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American Chemical Society's 238th National Meeting press conference schedule, Aug. 16-20, 2009

Attend in person in Washington, D.C. or access live audio & video online

A study that looks beyond the well-researched tobacco hazards, nitrosamines and nicotine, has discovered that a single pinch –– the amount in a portion –– of smokeless tobacco exposes the user to the same amount of another group of dangerous chemicals as the smoke of five cigarettes. It adds to existing evidence that smokeless contains two dozen other carcinogens that cause oral and pancreatic cancers, the scientists say. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for TOXI 003.

Irina Stepanov, Ph.D., is with the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.

The first dry powder inhalable vaccine for measles is moving toward clinical trials next year in India, where the disease still sickens millions of infants and children and kills almost 200,000 annually. The team that developed the dry-powder vaccine said it's a perfect fit for use in back-roads areas of developing countries. Those areas often lack the electricity for refrigeration, clean water and sterile needles needed to administer traditional liquid vaccines. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for PRES 005.

Robert E. Sievers, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Center for Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo.

A special three-day symposium focuses on the weird subatomic particles that could help answer these and other compelling questions: Will the universe expand outward for all of eternity and end in a vast, dark, cold, sterile, diffuse nothingness? Will the "Big Bang" — the gargantuan explosion that formed the universe 14 billion years ago — end in the "Big Crunch"? The session will highlight the chemistry and physics of neutrino experiments. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for NUCL 13.

Richard Hahn, Ph.D., and Minfang Yeh, Ph.D., are with the Department of Chemistry at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, N.Y.

Chemists from the Golden Age of Arabic-Islamic Science, which stretched from the 8th to the 13th Centuries, are finally given the spotlight. During this era, science and medicine in Muslim countries — from southern Europe through North Africa to Central Asia and India — flourished and was unrivaled anywhere in the world. Muslim physicians and scientists made advancements that built the foundations for the emergence of modern science and medicine in Europe. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for CHED 056

Benjamin P. Huddle, Ph. D., is with the Department of Chemistry, Roanoke College, Salem, Va.

In a macabre study with important forensic applications, scientists are searching for the chemical profile of the gases released by the newly dead. Chemists report that a better understanding of the chemicals released in the minutes, hours and days after death could lead to more effective body recovery techniques for use in the wake of natural disasters and explosions. It could also lead to a valuable new addition to the forensic toolkit – a portable device that could detect buried or hidden human remains as well as quickly evaluate postmortem odors and determine the time elapsed since death. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for ANYL 143.

Sarah A. Jones, Ph.D., is with the Department of Forensic Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, Penn.

Dan Sykes, Ph.D., is with the Department of Chemistry, Penn State University.

In what researchers describe as the largest, most comprehensive analysis to date of cocaine contamination in banknotes, scientists are reporting that cocaine is present in up to 90 percent of paper money in the United States, particularly in large cities such as Baltimore, Boston, and Detroit. The scientists found traces of cocaine in 95 percent of the banknotes analyzed from Washington, D.C., alone. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for AGFD 142.

Yuegang Zuo, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & the School of Marine Science and Technology at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in North Dartmouth, Mass.

A material that has saved millions of teeth, an advanced water desalination filter, and a first-of-its-kind high blood pressure drug were invented by the 2009 Heroes of Chemistry, the American Chemical Society's "hall of fame" that recognizes achievements of chemists in industry. Those scientists are honored during the 238th ACS National Meeting. Launched in 1996, the Heroes of Chemistry program honors chemical innovators in industry "whose work has led to the welfare and progress of humanity" in a significant way in the past decade.

Sumita B. Mitra, Ph.D., 3M ESPE Dental Products Division in St. Paul, Minn.

William E. Mickols, Ph.D., Dow Water & Process Solutions, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Mich.

Scott A. Biller, Ph.D., Vice President and Head of Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Corp., Suffern, N.Y.

Jürgen Maibaum, Ph.D., senior research investigator and Novartis Leading Scientist, Basel, Switzerland

Joy Titus-Young, American Chemical Society

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is launching an innovative new program called Chemistry Ambassadors to help improve public awareness and appreciation for chemistry in cities, towns, and villages throughout the country.

Glenn Ruskin, Director, ACS Office of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C.

Russell Johnson, Ph.D., Chair, ACS Committee on Pubic Relations and Communications

Nancy Blount, Assistant Director, Society Communications, ACS Office of Public Affairs

Deep in Africa's Kalahari Desert lies the "Devil's claw," a plant that may hold the key to effective treatments for arthritis, tendonitis and other illnesses that affect millions each year. Unfortunately, years of drought have pushed the Devil's claw toward extinction, so scientists are scrambling to devise new ways to produce the valuable medicinal chemicals of the Devil's claw and other rare plants. Scientists are now reporting the first successful method of producing the active ingredients in Devil's claw.

Milen I. Georgiev, Ph.D., Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Scientists have copied the natural glue secreted by a tiny sea creature called the sandcastle worm in an effort to develop a long-sought medical adhesive needed to repair bones shattered in battlefield injuries, car crashes and other accidents. The traditional method of repairing shattered bones is to use mechanical connectors like nails, pins and metal screws for support until they can bear weight. But achieving and maintaining alignment of small bone fragments using screws and wires is challenging, scientists say. For precise reconstruction of small bones a biocompatible, biodegradable adhesive could be valuable because it would reduce metal hardware in the body while maintaining proper alignment of fractures, the researchers say. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for AGFD 080.

Russell J. Stewart, Ph.D., is with the Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Scientists in Canada are reporting exciting new research on these so-called "essential oil pesticides" or "killer spices." These substances represent a relatively new class of natural insecticides that show promise as an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional pesticides while also posing less risk to human and animal health. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for AGRO 008 and AGRO 004.

Murray B. Isman, Ph.D., is Professor and Dean in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Scientists in Indiana today have created what they believe to be a simple and effective state-of-the-art oil stain remover. They have developed a new coating for glass, plastics, and a range of other materials that would enable consumers to wipe away those pesky oils with plain water. They say same coatings can be added to common window cleaning sprays and used to prevent bathroom mirrors, automobile windshields and other surfaces from fogging up. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for PMSE 034.

Jeffrey Youngblood, Ph.D., is with the School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

Scientists have used a new vaccine production technology to develop a vaccine for norovirus, the dreaded cause of diarrhea and vomiting that may be the second most common viral infection in the United States after the flu. Sometimes called the "cruise ship virus," this microbe can spread like wildfire through passenger liners, schools, offices and military bases. The new vaccine is unique in its origin — it was "manufactured" in a tobacco plant. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for AGRO 149.

Charles Arntzen, Ph.D., is with the Biodesign Institute, Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

In a first-of-its kind study, scientists are reporting that snack foods like popcorn and many popular breakfast cereals contain "surprisingly large" amounts of healthful antioxidant substances called "polyphenols." Polyphenols are a major reason why fruits and vegetables — and foods like chocolate, wine, coffee, and tea — have become renowned for their potential role in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Until now, however, no one knew that commercial hot and cold whole grain cereals — regarded as healthful for their fiber content — and snack foods also were a source of polyphenols. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for AGFC 132.

Joe Vinson, Ph.D., is with the Department of Chemistry, University of Scranton, Scranton, Penn.

A scientific trend to view the world's biggest cities as analogous to living, breathing organisms is fostering a deep new understanding of how poor air quality in megacities can harm residents, people living far downwind, and also play a major role in global climate change. That's the conclusion of a report on the "urban metabolism" model of megacities. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for ENVR 053.

Charles E. Kolb, Ph.D., is with the Center for Chemical and Environmental Physics, Aerodyne Research Inc., Billerica, Mass.

Health-conscious people know that high levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the so-called "bad" cholesterol) can increase the risk of heart attacks, but scientists are now reporting that another form of cholesterol called oxycholesterol — virtually unknown to the public — may be the most serious cardiovascular health threat of all. Scientists from China are reporting one of the first studies on the cholesterol-boosting effects of oxycholesterol. They hope their findings raise public awareness about oxycholesterol, including foods with the highest levels of the substance and other foods that can combat oxycholesterol's effects. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for AGFD 237.

Zhen-Yu Chen, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong.

Scientists are reporting the development of a test that may lead to improved smudge- and reflection-resistant coatings for use in mp3 players, Blackberries, iPhones and other touch screen devices. For consumer electronics companies, the appearance of their flagship devices is just as important as their functionality, so smudge, scratch and reflective resistant coatings have become standard on high-end touch screen cell phones and mp3 players. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for COLL 462.

Steven R Carlo, Ph.D., is with C3 Consulting, Bowie, Md.

Burning candles made from paraffin wax –– the most common kind used to infuse rooms with romantic ambiance, warmth, light, and fragrance –– is an unrecognized source of exposure to indoor air pollution, including the known human carcinogens, scientists are reporting. Levels can build up in closed rooms, and be reduced by ventilation, they indicated. The researchers say said that that candles made from bee's wax or soy, although more expensive, apparently are healthier. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for ENVR 086.

Amid Hamidi, Ph.D., is with the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C.

Scientists are reporting the use of a new X-ray imaging technique to reveal for the first time in a century unprecedented details of a painting hidden beneath another painting by famed American illustrator N.C. (Newell Convers) Wyeth. The non-destructive look-beneath-the-surface method could reveal hidden images in hundreds of Old Master paintings and other prized works of art, the researchers say. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for COLL 461.

Jennifer L. Mass, Ph.D., Department of Art Conservation, University of Delaware, Newark, Del.

Chemists are preparing to play an important but often unheralded role in determining the success of one of the largest and most important scientific experiments in history — next year's initial attempts at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to produce the world's first controlled nuclear fusion reaction. If successful in taming the energy source of the sun, stars, and of the hydrogen bomb, scientists could develop a limitless new source of producing electricity for homes, factories, and businesses. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for NUCL 135.

Richard Boyd, Ph.D., is Science Director of the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif.

Scientists are reporting the design of a painless patch that may someday render hypodermic needles — as well as annual flu shots — a thing of the past. Lined with tiny "microneedles," these patches could make treatment of diabetes and a wide range of other diseases safer, more effective and less painful. Used as tiny hypodermic needles, they could improve treatment of macular degeneration and other diseases of the eye. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for BIOT 283.

Mark R. Prausnitz, Ph.D., is with the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.

In the first study to look at what happens over the years to the billions of pounds of plastic waste floating in the world's oceans, scientists are reporting that plastics — reputed to be virtually indestructible — decompose with surprising speed and release potentially toxic substances into the water. The researchers termed the discovery "surprising." Scientists always believed that plastics in the oceans were unsightly, but a hazard mainly to marine animals that eat or become ensnared in plastic objects. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for ENVR 169.

Katsuhiko Saido, Ph.D., is with the College of Pharmacy, Nihon University, Chiba, Japan.

Preliminary results of the study suggest that current models may underestimate the amount of pollution contributed by homes by up to 50 percent. The typical house in the United States is an alarming and probably underestimated source of water pollution, scientists are reporting. They say that runoff results from rainfall and watering of lawns and gardens, which winds up in municipal storm drains. The runoff washes fertilizers, pesticides and other contaminants into storm drains, and they eventually appear in rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. Preliminary results of a study suggest that current models may underestimate the amount of pollution contributed by homes by up to 50 percent. See corresponding news release, abstract, and nontechnical summary for AGRO 193.

Loren Oki, Ph.D., and Darren L. Haver, Ph.D. are with the University of California, Davis.

*Instructions for joining chat room sessions

		IMAGE: Join ACS' Virtual Press Conference room. Click here for more information.

Chat Room Sessions from ACS National Meeting in Washington, D.C.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Office of Public Affairs is offering the news media the opportunity to join press briefings whether covering the meeting onsite or from a remote location. This format during ACS' 238th National Meeting, held Aug. 16-20 in Washington, D.C., will provide access to the increasing number of journalists who cover scientific meetings from their home base.

Borrowing the popular chat room concept from the Internet, we will provide news media with access to both real and virtual chat room sessions during the Washington meeting.

Reporters attending the meeting can gather with scientists in an informal setting in our Press Briefing Room at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Registration East area, in Washington, D.C. Scientists will summarize their research and field questions. Offsite reporters can enter a virtual version of this Chat Room over the Internet. In addition to seeing and hearing the real-world activity, offsite reporters can submit questions.

Like hosts of a traditional chat room, we never know how many participants will join a session. Each session will proceed, regardless of attendance, so that digital transcripts can be made and posted online as a resource for individuals unable to attend.

Chat Room sessions begin at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, August 16, and continue during the week. Get a head start by registering at Ustream.tv, a live, interactive online video site.

To register with Ustream.tv, go to http://ustream.tv/sign-up-step-1. It's free and only takes a minute or two to sign up. To join the chat room during one of our sessions, visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/acslive and click the "Login" button at the top right of the Ustream window. Ustream requires the latest version of Adobe Flash, which can be downloaded without charge here.

Use the chat box to the right of the video window to submit questions to the researchers. To resolve connection problems, contact Adam Dylewski (a_dylewski@acs.org) or Mike Woods (m_woods@acs.org). After the press conference is complete, recorded versions of the sessions and accompanying chat transcripts will be available by going to the ACS Press Room (www.acs.org) and clicking on "Chat Sessions."

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 154,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

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