Developing priorities to achieve health equity through diabetes translation research: A concept mapping study

Introduction: The goal of diabetes translation research is to advance research into practice and ensure equitable benefit from scientific evidence. This study uses concept mapping to inform and refine future directions of diabetes translation research with the goal of achieving health equity in diabetes prevention and control. Research design and methods: This study used concept mapping and input from a national network of diabetes researchers and public health practitioners. Concept mapping is a mixed-method, participant-based process. First, participants generated statements by responding to a focus prompt ( Results: Ten clusters were identified containing between 6 and 12 statements from 95 total generated statements. The ranges of average importance and feasibility ratings for clusters were fairly high and narrow (3.62-4.09; 3.10-3.93, respectively). Clusters with the most statements in the go-zone quadrant (above average importance/feasibility) were Conclusions: This study created a framework of 10 priority areas to guide current and future efforts in diabetes translation research to achieve health equity. Themes rated as highly important and feasible provide the basis to evaluate current research support. Future efforts should explore how to best support innovative-targets, those rated highly important but less feasible

Notes for an Archaeology of Discarded Drug Paraphernalia

This article explores the values and challenges of an archaeological approach to illicit drug use, based on the study of discarded drug paraphernalia. It builds upon recent archaeological studies of homeless people, refugees and other marginalised communities that have used participative methods to challenge societal stigma and erasure. Following a critique of previous archaeological studies of drug use, the core of the article is a detailed analysis of an assemblage of drug paraphernalia in Oxford, UK. In interpreting this assemblage and its material and emotional contexts we draw on our respective contemporary archaeological and drug user activist experience and expertise. By providing a critical overview of previous studies and a detailed case study, this article aims to provide a practical and conceptual foundation for future archaeological studies of illicit drug use

Performance of a small, graphite electrode, multistage depressed collector with a 500-W, continuous wave, 4.8- to 9.6-GHz traveling wave tube

A small, isotropic graphite multistage depressed collector (MDC) and a short permanent magnet refocuser were designed, fabricated, and evaluated in conjunction with a 500-W, continuous-wave (CW), 4.8 to 9.6 GHz traveling wave tube (TWT). A novel performance optimization system and technique were used to optimize the TWT-MDC performance for saturated broad-band operation. The MDC performance was evaluated in both four- and three-stage configurations. Average TWT overall and four-stage collector efficiencies of 43.8 and 82.6 percent, respectively, were obtained for saturated octave-bandwidth operation. The isotropic graphite electrode material performed well, and shows considerable promise. However, considerably more test experience is required before definitive conclusions on its suitability for space and airborne TWT's can be made

Microstructure of Idli

The microstructure of idli prepared from seeds of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and rice, and Indian black gram seeds ( Vigna mungo) and rice in the ratio 1:2 was examined . Intact starch granules and protein bodies were observed in the unfermented idli batter. Starch granules disappeared as fermentation time increased to 18 hours and 36 hours. The surface of idli prepared from 36-hour fermented batter was cohesive , dense and sponge- or foam-like. The microstructure of idli prepared from common beans and rice was similar to the microstructure of idli prepared from Indian black gram and rice. Common beans can be successfully substituted for Indian black gram in preparing comparable and acceptabl e steamed idli

Generalized q-Deformed Symplectic sp(4) Algebra for Multi-shell Applications

A multi-shell generalization of a fermion representation of the q-deformed compact symplectic sp_q(4) algebra is introduced. An analytic form for the action of two or more generators of the Sp_q(4) symmetry on the basis states is determined and the result used to derive formulae for the overlap between number preserving states as well as for matrix elements of a model Hamiltonian. A second-order operator in the generators of Sp_q(4) is identified that is diagonal in the basis set and that reduces to the Casimir invariant of the sp(4) algebra in the non-deformed limit of the theory. The results can be used in nuclear structure applications to calculate beta-decay transition probabilities and to provide for a description of pairing and higher-order interactions in systems with nucleons occupying more than a single-j orbital.Comment: 10 page

Ursinus College Bulletin Vol. 12, No. 1, October 1895

A digitized copy of the October 1895 Ursinus College Bulletin.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/ucbulletin/1108/thumbnail.jp

Severe Warp Development in Young-Growth Ponderosa Pine Studs

Anatomical and physical characteristics of severely warped, young-growth, ponderosa pine studs, dried by two different methods, were analyzed with respect to bow, crook, and twist. Statistical analysis revealed that: (1) drying method had no effect on the relationship between warp and the wood characteristics studied; and (2) a large portion of the variation in warp could not be explained by any of the measured factors. Of the characteristics analyzed, the presence of the pith appeared to have the greatest effect on warp severity. Contrary to expectation, little compression wood was found and was consequently of minor importance in the development of severe warp. Although studs with a layer of heartwood along one face were prone to severe crook, there was no apparent relationship between warp and the percentage of heartwood in a stud. Other factors such as density, knots, and grain angle could not be identified as major factors in the development of severe warp

Autopsy findings of miliary tuberculosis in a renal transplant recipient

Miliary tuberculosis is a lethal form of disseminated tuberculosis (TB), deriving its name from the millet-seed-sized granulomas in multiple organs. As TB still remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in India, its disseminated forms need to be diagnosed early to ensure more aggressive treatment at the earliest possible time. However, a considerable number of cases are missed ante-mortem. We discuss the case of a 32-year-old immunocompromised, non-HIV patient with an ante-mortem diagnosis of pulmonary TB. However, multiple organ involvement by Mycobacterium tuberculosis was demonstrated on autopsy. This case highlights the role of autopsy as a research and learning tool, and prudential clinico-pathologic correlation, which will improve clinical outcomes in the futur

Methods for estimating uncertainty in PMF solutions : Examples with ambient air and water quality data and guidance on reporting PMF results

The new version of EPA's positive matrix factorization (EPA PMF) software, 5.0, includes three error estimation (EE) methods for analyzing factor analytic solutions: classical bootstrap (BS), displacement of factor elements (DISP), and bootstrap enhanced by displacement (BS-DISP). These methods capture the uncertainty of PMF analyses due to randomerrors and rotational ambiguity. To demonstrate the utility of the EEmethods, results are presented for three data sets: (1) speciated PM2.5 data froma chemical speciation network (CSN) site in Sacramento, California (2003-2009); (2) trace metal, ammonia, and other species inwater quality samples taken at an inline storage system (ISS) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2006); and (3) an organic aerosol data set from high- resolution aerosolmass spectrometer (HR-AMS) measurements in Las Vegas, Nevada (January 2008). We present an interpretation of EE diagnostics for these data sets, results fromsensitivity tests of EE diagnostics using additional and fewer factors, and recommendations for reporting PMF results. BS-DISP and BS are found useful in understanding the uncertainty of factor profiles; they also suggest if the data are over-fitted by specifying toomany factors. DISP diagnosticswere consistently robust, indicating its use for understanding rotational uncertainty and as a first step in assessing a solution's viability. The uncertainty of each factor's identifying species is shown to be a useful gauge for evaluating multiple solutions, e.g., with a different number of factors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Peer reviewe