Electroactive biofilms: new means for electrochemistry

This work demonstrates that electrochemical reactions can be catalysed by the natural biofilms that form on electrode surfaces dipping into drinking water or compost. In drinking water, oxygen reduction was monitored with stainless steel ultra-microelectrodes under constant potential electrolysis at )0.30 V/SCE for 13 days. 16 independent experiments were conducted in drinking water, either pure or with the addition of acetate or dextrose. In most cases, the current increased and reached 1.5–9.5 times the initial current. The current increase was attributed to biofilm forming on the electrode in a similar way to that has been observed in seawater. Epifluorescence microscopy showed that the bacteria size and the biofilm morphology depended on the nutrients added, but no quantitative correlation between biofilm morphology and current was established. In compost, the oxidation process was investigated using a titanium based electrode under constant polarisation in the range 0.10–0.70 V/SCE. It was demonstrated that the indigenous micro-organisms were responsible for the current increase observed after a few days, up to 60 mA m)2. Adding 10 mM acetate to the compost amplified the current density to 145 mA m)2 at 0.50 V/SCE. The study suggests that many natural environments, other than marine sediments, waste waters and seawaters that have been predominantly investigated until now, may be able to produce electrochemically active biofilm

Intrafamily entrepreneurship:the formation and membership of family entrepreneurial teams

Family entrepreneurial teams are groups of related individuals who engage in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial teams studies emphasize the resources that members bring to the team. Family business studies suggest that relationships and social theories are important. Social capital explains the formation and composition of family entrepreneurial teams (FETs). Analysis is of case studies of FETs based in Honduras. A shared commitment to entrepreneurial stewardship of the family's assets underpins formation of FETs. Trust and shared values were important for membership. This study highlights that families are not internally consistent, and family ties are not equally strong

Vgll3 interacts with Yap/Taz-Tead1-4-dependent gene expression in skeletal muscle

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Germinação de sementes e desenvolvimento de plântulas de moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) em função do peso da semente e do tipo de substrato Germination of seeds and seedling development of drumstick as a function of seed weight and substrate type

Moringa oleifera Lam. é uma espécie arbórea originária do noroeste indiano, cultivada graças ao seu valor alimentar, medicinal, industrial e no tratamento de água para o consumo humano. Os efeitos do peso de sementes e do substrato na germinação e desenvolvimento das plântulas foram determinados, sob condições de casa de vegetação (sombrite 50% com nebulização intermitente) em Fortaleza (CE), de 29/11 a 14/12/02. Os tratamentos constaram de arranjo fatorial 3x3 referente a três categorias de semente: pesadas (272,41 g/1000 sementes), médias (218,88 g/1000 sementes) e leves (177,07 g/1000 sementes); e três substratos: vermiculita; Plantmax® e uma mistura à base de solo esterilizado (S), húmus de minhoca (H) e pó de coco lavado (PC), na proporção de 2:1:1, dispostos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições (24 sementes/repetição). Efetuou-se a semeadura das três classes de pesos de sementes em bandejas de isopor de 72 células contendo os substratos, avaliando-se a percentagem, velocidade e tempo médio de germinação, altura da plântula, massa seca da parte aérea e massa seca total. As sementes pesadas e médias apresentaram maior percentagem e velocidade de germinação do que as leves; as sementes pesadas proporcionaram plântulas mais vigorosas; no substrato Plantmax® e na mistura (S+H+PC) a percentagem e a velocidade de germinação foi superior à vermiculita; e as plântulas desenvolveram-se melhor no substrato Plantmax®.<br>To compensate the shortage of information on the influence of seed weight and substrate over the germination and seedling development of Moringa oleifera an experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions (50% of natural light with intermittent nebulization) in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil. The treatments consisted of a 3x3 factorial arrangement [three seed weights: heavy (272.41 g/1000 seeds); medium (218.88 g/1000 seeds) and light (177.07 g/1000 seeds) and three substrates: vermiculite; Plantmax® and a v/v 2:1:1 mixture based on sterilized soil (S) plus earthworm humus (H) and washed powdered coconut peels (PCP), respectively] disposed on an entirely randomized design with four repetitions (24 seeds/repetition). The three seed classes were sown in isopor trays with 72 cells containing the respective substrate. The percentage, rate and average time for germination; height and dry weight of total and aerial parts of the seedling were measured. Heavy and medium seeds presented a higher percentage and rate of germination than light seeds; heavy seeds yielded more vigorous seedlings; the commercial substrate Plantmax® and the mixture (S+H+PCP) allowed a higher percentage and germination rate than vermiculite; the seedlings showed a better development on the commercial substrate Plantmax®