National Physical Laboratory

About: National Physical Laboratory is a facility organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Dielectric & Thin film. The organization has 7615 authors who have published 13327 publications receiving 319381 citations.

A nanostructured cerium oxide film-based immunosensor for mycotoxin detection.

Abstract: Rabbit-immunoglobulin antibodies (r-IgGs) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been immobilized onto sol–gel-derived nanostructured cerium oxide (nanoCeO2) film fabricated onto an indium–tin-oxide (ITO) coated glass plate to detect ochratoxin-A (OTA). Broad reflection planes obtained in x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns reveal the formation of CeO2 nanostructures. Electrochemical studies reveal that nanoCeO2 particles provide an increased electroactive surface area for loading of r-IgGs with desired orientation, resulting in enhanced electron communication between r-IgGs and electrode. BSA/r-IgGs/nano CeO2/ITO immunoelectrode exhibits improved characteristics such as linear range (0.5–6 ng dl−1), low detection limit (0.25 ng dl−1), fast response time (30 s) and high sensitivity (1.27 µA ng−1 dl−1 cm−2). The high value of the association constant (Ka, 0.9 × 1011 l mol−1) indicates the high affinity of the BSA/r-IgGs/nanoCeO2/ITO immunoelectrode to OTA.

High accuracy profile measurement of quasi-conical mirror surfaces by laser autocollimation

Abstract: A method is described for measuring the profile of a quasi-conical mirror surface along one of its axial generators. A laser beam is made to scan the surface and the variation in reflected beam angle is measured by autocollimation. Integrating the angle with respect to distance along the generator gives the profile height to within ±5 nm. The method has application to the metrology of X-ray microscope reflecting objectives

A review of environmental noise and mental health

Abstract: The question of whether environmental noise exposure causes mental ill-health is still largely unanswered. This paper reviews the studies of environmental and industrial noise and mental ill-health published between 1993 and 1998 and suggests possibilities for future research. Recent community based studies suggest high levels of environmental noise are associated with mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety but not with impaired psychological functioning. Several studies find that self-reported noise sensitivity does not interact with noise exposure to lead to increased vulnerability to mental ill-health. Chronic aircraft noise exposure in children impairs quality of life but does not lead to depression or anxiety. Further research on environmental noise and mental health should be accompanied by more accurate and detailed measurement of noise exposure and consideration of the impact of other environmental stressors and careful measurement of confounding factors such as social class. Target study populations exposed to noise should be chosen to avoid those where noise exposure is likely to have led to noise sensitive individuals moving away from the area. There should also be greater use of standardised instruments to measure a wider range of mental health outcomes. Also other physiological outcomes such as hormonal measures could with benefit be measured simultaneously.