Heart failure is common in diabetic cats : findings from a retrospective case-controlled study in first-opinionpractice

Diabetes mellitus is common in the cat and the prevalence of this condition appears to be increasing (Peterson 1998,Rand and Marshall 2004, Rand and others 2004). The prognosis for cats with diabetes mellitus in first opinion practice has received little attention in the literature; few data indicate why diabetic cats die. Death in people with diabetes is overwhelmingly because of cardiovascular disease (Grundy and others 1999, Almdal and others 2004, Bell 2004, Bertoni and others 2004, Nichols and others 2004). Experimental induction of diabetes mellitus in various laboratory mammals also causes cardiovascular disease and heart failure so that the prevalence of cardiac disease and failure in diabetic cats seemed worthy of examination. The purpose of this study was to examine the prognosis and cause of death for a cohort of consecutive cases of feline diabetes mellitus diagnosed in a first opinion veterinary practice, and to compare these with control cats matched for age, breed and sex

The Estimation of Marginal Utility of Income for Application to Agricultural Policy Analysis

Exact date of working paper unknown

Psychometric Properties of the Healthful Eating Belief Scales for Persons at Risk of Diabetes

Objective: To examine the validity and reliability of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) scales for healthful eating for persons at risk for diabetes. Design: Cross-sectional, using a self-administered questionnaire. Setting: Community in the Midwest. Participants: 106 adults who self-identified based on one or more American Diabetes Association diabetes risks. Variables Measured: Behavioral, normative, and control beliefs; and attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention to eat a healthful diet. Analysis: Construct validity was assessed with factor analyses and measurement and structural models using structural equation modeling. Reliability of the scales was assessed with Cronbach alpha and a 2-month test- retest. Results: Factor analysis loadings were greater than .37. Cronbach alphas for the behavioral, normative, and control belief scales were .80, .91, and .84, respectively. The measurement model revealed that the measures were significant estimates for the TPB constructs, and they fit well as indirect measures of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control in predicting intention to eat a healthful diet. Test-retest revealed 2- month stability of the scales. Conclusions and Implications: Scales for measuring TPB behavioral, normative, and control beliefs were valid and reliable for use with adults at risk for diabetes. Further examination with minority persons is warranted

Toward stronger theory in critical public health: Insights from debates surrounding posthumanism

The “posthumanist turn” in critical theory comprises efforts to recognize and analyze the interdependence of human existence with non-human entities, including other animals, spaces, and technologies. Scholarship aligned to and debating posthumanism pertains to public health, but has yet to be clearly articulated for a public health audience. This commentary and an appended glossary illustrate the relevance of these ideas for enhancing critical theory in public health. Keywords: Social Sciences, Humanities, Technology, Animals, Public HealthCanadian Institutes of Health Researc

Limitations in Predicting the Space Radiation Health Risk for Exploration Astronauts

Despite years of research, understanding of the space radiation environment and the risk it poses to long-duration astronauts remains limited. There is a disparity between research results and observed empirical effects seen in human astronaut crews, likely due to the numerous factors that limit terrestrial simulation of the complex space environment and extrapolation of human clinical consequences from varied animal models. Given the intended future of human spaceflight, with efforts now to rapidly expand capabilities for human missions to the moon and Mars, there is a pressing need to improve upon the understanding of the space radiation risk, predict likely clinical outcomes of interplanetary radiation exposure, and develop appropriate and effective mitigation strategies for future missions. To achieve this goal, the space radiation and aerospace community must recognize the historical limitations of radiation research and how such limitations could be addressed in future research endeavors. We have sought to highlight the numerous factors that limit understanding of the risk of space radiation for human crews and to identify ways in which these limitations could be addressed for improved understanding and appropriate risk posture regarding future human spaceflight.Comment: Accepted for publication by Nature Microgravity (2018

Comparison Testings between Two High-temperature Strain Measurement Systems

An experimental evaluation was conducted at NASA Lewis Research Center to compare and contrast the performance of a newly developed resistance strain gage, the PdCr temperature-compensated wire strain gage, to that of a conventional high-temperature extensometry. The evaluation of the two strain measurement systems was conducted through the application of various thermal and mechanical loading spectra using a high-temperature thermomechanical uniaxial testing system equipped with quartz lamp heating. The purpose of the testing was not only to compare and contrast the two strain sensors but also to investigate the applicability of the PdCr strain gage to the testing environment typically employed when characterizing the high-temperature mechanical behavior of structural materials. Strain measurement capabilities to 8OO C were investigated with a nickel base superalloy IN100 substrate material, and application to titanium matrix composite (TMC) materials was examined with the SCS-6/Ti-15-3 08 system. PdCr strain gages installed by three attachment techniques, namely, flame spraying, spot welding and rapid infrared joining were investigated

Physical Activity Belief Scales for Diabetes Risk: Development and Psychometric Testing

This article describes the development and psychometric evaluation of behavioral belief, normative belief, and control belief scales, derived from the theory of planned behavior to predict physical activity intentions of persons at risk for diabetes. In Study 1, belief statements from interviews were categorized, ranked, and evaluated for item construction. Content validity was established by 96. 1 % agreement among a five-member expert panel. In Study 2, items developed from the belief statements were administered to 106 adults at risk for diabetes. Psychometric analyses provided evidence of construct validity and reliability of the three scales. Internal consistency was sufficient (α = .76-.95), and test-retest evaluations indicated scale stability (r = .79- .91). Factor analyses and confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling provided evidence that the items were appropriately grouped under each construct. Researchers and practitioners can use these measures to assess behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about physical activity among persons at risk for diabetes

Stability and Instability of Extreme Reissner-Nordstr\"om Black Hole Spacetimes for Linear Scalar Perturbations I

We study the problem of stability and instability of extreme Reissner-Nordstrom spacetimes for linear scalar perturbations. Specifically, we consider solutions to the linear wave equation on a suitable globally hyperbolic subset of such a spacetime, arising from regular initial data prescribed on a Cauchy hypersurface crossing the future event horizon. We obtain boundedness, decay and non-decay results. Our estimates hold up to and including the horizon. The fundamental new aspect of this problem is the degeneracy of the redshift on the event horizon. Several new analytical features of degenerate horizons are also presented.Comment: 37 pages, 11 figures; published version of results contained in the first part of arXiv:1006.0283, various new results adde

Modeling and characterization of an electrowetting based single mode fiber variable optical attenuator

We report an optofluidics-based variable optical attenuator (VOA) employing a tapered side-polished single-mode optical fiber attached to an electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) platform. The side polishing of the fiber cladding gives access to the evanescent field of the guided mode, while the EWOD platform electrically controls the stepwise translation of a liquid droplet along the variable thickness polished cladding of the fiber. The penetration of the evanescent field into the droplet leads to tunneling of optical power from the fiber core to the droplet, from where it is radiatively lost. As a result of the variable cladding thickness, the position of the droplet along the length of the polished fiber determines the degree of penetration of the evanescent field into the droplet. The droplet position can be electrically changed; thus, controlling the optical power loss from the fiber. This approach has been used to demonstrate an optofluidic continuous-fiber VOA typically providing up to 26 dB of broadband attenuation in the 1550-nm transmission window, with a wavelength dependent loss less than 1.1 dB. In this paper, we present the theoretical modeling and experimental characterization of the system, discussing the influence of the design parameters on the performance of this VOA

In-line single-mode fiber variable optical attenuator based on electrically addressable microdroplets

We report an in-line, fiber optic, broadband variable optical attenuator employing a side-polished, single-mode optical fiber integrated on a digital microfluidics platform. The system is designed to electrically translate a liquid droplet along the polished surface of an optical fiber using electrowetting forces. This fiber optic device has the advantage of no moving mechanical parts and lends itself to miniaturization. A maximum attenuation of 25 dB has been obtained in the wavelength range between 1520 nm and 1560 nm