Why Factory1: The Spatial Significance of Architectural Education Buildings

The educational space of the Architecture faculty is used to cultivate architects. At the same time, it becomes the carrier of architectural ideas and teaching methods. The type of architecture and its spatial organization reflect the architectural education philosophy and attitude. Back in history, as early as the Renaissance, there had study places for architects emerged. After the industrial revolution and the modernist process, the types of architectural education sites are more diverse, and their main features are the spatial form of hybrid and box-in-box. This article preliminarily analyzes the evolution of the outline of architectural education building and interprets the spatial ideas in each period. The study focuses on the famous Dutch architectural school–BKCity of the Delft University of Technology, analyzing the teaching space logic of its distinctive Why Factory and exploring how the related space could stimulate the vitality of architectural education. By the analogy of some architectural schools, it also tries to compare the differences and characteristics of Chinese and Western architectural academies, finding out the spatial significance in architecture discipline, education method as well as sustainable application

Phase Structures and Morphologies Determined by Competitions Among Self-Organization, Crystallization, and Vitrification in a Disordered Poly(Ethylene Oxide)-B-Polystyrene Diblock Copolymer

A poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene (PEO-b-PS) diblock copolymer having a number-average molecular weight ((M) over bar(n)) of 11000 g/mol in the PEO blocks and an (M) over bar(n) of 5200 g/mol in the PS blocks has been synthesized (with a volume fraction of the PEO blocks of 0.66 in the molten state). Differential scanning calorimetry results show that this copolymer possesses a single endotherm, which is attributed to the melting of the PEG-block crystals. Based on real-time resolved synchrotron small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) observations, the diblock copolymer is in a disordered state above the glass transition temperature of the PS-rich phase (T-g(PS)) which has been determined to be 44.0 degrees C during cooling using dilatometer mode in thermomechanical measurements. The order-disorder transition temperature (T-ODT) for this diblock copolymer is thus experimentally inaccessible. Depending upon different isothermal crystallization temperatures quenched from the disordered state (T(q)s), four cases can be investigated in order to understand the phase relationships among self-organization, crystallization of the PEO blocks, and vitrification of the PS-rich phase: the region where the T-q is above the T-g(PS), the regions where the T-q is near but slightly higher or lower than the T-g(PS) ; and the region where the T-q is below the T-g(PS) . Utilizing simultaneous SPXS and wide angle x-ray-diffraction experiments, it can be seen that lamellar crystals of the PEO blocks in the first case grow with little morphological constraint due to initial disordered phase morphology. As the T-q approaches but is still slightly higher than the T-g(PS) , as in the second case, the PEG-block crystals with a greater long period (L) than that of the disordered state start to grow. The initial disordered phase morphology is gradually destroyed, at least to a major extent. When the T-q is near but slightly lower than the T-g(PS), the crystallization takes place largely within the existing phase morphology. Only a gradual shift of the L towards smaller q values can be found with increasing time, which implies that the initial phase morphology is disturbed by the crystallization of the PEO blocks. In the last case, the PEO blocks crystallize under a total constraint provided by the disordered phase morphology due to rapid vitrification of the PS-rich phase. Substantial decrease of crystallinity can be observed in this case. This study also provides experimental evidence that the PS-rich phase size, which is down to 7-8 nm, can still retain bulky glassy properties. [S0163-1829(99)01138-8]

Dislocation-Controlled Perforated Layer Phase in a Peo-B-Ps Diblock Copolymer

Small angle x-ray analyses show that the shear-induced hexagonal perforated layer phase in a poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene diblock copolymer consists of trigonal (R3(overbar)m) twins and a hexagonal (P6(3)/mmc) structure, with trigonal twins being majority components. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the hexagonal structure is generated through sequential intrinsic stacking faults on the second layer from a previous edge dislocation line, while the trigonal twins are formed by successive intrinsic stacking faults on neighboring layers due to the plastic deformation under mechanical shear

The oyster genome reveals stress adaptation and complexity of shell formation

The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas belongs to one of the most species-rich but genomically poorly explored phyla, the Mollusca. Here we report the sequencing and assembly of the oyster genome using short reads and a fosmid-pooling strategy, along with transcriptomes of development and stress response and the proteome of the shell. The oyster genome is highly polymorphic and rich in repetitive sequences, with some transposable elements still actively shaping variation. Transcriptome studies reveal an extensive set of genes responding to environmental stress. The expansion of genes coding for heat shock protein 70 and inhibitors of apoptosis is probably central to the oyster's adaptation to sessile life in the highly stressful intertidal zone. Our analyses also show that shell formation in molluscs is more complex than currently understood and involves extensive participation of cells and their exosomes. The oyster genome sequence fills a void in our understanding of the Lophotrochozoa. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

The Practice and Enlightenment of Architectural Renovation and Urban Renewal in the Netherlands

With the development of local urban renewal in the Netherlands, Dutch architects as Rem Koolhass, Francine Houben and Kees Kaan, etc. have showed rich practical experiences. As a result, the architectural renovation and urban renewal have presented a thriving scene. In this article, the types of urban renewal in the Netherlands are classified as three main categories: regional renewal, architectural heritage refurbishment, and adaptive reuse [1]. From the perspective of types to strategies, this study analyzes typical cases including the Westerpark West, Speelhuis theater, Timmerhuis and Villa Industria and so on, exploring the role of Dutch architects, the method of transformation and sustainable meaning of urban renewal. The research tries to summarize the Dutch mode and experiences, providing a new perspective and methodology for relevant transformation practices of urban renewal in China.</p

The Practice and Enlightenment of Architectural Renovation and Urban Renewal in the Netherlands

Since the development of architectural disciplines, Dutch architectural style and architects have played important role in the world. In the wave of local urban renewal in the Netherlands, Dutch architects represented by Rem Koolhass, Francine Houben, Winy Maas and Kees Kaan and etc. have shown rich practices and experiences, therefore, the architectural renovation and urban renewal have show prosperous scenarios. This paper focuses on the four types of architectural and urban transformation practices in the Netherlands, named as Regional renewal, architectural heritage refurbishment, adaptive reuse and industrial building renovation [1], and analyzes typical cases such as Westerpark West, Speelhuis theater, Timmerhuis and Villa Industria project. Exploring the role and spatial stance of Dutch architects, the research tries to sum up the Dutch modes and experiences, and provides a new perspective and method for similar transformation practices in urban renewal of contemporary China.History & Complexit

Why Factory: The spatial significance of Architectural Education Buildings

The educational space of Architecture faculty is used to cultivate architects. At the same time, it becomes the carrier of architectural ideas and teaching methods. The type of architecture and its spatial organization reflect the architectural education philosophy and attitude. Back in history, as early as the Renaissance, there had emerged study places for architects. After the industrial revolution and the modernist process, the types of architectural education sites are more diverse, and their main features are the spatial form of hybrid and box-in-box. This article preliminarily analyzes the evolutionary outline of architectural education buildings and interprets the spatial ideas in each period. The study focuses on the famous Dutch architectural school--BKCity of the Delft University of Technology, analyzing the teaching space logic of its distinctive Why Factory and exploring how the related space could stimulate the vitality of architectural education. By the analogy of some architectural schools, it also tries to compare the differences and characteristics of Chinese and Western architectural academies, finding out the spatial significance in architecture discipline, education method as well as sustainable application.History & Complexit

The Practice and Enlightenment of Architectural Renovation and Urban Renewal in the Netherlands

With the development of local urban renewal in the Netherlands, Dutch architects as Rem Koolhass, Francine Houben and Kees Kaan, etc. have showed rich practical experiences. As a result, the architectural renovation and urban renewal have presented a thriving scene. In this article, the types of urban renewal in the Netherlands are classified as three main categories: regional renewal, architectural heritage refurbishment, and adaptive reuse [1]. From the perspective of types to strategies, this study analyzes typical cases including the Westerpark West, Speelhuis theater, Timmerhuis and Villa Industria and so on, exploring the role of Dutch architects, the method of transformation and sustainable meaning of urban renewal. The research tries to summarize the Dutch mode and experiences, providing a new perspective and methodology for relevant transformation practices of urban renewal in China.History & Complexit

Developmental Mechanism of Rainfall-Induced Ground Fissures in the Kenya Rift Valley

Active tectonic movement and frequent ground fissure disasters occur in the Kenya Rift Valley. Ground fissures are often exposed to the ground surface after rainfall, resulting in disasters and huge economic losses. We conducted a field geological survey and exploratory trenching in order to identify the developmental characteristics of ground fissures in the Kenya Rift Valley. The ground fissures were found to be connected with concealed bedrock fissures, which is a typical characteristic of tectonic ground fissures. From the perspective of regional tectonic stress and plate movement, we investigated the causes of hidden bedrock cracks and conducted a finite element numerical simulation to study the rainfall infiltration process in the presence of hidden bedrock fractures. The results showed that the fractures in the concealed bedrock are controlled by regional tectonic stress and a northwest-trending basement tectonic shear zone. The most intense rainfall infiltration erosion occurs in concealed cracks, where the settlement induced by rainfall is also greatest. Therefore, rainfall erosion is an important factor driving the expansion of ground fissures towards surface fractures. The results of this study provide a theoretical scientific basis for disaster reduction and the prevention of ground fissures in the Kenya Rift Valley

Predicting response to preoperative chemotherapy agents by identifying drug action on modeled microRNA regulation networks.

Identifying patients most responsive to specific chemotherapy agents in neoadjuvant settings can help to maximize the benefits of treatment and minimize unnecessary side effects. Metagene approaches that predict response based on gene expression signatures derived from an associative analysis of clinical data can identify chance associations caused by the heterogeneity of a tumor, leading to reproducibility issues in independent validations. In this study, to incorporate information from drug mechanisms of action, we explore the potential of microRNA regulation networks as a new feature space for identifying predictive markers. We introduce a measure we term the CoMi (Context-specific-miRNA-regulation) pattern to represent a descriptive feature of the miRNA regulation network in the transcriptome. We examine whether the modifications to the CoMi pattern on specific biological processes are a useful representation of drug action by predicting the response to neoadjuvant Paclitaxel treatment in breast cancer and show that the drug counteracts the CoMi network dysregulation induced by tumorigenesis. We then generate a quantitative testbed to investigate the ability of the CoMi pattern to distinguish FDA approved breast cancer drugs from other FDA approved drugs not related to breast cancer. We also compare the ability of the CoMi and metagene methods to predict response to neoadjuvant Paclitaxel treatment in clinical cohorts. We find the CoMi method outperforms the metagene method, achieving area under curve (AUC) values of 0.78 and 0.66 respectively. Furthermore, several of the predicted CoMi features highlight the network-based mechanism of drug resistance. Thus, our study suggests that explicitly modeling the drug action using network biology provides a promising approach for predictive marker discovery