Understanding radiologic and nuclear terrorism as public health threats: preparedness and response perspectives.

Terrorism dates back to antiquity, but our understanding of it as a public health threat is still in its nascent stages. Focusing on radiation and nuclear terrorism, we apply a public health perspective to explore relevant physical health and psychosocial impacts, the evolving national response infrastructure created to address terrorism, and the potential roles of nuclear medicine professionals in preparing for and responding to radiologic and nuclear terrorism.

Modeling of the frequency- and temperature-dependent absorption coefficient of long-wave-infrared (2-25 microm) transmitting materials.

A semiempirical multiphonon model based on quantum-mechanical oscillators under a Morse potential is applied to the absorption coefficient of far-infrared transmitting materials. Known material properties are combined with absorption coefficient data to fit the empirical parameters of the model. This provides an accurate means of predicting the intrinsic absorption of the materials in their multiphonon regions. Extinction data are obtained by measuring material transmittances with a Fourier-transform spectrometer and comparing them with the lossless transmittances predicted by Sellmeier models. Where appropriate, scatter models are used to separate the extinction into loss due to scatter and absorption. Data and model parameters are presented for GaAs, GaP, ZnS, and ZnSe.

Applying risk perception theory to public health workforce preparedness training.

Since 9/11, public health has seen a progressive culture change toward a 24/7 emergency response organizational model. This transition entails new expectations for public health workers, including (1) a readiness and willingness to report to duty in emergencies and (2) an ability to effectively communicate risk to an anxious public about terrorism or naturally occurring disasters. To date, however, research on readiness education for health department workers has focused little attention upon the risk perceptions that may influence their willingness to report to duty during disasters, as well as their ability to provide effective emergency risk communication to the public. Here, we apply risk perception factors to explore the potential barriers and remedies to effective public health workforce emergency response.