Analysis of euoniticellus intermedius, larva gut micro-flora: potential application in the production of biofuels.

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in first generation bio-fuel production, mainly driven by concerns of climate change and rising prices of transportation fossil fuels. Due to significant pressure on the few available food sources, second generation bio-fuels have entered the fray, as a sustainable alternative. This research‟s aim was to search for cellulolytic micro-organisms and enzymes from the gut of the dung beetle, Euoniticellus intermedius, (Coleoptera: Scarabaeida) that can be used in the production of second generation bio-fuels. Dung beetle larvae were dissected and the gut micro-flora cultured in cellulose medium. Bacterial growth and cellulase activity was monitored on a daily basis. DNA isolation was then done on the cellulose medium-cultured microbes and the isolated DNA cloned in E. coli. The clones were screened for cellulase activity using plate assays. A total of 7 colonies out of 160 screened colonies showed positive CMC (endo-β-1,4-glucanase) and MUC (cellobiohydrolase) activities. Sequencing of these positive colonies yielded mostly bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, most of which have not been previously reported to have cellulase activity. This study‟s findings prove that in addition to this dung beetle‟s gut being a fruitful source of microbial biodiversity, it is also a potential source of cellulolytic micro-organisms and enzyme activities that will aid the function and design of future bioreactors for the bio-fuel industry

"Brain maps highlight autism disorders" ScienceDaily.

Brain maps of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) show different levels of connectivity between parts of the brain compared with typical individuals, scientists report

Electronic nose implementation for biomedical applications

The growing rate of diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes related diseases is becoming a worldwide major health concern. The motivation of this thesis was to make use of a technology called the ‘electronic nose’ (eNose) for diagnosing diseases. It presents a comprehensive study on metabolic and gastro-intestinal disorders, choosing diabetes as a target disease. Using eNose technology with urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is attractive as it allows non-invasive monitoring of various molecular constituents in urine. Trace gases in urine are linked to metabolic reactions and diseases. Therefore, urinary volatile compounds were used for diagnosis purposes in this thesis. The literature on existing eNose technologies, their pros and cons and applications in biomedical field was thoroughly reviewed, especially in detecting headspace of urine. Since the thesis investigates urinary VOCs, it is important to discover the stability of urine samples and their VOCs in time. It was discovered that urine samples lose their stability and VOCs emission after 9 months. A comprehensive study with 137 diabetic and healthy control urine samples was done to access the capability of commercially available eNose instruments for discrimination between these two groups. Metal oxide gas sensor based commercial eNose (Fox 4000, AlphaMOS Ltd) and field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer (Lonestar, Owlstone Ltd) were used to analyse volatiles in urinary headspace. Both technologies were able to distinguish both groups with sensitivity and specificity of more than 90%. Then the project moved onto developing a Non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) sensor system that is non-invasive, low-cost, precise, rapid, simple and patient friendly, and can be used at both hospitals and homes. NDIR gas sensing is one of the most widely used optical gas detection techniques. NDIR system was used for diagnosing diabetes and gastro related diseases from patient’s wastes. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first and only developed tuneable NDIR eNose system. The developed optical eNose is able to scan the whole infrared range between 3.1μm and 10.5 μm with step size of 20 nm. To simulate the effect of background humidity and temperature on the sensor response, a gas test rig system that includes gas mixture, VOC generator, humidity generator and gas analyser was designed to enable the user to have control of gas flow, humidity and temperature. This also helps to find out system’s sensitivity and selectivity. Finally, after evaluating the sensitivity and selectivity of optical eNose, it was tested on simple and complex odours. The results were promising in discriminating the odours. Due to insufficient sample batches received from the hospital, synthetic urine samples were purchased, and diabetic samples were artificially made. The optical eNose was able to successfully separate artificial diabetic samples from non-diabetic ones

Fabrication de biocathodes flexibles pour biopiles enzymatiques implantables par procédés d’impression

Enzymatic Biofuel Cells, capable of converting efficiently the glucose from extracellular fluid into electrical energy, are a power source for implantable devices. However, the power output generated by these cells is not sufficient to fulfill the energy required by implantable artificial organs. Therefore, a new packaging architecture design based on flexible materials derived from printing technologies has been explored in order to enhance the power output of this cell. This work demonstrates the relevance of printing processes such as ultrasonic spray and gravure to develop homogeneous, thin and flexible biocathodes. During this work, a carbon nanotubes / surfactant suspensions were deposited on a hydrophobic flexible substrate (carbon paper). Despite the poor printability of the substrate, flexible active layers were obtained (thickness between 5 and 10 µm). Finally, a non-covalent immobilization of laccases (via adamantane pyrene) was tested and a catalytic current of approximately 130 µA.cm-2 was obtained. mA.cm-2 was obtained.Les biopiles enzymatiques, capables de convertir le glucose présent dans le fluide physiologique en électricité, sont une source d’alimentation pour les dispositifs implantables. Cependant, les faibles puissances délivrées ne permettent pas d’alimenter actuellement des organes artificiels implantables. Une nouvelle architecture de biocathode tirant profit des technologies d’impression a été testée en vue d’améliorer les performances des Biopiles implantables. Ce travail démontre la pertinence des procédés d’impression tels que le spray ultrasonique et l’héliogravure dans l’élaboration de biocathodes homogènes, fines et flexibles. Ainsi, des encres fonctionnelles, dont la formulation à base de nanotubes de carbone et de surfactant a été optimisée, ont pu être déposées sur un substrat flexible hydrophobe (feuilles de carbone). Les problèmes d’imprimabilité du substrat ont été surmontés et des couches actives flexibles ont été obtenues (épaisseur entre 5 et 10 µm). Enfin, une technique d’immobilisation non-covalente des laccases (via le pyrène adamantane) a été testée et un courant catalytique de l’ordre de 130 mA.cm-2 a été obtenu

CERNAS: Current Evolution and Research Novelty in Agricultural Sustainability

Climate changes pose overwhelming impacts on primary production and, consequently, on agricultural and animal farming. Additionally, at present, agriculture still depends strongly on fossil fuels both for energy and production factors ,such as synthetized inorganic fertilizers and harmful chemicals such as pesticides. The need to feed the growing world population poses many challenges. The need to reduce environmental impacts to a minimum, maintain healthy ecosystems, and improve soil microbiota are central to ensuring a promising future for coming generations. Livestock production under cover crop systems helps to alleviate compaction so that oxygen and water can sufficiently flow in the soil, add organic matter, and help hold soil in place, reducing crusting and protecting against erosion. The use of organic plant production practices allied to the control of substances used in agriculture also decisively contributes to alleviating the pressure on ecosystems. Some of the goals of this new decade are to use enhanced sustainable production methodologies to improve the input/output ratios of primary production, reduce environmental impacts, and rely on new innovative technologies. This reprint addresses original studies and reviews focused on the current evolution and research novelty in agricultural sustainability. New developments are discussed on issues related to quality of soil, natural fertilizers, or the sustainable use of land and water. Also, crop protection techniques are pivotal for sustainable food production under the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, allied to innovative weed control methodologies as a way to reduce the utilization of pesticides. The role of precision and smart agriculture is becoming more pertinent as communication technologies improve at a rapid rate. Waste management, reuse of agro-industrial residues, extension of shelf life, and use of new technologies are ways to reduce food waste, all contributing to higher sustainability in food supply chains, leading to a more rational use of natural resources. The unquestionable role of bees as pollinators and contributors to biodiversity is adjacent to characterizing beekeeping activities, which in turn contributes, together with the valorization of endemic varieties of plant foods, to the development of local communities. Finally, the short circuits and local food markets have a decisive role in the preservation and enhancement of rural economies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CERNAS – Current Evolution and Research Novelty in Agricultural Sustainability

This book addresses original studies and reviews focused on the current evolution and research novelty in agricultural sustainability. New developments are discussed on issues related with quality of soil, natural fertilizers or the sustainable use of land and water. Also crop protection techniques are pivotal for the sustainable food production under the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, allied to innovative weed control methodologies, as a way to reduce the utilization of pesticides. The role of precision and smart agriculture is becoming more pertinent as the communication technologies improve at a high rate. Waste management, reuse of agro industrial residues, extension of shelf life and use of new technologies are ways to reduce food waste, all contributing to a higher sustainability of the food supply chains, leading to a more rational use of natural resources. The unquestionable role of bees as pollinators and contributors for biodiversity is subjacent to the work of characterization of beekeeping activities, which in turn contribute, together with the valorization of endemic varieties of plant foods, for the development of local communities. Finally, the short circuits and local food markets have a decisive role in the preservation and enhancement of rural economies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Performance analysis for wireless G (IEEE 802.11G) and wireless N (IEEE 802.11N) in outdoor environment

This paper described an analysis the different capabilities and limitation of both IEEE technologies that has been utilized for data transmission directed to mobile device. In this work, we have compared an IEEE 802.11/g/n outdoor environment to know what technology is better. The comparison consider on coverage area (mobility), throughput and measuring the interferences. The work presented here is to help the researchers to select the best technology depending of their deploying case, and investigate the best variant for outdoor. The tool used is Iperf software which is to measure the data transmission performance of IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11g

Performance Analysis For Wireless G (IEEE 802.11 G) And Wireless N (IEEE 802.11 N) In Outdoor Environment

This paper described an analysis the different capabilities and limitation of both IEEE technologies that has been utilized for data transmission directed to mobile device. In this work, we have compared an IEEE 802.11/g/n outdoor environment to know what technology is better. the comparison consider on coverage area (mobility), through put and measuring the interferences. The work presented here is to help the researchers to select the best technology depending of their deploying case, and investigate the best variant for outdoor. The tool used is Iperf software which is to measure the data transmission performance of IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11g

Sub-millilitre microbial fuel cell power for soft robots

Conventional rigid-body robots operate using actuators which differ markedly from the compliant, muscular bodies of biological organisms that generate their energy through organic metabolism. We consider an 'artificial stomach' comprised of a single microbial fuel cell (MFC), converting organic detritus to electricity, used to drive an electroactive artificial muscle. This bridges the crucial gap between a bio-inspired energy source and a bio-inspired actuator. We demonstrate how a sub-mL MFC can charge two 1F capacitors, which are then controllably discharged into an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) artificial muscle, producing highly energetic oscillation over multiple actuation cycles. This combined bio-inspired power and actuation system demonstrates the potential to develop a soft, mobile, energetically autonomous robotic organism. In contrast to prior research, here we show energy autonomy without expensive voltage amplification.</p