“
“A microbial fuel cell (MFC) was operated with a pure culture of Cupriavidus basilensis bacterial cells growing in the anode compartment in a defined medium containing acetate or phenol. Operating

this mediator-less MFC under a constant external resistor of 1k with acetate or phenol led to current generation of 902 and 310mAm-2 respectively. In the MFC which was operated using acetate or phenol, selleck inhibitor the current density measured from the plankton bacterial cells with a fresh electrode was 125 and 109mAm-2, respectively, whereas the current obtained with biofilm-covered electrodes in sterile medium was 541 and 228mAm-2 respectively. After 72h in the MFC, 86% of the initial phenol concentration was removed, while only 64% was removed after the same time in the control MFC which was held at an open circuit potential (OCP). Furthermore, SEM and confocal microscopy Selleckchem SC79 analyses demonstrated a developed biofilm with a live C.basilensis population. In conclusion, in this study we demonstrated, for the first time, use of C.basilensis facultative aerobe bacterial cells in a MFC using acetate or phenol as the sole carbon source which led to electricity generation.”
“Although diet is one of the most important parameters affecting the fitness of terrestrial and marine herbivores,

host plant choice and subsequent fitness on that host are not always correlated. This study investigated the effect of diet on fitness of the sea urchin Holopneustes purpurascens, which show an ontogenetic change in host plant use subsequent to recruitment. To

test whether fitness on host plant mirrored Panobinostat host plant choice, small and large individuals were collected from both hosts and fed either host plant (Ecklonia radiata or Delisea pulchra). Small urchins survived better than large individuals. Those fed E. radiata produced fewer test lesions, grew faster and were more fecund than those fed D. pulchra, irrespective of size. This pattern was enhanced when the host plant the urchin previously inhabited was assessed. Our results show that diet is driving the previously recorded ontogenetic change in host plant use associated with increasing size in H. purpurascens, where medium-sized individuals switch from D. pulchra to E. radiata.”
“BACKGROUND: Using a predonation screening questionnaire, potential blood donors are screened for medical or behavioral factors associated with an increased risk for transfusion-transmissible infection. After disclosure of these risks, potential donors are deferred from donating. Understanding the degree of failure to disclose full and truthful information (termed noncompliance) is important to determine and minimize residual risk.