May 2024 Southwest Retort

SOUTHWESTRETORT

SEVENTY-SIXTH YEAR

Published for the advancement of Chemists, Chemical Engineers and Chemistry in this area published by

May 2024

The Dallas-Fort Worth Section, with the cooperation of five other local sections of theAmerican Chemical Society in the Southwest Region.

Vol. 76(9) May 2024

Editorial and Business Offices: Contact the Editor for subscription and advertisement information.

Editor: Connie Hendrickson: retort@acsdfw.org

Copy and Layout Editor: Lance Hughes: hugla64@gmail.com

Business Manager: Martha Gilchrist: Martha.Gilchrist@tccd.edu

The Southwest Retort is published monthly, September through May, by the Dallas-Ft. Worth Section of the American Chemical Society, Inc., for the ACS Sections of the Southwest Region.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLES and COLUMNS

Letter from the Editor…..…..……..............21 AndAnother Thing………………………….6 Meeting in Miniature……………….……...11

Councilor Report:American Chemical Society Spring 2024 National Meeting………...18

NEWS SHORTS

Centipedes used in traditional Chinese medicine offer leads for kidney treatment.…..….5

The longer spilled oil lingers in freshwater, the more persistent compounds it produces……………………………………………...8

This highly reflective black paint makes objects more visible to autonomous cars.........9

The secret to saving old books could be gluten-free glues……………………...….….....10

This salt battery harvests osmotic energy where the river meets the sea.…………….12

Some plant-based steaks and cold cuts are lacking in protein……...…………………..13

Waterproof ‘e-glove’ could help scuba divers communicate………………..…….….14

Study finds iron-rich enamel protects, but doesn’t color, rodents’ orange-brown incisors…………………………….…………...16

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ContacttheDFWSection

General: info@acsdfw.org

Education: ncw@acsdfw.org

Elections: candidates@acsdfw.org

Facebook: DFWACS

Twitter: acsdfw

2023 DFW Section Officers

Chair: Rajani Srinivasan

Chair-elect: Denise Lynn Merkle

Past Chair: Michaela C. Stefan

Treasurer: Martha Gilchrist

Secretary: Trey Putnam

Councilors:

MaryAnderson

Kirby Drake

Linda SchultzR

Rebecca Weber

Alternate Councilors:

Michael Bigwood

Daniela Hutanu

Danny Tran

Centipedes used in traditional Chinese medicine offer leads for kidney treatment From the ACS Press Room

“Structurally Diverse Alkaloids with AntiRenal-Fibrosis Activity from the Centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans”

Journal of Natural Products

A venomous, 8-inch centipede may be the stuff of nightmares, but it could save the life of those affected by kidney disease. Researchers report in the Journal of Natural Products that the many-legged critter used in traditional Chinese medicine contains alkaloids that in cell cultures reduced inflammation and renal fibrosis, which both contribute to kidney disease. The journal is copublished by the American Chemical Society and the American Society of Pharmacognosy.

This large centipede, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine, contains compounds that reduce inflammation and a cellular process involved in kidney disease. Nynke van Holten/shutterstock.com

Some 1,500 species of animals are used in traditional Chinese medicine, but little is known about many of the secondary metabolites their bodies produce for specialized

functions such as immobilizing prey. The few compounds that have been studied, such as toad venom for cancer treatment, have proved to be fruitful leads for drug development. So, Yong-Xian Cheng and colleagues decided to examine the secondary metabolites produced by the Chinese red-headed centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans). The venomous centipede has been used for thousands of years in treatments for conditions including epilepsy, tuberculosis, burns and cardiovascular disease.

The researchers mixed a sample of dried centipede powder with ethanol to extract numerous compounds from the animals and then separated and identified the constituents with techniques such as chromatography and spectrometry. The team found 12 new quinoline and isoquinoline alkaloids, including some with unusual molecular structures, along with a half dozen other alkaloids that had previously been detected in this species or in plants. In cell cultures, some of the alkaloids showed anti-inflammatory behavior, while a portion also reduced renal fibrosis. This buildup of connective tissue is associated with chronic kidney disease and is stimulated by inflammation. Finally, the researchers identified a protein that plays a role in renal fibrosis and that was targeted by the most effective dual-function alkaloid. This information could provide a lead for developing treatments for kidney disease, according to the researchers.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program.

'AndAnother Thing...' May 9, 2024

Denise Lynn Merkle, PhD, FACS

You've been let off the hook. Truly. You may not have realized this, but I assure you that you are a lot happier than you would have been - because the topic of the May AAT (And Another Thing) is not as originally intended. Had Calliope visited my laptop, beautifully composed descriptions of the benefits of volunteering for ACSDFW would have inspired you to immediately write to DFWChemists@gmail.com to beg to lend your time and talents for the benefit of your DFW local section of the ACS. But no. No rigorous rhyming nor sibilant sonnets flowed from user to keyboard. So - you will not enjoy (suffer?) hypnotic exhortations to bond together for the good of chemists and chemistry. See - relief for you. This isn't to say you shouldn't volunteer - of course you should - You're just not in for an entire article of persuasion.

Instead, you receive the fruits of what I have been describing as Dendritic Thought - the very basis of And Another Thing. Usually, the peripheral thoughts make it back to the central thought pathway - but not always. And at finals time, the peripheral thoughts head right to the beach. Summertime! Whatever you do to enjoy the blissful months we were allerroneously- taught meant freedom from the day-to-day grind, enjoy! Know the location of the closest medical facility- and the address of your location. Wear your sunblock, don't fight rip currents, look where you're going, carry a locator beacon if you're going off grid, keep copies of your passport, ID and credit cards, and don't forget your loved ones are in the back seat - or still on the train. Wishing everyone health, situational awareness, dreams of volunteering forACSDFW, and a fabulous summer. Later, Gators.

From the ACS Press Room

The longer spilled oil lingers in freshwater, the more persistent compounds it produces

“Evaluations of Weathering of Polar and Non-Polar Petroleum Components in a Simulated Freshwater Oil Spill by Orbitrap and Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry”

Energy & Fuels

Oil is an important natural resource for many industries, but it can lead to serious environmental damage when accidentally spilled. While large oil spills are highly publicized, every year there are many smaller-scale spills into lakes, rivers and oceans. And, according to research published in ACS’ Energy & Fuels, the longer that oil remainsit undergoes, creating products that can persist Approximately 600,000 gallons of oil in freshwater, the more chemical changes were accidentally spilled into the environment in 2023, according to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation, a group that monitors oil spills. This figure represents ocean spills as well as freshwater spills in rivers and lakes. Over time, this oil weathers and undergoes a variety of chemical transformations, which could make compounds that are more soluble in water and stick around longer. Weathering in salt water is reasonably well understood, but what happens to oil in freshwater is still being investigated. So, Dena McMartin and colleagues investigated the chemical changes that could happen to that oil as it sits in rivers and lakes.

The team simulated a freshwater oil spill in the laboratory by combining water and river sediment collected directly from the North

Saskatchewan River in Alberta, Canada, in a tank and then adding conventional crude oil obtained from a pipeline operator in Alberta. The test was carried out at around 75 degrees Fahrenheit for 56 days. Water samples were taken at multiple time points from the simulated spill and subjected to Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) and ion trap mass spectrometry, which provided detailed information into the chemical makeup of these complicated mixtures.

As spilled oil spends more time in the environment, compounds are formed that might have an increasing impact on aquatic organisms.

Signature Message/Shutterstock.com

Researchers concluded that as the oil weathered, more and more oxygen atoms were incorporated into some compounds, causing them to become more persistent in water. As a result, higher concentrations of the oxygen-loaded chemicals could build up, potentially increasing the impact on aquatic organisms. This increase in oxygen atoms was observed for sulfur oxide compounds, along with some other classes of compounds present in the crude oil mixture. McMartin and team members say these results emphasize the importance of rapid responses to oil spills and could help set benchmarks for longer-term remediation efforts.

Continued on page 19

From the ACS Press Room

This highly reflective black paint makes objects more visible to autonomous cars

“Designing Novel LiDAR-Detectable PlateType Materials: Synthesis, Chemistry, and Practical Application for Autonomous Working Environment”

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

Driving at night might be a scary challenge for a new driver, but with hours of practice it soon becomes second nature. For self-driving cars, however, practice may not be enough because the lidar sensors that often act as these vehicles’ “eyes” have difficulty detecting dark-colored objects. Research published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces describes a highly reflective black paint that could help these cars see dark objects and make autonomous driving safer.

Lidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a system used in a variety of applications, including geologic mapping and self-driving vehicles. The system works like echolocation, but instead of emitting sound waves, lidar emits tiny pulses of near-infrared light. The light pulses bounce off objects and back to the sensor, allowing the system to map the 3D environment it’s in. But lidar falls short when objects absorb more of that nearinfrared light than they reflect, which can occur on black-painted surfaces. Lidar can’t detect these dark objects on its own, so one common solution is to have the system rely on other sensors or software to fill in the information gaps. However, this solution could still lead to accidents in some situations. Rather than reinventing the lidar sensors, though, Chang-Min Yoon and colleagues

wanted to make dark objects easier to detect with existing technology by developing a specially formulated, highly reflective black paint.

To produce the new paint, the team first formed a thin layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) on small fragments of glass. Then the glass

was etched away with hydrofluoric acid, leaving behind a hollow layer of white, highly reflective TiO2. This was reduced with sodium borohydride to produce a black material that maintained its reflective qualities. By mixing this material with varnish, it could be applied as a paint. The team next tested the new paint with two types of commercially available lidar sensors: a mirror-based sensor and a 360-degree rotating type sensor. For comparison, a traditional carbon black-based version was also evaluated. Both sensors easily recognized the specially formulated, TiO2 -based paint but did not readily detect the traditional paint. The researchers say that their highly reflective material could help improve safety on the roads by making dark objects more visible to autonomous vehicles already equipped with existing lidar technology.

Continued on page 19

Lidar sensors, as pictured here atop a selfdriving car, could more easily detect darkcolored objects thanks to a specially formulated black paint.

From the ACS Press Room

The secret to saving old books could be gluten-free glues

“Wheat-Based Glues in Conservation and Cultural Heritage: (Dis)solving the Proteome of Flour and Starch Pastes and Their Adhering Properties”

Journal of Proteome Research

“Bookworm” is a cute thing to call a voracious reader, but actual bookworms as well as microorganisms and time break down the flour pastes commonly used to keep old publications in one piece. Now, researchers in ACS’ Journal of Proteome Research have analyzed the proteins in wheatbased glues applied in historic bookbinding to provide insights on their adhesiveness and how they degrade. This information could help conservators restore and preserve treasured tomes for future generations.

Identifying the proteins in wheat-based bookbinding glues could help repair and preserve historic texts. Microgen/Shutterstock.com

Wheat-based glues have been used as far back as Ancient Egypt, but little is known about their protein makeup. Flour glues are made from the insides of wheat grains, which includes the gluten that’s so delicious

to bookworms and microorganisms alike. Starch glue, on the other hand, is made from the proteins that remain after most of that gluten is removed, making it less attractive to pests. Understanding the nature of the proteins in these glues and how they affect the adhesives would help book conservators choose the best approaches and materials for their work. So, Rocio Prisby and colleagues created protein profiles for both flour and starch glues, identified differences between them, then used this information to analyze books from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) archives.

To create the protein profiles, called proteomes, the researchers first extracted proteins from lab-made versions of flour and starch glues. Then, they used mass spectrometry data and bioinformatics software to identify the types and relative abundance of proteins in the samples. The team discovered that flour glue has more proteins, and a wider variety of them, than starch glue. Additionally, the proteins in starch glue were particularly durable and flexible, making it a potentially better choice than flour glue for book repairs.

The researchers next used their protein profiles to analyze historic book binding samples from the NLM archives. They confirmed that the adhesives were flour-based because of their gluten content and identified degraded gluten in the samples, which could indicate damage and a loss of stickiness. They also identified that the chemical breakdown of leather and glue in a book’s cover impact each other, possibly leading to faster overall

Continued on page 19

Meeting in Miniature

From the ACS Press Room

This salt battery harvests osmotic energy where the river meets the sea

“Decoupled Ionic and Electronic Pathways for Enhanced Osmotic Energy Harvesting”

ACS

Energy Letters

Estuaries where freshwater rivers meet the salty sea are great locations for birdwatching and kayaking. In these areas, waters containing different salt concentrations mix and may be sources of sustainable, “blue” osmotic energy. Researchers in ACS Energy Letters report creating a semipermeable membrane that harvests osmotic energy from salt gradients and converts it to electricity. The new design had an output power density more than two times higher than commercial membranes in lab demonstrations.

Osmotic energy can be generated anywhere salt gradients are found, but the available technologies to capture this renewable energy have room for improvement. One method uses an array of reverse electrodialysis (RED) membranes that act as a sort of “salt battery,” generating electricity from pressure differences caused by the salt gradient. To even out that gradient, positively charged ions from seawater, such as sodium, flow through the system to the freshwater, increasing the pressure on the membrane. To further increase its harvesting power, the membrane also needs to keep a low internal electrical resistance by allowing electrons to easily flow in the opposite direction of the ions. Previous research suggests that improving both the flow of ions across the RED membrane and the efficiency of electron transport would likely increase the amount of electricity captured from os-

motic energy. So, Dongdong Ye, Xingzhen Qin and colleagues designed a semipermeable membrane from environmentally friendly materials that would theoretically minimize internal resistance and maximize output power.

An improved membrane (yellow line) dramatically increased the amount of osmotic power harvested from salt gradients, like those found in estuaries where salt water (left tank) meets fresh water (right tank).

Adapted fromACS Energy Letters 2024, DOI: 10.1021/ acsenergylett.4c00320

The researchers’ RED membrane prototype contained separate (i.e., decoupled) channels for ion transport and electron transport. They created this by sandwiching a negatively charged cellulose hydrogel (for ion transport) between layers of an organic, electrically conductive polymer called polyaniline (for electron transport). Initial tests confirmed their theory that decoupled transport channels resulted in higher ion conductivity and lower resistivity compared to homogenous membranes made from the same materials. In a water tank that simulated an estuary envi-

Continued on page 19

From the ACS Press Room

Some plant-based steaks and cold cuts are lacking in protein

“Assessment of Protein Quality and Digestibility in Plant-Based Meat Analogues”

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Many plant-based meats have seemingly done the impossible by recreating animal products ranging from beef to seafood. But beyond just the taste and texture, how do these products compare to the real thing in nutritional value? A small-scale study published in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows that while some “plant steaks” and “plant cold cuts” might be comparable to meats on some fronts, their amino acid content and protein digestibility fall short.

Meat products (top left, veal; bottom left, bresaola) tend to contain more proteins and amino acids than their plant-based alternatives (right).

Adapted from Journal ofAgricultural and Food Chemistry 2024, DOI: 10.1021/ acs.jafc.3c08956

Meat-free burgers or ground beef mimics might come to mind first, but the options for plant-based alternatives have expanded to include whole cuts of meat resembling steaks and chicken breasts, as well as sliced cold cuts like salami or bresaola a type of cured beef. While these newer products have-

n’t been studied as extensively as burgerstyle products, they are becoming more widespread and popular among consumers. As a result, it’s important to understand how they differ nutritionally from the meats they aim to replicate and replace. In other words, how well do our bodies digest and gain nutrition from these foods? Tullia Tedeschi and colleagues wanted to answer that question by comparing the protein quality, integrity and digestibility of a set of plant-based steaks and cold cuts to their meat counterparts. The team, based in Italy, collected three different plant-based steaks and three different plant-based cold cuts. Veal steaks were used as a comparison point for the plant steaks, whereas ham and beef cold cuts were compared to their respective plant-based substitutes. The fat, salt and protein content of each was measured, then the samples underwent a simulated digestion in the lab to understand how well the proteins break down in a human’s digestive tract.

• The plant-based products contained more carbohydrates, less protein and reduced amino acid content than their meat-based counterparts.

• Plant steaks and the veal samples were comparable in terms of essential amino acid content and digestibility.

• Plant cold cuts generally had less salt than the meats and contained fewer essential amino acids. Different products also showed differing levels of digestibility due to the variety of ingredients they contain.

Continued on page 20

From the ACS Press Room

Waterproof ‘e-glove’ could help scuba divers communicate

“Underwater Gesture Recognition MetaGloves for Marine Immersive Communication”

ACS Nano

When scuba divers need to say “I’m okay” or “Shark!” to their dive partners, they use hand signals to communicate visually. But sometimes these movements are difficult to see. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have constructed a waterproof “eglove” that wirelessly transmits hand gestures made underwater to a computer that translates them into messages. The new technology could someday help divers communicate better with each other and with boat crews on the surface.

E-gloves gloves fitted with electronic sensors that translate hand motions into information are already in development, including designs that allow the wearer to interact with virtual reality environments or help people recovering from a stroke regain fine motor skills. However, rendering the electronic sensors waterproof for use in a swimming pool or the ocean, while also keeping the glove flexible and comfortable to wear, is a challenge. So Fuxing Chen, Lijun Qu, Mingwei Tian and colleagues wanted to create an e-glove capable of sensing hand motions when submerged underwater.

The researchers began by fabricating waterproof sensors that rely on flexible microscopic pillars inspired by the tube-like feet of a starfish. Using laser writing tools, they creat-

ed an array of these micropillars on a thin film of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a waterproof plastic commonly used in contact lenses. After coating the PDMS array with conductive layer of silver, the researchers sandwiched two of the films together with the pillars facing inward to create a waterproof

Adapted fromACS Nano 2024, DOI: 10.1021/ acsnano.3c13221

sensor. The sensor roughly the size of a USB-C port is responsive when flexed and can detect a range of pressures comparable to the light touch of a dollar bill up to the impact of water streaming from a garden hose. The researchers packaged 10 of these waterproof sensors within self-adhesive bandages and sewed them over the knuckles and first finger joints of their e-glove prototype.

To create a hand-gesture vocabulary for the

Continued on page 20

Awaterproof e-glove makes it easier for scuba divers to communicate underwater.

The Doherty Award is given for excellence in chemical research or chemistry teaching, meritorious service to ACS, new chemical methodology (for the industry), solution of pollution problems, and advances in curative or preventive chemotherapy. Nominees may come from industry, academia, government, or small business. The nominee should be a resident member in the area served by the ACS DFW Local Section, and the work should have been performed here. The award is $1500 and an engraved plaque.

The Schulz Award is given to high school chemistry teachers, who, like the late Dr. Werner Schulz, bring that something extra to the teaching of chemistry. The nominee and/or nominator need not be ACS members. Nominees should show excellence in chemistry teaching, as demonstrated by testimonials from students and fellow teachers, results in student competitions, and diligence in updating and expanding scientific/teaching credentials. The award is $1500 and an engraved plaque.

The DFW Section instituted the Chemistry Ambassador Award to recognize an outstanding Section member who has made a significant impact by promoting chemistry to the community. The 2024 Chemistry Ambassador of the Year award is based on peer or selfnominations to the selection committee. Submissions should be one page in length and address the community outreach activities either through teaching, service, or working with legislators to affect public policy. Submissions will be evaluated on the impact made, which may include but not limited to how many people were reached, impact on individual people in the community, and exemplary commitment to the promotion of chemistry in the community. The award is $1000.

Each nomination should contain a completed nomination form, a cover letter highlighting the nominee’s accomplishments, and a copy of the CV. One or two additional letters may accompany nominations. The nomination package should be sent by email as a single pdf file to Dr. Nick Tsarevsky at nvt@mail.smu.edu. Nominations remain active for five years but should be updated annually.

The deadline for submission of nominations is extended to May 15, 2024

From the ACS Press Room

Study finds iron-rich enamel protects, but doesn’t color, rodents’ orange-brown incisors

“Ingenious Architecture and Coloration Generation in Enamel of Rodent Teeth”

ACS Nano

Chattering squirrels, charming coypus, and tail-slapping beavers along with some other rodents have orange-brown front teeth. Researchers have published highresolution images of rodent incisors in ACS Nano, providing an atomic-level view of the teeth’s ingenious enamel and its coating. They discovered tiny pockets of iron-rich materials in the enamel that form a protective shield for the teeth but, importantly, don’t contribute to the orangebrown hue new insights that could improve human dentistry.

Adapted fromACS Nano 2024, DOI: 10.1021/ acsnano.4c00578

Human and animal teeth are coated in a complex crystalline substance called enamel. And while enamel is the hardest tissue

in our bodies, it’s even harder in rodents. Their ever-growing incisors have an additional outer layer of acid-resistant, iron-rich enamel. Previously, researchers suggested that this iron-rich material was also responsible for the striking orange to brown color of many rodents’ incisors. However, the microscopic structure of the iron-rich enamel hadn’t been fully characterized. To learn more about the composition of rodent tooth enamel, Vesna Srot and colleagues captured high-resolution images of incisor specimens from several species. The researchers collected incisors from rodents that live in different environments: beavers, coypus, squirrels, marmots, rats, voles and mice. To investigate the structure, elemental composition and color transmission of the enamel, thin slices were taken from different sections of the teeth and prepared for imaging with optical microscopy, 3D focused ion beam tomography and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The micro- and nano-scale resolution images revealed:

• Initially, cells that synthesize enamel components produce 6- to 8-nanometer -wide particles of iron-storage proteins called ferritins, which are the source material for iron ions in matured enamel.

• As enamel matures and solidifies before the teeth erupt from the gums, iron -containing ferrihydrite-like material moves into the outer layer of enamel, occupying empty spaces between calcium-containing hydroxyapatite crystals.

Nano-sized pockets of iron material in rodents’incisors (coypu on the left and beaver on the right) strengthen and protect the teeth.

From the ACS Press Room Around the Area

• The microstructure of the iron-rich enamel contains elongated nanometersized pockets filled with small amounts of the ferrihydrite-like material, which contribute acid resistance even though the filled pockets account for less than 2% of the volume of iron-rich enamel.

• While these results suggest that different types of rodents develop the iron-rich outer enamel layer in a similar way, the depth of the layer vary by species, with mice having the thinnest and coypus having the thickest layers.

• Finally, the intense orange-brown color of rodent incisors doesn’t come from the filled pockets in the enamel, as was previously thought, but from a thin surface layer composed of aromatic amino acids and inorganic minerals.

The researchers suggest that adding small amounts of ferrihydrite-like or other colorless biocompatible iron minerals to dental care products could provide exceptional protection for human tooth enamel. In addition, incorporating small amounts of iron hydroxides into synthetic enamel could produce longer-lasting restorations for human teeth.

The authors acknowledge funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

UT-Dallas

Associate Professors Sheel C. Dodani and Gabriele Meloni renewed their Welch Foundation Research Grants, and Jie

Zheng, the "Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology", received a new Welch Foundation Research Grant. Dr. Gabriele Meloni was also named the first "Dean and Cindy Sherry Professor in Chemistry".

Climate Change Puzzle

Landolt: An

Solve the puzzle, which connects energy sources, uses, and carbon dioxide production.

Check out the link: https://im-apuzzle.com/share/60ad45fe0986df8 or 60ad45fe0986df8 | I'm a Puzzle Shared jigsaw puzzle im-a-puzzle.com

Councilor Report: American Chemical Society Spring 2024 National Meeting

The ACS held its Spring National Meeting March 17-21, 2024 in New Orleans, LA, in a hybrid format. As of March 19, there were 14,368 registrations (13,122 in-person and 1,246 online).

I attended the meeting in person, and the feedback was generally good about the technical sessions and the networking (for those attending in person).

Below is a summary of some of the key actions/updates at the Council meeting:

• By electronic ballot, the Council selected the Council selected Rigoberto Hernandez and Laura Sremaniak as candidates for 2025 President-Elect. These two candidates will join Mukund Chorghade, a petition candidate, and any additional candidates selected via petitions to stand for election in the fall 2024 national election.

• The Council approved changing the name of the Division of Biological Chemistry (BIOL) to the Division of Biochemistry and Chemical Biology (BIOL). This name change takes effect January 1, 2025.

• The Council approved the creation of International Chemical Sciences Chapters in Egypt and Guangdong, China, subject to the concurrence of theACS Board of Directors.

• The Council approved the Petition on Dues and Benefits to change the name of the Schedule of Membership to the Schedule of Dues and Benefits. The petition also defines the role of Community Associates. This petition is now presented to the ACS Board of Directors for action.

• The Board has agreed to change the date of the ACS Spring 2030 meeting in New Orleans from March 17-21 to March 10-14, and the ACS Fall 2032 meeting date and location to August 22-26, 2032, in Chicago, IL.

Finally, you should have received the ACS online committee preference form for 2025 committee assignments. The preference form will be open to all ACS members and no one will be required to request permission to gain access to the form. The new form will allow users to review each committee by its main topic and focus, along with the skills and expertise needed to serve. The deadline to submit is July 1, 2024. Interested members should go to www.CMTE.acs.org to complete their preferences.

Respectfully,

Kirby Drake

From the ACS Press Room

continued

The longer spilled oil lingers

Continued from page 8

The authors acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation, the Engineering Council of Canada and the Oceans Protection Plan of the Government of Canada. in the environment.

This highly reflective black paint

Continued from page 9

The authors acknowledge funding from the Korea Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

The secret to saving old books

Continued from page 10

deterioration. This work provides information that could signal to a conservator the need for repair, potentially preventing a book from being damaged or destroyed. More broadly, the researchers state that the results demonstrate the potential of protein analysis in guiding conservation efforts.

This salt battery harvests osmotic energy

Continued from page 12

ronment, their prototype achieved an output power density 2.34 times higher than a commercial RED membrane and maintained performance during 16 days of non-stop operation, demonstrating its long-term, stable performance underwater. In a final test, the team created a salt battery array from 20 of their RED membranes and generated enough electricity to individually power a calculator, LED light and stopwatch.

Ye, Qin and their team members say their findings expand the range of ecological materials that could be used to make RED membranes and improve osmotic energyharvesting performance, making these systems more feasible for real-world use. The authors acknowledge funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

From the ACS Press Room

continued

Some plant-based steaks

Continued from page 13

Overall, the nutritional value of the plantbased products depended greatly on the plants used to create them, causing wide variation in their amino acid content and the digestibility of their proteins. In contrast, all the samples within a particular meat type showed comparable nutritional profiles. The researchers say that this work helps demonstrate that careful consideration should be taken when replacing meat products with plant-based alternatives, and that these differences in nutritional profile should be communicated to consumers to allow for informed decisions.

Waterproof ‘e-glove’

continued from page 14

researchers’ demonstration, a participant wearing the e-glove made 16 gestures, including “OK” and “Exit.” The researchers recorded the specific electronic signals generated by the e-glove sensors for each corresponding gesture. They applied a machine learning technique for translating sign language into words to create a computer program that could translate the e-glove gestures into messages. When tested, the program translated hand gestures made on land and underwater with 99.8% accuracy. In the future, the team says a version of this eglove could help scuba divers communicate with visual hand signals even when they cannot clearly see their dive partners.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Shiyanjia Lab, National Key Research and Development Program, Taishan Scholar Program of Shandong Province in China, Shandong Province Key Research and Development Plan, Shandong Provincial Universities Youth Innovation Technology Plan Team, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of China, Shandong Province Science and Technology Small and Medium sized Enterprise Innovation Ability Enhancement Project, Natural Science Foundation of Qingdao, Qingdao Key Technology Research and Industrialization Demonstration Projects,

From the Editor

Congratulations to the Meeting-in-Miniature winners and thanks to all the participants at the University of Dallas...next year, University of Texas at Commerce.

I usually comment on my favorite press release, but this month I can’t decide between the article on centipede extracts for kidney disease treatment and the rodent teeth enamel...it’s a tough call. The venomous Chinese red-headed centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans) has been used for thousands of years in treatments for conditions including epilepsy, tuberculosis, burns and cardiovascular disease. The researchers extracted compounds from dried centipede powder; they found 12 new quinoline and isoquinoline alkaloids, including contains alkaloids that in cell cultures reduced contributors to kidney disease, including inflammation and renal fibrosis.

Yes, that’s important...but rodent teeth? Teeth in humans and animals are coated with enamel, a complex crystalline substance. Enamel is the hardest substance in our bodies but rodents have harder enamel. Rodent incisors keep growing and have extra enamel. It was previous thought that this iron-rich enamel for the orange to brown color rat incisors. However, the microscopic structure of the iron-rich enamel hadn’t been fully characterized. Read the article!

It’s the last Retort for the 2023-2024 session... back in September.