Comprehensive Property Retrieval and Measurement of Concrete Spalling Using Machine Vision for Post-Earthquake Safety Assessments

Active vibration control (AVC) is a relatively new technology for the mitigation of annoying human-induced vibrations in floors. However, recent technological developments have demonstrated its great potential application in this field. Despite this, when a floor is found to have problematic floor vibrations after construction the unfamiliar technology of AVC is usually avoided in favour of more common techniques, such as Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDs) which have a proven track record of successful application, particularly for footbridges and staircases. This study aims to investigate the advantages and disadvantages that AVC has, when compared with TMDs, for the application of mitigation of pedestrian-induced floor vibrations in offices. Simulations are performed using the results from a finite element model of a typical office layout that has a high vibration response level. The vibration problems on this floor are then alleviated through the use of both AVC and TMDs and the results of each mitigation configuration compared. The results of this study will enable a more informed decision to be made by building owners and structural engineers regarding suitable technologies for reducing floor vibrations.

Highly efficient detector of the neurotransmitter ACh and AChE inhibitors

Among the variety of applications for biosensors one of the exciting frontiers is to utilize those devices as post-synaptic sensing elements in chemical coupling between neurons and solid-state systems. The first necessary step to attain this challenge is to realize highly efficient detector for neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Herein, we demonstrate that the combination of floating gate configuration of ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) together with diluted covalent anchoring of enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) onto device sensing area reveals a remarkable improvement of a four orders of magnitude in dose response to ACh. This high range sensitivity in addition to the benefits of peculiar microelectronic design show, that the presented hybrid provides a competent platform for assembly of artificial chemical synapse junction. Furthermore, our system exhibits clear response to eserine, a competitive inhibitor of AChE, and therefore it can be implemented as an effective sensor of pharmacological reagents, organophosphates, and nerve gases as well. © 2007 Materials Research Society.

Quantitative structure-property relationships for octanol-air partition coefficients of polychlorinated naphthalenes, chlorobenzenes and p,p '-DDT

The octanol-air partition coefficient (K-OA) is a key descriptor of chemicals partitioning between the atmosphere and environmental organic phases. Quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPR) are necessary to model and predict KOA from molecular structures. Based on 12 quantum chemical descriptors computed by the PM3 Hamiltonian, using partial least squares (PLS) analysis, a QSPR model for logarithms of K-OA to base 10 (log K-OA) for polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), chlorobenzenes and p,p'-DDT was obtained. The cross-validated Q(cum)(2) value of the model is 0.973, indicating a good predictive ability of the model. The main factors governing log K-OA of the PCNs, chlorobenzenes, and p,p'-DDT are, in order of decreasing importance, molecular size and molecular ability of donating/accepting electrons to participate in intermolecular interactions. The intermolecular dispersive interactions play a leading role in governing log K-OA. The more chlorines in PCN and chlorobenzene molecules, the greater the log K-OA values. Increasing E-LUMO (the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) of the molecules leads to decreasing log K-OA values, implying possible intermolecular interactions between the molecules under study and octanol molecules. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantitative structure-property relationships for octanol-air partition coefficients of polychlorinated biphenyls

Based on nine quantum chemical descriptors computed by PM3 Hamiltonian, using partial least squares analysis, a significant quantitative structure-property relationship for the logarithm of octanol-air partition coefficients (log K-OA) of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was obtained. The cross-validated Q(cum)(2) value of the model is 0.962, indicating a good predictive ability. The intermolecular dispersive interactions and thus the size of the PCB molecules play a key role in governing log K-OA. The greater the size of PCB molecules, the greater the log K-OA values. Increasing E-LUMO (the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) values of the PCBs leads to decreasing log K-OA values, indicating possible interactions between PCB and octanol molecules. Increasing Q(Cl)(+) (the most positive net atomic charges on a chlorine atom) and Q(C)(-) (the largest negative net atomic charge on a carbon atom) values of PCBs results in decreasing log K-OA values, implying possible intermolecular electrostatic interactions between octanol and PCB molecules. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) on direct photolysis of PCDDs

By the use of partial least squares (PLS) method and 27 quantum chemical descriptors computed by PM3 Hamiltonian, a statistically significant QSPR were obtained for direct photolysis quantum yields (Y) of selected Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). The QSPR can be used for prediction. The direct photolysis quantum yields of the PCDDs are dependent on the number of chlorine atoms bonded with the parent structures, the character of the carbon-oxygen bonds, and molecular polarity. Increasing bulkness and polarity of PCDDs lead to decrease of log Y values. Increasing the frontier molecular orbital energies (E-lumo and E-homo) and heat of formation (HOF) values leads to increase of log Y values. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantitative structure-property relationship study on reductive dehalogenation of selected halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediment slurries

In this study, by the use of partial least squares (PLS) method and 26 quantum chemical descriptors computed by PM3 Hamiltonian, a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model was developed for reductive dehalogenation rate constants of 13 halogenated aliphatic compounds in sediment slurry under anaerobic conditions. The model can be used to explain the dehalogenation mechanism. Halogenated aliphatic compounds with great energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (E-lumo), total energy (TE), electronic energy (EE), the smallest bond order of the carbon-halogen bonds (BO) and the most positive net atomic charges on an atom of the molecule (q(+)) values tend to be reductively dehalogenated slow, whereas halogenated aliphatic compounds with high values of molecular weight (Mw), average molecular polarizability (a) and core-core repulsion energy (CCR) values tend to be reductively dehalogenated fastest. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Quantitative structure-property relationship studies on n-octanol/water partitioning coefficients of PCDD/Fs

Based on some fundamental quantum chemical descriptors computed by PM3 Hamiltonian, by the use of partial least-squares (PLS) analysis, a significant quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model for logK(ow) of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/Fs) was obtained. The QSPR can be used for prediction. The intermolecular dispersive interactions and thus the bulkness of the PCDD/Fs are the main factors affecting the logK(ow). The more chlorines in the PCDD/F molecule, the greater the logK(ow) values. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure and magnetic property of (Ga,Cr)As films with different Cr contents

We report variations in structure and magnetic property of (Ga,Cr) As films with increasing Cr content x. Due to phase segregation, a tendency towards inhomogeneous distribution with increasing x is confirmed. Barkhausen-like magnetization and large remanent magnetic moment were also clearly observed in the samples with x<5.3%. However, spin-glass-like behaviors were observed in both dc and ac magnetic measurements, which might originate from the competition between magnetic nucleation and frustration of long ferromagnetic order in this inhomogeneous system. All the samples exhibit characteristics of variable-range hopping conductivity at temperature below 150 K. Typical magnetic circular dichroism structure was observed in the sample with x=7.9%.

Investigation of native defects and property of bulk ZnO single crystal grown by a closed chemical vapor transport method

Hall effect, Raman scattering, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), optical absorption (OA), mass spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction have been used to study bulk ZnO single crystal grown by a closed chemical vapor transport method. The results indicate that shallow donor impurities (Ga and Al) are the dominant native defects responsible for n-type conduction of the ZnO single crystal. PL and OA results suggest that the as-grown and annealed ZnO samples with poor lattice perfection exhibit strong deep level green photoluminescence and weak ultraviolet luminescence. The deep level defect in as-grown ZnO is identified to be oxygen vacancy. After high-temperature annealing, the deep level photoluminescence is suppressed in ZnO crystal with good lattice perfection. In contrast, the photoluminescence is nearly unchanged or even enhanced in ZnO crystal with grain boundary or mosaic structure. This result indicates that a trapping effect of the defect exists at the grain boundary in ZnO single crystal. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth parameter dependence of magnetic property of CrAs thin film

This paper has systematically investigated the substrate temperature and thickness dependence of surface morphology and magnetic property of CrAs compound films grown on GaAs by molecular-beam epitaxy. It finds that the substrate temperature affects the surface morphology and magnetic property of CrAs thin film more potently than the thickness.

Systematic investigation on the influence of the As-4 flux on the magnetic property of (In,Cr)As quantum dots

We study the structure, optical and magnetic characteristics of self-assembled (In,Cr) As diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum dots as a function of the As-4 flux. Increasing the surface energy by increasing the As4 pressure leads to a smaller number of larger dots for a higher As-4 flux. The remanent magnetization measured at 5K also increases with increasing As-4 flux, which is attributed to the enhancement of the effective Cr content due to the As-4-rich condition. We explore the possibility of tailoring magnetism by controlling the As-4/In flux ratio without changing the Cr concentration. Furthermore, extremely low-density QDs have also been successfully grown. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2008