Supplements that target fat loss … metals that protect themselves … ammonia air pollution … decoys that stop viruses … beefed-up plastic wrap … a vitamin for cancer prevention … new fuels … a kinder, gentler aspirin …and more at the 220th national meeting of the American Chemical Society
A popular dietary supplement promises to help people lose fat and keep it off. A different approach to making drugs yields a kinder, gentler aspirin. A new gasoline additive packs the punch of MTBE without the environmental threat.
These are but a few of the findings that will be presented at the 220th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. The meeting will be held here August 20-24 in the Washington Convention Center and surrounding hotels.
More than 5,500 research papers will be presented to the 10,000 scientists expected to attend. News releases will be posed on the World Wide Web, on an embargoed basis, at www.eurekalert.org under the "ACS 220th national meeting" button. Advisories and news releases will be posted at www.acs.org/press news after the embargo is lifted.
The meeting is open to accredited news media. The press room will be in Room 9 of the Washington Convention Center, located at 900 9th Street, N.W. It opens Saturday, August 20 at noon Eastern time and closes that day at 6 p.m. The hours are 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Eastern Time from Sunday, August 20 through Thursday, August 24.
News media must register at the press room to receive badges needed for admittance to events. Press kits will include a complete set of meeting abstracts, news releases on selected technical papers, and a schedule of news briefings. For more information, email Charmayne Marsh at y_marsh@acs.org or call her at the telephone numbers listed on the lefthand side of this page.
Sunday, August 20
- Cars, not cows, put most ammonia in our air - There's evidence that the main source of ammonia in the air we breathe is not livestock, but cars. Ammonia plays a role in the formation of the tiny particulate matter targeted by a controversial proposed environmental rule that will be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court this term. (FUEL 1, Sunday, Aug. 20, 9:15 a.m.)
- New coating could extend life of metals tenfold - Instead of preventing rust, a new polymer helps metals form their own layer of protection. Cars, bridges and pipelines with the coating lasted up to ten times longer. (POLY 21, Sunday, Aug. 20, 10:10 a.m.)
- First human studies indicate supplement could help control weight, fat and diabetes - A major symposium looks at whether a popular dietary supplement could help dieters keep the fat off even after they stop dieting and exercising, help people shed pounds, and boost insulin levels in diabetics. (AGFD 9, Sunday, Aug. 20, 1:30 p.m.; AGFD 23, Monday, Aug. 21, 9:50 a.m.; and AGFD 26, Monday, Aug. 21, 11:20 a.m.)
- Web could shake up peer review - Expert panelists will discuss the implications of providing access to chemistry research papers via the World Wide Web prior to peer review and publication in a scholarly journal or magazine. (Exhibit Hall, Sunday, Aug. 20, 4:00 p.m.)
Monday, August 21
- Add spice to your life - An expert from spice-making giant McCormick & Company will discuss using spices to extend the shelf life of foods as well as add flavor. (Exhibit Hall, 2:30 p.m.)
- New crop protection method could save U.S. farmers billions - Naturally occurring microorganisms could stave off "scab," a widespread fungal disease that threatens millions of acres of wheat, barley and rye. Scab has cost U.S. farmers $3 billion in the last 10 years. (AGFD 46, 3:20 p.m.)
- Can antioxidants ‘beef up' plastic wrap? - When you spy a steak that makes your mouth water, could it be because of the packaging? Researchers discuss whether wrapping beef in plastic wrap permeated with antioxidants will keep it looking good and extend shelf life. (AGFD 38, 10;40 a.m.)
- Safer fruit juice and flavorful, too - Scientists report on whether treating fruit juice with carbon dioxide, the same stuff that makes soft drinks fizzy, kills pathogens as effectively as heat without sacrificing flavor. (AGFD 72, 8 p.m.)
- Russian environmental whistle-blower speaks out - Just three weeks before he returns to Russia to face a possible retrial for treason, Aleksandr Nikitin, the former navy captain who was imprisoned for exposing unsafe disposal of nuclear wastes, will discuss radioactive contamination in his native land. (9 p.m.)
Tuesday, August 22
- New form of aspirin delivers therapeutic punch without side effects - A new form of aspirin that could eliminate stomach irritation and other unwanted side effects is the first drug made from polymers, the stuff of plastics. (POLY 253, 9:50 a.m.)
- Mercury made 'em mad as hatters - A chemist with clues to history will discuss how mercury literally drove hat makers mad and the implications of finding it in the hair of such scientists as Isaac Newton and Michael Faraday. (11 a.m.)
- Decoy cells act as ‘molecular flypaper' for viruses - Fake cells dubbed "nanodecoys" that attract and deactivate viruses could be deployed in the body as drugs. They might also be used on mucosal surfaces to defend against biological warfare agents. (IEC 118, 11:30 a.m.)
- Can Vitamin D prevent cancer as well as build bones and teeth? - Could a chemically modified version of vitamin D become one of a small but growing number of drugs used to prevent cancer? Researchers examine possibilities for a unique preventive chemistry in this essential vitamin. (MEDI 191, 12:45 p.m.)
Wednesday, August 23
- Alzheimer's and mad cow diseases: A possible link? - A researcher examines the similar protein folding patterns involved in the early stages of both diseases. His theories could help focus efforts to develop preventive drugs. (PHYS 460, 7 p.m.)
- Farms and livestock leave mark on Chesapeake Bay - Researchers will present the latest findings on the effects of pesticides, agricultural runoff and animal by-products on fish, frogs and the overall state of the Chesapeake Bay. (AGRO 138, 2 p.m.; AGRO 140, 3:05 p.m.; AGRO 142, 3:55 p.m. Continues on Thursday, Aug. 24, with and AGRO 165, 2:25 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 24
- Zapping bacteria with electricity - Chemists consider whether an electrical current works better than chlorine tokill bacteria on fresh produce, cutting boards, and food processing equipment. (AGFD 133, 10:50 a.m.)
- New material mends broken bones faster - Treatment for serious bone fractures could be quicker and less invasive, thanks to a new biodegradable material that could replace metal pins, screws and plates. (PMSE 288, 11:15 a.m.)
- Chemists and curators join forces to preserve Old Masters, museum treasures - Past preservation efforts are backfiring, causing the polymers in old paint to fall apart. Chemistry has come to the rescue and transformed preservation from an unpredictable craft into a science. (POLY 452, 2:35 p.m.)
- Put a polymer in your tank- A new polymer-based gasoline additive could dramatically decrease polluting emissions while boosting engine power. MTBE, today the additive most widely used for this purpose, has come under fire for contaminating groundwater. (POLY 458, 2:50 p.m.)
A nonprofit organization with a membership of 161,000 chemists and chemical engineers, the American Chemical Society publishes scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences, and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.