bridge the gap between software test process and business value: a case study

Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISCAS)

Effects of bridge ions, DNA species, and developing temperature on flat-lying DNA monolayers

Recently, we have successfully constructed flat-lying DNA monolayers on a mica surface (J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 10792-10798). In this work, the effects of various factors including bridge ions, DNA species, and developing temperature on the configuration of DNA monolayers have been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in detail. AFM results show that the species of bridge ions and developing temperature play a crucial role during the formation process. For example, the divalent cation Zn2+ resulted in many DNA chains stuck side by side in the monolayers due to the strong interactions between it and DNA's bases or the mica surface. Most DNA chain's conglutinations disappeared when the developing temperature was higher than 40 degrees C. Cd2+ and Ca2+ produced more compact DNA monolayers with some obvious aggregations, especially for the DNA monolayers constructed by using Ca2+ as the bridge ion. Co2+ produced well-ordered, flat-lying DNA monolayers similar to that of Mg2+. Furthermore, it was found that the flat-lying DNA monolayers could still form on a mica surface when plasmid DNA pBR 322 and linear DNA pBR 322/Pst I were used as the DNA source. Whereas, it was hard to form DNA monolayers on a (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane-mica surface because the strong interactions between DNA and substrate prevented the lateral movement of DNA molecules.

Synthesis of new bis-BINOLs linked by a 2,2 '-bipyridine bridge

A series of new G-symmetric chiral ligands 8, 9, 11 and 12, consisting of two binaphthyl units linked by a 2,2'-bipyridine bridge, has been synthesized via Suzuki cross-coupling reactions.

Synthesis of C-1 bridge-containing metallocene catalysts and their catalytic activities for olefin polymerization

The synthesis and characterization of metallocene complexes which can be used as catalysts in the presence of MAO for olefin polymerization were discussed in the present paper. The metallocene complexes have been characterized by IR, H-1 NMR, EI-MS spectra and element analyses; The catalytic features of Olefin polymerization were studied under different conditions. Metallocenes in which metals is Ti had no activity for ethylene polymerization, Polymers with different features can be obtained by using different catalysts.

Synthesis and structure of molybdenum-citrato cluster mu(2)-S bridge

A new molybdenum-citrato cluster containing [Mo2O2(mu-S)(2)(C6H5O7)(C6H4O7)](5-) anion was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis spectra, XPS and X-ray diffraction. The parameters of the crystal structure of the compound are monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 2. 376 6(5) nm, b = 1. 327 4(3) nm, c = 2. 247 1(5) nm, beta = 118. 21 degrees, V = 6. 247(2) nm(3), Z = 8, D-c = 2. 128 g/cm(3), F(000) = 3 984, mu = 1 694 cm(-1), R = 0. 083 1 and R-2,R-w = 0. 154 9. The anion is binuclear molybdenum-citrato complex with mu(2)-S bridge. Each molybdenum atom pocesesses a distorted octahedral struture, which is coordinated with a terminal oxygen, two sulfur atoms, three oxygen atoms of hydroxyl, alpha-carboxylate, beta-carboxylate from citrate.

A BINUCLEAR NICKEL(II) COMPLEX CONTAINING AN OXAMIDO-BRIDGE - SYNTHESIS, PROPERTIES AND X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF [NI(OXAE)NI(PHEN)(2)](CLO4)(2)CENTER-DOT-3H2O

The binuclear complex [Ni(oxae)Ni(phen)2](ClO4)(2) . H2O (oxae=N,N'bis(2-aminoethyl) oxamido dianion, phen = 1, 10-phenanthroline) was prepared from the planar monomeric complex Ni(oxae) and characterized through analytical and spectroscopic measurements. The structure of [Ni(oxae)Ni(phen)(2)] (ClO4)2 . 3H(2)O was investigated by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The complex has an extended oxamido-bridged structure and consists of two nickel(II) ions, one of them in a square planar environment and another in a distorted octahedral environment. The Ni-Ni distance is 5.267 Angstrom.

New Timber Architecture in Scotland.

New Timber Architecture in Scotland illustrates 90 exemplar projects and demonstrates clearly that there is no single building type unsuited to the use of this adaptable, variable and infinitely renewable material. Too long out of fashion, timber is now widely specified and has become an important design element in some of the most innovative projects being built today. The projects selected for inclusion are not the work of a few superstar architects: they represent the output of a significant percentage of architectural practices in Scotland and illustrate a burgeoning confidence in timber as an exciting, contemporary construction material. New Timber Architecture in Scotland aims to stimulate others to follow their lead.

Moisture conditions in timber cladding: field trial data for Sitka spruce.

Exposure trials on timber cladding are valuable for informing facade designers. This paper describes a trial using Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Sitka spruce is the only UK-grown timber available in sufficient volume to supply the growing cladding market, but its suitability is unclear. Data indicated that the moisture content range in timber cladding was wider than generally accepted. The minimum of around 10% moisture content appeared to be similar for all details tested. The maximum was influenced by construction detailing but was around 30%. From a theoretical standpoint, the range, and rate, of moisture content fluctuation observed meant that the commonly quoted average value was largely irrelevant. The mode was a more representative statistic; most of the data were skewed towards the wood's fibre saturation point. Sitka spruce is, therefore, at risk of fungal decay and is only suitable as external cladding in the UK if treated with preservative

Evidence-based design of timber facades’.

Conference paper on a CD-Rom

Timber grading seminar - Some things you should know about how strength grading works and what is changing in the standards.

Presentations from the seminar on timber grading. "This grading seminar will give you a crash course in timber strength grading, what it is, how it works, and how it is changing. It aims to demystify timber grading, tackle some widely held misconceptions, and tell you the things you need to be aware of to improve profitability, and remain correct and safe in what you do. The timber resource in the UK is changing, technology is advancing, and standards are being modified. This seminar will bring you the latest position, informed by CEN and BSI standards committee work and research conducted by the SIRT network."

Strength grading of sawn timber in Europe: an explanation for engineers and researchers.

This paper is a concise explanation of the normative background to strength grading in Europe, addressing important aspects that are commonly misunderstood by structural engineers and timber researchers. It also highlights changes that are being made to the standards to: incorporate requirements of the construction products regulations; add improvements to the system to accommodate the latest knowledge and technology; and widen the application of the standards. Where designs need to be optimised, there is an opportunity to use the system more intelligently, in combination with the latest technology, to better fit design values to the true properties of the timber resource. This can bring a design enhancement equivalent to effort improving other aspects of the structure, such as connectors and reinforcement. Parallel to this, researchers working on other aspects of structural improvement need to understand what grades really mean in respect of the properties of the timber, in order to correctly analyse the results of testing. It is also useful to know how techniques used in grading can assist with material properties characterisation for research. The amount of destructive testing involved in establishing machine grading settings and visual grading assignments presents a barrier to greater use of local timber, and diversification of commercial species, so it is important that any researcher assessing the properties of such species should consider, from the outset, doing the research in a way that can contribute to a grading dataset at a later date. This paper provides an overview of what is required for this.

Sole plate fixing details for modern methods of timber construction.

In order to resist lateral loads, modern methods of timber construction are reliant on the in-plane shear strength of the walls orientated parallel to the applied action. In closed panel systems, the shear stresses are transferred to the foundations by the sole plate through the sheathing board, which is usually mechanically jointed to the timber frame. Since closed panels are delivered to site as single units, access to the internal bottom rail is rather restricted and novel, efficient solutions to secure the panel to the substrate are required. Sole plate fixing components for open and closed panel systems were tested in isolation and combination in order to validate a simplistic version of the weakest link theory. As a result, findings were embedded into a software database with a direct link to a previously developed sole plate and racking design application. This integrated process facilitates the structural optimization of the sole plate detail.