Rapid (<5 min) identification of pathogen in human blood by electrokinetic concentration and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

This study reports a novel microfluidic platform for rapid and long-ranged concentration of rare-pathogen from human blood for subsequent on-chip surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) identification/discrimination of bacteria based on their detected fingerprints. Using a hybrid electrokinetic mechanism, bacteria can be concentrated at the stagnation area on the SERS-active roughened electrode, while blood cells were excluded away from this region at the center of concentric circular electrodes. This electrokinetic approach performs isolation and concentration of bacteria in about three minutes; the density factor is increased approximately a thousand fold in a local area of ~5000 μm(2) from a low bacteria concentration of 5 × 10(3) CFU/ml. Besides, three genera of bacteria, S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa that are found in most of the isolated infections in bacteremia were successfully identified in less than one minute on-chip without the use of any antibody/chemical immobilization and reaction processes

5-Hy­droxy­indan-1-one

In the title compound (5HIN), C9H8O2, is perfectly planar as all atoms, except the H atoms of both CH2 groups, lie on a crystallographic mirror plane. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by strong inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming an infinite chain along [100], generating a C(8) motif

(Z)-4-(2-Hy­droxy­benzyl­idene)-1-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-imidazol-5(4H)-one

In the title compound, C17H14N2O2, the asymmetric unit comprises two mol­ecules that are comformationally similar [the dihedral angles between the phenyl rings in each are 46.35 (2) and 48.04 (3)°], with the conformation stabilized by intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, which generate S(7) rings. In the crystal, inversion-related mol­ecules are linked by pairs of weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming dimers with an R 2 2(16) graph-set motif. Weak inter-ring π–π stacking is observed in the structure, the shortest centroid-to-centroid distance being 3.7480 (13) Å

Regional Ionosphere Mapping and Autonomous Uplink (RIMAU) Satellite Constellation for Space Weather monitoring and nowcasting over Singapore

The Regional Ionosphere Mapping and Autonomous Uplink (RIMAU) mission is a constellation of six CubeSats in an equatorial orbit, making Radio Occultation (RO) measurements of the atmosphere and in-situ Ionospheric measurements to characterize the ionosphere over equatorial South-East Asia in near real time. RIMAU builds on the success of the VELOX-CI mission developed and operated at the Satellite Research Centre (SaRC) at Nanyang Technological University, which carried a commercial-off-the-shelf GPS receiver and have been operating successfully since December 2015. RIMAU will carry GPS receivers for RO and an Ionospheric payload, the Compact Ionosphere Probe (CIP) developed by National Central University of Taiwan, consisting of a planar Langmuir probe, retarding potential analyser and Ion trap/drift meter. RIMAU-1 is scheduled to be in operation by 2021 with the full constellation scheduled for flight by 2023. A secondary objective of RIMAU is to provide a Low Earth Orbiting nanosatellite platform for communication with remote sensors in the region. RIMAU-1 will demonstrate communication with remote water sensors monitoring water pollutants and uplink from ground based GPS sensors to adjust the sampling rate for the Ionospheric probe during periods of high scintillation. Understanding the occurrence and impact of Ionospheric irregularities is critically needed for equatorial countries like Singapore. In this paper, we present a novel idea to combine ground based and space based Ionospheric observations to monitor in near-real time the Ionosphere over the Singapore region to characterize Ionospheric disturbances and their impact on communication and navigation systems. The main data products from these measurements will be vertical profiles of the Total Electron Content (TEC) in the ionosphere, atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles in the troposphere. RIMAU TEC measurements will be combined with ground based TEC measurements from ~ 60 GPS receivers in the SE Asia region, operated by the Earth Observatory of Singapore to produce 3D maps of the Ionosphere

Regional Ionosphere Mapping and Autonomous Uplink (RIMAU) Satellite Constellation for Space Weather monitoring and nowcasting over Singapore

The Regional Ionosphere Mapping and Autonomous Uplink (RIMAU) mission is a constellation of six CubeSats in an equatorial orbit, making Radio Occultation (RO) measurements of the atmosphere and in-situ Ionospheric measurements to characterize the ionosphere over equatorial South-East Asia in near real time. RIMAU builds on the success of the VELOX-CI mission developed and operated at the Satellite Research Centre (SaRC) at Nanyang Technological University, which carried a commercial-off-the-shelf GPS receiver and have been operating successfully since December 2015. RIMAU will carry GPS receivers for RO and an Ionospheric payload, the Compact Ionosphere Probe (CIP) developed by National Central University of Taiwan, consisting of a planar Langmuir probe, retarding potential analyser and Ion trap/drift meter. RIMAU-1 is scheduled to be in operation by 2021 with the full constellation scheduled for flight by 2023. A secondary objective of RIMAU is to provide a Low Earth Orbiting nanosatellite platform for communication with remote sensors in the region. RIMAU-1 will demonstrate communication with remote water sensors monitoring water pollutants and uplink from ground based GPS sensors to adjust the sampling rate for the Ionospheric probe during periods of high scintillation. Understanding the occurrence and impact of Ionospheric irregularities is critically needed for equatorial countries like Singapore. In this paper, we present a novel idea to combine ground based and space based Ionospheric observations to monitor in near-real time the Ionosphere over the Singapore region to characterize Ionospheric disturbances and their impact on communication and navigation systems. The main data products from these measurements will be vertical profiles of the Total Electron Content (TEC) in the ionosphere, atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles in the troposphere. RIMAU TEC measurements will be combined with ground based TEC measurements from ~ 60 GPS receivers in the SE Asia region, operated by the Earth Observatory of Singapore to produce 3D maps of the Ionosphere

AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation during Cardioplegia-Induced Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury Attenuates Cardiomyocytic Apoptosis via Reduction of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Cardioplegic-induced H/R injury results in cardiomyocytic apoptosis. AMPK has been shown to reduce ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Whether AMPK activation can attenuate cardiomyocytic apoptosis after cardioplegia-induced H/R injury is unknown. Cardiomyocytes were exposed to simulated ischemia by incubation in a hypoxic chamber with intermittent cold cardioplegia solution infusion at 20-minute intervals and subsequently reoxygenated in a normoxic environment. Various doses of AMPK activators (AICAR or metformin) were given 2 days before H/R injury. The cardiomyocytes were harvested after reoxygenation for subsequent examination. With both AMPK activators, the antiapoptotic genes of ER stress and UPR, the subsequent production of proapoptotic proteins was attenuated, and the antiapoptotic proteins were elevated. The activity of the apoptotic effectors of ER stress was also reduced with AMPK activation. Moreover, TUNEL staining showed that AMPK activation significantly reduced the percentage of apoptotic cardiomyocytes after cardioplegia-induced H/R injury. Our results revealed that AMPK activation during cardioplegia-induced H/R injury attenuates cardiomyocytic apoptosis, via enhancement of antiapoptotic and reduction of proapoptotic responses, resulting from lessening ER stress and the UPR. AMPK activation may serve as a future pharmacological target to reduce H/R injury in the clinical setting

(E)-4-[(4-Diethyl­amino-2-hy­droxy­benzyl­idene)amino]­benzonitrile

The title compound, C18H19N3O, displays an E conformation with respect to the C=N double bond. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the two benzene rings is 24.49 (3)°. An intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by nonclassical inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form an infinite one-dimensional chain along [010], generating a C(8) motif

Increased epithelial stem cell traits in advanced endometrial endometrioid carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It has been recognized cancer cells acquire characters reminiscent of those of normal stem cells, and the degree of stem cell gene expression correlates with patient prognosis. Lgr5(+) or CD133(+) epithelial stem cells (EpiSCs) have recently been identified and these cells are susceptible to neoplastic transformation. It is unclear, however, whether genes enriched in EpiSCs also contribute in tumor malignancy. Endometrial endometrioid carcinoma (EEC) is a dominant type of the endometrial cancers and is still among the most common female cancers. Clinically endometrial carcinoma is classified into 4 FIGO stages by the degree of tumor invasion and metastasis, and the survival rate is low in patients with higher stages of tumors. Identifying genes shared between advanced tumors and stem cells will not only unmask the mechanisms of tumor malignancy but also provide novel therapeutic targets.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To identify EpiSC genes in late (stages III-IV) EECs, a molecular signature distinguishing early (stages I-II) and late EECs was first identified to delineate late EECs at the genomics level. ERBB2 and CCR1 were genes activated in late EECs, while APBA2 (MINT2) and CDK inhibitor p16 tumor suppressors in early EECs. MAPK pathway was significantly up in late EECs, indicating drugs targeting this canonical pathway might be useful for treating advanced EECs. A six-gene mini-signature was further identified to differentiate early from advanced EECs in both the training and testing datasets. Advanced, invasive EECs possessed a clear EpiSC gene expression pattern, explaining partly why these tumors are more malignant.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our work provides new insights into the pathogenesis of EECs and reveals a previously unknown link between adult stem cells and the histopathological traits of EECs. Shared EpiSC genes in late EECs may contribute to the stem cell-like phenotypes shown by advanced tumors and hold the potential of being candidate therapeutic targets and novel prognosis biomarkers.</p

7-Hy­droxy­indan-1-one

In the title compound, C9H8O2, an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring. The dihedral angle between the mean plane of the S(6) ring and the benzene ring is 1.89 (2)°. In the crystal, inversion-related mol­ecules are linked by pairs of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a cyclic dimers with R 2 2(12) graph-set motif. Weak inter­molecular C—H⋯Ocarbon­yl and C—H⋯Ohy­droxy hydrogen bonds link the dimers into chains along [010], generating two C(6) motifs that overlap three C atoms, forming R 2 2(8) ring motifs