Infection pattern of male-killing viruses alters phenotypes in the tea tortrix moth Homona magnanima.

Male-killing is a microbe-induced reproductive manipulation in invertebrates whereby male hosts are eliminated during development. In the tea tortrix moth Homona magnanima, Osugoroshi viruses 1‒3 (OGVs), belonging to Partitiviridae induce male-killing. The infection patterns of OGVs are diverse; however, how the influence of these patterns of host phenotypes remains largely unknown.

Long-range enhancement for fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy using Ag nanoislands protected with column-structured silica overlayer.

We demonstrate long-range enhancement of fluorescence and Raman scattering using a dense random array of Ag nanoislands (AgNIs) coated with column-structured silica (CSS) overlayer of over 100 nm thickness, namely, remote plasmonic-like enhancement (RPE). The CSS layer provides physical and chemical protection, reducing the impact between analyte molecules and metal nanostructures. RPE plates are fabricated with high productivity using sputtering and chemical immersion in gold(I)/halide solution.

Possibility of determining high quantitative fecal occult blood on stool surface using hyperspectral imaging.

Background: Fecal immunochemical tests are commonly performed for colorectal cancer screening. Instant fecal occult blood measurement in toilet bowel movements would improve convenience. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) enables the nondestructive evaluation of materials that are difficult to assess visually.

Direct catalytic oxidation of rice husk lignin with hydroxide nanorod-modified copper foam and muconate production by engineered Pseudomonas sp. NGC7.

For the direct alkaline oxidation of rice husk lignin, we developed a copper foam-based heterogeneous catalyst that offers advantages in its recovery after the reaction mixture. The depolymerized products were utilized for muconate production by an engineered Pseudomonas sp. NGC7-based strain.