ISRAEL’S TECHNION RESEARCHERS DEVELOP CONDUCTIVE BIOPOLYMERS USING PROTEINS

The journal Advanced Materials has reported on the success of Technion – Israel Institute of Technology researchers in creating conductors that are relevant to solar energy generation, biomedical engineering, and more using by-products of the food industry that would otherwise be discarded as waste. The technology demonstrated in the article allows for the simple, fast, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly production of biopolymers, which include applications for electrophysiological signal sensing.

The study was conducted in the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry under the leadership of Assistant Professor Nadav Amdursky, Head of the Biopolymers and Bioelectronics Laboratory, and doctoral students Ramesh Nandi and Yuval Agam. According to Prof. Amdursky, “The current global green trend has not bypassed industry, and numerous groups worldwide are working on new solutions that will limit the pollution caused by the production of synthetic materials and by their very presence. One of the options is, of course, the use of natural materials, and the big challenge is to adapt them to meet needs.”

The two main approaches in environmentally conscious chemistry are environmental chemistry – the creation of environmentally friendly materials; and sustainable chemistry – production based on available degradable materials and energy-efficient processes. The present research integrates the two approaches in an environmentally friendly production process that yields environmentally friendly products in the context of conductive polymers.

Polymers are long chains made up of thousands of building blocks called monomers. Silk, wool, and cotton fibers are examples of natural polymers, whereas nylon and PVC are synthetic polymers. Conductive polymers are a subgroup of polymers, and they serve a vast variety of applications: electronics, energy storage, fuel cells, medicine, and others. These polymers are currently produced using processes that are costly and cause pollution due to the use of derivatives of oil, gas, and fossil fuel.

The alternative proposed by the Technion research team is protein polymers – molecules that are present in different biological tissues such as silk and wool fibers, spider webs, hair, and nails. Here, as mentioned, they are by-products of the food industry that would otherwise be discarded as waste. According to Prof. Amdursky, “The inspiration to use proteins to create conductive polymers originated in the unique function of proteins in nature – they are exclusively responsible for transporting various charge carriers in flora and fauna; for example, in cellular respiration or photosynthesis in plants.”

The researchers created transparent polymer films with high conductivity. This film is suitable for biological and biomedical applications since it is non-toxic. It is biodegradable in the human body and can be stretched to approximately 400% of its original length, without significantly impairing its electrical properties. Its conductivity is among the highest detected in biological materials.

According to Prof. Amdursky, “The production of the film in our research was a one-pot process, spontaneous, inexpensive, fast, energy-efficient, and nonpolluting. In the article, we demonstrate the use of the film as ‘artificial skin’ that noninvasively monitors electrophysiological signals. These signals play a meaningful part in brain and muscle activity, and therefore their external monitoring is a highly important challenge.”

Prof. Amdursky emphasizes that since this technology is designed for application and commercialization, “the economic consideration is key, and consequently, it is most important to lower the costs of production processes so that they will yield a competitive product, also in terms of price, with petroleum-based polymers, and happily, we have succeeded. This is in addition to the reduction in environmental damage in the production phase as well as during use. The new polymer is fully biodegradable in less than 48 hours, as opposed to synthetic polymers, which are not biodegradable and as result, pollute our planet.”

The research was sponsored by the Gutwirth Fund (Indian student Ramesh Nandi was awarded a scholarship), the United States – Israel Binational Science Foundation, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and a PhosAgro/UNESCO/IUPAC green chemistry research grant. The researchers thank the Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program (GTEP) for its financial support through the NEVET program and the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute (RBNI) for the use of the Institute’s research infrastructure.

#ISRAEL’S TECHNION #CONDUCTIVE BIOPOLYMERS #PROTEINS

LES ROCHES APPOINTS CARLOS DÍEZ DE LA LASTRA AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, one of the world’s leading hospitality business schools, has named Carlos Díez de la Lastra as Chief Executive Officer. Appointed by the Governing Board, he will succeed Dr. Christine Demen Meier who is retiring. In 3 years at the helm of Les Roches, she reached extensive achievements such as the launch of the Spark innovation center and the new Master in Hospitality Strategy and Digital Transformation.

Considered one of the 150 most influential tourism professionals in Spain, Carlos Díez de la Lastra brings 25 years of experience in the higher education sector, the last eight at the head of the Les Roches campus in Marbella, where he established the leadership of the institution in Spain and its expansion on an international scale. Before joining Les Roches, Díez de la Lastra was Vice President of Expansion and Director General of the European University of the Canary Islands in Spain as part of the global network of Laureate International Universities.

Carlos Díez de la Lastra has a proven track record in establishing strong links with managers and businessmen in the industry. He contributes to different expert focus groups, including the committee created by Turismo Costa del Sol to deal with pandemic challenges and the Online Education Committee of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

He will leverage this extensive experience and network to further position Les Roches at the forefront of Hospitality digitalization and innovation overseeing the expansion of the Les Roches international network comprising today’s campuses in Switzerland (Crans-Montana), Spain (Marbella), and China (Shanghai) with close to 3,000 students and a team of 320 employees.

Díez de la Lastra holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid and a master’s degree in Business Administration‐MBA from IEDE. He commented: “I welcome the challenge of leading one of the best educational institutions in the world and taking over from Dr. Christine Demen Meier’s magnificent legacy that will enable us to start this promising new stage of Les Roches with a strong foundation.

#LES ROCHES APPOINTS #CARLOS DÍEZ DE LA #CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Solvay launches new biodegradable guar-based polymers for beauty care

The Group is expanding its biodegradable offering with two additional guar-based functional polymers for responsible hair and skin care formulations.

IEA reappoints Fatih Birol for new term as Executive Director

His reappointment, for a third term, comes at a pivotal moment for the IEA amid heightened awareness that clean energy transitions must be not only rapid but also secure.

The vote to reappoint Dr. Birol took place during the 2022 IEA Ministerial. The two-day meeting was chaired by US Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm, and brought together energy and climate ministers from more than 40 countries.

New mandates detailed in the 2022 IEA Ministerial communiqué set the IEA up to evolve in its mission and impact, including by ensuring energy security during the energy transition, leading the global energy sector’s fight against climate change, and strengthening the IEA family of governments.

“Our decision today for an additional term for Dr. Birol as IEA Executive Director again confirms our confidence in his skills and expertise,” said Secretary Granholm, the Chair of the 2022 IEA Ministerial Meeting.

“We look forward to working with the IEA under his continued leadership as we ramp up efforts to accelerate the clean energy transition on the road to a net-zero future while strengthening our energy security.”

“I am very pleased that we have reappointed Dr. Birol as Executive Director for a third term,” said Ambassador Hiroshi Oe, Chair of the IEA Governing Board. “This sets the organization up perfectly to deliver on the commitments laid out in the 2022 IEA Ministerial communiqué, and play a key role in accelerating sustainable and secure clean energy transitions.”

“I’m honored that IEA members have put their trust in me to lead the Agency into a new era following what I believe may turn out to be the most consequential Ministerial Meeting in the IEA’s near 50-year history,” said Dr. Birol.

“The energy world is changing fast and needs to change faster still. With our new mandates, we are now ready to respond and chart a new course for the IEA, not just for the next two years but for decades to come. My energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to lead my outstanding colleagues within the IEA Secretariat and to serve our Member Governments have never been stronger.”

Dr. Birol has served as Executive Director since September 2015. Under his leadership, the IEA has been instrumental in underpinning a significant increase in global climate ambition and in responding to new vulnerabilities and risks to energy security.

As well as leading the IEA, Dr. Birol chairs the World Economic Forum’s (Davos) Energy Advisory Board. Last year, TIME named him on its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He is also the recipient of numerous state decorations, including earlier this year the French Legion of Honour. 

#IEA #Fatih Birol #Executive Director

USGS detects forever chemicals in 16 states water wells

The U.S. Geological Survey has detected the toxic “ forever chemicals ” known as PFAS in public and private drinking water wells in 16 Eastern states.

USGS announced the findings in a new study designed to assess the contamination of five aquifers that are important sources of drinking water. PFAS were detected in public and private drinking water wells in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

The study detected 14 different PFAS, and most frequently found PFOA, PFOS, and PFBS, some of the most notorious and well-studied PFAS.

USGS took 254 samples and found PFAS in 60 percent of wells serving public water systems. It found PFAS in 20 percent of wells serving individual households. Water was most likely to be contaminated with PFAS if the aquifer was newly filled, the well was near a fire training site or urban area, or had increased organic material.

At least one type of PFAS was detected in 54 percent of the samples, and two or more PFAS were found in 47 percent of the samples.

In addition to PFOA and PFOS, the most common PFAS detected include PFBS, PFHxS, PFHpA, PFNA, PFBA, PFPeA, and PFHxA.  

“It’s very troubling that PFAS were detected so frequently,” said Scott Faber , EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs.

The highest detection collected was 1,500 parts per trillion, or ppt, of PFOA, found in community water well in West Virginia.

PFAS  are found in the blood of virtually everyone,  including newborn babies. Very low doses of PFAS have been linked to the suppression of the immune system and are associated with an elevated risk of cancer, increased cholesterol, reproductive harm, and other health concerns.

Thousands of communities have already detected these toxic forever chemicals in their water, and PFAS have been confirmed at nearly  400  military installations.  EWG  estimates that more than 200 million Americans are drinking water contaminated with PFAS.

“No one should have to worry about toxic forever chemicals in their tap water,” said Faber. The Environmental Protection Agency has known of the risks to communities posed by PFAS since at least 1998 but has failed to act . 

 The Biden EPA’s PFAS “ roadmap proposes to set a drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS by 2023 and take steps to restrict industrial releases of PFAS into the air and water.

The USGS should help with identifying private wells that are contaminated with PFAS, but more needs to be done. “A drinking water standard will not address the PFAS in private wells,” Faber said. “It’s very troubling that 20 percent of private wells that were sampled contained PFAS. Millions of people living in rural households could be drinking contaminated tap water.”

#USGS #PFAS #16states #foreverchemical 

Biden EPA revives justification for coal utility mercury rule

The Environmental Protection Agency a proposed rule restoring the legal foundation for limiting coal-fired power plants’ mercury emissions under the Clean Air Act, a finding the Trump administration sought to axe.

The rule reinstates the agency’s finding that it is “appropriate and necessary” for EPA to regulate power plant emissions using authority established in the 1990 amendments to the landmark air law. The Obama EPA in 2011 finalized the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, or MATS, rule which is credited with dramatically reducing mercury and other emissions from coal-fired utilities.

“This decision returns sanity and science to EPA’s efforts protecting children and other vulnerable populations from extremely dangerous pollution like mercury,” said EWG President Ken Cook.

“Although reversing the insidious anti-health policies of the former Trump administration should be celebrated, it’s a stark reminder of what happens when critical environmental safeguards are eviscerated and scientific consensus is rejected just to placate the coal industry,” Cook said.

The MATS rule required electric utilities that burn coal and oil to install technologies to cut emissions of mercury and other heavy metal air pollutants, including arsenic.

Utilities estimated the cost of the pollution-trapping equipment at around $18 billion. But it was money well spent: The rule had an almost immediate impact on air quality, with a  70 percent drop in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The EPA estimated the health benefits of the rule from $37 billion to $90 billion every year.

The states that saw the most significant decreases in mercury emissions because of the Obama rule include those that rely heavily on electricity generated from coal-fired power plants: Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

The Trump administration in 2020 scrapped the appropriate and necessary finding, and the Biden EPA’s rule starts the process of reversing that decision. The Trump EPA did not scrap the MATS rule itself, but observers had feared that revoking the appropriate and necessary finding was a prelude to an attempt to undo the entire emissions rule.

#Biden EPA #revives justification #coal utility

MediaTek’s highly integrated 7nm T750 chipset delivers 5G broadband experiences in a compact, low-power form factor

 MediaTek and NEC Platforms, Ltd. today announced the first NEC 5G customer-premise equipment (CPE) and mobile Wi-Fi (Mi-Fi) products powered by MediaTek’s T750 5G chipset. This is the first time that MediaTek and NEC Platforms have collaborated on CPE products. These products provide 5G speeds right out of the box and are an affordable broadband alternative to areas with limited DSL, cable, or fiber services, bringing super-fast connectivity to all areas including suburban, rural, and high-density locations.

The new Mi-Fi product, “Speed Wi-Fi 5G X11,” will be launched in October 2021, followed by the CPE product, “Speed Wi-Fi HOME 5G L12,” coming in November 2021, distributed by KDDI Corporation, Okinawa Cellular Telephone Corporation, and UQ Communications Inc.

These new 5G Mi-Fi and CPE products will be also added as a part of the new 5G devices for NEC Platforms’ Aterm product portfolio, and the full portfolio will be launched in the Japanese market in 2022. NEC Platforms has shipped its Aterm’s successful product line with a total of 35 million mobile and home routers to date and will provide consistent support for the development, manufacturing, and maintenance of its 5G data communications equipment in Japan with its high quality and reliable solutions.

“MediaTek’s broad portfolio of 5G solutions is bringing incredible 5G experiences to smartphones, laptops, CPE, Mi-Fi devices, and beyond,” said Martin Lin, Deputy General Manager of Wireless Communications Business Unit at MediaTek.

“With our first collaboration with NEC Platforms in the CPE segment, we are continuing our commitment to bring everyone fast and reliable 5G connectivity. We look forward to further expanding our footprint in the Japanese market and helping to accelerate the rollout of 5G in the region.”

“We believe that combining MediaTek’s connectivity technology and NEC Platforms’ broadband expertise will help make 5G more accessible to consumers across Japan,” said Kanji Shuke, Executive Vice President at NEC Platforms. “The Aterm series has already been well received by many customers for its stable and reliable connectivity, and we will continue to strive to create products that exceed consumers’ expectations.”

MediaTek’s T750 5G chipset is a highly integrated, 7nm compact chip design with support for sub-6GHz frequencies and two-component carrier aggregation (2CC CA) for extended coverage. The T750 design integrates a 5G NR FR1 modem, quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 processors, and the required peripherals all on a single chip.

This enabled NEC Platforms to build high-performance CPE devices that are compact and easy for consumers to self-install. The T750 chipset comes pre-integrated with software drivers for MediaTek’s connectivity solutions such as our 4×4 and 2×2 + 2×2 dual-band Wi-Fi 6 chipsets. The chipset also integrates MediaTek’s 5G UltraSave technologies for ultra-power-efficiency.

For operators, the T750 provides 5G speeds up to an impressive 4.7Gbps right out the box, rivaling or exceeding fixed-line services; using already installed cellular infrastructure, operators can avoid the costs of laying down cables or fiber. For original design manufacturers (ODMs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the T750 reduces development times and costs, providing significant time-to-market advantages.

Additionally, consumers can self-install the compact 5G CPE devices powered by the T750, avoiding the hassles of lengthy installation times. Consumers also have the flexibility to place 5G CPE devices anywhere on their property, instead of being limited to being within reach of a phone or fiber line.

MediaTek’s extensive 5G portfolio makes 5G connectivity more accessible by powering a range of devices – from the high-end to the mid-tier – so consumers can unlock the possibilities that 5G brings with ultra-fast and reliable connectivity.

NEC Platforms’ CPE and Mi-Fi products powered by MediaTek are expected to reach the Japanese consumer market starting in October 2021. 

 https://www.mediatek.com/products/cellularBroadband/mediatek-t7

#MediaTek #Mobile wi-fi product #T750 5G chipset