Noise Correlations in a Coulomb Blockaded Quantum Dot

We report measurements of current noise auto- and cross-correlation in a tunable quantum dot with two or three leads. As the Coulomb blockade is lifted at finite source-drain bias, the auto-correlation evolves from super-Poissonian to sub-Poissonian in the two-lead case, and the cross-correlation evolves from positive to negative in the three-lead case, consistent with transport through multiple levels. Cross-correlations in the three-lead dot are found to be proportional to the noise in excess of the Poissonian value in the limit of weak output tunneling

Active Specific Immunotherapy in the Management of Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas

Active specific immunotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma and subsequent immunohistochemical analysis of tumour tissue have not been previously reported. To date, the therapy of pancreatic adenocarcinoma has been largely unsuccessful. A patient treated with a therapeutic ‘cancer vaccine’ and the immunological impact on the primary tumour of this potential new therapy are described. To the authors’ knowledge, this is both the first patient to be treated with active specific immunotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the first to be studied immunologically by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry with an apparent positive clinical impact

Evaluation of critical congenital heart defects screening using pulse oximetry in the neonatal intensive care unit.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the implementation of early screening for critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and potential exclusion of sub-populations from universal screening.Study designProspective evaluation of CCHD screening at multiple time intervals was conducted in 21 NICUs across five states (n=4556 infants).ResultsOf the 4120 infants with complete screens, 92% did not have prenatal CHD diagnosis or echocardiography before screening, 72% were not receiving oxygen at 24 to 48 h and 56% were born ⩾2500 g. Thirty-seven infants failed screening (0.9%); none with an unsuspected CCHD. False positive rates were low for infants not receiving oxygen (0.5%) and those screened after weaning (0.6%), yet higher among infants born at <28 weeks (3.8%). Unnecessary echocardiograms were minimal (0.2%).ConclusionGiven the majority of NICU infants were ⩾2500 g, not on oxygen and not preidentified for CCHD, systematic screening at 24 to 48 h may be of benefit for early detection of CCHD with minimal burden

Chemical Measurement and Fluctuation Scaling

Main abstract: Fluctuation scaling reports on all processes producing a data set. Some fluctuation scaling relationships, such as the Horwitz curve, follow exponential dispersion models which have useful properties. The mean-variance method applied to Poisson distributed data is a special case of these properties allowing the gain of a system to be measured. Here, a general method is described for investigating gain (G), dispersion (β), and process (α) in any system whose fluctuation scaling follows a simple exponential dispersion model, a segmented exponential dispersion model, or complex scaling following such a model locally. When gain and dispersion cannot be obtained directly, relative parameters, GR and βR, may be used. The method was demonstrated on data sets conforming to simple, segmented, and complex scaling. These included mass, fluorescence intensity, and absorbance measurements and specifications for classes of calibration weights. Changes in gain, dispersion, and process were observed in the scaling of these data sets in response to instrument parameters, photon fluxes, mathematical processing, and calibration weight class. The process parameter which limits the type of statistical process that can be invoked to explain a data set typically exhibited 04 possible. With two exceptions, calibration weight class definitions only affected β. Adjusting photomultiplier voltage while measuring fluorescence intensity changed all three parameters (0<α<0.8; 0<βR<3; 0<GR<4.1). The method provides a framework for calibrating and interpreting uncertainty in chemical measurement allowing robust compar ison of specific instruments, conditions, and methods. Supporting information abstract: On first inspection, fluctuation scaling data may appear to approximate a straight line when log transformed. The data presented in figure 5 of the main text gives a reasonable approximation to a straight line and for many purposes this would be sufficient. The purpose of the study of fluorescence intensity was to determine whether adjusting the voltage of a photomultiplier tube while measuring a fluorescent sample changes the process (α), the dispersion (β) and/or the gain (G). In this regard, the linear model established that PMT setting affects more than the gain. However, a detailed analysis beginning with testing for model mis-specification provides additional information. Specifically, Poisson behavior is only seen over a limited wavelength range in the 600 V and 700 V data sets

Collecting genetic material from beef cattle (2005)

The beef cattle industry has long awaited the development of genetic tests to assist producers in breeding selection and management and to improve the marketability of cattle. Currently, there are only a handful of genetic tests commercially available for beef cattle. Beef producers interested in using genetic testing to improve their breeding stock need to know how to collect and store various genetic materials for testing.New February 2005 -- Extension website