A new generation of cancer treatments based on nanotechnology is making its way out of the laboratory

 A new generation of cancer treatments based on nanotechnology is making its way out of the laboratory and into the clinic with the promise of targeting cancer cells while steering clear of healthy tissue, according an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN). C&EN is the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society. In the cover story, C&EN Senior Editor Bethany Halford explains that today’s anti-cancer medications impact healthy tissue in the process of killing cancer cells. Patients thus may experience side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, that in some instances can be so severe that patients decline further treatment. New nanomedicine cancer treatments promise to focus on diseased tissue while leaving healthy parts of the body unscathed, reducing the severity of side effects. The article explains how a new generation of nanoparticle-based medications bring anti-cancer drugs directly to the tumor. Because of their ultra-small size, particles of these drugs can slip through tiny passages in the blood vessels that nourish tumors, get inside tumors and even individual cancer cells, and do their work with precision. The article describes nanomedicines that already are in clinical trials with cancer patients and others that are moving in that direction. This story is available at: http://cenm.ag/nanotech

Sparkle Training at ACS headquarters in Washington, DC. I attended the Sparkle training as Jack Driscoll but quickly became introduced as Jen's Dad since Jennifer had given a wonderful training session on social Media at Sparkle 2011. It was very a helpful training course particularly with the role playing and video preparation with the media. there were PR Chairs from 24 sections at the training course.

The May 2012 issue of the Nucleus is now available. May2012NUCLEUS_RGBweb

NESACS and members will participate in the SE MA STEM May 24, 2012

NESACS and members will participate in the SE MA STEM May 24, 2012

NESACS, Cape Cod Science Cafe and NESACS members: PID Analyzers,LLC, Nova Biomedical Corp., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, & Smithers Pharma will be at the STEM EXPO at Bridgewater State University demonstrating science experiments and discussing future careers for > 500 students (grade 5-8) from 25 school districts in SE MA and the Cape & Islands

envision your future
STEM Expo
May 24, 2012 • Bridgewater State University • Free Event
Imagine a group of students on an interactive journey using a flight simulator – watch as they create a battery using lemons – join as they build an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) – observe as they use statistics to create the best offensive unit of a new NFL team – assist as they learn to check and record the vital signs of a newborn.
These are just a few of the activities to take place at the 2012 STEM Expo, Envision Your Future, at Bridgewater State University. 500 students, grades five through eight, are expected to participate. The Expo aims to get Southeastern Massachusetts students excited about pursuing education and careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM).
• Click here for the EXPO overview
• For a list of workshops, activities, and demonstrations, click here.
• Click here to view a list of collaborators
• Directions to the Moakley Center at Bridgewater State University are available here
Information for Student/Teacher Groups
Southeastern Massachusetts Middle School Students and Teachers in Grades Five through Eight.
More Information to Come
Information for School District Community Teams
Groups including: School administrators, guidance professionals, school committee members, STEM and Non-STEM teachers, and other representatives from the communities such as: early childhood educators, local business leaders, after-school program providers, and local, state, or federal representatives..

Contact Us: Questions regarding the STEM Expo may be directed to STEM Coordinator Katherine Honey, khoney@comcast.net, 508.316.1480
STEM Funding
The Southeast/Cape & Islands Regional PreK-16 STEM Network is funded through the Department of Higher Education's STEM Pipeline Fund.The Fund seeks to improve teacher preparation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects and to increase student interest in, preparation for, and success in STEM careers. The CONNECT Partnership serves as administrator of the Southeastern Massachusetts STEM Network.
STEM | 66 Hooper Street, Burnell Hall, Room 119 | Bridgewater, MA 02325 | TEL: 508-531-1437
STEM Network – c/o CONNECT Partnership

Review of Field Screening Methodology for Analysis of VOC's and SVOC's.#PID,#Photoionization,#Soil_analysis,#Portable _GC

Total VOC's by portable analyzers and portable GC's for BTEX are described.



Review of Methods of Analysis of Hydrocarbon_Contaminated_Soil

Several analyzers for analysis of VOC's are described.

HNU_PI_101_102_311_312

Soil Gas Surveys,#PID, #Photoionization,#Soil_Gas,#portable_GC

Methods and description of soil gas surveys are described along with the advantages of portable analyzers for on site analysis of VOC's.



Soil Gas Surveys

Portable analyzers for soil gas surveys from PID Analyzers are shown below:

HNU_PI_101_102_311_312

Rapid Analysis of Gaseous and Liquid Hydrocarbons Using Fast GC- Reduces Analysis Times by > 50%,#Fast_GC,#C1-C6_hdrocarbons.#GC

We have used the analysis of C1 to C6 hydrocarbons with a 30M x 0.32mm id with a 5  film to demonstrate the separation of both gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons rapidly while reducing analysis time by more than 50%.

The figure below illustrates the isothermal separation of C1 to C6 HC. A low temperature (35oC) is requires to separate methane from ethane and propane. The detector was the far UV absorbance detector and the analysis time was 15 minutes. This analysis can be sped up using temperature programming but with the long cool down times of most GC ovens, the analysis times can be reduced to about 12 minutes.

Much of the previous work on “fast GC” utilized short (5M) thin film capillary columns to elute solutes quickly and the result is rapid but inferior separations because of the short column. New technology developed at Valco’s capillary column development center where VICI takes polyimide-coated fused silica (FST) and removes the polyimide layer. Then the (FST) is electroplated with nickel. As a result of the superior heat transfer of the electroplated nickel, we are able to rapidly and efficiently heat and achieve excellent resolution for a 30M capillary column.
 These columns can be programmed faster (hundreds of degrees/min)- save 50-90%
 The columns can be reliable started a few degrees above ambient
 These columns cool down faster because of their low mass, so savings are> 50%
Several examples of C1 to C6 HC that are given below demonstrate a > 50% reduction in analysis times:The columns can be programmed faster 50-60o/min and will cool down faster as a result of their low mass. The columns can be reliably programmed from several degrees above ambient which is not possible with most GC/s.

A comparison of a GC with a normal oven and a fast GC column are shown below.

Contact PID Analyzers for more info on “The FAST GC”

PID Analyzers, LLC, 2 Washington Circle, Sandwich, MA 02563; T 1 774 414 5281
url: http://www.hnu.com