High Stability of Rh Oxide-Based Thermoresistive Catalytic Combustion Sensors Proven by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction.

Thermoresistive catalytic combustion sensors based on noble metals are very stable stable and highly sensitive devices to monitor potentially explosive atmospheres. We studied and proved the high stability of rhodium oxide-based sensors under working conditions in different CH/air mixtures (up to 3.5 vol % methane) with the help of X-ray-based characterization techniques, DC resistance measurements, and IR thermography using a specially designed cell.

Cyanobacterial diversity held in microbial biological resource centers as a biotechnological asset: the case study of the newly established LEGE culture collection.

Cyanobacteria are a well-known source of bioproducts which renders culturable strains a valuable resource for biotechnology purposes. We describe here the establishment of a cyanobacterial culture collection (CC) and present the first version of the strain catalog and its online database (http://lege.ciimar.

Toxic effects of pure anatoxin-a on biomarkers of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

Anatoxin-a is a neurotoxin produced by various bloom-forming cyanobacteria. Although it shows widespread occurrence and is highly toxic to rodents, its mechanisms of action and biotransformation, and effects in fish species are still poorly understood. The main aim of this study was, thus, to investigate sub-lethal effects of anatoxin-a on selected biochemical markers in rainbow trout fry in order to get information about the mechanisms of toxicity and biotransformation of this toxin in fish.

Histological alterations in the structure of the testis in tench (Tinca tinca) after exposure to 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol.

Environmental pollution with synthetic estrogens may pose a serious threat to reproduction of aquatic wildlife species. The current study describes the effects of 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2 ) on the structure of the testis in tench (Tinca tinca). Adult male tench were exposed to sublethal doses of EE2 (50, 100, and 500 μg/Kg t.

Extremely miniaturised and highly complex: the thoracic morphology of the first instar larva of Mengenilla chobauti (Insecta, Strepsiptera).

Thoracic structures of the extremely small first instar larva of the strepsipteran species Mengenilla chobauti (ca. 200 microm) were examined, described and reconstructed 3-dimensionally. The focus is on the skeletomuscular system.