SERS-based AI diagnosis of lung and gastric cancer via exhaled breath.

Distinct diagnosis between Lung cancer (LC) and gastric cancer (GC) according to the same biomarkers (e.g. aldehydes) in exhaled breath based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) remains a challenge in current studies. Here, an accurate diagnosis of LC and GC is demonstrated, using artificial intelligence technologies (AI) based on SERS spectrum of exhaled breath in plasmonic metal organic frameworks nanoparticle (PMN) film. In the PMN film with optimal structure parameters, 1780 SERS spectra are collected, in which 940 spectra come from healthy people (n = 49), another 440 come from LC patients (n = 22) and the rest 400 come from GC patients (n = 8). The SERS spectra are trained through artificial neural network (ANN) model with the deep learning (DL) algorithm, and the result exhibits a good identification accuracy of LC and GC with an accuracy over 89 %. Furthermore, combined with information of SERS peaks, the data mining in ANN model is successfully employed to explore the subtle compositional difference in exhaled breath from healthy people (H) and L/GC patients. This work achieves excellent noninvasive diagnosis of multiple cancer diseases in breath analysis and provides a new avenue to explore the feature of disease based on SERS spectrum.

MOF-derived single-atom catalysts for oxygen electrocatalysis in metal-air batteries.

Electrocatalysts play a critical role in oxygen electrocatalysis, enabling great improvements for the future development and application of metal-air batteries. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising catalysts for oxygen electrocatalysis since they are endowed with the merits of a distinctive electronic structure, a low-coordination environment, quantum size effect, and strong metal-support interaction. In addition, MOFs afford a desirable molecular platform for ensuring the synthesis of well-dispersed SACs, endowing them with remarkably high catalytic activity and durability. In this review, we focus on the current status of MOF-derived SACs used as catalysts for oxygen electrocatalysis, with special attention to MOF-derived strategies for the fabrication of SACs and their application in various metal-air batteries. Finally, to facilitate the future deployment of high-performing SACs, some technical challenges and the corresponding research directions are also proposed.

Patterns of change in the population and spatial distribution of oriental white storks (Ciconia boyciana) wintering in Poyang Lake.

Using total counts in simultaneous annual surveys, we monitored the population size and spatial distribution of oriental white storks (Ciconia boyciana) wintering in Poyang Lake between 1998 and 2011. Results showed that Poyang Lake wetland is an important wintering ground for oriental white storks, with an annual average population number of 2 305±326. The population sizes in 2004, 2005, 2010, and 2011 were higher than the highest-ever estimate of its global population. In 2005, we recorded 3 789 individuals, which was the maximum population number within the period of 1998-2011. The storks inhabited 52 lakes, with the greatest distance between these lakes being 180.3 km. The storks presented a clustered distribution pattern in the Poyang Lake wetland, irrespective of the number of individuals or occurrence frequencies. Shahu, Dahuchi, Banghu, and Hanchihu were most frequently used lakes and had the largest annual average numbers of storks. There was a significant positive correlation between occurrence frequency and annual average number of storks in the lakes. Most of the lakes important for storks were covered by existing nature reserves, though some lakes outside the reserves were also frequently used. About 64.9%±5.5% of the storks were found in nature reserves. In addition, the storks more frequently used and clumped in significantly larger flocks in lakes within nature reserves than lakes outside.

Serological evidence of H7, H5 and H9 avian influenza virus co-infection among herons in a city park in Jiangxi, China.

Extensive surveillance of influenza A viruses in different avian species is critical for understanding its transmission. Here, a breeding colony of Little Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons was monitored both serologically and virologically in a city park of Jiangxi in 2009. A portion of herons had antibodies against H7 (52%), H5 (55%) and H9 (6%) subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) in egg yolk samples, and 45% had antibodies against different AIV serotypes (H5, H7 or H9) simultaneously. Greater numbers of samples with anti-AIV H5N1 recombination-4 (Re-4, clade 7) antibodies were measured compared with those containing anti-H5N1 Re-1 (clade 0) and Re-5 (clade 2.3.4) antibodies. Eight strains of H5 and 9 strains of H9 were isolated from poultry of nearby markets. These results indicate wild birds are at risk from infection and co-infection with H7, H5, and H9 subtypes. Investigation of wild bird infection might provide an early warning sign of potential novel AIVs circulating in the nearby poultry industry and even in human society.

[Population and distribution of the Siberian crane (Grus leucogeranus) wintering in the Poyang lakes over the past decade].

Using simultaneous land surveys, we monitored the population size and spatial distribution of wintering Siberian cranes at 64 lakes around Poyang Lake between 1998 and 2010. The results showed that 46 lakes were inhabited by wintering cranes, and in 25 of those, the number of wintering cranes accounted for more than 1% of the Siberian cranes' global population. The lakes where over 40.0% of the global population, e.g. 1 280 individuals, included Dachahu Lake in Jiujiang region, and Banghu Lake and Candouhu Lake in the Poyang Lake Nature Reserve. The average yearly population of the wintering Siberian crane in the Poyang lakes was 3 108±849, with the maximum of 4 004 individuals in winter 2002. On the whole, there was no drastic fluctuation, but population numbers have shown considerable fluctuation since 2003. We also found the Poyang Lake Nature Reserve was the major wintering area of the Siberian crane, with over 60% of Siberian cranes wintering in the reserve since 2002 (except in 2006). Most of the inhabited lakes are covered in existing nature reserves, though some lakes outside the reserve were also considerably used by Siberian cranes.