Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biosensors for Blood Glucose and Diabetes Diagnosis: Evolution, Construction, and Current Status

Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide health problem and complications associated with the disease are a significant cause of death in the world. Monitoring the blood glucose level is the first step during diagnosis of diabetes mellitus; hence, rapid and accurate methods of diagnosis is necessary for prevention of lethal complications. Current research is directed toward miniaturization of analytical equipment and also toward a decrease in consumption of biological materials and chemical substances. As a result, biosensors are available for sensitive, accurate, and low cost measurements. The first glucose enzymatic biosensor was proposed by Clark and Lyons (1962). Many different applications and innovations of biosensor have been performed since this work. Biosensors consist of a biorecognition element and physicochemical transducer providing a measurable signal. In case of glucose biosensors, enzyme glucose oxidase is used as a biorecognition element (or biotransducer in some sources) converting glucose to gluconic acid. An electrochemical device was the most common physicochemical transducer for many years, but the optical transducers are becoming more common now. In spite of the advantages of enzymatic glucose biosensors, many disadvantages also were encountered. Consequently, some researchers developed nonenzymatic glucose biosensors. This review covers evolution of glucose biosensors, construction of traditional and marketed types of biosensors, and promising applications.
Classification, origin, and diversification of the New Zealand hebes (Scrophulariaceae)

The New Zealand hebes (Scrophulariaceae) are members of a large Southern Hemisphere clade nested within Veronica. Analysis of ITS and rbcL sequences suggests that the New Zealand species are derived from a single common ancestor that arrived via long-distance dispersal. After the establishment of this initial founder population in New Zealand, the hebes have undergone at least two major episodes of diversification, giving rise to six clades. The great degree of morphological diversity in the New Zealand hebes contrasts with a corresponding low level of sequence divergence. New Zealand was a source of new emigrants to other regions in the South Pacific that were preadapted to high mountains or forest margins. Our results suggest that two instances of long-distance dispersal from New Zealand to South America, at least one instance from New Zealand to Australia, and one instance from New Zealand to New Guinea have occurred relatively recently. Shorter hops to the Chatham Islands and the subantarctic islands are also supported by the sequence data.
Functional Characterisation of Two Channels Proteins Involved in Leguminous Symbiosis

Legume-rhizobial symbiosis results in the formation of a new organ, the nitrogen-fixing root nodule. A chemical communication between both partners accompanies the invasion of plant host cells by bacteria and the development of the root nodule. In response to plant-released flavonoids, rhizobia produce lipo-chito-oligosaccharide signalling molecules, so called Nod factors. Early signal transduction in legumes such as Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula, is associated with a succession of tightly orchestrated ion fluxes across different membrane systems of the host cell. The Nod factor perception at the plasma membrane triggers Ca2+ oscillations that are associated with the nucleus. CASTOR and POLLUX are required for Ca2+ spiking. Homology modeling suggested CASTOR and POLLUX might be ion channels. However, experimental confirmation was lacking. Therefore we performed biochemical and electrophysiological analysis to define their role. Here we show that CASTOR and POLLUX form two independent homocomplexes in the nuclear rim in planta. We reconstituted CASTOR in planar lipid bilayers and electrophysiological measurements revealed that CASTOR is a cation channel preferentially permeable to potassium. The permeability of the sequence-related POLLUX for cation could be as well demonstrated through expression of POLLUX in different yeast mutants. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a voltage-dependent magnesium blocking mechanism contributes to reduce the conductance of CASTOR at negative membrane potential. By screening a L. japonicus roots cDNA library using yeast-two-hybrid system, a SNF7 protein interacting with CASTOR was found which acts as positive regulator in the nodulation pathway. Collectively the data demonstrate that both CASTOR and POLLUX are nuclear localized cation channels. Therefore, we propose that CASTOR and POLLUX may act as counter ion channels to facilitate a rapid efflux of charge associated with the calcium efflux. Alternatively and not mutually exclusive, they may catalyze a nuclear membrane depolarization leading to the activation of calcium channels responsible for calcium spiking
Structural Characterization of the DNA Repair Protein Complex SbcC-SbcD of Thermotoga maritima

DNA damage poses a considerable threat to genomic integrity and cell survival. One of the most harmful forms of DNA damage are double-strand breaks that arise spontaneously during regular DNA processing like replication or meiosis. In addition, they can also be induced by a variety of DNA damaging agents like UV light, cell toxins or anti-cancer drugs. Failure of the rapid repair of these breaks can lead to chromosomal rearrangements and ultimately tumorigenesis in humans. In response to these genomic threats, a highly developed DNA repair network of protein factors has evolved, where the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 (MRN) complex is sought to play a key role in sensing, processing and repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Orthologs of Mre11 and Rad50, but not Nbs1, are found in all taxonomic kingdoms of life, suggesting that Mre11 and Rad50 form the core of this complex. In this work structural studies were performed to decipher the overall architecture and the interaction of SbcC and SbcD, the bacterial orthologs of Rad50 and Mre11. Using X-ray crystallographic and small angle X-ray scattering techniques the crystal as well as the in solution structures of the Thermotoga maritima SbcC ATPase domain in complex with full-length SbcD were solved. The crystal and in solution structure match well fortifying the calculated models that reveal an open, elongated complex with dimensions of approximately 210 A * 75 A * 65 A. The heterotetrameric protein assembly consists of two SbcD molecules that homodimerize at domains I to form the central portion of the complex. Located at the outer areas of this homodimer domains II are arranged close to lobe II of SbcC building a small protein-protein interface. The C-terminal domains III of SbcD are connected to domains II via a flexible linker and associate through hydrophobic interactions with the coiled-coils of SbcC. These arrangements in combination with earlier findings lead to a model where upon ATP-binding the complex performs a conformational switch resulting in a ring-shaped structure. This conformation would bear a central cavity to harbor DNA strands that can be processed by the inwards oriented nuclease active sites of SbcD.
The functional consequences of diversity in plant-pollinator interactions.

The role of biological diversity in maintaining ecosystem functioning is a central issue in ecology. Most studies on diversity-functioning relationships have focused on ecosystem and community levels, leaving the extension of those relationships to other organization levels, such as populations, as a challenging and unsolved issue. Empirical studies have shown links between pollinator diversity and plant fecundity, suggesting that a diversity-functioning relationship at the population level may occur in pollination systems. We theoretically explored the effect of pollinator diversity on plant reproduction. We found that low pollinator diversity is beneficial when the most abundant pollinators are the most effective. In contrast, when the most effective pollinators are not the most abundant, we found an optimal value of pollinator diversity at which plant fecundity is maximized. When we parametrized our model with real data, we obtained that an increase in pollinator diversity was beneficial for the reproduction of some plants whereas it was harmful for other plants, the outcome depending exclusively on the differences in effectiveness among pollinators. Consequently, our theoretical approach suggests that in pollination systems the diversity-function relationship may be explained as the consequence of the interaction between among-pollinator differences in effectiveness and frequency of interaction, without the need to invoke additional ecological mechanisms.
Spatial analyses of the phylogenetic diversity of Minaria (Apocynaceae): assessing priority areas for conservation in the Espinhaço Range, Brazil

The protection of areas that shelter high evolutionary diversity represented by geographically and phylogenetically isolated lineages is becoming an important conservation strategy. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of this component of biodiversity is still unknown for most groups, which limits its application for selecting priority areas to conserve. In the present study, we reconstructed the phylogeny of Minaria (Apocynaceae) based on plastid (trnH-psbA, rps16, trnS-trnG and trnD-trnT) and nuclear (ITS and ETS) DNA markers and 34 morphological characters, and analysed the geographic distribution of the phylogenetic diversity (PD) and endemism (PE) in this genus. Minaria includes 21 species that are highly concentrated in the Espinhaço Range, in eastern Brazil, most of which (∼75%) are narrowly distributed. The spatial analyses of PD and PE of Minaria indicate four evolutionary relevant areas in this region. The Serra do Cipó and the Diamantina Plateau contain 10 endemic species and present the highest levels of PD. However, the two other areas also deserve special attention. Rio de Contas has high levels of PE, because of two endemic sister species that represent a phylogenetically isolated lineage and the Southern Espinhaço Range houses the most critically endangered species of the genus. Most endemic species of Minaria occur in vegetation islands on rocky outcrops (campos rupestres). These low-fuel areas are less susceptible to fire, suggesting that the Espinhaço Range has served as a historical refuge for fire-sensitive lineages. Our results suggest that conservation units in the Espinhaço Range cover a great proportion of the evolutionary diversity of Minaria and that fire management is probably an important strategy to preserve this endemic biodiversity.
Effect of Additive on the Chemical Composition of Tra Catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) By-product Silages and Their Nutritive Value for Pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine i) the fermentation characteristics of catfish by-product (C) ensiled with rice bran (RB) or sugarcane molasses (M) in different ratios, and ii) the digestibility of the silages in growing pigs. In the ensiling experiment, there were three ratios of C, ensiled with RB or M, of 8:2, 7:3 and 6:4 (wet basis for C and air-dry basis for RB and M). The six treatments were CRB8:2, CRB7:3, CRB6:4, CM8:2, CM7:3 and CM6:4, with 3 replications per treatment and seven sampling times. The pH of CRB7:3 and CRB6:4 decreased (p<0.05) from the first week and stayed stable until 8 weeks of ensiling, but the pH did not decrease in CRB8:2. The pH of CM8:2, CM7:3 and CM6:4 decreased rapidly from the first week until week 8. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) contents were slightly lower when catfish by-product was ensiled with RB than with M. Ammonia content in all treatments increased (p<0.05) during ensiling. Lactic acid content in silages with molasses increased from the first week, with the highest value at week 4. However, the lactic acid content in CRB8:2 did not increase with time and had the lowest value of all treatments. Acetic acid proportions of total volatile fatty acids were low at day 0, with the highest value at day 7, decreasing slowly until 8 weeks. The butyric acid proportion was highest at day 0 and decreased up to week 8. The proportion of propionic acid increased during ensiling. The digestibility experiment had a 4x4 Latin-square design and included 4 castrated crossbreed (Yorkshire×Landrace) male pigs fed four diets. The basal diet (BD) included rice bran, broken rice and maize meal, and the other three diets included fish meal (FMD) or catfish by-product ensiled with rice bran (CRBD) or sugarcane molasses (CMD). The silages chosen were those which gave the best results in the ensiling experiment for each additive. The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of DM and organic matter (OM) was not significantly different among treatments. The CTTAD of CP was not different among the silage diets, but was lower in BD (p<0.01). The CTTAD of ether extract (EE) was higher in the catfish by-product silage diets than in FMD and BD. There was no significant difference in the digestibility of DM, OM, CP and EE between the fish meal and the by-product silages. In conclusion, catfish by-product can be successfully preserved by ensiling. Moreover, the total tract apparent digestibility of OM, CP and EE in ensiled catfish by-product was comparable with that of fish meal.
Compressed sensing approach for UWB-OFDM SAR imaging using greedy algorithms

Compressed sensing (CS) approach has received significant interest in remote sensing applications recently. Only few attempts however have been reported on CS based UWB-OFDM SAR imaging. This paper presents a novel scheme for high-resolution SAR based on UWB-OFDM system using CS techniques. Enhanced resolution is obtained using UWB-OFDM waveforms and the computational burden is reduced using the CS methods. Sparse imaging methods are developed to deal with UWB-OFDM SAR using greedy algorithms including orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP), regularized OMP (ROMP) and compressive sampling matching pursuit (CoSaMP). Performance of these algorithms is analyzed and compared to conventional imaging …
A RAPID PROCEDURE FOR PURINE MEASUREMENT AND ITS USE FOR ESTIMATING NET RUMINAL PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

A rapid method for separation and quantitation of purines was applied to ruminal and intestinal digesta for estimating net microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. The procedure combines standard literature methods for hydrolysis of nucleotides by perchloric acid followed by precipitation of free purines with silver nitrate to separate the purines from interfering compounds. Acid resolubilized purines were quantitated spectrophotometrically at 260 nm. Microbial protein was estimated by the ratio of purines to N of isolated bacteria. The procedure is rapid, simple, precise and not costly. Duodenal passage of microbial N estimated by this procedure for steers fed semipurified and purified diets containing no protein was highly correlated (R2 = 0.98; P < 0.01) with duodenal passage of tungstic acid precipitable N. Results indicate that purines may be useful as a marker for quantitating microbial protein. Key words: Purine, RNA, DNA, microbial protein
Correlation and Path Analysis Studies for Growth and Yield Contributing Traits in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

A study was undertaken at West Bengal, India with Indian mustard var. varuna, during winter season of 2010–11 and 2011–12 in a split-plot design with three levels of irrigation (main-plots) and four levels of sulphur (sub-plots) with three replications. Experimental results revealed that application of two irrigations at 30 and 60 DAS, along with 45 kg S ha−1 influenced growth attributes and seed yield significantly. Further increase in S level upto 60 kg ha−1 although gave higher seed yield but the difference was non-significant. Highest consumptive use of water was recorded with two irrigations (at 30 and 60 DAS) while it was increased slightly with increase in S levels from 0 to 60 kg ha−1. Sulphur @ 45 kg ha−1 recorded highest water use efficiency at all irrigation levels. Irrigation (twice at 30 and 60 DAS) fetched higher net return over single irrigation. At all irrigation levels, 45 kg S ha−1 recorded the highest net return and B:C ratio. Seed yield showed positive significant correlation with all the independent variables and CGR revealed the highest degree of correlation followed by RGR, NAR, plant height and number of primary branches plant−1. It is obvious from path analysis that RGR had highest direct and positive effect on seed yield followed by CGR and number of primary branches plant−1. Thus CGR, RGR and NAR were under genotypic control and this positive correlation toward seed yield would be favourable to breeder for genetic improvement of Indian mustard.
Comparing fish communities in sanctuaries, partly protected areas and open-access reefs in South-East Africa

Fish were surveyed by visual census on offshore reefs in Mozambique and eastern South Africa to compare (a) fully-protected ‘sanctuary’ areas, (b) ‘partly protected’ areas where recreational diving and limited fishing are permitted, and (c) ‘open’ unprotected areas. Community composition differed between coral-dominated reefs and those covered mainly by algae and sponges, but not among treatments. Larger size classes were significantly diminished in unprotected areas compared to protected and sanctuary zones. Within coral-dominated reefs, abundances of indicator taxa showed three patterns: (1) greatest abundance in sanctuaries, intermediate in partly protected and least in open areas; (2) greatest abundance in sanctuaries but equal diminishment in partly protected and open areas; and (3) greater depletion in partly protected than either sanctuary or open areas. We conclude that partial protection does not effectively conserve reef fish, and there are indications that partly protected areas concentrate fishing effort on ‘pelagic’ gamefish. Sanctioned shore-angling and offshore ‘gamefishing’, illegal fishing and diver disturbance may collectively undermine the efficacy of partially protected areas. The depletion of reef fish species inside protected areas and reconsideration of the classification of pelagic gamefish require managerial attention. Partly protected areas in Mozambique need to be supplemented with no-take zones.
Tartaric Stabilization of Red, Rosé, and White Wines With L(+)-Calcium Tartrate Crystal Seeding

Four red wines, one rose wine, and one white wine were stabilized against tartaric crystallization by three procedures: cold stabilization with no crystal seeding, cold stabilization with potassium hydrogen tartrate (KHT) crystal seeding, and cold stabilization with L(+)-calcium tartrate (CaT) crystal seeding. The application and efficiency of each method were controlled through conductivity and pH and potassium and calcium levels. Results show that L(+)-CaT acts as an inductor of the KHT and CaT crystallization, while KHT seeding only induced KHT crystallization, and therefore, Ca levels in wine are not reduced. In another test, L(+)-tartaric acid (H 2 T) was added, leading to some inhibition in the CaT crystallization.
The Frequency of Density Dependence in Insect Host‐Parasitoid Systems

I examined case studies of density-related parasitism in insect host-para- sitoid systems reported in the literature. For 171 examples, the frequency of density de- pendence was 25% (n = 43), of inverse density dependence 23% (n = 39), and of inde- pendence 52% (n = 89). This is a considerably lower frequency of density dependence than previously reported in other reviews (Lawton and McNeill 1979, Lessells 1985, but see Dempster 1983). Biological features of case histories gave few clues as to the expected frequency of density dependence. Such features included host order, life stage attacked, parasite group, native vs. introduced status of hosts or parasites, number of attacking parasitoid species, mobile vs. sedentary hosts, and monophagous vs. polyphagous hosts or parasitoids. Biotic and abiotic factors may, however, provide good reasons for a low overall frequency of density dependence.
INTERSPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN SUSCEPTIBILITY TO COMPETITION AND PREDATION IN A SPECIES-PAIR OF LARVAL AMPHIBIANS

Fundamental issues in the study of predator-prey interactions include addressing how prey coexist with their predators and, moreover, whether predators promote coexistence among competing prey. We conducted a series of laboratory experiments with a freshwater assemblage consisting of two predators that differed in their foraging modes (a crayfish, Procambarus sp., and the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis) and their prospective anuran prey (tadpoles of the narrow-mouthed toad, Gastrophryne carolinensis, and the squirrel treefrog, Hyla squirella). We examined whether competition occurs within and between these two prey species and, if so, whether the non-lethal presence of predators alters the outcome of competitive interactions. We also asked whether the two species of prey differ in their susceptibility to the two types of predators and whether interspecific differences in predator avoidance behavior might account for this variation. Our results indicated that Gastrophryne was a stronger competitor than Hyla; at high densities, Gastrophryne reduced the body size of both congeners and conspecifics, as well as the proportion of surviving conspecifics that metamorphosed. However, the presence of mosquitofish did not alter the outcome of this competition, nor did either type of predator affect the density-dependent responses of Gastrophryne. In laboratory foraging trials, the number of tadpoles of each prey species that was killed, but not completely consumed by mosquitofish, was similar for Gastrophryne and Hyla. Yet, significantly more individuals of Gastrophryne than of Hyla were the first prey eaten by mosquitofish; there was no difference in the number of individuals of each species eaten by crayfish. Overall, more individuals of Gastrophryne than of Hyla were killed and completely eaten by mosquitofish at the end of the experiment. The two species of prey did not differ in their spatial avoidance of either type of predator, suggesting that this behavior did not play a significant role in the differential vulnerability of the prey to predation. By reducing the abundance of G. carolinensis, the potential exists for predators, such as mosquitofish, to ameliorate this species' competitive impact on other species. In this way, predators may promote coexistence of species within some assemblages of amphibians.