379 research outputs found
Effects of a brief multimodal online intervention on the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours through targeting illness representations about skin cancer
__Objective:__ The incidence of skin cancer can be reduced by increasing sun protective behaviours. Based on the Common-Sense Model and the Intervention Mapping approach, a brief intervention targeting illness representations about skin cancer to increase the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours was developed and evaluated regarding its effectiveness.
__Design:__ A randomized pre-post control group design with 509 healthy participants (69% women, mean age 39 years). Main outcome measures: Changes in illness representations about skin cancer (emotional representations, illness coherence, and prevention control) and the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours, i.e. UV protection and sun avoidance.
__Results:__ ANCOVAs showed that the intervention increased illness coherence and perceived prevention control as well as the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours. Mediation analyses revealed that the increase in illness coherence and/or perceived prevention control partially mediated the effect of the intervention on the increase of the intention to use UV protection and to avoid sun exposure.
__Conclusion:__ The intervention was successful in changing illness representations and thereby increasing the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours. The findings provide evidence for the usefulness of the Common-Sense Model in the context of illness prevention
Erratum to: Resummed photon spectrum from dark matter annihilation for intermediate and narrow energy resolution
In the course of working on the extension [2] of ref. [1] to Higgsino dark matter annihilation, we became aware of two mistakes and a number of typos in this article
PACCE: Perl Algorithm to Compute Continuum and Equivalent Widths
We present Perl Algorithm to Compute continuum and Equivalent Widths (pacce).
We describe the methods used in the computations and the requirements for its
usage. We compare the measurements made with pacce and "manual" ones made using
iraf splot task. These tests show that for SSP models the equivalent widths
strengths are very similar (differences <0.2A) for both measurements. In real
stellar spectra, the correlation between both values is still very good, but
with differences of up to 0.5A. pacce is also able to determine mean continuum
and continuum at line center values, which are helpful in stellar population
studies. In addition, it is also able to compute the uncertainties in the
equivalent widths using photon statistics. The code is made available for the
community through the web at http://www.if.ufrgs.br/~riffel/software.html.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Astrophysics and Space Scienc
Identification of Novel Fibrosis Modifiers by InĀ Vivo siRNA Silencing.
Fibrotic diseases contribute to 45% of deaths in the industrialized world, and therefore a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying tissue fibrosis is sorely needed. We aimed to identify novel modifiers of tissue fibrosis expressed by myofibroblasts and their progenitors in their disease microenvironment through RNA silencing inĀ vivo. We leveraged novel biology, targeting genes upregulated during liver and kidney fibrosis in this cell lineage, and employed small interfering RNA (siRNA)-formulated lipid nanoparticles technology to silence these genes in carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice. We identified five genes, Egr2, Atp1a2, Fkbp10, Fstl1, and Has2, which modified fibrogenesis based on their silencing, resulting in reduced Col1a1 mRNA levels and collagen accumulation in the liver. These genes fell intoĀ different groups based on the effects of their silencing on a transcriptional mini-array and histological outcomes. Silencing of Egr2 had the broadest effects inĀ vivo and also reduced fibrogenic gene expression in a human fibroblast cell line. Prior to our study, Egr2, Atp1a2, and Fkbp10 had not been functionally validated in fibrosis inĀ vivo. Thus, our results provide a major advance over the existing knowledge of fibrogenic pathways. Our study is the first example of a targeted siRNA assay to identify novel fibrosis modifiers inĀ vivo
A 10-hour period revealed in optical spectra of the highly variable WN8 Wolf-Rayet star WR 123
Aims. What is the origin of the large-amplitude variability in Wolf-Rayet WN8
stars in general and WR123 in particular? A dedicated spectroscopic campaign
targets the ten-hour period previously found in the high-precision photometric
data obtained by the MOST satellite. Methods. In June-August 2003 we obtained a
series of high signal-to-noise, mid-resolution spectra from several sites in
the {\lambda}{\lambda} 4000 - 6940 A^{\circ} domain. We also followed the star
with occasional broadband (Johnson V) photometry. The acquired spectroscopy
allowed a detailed study of spectral variability on timescales from \sim 5
minutes to months. Results. We find that all observed spectral lines of a given
chemical element tend to show similar variations and that there is a good
correlation between the lines of different elements, without any significant
time delays, save the strong absorption components of the Hei lines, which tend
to vary differently from the emission parts. We find a single sustained
periodicity, P \sim 9.8 h, which is likely related to the relatively stable
pulsations found in MOST photometry obtained one year later. In addition,
seemingly stochastic, large-amplitude variations are also seen in all spectral
lines on timescales of several hours to several days.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, data available on-line, accepted in A&A
Research Note
A third cluster of red supergiants in the vicinity of the massive cluster RSGC3
Recent studies have shown that the area around the massive, obscured cluster
RSGC3 may harbour several clusters of red supergiants. In this paper, we
analyse a clump of photometrically selected red supergiant candidates 20' south
of RSGC3 in order to confirm the existence of another of these clusters. Using
medium-resolution infrared spectroscopy around 2.27 microns, we derived
spectral types and velocities along the line of sight for the selected
candidates, confirming their nature and possible association. We find a compact
clump of eight red supergiants and four other candidates at some distance, all
of them spectroscopically confirmed red supergiants. The majority of these
objects must form an open cluster, which we name Alicante 10. Because of the
high reddening and strong field contamination, the cluster sequence is not
clearly seen in 2MASS or GPS-UKIDSS. From the observed sources, we derive
E(J-Ks)=2.6 and d~6 kpc. Although the cluster is smaller than RSGC3, it has an
initial mass in excess of 10000 solar masses, and it seems to be part of the
RSGC3 complex. With the new members this association already has 35
spectroscopically confirmed red supergiants, confirming its place as one of the
most active sites of recent stellar formation in the Galaxy.Comment: Accepted for publication on A&
Contributions of remote monitoring to the follow-up of implantable cardioverterādefibrillator leads under advisory
C and N abundances of MS and SGB stars in NGC 1851
We present the first chemical analysis of stars on the double subgiant branch
(SGB) of the globular cluster NGC 1851. We obtained 48 Magellan IMACS spectra
of subgiants and fainter stars covering the spectral region between
3650-6750\AA, to derive C and N abundances from the spectral features at
4300\AA (G-band) and at ~ 3883\AA (CN). We added to our sample ~ 45 unvevolved
stars previously observed with FORS2 at the VLT. These two datasets were
homogeneously reduced and analyzed. We derived abundances of C and N for a
total of 64 stars and found considerable star-to-star variations in both [C/H]
and [N/H] at all luminosities extending to the red giant branch (RGB) base
(V~18.9). These abundances appear to be strongly anticorrelated, as would be
expected from the CN-cycle enrichment, but we did not detect any bimodality in
the C or N content. We used HST and ground-based photometry to select two
groups of faint- and bright-SGB stars from the visual and Str\"omgren
color-magnitude diagrams. Significant variations in the carbon and nitrogen
abundances are present among stars of each group, which indicates that each SGB
hosts multiple subgenerations of stars. Bright- and faint-SGB stars differ in
the total C+N content, where the fainter SGB have about 2.5 times the C+N
content of the brighter ones. Coupling our results with literature photometric
data and abundance determinations from high-resolution studies, we identify the
fainter SGB with the red-RGB population, which also should be richer on average
in Ba and other s-process elements, as well as in Na and N, when compared to
brighter SGB and the blue-RGB population.Comment: 17 pages, 3 tables, 16 figures; typos corrected, added checks on
temperature scale; A&A accepted (in press
- ā¦