(Re)Conceptualizing decision-making tools in a risk governance framework for emerging technologies—the case of nanomaterials

The utility of decision-making tools for the risk governance of nanotechnology is at the core of this paper. Those working in nanotechnology risk management have been prolific in creating such tools, many derived from European FP7 and H2020-funded projects. What is less clear is how such tools might assist the overarching ambition of creating a fair system of risk governance. In this paper, we reflect upon the role that tools might and should play in any system of risk governance. With many tools designed for the risk governance of this emerging technology falling into disuse, this paper provides an overview of extant tools and addresses their potential shortcomings. We also posit the need for a data readiness tool. With the EUs NMP13 family of research consortia about to report to the Commission on ways forward in terms of risk governance of this domain, this is a timely intervention on an important element of any risk governance system

Nuclear Clusters as a Probe for Expansion Flow in Heavy Ion Reactions at 10-15AGeV

A phase space coalescence description based on the Wigner-function method for cluster formation in relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions is presented. The momentum distributions of nuclear clusters d,t and He are predicted for central Au(11.6AGeV)Au and Si(14.6AGeV)Si reactions in the framework of the RQMD transport approach. Transverse expansion leads to a strong shoulder-arm shape and different inverse slope parameters in the transverse spectra of nuclear clusters deviating markedly from thermal distributions. A clear ``bounce-off'' event shape is seen: the averaged transverse flow velocities in the reaction plane are for clusters larger than for protons. The cluster yields --particularly at low $p_t$ at midrapidities-- and the in-plane (anti)flow of clusters and pions change if suitably strong baryon potential interactions are included. This allows to study the transient pressure at high density via the event shape analysis of nucleons, nucleon clusters and other hadrons.Comment: 38 pages, 9 figures, LaTeX type, eps used, subm. to Phys. Rev.

Time adaptive Zassenhaus splittings for the Schrödinger equation in the semiclassical regime

Time dependent Schrödinger equations with conservative force field commonly constitute a major challenge in the numerical approximation, especially when they are analysed in the semiclassical regime. Extremely high oscillations originate from the semiclassical parameter, and call for appropriate methods. We propose to employ a combination of asymptotic Zassenhaus splitting with time adaptivity. While the former turns the disadvantage of the semiclassical parameter into an advantage, leading to highly efficient methods with low error constants, the latter enables to choose an optimal time step and to speed up the calculations when the oscillations subside. We support the results with numerical examples

Opportunities and challenges when designing and developing with kids @ school

The school context provides a fruitful and at the same challenging environment to get children engaged in creative development activities. Within this paper we highlight the opportunities and challenges when involving children in the design and development process of interactive technologies with a special focus on this educational context. A summary of the contributions to this IDC 2011 workshop is provided pointing out the main highlights from the position papers. We conclude by discussing future research challenges and opportunities when working with children in the school context