Investigating spaceflight and microgravity impacts on host immune function and bacterial virulence in the model animal Caenorhabditis elegans
Abstract
Concrete infrastructure such as roads, bridges, dams and buildings, play a pivotal role in accelerating economic growth and alleviating poverty. As a result of push for infrastructure building worldwide, annual consumption of cement concrete has already reached 30 billion tonnes and it is predicted to increase rapidly for at least next fifty years. Unfortunately, each ton of cement emits nearly the equal amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Cement can also result in ground contamination. These risks jeopardize the United Nations target of net zero emission in construction by 2050. To achieve net zero emission from construction, an alternative to the present cement technology is essential. This project proposes a cementation technology by emulating nature s way of building edifices such as corals, stromatolites, and beach rocks. The natural processes will massively reduce CO2 emission and risk of ground contamination. A novel bio-sintering process is proposed through successive dissolution and remineralization of limestone utilizing the microbes that create the natural edifices. We shall isolate microbes that have evolved in natural sites where dissolution and redeposition phenomena are observed. First, we shall demonstrate the phenomena separately. We shall combine the processes to demonstrate bio-sintering. A pilot scale setup will be developed to develop the design parameters for bio-sintering in specific applications. An engineering application of bio-sintering will be demonstrated. Erosion of soil from the coasts and waterways is a formidable problem that has aggravated significantly due to frequent occurrence of extreme weather events. In this project, rigorous experimentation will be conducted to evaluate erosion prevention through bio-sintering.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 05, 2025
- Source ID
- FA23862414002
Entities
People
- Jin Lee
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force