Metal oxide/graphene nanocomposites are emerging as one of the promising candidate materials for developing high-performance gas sensors. Here, we demonstrate sensitive room-temperature H 2 S gas sensors based on SnO 2 quantum wires that are anchored on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets. Using a one-step colloidal synthesis strategy, the morphology-related quantum confinement of SnO 2 can be well-controlled by tuning the reaction time, because of the steric hindrance effect of rGO. The assynthesized SnO 2 quantum wire/rGO nanocomposites are spin-coated onto ceramics substrates without further sintering to construct chemiresistive gas sensors. The optimal sensor response toward 50 ppm of H 2 S is 33 in 2 s, and it is fully reversible upon H 2 S release at 22 °C. In addition to the excellent gas adsorption of ultrathin SnO 2 quantum wires, the superior sensing performance of SnO 2 quantum wire/rGO nanocomposites can be attributed to the enhanced electron transport resulting from the favorable charge transfer of SnO 2 /rGO interfaces and the superb transport capability of rGO. The easy fabrication and roomtemperature operation make our sensors highly attractive for ultrasensitive H 2 S gas detection with less power consumption.

Coal-mining subsidence causes ground fissures and destroys surface structures, which may lead to severe casualties and economic losses. Time series interferometric synthetic aperture radar (TS-InSAR) plays an important role in surface deformation detection and monitoring without the restriction of weather and sunlight conditions. In addition, the probability integral method (PIM) is a surface movement model that is widely used in the field of mining subsidence. In recent years, the integration of TS-InSAR and the PIM has been extensively studied. In this paper, we propose a new method to estimate mining subsidence with the PIM based on TS-InSAR results. This study focuses on the improvement of a boundary constraint and dynamic parameter estimation in the PIM through the inversion of the line-of-sight (LOS) time series deformation derived by TS-InSAR. In addition, 45 Sentinel-1A images from 17 June 2015 to 27 December 2017 of a coal mine in Jiaozuo are utilized to acquire the surface displacement. We apply a time series deformation analysis using small baseline subsets (SBAS) and place the results into an improved PIM to estimate the mining parameters. The simulated mining subsidence is highly consistent with the leveling data, exhibiting an RMSE of 0.0025 m. Compared with the conventional method, the proposed method is more accurate in discovering displacement in mining areas. In the final section of this paper, some sources of error that affect the experiment are discussed.

Currently, there have been few studies on the function and molecular mechanism of miR-141-3p in the development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). This study aimed to explore the relationship between miR-141-3p and NIMA (never in mitosis, gene A)-related kinase-6 (NEK6) and investigate the role of the interaction in CCRCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis.Starbase database was used to predict the target gene of miR-141-3p in CCRCC and dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the targeting relationship between miR-141-3p and the target gene. Real-time quantitative PCR was conducted to detect the expression of miR-141-3p and NEK6 mRNA in cells. Western blot was carried out to detect the protein level of NEK6 in cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, transwell assay and wound healing assay were conducted to detect CCRCC cell proliferation, invasion and migration abilities. Flow cytometry was performed to detect CCRCC cell apoptosis. miR-141-3p was markedly lowly expressed, and NEK6 was a target of miR-141-3p and was remarkably highly expressed in CCRCC cells. Over-expressing miR-141-3p could inhibit CCRCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and promote apoptosis.The inhibitory effect of miR-141-3p over-expression on cell proliferation, migration and invasion was significantly weakened by over-expressing NEK6. miR-141-3p could regulate CCRCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis by targeting NEK6. This study lays the basis for the exploration of the molecular mechanism underlying CCRCC pathogenesis and research on targeted therapies for CCRCC. Anti-Cancer Drugs 33: e125-e133

The Heifangtai terrace of Gansu Province is a hotspot for loess landslide research, as massive and continuous landslides occur here every year. Detecting the spatial and temporal deformations of landslides and acquiring precursor information are very important for hazard prediction and risk management. In this paper, 51 newly launched Sentinel-1a scenes using the novel terrain observation with progressive scans (TOPS) mode from March 2015 to November 2017 are gathered, and a preprocessed chain of TOPS with the small baseline subset interferometric synthetic aperture radar technology is generated to obtain the deformation time-series. Our results show that (1) 44 active landslides with mean deformation velocities ranging from − 12.3 to − 58.57 mm yr −1 along the steepest slope, were detected and consisted of 18 loess-bedrock landslides, 12 loess flows, 7 loess flow-slides, and 7 loess slides; (2) four typical active regions and two potential risk places were recognized on the basis of high coherent point distribution, the average measured velocities along the steep slope and high-resolution orthographic images; (3) geological structures and special geomorphologies (e.g., cracks, sinkholes and concave gullies) can be mainly attributed to induce reactivity via long term irrigation. Finally, our research also demonstrates the potential ability of Sentinel-1 TOPS images to be applied to the monitoring of loess landslides, which is essential for risk mitigation and emergence management.

<b><i>Backgrounds:</i></b> Exosomes from multiple sources function as regulatory factors in progression of various tumors. However, studies on the impact of exosomes from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) on tumor-cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cycle regulation in clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (ccRCC) are still lacking. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A Western blot assay was performed to test the exosome-related marker protein level in exosomes derived from CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs). A confocal microscope was utilized to observe the internalization of CAF- and NF-derived exosomes after coculturing with cancer cells. MTT, EdU, colony formation, and transwell assays were conducted to detect progression of cancer cells incubated with CAF-derived exosomes. A Western blot assay was also conducted to test expression levels of metastasis-associated proteins. Changes in cell apoptosis and cell cycle were measured by flow cytometry. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Expression of CAF-derived exosome-related marker proteins was higher than that from NFs. Exosomes derived from CAFs and NFs could enter into cancer cells smoothly and be internalized by cancer cells. After cancer cells were cocultured with CAF-derived exosomes, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were notably enhanced, and cell apoptosis was reduced. Moreover, expression of fibronectin, N-cadherin, vimentin, MMP9, and MMP2 in cancer cells increased, while E-cadherin was decreased. Besides, the proportion of cancer cells in the S phase increased. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> CAF-derived exosomes are internalized into ccRCC cells and promote the progression of ccRCC.

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Two novel amylose derivatives, namely amylose 2-benzoate-3-(4-methylphenylcarbamate)-6-(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamate) and amylose 2-benzoate-3-(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamate)-6-(4-methylphenylcarbamate), were prepared utilizing a serial regioselective process. After coated onto aminopropyl silica gel, they were utilized as chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for high performance liquid chromatography. Investigations indicated that the CSPs exhibited characteristic chiral recognition and their chiral recognition abilities were much higher than those of amylose tris(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamate) (ADCPC), a homosubstituted derivative. The nature and position of the substituents at 3-, and 6-positions of a glucose unit had great influence on the chiral resolution abilities of the amylose derivatives. Some chiral compounds which were not effectively resolved on the commercial column Chiralpak AD were effectively separated on the new CSPs. Moreover, with all the eight tested racemates resolved, amylose 2-benzoate-3-(4-methylphenylcarbamate)-6-(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamate) exhibited relatively high chiral recognition and might be a potential useful CSP.