Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: a half-century historical perspective.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has evolved significantly over fifty years into a powerful analytical technique. This review aims to achieve five main goals. (1) Providing a comprehensive history of SERS's discovery, its experimental and theoretical foundations, its connections to advances in nanoscience and plasmonics, and highlighting collective contributions of key pioneers.

Area under the ROC Curve has the most consistent evaluation for binary classification.

The proper use of model evaluation metrics is important for model evaluation and model selection in binary classification tasks. This study investigates how consistent different metrics are at evaluating models across data of different prevalence while the relationships between different variables and the sample size are kept constant. Analyzing 156 data scenarios, 18 model evaluation metrics and five commonly used machine learning models as well as a naive random guess model, I find that evaluation metrics that are less influenced by prevalence offer more consistent evaluation of individual models and more consistent ranking of a set of models.

Long non-coding RNA fine-tunes bone homeostasis and repair by orchestrating cellular crosstalk and β-catenin-OPG/Jagged1 pathway.

The IncRNA was initially believed to be dispensable for physiology due to the lack of observable phenotypes in knockout (KO) mice. However, our study challenges this conclusion. We found that both KO and conditional KO mice in the osteoblast lineage exhibit significant osteoporosis.

Time-calibrated phylogeny of neotropical freshwater fishes.

Neotropical Freshwater Fish (NFF) fauna exhibits the greatest phenotypic disparity and species richness among all continental aquatic vertebrate faunas, with more than 6,345 species distributed across the mostly tropical regions of Central and South America. The last two decades have seen a proliferation of molecular phylogenies, often at the species level, covering almost all 875 valid NFF genera. This study presents the most comprehensive genome-wide, time-calibrated phylogenetic hypothesis of NFF species to date, based on DNA sequences generated over decades through the collaborative efforts of the multinational ichthyological research community.

A Critical Perspective on Photothermal De-Icing.

To tackle the formidable challenges posed by extreme cold weather events, significant advancements have been made in developing functional surfaces capable of efficiently removing accreted ice. Nevertheless, many of these surfaces still require external energy input, such as electrical power, which raises concerns regarding their alignment with global sustainability goals. Over the past decade, increasing attention has been directed toward photothermal surface designs that harness solar energy-a resource available on Earth in quantities exceeding the total reserves of coal and oil combined.

EPA/DHA but Not ALA Reduces Visceral Adiposity and Adipocyte Size in High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Delta-6 Desaturase Knockout Mice.

The objective of this omega-3 feeding study was to elucidate the independent effects of α-linolenic acid (ALA) versus eicosapentaenoic (EPA)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on visceral adiposity and inflammatory signaling in diet-induced obese delta-6 desaturase (Fads2) knockout (KO) mice. Male wildtype (WT) and Fads2 KO mice were fed a high-fat diet (45% kcal from fat) containing either lard (no omega-3s), flaxseed (ALA), or menhaden (EPA/DHA) for 21 weeks. Epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) was analyzed for changes in tissue weight, adipocyte size, triacylglycerol (TAG) and fatty acid content, and inflammatory markers.

Solar-powered pumping at a remote denitrifying bioreactor.

Pumping surface water from a ditch into a denitrifying woodchip bioreactor could improve nitrate-nitrogen (N) removal by minimizing flow variabilities such as early flow cessation at a given subsurface drainage outlet and flashy drainage hydrographs. Few field-scale subsurface drainage bioreactors with pumping configurations have been assessed. Such evaluations would help better bound reasonable expectations of the benefits and drawbacks at these more advanced bioreactors.

A bacterial methyltransferase that initiates biotin synthesis, an attractive anti-ESKAPE druggable pathway.

The covalently attached cofactor biotin plays pivotal roles in central metabolism. The top-priority ESKAPE-type pathogens, and , constitute a public health challenge of global concern. Despite the fact that the late step of biotin synthesis is a validated anti-ESKAPE drug target, the primary stage remains fragmentarily understood.

Total Syntheses of Scabrolide B, Ineleganolide, and Related Norcembranoids.

Concise total syntheses of several 5/7/6 norcembranoids, including ineleganolide, scabrolide B, sinuscalide C, and fragilolide A have been achieved through a fragment coupling/ring closure approach. The central seven-membered ring was forged through sequential Mukaiyama-Michael/aldol reactions using norcarvone and a decorated bicyclic lactone incorporating a latent electrophile. Subsequent manipulations installed the reactive enedione motif and delivered scabrolide B in 11 steps from a chiral pool-derived enone.

Integration of metabolomics and other omics: from microbes to microbiome.

Metabolomics is a cutting-edge omics technology that identifies metabolites in organisms and their environments and tracks their fluctuations. This field has been extensively utilized to elucidate previously unknown metabolic pathways and to identify the underlying causes of metabolic changes, given its direct association with phenotypic alterations. However, metabolomics inherently has limitations that can lead to false positives and false negatives.

Comparative Review of Infection in Maize and Wheat: Similarities in Resistance Mechanisms and Future Directions.

is one of the most important plant-pathogenic fungi that causes disease on wheat and maize, as it decreases yield in both crops and produces mycotoxins that pose a risk to human and animal health. Resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat is well studied and documented. However, resistance to Gibberella ear rot (GER) in maize is less understood, despite several similarities with FHB.

Arthropod Food Webs in the Foreland of a Retreating Greenland Glacier: Integrating Molecular Gut Content Analysis With Structural Equation Modelling.

The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the global average since 1979, resulting in rapid glacier retreat and exposing new glacier forelands. These forelands offer unique experimental settings to explore how global warming impacts ecosystems, particularly for highly climate-sensitive arthropods. Understanding these impacts can help anticipate future biodiversity and ecosystem changes under ongoing warming scenarios.

Overexpression of ELF3 in the PTEN-deficient lung epithelium promotes lung cancer development by inhibiting ferroptosis.

Ferroptosis has been shown to play a crucial role in preventing cancer development, but the underlying mechanisms of dysregulated genes and genetic alternations driving cancer development by regulating ferroptosis remain unclear. Here, we showed that the synergistic role of ELF3 overexpression and PTEN deficiency in driving lung cancer development was highly dependent on the regulation of ferroptosis. Human ELF3 (hELF3) overexpression in murine lung epithelial cells only caused hyperplasia with increased proliferation and ferroptosis.

Findings From the Todurujo na Kadurok (Empowering Youth) HIV Self-Testing and Edutainment Comic Randomized Controlled Trial With Refugee Youth in a Humanitarian Setting in Uganda.

Introduction: Humanitarian settings are underserved by HIV self-testing (HIV-ST).

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of HIV-ST (Arm 1), HIV-ST alongside edutainment comics (Arm 2), and edutainment comics (Arm 3), compared with the standard of care (SOC), in increasing HIV testing with refugee youth aged 16-24 in the Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, Uganda. Intervention effects on HIV testing at 3-month follow-up (T2) were assessed using generalized estimating equation models alongside open-ended questions.

Cytokine expression and cytokine-mediated cell-cell communication during skeletal muscle regeneration revealed by integrative analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data.

Skeletal muscles undergo self-repair upon injury, owing to the resident muscle stem cells and their extensive communication with the microenvironment of injured muscles. Cytokines play a critical role in orchestrating intercell communication to ensure successful regeneration. Immune cells as well as other types of cells in the injury site, including muscle stem cells, are known to secret cytokines.

Attachment and removal of porcine rotavirus (PRV) and Tulane virus (TV) on fresh and artificial phylloplanes of Romaine lettuce and Carmel spinach as affected by ultrasonication in combination with oxidant- or surfactant-based sanitizer(s).

This work examined the attachment of porcine rotavirus (PRV) and Tulane virus (TV), a surrogate for human norovirus, to fresh and artificial phylloplanes of Romaine lettuce and Carmel spinach. The effect of produce type, sanitizer, and ultrasound treatment on removal of PRV and TV from produce and artificial surfaces was also investigated. Sanitization was performed with two oxidant-based sanitizers (chlorine and peroxyacetic acid) and one surfactant-based sanitizer (0.

Effectiveness of Intradiscal Regenerative Medicine Therapies for Long-Term Relief of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Recent research underscores the potential of intradiscal biologics, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and alpha-2-macroglobulin, in promoting chondrogenesis within lumbar intervertebral discs as a treatment for discogenic low back pain. Studies indicate significant improvements in pain relief, physical function, and overall quality of life following these interventions.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of intradiscal injections of MSCs and PRP in managing low back and lower extremity pain.

Increasing Rubisco as a simple means to enhance photosynthesis and productivity now without lowering nitrogen use efficiency.

Global demand for food may rise by 60% mid-century. A central challenge is to meet this need using less land in a changing climate. Nearly all crop carbon is assimilated through Rubisco, which is catalytically slow, reactive with oxygen, and a major component of leaf nitrogen.

Metabolic Engineering of for Xylose Utilization from Cellulosic Biomass.

Cellulosic biomass hydrolysates are rich in glucose and xylose, but most microorganisms, including , are unable to utilize xylose effectively. To address this limitation, we engineered a strain optimized for xylose metabolism through the xylose oxidoreductase pathway and promoter optimization. A promoter library with varying strengths was used to fine-tune the expression levels of the , , and genes, resulting in a strain with a strong promoter for and weaker promoters for and .

A Quantitative Risk Assessment Model for in Ready-to-Eat Smoked and Gravad Fish.

This study introduces a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) model aimed at evaluating the risk of invasive listeriosis linked to the consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) smoked and gravad fish. The QRA model, based on published data, simulates the production process from fish harvest through to consumer intake, specifically focusing on smoked brine-injected, smoked dry-salted, and gravad fish. In a reference scenario, model predictions reveal substantial probabilities of lot and pack contamination at the end of processing (38.

Isolation and manipulation of meiotic spindles from mouse oocytes reveals migration regulated by pulling force during asymmetric division.

Spindles are essential for accurate chromosome segregation in all eukaryotic cells. This study presents a novel approach for isolating fresh mammalian spindles from mouse oocytes, establishing it as a valuable model system for a wide range of possible studies. Our method enables the investigation of the physical properties and migration force of meiotic spindles in oocytes.

Hurdle Approach to Simulate Corn Wet Milling Inactivation of Undesirable Microorganisms: A Pilot Scale Microbial Challenge Study Using Salmonella Surrogate Enterococcus faecium.

Corn wet milling (CWM) and corn starch flash drying processing conditions reduce undesirable microorganisms, such as Salmonella.Finished products are historically safe, with intrinsic properties such as low water activity inhibiting microbial growth. Corn processors could use quantified levels of reduction in this study of Salmonella surrogate Enterococcus faecium (E.

Using machine learning to detect noncredible cognitive test performance.

Advanced algorithmic methods may improve the assessment of performance validity during neuropsychological testing. This study investigated whether unsupervised machine learning (ML) could serve as one such method. Participants were 359 adult outpatients who underwent a neuropsychological evaluation for various referral reasons.