Behind the scenes with genomics researchers.

Although lab-coat genomics scientists are highly skilled and involved in pioneering work, few studies have examined their perceptions on what they do, and how they relate with others in interdisciplinary work. Recognizing that gap, we were curious to talk with scientists about their current work and positionalities related to the use of genomics for bioremediation. Using unstructured open-ended interviews and thematic analysis, we interviewed researchers with diverse genomics-related expertise.

Managing false positives during detection of pathogen sequences in shotgun metagenomics datasets.

Background: Culture-independent diagnostic tests are gaining popularity as tools for detecting pathogens in food. Shotgun sequencing holds substantial promise for food testing as it provides abundant information on microbial communities, but the challenge is in analyzing large and complex sequencing datasets with a high degree of both sensitivity and specificity. Falsely classifying sequencing reads as originating from pathogens can lead to unnecessary food recalls or production shutdowns, while low sensitivity resulting in false negatives could lead to preventable illness.

Limit of detection of ser. Enteritidis using culture-based versus culture-independent diagnostic approaches.

Unlabelled: To prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses, the presence of pathogens in the food chain is monitored by government agencies and food producers. The culture-based methods currently employed are sensitive but time- and labor-intensive, leading to increasing interest in exploring culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs) for pathogen detection. However, few studies quantify the relative sensitivity and reliability of these CIDTs compared to current approaches.

High-throughput transcriptomics toxicity assessment of eleven data-poor bisphenol A alternatives.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used chemical in the production of plastics and epoxy resins, has garnered significant attention due to its association with adverse health effects, particularly its endocrine-disrupting properties. Regulatory measures aimed at reducing human exposure to BPA have led to a proliferation of alternative chemicals used in various consumer and industrial products. While these alternatives serve to reduce BPA exposure, concerns have arisen regarding their safety and potential toxicity as regrettable substitutes.

UNITY: A low-field magnetic resonance neuroimaging initiative to characterize neurodevelopment in low and middle-income settings.

Measures of physical growth, such as weight and height have long been the predominant outcomes for monitoring child health and evaluating interventional outcomes in public health studies, including those that may impact neurodevelopment. While physical growth generally reflects overall health and nutritional status, it lacks sensitivity and specificity to brain growth and developing cognitive skills and abilities. Psychometric tools, e.