13 research outputs found
Boundary layer control by means of DBD plasma actuators
In this thesis a new aerodynamic model to simulate the behavior of Dielectric
Barrier Discharge actuator has been studied. For this task, two different models
have been merged in order to provide a more accurate one. The model has been
implemented using commercial computational fluid dynamics software through builtin
tools. Different configurations have been followed up in order to validate the
model.
During this validation, the phenomena ocurring in the different configurations
has been studied, remarking on the ability of the modelled devices to have an effect
on low-speed flows, with different extent.
The model has the aim of improving and easing the computational side of this
actuators, that tend to couple electric, fluid an kinetic phenomena; with the scope
of investigating its potential in different applications in a simpler way.IngenierĂa Aeroespacia
Artesãos, cartografia e império. A produção social de um instrumento nåutico no mundo ibérico, 1500-1650
Explicar cómo y en qué condiciones fueron construidos algunos de los instrumentos
cientĂficos mĂĄs emblemĂĄticos del mundo moderno sigue siendo un desafĂo para los historiadores de la ciencia y de
la tecnologĂa. Este principio afecta tambiĂ©n a los instrumentos nĂĄuticos. AsĂ, el objetivo del presente artĂculo es
considerar el âcĂłmoâ y el âen quĂ© condicionesâ, en un sentido amplio, analizando uno de estos artefactos: las cartas
nĂĄuticas construidas durante la expansiĂłn marĂtima europea. Originalidad: La originalidad del texto no reside
Ășnicamente en llevar a cabo una reconstrucciĂłn de este instrumento en Portugal y España que aporte nuevos datos
sobre su proceso de fabricación y sus fabricantes, sino también en arrojar luz sobre antiguos debates historiogråficos
que subyacen a la gĂ©nesis de la ciencia moderna, tales como la difĂcil colaboraciĂłn entre hombres prĂĄcticos y
hombres teĂłricos; la aportaciĂłn de comunidades de artesanos al mundo del conocimiento; el papel que los saberes
prĂĄcticos tuvieron en el establecimiento de nuevas formas de estandarizaciĂłn en ciencia; la adopciĂłn de una
metodologĂa empĂrica para el dominio del mundo o la construcciĂłn de grandes imperios globales cimentados sobre
la base del trabajo manual. MetodologĂa: El anĂĄlisis de estos debates requiere una aproximaciĂłn metodolĂłgica que
atienda a las categorĂas y los conceptos principales puestos en circulaciĂłn tanto por la historia como por la filosofĂa
de la ciencia mĂĄs reciente. En definitiva, se trata de atender a las condiciones que permitieron el establecimiento de
acuerdos (y también de controversias) epistemológicos entre diferentes comunidades de conocimiento tomando
un instrumento nĂĄutico como âmediadorâ. Conclusiones: El artĂculo concluye que la consideraciĂłn de las culturas
empĂricas del conocimiento y sus realizaciones materiales son una condiciĂłn sine qua non para entender la gĂ©nesis
de la modernidad cientĂfica europea y la construcciĂłn de un mundo globalExplaining how and under what conditions some of the most emblematic scientific instruments of the modern world were built remains a challenge for historians of science and technology. This principle also affects nautical instruments. Thus, the objective of this article is to consider the âhowâ and the âunder what conditionsâ, in a broad sense, by examining one of these devices: the nautical charts developed during the European maritime expansion. Originality: The originality of this article lies not only in the reconstruction of this instrument in Portugal and Spain, providing new information about its development process and its manufacturers, but also in shedding light on old historiographical debates that underlie the genesis of modern science, such as the difficult collaboration between practical men and theoretical men; the contribution of artisan communities to the world of knowledge; the role that practical knowledge played in the establishment of new forms of standardization in science; the adoption of an empirical methodology for achieving mastery of the world or the construction of large global empires founded upon manual labor. Methodology: Analyzing these debates requires a methodological approach that addresses the main categories and concepts put into circulation by the most recent history and philosophy of science. In short, unveiling the conditions that enabled the establishment of epistemological agreements (and also disputes) between different knowledge communities by taking a nautical instrument as âmediator.â Conclusions: The article concludes that examining empirical knowledge cultures and their material achievements are a sine qua non condition to understand the genesis of European scientific modernity and the construction of a global worldExplicar como e em que condiçÔes foram construĂdos alguns dos instrumentos cientĂficos mais emblemĂĄticos do mundo moderno continua sendo um desafio para os historiadores da ciĂȘncia e da tecnologia. Esse princĂpio afeta tambĂ©m os instrumentos nĂĄuticos. Assim, o objetivo do presente artigo Ă© considerar o âcomoâ e o âem que condiçÔesâ, em um sentido amplo, e analisar um desses artefatos: as cartas nĂĄuticas construĂdas durante a expansĂŁo marĂtima europeia. Originalidade: A originalidade do texto nĂŁo reside unicamente na realização de uma reconstrução desse instrumento em Portugal e na Espanha de forma que traga novos dados sobre seu processo de fabricação e de seus fabricantes, mas tambĂ©m em lançar luz sobre antigos debates historiogrĂĄficos que subjazem Ă gĂȘnese da ciĂȘncia moderna, tais como a difĂcil colaboração entre homens prĂĄticos e homens teĂłricos, a contribuição de comunidades de artesĂŁos ao mundo do conhecimento; o papel que os saberes prĂĄticos tiveram no estabelecimento de novas formas de padronização na ciĂȘncia, a adoção de uma metodologia empĂrica para o domĂnio do mundo ou a construção de grandes impĂ©rios globais cimentados sobre a base do trabalho manual. Metodologia: A anĂĄlise desses debates requer uma aproximação metodolĂłgica que atenda Ă s categorias e aos principais conceitos colocados em circulação tanto pela histĂłria quanto pela filosofia da ciĂȘncia mais recente. Definitivamente, trata-se de atender Ă s condiçÔes que permitiram o estabelecimento de acordos (e tambĂ©m de controvĂ©rsias) epistemolĂłgicos entre diferentes comunidades de conhecimento tomando o instrumento nĂĄutico como âmediadorâ. ConclusĂ”es: O artigo conclui que a consideração das culturas empĂricas do conhecimento e suas realizaçÔes materiais sĂŁo uma condição sine qua non para entender a gĂȘnese da modernidade cientĂfica europeia e a construção de um mundo globa
The James Webb Space Telescope Mission
Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies,
expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling
for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least .
With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000
people realized that vision as the James Webb Space Telescope. A
generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of
the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the
scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000
team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image
quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief
history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing
program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite
detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space
Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure
Métodos y técnicas de monitoreo y predicción temprana en los escenarios de riesgos socionaturales
Esta obra concentra los mĂ©todos y las tĂ©cnicas fundamentales para el seguimiento y monitoreo de las dinĂĄmicas de los escenarios de riesgos socionaturales (geolĂłgicos e hidrometeorolĂłgicos) y tiene como objetivo general orientar, apoyar y acompañar a los directivos y operativos de protecciĂłn civil en aterrizar las acciones y polĂticas pĂșblicas enfocadas a la gestiĂłn del riesgo local de desastre
Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries
Abstract
Background
Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres.
Methods
This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and lowâmiddle-income countries.
Results
In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of âsingle-useâ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for lowâmiddle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia.
Conclusion
This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both highâ and lowâmiddleâincome countries
X chromosome inactivation does not necessarily determine the severity of the phenotype in Rett syndrome patients
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurological disorder usually caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. Since the MECP2 gene is located on the X chromosome, X chromosome inactivation (XCI) could play a role in the wide range of phenotypic variation of RTT patients; however, classical methylation-based protocols to evaluate XCI could not determine whether the preferentially inactivated X chromosome carried the mutant or the wild-type allele. Therefore, we developed an allele-specific methylation-based assay to evaluate methylation at the loci of several recurrent MECP2 mutations. We analyzed the XCI patterns in the blood of 174 RTT patients, but we did not find a clear correlation between XCI and the clinical presentation. We also compared XCI in blood and brain cortex samples of two patients and found differences between XCI patterns in these tissues. However, RTT mainly being a neurological disease complicates the establishment of a correlation between the XCI in blood and the clinical presentation of the patients. Furthermore, we analyzed MECP2 transcript levels and found differences from the expected levels according to XCI. Many factors other than XCI could affect the RTT phenotype, which in combination could influence the clinical presentation of RTT patients to a greater extent than slight variations in the XCI pattern