Performance analysis of automated interbay material-handling and storage systems for large Wafer Fab

In this paper the performance of an automated interbay material-handling and storage system was analysed, considering the effects of design choices, production planning and scheduling, system management and operator behaviour. The results show the great importance of appropriate design of the storage capacity distribution along the Wafer Fab.     

Synthesis and evaluation of retinal Schiff base salts and related compounds as radar absorbing agents

Thirteen Schiff base salts in the class of compounds represented by retinal pyrrolidinium perchlorate were prepared (most of them for the first time), fully characterized analytically and spectroscopically, and examined in the 30–100 GH_z range with respect to their putative ability to absorb radar signals. While some signal loss was noted with salts having I₃⁻ counterions, the compounds of this class show negligible potential as components of radar-absorbing coating systems.     

Planning grasps for industrial robotized applications using neural networks

The present paper proposes a computer-aided module for the detection of grasps of 3D objects by using artificial neural networks. This module considers the grasps performed by the most common classes of grippers used in industrial applications: two-jaw grippers, three-jaw grippers, magnetic grippers, vacuum grippers and expandable grippers. The neural networks are properly tailored and trained in order to evaluate and compare the different grasping alternatives according to geometrical and technological aspects of object surfaces. A case study is also discussed in order to point out the performances of this methodology.     

Numerically optimized performance of diabatic distillation columns

Recently, the concept of equal thermodynamic distance (ETD) has been proposed to minimize entropy production in a distillation process using a diabatic column. ETD gives the optimal temperature profile to first-order in N⁻¹, where N is the number of trays. ETD, however, does not generally give the true minimum for distillation columns with few trays. We therefore apply a fully numerical, multidimensional optimization routine to determine minimum entropy production. Since this method does not depend on an underlying theory, we expect a true minimum to be revealed. We then compare the performance of ETD and numerical optimization by varying the number of trays and the purity requirements. Our results show a surprisingly good agreement between the ETD results and those obtained numerically.     

Metal-assisted syntheses and NMR characterization of square-planar Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes with tridentate nitrogen-donor chelate ligands

The complexes [PtCl(NNN^H)](OTf) (1^H), [PdCl(NNN^H)](OTf) (2^H), [PdCl(NNN^Me)](OTf) (2^Me), [PdMe(NNN^H)](OTf) (3^H), [PdMe(NNN^Me)](OTf) (3^Me) and [PdMe(NNN^Ph)](OTf) (3^Ph) {NNN^H = (pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-quinolin-8-yl-amine; NNN^Me = (1-pyridin-2-yl-ethylidene)-quinolin-8-yl-amine; NNN^Ph = (phenyl-pyridin-2-yl-methylene)-quinolin-8-yl-amine} were prepared by reacting a stoichiometric methanolic mixture of 8-aminoquinoline and an ortho-substituted aldehydo- or keto-pyridine {2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, 2-acetylpyridine or 2-benzoylpyridine} with the proper Pt(II) or Pd(II) precursor in methanol. In the case of the 2 ^Me derivative, the addition of a stoichiometric amount of a Ag(I) salt to the reaction mixture was necessary to obtain the desired product. Information about the formation of these complexes are reported. In particular, NMR experiments allowed to observe the different reactivity of 8-aminoquinoline towards aldehydo- and keto-pyridines and the formation of the emiaminal ligand pyridin-2-yl-(quinolin-8-ylamino)-methanol NNN(H₂O)^H 4. Finally, the methanesulphonato-complex [Pd(η¹-OSO₂CH₃)(NNN^Me)](OTf) (5^Me) was obtained by reacting the chloro-derivative 2^Me with a stoichiometric amount of AgSO₃CH₃ in nitromethane.     

Survival after in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rates of immediate survival and survival to discharge for adult patients undergoing in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and to identify demographic and clinical variables associated with these outcomes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The MEDLARS database of the National Library of Medicine was searched. In addition, the authors' extensive personal files and the bibliography of each identified study were searched for further studies. Two sets of inclusion criteria were used, minimal (any study of adults undergoing in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and strict (included only patients from general ward and intensive care units, and adequately defined cardiopulmonary arrest and resuscitation). Each study was independently reviewed and abstracted in a nonblinded fashion by two reviewers. The data abstracted were compared, and any discrepancies were resolved by consensus discussion. For the subset of studies meeting the strict criteria, the overall rate of immediate survival was 40.7% and the rate of survival to discharge was 13.4%. The following variables were associated with failure to survive to discharge: sepsis on the day prior to resuscitation (odds ratio [OR] 31.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9, 515), metastatic cancer (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.2, 12. 6), dementia (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.1, 8.8), African-American race (OR 2. 8; 95% CI 1.4, 5.6), serum creatinine level at a cutpoint of 1.5 mg/dL (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.2, 3.8), cancer (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2, 3.0), coronary artery disease (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.4, 0.8), and location of resuscitation in the intensive care unit (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.4, 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: When talking with patients, physicians can describe the overall likelihood of surviving discharge as 1 in 8 for patients who undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 1 in 3 for patients who survive cardiopulmonary resuscitation.     

Forecasting broadband Internet adoption on trains in Belgium

Thanks to the massive success of mobile access devices such as netbooks or Apple’s iPhone 3G, Internet on the move has become one of the prominent features of today’s information society. With the emergence of wireless and mobile communication networks, the railroad industry is now catching up on this new technology in their battle with low-cost operators to bring more productivity and entertainment possibilities to its passengers. With millions of daily commuters as potential service users, this transport branch offers high business opportunities. However, while most field trials and research effort have mainly focused on the enabling technology, little research effort has been conducted to forecast the demand-side. This article tries to fill this gap by presenting original results gathered from a large-scale survey amongst 1324 regular train travellers. By means of the Product Specific Adoption Potential method, we predict the potential market penetration of wireless Internet services onboard trains and estimate the size and nature of five adopter segments in terms of socio-demographics, drivers and thresholds, willingness to pay, applications and quality of service. We will discuss the practical implications of these insights in order to develop viable business models, set up introduction strategies and build out user-driven infrastructure networks.     

A rapid method for evaluation of antioxidants

A rapid, sensitive method for evaluating antioxidants is described. The antioxidant comparisons are based on minimizing β-carotene loss in an emulsified, aqueous, coupled oxidation of linoleic acid and β-carotene. The effects of linoleic acid levels were observed. Attempts to replace β-carotene with vitamin A or linoleic acid with ergosterol gave undesired results. The quantitative applications of the method are discussed.     

Solid-State Field-Assisted Ion Exchange (Ag → Na) in Soda–Lime Float Glass: Tin Versus Air Side

The application of a DC current allows fast (few minutes) Ag⁺ → Na⁺ ion exchange in soda–lime–silicate (SLS) glass. The effect of processing parameters, electric current, and treating time is studied on both air and tin sides of SLS float glass, and non-Fickian diffusion is revealed. It is shown that ion exchange kinetics are similar on both sides and the tempering process results in similar mechanical properties (crack formation probability after Vickers indentation, hardness, and Young's modulus). However, the structure/microstructure of the tin and air sides is hugely different. In particular, clear silver nanoclustering takes place on the tin side, resulting in ≈8 nm metallic particles in the vicinity of the surface. The formation of nanoparticles is also coupled with a deep structural reorganization of the amorphous network and the Q ⁿ units. The nanoparticles’ size decreases moving from the surface to the interior of the glass. Silver nanoparticles are also detected on the air side, although their density and size are largely reduced. Whereas the mechanical properties measured on the air and tin side are similar, significative differences are observed in terms of optical properties.     

Enhanced sensitivity cross-correlation method for voltage noise measurements

Ultralow noise measurements often require the application of signal processing and correction techniques to go beyond the noise performances of front-end amplifiers. In this paper, a new method for the voltage noise measurement is proposed, which allows, at least in principle, the complete elimination of the noise introduced by the amplifiers used for the measurements. This is obtained by resorting to the conventional cross-correlation technique for the elimination of the contribution of the equivalent input voltage noise of the amplifiers and by using a new three-step-measurement procedure that exploits different amplifier-configuration measurements in order to subtract the contribution of the equivalent input current noise of the amplifiers.