Highly reliable and selective ethanol sensor based on α-Fe2O3 nanorhombs working in realistic environments

A highly reliable and selective ethanol gas sensor working in realistic environments based on alpha-Fe2O3(α-Fe2O3)nanorhombs is developed. The sensor is fabricated by integrating α-Fe2O3 nanorhombs onto a low power microheater based on micro-electro-mechanical systems(MEMS) technology. The α-Fe2O3 nanorhombs, prepared via a solvothermal method, is characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM), Raman spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction(XRD), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). The sensing performances of the α-Fe2O3 sensor to various toxic gases are investigated. The optimum sensing temperature is found to be about 280℃. The sensor shows excellent selectivity to ethanol.For various ethanol concentrations(1 ppm-20 ppm), the response and recovery times are around 3 s and 15 s at the working temperature of 280℃, respectively. Specifically, the α-Fe2O3 sensor exhibits a response shift less than 6% to ethanol at280℃ when the relative humidity(RH) increases from 30% to 70%. The good tolerance to humidity variation makes the sensor suitable for reliable applications in Internet of Things(IoT) in realistic environments. In addition, the sensor shows great long-term repeatability and stability towards ethanol. A possible gas sensing mechanism is proposed.

Effects of the Fermentation of Lophatherum gracile Brongn on Its Active Ingredients of Total Flavonoids and Total Polysaccharide

[Objectives] In order to explore the effect of fermentation on Lophatherum gracile Brongn. [Methods] The single factor experiment was applied to screen the fermentation conditions of L. gracile Brongn,and the effect of fermentation on the contents of total flavonoids and total polysaccharides was explored. [Results] The experiment defined the best fermentation conditions as: keeping natural state of p H,temperature 35℃,inoculation amount 6%,rotation speed 210 r/min,fermentation time 36 h. The results showed that the content increase of total flavonoids in the fermentation group was 5. 59% higher than the that in the non-fermentation group. [Conclusions]The selected fermentation method could improve the contents of total flavonoids and total polysaccharides.

二氧化碳浓度增加和气候变暖导致太白山林线树木生长与氮有效性关系减弱

全球气候变暖、大气二氧化碳浓度(C_(a))升高和氮有效性正对全球森林生态系统产生深远影响,尤其是在高海拔林线地区。本研究结合树木生长指标和树轮稳定同位素指标,探讨了太白山林线树种太白红杉(Larix chinensis)对环境胁迫的生理生态响应。研究结果表明,近60年来太白红杉的生长速度显著增加,且该林线树木生长对春季温度特别敏感。太白红杉的潜在水分利用效率(iWUE)的持续上升与大气二氧化碳浓度升高和气候变暖紧密相关,共同促进了树木的生长。1851-1964年,树轮δ^(15)N随树木生长速度的加快逐渐增大;1964年之后转变为不显著的下降,打破了原有的碳-氮平衡。分析结果表明,自20世纪60年代以来气候变暖和iWUE的迅速增加已经取代氮有效性成为树木生长的主要驱动因子。随着树木持续加速生长,氮有效性在未来可能会显著下降甚至供不应求。本研究深入揭示了植物对生长环境变化响应的生理生态机制,这将提高我们预测未来高海拔地区森林生态系统演变的能力。

Relative humidity reconstruction for northwestern China's Altay Mountains using tree-ring δ^(18)O

Relative humidity is an important factor in water and water vapor feedback cycles.In this study,we established a 222-year annual tree-ring δ^(18)O chronology for Siberian larch(Larix sibirica Ldb.)from the Altay Mountains in northwestern China.Climate response analyses revealed that the relative humidity was the primary factor limiting tree-ring δ^(18)O fractionation.Based on our analysis,tree-ring δ^(18)O can be used to reconstruct the July–August relative humidity based on both a reasonable mechanism of tree-ring δ^(18)O fractionation and a statistically significant regression model.We used this model to reconstruct variations in the July–August relative humidity,and the model explained 47.4% of the total variation in the measured relative humidity data from 1961 to 2011.The relative humidity in the study area increased from 1900 to the 1990s and decreased thereafter.Two regime-shift dry periods were detected during the study period(one from 1817 to 1830 and the other from 2004 to 2011).

Increased mercury pollution revealed by tree rings from the China's Tianshan Mountains

Mercury (Hg)can be transported globally by the atmospheric circulation and it accumulates and biomagnifies along food chains [1,2].Due to its threats to human health and wildlife when converted to the neurotoxin methyl mercury,variations in Hg concentration in various ecosystems were paid more attention by scientists recently.Natural processes such as geothermal activities, volcanic activities,and weathering of Hg-containing rocks,can release a mass of Hg to the environment.Anthropogenic emissions had become the main atmospheric pollution source since the Industrial Revolution.A recent study indicated that half of the Hg presented in atmosphere was sourced from human activities and about 73%total mercury was released after 1850[3].Aiming to reduce the impact of Hg to environmental and human health,UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)passed the Minamata Convention in 2013to limit Hg emission through contro|ling technologies on air pollution.

Multi-class cancer classification through gene expression profiles: microRNA versus mRNA

Both microRNA （miRNA） and mRNA expression profiles are important methods for cancer type classification. A comparative study of their classification performance will be helpful in choosing the means of classification. Here we evaluated the classification performance of miRNA and mRNA profiles using a new data mining approach based on a novel SVM （Support Vector Machines） based recursive fea- ture elimination （nRFE） algorithm. Computational experiments showed that information encoded in miRNAs is not sufficient to classify cancers; gut-derived samples cluster more accurately when using mRNA expression profiles compared with using miRNA profiles; and poorly differentiated tumors （PDT） could be classified by mRNA expression profiles at the accuracy of 100% versus 93.8% when using miRNA profiles. Furthermore, we showed that mRNA expression profiles have higher capacity in normal tissue classifications than miRNA. We concluded that classification performance using mRNA profiles is superior to that of miRNA profiles in multiple-class cancer classifications.

An ultra low-input method for global RNA structure probing uncovers Regnase-1-mediated regulation in macrophages

To enable diverse functions and precise regulation,an RNA sequence often folds into complex yet distinct structures in different cellular states.Probing RNA in its native environment is essential to uncovering RNA structures of biological contexts.However,current methods generally require large amounts of input RNA and are challenging for physiologically relevant use.Here,we report smartSHAPE,a new RNA structure probing method that requires very low amounts of RNA input due to the largely reduced artefact of probing signals and increased efficiency of library construction.Using smartSHAPE,we showcased the profiling of the RNA structure landscape of mouse intestinal macrophages upon inflammation,and provided evidence that RNA conformational changes regulate immune responses.These results demonstrate that smartSHAPE can greatly expand the scope of RNA structure-based investigations in practical biological systems,and also provide a research paradigm for the study of post-transcriptional regulation.