50 Years of Image Analysis

The complexity of the linkages between ozone depletion, UV-B radiation and climate change has become more apparent.

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Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2011

Engineered mycelium composite construction materials from fungal biorefineries: A critical review

Synthetic biology applies genetic tools to engineer living cells and organisms analogous to the programming of machines. In materials synthetic biology, engineering principles from synthetic biology and materials science are integrated to redesign living systems as dynamic and responsive materials with emerging and programmable functionalities. In this Review, we discuss synthetic-biology tools, including genetic circuits, model organisms and design parameters, which can be applied for the construction of smart living materials. We investigate non-living and living self-organizing multifunctional materials, such as intracellular structures and engineered biofilms, and examine the design and applications of hybrid living materials, including living sensors, therapeutics and electronics, as well as energy-conversion materials and living building materials. Finally, we consider prospects and challenges of programmable living materials and identify potential future applications. Materials synthetic biology merges synthetic biology with materials science for the redesign of living systems into smart materials. This Review discusses how synthetic-biology tools can be applied for the engineering of self-organizing functional materials and programmable hybrid living materials.

Materials design by synthetic biology

Synthetic biology will transform how we grow food, what we eat, and where we source materials and medicines. Here I have selected six products that are now on the market, highlighting the underlying technologies and projecting forward to the future that can be expected over the next ten years.

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Synthetic biology 2020-2030: six commercially-available products that are changing our world

Novel hybrid panel composites based on wood, fungal mycelium, and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) were developed and investigated in the present study. In one set of experiments, mycelium was grown on softwood particles to produce mycelium-modified wood which was then hybridized with various levels of CNF as binder. The other set of experiments were conducted on unmodified wood particles mixed with CNF and pure mycelium tissue. It was found that the composites made of mycelium-modified wood and CNF resulted in enhanced physical and mechanical properties compared to the ones made by physically mixing wood, mycelium, and CNF. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that mycelium modification covered wood particles with a network of fungal hyphae whereas CNF formed a uniform mycelial film over wood particles. Mycelium modification had a significant effect on reducing water absorption and thickness swelling of the hybrid composites and CNF increased the modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity, optimally at 2.5% addition. We also present results and analysis pertaining to the development of unique lightweight composite systems with physical and mechanical properties optimized at 5% CNF addition with potential to be used in packaging and furniture applications.

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Fully Bio-Based Hybrid Composites Made of Wood, Fungal Mycelium and Cellulose Nanofibrils.

Correlation between dynamic wetting behavior and chemical components of thermally modified wood

Modification of wood by glutaraldehyde and poly (vinyl alcohol)

Surface properties of in situ organo-montmorillonite modified wood flour and the influence on mechanical properties of composites with polypropylene

Filamentous fungi have been considered as candidates to replace petroleum-based adhesives and plastics in novel composite material production, particularly those containing lignocellulosic materials. However, the nature of the role of surface mycelium in the adhesion between lignocellulosic composite components is not well-known. The current study investigated the functionality of surface mycelium for wood bonding by incubating Trametes versicolor on yellow birch veneers and compared the lap-shear strengths after hot-pressing to evaluate if the presence of surface mycelium can improve the interface between two wood layers and consequently improve bonding. We found that the lap-shear strength of the samples was enhanced by the increase of surface mycelium coverage up to 8 days of incubation (up to 1.74 MPa) without a significant wood weight loss. We provide evidence that the bottom surface of the mycelium layer is more hydrophilic, contains more small-scale filamentous structure and contains more functional groups, resulting in better bonding with wood than the top surface. These observations confirm and highlight the functionality of the surface mycelium layer for wood bonding and provide useful information for future developments in fully biobased composites manufacturing.

Wenjing Sun

Papers

Fully Bio-Based Hybrid Composites Made of Wood, Fungal Mycelium and Cellulose Nanofibrils.

Correlation between dynamic wetting behavior and chemical components of thermally modified wood

Modification of wood by glutaraldehyde and poly (vinyl alcohol)

Surface properties of in situ organo-montmorillonite modified wood flour and the influence on mechanical properties of composites with polypropylene

Functionality of Surface Mycelium Interfaces in Wood Bonding.