Exploring 4D Quantum Hall Physics with a 2D Topological Charge Pump

The discovery of topological states of matter has profoundly augmented our understanding of phase transitions in physical systems. Instead of local order parameters, topological phases are described by global topological invariants and are therefore robust against perturbations. A prominent example thereof is the two-dimensional integer quantum Hall effect. It is characterized by the first Chern number which manifests in the quantized Hall response induced by an external electric field. Generalizing the quantum Hall effect to four-dimensional systems leads to the appearance of a novel non-linear Hall response that is quantized as well, but described by a 4D topological invariant - the second Chern number. Here, we report on the first observation of a bulk response with intrinsic 4D topology and the measurement of the associated second Chern number. By implementing a 2D topological charge pump with ultracold bosonic atoms in an angled optical superlattice, we realize a dynamical version of the 4D integer quantum Hall effect. Using a small atom cloud as a local probe, we fully characterize the non-linear response of the system by in-situ imaging and site-resolved band mapping. Our findings pave the way to experimentally probe higher-dimensional quantum Hall systems, where new topological phases with exotic excitations are predicted

ERICA: patterns of alcohol consumption in Brazilian adolescents

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the patterns of alcohol consumption in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS We investigated adolescents who participated in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA). This is a cross-sectional, national and school-based study, which surveyed adolescents of 1,247 schools from 124 Brazilian municipalities. Participants answered a self-administered questionnaire with a section on alcoholic beverages consumption. Measures of relative frequency (prevalence), and their 95% confidence intervals, were estimated for the following variables: use of alcohol beverages in the last 30 days, frequency of use, number of glasses or doses consumed in the period, age of the first use of alcohol, and most consumed type of drink. Data were estimated for country and macro-region, sex, and age group. The module survey of the Stata program was used for data analysis of complex sample. RESULTS We evaluated 74,589 adolescents, who accounted for 72.9% of eligible students. About 1/5 of adolescents consumed alcohol at least once in the last 30 days and about 2/3 in one or two occasions during this period. Among the adolescents who consumed alcoholic beverages, 24.1% drank it for the first time before being 12 years old, and the most common type of alcoholic beverages consumed by them were drinks based on vodka, rum or tequila, and beer. CONCLUSIONS There is a high prevalence of alcohol consumption among adolescents, as well as their early onset of alcohol use. We also identified a possible change in the preferred type of alcoholic beverages compared with previous research

Physical activity level in people with high blood pressure

This study aimed to analyze the level of physical activity for people with high blood pressure cared for in a health center. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 310 individuals between 18 and 69 years of age through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The majority (80%) of participants presented low or moderate levels of physical activity. The analysis of association between sociodemographic variables and physical activity level revealed that older men from the interior of the state with higher educational levels have a greater chance of exhibiting lower levels of physical activity. The logistic regression model revealed that origin, schooling and diabetes are predictors of low physical activity level. The conclusion is that part of the sample does not match the desirable profile to practice regular physical activity.El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el nivel de actividad física de personas portadoras de hipertensión arterial, acompañadas en un centro de atención ambulatorial. Se trata de un estudio transversal desarrollado con 310 individuos de 18 a 69 años. Se utilizó como base el International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). La mayor parte del grupo (80%) fue encuadrada en los niveles de baja y moderada actividad física. En el análisis de asociación entre las variables sociodemográficas y el nivel de actividad física, se verificó que personas del sexo masculino, procedentes del interior del Estado, con más edad y con mayor nivel de escolaridad son más propensas a desarrollar un nivel de actividad física bajo. En el modelo de regresión logística, la procedencia, tiempo de escolaridad y de diabetes fueron indicadores obtenidos como factores de predicción significativos para el nivel bajo de actividad física. Se concluye que parte de la muestra no posee un perfil deseable en relación a la práctica regular de actividad física.O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar o nível de atividade física de pessoas portadoras de hipertensão arterial, acompanhadas em centro de atendimento ambulatorial. É um estudo transversal desenvolvido com 310 indivíduos de 18 a 69 anos. Utilizou-se como base o International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A maior parcela do grupo (80%) foi enquadrada nos níveis de baixa e moderada atividade física. Na análise de associação entre as variáveis sociodemográficas e o nível de atividade física, verificou-se que pessoas do sexo masculino, procedentes do interior do Estado, mais velhas e com maior nível de escolaridade são mais propensas para desenvolver nível de atividade física baixo. No modelo de regressão logística, a procedência, tempo de escolaridade e de diabetes foram indicadores obtidos como preditores significantes para o nível baixo de atividade física. Concluiu-se que parte da amostra não possui perfil desejável em relação à prática regular de atividade física

Teste de Morisky-Green e Brief Medication Questionnaire para avaliar adesão a medicamentos

OBJETIVO: Analisar a confiabilidade e o desempenho da versão em português de instrumentos de avaliação da adesão ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo. MÉTODOS: Pacientes hipertensos atendidos de janeiro a setembro de 2010 em uma unidade de atenção primária em Porto Alegre, RS, foram selecionados aleatoriamente (n = 206). Na avaliação da adesão foram utilizadas versões em português do Teste de Morisky-Green (TMG) e do Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ). Foram analisados consistência interna, estabilidade temporal e desempenho com relação a três padrões-ouro: controle inadequado da pressão arterial (&gt; 140/90 mmHg); taxa insuficiente de retirada de medicação na farmácia da Unidade Básica de Saúde (< 80%); e a combinação de ambos. RESULTADOS: Dos pacientes avaliados, 97 utilizavam medicamentos dispensados somente pela farmácia da Unidade Básica de Saúde. Os testes apresentaram boa consistência interna: BMQ &#945; de Cronbach de 0,66 (IC95% 0,60;0,73) e o TMG 0,73 (IC95% 0,67;0,79). O desempenho do BMQ no domínio regime apresentou sensibilidade de 77%, especificidade de 58% e área sob a curva ROC de 0,70 (IC95% 0,55;0,86), e o TMG sensibilidade de 61%, especificidade de 36% e área sob a curva ROC de 0,46 (IC95% 0,30;0,62). A correlação entre o BMQ e o TMG foi de r = 0,28, p &gt; 0,001. A baixa adesão ao BMQ está associada a maiores níveis tensionais quando comparada com pacientes aderentes (148,4 [dp 20,1] vs 128,8 [dp 17,8], p < 0,001), mas não para o TMG. CONCLUSÕES: O BMQ apresentou melhor desempenho que o TMG, com maiores sensibilidade e especificidade. A avaliação da adesão pode auxiliar o clinico na discriminação entre uso inadequado da medicação e esquema terapêutico insuficiente.OBJETIVO: Analizar la confiabilidad y el desempeño de la versión en portugués de instrumentos de evaluación de la adherencia al tratamiento antihipertensivo. MÉTODOS: Pacientes hipertensos atendidos de enero a septiembre de 2010 en una unidad de atención primaria en Porto Alegre, Sur de Brasil, fueron seleccionados aleatoriamente (n=206). En la evaluación de la adherencia fueron utilizadas versiones en portugués de la Prueba de Morisky-Green (TMG) y del Brief Medication Questionnarie (BMQ). Se analizaron consistencia interna, estabilidad temporal y desempeño con relación a tres patrones-oro: control inadecuado de la presión arterial (&gt; 140/90 mmHg); tasa insuficiente de retirada de medicación en la farmacia de la Unidad Básica de Salud (< 80%) y la combinación de ambos. RESULTADOS: De los pacientes evaluados, 97 utilizaban medicamentos dispensados solamente por la farmacia de la Unidad Básica de Salud. Las pruebas presentaron buena consistencia interna: BMQ &#945; de Cronbach de 0,66 (IC95% 0,60;0,73) y el TMG 0,73 (IC95% 0,67;0,79). El desempeño del BMQ en el dominio régimen presentó sensibilidad de 77%, especificidad de 58%, y área bajo la curva ROC de 0,70 (IC95% 0,55;0,86) y el TMG sensibilidad de 61%, especificidad de 36% y área bajo la curva ROC de 0,46 (IC95% 0,30;0,62). La correlación entre el BMQ y el TMG fue de r=0,28, p&gt;0,001. La baja adherencia al BMQ está asociada a mayores niveles tensionales al compararlo con pacientes adherentes 148,4 [de 0,1] vs 128,8 [de 17,8], pOBJECTIVE: To analyze the reliability and performance of the Portuguese version of questionnaires used to evaluate adherence to hypertensive treatment. METHODS: Hypertensive patients attending a primary healthcare unit in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from January to September 2010, were randomly selected (n = 206). To evaluate adherence, Portuguese versions of the Morisky-Green test (MGT) and the Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ) were used. The analysis considered internal consistency, temporal stability and performance compared to three gold standards, which are: inadequate control of blood pressure (BP &gt; 140/90 mmHg); insufficient rate of medication acquisition at the institution's pharmacy

Sex differences in risk factors for coronary heart disease: a study in a Brazilian population

BACKGROUND: In Brazil coronary heart disease (CHD) constitutes the most important cause of death in both sexes in all the regions of the country and interestingly, the difference between the sexes in the CHD mortality rates is one of the smallest in the world because of high rates among women. Since a question has been raised about whether or how the incidence of several CHD risk factors differs between the sexes in Brazil the prevalence of various risk factors for CHD such as high blood cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and cigarette smoking was compared between the sexes in a Brazilian population; also the relationships between blood cholesterol and the other risk factors were evaluated. RESULTS: The population presented high frequencies of all the risk factors evaluated. High blood cholesterol (CHOL) and hypertension were more prevalent among women as compared to men. Hypertension, diabetes and smoking showed equal or higher prevalence in women in pre-menopausal ages as compared to men. Obesity and physical inactivity were equally prevalent in both sexes respectively in the postmenopausal age group and at all ages. CHOL was associated with BMI, sex, age, hypertension and physical inactivity. CONCLUSIONS: In this population the high prevalence of the CHD risk factors indicated that there is an urgent need for its control; the higher or equal prevalences of several risk factors in women could in part explain the high rates of mortality from CHD in females as compared to males