431 research outputs found
Gamma spectral data for shielding and heating calculations
Gamma ray spectra tabulation following neutron absorption and inelastic scattering events in H, Be, C, O, Al, Cr, Fe, Ni, Zr, W, W isotopes, U-235, and U-23
Cartan subalgebras and the UCT problem, II
We show that outer approximately represenbtable actions of a finite cyclic
group on UCT Kirchberg algebras satisfy a certain quasi-freeness type property
if the corresponding crossed products satisfy the UCT and absorb a suitable UHF
algebra tensorially. More concretely, we prove that for such an action there
exists an inverse semigroup of homogeneous partial isometries that generates
the ambient C*-algebra and whose idempotent semilattice generates a Cartan
subalgebra. We prove a similar result for actions of finite cyclic groups with
the Rokhlin property on UCT Kirchberg algebras absorbing a suitable UHF
algebra. These results rely on a new construction of Cartan subalgebras in
certain inductive limits of Cartan pairs. We also provide a characterisation of
the UCT problem in terms of finite order automorphisms, Cartan subalgebras and
inverse semigroups of partial isometries of the Cuntz algebra .
This generalizes earlier work of the authors.Comment: minor revisions; final version, accepted for publication in Math.
Ann.; 26 page
Acceptability of HIV self-sampling kits (TINY vial) among people of black African ethnicity in the UK: a qualitative study
Background:
Increasing routine HIV testing among key populations is a public health imperative, so improving access to acceptable testing options for those in need is a priority. Despite increasing targeted distribution and uptake of HIV self-sampling kits (SSKs) among men who have sex with men in the UK, little is known about why targeted SSK interventions for black African users are not as wide-spread or well-used. This paper addresses this key gap, offering insight into why some groups may be less likely than others to adopt certain types of SSK interventions in particular contexts. These data were collected during the development phase of a larger study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of targeted distribution of SSKs to black African people.
Methods:
We undertook 6 focus groups with members of the public who self-identified as black African (nâ=â48), 6 groups with specialists providing HIV and social services to black African people (nâ=â53), and interviews with HIV specialist consultants and policy-makers (nâ=â9). Framework analysis was undertaken, using inductive and deductive analysis to develop and check themes.
Results:
We found three valuable components of targeted SSK interventions for this population: the use of settings and technologies that increase choice and autonomy; targeted offers of HIV testing that preserve privacy and do not exacerbate HIV stigma; and ensuring that the specific kit being used (in this case, the TINY vial) is perceived as simple and reliable.
Conclusions:
This unique and rigorous research offers insights into participantsâ views on SSK interventions, offering key considerations when targeting this population.. Given the plethora of HIV testing options, our work demonstrates that those commissioning and delivering SSK interventions will need to clarify (for users and providers) how each kit type and intervention design adds value. Most significantly, these findings demonstrate that without a strong locus of control over their own circumstances and personal information, black African people are less likely to feel that they can pursue an HIV test that is safe and secure. Thus, where profound social inequalities persist, so will inequalities in HIV testing uptake â by any means
The Supercooling of a Nematic Liquid Crystal
We investigate the supercooling of a nematic liquid crystal using fluctuating
non-linear hydrodynamic equations. The Martin-Siggia-Rose formalism is used to
calculate renormalized transport coefficients to one-loop order. Similar
theories for isotropic liquids have shown substantial increases of the
viscosities as the liquid is supercooled or compressed due to feedback from the
density fluctuations which are freezing. We find similar results here for the
longitudinal and various shear viscosities of the nematic. However, the two
viscosities associated with the nematic director motion do not grow in any
dramatic way; i.e.\ there is no apparent freezing of the director modes within
this hydrodynamic formalism. Instead a glassy state of the nematic may arise
from a ``random anisotropy" coupling of the director to the frozen density.Comment: Late
The NeuroDante Project: Neurometric measurements of participantâs reaction to literary auditory stimuli from danteâs âdivina commediaâ
Neurodante. Progetto di analisi neurometrica di alcuni brani della Commedi
Children's Medicines in Tanzania: A National Survey of Administration Practices and Preferences.
The dearth of age-appropriate formulations of many medicines for children poses a major challenge to pediatric therapeutic practice, adherence, and health care delivery worldwide. We provide information on current administration practices of pediatric medicines and describe key stakeholder preferences for new formulation characteristics. We surveyed children aged 6-12 years, parents/caregivers over age 18 with children under age 12, and healthcare workers in 10 regions of Tanzania to determine current pediatric medicine prescription and administration practices as well as preferences for new formulations. Analyses were stratified by setting, pediatric age group, parent/caregiver education, and healthcare worker cadre. Complete data were available for 206 children, 202 parents/caregivers, and 202 healthcare workers. Swallowing oral solid dosage forms whole or crushing/dissolving them and mixing with water were the two most frequently reported methods of administration. Children frequently reported disliking medication taste, and many had vomited doses. Healthcare workers reported medicine availability most significantly influences prescribing practices. Most parents/caregivers and children prefer sweet-tasting medicine. Parents/caregivers and healthcare workers prefer oral liquid dosage forms for young children, and had similar thresholds for the maximum number of oral solid dosage forms children at different ages can take. There are many impediments to acceptable and accurate administration of medicines to children. Current practices are associated with poor tolerability and the potential for under- or over-dosing. Children, parents/caregivers, and healthcare workers in Tanzania have clear preferences for tastes and formulations, which should inform the development, manufacturing, and marketing of pediatric medications for resource-limited settings
Wavelets and graph -algebras
Here we give an overview on the connection between wavelet theory and
representation theory for graph -algebras, including the higher-rank
graph -algebras of A. Kumjian and D. Pask. Many authors have studied
different aspects of this connection over the last 20 years, and we begin this
paper with a survey of the known results. We then discuss several new ways to
generalize these results and obtain wavelets associated to representations of
higher-rank graphs. In \cite{FGKP}, we introduced the "cubical wavelets"
associated to a higher-rank graph. Here, we generalize this construction to
build wavelets of arbitrary shapes. We also present a different but related
construction of wavelets associated to a higher-rank graph, which we anticipate
will have applications to traffic analysis on networks. Finally, we generalize
the spectral graph wavelets of \cite{hammond} to higher-rank graphs, giving a
third family of wavelets associated to higher-rank graphs
The Uptake and Accuracy of Oral Kits for HIV Self-Testing in High HIV Prevalence Setting: A Cross-Sectional Feasibility Study in Blantyre, Malawi
Augustine Choko and colleagues assess the uptake and acceptability of home-based supervised oral HIV self-testing in Malawi, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach in a high-prevalence, low-income environment
Multi-robot grasp planning for sequential assembly operations
This paper addresses the problem of finding robot configurations to grasp assembly parts during a sequence of collaborative assembly operations. We formulate the search for such configurations as a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP).Collision constraints in an operation and transfer constraints between operations determine the sets of feasible robot configurations. We show that solving the connected constraint graph with off-the-shelf CSP algorithms can quickly become infeasible even fora few sequential assembly operations. We present an algorithm which, through the assumption of feasible regrasps, divides the CSP into independent smaller problems that can be solved exponentially faster. The algorithm then uses local search techniques to improve this solution by removing a gradually increasing number of regrasps from the plan. The algorithm enables the user to stop the planner anytime and use the current best plan if the cost of removing regrasps from the plan exceeds the cost of executing those regrasps. We present simulation experiments to compare our algorithmâs performance toa naive algorithm which directly solves the connected constraint graph. We also present a physical robot system which uses the output of our planner to grasp and bring parts together in assembly configurations
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