Organic semiconductor laser biosensor : design and performance discussion

Organic distributed feedback lasers can detect nanoscale materials and are therefore an attractive sens- ing platform for biological and medical applications. In this paper, we present a model for optimizing such laser sensors and discuss the advantages of using an organic semiconductor as the laser material in comparison to dyes in a matrix. The structure of the sensor and its operation principle are described. Bulk and surface sensing exper- imental data using oligofluorene truxene macromolecules and a conjugated polymer for the gain region is shown to correspond to modeled values and is used to assess the biosensing attributes of the sensor. A comparison between organic semiconductor and dye-doped laser sensitivity is made and analyzed theoretically. Finally, experimental and theoretical specific biosensing data is provided and methods for improving sensitivity are discussed

An oligofluorene truxene based distributed feedback laser for biosensing applications

The first example of an all-organic oligofluorene truxene based distributed feedback laser for the detection of a specific protein–small molecule interaction is reported. The protein avidin was detected down to View the MathML source1μgmL−1 using our biotin-labelled biosensor platform. This interaction was both selective and reversible when biotin was replaced with desthiobiotin. Avidin detection was not perturbed by Bovine Serum Albumin up to View the MathML source50,000μgmL−1. Our biosensor offers a new detection platform that is both highly sensitive, modular and potentially re-usable

"Women's rights, the European Court and Supranational Constitutionalism"

This analysis examines supranational constitutionalism in the European Union. In particular, the study focuses on the role of the European Court of Justice in the creation of women’s rights. I examine the interaction between the Court and member state governments in legal integration, and also the integral role that women’s advocates – both individual activists and groups – have played in the development of EU social provisions. The findings suggest that this litigation dynamic can have the effect of fueling the integration process by creating new rights that may empower social actors and EU organizations, with the ultimate effect of diminishing member state government control over the scope and direction of EU law. This study focuses specifically on gender equality law, yet provides a general framework for examining the case law in subsequent legal domains, with the purpose of providing a more nuanced understanding of supranational governance and constitutionalism

Slip-resistant footwear reduces slips among National Health Service workers in England : a randomised controlled trial

Objectives Assess the effectiveness of 5* GRIP-rated slip-resistant footwear in preventing slips in the workplace compared to usual footwear (control group). Methods A multicentre, randomised controlled trial; 4553 National Health Service (NHS) staff were randomised 1:1 to the intervention group (provided with 5* GRIP-rated slip-resistant footwear) or the control group. The primary outcome of incidence rate of self-reported slips in the workplace over 14 weeks was analysed using a mixed-effects negative binomial model. Secondary outcome measures included incidence rate of falls from a slip, falls not from a slip, proportion of participants reporting a slip, fall or fracture and time to first slip and fall. Results 6743 slips were reported: 2633 in the intervention group (mean 1.16 per participant, range 0 to 36) and 4110 in the control group (mean 1.80 per participant, range 0 to 83). There was a statistically significant reduction in slip rate in the intervention group relative to the control group (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.63, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.70, p<0.001). Statistically significant differences, in favour of the intervention group, were observed in falls from a slip (IRR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.92, p=0.03), the proportion of participants who reported a slip (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.66, p<0.001) or fall (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.99, p=0.04) and time to first slip (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.80, p<0.001). Conclusions The offer and provision of 5* GRIP-rated footwear reduced slips in NHS staff in the workplace. Trial registration number ISRCTN33051393

"EC Roundtable: law"

An overview of European Community law must speak to a number of different audiences. It must distinguish between law for lawyers, and law for political scientists. It must further distinguish between substantive EC law and studies of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the creation of the Community legal system, which fall into a separate category for lawyers and political scientists alike. The following round-up will begin with an excursion into some of the major works of substantive law, divided into treatises and casebooks, and then turn to studies of the Court by both lawyers and political scientists of different theoretical persuasions