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Many forest ecosystems in the world are suffering from high load of nitrogen (N) deposition and acting as potential contributors to atmospheric nitric oxide (NO), which regulates the oxidative capacity of the troposphere. However, the observation of NO flux with traditional dynamic chamber method is laborious in the forest ecosystem, particularly when the electric power generation system is unavailable. In this work, a relative method based on Fick's law of diffusion was developed to measure NO fluxes from forest soils. This method describes the relationship between NO and other trace gases, such as N 2 O or CO 2 , concerning gas fluxes and gas concentration gradients between the uppermost soil layer and the atmosphere. This relative method can be expressed as two forms: based on the directly obtained soil gas and based on the equilibrium gas at soil water surface. To testify the applicability of this method, both laboratory and field experiments were conducted with soil from an N-saturated subtropical forest in Southwestern China. The results demonstrate that the NO fluxes measured based on the later form agreed well with those observed by chamber method, with the deviation rates of around 9% and 30%, respectively. In conclusion, this relative method provides a sound methodological basis for interpreting NO flux variations in the field, especially in N-saturated forest ecosystems, and allows an improvement of statistical N-budget in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis is widespread throughout the world and causes significant losses in cattle industry. Vaccine is the main preventive measure in the fight against this disease in many countries. The article contains research results of quality criteria of vaccine against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis that we have developed from a selected in Ukraine strain "ВM". Laboratory methods established match of experimental batches of vaccine to local and international requirements for inactivated vaccines for animals. Presented results of the studies of chemical-physical and immunological parameters of quality of the developed vaccine. It has been established that vaccination of rabbits causes more than four-fold antibodies increase in serum of test animals, which is up to 21 days after vaccination averaged 8,06 log2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedimentation and erosion can significantly affect the performance of river regulated reservoirs. In the vicinity of flow control structures, the interaction between the hydrodynamics and sediment transport often induces complex morphological processes. It is generally very challenging to accurately predict these morphological processes in real applications. Details are given of the refinement and application of a three-dimensional (3-D) layer integrated model to predict the morphological processes in a river regulated reservoir. The model employs an Alternating Direction Implicit finite difference algorithm to solve the mass, momentum and suspended sediment transport conservation equations, and an explicit finite difference scheme for the bed sediment mass conservation equation for calculating bed level changes. The model is verified against experimental data reported in the literature. It is then applied to a scaled physical model of a regulated reservoir, including the associated intakes and sluice gates, to predict the velocity distributions, sediment transport rates and bed level changes in the vicinity of the hydraulic structures. It is found that the velocity distribution near an intake is non-uniform, resulting in a reduction in the suspended sediment flux through the intake and the formation of a sedimentation zone inside the reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of turbulent flows through the downstream slopes of embankment dams are important for dam safety assessments, especially considering high-risk scenarios such as a sudden release of water due to internal erosion. Flow prediction is difficult in such situations due to coarseness of construction materials and high Reynolds numbers. The present study addresses this issue through comprehensive numerical modelling. The novelty of the proposed approach lies in a combination of large-scale experiments and three-dimensional numerical simulations, leading to a fully calibrated and validated model that is applicable to flows through cobble-sized materials (100–160 mm in diameter) at high Reynolds numbers (>104). Comparing the results of the standard turbulence models to data from the large-sale experiments, the renormalization group theory-based model yielded the smallest relative errors based on the hydraulic gradients. Considering the flow field, the turbulent shear stress increased by a factor of 17, and the time-averaged vorticities intensified by factors of 2, 6 and 10 for vorticities in thex-,y- andz-directions, respectively, due to the presence of cobbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While partial knee arthroplasty (PKA) is increasingly performed on an outpatient basis, many surgeons still admit patients overnight and obtain laboratory studies on the first postoperative day. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility and cost effectiveness of routine postoperative laboratory studies after PKA.Methods: This is a retrospective review of 322 consecutive unilateral or bilateral simultaneous PKAs (unicompartmental, patellofemoral, and modular bicompartmental knee arthroplasty) performed by a single surgeon. There were 408 complete blood counts and basic metabolic panels ordered.Results: Despite a large number of laboratory studies ordered and abnormalities detected, there was a 1.6% rate of laboratory-associated interventions (for either hypokalemia or hyperglycemia in 5 patients) and no red blood cell transfusions. Hospital charges associated with laboratory studies totaled $85,413. There were no 90-day postoperative hospital readmissions or emergency department evaluations related to abnormal postoperative laboratory values.Conclusion: With an increasing emphasis placed on cost containment, the low rate of laboratory-associated interventions after PKA suggests that routinely obtaining laboratory studies are neither necessary nor cost effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ethnologie Française is the property of Presses Universitaires de France and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Entrainment and mixing in lock-exchange gravity currents are investigated by large eddy simulations. Nine cases are analysed, varying the initial excess density driving the motion and the aspect ratio r of the initial water depth to the lock length. Laboratory experiments are also performed and a fair agreement between numerical simulations and measurements is found. Mixing between the gravity current and the ambient fluid, in both the slumping and self-similar phases, is studied for a range of entrainment parameters, gravity current fractional area and using an energy budget method. The entrainment is found to increase as r decreases. The occurrence of irreversible mixing is detected during the entire development of the flow, i.e. both in the slumping and self-similar phases. A higher amount of mixing is observed as r decreases and the initial excess density increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the dynamic free surface of geophysical flows has the potential to enable direct inference of the flow properties based on measurements of the free surface. An important step is to understand the inherent response of free surfaces in depth-limited flows. Here a model is presented to demonstrate that free surface oscillatory spatial correlation patterns result from individual surface features oscillating vertically as they advect over space and time. Comparison with laboratory observations shows that these oscillating surface features can be unambiguously explained by simple harmonic motion, whereby the oscillation frequency is controlled by the root-mean-square water surface fluctuation, and to a lesser extent the surface tension. This demonstrates that the observed "complex" wave pattern can be simply described as an ensemble of spatially and temporally distributed oscillons. Similarities between the oscillon frequency and estimated frequency of near-bed bursting events suggest that oscillon behaviour is linked with the creation of coherent flow structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two eye tracking studies were conducted to investigate the impact of information relevance and visual design treatments on inattention blindness to banner advertising on web pages. It is an important question to determine how ads should be designed to maximize their value. Participants completed information-seeking tasks while viewing pages that contained advertisements either related or unrelated to the page content and either related or unrelated to the user's task. Ads were either designed with rich visual elements or modified to contain minimal design. Page-relevant ads and user-task-relevant ads were expected to attract more attention than irrelevant ads, but richly designed ads more not expected to attract more attention than text-only ads. Results showed that participants spent more time attending to the task-relevant ads, but not to ads with visual design treatments or to the page-relevant ads. This finding has implications for web design, particularly where there is a risk of inattention blindness. Web sites that host ads can avoid displaying ads that detract from the user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uplift of blocks from the rock mass at the bottom of plunge pools is the main process of the scouring phenomenon caused by high-velocity jet impact. Although the influence of water and rock on dynamic block ejection has been investigated, no systematic research has been done regarding the influence of air entrainment. This study presents theoretical developments and experimental investigations of the vertical displacements of a block embedded in the pool bottom impacted by aerated plunging jets. The theoretical model reproduces well the measured block vibrations, especially for high-velocity jets where the properties of the air–water mixture inside the fissures are steadier. Block displacements reduce with jet aeration for shallow pools, but, inversely, they increase with jet aeration for deep pools. This confirms that jet aeration reduces jet momentum due to a lower apparent density, but may also increase bottom pressures due to lower velocity decay along the pool depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air release through venting devices during filling operations of an empty pipeline can give rise to vast transients which can result in serious damages to the pipes. However, despite a large number of studies, there is still a significant lack of knowledge regarding the physical processes involved. The present paper aims to address this issue by comprehensive laboratory tests. Two configurations were analysed and both air release valves and orifices were used for air venting. In the first configuration, the air vent was fitted at the downstream end of the pipeline, and the transient showed significant pressure surges consequent to the high velocity impact of the water column on the orifice (or the valve). In the second configuration, the air vent was fitted at an intermediate high point of the pipe profile. In this case, the transient showed very low velocity of the water column at the impact and, consequently, generally negligible pressure surges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of injection brine salinity and ionic composition on oil recovery has been an active area of research for the past 25 years. Evidence from laboratory studies and field tests suggests that implementing certain modifications to the ionic composition of the injection brine leads to greater oil recovery. The role of salinity modification is attributed to its ability to shift wettability of a rock surface toward water wetness. The amount of trapped oil released depends on the nature of rock, oil, and brine surface interactions. Reservoir rocks exhibit different affinities to fluids. Carbonates show stronger adsorption of oil films as opposed to the strongly water-wet and mixed-wet sandstones. The concentration of divalent ions and total salinity of the injection brine are other important factors to consider. Accordingly, this paper provides a review of laboratory and field studies of the role of brine composition on oil recovery from carbonaceous rock as well as rationalization of results using DLVO (Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek) theory of surface forces. DLVO evaluates the contribution of each component of the oil/brine/rock system to the wettability. Measuring zeta potential of each pair of surfaces by a charged particle suspension method is used to estimate double layer forces, disjoining pressure, and contact-angle. We demonstrate the applicability of the DLVO approach by showing a comprehensive experimental study that investigates the effect of divalent ions in carbonates, and uses disjoining pressure results to rationalize observations from core flooding and direct contact-angle measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental characterization of the hydrodynamics of a mixing interface at an open channel confluence is presented. In the laboratory experiments, both a confluence and a cylinder set-up were studied in order to validate the bluff body analogy, which has been proposed to characterize the mixing interface. The experimental characterization included flow visualization and the computation of the mean flow field, time scales of the coherent structures, and turbulent kinetic energy. The comparison among the two configurations confirms the validity of the analogy as similar features were found for the mean flow field and time scales of the coherent structures. However, differences in the length of the stagnation zone, the flow velocity deficit, and the turbulence intensity were observed. These differences should be taken into account when the bluff body analogy is used to characterize the confluence hydrodynamics and to quantify the mixing at the confluence interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of renewable energy with Archimedes screw generators (ASG) transforming potential energy of fluid flow into mechanical energy is a growing technology suitable for low-head hydraulic sites. This paper presents an improved theoretical model linking screw performance to screw geometry and flow conditions. This model takes into account leakages, friction losses and variable fill levels. The modelled values of torques and efficiencies are in a fairly good agreement with experimental results obtained for a laboratory-scale screw. The downstream screw immersion is shown to impact ASG efficiency and an optimal immersion level is proposed. It has been found that fluid friction on the screw is not negligible. The analysis shows that a single value of the friction coefficient is suitable for modelling the screw performance under various flow conditions. The leakage phenomenon at under-filling flow conditions and friction forces in complex turbulent flows need to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of European Journal of Sociology is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nesta Nota problematizo alguns aspectos envolvidos com o processo de realização de uma pesquisa, em um laboratório dedicado à pesquisa e ao desenvolvimento tecnológico de novas vacinas. Ela sintetiza parte de um capítulo de minha tese de doutoramento intitulado Diário de uma pesquisa. O diário foi concebido, em parte, com o intuito de relatar como a pesquisa de campo foi realizada, salientando a experiência pessoal de vivência no laboratório, conversas e entrevistas com os pesquisadores e técnicos, bem como a aprendizagem sobre o trabalho e as tecnologias ali utilizadas. Procurei ater-me à proposta dos estudos sociais da ciência e da tecnologia, portanto basear o estudo dos laboratórios na descrição densa desses espaços.This note explores some aspects of conducting research at a laboratory for the research and technological development of new vaccines. The note synthesizes part of a chapter of my doctoral dissertation, entitled "Diário de uma Pesquisa" (Diary of a research study). The idea of the diary is, in part, to show how the field research was conducted, and it underscores the personal experience of working in a laboratory, conversations and interviews with researchers and technical staff, and the process of learning about the work and the technology used. Since my interest is the social studies of science and technology, I have based the study on a dense description of these laboratory spaces.

The purpose of this study is to identify the graphic skills level of student teachers majoring in physics and chemistry and its relation to the type of their laboratory studies Two instruments were developed for the study: 1. Graphic Skills Knowledge Level Test. 11 Type of Laboratory Study Questionnaire The major findings were: 1- Performance level of graphic skills of the majority: of the sample did not reach the desired mastery level; where 19-27 students scored between 7, 1`, :.-94%. This represents about one quarter of the sample total. 2- The scores of the theoretical part were lower than the scores of the practical and total test. Less than 19 students attained scores of 70%-94% on average, whereas, 27 students attained scores averaged 70%-9h in the practical part. But this number drops again to 23 students scoring 70%-85% on average. 3- There was a positive correlation at 0.01 level between students' performance in Graphic Skills Test and Laboratory Studies scores. 4- There was a positive correlation at 0.01 level between performance of physics major students in Graphic Skills Test and Laboratory Studies scores, in knowledge part and overall skills. 5- There was no significant correlation between graphic skills and laboratory studies in the practical part and the overall skills of the study sample.

• We continuously flushed water through hot rock borehole under no confining stress. • Thermal stimulation creates seed fractures and enhances permeability near borehole. • Thermal cracks allow preferential permeation and accelerate temperature propagation. • Peak thermal gradients propagate inwardly, which facilitates fracture propagation. • Thermal stimulation lower breakdown pressure and induce denser fracture morphology. In enhanced geothermal system (EGS) wells, where strong thermal gradients exist, hydraulic fracturing is the apparent driver for creating permeability in the reservoirs. Thermal effects, however, have been observed to accompany hydraulic loading and may further enhance the permeability of the reservoir. The mechanism of thermal fracturing in downhole conditions, however, is not well understood, limiting the efficient engineering of thermal effects on EGS stimulation. This laboratory study examines the behavior of thermal shock stimulation and temperature propagation by flowing room-temperature water through a borehole of a hot specimen block without confining stresses or borehole hydraulic loading. This condition isolates the effect of thermal shock from hydraulic pressure and confining stress. We monitored temperatures across the inside of the specimens and assessed fractures by visual inspection, bubble leakage, pressure decay, and acoustics. Thermal loading resulted in an enhancement of permeability by induced macro/microcracks. The profiles of borehole pressure decay obtained before and after each stage of stimulation show increased permeability of the treated specimens. The acoustic measurements indicate the extent of fractures, and the bubble leakage tests on the specimen surface visually indicate localized permeation paths created by newly created cracks. The maximum thermal gradient was achieved near the borehole surface at the start of the water flow. As the flow continued, the magnitude of the thermal gradient near the borehole decreased while that of the thermal gradient away from the borehole increased. Thermally driven fractures, initiated from the borehole walls, propagated perpendicular to the borehole surfaces. These "seed" fractures created during thermal stimulation, although they might be suppressed under very high stress, help reduce the levels of breakdown pressure in concurrent or subsequent pressure-based fracturing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insights of feminist science and technology studies (STS) into the constructed and situated nature of knowledge have proved crucial to informing feminist geography. Since the rise of emotional geographies, feminist methodologies no longer simply reflect on questions of positionality, partiality, and power relations, but also on the role of emotions in the field. In this article, we argue that a feminist STS perspective has much to offer when thinking about the way emotions are engineered, controlled, and negotiated in research processes. Our engagement with what we call ‘social laboratories’ – i.e., spaces in everyday life where (experimental) research is conducted with human beings – advances debates in feminist geography, as these laboratories crystallize the emotional entanglements feminists encounter in the field. Looking at economic experiments in Ghana and fertility clinics in Mexico, we discuss the difficulties of doing feminist fieldwork in these experimental research spaces. We argue that the constant negotiation of emotions and ethics is crucial to access, assess, and do fieldwork in research settings that do not adhere to feminist ideals, but nevertheless have gendered effects on women's and men's lives. Rethinking ‘the place of emotions in research’ (Bondi 2005, inEmotional Geographies, edited by Joyce Davidson, Liz Bondi, and Mick Smith, 231–246, Aldershot: Ashgate) through social laboratories forges instructive links across feminist/emotional geographies and social studies of science. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Imaging systems have an indisputable role in revealing vegetation posture under diverse flow conditions, image sequences being generated with off the shelf digital cameras. Such sensors are cheap but introduce a range of distortion effects, a trait only marginally tackled in hydraulic studies focusing on water-vegetation dependencies. This paper aims to bridge this gap by presenting a simple calibration method to remove both camera lens distortion and refractive effects of water. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated using the variable projected area, computed for both simple and complex shaped objects. Results demonstrate the significance of correcting images using a combined lens distortion and refraction model, prior to determining projected areas and further data analysis. Use of this technique is expected to increase data reliability for future work on vegetated channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Areca nut is widely used in India and the consumption has increased over the past two decades, with availability in new dry packaged forms (pan masala, gutka, mawa). Recent reports of increasing mouth cancer incidence have suggested an association with areca nut consumption. Here we have reviewed the evidence for carcinogenicity of areca nut, including epidemiological studies, several animal studies and mechanistic evidence. Studies primarily from India, providing odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks for precancers or cancer with use of areca nut without inclusion of tobacco is the focus of the review. Six casecontrol studies on oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) had significantly elevated ORs for use of areca nut in various forms. Six case-control studies on head and neck cancers, primarily oral cancer reported elevated ORs for chewing of betel quid without tobacco. Eight case control studies on oral cancer have reported elevated and significant ORs for betel quid with tobacco. A significant risk in oral cancer was noted in gutka users. Animal studies confirmed correlation between development of precancers or cancers and exposure to areca nut or pan masala without tobacco. Mechanistic evidence shows a role for areca nut alkaloids, polyphenols and copper in promoting carcinogenesis. Our review emphasizes control policies on areca nut products and appropriate mass communication programs for awareness of hazards of areca nut with emphasis on areca nut per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents estimates of the friction velocity in unsteady flow using two formulas that have been derived from the two-dimensional Reynolds and one-dimensional Saint-Venant equations. Experiments on unsteady flow were performed to collect data on the spatio-temporal evolution of the water level and velocity necessary to apply the formulas. The key feature of these experiments is high temporal resolution of the data. The application of the formulas is presented with an in-depth analysis of the flow conditions, methods for estimating the input variables and an uncertainty analysis of the results. The evaluation of the input variables focuses on the spatial derivative of water depth, which is the most problematic variable in this study. A comparison of the formulas for the friction velocity shows that they are equivalent for the cases presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper reports extensive tests of empirical equations developed by different authors for harbour breakwater overtopping. First, the existing equations are compiled and evaluated as tools for estimating the overtopping rates on sloping and vertical breakwaters. These equations are then tested using the data obtained in a number of laboratory studies performed in the Centre for Harbours and Coastal Studies of the CEDEX, Spain. It was found that the recommended application ranges of the empirical equations typically deviate from those revealed in the experimental tests. In addition, a neural network model developed within the European CLASH Project is tested. The wind effects on overtopping are also assessed using a reduced scale physical model. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Este artigo pretende discutir algumas questões em torno do processo de trabalho dos técnicos de nível médio, a partir do estudo de dois laboratórios de pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D) pertencentes à Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz). Essa discussão, contudo, não pode ser dissociada da análise, mesmo que parcial, dos demais processos de trabalho envolvidos nas atividades de P&D no interior dos laboratórios. Assim, a identificação desses atores, de suas atividades e especificidades é parte constituinte dessa investigação. A partir da incorporação de técnicas de análise de cunho etnográfico, conhecemos as interações entre os diversos atores, suas atividades, além da organização do trabalho no interior dos laboratórios. Através da análise da distribuição de atribuições, e das interações entre os atores, identificamos algumas tendências no(s) processo(s) de trabalho nos laboratórios de P&D em saúde.Based on the study of two R&D laboratories belonging to the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), the article discusses questions concerning bigb-school-graduate lab technicians. A necessary pan of such an analysis is the identification of other actors involved in K&D work within the labs and of their activities and singularities. Using methods from ethnographic analysis, we observed interactions between activities and work organization. Combined with analysis of the distribution of duties, this examination pointed up some tendencies in work processes.

Taking as a point of departure the role that the category of frailty increasingly plays in the classification, sorting and management of ageing populations in contemporary societies, this paper focuses on the crafting and validation of mouse models of frailty. The paper suggests that such models embody therapeutic and techno-economic expectations of ageing research, particularly as these are re-invigorated by current attempts to manipulate or eradicate cell senescence. The paper brings together critical gerontology, social studies of science and more-than-human anthropology to contextualise and analyse ethnographic data collected during fieldwork in a biology of ageing laboratory. The paper proposes that to build a mouse model of frailty, researchers need to learn to 'think like a mouse', provisionally taking the animal's point of view, to then efface that link and reconfigure the scientific chain of reference that enables translation between humans and mouse models of frailty. • Frailty increasingly plays key role in the classification, sorting and management of ageing populations • Animal models of frailty embody technological promises of 'new geroscience' • Paper identifies two fold process in making and validating mouse models of frailty, involving having to learn to 'think like a mouse', to be able to qualify the model [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory technicians are typically portrayed as manual workers following routine procedures to produce scientific data. However, technicians in vertebrate paleontology laboratories often describe their work in terms of creativity and artistry. Fossil specimens undergo extensive preparation – including rock removal, damage repair, and reconstruction of missing parts – to become accessible to researchers. Technicians called ‘fossil preparators’ choose, apply, and sometimes invent these preparation methods. They have no formal training, no standard protocols, and few publications to consult on techniques. Despite the resulting diversity of people and practices, preparators and their work are usually absent from research publications, making them ‘invisible technicians’ in Steven Shapin’s sense. But preparators reject the view of their work as predictable or simple; in particular, many preparators value art training, the aesthetics of prepared fossils, and the process of creative problem-solving in their work. Based on interviews and participant observation and drawing from literature in science studies, sociology of work, and anthropology of craft, I ask why these technicians compare themselves with artists and how this portrayal affects scientific practice and social order in laboratories. I argue that associating artistry and creativity with their work distances preparators from ideas of unskilled technical work and technicians’ low status, thus improving their social role in the laboratory community and preserving their power over laboratory practices. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There have been different approaches to the study of the relations between mass media on the one hand and science and technological activities on the other. In this article, I summarize consumption approaches, point out some of their limitations, and then show how these limitations can be addressed by drawing on an ethnographic study I conducted of an academic engineering research laboratory. I analyze the discursive practices lab members use to interpret mass media. One practice treats media as reference points that mark a lab member’s growing alignment with the profession of electrical and computer engineering, and this constructs an engineering self by providing an opportunity for lab members to display knowledge of the prevalence and shapes of robots and align themselves with the firsthand knowledge prized in engineering culture. Another practice uses the discourse-in-practice of religion to construct an engineering self by aligning the speaker with things that are valued in engineering culture such as objectivity, science, evolution, and literature reviews. The final practice I analyze involves repurposing media technologies in ways that are helpful for both current and future lab research projects, which constructs selves by giving lab members an opportunity to show they know which features of media are relevant for engineering and how these features can be used to address engineering problems. I conclude with a discussion of how this contributes to studies of engineering identity and the relations between science, technology, and media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the interpretive studies of science. Meta-ethnography was employed along with some enhancement strategies supporting case collection, analysis, and synthesis. The study seeks to answer an overarching research question, "What are the descriptions of scientific practice as portrayed by ethnographic studies of science?" Three ethnographies of science were selected and analyzed. The results were organized along three elements: (1) overview of the ethnographic studies, (2) key descriptors, and (3) synthesis. It was found that the three interpretive studies of science had two converging themes: material culture and discursive activity. Each interpretive study revealed its distinct aspects of scientific practice. It was concluded that the material culture is the primary actant that shapes scientists' further activities, credibility and transformation of the community itself. The discursive activities inherent in scientific communities are a salient agency of doing scientific practice and the construction of scientific knowledge. Additionally, this paper highlights how the professional scientific laboratory is a system of literary inscription, the production of images, and reproduction of culture. This research into interpretive studies of science is to enrich our understanding of scientific practice and inform the potential audience to reconsider the practice of school science and its social structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron ore sintering is the most popular process used to produce a suitable feed for the blast furnace. With changing iron ore supplies and composition, steel mills have to continually adjust the blended ore mix composition to the sinter plant. To help decision making in this area, and also obtain increased understanding of the process to allow improvements in sintering operations, laboratory-scale sinter pot tests are conducted. The use of a pot for routine testing and for research is discussed. When used as a research tool, the experimental approach used to simulate a plant will have to be modified to facilitate the interpretation of results. Airflow rate through a bed is a critical parameter and this paper highlights the important relationship between post- and pre-ignition airflow rates and also the effect of changing bed suction and coke level in the sinter mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of sufficient melt of appropriate properties is essential for the transformation of a blended sinter mix bed into a bed composed of large discrete sinter particles. For a chosen sinter mix, melt properties are determined by the quantity of heat transferred from the moving flame front and the chemical properties of the bed. Temperature-time profiles from embedded thermocouples are used to assess the transferred heat. From considerations of melt initiation and solidification temperatures, a critical sintering reaction area in the profiles is defined. The area is about three times the flame front area as it includes high temperature regions outside the front. It represents the total amount of heat available to the material in the partially molten state. Reasonable correlations are obtained between this area and the tumble strength of the sinter product. Temperature-time profiles are quite variable and strong correlations cannot be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of a sinter machine and the quality of the ensuing product are strongly dependent on the processes occurring in the descending flame front. As it is not possible to measure flame front properties in a sintering bed directly, embedded thermocouples are used to provide information in this area. Through making some assumptions, it is possible to assess flame front properties using the obtained thermocouple profiles. Flame front speed, thickness and maximum temperature are identified as important parameters. The total heat transferred to the material from the flame front is a function of these parameters. Experimental results show that increasing flame front speed decreases residence time, maximum temperatures and total heat transferred to the bed. Only indicative trends can be obtained because of the variability in thermocouple results, which are inherent in the experimental technique. Coke combustion efficiency also depends on flame front speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floating box-type breakwaters are frequently used for small harbours and marinas. This paper reports a comparative experimental study of the performance of a rectangular floating breakwater with and without slotted barriers. Experimental results showed that the slotted barriers attached to the bottom of a floating box-type breakwater could improve the transmission performance without increasing both the heave and surge motion responses. It was also found that the slotted barriers could reduce the pitch motion responses for shorter waves and increase the pitch motion responses for longer waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is based on the description of the methodology by which one can achieve a study of social science laboratory, with detailed observations and discussions concerning the way in which scientific research is conducted and especially, thorough description of the relationship between the researcher, the technology of the lab, practices and results, research reports and their purpose. In this context, we aim to give an answer to the scientific production of sociology within the current social construction in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of the 'urban laboratory' is increasingly striking a chord with actors involved in urban change. Is this term simply a metaphor for urban development or does it suggest urbanization by substantially different means? To answer this question, we review the work of science and technology studies ( STS) scholars who have empirically investigated laboratories and practices of experimentation over the past three decades to understand the significance of these spaces of experimentation in urban contexts. Based on this overview of laboratory studies, we argue that urban laboratories and experimentation involve three key achievements - situatedness, change-orientation and contingency - that are useful for evaluating and critiquing those practices that claim to be urban laboratories. We conclude by considering some future directions of research on urban laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of cyanotoxins and its bioaccumulation in the food chain is an increasingly common problem worldwide. Despite the toxic effects produced by Anatoxin-a (ATX-a), this neurotoxin has been less studied compared to microcystins (MCs) and cylindrospermopsin (CYN). Studies conducted under laboratory conditions are of particular interest because these provide information which are directly related to the effects produced by the toxin. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers the ATX-a toxicological database inadequate to support the publication of a formal guideline reference value. Therefore, the aim of the present work is to compile all of the in vitro and in vivo toxicological studies performed so far and to identify potential data gaps. Results show that the number of reports is increasing in recent years. However, more in vitro studies are needed, mainly in standardized neuronal cell lines. Regarding in vivo studies, very few of them reflect conditions occurring in nature and further studies with longer periods of oral exposure would be of interest. Moreover, additional toxicological aspects of great interest such as mutagenicity, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity and alteration of hormonal balance need to be studied in depth.

Objectives: To develop a risk of bias tool for pre-clinical dental materials research studies that aims to support reporting of future investigations and improve assessment in systematic reviews., Methods: A four-stage process following EQUATOR network recommendations was followed, which included project launch, literature review, Delphi process and the tool finalization. With the support of the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD) and the Dental Materials Group of the International Association for Dental Research (DMG-IADR), a total of 26 expert stakeholders were included in the development and Delphi vote of the initial proposal. The proposal was built using data gathered from the literature review stage. During this stage, recent systematic reviews featuring dental materials research, and risk of bias tools found in the literature were comprehensively scanned for bias sources. The experts thus reached a consensus for the items, domains and judgement related to the tool, allowing a detailed guide for each item and corresponding signalling questions., Results: The tool features nine items in total, spread between 4 domains, pertaining to the following types of bias: bias related to planning and allocation (D1), specimen preparation (D2), outcome assessment (D3) and data treatment and outcome reporting (D4). RoBDEMAT, as presented, features signalling questions and a guide that can be used for RoB judgement. Its use as a checklist is preferred over a final summary score., Conclusion: RoBDEMAT is the first risk of bias tool for pre-clinical dental materials research, supported and developed by a broad group of expert stakeholders in the field, validating its future use., Clinical Significance: This new tool will contribute the study field by improving the scientific quality and rigour of dental materials research studies and their systematic reviews. Such studies are the foundation and support of future clinical research and evidence-based decisions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

O médico e epistemologista Ludwik Fleck desenvolveu, nas décadas de 1920-30, uma abordagem bastante original para o estudo das ciências. Ele apoiou sua epistemologia em duas bases: por um lado, em sua própria experiência profissional de bacteriologista e imunologista; por outro, na reflexão da Escola Polonesa de Filosofia da Medicina sobre as práticas dos médicos. Tal escola julga que os 'fatos científicos' são construídos por comunidades de pesquisadores - segundo os termos de Fleck, "coletivos de pensamento". Cada coletivo de pensamento elabora um "estilo de pensamento" único, composto pelo conjunto de normas, saberes e práticas partilhados por tal coletivo. Os recém-chegados são socializados em seu estilo de pensamento particular e adotam, portanto, seu olhar específico sobre o mundo. Os fatos científicos produzidos pelos membros de um dado coletivo de pensamento trazem sempre a marca de seu estilo de pensamento. Graças a isso, eles são incomensuráveis com os 'fatos' produzidos por outros coletivos de pensamento. A incomensurabilidade dos fatos científicos, aumentadas pela necessidade de 'traduzi-los' em outro estilo de pensamento para sua utilização pelas outras comunidades profissionais é, aos olhos de Fleck, uma fonte importante de inovação nas ciências e na sociedade. Por muito tempo esquecidas, as idéias de Fleck foram redescobertas nas décadas de 1960-70, em primeiro lugar por Thomas Kuhn (que, na introdução de The structure of scientific revolutions presta uma homenagem explícita à sua obra), depois pelos sociólogos das ciências. Além de sua influência diretamente perceptível, a epistemologia de Fleck mostra profundas afinidades com as novas tendências que se afirmam no estudo das ciências: a consideração das práticas dos pesquisadores e o interesse por suas técnicas materiais, discursivas e sociais.In the 1920's and 30's the physician and epistemologist Ludwik Fleck developed a highly original ideas on science. These ideas were rooted in Fleck's own experience as bacteriologist and immunologist and, on the other hand, in the practice-based thought of the Polish School of Philosophy of Medicine. Fleck affirmed that 'scientific facts' are constructed by groups of scientists, in his terms, by "thought collectives". Each thougth collective elaborates a "thought style" which contains norms, concepts and practices of that collective. Newcomers to a professional community are socialized into its specific thought style and develop an unique way of viewing the world. Scientific facts produced by a given thought collective are therefore shaped by that collective's thought style, and are incommensurable with facts produced by other thought collectives. The incommensurability of scientific facts and its consequence, the need to 'translate' these facts into the style of different thought collectives in an inter-community use are, Fleck proposed, an important source of innovations in science and in society. Fleck ideas were rediscovered in the 1960's and 70's, first by Thomas Kuhn, who in the introduction to his book, The structure of scientific revolutions, acknowledges his ties with Fleck's thought, then by sociologists of science. Beyond their direct influence, Fleck's epistemology has many affinities with new trends in science studies, focused on the scientists' practices, and interested in their material, discursive and social techniques.