Cross-cultural validity of the Animated Activity Questionnaire for patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis: a comparison between the Netherlands and Brazil

Background: The Animated Activity Questionnaire (AAQ) was developed in the Netherlands to assess activity limitations in individuals with hip/knee osteoarthritis (HKOA). The AAQ is easy to implement and minimizes the disadvantages of questionnaires and performance-based tests by closely mimicking real-life situations. The AAQ has already been cross-culturally validated in six other countries. Objective: To assess the cross-cultural validity, the construct validity, the reliability of the AAQ in a Brazilian sample of individuals with HKOA, and the influence of formal education on the construct validity of the AAQ. Methods: The Brazilian sample (N = 200), mean age 64.4 years, completed the AAQ and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index (WOMAC). A subgroup of participants performed physical function tests and completed the AAQ twice with a one-week interval. The Dutch sample (N = 279) was included to examine Differential Item Functioning (DIF) between the scores obtained in the Netherlands and Brazil. For this purpose, ordinal regression analyses were used to evaluate whether individuals with the same level of activity limitations from the two countries (the Dutch as the reference group) scored similarly in each AAQ item. To evaluate the construct validity, correlation coefficients were calculated between the AAQ, the WOMAC domains, and the performance-based tests. To evaluate reliability, the Cronbach's alpha coeffi-cient, the intraclass correlation coefficient, and the standard error of measurement (SEM) were calculated. Results: The AAQ showed significant correlations with all the WOMAC domains and performance -based tests (rho=0.46-0.77). The AAQ showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.94), excellent test-retest reliability (ICC2,1 = 0.98), and small SEM (2.25). Comparing to the scores from the Netherlands, the AAQ showed DIF in two items, however, they did not impact on the total AAQ score (rho=0.99). Conclusion: Overall, the AAQ showed adequate cross-cultural validity, construct validity, and reliability, which enables its use in Brazil and international/multicenter studies. (c) 2021 Associacao Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pos-Graduacao em Fisioterapia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Rehabilitatio

Fabrication Of A Spun Elliptically Birefringent Photonic Crystal Fiber And Its Characterization As An Electrical Current Sensor

In this paper a spun elliptically birefringent photonic crystal fiber is fabricated and characterized. Its performance as a current sensor, using a polarimetric configuration, was tested and compared against single mode fiber at 633 nm. In particular the sensor sensitivity and linearity was investigated using fiber loops with different radius or number of turns around the conductor. The results obtained show that the spun fiber (40 rotation per meter) is able to suppress quite effectively the effects of the bend induced birefringence as compared to the standard fiber. © 2013 SPIE.8794 Innovative Economy National Cohesion Strategy,InPhoTech Ltd.,AMS Technologies,PHOENIXSilva, R., Optical current sensors for high power systems: A review (2012) Appl. Sci., 2, pp. 602-628GForman, P., Jahoda, F., Linear birefringence effects on fiber-optic current sensors (1988) Applied Optics, 27 (15), pp. 3088-3096Rose, A.H., Ren, Z., Day, G., Twisting and annealing optical fiber for current sensors (1996) Journal of Lightwave Technology, 14 (11), pp. 2492-2498Laming, R.I., Payne, S., Electric-current sensors employing spun highly birefringent optical fibers (1989) Journal of Lightwave Technology, 7 (12), pp. 2084-2094Michie, A., Spun elliptically birefringent photonic crystal fibre for current sensing (2007) Meas. Sci. Technol, 18, pp. 3070-307

Effects of hot and cold smoking processes on organoleptic properties, yield and composition of matrinxa fillet

The effects of hot (45-90ºC/5 hours) and cold (27-45ºC/10 hours) smoking processes on the organoleptic properties, yield and composition of matrinxa (Brycon cephalus) fillets are evaluated. No significant differences were observed for fillet yield in both non-smoked and smoked fillets. Smoking process losses were significantly higher for hot smoked (19.37%) when compared to cold smoked (17.08%). Smoking process reduced moisture (in natura = 72.91%, for hot = 58.51% and cold = 59.68%) and increased crude protein, lipid and ash contents. However, there was a significant difference only for protein level between hot smoked (28.07%) and cold smoked (27.14%). Cold smoked process resulted in better fillet appearance and color, while hot smoked presented superior flavor, salt content and general acceptance. Aroma and texture did not differ significantly among processes. Therefore, hot smoking process shows the best results for organoleptic properties and protein levels.Foi avaliado o efeito do processo de defumação a quente (45-90ºC/5 horas) e a frio (27-45ºC/10 horas) nas propriedades organolépticas, no rendimento e na composição dos filés de matrinxã (Brycon cephalus). Não houve diferença significativa no rendimento de filés defumados e não-defumados. As perdas no processo de defumação foram significativamente maiores para defumação a quente (19,37%) em comparação à defumação a frio (17,08%). O processo de defumação reduziu a umidade (in natura = 72,91%; defumado a quente = 58,51%; e defumado a frio = 59,68%) e aumentou os teores de proteína bruta, lipídios e cinzas. Houve diferença significativa somente nos teores de proteína no defumado a quente (28,07%) e defumado a frio (27,14%). O processo a frio resultou em melhor aparência e cor de filé, enquanto o processo a quente melhorou o sabor, o teor de sal e a aparência geral. O aroma e a textura não diferiram significativamente entre os processos. O processo de defumação a quente melhora as propriedades organolépticas e os níveis de proteína do filé de matrinxã

Mapping subnational HIV mortality in six Latin American countries with incomplete vital registration systems

BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a public health priority in Latin America. While the burden of HIV is historically concentrated in urban areas and high-risk groups, subnational estimates that cover multiple countries and years are missing. This paucity is partially due to incomplete vital registration (VR) systems and statistical challenges related to estimating mortality rates in areas with low numbers of HIV deaths. In this analysis, we address this gap and provide novel estimates of the HIV mortality rate and the number of HIV deaths by age group, sex, and municipality in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico.MethodsWe performed an ecological study using VR data ranging from 2000 to 2017, dependent on individual country data availability. We modeled HIV mortality using a Bayesian spatially explicit mixed-effects regression model that incorporates prior information on VR completeness. We calibrated our results to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.ResultsAll countries displayed over a 40-fold difference in HIV mortality between municipalities with the highest and lowest age-standardized HIV mortality rate in the last year of study for men, and over a 20-fold difference for women. Despite decreases in national HIV mortality in all countries-apart from Ecuador-across the period of study, we found broad variation in relative changes in HIV mortality at the municipality level and increasing relative inequality over time in all countries. In all six countries included in this analysis, 50% or more HIV deaths were concentrated in fewer than 10% of municipalities in the latest year of study. In addition, national age patterns reflected shifts in mortality to older age groups-the median age group among decedents ranged from 30 to 45years of age at the municipality level in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico in 2017.ConclusionsOur subnational estimates of HIV mortality revealed significant spatial variation and diverging local trends in HIV mortality over time and by age. This analysis provides a framework for incorporating data and uncertainty from incomplete VR systems and can help guide more geographically precise public health intervention to support HIV-related care and reduce HIV-related deaths.Peer reviewe

Anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2018

Anemia is a globally widespread condition in women and is associated with reduced economic productivity and increased mortality worldwide. Here we map annual 2000–2018 geospatial estimates of anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) across 82 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), stratify anemia by severity and aggregate results to policy-relevant administrative and national levels. Additionally, we provide subnational disparity analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of anemia prevalence inequalities within these countries and predict progress toward the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) to reduce anemia by half by 2030. Our results demonstrate widespread moderate improvements in overall anemia prevalence but identify only three LMICs with a high probability of achieving the WHO GNT by 2030 at a national scale, and no LMIC is expected to achieve the target in all their subnational administrative units. Our maps show where large within-country disparities occur, as well as areas likely to fall short of the WHO GNT, offering precision public health tools so that adequate resource allocation and subsequent interventions can be targeted to the most vulnerable populations.Peer reviewe

A patologização do sedentarismo

A identifica????o do sedentarismo como fator de risco para doen??as cr??nico-degenerativas influenciou significativamente nas recomenda????es de sa??de p??blica em defesa de estilos de vida fisicamente ativos. O artigo estuda o processo de patologiza????o do sedentarismo e seus desdobramentos para o campo da sa??de p??blica. Num primeiro momento, discutimos de que maneira o modelo biom??dico serve de base para a transposi????o de aspectos da conduta humana como ???fator de risco??? e, a seguir, como patologia, tal qual no caso espec??fico da ???S??ndrome da Morte Sedent??ria???, assim classificada por alguns autores. Em seguida, analisamos como essa vis??o vem sendo difundida no campo da sa??de, tomando por base um programa institucional que, ao mesmo tempo em que transforma o sedentarismo em doen??a, apresenta a atividade f??sica como um rem??dio cujos resultados podem se estender a todas as esferas da vida. Nessa linha de racioc??nio, em que os mal-estares de nossa civiliza????o s??o medicalizados e tornados mercadoria ao serem transformados em riscos e patologias, a atividade f??sica torna-se vacina para o corpo social.The identification of physical inactivity as a risk factor for chronic degenerative diseases has significantly influenced public health recommendations in support of physically active lifestyles. This study analyzes the pathologization of sedentariness and its implications in the public health field. First we discuss how the biomedical model serves as a basis to transform aspects of human behavior into ???risk factors??? and subsequently into pathologies such as the ???Sedentary Death Syndrome???, as some authors classify it. Second, we analyze how this view is being spread in the health field; our analysis is based on an institutional program which transforms sedentariness into illness while presents physical activity as a medicine whose results can reach all aspects of life. According to this rationale, in which the discomforts of our civilization are medicalized and made into commodities as they are transformed into risks and pathologies, physical activity becomes a vaccine to be applied to the social body