Conducting Polymers in Sensor Design

Conducting polymers (CPs) as well as conducting polymer nanoparticles seem to be very applicable for the development of various analyte-recognizing elements of sensors and biosensors. This chapter reviews mainly fabrication methods as well as application of conducting polymers in sensors. Conducting polymers (CPs) have been applied in the design of catalytic and affinity biosensors as immobilization matrixes, signal transduction systems, and even analyte-recognizing components. Various types of conducting and electrochemically generated polymer-based electrochemical sensors were developed including amperometric catalytic and potentiodynamic affinity sensors. A very specific interaction of analyte with immobilized biological element results in the formation of reaction products

Conducting Polymers as Elements of Miniature Biocompatible Sensor

Conducting polymers (CPs), the so-called “fourth generation of polymeric materials”, can solve essential problems in biosensing technologies due to their unique material properties and implementation in innovative device systems. CPs have excellent biocompatibility. They can provide advantageous interfaces for bioelectrodes owing to their hybrid conducting mechanics, combining both electron and ionic charge carriers. Many (i.e. glucose) biosensors use immobilized enzymes to form a selective layer on CP structure. Miniaturization of sensors is a new requirement. Mini sensors are portable and wearable with low utilization of sample and cost-effective technology of production

Electrochemical and Optical Biosensors in Medical Applications

Analysis of many biochemical processes is of great significance for clinical, biological, food, environmental as well as bioterror applications. But, exchanging of the biochemical information to kind of electronic signal is a defiance due to connecting an electronic tool directly to a biological surrounding. Electrochemical detection instrument due to its advantageous to analyze the subject of a biological sample has a great potential in conversion of a biochemical occurrence to an electronic signal

Sustainable Entrepreneurship. Utopian Idea or a New Business Model for the 21st Century?

Entrepreneurial activities are seen as important to business, society, environment. The purpose of this paper is to give an up-to-date assessment of the key topics discussed in the literature on sustainable entrepreneurship. It has become a more accessible, and essential, topic in academic literature and practice. Nowadays, enterprises are required to reconcile contradictions arising at the interface between: business – society and business – environment. Sustainable entrepreneurship is a new area of research that combines the concept of sustainable development and entrepreneurship. This is due to the rapid increase in the environmental problems that affect the whole world. Sustainable entrepreneurship is about discovering, creating, and using entrepreneurial opportunities that contribute to sustainable development by generating social and environmental benefits for society. The article presents the background, achievements, and current trends in sustainable entrepreneurship. The vast majority of research results in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship are of a conceptual nature. One should also be aware of the overly optimistic approach to the idea of sustainable entrepreneurship as a panacea for social and environmental problems of the modern world. Nevertheless, this concept has the potential to mobilize social and environmental activities. The practice of sustainable entrepreneurship is poorly understood. Further research in this area is necessary to move from the mere concept of an ideal enterprise to the practical implementation of sustainable entrepreneurship. As this paper is a literature review, a systematic literature review is conducted to assess new contributions to the field, based on which the role of sustainable entrepreneurship in the XXI century, research directions and the criticism of sustainable entrepreneurship are identified and discussed. This literature review of research on sustainable entrepreneurship may develop an agenda for future research paths and practice

Comparative Study of Alternating Low-band-Gap Benzothiadiazole Co-oligomers

The benzothiadiazole – arylene alternating conjugated oligomers have been designed and synthesized via Suzuki coupling reaction. The structures and properties of the conjugated oligomers were characterized by 1HNMR, 13CNMR, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The luminescent measurements demonstrate that polybenzothiadiazoles are good chromophores able to form thin films by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, making them suitable for further applications. Also the electrical properties of obtained films confirm the good potential of these novel aryl-based π-conjugated polymers for the development of various electrical and electrochemical solid-state devices

Phenoxazine Based Units- Synthesis, Photophysics and Electrochemistry

A few new phenoxazine-based conjugated monomers were synthesized, characterized, and successfully used as semiconducting materials. The phenoxazine-based oligomers have low ionization potentials or high-lying HOMO levels (~4.7 eV), which were estimated from cyclic voltammetry. Conjugated oligomers offer good film—forming, mechanical and optical properties connected with their wide application. These results demonstrate that phenoxazine-based conjugated mers are a promising type of semiconducting and luminescent structures able to be used as thin films in organic electronics

Biocatalysts Immobilized in Ultrathin Ordered Films

The immobilization of enzymes and other proteins into ordered thin materials has attracted considerable attention over the past few years. This research has demonstrated that biomolecules immobilized in different [Langmuir-Blodgett (LB)/Langmuir-Schaefer (LS)] matrixes retain their functional characteristics to a large extent. These new materials are of interest for applications as biosensors and biocatalysts. We review the growing field of oxidases immobilized onto ordered Langmiur-Blodgett and Langmuir-Schaefer films. Strategies for the preparation of solid supports and the essential properties of the resulting materials with respect to the envisaged applications are presented. Basic effects of the nature of the adsorption and various aspects of the application of these materials as biosensors, biocatalysts are discussed. Outlook of potential applications and further challenges are also provided

Источники и постоянство конкурентного преимущества

Celem artykułu jest identyfikacja dwóch cech kształtujących przewagę konkurencyjną – jej źródeł oraz trwałości. W artykule zaprezentowano dorobek naukowy oraz wyniki badań ilościowych przeprowadzonych w 150 polskich firmach. W przeglądzie literatury odniesiono się do stanu wiedzy prezentowanego w literaturze polskiej i światowej. W badaniach empirycznych zastosowano technikę badawczą Paper and Pencil Interview (PAPI). Prezentując wyniki badań warto zwrócić uwagę na wyraźne ukierunkowanie przedsiębiorstw na zmieniające się potrzeby klienta i skłonne do modyfikacji profilu działalności. Ponadto, źródła przewagi konkurencyjnej wyznaczają nowe standardy w branży, innowacjach i technologii. W odniesieniu do trwałości przewagi konkurencyjnej firmy planują działania w dłuższym horyzoncie czasowym (powyżej 3 lat), jednak nie precyzują długofalowych planów w perspektywie powyżej 5 lat. Przedsiębiorstwa posiadające znaczącą przewagę względem konkurentów wykorzystują źródła przewagi konkurencyjnej pozwalające im na tworzenie wartości dla klientów. Biorąc pod uwagę horyzont czasowy można przyjąć, że posiadają trwałą przewagę konkurencyjną. Wyniki badań stanowią, że przedsiębiorstwa zajmujące silną pozycję konkurencyjną w podejściu do przewagi względem konkurentów kierują się potrzebami klienta i dążeniem do nadania przewadze trwałego charakteru.The aim of the paper is to identify two features shaping the competitive advantage: sources of competitive advantage and sustainability of advantage. The paper presents the scientific achievements and results of quantitative research conducted in Polish companies. A review of the Polish and world literature was used as the research method. The paper and pencil interview (PAPI) research technique was used in the empirical studies. The companies participating in the study are strongly focused on changing customer needs – they are ready to modify their business profile. In addition, the following elements may be sources of competitive advantage: setting new standards in the industry, innovation and technology. In relation to the sustainability of competitive advantage, the companies participating in the study plan their operations in a longer time perspective (over 3 years), but they do not specify long-term plans (in a time perspective of over 5 years). The conclusions resulting from the study are as follows: the companies with a significant advantage over competitors use sources of competitive advantage that allow them satisfying their customers. Taking into account the time horizon, it can be assumed that such sources make the competitive advantage sustainable. The research results indicate that companies that have a strong competitive position in the approach to the advantage over competitors are guided by customer needs and the intention to make the advantage sustainable.Цель статьи – выявить две черты, формирующие конкурентное преимущество, а также постоянство преимущества. В статье представили научныедостижения и результаты количественных исследований, проведенных в 150 польских фирмах. В обзоре литературы отнеслись к состоянию знаний, представленному в польской и мировой литературе. В эмпирических исследовани- ях применили исследовательскую технику опроса (англ. PAPI). Представляя результаты исследований, стóит обратить внимание на четкую ориентацию предприятий на изменяющиеся потребности клиента и склонность к видо- изменению профиля деятельности. Кроме того, источники конкурентного преимущества представляют: определение новых стандартов в отрасли, инновации и технология. По отношению к постоянству конкурентного преимущества фирмы планируют действия в большем временном горизонте (свы- ше 3 лет), но они не уточняют долгосрочных планов в перспективе свыше 5 лет. Выводы из проведенных исследований следующие: предприятия со значительным конкурентным преимуществом по отношению к конкурентам используют источники конкурентного преимущества, позволяющие им создавать ценности для клиентов. Учитывая временной горизонт, можно принять, что они обладают постоянным конкурентным преимуществом. Результаты исследований представляют собой указание, что предпрития с сильной конкурентной позицией в подходе к преимуществу по отношению к конкурентам руководствуются потребностями клиента и стремлением придать преимуществу постоянный характер