Protocol to boost the robustness and accuracy of spatial transcriptomics algorithms using ensemble techniques.

Spatial transcriptomics enhances our understanding of cellular organization by mapping gene expression data to precise tissue locations. Here, we present a protocol for using weighted ensemble method for spatial transcriptomics (WEST), which uses ensemble techniques to boost the robustness and accuracy of existing algorithms. We describe steps for preprocessing data, obtaining embeddings from individual algorithms, and ensemble integrating all embeddings as a similarity matrix.

chitinase-like protein orchestrates cyst wall glycosylation to facilitate effector export and cyst turnover.

bradyzoites reside in tissue cysts that undergo cycles of expansion, rupture, and release to foster chronic infection. The glycosylated cyst wall acts as a protective barrier, although the processes responsible for formation, remodeling, and turnover are not understood. Herein, we identify a noncanonical chitinase-like enzyme TgCLP1 that localizes to micronemes and is targeted to the cyst wall after secretion.

Simultaneous Unbinned Differential Cross-Section Measurement of Twenty-Four Z+jets Kinematic Observables with the ATLAS Detector.

Z boson events at the Large Hadron Collider can be selected with high purity and are sensitive to a diverse range of QCD phenomena. As a result, these events are often used to probe the nature of the strong force, improve Monte Carlo event generators, and search for deviations from standard model predictions. All previous measurements of Z boson production characterize the event properties using a small number of observables and present the results as differential cross sections in predetermined bins.

Developing an Intervention to Enhance Aging in Place for Older Veterans Living in Permanent Supportive Housing.

Background And Objectives: The Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program provides rental subsidies, case management, and supportive services to Veterans who are currently or formerly homeless, 77% of whom are ages ≥50. Few interventions have been developed to address the needs of older Veterans in HUD-VASH.

Research Design And Methods: We conducted a 2-stage study to inform the development of an intervention to promote aging in place in HUD-VASH.

Characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing from recreational water in Athens, GA, using an undergraduate laboratory module.

We present a laboratory module that uses isolation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from locally collected stream water samples to introduce undergraduate students to basic microbiological culture-based and molecular techniques. This module also educates them on the global public health threat of antibiotic-resistant organisms. Through eight laboratory sessions, students are involved in quality testing of water sources from their neighborhoods, followed by isolation of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing .

Maternal deposition of hormones and contaminants shape the gonadal transcriptome in American alligators.

Environmental conditions influence the maternal deposition of hormones into eggs, which is hypothesized to adaptively modify developmental outcomes in offspring. However, most ecosystems harbour environmental contaminants capable of disrupting endocrine signaling, and maternal exposure to these compounds has the potential to further alter offspring traits. Studies rarely examine maternally derived hormones and contaminants along with offspring phenotypes, and we know little about their interrelationships and potential interactions.

The promise of community-driven preprints in ecology and evolution.

Publishing preprints is quickly becoming commonplace in ecology and evolutionary biology. Preprints can facilitate the rapid sharing of scientific knowledge establishing precedence and enabling feedback from the research community before peer review. Yet, significant barriers to preprint use exist, including language barriers, a lack of understanding about the benefits of preprints and a lack of diversity in the types of research outputs accepted (e.

Examining the arrhythmogenicity of dobutamine when used in conjunction with isoflurane in horses: A retrospective study at a single university teaching hospital.

Background: Dobutamine is used to treat hypotension in isoflurane-anaesthetised horses but may produce arrhythmias. Halothane is a volatile anaesthetic that was, historically, widely used in horses, but in one study, 56 of 200 halothane-anaesthetised horses (28%) developed arrhythmias after dobutamine administration. Although isoflurane has largely replaced halothane, it is unknown how isoflurane and dobutamine interact in the development of arrhythmias.

Drug-induced differential culturability in diverse strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Under stress, bacteria display selective growth propensities on solid and liquid media. For Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), differentially culturable bacteria have been found in tuberculosis (TB) patient sputa. We hypothesized that antibiotic treatment can induce selective culturability in Mtb.

Multiplex Detection and Quantification of Virus Co-Infections Using Label-free Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Deep Learning Algorithms.

Multiple respiratory viruses can concurrently or sequentially infect the respiratory tract, making their identification crucial for diagnosis, treatment, and disease management. We present a label-free diagnostic platform integrating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with deep learning for rapid, quantitative detection of respiratory virus coinfections. Using sensitive silica-coated silver nanorod array substrates, over 1.

Self-Management Strategies for Low Back Pain Among Horticulture Workers: Protocol for a Type II Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Study.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent and disabling, especially in agriculture sectors. However, there is a gap in LBP prevention and intervention studies in these physically demanding occupations, and to date, no studies have focused on horticulture workers. Given the challenges of implementing interventions for those working in small businesses, self-management offers an attractive and feasible option to address work-related risk factors and manage LBP.

Strategies for Fidelity Monitoring a Solution-Focused Brief Intervention in a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Integrated Care (IC) models have increased, but the current mechanisms to analyze the efficacy and fidelity of behavioral interventions within IC models are limited. A mixed methods concurrent process evaluation was used within the context of a randomized clinical trial to assess intervention fidelity for a Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) intervention implemented within an IC model. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to develop a participant survey and charting template for the SFBT intervention.

Prevalence of Mutations Associated with QoI, QiI, QioSI and CAA Fungicide Resistance Within in North America and a Tool to Detect CAA Resistant Isolates.

Grape downy mildew, caused by poses a threat to grape cultivation globally. Early detection of fungicide resistance is critical for effective management. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and distribution of mutations associated with resistance to Quinone oxide inhibitors (QoI, FRAC 11), Quinone inside inhibitors (QiIs, FRAC 21, cyazofamid), Carboxylic acid amides (CAA, FRAC 41), and Quinone inside and outside inhibitor, stigmatellin binding mode (QioSI, FRAC 45, ametoctradin) in populations in the eastern United States and Canada; and evaluate whether these mutations are linked to fungicide resistance correlate with specific clades.

Complete genome sequences of associated with mortality events in avian species.

is a potential bacterial pathogen that affects chickens. We present 22 complete genome sequences of clinical isolates to facilitate the genomic analysis and the development of diagnostic tools.

Zoonotic diseases awareness and food safety practices among livestock farmers in Nepal.

Interactions between humans and livestock could increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. In addition, limited knowledge of zoonoses and foodborne diseases among livestock farmers could heighten the risks of foodborne illness and outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. This study evaluated the awareness of zoonotic diseases and preventive practices for zoonotic and foodborne diseases among livestock farmers of the Chitwan, Rupandehi, and Tanahun districts of Nepal by conducting a cross-sectional survey of 280 livestock farmers.

Supporting social justice through equity-based actions for a sustainable future in animal genetics (at the 39th International Society for Animal Genetics Conference).

The 39th International Society for Animal Genetics conference (ISAG) was held for the first time in Africa under the theme 'Animal genetics for a sustainable future' in 2023. The conference convened scientists, policy makers, industry professionals, and students from interdisciplinary fields to share and discuss the latest developments in the space of animal genetics. Since its inception as a society, ISAG has sought to provide a platform advocating for a just and equitable future in animal genetics.

Structural and Kinetic Characterization of an Acetoacetyl-Coenzyme A: Acetate Coenzyme A Transferase from the Extreme Thermophile Thermosipho melanesiensis.

CtfAB from the extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermosipho melanesiensis, has been used for in vivo acetone production up to 70°C. This enzyme has tentatively been identified as the rate-limiting step, due to its relatively low binding affinity for acetate. However, existing kinetic and mechanistic studies on this enzyme are insufficient to evaluate this hypothesis.

Increased plugging latency in cycling epiERα-/- (Esr1f/-Wnt7aCre/+) mice.

Wnt7a-Cre is a commonly used for generating uterine epithelial conditional knockout mice, such as epiERα-/- (Esr1f/-Wnt7aCre/+) and epiPR-/- (Pgrf/-Wnt7aCre/+). We noticed that epiERα-/- females, but not epiPR-/- females, have prolonged plugging latency, which is the duration between continuous cohabitation and detection of the first vaginal plug (a sign of mating). Mating occurs in proestrus and/or estrus stages of the estrous cycle.

Pharmacological Dissection Identifies Retatrutide Overcomes the Therapeutic Barrier of Obese TNBC Treatments through Suppressing the Interplay between Glycosylation and Ubiquitylation of YAP.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in obese patients remains challenging. Recent studies have linked obesity to an increased risk of TNBC and malignancies. Through multiomic analysis and experimental validation, a dysfunctional Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 3 Subunit H (EIF3H)/Yes-associated protein (YAP) proteolytic axis is identified as a pivotal junction mediating the interplay between cancer-associated adipocytes and the response to anti-cancer drugs in TNBC.

Comparing the effects of verbenone, methyl salicylate, and permethrin on attacks of ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae Scolytinae) in ornamental nurseries.

The granulate ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky), and the black stem borer, Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) are important pests in ornamental nurseries in the eastern USA. These beetles are managed mainly using preventative trunk applications of pyrethroids, such as permethrin or bifenthrin when females typically fly out of woodlots and attack young trees in the spring. Verbenone and methyl salicylate are potential phytochemicals reported as repellants but not completely validated in ornamental nurseries for ambrosia beetle management as an alternative option.

Stabilization of [(N)BX] and [(N)BX] (X = H, F, Cl, Br) by Conjugation and Hyperconjugation Effects.

The isolation of nucleophilic boron bases has led to a paradigm shift in boron chemistry. Previous studies of the bis(carbene) borylene complexes revealed that these compounds possess strong donor abilities, and their reaction inertness is due to the large steric hindrance between boron reagents and reactant. In the present study, we have theoretically studied the [(N)BX] and [(N)BX] compounds (X = H, F, Cl, Br).

Secreted small RNAs of are biomarkers for diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Rapid and accurate diagnostics are needed to effectively detect and treat primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by (). Delayed diagnosis and similarities to other causes of meningitis contribute to a case mortality rate of >97%. Thus, there is an unmet medical need for a non-invasive liquid biopsy diagnostic method.

Enforced E-selectin ligand installation enhances homing and efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells.

Adoptive T-cell transfer has revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, this approach has had very limited success in treating solid tumors, largely due to inadequate infiltration of vascularly administered T cells at tumor sites. The shear-resistant interaction between endothelial E-selectin and its cognate ligand expressed on leukocytes, sialyl Lewis X (sLe), is an essential prerequisite for extravasation of circulating leukocytes.

The PIKASO trial (Preventing Injured Knees from Osteoarthritis: Severity Outcomes): Rationale and design features for a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Given the high burden and increasing prevalence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), identifying clinically beneficial strategies to prevent or delay its onset could improve the quality of life of those at high risk of developing the disease.

Methods: Preventing Injured Knees from OsteoArthritis: Severity Outcomes (PIKASO) is a multicenter blinded, parallel, two-arm randomized controlled trial of 512 individuals aged 18-45 years undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of a 12-month intervention of oral metformin vs.

Knee Ligament Injuries in the National Football League: Impact of Field Surface Type During the 2020-2023 Seasons.

Introduction A subject of ongoing debate within the National Football League (NFL) community revolves around the comparative risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries on natural versus artificial turf field surfaces. There have been mixed results as to whether there is a difference in injury rates depending on the playing surface and what factors might play a role in affecting these rates. Methods This study aims to compare the incidence of in-game knee ligament tears in the NFL during the 2020-2023 seasons.