August 26-30
Chicago, IL
312-329-7114 / 312-949-3237

American Chemical Society meeting features cutting-edge research August 26-30 in Chicago

Research on dietary interventions that fight disease, the chemistry of nutritional beverages, environmental threats to the Great Lakes region and energy needs for the 21st century will be featured at a gathering of world’s largest scientific society in Chicago, August 26-30

CHICAGO — More than 6,000 cutting-edge research findings will be presented at the 222nd national meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 26-30, in Chicago. Nearly 10,000 scientists are expected to attend the meeting, which will be held at the McCormick Place Convention Center, North and South, and in its Lakeside Center.

Highlights include:

Foods that help prevent breast, prostate cancer
A novel method to keep packaged food fresher
A plastic tube that offers hope for repairing spinal injuries
Advances in forensic science research
Risks and benefits of biotech crops

News releases and advisories will be posted on the World Wide Web, on an embargoed basis, at www.eurekalert.org under the "ACS 222nd national meeting" button. They will also be posted at www.chemistry.org/news when the embargoes are lifted.

The meeting is open to accredited news media. The pressroom will be on Level 2, Rooms E253 A-D, of the convention center’s Lakeside Center, 2301 South Lake Shore Drive. It will be open for on-site registration from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 25, and it will be in operation Sunday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, Central Time. News media must register at the pressroom to receive badges for admittance to events. Press kits will include a complete set of meeting abstracts, news releases on selected research papers, and a schedule of news briefings. For more information, contact Charmayne Marsh at the telephone numbers listed at the top of this page.

Sunday, August 26

Chemistry of crime: advances in forensic science — A one-day symposium will highlight the latest scientific techniques for crime solving — from analysis of gunshot residues to DNA typing. (CHAL 1-12, Sunday, August 26, 8 a.m.)
Nutritional beverages — Researchers are gaining new insight into the potential health benefits of beverages ranging from tropical fruit juices to soy-based drinks, which may help fight such diseases as cancer and heart disease. Others are trying to improve the flavor and aroma of popular drinks like coffee, wine and tea. Their studies will be the focus of a three-day symposium, August 26-28, featuring more than 40 papers. (AGFD 1-6, 14-20, 30-35, 44-52, 92-98, 104-110; Sunday-Tuesday, August 26-28. Embargoed until 9 a.m., August 26.)
Toward a crispier, tastier potato chip — Researchers have developed a new food packaging technique using argon that appears to significantly improve the quality and shelf life of foods over conventional methods. The technique could lead to better potato chips and other packaged foods. (AGFD 9, Sunday, August 26, 9:50 a.m. Embargoed until 9:45 a.m.)
Biodegradable polymer for cavities — Researchers are developing new dental materials that can actually cause teeth to repair their own small cavities and may help regenerate bone defects. (PMSE 34, Sunday, August 26, 10:20 a.m. Embargoed until 10:15 a.m.)
Energy in the 21st century — A one-day symposium will view the current energy situation and make suggestions for the future. Topics to be addressed include fossil fuels, nuclear power, hydrogen and recent advances in fuel cells. (CHED 31-38; FUEL 18-21; Sunday, August 26, 1 p.m.)
Polymer may improve oral insulin delivery for diabetics — A new polymer with a gel-like consistency could offer diabetics an oral alternative to daily injections. While other attempts to deliver insulin orally have resulted in minimal amounts of the drug making it to the blood, researchers report that the polymer results in significant increases in the amount delivered. (POLY 44, Sunday, August 26, 1:30 p.m.)
Panel discussion addresses underrepresentation of women, minorities on university chemistry faculties — A panel discussion, Diversity in the Top 50 Universities: The Challenge to Lead, will examine why women and minorities are underrepresented on university chemistry faculties. (Sunday, August 26, 3-5 p.m.)

Monday, August 27

Symposium on electronic plastics features Nobel laureates — The three 2000 Nobel laureates in chemistry will describe their work on conducting polymers, or plastics that can conduct electricity, in a special symposium in their honor which will also feature related studies by other researchers. These plastics have the potential for a variety of applications, including lightweight batteries for cars, ultrathin computer monitors and artificial nerves. (POLY 245-247, 267-273; Monday, August 27, 8 a.m.)
Forum addresses small minority business issues — The ACS Committee on Minority Affairs will sponsor a forum featuring owners who have successfully established and operated small chemical businesses. The forum also includes state and federal experts who will outline support available to potential entrepreneurs. (Monday, August 27, 8:30-11:30 a.m.)
Catnip repels mosquitoes more effectively than commercial compound — An oil found in catnip that gives the plant its characteristic odor is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, the compound used in most commercial insect repellants, researchers have found. (AGRO 73, Monday, August 27, 9 a.m.)
Congressman Danny Davis speaks at minority affairs luncheon — Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) will speak at a luncheon sponsored by the ACS Committee on Minority Affairs. The Congressman is a member of the House Committee on Small Business and his speech follows a special session on development and support of small minority chemical businesses.(Monday, August 27, noon)

Tuesday, August 28

Campfires, fireplaces may be pollution sources in Great Lakes region — The Great Lakes region has long been valued for its recreational opportunities, but there may be a price to be paid: A new study has found that wood smoke, most likely emanating from campfires and residential fireplaces, is toxic to certain aquatic organisms in the lakes and is a source of air pollution in the region. (ENVR 72, Tuesday, August 28, 9:15 a.m.)
Radio waves zap zebra mussels — Researchers have developed a new method for killing zebra mussels, which have caused millions of dollars in damage to boats and power plants in the United States. The method involves zapping the creatures with low energy radio waves. (ENVR 78, Tuesday, August 28, 11:35 a.m. Embargoed until 11:30 a.m.)
Argonne National Laboratory chemistry director will address women’s luncheon — Marion Thurnauer, Ph.D., director of chemistry at Argonne National Laboratory, will discuss women’s increasing role in science in the 21st century as the featured presentation of the ACS Women Chemists luncheon. (Tuesday, August 28, 12:15 p.m.)
Designer diets target disease — In the future, researchers may be able to design diets that are custom-tailored to the shape of our individual genetic profiles. Scientists believe the emerging field of nutrigenomics, which studies the interaction between genes and diet, may lead to better treatments for diseases including diabetes, cancer and heart disease. The subject is the focus of a two-day symposium, August 28-29, featuring more than a dozen papers. (AGFD 111-115, 134-138; Tuesday-Wednesday, August 28-29. Embargoed until 1:30 p.m., August 28.)
Plastic sleeve provides new step toward treating paralysis — Canadian researchers have created a plastic tube that fits around the spinal cord and encourages damaged nerve cells to regrow in rats whose cords have been surgically severed. The treatment, which restored some walking movement in the rats, could lead to new treatments for paralysis in humans. (MACR 29, Tuesday, August 28, 4:15 p.m.)

Wednesday, August 29

Symposium explores safety, economics of biotech crops — A three-day symposium will explore the safety and economics of biotech crops. Topics include efforts to create a healthier and more disease-resistant variety of wheat, the potential for genetically modified foods to cause allergies, reduced pesticide use stemming from the use of biotech crops, and evidence that biotech corn may not threaten the monarch butterfly. (AGFD 53-58, 99-103; AGRO 87-92, 107-112; Monday-Wednesday, August 27-29. Embargoed until 1:30 p.m., August 27.)
Flaxseed may protect older women against breast cancer — Flaxseed, sold in health food stores and present in some breads and cereals, may protect postmenopausal women against breast cancer. In a group of 28 postmenopausal women, flax significantly reduced blood levels of certain types of estrogen whose increased levels are associated with a higher breast cancer risk. (AGFD 128, Wednesday, August 29, 1:30 p.m.)
New therapies target parasitic diseases in wake of global warming — In the wake of global warming, many parasitic diseases once confined to the tropics are now moving northward, researchers believe. They describe new approaches to combating these parasitic diseases, including malaria, in a one-day symposium. (MEDI 286-290; Wednesday, August 29, 1:30 p.m.)
Study involving black men provides evidence that tomato sauce fights prostate cancer — A new study involving African-American men — who as a group have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world — provides further evidence that lycopene, a chemical found in abundance in tomato sauce, may help prevent or slow the development of the disease. The study found that tomato sauce reduced DNA damage, which is considered a marker for increased cancer risk, in a group of 32 volunteers. (AGFD 129, Wednesday, August 29, 2 p.m.)

Thursday, August 30

Gasoline additive threatens Midwest — MTBE, a gasoline additive used to reduce air pollution, has been found in gasoline sold throughout the Midwest even though it is used infrequently there. An ongoing study of gasoline sites throughout Indiana, Illinois and Michigan — where ethanol is the main pollution-fighter in gasoline — suggests the chemical may be spreading into the ground and threatening drinking water. (ENVR 190, Thursday, August 30, 10:10 a.m. Embargoed until 10:15 a.m.)
Symposium examines novel approaches for treating psychiatric disorders — A one-day symposium will address new approaches for treating psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. Potential treatments for cocaine addiction will also be presented. (MEDI 301-305, Thursday, August 30, 1:35 p.m.)
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