| Business and technology news exclusively for chemical engineers |  |
- Contract approved at Tesoro refinery in Calif.
The union representing workers at Tesoro's refinery in Martinez, Calif., ratified a three-year contract proposal this past week. The deal avoids strike threats and raises pay 8.5% over the life of the contract. Reuters
(6/7)     
- Proposed ethane tax credit would benefit many, Pa. officials say
Pennsylvania lawmakers have expressed interest in a proposed 5-cent-per-gallon ethane tax credit for processing facilities and manufacturers that buy ethane. The proposal would offer $1.7 billion in tax breaks overall, but no more than $66 million per year. "The reasoning here is simple: people in the state's southwest need jobs. The ones at [a plant proposed by] Shell are likely to pay, on average, $70,000 a year, and once the plant is running dozens of other manufacturing operations are likely to spring up around it," writes C. Alan Walker, head of the state Department of Community and Economic Development. The Daily Review (Towanda, Pa.)
(6/11), Philadelphia Daily News
(6/11)
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- Paints and coatings could soon fix their own scratches
 Synthetic materials that help plastics, paints, coatings and other objects to repair themselves are being developed, researchers say. "The application that will first come out will be self-healing paints and coatings," said Nancy Sottos of the University of Illinois. FuelFix.com
(6/7)
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| Biological Engineering & Pharmaceuticals | | |
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- Team discovers dormant stem cells that can damage vessels
Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley discovered a type of stem cell that can remain dormant for decades in blood vessel walls and then become active to cause arterial hardening and clogging linked to strokes and heart attacks. The discovery of multipotent vascular stem cells, reported in the journal Nature Communications, involves research in mice and some human tissue. If replicated, the findings could change how heart disease is treated and how drugs are developed. San Francisco Chronicle
(6/7), HealthDay News
(6/6)
- Blood stem cell transplant improves survival in scleroderma
Autologous transplantation of blood stem cells significantly improved survival rates in patients with high-risk scleroderma who were monitored two to 10 years after the procedure, according to the results of a 156-patient trial presented at a European meeting. The study compared transplantation with conventional pulsed cyclophosphamide treatment and found the survival benefit for transplantation was pronounced for nonsmokers but disappeared after five years for smokers. More data was needed before a change in treatment could be recommended, according to the presenting researcher. MedPage Today (free registration)
(6/7)
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- Maker of carbon nanotubes gets investment from DuPont
A DuPont business unit will join an investment round for carbon-nanotube manufacturer Nanocomp Technologies. Nanocomp's technology is being used to make advanced composites for NASA and Department of Defense projects. "It goes without saying that DuPont brings significant value beyond capital in the form of research, development expertise as well as market access and commercialization support," said Peter Antoinette. Nanocomp's president and CEO. Mass High Tech (Boston)
(6/8), Chemical Week (subscription required)
(6/8)
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- Feds explore whether faults pose issues for fracking fluids
The Department of Energy is studying whether geologic faults could provide "a quick pathway" for hydraulic fracturing fluids to reach aquifers near the surface. The research is intended to provide regulators and the public "an unbiased, science-based source of information which can guide decisions about shale gas development," according to the department's National Energy Technology Laboratory. The research also could help the industry "develop better methods to monitor for undesired environmental changes," NETL said. Platts
(6/8)
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- 3 tips for avoiding burnout
If you find yourself starting to resent the work you're doing, you might be suffering from burnout, according to Marissa Mayer, a vice president at Google. You must figure out which activities in your personal life are necessary to keep you energized, she said. "You can't have everything you want. ... But you can have the things that really matter to you," she said. Entrepreneur online/The Daily Dose blog
(6/6)
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Summer webinars spotlight product design, movies and more
AIChE has announced the summer schedule of webinars. Ed Cussler will kick off the season with "Chemical Product Design"on Wednesday, June 20. July’s offering will be something a bit different: "The Secret Science of Movie Stunts and Special Effects" with Steve Wolf on Wednesday, July 25. On Wednesday, Aug. 22, John Carberry will present "Biofuels: Metrics and Challenges." All will start at 2 p.m. EDT and last one hour. They will also be archived for future viewing. Read more.
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The green movement in plastic packaging is turning to non-biodegradable polymers, which are being developed from renewable sources such as starch and sugar, according to this analysis. "The bio-based chemicals sector is poised to transform the production of industrial chemicals," said Marifaith Hackett, a chemical analyst with IHS. 
