Improved Sensitivity MEMS Cantilever Sensor for Terahertz Photoacoustic Spectroscopy.

In this paper, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) cantilever sensor was designed, modeled and fabricated to measure the terahertz (THz) radiation induced photoacoustic (PA) response of gases under low vacuum conditions. This work vastly improves cantilever sensitivity over previous efforts, by reducing internal beam stresses, minimizing out of plane beam curvature and optimizing beam damping. In addition, fabrication yield was improved by approximately 50% by filleting the cantilever's anchor and free end to help reduce high stress areas that occurred during device fabrication and processing.

Evaluating the impacts of landscape positions and nitrogen fertilizer rates on dissolved organic carbon on switchgrass land seeded on marginally yielding cropland.

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) through leaching into the soils is another mechanism of net C loss. It plays an important role in impacting the environment and impacted by soil and crop management practices. However, little is known about the impacts of landscape positions and nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates on DOC leaching in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.

Peptide nanostructures in biomedical technology.

Nanostructures of peptides have been investigated for biomedical applications due to their unique mechanical and electrical properties in addition to their excellent biocompatibility. Peptides may form fibrils, spheres and tubes in nanoscale depending on the formation conditions. These peptide nanostructures can be used in electrical, medical, dental, and environmental applications.

HYPERSPECTRAL ANALYSIS FOR STANDOFF DETECTION OF DIMETHYL METHYLPHOSPHONATE ON BUILDING MATERIALS.

Detecting organophosphates in indoor settings can greatly benefit from more efficient and faster methods of surveying large surface areas than conventional approaches, which sample small surface areas followed by extraction and analysis. This study examined a standoff detection technique utilizing hyperspectral imaging for analysis of building materials in near-real time. In this proof-of-concept study, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) was applied to stainless steel and laminate coupons and spectra were collected during active illumination.

A noise delivery system for multi-animal multi-level whole body ototoxicity studies.

The Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton (NAMRU-D) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force, studied ototoxic effects of JP-8 in rats.

Laboratory evaluation of airborne particulate control treatments for simulated aircraft crash recovery operations involving carbon fiber composite materials.

Objective: This study compared four treatment protocols to reduce airborne composite fiber particulates during simulated aircraft crash recovery operations.

Design: Four different treatments were applied to determine effectiveness in reducing airborne composite fiber particulates as compared to a "no treatment" protocol. Both "gold standard" gravimetric methods and real-time instruments were used to describe mass per volume concentration, particle size distribution, and surface area.

A nonparametric fiducial interval for the Youden index in multi-state diagnostic settings.

The Youden index is a commonly employed metric to characterize the performance of a diagnostic test at its optimal point. For tests with three or more outcome classes, the Youden index has been extended; however, there are limited methods to compute a confidence interval (CI) about its value. Often, outcome classes are assumed to be normally distributed, which facilitates computational formulas for the CI bounds; however, many scenarios exist for which these assumptions cannot be made.

Effects of aeration and internal recycle flow on nitrous oxide emissions from a modified Ludzak-Ettinger process fed with glycerol.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is emitted from a modified Ludzak-Ettinger (MLE) process, as a primary activated sludge system, which requires mitigation. The effects of aeration rates and internal recycle flow (IRF) ratios on N2O emission were investigated in an MLE process fed with glycerol. Reducing the aeration rate from 1.

Unmanned Aerial Systems in Occupational Hygiene-Learning from Allied Disciplines.

Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) technologies are rapidly developing, lowering cost, and technology barriers for their use in numerous applications. This review and commentary summarizes relevant literature in allied fields and evaluates potential application and utility of UAS technology in the discipline of occupational hygiene. Disciplines closely related to occupational hygiene are moving to investigate potential uses--and in some cases--already employing this technology for research or commercial purposes.

Microstructural evolution and physical behavior of a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic.

Background: Elucidating the microstructural responses of the lithium disilicate system like the popular IPS e.max® CAD (LS2), made specifically for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM), as a temperature-dependent system unravels new ways to enhance material properties and performance.

Objective: To study the effect of various thermal processing on the crystallization kinetics, crystallite microstructure, and strength of LS2.

Advanced oxidation degradation kinetics as a function of ultraviolet LED duty cycle.

Ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be a viable option as a UV light source for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) utilizing photocatalysts or oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide. The effect of UV-LED duty cycle, expressed as the percentage of time the LED is powered, was investigated in an AOP with hydrogen peroxide, using methylene blue (MB) to assess contaminant degradation. The UV-LED AOP degraded the MB at all duty cycles.

Effect of alertness level and backrest elevation on skin interface pressure.

Introduction: Critically ill patients may experience reduced mobility and sensation related to various pharmacologic therapies and treatments, making this patient population especially susceptible to pressure ulcers. An alert patient may be better able to reposition in response to discomfort, therefore preventing the development of pressure ulcers. However, little is known about the effect of an individual's alertness level on skin interface pressures.

A Deterministic Model of Human Motion Based on Algebraic Techniques and a Sensor Network to Simulate Shoulder Kinematics.

Limiting the quantitative characterization of ambulatory mobility to only the two-dimensional sagittal plane through the investigation of key kinematic parameters, may still inform scientists and bioengineers of critical elements of joint locomotion. This paper presents the initial validation of a deterministic biomechanical gait model that was derived from an inverse kinematic analysis of three-dimensional upper extremity movement. Algebraic methods were applied to generate shoulder flexion and extension angles during a single gait cycle during normal walking.

Effects of position and operator on high-frequency ultrasound scan quality.

Objectives: High-frequency ultrasound may evaluate those at risk for pressure ulcers. Images may be obtained by clinicians with limited training. The prone position is recommended for obtaining sacral scans but may not be feasible in the critically ill.

Theoretical investigation of stabilities and optical properties of Si12C12 clusters.

By sorting through hundreds of globally stable Si12C12 isomers using a potential surface search and using simulated annealing, we have identified low-energy structures. Unlike isomers knit together by Si-C bonds, the lowest energy isomers have segregated carbon and silicon regions that maximize stronger C-C bonding. Positing that charge separation between the carbon and silicon regions would produce interesting optical absorption in these cluster molecules, we used time-dependent density functional theory to compare the calculated optical properties of four isomers representing structural classes having different types of silicon and carbon segregation regions.

Selection of the treatment effect for sample size determination in a superiority clinical trial using a hybrid classical and Bayesian procedure.

Specification of the treatment effect that a clinical trial is designed to detect (θA) plays a critical role in sample size and power calculations. However, no formal method exists for using prior information to guide the choice of θA. This paper presents a hybrid classical and Bayesian procedure for choosing an estimate of the treatment effect to be detected in a clinical trial that formally integrates prior information into this aspect of trial design.

Heart failure symptom clusters and functional status - a cross-sectional study.

Aim: To identify symptom clusters in individuals with heart failure and evaluate the relationship of the identified clusters to functional status.

Background: Heart Failure is a global health problem affecting approximately 1-2% of the adult population in developed countries worldwide. Individuals with heart failure may experience as many as nine symptoms and may limit activities that worsen their symptoms or adjust the way they engage in activities.

Degradation kinetics of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons by methane oxidizers naturally-associated with wetland plant roots.

Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) are common groundwater contaminants that can be removed from the environment by natural attenuation processes. CAH biodegradation can occur in wetland environments by reductive dechlorination as well as oxidation pathways. In particular, CAH oxidation may occur in vegetated wetlands, by microorganisms that are naturally associated with the roots of wetland plants.

Use of high frequency ultrasound to detect changes in skin integrity: An image evaluation validation procedure.

Objectives: High frequency ultrasound (HFUS) scanning may be used for prevention, detection and monitoring of pressure ulcers in patients at risk and is amenable for portable, bedside use by a variety of clinicians. Limited data are available about the criteria to determine an ideal image or measures of tissue changes representative of tissue injury. We developed and evaluated criteria for overall image quality and measures of tissue integrity.

Analytics for vaccine economics and pricing: insights and observations.

Pediatric immunization programs in the USA are a successful and cost-effective public health endeavor, profoundly reducing mortalities caused by infectious diseases. Two important issues relate to the success of the immunization programs, the selection of cost-effective vaccines and the appropriate pricing of vaccines. The recommended childhood immunization schedule, published annually by the CDC, continues to expand with respect to the number of injections required and the number of vaccines available for selection.

Practice patterns for peer review in radiation oncology.

Purpose: Physician peer review seeks to improve the quality of care through the evaluation of physician performance, specifically medical decision making and technical expertise. To establish current peer review practice patterns, evaluate interest in recommendations for peer review, and establish a framework for future recommendations, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) surveyed its physician members.

Methods And Materials: A radiation oncology-specific peer review survey instrument was developed, formally tested, and found to meet established levels of reliability and validity.

Comparison of continuous versus pulsed ultraviolet light emitting diode use for the inactivation of Bacillus globigii spores.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) in the ultraviolet (UV) range offer a promising alternative for the disinfection of water. LEDs have many advantages over conventional UV lamps but there are concerns related to the operating life of the LED lamps. In this project Bacillus globigii was inactivated using UV LED technology.

Natural attenuation potential of tricholoroethene in wetland plant roots: role of native ammonium-oxidizing microorganisms.

Bench-scale microcosms with wetland plant roots were investigated to characterize the microbial contributions to contaminant degradation of trichloroethene (TCE) with ammonium. The batch system microcosms consisted of a known mass of wetland plant roots in aerobic growth media where the roots provided both an inoculum of root-associated ammonium-oxidizing microorganisms and a microbial habitat. Aqueous growth media, ammonium, and TCE were replaced weekly in batch microcosms while retaining roots and root-associated biomass.

Sleeping in the arms of cancer: a review of sleeping disorders among patients with cancer.

It is well known that cancer patients experience lack of sleep, which affects their symptoms and decrease their much needed energy, particularly while undergoing treatment. Insomnia, which is defined as a predominant complaint of dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality during different phases of the sleep cycle, could easily affect patients' quality of life and even cancer treatment outcomes. In this article, we review the current research on and treatments for insomnia, as well as explore cancer-related fatigue and its connections to sleep disorders.

Development of an updated tensile neck injury criterion.

Background: Ejection neck safety remains a concern in military aviation with the growing use of helmet mounted displays (HMDs) worn for entire mission durations. The original USAF tensile neck injury criterion proposed by Carter et al. (4) is updated and an injury protection limit for tensile loading is presented to evaluate escape system and HMD safety.