Evolved solar systems in Praesepe

"Copyright 2011 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics." Original paper can be found at: http://scitation.aip.org/"We have obtained near-IR photometry for the 11 Praesepe white dwarfs, to search for an excess indicative of a dusty debris disk. All the white dwarfs are in the DAZ temperature regime, however we find no indications of a disk around any white dwarf. We have, however determined that the radial velocity variable white dwarf WD0837+185 could have an unresolved T8 dwarf companion that would not be seen as a near-IR excess.Final Accepted Versio

Barriers and solutions to participation in exercise for moderately disabled people with multiple sclerosis not currently exercising: a consensus development study using nominal group technique

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive neurological condition. The aim of this study was to explore consensus on the barriers and solutions to exercise for people with MS living in Scotland. Method: Thirty-five people with MS, not regularly exercising, were recruited and took part in five Nominal Group Technique groups throughout Scotland. Background information was collected on participants prior to each group. Participants individually and silently listed their barriers and solutions to participating in exercise. Group discussion then clarified, amended and merged ideas. Participants then ranked ideas by choosing five barriers and solutions to exercise participation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and by carrying out a thematic grouping. Results: Consensus was that fatigue was a barrier to exercise participation . Other identified barriers were a lack of support and advice, the impairments arising from the condition and time. No single item achieved consensus for solutions but exercising with others, receiving support, having a positive attitude, finding time and minimizing environmental barriers were all suggested as solutions to assist in exercise participation. Conclusions: People with MS should be provided with information on how to manage their fatigue alongside any exercise prescription. Information and support should be given on how to personalize exercise to suit individual needs and abilities to overcome some of the barriers suggested within this study. Implications for rehabilitation More exercise opportunities are required. Exercise should be personalized to address the individual needs of the person with MS. Any identified barriers to exercise should be addressed

New stellar members of the Coma Berenices open star cluster

We present the results of a survey of the Coma Berenices open star cluster (Melotte 111), undertaken using proper motions from the USNO-B1.0 and photometry from the 2MASS Point Source catalogues. We have identified 60 new candidate members with masses in the range 1.007<M<$0.269M_solar. For each we have estimated a membership probability by extracting control clusters from the proper motion vector diagram. All 60 are found to have greater than 60 per cent probability of being clusters more than doubling the number of known cluster members. The new luminosity function for the cluster peaks at bright magnitudes, but is rising at K~12, indicating that it is likely lower mass members may exist. The mass function also supports this hypothesis.Comment: accepted for MNRA

X-ray Spectral Variability and Rapid Variability of the Soft X-ray Spectrum Seyfert 1 Galaxies Ark 564 and Ton S180

The bright, soft X-ray spectrum Seyfert 1 galaxies Ark 564 and Ton S180 were monitored for 35 days and 12 days with ASCA and RXTE (and EUVE for Ton S180). The short time scale (hours-days) variability patterns were very similar across energy bands, with no evidence of lags between any of the energy bands studied. The fractional variability amplitude was almost independent of energy band. It is difficult to simultaneously explain soft Seyferts stronger variability, softer spectra, and weaker energy-dependence of the variability relative to hard Seyferts. The soft and hard band light curves diverged on the longest time scales probed, consistent with the fluctuation power density spectra that showed relatively greater power on long time scales in the softest bands. The simplest explanation is that a relatively hard, rapidly-variable component dominates the total X-ray spectrum and a slowly-variable soft excess is present in the lowest energy channels of ASCA. Although it would be natural to identify the latter with an accretion disk and the former with a corona surrounding it, a standard thin disk could not get hot enough to radiate significantly in the ASCA band, and the observed variability time scales are much too short. The hard component may have a more complex shape than a pure power-law. The most rapid factor of 2 flares and dips occurred within ~1000 sec in Ark 564 and a bit more slowly in Ton S180. The speed of the luminosity changes rules out viscous or thermal processes and limits the size of the individual emission regions to <~15 Schwarzschild radii (and probably much less), that is, to either the inner disk or small regions in a corona

Vaping for weight control:A cross-sectional population study in England

Introduction Concern about weight gain is a barrier to smoking cessation. E-cigarettes may help quitters to control their weight through continued exposure to the appetite-suppressant effects of nicotine and behavioural aspects of vaping. This study explored the views and practices of smokers, ex-smokers and current e-cigarette users relating to vaping and weight control. Methods Cross-sectional survey of past-year smokers (n = 1320), current smokers (n = 1240) and current e-cigarette users (n = 394) in England, conducted April–July 2018. Data were weighted to match the English population on key sociodemographic characteristics. Results Of e-cigarette users, 4.6% (95%CI 2.6–6.6) reported vaping for weight control, and 1.9% (95%CI 0.6–3.2) reported vaping to replace meals/snacks. It was rare for individuals who had smoked in the past year to have heard (8.8%, 95%CI 7.3–10.3) or believe (6.4%, 95%CI 5.1–7.7) that vaping could help control weight. Women (OR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.42–0.93) and older people (OR = 0.30, 95%CI 0.13–0.72) were less likely to have heard the claim and women were less likely to believe it (OR = 0.44, 95%CI 0.27–0.72). However, 13.4% (95%CI 11.3–15.5) and 13.1% (95%CI 11.0–15.2) of current smokers who did not use e-cigarettes said they would be more likely to try e-cigarettes or quit smoking, respectively, if vaping could help control their weight. Conclusion One in 16 English people who have smoked in the last year believe that vaping would prevent weight gain after stopping. One in 22 people who vape are using e-cigarettes for this purpose. However, should evidence emerge that e-cigarettes prevent weight gain, one in eight people who smoke would be tempted to quit smoking and use e-cigarettes

English stop-smoking services: one-year outcomes

The UK is a global leader in stop-smoking support—providing free behavioral support and cessation medication via stop smoking services (SSS) without charge to smokers. This study aimed to explore the client and service characteristics associated with abstinence 52 weeks after quitting. A prospective cohort study of 3057 SSS clients in nine different areas of England who began their quit attempt between March 2012 and March 2013 was conducted. Important determinants of long-term quitting were assessed through quit rates and multivariable logistic regression. Our results showed that the overall weighted carbon monoxide validated quit rate for clients at 52 weeks was 7.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 6.6–9.0). The clients of advisors, whose main role was providing stop-smoking support, were more likely to quit long-term than advisors who had a generalist role in pharmacies or general practices (odds ratio (OR) 2.3 (95% CI 1.2–4.6)). Clients were more likely to achieve abstinence through group support than one-to-one support (OR 3.4 (95% CI 1.7–6.7)). Overall, one in thirteen people who set a quit date with the National Health Service (NHS) Stop-Smoking Service maintain abstinence for a year. Improving abstinence is likely to require a greater emphasis on providing specialist smoking cessation support. Results from this study suggest that over 18,000 premature deaths were prevented through longer-term smoking cessation achieved by smokers who accessed SSS in England from March 2012 to April 2013, but outcomes varied by client characteristic and the type of support provided

An X-ray and UV flare from the galaxy XMMSL1 J061927.1-655311

Aims. New high variability extragalactic sources may be identified by comparing the flux of sources seen in the XMM-Newton Slew Survey with detections and upper limits from the ROSAT All Sky Survey.Methods. A detected flaring extragalactic source was monitored with Swift and XMM-Newton to track its temporal and spectral evolution. Optical and radio observations were made to help classify the galaxy, investigate the reaction of circumnuclear material to the X-ray flare, and check for the presence of a jet.Results. In November 2012, X-ray emission was detected from the galaxy XMMSL1 J061927.1-655311 (a.k.a. 2MASX 06192755-6553079), a factor 140 times higher than an upper limit from 20 years earlier. Both the X-ray and UV flux subsequently fell over the following year by factors of 20 and 4, respectively. Optically, the galaxy appears to be a Seyfert I with broad Balmer lines and weak, narrow, low-ionisation emission lines, at a redshift of 0.0729. The X-ray luminosity peaks at LX ∼ 8 × 1043 erg s-1 with a typical Sy I-like power-law X-ray spectrum of Γ ∼ 2. The flare has either been caused by a tidal disruption event or by an increase in the accretion rate of a persistent active galactic nucleus