Components Of Slime Research Articles

Effect of Potassium on the Co-Combustion Process of Coal Slime and Corn Stover

In this study, the combined combustion characteristics and gaseous product emissions of coal slime and corn stover were compared at different blending ratios. The TG-DTG curves indicate that the optimal performance is achieved when the corn straw blending ratio is 20%. Furthermore, the TG-FTIR coupling results demonstrated an increase in gas species as the blending ratio increased. The composition analysis of ash samples formed at various combustion temperatures using XRD and XRF indicated that a portion of KCl in the fuel was released as volatile matter, while another part reacted with Al2O3 and SiO2 components in the slime to form silica–aluminate compounds and other substances. Notably, interactions between the components of slime and potassium elements in corn stover primarily occurred within the temperature range of 800–1000 °C. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of biomass and coal co-firing combustion chemistry, offering potential applications for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing emissions in industrial processes.

The Internal Structure of the Velvet Worm Projectile Slime: A Small-Angle Scattering Study.

For prey capture and defense, velvet worms eject an adhesive slime which has been established as a model system for recyclable complex liquids. Triggered by mechanical agitation, the liquid bio-adhesive rapidly transitions into solid fibers. In order to understand this mechanoresponsive behavior, here, the nanostructural organization of slime components are studied using small-angle scattering with neutrons and X-rays. The scattering intensities are successfully described with a three-component model accounting for proteins of two dominant molecular weight fractions and nanoscale globules. In contrast to the previous assumption that high molecular weight proteins-the presumed building blocks of the fiber core-are contained in the nanoglobules, it is found that the majority of slime proteins exist freely in solution. Only less than 10% of the slime proteins are contained in the nanoglobules, necessitating a reassessment of their function in fiber formation. Comparing scattering data of slime re-hydrated with light and heavy water reveals that the majority of lipids in slime are contained in the nanoglobules with homogeneous distribution. Vibrating mechanical impact under exclusion of air neither leads to formation of fibers nor alters the bulk structure of slime significantly, suggesting that interfacial phenomena and directional shearing are required for fiberformation.

High Levels of CO2 Induce Spoilage by Leuconostoc mesenteroides by Upregulating Dextran Synthesis Genes.

During nonventilated storage of carrots, CO2 gradually accumulates to high levels and causes modifications in the carrot's microbiome toward dominance of Lactobacillales and Enterobacteriales The lactic acid bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides secretes a slimy exudate over the surface of the carrots. The objective of this study was to characterize the slime components and the potential cause for its secretion under high CO2 levels. A proteomic analysis of the exudate revealed bacterial glucosyltransferases as the main proteins, specifically, dextransucrase. A chemical analysis of the exudate revealed high levels of dextran and several simple sugars. The exudate volume and dextran amount were significantly higher when L. mesenteroides was incubated under high CO2 levels than when incubated in an aerated environment. The treatment of carrot medium plates with commercial dextransucrase or exudate protein extract resulted in similar sugar profiles and dextran production. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that dextran production is related to the upregulation of the L. mesenteroides dextransucrase-encoding genes dsrD and dsrT during the first 4 to 8 h of exposure to high CO2 levels compared to aerated conditions. A phylogenetic analysis of L. mesenteroides YL48 dsrD revealed a high similarity to other dsr genes harbored by different Leuconostoc species. The ecological benefit of dextran production under elevated CO2 requires further investigation. However, this study implies an overlooked role of CO2 in the physiology and fitness of L. mesenteroides in stored carrots, and perhaps in other food items, during storage under nonventilated conditions.IMPORTANCE The bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides is known to cause spoilage of different types of foods by secreting a slimy fluid that damages the quality and appearance of the produce. Here, we identified a potential mechanism by which high levels of CO2 affect the spoilage caused by this bacterium by upregulating dextran synthesis genes. These results have broader implications for the study of the physiology, degradation ability, and potential biotechnological applications of Leuconostoc.

Hydrometallurgical recovery of copper and cobalt from reduction-roasted copper converter slag

The paper is concerned with a simple hydrometallurgical method for selective recovery of copper and cobalt from industrial copper converter slag. The following consecutive stages are proposed: roasting of the slag in reduction conditions to produce Cu–Co–Fe–Pb alloy, electrolytic dissolution of the alloy in an ammonia–ammonium chloride solution, ammoniacal leaching of the slime, selective copper and cobalt electrowinning. Cu27–Co6–Fe64–Pb1.5 alloy was a five-phase system and did not dissolve uniformly during electrolysis. This resulted in the separation of the metals, wherein iron remained in the slime, while copper and cobalt were components of slime, electrolyte and cathodic deposit. A mechanism of the alloy dissolution was developed. A series of secondary processes took place in the system: precipitation of iron compounds, copper cementation with cobalt and iron; adsorption of copper and cobalt ions on the iron precipitates. Final products were metals of high purity (99.9% Cu, 92% Co).

Mechanism of the anodic dissolution of Cu70–Co4–Fe14–Pb7 alloy originated from reduced copper converter slag in an ammoniacal solution: Recovery of copper and cobalt

Industrial copper converter slag was subjected to reduction roasting to produce Cu–Co–Fe–Pb alloys. Cu70–Co4–Fe14–Pb7 alloy was dissolved anodically in ammonia–ammonium chloride solutions. It resulted in the distribution of the metals, wherein iron remained in the slime, while copper and cobalt were components of slime, electrolyte and cathodic deposit. The multiphase alloy did not dissolve uniformly. A mechanism of the alloy dissolution was developed. A series of secondary processes took place in the system: precipitation of iron compounds, cementation of copper ions with iron and cobalt, as well as adsorption of copper and cobalt ions on iron precipitates. Recovery of copper and cobalt from the slime was carried out.

Bacterial Components Inhibit Fibroblast Proliferation In Vitro

Perigraft fluid from Staphylococcus epidermidis infected grafts in a mouse model significantly inhibits fibroblast proliferation (60-98% at 7 and 28 days), compared with perigraft fluid from sterile grafts. The fibroblast inhibitor was trypsin-heat resistant and dependent primarily upon the bacteria, not the host proinflammatory mediators or the vascular graft biomaterial. We tested the inhibitory properties of S. epidermidis strains RP62A (slime producer) and RP62NA (nonslime producer) and Staphylococcus aureus strain 502a, using an in vitro tritiated thymidine murine fibroblast (ATCC CCL-12) proliferation assay. Whole killed bacteria, disrupted bacteria (live and killed), bacterial supernatants, and purified cell wall products (peptidoglycan, teichoic acid, and lipoteichoic acid from disrupted bacteria) were studied. Significant fibroblast inhibition occurred for all three bacterial strains with disrupted bacteria (live or killed) and cell free bacteria derived supernatants. The fibroblast inhibitor from disrupted slime producing S. epidermidis was trypsin-heat resistant. The fibroblast inhibitor from disrupted S. aureus and supernatants for all three bacterial strains at 1 x 10(7) were trypsin-heat sensitive. Fibroblast inhibition was not dependent upon bacterial viability and not mediated by bacterial cell wall products. In conclusion, components of slime and nonslime producing S. epidermidis and S. aureus inhibit fibroblast proliferation.

Virulence ofStaphylococcus epidermidisin a mouse model: significance of extracellular slime

The ability to produce large quantities of biofilm on solid surfaces in vitro is believed to distinguish potentially pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis from commensals. Biofilm consists of staphylococcal cells encased in a matrix of extracellular polysaccharide (also referred to as slime), firmly adherent to each other and to the underlying surface structure. The association of slime with colonization of catheter surfaces in vivo has been examined extensively. Less attention has been paid to the contribution of slime to infections that occur in the absence of an inserted device. In a mouse model of subcutaneous infection without an implanted device 10 S. epidermidis strains (5 slime-positive, 5 slime-negative) produced abscesses; thus a foreign body is not essential for the expression of virulence by S. epidermidis. Biofilm-positive strains produced significantly more abscesses, that persisted longer than biofilm-negative strains. In these chronic infections, large numbers of staphylococci were associated with macrophages and viable staphylococci were cultured from specimens of pus collected at autopsy. Thus slime or components of slime appear to delay the clearance of S. epidermidis from host tissues, possibly by interfering with intracellular killing mechanisms. However, differences in the capacity to produce abscesses, within both the slime-positive and slime-negative groups, indicate that other factors also contribute to the virulence of S. epidermidis.

Characterization of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from technical water systems.

The occurrence of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains was investigated in water samples and surface material from non-clinical aquatic environments. Ten of 81 environmental isolates displayed a mucoid colony type after incubation at 36 degrees C for 24 h on Pseudomonas Isolation Agar. The mucoid strains obtained exclusively from surfaces of technical water systems were characterized in terms of medium-dependent expression of mucoid colonial phenotype, exoenzyme profile, pigment production and O-antigen type. The mucoid strains secreted substantially higher quantities of carbohydrate and uronic acid-containing material compared to non-mucoid environmental isolates. Major slime components of the mucoid strains were identified as O-acetylated alginates that contained higher proportions of mannuronate than guluronate monomer residues and were composed of blocks of poly-mannuronate and poly-mannuronate/guluronate, whereas blocks of poly-guluronate were absent. The results suggest that surfaces in aquatic environments may represent a natural habitat for mucoid (i.e. alginate-overproducing) strains of Ps. aeruginosa with properties similar to clinical mucoid strains.

Analysis of the relationship between bacterial adherence and extracellular production of mannose, galactose, glucose and ribose inStaphylococcus epidermidis andStaphylococcus hominis

Gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze the extracellular extracts of 108 coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains for the presence of mannose, galactose, glucose and ribose, in order to determine whether production of these four monosaccharides, regarded as potential staphylococcal slime components, was associated with the adherence capacity of the individuals strains. A total of 90 Staphylococcus epidermidis and 18 Staphylococcus hominis strains were studied. Using the quantitative spectrophotometric assay, 21 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains were classified as strongly adherent, 12 as moderately adherent, 11 as weakly adherent, and 46 as nonadherent. All 18 Staphylococcus hominis strains were nonadherent. Mannose, galactose, glucose and ribose were detected as the main monosaccharide components in the extracellular extracts of all strains examined. Moreover, the mean relative concentrations of these monosaccharides were essentially the same for the different adherence phenotypes within the species Staphylococcus epidermidis. These results showed that there was no causal connection between the adherence of coagulase-negative staphylococci and the extracellular production of any of the four monosaccharides analyzed.

Structural analysis of secreted slime from wheat and cowpea roots

The water-soluble, high M r components of slime secreted from the roots of wheat and cowpea are composed primarily of carbohydrate (95.5 and 97.5% w/w, respectively and some protein (5 and 3% w/w, respectively). For wheat, arabinose, xylose, glucose and galactose are the major neutral monosaccharides whereas for cowpea, arabinose, galactose and glucose predominate. Fucose is a minor constituent of both wheat and cowpea root slimes. Cowpea root slime contains significantly more uronic acids than that from wheat roots (11.5 vs 4% w/w). Methylation analysis suggests the presence of a range of polymers in the root slimes. In general, their composition appears to reflect that characteristically found for cell wall preparations from dicotyledons and graminaceous monocotyledons. In addition, arabinogalactan-proteins are components of both root slimes.

The amounts and rates of export of polysaccharides found within the membrane system of maize root cells.

1. Maize seedling roots were incubated in vivo with d-[U-(14)C]glucose for 2, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45min. The total incorporation of radioactivity into polysaccharide components in isolated fractions was investigated, and the pattern of incorporation into different polysaccharide components within the rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and exported material was analysed. 2. The membrane compartments reached a saturation value of radioactivity in polysaccharide components by 30min incubation. Radioactivity in exported polysaccharide continued to increase after that time. The latter was formed and maintained by a steady-state turnover of polysaccharide synthesis and transport from the membrane system. 3. If the only access of the slime polysaccharide to the cell surface is via dictyosome-derived vesicles, the amount of slime components in the Golgi apparatus would have to be displaced every 0.3min in order to maintain the observed rates of increase in slime. This is in contrast with a displacement time of about 2.5min that is necessary for polysaccharide components in the Golgi apparatus to produce the observed increase in cell-wall material. The activity of the membrane system in the production of maize root slime is 8 times as great as that of the membrane system involved in cell-wall synthesis. 4. If the amount of polysaccharide material in the Golgi apparatus is maintained only by inflow of polymeric material from the rough endoplasmic reticulum the total amount of slime components in the rough endoplasmic reticulum would have to be displaced every 7min to maintain a constant amount in the Golgi apparatus. If the endoplasmic reticulum contributed directly to the cell surface in the synthesis of cell-wall material, displacement times necessary to maintain the observed rate of polymer production would be very slow.

EXTRACELLULAR POLYSACCHARIDES OF AZOTOBACTER VINELANDII.

Cohen, Gary H. (University of Vermont, Burlington), and Donald B. Johnstone. Extracellular polysaccharides of Azotobacter vinelandii. J. Bacteriol. 88:329-338. 1964.-Extracellular polysaccharides synthetized by Azotobacter vinelandii strains 155, 102, and 3A were shown to be carboxylic acid heteropolysaccharides of apparent high molecular weight. Cells were grown in a nitrogen-free, mineral broth medium with 2% sucrose. Extracellular slime was recovered by centrifugation and purified by repeated alcohol precipitation and Sevag deproteinization. Capsular polysaccharide was recovered from washed cells by mild alkaline digestion. Methods of isolation and purification appeared to provide polysaccharide showing no evidence of heterogeneity when examined by chemical and physical methods. Infrared analysis of purified slime from the three strains suggested fundamental structural similarities. Colorimetric, paper chromatographic, and enzymatic analyses on both intact and acid-hydrolyzed slime polysaccharide indicated that the polymers contained in common galacturonic acid, [alpha] d-glucose, and rhamnose at a ratio of approximately 43:2:1, as well as a hexuronic acid lactone, probably mannurono-lactone. However, as shown by chemical and infrared analysis, minor differences did exist; namely, slime from strain 155 and 102 contained o-acetyl groups, whereas slime from strain 3A contained none. A sialic acid-like component (1.5% of dry weight of the polysaccharide, calculated as N-acetyl neuraminic acid), was found only in the slime of strain 155. Capsular polysaccharide composition closely resembled that for slime. It is of interest that the major slime components were identical whether the energy source provided for the cells was sucrose, glucose, fructose, or ethanol.