Development of 3D-Printable Albumin-Alginate Foam for Wound Dressing Applications.

In this article, a method to develop 3D printable hybrid sodium alginate and albumin foam, crosslinked with calcium chloride mist is introduced. Using this method, highly porous structures are produced without the need of further postprocessing (such as freeze drying). The proposed method is particularly beneficial in the development of wound dressing as the printed foams show excellent lift-off and water absorption properties.

Competitive interactions between native Spartina alterniflora and non-native Phragmites australis depend on nutrient loading and temperature.

We explored the nature and impact of competitive interactions between the salt marsh foundational plant Spartina alterniflora and invasive Phragmites australis in New England under varying levels of anthropogenic influence from nutrient loading and temperature warming. Plants were grown with and without competition in mesocosms over a four-month growing season. Mesocosms were split evenly among three levels of nutrient additions and two temperatures varying by an average of ~3° C, manipulated using small greenhouses.

Evaluation of an SOS-Chromotest-based approach for the isolation and detection of sediment-associated genotoxins.

A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate an approach advanced by the St. Lawrence Centre (SLC) of Environment Canada for assessing the genotoxic potential of sediments. The SLC method entails the extraction, isolation and solvent exchange of the organic constituents in sediment, and the testing of these solubilized extracts with the SOS Chromotest (Escherichia coli PQ37).

A bacterial toxicity assay performed with microplates, microluminometry and Microtox reagent.

We have developed a procedure for undertaking a Microtox-based test by coupling microplate and microluminometric technologies. Sample dilutions are prepared in a 96-well polystyrene microplate kept at 15 degrees C, while the Microtox reagent and diluent are placed in an opaque, microluminometry-compatible 96-well microplate also kept at 15 degrees C. Exposure begins when sample aliquots are brought into contact with bacterial reagents in the opaque microplate.