Deficiency Analysis of Coastal Buildings toward Storm Damage Reduction

Engineering services provided by one of the writers to property owners, insurance companies, attorneys, and others have resulted in a compilation of case studies, based on more than 1,000 site inspections, suitable to generate a database regarding various aspects of building performance. The scope of those services typically included identifying the cause and origin of damage to residential and commercial structures, as well as an estimation of the magnitude of damage sustained by those structures. The majority of those damaged structures was located in proximity to a coastal region and experienced recent exposure to a storm or other weather event. Compilation of data from those case studies allowed identification and ranking of the occurrence of chronic building problems. It has become apparent that building-related deficiencies often exist as a common feature in similar structures. Some of those recurring deficiencies could be eliminated with alternate building design, better construction practices, or proper routine maintenance procedures. Where applicable, proposed remedial solutions are presented for specific building deficiencies or problems identified.     

Use of Quality Control Circles-A Fad or Need

1 Background The subject of management fads is well covered in the literature with typical definitions: (1) It is normally a new idea. (2) It is developed in a vague and previously undefined area. (3) It is about what its users are initially enthusiastic about, even though they can quickly lose interest in it [1]. Van der Wiele[2] explores many characteristics of fads, pointing out that; (1) Fads can develop in an area of activity, which is not well defined. (2) Most fads are not really new …     

Organometallic–Inorganic Conjugated Unsymmetrical Schiff-Base Hybrids. Synthesis,Characterization, Electrochemistry and X-ray Crystal Structures of Functionalized Trinuclear Iron–Nickel–Ruthenium Dipolar Chromophores

The synthesis of neutral dinuclear iron–nickel unsymmetrical Schiff base complexes 3 and 4 was achieved via a template reaction involving equimolar amounts of alkyl or aryl “half-unit” precursors, respectively, Fc–C(O)CH=C(CH₃)N(H)R (1: R = CH₂CH₂NH₂; 2: R = o-C₆H₄NH₂; Fc = CpFe(η⁵-C₅H₄); Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅), 5-bromosalicylaldehyde and nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate in a refluxing CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (1:1) mixture. The ionic trinuclear unsymmetrical complex 5 was prepared by reacting its dinuclear precursor 3 with the arenophile source, [Cp*Ru(NCCH₃)₃]PF₆ (Cp* = η⁵-C₅(CH₃)₅), in refluxing CH₂Cl₂ for 2 h, whereas the trinuclear species 6 was formed upon regioselective π-complexation of the 5-bromosalicylidene ring of 4 by [Cp*Ru]⁺ at room temperature overnight. All the new compounds were adequately characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques and, in addition, the crystal and molecular structures of the “half-unit” 1, the binuclear complex 4 and its hemisolvate adduct 4 · 0.5CH₃OH, the trinuclear Schiff base compound 5 · 2(CH₃)₂CO, and the mixed sandwich metalloligand 7 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Both organometallic–inorganic hybrids 5 and 6 contain the neutral electron-releasing ferrocenyl group, and the cationic electron-withdrawing ruthenium mixed sandwich, linked through the unsymmetrical tetradentate Schiff base complex {Ni(ONNO)}. UV–vis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR as well as electrochemical data clearly indicate a mutual donor–acceptor electronic influence between the organometallic termini. Furthermore, X-ray crystal structure analysis of 5 · 2(CH₃)₂CO reveals the partial delocalization of bonding electron density throughout the dinucleating nickel Schiff base ligand. Dedicated to Prof. Didier Astruc, a true friend, an outstanding lecturer and scientist, in honor of his pioneering research efforts and accomplishments in the fields of organometallic chemistry, dendrimers and their applications in nanocatalysis.     

Indium containing sillenite semiconductor: Synthesis,structural, spectroscopic,and thermogravimetric analysis

Sillenite-type ceramics are non-centrosymmetric phases of ongoing research interest because of their structural defects and optoelectronic properties. We report a series of sillenite compounds with a general composition Bi₁₂(Bi³⁺_4/5−3xIn³⁺_5x□_1/5−2x)O_19.2+3x□_0.8−3x for x = 0.03–0.27 to understand how the crystal–physicochemical properties change with a successive filling of empty Bi³⁺ positions in the tetrahedral site by In³⁺ cation. Conventional solid-state synthesis method is used to prepare the microcrystalline samples. Each sample is characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman, UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry (TG/DSC). X-ray powder data Rietveld refinement reveals that phase-pure samples can be obtained for x = 0.03–0.08 in the space group I23. Appearance of starting In₂O₃ as minor phases with the final products for 0.10 < x < 0.27 suggests for x_max = 0.08. The successive decrease of the lattice parameter indicates the incorporation of smaller In³⁺ cations in the structure. The effect of the lone electron pairs of Bi³⁺ and the structural cation vacancies lead to the modification of the interatomic bond lengths. At least one Raman active phonon mode shows hardening for decreasing cation vacancy concentration in the system. The bandgap energy increases with increasing indium content. An additional absorption band at lower energy for x = 0.03–0.08 complements the theoretical study, which completely disappears for x > 0.08. The stronger In–O bonds play pivotal roles in the thermal stability of the phases studied by TGA/DSC analysis.