Using Narrative Research and Portraiture to Inform Design Research

Abstract. Employing an interdisciplinary perspective, this paper addresses how narrative research and portraiture- methods originating from, and commonly used in social sciences- can be beneficial for HCI and design research communities. Narrative research takes stories as a basis for data collection and analysis, while portraiture can be used to create written narratives about interview participants. Drawing on this knowledge, we show how a focus on narrative data, and analysis of such data through portraiture, can be adopted for the specific purpose of enhancing design processes. We hope to encourage design and HCI researchers to consider adopting these methods. By drawing on an illustrative example, we show how these methods served to inform design ideas for digital crafting. Based on our experiences, we present guidelines for using narrative research and portraiture for design research, as well as discussing opportunities and strengths, and limitations and risks

Phase Behavior of Aqueous Na-K-Mg-Ca-CI-NO3 Mixtures: Isopiestic Measurements and Thermodynamic Modeling

A comprehensive model has been established for calculating thermodynamic properties of multicomponent aqueous systems containing the Na{sup +}, K{sup +}, Mg{sup 2+}, Ca{sup 2+}, Cl{sup -}, and NO{sub 3}{sup -} ions. The thermodynamic framework is based on a previously developed model for mixed-solvent electrolyte solutions. The framework has been designed to reproduce the properties of salt solutions at temperatures ranging from the freezing point to 300 C and concentrations ranging from infinite dilution to the fused salt limit. The model has been parameterized using a combination of an extensive literature database and new isopiestic measurements for thirteen salt mixtures at 140 C. The measurements have been performed using Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) previously designed gravimetric isopiestic apparatus, which makes it possible to detect solid phase precipitation. Water activities are reported for mixtures with a fixed ratio of salts as a function of the total apparent salt mole fraction. The isopiestic measurements reported here simultaneously reflect two fundamental properties of the system, i.e., the activity of water as a function of solution concentration and the occurrence of solid-liquid transitions. The thermodynamic model accurately reproduces the new isopiestic data as well as literature data for binary, ternary and higher-order subsystems. Because of its high accuracy in calculating vapor-liquid and solid-liquid equilibria, the model is suitable for studying deliquescence behavior of multicomponent salt systems

SCUBA: a common-user submillimetre camera operating on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com '.--Copyright Blackwell Publishing DOI : 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02111.xSCUBA, the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array, built by the Royal Observatory Edinburgh for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, is the most versatile and powerful of a new generation of submillimetre cameras. It combines a sensitive dual-waveband imaging array with a three-band photometer, and is sky-background limited by the emission from the Mauna Kea atmosphere at all observing wavelengths from 350μm to 2mm. The increased sensitivity and array size mean that SCUBA maps close to 10,000 times faster than its single-pixel predecessor (UKT14). SCUBA is a facility instrument, open to the world community of users, and is provided with a high level of user support. We give an overview of the instrument, describe the observing modes and user interface, performance figures on the telescope, and present a sample of the exciting new results that have revolutionised submillimetre astronomy.Peer reviewe

Combination of gold nanoparticles with low-LET irradiation: an approach to enhance DNA DSB induction in HT29 colorectal cancer stem-like cells

Purpose: High-linear energy transfer (high LET) irradiation has significant cytotoxic effects on different cancerous stem-like cells (CSLCs) such as colorectal CSLCs. A review of the literature has indicated that the presence of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) enables low-LET irradiation to produce highly non-homogeneous dose distributions like high-LET irradiation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radioresponsiveness of HT29 colorectal CSLCs under low-LET irradiation (X-ray) and in the presence of GNPs. Methods: Radioresponsiveness was evaluated using the ϒ-H2AX foci formation assay, the clonogenic assay, the cell cycle progression assay and analyses of radiobiological parameters. Results: In the presence of GNPs, the survival fraction of HT29 CSLCs was significantly reduced and caused significant changes in the radiobiological parameters after irradiation. In addition, ϒ-H2AX assay showed that in the presence of GNPs, the persistent DNA double-strand breaks were significantly increased in irradiated HT29 CSLCs. The relative biological effectiveness value of GNPs with X-rays was about 1.6 for HT-29 CSLCs at the 10 of cell survival fraction (D10 level) when compared to X-rays alone. Conclusion: Therefore, the combination of GNPs with X-ray irradiation has the potential to kill HT29 CSLCs greater than the X-ray alone, and may be considered as an alternative for high-LET irradiation. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature