Structural barriers to coping with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Ghana: Experiences of diabetic youth and their families

Objective: To explore the structural barriers faced by families coping with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Ghana, and to provide insight for policy development.Methods: Qualitative study conducted with families with a child with T1DM, receiving care in the greater Accra area. Total of 17 individuals were interviewed using individual and dyadic approaches: 7 youth with T1DM, 9 parents of children with T1DM, and one medical doctor.Findings: 5 key barriers emerged from the data: primary care, schools, financial burden, lack of formal support,and access to information. Participants expressed concern over the misdiagnosis of T1DM at primary care facilities, resulting in some of the children going into a diabetic coma before receiving proper care. Children and parents noted discrimination and poor care at school. Financial burden was due to the high costs of medications and appliances needed for proper diabetes management. A lack of formal support was credited by participants to be the result of the lethargy of advocacy groups or resource centers. Finally, there was a lack of readily available and accessible information for children and parents on T1DM.Conclusion: Awareness of T1DM needs to be increased, by incorporating lessons on recognition into already existing campaigns for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Schools need to be more engaged with their responsibility for children with diabetes. Pressuring policy makers and pharmaceutical companies to make diabetes supplies more affordable and accessible could ease the financial burden. Social support networks need to be explored and strengthened. Study into the experiences of youth with T1DM in rural settings and other parts of Ghana, as well as, youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds is necessary.Keywords: type 1 diabetes mellitus, children, families, Ghana, structural obstacle

Fundamental ignition study for material fire safety improvement, part 2

The autoignition behavior of polymeric compositions in oxidizing media was investigated as well as the nature and relative concentration of the volatiles produced during oxidative decomposition culminating in combustion. The materials investigated were Teflon, Fluorel KF-2140 raw gum and its compounded versions Refset and Ladicote, 45B3 intumenscent paint, and Ames isocyanurate foam. The majority of the tests were conducted using a stagnation burner arrangement which provided a laminar gas flow and allowed the sample block and gas temperatures to be varied independently. The oxidizing atmospheres were essentially air and oxygen, although in the case of the Fluorel family of materials, due to partial blockage of the gas inlet system, some tests were performed unintentionally in enriched air (not oxygen). The 45B3 paint was not amenable to sampling in a dynamic system, due to its highly intumescent nature. Consequently, selected experiments were conducted using a sealed tube technique both in air and oxygen media

Preparation of perfluorinated 1,2,4-oxadiazoles

Fluorinated alkyl or alkylether 1,2,4 oxadiazole compounds are prepared by cyclizing the corresponding alkyl or alkylether imidoyl amidoximes in vacuo or in an inert atmosphere at a temperature within the range of 40 C to 100 C. for a period of 8 to 144 hours in the presence of an acid compound which can accept ammonia to form a salt. The imidoyl amidoximes usable in this process are either polymeric or nonpolymeric. The products, when polymeric, have excellent heat, chemical and solvent resistance

The founding angels investment model:case studies from the field of nanotechnology

The gap between academic research and the commerzcialization of research result can be overcome with the founding angels investment model where very early stage investors found start-up companies together with appropriate research partners to conduct research and later, alone or together with industrial partners, commercialize the results. The engagement of founding angels is compensated not monetarily but through an equity share of the new company. This business model is already being implemented in the United States with some interesting examples in the area of nanotechnology. This article analyses approach and investment strategy as well as defines a best practice process of founding angels as early stage technology investment model applying an exploratory multiple case analysis. The empirical data are based on literature research with a focus on document analysis and interviews with 35 nanotechnology experts.<br

L-band ATS 5/Orion/S. S. Manhattan marine navigation and communication experiment Final report

L-band signals relayed by synchronous satellite for navigation and data communicatio

Cross Linking and Degradation Mechanisms in Model Sealant Candidates

Model compounds were investigated as to which type of heterocyclic ring is the most advantageous for curing sealants based on perfluoroalkylether chains. The relative thermal, thermal oxidative, hydrolytic, and fuel stability of potential crosslinks were determined. Specifically substituted materials were synthesized and evaluation of their stabilities in air, inert atmosphere, water, and Jet-A fuel at 235 and 325 C was made. Three heterocyclic ring systems were considered, namely, triazine, 1,2,4- and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Synthesis of perfluoroalkylene aromatic diamines

Analogues of methylene dianilines were synthesized, in which the methylene group between the two aromatic nuclei was replaced by various perfluoroalkylene linkage. The hydrolytic thermal, and thermal oxidative stabilities of PMR Polyimides derived from these diamines were determined. Three types of PMR Polyimide discs were fabricated from the dimethyl ester of 3,3', 4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid, the methyl ester of 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, and one of the following three diamines: methyl dianiline, 1,3-bis(4-aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane, and 2,2-bis(4-aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane. The polyimide based on 2,2-bis(4-aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane exhibited the best hydrolytic, thermal, and thermal oxidative stability as determined by moisture uptake and thermogravimetric analysis

Improved perfluoroalkylether fluid development

The objective of this program was to optimize and scale up the linear perfluoroalkylether stabilization process and to provide test data regarding the fluids' thermal oxidative stability in the presence of metal alloys. The stabilization of Fomblin Z-25 was scaled up to 300 g of fluid. The modified fluid was stable at 316 C in oxygen in the presence of M-50 alloy for more than 24 hrs but less than 40 hrs; the amount of volatiles produced after 24 hrs was 5.5 mg/g. In the presence of Ti(4Al,4Mn) alloy, under the above conditions, following an exposure of 24 hrs, the amount of volatiles formed was 6.2 mg/g; 56 hrs exposure yielded 13.9 mg/g. The commercial fluid at 288 C (in oxygen) in the presence of M-50 after 15 hrs of exposure decomposed extensively, 342 mg/g; in the presence of Ti(4Al,4Mn) alloy after only 8 hrs at 288 C, the amount of volatiles was 191 mg/g. Formulation of the commercial fluid with C2PN3 additive was not as effective as the stabilization processing. All the perfluoroalkylether fluids studied were stable in nitrogen at 343 C. The thermal oxidative stability in the absence of metal alloys varied, with Aflunox exhibiting the best behavior. All the fluids were degraded in oxygen at 316 C during 24 hrs exposure to Ti(4Al,4Mn) alloy with the exception of a perfluoroalkylether substituted triazine and the modified Z-25