Principios psicológicos para la educación de los niños autistas en el ocio y tiempo libre.

Sin resume

Assessing the competitiveness of Matera and the Basilicata Region (Italy) ahead of the 2019 European Capital of Culture

Cities/regions are increasingly using events to aid social/economic development. The European Capital of Culture promotes urban management and economic production using culture to drive social legacies, job creation and civic repositioning. This paper aims to understand how Matera and Basilicata’s residents perceive destination competitiveness ahead of the 2019 European Capital of Culture. This paper adapts the Integrated Model of Destination Competitiveness and suggests a new determinant to understand resident perceptions. This paper contributes a new determinant to consider in competitiveness research: social conditions to improve local wellbeing. Two hundred respondents identify strengths/weaknesses of each competitiveness determinant. The results presented in this study display sample mean values and standard deviations for each indicator, as well as Wilcoxon test statistic (z). Competitive indicators are those showing means above 4.0. Descriptive and inferential analyses using SPSS 17 show strengths/weaknesses comparing Matera (city) and Basilicata (region) with similarities and differences outlined to consider both urban and regional perspectives and differences. For the data analysis, Wilcoxon paired signed rank test displays differences in the competitiveness factors between Matera and Basilicata. Wilcoxon (a nonparametric alternative to paired sample t-test) was performed since the data distribution was left skewed and Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistic indicates violation of normality assumption. Results show the majority of inherited, created and supporting resources are competitive, as well as image and social conditions; however, management and organisation needs improvement. It is essential that European Capital of Culture hosts have long-term competitive strategies in place to strengthen urban and regional capacity when delivering diverse cultural programmes, at present, and into the future. This study offers insight before the 2019 European Capital of Culture to inform planners and policymakers ahead of the event and offers consideration and discussion of social impacts and the need to gain such insight in competitiveness research going forward

Food consumption analysis in Spanish elderly based upon the Mini Nutritional Assessment Test

Background/Aims: Aged people are an increasing population group worldwide, and nutritional impairments may contribute to additional health problems. The characterization of food consumption of elderly people is a good approach to implementing adequate nutritional policies in order to improve their nutritional status. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze specific aspects of food intake based upon the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test in a representative country sample. Methods: The survey consisted of a cross-sectional study assessing the nutritional status of 22,007 Spanish people aged 65 years or older using the MNA test. These data, including dietary information, were obtained by health professionals specifically trained to carry out the questionnaire. A multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the contributing impact of the diet-related MNA questions on the total MNA score. Results: Differences in the food choices between men and women were found, but not in the mode of feeding. Obese and non-obese individuals, categorized by a body mass index (BMI) more or less than 30, showed similar intake patterns of protein-rich foods, but differences in fruits, vegetables and fluids. On the other hand, undernourished and non-undernourished subjects, according to the MNA criteria, revealed different food consumption. Loss of appetite and mode of feeding were the items with the highest influence the MNA total score. Conclusions: While age, gender and BMI considered together are responsible for 11.3% of the total MNA score, dietary-related items can predict the 62.4% of the total MNA classification in the overall elderly Spanish population

Circadian rhythm of hepatic cytosolic and nuclear estrogen and androgen receptors

Mammalian liver is a sex steroid-responsive tissue. The effects of these hormones presumably are mediated by hepatic estrogen receptors (ER) and androgen receptors (AR). Serum levels of sex hormones display circadian rhythms. Further, estrogens and androgens are commonly administered; administration of these agents is associated frequently with liver disease. Therefore, we investigated whether the cytosolic and nuclear sex steroid receptors also display a similar circadian rhythm, and whether variations occurred in the distribution of receptors between cytosolic and nuclear compartments. Animals were killed every 4 h from midnight till the following midnight; cytosolic and nuclear levels of both ER and AR were measured. Cytosolic ER reached a maximum level at 4 am, and a minimum at 8 pm and midnight of both days. Nuclear ER was highest at 8 am and lowest at 4 pm and 8 pm, a pattern which parallels variations in serum estradiol levels. Cytosolic AR was highest at 8 pm and lowest at midnight and 4 am. Nuclear AR was highest at 4 am and lowest at 4 pm and 8 pm. The highest level of nuclear AR does not correspond to the maximum serum testosterone level, which occurred at 4 pm. The total hepatic content of both ER and AR was not constant over the 24-h period, but varied considerably with time of day. These studies suggest that both ER and AR show a distinct circadian rhythm in subcellular compartmentalization, and that total hepatic content of ER and AR varies significantly during a 24-h period. © 1986

Impact of global and subjective mini nutritional assessment (MNA) questions on the evaluation of the nutritional status: The role of gender and age

Undernutrition is a quite common condition in the elderly, often identified using the mini nutritional assessment (MNA) test. The aim of this research was to study the independent value of the global and the subjective MNA questions to predict the undernutrition according to the full MNA score, and to analyze the influence of gender and age on such items. A total of 22,007 Spanish people 65 years of age or older were evaluated using the MNA test. These data were obtained by trained community pharmacists by using receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. About 4.3% of the studied population were classified as undernourished according to the full MNA test. The subjective subscore (two questions) presented better predictive value than the global one (six questions). Indeed, 99.5% of subjects detected as well nourished using the MNA test were also correctly classified using the two subjective questions. In the present study, it was identified that the two subjective MNA questions can be an efficient tool for a quick screening to rule out non undernourished subjects

Valoración de la circunferencia de la pantorrilla como indicador de riesgo de desnutrición en personas mayores

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition is a very common situation among elderly, that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. On the other hand, calf circumference (CC) is a direct anthropometric measurement, related to fat free mass. An early detection of an elderly undernutrition situation, based on CC assessment, could contribute to prevent its development and consequences. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationship between CC and a possible undernutrition situation, based on the application of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test, among Spanish subjects of 65 or more years old, including the gender and age influences. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the nutritional situation of an ambulatory population, from every area of Spanish geography (n = 22007), using the questionnaire MNA. Every subject surveyed was 65 or more years old when the test was done. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between subjects with a CC or= 31 cm, both men and women, in weight, height, body mass index (BMI), MNA total score and undernutrition classification. On the other hand, it was found that those elders with lower CC showed a higher undernutrition risk, both men and women, in every age range studied. CONCLUSIONS: It does exit an association between CC of Spanish subjects of 65 or more years old and the risk of developing undernutrition. That association is similar among men and women, and in all age ranges

Age of peak performance in Olympic sports: A comparative research among disciplines

This research aimed to study the ages of peak performance in Olympic sport disciplines, and to distinguish age groups among them. The ages (in decimal years) of athletes with the best performances at the 2012 Summer Olympics were considered (n = 3548). A total of forty sport disciplines were included; the athletics events were classified in six disciplines: Sprint, Middle-distance, Long-distance, Combined, Jumping and Throwing. A full statistical summary was produced. A regression tree was proposed for each gender to discriminate groups of sport disciplines according to age. The ages ranged from 14.0 to 52.8 years. The 72% of the athletes aged between 20 and 30 years, and the 99% aged below 40 years. The mean ages for men and women were 27.0 and 26.2 years, respectively. The regression tree analysis generated four groups of sport disciplines in men, and five in women. In men, the mean ages of the groups were: Group 1 = 24.4, Group 2 = 25.9, Group 3 = 28.0 and Group 4 = 30.8. In women, the mean ages of the groups were: Group 1 = 19.9, Group 2 = 22.7, Group 3 = 24.6, Group 4 = 26.5 and Group 5 = 28.3. The combat, gymnastics and swimming disciplines located mostly in the youngest groups in men; a similar tendency was evidenced in women, except for the combat sports. Apart from Combined, all athletics disciplines located in the groups 4 and 5 in women. On the contrary, these disciplines sited mainly in the groups 1 and 2 in men. All game and nautical sports placed in the two eldest groups in both genders, excluding women Water Polo

Gender differences in the impact of family background on leaving the parental home

We address the question to what extent characteristics of the family of origin influence the timing of leaving the parental home and to what extent these effects differ between men and women. We use data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study to examine the effects of parental resources, atmosphere in the family of origin and family structure on leaving home to live without a partner and leaving home to live with a partner. The results indicate that a pleasant atmosphere in the parental home decreases the risk of leaving home and living in stepfamilies or single-parent families increases this risk. The availability of parental resources leads to a decreased risk of leaving home at young ages, but an increased risk at later ages. Many of these effects are found for both men and women and for both pathways out of the home. Furthermore, we find evidence that women are affected more strongly by family background characteristics than men are