Effect of Chemical Structure and Apparent Density of Rigid Polyurethane Foams on the Properties of Their Chemical Recycling Products.

The aim of this work was to synthesize polyurethane foams based on petrochemical polyols and biopolyols with specific apparent densities (40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 kg/m), test their properties, glycolyze them, and finally analyze each glycolyzed product. The petroleum-based foams, used as reference foams, and the bio-based foams underwent a series of standard tests to define their properties (the content of closed cells 20-95%, compressive strength 73-1323 kPa, thermal conductivity 24-42 mW/m∙K, brittleness 4.6-82.

Origin of biogeographically distinct ecotypes during laboratory evolution.

Resource partitioning is central to the incredible productivity of microbial communities, including gigatons in annual methane emissions through syntrophic interactions. Previous work revealed how a sulfate reducer (Desulfovibrio vulgaris, Dv) and a methanogen (Methanococcus maripaludis, Mm) underwent evolutionary diversification in a planktonic context, improving stability, cooperativity, and productivity within 300-1000 generations. Here, we show that mutations in just 15 Dv and 7 Mm genes within a minimal assemblage of this evolved community gave rise to co-existing ecotypes that were spatially enriched within a few days of culturing in a fluidized bed reactor.

Open-Cell Spray Polyurethane Foams Based on Biopolyols from Fruit Seed Oils.

Natural oils from watermelon, cherry, black currant, grape and pomegranate fruit seeds were applied in the synthesis of biopolyols using the transesterification reaction. In this manuscript, the preparation possibility of open-cell foams from a polyurethane system in which petrochemical polyol was fully replaced with biopolyols is analyzed. Firstly, polyurethane foam systems were developed on a laboratory scale, and they were next tested under industrial conditions.

Synthesis and Characterization of Flame Retarded Rigid Polyurethane Foams with Different Types of Blowing Agents.

In this study, rigid polyurethane foams modified with non-halogenated flame retardant were obtained. The foams were synthesized using two systems containing different blowing agents. In the first one, cyclopentane and water were used as a mixture of blowing agents, and in the second one, only water was used as a chemical blowing agent.

Thermal Insulating Rigid Polyurethane Foams with Bio-Polyol from Rapeseed Oil Modified by Phosphorus Additive and Reactive Flame Retardants.

In this article, rigid polyurethane foams obtained with the addition of a bio-polyol from rapeseed oil, were modified with the dimethyl propane phosphonate as additive flame retardant and two reactive flame retardants diethyl (hydroxymethyl)phosphonate and diethyl bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-aminomethylphosphonate. The influence of used flame retardants on the foaming process and characteristic processing times of tested polyurethane systems were determined. The obtained foams were tested in terms of cell structure, physical and mechanical properties, as well as flammability.

New Thermo-Reflective Coatings for Applications as a Layer of Heat Insulating Materials.

This paper presents new thermo-reflective coatings with different properties. Basic, anti-corrosion and self-extinguishing coatings were analyzed. The coatings were obtained with a thickness varying from 1 to 3 mm.

Bio-Based Rigid Polyurethane Foams Modified with Phosphorus Flame Retardants.

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPURF) containing a bio-polyol from rapeseed oil and different phosphorus-based flame retardants were obtained. Triethyl phosphate (TEP), dimethyl propane phosphonate (DMPP) and cyclic phosphonates Addforce CT 901 (20 parts per hundred polyol by weight) were used in the synthesis of RPURF. The influence of used flame retardants on foaming process, cell structure, and physical-mechanical properties as well as flammability of RPURF were examined.

Biofilm Interaction Mapping and Analysis (BIMA) of Interspecific Interactions in Co-culture Biofilms.

Pseudomonas species are ubiquitous in nature and include numerous medically, agriculturally and technologically beneficial strains of which the interspecific interactions are of great interest for biotechnologies. Specifically, co-cultures containing have been used for bioremediation, biocontrol, aquaculture management and wastewater denitrification. Furthermore, the use of biofilms, in combination with consortia-based approaches, may offer advantages for these processes.

High pCO-induced exopolysaccharide-rich ballasted aggregates of planktonic cyanobacteria could explain Paleoproterozoic carbon burial.

The contribution of planktonic cyanobacteria to burial of organic carbon in deep-sea sediments before the emergence of eukaryotic predators ~1.5 Ga has been considered negligible owing to the slow sinking speed of their small cells. However, global, highly positive excursion in carbon isotope values of inorganic carbonates ~2.

Atomic-scale computational design of hydrophobic RE surface-doped AlO and TiO.

Intrinsically hydrophobic rare-earth oxides (REOs) have emerged as a robust class of ceramics for a variety of applications. Recently, the hydrophobicity of REOs has been observed experimentally and subsequently scrutinized using electronic structure density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In this work, we applied the DFT method to analyze the possibility of tuning the wettability of commonly used hydrophilic AlO and TiO by surface doping with Ce.

Complete genome sequence of strain RCH2 isolated from a Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)] contaminated site.

Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)] is a widespread contaminant found in soil, sediment, and ground water in several DOE sites, including Hanford 100 H area. In order to stimulate microbially mediated reduction of Cr(VI) at this site, a poly-lactate hydrogen release compound was injected into the chromium contaminated aquifer. Targeted enrichment of dominant nitrate-reducing bacteria post injection resulted in the isolation of strain RCH2.

Exopolysaccharide microchannels direct bacterial motility and organize multicellular behavior.

The myxobacteria are a family of soil bacteria that form biofilms of complex architecture, aligned multilayered swarms or fruiting body structures that are simple or branched aggregates containing myxospores. Here, we examined the structural role of matrix exopolysaccharide (EPS) in the organization of these surface-dwelling bacterial cells. Using time-lapse light and fluorescence microscopy, as well as transmission electron microscopy and focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) electron microscopy, we found that Myxococcus xanthus cell organization in biofilms is dependent on the formation of EPS microchannels.

Complete genome sequence of the chromate-reducing bacterium Thermoanaerobacter thermohydrosulfuricus strain BSB-33.

Thermoanaerobacter thermohydrosulfuricus BSB-33 is a thermophilic gram positive obligate anaerobe isolated from a hot spring in West Bengal, India. Unlike other T. thermohydrosulfuricus strains, BSB-33 is able to anaerobically reduce Fe(III) and Cr(VI) optimally at 60 °C.

Exploring the role of CheA3 in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough motility.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria such as Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough are often found in environments with limiting growth nutrients. Using lactate as the electron donor and carbon source, and sulfate as the electron acceptor, wild type D. vulgaris shows motility on soft agar plates.

Biomimetic virus-based colourimetric sensors.

Many materials in nature change colours in response to stimuli, making them attractive for use as sensor platform. However, both natural materials and their synthetic analogues lack selectivity towards specific chemicals, and introducing such selectivity remains a challenge. Here we report the self-assembly of genetically engineered viruses (M13 phage) into target-specific, colourimetric biosensors.

Bacterial social networks: structure and composition of Myxococcus xanthus outer membrane vesicle chains.

The social soil bacterium, Myxococcus xanthus, displays a variety of complex and highly coordinated behaviours, including social motility, predatory rippling and fruiting body formation. Here we show that M. xanthus cells produce a network of outer membrane extensions in the form of outer membrane vesicle chains and membrane tubes that interconnect cells.

Community dynamics of cellulose-adapted thermophilic bacterial consortia.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is a key process in the global carbon cycle and the industrial conversion of biomass to biofuels. In natural environments, cellulose hydrolysis is predominately performed by microbial communities. However, detailed understanding of bacterial cellulose hydrolysis is primarily confined to a few model isolates.

Isolation and culture of endothelial cells, pericytes and perivascular resident macrophage-like melanocytes from the young mouse ear.

This protocol describes a growth medium-based approach for obtaining cochlear endothelial cells (ECs), pericytes (PCs) and perivascular resident macrophage-like melanocytes (PVM/Ms) from the stria vascularis of mice aged between P10 and P15 (P, postnatal day). The procedure does not involve mechanical or enzymatic digestion of the sample tissue. Explants of stria vascularis, 'mini-chips', are selectively cultured in growth medium, and primary cell lines are obtained in 7-10 d.

Deep-sea bacteria enriched by oil and dispersant from the Deepwater Horizon spill.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in a massive influx of hydrocarbons into the Gulf of Mexico (the Gulf). To better understand the fate of the oil, we enriched and isolated indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from deep, uncontaminated waters from the Gulf with oil (Macondo MC252) and dispersant used during the spill (COREXIT 9500). During 20 days of incubation at 5°C, CO(2) evolution, hydrocarbon concentrations and the microbial community composition were determined.

Deep-sea oil plume enriches indigenous oil-degrading bacteria.

The biological effects and expected fate of the vast amount of oil in the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon blowout are unknown owing to the depth and magnitude of this event. Here, we report that the dispersed hydrocarbon plume stimulated deep-sea indigenous γ-Proteobacteria that are closely related to known petroleum degraders. Hydrocarbon-degrading genes coincided with the concentration of various oil contaminants.

Mutations in UDP-Glucose:sterol glucosyltransferase in Arabidopsis cause transparent testa phenotype and suberization defect in seeds.

In higher plants, the most abundant sterol derivatives are steryl glycosides (SGs) and acyl SGs. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) contains two genes, UGT80A2 and UGT80B1, that encode UDP-Glc:sterol glycosyltransferases, enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of SGs. Lines having mutations in UGT80A2, UGT80B1, or both UGT80A2 and UGT8B1 were identified and characterized.