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In this article, we introduce the concept of 'the imagined scientist'. It inverts previous discussions of the public as an imagined community with a knowledge deficit, to examine imagined scientists representing an actor (or group of actors) with deficits in knowledge or concern about social issues. We study how Norwegian science policymakers, on the one hand, and biotechnologists and nanotechnologists, on the other, articulate and engage with social responsibility. The article identifies what we call 'deficit trouble', when there is poor alignment of the deficits of different imagined scientists, which may lead to a stalemate in the communication between science policymakers and scientists. We argue that 'the imagined scientist' can function as sensitizing concept for further studies of science governance across a range of topics, bringing into view how different deficit logics operate in science policy.

It has been a common assumption that the knowledge practices of environmental organisations (ENGOs) is largely based on interaction with environmental research. Implied in such assumptions is the idea that ENGOs are so-called boundary organizations brokering knowledge between science and environmental policy decision-making. In this article, we challenge this belief. Through interviews, we have investigated the practices of ENGO employees as they acquire and assemble knowledge they need in their involvement with environmental policymakers. From their accounts, these ENGOs are not boundary organizations. Science is important but such knowledge was usually acquired indirectly and appeared to be seen as ubiquitous in the environmental policy community. We found that the knowledge practices were based on what we call rhizomic learning. We introduce this concept to highlight the complexity, opacity and non-linearity of the ways in which ENGO actors acquire and assemble environmental knowledge. We found that this rhizomic learning is characterized by five main features: 1) diversity of sources and the importance of networks, 2) pragmatism, 3) opacity of the process, 4) community among involved actors, and 5) mediation. ENGO actors expected that their capacity for rhizomic learning - not the least the purposeful mediation and assembly of knowledge from a multitude of sources - would make them appear to policymakers as competent, relevant and reliable.

The problem of developing research and innovation in accordance with society's general needs and values has received increasing attention in research policy. In the last 7 years, the concept of "Responsible Research and Innovation" (RRI) has gained prominence in this regard, along with the resulting question of how best to integrate awareness about science-society relations into daily practices in research and higher education. In this context, post-graduate training has been seen as a promising entrance point, but tool-kit approaches more frequently have been used. In this paper, we present and analyze an experiment-in the format of a Ph.D. course for early-career researchers-deploying an alternative approach. Drawing on Argyris and Schön's (1974) framing of reflective practice, and their distinctions between espoused theories and theories-in-use, the analyzed course endeavored to stimulate double-loop learning. Focusing on dislocatory moments, this paper analyses how the course tried to teach participants to reflect upon their own practices, values, and ontologies, and whether this provided them with the resources necessary to reflect on their theories-in-use in their daily practices.

We present a method for accelerating the global structure optimization of atomic compounds. The method is demonstrated to speed up the finding of the anatase TiO 2 (001)-(1 × 4) surface reconstruction within a density functional tight-binding theory framework using an evolutionary algorithm. As a key element of the method, we use unsupervised machine learning techniques to categorize atoms present in a diverse set of partially disordered surface structures into clusters of atoms having similar local atomic environments. Analysis of more than 1000 different structures shows that the total energy of the structures correlates with the summed distances of the atomic environments to their respective cluster centers in feature space, where the sum runs over all atoms in each structure. Our method is formulated as a gradient based minimization of this summed cluster distance for a given structure and alternates with a standard gradient based energy minimization. While the latter minimization ensures local relaxation within a given energy basin, the former enables escapes from meta-stable basins and hence increases the overall performance of the global optimization.

A researcher or practitioner can employ a biofilm model to gain insight into what controls the performance of a biofilm process and for optimizing its performance. While a wide range of biofilm-modeling platforms is available, a good strategy is to choose the simplest model that includes sufficient components and processes to address the modeling goal. In most cases, a one-dimensional biofilm model provides the best balance, and good choices can range from hand-calculation analytical solutions, simple spreadsheets, and numerical-method platforms. What is missing today is clear guidance on how to apply a biofilm model to obtain accurate and meaningful results. Here, we present a five-step framework for good biofilm reactor modeling practice (GBRMP). The first four steps are (1) obtain information on the biofilm reactor system, (2) characterize the influent, (3) choose the plant and biofilm model, and (4) define the conversion processes. Each step demands that the model user understands the important components and processes in the system, one of the main benefits of doing biofilm modeling. The fifth step is to calibrate and validate the model: System-specific model parameters are adjusted within reasonable ranges so that model outputs match actual system performance. Calibration is not a simple 'by the numbers' process, and it requires that the modeler follows a logical hierarchy of steps. Calibration requires that the adjusted parameters remain within realistic ranges and that the calibration process be carried out in an iterative manner. Once each of steps 1 through 5 is completed satisfactorily, the calibrated model can be used for its intended purpose, such as optimizing performance, trouble-shooting poor performance, or gaining deeper understanding of what controls process performance.

Two different anaerobic feeding strategies were compared to optimize the development and performance of aerobic granules. A stable aerobic granulation of activated sludge was achieved with an anaerobic plug flow operation (PI) and a fast influent step followed by an anaerobic mixing phase (PII). Two lab scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were operated to test the different operation modes. PI with plug flow and a reactor H/D (height/diameter) ratio of 9 achieved a biomass concentration of 20 g(TSS)/L and an effluent TSS concentration of 0.10 g(TSS)/L. PII with the mixed anaerobic phase directly after feeding and a reactor H/D ratio of 2 achieved a biomass concentration of 9 g(TSS)/L and an effluent quality of 0.05 g(TSS)/L. Furthermore, it is shown that the plug flow regime during anaerobic feeding together with the lower H/D ratio of 2 led to channeling effects, which resulted in lower storage of organic carbon and a general destabilization of the granulation process. Compared to the plug flow regime (PI), the anaerobic mixing (PII) provided lower substrate gradients within the biofilm. However, these disadvantages could be compensated by higher mass transfer coefficients in PII (k(L) = 0.3 m/d for PI; k(L) = 86 m/d for PII) during the anaerobic phase., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Water-quality standards requiring simultaneous low level effluent N and P concentrations are increasingly common in Europe and the United States of America. Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) and biologically active filters (BAFs) have been used as post-denitrification biofilm reactors in processes designed and operated for this purpose (Boltz et al., 2010a). There is a paucity of information describing systematic design and operational protocols that will minimize the potential for phosphorus rate-limited conditions as well as a lack of information describing the interaction between these post-denitrification biofilm reactors and unit processes that substantially alter phosphorus speciation (e.g., chemically enhanced clarification). In this paper, a simple mathematical model for estimating the threshold below which P becomes rate-limiting, and the model is presented and evaluated by comparing its predictions with operational data from post-denitrification MBBRs and BAFs. Ortho-phosphorus (PO(4)-P), which is the dissolved reactive component of total phosphorus, was a primary indicator of P rate-limiting conditions in the evaluated post-denitrification biofilm reactors. The threshold below which PO(4)-P becomes the rate-limiting substrate is defined: S(PO4-P):S(NOx-N) = 0.0086 g P/g N and S(PO4-P):S(M) = 0.0013 g P/g COD. Additional analyses indicate J(NOx-N)(avg) =0.48 g/m2/d when S(PO4-P):S(NOx-N) > 0.0086, and J(NOx-N)(avg) = 0.06 g/m2/d when S(PO4-P):S(NOx-N) < 0.0086. Effluent nitrate-nitrogen plus nitrite-nitrogen concentration (S(NOx-N)) from the evaluated post-denitrification biofilm reactors began to rapidly increase when S(PO4-P):S(NOx-N) was 0.01, approximately (consistent with the rate-limitation threshold of S(PO4-P):S(NOx-N) < 0.0086 predicted by the mathematical model described in this paper). Depending on the processes used at a given WWTP, optimizing chemically enhanced clarification to increase the amount of PO(4)-P that remains in the clarifiers effluent stream, dosing phosphoric acid in the MBBR or BAF influent stream, and/or optimizing secondary process EBPR may overcome phosphorus rate-limitations in the biofilm-based post-denitrification process., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper studies how people reason about and make sense of human-made global warming, based on ten focus group interviews with Norwegian citizens. It shows that the domestication of climate science knowledge was shaped through five sense-making devices: news media coverage of changes in nature, particularly the weather, the coverage of presumed experts' disagreement about global warming, critical attitudes towards media, observations of political inaction, and considerations with respect to everyday life. These sense-making devices allowed for ambiguous outcomes, and the paper argues four main outcomes with respect to the domestication processes: the acceptors, the tempered acceptors, the uncertain and the sceptics.

The vertical distribution of nitrification performances in an up-flow biological aerated filter operated at tertiary nitrification stage is evaluated in this paper. Experimental data were collected from a semi-industrial pilot-plant under various operating conditions. The actual and the maximum nitrification rates were measured at different levels inside the up-flow biofilter. A nitrogen loading rate higher than 1.0 kg NH4-Nm(-3)&#95;mediad(-1) is necessary to obtain nitrification activity over all the height of the biofilter. The increase in water and air velocities from 6 to 10 m h(-1) and 10 to 20 m h(-1) has increased the nitrification rate by 80% and 20% respectively. Backwashing decreases the maximum nitrification rate in the media by only 3-14%. The nitrification rate measured at a level of 0.5 m above the bottom of the filter is four times higher than the applied daily average volumetric nitrogen loading rate up to 1.5 kg NH4-N m(-3)&#95;mediad(-1). Finally, it is shown that 58% of the available nitrification activity is mobilized in steady-state conditions while up to 100% is used under inflow-rate increase., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Monodisperse platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) were synthesized by a green recipe. Glucose serves as a reducing agent and starch as a stabilization agent to protect the freshly formed PtNP cores in buffered aqueous solutions. Among the ten buffers studied, 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES), ammonium acetate and phosphate are the best media for PtNP size control and fast chemical preparation. The uniform sizes of the metal cores were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and found to be 1.8 ± 0.5, 1.7 ± 0.2 and 1.6 ± 0.5 nm in phosphate, MES and ammonium acetate buffer, respectively. The estimated total diameter of the core with a starch coating layer is 5.8-6.0 nm, based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The synthesis reaction is simple, environmentally friendly, highly reproducible, and easy to scale up. The PtNPs were characterized electrochemically and show high catalytic activity for reduction of dioxygen and hydrogen peroxide as well as for oxidation of dihydrogen. The PtNPs can be transferred to carbon support materials with little demand for high specific surface area of carbon. This enables utilization of graphitized carbon blacks to prepare well-dispersed Pt/C catalysts, which exhibit significantly improved durability in the accelerated aging test under fuel cell mimicking conditions.

We made a prospective study of 241 Charnley total hip replacements performed between 1968 and 1974. In 1990 we reviewed 92 patients with 103 hips or 96% of surviving hips at a mean follow-up of 17.6 years (15 to 20.6). The clinical results were excellent with Charnley scores of four or more for pain in 95% of the cases, for function in 73% and for movement in 93%. Of the whole series, 8.3% had been revised and Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed a probability of revision at 20 years of 10.7%. No significant difference concerning the results was found between young patients operated between the ages of 34 to 55, and older patients operated between the ages of 56 to 79 years. These results are similar to those from the few other series with extended follow-up and make it difficult to justify the present widespread use of uncemented hip prostheses.

Data on 240 primary Charnley total hip arthroplasties, performed in 211 patients from October 1968 to July 1974, were recorded prospectively. Fifty-two prostheses were implanted in forty-six patients who were thirty-four to fifty-five years old, and 188 prostheses were implanted in 165 patients who were more than fifty-five years old. The results for the younger patients were compared with those for the older patients. Twenty hips were revised over-all, and all five of the infections and four of the five fractures of the femoral stem that occurred in this group were in the older patients. However, the rate of aseptic loosening was similar for the two age-groups (three of the hips in the younger patients and five in the older patients). The probability of revision after twenty years for the two groups, as determined with Kaplan-Meier analysis, was 11.7 per cent for the younger patients and 10.7 per cent for the older patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to either the number of revisions or the percentage of patients who had radiographic signs of loosening. The median Charnley hip scores during the course of the study were also similar for the two groups. We recommend that Charnley low-friction arthroplasty be used even in younger patients, as the long-term results were excellent and were comparable with those in the elderly age-group.

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to describe and evaluate a model of regular follow-up by home visits to selected elderly patients discharged from a geriatric ward. Ninety-seven patients were randomized to receive regular follow-up visits by a geriatric team at 1, 3, 8 and 16 weeks after discharge, and 96 patients to receive standard care. Based on the geriatric evaluation, medical and social adjustment was carried out, if indicated. Six months after discharge, significantly more patients in the intervention group were allocated to home help (p < 0.05), but only 42 (44%) were readmitted to a hospital, vs 62 (64%) in the control group (p < 0.005). Differences between the groups in mortality and nursing-home placement were not statistically significant. Regular follow-up home visits by a geriatric team after in-patient geriatric evaluation and management reduce the risk of hospital readmissions among highly selected frail geriatric patients.

A method of building bridges--in terms of therapy and care--between the life of the elderly before, during, and after a stay in hospital is described in this randomized, controlled study from a Copenhagen suburb. A project nurse employed by the City called at the Hospital each day and followed the members of this group concerning the need to gather information from primary care, discuss discharge with the patient and the nursing staff, co-ordinate possible supportive measures in the home, and immediately after the discharge to make a home visit to ensure continuity of care and treatment.

In cooperation between the home care system in the Municipality of Rødovre and four hospital departments in the County of Copenhagen, a controlled and randomized investigation was undertaken among the hospitalized patients of 65 years and over from the Municipality of Rødovre. A nurse employed by the Municipality particularly for this project visited the hospital daily and followed the 135 participants in the intervention group with the objects of obtaining information from the primary sector if necessary, discussing discharge with the patient and the hospital staff, coordinating possible supportive measures in the patient's home and visiting the patient in his home immediately after discharge from hospital in order to ensure continuity in care and treatment. The 138 participants in the control group underwent the usual procedures in connection with admission to hospital. In this article, the consequences of the contributions by the health visitor in the hospital are described in relation to the course of hospitalization. The intervention group had an average stay in hospital of 11.0 days as compared with 14.3 days in the control group (p greater than 0.05), and the total number of bed-days were 1,490 and 1,970, respectively. In addition, the two groups were compared as regards the number of diagnostic procedures during hospitalization, the number of deaths, the diagnoses on discharge and the functional capacity. No differences were observed in these respects between the two groups. Three patients from the control group were discharged to residential institutions as compared with none in the intervention group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A material of 15 cases of histologically examined pyrophosphate arthritis (hip-joint: 7 cases, knee joint: 8 cases) is presented. Amyloid deposits were found in 14 cases and chondromatosis in the subsynovial connective tissue of all the cases. The significance of this high, not previously reported, coincidence is discussed, together with various pathogenetic possibilities, as related to the theories of the genesis of amyloid substance.

Five hundred eighty-five inhabitants of Copenhagen, aged 75, 80, and 85 years, were visited in their homes and asked about consumption of medicine and subjective health; in addition, a general medical examination was carried out by a physician. Taking biological aging into consideration, 34.8% of the participants were found to be of normal health. The 75 year-old men differed from the other age groups and the women by having a better subjective and objective health. A total of 74.5% of the participants claimed to be in good health. After three years and again after five years, mortality was found to be most strongly related to the number of admissions to hospital and institutionalisation. Poor subjective health was more strongly related to mortality than poor objective health, particularly after five years. Of the participants, 74.2% consumed medicine regularly. The largest intake of drugs was found among women, the oldest participants, those living in institutions, and those living alone.

As part of an epidemiological survey of 75-, 80- and 85-year-old citizens of Copenhagen, the blood pressure of 566 participants was measured at home visits. Based on WHO criteria, systolic hypertension was present in 66% of the men and 71% of the women, and diastolic hypertension was demonstrated in 18% of the men and 22% of the women. The systolic blood pressure was significantly higher among women than among men. Surprisingly, the mortality rate was highest among women with low systolic blood pressure. There was no correlation between blood pressure and morbidity, except among men with low systolic blood pressure, the majority of whom suffered from neoplasms. The women with the lowest systolic blood pressure displayed poor functional capacity in four--and the men in one--out of ten partial functions. No correlation could be demonstrated between blood pressure and intake of medicine. In fact, participants receiving antihypertensives had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures compared with the other participants.

733 elderly citizens of Copenhagen filled in a questionnaire about quality of life. This questionnaire formed part of a follow-up performed 3 years after a socio-medical intervention study. A modified Cantril ladder scale was used to evaluate quality of life. When asked about the best and the worst that could happen, nearly half of the old people mentioned health. The second and third subjects most often mentioned were dwelling conditions and contact with relatives. There was no correlation between scores on the ladder scale and sex and age. The socio-medical intervention performed 3 years previously had no measurable effect on quality of life. Old people with a low score on the ladder scale were more inclined to be housebound, feel lonely, stay in institutions, and have a poor subjective health and economy compared with respondents with a high score.

We have investigated the intraosseous partial pressures in 15 patients suffering from primary arthrosis of the hip. The measurements were performed by a mass spectrometer via a specially designed inlet system. The average pO2 and pCO2 values in the femoral head were 8.2 and 6.8 kPa (62 and 52 mmHg), respectively, and in the greater trochanter 6.6 and 5.1 kPa (51 and 39 mmHg). The average intraosseous pressures in the femoral head and greater trochanter were 5.5 and 3.0 kPa (42 and 23 mmHg). The differences between the intraosseous pressures, pO2 and pCO2 in the greater trochanter and the femoral head were all significant.

Twenty milligram diazepam (DZ) was compared with 20 mg of its main metabolite N-desmethyldiazepam (NDDZ) as single dose, oral premedication in a genuine stressful situation. Fifty patients participated in the randomized, double-blind controlled study. Anxiety and sedation were measured the day before an operation and one hour after premedication, just before the operation. NDDZ was significantly less sedative while the degree of anxiety was rated equal in the two groups. The results may support the hypothesis that a competition between DZ and NDDZ can explain the shift in the effect profile of DZ during long term treatment.

A general medical examination was performed of 569 Copenhagen inhabitants aged 75, 80, and 85 years in the participants' own homes as part of an epidemiological, sociomedical intervention study. The present report contains the results of this examination regarding lung function, circulation, sensory, and motor apparatus. Curves are presented expressing the normal peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) for men and women 75-85 years old. More men than women had a compromised lung function. Regarding circulation and motor apparatus, more women and 85-year-olds showed impairments. Functional vision and hearing declined with age, but no significant differences could be demonstrated between men and women, although a preponderance of women tended to show hearing disability. Institutionalised participants were more inclined to have impairment of lung function and sight and to walk with difficult. Gait disturbances and impairment of vision were the objective health measurements most strongly related to death at follow-up after three years.

Pyrophosphate and capsular chondromatosis were demonstrated histologically in 15 cases, 14 of which also exhibited local deposition of amyloid. A systematic examination of the joint capsule in 57 consecutive hip replacement operations for osteoarthritis revealed these changes in 6 of the cases (10.5 per cent). Microscopic examination which was done if intraarticular calcifications were grossly visible at operation, showed the same changes in 8 knees, 4 with osteoarthritis and 4 with meniscal disease. The changes were also seen in the menisci. Only one patient was suffering from chronic, polyarticular pyrophosphate arthritis. In the other cases neither change had been expected a priori, and the patients had no signs of systemic articular disease or amyloidosis. Most of them were elderly, but in good health.

Amyloid depositions in tissue from 116 osteoarthritic hip joints were examined. There was no significant correlation between amyloid and age although there was a tendency for joints from older patients to have more marked amyloid degeneration. We found significantly more amyloid in the joint capsules from male patients than from females. No difference in amyloid deposition was found between the right and left side, and pressure-loaded/less pressure-loaded parts of the femoral head contained equal amounts of amyloid. With the exception of two cases amyloid depositions in the joint capsule were always accompanied by amyloid in the joint cartilage (P less than 0.001). Conversely the cartilage was often positive when the capsule was negative for amyloid.

Weight reduction before surgery on obese patients has been widely recommended, but its practical possibilities have not been elucidated so far. Operation for osteoarthrosis of the hip was offered to 130 obese patients on the condition that they reduced their weight to normal. After a minimum observation period of 1 year the weight had returned to normal, and operation was performed, in 73%. Only 5% gave up losing weight. The weight reduction averaged 8.6 kg (1-25 kg). A weight reduction of up to 15 kg was achieved within less than year by eating less (94%) or changing the dietary habits (88%), and only 3% had to be admitted to hospital.

A follow-up study was conducted 3 years after a socio-medical intervention had been performed as part of an epidemiological study of 75-, 80- and 85-year-old citizens of Copenhagen. The intervention was aimed at relieving unmet medical and social needs of this group of citizens. The main recipients of social services were the oldest, single persons and women. A preponderance of the oldest had unmet social needs, but the need for health intervention did not vary according to age or sex. Although a fifth of the participants displayed unmet health needs and a third unmet social needs, no difference could be demonstrated at follow-up between participants and controls with regard to mortality, hospitalization, and institutionalization. Nor could any difference be found regarding subjective health and economy, loneliness, quality of life and functional ability. This is in contrast to the findings of another recent Danish intervention study. On the basis of the present study and other Scandinavian intervention studies, the authors conclude that in countries with a well-developed social system, efforts to improve the living conditions of the elderly should be concentrated to those who are at particular risk. Also for ethical reasons individualized intervention is greatly preferable to general intervention. It is conceivable, however, that not all risk factors, perhaps not even the most important, can be eliminated by intervention.

The pathogenesis of primary human osteoarthritis is unknown. It has been suggested that hypoxia caused by reduced subchondral blood flow plays a central role in the development of tissue damages in osteoarthritis. This hypothesis was investigated using an in situ technique based on mass spectrometry to measure subchondral pO2 and pCO2 in both femoral heads of patients with late stage unilateral osteoarthritis and the normal opposite hip. Intraosseous pressure was recorded and lactate concentrations and pH were measured in blood samples obtained from the two femoral heads. The subchondral pO2 in the diseased hip was significantly lower than pO2 in the normal hip (43 torr versus 63 torr). The intraosseous pressure was significantly higher in the diseased than in the normal hip. The lactate concentration showed a 50% increase in the diseased hip. There were no differences in pCO2 and pH between the two locations.

The intraosseous pressure of the femoral head and greater trochanter was measured during 146 Charnley hip replacement operations. In 108 hips with primary osteoarthritis the pressure in the femoral head averaged 49.6 and in the greater trochanter 31.6 mmHg. The pressures in the greater trochanter were significantly lower than those in the femoral head. There was no sex difference, and the pressures were independent of age. The intraosseous pressure in the femoral head varied appreciably with a dispersion which did not significantly differ from the normal distribution. There was a faintly positive correlation between the mean blood pressure and the intraosseous pressure. No relationship was found between the pressure in the femoral head and the radiological severity of the osteoarthritis or between the intraosseous pressure and the duration of symptoms, severity of rest pain, walking ability, range of motion or degree of bone density at the site of measurement. The haemodynamic conditions in bone depend upon blood flow and resistance. Variations in these two factors determine the actual intraosseous pressure. As a consequence intraosseous pressure measurement as the only evaluation of the haemodynamic conditions is of limited value. The vascular factor in osteoarthritis needs further clarification.