Quantification of glycated hemoglobin indicator HbA1c through near-infrared spectroscopy

A new strategy for quantitative analysis of a major clinical biochemical indicator called glycatedhemoglobin(Hb·A1c)was proposed.The technique was based on the simultaneous near-infrared(NIR)spectral determination of hemoglobin(Hb)and absolute HbAlc content(Hb·HbA1c)inhuman hemolysate samples.Wavelength selections were accomplished using the improvedmoving window partial least square(MWPLS)method for stability.Each model was establishedusing an approach based on randomness,similarity,and stability to obtain objective,stable,andpractical models.The optimal wavebands obtained using MWPLS were 958 to 1036 nm for Hband 1492 to 1858 nm for Hb·HbA1c,which were within the NIR overtone region.The validationroot mean square error and validation correlation coeficients of prediction(V-SEP,V-Rp)were 3.4g L^(-1) and 0.967 for Hb,respectively,whereas the corresponding values for Hb.HbAic were 0.63 g L^(-1) and 0.913.The corresponding V-SEP and V-Rp were 0.40% and 0.829 for the relativepercentage of HbA1c.The experimental results confirm the feasibility for the quantification of HbAlc based on simultaneous NIR spectroscopic analyses of Hb and Hb·HbA1c.

Indirect costs counteract the effects of pollinator-mediated phenotypic selection on corolla size in the mediterranean shrub Halimium atriplicifolium

Aims larger corollas receive more pollinator visits but involve higher production and maintenance costs,especially under hot and dry conditions.this can result in indirect costs on reproductive output,which may counteract the effects of pollinator-mediated phenotypic selection on corolla size.In this study,I explored the relationship between corolla size and indirect costs and whether these costs counteract the effects of pollinator-mediated phenotypic selection on this trait in the mediterranean shrub Halimium atriplicifolium.I hypothesized that(i)corolla production entails direct costs in dry mass,N and P,(ii)corollas entail significant indirect costs in terms of fruit and seed production,(iii)indirect costs increase with corolla size,(iv)this species may suffer pollen limitation to a certain degree and(v)indirect costs counteract the effects of pollinator-mediated selection on corolla size.Methods I compared fruit set and seed production of petal-removed flow-ers(r flowers)and unmanipulated control flowers(C flowers)and evaluated the influence of individual mean corolla size on relative fruit and seed gain of r compared to C flowers.I also estimated phenotypic selection on corolla size mediated by indirect costs and the combined effect of costs and pollinators(i.e.total selection).Important Findings Corollas allocated sizeable amount of resources in terms of dry mass relative to the other floral structures.Fruit set and seed per fruit were significantly higher in r flowers,while individual mean corolla size showed a positive relationship with relative fruit gain.Phenotypic selection analysis revealed cost-mediated negative directional selection and absence of positive directional total selection on corolla size through fruit set.this translated into stabilizing total selection.these results suggest that mediterranean environments can impose constraints on corolla size,counteracting advantages of larger corollas from the pollination point of view with increased indirect costs of such flowers.