Composition, nanostructure, and optical properties of silver and silver-copper lusters

Lusters are composite thin layers of coinage metal nanoparticles in glass displaying peculiar optical properties and obtained by a process involving ionic exchange, diffusion, and crystallization. In particular, the origin of the high reflectance (golden-shine) shown by those layers has been subject of some discussion. It has been attributed to either the presence of larger particles, thinner multiple layers or higher volume fraction of nanoparticles. The object of this paper is to clarify this for which a set of laboratory designed lusters are analysed by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Model calculations and numerical simulations using the finite difference time domain method were also performed to evaluate the optical properties. Finally, the correlation between synthesis conditions, nanostructure, and optical properties is obtained for these materials

Detection of urinary microRNA biomarkers using diazo sulfonamide-modified screen printed carbon electrodes

This paper describes a straightforward electrochemical method for rapid and robust urinary microRNA (miRNA) quantification using disposable biosensors that can discriminate between urine from diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients and control subjects. Aberrant miRNA expression has been observed in several major human disorders, and we have identified a urinary miRNA signature for DKD. MiRNAs therefore have considerable promise as disease biomarkers, and techniques to quantify these transcripts from clinical samples have significant clinical and commercial potential. Current RT-qPCR-based methods require technical expertise, and more straightforward methods such as electrochemical detection offer attractive alternatives. We describe a method to detect urinary miRNAs using diazo sulfonamide-modified screen printed carbon electrode-based biosensors that is amenable to parallel analysis. These sensors showed a linear response to buffered miR-21, with a 17 fM limit of detection, and successfully discriminated between urine samples (n = 6) from DKD patients and unaffected control subjects (n = 6) by differential miR-192 detection. Our technique for quantitative miRNA detection in liquid biopsies has potential for development as a platform for non-invasive high-throughput screening and/or to complement existing diagnostic procedures in disorders such as DKD

Advancing our understanding of the EU sports policy: the socio-cultural model of sports regulation and players’ agents

This paper explains the development of the socio-cultural dimension of the European Union (EU) sports policy over the course of the decade from 2005 to 2015. By adopting the theoretical lenses of the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), the paper firstly offers a novel perspective on the belief systems of the members of the socio-cultural advocacy coalition that operates within the EU sports policy subsystem. A set of empirical policy core beliefs of the coalition actors reflecting their concerns regarding to sport’s integrity and economic welfare that affect its healthy development is presented and explained as the basic causes of the policy problem, i.e., threats that undermine sport’s specific characteristics. In this light, the paper then illustrates that the coalition members have perceived the issue of players’ agents, in particular problems in the activities of agents in European football, to be detrimental to the integrity of sport. As a result, the issue has been the subject of a considerable policy activity by the coalition actors with a view to establishing an alternative regulatory framework to effectively govern players’ agents. Consequently, the paper elucidates the evolving nature of the socio-cultural model of sports regulation that not only promotes the social role of sport in Europe but now also addresses the problems that affect its well-being and clear image. The paper’s principal method of investigation is based on the content analysis of official policy documents and statements of the coalition actors

Football and social inclusion: evaluating social policy

Sport, particularly football, is increasingly recognized as a means for promoting social inclusion. Yet rigorous evaluations of football-based social inclusion projects are rarely carried out. This paper explains the importance of evaluation and proposes the use of realist evaluation as a framework for developing theory, informing social policy and improving project design. It also aims to develop a workable template for small-scale project evaluation. The paper draws a series of conclusions on how rigorous evaluation of football-based social inclusion projects can benefit participants, practitioners and policy makers, as well as football clubs and the communities they serve