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HETEROCYCLESAn International Journal for Reviews and Communications in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Web Edition ISSN: 1881-0942
Published online by The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry
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Regular Issue
Vol. 57, No. 6, 2002
Published online:
■ First Rotameric Anti Dimers and 3,9-Diazatetraasteranes from Unsymmetrically Substituted N-Acyl and N-Acyloxy-4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridines
Andreas Hilgeroth,* Frank W. Heinemann, and Ute Baumeister
*Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Wolfgang-Langenbeck-Str. 4, 06120 Halle, Germany
A series of unsymmetrically substituted N-acyl- and N-acyloxy-1,4-dihydropyridines (1) have been photochemically investigated. On irradiating the crystals of one derivative (1a) containing centrosymmetrical pairs of molecules with a distance of 3.894(3) Å between the potentially reacting double bonds favorable for a photodimerisation reaction, the formation of an anti-dimer (2a) was observed. Two other solid derivatives (1b, c) merely decomposed on irradiation to give substituted pyridine compound (3). Solution irradiation of 1,4-dihydropyridines (1) led to the centrosymmetric cage compounds 3,9-diazatetraasteranes (4) and to anti dimers (2) as main products, both existing as rotamers. Symmetric as well as rotameric properties of selected compounds (4) have been demonstrated by X-Ray crystal structure analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy.
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■ Synthesis of 3-Substituted 5-Arylidene-1-methyl-2-thiohydantoins under Microwave Irradiation
Ahmed I. Khodair and John Nielsen*
*Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 207, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
A mono-modal microwave oven was used to expedite the synthesis of small libraries of 3-substituted 1-methyl-2-thiohydantoins and 3-substituted 5-arylidene-1-methyl-2-thiohydantoins. In comparison with the traditional reflux methods, similar or higher yields were obtained.
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■ The Synthesis of 2,2-Disubstituted-3-nitrochromenes from Salicylaldehyde and 2,2-Disubstituted-1-nitroalkenes
Ming-Chung Yan, Yeong-Jiunn Jang, Wen-Yu Kuo, Zhijay Tu, Kao-Hsien Shen, Ting-Shen Cuo, Chuen-Her Ueng, and Ching-Fa Yao*
*Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, 88, Sec. 4, Tingchow Road, Taipei, 116, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Reactions of salicylaldehyde (1) with β-nitrostyrenes (2), (4), and (6) in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) without the use of solvent at 40 °C gave high yields of the corresponding 3-nitrochromenes, respectively. Other conjugated nitroalkenes were also used to react with salicylaldehyde under the similar conditions and the yields of substituted 3-nitrochromenes were moderate to high. 96% of cis-3-nitro-4-hydroxyflavane (11) was isolated as sole stereoisomer when 1 reacted with 2-nitromethyleneadamantane (10) under similar condition. When the reaction temperature was increased to 90 °C, 11 underwent dehydration to generate 74% of the corresponding 3-nitrochromene (12).
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■ Synthesis of Coumaran-5-ols — New Model Compounds for Bioantioxidants
Uta Schädel and Wolf D. Habicher*
*Institute of Organic Chemistry, Dresden University of Technology, Mommsenstr. 13, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
Based on a Heck type reaction a new access to coumaran-5-ols has been developed. The reaction, its analytical and synthetical features as well as the nature of some by-products are discussed.
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■ Dimeric Stilbenes from Stem Lianas of Gnetum africanum
Ibrahim Iliya, Toshiyuki Tanaka,* Munekazu Iinuma, Zulfiqar Ali, Miyuki Furasawa, and Ken-ichi Nakaya
*Gifu Prefectrual Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, 1-1 Nakafudogaoka, Kakamigahara, Gifu 504-0838, Japan
Two new stilbene dimers; gneafricanins A, B and bisisorhapontigenin B were isolated from the stem lianas of Gnetum africanum (Gnetaceae) along with eight known stilbenoids; longusol A, gnetin C, gnetin D, gnetin E, gnetofolin E, gnetol, isorhapontigenin and resveratrol. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectral analysis.
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■ Synthesis of 1,2-Dihydrobenz[c]azepin-3-one via Acid-catalyzed Cyclization of N-Arylmethyl-N-methyl-3-phenylsulfanylacrylamide
Yoshie Horiguchi,* Toshiaki Saitoh, Tomoko Kashiwagi, Lisa Katura, Mayumi Itagaki, Jun oda, and Takehiro Sano
*Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165, Higashi-tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
Treatment of N-arylmethyl-N-methyl-cis-3-phenylsulfanyl acrylamide (5) with p-toluenesulfonic acid induced two reactions; cyclization to 1,2-dihydrobenz[c]azepin-3-ones (7) and N-dearylmethylation to N-methylacrylamides (9 and 10) depending on the structures of the substrates. The route provides a simple method of preparing 6-methoxy- (7e), 8-methoxy- (7d), 6,8-dimethoxy- (7f), and 8,9-dimethoxy-N-methyl-1,2-dihydrobenz[c]azepin-3-ones (7g), although the scope is limited by some side reactions.
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■ Synthesis of E/Z 3-(1H-Benzotriazol-1-yl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)acrylonitriles and E/Z 2-(3-Imino-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-ylidene)acetonitriles. An Unusual Case of Displacement of the Benzotriazole Ring
Antonio Carta, Paolo Sanna,* and Alessia Bacchi
*Department of Medicinal and Toxicological Chemistry, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23/A, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Synthesis of 3-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)acrylonitriles (E/Z 6) and 2-(3-imino-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-ylidene)acetonitriles (E/Z 20), by an unusual case of displacement of the benzotriazole ring, has been described. The X-Ray structure analysis of Z 20 and antimycobacterial activity of both E/Z 6 and E/Z 20 were also reported.
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■ One-Step Synthesis of Optically Active Cyclic Polyamines Containing Helicene
Shinobu Honzawa, Shinya Chiba, Hitoshi Okubo, and Masahiko Yamaguchi*
*Department of Organic Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
Chiral macrocyclic tetraamines containing four helicenes were effectively synthesized in one-step. Reductive coupling of a (P)-helicenedi(methylamine) and a (P)-helicenedicarbaldehyde gives a cyclic (P,P,P,P)-tetramer in 88% yield. The (P,M,P,M)-diastereomer was effectively synthesized from the (M)-diamine and the (P)-dialdehyde in 66% yield. The intermediate (P,P,P,P)-imine and (P,M,P,M)-imine can be isolated also in high yields. The reductive coupling of achiral arenes, m-phenylenedi(methylamine) and m-phenylenedicarbaldehyde gives the cyclic tetramer in 47% yield, which is accompanied by the higher cyclic oligomers containing hexamer (18%) and octamer (3%). The condensed benzene ring system of the helicene appears to play an important role in the high yielding cyclic tetramerization.
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■ Synthesis of 2,4-Disubstituted Indoles via Thermal Cyclization of N-Trifluoroacetyl Enehydrazines
Okiko Miyata, Norihiko Takeda, and Takeaki Naito*
*Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Motoyamakita, Higashinada, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Synthesis of naturally occurring indoles, 2,4-dimethylindole and 4-hydroxymethyl-2-methylindole by applying thermal cyclization of N-trifluoroacetyl enehydrazines is described.
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■ Synthesis of New Friedländer Synthon and Its Application towards the Construction of Pyrido[3,2-c]acridines
Jong Keun Son, Jae Keun Son, and Yurngdong Jahng*
*College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Kyongsan 712-749, Korea
A new Friedläder synthon, 4-aminoacridine-3-carbaldehyde was prepared in 4 steps from 3-methylacridine in 38% overall yield, which was readily condensed with acetylaromatics to yield 2-arylpyrido[3,2-c]acridines.
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■ Two New C19-Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Aconitum racemulosum Franch var. Pengzhouense
Chong-Sheng Peng, Qiao-Hong Chen, Dong-Lin Chen, Xi-Xian Jian, and Feng-Peng Wang*
*Department of Chemistry of Medicinal Natural Products, West China College of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, No. 17, Duan 3, Remin Nan Road, Chengdu 610041, China
Two new C19-ditepenoid alkaloids, racemulolines A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the whole plants of Aconitum racemulosum Franch var. pengzhounense, and their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis.
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■ Synthesis of Fused Heterocyclic Ring Systems Related to 6-Amino-1,4-dihydro-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-thioxothiopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazole-7-carbonitrile
Maymona M. Kandeel, Ragaa A. Ahmed, and Mohamed Salah K. Youssef*
*Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
The title compound (1) was prepared and reacted with some reagents e.g Ac2O, HC(OC2H5)3 to give thiopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazole derivatives (2,10); PhNH2, NaOH, AcONH4/AcOH, H2NNH2.H2O to afford pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine derivatives (4,5,13,14). Also 1 reacted with CS2/CH3I, PhNCS, CCl3CN and H2NHNCSNH2 to provide the pyrazolo[3',4':4,5]thiopyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives (7,9,12) and pyrazolo[4,3-c][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivative (8). On the other hand the o-diamino compound (14) was used for building up a third heterocyclic ring [eg. triazene (15-17), triazole (18,19) and tetrazole (20)] through its interaction with some electrophilic reagents.
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■ The Reactions of Hydroiodide of 2-Amino-1-substituted Guanidine Derivatives with Aromatic Isothiocyanates
Maria Dobosz* and Monika Wujec
*Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University in Lublin, 6 Staszica Str., 20-081 Lublin, Poland
In the reaction of hydroiodide of methyl ester of S-methylthio- semicarbazide with primary amines hydroiodides of 2-amino-1-substitutedguanidine were obtained (1). These compounds were then converted to respective 3-arylamino-4-substituted Δ2-1,2,4-triazoline-5-thione and 3-benzylamino-4-substituted Δ2-1,2,4-triazoline-5-thione (2) in the reactions with isothiocyanates.
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■ An Efficient Synthesis of N-Boc-D-diphenylalanine from a Chiral Azirdine-2-carboxylate
Jae-Won Chang, Hyun-Joon Ha,* Chan Sun Park, Min Sung Kim, and Won Koo Lee*
*Department of Chemistry, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin, Kyunggi-Do, 449-791, Korea
N-Boc-D-diphenylalanine was prepared from a commercially available aziridine-2(S)-carboxylate through alkylation, regiospecific aziridine ring opening, and benzylic deoxygenation followed by oxidation in 57% overall yield.
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■ Synthesis of 1,2-Oxazines and Their N-Oxides
Petros G. Tsoungas
*Department of Research and Technology, Ministry of Development, Messogion Ave. 14-18, GR-115 10, Athens, Greece
The available routes to the synthesis of partially saturated 1,2-oxazine isomers or their N-oxides as well as those of their aromatic counterparts are presented.


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Best-selling author Rick Riordan introduces this fantasy adventure by New York Times best-selling author, Roshani Chokshi, inspired by the great epics she grew up on.
Named one of 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time by Time magazine
Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales, she'll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from her latest archeological trip. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty, traveling to Paris, and having a chauffeur?
One day, three schoolmates show up at Aru's doorstep to catch her in a lie. They don't believe her claim that the museum's Lamp of Bharata is cursed, and they dare Aru to prove it. Just a quick light, Aru thinks. Then she can get herself out of this mess and never ever fib again.
But lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction. Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and it's up to Aru to save them.
The only way to stop the demon is to find the reincarnations of the five legendary Pandava brothers, protagonists of the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata, and journey through the Kingdom of Death. But how is one girl in Spider-Man pajamas supposed to do all that?
A New York Times best-seller.
Enjoy the entire Aru Shah Pandava series
About the Author
Roshani Chokshi (www.roshanichokshi.com) is the author of the instant New York Times bestselling novel, The Star-Touched Queen, and its companion, A Crown of Wishes. She studied fairy tales in college, and she has a pet luck dragon that looks suspiciously like a Great Pyrenees dog. Aru Shah and the End of Time, her middle grade debut, was inspired by the stories her grandmother told her as well as Roshani's all-consuming love for Sailor Moon. She lives in the south and says y'all, but she doesn't really have a Southern accent. Her Twitter handle is @roshani_chokshi.

subset: commoncrawl


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Anxiety Synonyms: Disquiet, Anxiousness, Uneasiness Anxiety is the inner commotion because of the uneasy feeling that something is not right. In other…
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This post was last modified on September 16, 2018, 1:14 pm


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CALEB RIORDAN | Reporter
The Lions snatched their second win of the season in a 1-0 shutout Sunday afternoon against Missouri S&T.
Lindenwood came into the game with momentum, as it secured a strong 4-0 win over Drury at home Friday night.
There was a scoreless first half for both sides, where the scoring chances were hard to come by for Lindenwood, and the Miners were having a difficult time capitalizing on theirs. Morgan Weller had the only real chance for Lindenwood in the half, ripping a shot wide in the 21st minute. Missouri S&T's best chance came off of a huge cross from Mikaela Mockenhaupt, where there was a brief scramble in the box, and eventually ended with a shot skied over the net.
The Lions made no real threats to get on the board.
"The first half, we weren't doing the little things right," head coach Dave Musso said. "We weren't winning head balls, we weren't connecting passes. The first 10 minutes of the game we kept finding our forwards and they kept giving it away."
The Lions were outshot 6-5 in the first half, with none of their shots being on goal.
Right from the start of the second half, Lindenwood came out with an aggressive attack.
With just over five minutes off the clock in the second half, Olivia Callipari made a 20-yard run down the left side and put it past the Miners' goalie for the only goal of the game for either side.
After that, it was all about defense for the Lions.
"What we try to do is be very organized and don't let them get the easy goal or get in on us," Musso said. "They grinded today and found a way to win."
The pesky defense of the Lions gave up nothing easy to the Miners the entire game.
Lindenwood's goalkeeper Megan Swanson gets her first win of the season, while making 7 saves, with 6 coming in the second half. It was big stop after big stop for Swanson, making her final and biggest save in the final 20 seconds of the game.
"She did really well," Musso said. "We got some good goalies that are really going to help us. She was just on every ball, every breakdown, it was huge."
After a big two victory weekend, the Lions hope to carry their momentum into their 7 p.m. match against Missouri Western State at home this Friday.


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Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and Brown and Caldwell received the Award for Excellence in Innovation from the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) at the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) in Chicago.
The award recognizes the team's work to improve the flood grouting process that has allowed Seattle Public Utilities to cope with frequent wet weather sanitary sewer backups and overflows in the city's Broadview neighborhood. This project adds a new tool to the infiltration reduction toolbox.
"The flood grouting project is a successful example of applying asset management principles, through the business case process," said Bob Jacobsen, senior engineer with Brown and Caldwell. "This has been a very successful project, through both the application of a new technology to reduce backups and the use of asset management to assess the project's costs and benefits."
For SPU, the project has had significant impacts: It reduced sewage volumes by 66% and reduced peak flow rates by 41%, shaving the odds of basement backups and SSOs. Through the business case process, the project resulted in a positive net present value—all with public support.
"SPU is already putting to use the lessons learned from this project," said Andrew Lee, capital portfolio management manager for SPU. "We are considering expanding the use of flood grouting throughout the Broadview basin to cost effectively reduce infiltration and thereby reduce the frequency of sewer backups."
The project's success in large part is due to the information developed and published in previous WERF-funded projects. Those projects used included:
- • Reducing Peak Rainfall-Derived Infiltration/Inflow Rates—Case Studies and Protocol, 99-WWF-8;
- • Methods for Cost-Effective Rehabilitation of Private Lateral Sewers, 02-CTS-5;
- • Legal and Funding Issues During Private Lateral Rehabilitation, 02-CTS-5d; and
- • Documenting the Effectiveness of Greencastle, Ind.'s Private Property Inflow and Infiltration Policy, U3R06.
These WERF-funded projects helped to lay the groundwork for the SPU infiltration reduction project.
"Many jurisdictions have experience with pipes bursting, CIPP lining, joint grouting, or open trench replacement. But almost no one has experience with flood grouting," said Walter Graf, program director – infrastructure management at WERF. "This is a great example of asset management practice where the business case evaluation selects an innovative technology and the post-project analysis validates the original decision. This project yielded results that others can use and build upon to develop their own infiltration reduction programs."
This is Brown and Caldwell's second WERF award for innovation. The company also was recognized for its collaborative work on DC Water's Biosolids Program, which won the inaugural WERF award in 2011.
The Award for Excellence in Innovation recognizes organizations that have made improvements to wastewater and storm water collection, storage or treatment operations, facilities, or processes by applying WERF research. A team of WERF volunteers selected the recipients from a field of well-qualified organizations.
Source: Brown and Caldwell


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American automotive market is the second biggest in the world, after the Chinese one. In recent years market changed drastically, due to numerous oil crises that hit US. Petrol prices are influencing manufacturers to produce more small cars, and the market to become more like European one where large cars are produced only as a luxury models, while middle class drives small cars that are much more fuel efficient than the regular middle class vehicles in United States.
American market is changing very slow. Large vehicles are still on the top of best selling lists, with Ford F150 pickup truck being the best selling vehicle in America for over 25 years. Vulnerability of American car market was seen during the great 2008 economic crises, when some of the market leaders like GM and Chrysler needed to take government loan, which initiated the protest because this intervention was seen as government making an influence on the open market and financing only certain companies. Most of the people thought that Ford company, which is one of the rare big companies that was solvent during these years, will be against government loans to two of its biggest rivals. Ford Company supported the government act. This intervention made these two companies stand on their feet. GM sales increased after the loan especially with its: Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Aveo and Pontiac vibe models. On the other hand truck and SUV sales were down for more that 36% during the mentioned year. These changes influenced GM to change its strategy from its roots. Now they are thinking of selling Hummer brand as well as canceling $2 million investments that were meant for updating their full-size SUV program.
Ford Company went through this turbulent year without government intervention. They car sales increased for around 20% during 2008, but also some of the Ford divisions survived great losses due to economic crises. Biggest Ford looser was the Lincoln-Mercury brand. Also the Ford's SUV program sales decreased for 44%, while the truck program sales decreased for 29%. One of the measures Ford introduced while fighting this negative trend in vehicle sales is the introduction of some of its more fuel efficient European models to the United States.
Chrysler's sales largely decreased before the government loan, especially when it comes to SUVs, trucks and other less fuel efficient vehicles. Chrysler got a government loan from both United states and Canadian government and it is the first company that managed to pay back the loan five years early. Pay back sum was around 7,6 billion dollars. In 2014 this company signed an agreement that will end the merge between them and Fiat and foundation for the future Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Company.
Japanese companies on the American market saw much smaller decrease in sales during those turbulent years. Toyota sales were down by 21,3%, Honda's car sales up for staggering 30,7%, but with losses in sales of trucks and vehicles from Acura division. Overall sales of Nissan vehicles increased for 10,4% during the economic crises and make this company increase its share of the American market to 8,8%, biggest share it had in history.
American brands got back on their feet, few years after the crises, but Japanese car make is still on e of the most popular brands. In last few year's we can also see the increase in sales of some Korean brands like Hyundai and Subaru.
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Another delightful installment in the internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno: When a British tourist fails to turn up for a luxurious cooking vacation in the idyllic village in the south of France that Bruno Courrèges calls home, the chief of police is quickly on the case.
Monika Felder is nowhere to be found, and her husband, a retired British general, is unreachable. Not long after Bruno discovers that Monika was traveling with a mysterious Irishman with a background in intelligence, the two turn up dead. Was she running away? How much does her husband really know? Meanwhile, the star of the girls' rugby team is pregnant, jeopardizing her chances of being named to the French national squad. Bruno's search for the truth in both cases leads him in some unexpected directions—but as ever, he and his friends find time along the way to savor the culinary delights of the region.


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Embedding Building Performance Evaluation in a Medium-sized Architectural Practice: A Soft Landings Approach
Lisa Ann Pasquale1,2, Mary Hancock1, Fionn Stevenson1
1Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development: Low Carbon Building Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
2Architype LTD, London, UK
ABSTRACT: The need for in-use building performance feedback that improves design approaches and project delivery practices, is now widely acknowledged. However, integrating continuous post occupancy performance evaluation into a cost-effective project delivery process is still in its infancy. A Soft Landings method, as launched by BSRIA in 2009, is being piloted in a medium-size architectural practice in the UK, as part of an innovative Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Architype LTD and Oxford Brookes University. The project is developing an integrated method of conducting building performance evaluation that supports continuous improvement in the quality of the buildings and environments that the practice produces, as well as seeking to improve the effectiveness of the handover process. This paper describes the initial development and deployment of a bespoke set of Soft Landings tools. It discusses issues uncovered through the process in relation to a number of evaluated buildings and initial lessons learnt, the tools developed as solutions to those issues, and the additional lessons learnt around integrating the tools into the design and project delivery process.
Keywords: Building Performance Evaluation, Post-Occupancy Evaluation, Soft Landings, Quality Control, Process Improvement
Research has shown that there is a substantial gap between the design intentions and measured performance of new buildings in the UK, with some sectors producing more than twice their predicted carbon emissions [1] [2]. This gap could preclude achieving the carbon reduction milestones and timelines set forth by public policy [3], as buildings' operational energy demands account for nearly half of carbon emissions in the UK [4], and simulated performance predictions are relied upon to ensure regulatory compliance.
Building performance evaluation (BPE) has previously been defined as "the act of evaluating buildings in a systemic and rigorous manner after they have been built and occupied for some time" [5]. This current performance gap between design and reality defines a clear need for in-use feedback of building performance on shorter timelines than previous BPE methods have pursued to ensure the design, construction and project delivery methods employed are capable of meeting mandatory targets.
In practice, BPE sits between quality assurance, building management, customer service and research and development, depending on the methods employed. The lack of clarity in who benefits makes it unclear who on a project team is responsible for the cost. Several researchers have previously acknowledged the difficulty in pursuing BPE as a professional service [6], [7]. Another impediment is the lack of mandatory requirements for BPE. The process is not requisite, either through regulation or professional bodies, despite research showing both a clear need for industry-wide feedback, and a client expectation of significant aftercare, extending beyond normal contractual timelines, as a standard service from designers [8].
Until recently, BPE has mostly been an after-thought, rather than an integral part of the project delivery. Whilst BPE studies will result in recommendations for improvements, there is often little or no money or time set aside for addressing these by the design and construction team.
This paper describes the initial development, deployment and feedback relating to a bespoke set of Soft Landings tools [9] as part of a two year Knowledge Transfer Partnership between a medium-size architectural practice in the UK, Architype Ltd, and Oxford Brookes University, which aims to address these issues.
2.1. Structure
The study uniquely applies standard methods of post-occupancy investigation into the project delivery process to act as effective means to quality control the built product and aid in building handover.
Case study sites were selected for being typical for the architectural practice and studied across multiple stages of design, construction and occupation. This allowed pilot testing for integrating traditional post-occupancy evaluation methodologies and tools (Table 1) into the project delivery process to help transform them into diagnostic and quality assurance methods used during construction. This also identified the level of contractual, client, fee and contractor support required to integrate the procedures into future projects.
Table 1: Investigative methods, versus Diagnostic and Quality Assurance Feedback sought using an integrated BPE process.
|Quality Feedback
½ Hourly Demand Profiles
Heating Degree Day (HDD) Analysis [7]
Discrete Studies
Air Temp & Relative Humidity (RH) Monitoring
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)& Ventilation Rate
Occupant Survey
Daylight Study
Thermal Imaging
Air Pressure Test
Occupant Survey
Semi-Structured Interview
Photographic Walk Through
Controls Review
2.2. Case Studies
Seven key sites (a housing complex, a refurbished office building, three primary schools and two children's centres) received extensive investigation. Four secondary sites (two primary schools, one children's centre and one office) received only one or two methods of investigation due to their particular phase of completion. All buildings are naturally ventilated, with some minor cooling in server spaces. The sites vary in terms of environmental aspirations and passive and active design strategies.
2.3. Methods & Diagnostics
The study pursued minimally invasive investigation methods to reduce cost, risk, and disturbance to the end users. The methods evaluated energy use, internal environment, fabric quality and assembly, occupant responses, use and usability. The methods employed were similar for all sites, with the exception of the housing. As the research is still in progress, not all methods have yet been used on all sites.
Energy assessments utilised weekly meter logs using an online logging and analysis platform [10], which employs a standard method of heating degree-day (HDD) analysis [11], using an advanced degree day dataset for UK weather stations [12]. Half-hourly energy demand profiles were assessed, where available, for month-long occupied periods and two-week unoccupied periods in summer and winter to check for aberrant demand behaviour [13]. CIBSE TM-22's [14] will be conducted this winter, using the weekly meter logs and a standard energy walkthrough checklist [15]. Discrete quantitative studies were conducted where necessary to investigate abnormal energy behaviour.
Environmental assessments included logging internal air temperature and relative humidity across key sections of the building, at half-hourly intervals, and using local met station weather data for comparison with external conditions. A CO2 ventilation rate and in-use concentration study, based on Mumovic's method [16], is aimed at giving operational feedback to aid in managing CO2 levels. Lighting field studies are planned for winter 2011 to extract daylight profiles across key building sections.
Fabric quality was assessed on all sites with a thermal imaging survey, by imaging the interior and exterior building surfaces pre-dawn on mid-winter mornings, sometimes with the contractor present. The housing site will undergo additional testing in winter 2011, including a tracer gas concentration decay analysis and empirical U-value analysis by logging the heat flux through key assemblies.
A series of studies assessed usability. Photographic walk-through surveys documented usage that varied from design intentions, end-user controls, health and safety, ergonomic and accessibility issues. Occupant surveys included a cartoon-based thermal comfort, acoustic and lighting survey for pupils, after Woolard [17], to plot comfort profiles during a week in the first occupied summer and winter, and a bespoke 7-point control, comfort and use survey for adults after the completion of two complete, occupied heating seasons. Discussions and semi-structured interviews are ongoing with premises managers to assess the buildings' manageability. A short, formal management and maintenance survey is under development for buildings beyond their defects period. The housing study will also employ a unique occupant behaviour analysis [18].
Additionally, a Soft Landings 'residency' [9] was trialled to assess issues surrounding handover, and initial occupation to develop methods for improving that portion of the building delivery process. This involved visiting one study building, half-day a week, for the initial 6 weeks following occupation, and informally visiting others, several times during the first year. The site visits involved photographic walk-throughs, semi-structured discussions with the site managers and school heads, and informal discussions with the teachers and other adults.
3. Construction Phase
3.1. Issues
A number of construction defects, which had not otherwise been apparent, were found via thermal imaging in several sites, and corrected where possible. In one Children's Centre severe infiltration was found on a courtyard-facing wall. The live camera image was shown to the contractor and further investigation immediately agreed with the project architect. The contractor found two defects, including a lack of sealing around the doors and windows, and a hole through the wall where electrical wiring was run outside, and not sealed before finishing the wall (Fig. 1). The contractor addressed the issue within 2 weeks of the survey visit, demonstrating the impact of using thermal imagery during the construction phase.
Figure 1: Infiltration at the base of an exterior wall with wood clapboard interior finish.
Other issues identified included areas where insulation had been removed and poorly re-installed by services trades (addressing construction quality), as well as examples of thermal bridging due to detailing and choice of material and fenestration strategy (providing design feedback).
3.2. Resolutions
The thermal imaging process was adapted into a standard specification that requires imaging the building during the first winter it has a completed thermal envelope, which has been included in contract documents on new projects.
Additionally, through interviews with the design teams it was identified that air tightness targets were not always achieved. While this research project did not have funding to field test air tightness, it supported an improved specification for multiple air pressure tests during the construction phase, to accommodate corrections during the construction process. Both specifications were incorporated into the tender documentation for a number of projects, and the contractors accepted the specifications without note.
4. Pre-handover Phase
Pre-handover was not observed due to the time-intensity of the commissioning process; conclusions for improvement were inferred from the initial occupation period, by identifying where pre-emptive support could have mitigated issues that surfaced during the residency.
4.1. Issues
A major issue noted was the lack of planning for the move-in and the induction of end users. While senior users went through training and induction with the contractor, as per the commissioning requirements, there was no plan in place to pass that knowledge down to non-technical end users. They found the new building immediately confusing and went for several days without simple things such as keys to open windows, or training in how to operate basic systems.
4.2. Resolutions
This has triggered the assembly of guidelines for the building handover, which prompt building management in the pre-handover phase with issues they need to plan for to get the building up and running efficiently during and after the move. Larger commercial clients may use move management consultants, however these are not common for smaller occupancies like schools.
Also, a simple non-technical end-user guide will be assembled, over and above compulsory technical guidance, using pre-handover photos of building controls with a few simple pages of guidelines to explain key control and energy-saving features to end users.
5. handover and initial occupation
5.1. Issues
Several site visits revealed evidence that end users were unprepared for typical teething issues that would be expected from any new building, and how they can be resolved. As examples, users twice mistook settling cracks for indications that a wall was structurally unsound, and others thought that having to pull doors closed, as the acoustic door seals had not yet broken in, was a permanent defect.
Few sites had any self-initiated energy management strategies, and those that existed were more related to energy reporting than management and lacked any effective analysis or communication strategies that empowered end users to reduce consumption.
The residency period was not incorporated in the contract documents of the study building as it was under construction before this research project began. The lack of early phase preparation and contract coverage for the residency highlighted the need for full contractor support and contractual mechanisms that ensure "client-facing" defects are resolved quickly. When issues were not resolved quickly, users became sceptical of the resident's effectiveness and value.
5.2. Resolutions
A plain language "Welcome Letter" now explains common first-year teething issues, explains whom end users should contact, and what simple actions might be taken to resolve them. The intent is to manage users expectations, keep them informed of their environment, and aid them in taking ownership and control of the building.
Arranging student councils to take charge of the schools' energy management has prevented the overburdening of site managers and deployed several dozen enthusiastic energy managers in each building. The researcher spent a full day with each of two student councils, teaching them about energy in buildings and conducting demonstrations with a plug-meter. A pair of pupils took charge of each sub-metering zone, developing strategies for reducing energy use in their zone, and designing energy-saving posters to mount around the school. The councils' weekly responsibility is to input, monitor and reduce energy use in their zones, using the meter-logging website [10]. Three schools were very receptive to this method of energy management, one ignored the initiative, and one outright rejected it. To support its adoption on future projects, this method is now presented as an option in design consultation, to ensure energy management strategies are designed in concert with the metering equipment and sub-meting strategies.
A newsletter was circulated during the fourth week of the residency, listing the issues raised by users and explaining their current status. Users appreciated being kept informed even when issues were not resolved straight away, which is similar to other research findings [19]. In addition to gaining contractor support in early project stages, and contract conditions that specify response times for resolving certain types of defects, a bi-weekly newsletter will be part of the evolving method.
6. First year of occupation
6.1. Issues
As part of the assessments, a graphic comfort survey was conducted of the pupils in 2-3 classes in four schools. The format was a "raise of hands" 7-point thermal, visual and acoustic comfort survey, which were to be conducted twice daily for a week. The survey was successfully pilot-tested in each school before its distribution, however only one set out of 11 was returned complete. Teachers gave various reasons for not completing them such as swapping classrooms, teacher illness, school inspections, and in the case of younger children, the survey caused too much distraction and took too much time away from lessons. Due to the poor result, this has been dropped from the overall assessment strategy.
Several buildings were handed over with environmental control issues, as these are generally too minor to withhold Practical Completion. At handover in one school, a box of unlabelled remote controls intended to operate various roof vents was left with the site manager who could not match the remotes to the specific vents. This left the stack ventilation effectively disabled. In another building, occupants felt that clerestory windows, controlled by the building management system (BMS) was a nuisance and did not provide enough air. They disabled automated vents and opened manual windows and exterior doors to compensate.
There was a lack of simple building guidance to give controls technicians an overview of the building strategy before making adjustments. Seasonal commissioning was done without comprehensive historical performance data, and separate sub-contractors servicing different control systems, meaning adjustments were made myopically, with limited understanding of the effect that adjusting one system might have on another. Proprietary control technology, which log energy and environmental data, inhibit independent verifying and quality assuring control settings; meaning, controls sub-contractors effectively quality-assure themselves. Independent temperature logging and utility demand profiling revealed correctable, out of hours heating and electrical equipment operation.
These are all common findings in post-occupancy evaluations [20] but identifying them within the confines of an active contract should provide an opportunity to make corrections.
6.2. Resolutions
With regard to commissioning ventilation devices, a one-day indoor air quality study assessed CO2 concentrations, in-use ventilation rates and strategy capacity. This enabled corrective action on both schools, as a construction defect, and an operational change, respectably. The procedure goes well beyond standard seasonal commissioning and can effectively marry occupant expectations with system operations.
A suite of spot-check procedures have been developed to ensure that the basis for any corrective adjustments is a cohesive, complete picture of the building's performance, to ensure the building is or can work towards operating within agreed tolerances. To date, the suite includes an independent TM-22 assessment [14] in advance of the 6-month seasonal commissioning session, temperature logging in key spaces, indoor air quality assessments, discussions with occupants, and the analysis of half-hourly utility demand profiles. Further resolutions and specific findings will be published as the project develops.
7. year two and beyond
For buildings that have been occupied more than 2 years, a leaner study is recommended, employing only meter logging, which is now set up for all new buildings, a management and maintenance survey, an occupant survey, a photographic walk-through, and discrete studies, where particular assemblies or strategies are of interest.
As part of the study, however, older buildings underwent more intense studies to gather a broader range of feedback and understand the advantages and disadvantages of revisiting buildings after a standard handover process and several years of use.
7.1. Issues
Discussions with occupants in one revisited site revealed lingering dissatisfaction with issues relating to the initial build and handover, which had occurred more than three years earlier for which various team members could have held or shared responsibility. Occupants' entrenched opinions about the building made them less receptive to recommendations to improve performance, as they felt issues had been left unresolved too long, creating difficulty in cooperatively implementing solutions.
Concerns emerged that building managers may have perceived an architect-appointed post-occupancy researcher as an 'admission of guilt' for aspects of the building they felt were unsatisfactory, which triggered a duty to notify insurers of a potential claim. While this particular situation did not result in an insurance claim, it highlighted that any increase in notifications to insurers will result in higher premiums to cover the additional risk to the provider, putting individual firms within the design team at financial risk from BPE studies aimed at improving the building performance, even when no claim results.
7.2. Resolutions
Rectifiable quality issues must be addressed before the design and construction team has disbanded. In the short term, this means integrating quality control specifications into contracts to ensure the level of performance that was specified is achievable with the building that is handed over, to seek concessions where necessary and ensure that shortfalls in performance are understood by the entire team.
8. PROCESS improvementS
The process has pointed to several infrastructural changes to project delivery. These would allow BPE activities to be taken up as standard practice in a way that manages risk and ensures that quality issues are addressed by the whole team.
8.1. Integrated Teams
The project is investigating integrated or "partnering" teams [26] to control the risk, cost and team support issues with integrating BPE and long-term quality assurance in project delivery. Integrated teams focus efforts on delivering a fit-for-purpose product. The pain/gain share scheme takes account of performance issues to ensure that quality assurance is conducted by pre-agreed means and methods and measured against project performance targets. This way, no one member of the design team is taking an independent or disproportionate risk for evaluation activities.
8.2. Staged Handover
The standard retention during the defects period for UK contracts is 1.5 – 2.5% of contract value [21], [22]. This relatively modest sum does not necessarily encourage prompt resolution of defect, controls issues, or providing support to help the building become self-sufficient, placing a heavy reliance on the contractors approach to customer service to ensure a smooth handover.
Adding a Technical & Verified Handover stage, beyond the currently defined stage, with increased retentions for both, could provide financial justification and defined timelines for conducting quality checks and operational adjustments. This would require a fundamental change in standard building contracts in the UK.
8.3. Policy guidance and Dissemination
Current UK building regulations require declaring specific energy performance targets, without accounting for unregulated loads, using accredited software with proven inconsistencies [23]. In order for the industry to comfortably adopt a process of integrated quality assurance and joint responsibility for performance, targets would need to include tolerances based on in-use data compared with simulated predictions. Defining realistic performance tolerances relies on matching predictive simulation with both short and long term performance evaluation. The lack of requisite BPE activities in the UK building regulations and its position as a voluntary requirement within professional bodies such as CIBSE and RIBA, inhibit affecting positive change in the quality of the built environment.
9. Internal dissemination
The project's success relies on setting up suitable internal dissemination processes that embeds the lessons learned back into the practice effectively, and number of these have already been developed.
9.1. Knowledge sharing website
Lessons learned from BPE are now uploaded to an internal knowledge-sharing website. Constructed from the MediaWiki framework [24], the locally deployed, open source platform is highly flexible; third-party plug-ins can extend functionality, an existing global network can offer technical support, and the PHP-language allows bespoke development.
To share a lesson, the users complete a standardised form, similar to a customer profile on an e-commerce site. User permissions restrict editing abilities to prevent accidental deletion, and article "talk" pages provide a venue for casual discussion or disagreement. The current design aims to reduce maintenance by structuring the input logic to self-organize data, but some regular maintenance is required on master pages.
9.2. Continuing professional development
The project initiated a series of internal, single-issue lectures using examples from the BPE studies to illustrate the problems. Single-issue lectures facilitate in-depth discussions and problem solving by illustrating how the same issue occurred in different circumstances, facilitating the analysis of contributing factors, and using redundancy to emphasise the importance of taking corrective action.
As BPE and Soft Landings are both methods of quality controlling the built environment, these efforts are now part of Architype's ISO9001 Quality Management System [25], which requires periodic reviews of quality issues. The reviews link to maintaining the knowledge-sharing site, ensuring that information in the database remains relevant to current practice.
10. Conclusions
BPE and advanced handovers are essential to progress the UK construction industry's quality output and ultimately reduce the carbon impact of the built environment. These efforts are achievable within current practice, but they require substantial team commitments to quality. Project teams need to agree succinct plans from early project stages to capture and apply lessons learned, ensure team support, plan for the time and cost of BPE activities, and manage risk. Improvements in contractual, regulatory and professional support for BPE could ensure quality improvements in British construction by reducing industry-wide risks, providing contractual mechanisms for assessment, and mandating certain BPE methods.
The Technology Strategy Board and Architype fund this research. The authors acknowledge help from Bill Bordass, Adrian Leaman, Zack Gill, David Smart, and the Architects at Architype.
[1] Pegg, I., 2007. Assessing the role of post-occupancy evaluation in the design environment – a case study approach. EngD. Brunel University.
[2] CarbonBuzz an RIBA CIBSE Platform www.carbonbuzz.org, Acc'd: Nov. 8, 2010.
[3] Climate Change Act 2008, (c.27), London:HMSO.
[4] Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs, 2005. Securing the Future: Delivering UK Sustainable Development Strategy. London:HMSO.
[5] Preiser, W, and Vischer, J. eds. 2005. Assessing Building Performance. Oxford:Elsevier.
[6] Stevenson, F., 2009. Post-occupancy Evaluation and Sustainability: A Review, Proc. Institution of Civil Engineers Urban Design and Planning 162 Sept. Issue DP3 pp.123–130.
[7] Bordass, B., and Leaman, A., 2004. PROBE: how it happened, what it found and did it get us anywhere? Proc. The Windsor Conference: Closing the Loop: Post Occupancy Evaluation – The Next Steps, Windsor.
[8] The Usable Buildings Trust. Soft Landings for Schools Phase 1 Final Report on Cast Studies March 2010.
[9] BSRIA, 2009. Soft Landings Framework
[10] Oxford University Environmental Change Institute, SMEasure beta www.smeasure.org.uk,
[11] The Carbon Trust, 2006. GPG310 v3 -Degree days for energy management — a practical introduction.
[12] Layberry, R., 2008. Degree days for building energy management-presentation of a new data set. Building Services Engineering Research & Technology, 29(å3), pp.273-282.
[13] Wright, A., Brown, N., 2008. The analysis and interpretation of half hourly utility data in UK buildings. Proc. Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings Conf., Building Performance Congress, Frankfurt.
[14] CIBSE, 2006. Energy assessment and reporting method TM22:2006. CIBSE
[15] The Carbon Trust, 2004. GPG057 v3 – Conducting an Energy Walk-round of a School.
[16] Mumovic, D., Davies, M., Ridley, I., Altamirano-medina, H., Oreszczyn, T., 2009. A Methodology for Post-occupancy Evaluation of Ventilation Rates in Schools. Building Service Eng. Research and Tech. 30(2), 143-152.
[17] Woolard, D., 1981. The graphic scale of thermal sensation. Arch.Sc.Rev. 24(4), pp.90-93.
[18] Gill, Z., Tierney, M., Michael, J., Pegg I., and Allan N., 2010. Low-energy dwellings: the contribution of behaviours to actual performance, Building Research & Information, 38(5), pp.491-508.
[19] Leaman, A., 2001. What Occupants Want, Ch. 6 of Davis Langdon and Everest Institute of Directors Guide, Buildings that Work for Your Business
[20] The Probe Team. Probe Review Final Report 4. Strategic Conclusions. Building Use Studies, August 1999.
[21] The Joint Contracts Tribunal Ltd. 2009. Standard Building Contract With Quantities, Rev. 2, Thomson Reuters Ltd 4-20, pp.59.
[22] The Joint Contracts Tribunal Ltd. 2005. Minor Works Building Contract, Thomson Reuters Ltd. 4-5, pp.5
[23] Raslan, R., & Davies, M., 2009. Results Variability in Accredited Building Energy Performance Compliance Demonstration Software in the UK: an Inter-model Comparative Study. Journal of Building Performance Simulation. 3(3), pp 63-85.
[24] Wikimedia Foundation, www.mediawiki.org
[25] International Standards Office, 2008. ISO 9001 – Quality management systems – Requirements Electronic documents. Geneva: ISO.
[26] Department of Trade and Industry, Construction Task Force, 1998. Rethinking Construction. London:HMSO.


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Earl Griffin, Contributor
Activist Post
The holidays are winding down. Soon the New Year will have come and gone.
You are a responsible, lawful, and law abiding gun owner.
As the year winds down and the President's second term is about to begin you are perhaps feeling anxious. You know all too well that President Obama, and his henchmen – the Democrats in Congress and the Mainstream Media want to disarm you. For most of his first term they waited patiently, knowing he would lose his re-election if he made a move to early.
Now though things are different.
Now the Left want your guns.
They've always wanted your guns.
However now even people like Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News, appear to have joined the gun grabbers.
Who can you trust if both the left and the right want to curtail your liberty?
2013 looms a few days away. You can bet that there will be a massive push to get your guns. What will you do? Will you cower in your bunker or fortress until they really do pry them from your cold dead hands?
Or will you start speaking out – now?
What are you doing to push back against those who, even as I write this, are actively organizing to disarm you?
Being a patriot is all well and good. Being a prepared patriot is even better. Being a patriot who plans for the worst but hopes and works for the best, is best of all!
Are you bragging to your friends about the terrible things you will do to anyone foolish enough to come after what's yours, or are you actually doing something worthwhile?
Do your elected officials know where you stand on the right to bear arms? Have you made donations to put your money where your mouth is? Money talks – don't doubt it. You can be angry about the corruption of money and politics all you want but it doesn't change the facts – money talks. What are you doing with yours? Start making strategic political contributions and you may be startled by just how closely your elected officials will listen to you.
Are you giving financial support to lobbying organizations who represent your values to Congress? Giving money is a great way to support them. Volunteering is another great way to help out. Time and money are required to make things happen. If you have one but not the other then give what you have. If you have both time and money by all means give both!
Are you talking to your friends, family, and associates about the importance of the 2nd Amendment, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution? Do they understand that the 2nd Amendment is the guarantor of the Bill of Rights?
Not everyone is necessarily eloquent. May I suggest that talk of "when they pry them from my cold dead fingers," is wonderfully symbolic, but is not necessarily the best argument for convincing those who are willing to be convinced but not quite as committed as you are? Most people need less symbolic emotion when being convinced and more real persuasion.
How do you sound when you talk to others about the right to bear arms? Do you sound angry? How are you being perceived by those around you? When you get wound up and you are feeling particularly patriotic, what are people seeing and hearing? Do you have a gift? Are you able to inspire with your words? Or are you like most people; doing your best, but doing it clumsily?
Slow down, smile, laugh – with people not at them. Be gracious, even to those with whom you disagree.
Be patient in your efforts to educate.
Look at it this way – if you want to bring people over to your side of an argument it is usually more effective to smile, laugh and include, than it is to frown, bluster, and threaten. I'm not talking about the vitriolic gun grabbers. I am talking about those among us who are undecided on the issues we hold dear.
I have found that inviting to the range those who are curious can be a great tool in convincing the uninitiated. Treating shooting like any other wholesome outing for family and friends is a good way to win others over.
Look for those who demonstrate some interest in firearms or shooting and engage them in light conversation. You may be surprised where that conversation leads.
Do you like bumper stickers? Maybe you have some on your vehicle. Are they the "Keep honking I'm reloading," kind or are they the "Proud parent of a sharpshooter," kind?
Think about it.
Lawful, law abiding firearms enthusiasts are faced with opposition that is well funded, organized, and committed. They have the support of the media. They have the support of the White House. We have to work harder than ever before if we are to stand firm in the face of those who want to roll back liberty and impose tyranny.
What do we have?
We have guns for one. Never doubt the power of that. America was founded on the right of the individual to bear arms – not for hunting but to protect the individual from the tyranny of government.
May I suggest though that we have better weapons than guns for the purpose of protecting the 2nd Amendment?
1. Money – start buying influence with your elected officials. I am not interested in debating about the corruption of the political system – I know all too well that it is disgustingly corrupt. This is the system we have. Work it!
2. Influence – Buying influence is well and good, but the influence you have with those you know is even more valuable. Reach out to family, friends, and associates and help them develop an interest in shooting as a wholesome sport.
3. Lobbying – support your 2nd Amendment lobby of choice with both money and your time.
4. Can you write? If so start writing. Can you speak? Start speaking. Perhaps you can't write or speak but you can support those who can and do.
5. Become a 2nd Amendment activist. Engage in peaceful protest. Write, call, and email your national, state, and local officials. May I suggest that your local sheriff is particularly important? Did you know that the sheriff is an elected official? Not everyone – especially those who live in cities may realize this. Your local sheriff can be a tyrant, or can be very important in helping to protect your rights. Having the right sheriff in place is critically important.
6. Tip O'Neil said, "All politics is local." He was right! Are you engaged in your local politics? Who is your County Judge, who are the County Commissioners? Do your local leaders support your right to bear arms? Are you working to see that you have local officials in place who support your rights?
7. Do you participate with any local civic organizations? Do they know how important the 2nd Amendment is to you?
8. This is important – are you working with this generation of young people? My dad took me hunting. He taught me to shoot. He taught me to care for my firearms. He taught me to respect the power they hold. He taught me to value life. I didn't learn these things from a video game console – I learned them from my dad, my mom, and my grandparents. They spent time with me. They played with me. They worked beside me. They taught me. Who are you teaching? What are you teaching them?
We live in troubling times.
You are a responsible, lawful, and law abiding gun owner. What are you doing to ensure that you remain so?
Please share you comments below.
This article first appeared at Barking Window
Earl Griffin's site Barking Window presents news that affects us all. Real news. Real issues. You'll like some of the sources. You'll hate others. You'll probably feel the same about the articles. But it's all here for a reason – to inform. You won't find partisanship here. You will find news that defies the right/left paradigm. You will find articles critical of government and industry. More still, you will find news here that rails against tyranny – in all its ugly guises. Make Barking Window part of your day, everyday.
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One aspect of gardening that never ceases to enthral me is that we can take a piece of a plant, stick it in a pot and it will (sometimes) grow into a new plant. This enables us to produce lots of plants for free for our own gardens and to give away, and allows the delight of exchanging cuttings with other keen gardeners, which can be propagated into treasured plants for our gardens.
My own propagating methods are pretty hit and miss, so when I recently had the opportunity to attend a hands-on demonstration of taking cuttings, run by nurserywoman extraordinaire Nancy Shaw, I was very excited. Some readers may have seen Nancy's excellent plant stalls at the quarterly Cottage Garden Club meetings held in Epping, NSW.
Nancy's methods are so much more professional than my own! For one thing, she sharpens her secateurs regularly to make a clean cut when taking the cuttings, and dips the secateurs into a diluted solution of bleach between every set of cuttings, to avoid the transmission of diseases between the batches.
Nancy's preferred propagation mixture is coarse river sand; another propagation mixture is one part of this type of sand, one part perlite and half a part cocopeat. At the workshop, we tried both types of mix (pictured at left). The propagating mixture was placed in pots or trays, tamped down and saturated well, then drained before putting the cuttings in - something I would never have thought to do, as I would usually slop some water in after I had stuck the cuttings in (often knocking them sideways in the process); pre-wetting the mix makes it easier to insert the cuttings properly.
Cuttings are best taken early in the day, put straight into water and potted up as soon as possible. Nancy's preferred length of cuttings is around 8 to 10 cm, cutting just below a node at the bottom of the cutting. It is apparently ideal to use the tip of the cutting, preferably with no flowers or buds; if these are present, however, they should be removed. If there isn't a tip, it's best to trim the top of the cutting just above a node. The stem can be scraped a bit at the base. Remove most of the leaves, leaving just a small amount of foliage at the top of the cutting. If remaining leaves are large, these can be cut in half. These cuttings are much smaller than I would normally use and so this too was quite a revelation.
Each cutting was dipped in hormone gel/powder. A small amount of the hormone gel or powder was placed little bowl to use for a propagation session, to avoid contaminating the whole jar. (When using hormone products, disposable gloves should be worn.) Honey can be used as a substitute for hormone gel. Then we made a hole for each cutting in the propagating mix, using a stick. We then inserted the cutting no more than 2 cm deep and firmed the mixture around the cutting. Many cuttings were put into the one pot (the pots used were about 10 cm in diameter).
We were encouraged to label all cuttings! How quickly one forgets what it is one has potted up, despite the best intentions to remember! Nancy suggested that a 6B pencil is excellent for writing on plastic plant labels; the writing of so many other pens and textas does fade over time. We sprayed our cuttings with water that had a little Seasol added.
The pot was then covered with a cut-off drink bottle (with its base removed) or a plastic bag supported by stakes, or placed in a large ziplock bag. I've always put my potted cuttings into a clear-plastic box with a lid, but giving them individual coverings does mean that the essential humidity around the cuttings is maintained and loss of water from the foliage is reduced. The cuttings were later placed in a warm position with bright light in our gardens at home -- but not in direct sun. Aftercare required that the cuttings be sprayed regularly with the Seasol water to keep the leaves from wilting whilst roots developed. The propagating mixture was to be kept damp but not too wet.
We were instructed to check the plants regularly for signs of rooting having occurred (by tugging the cuttings or looking underneath the pot for roots). At this time of year, roots should form in a few weeks. At this point, the method is to progressively introduce more air to the cuttings by splitting the plastic bag, raising the cut-off bottle or opening up the ziplock bag. To remove the rooted cuttings from the pot, use a knife to lever them out and trying to leave some of the propagating mix around the roots. Repot the rooted cuttings into a small individual pots, using good-quality potting mix. Keep them in a shaded, sheltered spot at first. They can later gradually be exposed to more sun, and later repotted into a larger container.
I looked at the Martin-Smith website and was excited to see Oxalis Triangularis, Butterfly Oxalis. I first saw this plant in Vientiane 5 years ago, where it comes in many different leaf patterns. Almost the first thing I did when I came home was to search for a plant. Bought 2 by mail order from different sides of the country, but they"re the same leaf pattern. Although listed as Indoor, I grow mine in a large pot outside. Beautiful, beautiful little gem.
It is always interesting to see the methods others use to propagate. I like to use a vermiculite/potting mix for my cuttings. I wet the material with a seaweed solution, and, using a small stick, place the 9cm or so cuttings, with two nodes buried, around the perimeter of the pot.I don"t cover my pots, but place them outside, in a protected area. Success rate is usually 98% Cleanliness is important - I use meth. spirits to clean my secateurs. Thanks for your tips and what wonderful success you have! Deirdre
Thank you Deirdre for your comprehensive, well written article on propagation. I attended that workshop but it is great to actually have a copy in print of the processes Nancy went through showing us the correct way to take cuttings to achieve a good success rate. What an exciting part of gardening propagation is, the possibility of "free" plants is amazing. My great joy is propagating plants and giving them to friends as gifts. So happy to have a copy of this for future references. Great work! Wasn"t it a great day at the workshop! It is so rewarding to be able to create new plants and give them to others to enjoy. Deirdre
Hi this is Trish, it was so interesting to read your article on propagating I sort of do it this way but the pencil & the Seasol I will now use as I have cuttings I have no idea of what they are because even the permanent markers are not that permanent, thank you for the tips, regards Trish Thanks, Trish; I think we all have some of those mystery cuttings! For me it is usually because I forget to even make a label in the first place! Deirdre
Loved this post, someone made the comment the other day that gardeners are the most generous of all people because have you ever met a gardener that didn"t want to share their plants and knowledge? An essential skill for all politicians should be green thumbs rather than fancy words. Use the remainder of the bottles for markers instead of throwing out by cutting into strips with a pointed end, using a texta pen to identify the cutting makes further good use of the plastic. Thanks for these great tip, Brian. Deirdre
Having yesterday been unable to read the labels on some random Salvia seedlings I dug up last Autumn I"m off to find some 6B pencils. Thanks Deirdre and Nancy. Fab! Deirdre
Thanks for the great cuttings article. I do one more thing with my cuttings and i have reasonable success. For the first two week I stand the pot with its mix and cover in a container of water. Cuttings always send out lots of roots in water and this way they get the water but put their roots into the mix. When 2 weeks have passed I remove most of the water and let the mix air. I lift the pot regularly to drain and get air to the soil. Cheers Thanks, Zenda, this is an interesting method. Will try. Deirdre
I went to a garden once and saw an old bathtub in a shady spot half filled with river sand, and absolutely packed with cuttings. That"s serious propagation for a home gardener! What a wonderful sight! Deirdre
Thanks or sharing Nancy"s workshop tips and tricks-there"s always something to temp me on her stall at the CGC Epping meetings. Great comments from other members especially Brian. Yes I have really enjoyed reading all the comments! Deirdre
Fascinating - what amazing people - what a treasure trove the plant sale must be - certainly hope I can get there! What a fabulous website. Am very grateful for the advice on cuttings - apparently there is nothing Seasol can"t help! The worm farms sound fabulous! I used to bury all my vege peelings straight into the garden to improve my very poor soil but I am worried it will attract rats??? Thank you Deirdre for the all this wonderful information. Kind regards Joan Thanks, Joan. Hope you can go to the huge plant sale - it is always a great event. Deirdre
Thanks for great article Diedre! I have mixed success. Am a bit lazy about sharpening secateurs. & while I do clean them between pruning shrubs have never thought to clean between batches of cuttings. Also dont use seasol, so that"s a good tip and will be trying Zenda"s advice re standing pot in water for the first fortnight. Would be good when propagating in mid summer. Usually do some research as timing of taking cuttings can make a big difference. Yes I am keen to try all the tips that have been mentioned in the comments! Deirdre
Could anyone tell me if cyclamen bulbs can be used next year after dying down. Bulbs are still firm.
Fabulous summer foliage
03 Dec 23
Summer colour does not have to be all about flowers.
November pruning and snipping
26 Nov 23
We can do a lot of trimming this month!
The reappearance of Lizzie
19 Nov 23
Busy Lizzies seem to be back!
November bulbs
12 Nov 23
There are some interesting and unusual bulbs that flower this month.
Thank you, Brazil!
05 Nov 23
Many of the plants that thrive in Sydney come from Brazil.


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Altamira has started to offer its big data fusion, analysis and visualization platform on the Microsoft Azure marketplace as part of efforts to help customers transform information into actionable intelligence.
Altamira said Tuesday the integration of its Lumify platform with Azure services seeks to accelerate deep learning and data analytics in real time.
Lumify is designed to help users evaluate complex connections and relationships between data using various analytic strategies that involve graph visualizations, full-text faceted search, dynamic histograms, interactive geospatial views and collaborative workspaces.
Jonathan Moneymaker, an executive vice president and chief strategy officer of Altamira, said Azure's compliance coverage will work to help Lumify customers manage security and privacy of mission-critical data.
Azure also offers cognitive application programming interfaces, bots, machine learning and blockchain as a service and Cortana intelligence tools for users of Altamira's big data platform.


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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #UBKForMe #CollectiveBias
Hi there, friend! I'm so glad you're here today. I've got a question for you. Are you ready?
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There's nothing quite like that unexpected surprise. You're having a fine day and then WHAM! There it is. No warning, no nothin'! And those are your favorite panties, right?! Happens to the best of us, I promise.
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But, don't worry! There's a way you can avoid that awkward situation! I've got exactly what you need: A period preparedness car kit.
Here's what this kit can do for you:
- Enjoy your vacations, your shopping trips, your lunch dates or date night, your beach trips, and your girls' nights out, even if your period interrupts you.
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- Never have to beg your girlfriends (or a stranger!) for feminine hygiene products again! You might even become the go-to hero among your girlfriends.
Do you want that confidence? Click that yellow next arrow to keep reading and I'll tell you exactly what you need to do to stay confident and comfortable, no matter when your period strikes. And how U by Kotex® can help.
On the next page you'll get the full supply list and directions on putting your Period Preparedness Car Kit ready to go.


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It was my first time meeting Heather and Andrew and I honestly felt like I had known them for years as I hopped out of the car! These two are one of the happiest couples I've ever photographed and that made my job so much fun! They rocked all the poses I gave them and were so energetic and excited the whole shoot, despite the freezing weather and incredibly high winds! We walked all over this beautiful property on the parkway and surprisingly, there were still a few leaves on the trees!! Then we went up to Raven's Roost towards the end where we almost blew off the mountain but again, they were so patient with me as I was determined to get a few good shots!
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Heather + Andrew | Lyndhurst, Virginia Engagement Photographer
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Integration as Composition
I'm puzzling over the design for a worker and would appreciate your comments on it. I started with the pain of an ugly test, made an interesting refactoring, and decided to drop the test entirely, but I'm not at all sure this is the right decision.
In my mailing list archive Chibrary, I want to sum up the number of threads and messages in a month to present on archive pages. The
MonthCountWorker takes a
Sym, a unique identifier for a list's slug + year + month, fetchs the threads for that month, sums them, and stores the sum. The code is trivial, right?:
class MonthCountWorker include Sidekiq::Worker
def perform serialized_sym sym = SymRepo.deserialize serialized_sym month = ThreadRepo.month sym mc = MonthCount.from month MonthCountRepo.new(mc).store end end
But the test I started writing is awful! The
SymRepo.deserialize and
MonthCount.from calls are pure queries that work in-memory. Following Metz's excellent guidelines I want to write tests to check their return values.
ThreadRepo.month is a nullipotent query that hits the database, so I'd like to stub it out. And finally
MonthCountRepo is a command to store the result; I want to set an expectation that it happened.
Imagine writing tests for this. Everything has to stub out the database query, and to confirm that
month, and
mc have the right values I'd have to set expectations on the next thing in line. I don't truly want an expectation, but this procedural code has no seams to get at the values flowing through it. There are no boundaries.
I decided to introduce method boundaries and suddenly
perform looks like functional composition (and Mike Busch mentioned it reminds him of literate programming):
class MonthCountWorker include Sidekiq::Worker
def perform serialized_sym store monthcount of_month identified_as serialized_sym end
def identified_as serialized_sym SymRepo.deserialize serialized_sym end
def of_month sym ThreadRepo.month(sym) end
def monthcount month MonthCount.from month end
def store mc MonthCountRepo.new(mc).store end end
Yes, that's valid Ruby, I checked. The fact that it was such unfamiliar style I had to check tells me I'm either doing something awful or something awesome.
After reflecting on it a moment, I recognize it as function composition, though Ruby doesn't have first-class support for it.
And now all the little pieces are isolated. The
perform method is pure, pointfree composition; I don't know if I'd test it at all. The individual methods can be easily tested with whatever technique is appropriate.
What tests are appropriate, though? All these methods are already covered over in the unit tests for each class; any test would be redundant, wasted effort.
The only new code here is the composition. This is high-level integration; the only appropriate test would be an integration test that runs against a prepopulated database and queries that the right results are stored back to it.
Or I could take the route Bernhardt mentions in his Boundaries talk and not bother testing it at all. There's only one way these parts can be composed (not that Ruby has the compile-time type checking to enforce it...), and there really isn't much value in a test that I would never expect to fail. I want tests to return the investment of time I put into writing and maintaining them. This composition is unlikely to fail, can only cause cosmetic issues, and would be straightforward to debug because it has many seams and no conditionals.
Ultimately my answer to testing this was to rewrite it to a compositional style and not bother testing it. If I get breaks and spend more than a minute or two fixing it in the next few months, I'll know I chose the wrong answer. What's your answer?


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This contemporary acrylic box creates a sophisticated Wishing Well that will complement any colour theme.
This acrylic box features a removable lid with mail slot – note that it is not lockable.
Dimensions: 32x32x32cmH
NOTE: Due the fragile nature of the wishing well it cannot be couriered. It is a pick up only item


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Stem cell transplantation study for the treatment of ALS – Phase 2
The phase 2 trial focused on the safety and maximum tolerated dose of Human Spinal Cord Derived Neural Stem Cell Transplantation. This study expanded on the work of the phase 1 study directed by Eva L. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., who is the principal investigator and director of the first-ever FDA-approved human clinical trial of stem cells injected directly into the spinal cords of ALS patients.
Phase 1 of the trial, designed to study the safety of the procedure, was completed in 2013 with no significant adverse side effects to patients. Phase 2 included 15 additional participants, the last 3 of which received 8 million stem cells injected into the lumbar spinal cord followed by 8 million stem cells injected into the cervical spinal cord. Data from these studies suggest that the procedure is safe for persons with ALS (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29928656). We do not currently have an enrolling stem cell trial.
Future trials
Information regarding future trials is anticipated to be announced by Neuralstem (https://www.neuralstem.com/).