The Geometric Framework and Nutrition in Older Age

Aims: There were three main aims: To validate a diet history questionnaire (DHQ) used to collect dietary data of a group of older men; to describe energy and nutrient intakes, assess nutritional risk, and investigate factors associated with poor intake of energy and key nutrients in community-dwelling men; and to investigate the association between macronutrient intake and health outcomes of a group of older men living in Sydney, Australia. Methods: This thesis analyses data from 761 community-dwelling men aged 75 years and older who participated in the five-year follow-up phase of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men project (CHAMP). The diet history questionnaire used to collect dietary data validated against a four-day weighed food record in 56 men aged 75 to 86 years (mean 79 years, SD 2.96). Dietary adequacy was assessed by comparing (unadjusted) median intakes to Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs). Attainment of NRVs of (unadjusted) total energy and key nutrients in older age (protein, iron, zinc, riboflavin, calcium and vitamin D) was incorporated into a “key nutrients” variable dichotomised as “good” (≥5) or “poor” (≤4). Using logistic regression modelling the associations between key nutrients with factors (sociodemographic, economic health and lifestyle factors) known to affect food intake were examined. The geometric framework, generalised additive models and multiple regression models were used to assess the association between macronutrient intake (protein, fat and carbohydrate) and the following health outcomes: total energy intake, body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), number of medical conditions, SF12 (MCS and PCF), GDS and frailty score. Results: In the validation study involving 56 men, DHQ estimates of intakes tended to be higher than estimates from weighed food records. Differences between the two methods were generally less than 20% with the exception of β-carotene (37%), vitamin E (25%) and vitamin A (24%). Both fixed and proportional biases were only present for retinol, β-carotene, magnesium, phosphorus and percentage of energy from protein. Most of the 761 men in CHAMP met their NRVs for most nutrients. However, only 1% of men met their NRV for vitamin D, only 19% for calcium, only 30% for potassium, and only 33% for dietary fibre. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only country of birth was significantly associated with poor nutritional intake where Italian/Greek born men had poorer intakes of key nutrients. In adjusted analyses investigating the association between macronutrient intake and health outcomes, protein intake stood out. After adjustment for age, physical activity level, number of morbidities, marital status, income, education, frailty status and alcohol intake (for triglycerides only), low protein intake (adjusted by body weight) was associated with higher total energy intake, higher BMI, higher percentage body fat, higher waist-to-hip ratios, higher insulin levels, and higher HOMA-IR. High protein intake (adjusted by body weight) was associated with higher HDLc and triglycerides levels. Low carbohydrate intake (adjusted by body weight) was associated with poor body composition, whereas high carbohydrate intake was associated with better physical performance. Fat intake (adjusted by body weight) was higher when protein intake was low; however, fat intake had very little influence on any of the health outcomes investigated. Conclusion: The DHQ used in CHAMP to measure the nutritional intake of its participants is appropriate to this age group and provides reasonably similar results to the 4dWFR for the majority of nutrients analysed. Dietary intakes of community-dwelling older Australian men were adequate for most nutrients. However only half of the participants met NRVs of ≥5 key nutrients and being born in Italy or Greece was associated with poor nutritional intake of key nutrients. Lower protein intake was associated with higher levels of the majority of the health outcomes investigated

Home Office: um destino...

O presente artigo tem por objetivo pensar a pandemia como um trauma da ordem de uma catástrofe natural e seus efeitos sobre o trabalho, em sua função social, e sobre os trabalhadores, em sua subjetividade, que somente poderão ser conhecidos no porvir. O home office, até então utilizado de modo muito insipiente, sobretudo no Brasil, tornou-se uma  modalidade de trabalho adotada de forma maciça pelas organizações na pandemia, favorecida pelos avanços tecnológicos e das conexões digitais. O interesse pelos impactos dessa estratégia levou a produção de pesquisas mundo afora na busca de respostas sobre a adaptação dos trabalhadores e das organizações a esse tipo de teletrabalho. Na escuta de relatos, observa-se uma alteração nas formas de fazer laços de trabalho, em função da experiência traumática da Covid-19.  O trauma, ao reeditar a história singular de cada sujeito, poderá fazer o trabalhador criar novas narrativas, desenvolver formas de exercer a atividade laboral e de fazer laços sociais

Efeito do pH e da temperatura nas atividades da peroxidase e polifenoloxidase do pericarpo de lichia

After harvesting litchi, the red color of the fruit pericarp is rapidly lost resulting in discoloration and browning during storage and marketing. The loss of the red color is caused by the degradation or loss of stability of anthocyanins. The action of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase is usually related to the browning and discoloration of fruits of various species. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of pH and temperature on peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activities, in a partially purified preparation of pericarp of the litchi cultivar Bengal. Fruits were harvested at the ripe stage and polyphenoloxidase was partially purified by sequential saturation in 80% ammonium sulfate. At concentrations of 40-50% and 60-70% ammonium sulfate the activities of polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase were, respectively, 124 times and 158 times higher than in the crude extract. The activity of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase was maximum at pH 6.5 and 7.0, respectively, and no activity was detected at pH 2.5 and 9.5. Pre-incubation of the enzyme extract for 45 min at pH 2.5 or 9.5 completely inactivated the enzymes, with the highest degree of efficiency at pH 2.5. Peroxidase activity was highest at 70ºC and remained active for a period of 120 min at 70 and 80ºC. Peroxidase became completely inactive when maintained at 90ºC for 10 min or 1 min at 100ºC. Polyphenoloxidase activity was highest at 20ºC and remained active for a period of 120 min at 40 and 50ºC and was inactivated after 10 min at 60ºC. Due to the high temperature of inactivation of the peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activities, the enzymes can be inactivated more easily in fruits using acid or alkaline solutions.Após a colheita do fruto, a cor vermelha do pericarpo da lichia é rapidamente perdida, o que resulta em descoloração e escurecimento durante o armazenamento e comercialização. A perda da cor vermelha é devido à degradação de antocianinas ou à perda de sua estabilidade. Usualmente, a ação da peroxidase e polifenoloxidase está relacionada ao escurecimento e à descoloração de várias frutas. Avaliou-se a influência do pH e da temperatura na atividade da peroxidase e polifenoloxidase em uma preparação purificada parcial de pericarpo de cultivar Bengal. Os frutos foram colhidos no estádio vermelho maduro. A polifenoloxidase foi parcialmente purificada por saturação seqüencial até 80% de sulfato de amônio. Na concentração de 40-50% e de 60-70% de sulfato de amônio, a atividade da polifenoloxidase e peroxidase foi 124 e 158 vezes maior vezes maior do que a encontrada no extrato cru. A peroxidase e polifenoloxidase apresentaram ótima atividade em pH 6,5 e 7,0 e nenhuma atividade foi detectada a pH 2,5 e 9,5. A pré-incubação do extrato das enzimas até 45 min a pH 2,5 ou 9,5 inativou completamente as enzimas, sendo que o maior grau de eficiência ocorreu em pH 2,5. A peroxidase apresentou maior atividade a 70ºC, permanecendo ativa durante um período de 120 min a 70 e 80ºC. A peroxidase tornou-se completamente inativa, quando aquecida durante 10 min a 90ºC ou durante 1 min a 100ºC. A polifenoloxidase apresentou maior atividade a 20ºC, permanecendo ativa durante um período de 120 min a 40 e 50ºC e inativada aos 10 min a 60ºC. Devido à alta temperatura para inativação, a atividade da peroxidase e polifenoloxidase pode ser reduzida, imergindo os frutos em soluções ácidas ou alcalinas

Mineral composition of four cultivars of okra fruits

Este experimento foi realizado na Universidade Federal de Viçosa e teve como objetivo avaliar a composição mineral dos frutos de quatro cultivares de quiabo. O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, sendo os tratamentos constituídos pelas cultivares Amarelinho, Red Velvet, Star of David e Mammoth Spinless, com cinco blocos. Os maiores teores de cálcio, fósforo, enxofre e magnésio foram encontrado na Cultivar Red Velvet. Os maiores teores de nitrogênio total, amônio e manganês e menor teor de fósforo foram encontrados na cultivar Mammoth Spinless, enquanto nas cultivares Red Velvet e Star of David foram observados os menores teores de nitrogênio total, amônio e manganês. Menores teores de cálcio, enxofre e magnésio foram verificados em conjunto nas cultivares Amarelinho, Star of David e Mammoth Spinless.This experiment was carried out at Universidade Federal de Viçosa and had the objective to evaluate the mineral composition of four cultivars of okra fruits. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, where the treatments were composed by the cultivars Amarelinho, Red Velvet, Star of David and Mammoth Spinless, with five blocks. The cultivar Red Velvet had the highest content of calcium, phosphorus, sulfur and magnesium. The cultivar Mammoth Spinless had the highest content of total nitrogen, ammonium and manganese and the lowest content of phosphorus. The cultivars Red Velvet and Star of David had the lowest contents of total nitrogen, ammonium, and manganese. Lower contents of calcium, sulfur and magnesium were present in the cultivars Amarelinho, Star of David and Mammoth Spinless

Shelf life and carbohydrate metabolism of arracacha roots stored under refrigeration and PVC film

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da temperatura de armazenamento e do uso do filme de cloreto de polivinila (PVC) sobre a perda de matéria fresca e água, incidência de danos causados por frio e metabolismo pós-colheita dos carboidratos, em raízes tuberosas de mandioquinha-salsa (Arracacia xanthorrhiza). O filme de PVC reduziu a perda de matéria fresca e manteve o teor de água das raízes, durante o armazenamento por 60 dias a 5 e 10oC. Os danos causados por frio foram inibidos nas raízes embaladas em filme de PCV, em ambas as temperaturas de armazenamento. As baixas temperaturas induziram o acúmulo de açúcares solúveis e a degradação de amido e, para as raízes armazenadas sem PVC, o aumento do conteúdo dos açúcares solúveis foi transiente e a taxa de degradação de amido foi superior à das raízes armazenadas com PVC.The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the storage temperature and stretch polyvinylchloride (PVC) film on the loss of fresh weight and water, on the development of chilling injury symptoms, and on the postharvest metabolism of carbohydrates, in arracacha tuber roots (Arracacia xanthorrhiza). The PVC film reduced the fresh weight loss and kept water content in the roots during 60-day storage period at 5 and 10oC. PVC film in both storage temperatures inhibited the development of external and internal chilling injury symptoms. The low temperatures induced the increase of soluble sugar content and decrease of starch concentration, where the increase in soluble sugar was transient in roots stored without PVC film, and the rate of starch degradation was higher compared to the roots stored with PVC

A pandemia intramuros: (in)comunicabilidade de mulheres encarceradas em João Pessoa-PB

RESUMOEste artigo versa sobre os impactos da Pandemia de COVID-19 para as mulheres encarceradas na Penitenciária Feminina Maria Júlia Maranhão, localizada em João Pessoa/PB. Trata-se de um estudo de natureza qualitativa, metodologicamente embasado em entrevistas semiestruturadas e conversas informais, realizadas por telefone, junto a representantes e funcionários da unidade prisional; Revisão bibliográfica na literatura específica; Pesquisa documental junto a publicações oficiais do Governo do Estado da Paraíba, do Conselho Nacional de Justiça e Departamento Penitenciário Nacional e levantamento de informação em sites de notícias e noticiários televisivos. A abordagem em tela chama atenção para os gargalos históricos observados na interseccionalidade entre as relações de gênero, as dimensões de “raça/cor” e de classe, além de outros marcadores sociais, no contexto do Sistema Prisional Brasileiro. Os resultados permitem compreender a evolução dos casos de COVID-19 nas penitenciárias paraibanas, os impactos da Pandemia e as mudanças provocadas sobre o cotidiano de mulheres encarceradas. Palavras-Chaves: Mulheres. Prisões. Pandemia. Comunicação. Direitos Humanos. Política Prisional. The pandemic in prison: (in) communicability of women jailed, in João Pessoa / PBABSTRACTThis paper analyses the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic for women incarcerated at the Maria Júlia Maranhão Penitentiary, located in João Pessoa/PB/Brazil. It is a qualitative study, methodologically based on semi-structured interviews and informal conversations, conducted by telephone, with representatives and employees of that prison unit; Literature review; Documentary research with official publications of the Government of the State of Paraíba, the National Council of Justice and the National Penitentiary Department and gathering information in the news sites and television news. Our study also aims to show the historical challenges about the intersectionality between gender relations, the dimensions of “race/color”, social classes and other social markers, in the reality of the Brazilian Prison System. The results of this study show the evolution of covid-19 cases in the Paraíba penitentiaries, the impacts of the Pandemic and the changes brought about in the daily lives of women in prison.Keywords: Women. Prision. Pandemic. Comunication. Human rights. Prison Policy.

Sentidos pós-modernos sociopsicológicos de pacientes renais crônicos no Brasil

RESUMOHoje as doenças renais crônicas são problemas sociais que mais causam desconfortos emocionais e coletivos para os envolvidos e seus estudos apresentam escassa literatura científica inovadora para uma organização sociopsicológica dos estudiosos. O trabalho analisa as principais tendências interpretativas sobre a condição do ser humano com doenças renais crônicas. E identifica os problemas da compreensão e das interpretações sobre as doenças. Por último, aponta possíveis ressignificações sociais para aspectos negativos dos problemas identificados. Nas enfermidades renais crônicas os pacientes e todos os indivíduos próximos precisam ressignificar suas vivências e suas interpretações sociopsicológicas para uma adequação dos pensamentos aos enfermos que se encontram em tratamento. Uma investigação do entendimento das tendências interpretativas dos tratamentos e das estratégias geradas pela literatura científica para solucionar os problemas pessoais e sociais dos indivíduos com doenças renais crônicas, é de grande relevância para a adequação dos tratamentos aos processos humanitários, naturalistas e de organização sociopsicológica existente nos pensamentos individuais de cada ser humano. Ao observar os estudos das doenças renais crônicas no Brasil, o esperado, ou o que se apresenta como perspectiva científica, são melhorias no atendimento clínico dos pacientes, através das múltiplas abordagens nos tratamentos específicos, com estratégias relevantes, interdisciplinares e sua organização sociopsicológica.Palavras-chave: Doenças renais crônicas; Interpretações; Tratamentos; Organização sociopsicológica.ABSTRACTNowadays chronic kidney diseases are the social problems that most cause emotional and collective discomfort for those involved and their studies present little innovative scientific literature for a socio-psychological organization of scholars. The paper analyzes the main interpretative trends for the human condition with chronic kidney disease. And it identifies the problems of understanding and interpreting diseases. Finally, it points out possible social resignifications for certain negative aspects of the identified problems. In chronic kidney diseases, patients and all individuals around need to re-signify their experiences and their socio-psychological interpretations for a thought adjustment to the patients in treatment. To an investigation of the understanding of the interpretative tendencies of the treatments and the strategies generated by the scientific literature to solve the personal and social problems of the individuals with chronic renal diseases, that are of great relevance for the search of adequacy of treatments to humanitarian, naturalistic and organizational socio-psychological processes in the individual thoughts of each human being. When observing the studies of chronic kidney diseases in Brazil, what is expected, or what presents itself as scientific perspectives, are improvements in the clinical assistance to patients, through multiple approaches in specific treatments, with relevant interdisciplinary strategies and its socio-psychological organization.Keywords: Chronic Kidney Diseases; Interpretations; Treatments; Socio-psychological organization.RESUMENHoy día las enfermedades renales crónicas son uno de los problemas sociales que más generan malestares emocionales y colectivos en los involucrados y su estudio tiene escasa literatura científica innovadora, para la organización sociopsicológica de los estudiosos. El trabajo analiza las principales tendencias interpretativas sobre la condición del ser humano con enfermedades renales crónicas. También identifica problemas de comprensión e interpretaciones sobre esas enfermedades. Por último, apunta posibles resignifcaciones sociales para aspectos negativos de los problemas identificados. En las enfermedades renales crónicas, los pacientes y todos los individuos cercanos necesitan resignificar sus vivencias y sus interpretaciones sociopsicológicas, para una adecuación de los pensamientos respecto a los enfermos que se encuentran en tratamiento. Una investigación sobre las tendencias interpretativas de los tratamientos y de las estrategias generadas por la literatura científica para solucionar los problemas personales y sociales de los individuos con enfermedades renales crónicas, es de gran relevancia para la adecuación de los tratamientos a los procesos humanitarios, naturalistas y de organización sociopsicológica de los pensamientos individuales de cada ser humano. Al observarse los estudios sobre las enfermedades renales crónicas en Brasil, lo que se espera o se presenta como perspectiva científica, es la mejora en el atendimiento clínico de los pacientes, por medio de múltiples abordajes en los tratamientos específicos, con estrategias relevantes, interdisciplinarias, y su organización sociopsicológica.Palabras-clave: Enfermedades renales crónicas; Interpretaciones; Tratamientos; Organización sociopsicológica

ÁREAS PERMEÁVEIS E O USO SUSTENTAVEL DE RECURSOS HIDRÍCOS EM CASCAVEL, PARANÁ, BRASIL.

Resumo: A água é um recurso essencial para a sobrevivência e desenvolvimento econômico. Entretanto, o cenário atual é preocupante em relação à segurança hídrica especialmente em áreas urbanas em função da alta demanda, elevada impermeabilização do solo e lixiviação de poluentes. Nesse contexto, o objetivo desse trabalho foi mapear os corpos hídricos presentes dentro do perímetro urbano da cidade de Cascavel e avaliar as proporções de áreas permeáveis e impermeáveis. Para calcular o uso do solo foi utilizado o software de geoprocessamento QGIS. Cascavel abrange três grandes bacias hidrográficas paranaenses (Piquiri, Ivai e Paraná III) e conta com quatro rios e seis córregos dentro dos limites urbanos, o qual possui uso do solo predominantemente impermeável (82,5 km2). As áreas permeáveis (17,1 km2) se encontraram associadas a parques e áreas de vegetação ciliar, onde a bacia do rio Cascavel se destacou por possuir grande área de vegetação. O rio Cascavel é o principal manancial de abastecimento urbano e devido a elevada demanda de água e condições climáticas adversas, o município tem enfrentado grave crise hídrica. Medidas como a implantação de áreas de proteção como parques lineares, calçadas ecológicas, jardins de chuva, contenção de assoreamento e educação para uso racional da água são urgentes para preservar a segurança hídrica

The perception of sleep quality in kidney transplant patients during the first year of transplantation

OBJECTIVE: Poor sleep quality is one of the factors that adversely affects patient quality of life after kidney transplantation, and sleep disorders represent a significant cardiovascular risk factor. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of changes in sleep quality and their outcomes in kidney transplant recipients and analyze the variables affecting sleep quality in the first years after renal transplantation. METHODS: Kidney transplant recipients were evaluated at two time points after a successful transplantation: between three and six months (Phase 1) and between 12 and 15 months (Phase 2). The following tools were used for assessment: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; the quality of life questionnaire Short-Form-36; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale; the Karnofsky scale; and assessments of social and demographic data. The prevalence of poor sleep was 36.7% in Phase 1 and 38.3% in Phase 2 of the study. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between patients with and without changes in sleep quality between the two phases. We found no changes in sleep patterns throughout the study. Both the physical and mental health scores worsened from Phase 1 to Phase 2. CONCLUSION: Sleep quality in kidney transplant recipients did not change during the first year after a successful renal transplantation

Genetic variability and genetic progress in seed traits in breeding the physic nut

Determining the chemical composition of seeds of the physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) is of great importance for the species due to the oil content of the seeds (the principal trait of interest). Identifying promising genotypes with selectable seed traits is one of the strategies adopted in breeding the physic nut in order to increase the yield and quality of the oil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition of seed traits in ten half-sibling progeny of the physic nut, and to identify which progeny have good genetic performance for transmission to the offspring. The experimental design was completely randomised, with ten treatments and four replications. The treatments were represented by seeds from half-sibling progeny in which the carbohydrate, protein and lipid content, and the composition of the fatty acids were evaluated. The genetic parameters and the gains from their selection were predicted for the principal seed traits using mixed-model analysis, including REML (restricted maximum likelihood) and BLUP (best linear unbiased prediction). The physic-nut seeds showed an average dry matter (DM) concentration of 60 mg g-1 carbohydrates, 42 mg g-1 protein and 142 mg g-1 total lipids. Unsaturated fatty acids represented more than 85% of the total fatty acid composition, with the oil classified as oleic-linoleic. Considering the predictions of the genetic parameters, the lipid traits can be selected for the purpose of breeding, resulting in genetic progress in the yield and quality of physic-nut oil