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

Quantum transport through a double Aharonov-Bohm-interferometer in the presence of Andreev reflection

Quantum transport through a double Aharonov-Bohm-interferometer in the presence of Andreev reflection is investigated in terms of the nonequilibrium Green function method with which the reflection current is obtained. Tunable Andreev reflection probabilities depending on the interdot coupling strength and magnetic flux as well are analysised in detail. It is found that the oscillation period of the reflection probability with respect to the magnetic flux for the double interferometer depends linearly on the ratio of two parts magnetic fluxes n, i.e. 2(n+1)pi, while that of a single interferometer is 2pi. The coupling strength not only affects the height and the linewidth of Andreev reflection current peaks vs gate votage but also shifts the peak positions. It is furthermore demonstrated that the Andreev reflection current peaks can be tuned by the magnetic fluxes.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figur

DNMT3a in the hippocampal CA1 is crucial in the acquisition of morphine self‐administration in rats

Drug‐reinforced excessive operant responding is one fundamental feature of long-lasting addiction‐like behaviors and relapse in animals. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms responsible for the persistent drug‐specific (not natural rewards) operant behavior are not entirely clear. In this study, we demonstrate a key role for one of the de novo DNA methyltransferase, DNMT3a, in the acquisition of morphine self‐administration (SA) in rats. The expression of DNMT3a in the hippocampal CA1 region but not in the nucleus accumbens shell was significantly up‐regulated after 1‐ and 7‐day morphine SA (0.3 mg/kg/infusion) but not after the yoked morphine injection. On the other hand, saccharin SA did not affect the expression of DNMT3a or DNMT3b. DNMT inhibitor 5‐aza‐2‐deoxycytidine (5‐aza) microinjected into the hippocampal CA1 significantly attenuated the acquisition of morphine SA. Knockdown of DNMT3a also impaired the ability to acquire the morphine SA. Overall, these findings suggest that DNMT3a in the hippocampus plays an important role in the acquisition of morphine SA and may be a valid target to prevent the development of morphine addiction. Includes Supplemental informatio

{5,10,15,20-Tetra­kis[4-(hex­yloxy)phen­yl]porphyrinato}nickel(II)

The mol­ecule of the title compound, [Ni(C68H76N4O4)], is located on a crystallographic inversion center. The Ni—N distances within the square-shaped coordination environment are 1.951 (2) and 1.954 (2) Å. Three terminal C atoms in one of the hexyl groups are disordered over two sets of sites, with site-occupancy factors of 0.615 (13) and 0.385 (13)