The synthesis of a symmetrically substituted α-octa(isopentoxy)anthralocyanine

α-Octa(isopentoxy)anthralocyanine has been synthesized and is found to have an unprecedented low-energy Q-band absorption and a low first oxidation potential

High level data fusion

We address the question of how to obtain effective fusion of identification information such that it is robust to the quality of this information. As well as technical issues data fusion is encumbered with a collection of (potentially confusing) practical considerations. These considerations are described during the early chapters in which a framework for data fusion is developed. Following this process of diversification it becomes clear that the original question is not well posed and requires more precise specification. We use the framework to focus on some of the technical issues relevant to the question being addressed. We show that fusion of hard decisions through use of an adaptive version of the maximum a posteriori decision rule yields acceptable performance. Better performance is possible using probability level fusion as long as the probabilities are accurate. Of particular interest is the prevalence of overconfidence and the effect it has on fused performance. The production of accurate probabilities from poor quality data forms the latter part of the thesis. Two approaches are taken. Firstly the probabilities may be moderated at source (either analytically or numerically). Secondly, the probabilities may be transformed at the fusion centre. In each case an improvement in fused performance is demonstrated. We therefore conclude that in order to obtain robust fusion care should be taken to model the probabilities accurately; either at the source or centrally

Nonlinear optical properties of push–pull polyenes for electro-optics

Improved nonlinear organic chromophores of varying conjugation length with either thiobarbituric acid or 3-dicyanomethylene-2,3-dihydrobenzothiophene-1,1-dioxide (FORON® Blue) acceptors have been synthesized and investigated for their nonlinear optical properties. Very large quadratic hyperpolarizabilities β(−2ω; ω, ω) have been found, up to 25,700×10^(−48) esu at λ=1.91 μm. In a guest–host polymer very high electro-optic (EO) coefficients, of up to 55 pm/V, have been determined at λ=1.31 μm with 20-wt % chromophore loading. We find good agreement between molecular parameters evaluated by electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation (EFISH) and the measurements of guest–host solid–solid solutions. The latter method is well suited to the determination of the product of dipole moment μ and hyperpolarizability β quickly and reliably at the wavelength of interest for EO applications without the complications associated with EFISH measurements

Voltage gated inter-cation selective ion channels from graphene nanopores

With the ability to selectively control ionic flux, biological protein ion channels perform a fundamental role in many physiological processes. For practical applications that require the functionality of a biological ion channel, graphene provides a promising solid-state alternative, due to its atomic thinness and mechanical strength. Here, we demonstrate that nanopores introduced into graphene membranes, as large as 50 nm in diameter, exhibit inter-cation selectivity with a ~20x preference for K+ over divalent cations and can be modulated by an applied gate voltage. Liquid atomic force microscopy of the graphene devices reveals surface nanobubbles near the pore to be responsible for the observed selective behavior. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that translocation of ions across the pore likely occurs via a thin water layer at the edge of the pore and the nanobubble. Our results demonstrate a significant improvement in the inter-cation selectivity displayed by a solid-state nanopore device and by utilizing the pores in a de-wetted state, offers an approach to fabricating selective graphene membranes that does not rely on the fabrication of sub-nm pores

Patient-maintained propofol sedation: the anaesthetists' point of view

Many operations within the UK do not require general anaesthesia, and are instead carried out under sedation. A doctor normally provides this, and as the patient is not in control, they may be either under or over-sedated due to a misjudgement of patient anxiety. One solution would be to allow the patients to directly control their own sedation level. This paper presents an invention for innovation (i4i) project developing such a Patient Maintained Propofol Sedation Device (PMPSD). Due to the health risks associated with under and over-sedation, the anaesthetists' interface takes on an added importance to ensure they can oversee the process and intervene when needed. Through the project, a unique opportunity has arisen where anaesthetists have been involved throughout the interface design process, contributing to the development and testing of a prototype. We present this prototype, highlight its key features and how it differs from existing sedation pump interface systems. As the project continues, the interface will be used as part of a clinical trial at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust involving 80 orthopaedic patients throughout the rest of 2018 and into 2019

An automated coding and classification system with supporting database for effective design of manufacturing systems

The philosophy of group technology (GT) is an important concept in the design of flexible manufacturing systems and manufacturing cells. Group technology is a manufacturing philosophy that identifies similar parts and groups them into families. Beside assigning unique codes to these parts, group technology developers intend to take advantage of part similarities during design and manufacturing processes. GT is not the answer to all manufacturing problems, but it is a good management technique with which to standardize efforts and eliminate duplication. Group technology classifies parts by assigning them to different families based on their similarities in: (1) design attributes (physical shape and size), and/or (2) manufacturing attributes (processing sequence). The manufacturing industry today is process focused; departments and sub units are no longer independent but are interdependent. If the product development process is to be optimized, engineering and manufacturing cannot remain independent any more: they must be coordinated. Each sub-system is a critical component within an integrated manufacturing framework. The coding and classification system is the basis of CAPP and the functioning and reliability of CAPP depends on the robustness of the coding system. The proposed coding system is considered superior to the previously proposed coding systems, in that it has the capability to migrate into multiple manufacturing environments. This article presents the design of a coding and classification system and the supporting database for manufacturing processes based on both design and manufacturing attributes of parts. An interface with the spreadsheet will calculate the machine operation costs for various processes. This menu-driven interactive package is implemented using dBASE-IV. Part Family formation is achieved using a KAMCELL package developed in TURBO Pascal.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46606/1/10845_2004_Article_BF00123696.pd