De los sistemas de prefabricación cerrada a la industrialización sutil de la edificación: algunas claves del cambio tecnológico

El trabajo que sigue pretende aportar hechos y posibles supuestos razonados sobre la evolución del sector de la edifi cación europea, con especial énfasis en el caso español, de la trayectoria de las tecnologías empleadas en el proceso de industrialización de la construcción en un período sufi cientemente amplio, –básicamente de 1970 a la fecha– lo que supone una panorámica de los hechos que han motivado o infl uido en el proceso de evolución de la construcción de viviendas a base de sistemas de prefabricación cerrada mayoritariamente mediante grandes paneles de hormigón a las nuevas formas de proyectar y construir que conlleva la utilización de componentes y subsistemas constructivos de diferentes procedencias. El trabajo se estructura básicamente en forma de cinco temas que, en parte, recogen y actualizan aportaciones ya publicadas por el autor sobre los siguientes aspectos: la evolución cronológica de las tecnologías constructivas utilizadas mayoritariamente en las tres últimas décadas; los cambios en las técnicas de producción de elementos prefabricados; las juntas como invariantes de la construcción industrializada; el nuevo enfoque de la coordinación modular y la repercusión económica de los elementos funcionales en los presupuestos de construcción de viviendas. - The present article discusses facts as well as possible assumptions relating to the evolution of building in Europe in general and Spain in particular, and the development of the technologies used in the industrialization of construction over a long period: essentially from 1970 to date. It is, then, an overview of the events that have occasioned or affected housing construction, ranging from closed system precasting, consisting primarily in large concrete panels, to the new design and building methods that entail the use of construction components and subsystems of different origins. The paper is organized around fi ve subjects that at least partially refl ect and update contributions previously published by the author on the following: chronological evolution of the most common construction technologies used in the last three decades; changes in precast and prefabricated member production; joints as invariants in industrialized construction; the new approach to modular coordination; and the economic impact of functional elements on housing construction budgets

Audio Cartography: Visual Encoding of Acoustic Parameters

Our sonic environment is the matter of subject in multiple domains which developed individual means of its description. As a result, it lacks an established visual language through which knowledge can be connected and insights shared. We provide a visual communication framework for the systematic and coherent documentation of sound in large-scale environments. This consists of visual encodings and mappings of acoustic parameters into distinct graphic variables that present plausible solutions for the visualization of sound. These candidate encodings are assembled into an application-independent, multifunctional, and extensible design guide. We apply the guidelines and show example maps that acts as a basis for the exploration of audio cartography

Developing lay health worker policy in South Africa: a qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the past half decade South Africa has been developing, implementing and redeveloping its Lay Health Worker (LHW) policies. Research during this period has highlighted challenges with LHW programme implementation. These challenges have included an increased burden of care for female LHWs. The aim of this study was to explore contemporary LHW policy development processes and the extent to which issues of gender are taken up within this process.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study adopted a qualitative approach to exploring policy development from the perspective of policy actors. Eleven policy actors (policy makers and policy commentators) were interviewed individually. Data from the interviews were analysed thematically.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Considerations of LHW working conditions drove policy redevelopment. From the interviews it seems that gender as an issue never reached the policy making agenda. Although there was strong recognition that the working conditions of LHWs needed to be improved, poor working conditions were not necessarily seen as a gender concern. Our data suggests that in the process of defining the problem which the redeveloped policy had to address, gender was not included. There was no group or body who brought the issue of gender to the attention of policy developers. As such the issue of gender never entered the policy debates. These debates focused on whether it was appropriate to have LHWs, what LHW programme model should be adopted and whether or not LHWs should be incorporated into the formal health system.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>LHW policy redevelopment focused on resolving issues of LHW working conditions through an active process involving many actors and strong debates. Within this process the issue of gender had no champion and never reached the LHW policy agenda. Future research may consider how to incorporate the voices of ordinary women into the policy making process.</p

Cultural Change in the Creative Industries: a case study of BBC Graphic Design from 1990-2011

Using his own experience as a witness and participant in the convulsion that the BBC, and specifically the BBC Graphic Design department underwent, the author aims to illuminate the cultural change to the creative industries in many advanced industrialised countries that has occurred over the last twenty years. Many industries in the past have undergone similar ruptures and transformations and they will again in the future. The author hopes to draw lessons from an analysis of television graphic design using examples of work that can point out the attributes and skills that a new designer across the globe will need to have and obtain in order to withstand future industrial and cultural changes

Studies on the phytochrome regulation of membrane permeability

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:D34571/81 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo