1,401 research outputs found
CVD of CrO2 Thin Films: Influence of the Deposition Parameters on their Structural and Magnetic Properties
This work reports on the synthesis of CrO2 thin films by atmospheric pressure
CVD using chromium trioxide (CrO3) and oxygen. Highly oriented (100) CrO2 films
containing highly oriented (0001) Cr2O3 were grown onto Al2O3(0001) substrates.
Films display a sharp magnetic transition at 375 K and a saturation
magnetization of 1.92 Bohr magnetons per f.u., close to the bulk value of 2
Bohr magnetons per f.u. for the CrO2.
Keywords: Chromium dioxide (CrO2), Atmospheric pressure CVD, Spintronics.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure
Exercise Can Improve Speed of Behavior in Older Drivers
The main aim of this research was to study the effects of a specific exercise program
on the speed of behavior of older adults during on-the-road driving. Twenty-six
drivers (55–78 yr old) were randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a
control group. The exercise program (3 sessions of 60 min/wk for 8 wk) incorporated
tasks that induced the participants to respond quickly to challenging situations.
On-the-road driving tasks (under single- and dual-task conditions) included
measures of simple and choice reaction time, movement time, and response time.
Significant positive effects were found at follow-up resulting from participation
in the exercise program: Improvements were found for several measures in all
driving tasks, and a composite score reflected a better general drivers’ speed of
behavior. These results show that exercise can enhance speed of behavior in older
drivers and should therefore be promoted
Manifolds associated with -colored regular graphs
In this article we describe a canonical way to expand a certain kind of
-colored regular graphs into closed -manifolds by
adding cells determined by the edge-colorings inductively. We show that every
closed combinatorial -manifold can be obtained in this way. When ,
we give simple equivalent conditions for a colored graph to admit an expansion.
In addition, we show that if a -colored regular graph
admits an -skeletal expansion, then it is realizable as the moment graph of
an -dimensional closed -manifold.Comment: 20 pages with 9 figures, in AMS-LaTex, v4 added a new section on
reconstructing a space with a -action for which its moment graph is
a given colored grap
Adenoviral delivery of angiotensin-(1-7) or angiotensin-(1-9) inhibits cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via the mas or angiotensin Type 2 receptor
The counter-regulatory axis of the renin angiotensin system peptide angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in cardiac remodelling, acting via the mas receptor. Furthermore, we recently reported that an alternative peptide, Ang-(1-9) also counteracts cardiac remodelling via the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT(2)R). Here, we have engineered adenoviral vectors expressing fusion proteins which release Ang-(1-7) [RAdAng-(1-7)] or Ang-(1-9) [RAdAng-(1-9)] and compared their effects on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in rat H9c2 cardiomyocytes or primary adult rabbit cardiomyocytes, stimulated with angiotensin II, isoproterenol or arg-vasopressin. RAdAng-(1-7) and RAdAng-(1-9) efficiently transduced cardiomyocytes, expressed fusion proteins and secreted peptides, as demonstrated by western immunoblotting and conditioned media assays. Furthermore, secreted Ang-(1-7) and Ang-(1-9) inhibited cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (Control = 168.7±8.4 µm; AngII = 232.1±10.7 µm; AngII+RAdAng-(1-7) = 186±9.1 µm, RAdAng-(1-9) = 180.5±9 µm; P<0.05) and these effects were selectively reversed by inhibitors of their cognate receptors, the mas antagonist A779 for RAdAng-(1-7) and the AT(2)R antagonist PD123,319 for RAdAng-(1-9). Thus gene transfer of Ang-(1-7) and Ang-(1-9) produces receptor-specific effects equivalent to those observed with addition of exogenous peptides. These data highlight that Ang-(1-7) and Ang-(1-9) can be expressed via gene transfer and inhibit cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via their respective receptors. This supports applications for this approach for sustained peptide delivery to study molecular effects and potential gene therapeutic actions
Reducing meat consumption and following plant-based diets: current evidence and future directions to inform integrated transitions
Background: There is increasing consensus that transitioning towards reduced meat consumption and more plant-based diets is a key feature to address important health and sustainability challenges. However, relevant evidence that may inform these transitions remains fragmented with no overarching rationale or theoretical framework, which limits the ability to design and deliver coordinated efforts to address these challenges. Scope and approach: Eleven databases were systematically searched using sets of keywords referring meat curtailment, meat substitution and plant-based diets, as well as consumer choice, appraisal or behavior (2602 articles selected for title and abstract screening; 161 full-texts assessed for eligibility; 110 articles selected for extraction and coding). Barriers and enablers were identified and integrated into an overarching framework (i.e., COM-B system), which conceptualizes behavior as being influenced by three broad components: capability, opportunity and motivation. Key findings and conclusions: This review mapped potential barriers and enablers in terms of capability, opportunity, and motivation to reduce meat consumption and follow more plant-based diets. These included lack of information for consumers and difficulty to acquire new cooking skills (barrier, capability), changes in service provision in collective meal contexts (enabler, opportunity), and positive taste expectations for plant-based meals (enabler, motivation). Evidence on variables referring to the motivation domain is clearly increasing, but there is a striking need for studies that include capability and opportunity variables as well. The results of this review are relevant to a variety of fields and audiences interested in promoting sustainable living and health improvements through dietary choice.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Emphasizing the losses or the gains: comparing situational and individual moderators of framed messages to promote fruit and vegetable intake
Health messages are a commonly used way to promote changes in dietary habits but their efficacy could be enhanced by strategies such as the way in which the presented arguments are framed. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of framed messages (gain vs. loss) on behavioural intention and fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, comparing predictions based on prominent theoretical perspectives on message framing (function of the health behaviour and recipients' motivational orientation) and by further exploring the role of baseline intentions as a potential moderator of the framing effects. Undergraduate students (N = 180) completed the three assessment points in time. At baseline, individual moderators (motivational orientation and intentions) and fruit and vegetable intake were assessed. One week later, participants were randomly assigned to the loss or gain-framed message and indicated their intentions for FV intake the following week. A week later, FV intake over the previous week was assessed. The gain-frame was not conducive, per se, to higher intentions or behaviour. Having intention as the outcome, only baseline intentions moderated the effects of message frame. When considering FV intake as the outcome, both motivational orientation and baseline intentions moderated the effects of message frame, with the loss-frame promoting higher FV intake among individuals who were prevention-oriented and had higher baseline intentions. Findings suggest that the success of framed messages for FV intake depends upon the recipient's characteristics, such as motivational orientation, baseline intentions, and cultural background, with implications for health communication interventions.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
When is congruency helpful? Interactive effects of frame, motivational orientation, and perceived message quality on fruit and vegetable consumption
Health messages framed to be congruent with people’s motivational orientation have been shown to be generally effective in promoting health behavior change, but some inconsistencies have been found. This study tested whether the perceived quality of a health message moderated the congruency effect in the domain of fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption. Undergraduate participants (N = 109) read a health message promoting FV intake in which the frame (gain vs. loss) was either congruent or incongruent with their approach/avoidance motivational orientation. Perceived message quality and intention to increase FV intake were assessed after message exposure, and self-reported FV intake was assessed one week later. A significant interaction between congruency and perceived message quality was found on both intention and FV intake. When messages were congruent, higher intentions and FV intake were observed when perceived message quality was high, but the reverse pattern was observed when perceived message quality was low. The findings support the potential utility of using congruently-framed messages to promote fruit and vegetable consumption, while also underscoring the necessity of using high-quality messages in order for congruency to influence health-related behaviors
Health messages to promote fruit and vegetable consumption at different stages: a match-mismatch design
Objective: To examine the effectiveness of matching health messages promoting fruit and vegetable intake to the Health Action Process Approach stages of change.Design: In a randomised controlled trial, 205 undergraduate students (non-intenders n=123; intenders n=82) were exposed to one of three health messages, targeted at non-intenders, intenders and controls.Main outcome measures: Three longitudinal assessments of stage, fruit and vegetable intake, and social-cognitive determinants were obtained.Results: Stage-specific effects of the interventions were confirmed. For self-efficacy, a stage by health message crossover interaction emerged, with both non-intenders and intenders in the matched conditions scoring higher in self-efficacy. Furthermore, in line with predictions, non-intenders in the matched condition showed higher risk perception, outcome expectancies, intention, and stage progression immediately after message exposure, and lower levels of action planning and coping planning a week later in the mismatched condition, but for these outcomes no differences across conditions were obtained among intenders. Multiple mediation analyses confirmed the facilitating role of self-efficacy and behavioural intention among non-intenders.Conclusions: Stages should be considered when designing health messages, although more interactive interventions for intenders and extended measurement time frames may be required.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Sistema iLPF no Cerrado de Rondônia: produtividade e custos de produção de soja, safra 2010/2011.
Este trabalho apresenta resultados parciais de sistema iLPF ? Integração Lavoura-Pecuária-Floresta instalado no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Rondônia, em Vilhena/RO. O objetivo foi avaliar a produtividade e os custos de produção de soja nesse sistema para a região de cerrado de Rondônia, especificamente para o municÃpio de Vilhena/RO. A cultivar de soja BRS Valiosa RR foi semeada em outubro de 2010 e a colheita dos grãos foi realizada em fevereiro de 2011, obtendo-se a produtividade de 3.218 kg.ha-1. Os custos de produção estimados foram de R 1.055,64 para o custo variável e de R$ 1.692,94 para o custo total. A produtividade obtida foi suficiente para cobrir todos os custos de produção
Extended BRST invariance in topological Yang Mills theory revisited
Extended BRST invariance (BRST plus anti-BRST invariances) provides in
principle a natural way of introducing the complete gauge fixing structure
associated to a gauge field theory in the minimum representation of the
algebra. However, as it happens in topological Yang Mills theory, not all gauge
fixings can be obtained from a symmetrical extended BRST algebra, where
antighosts belong to the same representation of the Lorentz group of the
corresponding ghosts. We show here that, at non interacting level, a simple
field redefinition makes it possible to start with an extended BRST algebra
with symmetric ghost antighost spectrum and arrive at the gauge fixing action
of topological Yang Mills theory.Comment: Interaction terms heve been included in all the calculations. Two
references added. Version to be published in Phys. Rev. D. 7 pages, Latex, no
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