942 research outputs found
An inertial range length scale in structure functions
It is shown using experimental and numerical data that within the traditional
inertial subrange defined by where the third order structure function is linear
that the higher order structure function scaling exponents for longitudinal and
transverse structure functions converge only over larger scales, , where
has scaling intermediate between and as a function of
. Below these scales, scaling exponents cannot be determined for any
of the structure functions without resorting to procedures such as extended
self-similarity (ESS). With ESS, different longitudinal and transverse higher
order exponents are obtained that are consistent with earlier results. The
relationship of these statistics to derivative and pressure statistics, to
turbulent structures and to length scales is discussed.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure
Kolmogorov turbulence in a random-force-driven Burgers equation
The dynamics of velocity fluctuations, governed by the one-dimensional
Burgers equation, driven by a white-in-time random force with the spatial
spectrum \overline{|f(k)|^2}\proptok^{-1}, is considered. High-resolution
numerical experiments conducted in this work give the energy spectrum
with . The observed two-point
correlation function reveals with the
"dynamical exponent" . High-order moments of velocity differences
show strong intermittency and are dominated by powerful large-scale shocks. The
results are compared with predictions of the one-loop renormalized perturbation
expansion.Comment: 13 LaTeX pages, psfig.sty macros, Phys. Rev. E 51, R2739 (1995)
Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics
Carrying out research in genetics and genomics and communicating about them would not be possible without metaphors such as "information," "code," "letter" or "book." Genetic and genomic metaphors have remained relatively stable for a long time but are now beginning to shift in the context of synthetic biology and epigenetics. This article charts the emergence of metaphors in the context of epigenetics, first through collecting some examples of metaphors in scientific and popular writing and second through a systematic analysis of metaphors used in two UK broadsheets. Findings show that while source domains for metaphors can be identified, such as our knowledge of electrical switches or of bookmarks, it is difficult to pinpoint target domains for such metaphors. This may be indicative both of struggles over what epigenetics means for scientists (natural and social) and of difficulties associated with talking about this, as yet, young field in the popular press
Perspectives on Risk Perceptions
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72341/1/j.1539-6924.1981.tb01409.x.pd
UK science press officers, professional vision and the generation of expectations
Science press officers can play an integral role in helping promote expectations and hype about biomedical research. Using this as a starting point, this article draws on interviews with 10 UK-based science press officers, which explored how they view their role as science reporters and as generators of expectations. Using Goodwinâs notion of âprofessional visionâ, we argue that science press officers have a specific professional vision that shapes how they produce biomedical press releases, engage in promotion of biomedical research and make sense of hype. We discuss how these insights can contribute to the sociology of expectations, as well as inform responsible science communication.This project was funded by the Wellcome Trust (Wellcome Trust Biomedical Strategic Award 086034)
Beyond scaling and locality in turbulence
An analytic perturbation theory is suggested in order to find finite-size
corrections to the scaling power laws. In the frame of this theory it is shown
that the first order finite-size correction to the scaling power laws has
following form , where
is a finite-size scale (in particular for turbulence, it can be the Kolmogorov
dissipation scale). Using data of laboratory experiments and numerical
simulations it is shown shown that a degenerate case with can
describe turbulence statistics in the near-dissipation range , where
the ordinary (power-law) scaling does not apply. For moderate Reynolds numbers
the degenerate scaling range covers almost the entire range of scales of
velocity structure functions (the log-corrections apply to finite Reynolds
number). Interplay between local and non-local regimes has been considered as a
possible hydrodynamic mechanism providing the basis for the degenerate scaling
of structure functions and extended self-similarity. These results have been
also expanded on passive scalar mixing in turbulence. Overlapping phenomenon
between local and non-local regimes and a relation between position of maximum
of the generalized energy input rate and the actual crossover scale between
these regimes are briefly discussed.Comment: extended versio
Risks, alternative knowledge strategies and democratic legitimacy: the conflict over co-incineration of hazardous industrial waste in Portugal.
The decision to incinerate hazardous industrial waste in cement plants (the socalled
âco-incinerationâ process) gave rise to one of the most heated environmental
conflicts ever to take place in Portugal. The bitterest period was between 1997 and
2002, after the government had made a decision. Strong protests by residents,
environmental organizations, opposition parties, and some members of the
scientific community forced the government to backtrack and to seek scientific
legitimacy for the process through scientific expertise. The experts ratified the
governmentâs decision, stating that the risks involved were socially acceptable.
The conflict persisted over a decade and ended up clearing the way for a more
sustainable method over which there was broad social consensus â a multifunctional
method which makes it possible to treat, recover and regenerate most
wastes. Focusing the analysis on this conflict, this paper has three aims: (1) to
discuss the implications of the fact that expertise was âconfiscatedâ after the
government had committed itself to the decision to implement co-incineration and
by way of a reaction to the atmosphere of tension and protest; (2) to analyse the
uses of the notions of âriskâ and âuncertaintyâ in scientific reports from both
experts and counter-expertsâ committees, and their different assumptions about
controllability and criteria for considering certain practices to be sufficiently safe
for the public; and (3) to show how the existence of different technical scientific
and political attitudes (one more closely tied to government and the corporate
interests of the cement plants, the other closer to the environmental values of reuse
and recycling and respect for the risk perception of residents who challenged
the facilities) is closely bound up with problems of democratic legitimacy. This
conflict showed how adopting more sustainable and lower-risk policies implies a
broader view of democratic legitimacy, one which involves both civic movements
and citizens themselves
âA Faustian bargain?â Public voices on forensic DNA technologies and the National DNA Database
This article draws on the idea of the âforensic imaginaryâ (Williams 2010) to explore UK public perspectives on the place, role and significance of forensic DNA technologies, both independent of and in relation to other genetic applications. Using correspondentsâ replies to the Spring 2006 Mass Observation Directive âGenes, Genetics and Cloningâ, the analysis focuses on continuities and tensions in their discursive repertoires. The argument examines (a) the ways in which knowledge is made sense of in these accounts, and (b) the discrepancy between an appreciation of the benefits of using DNA identification techniques in police work and a more critical attitude towards a wider national DNA database. The conclusion reflects on the need for a wider scope in research on public understandings of science, which looks beyond targeted consultations and specific publics, and provides more textured data to document collective views on the development and governance of forensic DNA technologies
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