Welcome to CityPlace. Thirty-five hectares of formerly unoccupied rail-lands in downtown Toronto are currently undergoing a transformation into an instant neighbourhood. Eventually, CityPlace will be the home to over 15,000 people within 23 buildings, sequestered by the Gardiner Expressway on its southern border and by the still functioning rail-lines on its northern border, it is truly an island of suburban stacked living which is at once surrounded and yet at a distance from downtown Toronto. In CityPlace we are witnessing what the Belgian philosopher Lieven De Cauter describes as the rise of the capsular civilization. Impossible to ignore, condominiums have become the dominant form of new housing in the city of Toronto; a process that has been driven by demographics, political imperative and most of all by the pursuit of profits in the high-stakes game of real-estate development. But lost in this torrent of development is a genuine dialogue about the city we are building. This thesis explores the current state of condo development in downtown Toronto; from the myriad of political, economic and physical factors that have led to Toronto’s vernacular condo typology to the marketing onslaught that targets the base consumerist hyper-individual within all of us and aims to hide the fact that these buildings are more similar than distinct. From the optimistic aims of a city council which seeks to achieve civic benefits from increased density, to the cynical de urbanizing and social polarization that the type typically brings into the downtown. The thesis explores the promise of downtown condominium living and the hybridisation of programme that accompanies the rising real estate values of the downtown core. Programmatic promiscuity and complexity are exploited to bring different user-types from the outside city into the tower. With its unique vertical properties and inherent density, the residential high-rise tower presents new opportunities for urban collective spaces. From introvert to extrovert, the new condo becomes a catalyst for urbanity in the instant neighbourhood of CityPlace.

Numerous studies project that climate change will accelerate the rise in global sea levels, leading to increased coastal inundation, greater potential damage from storm surge events, beach erosion and other coastal impacts which threaten vital infrastructure and facilities that currently support the economies of island nations. There is a broad consensus amongst experts that small island developing states (SIDS) face the greatest risk to the projected impacts of climate change. Unfortunately, few sea level rise (SLR) impact assessment studies have been conducted in SIDS due to the limitations of the geospatial data with regard to currency, accuracy, relevance and completeness. This research improves upon previous SLR impact assessment research by utilizing advanced global digital elevation models to create coastal inundation scenarios in one metre increments for 19 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations and member states, and then examine the implications for seven key impact indicators (land area, population, economic activity, urban areas, tourism resorts, transportation infrastructure and beach erosion). The results indicate that a one metre SLR would have serious consequences for CARICOM nations. For example under this scenario over 10% of the 73 identified study area airports and 30% of the 266 major tourism resorts were identified as prone to flooding. Projected effects were not found to be uniform across the region; low-lying island nations and mainland countries with coastal plains below ten metres were identified as the most vulnerable countries. Recommendations for adaptive actions and policies are provided.

In this study, we study polymer-dispersed blue-phase liquid-crystal (PDBPLC)films. The PDBPLC film is fabricated by using BPLC instead of nematic LC in a PDLC film. The experimental results show that the PDBPLC films and can be switchable as the conventional PDLC. The polymer morphology of the PDBPLC is affected by the concentration of monomer in the BPLC/monomer mixture. The PDBPLC exhibits a good contrast ratio with monomer concentration of 39.17 wt%. The rise time of PDBPLC films decreases as the polymer concentration increases. Moreover, the results also show that a complete phase separation occurs with the exposure time of 20 minutes. For the future work, we will improve the high driving voltage and low ratio of the PDBPLC film.

This thesis contains two parts. In the first part, four kinds of dental baseplates were obtained after curing at 70 ¢XC in water bath or curing in microwave oven. Pressure vent polymerizing Meta-cera (PVPM) methods were performed at 500 watts using Y-Z flask, then the specimens in the flasks were cooled in two different ways. Additionally, the samples in GC FRP flask were separately cured by three different microwave-energy powers: 85, 255 or 595 watts. Each of these curing conditions has six specimens. Adaptation, porosity, and fracture strength of these specimens were evaluated. Optilon-399, a rubber-toughed dental baseplate, was chosen to study the effect of curing conditions on the morphology of the stained specimens using transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results indicate that dispersed rubber- enriched phase is observed. Most of the dispersed phase has a mean-diameter ranging from 210 to 1440 nm and smaller domains have a mean-diameter of 80-100 nm. These dispersed domains observed in TEM micrographs are statistically analyzed and compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. The specimens cured in water bath (reference) have the largest mean-diameter, 456 ¡Ó 131 nm, for the dispersed phase. There is no significant difference in mean-diameters between the reference method and 595-watts method. Mean-diameters of the specimens (408~442 nm) cured by the other four methods are significantly less than that of the reference method. Differences are also found among three different microwave-energy powers. Mean-diameter increases from 408 to 432 to 454 nm and the number of domains drops from 35.7 to 34.1 to 32.1 per TEM micrograph when microwave-energy power increases from 85 to 255 to 595 watts. However, 595-watts specimens have the problem of porosity and 85-watts specimens have the highest adaptation discrepancy. Therefore, 255-watts specimens have a relatively high fracture strength (388 kgf versus 354 or 369 kgf). There is no difference in mean-diameter (440 versus 442 nm) and the number of domains (32.9 per TEM micrograph) between PVPM systems. Low adaptation discrepancy and no porosity result in a higher fracture strength (395 and 381 kgf) compared with the reference method (284kgf). From this study, PVPM method in a bench cooled type is suggested to prepare dental baseplates. In the second part, restorative materials for tooth were polymerized and cured using a blue light emitting diode (LED) unit. Five kinds of light-curing hybrid composite resins (Premisa, Esthet-X micro matrix restorative, Z100 Restorative, Filtek Z250 and Filtek Z350) were processed by four different operating modes of LED as follows: control mode- 500 mW/cm2 for 20 s; pulse cure mode - 500 mW/cm2 for 10s, 0 mW/cm2 for 10s, then 500 mW/cm2 for the next 10 s; soft-start (ramp) mode- initially 600 mW/cm2 for 10 s, then jump to 1400 mW/cm2 for 10 s; turbo (high) mode-1400 mW/cm2 for 10 s. Each of light-curing dental materials and LED operating modes has six specimens. Temperature variation of resins in a period of 60 s was measured during and after activating the light. Vicker¡¦s hardness of both top and bottom sides of specimens after curing was measured. Both temperature rise and hardness of specimens are statistically analyzed and compared using two-way ANOVA method. Soft-start mode induced an average temperature rise of 7.70 ¡Ó 0.77 ¢XC which is significantly (P<0.05) higher than the other three modes. Pulse cure mode yielded average 4.49 ¡Ó 0.84 ¢XC rise which is lowest (P<0.05). There is no difference in temperature rise between control and turbo modes (P>0.05). Comparing five dental materials, Z350 had an average temperature rise of 7.04 ¡Ó 1.10¢XC that is the highest and significantly different from the other materials (P<0.05). Average temperature rise of the other materials was about 5.3 ¢XC without significant difference, except Premise versus Z100. Both top and bottom sides¡¦ hardness of the cured specimens are determined by dental materials (P<0.05), not by LED operating modes (P>0.05). Z100 has the highest hardness (top: 181.6¡Ó8.9kgf/mm2, bottom: 149.1¡Ó6.0 kgf/mm2). Hardness decreases in the order of Z250, Esthet-X, Premise, Z350. Additionally, the results of isothermal polymerization and curing of resins at 165 ¢XC for 3 hr indicate that the high temperature rise (7 ¢XC) of Z350 resins is due to the high exothermic enthalpy (- 61 J/g). The trend of temperature rise of other dental materials can also be explained from the exothermic value which is measured using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Degree of polymerization conversion of resins after light-curing was also evaluated using DSC. Z100 specimens yielded the complete conversion (100%) for all of LED operating modes. From the viewpoints of complete conversion and high hardness, it is suggested to process Z100 specimens in a pulse cured mode because the temperature rise is only 4.65 ¢XC.

Analysis of the satellite altimetry based predicted bathymetry, magnetic anomalies, and earthquake seismic data relating to the geophysical structure on the Nazca plate indicates that the Galapagos Rise system served as the transitional spreading system between Pacific-Farallon spreading and the current East Pacific Rise (EPR) system. First order age/depth relationships for this area indicate that the Galapagos Rise, the most prominent extinct spreading system within the Nazca plate, accommodated most of the Pacific-Nazca plate separation from ~23 million years ago (Ma) to ~8 Ma. After this time, spreading was dominantly along the EPR, with probable ultra slow spreading along the Galapagos Rise continuing until very recent times (0-5 Ma). Magnetic lineations and depth trends across the Bauer Basin suggest that it was captured between the failing Galapagos Rise and the currently active EPR. Anomalously shallow ridge crests along the Galapagos Rise indicate that magmatic activity may have occurred until very recent time (0-5 Ma). Tightly curved (concave southward) fracture zones offsetting Galapagos Rise ridge segments indicate a pole of rotation at the present day position of ~22.5 S and ~99.5 W. The curvature of the fracture zones and the fan-shaped spreading pattern of seafloor structures produced at the Galapagos Rise indicate that the Galapagos Rise initiated parallel to the Mendaña fracture zone. Consistent with the rotation of the Nazca plate after the fragmentation of the Farallon plate, the Galapagos Rise rotated counterclockwise during its active phase. The Galapagos Rise initiated in the vicinity of Gallego fracture zones and propagated southward. Failure of the Galapagos Rise occurred as spreading jumped westward in stages to the East Pacific Rise.

The rise or the decline of a country, the development of the international community will be deeply involved in, especially to the greet powers, his deportments which everybody points an accusing finger at are enough to all the changes in international relations. Chinese rapidly economic growth and rising military power, causing global concerns about the rise of China having led to ¡¨China¡¦s rise¡¨, the issues have become multi-focus on academic field and international relations / politics discussed by the multiplicity. Applied the historical method to the thesis and in addition to the comparative method on the collection of documents so as to analyze it .The following conclusion based on the experience of the Chinese history whether the Han people or the peoples of non-Han established the dynasty, it is impossible to rise the country strength peacefully. Neither did the consolidating the great country position at peace. Not to mention, it is kind of the defeated country peacefully. Under the dual influences of the Economic Globalization and the reform opening-up economic policy, it let China hide his light under a bushel to rapidly economic growth, though the country was called Celestial Kingdom, and return the Great Power status again. The rapid economic rise of China threats to all the other countries in the world because it had carried out non-democratic institutions, encroached the human rights, and threatened to security in the Taiwan Strait to unable to trust the democratic countries which were worried. For it adhered to the leadership of the Communist party of China and sustained development of China¡¦s military, after all, the war might be due to its non-compliance with the international order. In fact, the ¡§Peaceful rise ¡¨put forward the following functions: First, the ¡§ rise ¡¨of it is accountable the its people to raise so called, ¡¨our-group consciousness ¡¨as a slogan, a kind of propaganda. Secondly, it is subject to the international environmental situations and the product of its domestic political struggle power, attempts to recapture the hegemony in order to establish ¡§China-centrism ¡¨by mutual confrontation with ¡§Western centrism ¡¨to fight it out. Third, its peace responses to the ¡§China Threat ¡¨by eliminating the phobia and worrier and reflect the fear of China to the West almost being simultaneous with it in fact. In a word, China¡¦s¡§ Peaceful rise ¡¨is attempt to hold their own ¡§point of view of sovereignty ¡¨to improve its state image.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-122). Also available in print.

As part of the EU project Energy Efficient Demo Multiresidential highrise Building (EE-highrise), this thesis work evaluates and changes the Slovenian Eco Silver House (ESH) high rise building model in order to see if it can be classifiable as a passive house in different European regions. The purpose of this thesis work was to evaluate if the ESH could meet the European and Swedish passive house classification in Sibernik, Ljubljana, Lund, Östersund, Sundsvall and Kiruna. The purpose was also to make a sensitivity analysis of different energy efficiency measures in the energy performance of the building. This analysis was conducted to understand which of the selected energy efficiency measures made the most significant improvements in the results. The measures included in the sensitivity analysis were the building envelopes wall insulation thickness, changing the window frames, altering the ventilation air duct length and width as well as increasing the air duct insulation thickness. Finally, simulations with solar panels on the roof of the ESH were carried out. For the European passive house classification, the study involved constructing the model in the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) and simulating each region and energy efficiency measures separately. PHPP is however made specifically for verifying buildings according to the European passive house standard. So the demands for the Swedish passive house classification cannot be calculated in the PHPP simulations. Because of this, the data available through PHPP was used to manually calculate the Swedish passive house requirements. The results showed that the original ESH model, was only passive house certifiable according to the European classification in Sibernik. When including the additional energy efficiency measures it was possible for the ESH to become passive house certifiable in Lund, Ljubljana and Sibernik. The Swedish passive house classification results suggests that the ESH may be passive house certifiable in Lund. Also, with additional energy efficiency measures the ESH may meet the passive house requirements in Sundsvall and Kiruna. However, all the passive house classification parameters could not be considered in this study. Accordingly, additional analysis are required to draw final conclusions on whether the ESH building could meet the Swedish passive house certification in the different Swedish climate zones. The conclusions drawn were that all the energy efficiency measures contribute to reducing the primary energy demand, heating demand and the heating load. However, these same energy efficiency measures would at the same time increase the cooling demand. Because of this, it was discussed that specific regional models should be made. Because some regional models might benefit from not including the energy efficiency measures used in this thesis at all. They might instead benefit from finding and implementing energy efficiency measures that reduce the cooling demand.

Throughout multiple dense, tropical, urban contexts, high rise residential environments have created a sense of social detachment, where public and private green spaces do not often exist. It is through these varieties of green spaces that social interaction is encouraged, and without these social activities taking place, this vertical community becomes almost a meaningless entity within the urban realm. The issue being addressed within this thesis is the scarcity of public and private green spaces within our high density tropical urban fabrics that help to create a sense of community. The majority of dense urban settings that we inhabit today do not include the resources of easily accessible public and private green spaces for the majority of their dwellers. According to the Trust for Public Land organization, the average dense urban setting contains less than ten percent green space for every seventy thousand acres of land use. The goal of this project is to architecturally create an innovative residential high rise design by incorporating public and private green spaces throughout its structure, circulation, and tropical design elements. The design will begin to encourage interaction and promote a more cohesive living environment amongst its users. The design project will incorporate and deal with topical/ecological issues as well as sociological matters throughout the design process. Through this approach, by answering some of the imperative questions such as, how will community life be encouraged, how can we incorporate natural vegetation within a vertical context and how can we implement sustainable vii systems, the possibility of multiple, properly proportioned public and private green spaces will begin to push forward the ideas that are being addressed throughout this thesis. The constructive effects of such an articulated architectural contribution to a dense tropical urban setting will include improvements to physical and psychological health, social communal advancement, ecosystem development, as well as biodiversity systems. The important outcome of this architectural advancement in residential high rise design will be to improve the vertical community through the variety of incorporated communal and private green spaces as it begins to set precedence for future existing context in communal growth.

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management