Beta Irradiation of a Geometrically Metastable Superconducting Strip Detector with a Magnetic Flux Penetration Read-Out

Geometrical metastability, observed in superconducting type I tin flat strips, has been previously proposed as a principle for particle detection. The energy deposition of an incoming beta-particle induces the rupture of the metastability and consequently the penetration of multiquantum flux tubes into a superconducting tin strip. We present here the first absorption spectra from two beta sources, which demonstrate the linearity and energy-resolution of these detectors (presented at the 6th International Workshop on Low Temperature Detectors for Dark Matter and Neutrinos (LTD-6), Interlaken, Switzerland, Sept. 1995)Comment: Compressed PostScript (filename.ps.Z), 8 pages, 2 figure

S-35 Beta Irradiation of a Tin Strip in a State of Superconducting Geometrical Metastability

We report the first energy loss spectrum obtained with a geometrically metastable type I superconducting tin strip irradiated by the beta-emission of S-35. (Nucl. Instr. Meth. A, in press)Comment: Compressed PostScript (filename.ps.Z), 9 pages, 2 figure

Digital PCR analysis of circulating tumor DNA: a biomarker for chondrosarcoma diagnosis, prognostication, and residual disease detection

Conventional chondrosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in adults. Prognosis corresponds with tumor grade but remains variable, especially for individuals with grade (G) II disease. There are currently no biomarkers available for monitoring or prognostication of chondrosarcoma. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has recently emerged as a promising biomarker for a broad range of tumor types. To date, little has been done to study the presence of ctDNA and its potential utility in the management of sarcomas, including chondrosarcoma. In this study, we have assessed ctDNA levels in a cohort of 71 patients, 32 with sarcoma, including 29 individuals with central chondrosarcoma (CS) and 39 with locally aggressive and benign bone and soft tissue tumors, using digital PCR. In patients with CS, ctDNA was detected in pretreatment samples in 14/29 patients, which showed clear correlation with tumor grade as demonstrated by the detection of ctDNA in all patients with GIII and dedifferentiated disease (n = 6) and in 8/17 patients with GII disease, but never associated with GI CS. Notably detection of ctDNA preoperatively in GII disease was associated with a poor outcome. A total of 14 patients with CS had ctDNA levels assessed at multiple time points and in most patients there was a clear reduction following surgical removal. This research lays the foundation for larger studies to assess the utility of ctDNA for chondrosarcoma diagnosis, prognostication, early detection of residual disease and monitoring disease progression

Citizenship Education and the Role of Immigrant Students in the Nordic Countries

This chapter addresses the issue of citizenship education and the role of immigrant students in the Nordic countries from the perspective of liberal theories of citizenship education. Liberal approaches to citizenship education have recently encountered rigorous critique: the critics argue that the supposedly democratic, rational, and neutral principles and ideals associated with liberal theories are in reality rooted in a particular way of life and national identity. Accordingly, inculcating these principles and ideals in citizenship education excludes and marginalizes students belonging to minorities, immigrant students in particular. This chapter aims to respond to this critique by separating between two branches of liberal theories of citizenship education, ‘patriotic’ and ‘political’. The chapter argues that while the ‘patriotic’ approach is vulnerable to the aforementioned critique, it does not apply to the ‘political’ line of thought. Rather, the ‘political’ approach, rooted in John Rawls’ political liberalism and the notion of reasonableness, provides a foundation for criticizing policies and practices that marginalize students with immigrant backgrounds. Finally, utilizing Rawlsian theory of citizenship education as a starting point, the chapter makes some suggestions on how the status of immigrant students could be improved in the Nordic countries.Peer reviewe

Making drug harms: Punishments for drugs offenders who pose risks to children

Images of children are routinely used in discourses on drugs, offering a compelling rationale for adopting particular policy positions or legislative reforms. However, the importance of childhood to the constitution of drug harms, and the punishment and subjectification of drug users and offenders, have rarely been the subject of enquiry, whether within drug and alcohol studies, criminology or legal studies. Scholarship on criminal sentencing in England and Wales is also relatively sparse, and has been dominated by analyses of the ‘legal-rational’ logic of particular provisions or reforms. This paper, which relies on the premise that drugs and their effects are constituted through discourse, and are thus contingent, variable and unstable, identifies the ‘collateral realities’ (Law, 2011) that are enacted during legislative and judicial attempts to stabilize the harms caused by drugs to children and communities

On the nature of surface roughness with application to contact mechanics, sealing, rubber friction and adhesion

Surface roughness has a huge impact on many important phenomena. The most important property of rough surfaces is the surface roughness power spectrum C(q). We present surface roughness power spectra of many surfaces of practical importance, obtained from the surface height profile measured using optical methods and the Atomic Force Microscope. We show how the power spectrum determines the contact area between two solids. We also present applications to sealing, rubber friction and adhesion for rough surfaces, where the power spectrum enters as an important input.Comment: Topical review; 82 pages, 61 figures; Format: Latex (iopart). Some figures are in Postscript Level

Improving tribological properties of cast Al-Si alloys through application of wear-resistant thermal spray coatings

Flame Spray Thermal Spray coatings are low-cost, high-wear surface-treatment technologies. However, little has been reported on their potential effects on cast automotive aluminum alloys. The aim of this research was to investigate the tribological properties of as-sprayed NiCrBSi and WC/12Co Flame Spray coatings applied to two cast aluminum alloys: high-copper LM24 (AlSi8Cu3Fe), and low-copper LM25 (AlSi7Mg). Potential interactions between the mechanical properties of the substrate and the deposited coatings were deemed to be significant. Microstructural, microhardness, friction, and wear (pin-on-disk, microabrasion, Taber abrasion, etc.) results are reported, and the performance differences between coatings on the different substrates were noted. The coefficient of friction was reduced from 0.69-0.72 to 0.12-0.35. Wear (pin-on-disk) was reduced by a factor of 103-104, which was related to the high surface roughness of the coatings. Microabrasion wear was dependent on coating hardness and applied load. Taber abrasion results showed a strong dependency on the substrate, coating morphology, and homogeneity

Non-beneficial pediatric research : individual and social interests

Biomedical research involving human subjects is an arena of conflicts of interests. One of the most important conflicts is between interests of participants and interests of future patients. Legal regulations and ethical guidelines are instruments designed to help find a fair balance between risks and burdens taken by research subjects and development of knowledge and new treatment. There is an universally accepted ethical principle, which states that it is not ethically allowed to sacrifice individual interests for the sake of society and science. This is the principle of precedence of individual. But there is a problem with how to interpret the principle of precedence of individual in the context of research without prospect of future benefit involving children. There are proposals trying to reconcile non-beneficial research involving children with the concept of the best interests. We assert that this reconciliation is flawed and propose an interpretation of the principle of precedence of individual as follows: not all, but only the most important interests of participants, must be guaranteed; this principle should be interpreted as the secure participant standard. In consequence, the issue of permissible risk ceiling becomes ethically crucial in research with incompetent subjects

Growing up beside you: a relational sociology of early childhood

This article will begin by outlining influential attempts by historians and sociologists to develop a more adequate theoretical understanding of past and contemporary childhoods, focusing on the major problems that stem from the pivotal role that ‘developmentalism’ plays in their arguments. I will argue that sociologists can overcome some of their deepest fears about the role of developmental psychology by developing a relational approach that integrates the biological and social aspects of children’s development. In the development of a relational sociology of early childhood we need to make important connections with closely related disciplines, but at the same time draw on and integrate research findings from relevant areas within the social and natural sciences. An alternative perspective drawn from the writings of Norbert Elias will be put forward and illustrated by discussing some of the key concepts that Elias and Vygotsky used to explain the language development of young children