Un détail de ce qui change: Function of a Function

Why should computation be leading to a bifurcation in architectural detailing, resulting in a simultaneous, and opposing, tendency towards either greater precision in fabrication or increasing plasticity? Architectural designer and theorist Peter Macapia asks what is driving these propensities in computation, and what in turn historically might be the relation between the detail and force. What comes into play now, though, when architectural style is no longer identified by a taxonomy of parts, or a vocabulary of orders, but rather by a network of forces and functions correlating actions? How might economic and political power be interacting with force, the diagram and function in contemporary design?     

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence and contactless electroreflectance characterization of a ZnxCd1−xSe/Znx′Cdy′Mg1−x′−y′Se asymmetric coupled quantum well structure

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and contactless electroreflectance (CER) were used to characterize a Zn_xCd_1−xSe/Zn_x′Cd_y′Mg_{1−x′−y′}Se asymmetric coupled quantum well (ACQW) structure in the range of 10-300 K. The PL peak position yielded information of the fundamental excitonic recombinations. A detailed analysis of the CER spectra led to the identification of various interband transitions. The intersubband transitions were then estimated and found to be in a good agreement with the previous report of Fourier-transform infrared absorption measurements. At low temperature, the PL spectra of the sample showed an asymmetric behavior with an exponential tail at the lower-energy side and were attributed to the localized excitonic recombinations due to potential fluctuations. Detailed study of the temperature dependence of the excitonic transition energies indicated that the main influence of temperature on the quantized transitions is through the temperature dependence of the band gap of the constituent material in the well.     

The Employment of Reason

Rationalism in the Netherlands is characterised by pragmatism. As Charles Rattray explains it is a practical bent that was driven in the 20th century by the exigencies of building cheaply and quickly a large amount of social housing on a relatively small amount of land. It is a strand that has been underscored by a belief in reason across time and a confidence in an analytical approach. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prefabricating Memory Lane: Whatever Happened to Systems?

Three decades after his first involvement with an issue of 4 on systems buildings, John McKean, Professor of Architecture at the University of Brighton, revisits the subject. He concludes that, despite the ensuing years, architects still have much to learn about the mass production of buildings.     

Achieving uniform field emission from carbon nanotube composite cold cathode with different carbon nanotube contents: Effects of conductance and plasma treatment

A carbon nanotube (CNT) composite cold cathode was studied for field emission display application. The CNT composite cold cathode was composed of CNTs and silicon dioxide binder. Field emission from CNT composite cold cathode with different CNT contents was studied. It was found that with increase in CNT contents, the threshold field decreased. The conductance of the composite cathode was measured and with increasing CNT content, there was a critical CNT content where the conductance increased several orders of magnitude. Plasma etching using SF₆ as the etchant was adopted to treat the cathode. Improvement in emission uniformity was achieved. It was also found that after post-treatment the threshold field of the cathode decreased. The morphology of the etched cathode was analyzed and the improvement of uniformity and lowering of the threshold field was attributed to the exposure of CNTs after etching.     

恶臭气体的生物学处理技术

叙述了微生物去除恶臭的机理、效果并作了经济效益的比较。     

“Landscape Prompts” Awaiting Attendance: Uncovering the Persistent Factors That Shape the Drowned Lands

The Black Dirt Region in the State of New York has been well-known for the unique taste of its onions, which is attributed to the organic matter that weighs over 80% in the soil. In recent years, however, the rigid economic pattern restrains the development of this area. In the meantime, local agricultural production is more and more vulnerable to flooding. When this region is labeled as “highly productive of crops,” the persistent factors that have been shaping the black-dirt landscape are omitted. The other name of the place, “the Drowned Lands,” may better capture its entangled relationship with water. In this article, hydrogeological dynamics and human desire are regarded as the factors that sustain landscape continuity and stability. Based on the research on historical sedimentation in the Drowned Lands, this article attempts to delineate a local scenario of covert landscape evolution since the Last Glacial Maximum. The proposal initiates a composite pathway of ecological functions and touristic values in the agricultural region. Within a series of “landscape prompts,” a lesser-known tale of local geology and prehistoric culture is told. Through design interventions, alternative possibilities of rural landscape are tested, embedded meaning of the agricultural land becomes tangible, and a more adaptive human–land relationship is restored.     

Comparative life cycle costs for new steel portal frame building systems

Life cycle costs of a new steel portal frame building system incorporating energy efficient sandwich panels are compared with those of a conventional steel portal frame building system for use in industrial and commercial buildings. The economic benefits of the new building system have been demonstrated through cost assessment of energy in use. The results from life cycle cost analysis of both the new and conventional portal frame building systems indicate that, despite slightly higher initial costs, the new building system costs significantly less than the conventional system over its complete life cycle of 50 years. The new system provides improved economic performance along with a more energy-efficient model for commercial/industrial building design in the Australian climate. Le coût du cycle de vie d'un nouveau système de bâtiment à portique en acier comportant des panneaux en sandwich efficaces au plan énergétique est comparé à un système classique pour un emploi dans des bâtiments industriels et commerciaux. Les avantages économiques du nouveau système ont été démontrés par une évaluation des dépenses énergétiques. Il ressort de l'analyse comparative du coût du cycle de vie du nouveau et de l'ancien système qu'en dépit d'une légère augmentation du coût de départ, le nouveau système est nettement moins onéreux que l'ancien sur un cycle de vie complet de 50 ans. Les performances économiques du nouveau système sont supérieures à celles du système classique, avec de meilleures performances énergétiques pour la conception de bâtiments commerciaux et industriels sous le climat australien.     

波尔图学派传承与发展的脉络研究——从塔沃拉到德莫拉

葡萄牙建筑师艾德瓦尔多.苏托.德莫拉获得了2011年普里兹克建筑奖,其老师阿尔瓦罗·西扎则于1992年获此奖项,而西扎本人亦受波尔图学派引领者费尔南多·塔沃拉影响,这三人反映了波尔图学派的各个发展时期。该文从葡萄牙的传统建筑历史和20世纪葡萄牙现代建筑思潮的演变出发,通过分析波尔图学派主要引领者塔沃拉的早期本土化探索和继承者西扎、德莫拉延续影响而又发展的建筑思想及其内在价值取向,指出其中传承与发展的脉络。