Towards an integrated system for bio-energy: hydrogen production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> and use of palladium-coated waste cells for electricity generation in a fuel cell

Escherichia coli strains MC4100 (parent) and a mutant strain derived from this (IC007) were evaluated for their ability to produce H₂ and organic acids (OAs) via fermentation. Following growth, each strain was coated with Pd(0) via bioreduction of Pd(II). Dried, sintered Pd-biomaterials (‘Bio-Pd’) were tested as anodes in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell for their ability to generate electricity from H₂. Both strains produced hydrogen and OAs but ‘palladised’ cells of strain IC007 (Bio-Pd_IC007) produced ~threefold more power as compared to Bio-Pd_MC4100 (56 and 18 mW respectively). The power output used, for comparison, commercial Pd(0) powder and Bio-Pd made from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, was ~100 mW. The implications of these findings for an integrated energy generating process are discussed.     

Respiratory components in acidophilic bacteria that respire on iron

Abstract

Microorganisms capable of aerobic respiration on ferrous ions are spread throughout eubacterial and archaebacterial phyla. Phylogenetically distinct organisms were shown to express spectrally distinct redox‐active biomolecules during autotrophic growth on soluble iron. A new iron‐oxidizing eubacterium, designated as strain Funis, was investigated. Strain Funis was judged to be different from other known iron‐oxidizing bacteria on the bases of comparative lipid analyses, 16S rRNA sequence analyses, and cytochrome composition studies. When grown autotrophically on ferrous ions, Funis produced conspicuous levels of a novel acid‐stable, acid‐soluble yellow cytochrome with a distinctive absorbance peak at 579 nm in the reduced state.

Stopped‐flow spectrophotometric kinetic studies were conducted on respiratory chain components isolated from cell‐free extracts of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Experimental results were consistent with a model where the primary oxidant of ferrous ions is a highly aggregated c‐type cytochrome that then reduces the periplasmic rusticyanin. The Fe(II)‐dependent, cytochrome c‐catalyzed reduction of the rusticyanin possessed three kinetic properties in common with corresponding intact cells that respire on iron: the same anion specificity, a similar dependence of the rate on the concentration of ferrous ions, and similar rates at saturating concentrations of ferrous ions     

Microzooplankton and macrozooplankton glutamate dehydrogenase as indices of the relative contribution of these fractions to ammonium regeneration in the Gulf of Maine

Ammonium regeneration by micro- (35–153 µm) andmacrozooplankton (> 153 µm) was determined in the Gulfof Maine by measuring the activity of the excretory enzyme glutamatedehydrogenase (GDH) in various size fractions. GDH maxima weregenerally observed to correspond to the depth of the chlorophyllmaximum as previously reported in the Gulf of Mexico and inthe vicinity of the Nantucket Shoals. GDH activity of the microzooplanktonwas considerably lower than the macrazooplankton, suggestingthe microzooplankton made only a minor contribution (1–11%) to the total ammonium regenerated. These results were confirmedby biomass estimates made from counts of individual species.Ammonium excretion by both zooplankton fractions was estimatedto supply 5–31 % of the nitrogen requirements for primaryproduction, with an estimated 59–63% supplied by the verticaltransport of nitrate (new nitrogen) into the euphoric zone.     

Mammographic changes following reduction mammaplasty

Mammographic findings after reduction mammaplasty may be similar to those seen with carcinoma. A knowledge of the expected mammographic alterations would be helpful in differentiating postoperative changes from those seen with carcinoma of the breast. Accordingly, the clinical records and mammograms of patients who underwent reduction mammaplasty at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center between March of 1977 and July of 1985 were analyzed. Forty-two patients had at least one mammographic examination following reduction mammaplasty. Periareolar soft-tissue changes and inferior pole alterations were present in almost all examinations of patients during the first 6 months after operation, but they decreased during the next few years. Asymmetrical densities were present in approximately half the patients throughout the follow-up period but decreased in degree. Parenchymal calcifications occurred later; few x-rays showed these calcifications during the first year, but 50 percent were apparent after 2 years. Evidence of fat necrosis occurred in approximately 10 percent. Four patients had biopsies for suspicious densities. Chronic inflammation and inclusion cyst were reported. We believe that changes after reduction mammaplasty are predictable and can usually be differentiated from those associated with cancer.     

Exemplars and the reproduction of everyday life: The Amherst affair

Frederick Errington is Aaaociate Professor of Anthropology, at Keene State College, New Hampshire. Deborah Gewertz is Professor of Anthropology, at Amherst College, Massachusetts.