Abstract
Artificial redox mediators offer the possibility for an enhanced electron transfer rate between microbial cells and electrodes. The important role of these mediators in whole cell biosensors and microbial fuel cells is to replace the natural electron acceptor e.g., oxygen in the case of aerobic bacteria, and Fe(III) oxides/complexes in the case of anaerobic organisms. Usually small monomeric redox mediators have been used, however, polymeric mediators recently proved also to exhibit efficient electron shuttling properties and enabling connection with multiple layers of microbial cells. Moreover they promote a stable binding onto the electrode surface in contrast to the monomeric ones. Recently we could show that two different flexible osmium redox polymers; poly(1- vinylimidazole)12-[Os-(4,4-dimethyl-2,2-dipyridyl)2Cl2]2+/+ (osmium redox polymer I) and poly(vinylpyridine)-[Os-(N,N-methylated-2,2-biimidazole)3] +/3+ (osmium redox polymer II) could wire efficiently gram negative bacteria (Gluconobacter oxydans and Pseudomonas putida and P. fluorescence [2, 3]). These studies have now been extended also to cover gram positive bacteria and to include Bacillus subtilis. The characteristics of the electrodes modified with B. subtilis cells were evaluated for their response to succinate, fumarate and glucose as substrates in both batch and flow modes using both gold and graphite electrodes. The influence of the presence of oxygen in the buffer on the current response was evaluated. The efficiency of the electron transfer with the osmium redox polymer was compared with that of a soluble mediator (ferricyanide).

Abstract
The experiment was conducted in a glass-house in order to determine the heterosis for photosynthetic characters in F1 hybrids produced by crossing a thermosensitive male sterile (TGMS) line, 103 s (female parent) and two drought-tolerant upland rice male-parent cultivars (Beodien and IR 71525). Three levels of soil-water potential, well watered (WW), moderate water deficit (MD), and severe water deficit (SD) were imposed at tillering stages. Heterosis for photosynthesis in terms of a carbondioxide exchange rate (CER) in single leaf as well as other related characters such as stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, specific leaf area, chlorophyll content and water use efficiency were measured in rice plants under drought and recovering conditions using a portable type of CO2/H2O gas analyzer (LI-6400, LI-COR, USA). The results showed that while suffering drought, the heterosis value for CER over the best parent (Hb) in two F1 decreased from 1.02 to 0.68. However, after recovering from drought this value increased in both F1 hybrids from 0.79 to 1.13. Heterosis for WUE increased in F1 103S/Beodien in both drought treatments (Hb from 0.73 to 3.07). This value increased in the 103S/IR 71525 (Hb = 0.66-0.55) in moderate drought conditions (Hb from 0.77 to 1.14), whereas it decreased (Hb from 1.14 to 0.23) under severe drought conditions. An insignificant heterosis for SPAD (an indicator of leaf chlorophyll content) was observed in F1 hybrid rice under all conditions. The interesting CER characteristic in F1 hybrid rice under drought conditions may be due to both greater stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency. Thus, the results indicate that it is possible to produce an F1 hybrid with high yield potential and drought tolerance by crossing a TGMS line with upland male-parent cultivars. Key Words: Photosynthesis, heterosis, F1 hybrid rice, drought tolerance, water use efficiency. ??

Abstract
Forthcoming work by key constituents in the ferrous and non-ferrous metals industry achieved consensus on applicable metals recycling mapping, allocation approaches and the identification of harmonized metrics. The aim of Dubreuil et al. was to present guidance on the application of ISO 14044 to allocation procedures for metal recycling. As such, graphical patterns of metal recycling and generic ?rules? for metal recycling maps were developed for copper, zinc and nickel. This work applies the consensus generic metals recycling maps as absorbing Markov chains to determine empirically based allocation parameters for metals recycling for the non-ferrous metals of copper, zinc, and nickel. Markov chains, named after the mathematician, Andrey Markov, are stochastic mathematical representations of systems, typically expressed in graphical the form as a diagraph. A system with Markov properties has future states that depend only on present states, and are independent of past states. Markov chains are an elegant approach to describing complex systems such as global metals flows, hence can be readily applied to metals recycling to determine appropriate levels of allocation.

Abstract
The biomass of jellyfish off Namibia is currently thought to exceed that of finfish there, and this has implications for our understanding of ecosystem functioning in the region. Our knowledge about even the basic biology of jellyfish is scant. Here we examine seasonality of jellyfish off Namibia using information provided by the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources from the commercial fisheries sector. The data span the period from the mid 1990s until 2006 and include information from both the demersal and pelagic sectors. The data cannot be considered quantitative and we are restricted to presenting information on seasonal changes in the percentage of trawls containing jellyfish; subdivided by depth and latitude. Jellyfish represent just one (the pelagic) lifehistory phase of the organisms and their release by the benthic life-history phase is often cued by sudden changes in temperature. Given that upwelling ecosystems are characterized by often sudden changes in temperature throughout the year, we hypothesize that jellyfish will be present all year around off Namibia. We also present some preliminary information on the possible associations between finfish and jellyfish.