3D-printed microchip electrophoresis device containing spiral electrodes for integrated capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection.

In this work, we demonstrate for the first time the design and fabrication of microchip electrophoresis devices containing cross-shaped channels and spiral electrodes around the separation channel for microchip electrophoresis and capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection. The whole device was prepared in a digital light processing-based 3D printer in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate resin. Outstanding X-Y resolution of the customized 3D printer ensured the fabrication of 40-μm cross section channels.

Ecological mechanisms explaining interactions within plant-hummingbird networks: morphological matching increases towards lower latitudes.

Interactions between species are influenced by different ecological mechanisms, such as morphological matching, phenological overlap and species abundances. How these mechanisms explain interaction frequencies across environmental gradients remains poorly understood. Consequently, we also know little about the mechanisms that drive the geographical patterns in network structure, such as complementary specialization and modularity.

A simple method for determination of erythritol, maltitol, xylitol, and sorbitol in sugar-free chocolates by capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection.

In this work, a novel and simple analytical method using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C D) is proposed for the determination of the polyols erythritol, maltitol, xylitol, and sorbitol in sugar-free chocolate. CE separation of the polyols was achieved in less than 6 min, and it was mediated by the interaction between the polyols and the borate ions in the background electrolyte, forming negatively charged borate esters. The extraction of the polyols from the samples was simply obtained using ultra-pure water and ultrasonic energy.