Category Archives: Chemistry

SYDNEY A Cape Breton University professors love of chemistry is translating into research dollars. In the past year, Matthias Bierenstiel has secured about $200,000 in funding for scientific projects. I like chemistry because you can do so much stuff and do minute changes that have really big impacts, said Bierenstiel, a native of Germany who holds a PhD in inorganic chemistry. I really enjoy that aspect of it, and the compounds that we make are completely new. Nobody has ever made made them in the world, not even nature. In May, as part of his year-long sabbatical, Bierenstiel patented a series of new compounds with antibiotic properties that was tested against six organisms, including E. coli. While it did little to treat the bacterium, it showed positive results in treating Staphylococcus aureus, which causes staph infections. For that project, Bierenstiel received $35,000 from Springboard Atlantic, a regional commercialization and industry liaison network. Im in talks with some pharmaceutical companies (to see) whether they would like to take this further, he said. Further testing is needed, said Bierenstiel, including determining what human side-effects, if any, might be produced. About two years ago, his research compelled the university to acquire an $800,000 … Continue reading →

He added that being together in various projects after their first hit movie Diary ng Panget has brought them really close which translated to the big screen. I guess because right after Diary ng Panget, weve been so busy and we're always together so I guess you know the chemistry never dies, we're always with each other so it's always been there. James said that the massive support they have been receiving from their fans have brought them the success that they have now. We have to thank DNP (Diary Ng Panget) for [our success]. The book already had so many followers so all those followers translated into fans, I mean we're really grateful even for me I had lot of fans even from PBB who are still following me until now and who are supporting JaDine (James-Nadine love team). Now that hes single, will he be courting Nadine Lustre? I get this question a lot, you know, a lot of people they would love to see us together, I mean because they see us in our movies and our chemistry and everything put together but for me right now I've just got out of a relationship recently so Im … Continue reading →

18 August, 2014 Waikato grad selected for Imperial College London doctoral programme University of Waikato chemistry graduate Sophie Sim will join 12 top young scientists from all over the world at Imperial College London next month, where she has been selected to participate in the NexGenAgriChem Innovative Doctoral Programme. The programme is funded by Syngenta, one of the worlds largest crop protection companies, and will bring together talented physical sciences graduates to investigate new ways to improve crop protection. Ill be using a novel form of a technique called 2D Infra-red Electron-Vibration-Vibration Spectroscopy to better understand the mode of action of herbicides on plant protein systems, which will improve herbicide design and contribute to the agrochemical industry, says Sophie. During the project Sophie will be working alongside Imperial College London chemistry academics Dr Laura Barter and Dr David Klug, and Syngenta scientist John Evans. The primary objective of the three-year PhD programme is to nurture the group of early-stage researchers in a way which will create a new generation of multidisciplinary researchers to support the challenges of the future. In conjunction with the PhD research, the programme also includes substantial training in the form of lecture courses, and a transferable … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 16-Aug-2014 Contact: Sacha Boucherie s.boucherie@elsevier.com 31-204-853-564 Elsevier Oxford, August 17, 2014 - A recent study by the British Geological Survey, in association with researchers at the University of Leicester, has delved into the bone and tooth chemistry of King Richard III and uncovered fascinating new details about the life and diet of Britain's last Plantagenet king. The study, published in Elsevier's Journal of Archaeological Science indicates a change in diet and location in his early childhood, and in later life, a diet filled with expensive, high status food and drink. This forensic study, the most complete to have been conducted on a medieval monarch, will feature in a documentary, Richard III: The New Evidence, airing on Channel 4 on Sunday 17th August at 9pm. Isotope analysis of bone and tooth material from King Richard III has revealed previously unknown details of his early life and the change in his diet when he became King two years and two months before he was killed at the Battle of Bosworth. The research examines the changes in chemistry found in the teeth, the femur and the rib; all of which develop and rebuild at different stages of life. Isotope measurements … Continue reading →

Dartmouth cancer researchers at Norris Cotton Cancer Center found a means of causing the elimination of a protein that maintains cancer cell viability; the results of the study appear in the August 8 issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry. "These findings may lead to a new target for chemoresistant cancer cells," said Ruth W. Craig, PhD, professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, who is primary author of the peer reviewed article. "These cells are resistant to multiple types of standard chemotherapeutic agents because of over-expression of Myeloid Cell Leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), however, Mcl-1 expression plummets when we inhibit one particular enzyme and then cancer cells subsequently die." The Mcl-1 protein is frequently over-expressed in cancer; it is present not only in leukemia and lymphoma but also in a host of solid tumors. While Mcl-1 is expressed in a highly-controlled fashion in normal cells, its over-expression and lack of destruction maintains the viability of cancer cells and renders them resistant to chemotherapy. When high levels of this protein are maintained, the patient's cancer cells survive multiple types of drug treatment. The research found that an enzyme that removes phosphate groups from Mcl-1 is critical … Continue reading →

Spooky Chemistry - Amneedja: The Dick Croissant - Part 3 In this episode, Igm finds himself in quite a few "sticky" situations. In a bind, he looks to might and science for the solution. By: Igmdigm Gaming … Continue reading →

The excuse of being the new kid of USL Pro has gotten old. With five games left in its inaugural season, Arizona United SCs had five months to develop team chemistry and a winning game plan, but neither element has taken shape for much of the season, and the result has United sitting in last place. Including tonights game against the Oklahoma Energy FC, Arizona needs to win all five games to make the postseason, and it needs help from higher-seeded teams. Chemistry has been a problem for United all season, on and off the pitch. Players have confronted one another on multiple occasions during practice and games throughout the season. Devon Grousis, who played an integral role in the starting 11 early in April has been known to publish (via Twitter) his displeasure after losses or a lack of playing time. Since the posts, Grousis hasnt started since, and hes made just five appearances. Arizona is currently on a three-game losing streak with losses to Charleston, Sacramento and LA Galaxy II, and the cracks are starting to show. Arizona United coach Michael Dellorusso refused to talk to the media this week in preparation for the two matches in Oklahoma … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise LA JOLLA, CAAugust 14, 2014Chemists led by Nobel laureate K. Barry Sharpless at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have used his click chemistry to uncover unprecedented, powerful reactivity for making new drugs, diagnostics, plastics, smart materials and many other products. The new SuFExSulfur Fluoride Exchangereactions enable chemists to link molecules of their choice together using derivatives of a common commercial chemical considered essentially inert. The Sharpless team made this chemical reliably and predictably reactive. Astonishingly, acid-base constraints are rarely a concern, though they are central to nature's chemistry and an enormous hurdle for chemists. The stabile linkers are also non-polar and can enter cells, so have potential for crossing the blood-brain barrier. Consequently, SuFEx gives easy access to an entire, unexplored galaxy within the chemical universe. This is a new, emergent phenomenon, said Sharpless, the W.M. Keck Professor of Chemistry and member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at TSRI. Click chemistry, conceived in the mid-90s as a method for discovering new and improving existing chemical reactivity, became universally used in the chemical sciences after the 2002 discovery of copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). Now SuFEx is the second perfect click reaction … Continue reading →

Chemists led by Nobel laureate K. Barry Sharpless at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have used his click chemistry to uncover unprecedented, powerful reactivity for making new drugs, diagnostics, plastics, smart materials and many other products. The new SuFExSulfur Fluoride Exchangereactions enable chemists to link molecules of their choice together using derivatives of a common commercial chemical considered essentially inert. The Sharpless team made this chemical reliably and predictably reactive. Astonishingly, acid-base constraints are rarely a concern, though they are central to nature's chemistry and an enormous hurdle for chemists. The stabile linkers are also non-polar and can enter cells, so have potential for crossing the blood-brain barrier. This is a new, emergent phenomenon, said Sharpless, the W.M. Keck Professor of Chemistry and member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at TSRI. Life chemistry depends on phosphate and amide linkers which are polar, so constrained when entering or exiting cells and membranes. During its three billion-year adventure, nature never adopted sulfate links, yet SuFEx has been shown to be tolerated by and within the chemistry of life. The breakthrough came by making SO2F2 reactive. SO2F2 is the commercial gas known as Vikane, the world's most common fumigant, used for … Continue reading →

The finalists in the inaugural edition of the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge have commenced their internship with the company. The training, the PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc says, is part of the winning package. A 17-year-old pupil of Miketoy College, Ikotun, Lagos State, Emmanuel Onyekachi, who emerged this years winner, has described his experience so far in the training as exciting. Onyekachi said, I feel so much joy in my heart. I now have more confidence in myself and proud to be here because I have learnt a lot within this short period. This training has encouraged me to participate in more competitions and to seek to be a First Class student in the university. According to him, having emerged the champion has further propelled him to want to become a chemical engineer. For the second runner-up, Mgbemena Thankgod of Leeland International College, Oregun-Ikeja, the training has further brought out the best in him. He said, I thank God I am part of this success story. I am also grateful to PZ Cussons for inaugurating this initiative targeted at encouraging young scholars to put into practice what they learnt in school. Other participating interns are David Obi of Barachel College, Ifako-Agege, … Continue reading →