Epidemic Simulation for Training in Public Health Management

Epidemiological simulation models to be used primarily to augment the teaching of epidemiology to medical students and other individuals concerned with public health and control of epidemics are presented. Interactive simulations are used to expose students to ``realistic' epidemic situations and permit them to experiment with various control strategies. Criteria by which simulations for such teaching purposes may be evaluated are proposed and operating simulations, MEASLES and INFLU, are described in detail. Information is provided regarding user experience with the above simulations.     

Synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction reveals rotational plastic deformation mechanisms in polycrystalline thin films

Understanding the mechanical response of polycrystalline materials on the mesoscopic scale remains a challenge as it is largely determined by grain-to-grain interactions and the discrete underlying microstructure. We conducted in situ synchrotron Laue microdiffraction experiments to map local strain tensors and orientations over polycrystalline thin gold films for different applied biaxial strain states. The experimental results demonstrate stress relaxation to be accompanied by cooperative transport of dislocation density leading to rotational plastic deformation heterogeneities. We propose a disclination model of closed dislocation walls and consider the geometry of transformations corresponding to a Burgers circuit enclosing the multipole disclination configuration. The observed stress-driven rotational deformation of the grain is shown to be described by the change in rotational closure failure associated with a Burgers circuit around the multipole disclination configuration. This concept is further advanced in a non-Euclidian geometry to demonstrate that the observed microrotation is captured by higher-order gradients in a micropolar continuum theory.     

Managing the Risks of Outsourcing Agreements

Outsourcing relieves an organization from the burden of carrying out complex activities. It also relieves an organization over its control of those activities. An organization can minimize this loss of control by managing certain risks associated with outsourcing before it enters into an outsourcing agreement.     

Agricultural research in flux : Experiments in university-industry ties

Dramatic advances in agricultural technology and management are changing the institutional structure of agricultural research in business, academia and government. A range of “experiments” aimed at improving the transfer of information from academia to industry are being run; some will work and some will not. Overall, these experiments are facilitating information exchange, and enhance—rather than pose a threat to—openness.     

Expert system applications in software engineering

This paper presents an overview of research in expert systems and artificial intelligence as they relate to software engineering. The paper begins with a review of current thinking regarding the software process. This is followed by a discussion of artificial intelligence (AI) and the paradigms it uses. Six current projects are described: three are concerned with programming in the large and three with programming in the small. These six projects provide a representative sample of the AI research now underway in the software engineering domain. The paper concludes with some observations regarding when and how the concepts represented by these projects will be available for application to operational projects.     

Factors Influencing the Adhesion of Microorganisms to Surfaces

Starvation, growth phase, and carbon source influenced bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity. Both the number and kind of microorganisms that colonized metal surfaces depended on the type of metal and the presence of an imposed electrical potential. No significant differences in attachment and growth of a pure culture were observed when metal surfaces were dipped in an exogenous energy source. The chemical composition of naturally occurring adsorbed organic films on metal surfaces was shown to be independent of surface composition and polarization.     

Contracting for treatment termination to reduce illicit drug use among methadone maintenance treatment failures.

Evaluated the effectiveness of a contingency contracting intervention on reducing illicit drug use by 21 25–60 yr old male methadone maintenance patients selected on the basis of positive urinalysis results during a 60-day baseline. The intervention consisted of a 30-day contract, which stated that Ss would continue to receive a specified dosage of methadone, would not be asked to leave the program or detoxify, and would not use illicit drugs during the contract period. Illicit drug use was significantly reduced during the 30-day intervention and remained below baseline levels during a 60-day follow-up. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)