Theory of nuclear excitation by electron capture for heavy ions

The resonant process of nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC) in collisions involving highly-charged ions has been investigated theoretically. NEEC is a rare recombination process in which a free electron is captured into a bound shell of an ion with the simultaneous excitation of the nucleus. Total cross sections for NEEC followed by the radiative decay of the excited nucleus are presented for various collision systems. The possibility to observe the NEEC in scattering experiments with trapped or stored ions was discussed focusing on the cases with the largest calculated resonance strength. As the photons emitted in different channels of the electron recombination process are indistinguishable in the total cross section, the interference between NEEC followed by the radiative decay of the nucleus and radiative recombination was investigated. The angular distribution of the emitted photons in the recombination process provides means to discern the two processes. Angular differential cross sections for the emitted photons in the case of E2 nuclear transitions were presented for several heavy elements

Technoscience, technological cultures and socialisation

Technoscience is deeply linked to national cultures across terrains as diverse as medicine, agricultural biotechnologies, ICTs, energy technologies, etc. Understanding the cultural dimension of technoscience is vital for the project of socialisation. This project should be embedded in technological and political cultures, taking variation in cultural approaches to technoscience, national identity and political decision-making seriously. Socialisation of science and technology in Europe should therefore approach socio-technical developments in a way that allows for the emergence of controversies and alternative scenarios and their resolution. Only when we take the links between technological cultures, liberal democracy and technoscience seriously we will be able to confront some of today's most pressing and complex problems

Frictions in the global bioeconomy; Tracing sociotechnical connections in agriculture and biomedicine in Argentina and Singapore

The notion of the bioeconomy, referring to the potential of commercial applications coming out of life sciences research, has become a prominent element in innovation and economic development strategies. It does not only circulate widely around the world, it is also simultaneously imagined in terms of the global circulation of knowledge and technologies. Yet the global dimensions of the bioeconomic imaginary are simultaneously rooted in local manifestations of life science practices and the bioeconomy discourse and notions of the global. We propose to apply Anna Tsing’s concept of ‘friction’ to make sense of the connections between particulars and universals in the bioeconomy. Tsing proposes this concept to understand how situated historical practices render political-economic projects of seemingly universal appeal practically effective, enacting their global connections in contradictory ways. As it illuminates the relations between the local and the global, the concept can be brought in conversation with key issues in STS, including the assemblage of universals, the global circulation of technoscience, and sociotechnical imaginaries. We explore the potential of friction in the context of STS analysis of the bioeconomy by bringing together two cases; the bioeconomy of soy in Argentina, and the bioeconomy of human tissue in Singapore. In Argentina, policymakers instrumentally use ‘bioeconomy’ to entrench a networked form of agribusiness and transcend ideological patterns of classical Peronism. Through its frictional encounter with global biotechnological packages, the long-standing imaginary of Argentina as the granary of the world was significantly refreshed. In Singapore, a national biobank was established in 2001 to advance a national economic strategy rooted in biomedical research. Within this biobank, the global meaning of local research practices became contested and mediated through a national imagination of ‘Asianness’. In conclusion, we consider what a focus on frictions may contribute to STS analysis of the bioeconomy, and beyond

Toward a political economy of frictions in the global bioeconomy

The notion of the bioeconomy, referring to the potential of commercial applications coming out of life sciences research, has become a prominent element in innovation and economic development strategies. It does not only circulate widely around the world, it is also simultaneously imagined in terms of the global circulation of knowledge and technologies. Yet the global dimensions of the bioeconomic imaginary are simultaneously rooted in local manifestations of life science practices and the bioeconomy discourse and notions of the global. We propose to apply Anna Tsing’s concept of ‘friction’ to make sense of the connections between particulars and universals in the bioeconomy. Tsing proposes this concept to understand how situated historical practices render political-economic projects of seemingly universal appeal practically effective, enacting their global connections in contradictory ways. As it illuminates the relations between the local and the global, the concept can be brought in conversation with key issues in STS, including the assemblage of universals, the global circulation of technoscience, and sociotechnical imaginaries. We explore the potential of friction in the context of STS analysis of the bioeconomy by bringing together two cases; the bioeconomy of soy in Argentina, and the bioeconomy of human tissue in Singapore. In Argentina, policymakers instrumentally use ‘bioeconomy’ to entrench a networked form of agribusiness and transcend ideological patterns of classical Peronism. Through its frictional encounter with global biotechnological packages, the long-standing imaginary of Argentina as the granary of the world was significantly refreshed. In Singapore, a national biobank was established in 2001 to advance a national economic strategy rooted in biomedical research. Within this biobank, the global meaning of local research practices became contested and mediated through a national imagination of ‘Asianness’. In conclusion, we consider what a focus on frictions may contribute to STS analysis of the bioeconomy, and beyond

The sportification process of emerging activities in Sweden : Case studies of e-sports and padel through the perspectives of institutionalization and standardization

The sportification process of e-sports and padel in Sweden is analyzed by using the concepts of institutionalization and standardization, which are closely related elements of sportification. This contributes to map, and better understand the sportification process of emerging activities in Sweden. This is relevant, as there is a lack of research on this topic in Sweden, and previous research has shown conflicts between different stakeholders may arise. A multiple-case study design is used to draw different perspectives on the topic, where empirical data is collected through online documents and interviews with players and sport managers. Padel in Sweden is in the process of sportification and will grow its institutions with an upcoming membership with Riksidrottsförbundet (RF). Motives towards it are increased accessibility for youth to play padel, and a wish for clearer classifications according to level. On the other hand, a barrier might be the corporate character of the clubs, as they might wish to remain independent and have no incentive to grow towards more traditional sports practices, something that is in line with the commercialization of sports. Moreover, players appreciate the freedom they currently experience in their clubs. For e-sports, there are currently two national federations. The sport will likely become a member of RF in the future, with the main focus on facilitating grassroots competitions. Standardization is very limited, as competitions are organized by commercial entities that provide what is demanded by the audience. Moreover, the e-sport community has resistance towards more institutionalization and standardization, even though the importance of it for grassroots development and competition is acknowledged. Future research with analyses of other, carefully chosen cases will contribute to draw a more complete picture of the sportification process of emerging activities in Sweden and will enable to further generalize the findings of this study

Precision Medicine and its ‘Infrastructures of Solidarity’. Probing the Social Contract in US and European Precision Medicine Initiatives

status: publishe

Precision Medicine and its 'Infrastructures of Solidarity'. Probing the Social Contract in US and European Precision Medicine Initiatives

status: publishe