Preparation and Characterization of Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol)/poly(ε-caprolactone) Blend for Bioscaffolding Applications.

In order to improve the cell adhesion on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (E-VAL) which has hydroxyl groups capable of developing hydrogen bonds with celling was blended with this polymer. To reach this goal, a series of E-VAL/PCL blends with different compositions were prepared by the solvent casting method. The miscibility of the polymer blend was proved by differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectrometry. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the polymer blends were assessed in their wet state by dynamic mechanical analysis. The surfaces wettability of blends and their components were examined through static contact angle measurements. The pore interconnections in the resulted scaffolds were achieved by the incorporation of naphthalene microparticles which were used as porogen and then removed in its gas state by sublimation under reduced pressure. The presence of pores interconnected inside the polymeric materials and their surface morphologies was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The in-vitro cytotoxicity and cell adhesion on the prepared materials were examined by an MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay.

Complete genome sequence of a Salimicrobium sp. PL1-032A isolated from the pink hypersaline Pearse Lakes, Rottnest Island, Western Australia.

Salimicrobium sp. PL1-032A was isolated from Pearse Lakes, Western Australia. The sequenced genome consists of a single chromosome (2,705,688 bp) with a GC content of 47.2%. The isolation of Salimicrobium sp. PL1-032A contributes to the collection of culturable extremophiles and offers potential insight into the Pearse Lakes biome.

Complete genome sequence of a Marinococcus sp. PL1-022 isolated from the pink hypersaline Pearse Lakes, Rottnest Island, Western Australia.

Marinococcus sp. PL1-022 was isolated from Pearse Lakes, Western Australia. The sequenced genome consists of a chromosome (3,140,198 bp; 48.2% GC) and two plasmids (58,083 bp and 19,399 bp; 41.4 and 50.7% GC-content, respectively). Isolation of Marinococcus sp. PL1-022 adds to the increasing repertoire of culturable extremophiles.

Complete genome sequence of Idiomarina sp. PL1-037 isolated from the pink hypersaline Pearse Lakes, Rottnest Island, Western Australia.

Idiomarina sp. PL1-037 was isolated from Pearse Lakes, Rottnest Island, Western Australia. The sequenced completed genome for PL1-037 is composed of a single chromosome (2,804,934 bp) with a GC content of 47.1%. Isolation of Idiomarina sp. PL1-037 provides insights about culturable extremophiles from the Pearse lakes microbiome.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Ice-Nucleation-Active Pseudomonas syringae Strain MUP20, Isolated from Frost-Damaged Wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Scepter) in Western Australia.

Pseudomonas syringae MUP20 was isolated from Western Australian frost-damaged wheat. The MUP20 complete genome contained a 6,045,198-bp single circular chromosome with a GC content of 59.03%. IMG/M genome annotation identified 5,245 protein-coding genes, 1 of which encoded an ice nucleation protein containing 20 occurrences of a highly repetitive PF00818 domain.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Ice-Nucleation-Active Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi Isolate MUP32, Isolated from Frost-Damaged Pea (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense cv. Dundale) in New South Wales.

The genome of Pseudomonas syringae MUP32, which was isolated from frost-damaged pea in New South Wales, Australia, is tripartite and contains a circular chromosome (6,032,644 bp) and two plasmids (61,675 and 54,993 bp). IMG/M genome annotation identified 5,370 protein-coding genes, one of which encoded an ice-nucleation protein with 19 repetitive PF00818 domains.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Ice-Nucleation-Active Pseudomonas syringae Strain MUP17, Isolated from the Frost-Damaged Barley Cultivar Hordeum vulgare cv. La Trobe.

Pseudomonas syringae MUP17 was isolated from Western Australian frost-damaged barley. The MUP17 complete genome contained a 5,850,185-bp single circular chromosome with a GC content of 59.12%. IMG/M genome annotation identified 5,012 protein-coding genes, 1 of which encoded an ice-nucleation protein containing 19 occurrences of a highly repetitive PF00818 domain.

Enhanced CO2 Adsorption by Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Oxide Sheets (N-GOs) Prepared by Employing Polymeric Precursors.

Nitrogen-doped graphene oxide sheets (N-GOs) are prepared by employing N-containing polymers such as polypyrrole, polyaniline, and copolymer (polypyrrole-polyaniline) doped with acids such as HCl, H2SO4, and C6H5-SO3-K, which are activated using different concentrations of KOH and carbonized at 650 °C; characterized using SEM, TEM, BET, TGA-DSC, XRD, and XPS; and employed for the removal of environmental pollutant CO2. The porosity of the N-GOs obtained were found to be in the range 1-3.5 nm when the KOH employed was in the ratio of 1:4, and the XRD confirmed the formation of the layered like structure. However, when the KOH employed was in the ratio of 1:2, the pore diameter was found to be in the range of 50-200 nm. The SEM and TEM analysis reveal the porosity and sheet-like structure of the products obtained. The nitrogen-doped graphene oxide sheets (N-GOs) prepared by employing polypyrrole doped with C6H5-SO3-K were found to possess a high surface area of 2870 m²/g. The N-GOs displayed excellent CO2 capture property with the N-GOs; PPy/Ar-1 displayed ~1.36 mmol/g. The precursor employed, the dopant used, and the activation process were found to affect the adsorption property of the N-GOs obtained. The preparation procedure is simple and favourable for the synthesis of N-GOs for their application as adsorbents in greenhouse gas removal and capture.