A Facile Way to Simultaneously Improve Humidity-Immunity and Gas Response in Semiconductor Metal Oxide Sensors.

The metal-oxide-based gas sensors show great potential in exhaled breath analysis owing to their simple, fast, and noninvasive characteristics. However, the exhaled breath contains moisture, and the surface-active sites of metal oxides are easily poisoned by water molecules, leading to degradation of the sensor performance, particularly the gas response and selectivity. Therefore, it is essential to develop oxide sensors that can reliably sense target gases over a wide humidity range without sacrificing the gas response.

REDD1 promotes obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction via atypical NF-κB activation.

Regulated in development and DNA damage response 1 (REDD1) expression is upregulated in response to metabolic imbalance and obesity. However, its role in obesity-associated complications is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the REDD1-NF-κB axis is crucial for metabolic inflammation and dysregulation.

Two-Dimensional calcium silicate nanosheets for trapping atmospheric water molecules in humidity-immune gas sensors.

In humid conditions, water vapor can easily neutralize the surface active sites of metal oxide sensors, leading to a lowering in the sensitivity of the gas sensor and a resultant inaccurate signal in practical applications. Herein, we present a new hybrid sensor by introducing a two-dimensional calcium silicate (CS) nanosheet as a water-trapping layer in SnO nanowires. Unlike the heavily wrinkled and aggregated morphology of conventional CS nanosheets, our nanosheet in the hybrid material is ultrathin and flat.

Synergistic approach to simultaneously improve response and humidity-independence of metal-oxide gas sensors.

The chemiresistive response of metal-oxide gas sensors depends on ambient conditions. Humidity is a strongly influential parameter and causes large deviations in signals and, consequently, an inaccurate detection of target gases. Developing sensors unaffected by humidity, as documented by extensive works of research, comes at the cost of response - a significant drop in sensor response inevitably accompanies an increase in humidity-independence.

Taxonomic Revision of the Leafhopper Genus Macropsis Lewis from Korea (Homoptera: Cicadellidae).

Korean species of the genus Macropsis Lewis are revised taxonomically, primarily based on the abdominal apodemes, male genitalia, and 2nd valvulae of the female ovipositor. Previously only three species were erroneously recorded from Korea. Among them, Macropsis notata (Prohaska, 1923) was previously misidentified as Macropsis prasina (Boheman, 1852).

Proton-beam engineered surface-point defects for highly sensitive and reliable NO sensing under humid environments.

Cross-interference with humidity is a major limiting factor for the accurate detection of target gases in semiconductor metal-oxide gas sensors. Under humid conditions, the surface-active sites of metal oxides for gas adsorption are easily deactivated by atmospheric water molecules. Thus, development of a new approach that can simultaneously improve the two inversely related features for realizing practical gas sensors is necessary.

A global-scale expert assessment of drivers and risks associated with pollinator decline.

Pollinator decline has attracted global attention and substantial efforts are underway to respond through national pollinator strategies and action plans. These policy responses require clarity on what is driving pollinator decline and what risks it generates for society in different parts of the world. Using a formal expert elicitation process, we evaluated the relative regional and global importance of eight drivers of pollinator decline and ten consequent risks to human well-being.

A remarkable microleafhopper genus emKoreoneura/em gen. nov. and newly recorded genus of the tribe Dikraneurini from Korea (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae).

Koreoneura eunyeopae Hossain et J. Kwon gen. et sp.

First record of the leafhopper genus Scaphomonus Viraktamath from Korea, with description of one new species (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae).

The leafhopper genus Scaphomonus Viraktamath, 2009 is reported from the Korean peninsula for the first time, based on the discovery of a new species: Scaphomonus naejangsanus sp. nov. A checklist and keys to world Scaphomonus species are given.

Taxonomic revision of the microleafhopper subgenus Alnetoidia Dlabola from Korea (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae).

Four species of Alnetoidia Dlabola, 1958 s. str. are described and illustrated.

Taxonomic revision of the microleafhopper genus Limassolla Dlabola from Korea (Hemiptrea: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae).

Four species belonging to the genus Limassolla Dlabola, 1965 from Korea are revised. Among them, L. koreana sp.

Two new species and two newly recorded species of the subgenus Empoasca Walsh from Korea (Hemiptrea: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae).

Two new species of the subgenus Empoasca (Empoasca) Walsh 1862 from Korea are described: E. giusana sp. nov.

Taxonomic revision of the microleafhopper genus Naratettix Matsumura (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) from Korea.

The genus Naratettix Matsumura, 1931 from Korea is revised. With the three previously recorded species, N. cheondungsanus sp.

Resistance to commonly used insecticides and phosphine fumigant in red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) in Pakistan.

The red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) is an important pest of date palms in many regions of the world. This paper reports the first survey of insecticide resistance in field populations of R. ferrugineus in Pakistan which were collected from seven date palm growing areas across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provinces, Pakistan.

Porous Si nanowires for highly selective room-temperature NO gas sensing.

We report the room-temperature sensing characteristics of Si nanowires (NWs) fabricated from p-Si wafers by a metal-assisted chemical etching method, which is a facile and low-cost method. X-ray diffraction was used to the the study crystallinity and phase formation of Si NWs, and product morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After confirmation of Si NW formation via the SEM and TEM micrographs, sensing tests were carried out at room temperature, and it was found that the Si NW sensor prepared from Si wafers with a resistivity of 0.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) phytochemicals-gingerenone-A and shogaol inhibit SaHPPK: molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and in vitro approaches.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a defense mechanism, harbored by pathogens to survive under unfavorable conditions. Among several antibiotic resistant microbial consortium, Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most havoc microorganisms. Staphylococcus aureus encodes a unique enzyme 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase (SaHPPK), against which, none of existing antibiotics have been reported.

Converting the Conducting Behavior of Graphene Oxides from n-Type to p-Type via Electron-Beam Irradiation.

We studied the effects of electron-beam irradiation (EBI) on the structural and gas-sensing properties of graphene oxide (GO). To understand the effects of EBI on the structure and gas-sensing behavior of irradiated GO, the treated GO was compared with nonirradiated GO. Characterization results indicated an enhancement in the number of oxygen functional groups that occurs with EBI exposure at 100 kGy and then decreases with doses in the range of 100-500 kGy.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Graphene-SnO Nanocomposites and Their Applications in Gas Sensors.

We obtained extremely high and selective sensitivity to NO gas by fabricating graphene-SnO nanocomposites using a commercial microwave oven. Structural characterization revealed that the products corresponded to agglomerated structures of graphene and SnO particles, with small secondary SnO (x ≤ 2) nanoparticles deposited on the surfaces. The overall oxygen atomic ratio was decreased with the appearance of an SnO (x < 2) phase.

Novel virtual lead identification in the discovery of hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) inhibitors: application of 3D QSAR and molecular dynamics simulation.

High level of hematopoietic cell kinase (Hck) is associated with drug resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia. Additionally, Hck activity has also been connected with the pathogenesis of HIV-1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) QSAR pharmacophore models were generated for Hck based on experimentally known inhibitors.

Selective Improvement of NO2 Gas Sensing Behavior in SnO2 Nanowires by Ion-Beam Irradiation.

We irradiated SnO2 nanowires with He ions (45 MeV) with different ion fluences. Structure and morphology of the SnO2 nanowires did not undergo noticeable changes upon ion-beam irradiation. Chemical equilibrium in SnO2/gas systems was calculated from thermodynamic principles, which were used to study the sensing selectivity of the tested gases, demonstrating the selective sensitivity of the SnO2 surface to NO2 gas.

Improved Sensing Behaviors in Reduced Graphene Oxide Functionalized with Ni(OH)2 Nanoparticles.

In this paper, we detail improvements in the sensing properties of reduced graphene oxide (RGO), which were achieved through functionalization. The functionalization process utilizes graphene oxide suspensions, generating nanoparticles on the RGO surface mainly comprised of Ni(OH)2 phase. Raman spectra indicate that functionalization increases the degree of disorder in RGOs.

Improvement of Gas Sensing Characteristics by Adding Pt Nanoparticles on ZnO-Branched SnO2 Nanowires.

We coated zinc-oxide (ZnO)-branched tin oxide (SnO2) nanowires with a Pt shell layer via a sputtering method and subsequently annealed the composite to generate Pt nanoparticles. The spillover effect of Pt nanoparticles was expected to play a significant role in enhancing the response. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the nanoparticles were comprised of a cubic Pt phase.

Novel chemical scaffolds of the tumor marker AKR1B10 inhibitors discovered by 3D QSAR pharmacophore modeling.

Aim: Recent evidence suggests that aldo-keto reductase family 1 B10 (AKR1B10) may be a potential diagnostic or prognostic marker of human tumors, and that AKR1B10 inhibitors offer a promising choice for treatment of many types of human cancers. The aim of this study was to identify novel chemical scaffolds of AKR1B10 inhibitors using in silico approaches.

Methods: The 3D QSAR pharmacophore models were generated using HypoGen.