Association between Socio-Demographic Factors and Owners’ Beliefs and Attitudes to Pet Cats Fundamental Dietary and Physical Exercise Needs, in City of Belfast

A cross-sectional survey questionnaire was developed in-house to investigate pet cat owners’ beliefs and attitudes related to the fundamental care of their pet cats. The questionnaire consisted of questions which were grouped into the following sections: (i) owners’ socio-demographics; (ii) cat(s) body weight and body condition monitoring; (iii) owners’ attitudes to cats’ dietary preferences, needs and satisfaction, (iv) owners’ perceptions of their cats’ physical exercise needs and satisfaction. The sample size of 376 was estimated to be required to represent the population of the given geographical location (Belfast, NI, UK). Hard copies of the questionnaires were distributed in January and February 2019 and in total 402 completed questionnaires were collected; questionnaires which included >20% of missing or incomprehensible responses were excluded from the database, resulting in 398 questionnaires being included in the final database. The study identified a number of socio-demographic factors associated with owners’ beliefs and attitudes that directly affect care provided to pet cats, e.g., the owner’s occupation has been identified as a factor associated with owner perception of certain cats’ behaviours, e.g., a cat brushing against the owner as food requests by their animal (Chi-Square 7.711 (df1), exact p = 0.006). Furthermore, most female respondents, aged 26–67 years and in an occupation not related to animals, reported selecting cat food based on their animal preferences (Chi-Square 10.332 (df1), exact p = 0.003). In contrast, female owners in animal and veterinary occupations were significantly more likely as compared to other respondents (Chi-Square 15.228 (df1), exact p < 0.001), to select cat food based on its perceived health benefit to the cat. Analysis of the respondents’ opinions of cats’ abilities to self-regulate physical activity showed that owners age was the main differentiating determinant, i.e., cat owners over 25 years old were significantly more likely than younger adults to believe that pet cats can regulate their own physical activity to keep healthy (Chi-Square 6.313 (df1), exact p = 0.025). Furthermore, respondents’ opinions of their cat’s ability to self-regulate feed intake were mainly associated with owner’s education level (Chi-Square 6.367 (df1), exact p = 0.036). The study results indicated that the attitude and beliefs behind the fundamental care practices provided to pet cats depends on particular demographic factors, especially owners’ education and occupation

Interference Commensurate Oscillations in Q1D Conductors

We suggest an analytical theory to describe angular magnetic oscillations recently discovered in quasi-one-dimensional conductor (TMTSF)2PF6 [see Phys. Rev. B, 57, 7423 (1998)] and define the positions of the oscillation minima. The origin of these oscillations is related to interference effects resulting from an interplay of quasi-periodic and periodic ("commensurate") electron trajectories in an inclined magnetic field. We reproduce via calculations existing experimental data and predict some novel effects.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Theory of Thermodynamic Magnetic Oscillations in Quasi-One-Dimensional Conductors

The second order correction to free energy due to the interaction between electrons is calculated for a quasi-one-dimensional conductor exposed to a magnetic field perpendicular to the chains. It is found that specific heat, magnetization and torque oscillate when the magnetic field is rotated in the plane perpendicular to the chains or when the magnitude of magnetic filed is changed. This new mechanism of thermodynamic magnetic oscillations in metals, which is not related to the presence of any closed electron orbits, is applied to explain behavior of the organic conductor (TMTSF)$_2$ClO$_4$.Comment: 11 pages + 5 figures (included

Red Flags in Family History and Auscultations that may require 12-Lead ECG when Screening Athletes

The main components of pre-participation physical exams (PPE) at the NCAA Division II level include a thorough medical history and physical evaluation (AHA). “Red flags” for risk on the PPE and medical history include, but are not limited to, heart murmur, diagnosed enlarged heart in a family member, unexplained chest pain, and complaints of skipped heartbeats. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the use of 12-lead ECG for the PPE would reveal further red flags specific to cardiac abnormalities. Twelve-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed on all new athletes at Tarleton State University during the Summer and Fall 2012 (N=200). Twelve-lead ECGs were reviewed and analyzed by the lab director and attending physician. Upon completion of the PPE, medical history, and ECG, five athletes needed follow-up based on PPE and 12-lead ECG. Reasons for initial concern were the previously stated “red flags” as well as abnormal ECG readings. The abnormal ECG readings included left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), incomplete right bundle branch block (IRBBB), sinus arrhythmia, and right atrial enlargement (RAE). LVH, IRBB, and sinus arrhythmia were all found to be normal training induced adaptations, however RAE is a non-training induced cardiac abnormality. Of those five, all of them had some type of cardiac adaptation, but one of them presented with RAE. The athlete was an 18-year old male, 64.5” tall, 116 pounds, and in his first year of collegiate cross-country athletics. His HR was 81bpm and blood pressure was 122/72 mmHg. His grandmother was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. The clearing physician, an orthopedic doctor, found only training induced abnormalities in all five athletes. All five athletes were cleared for competition. Endurance athletes often have abnormal ECG readings as a result of training induced abnormalities. In the present investigation, an athlete with RAE competed for an entire cross-country season without any issues or complaints. Physicians trained in reading ECGs should be responsible for clearing athletes for participation. In this case, right atrial enlargement appeared in the ECG, yet the orthopedic doctor did not request follow up tests. Physicians who are versed in exercise training induced changes that might be classified as normal or abnormal should be the final step in clearing athletes for competition

E‐cigarette support for smoking cessation: Identifying the effectiveness of intervention components in an on‐line randomized optimization experiment

Aims, Design and Setting The aim of this study was to determine which combination(s) of five e-cigarette-orientated intervention components, delivered on-line, affect smoking cessation. An on-line (UK) balanced five-factor (2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 32 intervention combinations) randomized factorial design guided by the multi-phase optimization strategy (MOST) was used. Participants A total of 1214 eligible participants (61% female; 97% white) were recruited via social media. Interventions The five on-line intervention components designed to help smokers switch to exclusive e-cigarette use were: (1) tailored device selection advice; (2) tailored e-liquid nicotine strength advice; (3): tailored e-liquid flavour advice; (4) brief information on relative harms; and (5) text message (SMS) support. Measurements The primary outcome was 4-week self-reported complete abstinence at 12 weeks post-randomization. Primary analyses were intention-to-treat (loss to follow-up recorded as smoking). Logistic regressions modelled the three- and two-way interactions and main effects, explored in that order. Findings In the adjusted model the only significant interaction was a two-way interaction, advice on flavour combined with text message support, which increased the odds of abstinence (odds ratio = 1.55, 95% confidence interval = 1.13–2.14, P = 0.007, Bayes factor = 7.25). There were no main effects of the intervention components. Conclusions Text-message support with tailored advice on flavour is a promising intervention combination for smokers using an e-cigarette in a quit attempt

Mobile Phone Text Messages to Support People to Stop Smoking by Switching to Vaping: Codevelopment, Coproduction, and Initial Testing Study.

SMS text messages are affordable, scalable, and effective smoking cessation interventions. However, there is little research on SMS text message interventions specifically designed to support people who smoke to quit by switching to vaping. Over 3 phases, with vapers and smokers, we codeveloped and coproduced a mobile phone SMS text message program. The coproduction paradigm allowed us to collaborate with researchers and the community to develop a more relevant, acceptable, and equitable SMS text message program. In phase 1, we engaged people who vape via Twitter and received 167 responses to our request to write SMS text messages for people who wish to quit smoking by switching to vaping. We screened, adjusted, refined, and themed the messages, resulting in a set of 95 that were mapped against the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation-Behavior constructs. In phase 2, we evaluated the 95 messages from phase 1 via a web survey where participants (66/202, 32.7% woman) rated up to 20 messages on 7-point Likert scales on 9 constructs: being understandable, clear, believable, helpful, interesting, inoffensive, positive, and enthusiastic and how happy they would be to receive the messages. In phase 3, we implemented the final set of SMS text messages as part of a larger randomized optimization trial, in which 603 participants (mean age 38.33, SD 12.88 years; n=369, 61.2% woman) received SMS text message support and then rated their usefulness and frequency and provided free-text comments at the 12-week follow-up. For phase 2, means and SDs were calculated for each message across the 9 constructs. Those with means below the neutral anchor of 4 or with unfavorable comments were discussed with vapers and further refined or removed. This resulted in a final set of 78 that were mapped against early, mid-, or late stages of quitting to create an order for the messages. For phase 3, a total of 38.5% (232/603) of the participants provided ratings at the 12-week follow-up. In total, 69.8% (162/232) reported that the SMS text messages had been useful, and a significant association between quit rates and usefulness ratings was found (χ =9.6; P=.002). A content analysis of free-text comments revealed that the 2 most common positive themes were helpful (13/47, 28%) and encouraging (6/47, 13%) and the 2 most common negative themes were too frequent (9/47, 19%) and annoying (4/47, 9%). In this paper, we describe the initial coproduction and codevelopment of a set of SMS text messages to help smokers stop smoking by transitioning to vaping. We encourage researchers to use, further develop, and evaluate the set of SMS text messages and adapt it to target populations and relevant contexts. [Abstract copyright: ©Vassilis Sideropoulos, Eleni Vangeli, Felix Naughton, Sharon Cox, Daniel Frings, Caitlin Notley, Jamie Brown, Catherine Kimber, Lynne Dawkins. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 27.09.2023.

Tailored interventions to assist smokers to stop smoking using e-cigarettes (TASSE): Study protocol [version 3]

Background: T here is increasing evidence that e-cigarettes (EC) are an effective smoking cessation aid when combined with behavioural support. T here is further evidence for digital tailored interventions as cost effective approaches that can increase smoking cessation rates. Experimental work also suggests the addition of a ‘nicotine fact sheet’ can improve smokers’ risk perceptions related to EC. However, multifaceted approaches to deliver ‘tailored advice’ for smoking cessation combining various key evidenced based components are lacking. T he aim of this study is to use a Multiphase Optimisation Strategy (MOST ) to determine which of five, or a combination thereof, EC-orientated intervention components is associated with self-reported cessation over the previous 4-weeks at 12-week follow-up. Methods/Design: T his online study will utilise a 2x2x2x2x2 factorial design resulting in 32 experimental conditions. T he five intervention components will be: 1: tailored advice on EC device; 2: tailored advice on e-liquid nicotine strength; 3: tailored advice on eliquid flavour; 4: e-cigarette written information; 5: text message support. A sample of N=1184 adult, UK resident smokers will be randomly allocated to one of the 32 conditions, which will be permutations of the 5 components (counter-balanced). T he primary outcome is 4 weeks of self-reported complete abstinence at 12 weeks post randomisation. Secondary outcomes are 7-day point prevalence, 50% reduction in baseline cigarettes smoked per day, time to switch and adherence to recommendation. T he primary analysis will be by intent-to-treat with the assumption that missing equals smoking. Logistic regression will be used to model the five main effects and the ten 2x2 interactions. A number of secondary analyses will also be conducted including models adjusting for demographic and smoking indices and including only those who received the intervention. Discussion: T o date, components that assist quitting by use of EC or other aids have largely been studied in isolation. T his study presents the first attempt to combine evidenced based interventions, using the MOST method, to test which components are associated with quitting. T he findings will be used to inform which components to include and their estimated effect sizes for a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT ) to examine the efficacy of the intervention compared with usual care (own choice and no support)

Acción : diario de Teruel y su provincia: Año II Número 116 - (06/04/33)

The selective aerobic oxidation of crotyl alcohol to crotonaldehyde was investigated by time-resolved synchronous DRIFTS/MS/XAS over silica and alumina supported Pd nanoparticles. Alcohol and oxygen reactant feeds were cycled through the catalyst bed while dynamic measurements of the palladium oxidation state, molecular adsorbates and evolved product distribution were made simultaneously on a sub-second timescale. Highly dispersed palladium nanoparticles remained in a partially oxidised state <100 degrees C, independent of the redox environment, and were selective for crotonaldehyde formation. Higher temperatures facilitated rapid catalyst reduction on exposure to crotyl alcohol, with palladium metal driving crotonaldehyde decarbonylation to propene and CO, while slower (surface diffusion-limited) reoxidation on exposure to oxygen re-opened selective oxidation pathways. Surface palladium oxide is identified as the desired active species

Towards spectrally selective catastrophic response

We study the large-amplitude response of classical molecules to electromagnetic radiation, showing the universality of the transition from linear to nonlinear response and breakup at sufficiently large amplitudes. We demonstrate that a range of models, from the simple harmonic oscillator to the successful Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois type models of DNA, which include realistic effects of the environment (including damping and dephasing due to thermal fluctuations), lead to characteristic universal behavior: formation of domains of dissociation in driving force amplitude-frequency space, characterized by the presence of local boundary minima. We demonstrate that by simply following the progression of the resonance maxima in this space, while gradually increasing intensity of the radiation, one must necessarily arrive at one of these minima, i.e., a point where the ultrahigh spectral selectivity is retained. We show that this universal property, applicable to other oscillatory systems, is a consequence of the fact that these models belong to the fold catastrophe universality class of Thom's catastrophe theory. This in turn implies that for most biostructures, including DNA, high spectral sensitivity near the onset of the denaturation processes can be expected. Such spectrally selective molecular denaturation could find important applications in biology and medicine