Marine sponges are frequently inhabited by a wide range of associated invertebrates, including caridean shrimps. Symbiotic shrimps are often considered to be commensals; however, in most cases, the relationship with sponge hosts remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that sponge-inhabiting shrimps are often parasites adapted to consumption of sponge tissues. First, we provide detailed examination...

INTRODUCTION Down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactors employ polyurethane sponge media to retain biomass. Wastewater is trickled from the top of the reactor and purified by microorganisms within and on the surface of the sponge media as influent flows vertically downward through the reactor. Since the sponge media of DHS reactors are exposed to the atmosphere, oxygen dissolves continually into t...

A biodegradable sponge, composed of chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA), was successfully obtained in this work. The sponge was ethereal and pliable. The chemical structure and morphology of the sponges was characterized by FTIR and SEM. The swelling ability, in vitro drug release and degradation behaviors, and an in vivo animal test were employed to confirm the applicability of this sponge ...

Encrusting and excavating Caribbean sponges Cliona aprica, C. caribbaea and C. tenuis (Hadromerida: Clionaidae) aggressively undermine and displace live coral tissue. To establish modes and rates of lateral advance into neighboring organisms, 171 sponge individuals were studied for 13 mo. Sponge advancement into live coral, via excavation underneath boundary polyps, occurred only when the 2 con...

The chemistry of the burrowing sponge Aka coralliphagum was investigated to identify chemically labile secondary metabolites. The HPLC-MS analysis of the two growth forms typica and incrustans revealed different metabolites. The previously unknown sulfated compounds siphonodictyals B1 to B3 (6-8), corallidictyals C (9) and D (10), and siphonodictyal G (11) were isolated, and their structures we...

Background. Policies for sponge count are not routine practice in most labor and delivery rooms. Ignored or hidden retained vaginal foreign bodies has potentially significant health care morbidity. Case. This was a case of a retained vaginal sponge following an uncomplicated spontaneous vaginal delivery. Delivery room policy resulted in the discovery of the sponge on X-ray when an incorrect spo...

A simple and scalable method has been developed to fabricate nanostructured MnO2-carbon nanotube (CNT)-sponge hybrid electrodes. A novel supercapacitor, henceforth referred to as "sponge supercapacitor", has been fabricated using these hybrid electrodes with remarkable performance. A specific capacitance of 1,230 F/g (based on the mass of MnO2) can be reached. Capacitors based on CNT-sponge sub...

A novel fluidized bed bioreactor (FBBR) was designed by integration of anaerobic granular activated carbon and aerobic sponge reactors. This FBBR was evaluated at different sponge volume fractions for treating a synthetic wastewater. Polyester urethane sponge with cube size of 1 × 1 × 1 cm and density of 28-30 kg/m(3) with 90 cells per 25 mm was used as biomass carrier. The results indicate tha...