1,028 research outputs found
Personalised electronic messages to improve sun protection in young adults
The incidence of all skin cancers, including melanoma, continues to rise. It is well known that ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main environmental risk factor for skin cancer, and excessive exposure at a young age increases the risk of developing skin cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the acceptability and feasibility of delivering sun protection messages via electronic media such as short message services (SMS) to people 18-40 years, and explore factors associated with their acceptability. Overall, 80% of participants agreed that they would like to receive some form of sun protection advice; of these, 20% prefer to receive it via SMS and 42% via email. Willingness to receive electronic messages about the UV index was associated with being unsure about whether a suntanned person would look healthy and greater use of sun protection in the past. Careful attention to message framing and timing of message delivery and focus on short-term effects of sun exposure such as sunburn and skin ageing should increase the acceptability of such messages to young people. We conclude that sun protection messages delivered to young adults via electronic media appear feasible and acceptable
Neural Network Model for Apparent Deterministic Chaos in Spontaneously Bursting Hippocampal Slices
A neural network model that exhibits stochastic population bursting is
studied by simulation. First return maps of inter-burst intervals exhibit
recurrent unstable periodic orbit (UPO)-like trajectories similar to those
found in experiments on hippocampal slices. Applications of various control
methods and surrogate analysis for UPO-detection also yield results similar to
those of experiments. Our results question the interpretation of the
experimental data as evidence for deterministic chaos and suggest caution in
the use of UPO-based methods for detecting determinism in time-series data.Comment: 4 pages, 5 .eps figures (included), requires psfrag.sty (included
The impact of educational and environmental interventions in Dutch worksite cafeterias
Environmental interventions as labeling of healthy foods and an increased availability of healthy foods may help consumers to meet the guidelines for a healthy diet. This article describes a study into the effectiveness of two environmental programs to be used in worksite cafeterias along with an educational program. The aim of the interventions was to reduce fat intake and increase fruit and vegetable intake. In the 'Labeling Program', low fat products were labeled. The 'Food Supply Program' comprised an increased availability of low-fat products and fruits and vegetables in worksite cafeterias. The 'Educational Program' consisted of information about healthy nutrition through brochures, table tents, a self help manual and posters. The design consisted of a pretest-posttest experimental control group design, with four conditions: the Educational Program, the Food Supply Program plus Educational Program, the Labeling Program plus Educational Program and a control group. Seventeen worksites were randomly assigned to one of the four research conditions. Total fat, fruit, and vegetable intake was measured with a quantitative, self-administered food frequency questionnaire (35 questions). Intake during lunch was measured by asking respondents to write down which food items they had purchased during their last lunch in the cafeteria. Furthermore, sales data for some targeted product categories were collected (milk, butter, cheese, meat products, desserts). For the whole study population, no significant effects on consumption data were found for any of the programs. The data showed a beneficial significant treatment effect of the Labeling Program on total fat intake, for respondents who believe they eat a high fat diet. Sales data revealed a significant effect of the labeling program on desserts, but not for the other products
Lagrangian description of the fluid flow with vorticity in the relativistic cosmology
We develop the Lagrangian perturbation theory in the general relativistic
cosmology, which enables us to take into account the vortical effect of the
dust matter. Under the Lagrangian representation of the fluid flow, the
propagation equation for the vorticity as well as the density is exactly
solved. Based on this, the coupling between the density and vorticity is
clarified in a non-perturbative way. The relativistic correspondence to the
Lagrangian perturbation theory in the Newtonian cosmology is also emphasized.Comment: 14 pages (RevTeX); accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Gravitational Microlensing Evidence for a Planet Orbiting a Binary Star System
The study of extra-solar planetary systems has emerged as a new discipline of
observational astronomy in the past few years with the discovery of a number of
extra-solar planets. The properties of most of these extra-solar planets were
not anticipated by theoretical work on the formation of planetary systems. Here
we report observations and light curve modeling of gravitational microlensing
event MACHO-97-BLG-41, which indicates that the lens system consists of a
planet orbiting a binary star system. According to this model, the mass ratio
of the binary star system is 3.8:1 and the stars are most likely to be a late K
dwarf and an M dwarf with a separation of about 1.8 AU. A planet of about 3
Jupiter masses orbits this system at a distance of about 7 AU. If our
interpretation of this light curve is correct, it represents the first
discovery of a planet orbiting a binary star system and the first detection of
a Jovian planet via the gravitational microlensing technique. It suggests that
giant planets may be common in short period binary star systems.Comment: 11 pages, with 1 color and 2 b/w Figures included (published version
Associations between mothers’ perceptions of the cost of fruit and vegetables and children’s diets : Will children pay the price?
Background/Objectives: Perceptions that fruit and vegetables are expensive are more common among the socio-economically disadvantaged groups and are linked to poor dietary outcomes. Such perceptions may be exacerbated in countries recently affected by natural disasters, where devastation of fruit and vegetable crops has resulted in increase in prices of fruit and vegetables. Examining the associations of perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability and children\u27s diets can offer insights into how the high prices of fruit and vegetables might have an impact on the diets of children.Subjects/Methods: We analysed the data from 546 socio-economically disadvantaged mother–child pairs to assess the relationship between maternal perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability and the diets of their children.Results: Fruit consumption was lower among children whose mothers felt the cost of fruit was too high. Maternal perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability were not associated with any other aspect of child\u27s diet.Conclusions: Our results suggest a possible role for maternal perceptions of fruit affordability in children\u27s diet, though further research is warranted.<br /
Implications of Cosmic Repulsion for Gravitational Theory
In this paper we present a general, model independent analysis of a recently
detected apparent cosmic repulsion, and discuss its potential implications for
gravitational theory. In particular, we show that a negatively spatially curved
universe acts like a diverging refractive medium, to thus naturally cause
galaxies to accelerate away from each other. Additionally, we show that it is
possible for a cosmic acceleration to only be temporary, with some accelerating
universes actually being able to subsequently recontract.Comment: RevTeX, 13 page
Buprenorphine versus dihydrocodeine for opiate detoxification in primary care: a randomised controlled trial
Background
Many drug users present to primary care requesting detoxification from illicit opiates. There are a number of detoxification agents but no recommended drug of choice. The purpose of this study is to compare buprenorphine with dihydrocodeine for detoxification from illicit opiates in primary care.
Methods
Open label randomised controlled trial in NHS Primary Care (General Practices), Leeds, UK. Sixty consenting adults using illicit opiates received either daily sublingual buprenorphine or daily oral dihydrocodeine. Reducing regimens for both interventions were at the discretion of prescribing doctor within a standard regimen of not more than 15 days. Primary outcome was abstinence from illicit opiates at final prescription as indicated by a urine sample. Secondary outcomes during detoxification period and at three and six months post detoxification were recorded.
Results
Only 23% completed the prescribed course of detoxification medication and gave a urine sample on collection of their final prescription. Risk of non-completion of detoxification was reduced if allocated buprenorphine (68% vs 88%, RR 0.58 CI 0.35–0.96, p = 0.065). A higher proportion of people allocated to buprenorphine provided a clean urine sample compared with those who received dihydrocodeine (21% vs 3%, RR 2.06 CI 1.33–3.21, p = 0.028). People allocated to buprenorphine had fewer visits to professional carers during detoxification and more were abstinent at three months (10 vs 4, RR 1.55 CI 0.96–2.52) and six months post detoxification (7 vs 3, RR 1.45 CI 0.84–2.49).
Conclusion
Informative randomised trials evaluating routine care within the primary care setting are possible amongst drug using populations. This small study generates unique data on commonly used treatment regimens
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