Austerity was presented as the antidote to sluggish economies, but it has had far-reaching effects on jobs and employment conditions. With an international team of editors and authors from Europe, North America and Australia, this illuminating collection goes beyond a sole focus on public sector work and uniquely covers the impact of austerity on work across the private, public and voluntary spheres. Drawing on a range of perspectives, the book engages with the major debates surrounding austerity and neoliberalism, providing grounded analysis of the everyday experience of work and employment.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex condition relating to a hormone imbalance of the ovaries. It can cause irregular or absent menstrual cycles, reduced fertility, excess facial/body hair growth and an increased risk of diabetes. An estimated 10% of the adult female population - approximately 2 million of the 19 million adult women in Britain - are affected by PCOS. Written by a consultant endocrinologist and a dietician who run a PCOS clinic at a major hospital in the UK, this book aims to help women better understand PCOS and manage their condition. The book comprises concise chapters offering practical advice on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of PCOS. The book also includes a useful section dedicated to weight management as well as a resource section including GI and calorie tables, and a list of helpful websites. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Facts is an invaluable resource that will empower women with PCOS with the knowledge to take control of their health and provide them with strategies to cope with their condition.

The concept behind this book is to provide a detailed and practical overview of the development and use of immunoassays in many different areas. Immunoassays are analytical tests that utilise antibodies to measure the amount, activity or identity of an analyte. This book is designed to provide a critical and helpful insight into the subject and to give the user practical information that may be of assistance in assay format selection, antibody generation/selection and choice of appropriate detection strategies. It is comprised of 13 chapters written by highly experienced researchers in the fields of antibody-based research, immunoassay development, assay validation, diagnostics and microfluidics. Beginning with a comprehensive survey of antibodies, immunoassay formats and signalling systems, the book elucidates key topics related to the development of an ideal antibody-based sensor, focuses on the important topic of surface modification, explores key parameters in the immobilisation of antibodies onto solid surfaces, discusses the move to 'lab-on-a-chip'-based devices and investigates the key parameters necessary for their development. Three of the chapters are dedicated to the areas of clinical diagnostics, infectious disease monitoring and food security, where immunoassay-based applications have become highly valuable tools. The future of immunoassays, including next-generation immunoassays, electrochemical-immunoassays and 'lab-on-a-chip'-based systems, is also discussed. The book also covers the use of optical detection systems (with a focus on surface plasmon resonance) in immunoassays, provides a compilation of important, routinely used immunoassay protocols and addresses problems that may be encountered during assay development.