Gender, socio-economic status and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and old adults.

BACKGROUND: Studies that addressed social and economic determinants of cardiovascular diseases, consistently showed an increase prevalence of the individual features of metabolic syndrome in the lower socio-economic strata. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the association between social class and metabolic syndrome in a sample of urban middle-aged and old Portuguese adults. METHODS: We evaluated 1962 subjects (1207 women and 755 men) aged 40 or more years. Marital status, education, occupation, menarche age and height distribution were used as socioeconomic indicators. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the ATP III, by the presence of at least three of the following characteristics: waist circumference > 102 cm in men and > 88 cm in women; triglycerides > or = 150 mg/dl; HDL cholesterol or = 130/85 mm Hg; and fasting glucose > or = 110 mg/dl. Proportions were compared using the chi square test or Fisher's exact test. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed using unconditional logistic regression to estimate the magnitude of the associations. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome was significantly more frequent in females (24.9 vs. 17.4, p < 0.001). In females, the odds favoring metabolic syndrome significantly increased with age and in unfavorable social class as described by occupation, and decreased with education level. In males, metabolic syndrome was significantly more frequent in the 60-69 years age class (OR = 1.82; 95%CI: 1.02-3.26) when compared to those in the 40-49 years age class. Concerning other socioeconomic indicators no significant associations were found. CONCLUSION: This study showed that gender influenced the association of socio-economic status indicators with metabolic syndrome. Females in lower social classes, as defined by education and occupational classification, more frequently presented metabolic syndrome, no such association was found in males

Comparing the Productive Efficiency of Cooperatives and Private Enterprises: The Portuguese Wine Industry as a Case Study

This paper compares the efficiency of cooperatives and private enterprises in the Portuguese wine industry, employing data envelopment analysis (DEA). The use of DEA for the analysis of comparative efficiency within a sector is a key tool in evaluating organizational competitiveness. Competitiveness should be based on benchmarking the different types of organizations that comprise the viniculture sector. We conclude that Portuguese wine cooperatives, on average, are more efficient than their private counterparts. Economic implications arising from the study are discussed.cooperatives, private enterprises, technical efficiency, DEA, wine industry, Portugal, Agribusiness,

Relativistic quantum motion of spin-0 particles under the influence of non-inertial effects in the cosmic string space-time

We study solutions for the Klein-Gordon equation with vector and scalar potentials of the Coulomb types under the influence of non-inertial effects in the space-time of topological defects. We also investigate a quantum particle described by the Klein-Gordon oscillator in the background space-time generated by a string. An important result obtained is that the non-inertial effects restrict the physical region of the space-time where the particle can be placed. In addition, we show that these potentials can form bound states for the relativistic wave equation equation in this kind of background.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1608.0669

POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS NO BRASIL: revisão sistemática da literatura

This study aimed to analyze the evolution of public policies in the academic publications in Brazil from 2010 to 2019, from the perspective of their development, performances of the actors and social movements and the development of the public policy cycle phases. Thirty relevant studies were considered and in accordance with an issue addressed. An analysis enabled the division of articles into thematic axes, to presents the results and discussion about public policies in Brazil, actors and social movements and the public policy cycle. A recent analysis of public policies in Brazil can be considered, but with great advances after new federal constitution.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la evolución de las políticas públicas en Brasil de 2010 a 2019, desde la perspectiva de su desarrollo, la participación de los actores y movimientos sociales y el desarrollo de las fases del ciclo de políticas públicas. Se identificaron treinta estudios relevantes y de acuerdo con el problema abordado. El análisis permitió dividir los artículos en ejes temáticos, para exponer mejor los resultados y la discusión, a saber: el contexto de las políticas públicas en Brasil, los actores y los movimientos sociales y el ciclo de las políticas públicas. El análisis de las políticas públicas en Brasil puede considerarse reciente, pero con los grandes avances que provienen de la Constitución Federal.Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a evolução das politicas públicas no Brasil no período de 2010 a 2019, sob a ótica do seu desenvolvimento, o envolvimento dos atores e movimentos sociais e o desenvolvimento das fases do ciclo de políticas públicas. Foram identificados trinta estudos relevantes e em conformidade com a problemática abordada. A análise possibilitou a divisão dos artigos em eixos temáticos, a fim de uma melhor exposição dos resultados e discussão, sendo eles: contexto das políticas públicas no Brasil, atores e movimentos sociais e ciclo de políticas públicas. Pode-se considerar recente a analise de políticas públicas no Brasil, porém com grandes avanços que sobrevieram a partir da Constituição Federal