“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”
Henry Ford

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
Steve Jobs

“I am not a scientist. I am, rather, an impresario of scientists. “
Jacques Yves Cousteau

“Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.“
Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”
Dalai Lama

“It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.”
Albert Einstein

“Every man is a damn fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit.”
Elbert Hubbard

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
Socrates
 

Why Do We Itch?

The largest organ in the human body is the skin. Known as the integumentary system, the skin and its appendages covers approximately 3000 square inches and weighs about six pounds, which is almost twice weight of the average adult’s brain or liver. This flexible, rugged, and virtually waterproof protector of the body is the first defense component against any foreign materials entering the body as well as protecting the body from trauma. Besides being the largest organ, the skin is also the only organ continuously exposed to impending irritation. Many things come into contact with the skin every day potentially causing one of the body’s more mysterious reactions – itching.

Pruritus – the “technical” term for itching, begins with an external stimuli like bugs, dust, clothing fiber or hair. Itching is the body’s defense mechanism, alerting it to potential harm. The stimuli lands on the skin, scratching the skin’s surface layer or dermis. Receptors in the dermis send signals to the brains cerebral cortex, via fibers in the spinal cord.

So, what makes an itch, itch? Scientists once thought that the itching sensation was by caused by low-level stimulation of the same nerves that feel pain. As with pain, the itchiness feeling is delayed slightly from the event that causes the pain or the itch. However, both sensations lead to different responses. While pain leads to a reflex action that removes us from the source of injury, an itch causes us to scratch. As soon as we feel an itch, we want to scratch the spot of the itch with our fingernails. We want to remove the irritant as soon as possible. When the brain realizes that the irritant has been scratched away, the itch signal sent to it has been interrupted and is no longer recognized by the brain.

In 1997, a group of researchers concluded that itching is a large web of sensation, action, and emotion. They identified a family of small, slow-conducting nerves with broad tentacles in the skin that respond to itch alone. Brain scans were later used to identify those areas of the brain that are stimulated during an itch. No specific part appeared to be involved, rather the areas involved in sensation, preparation and initiation of movement and the bits involved in feeling both pleasure and pain were all activated.

Recently, an “itchy” gene was discovered. It was identified by researchers and is known as the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). The gene’s discovery is an important finding, potentially leading to the development of a drug that can block the gene and relieve some of the symptoms. Additional benefits of this discovery may not even be itch-related. Although they are different, the nerves that carry pain and itching pass through closely spaced areas from the spinal column to the brain. If a cure for itching is found, people suffering from a range of disorders could also be helped.

SourceFinder Enhances Chemspec Experience – Makes Exhibition More Productive and Beneficial

SourceFinder the one-of-a-kind internet tool that provides a selection of features for enhancing the exhibition experience will again be available at the upcoming Chemspec events.

This collaboration between Chemspec and Chemical Information Services offers exhibitors and attendees a vast array of valuable tools, aimed at making their exhibition experience more worthwhile and beneficial. The unique resource enables show participants to find the vital information they need before, during and after a show, utilizing powerful features found in Chemical Information Services’ network of database products. Attendees may perform company, product, structure, and CAS number searches as well as locate the latest industry news and organize vital show information. SourceFinder provides a selection of functions to assist exhibitors in putting their best foot forward during the show, enabling them to showcase their high-value information and documentation to attendees.

Whether you are an attendee or an exhibitor, make the most of your Chemspec experience. Stop by the Chemical Information Services stand and see SourceFinder for yourself!

• Chemspec India - Mumbai, April 15th and 16th – Stand G-8a
• Chemspec Europe - Berlin, June 9th and 10th - Stand G11

Air Products Technology to Use Power Vehicles with Landfill Gas

Air Products has signed a contract with SK Energy to construct a hydrogen fueling station based in World Cup Park in Seoul, South Korea. The facility will be part of a novel energy project to supply hydrogen produced exclusively from landfill gas to fuel a fleet of vehicles. Scheduled to begin operation by July of this year, the station is part of the city’s push to use alternative supply means to generate 10 percent of its energy consumption by the year 2020, using hydrogen for 30 percent of the switch.

SK Energy is a leading Korean company in hydrogen reforming technology. The new station will be the largest ever installed in Asia. Air Products’ compression, storage, and dispensing technology will initially fuel hydrogen powered fuel cell buses for public transit. A small fleet of cars is targeted to increase to as many as 100 public use vehicles. The location, World Cup Park, is a combination of several small parks adjacent to World Cup Stadium. It has been selected for several eco-friendly projects, among them a “zero-energy house”, which is powered entirely by solar energy and other environmentally friendly energies.

Air Products has placed over 110 hydrogen fueling stations in the United States and 18 countries worldwide. The company is the leading supplier to refineries assisting in making cleaner burning transportation fuels. Currently, the company’s technology provides over 175,000 hydrogen fills annually, with that number ever increasing.
 

Eastman Opens New Acetate Tow Manufacturing Plant in Korea

Eastman Chemical Company recently announced the completion of a new acetate tow manufacturing plant in Ulsan, Korea. A result of a joint venture between Eastman and SK Chemicals Co., Ltd., the new plant is owned by Eastman Fibers Korea Limited. The plant will be operated by Eastman, which has controlling ownership of the venture.

Opening of the plant will further support the company’s growth for cellulose acetate tow in Asia. The new plant will contribute 27,000 metric tons (MT) of capacity, increasing Eastman’s overall capacity by 15%. The company’s total annual capacity will increase to over 200,000 MT..
 

Converted Organics Collaborates with Leading Fish Processor

Converted Organics Inc. has entered into a tactical relationship with Acme Smoked Fish Corporation. The two organizations have agreed to work together in the collection, processing, and conversion of food waste from Acme. One of the largest processors of smoked fish and herring in the U.S., Acme is a client of Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Filco Environmental Services, which has provided Converted Organics with organic waste from its food service clients for the past two years.

The smoked fish supplies a significant source of high-quality organic nutrients for Converted Organics’ all-natural organic fertilizers. In addition, it provides a means for Acme to minimize the negative environmental impacts associated with waste disposal and offers a use for its waste in such a sustainable process.

Solae Recognized as One of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" in 2010

Soy ingredients producer, Solae, LLC, has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the World's Most Ethical (WME) Companies for 2010. The award recognizes extraordinary ethical leadership actively upheld within various industries, with thousands of companies evaluated for 2010 rankings. Solae earned a place on the list by implementing upright business practices and initiatives that are instrumental to the company's success, benefit the community, and raise the bar for ethical standards within the food industry.

Ethisphere is a think-tank, dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption, and sustainability. This is the fourth year it has published the WME rankings, which appear in Ethisphere Magazine's Q1 issue. Winners were determined after thorough, in-depth research as well as multi-step analysis. Ethisphere reviewed thousands of nominations from companies in over 100 countries and 36 industries.

Dow Names New CFO

The Dow Chemical Company recently named William H. Weideman as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The appointment was the result of a comprehensive search of both global and internal sources and was unanimously supported by the company’s Board of Directors. Weidman has been serving as Vice President and interim CFO since November of last year.

In his 30 years with Dow, Weidman has served in a variety of Accounting and Controller roles. He was named Controller of Texas Operations in 1994, Global Business Controller for Specialty Chemicals in 1996, Global Finance Director for Performance Chemicals in 2000, Finance Vice President for Chemicals and Intermediates in 2004 and in 2006 was named Group Finance Vice President for Dow's Basic Chemicals and Plastics portfolio. He was appointed the company's Corporate Controller in May 2006.

BioFuel Energy Appoints New VP of Operations

Ethanol producer BioFuel Energy Corporation has named Douglas M. Anderson as its Vice President of Operations. BioFuel Energy currently has two 115 million gallons per year ethanol plants – one located in Fairmont, Minnesota and the other in Wood River, Nebraska. Mr. Anderson will lead the operations teams at these facilities. He brings 25 years of experience in the agricultural processing industry, including his most recent post as Chief Executive Officer at NuGen Energy. Prior to his work in the ethanol industry, he held a number of managerial positions with the Iams Company, a division of Proctor & Gamble.

Axion International Appoints New Member to Its Board of Directors

Green technology innovator, Axion International Holdings, Inc. recently added Bradley C. Love to its Board of Directors. His appointment was made in conjunction with the resignation of Marc Green from the Board. Mr. Green continues in his role of the company’s President and Treasurer.
Mr. Love is an independent financial consultant with more than 25 years of business proficiency. He previously held the position of Financial Advisor-Business Development with Wachovia Securities.

Afton Chemical Completes Polartech Acquisition

Afton Chemical Corporation recently completed its acquisition of Polartech. A global leader in the lubricant and fuel additive market, Afton’s industrial product portfolio is strengthened with the metalworking fluid additive technology Polartech provides.

With approximate annual revenue of $45 million, Polartech’s 130 employees, its headquarters, manufacturing facilities in the United States, China, and India, as well as R&D and manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom are included in the acquisition agreement. As a result, Afton’s international presence will be expanded providing opportunities for growth in the industrial market.

Afton Chemical Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NewMarket Corporation and based in Richmond, Virginia.

Pacific Ethanol Holding Files Plan of Reorganization

Pacific Ethanol Holding Co. LLC (“PEH”) announced that along with its four wholly-owned ethanol production facilities, has filed on March 26, 2010, a Plan of Reorganization and draft Disclosure Statement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. Pacific Ethanol, Inc. expects PEH and its subsidiaries to emerge from bankruptcy by the end of the second quarter of this year.

The proposal provides a new line of credit of up to $35 million to support plant operations and restructuring the $293.5 million in secured debt of PEH’s subsidiaries to a combination of equity and $115 million of secured and subordinated debt. A newly formed holding company (“New PEH”), to be owned by the secured lenders, will be established to which ownership of the plant subsidiaries will be transferred.

Staffing, management, and operations of the plants, as well as marketing of the ethanol and distillers grains produced by the plants, will continue under the terms of amended and restated asset management agreements with Pacific Ethanol’s subsidiaries, Kinergy Marketing and Pacific Ag Products.

It is believed that operations at the plants in Madera and Stockton, California, and sustained production of ethanol at all plants will be supported through the liquidity provided by the combination of new and restructured debt.

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. is based in Sacramento, California.

KMG Chemicals Acquires Electronic Chemicals Business

KMG Chemicals, Inc. announced its acquisition of General Chemical’s electronic chemicals business. The global provider of specialty chemicals to the electronic, wood treatment, and agricultural chemical markets completed the acquisition for $25.7 million in cash and $850,000 in liabilities.

Included in the transaction is a purification and processing facility for solvents located in Hollister, California, along with its personnel. At the end of 2010, when KMG’s current agreement with third-party toll manufacturers expires, the Hollister plant will assume production of solvent-based products.

In addition, General Chemical’s equipment at its Bay Point, California facility will become the property of KMG; however, the personnel and real estate will remain with General Chemical where they will provide contract manufacturing services to KMG.

This is KMG Chemicals’ eighth acquisition in seven years.

Rockwood Introduces Solarox™ Color Pigment

Rockwood Pigments announces a new generation of iron oxide color pigment known as Solarox™. The first colored pigment with photo-catalytic properties, Solarox™ enables surfaces to self-clean, reduces air pollutants, and inhibits microbial growth through fusion with functional properties that respond to sunlight.

Rockwood partnered with the University of Turin to develop a manufacturing process which merges the photo-catalytic properties of titanium dioxide with the coloring power of iron oxide pigments to provide the Solarox™ pigment in a complete range of red, yellow, and black iron oxide color shades. Blending these shades creates a spectrum of brown, gold, tan, and buff color combinations.

Rockwood Pigments, a business unit of Rockwood Holdings Inc., is a leading manufacturer of innovative inorganic pigments, specialty chemicals, and advanced materials. With 9,500 employees worldwide and manufacturing sites and customer service centers in the United States, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and China, Rockwood is one of the world’s largest suppliers of colored pigments for coatings, plastics, construction, and specialty applications.
 

Lanxess’ Leather Business Invests in New Technologies

Lanxess has purchased a new type of roll coating machine for its Leather (LEA) business Technology Center located in Leverkusen, Germany. The specialty chemicals group is focusing on meeting the demands of the automotive leather industry by optimizing its top coat systems to develop environmentally-friendly top coat formulations.

The roll coating machine – the Gemata Topstar – provides direct roll coating through its specially developed rubber screen rollers. Top coats can be applied more accurately and with virtually no waste while improving the environmental balance in a way conventional spraying methods cannot. Spraying can waste as much as 50% of the formulation due to over spraying.

A leading specialty chemical company, Lanxess has 43 production sites worldwide that focus on the development, manufacturing, and marketing of rubber, plastics, intermediates, and specialty chemicals.

Transcept Pharmaceuticals to Resubmit NDA

Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it will be resubmitting a New Drug Application (NDA) for its prescription sleep aid, Intermezzo ®. Transcept expects to resubmit the Intermezzo® NDA in the late fourth quarter of 2010.

After concerns were raised regarding the possibility of dosing errors that could lead to next day residual effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed to Transcept’s proposal to conduct a highway driving study to measure potential next day driving impairment.
In addition to the driving study, Transcept has proposed a single unit dose package in order to reduce the potential for inadvertently taking more than one dose of Intermezzo®(zolpidem tartrate sublingual tablet) in a single night.

Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company that focuses on products addressing important therapeutic needs in neuroscience.

 

FDA Grants Approval of Xifaxan® to Salix

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marketing approval for its overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) treatment. Xifaxan® (rifaximin) 550 mg tablets reduces the risk of HE recurrence in patients 18 years of age or older being treated for cirrhosis as a result of end-stage liver disease.

Cirrhosis is caused by such factors as alcohol and/or drug abuse, autoimmune disease, and chronic viral hepatitis and is the third most common cause of death in people 45-65 years of age, behind heart disease and cancer. The availability of Xifaxan® will provide an important advancement in the treatment of overt HE patients to their caregivers and the health care community. Salix expects the treatment to be available by the end of May 2010.

Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products treating gastrointestinal diseases.
 

Origin Agritech Develops Business Unit for Premium Glyphosate

Origin Agritech Limited has developed a strategic pesticide business unit for a premium branded glyphosate product. A supplier of hybrid and genetically modified crop seeds in China, Origin Agritech expects to market their glyphosate product to the domestic agricultural market for the 2010 selling season.

Working in conjunction with Origin’s glyphosate-resistant seed portfolio, this branded product will be sold at a premium to other non-branded products in the current Chinese marketplace and will work with existing hybrid and genetically modified seed products.

Origin products are contract produced in China and marketed and distributed through its existing agricultural network of first and second-level distributors and retailers in all 30 mainland China provinces.

 

Yonye International Takes Top Honors at Hi-Tech Fair
 

Yongye International, Inc. recently won the “Special Houji Award” at the 16th annual China Yangling Agricultural Hi-Tech Fair (the "CAF"). The “Special Houji Award” is the top award offered by the CAF. It is named after “Houji”, the god of agriculture in ancient Chinese mythology.

Yongye is a leading developer, manufacturer, and distributor of Shengmingsu brand plant and animal nutrient products in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). The company was one of only two companies from the 26 award winners at CAF that secured awards for two different products. Yongye's plant and animal nutrient products were also the only humic and fulvic acid based products to win awards at CAF.

The event is held annually in Yangling, Shaanxi Province, and is the largest and one of the most prestigious agricultural fairs in the country. CAF was established in 1994 and approved by the Chinese State Council in 1999. It is sponsored by 17 government ministries as well as several international organizations, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Education, UNESCO, and the World Bank.

PhosChem to Supply DAP to Indian Customers

Phosphate Chemicals Export Association, Inc. (PhosChem) has agreed to supply diammonium phosphate (DAP) to two large Indian customers over the next three years. Under the agreement, a total of six million tonnes of DAP will be shipped to Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) and Indian Potash Limited (IPL).

The largest exporter of concentrated phosphate from North America, PhosChem will provide approximately two million tonnes of DAP annually to IFFCO and IPL, beginning April 2010 through March 2013.

PhosChem’s member companies include Mosaic Crop Nutrition, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Mosaic Company, and PCS Sales (USA), Inc., an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. 
 

Southwall Aids Empire State Building Retrofit Project 

Southwall Technologies Inc. announced its Heat Mirror® technology has been selected as part of the Empire State Building energy retrofit project.
More than 6,500 windows are being upgraded in the structure to boost its energy-efficiency, marking another milestone in Southwall’s industry firsts.

Heat Mirror film will be suspended between the two panes of existing insulating glass to create a pair of super insulating cavities, increasing the thermal performance by up to four times, reducing the solar heat gain by 50%, and improving the R-value from R2 to R8.

A key factor in Southwall’s Heat Mirror technology being selected for the retrofit is its 30-year track record of proven durability in buildings and homes around the world. As part of the integrated project, the window upgrades should save $400,000 per year. The entire retrofit project is expected to provide a 38% reduction in energy use, saving $4.4 million per year in energy costs.

Southwall Technologies Inc. is an ISO 9001:2000-certified manufacturer and leader in the development of energy-saving films and glass products.

Greystone Logistics Enters Resin Business

Bettendorf, Iowa-based Greystone Logistics has entered the Recycled Polyethylene Resin manufacturing business. The new division was launched using a six-inch polyolefin extruder that has an annual capacity of 14.6 million pounds of production. A second extruder will be installed in the second calendar quarter of this year, bringing a total of 29.2 million pounds of annualized production on-line in for the calendar year. Greystone anticipates adding a third extruder in the first half of 2011 for a total of 43.8 million pounds of annual polyolefin production.

Recycled Polyolefin production will be concentrated at the company’s Bettendorf, Iowa recycling facility. This Midwestern location offers an ideal, centralized location from which to collect and distribute recycled plastics. John P. Brown will lead the Resin Recycling Division. Greystone anticipates $4 million in gross sales from resin for calendar year 2010.

China XD Plastics Signs Distributor Agreement

china XD Plastics Company Ltd. announced the signing of a one-year non-exclusive agreement with Ningbo Huading New Material Technology Company Limited (“NHNM”) to distribute China XD Plastics’ modified plastics for automotive applications in the Eastern Chinese Market.

China XD Plastics is the largest Chinese developer, manufacturer, and distributor of modified plastics that are primarily used in the automotive applications in China. It has supplied NHNM’s customers with modified plastics in small quantities since 2009, but will now expand to larger volume deliveries.

Most of the Eastern Chinese Market’s demand for modified plastics is used by large automobile parts manufacturers, including Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group (“SAIC Group”), Geely Auto, and Chery Auto.

International Flavors & Fragrances Launches Global Chef Blog

Leading global creator of flavors and fragrances, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) has launched a new blog, A Taste of CulinEssence™. The endeavor provides a forum for its international team of chefs to share their culinary thoughts, news, trends, kitchen tips, and more with the external audience. The blog also presents IFF with a venue for discussing other interesting happenings at the company, allowing it to share these experiences with customers.

The CulinEssence™ program delivers authentic, global culinary tastes for consumer products, utilizing a combination of the culinary arts and cutting-edge flavor technology. The CulinEssence™ Team is composed of professional chefs and culinary ambassadors who share a passion for food and taste. Lead by Master Chef Florian Webhofer, the international team works with flavor creation, flavor technology, sensory and consumer insights, and category marketing to create profiles that will appeal to consumers all over world. The Team began in 2003 and is in constant demand to translate trends into concepts tailored for IFF customers. It sets standards for flavor development, and uses its culinary expertise to guide both the effective and creative use of flavors in the company’s consumer products.