An important challenge in the artificial fixation of N2 is to find atom efficient transformations that yield value-added products. Here we explore the coordination complex mediated conversion of ubiquitous species, CO and N2, into isocyanate. We have conceptually split the process into three steps: (1) the six-electron splitting of dinitrogen into terminal metal nitrido ligands, (2) the reducti...

Isocyanate-terminated adhesive amphiphilic block copolymers are attractive materials to treat meniscus tears due to their tuneable mechanical properties and good adhesive characteristics. However, a drawback of this class of materials is their relatively long curing time. In this study, we evaluate the use of an amine cross-linker and addition of catalysts as two strategies to accelerate the cu...

Complaints of respiratory symptoms amongst workers in a factory using isocyanate to produce polyurethane foam led to a study of changes in ventilatory capacity in the course of several working days. Mean decreases of the order of 018 1. were observed in the forced expiratory volume at one second in 15 employees during each of three normal working shifts. No significant change occurred on days w...

This study aimed to determine the effect of metabolic syndrome (MS) on the reproductive function in fertile (FM) and male partners of infertile couples (MPIC). We performed a cross-sectional study formatting two study groups: partners of pregnant women (n = 238; mean age 32.0) as FM and male partners of infertile couples (n = 2642; mean age 32.6) as MPIC. A standard semen analysis was performed...

December 2014 marked the 30th year anniversary of Bhopal gas tragedy. This sudden and accidental leakage of deadly poisonous methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas instigated research efforts to understand the nature, severity of health damage and sufferings of 570 000 ailing survivors of this tragedy. In a decade-long period, our systematic laboratory investigations coupled with long-term molecular surve...

Tannin/furanic rigid foams were modi ed by either polymeric 4,4’ diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) or a one-component polyurethane still presenting reactive isocyanate groups (PUR). Several di erent sequences of mixing the isocyanate and polyurethane with the chemicals used to prepare tannin-based foams were tested. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that addition of either pMDI or PUR...

The compound 2-chloroethyl isocyanate, a decomposi tion product of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, was studied for its effects on excision repair of DNA in normal human fibroblasts exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. For examination of the initial step in repair (UV endonuclease), the frequency of UV-induced strand breaks was analyzed by alkaline elution. Repair polymerase activity was...

Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2008, 8:115–119 Purpose of review Exposure to occupational and environmental agents can cause a spectrum of lung diseases that are predominantly immune-mediated. Research and prevention have focused primarily on the respiratory tract. Recent studies, however, suggest that the skin may also be an important route of exposure and site of sensitiza...

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) biodegradable mulch film (PBAT-BMF) is gradually applied in agricultural production, but its potential ecological risks have not been studied so far. In this paper, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was used to extract organic compounds from PBAT-BMF evaluate effects on tobacco seed germination and seedling metabolism. The results showed that six were found ...