[dis]LODGE; a transformation of the ski lodge in response to function and site

Over the past century skiing has experienced remarkable growth in popularity, equipment and technique. From 1946 to the present the number of ski resorts in North America with operating lifts has grown from 15 to over 600. During this time skiing has developed from a means of winter travel into a sport that combines paramilitary precision and control with leisure. Driven by economic interests and the superficial imitation of European alpine architecture the contemporary ski lodge model has failed to meaningfully address these changes and has failed to address function and context in terms of both its formal organization and expression. This has resulted in the current ski lodge model that is detached from its site and primary functions. Through a critical study and analysis of the functions of the contemporary ski lodge and their relationship to a specific site a transformation of the ski lodge typology can occur in which the ski lodge meaningfully responds to the relationship between form, function and site. This transformat­­­­ion will manifest itself in the formal, material and tectonic expression of the ski lodge. Through the analysis of the functions of the contemporary ski lodge and their relationship to the specific site of Hunter Mountain, New York, the study of the evolution of the ski lodge typology and a graphic study of the contemporary ski boot a ski lodge was designed for Hunter Mountain, New York which critically responds to the relationship between form, function and site and attempted to address the changes which have occurred in skiing culture. The transformation of the ski lodge manifests itself in two primary ways. The first is through a reconsideration of the current notion of the ski lodge as a single entity that exists at the base of the mountain. In order to respond to the variety of functions existing within the contemporary ski lodge and to have a more meaningful impact within the larger site of the ski area specific functions of the ski lodge have been critically dislodged from their current location at the base of the ski area and integrated throughout the entire site. These lodge fragments include a base lodge, summit observation lodge and restaurant, shelters for reflection, several observation platforms, ski patrol stations and a terrain park lodge. They are located according to existing site characteristics such topography, views, density of use, and materiality. Through a unifying formal, tectonic and material language the fragments of the ski lodge form a unified system which utilizes the site to its full potential and promotes discovery and interaction between the natural and the constructed throughout the entire site of the ski area. The second way the thesis manifests itself is in the formal organization and expression of the lodge fragments. Primarily focusing on the design of the base lodge the formal organization and expression manifests itself as a series of fluid concrete blades, which emerge from the landscape. The form of these walls is derived from the multiple functional sequences of the ski lodge and a desire to integrate the lodge with the landscape. The programmatic spaces of the ski lodge are located between these blades to maximize efficiency and enhance the experience of the ski lodge constantly connecting the users to the landscape and the mountain beyond. A fluid shell that functions as a double skin to provide opportunities for passive ventilation in the summer as well as heat gain in the winter encloses the base lodge. This enclosure analogically references the fluid shell of the ski boot and fluid movement of the skier

Structural Characterization of Soft Interfaces by Standing-Wave Fluorescence with X-Rays and Neutrons

Abstract We present a review of standing-wave fluorescence techniques with x-rays and neutrons for the element-specific structural investigation of interfaces. The basic principles are introduced and typical measurement configurations with their advantages and limitations are compared. An overview of studies dealing with various types of interfaces is given. In particular, work on soft and biological matter in planar, interfacial geometries is discussed

Relationship between structure and molecular interactions in monolayers of specially designed aminolipids

Artificial cationic lipids are already recognized as highly efficient gene therapy tools. Here, we focus on another potential use of aminolipids, in their electrically-uncharged state, for the formation of covalently cross-linked, one-molecule-thin films at interfaces. Such films are envisioned for future (bio-)materials applications. To this end, Langmuir monolayers of structurally different aminolipids are comprehensively characterized with the help of highly sensitive surface characterization techniques. Pressure-area isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy, grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction and infrared reflection–absorption spectrometry experiments provide a detailed, comparative molecular picture of the formed monolayers. This physico-chemical study highlights the relationship between chemical structures and intermolecular interactions, which can serve as a basis for the rational design of cross-linked thin films with precisely controlled properties

Dark matter effective field theory scattering in direct detection experiments

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAMWe examine the consequences of the effective field theory (EFT) of dark matter-nucleon scattering for current and proposed direct detection experiments. Exclusion limits on EFT coupling constants computed using the optimum interval method are presented for SuperCDMS Soudan, CDMS II, and LUX, and the necessity of combining results from multiple experiments in order to determine dark matter parameters is discussed. We demonstrate that spectral differences between the standard dark matter model and a general EFT interaction can produce a bias when calculating exclusion limits and when developing signal models for likelihood and machine learning techniques. We also discuss the implications of the EFT for the next-generation (G2) direct detection experiments and point out regions of complementarity in the EFT parameter spaceThe authors gratefully acknowledge Liam Fitzpatrick, Wick Haxton, and Tim Tait for helpful conversations. This work is supported in part by the National Science Foundation, by the United States Department of Energy, by NSERC Canada, and by MultiDark (Spanish MINECO). Fermilab is operated by the Fermi Research Alliance, LLC under Contract No. De-AC02-07CH11359. SLAC is operated under Contract No. DE-AC02- 76SF00515 with the United States Department of Energ

Gravitational influences on magnetic field structure in accretion disks

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 53).Black holes and compact objects are often surrounded by structures known as accretion disks which consist of ionized plasma. Due to the immense forces present in the disk, interesting and complex magnetic field structures can be set up within the disk. The influence of gravity on these structures is explored via a higher-order expansion of the gravitational potential. We consider several cases: the case when the Lorentz force is negligible and the case when the Lorentz force becomes significant in the dynamics of the disk. When the Lorentz force is negligible, we find using the Ferraro Co-rotation Theorem that the strength of the magnetic field increases near the event horizon. As the strength of the Lorentz force increases and it is included in our analysis, we discover that it leads to a periodic "crystal" structure of concentric rings of current. This structure is significantly affected by gravitational forces: we find a solution to the equations of motion that shows a composite structure within the disk. We discuss the general relativistic effects near the event horizon using the Pseudo- Newtonian potential in this limit. In addition, we consider an alternate derivation of the equation of motion describing the behavior of the magnetic field and discuss its consequences.by Kristiana E. Schneck.S.B

Structural properties in Sr0.61a0.39Nb2O6 in the temperature range 10 K to 500 K investigated by high-resolution neutron powder diffraction and specific heat measurements

We report high-resolution neutron powder diffraction on Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6, SBN61, in the temperature range 15-500 K. The results indicate that the low-temperature anomalies (T<100K) observed in the dielectric dispersion are due to small changes in the incommensurate modulation of the NbO6-octahedra, as no structural phase transition of the average structure was observed. This interpretation is supported by specific heat measurements, which show no latent heat, but a glass-like behavior at low temperatures. Furthermore we find that the structural changes connected with the ferroelectric phase transition at Tc approx. 350K start already at 200K, explaining the anisotropic thermal expansion in the temperature range 200-300K observed in a recent x-ray diffraction study.Comment: Accepted by PRB (2006

The internal structure of the velvet worm projectile slime : a small-angle scattering study

For prey capture and defense, velvet worms eject an adhesive slime which has been established as a model system for recyclable complex liquids. Triggered by mechanical agitation, the liquid bio‐adhesive rapidly transitions into solid fibers. In order to understand this mechanoresponsive behavior, here, the nanostructural organization of slime components are studied using small‐angle scattering with neutrons and X‐rays. The scattering intensities are successfully described with a three‐component model accounting for proteins of two dominant molecular weight fractions and nanoscale globules. In contrast to the previous assumption that high molecular weight proteins—the presumed building blocks of the fiber core—are contained in the nanoglobules, it is found that the majority of slime proteins exist freely in solution. Only less than 10% of the slime proteins are contained in the nanoglobules, necessitating a reassessment of their function in fiber formation. Comparing scattering data of slime re‐hydrated with light and heavy water reveals that the majority of lipids in slime are contained in the nanoglobules with homogeneous distribution. Vibrating mechanical impact under exclusion of air neither leads to formation of fibers nor alters the bulk structure of slime significantly, suggesting that interfacial phenomena and directional shearing are required for fiber formation