Identifying the attributes of a profession in the practice and regulation of fire safety engineering

Fire Safety Engineering is often implemented within a framework that requires a recognized and recognizable profession. This article reviews the current state of various attributes that define Fire Safety Engineering as a profession. It is argued that: 1) reliance on prescriptive solutions opens the domain to practitioners that do not possess the required specialist knowledge; 2) the fire safety engineering process is often triggered through non-compliances to individual prescriptive provisions, negatively impacting on the discipline's professional authority; 3) the discipline operates in a manner that exposes it to challenges of its ethical code; and 4), the lack of a well-defined accreditation framework challenges the professional culture. The resulting environment favours a customer relationship between those commissioning the work and the Fire Safety Engineer, rather than the client relationship necessary for professional practise. Most engineering disciplines respond to failures by formalisation of the profession around its duty of care to society. Conversely, in Fire Safety Engineering such responses have focused on regulation. Recent incidents are a significant impetus and opportunity for the fire safety profession to better formalize itself

A Thin Skin Calorimeter (TSC) for quantifying irradiation during large-scale fire testing

This paper details a novel method for quantifying irradiation (incident radiant heat flux) at the exposed surface of solid elements during large-scale fire testing. Within the scope of the work presented herein, a type of Thin Skin Calorimeter (TSC) was developed intending for a practical, low cost device enabling the cost-effective mass production required for characterising the thermal boundary conditions during multiple large-scale fire tests. The technical description of the TSC design and a formulation of the proposed calibration technique are presented. This methodology allows for the quantification of irradiation by means of an a posteriori analysis based on a temperature measurement from the TSC, a temperature measurement of the gas-phase in the vicinity of the TSC and a correction factor defined during a pre-test calibration process. The proposed calibration methodology is designed to account for uncertainties inherent to the simplicity of the irradiation measurement technique, therefore not requiring precise information regarding material thermal and optical properties. This methodology is designed and presented so as to enable adaption of the technique to meet the specific requirements of other experimental setups. This is conveyed by means of an example detailing the design and calibration of a device designed for a series of large-scale experiments as part of the ‘Real Fires for the Safe Design of Tall Buildings’ project

Combining Ability For Earliness And Yield Among South Sudanese F1 Sorghum Genotypes

The development of staygreen genotypes through hybridization is an important food security strategy in the semi-arid tropics. This study used 36 sorghum synthetics obtained from a 6 x 6 full diallel mating design. The parents, F1 progenies and their reciprocals showed significant difference for days to flowering suggesting their diversity with regard to this triat. There were significant differences among the maternal and non-maternal effects implying that maternal genes play a greater role in regulating maturity. There were higher genetic predictability ratios for days to flowering, panicle weight and grain weight, suggesting that additive gene action played a bigger role than non-additive genes in the control of these traits. The study identified parental lines, ICSV III IN, B5 and Macia as exhibiting earliness that can be exploited in the breeding program for drought evading hybrids. Similarly, the F1 crosses B35 x Okabir, Lodoka x B35, Okabir x Macia, ICSV II IN x Macia, ICSV III IN x Akuorachot, Lodoka x Akuorachot and Lodoka x Okabir were identified as drought evading synthetics while F1 crosses, B35 x Akuorachot, B35 x Macia, Lodoka x B35, ICSV III IN x Macia, and Lodoka x Macia were identified as high yielding synthetics

Towards a characterisation of the wild legume bitter vetch (Lathyrus linifolius L. (Reichard) Bassler): heteromorphic seed germination, root nodule structure and N-fixing rhizobial symbionts:heteromorphic seed germination, root nodule structure and N-fixing rhizobial symbionts

Lathyrus linifolius L. (Reichard) Bässler (bitter vetch) is a fabaceous nitrogen (N) fixing species. A coloniser of low nutrient (N) soils it supports biodiversity such as key moth and butterfly species and its roots are known for their organoleptic and claimed therapeutic properties. Thus, the species has high potential for restoration, conservation, novel cropping and as model species. The latter owing to its genetic synteny with important pulse crops. However, regeneration and functional attributes of L. linifolius remain to be characterised. Seeds of L. linifolius were characterised using physical, colourimetric and chemical data. Ultrastructural and functional characterisation of the N fixing root nodules included immunolabelling with nifH-protein antibodies (recognising the N fixing enzyme, nitrogenase). Endosymbiotic bacteria were isolated from the root nodules and characterised phylogenetically using 16S rRNA, nodA and nodD gene sequeneces. L. linifolius yielded hetermorphic seeds of distinct colour classes: green and brown. Seed morphotypes had similar carbon:N ratios and were equally germinable (ca. 90%) after scarification at differing optimal temperatures (16 and 20°C, respectively). Brown seeds were larger and comprised a larger proportion of the seed batch (69%). L. linifolius root nodules appeared indeterminate in structure, effective (capable of fixing atmospheric N) and accommodated strains with high similarity to Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae. The findings and rhizobial isolates have potential application for ecological restoration and horticulture using native seeds. Also, the data and rhizobial resources have potential application in comparative and functional studies with related and socio-economically important crops such as Pisum, Lens and Vicia

Morphological peculiarites and functional activity of adipose-derived mesenchimal stem cells during in vitro cultivation conditions

The studies were conducted on 2-3-months-old males of C57BL/6 mice weighing 20–24 g. Obtaining and cultivating of adipose-derived mesenchimal stem cells (AD MSCs) were carried out in a sterile laminar box with compliance of conditions of asepsis and antiseptics. AD MSCs of the 2, 4, 7 and 12 passages were analyzed. Morphometric analysis was performed using a light microscopy. Morphometric parameters such as cell and nucleus area or nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio (NCR) were calculated using the Axiovision light microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany) and ImageJ 1.45 software. Trypan blue dye used for investigation of the viability of MSC. The morphological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue during the process of cultivation changes: at the first passages of cultivation, the cells are spindle-shaped with two, at least three, long long cytoplasmic processes, located bipolar. Near the nucleus the Golgi complex is clearly visible – a sign of active cells. At later passages cells have a small cytoplasmic processes and the bipolar arrangement of processes changes by stellar arrangement. Golgi complex is also clearly visualized. The indicator of the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio in MSC from adipose tissue is significantly reduced at 7 passage to 0.2189 ± 0.0122 (P < 0.01), and at 12 passage to 0.1111 ± 0.0086 (P < 0.001) compared to the 2 passage. The coefficient of proliferation of MSC from adipose tissue is significantly reduced at 12th passage. The viability of mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue with an increasing of a number of passages significantly reduces and at the 12th passage of cultivation reaches 84,67 ± 1,36* (P < 0.05). The content of apoptotic cells that exhibited sensitivity to serum-free significantly increased at 7 and 12 passages and was respectively 21.33 ± 1.36 (P < 0.05) and 23.67 ± 0.97% (P < 0.05)

Comparative Genomics Provides Insights into the Taxonomy of Azoarcus and Reveals Separate Origins of Nif Genes in the Proposed Azoarcus and Aromatoleum Genera

© 2021 by the authors.Among other attributes, the Betaproteobacterial genus Azoarcus has biotechnological importance for plant growth-promotion and remediation of petroleum waste-polluted water and soils. It comprises at least two phylogenetically distinct groups. The “plant-associated” group includes strains that are isolated from the rhizosphere or root interior of the C4 plant Kallar Grass, but also strains from soil and/or water; all are considered to be obligate aerobes and all are diazotrophic. The other group (now partly incorporated into the new genus Aromatoleum) comprises a diverse range of species and strains that live in water or soil that is contaminated with petroleum and/or aromatic compounds; all are facultative or obligate anaerobes. Some are diazotrophs. A comparative genome analysis of 32 genomes from 30 Azoarcus-Aromatoleum strains was performed in order to delineate generic boundaries more precisely than the single gene, 16S rRNA, that has been commonly used in bacterial taxonomy. The origin of diazotrophy in Azoarcus-Aromatoleum was also investigated by comparing full-length sequences of nif genes, and by physiological measurements of nitrogenase activity using the acetylene reduction assay. Based on average nucleotide identity (ANI) and whole genome analyses, three major groups could be discerned: (i) Azoarcus comprising Az. communis, Az. indigens and Az. olearius, and two unnamed species complexes, (ii) Aromatoleum Group 1 comprising Ar. anaerobium, Ar. aromaticum, Ar. bremense, and Ar. buckelii, and (iii) Aromatoleum Group 2 comprising Ar. diolicum, Ar. evansii, Ar. petrolei, Ar. toluclasticum, Ar. tolulyticum, Ar. toluolicum, and Ar. toluvorans. Single strain lineages such as Azoarcus sp. KH32C, Az. pumilus, and Az. taiwanensis were also revealed. Full length sequences of nif-cluster genes revealed two groups of diazotrophs in Azoarcus-Aromatoleum with nif being derived from Dechloromonas in Azoarcus sensu stricto (and two Thauera strains) and from Azospira in Aromatoleum Group 2. Diazotrophy was confirmed in several strains, and for the first time in Az. communis LMG5514, Azoarcus sp. TTM-91 and Ar. toluolicum TT. In terms of ecology, with the exception of a few plant-associated strains in Azoarcus (s.s.), across the group, most strains/species are found in soil and water (often contaminated with petroleum or related aromatic compounds), sewage sludge, and seawater. The possession of nar, nap, nir, nor, and nos genes by most Azoarcus-Aromatoleum strains suggests that they have the potential to derive energy through anaerobic nitrate respiration, so this ability cannot be usefully used as a phenotypic marker to distinguish genera. However, the possession of bzd genes indicating the ability to degrade benzoate anaerobically plus the type of diazotrophy (aerobic vs. anaerobic) could, after confirmation of their functionality, be considered as distinguishing phenotypes in any new generic delineations. The taxonomy of the Azoarcus-Aromatoleum group should be revisited; retaining the generic name Azoarcus for its entirety, or creating additional genera are both possible outcomes.This research was funded by the BBSRC-Newton Fund (grant numbers BB/N013476/1 and BB/N003608/1). MC was funded by grant BIO2016-79736-R from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain.Peer reviewe

The innovation of the symbiosome has enhanced the evolutionary stability of nitrogen fixation in legumes

Nitrogen-fixing symbiosis is globally important in ecosystem functioning and agriculture, yet the evolutionary history of nodulation remains the focus of considerable debate. Recent evidence suggesting a single origin of nodulation followed by massive parallel evolutionary losses raises questions about why a few lineages in the N2 -fixing clade retained nodulation and diversified as stable nodulators, while most did not. Within legumes, nodulation is restricted to the two most diverse subfamilies, Papilionoideae and Caesalpinioideae, which show stable retention of nodulation across their core clades. We characterize two nodule anatomy types across 128 species in 56 of the 152 genera of the legume subfamily Caesalpinioideae: fixation thread nodules (FTs), where nitrogen-fixing bacteroids are retained within the apoplast in modified infection threads, and symbiosomes, where rhizobia are symplastically internalized in the host cell cytoplasm within membrane-bound symbiosomes (SYMs). Using a robust phylogenomic tree based on 997 genes from 147 Caesalpinioideae genera, we show that losses of nodulation are more prevalent in lineages with FTs than those with SYMs. We propose that evolution of the symbiosome allows for a more intimate and enduring symbiosis through tighter compartmentalization of their rhizobial microsymbionts, resulting in greater evolutionary stability of nodulation across this species-rich pantropical legume clade

Biological nitrogen fixation by soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), a novel, high protein crop in Scotland, requires inoculation with non-native bradyrhizobia

It is currently not recommended to grow soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) further than 54° North, but climate change and the development of new high latitude-adapted varieties raises the possibility that it could be introduced into Scotland as a novel high protein crop deriving most of its nitrogen (N) requirements through biological N fixation (BNF). This was evaluated via field trials in 2017 and 2018 near Dundee (56.48°N). As there are no native soybean-nodulating bacteria (SNB) in UK soils, soybean requires inoculation to exploit its BNF potential. In 2017, three commercial inoculants containing elite Bradyrhizobium strains significantly increased plant biomass in plot trials with a soybean 000 maturity group variety (ES Comandor). Rhizobia were isolated from the nodules and identified as the original inoculant species, B. diazoefficiens and B. japonicum. One inoculant (Rizoliq Top) was used for larger-scale trials in 2018 with two varieties (ES Comandor, ES Navigator); inoculation doubled the grain yield to 1 t ha-1 compared to the uninoculated crop. The inoculated soybean obtained most of its N through BNF in both years regardless of plant genotype i.e. >73%Ndfa, with BNF contributions to aerial biomass exceeding 250 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in 2017 and that to grain 50 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in 2018. These data suggest that N-fixing soybean could be grown in Scotland without mineral N-fertiliser, either for forage as animal feed, or as green pods for human consumption (“edamame”), and potentially, even as dry grain. The potential for survival of the Bradyrhizobium inoculant strains in soils was also demonstrated through the detection of the inoculant strain B. diazoefficiens SEMIA 5080 at relatively high populations (104 g-1 dry soil) using a qRT-PCR method with SNB-specific nodZ primers. Microbiome data obtained from soil using 16S rRNA primers demonstrated that the diversity of bacteria belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium increased in soybean-cropped soils compared to bulk soil regardless of inoculation status. The economic and practical implications of residual inoculum, as well as those arising from introducing a non-native plant and alien bacteria into Scottish soils in terms of their impact on the native soil microbiota are discussed