Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the Resistance to Powdery Mildew and Leaf Rust Carried by the Bread Wheat Cultivar Victo

Leaf rust and powdery mildew are two important foliar diseases in wheat. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, obtained by crossing two bread wheat cultivars (‘Victo’ and ‘Spada’), was evaluated for resistance to the two pathogens at seedling stage. Upon developing a genetic map of 8726 SNP loci, linkage analysis identified three resistance Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs), with ‘Victo’ contributing the resistant alleles to all loci. One major QTL (QPm.gb-7A) was detected in response to Blumeria graminis on chromosome 7A, which explained 90% of phenotypic variation (PV). The co-positional relationship with known powdery mildew (Pm) resistance loci suggested that a new source of resistance was identified in T. aestivum. Two QTLs were detected in response to Puccinia triticina: a major gene on chromosome 5D (QLr.gb-5D), explaining a total PV of about 59%, and a minor QTL on chromosome 2B (QLr.gb-2B). A positional relationship was observed between the QLr.gb-5D with the known Lr1 gene, but polymorphisms were found between the cloned Lr1 and the corresponding ‘Victo’ allele, suggesting that QLr.gb-5D could represent a new functional Lr1 allele. Lastly, upon anchoring the QTL on the T. aestivum reference genome, candidate genes were hypothesized on the basis of gene annotation and in silico gene expression analysis.
Evaluation of Silicon and Proline Application on the Oxidative Machinery in Drought-Stressed Sugar Beet

Drought stress deleteriously affects growth, development and productivity in plants. So, we examined the silicon effect (2 mmol) and proline (10 mmol) individually or the combination (Si + proline) in alleviating the harmful effect of drought on total phenolic compounds, reactive oxygen species (ROS), chlorophyll concentration and antioxidant enzymes as well as yield parameters of drought-stressed sugar beet plants during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons. Our findings indicated that the root diameter and length (cm), root and shoot fresh weights (g plant−1) as well as root and sugar yield significantly decreased in sugar beet plants under drought. Relative water content (RWC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents and chlorophyll (Chl) concentration considerably reduced in stressed sugar beet plants that compared with control in both seasons. Nonetheless, lipid peroxidation (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2●−) considerably elevated as signals of drought. Drought-stressed sugar beet plants showed an increase in proline accumulation, total phenolic compounds and up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity to mitigate drought effects. Si and proline individually or the combination Si + proline considerably increased root and sugar yield, sucrose%, Chl concentration and RWC, MDA and EL were remarkably reduced. The treatments led to adjust proline and total phenolic compounds as well as CAT and SOD activity in stressed sugar beet plants. We concluded that application of Si + proline under drought stress led to improve the resistance of sugar beet by regulating of proline, antioxidant enzymes, phenolic compounds and improving RWC, Chl concentration and Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) contents as well as yield parameters.
Gold Nanoparticle-Enhanced Detection of DNA Hybridization by a Block Copolymer-Templating Fiber-Optic Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor

To overcome low surface coverage and aggregation of particles, which usually restricts the sensitivity and resolution of conventional localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) fiber-optic sensors, we propose a simple self-assembled templating technique that uses a nanometer thickness block copolymer (BCP) layer of poly(styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine) to form a 33 nm gold nanoparticle (AuNP) monolayer with high uniformity and density for LSPR sensing. The LSPR resonance wavelength for this PS-b-P4VP templated methodology is 592 nm and its refractive index sensitivity is up to 386.36 nm/RIU, both of which are significantly improved compared to those of conventional LSPR techniques. Calibrated by a layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte deposition procedure, the decay length of this LSPR sensor is calculated to be 78 nm, which is lower than other traditional self-assembled LSPR sensors. Furthermore, hybridization between target ssDNA, which is linked with capture ssDNA on the LSPR biosensor and DNA–AuNP conjugates, leads to a low detection limit of 67 pM. These enhanced performances are significant and valuable for high-sensitivity and cost-effective LSPR biosensing applications.
Combined fiber optical thermal sensor for noninvasive monitoring of blood and human tissue through diffuse scattering and metabolic parameters

A method of noninvasive monitoring of human tissue and blood components based on optical diffuse scattering spectroscopy combined with metabolic heat measurements has been developed. Developed compact fiber optical and thermal sensor measures thermal generation, heat balance, blood flow rate, hemoglobin and it's derivative concentrations and environment conditions. It contains thermal and optical detectors, halogen lamp and LEDs, multi-leg fiber optical bundle to measure diffuse light scattering inside and through the patient body including vascular system, which contributes to the control of the body temperature. Measurements of surface cutaneous tissue thermal radiation, ambient room temperature and background radiation temperature are used to measure conduction, convection, and radiation of heat from the human body. Blood flow rate in the body is estimated from the change in temperature for the contact and adjacent thermal detectors. Multi wavelength spectroscopy provides a reflectance spectra which are converted to absorbance values. The calibration and measurement processes are performed independently. Methods of multivariate statistical analysis involving the variables from sensor signals, polynomials from various variables, regression analysis of individual patients, and cluster analysis of patients group were applied to convert various signals from the sensor pickup into physicochemical variables. Obtained data show that the method provides a foundation for noninvasive measuring several biochemical parameters of blood. Further developments of the technology which is under progress now are the following: clinical studies to further characterize the performance of this technology and development of compact and low cost sensor device for home diagnostics.
Culture-Dependent and Amplicon Sequencing Approaches Reveal Diversity and Distribution of Black Fungi in Antarctic Cryptoendolithic Communities

In the harshest environmental conditions of the Antarctic desert, normally incompatible with active life, microbes are adapted to exploit the cryptoendolithic habitat (i.e., pore spaces of rocks) and represent the predominant life-forms. In the rocky niche, microbes take advantage of the thermal buffering, physical stability, protection against UV radiation, excessive solar radiation, and water retention—of paramount importance in one of the driest environments on Earth. In this work, high-throughput sequencing and culture-dependent approaches have been combined, for the first time, to untangle the diversity and distribution of black fungi in the Antarctic cryptoendolithic microbial communities, hosting some of the most extreme-tolerant microorganisms. Rock samples were collected in a vast area, along an altitudinal gradient and opposite sun exposure—known to influence microbial diversity—with the aim to compare and integrate results gained with the two approaches. Among black fungi, Friedmanniomyces endolithicus was confirmed as the most abundant taxon. Despite the much stronger power of the high-throughput sequencing, several species were not retrieved with DNA sequencing and were detectable by cultivation only. We conclude that both culture-dependent and -independent analyses are needed for a complete overview of black fungi diversity. The reason why some species remain undetectable with molecular methods are speculated upon. The effect of environmental parameters such as sun exposure on relative abundance was clearer if based on the wider biodiversity detected with the molecular approach.
A Non-Volatile Tunable Terahertz Metamaterial Absorber Using Graphene Floating Gate

Based on the graphene floating gate, a tunable terahertz metamaterial absorber is proposed. Compared with the traditional graphene–dielectric–metal absorber, our absorber has the property of being non-volatile and capacity for anti-interference. Using the finite element method, the paper investigates the absorption spectra, the electric field energy distribution, the tunability and the physical mechanism. In addition, we also analyse the influence of geometry, polarization and incident angles on the absorption. Simulation results show that the bandwidth of the absorption above 90% can reach up to 2.597 THz at the center frequency of 3.970 THz, and the maximum absorption can be tuned continuously from 14.405% to 99.864% by controlling the Fermi level from 0 eV to 0.8 eV. Meanwhile, the proposed absorber has the advantages of polarization insensitivity and a wide angle, and has potential applications in imaging, sensing and photoelectric detection.
Botanic Origin of Propolis Extract Powder Drives Contrasted Impact on Diabesity in High-Fat-Fed Mice

Propolis extracts are considered as nutraceutical products with potentialities towards obesity and comorbidities management. Nevertheless, propolis extracts composition is highly variable and depends on the botanic origin of plants used by the bees to produce propolis. This study aims to evaluate the differential effect of poplar propolis extract powder (PPEP), Baccharis propolis extract powder (BPEP), and/ or Dalbergia propolis extract powder (DPEP) on obesity and glucose homeostasis in high-fat-fed mice. PPEP supplementation reduced high-fat (HF)-mediated body weight gain, adiposity index, and improved glucose homeostasis in male C57Bl/6J mice that were submitted to a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, whereas BPEP, DPEP, or a mix of the three PEPs did not modify those parameters. Adipose tissue (AT) gene expression profiling highlighted an induction of mRNA related to lipid catabolism and an inhibition of mRNA coding for inflammatory markers. Several Nrf2 target genes, coding for antioxidant enzymes, were induced in AT under PPEP effect, but not by other PEP. Interestingly, representative PPEP polyphenols mediated the induction of Nrf2 target genes cell-autonomously in adipocytes, suggesting that this induction may be related to the specific polyphenol content of PPEP. Whereas PPEP supplementation has demonstrated a clear potential to blunt the onset of obesity and associated comorbidities, other PEPs (from Baccharis and Dalbergia) were inefficient to support their role in preventive nutrition.
Diversity and N2O Production Potential of Fungi in an Oceanic Oxygen Minimum Zone

Fungi in terrestrial environments are known to play a key role in carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry and exhibit high diversity. In contrast, the diversity and function of fungi in the ocean has remained underexplored and largely neglected. In the eastern tropical North Pacific oxygen minimum zone, we examined the fungal diversity by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) and mining a metagenome dataset collected from the same region. Additionally, we coupled 15N-tracer experiments with a selective inhibition method to determine the potential contribution of marine fungi to nitrous oxide (N2O) production. Fungal communities evaluated by ITS2 sequencing were dominated by the phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota at most depths. However, the metagenome dataset showed that about one third of the fungal community belong to early-diverging phyla. Fungal N2O production rates peaked at the oxic–anoxic interface of the water column, and when integrated from the oxycline to the top of the anoxic depths, fungi accounted for 18–22% of total N2O production. Our findings highlight the limitation of ITS-based methods typically used to investigate terrestrial fungal diversity and indicate that fungi may play an active role in marine nitrogen cycling.
The Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving Globally Threatened Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus

Simple Summary Western Tragopan is a globally threatened pheasant species of the Western Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot, whereas protected areas are tools used to protect species and their habitat. In this study, we selected protected areas falling within the potential habitat of the Western Tragopan and evaluated their management effectiveness to understand their role in the protection of the pheasants of global conservation concern. Our results show that only Machiara National Park scored just above 40% (indicating relatively weak management), 22 of the PAs fell within the 25–50% quantile (indicating weak management), and 3 scored below 25% (indicating poor management). PAs within the species distributional range covered 92,387 ha which is only 2% of the total potential habitat of the tragopan. Thus, we concluded that protected areas are not sufficiently contributing to protecting species and its habitat and need to revise their plans. We further recommended establishment of more protected areas within the potential habitat of the species to help protect this iconic species of Western Himalaya. Abstract Protected areas are a critical tool to conserve biodiversity in the face of the global crisis of species extinction. Here, we present the first ever management effectiveness assessment of Pakistan’s Protected Areas (PAs). We link these assessments to the delivery of conservation outcomes focusing on the threatened Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) endemic to Pakistan and India. We used two approaches, first mapping the spatial distribution of potential habitat coverage using machine learning ensemble models and second, an assessment of the management effectiveness of protected areas. Our results show that only Machiara National Park scored just above 40% (indicating relatively weak management), 22 of the PAs fell within the 25–50% quantile (indicating weak management), and 3 scored below 25% (indicating poor management). PAs within the species distributional range covered 92,387 ha which is only 2% of the total potential habitat of the Tragopan. Scoring of Planning element was insufficient both in term of the site and species. Likewise, inputs (e.g., research and monitoring program, staff numbers, staff training, current budget, security of budget, and management after process) were also inadequate. Finally, we recommend the establishment of more protected areas within the species potential habitat and inclusion of species-specific plans in Pakistan’s PAs management.
Peptide Dendrimers with Non-Symmetric Bola Structure Exert Long Term Effect on Glioblastoma and Neuroblastoma Cell Lines

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common cancers of childhood derived from the neural crest cells. The survival rate for patients with GBM and high-risk NB is poor; therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are needed. Increasing evidence suggests a dual role of redox-active compounds in both tumorigenesis and cancer treatment. Therefore, in this study, polyfunctional peptide-based dendrimeric molecules of the bola structure carrying residues with antiproliferative potential on one side and the antioxidant residues on the other side were designed. Methods: We synthesized non-symmetric bola dendrimers and assessed their radical scavenging potency as well as redox capability. The influence of dendrimers on viability of rat primary cerebellar neurons (CGC) and normal human astrocytes (NHA) was determined by propidium iodide staining and cell counting. Cytotoxicity against human GBM cell lines, T98G and LN229, and NB cell line SH-SY5Y was assessed by cell counting and colony forming assay. Results: Testing of CGC and NHA viability allowed to establish a range of optimal dendrimers structure and concentration for further evaluation of their impact on two human GBM and one human NB cell lines. According to ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC antioxidant tests, the most toxic for normal cells were dendrimers with high charge and an excess of antioxidant residues (Trp and PABA) on both sides of the bola structure. At 5 μM concentration, most of the tested dendrimers neither reduced rat CGC viability below 50–40%, nor harmed human neurons (NHA). The same dose of compounds 16 or 22, after 30 min treatment decreased the number of SH-SY5Y and LN229 cells, but did not affect the number of T98G cells 48 h post treatment. However, either compound significantly reduced the number of colonies formed by SH-SY5Y, LN229, and T98G cells measured 14 days after treatment. Conclusions: Peptide dendrimers with non-symmetric bola structure are excellent scaffolds for design of molecules with pro/antioxidant functionality. Design of molecules with an excess of positive charges and antioxidant residues rendered molecules with high neurotoxicity. Single, 30 min exposition of the GBM and NB cell lines to the selected bola dendrimers significantly suppressed their clonogenic potential
Selecting Subpopulations of High-Quality Protein Conformers among Conformational Mixtures of Recombinant Bovine MMP-9 Solubilized from Inclusion Bodies

A detailed workflow to analyze the physicochemical characteristics of mammalian matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) protein species obtained from protein aggregates (inclusion bodies—IBs) was followed. MMP-9 was recombinantly produced in the prokaryotic microbial cell factories Clearcoli (an engineered form of Escherichia coli) and Lactococcus lactis, mainly forming part of IBs and partially recovered under non-denaturing conditions. After the purification by affinity chromatography of solubilized MMP-9, four protein peaks were obtained. However, so far, the different conformational protein species forming part of IBs have not been isolated and characterized. Therefore, with the aim to link the physicochemical characteristics of the isolated peaks with their biological activity, we set up a methodological approach that included dynamic light scattering (DLS), circular dichroism (CD), and spectrofluorometric analysis confirming the separation of subpopulations of conformers with specific characteristics. In protein purification procedures, the detailed analysis of the individual physicochemical properties and the biological activity of protein peaks separated by chromatographic techniques is a reliable source of information to select the best-fitted protein populations.
Wideband Channel Characterization for 6G Networks in Industrial Environments

Wireless data traffic has increased significantly due to the rapid growth of smart terminals and evolving real-time technologies. With the dramatic growth of data traffic, the existing cellular networks including Fifth-Generation (5G) networks cannot fully meet the increasingly rising data rate requirements. The Sixth-Generation (6G) mobile network is expected to achieve the high data rate requirements of new transmission technologies and spectrum. This paper presents the radio channel measurements to study the channel characteristics of 6G networks in the 107–109 GHz band in three different industrial environments. The path loss, K-factor, and time dispersion parameters are investigated. Two popular path loss models for indoor environments, the close-in free space reference distance (CI) and floating intercept (FI), are used to examine the path loss. The mean excess delay (MED) and root mean squared delay spread (RMSDS) are used to investigate the time dispersion of the channel. The path loss results show that the CI and FI models fit the measured data well in all industrial settings with a path loss exponent (PLE) of 1.6–2. The results of the K-factor show that the high value in industrial environments at the sub-6 GHz band still holds well in our measured environments at a high frequency band above 100 GHz. For the time dispersion parameters, it is found that most of the received signal energy falls in the early delay bins. This work represents a first step to establish the feasibility of using 6G networks operating above 100 GHz for industrial applications.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Front of Pack Labels: Findings from an Online Randomised-Controlled Experiment in a Representative British Sample

Front of pack food labels (FOPLs) provide accessible nutritional information to guide consumer choice. Using an online experiment with a large representative British sample, we aimed to examine whether FOPLs improve participants’ ability to identify the healthiness of foods and drinks. The primary aim was to compare ability to rank between FOPL groups and a no label control. Adults (≥18 years), recruited from the NatCen panel, were randomised to one of five experimental groups (Multiple Traffic Light, MTL; Nutri-Score, N-S; Warning Label, WL; Positive Choice tick, PC; no label control). Stratification variables were year of recruitment to panel, sex, age, government office region, and household income. Packaging images were created for three versions, varying in healthiness, of six food and drink products (pizza, drinks, cakes, crisps, yoghurts, breakfast cereals). Participants were asked to rank the three product images in order of healthiness. Ranking was completed on a single occasion and comprised a baseline measure (with no FOPL), and a follow-up measure including the FOPL as per each participant’s experimental group. The primary outcome was the ability to accurately rank product healthiness (all products ranked correctly vs. any incorrect). In 2020, 4504 participants had complete data and were included in the analysis. The probability of correct ranking at follow-up, and improving between baseline and follow-up, was significantly greater across all products for the N-S, MTL and WL groups, compared to control. This was seen for only some of the products for the PC group. The largest effects were seen for N-S, followed by MTL. These analyses were adjusted for stratification variables, ethnicity, education, household composition, food shopping responsibility, and current FOPL use. Exploratory analyses showed a tendency for participants with higher compared to lower education to rank products more accurately. Conclusions: All FOPLs were effective at improving participants’ ability to correctly rank products according to healthiness in this large representative British sample, with the largest effects seen for N-S, followed by MTL.