Accuracy of Assessing Weight Status in Adults by Structured Observation

The assessment of weight status is important in many epidemiological studies, but its direct measurement is not always possible. Self-reported weight and height are often used, although previous research reported low accuracy. This study aimed to test the ability of trained observers to accurately estimate weight status in adults using structured observation. A cross-sectional study was conducted. For each participant, height and weight were estimated in categories, and weight status was recorded using Stunkards body figures, by two trained observers. Height and weight were also measured, using standardized procedures. Subjects were classified according to World Health Organization body mass index (BMI) cut-offs from objective measurements and from the BMI assigned to each body figure. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were calculated to assess the accuracy of estimating weight status by observation. Kappa was used to test inter-observer reliability. A total of 127 participants were assessed, 70 women and 57 men, aged between 19 and 89 years (mean ± standard deviation: 50.3 ± 16.3 years). Most participants were overweight or obese (64.3% women; 78.9% men). The sensitivity and specificity of overweight/obesity status identification were 72.8% and 78.4%, respectively. Observers gender, participants gender, and participants age were significantly associated with the estimation of overweight/obesity. The agreement between observers was moderate for BMI estimates ( = 0.52) but substantial when distinguishing normal weight from overweight/obesity ( = 0.67). Trained observers were able to distinguish normal weight from overweight/obesity with high sensitivity and specificity, and substantial interrater reliability. This innovative methodology showed potential for improvement through enhanced training techniques. The use of structured observation may be a useful and accurate alternative to self-reported weight status assessment, whenever anthropometric measurement is not achievable.</jats:p

Polyphenols and antioxidant activity in macroalgae from Azores.

International Symposium FloraMac 2010”. Ponta Delgada, Açores, 23-25 de Setembro

Antitumor activity of extracts from Azorean macroalgae.

43rd European Marine Biology Symposium. Ponta Delgada, Açores, 8-12 de Setembro de 2008

The Relationship Between Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Working Memory and Distraction - a Behavioral and Electrophysiological Approach

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) have been reported to have memory enhancement effects in humans. A neuro-stimulatory action and an anti-cortisol mechanism of action may contribute to that relation. In order to study DHEA, DHEAS and cortisol relations to working memory and distraction, we recorded the electroencephalogram of 23 young women performing a discrimination (no working memory load) or 1-back (working memory load) task in an audio-visual oddball paradigm. We measured salivary DHEA, DHEAS and cortisol both before each task and at 30 and 60 min. Under working memory load, a higher baseline cortisol/DHEA ratio was related to higher distraction as indexed by an enhanced novelty P3. This suggests that cortisol may lead to increased distraction whereas DHEA may hinder distraction by leading to less processing of the distractor. An increased DHEA production with consecutive cognitive tasks was found and higher DHEA responses attributed to working memory load were related to enhanced working memory processing as indexed by an enhanced visual P300. Overall, the results suggest that in women DHEA may oppose cortisol effects reducing distraction and that a higher DHEA response may enhance working memory at the electrophysiological level

On Lattice Constructions D and D' from q-ary Linear Codes

Multilevel lattice codes, such as the associated to Constructions $C$, \overline{\mbox{D}}, D and D', have relevant applications in communications. In this paper, we investigate some properties of lattices obtained via Constructions D and D' from $q$-ary linear codes. Connections with Construction A, generator matrix, expressions and bounds for volume and minimum distances are derived. Extensions of previous results regarding construction and decoding of binary and $p$-ary linear codes ($p$ prime) are also presented

Interplay between bending and stretching in carbon nanoribbons

We investigate the bending properties of carbon nanoribbons by combining continuum elasticity theory and tight-binding atomistic simulations. First, we develop a complete analysis of a given bended configuration through continuum mechanics. Then, we provide by tight-binding calculations the value of the bending rigidity in good agreement with recent literature. We discuss the emergence of a stretching field induced by the full atomic-scale relaxation of the nanoribbon architecture. We further prove that such an in-plane strain field can be decomposed into a first contribution due to the actual bending of the sheet and a second one due to edge effects.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Quantificação dos horizontes húmicos e dinâmica da decomposição de material foliar em solos florestais.

Estudos sobre o balanço entre o carbono estocado na biomassa e o perdido por meio da composição, visando a quantificação do acúmulo líquido de carbono de um sistema florestal.bitstream/CNPS-2009-09/11577/1/comtec21_2003_quantificacao.pd

Programmed buckling by controlled lateral swelling in a thin elastic sheet

Recent experiments have imposed controlled swelling patterns on thin polymer films, which subsequently buckle into three-dimensional shapes. We develop a solution to the design problem suggested by such systems, namely, if and how one can generate particular three-dimensional shapes from thin elastic sheets by mere imposition of a two-dimensional pattern of locally isotropic growth. Not every shape is possible. Several types of obstruction can arise, some of which depend on the sheet thickness. We provide some examples using the axisymmetric form of the problem, which is analytically tractable.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Avaliação de cultivares de milho visando à produção de minimilho na região norte do Estado de Minas Gerais.

bitstream/CNPMS-2010/22396/1/Circ-131.pd