Fiber-optic sensors : applications and advances

Even before fiber optics made it big in the telecom industry, the technology was showing promise in the fields of industrial and environmental sensing. Decades of research are now being translated into safe, precise fiber-based measuring instruments, including gyroscopes, temperature probes, hydrophones and chemical monitors. Indeed, fiber sensors are finding applications everywhere from railways, tunnels and bridges to industrial ovens and waste-disposal systems

A preliminary study identifying prescription factors associated with readmission

The LACE index (1) is used by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust to refer patients to a Virtual Ward, providing post discharge support with a view to preventing readmissions. Derivation of the LACE index found the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) predictive of readmission; conditions in the CCI are likely to be treated with medication

Optical fibre sensors - applications and potential

Fibre optic sensors have progressed considerably during the past few years and are now establishing their potential as very real contenders in the environmental, structural monitoring and industrial sensing areas. This paper will explore some examples of these emerging applications and analyse the benefits which optical fibre technology offers within these measurement sectors. We shall then continue to explore emerging prospects which offer new opportunities for future research and exploitation

Discovery and functionalisation of microporous materials

This thesis describes the preparation of a new [4+6] porous organic cage, CC12. The new cage has a N2 SABET of up to 946 m2/g, as well as inherent selectivity of gases based on polymorphism. This new porous organic cage has also been reduced and catenated as seen with previous cages. Cages have also been formed from aliphatic diamines, highlighting importance of diamine length in formation of either [2+3] or [4+6] cages (Chapter 3). CC1 has been prepared and reduced in situ to yield RC1, while CC5 was also reduced to produce RC5. These reduced cages have provided a route towards decorated cages via nucleophilic addition/elimination with various acid halides. While no porous materials were observed by addition of bulky or aliphatic groups, this new class of decorated cages presented an excellent basis for further reactions on a 12-armed core, higher than that of POSS alternatives (Chapter 4). Finally, RC1 has been polymerised with bis-acid halides to yield networks with modest N2 SABET of up to 106 m2/g. Decorated cages were also successfully homo-coupled by Yamamoto and polymerised with Sonogashira methods to yield polymers with N2 SABET of up to 150 m2/g. Decorated cages were lastly hyper cross-linked to yield H2 selective polymers and co-polymerised with benzene to yield N2 SABET of up to 954 m2/g (Chapter 5)

An observational study to identify factors associated with readmission and to evaluate the impact of pharmacist validation of discharge prescriptions on readmission rate

To identify demographic and pharmaceutical factors associated with readmission and to determine whether pharmacist validation of discharge prescriptions impacted on readmission rate in a district general hospital. • The average number of items prescribed at discharge and the average age were found to be significantly higher in patients who were readmitted than those who were not, and mandating pharmacist validation of discharge prescriptions was associated with a reduction of around one-fifth in the readmission rate. • The study provides evidence of the patient groups it may be most appropriate for pharmacists to focus on in order to reduce readmissions. Introduction Readmission is a growing problem for the National Health Service. In England the rate has increased by almost one-third over ten years, reaching 11.5% in 2011/12.1 In 2009 the Care Quality Commission reported that 81% of General Practitioners recorded discrepancies in discharge medication information “all” or “most of the time.”2 Whilst pharmacist validation of discharge prescriptions (TTOs) is routine in Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, it was previously prompted by the need for supply, and due to the successful implementation of one-stop dispensing theTTOvalidation rate was surprisingly low. The study aimed to identify factors associated with readmission, to quantify the effect of enforcing pharmacist validation of TTOs and to determine whether this impacted on the readmission rate. Methods Retrospective analysis of data from all adults discharged from Calderdale Royal Hospital’s Short Stay Unit between 30th September 2013 and 19th January 2014 (pharmacist validation of TTOs became mandatory during normal working hours from the mid-point). Data collected from TTOs included admission and discharge dates, demographics and pharmaceutical details (e.g. number of items prescribed, number of prescription changes, validation status). The primary outcome measure was 30-day readmission status; readmission interval was the secondary outcome measure. Ethical approval was not required. Results Two hundred eighty-three TTOs were completed during the baseline evaluation: 101 (35.7%) were validated by a pharmacist and 42 (14.8%) resulted in readmission. Two hundred ninety-six TTOs were completed during the intervention evaluation: 223 (75.3%) were validated by a pharmacist and 36 (12.2%) resulted in readmission. The average age of those readmitted (73.2) was seven and a half years older than those not readmitted (65.7) (p < 0.01, 95% CI for the difference 3.20–11.8); patients aged 65 or older were significantly more likely to be readmitted (17.6%, 63/357) than younger patients (6.8%, 15/222) (p < 0.01). The number of prescription changes on the TTO was not found to differ significantly between those who were readmitted and those who were not; however, those readmitted were prescribed an average of two more items at discharge (10.8) than those who were not (8.4) (p < 0.01, 95% CI for the difference 0.989–3.90). The readmission behaviour of patients prescribed seven or less items at discharge (n = 221)was found to differ significantly (p < 0.01) from patients prescribed eight or more (n = 264). Discussion The results indicate where pharmacists may have the most impact on reducing readmissions; specifically patients over 65 years of age and those taking eight or more medicines. Further work is needed to determine whether readmission can be reduced in these groups by application of pharmaceutical interventions and to establish the long term benefits of focusing limited resources. Mandating pharmacist validation ofTTOs in working hours was associated with a substantial increase in proportion validated and a notable reduction in readmission rate. It is acknowledged that the activity of the Trust’s Virtual Ward varied during the study, however there was not a pharmacist on the team at that time; further work will be carried out to determine the influence of this on the results observed

Near infrared spectroscopy for fibre based gas detection

Gas sensing systems based on fibre optic linked near infra red absorption cells are potentially a flexible and effective tool for monitoring accumulations of hazardous and noxious gases in enclosed areas such as tunnels and mines. Additionally the same baseline technology is readily modified to measure concentrations of hydrocarbon fuels - notably but not exclusively methane, and monitoring emissions of greenhouse gases. Furthermore the system can be readily implemented to provide intrinsically safe monitoring over extensive areas at up to ~250 points from a single interrogation unit. In this paper we review our work on fibre coupled gas sensing systems. We outline the basic principles through which repeatable and accurate self calibrating gas measurements may be realised, including the recover of detailed line shapes for non contact temperature and / or pressure measurements in addition to concentration assessments in harsh environments. We also outline our experience in using these systems in extensive networks operating under inhospitable conditions over extended periods extending to several years

A comparison of 3 optical systems for the detection of broadband ultrasound

There are many applications of ultrasound in the field of material properties' evaluation and structural health monitoring. Here we will consider the detection of broadband laser generated ultrasound taking as an example acoustic emission as simulated by the pencil break test. In this paper three optical methods of detecting these ultrasound signals are compared; these are polarimetry, fibre Bragg gratings and vibrometery. Of these, the first two involve the bonding of a fibre sensor to the sample, whilst the vibrometer is a non-contact instrument that measures out-of-plane displacements. FBGs respond to the inplane strains associated with an ultrasound wave whilst the polarimeter detects birefringence produced by pressure waves acting normal to the fibre. The sensitivities of the systems are compared and their relative merits are discussed. It will also be shown that the polarimetric responses of symmetric and antisymmetric Lamb waves differ, which opens up the possibility of learning more about the nature of an acoustic signal using this technique than can be determined simply from the measurement of in-plane or out-of plane displacements alone

UK regional scale modelling of natural geohazards and climate change

For over 10 years, the British Geological Survey (BGS) has been investigating geotechnical and mineralogical factors controlling volume change behaviour of UK clay soils and mudrocks. A strong understanding of the relationship between these parameters and the clays' shrink-swell properties has been developed. More recently, partly resulting from concerns of users of this knowledge, a study of the relationships between climate change and shrink-swell behaviour over the last 30 years has been carried out. Information on subsidence insurance claims has been provided by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the UK Meteorological Office (UKMO) historical climate station data has also been utilised. This is being combined with the BGS's GeoSure national geohazard data, to build a preliminary GIS model to provide an understanding of the susceptibility of the Tertiary London Clay to climate change. This paper summarises the data analysis and identifies future work for model construction and refinement

Evaluation of Sheffield City Council's Community Justice Panels Project

This report is the output of an evaluation commissioned by Sheffield City Council and undertaken by the Hallam Centre for Community Justice at Sheffield Hallam University. The evaluation was undertaken during October and November 2009 with the objectives of assessing the effectiveness of the Community Justice Panels project so far and providing recommendations for future development. The evaluation used an action research methodology and included documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews with strategic partners and stakeholders, wrongdoers and harmed persons, facilitator focus group and observation of the Panels