Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of combining methanotrophic bacterial biomass production with a methanation process, comprising: (a) culturing a methanotrophic bacterium in the presence of methane and oxygen to produce biomass and carbon dioxide; and (b) generating methane using the carbon dioxide produced in step (a) and hydrogen. Also provided are systems that comprise: (a) one or more bioreactors comprising a culture of a methanotrophic bacterium to produce biomass and carbon dioxide in the presence of methane, and (b) one or more reactors for generating methane, wherein the system is configured so that the carbon dioxide generated from reactor (a) is fed into reactor (b).

Abstract: Two-sided and two-sided mirrored fire barriers having each of their two sides tested, rated, and certified for use in common spaces, such as spaces shared between two rooms are taught. Two-sided barriers require only one barrier and one installation, instead of the two presently needed. Two-sided barriers may have different construction and composition on each side; whereas each side of a mirrored fire barrier is a mirror image of the other. All two-sided barriers include top-mounted, bottom-mounted, and side-mounted barriers, gas and moisture impermeable barriers, and barriers shaped to fit into the expansion joint spaces created when a plurality of expansion joints intersect. The barriers are disposed to various sizes, lengths, widths, and depths, in addition to variations in shape, content, number and composition of layers, materials, and attachment means required to accommodate the variety of sizes and shapes of expansion-joint spaces and the desired rating, in terms of hours.

Abstract: A fire barrier assembly includes a fire barrier, mounting elements and securement elements. The mounting elements are positioned along the length of the fire barrier on an inner surface of the fire barrier. The mounting elements engage one or more of the securement elements to the fire barrier. When installed within an expansions space, the securement elements are used to tension mount the fire barrier assembly securely and generally immovably within the expansion space, without the need for any mechanical, adhesive, or other fixed connection to anchor the fire barrier assembly in place. As such, no modification to the building structures defining the expansion space (e.g. no drilling holes, applying adhesive, etc.) is need to mount the fire barrier assembly. If desired, the fire barrier assembly may easily be detached and removed from the expansion space.

Abstract: A five sheet single-layer duct wrap consists of two sheets of fiber-insulation-blanket, one on each side of an aluminum or stainless steel foil sheet completely encased by a three-ply laminate sheet comprising an outer-most aluminum foil backing ply, followed by a fiberglass scrim ply, and then a ply of aluminized polyester face. The laminate sheet provides a top and bottom sheet in a cross-sectional view. A seven sheet wrap consists of a protective cloth central sheet or an intumescent mat sandwiched between two sheets of aluminum or stainless steel foil sandwiched between sheets of fiber insulation-blanket having a three-ply laminate completely covering the five sheets. Steel banding secures the wrap to the duct providing 1-3 hours tested and rated protection. One layer cuts installation time and cost by 50% and provides zero clearance to combustible material. The single-layer wrap total thickness is about 1-2 inches.

Abstract: Fire-barriers systems, including pre-assembled intersecting and straight-line fire-barriers having either all male-, all female-, or both types of coupling ends eliminate on-site cutting and construction of barriers required for intersection-spaces and provide easy, rapid, and safe one-step, drop-in installation and coupling. All male/female ended fire-barriers are constructed as single-piece units. All adjacent laid-flat layers are continuously connected having no gaps or folds. Straight-line and L-shaped barriers are certified according to the criteria mandated by both the ASTM E 1399-97 (Reapproved 2005), Standard Test Method for Cyclic Movement and Measuring the Minimum and Maximum Joint Widths of Architectural Joint Systems and the UL 2079 Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems Test for air leakage (Revised and relocated as 1.14 Mar. 10, 2006).

Abstract: A smoke-barrier device for securely sealing the spaces beneath and around a door and a fire and smoke retardant door cloth panel will gain two or more hours for a person(s) trapped by a fire in a closed room, even one that has a residential style wood door that is known to burn in about 20 minutes. The combined use of the tested and rated smoke-guard device and the tested and rated fire and smoke retardant panel will prevent fire, smoke, and lethal gases from entering the room through a doorway even after the wooden door burns through.

Abstract: Compositions that include a flagellin/antigen protein comprising at least a portion of at least one flagellin and at least a portion of at least one antigen and methods of administering these compositions to humans at least 49 years old. The compositions stimulate immune response to the antigen, in particular, a protective immune response to the antigen, in the human, such as an elderly human.

Abstract: An example of a pre-assembled, moisture, water, and gas impermeable fire-barrier system for use in expansion-joint spaces includes a fire-barrier having a layer of outermost protective cloth layer overlain by an insulation blanket overlain by stainless steel foil, overlain by a second insulation blanket, overlain by a limited layer of intumescent material, overlain by impermeable silicon coated cloth to completely or partially surround all of the other layers of the barrier. If desired, a first attachment apparatus for attaching a first long edge of the fire-barrier to a building unit and a second attachment apparatus for attaching the opposing second long edge to an opposing spaced building unit may be fixedly attached to the barrier. The barrier system may be fitted with a drain aperture and a drainage hose emanating from the aperture, the hose protected from the heat of a fire.

Abstract: Multi-layered, fire-barriers each sized and shaped for installation into accepting intersection-spaces formed by the spaced-intersection of at least two expansion-joint spaces that occur between two adjacent spaced structural building units, each of said expansion-joint spaces defined by a plane, said plane defined by a set of three non-colinear points with each point defined by a set of x, y, z coordinates from the same coordinate system with no two of said coordinate sets being identical. The fire-barriers are shaped for use in 2-way planar, L-shaped expansion-joint spaces, T-shaped, cross-shaped, V-shaped, and vertical/horizontal L-shaped corner expansion-joint spaces, for example, and may comprise at least one layer of: protective cloth, insulating blanket, intumescent material, and mechanically supporting layer.

Abstract: An example of a pre-assembled, moisture, water, and gas impermeable fire-barrier system for use in expansion-joint spaces includes a fire-barrier having a layer of outermost protective cloth layer overlain by an insulation blanket overlain by stainless steel foil, overlain by a second insulation blanket, overlain by a limited layer of intumescent material, overlain by impermeable silicon coated cloth to completely or partially surround all of the other layers of the barrier. If desired, a first attachment apparatus for attaching a first long edge of the fire-barrier to a building unit and a second attachment apparatus for attaching the opposing second long edge to an opposing spaced building unit may be fixedly attached to the barrier. The barrier system may be fitted with a drain aperture and a drainage hose emanating from the aperture, the hose protected from the heat of a fire.

Abstract: Fire-barriers systems, including pre-assembled intersecting and straight-line fire-barriers having either all male-, all female-, or both types of coupling ends eliminate on-site cutting and construction of barriers required for intersection-spaces and provide easy, rapid, and safe one-step, drop-in installation and coupling. All male/female ended fire-barriers are constructed as single-piece units. All adjacent laid-flat layers are continuously connected having no gaps or folds. Straight-line and L-shaped barriers are certified according to the criteria mandated by both the ASTM E 1399-97 (Reapproved 2005), Standard Test Method for Cyclic Movement and Measuring the Minimum and Maximum Joint Widths of Architectural Joint Systems and the UL 2079 Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems Test for air leakage (Revised and relocated as 1.14 Mar. 10, 2006).

Abstract: Bottom mounted (anchored) fire barrier systems include UL 2079 and ASTM 1399 tested and certified fire barrier/retainer structures, especially useful for floor/floor, wall/floor, and wall/wall expansion joint spaces formed by spaced opposing pre-cast concrete building units of 4½ inches thickness. The use of this system in structures using pre-cast building units provides room for installation of mandated rubber boots into the limited expansion joint space. Each fire barrier has affixed to its outside long edges a metal retainer that is structured for holding the barrier correctly and tightly positioned to the building unit surfaces first for secure and tight anchoring and then for providing support for the barrier to prevent leakage of gas, flame, smoke, and heat during a fire. Providing for ease of installation there is a reusable installation tool, an optional guard unit, male/female connections between barrier sections, and a splice connector butt to connections.

Abstract: A smoke-barrier device for under-door gaps is taught. A basic barrier comprises a unit of expandable/compressible material covered by one end of a length of fire-resistant and smoke and gas impermeable material, and is sized to completely seal the mandated gap beneath doors in the event of a fire. Another style includes magnetic material on the other end of the length of fire-resistant, moisture and gas impermeable material to further adhere the barrier to a metal door. Intumescent material may be fixed on the central part of the length of fire-resistant, moisture and gas impermeable material. The device is sized to fit commercial and private doors spaces and is offered in a kit including tape to place about top and sides openings of a door, luminescent tape to be placed on a window in the room, and a flashlight of various styles. The fire-resistant material may also be water impermeable.

Abstract: Two-sided and two-sided mirrored fire barriers having each of their two sides tested, rated, and certified for use in common spaces, such as spaces shared between two rooms are taught. Two-sided barriers require only one barrier and one installation, instead of the two presently needed. Two-sided barriers may have different construction and composition on each side; whereas each side of a mirrored fire barrier is a mirror image of the other. All two-sided barriers include top-mounted, bottom-mounted, and side-mounted barriers, gas and moisture impermeable barriers, and barriers shaped to fit into the expansion joint spaces created when a plurality of expansion joints intersect. The barriers are disposed to various sizes, lengths, widths, and depths, in addition to variations in shape, content, number and composition of layers, materials, and attachment means required to accommodate the variety of sizes and shapes of expansion-joint spaces and the desired rating, in terms of hours.

Abstract: Multi-directional, one-piece, tested and rated, inside-mount fire barriers requiring no splicing to fit into expansion joint corner-type spaces are presented. Accompanying low-cost, re-useable, size-adjustable installation tools designed for one-step, drop-in, installation of each style barrier, are also taught. To insure a tight-fit between each installed barrier and the building units forming the joint space, spreader press-fit tools which, if desired, may serve as fire barriers covers are taught. Described herein is a barrier that needs no splicing to be installed into a T-shaped joint space that is created by the convergence of three building structures. The present invention contemplates inside-mounted, one-piece barriers shaped to fit cross-shaped and various L-shaped expansion spaces. L-shaped fire barriers include barriers having a horizontal and a vertical arm that can occur in various configurations and barriers having two horizontal arms.

Abstract: Fire-barriers systems, including pre-assembled intersection and straight-line fire-barriers having either male-coupling ends, female-coupling ends or both types provide for the elimination of on-site cutting and construction for easy, rapid, and safe one-step, drop-in installation and coupling. Both the intersection and straight-line fire-barriers are constructed as single-piece continuous units for use in intersection spaces formed by intersection of expansion-joint-spaces and in straight-line architectural expansion-joint-spaces to prevent migration of gases, flame, and smoke throughout a building. Indirect attachment of the layers to each other and to their solid support brackets provides for no continuous opening throughout the barriers preventing passage of smoke, fire, and gases therethrough. Each style barrier is provided with an optional one-step, one-person, drop-in, reusable, width adjustable installation tool.

Abstract: Multi-layered, fire-barriers each sized and shaped for installation into accepting intersection-spaces formed by the spaced-intersection of at least two expansion-joint spaces that occur between two adjacent spaced structural building units, each of said expansion-joint spaces defined by a plane, said plane defined by a set of three non-colinear points with each point defined by a set of x, y, z coordinates from the same coordinate system with no two of said coordinate sets being identical. The fire-barriers are shaped for use in 2-way planar, L-shaped expansion-joint spaces, T-shaped, cross-shaped, V-shaped, and vertical/horizontal L-shaped corner expansion-joint spaces, for example, and may comprise at least one layer of: protective cloth, insulating blanket, intumescent material, and mechanically supporting layer.