable energy sources would involve capturing the gas from the smokestacks of coal-fired electric power generating stations, for instance, and processing it with catalysts or other technology into fuels and raw materials for plastics and other products.
In the press conference: Chern-Hooi Lim, Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder Aaron M. Appel, Ph.D., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Devendra Pakhare, Louisiana State University (invited) Liang-Nian He, Ph.D., Nankai University (invited)
**4:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 3 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
INDY 500 race cars showcase green fuels
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — Mention cars that get barely 3 miles to a gallon and are built for speed rather than cleanliness, and images of gas-guzzling, pollution-belching environmental menaces burning leaded gasoline or nitro may spring to mind. But experts at a major scientific meeting today described how ethanol blends used as fuel in the race cars of the Indianapolis 500 actually make those emissions cleaner than cars on the street.
They spoke at a symposium entitled “The Chemistry of Racing,” here today. Indresh Mathur, Ph.D., who gave one of the talks, explained that cars on streets and highways in the U.S. run on a mixture of 90 percent unleaded gasoline and 10 percent ethanol. Race cars in the Indianapolis 500 burn mostly fuel-grade ethanol. This year INDY 500 switched to a fuel containing 85 percent ethanol as opposed to 100 percent fuel ethanol. This makes the INDY fuel close to the real-life E-85 fuel sold at some U.S. gas stations.
In the press conference: Indresh Mathur, Ph.D., Haltermann Solutions, a Division of Johann Haltermann, Ltd., a Monument Chemical Company Timothy Ruppel, PerkinElmer, PerkinElmer LAS
Monday, Sept. 9
**8 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 8:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
First-of-its kind solution to the challenge of storing hydrogen fuel
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — Storing hydrogen safely remains a major pitfall in efforts to transition society from oil and coal to clean-burning hydrogen — the much- discussed “hydrogen economy.” Scientists are reporting an advance in overcoming that challenge.
In the press conference: Martin Nielsen, Ph.D., Technical University of Denmark Nathaniel K. Szymczak, Ph.D., University of Michigan Tyler J. Carter, University of MichiganClaudio N. Verani, Ph.D., Wayne State University Dakshika Wanniarachchi, Wayne State University Debashis Basu, Wayne State University Allen Apblett, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University (invited) Tasneem A. Siddiquee, Ph.D, Tennessee State University (invited)
**8:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 2 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Toward new medicines to target cancer cells involved in disease’s spread and drug resistance
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — Accumulating scientific evidence suggests that subsets of cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive and sustain the growth of certain tumors and contribute to drug resistance and the spread, or metastasis, of cancer to distant parts of the body. Scientists will discuss advances toward anti-cancer drugs that target CSCs.
In the press conference:Craig T. Jordan, Ph.D., University of ColoradoQunli Xu, Ph.D., Verastem, Inc.
**9 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 2:30 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
The chemistry behind the character of bourbon, scotch and rye
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — Whiskeys have long captivated the senses of connoisseurs, whether with smokiness and a whiff of vanilla or a spicy character with hints of caramel, and now, the emerging chemistry of “brown spirits” is proving that they have distinct chemical signatures to match the complex combinations of grains, barrels, aging and other factors that yield the liquid gold poured into each bottle.
With sales of boutique bourbons and other small-batch whiskeys booming, the chemical fingerprinting of whiskeys was the topic of a talk here today.
In the press conference: Thomas Collins, Ph.D., University of California-Davis
**9:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 10:45 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
The INDY 500 at over 225 mph: Driver, tires and the chemistry of racing
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — Stephan Gregoire lives the dream of millions of motorsports fans as a racecar driver who breezes along at 225 miles per hour. Hear more about his racing experiences and how his tires can carry him for 200 laps at the Indy 500 — that’s 33 sets of tires per car at a cost of $85,000.
In the press conference:Stephan Gregoire, Miles Ahead
10 a.m. Eastern Time FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENote to journalists: Please report that this presentation took place at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Nobel laureates and their research teams at American Chemical Society meeting
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — New discoveries from the labs of several Nobel laureates will be presented here this week. Research from the laureates’ teams will be among almost 7,000 presentations during the event. They are Ei-ichi Negishi, Ph.D.; Richard Schrock, Ph.D.; George A. Olah, Ph.D.; and Roald Hoffmann, Ph.D.
Hoffmann, who is with Cornell University, shared the 1981 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Kenichi Fukui, Ph.D., for their theories on how chemicals combine and form different substances. Such changes play a vital role in forming new compounds from natural raw materials, such as using petroleum to make plastics.
In the press conference: Roald Hoffmann, Ph.D., Cornell University
**10:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 1 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Electronic shrink wrap for the heart and other topics at American Chemical Society meeting
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — Electronic sutures that monitor surgical incisions for healing and infection. Electronic films that cling to the heart like shrink wrap, monitoring and regulating the heartbeat and alerting the patient and cardiologist when medical attention is needed. Flexible plastic electronic appliqués that stick to the skin like temporary tattoos and monitor hydration in athletes.
Those and other futuristic advances that marry electronics with the human body in ways that could enhance human health and performance are on the agenda here today at a symposium. Presentations in the symposium, entitled “Nanoscale and Nanomaterials: Enhanced Motion,” are among almost 7,000 scheduled for the meeting.
In the press conference: Paul S. Weiss, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, editor-in-chief of the journal ACS Nano Paula T. Hammond, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, associate editor of ACS Nano Dawn Bonnell, Ph.D., The University of Pennsylvania, editorial advisory board member for ACS Nano John Rogers, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, editorial advisory board member for ACS Nano A. Paul Alivisatos, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley; co-editor of Nano Letters, editorial advisory board for ACS Nano
11 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 4:45 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Science supporting abundant, nourishing food for a growing civilization
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — The diets of people in North America shed almost 1.5 billion pounds of unhealthy saturated and trans fat over the last six years thanks to a new phase in an ongoing agricultural revolution, an expert said here today.
In an interview before his keynote address, Daniel Kittle, Ph.D., cited the development of healthier foods as one part of the role science has played in supporting the growth of civilization through advances in agricultural technology.
In the press conference: Daniel Kittle, Ph.D., Dow AgroSciences, LLC
**11:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 1:45 p.m. Eastern Time Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society
Toward making people invisible to mosquitoes
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — In an advance toward providing mosquito-plagued people, pets and livestock with an invisibility cloak against these blood-sucking insects, scientists today described discovery of substances that occur naturally on human skin and block mosquitoes’ ability to smell and target their victims.
Ulrich Bernier, Ph.D., who gave the talk, cited the pressing need for better ways to combat mosquitoes. Far from being just a nuisance, mosquitoes are more deadly to humans than any other animal. Their bites transmit malaria and other diseases that kill an estimated 1 million people around the world each year. In the United States, mosquitoes spread rare types of encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. They also transmit heartworms to pet dogs and cats.
In the press conference: Ulrich Bernier, Ph.D., USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Noon Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 8:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society presidential symposium: Career advancement opportunities
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — Even though the Great Recession officially ended more than three years ago in the U.S., lingering effects continue to impact careers for thousands of scientists. Advancing those careers for chemists and other scientists is the topic today of a special presidential symposium here.
In the press conference: Marinda Li Wu, Ph.D., ACS President Robert Rich, Ph.D., Strategy Development, ACSJohn Fraser, The Florida State University George Rodriguez, ARGENI LLC Robert A. Armitage, Eli Lilly and Company James L. Chao, Ph.D., Independent Consulting Joel Shulman, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati Rudy Baum, Former Editor-in-Chief, Chemical & Engineering News, ACS Kristin Omberg, Ph.D., Los Alamos National LaboratoryH. N. Cheng, Ph.D., USDA Agricultural Research Service
1 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 10:15 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Advance in using biopsy samples in understanding environmental causes of cancer
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — In an advance in determining the role of environmental agents in causing cancer, scientists today described development of a long-sought way to use biopsy samples from cancer patients to check on human exposure to substances that damage the genetic material DNA in ways that can cause cancer.
Their report on the method, which taps into a treasure trove of medical information in biopsy samples of patients, was presented here today.
In the press conference: Robert J. Turesky, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Byeong Hwa Yun, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
1:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 8:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
21st century vision toxicity testing and risk assessment for agrochemicals
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — How will emerging 21st century toxicity testing technologies impact agricultural products? How do they fit in the life cycle of discovery, regulatory registration and product defense or product stewardship? What’s the outlook for improved, science-informed hazard prediction and risk assessment?
Those and other topics are on the agenda here today at a symposium entitled “21st Century Vision for Testing and Risk Assessment: Implications for Agrochemicals.” It includes presentations on new approaches for evaluating the human health and environmental effects of pesticides and other substances needed to sustain agricultural production.
In the press conference: Barbara Wetmore, Ph.D., The Hamner Institutes for Health SciencesRichard A. Becker, Ph.D., American Chemistry Council Michelle Embry, Ph.D., Health and Environmental Services Institute, ILSIRussell S. Thomas, Ph.D., The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences (invited) Jason P. Bailey, Ph.D., Dow AgroSciences LLC (invited) Keith Solomon, Ph.D., University of Guelph (invited)
2 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 9:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
The new allure of electric cars: Blazing-fast speeds
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — Already noted for saving gasoline and having zero emissions, electric cars have quietly taken on an unlikely new dimension –– the ability to reach blazing speeds that rival the 0-to-60 performance of a typical Porsche or BMW, and compete on some racecourses with the world’s best gasoline-powered cars, an authority said here today.
Electric vehicle pioneer John E. Waters said that relatively recent advances in engineering and use of lithium-ion batteries are producing electric vehicles (EVs) capable of leaving traditional internal combustion engine race cars in the dust. “Experimental electric cars already have achieved sustained speeds of more than 180 miles per hour, and established world speed records above 300 mph,” Waters said. “Electric cars have inherent advantages in efficiency and torque over gasoline-powered vehicles. Energy storage-to-torque on an EV platform is above 90 percent efficient, compared to less than 35 percent for internal combustion engines. I have no doubt that battery-powered race cars will be attracting race fans in the immediate future.”
In the press conference: John E. Waters, Waters and Associates, LLC
2:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 10:15 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
INDY 500 track continues to foster better technology for everyday driving
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — The pavement recipe for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), home of the Indianapolis 500, could be used to improve the smoothness, durability and safety of some of the 2 million miles of paved roads and streets where people move at ordinary speeds, scientists said here today.
In reports, they focused on IMS’ heritage and future potential in testing new automotive technology suitable for general transportation use. “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built in 1909 to develop and test the latest technologies in automobiles,” noted Anthony J. Kriech, who made one of the presentations. “Many new technologies were tested under race conditions at INDY. Rearview mirrors, front-wheel and all-wheel drives, overhead cam shafts that improve engine performances, improved lubricants and oils, turbochargers, safer and more durable tires and other technology. Today IMS continues to be a leader in testing new technologies, as well as asphalt pavement development.”
In the press conference: William J. Pine, Heritage Environmental Services, Construction and Materials Anthony J. Kriech, Heritage Environmental Services, Research Group
3 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Artificial lung to remove carbon dioxide — from smokestacks
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — The amazingly efficient lungs of birds and the swim bladders of fish have become the inspiration for a new filtering system to remove carbon dioxide from electric power station smokestacks before the main greenhouse gas can billow into the atmosphere and contribute to global climate change.
A report on the new technology, more efficient than some alternatives, is on the agenda here today. With climate change now a major concern, many power plants rely on CO2 capture and sequestration methods to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking at a symposium, “CO2 Separation and Capture,” Aaron P. Esser-Kahn, Ph.D., said he envisions new CO2-capture units with arrays of tubes made from porous membranes fitted side-by-side, much like blood vessels in a natural lung. Once fabricated to be highly efficient and scalable to various sizes by repeating units, these units can then be “plugged” into power plants and vehicles, not unlike catalytic converters, he explained.
In the press conference: Aaron P. Esser-Kahn, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
4 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 8:45 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
New research provides early indications that recycled sewage water is safe for crop irrigation
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — The first study under realistic field conditions has found reassuringly low levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in crops irrigated with recycled sewage water, scientists reported here today.
The research, which eases some concerns over using treated wastewater for agriculture, was presented. “The levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products that we found in food crops growing under real-world conditions were quite low and most likely do not pose any health concern,” said Jay Gan, Ph.D., who led the study.
In the press conference: Jay Gan, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside Xiaoqin Wu, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
**4:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 11 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
State e-waste disposal bans have been largely ineffective
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10, 2013 — One of the first analyses of laws banning disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) in municipal landfills has found that state e-waste recycling bans have been mostly ineffective, although California’s Cell Phone Recycling Act had a positive impact on cell phone recycling. However, e-waste recycling rates remain “dismally low,” and many demographic groups remain unaware of their alternatives for properly disposing of e-waste, according to the study.
Jean-Daniel M. Saphores, Ph.D., spoke at a symposium, “Environmental Impacts of Electronic Technologies, Products and Processes: The Search for Sustainable Electronics.”
In the press conference: Jean-Daniel M. Saphores, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine Carol Handwerker, Ph.D., Purdue University Kathleen Hibbert, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine Nancy Holm, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Wayne Rifer, Green Electronics Council
Tuesday, Sept. 10
8 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 8 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Chemical & Engineering News celebrates its 90th anniversary
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — A weekly news magazine that has been around since before Time began celebrates its 90th anniversary this week with a special issue commemorating chemistry’s contributions over the past nine decades to medicine, industry and other scientific advances that have improved people’s lives. The magazine is Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), a publication of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society. C&EN is also sponsoring a slew of celebratory events here. Among them: A webinar on food fraud and an appearance by Alton Brown, host of the popular Food Network series Iron Chef America.
In the press conference: Marinda Li Wu, Ph.D., ACS President Stephanie Brock, Ph.D., Chair, ACS Joint Board Council Committee on Publications Denise Creech, Director, ACS Membership & Scientific Advancement Kevin Davies, Ph.D., Vice President, Business Development and Publisher, C&EN Maureen Rouhi, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, C&EN
8:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 4 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Technology for improving lab safety
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — Technology originally developed to help bomb squads, hazmat crews, soldiers and others detect and neutralize certain explosives is finding a new life in improving the safety of laboratory workers.
In the press conference: Allen Apblett, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University
9 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 2:30 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
University nonprofit poised to bridge ‘Valley of Death’ and spur drug development
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — With the “Valley of Death” looming as an increasingly serious obstacle to introducing better ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases, a noted scientist today described a new approach for moving promising discoveries out of laboratories and into the hands of patients and physicians.
Dennis Liotta, Ph.D., cited widespread concern that innovative scientific discoveries, especially those resulting from billions of dollars in government investment in research, are withering on the vine rather than being translated into breakthrough new treatments.
“The Valley of Death is the place where potential new drugs all too often go to die,” said Liotta. “In drug development parlance, the Valley of Death refers to the obstacles that are keeping innovative medical research discoveries from becoming new drugs. Potential new drugs never even make it to clinical trials. We think we have an approach to bridge the valley.”
In the press conference:Dennis Liotta, Ph.D., Emory University
9:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 4 p.m. Eastern Time
Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Translating nature’s library yields drug leads for AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — An ingredient in a medicinal tea brewed from tree bark by tribal healers on the South Pacific island of Samoa — studied by scientists over the last 25 years — is showing significant promise as a drug lead in the long-sought goal of eliminating the AIDS virus from its sanctuaries in the body and thus eradicating the disease, a scientist said here today.
Paul A. Wender, Ph.D., described efficient new ways of making prostratin and related leads, as well as other drug candidates first discovered in sea creatures, that appear even more effective for AIDS and have applications for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
In the press conference:Paul A. Wender, Ph.D., Stanford University
10 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 3 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
New ‘artificial nose’ device can speed diagnosis of sepsis
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — Disease-causing bacteria stink — literally — and the odor released by some of the nastiest microbes has become the basis for a faster and simpler new way to diagnose blood infections and finger the specific microbe, scientists reported here today.
The new test produces results in 24 hours, compared to as much as 72 hours required with the test hospitals now use, and is suitable for use in developing countries and other areas that lack expensive equipment in hospital labs.
In the press conference:James R. Carey, Ph.D., National University of Kaohsiung
10:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 5:30 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
General in the Solar Army to high school and college students: ‘We are recruiting’
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — High school and college students got a recruiting call today to join the Solar Army and help solve one of the 21st century’s greatest scientific challenges: finding the dirt-cheap ingredients that would make sunlight a practical alternative to oil, coal and other traditional sources of energy. It came here today from a great scientist and pioneer in solar energy research, whose leadership in the Solar Army movement has seen his title sometimes morph from “doctor” to “general.”
In the press conference:Harry B. Gray, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
11 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 8 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
PCB exposure in outdoor and indoor air from IHSC dredging
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — The close proximity of houses and public schools to the $180-million Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal dredging project has raised concerns about airborne PCB exposure to the surrounding population, especially school students. Scientists will report on their analysis of PCB levels in indoor and outdoor air in two communities at East Chicago, Ind., and Columbus Junction, Iowa.
In the press conference:Keri Hornbuckle, Ph.D., University of Iowa
**11:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 2:15 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Edible coatings for ready-to-eat fresh fruits and vegetables
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10, 2013 — The scientist who turned fresh-cut apple slices into a popular convenience food, available ready-to-eat in grocery stores, school cafeterias and fast-food restaurants, today described advances in keeping other foods fresh, flavorful and safe for longer periods of time through the use of invisible, colorless, odorless, tasteless coatings.
The overview of these edible films was given here today. Attila E. Pavlath, Ph.D., pointed out that the use of edible films has grown dramatically since the mid-1980s, when only 10 companies were in the business, to more than 1,000 companies with annual sales exceeding $100 million today. Ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables now account for about 10 percent of all produce sales, with sales exceeding $10 billion annually.
In the press conference:Attila Pavlath, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Agriculture Western Regional Research Center
12:15 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 10:15 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
American Chemical Society issues guidelines for safer research laboratories
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10, 2013 — The world’s largest scientific society today issued guidelines to better ensure the safety of the tens of thousands of personnel who work in research laboratories around the country. The ACS issued the report, requested by a federal safety board, here today.
“Guidelines and standard operating procedures are common in industrial settings where chemicals and pharmaceuticals are manufactured in large amounts, but they are much less common in research laboratories, particularly in academia,” said Kimberly Jeskie. She chaired the 12-member task force that developed the guidelines and is a hazards analysis expert at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “Often, students and staff working in research labs do not identify and evaluate all potential hazards, especially physical hazards, when devising experiments. That is crucial to keep everyone safe and reduce the potential for harm.”
In the press conference:Kimberly Jeskie, Ph.D., Oak Ridge National LaboratoryMarinda Li Wu, Ph.D., ACS PresidentPeter Ashbrook, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignDominic Casadonte, Ph.D., Texas Tech UniversityKen Kretchman, Ph.D., North Carolina State UniversityDebbie Decker, Ph.D., University of California, DavisSamuella Sigmann, Ph.D., Appalachian State UniversityRobert Hill, Jr., Ph.D., BattelleErik Talley, Ph.D., Weill Medical College of Cornell University
**12:45 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 1:30 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
American Chemical Society presidential symposium: Innovation and entrepreneurship
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10, 2013 — An historic shift is occurring in traditional innovation in chemistry — which touches more than 96 percent of all the world’s manufactured goods — away from large companies and toward smaller entrepreneurs and startups. Amid that new landscape for transforming ideas and inventions into goods and services, the ACS today hosts a special symposium on innovation and entrepreneurship.
In the press conference:Marinda Li Wu, Ph.D., ACS PresidentPat Confalone, Ph.D., DuPontDennis Liotta, Ph.D., Emory UniversitySharon Vercellotti, V-LABS, Inc.David Harwell, Ph.D., Career Management and Development, ACSNeil J. Lawrence, Ph.D., Rare Earth Salts Separations and Refining, University of NebraskaSadiq Shah, Ph.D., The University of Texas-Pan American
1:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 2:30 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Bringing more diversity to the nation’s science & engineering workforce
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2013 — The U.S. is becoming more diverse, with about one-third of the population African American, Asian-American, Latino or Native American. But graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the “STEM” fields, do not fully reflect that diversity. Scientists and educators focus on ways to encourage individuals from such underrepresented groups to pursue STEM careers.
In the press conference:Guang Cao, Ph.D., Exxon Research and Engineering CompanyAlveda J Williams, Ph.D., The Dow Chemical CompanyMary Jo Ondrechen, Ph.D., Northeastern UniversityAmy Paris, Ph.D., Eastman Chemical CompanyZakiya S. Wilson, Ph.D., Louisiana State UniversityAnn Kimble-Hill, Ph.D., Indiana University School of Medicine
2 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 8 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Scientific symposium today on healthful antioxidants in plant-based foods
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2013 — With millions of people tailoring their diets to include more healthful antioxidants — and these “polyphenols” getting tremendous attention among nutritionists, food scientists and physicians — the world’s largest scientific society today is holding a symposium on that topic. The symposium is called “Polyphenolic Chemistry in Food Science: Flavor, Color, and Biofunctional Properties.”
Found naturally in plant-based foods — including items with such high levels that they have been termed “superfoods” — polyphenols have been in the news as health food. Superfoods include dark chocolate, red wine, coffee, tea, nuts, and deeply colored fruits and vegetables. Recent scientific research links polyphenols, which are a type of antioxidant, with a range of possible health benefits. Among them: reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain forms of cancer.
In the press conference:Smaro Kokkinidou, Ph.D., University of MinnesotaLuke Howard, Ph.D., University of ArkansasBruno De Meulenaer, Ph.D., Ghent University (invited)Ann-Dorit Moltke Sørensen, Ph.D., Technical University of Denmark (invited)Hong-Sik Hwang, Ph.D., USDA, ARS, NCAUR (invited)Oliver Frank, Ph.D., Technical University of Munich (invited)Coralia Osorio, Ph.D., Universidad Nacional de Colombia (invited)Thomas S. Collins, Ph.D., University of California, Davis (invited)
**2:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, 8:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Latest research on ingredients that make chocolate, olive oil, tea healthful foods
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 11, 2013 — The scientific spotlight focuses today on the healthful antioxidant substances in red wine, dark chocolate, olive oil, coffee, tea, and other foods and dietary supplements that are enticing millions of consumers with the promise of a healthier, longer life. Reports in the symposium involve substances that consumers know best as “antioxidants,” and that scientists term “phenolic derivatives.” These ingredients, found naturally in certain foods and sold as dietary supplements, have been linked with health benefits that include reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. Entitled “Phenolic Derivatives for Food and Human Health,” the symposium was held today.
In the press conference:Selim Kermasha, Ph.D., McGill UniversityH.P.Vasantha Rupasinghe, Ph.D., Dalhousie UniversityPaul Capela, Ph.D., visiting scientist, U.S. Army Natick Soldier ResearchYingdong Zhu, Ph.D., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (invited)Shengmin Sang, Ph.D., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (invited)Marleny D. A. Saldaña, Ph.D., University of Alberta (invited)Odaine Gordon. Ph.D., Vanderbilt University (invited)
3 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 1 p.m. Eastern Time
Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Panda poop microbes could make biofuels of the future — an update
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10, 2013 — Unlikely as it may sound, giant pandas Ya Ya and Le Le in the Memphis Zoo are making contributions toward shifting production of biofuels away from corn and other food crops and toward corn cobs, stalks and other non-food plant material.
Scientists presented an update today on efforts to mine Ya Ya and Le Le’s assets for substances that could do so. And if things work out, giant pandas Er Shun and Da Mao in the Toronto Zoo will be joining the quest by making their own contributions.
“The giant pandas are contributing their feces,” explained Ashli Brown, Ph.D., who heads the research. “We have discovered microbes in panda feces might actually be a solution to the search for sustainable new sources of energy. It’s amazing that here we have an endangered species that’s almost gone from the planet, yet there’s still so much we have yet to learn from it. That underscores the importance of saving endangered and threatened animals.”
In the press conference:Ashli Brown, Ph.D., Mississippi State University
4 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 1 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Hot, humid weather brings toxic mold threat to corn crops in the Midwest
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10, 2013 — Concerns about aflatoxin contamination of corn — long a problem in the southeast — reached the Midwest in 2012, as a result of weather conditions. Scientists will describe testing for aflatoxin, produced by certain kinds of mold that grow on corn, peanuts and other crops.
In the press conference:H. Dorota Inerowicz, Ph.D., Purdue University
4:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 2:30 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Fruit fly brain research with implications for cocaine addiction in humans INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10, 2013 — Fruit flies have brains with wiring remarkably similar to the human brain, and new technology is enabling scientists to insert tiny electrodes into fruit fly brains and sample the chemical signaling agents that pass messages from one nerve cell to another. The results have implications for understanding cocaine addiction in humans — and more.
In the press conference:Andrew Ewing, Ph.D., Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg
Wednesday, Sept. 11
**8:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, 9:15 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Cilantro, that favorite salsa ingredient, purifies drinking water
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 12, 2013 — Hints that a favorite ingredient in Mexican, Southeast Asian and other spicy cuisine may be an inexpensive new way of purifying drinking water are on the menu here today.
Reporting on research done by undergraduate students at a community college, Douglas Schauer, Ph.D., said that cilantro — also known as coriander and Thai parsley — shows promise as a much-needed new “biosorbent” for removing lead and other potentially toxic heavy metals from contaminated water.
In the press conference:Douglas J. Schauer, Ph.D., Ivy Tech Community College
**9 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, 11:15 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Obesity combined with exposure to cigarette smoke may pose new health concerns
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 11, 2013 — Millions of people who are obese and smoke tobacco may face additional health problems — including their responses to common prescription medicines — that extend beyond the well-known links with cancer, heart attacks and stroke, according to a report presented here today.
Scientists told the audience that those health threats may include “passive” or “second-hand” smoking. It occurs when non-smokers inhale smoke from cigarettes smoldering nearby. “Our research shows that smoking and obesity together may pose a triple health threat in addition to the increased risks for heart disease, cancer and diabetes,” said Aaron Wright, Ph.D., who reported on the study.
In the press conference:Aaron Wright, Ph.D., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
**9:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, 2:15 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Sewage treatment removes widely used home and garden insecticides from wastewater
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 12, 2013 — Even though sewage treatment plants are not designed to remove tiny amounts of pesticides, they do an excellent job of dealing with the most widely used family of home and garden insecticides, scientists reported. Their study on pyrethroid insecticides — used in more than 3,500 products — was presented here today.
“We found that advanced sewage treatment reduced the levels of pyrethroids by more than 97 percent,” said Kurt N. Ohlinger, Ph.D., who presented the results. “That’s a reduction to less than one part per trillion, and pretty impressive."
Ohlinger’s presentation was part of a symposium entitled “Assessing Potential Ecological and Human Health Effects from Fertilizer and Pesticide Use in Urban Environments.”
In the press conference:Kurt N. Ohlinger, Ph.D., Sacramento Regional County Sanitation DistrictWeiying Jiang, Ph.D., California Environmental Protection AgencyPaul Davidson, Ph.D., Waterborne Environmental, Inc.Kevin Morse, Ph.D., Morse LaboratoriesJay Gan, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
10 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 8:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
The real reason to worry about bees
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10, 2013 — Honeybees should be on everyone’s worry list, and not because of the risk of a nasty sting, an expert on the health of those beneficial insects said here today.
Set aside the fact that the honeybee’s cousins — hornets, wasps and yellow jackets — actually account for most stings, said Richard Fell, Ph.D. Despite years of intensive research, scientists do not understand the cause, nor can they provide remedies, for what is killing honeybees. He spoke at a symposium on the topic.
In the press conference:Richard Fell, Ph.D., Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life SciencesDavid Fischer, Ph.D., Bayer CropScience, LPTroy Anderson, Ph.D., Virginia TechBrian Eitzer, Ph.D., The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment StationChris Mullin, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
**10:30 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, 1 p.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Scientific symposium on the toxicology of alternate fuels
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 11, 2013 — “Biofuel” has become a global buzzword, with cars and trucks powered by fuel made from corn, corncobs and stalks, switchgrass and even waste oil from cooking french fries, envisioned as a way to stretch out supplies of crude oil and cope with global warming. A symposium being held here today considers a topic that has received less attention: What are the health and environmental effects of green gasoline, biodiesel and other alternative fuels, and how do they stack up against conventional gasoline and diesel?
In the press conference:Gunnar Boysen, Ph.D., University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesDavid B. Kittelson, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (invited)
11 a.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, 9:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Tests reveal presence of PCB 11 in blood of children, adults
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 11, 2013 — Scientists are reporting detection of PCB 11, used in paint and dye pigments, in the blood of children and adults. “Although there are few reports about the toxicity of PCB 11, as a group, PCBs are known to cause cancer in laboratory animals and have been identified as human endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants, as well as carcinogens,” their report states.
In the press conference:Keri Hornbuckle, Ph.D., University of IowaWen Xin Koh, University of Iowa
12:30 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, 8:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Advances in treating Alzheimer’s disease
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 11, 2013 —More than 5 million people in the United States already have Alzheimer’s disease, and the human and economic toll -- a projected $203 billion in 2013 health care costs – will increase with the graying of the population. Scientists will discuss the latest advances in developing treatments for the disease.
In the press conference:Michael S. Wolfe, Ph.D., Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
1 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, 10:30 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
T-rays offer potential for earlier diagnosis of melanoma
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 11, 2013 — The technology that peeks underneath clothing at airport security screening check points has great potential for looking underneath human skin to diagnose cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages, a scientist said here today.
The report on efforts to use terahertz radiation — “T-rays” — in early diagnosis of skin cancer was part of the meeting today.
Anis Rahman, Ph.D., who spoke on the topic, explained that malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, starts in pigment-producing cells located in the deepest part of the epidermis. That’s the outer layer of the skin. Biochemical changes that are hallmarks of cancer occur in the melanocytes long before mole-like melanomas appear on the skin.
In the press conference:Anis Rahman, Ph.D., Applied Research & Photonics, Inc.
1:45 p.m. Eastern Time EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, 9 a.m. Eastern TimeNote to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Substance that gives grapefruit its flavor and aroma could give insect pests the boot INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 11, 2013 — The citrus flavor and aroma of grapefruit — already used in fruit juices, citrus-flavored beverages, and prestige perfumes and colognes — may be heading for a new use in battling mosquitoes, ticks, head lice and bedbugs thanks to a less expensive way of making large amounts of the once rare and pricey ingredient, a scientist said here today.
A report on the new technology for making the ingredient, nootkatone, which previously had to be harvested from tons of grapefruit, was presented. “A new product based on nootkatone would have multiple advantages over existing mosquito repellants based on DEET,” said Richard Burlingame, Ph.D., who presented the report. “Nootkatone is a broad-spectrum ingredient that has been shown to be effective as a control agent for mosquitoes, ticks and bedbugs. Nootkatone has been used for years to give beverages a grapefruit flavor. It is safe to eat, has a pleasant citrus flavor, is not greasy, both repels and kills insects, and should not have the toxicity concerns that exist for DEET.” Burlingame, who is with Allylix, Inc., a renewable-chemical firm in Lexington, Ky., spoke at a symposium entitled “Biopesticides: State of the Art and Future Opportunities.” In the press conference: Richard Burlingame, Ph.D., Allylix, Inc. James, Seiber. Ph.D., University of California, Davis Daniel Swale, Ph.D., University of Florida
*Instructions for joining chat room sessionsChat Room Sessions from the ACS National Meeting in Indianapolis
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