Statistical quantification of SERS signals in microfluidic flow using AuNP-bound polystyrene microparticles.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique; however, its quantitative application has been limited by the instability of substrates and significant signal fluctuations. In this study, we demonstrated that 4-aminobenzenethiol (4-ATP) can be quantitatively detected through statistical analysis of SERS signal intensity distributions obtained using citrate-stabilized AuNPs, biotin-functionalized AuNPs, and gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-bound polystyrene (PS) microparticles. Raman spectra obtained in bulk aqueous solution under static conditions showed that the detection sensitivity of 4-ATP using AuNP-bound PS microparticles was approximately twice that achieved with citrate-stabilized AuNPs or biotin-modified AuNPs.

Emergent Dirac fermions in graphene and underlying Au monolayer with two-dimensional ferrimagnetism.

Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) with spin resolution, scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) and density functional theory (DFT) methods, we study the electronic structure of graphene-covered and bare Au/Co(0001) systems and reveal intriguing features, arising from the ferrimagnetic order in graphene and the underlying gold monolayer. In particular, a spin-polarized Dirac-cone-like state, intrinsically related to the induced magnetization of Au, was discovered at point. We have obtained a good agreement between experiment and theory for bare and graphene-covered Au/Co(0001) and have proven that both Au ferrimagnetism and the Dirac-cone-like band are intimately linked to the triangular loop dislocations present at the Au/Co interface.

Knockout Affects Tail Resorption Speed During Metamorphosis.

To elucidate the control mechanism of tail resorption during metamorphosis, the expression of , a macrophage-apoptotic cell bridging molecule that promotes phagocytosis in mammals, was examined. In both and , the expression in the tail increased significantly during metamorphosis, reaching its peak at the metamorphic climax, when the tail shortens rapidly. This finding suggests that the up-regulation of at metamorphic climax is involved in the clearance of apoptotic tail muscles.

Draft genome sequence of five strains of family Lactobacillaceae isolated from a seasoning liquid of Hiroshimana old pickle.

We report the draft genome sequences of five strains isolated from a seasoning liquid of old pickle. The strains were identified as and . These strains may contribute to the taste of traditional Japanese pickle and have the potential to provide probiotic benefits.

Changes in yields of oxidative damages 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in the presence of gold nanoparticles under X-rays, protons and heavy ions.

Objectives: To clarify the mechanisms of GNPs radiosensitizing effects, we investigated changes in yields of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), which is an oxidative damage marker and generated by reactions of 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) with OH radicals in aqueous solutions.

Methods: Aqueous dG (Sigma Aldrich) solutions (500 μM) are irradiated with X-rays, protons and heavy ions in a wide LET range. The examined LET range is from about 2 to 600 eV/nm.

In vitro characterization of hemodynamics in bicuspid aortic valves: The impact of valve and ascending aortic morphologies.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) morphology and ascending aortic curvature (AAAc) bending angles on aortic hemodynamics, focusing on transvalvular jets and secondary helical flows that contribute to systolic hemodynamic stress linked to aortic complications.

Methods: Using an MRI-compatible pulsatile flow and pressure system, 24 configurations involving six aortic valves (three Type 1 asymmetric BAVs, two Type 0 symmetric BAVs, and one tricuspid aortic valve [TAV]) across four ascending aortic morphologies-two diameters (30 mm and 40 mm) and two AAAc angles (130° and 109°)-were analyzed through four-dimensional-flow MRI measurements.

Results: Three Type 1 BAVs displayed highly deviated transvalvular jets directed toward the aortic wall on the side of the nonfused cusp.

Occupants and surface types drive microbial dynamics in controlled indoor environments.

Background: Indoor microbial communities play a critical role in influencing indoor environmental quality and human health and are shaped by occupant activity, surface characteristics, and environmental conditions. While previous studies have examined these factors individually, systematic evaluations of their combined interactions, particularly involving Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and drainage systems, remain limited. This controlled, long-term (1.

External radiation dose reconstruction for settlements near the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, Kazakhstan, in the international multicenter study: a detailed review and comparative analysis of the initial data.

Studies on health effects of radiation exposure to residents around the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (SNTS), Kazakhstan, are necessary for epidemiological assessment of radiation-related health risks after low-dose irradiation. Radiation dose estimates are the principal point for radiation epidemiological studies. These estimates should be based on the most reliable initial data, used for dose estimations.

Comparative Study of ZnO and ZnO-Ag Particle Synthesis via Flame and Spray Pyrolysis for the Degradation of Methylene Blue.

The treatment of organic waste from dyes or other industry processes is a crucial issue that requires urgent attention. Photocatalysis is a promising method for tackling this problem, with ZnO being a commonly used photocatalyst material. This study compared the degrading efficiency of ZnO particles and ZnO-Ag composites by utilizing flame and spray pyrolysis techniques.

Constructive Neuroengineering of Axon Polarization Control Using Modifiable Agarose Gel Platforms for Neuronal Circuit Construction.

Axon polarization is a fundamental process in neuronal development, providing the structural basis for directional signaling in neural circuits. Precise control of axon specification is, thus, essential for the bottom-up construction of neuronal networks with defined architecture and connectivity. Although neurite length and elongation timing have both been implicated as determinants of axonal fate, their relative contributions have remained unresolved due to technical limitations in manipulating these factors independently in conventional culture systems.

Importance of Selective Quenching of the Triplet Excited State of Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) Photosensitizers in Redox-Photosensitized Reactions: Case Studies on Photocatalytic CO Reduction.

Redox photosensitizers exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) are widely used in the various research fields. We investigated the roles of the singlet and triplet excited states of such molecules in photocatalytic CO reduction. Two TADF compounds ( and ) were used in combination with a manganese(I) complex as a catalyst and 1,3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzo[]imidazole (BIH) and triethanolamine (TEOA) as sacrificial electron donors.

Catalytic Reactions Involving the Oxidative Addition of Si─Halogen and Si─Pseudohalogen Bonds as a Key Step.

The oxidative addition of C-halogen bonds of aryl halides or alkyl halides is a critical step in a wide variety of transition-metal-catalyzed C─C and C-heteroatom bond formation reactions. In contrast, the oxidative addition of Si-halogen bonds of halosilanes has not been used in the development of transition metal-catalyzed reactions, although halosilanes are known to be highly reactive in many organic reactions with oxygen-containing compounds. However, recent progress in transition metal-catalyzed reactions using halosilanes has resulted in several synthetically useful and revolutionary methodologies concerning organosilicon synthesis through the oxidative addition of Si-halogen bonds, even less reactive Si─Cl bonds.

Rising global temperatures reduce soil microbial diversity over the long term.

Soil microbial diversity is crucial to sustaining ecosystem productivity and improving carbon sequestration. Global temperature continues to rise, but how climate warming affects microbial diversity and its capacity to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) remains uncertain. Here, by conducting a global meta-analysis with 251 paired observations from 102 studies, we showed that, on average, warming reduced bacterial and fungal diversity (measured by richness and Shannon index) by 16.

Continuous water monitoring of platinum and carbon electrodes potential for assessing redox potential and biological activity in the intertidal zone.

Continuous monitoring in coastal environments is essential for detecting the outbreak of environmental issues. Potentiometric sensors, which utilize electrodes to detect oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions, offer a valuable approach for such monitoring. In this study, we investigated the applicability of platinum electrode (PtE) and carbon fiber board electrode (CfbE) with distinct response characteristics for redox reaction and biological growth environment monitoring in intertidal environments.

Controlled Molecular Orders in Layered Multiple Porphyrins.

Nature precisely regulates multicomponent assemblies with the assistance of cooperativity. However, establishing such high precision in multicomponent assemblies of artificial supramolecular structures remains challenging. Here, we successfully position multiple distinct guest molecules within two equivalent binding cavities of a zinc-metalated trisporphyrin host by combining two distinct negative cooperative interactions, including donor-acceptor π-stacking and metal-ligand coordination.

Datasets of Bird Species Composition in a Land Reclamation Area of Lake Kahokugata, Central Japan, in Relation to Various Farmland Types.

Agricultural intensification and land reclamation have transformed natural wetlands into farmland across East Asia, which has been a threat to bird diversity, particularly wetland and grassland specialists. Despite extensive research in warm temperate and tropical rice-growing regions, bird communities in snow-rich agricultural wetland landscapes remain poorly studied. Here we present a dataset describing bird assemblages in a heterogeneous agricultural landscape surrounding Lake Kahokugata, located in a snow-rich region on the Sea of Japan side of central Japan.

Advances in mitigating methane emissions from rice cultivation: past, present, and future strategies.

This paper analyzes methane emissions from rice cultivation, a major source of global methane (10-12% of emissions), driven by traditional flooding practices that create anaerobic conditions. Before 2000, continuous flooding was the dominant rice irrigation method, promoting methanogenesis and increasing methane (CH₄) emissions. Since then, practices like alternate wetting and drying (AWD), biochar application, and mid-season drainage, have significantly cut CH₄ emissions by 41.

Damage-Free Vertical Microfabrication of α-Quartz via HF Gas-Phase Catalyst Etching.

Vertical microfabrication of α-quartz is typically performed via reactive-ion etching; however, ion irradiation from a plasma source etches the hard mask and disrupts the crystal structure of the etched surface. Thus, the microstructures fabricated via the conventional process have limitations in terms of the taper angle, depth, and crystallinity, which limits technological innovation in quartz devices. In this study, we introduce a plasma-free gas-phase catalyst etching for α-quartz using HF gas and a patterned photoresist as a catalyst.

Nitrogen removal and NO emissions in anammox reactors: Influence of reactor design on process performance and microbial communities.

The assessment and mitigation of NO emissions from anammox-related processes is challenging for environmentally friendly wastewater treatment. This study evaluated the nitrogen removal efficiency (NRE), NO emissions, and microbial diversity in three laboratory-scale anammox reactors: a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with a recirculation line, a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) without a recirculation line (CSTR1), and a CSTR with a recirculation line (CSTR2). Across two operational phases with anammox biomass (dry weight) of 1.

Sydnone Photochemistry: Formation of Nitrenes.

Photolysis of 3-phenyl- and 3-(3-pyridyl)-sydnones in Ar matrices is known to furnish Earl's bicyclic lactone (bicyclo[2.1.0]oxadiazolone) followed by the elimination of CO and the formation of carbodiimides .

Vortex-Flow-Directed Chiral Macroscopic Ordering of Platelet Nanostructures Formed via the Supramolecular Assembly of Platinum Complexes with Bis(phenylisoxazolyl)benzene.

To understand the vortex flow-directed circular dichroism (CD) effect observed in homogeneous solutions containing supramolecular structures, the macroscopic order formed by supramolecular structures oriented within a flow must be visualized. In this study, a bis(phenylisoxazolyl)benzene-attached platinum complex was found to self-assemble to form uniform anisotropic platelet nanostructures that are oriented within a flow, thereby generating a chiral macroscopic order that is responsible for CD and linear dichroism (LD) effects only in the vortex flow regime. Cooperative self-assembly of a bis(phenylisoxazolyl)benzene-attached platinum complex via controlled supramolecular polymerization produced anisotropic platelet nanostructures with a narrow polydispersity index.

Circular-Motion Fulling-Davies-Unruh Effect in Coupled Annular Josephson Junctions.

We propose an experimentally feasible approach for observing the Fulling-Davies-Unruh effect in circular motions using a novel detector based on the thermally activated decay of metastable bunched fluxon-antifluxon pairs in coupled annular Josephson junctions. The uniform circular motion of fluxon pairs acting as detectors under relativistic velocities and small radii produces high acceleration, making an effective Unruh temperature on the order of 1 K observable with existing technologies. In addition, the newly designed detector delivers highly sensitive temperature measurements, offering a promising avenue for experimentally probing the nontrivial properties of the quantum vacuum.

Preparation of multi-element soluted metal oxynitrides with a perovskite structure using precursors synthesized through a liquid-phase process.

The synthesis of perovskite-type oxynitride solid solutions has gained significant attention because of their potential applications in advanced materials. This study presents a novel synthetic strategy for obtaining these solid solutions by integrating multiple elements at both the and sites within a single crystalline phase. Utilizing liquid-phase processes-specifically sol-gel and polymerizable complex methods-amorphous metal oxide precursors that enhance the nitridation efficiency during ammonolysis are successfully created.

Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes Between Second-Generation Single Long Stents and Overlapping Stents for Long-Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease - Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is becoming increasingly prevalent in aging populations. Long-diffuse CAD (ldCAD), characterized by lesions ≥30 mm, poses significant treatment challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term prognostic differences between single long stents (SLS) and overlapping stents (OLS) in patients with ldCAD using second-generation and later drug-eluting stents (DES).

Structure and Interactions in 1:2 K-Crown Ether Complexes via Gas-Phase Cold UV and IR Spectroscopy.

We obtained gas-phase UV and IR spectra of 1:2 potassium ion-crown ether (CE) complexes (benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5), benzo-18-crown-6 (B18C6), dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6), and 18-crown-6 (18C6)) at approximately 10 K and determined the structure and intermolecular interactions between K and the two CEs, supported by quantum chemical calculations. The vibronic features of K(B15C5) revealed two conformers in the UV photodissociation spectrum, and the K ion was held equally by both B15C5 moieties. For K(B18C6) and K(DB18C6), the K ions were not equally shared between the two CEs.