A lower energy intake contributes to a better cardiometabolic profile in adolescence: Data from the EPITeen cohort

Caloric restriction has been associated with improved cardiometabolic health. Available data in humans are commonly based on short follow-up periods, specific diets, or popu-lation groups. We hypothesized that participants of a population-based cohort (Epidemio-logical Health Investigation of Teenagers in Porto) with a dietary pattern characterized by a lower energy intake during adolescence have a better cardiometabolic profile in adolescence and young adulthood than other dietary patterns. At aged 13 and 21 year evaluations, diet, anthropometric, and cardiometabolic measures were assessed. Diet was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire and, at 13 years, summarized in dietary patterns identified by cluster analysis. The lower intake dietary pattern included 40% of the participants. The energy intake misreport was estimated using the Goldberg method. Analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were used to compare cardiometabolic risk factors according to dietary patterns. The mean energy intake was 2394 and 2242 Kcal/d for the total sample at aged 13 years (n = 962) and 21 years (n = 862), respectively. Those belonging to the lower intake dietary pattern showed a 25% and 5% lower energy intake, respectively. In the cross-sectional analysis at aged 13, adolescents belonging to the lower intake dietary pattern pre-sented lower glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and blood pressure values after adjusting for body mass index and parents' education level. Among the plausible reporters, differences were only statistically significant for glucose and systolic blood pressure. Our data support that a dietary pattern characterized by a lower energy intake may contribute to a better cardiometabolic profile in adolescents. However, no significant effect was found in young adulthood.(c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )This study was based on the EPITeen cohort, funded by a project supported by national funding from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology - FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science) FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-015750 (PTDC/DTP-EPI/6506/2014) and by the funding for the Epidemiology Research Unit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto (UIDB/04750/2020) . V. M. received an individual grant (SFRH/BD/143747/2019) from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology; FCT is gratefully acknowledged. The funding sources had no role in the study

Classroom teachers’ perception about physical education and physical activity: A typology

Introduction: According to the socioecological model teachers may act as facilitators or barriers in a school physical activity (PA) program. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize classroom teachers’ perceptions about Physical Education (PE). Methods: 297 teachers answered a questionnaire about PE past experience, status, aims, and academic benefits of PA. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis was used aiming to identify teachers’ profiles. Results: Dimension 1 combines the view that the PA affects academic achievement (AA) with the idea that PE must be optional or compulsory, but non-examinable. In dimension 2 the biggest difference is between a standard that refers to a relatively neutral position in relation to PA (PE as important for promotion of healthy lifestyles associated with the idea that PA does not affect AA, and PE should be compulsory but non-examinable), as opposed to positions, either in favour (PA benefits AA and PE should be compulsory and examinable) or against PA (PE should be optional). The joint analysis of the two dimensions allowed to identify three distinct patterns of teacher’s perceptions which made possible to build a typology, regardless the cluster they belong to. Considering their personal experience teachers make a misjudgment of PE in schools they attended specially in cluster 3. As for the relation between PA and AA, most teachers say that the PA benefits AA (65% in cluster 1; 96% in cluster 2). In cluster 3, 70% of the teachers say that PA impairs AA. Conclusions: These results support the importance of the earliest good experiences in PE, in generating positive attitudes towards PE. PE teachers should explain to other teachers that PA does not affect academic performance, and that PA prevents deviant behaviours.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on airlines’ passenger satisfaction

This study aims to understand airline passengers' satisfaction trends by analyzing the most influential factors on satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consists of a dataset with 9745 passenger reviews published on airlinequality.com. The reviews were analyzed with a sentiment analysis tool calibrated for the aviation industry for accuracy. Machine learning algorithms were then implemented to predict review sentiment based on airline company, travelers' type and class, and country of origin. Findings show passengers were unhappy before the pandemic, aggravated after the COVID-19 outbreak. The staff's behavior is the main factor influencing passengers' satisfaction. Predictive modeling showed that it is possible to predict negative review sentiments with satisfactory performance rather than positive reviews. The main takeaway is that passengers, after the pandemic, are most worried about refunds and aircraft cabin cleanliness. From a managerial standpoint, airline companies can benefit from the created knowledge to adjust their strategies in agreement and meet their customers' expectations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Níveis de atividade física de adolescentes portugueses no primeiro período de confinamento devido à pandemia de COVID-19 e as primeiras atividades de professores e treinadores: Um estudo transversal

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, social confinement was declared in Portugal on 19th March 2020. Schools and sports clubs were closed, access to all sports and leisure facilities was limited, and young people have experienced restrictions regarding the practice of physical activities and sports. The purpose of this study was to identify the physical activity (PA) levels and sports participation of adolescents before and during confinement, with whom they practice during restrictions and to identify the activities adopted by their physical education (PE) teachers and sports coaches to keep them physically active. An online survey was conducted between March 27th and April 14th 2020. A total of 3,012 Portuguese adolescents (57% females) aged between 10 and 19 years old (14.3±2.4 years old) took part in this study. Wilcoxon test and paired-sample t-test and chi-square test of independence were used in the data analysis. The results show that the number of students engaged in PA increased during the lockdown (72.7% to 88.2%). For those who practiced PA before lockdown, the frequency of PA decreased from 4.7 sessions/week to 4.4 sessions/week (during confinement). For those who did not practice PA before confinement, they started by doing 4.1 sessions/week. The vast majority of PE teachers (77.3%) proposed some pedagogical activities such as video conference classes (53.6%). Regarding the coaches, 53.4% proposed some activity, mainly time circuit training, walking and cycling (around 18% each), or specific training exercises and video conference classes (about 12% each). The number of students who increased their regular PA practice can be justified by the immediate intervention of PE teachers, who implemented several online activities, or because students were able to choose different options to stay active.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predictors of hotel clients’ satisfaction in the Cape Verde Islands

Tourism has been fundamental for countries’ economic development, and Africa is the destination with the biggest tourism growth potential. Using 1414 travelers’ online reviews collected from TripAdvisor, the present work aims to understand which variables predict the satisfaction of Cape Verde’s hotel clients. Satisfaction was analyzed using sentiment analysis and ANOVA to predict the effect of the gathered variables on clients’ satisfaction. Results indicate that 90% of the clients revealed positive satisfaction and that nationality, date of stay, and previous traveler experiences affect satisfaction. Contrarily to our predictions, there is no statistically significant evidence that gender influences satisfaction. The findings of this study will help hotel marketing managers to align their strategies accordingly and meet their clients’ expectations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of non-physical education teachers’ perceptions on the promotion of active and healthy lifestyles: A cross-sectional qualitative study

(1) Background: In accordance with the socio-ecological model of physical education (PE), school-based interventions to promote physical activity (PA) will only be successful if a change occurs in the perceptions and attitudes of all. This study sought to analyze non-PE teachers experiences in PE and how these experiences relate to the value they attribute to PE, sports and PA, and the impact of teachers’ perceptions on promoting active lifestyles in the school’s context. A mixed-method study was adopted. (2) Methods: A survey about the perceptions in PE was applied to 297 teachers (58 male). From this sample, 24 teachers were selected for three focus groups considering their experiences in PE (e.g., good experiences, bad experiences). MaxQda was used for the inductive qualitative data analysis. (3) Results: Teachers who have had good experiences in PE value the role of PE and sports. Teachers who have had bad experiences do not value the importance of PE or sports. (4) Conclusions: The results support the importance of having good experiences in PE to generate positive attitudes. Thus, teachers who have had bad experiences in PE may constitute barriers that will hinder the promotion of an educational climate that promotes PA and active lifestyles in schools.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Provision of academic data for research: a step for academic success

One of the most widely researched issue on higher education relates to exposed paths that lead to academic success. Nowadays information systems represent an essential part of the education sector in many universities. In particular, the increasing of the number of students in higher education in Portugal leads to the progressive increase of student’s data contained in institutional information systems. This article aims to include the use of student data contained in the Fénix information system of a Portuguese higher educational institution, turning their information in an internal tool, to assist analysis and studies of internal academic success. Providing relevant data for queries can offer a clearer explanation of the paths to success in higher education. It can also help the identification of problems and failures aiming to support a more effective intervention of institutions and researchers to improve the academic success.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Motivation and perceived motivational climate by adolescents in face-to-face physical education during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted adolescents’ lives, leading to unprecedented changes in their routines, especially in education. Face-to-face physical education (PE) classes during COVID-19 were affected in organization, possibly conditioning students’ participation, motivation and learning. Based on the achievement goal and self-determination theories, the aim of this study was to analyze and compare the motivational indicators of adolescents in face-to-face PE classes during COVID-19, according to gender, educational level and physical activity (PA). A total of 1369 students participated in the study (621 boys and 748 girls; mean age: 14.4 years; SD: 1.74). Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using MANCOVAs adjusted for age, pre- and post-COVID-19 PA, socioeconomic status and BMI (Z-score). Differences in achievement goals, motivational climate and motivational regulation levels were found in different groups by gender, PA and educational level, favoring older and more active participants. A more positive motivational profile was found for girls in general and, specifically, for active boys, regarding more self-determined motivations and mastery goal orientations. Overall, this study’s findings suggest that the restrictions related to face-to-face PE classes during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on students’ motivation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio