Current methods for detecting bacterial infections, such as culture and morphological analysis of bacterial colonies, are time and labor intensive. Through the direct detection of bacterial volatile organic compounds (VOCs), via surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), we report here a reconfigurable assay for the identification and monitoring of bacteria. We demonstrate differentiation between highly clinically relevant organisms: Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, and Serratia marcescens. This is the first differentiation of bacteria via SERS of bacterial VOC signatures. The assay also detected as few as 10 CFU/ml of E. coli in under 12 hrs, and detected E. coli from whole human blood and human urine in 16 hrs at clinically relevant concentrations of 103 CFU/ml and 104 CFU/ml, respectively. In addition, the recent emergence of portable Raman spectrometers uniquely allows SERS to bring VOC detection to point‐of‐care settings for diagnosing bacterial infections.

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Polyalphaolefin‐based lubricating oils were tested on a four‐ball tester, and in a stability test, with antiwear and antioxidant additives of different types, along with other (petroleum and alkylbenzene) base oils and additives. Antioxidant additives for PAOs essentially influence their thermo‐oxidation stability. It was found that binary inhibitors increased thermo‐oxidation stability effectively. In the antiwear tests, the addition of additives to PAOs sharply decreased wear scar diameters. A significant difference was observed in the action of small concentrations of antiwear additives as between PAO, alkylbenzene and mineral oils. Explanations of this behaviour are put forward.