Paulo Infante

Role of physical activity in the occurrence of falls and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling adults over 50 years old

Abstract Purpose: This study examined the effect of the type, level and amount of physical activity in falls and fall-related injuries. Method: Participants were 506 community-dwelling adults aged >50 years (390 women: 67.7 ± 6.8 years and 116 men: 69.6 ± 6.6 years). Falls, fall-related injuries (slight and severe), and physical activity (type, level and energy expenditure) were evaluated by questionnaires. Confounders included co-morbidities, fear of falling, environmental hazards and physical fitness. Results: After adjustment for confounders, logistic analysis revealed that the likelihood of falling decreased by 2% for each 100 metabolic expenditure (MET-min/week) of total physical activity and increased by 5% for each 100 MET-min/week of vigorous-intensity physical activity; total physical activity >1125 MET-min/week and vigorous physical activity <500 MET-min/week were identified as cut-off values discriminating non-fallers from fallers. Compared to the low physical activity level, increased physical activity levels diminished the likelihood of the occurrence of severe fall-related injuries by 76% (moderate) and 58% (high; p < 0.05) in fallers. Conclusions: Being active, especially sufficiently active, reduces fall-related injuries by decreasing falls and by safeguarding against severe injuries when falls occur. At least 1125 MET-min/week of total physical activity including >500 MET-min/week of vigorous intensity seems to prevent falls and, therefore, fall-related injuries. Implications for Rehabilitation Being sufficiently active reduces fall-related injuries by reducing falls and by safeguarding against severe injury when falls occur For each additional amount of total physical activity there is a corresponding direct (due to the effect of isolated physical actvivity) and indirect (due to the subject gaining in fitness) decrease in the risk of falling and thus injury. Vigorous physical activity leads to an increase in total physical activity; however, it also leads to an increase in the risk of falling and injury Total physical activity of at least 1125 MET-min/week with equal or lower than 500 MET-min/week (i.e. less than ∼1 h/week, according IPAQ criteria) of vigorous intensity significantly reduces falls and therefore injury

Evaporative heat loss in Bos taurus: Do different cattle breeds cope with heat stress in the same way?

The aim of this study was to compare two Portuguese (Alentejana and Mertolenga) and two exotic (Frisian and Limousine) cattle breeds in terms of the relationship between the increase in ambient temperature and the responses of the evaporative heat loss pathways and the effects on homeothermy. In the experiment, six heifers of the Alentejana, Frisian, and Mertolenga breeds and four heifers of the Limousine breed were used. The animals were placed in four temperature levels, the first one under thermoneutral conditions and the other ones with increase levels of thermal stress. When submitted to severe heat stress, the Frisian developed high thermal tachypnea (125 mov/min) and moderate sweating rates (117 gm(-2) h(-1)), which did not prevent an increase in the rectal temperature (from 38.4 °C to 40.0 °C). Moderate increases in rectal temperature were observed in the Alentejana (from 38.8 °C to 39.4 °C) and Limousine (from 38.6 °C to 39.4 °C), especially in the period of highest heat stress. The Limousine showed moderate levels of tachypnea (101 mov/min) while showing the lowest sweating rates. The Alentejana showed significant increases in sweating rate (156 gm(-2)h(-1)) that played a major role in homeothermy. The Mertolenga showed a superior stability of body temperature, even in the period of highest heat stress (from 38.5 °C to 39.1 °C). Uncommonly, the maintenance of homeothermy during moderate heat stress was achieved primarily by intense tachypnea (122 mov/min). The sweating rate remained abnormally low under conditions of moderate heat stress, rising significantly (110 gm(-2)h(-1)) without evidence of stabilization, only when tendency for heat storage occurred. This unusual response of the evaporative heat loss pathways infers a different thermoregulatory strategy, suggesting a different adaptation to semi-arid environment and strong association with water metabolism.

A device to improve the Schleger and Turner method for sweating rate measurements

The objective of this study was to test a device developed to improve the functionality, accuracy and precision of the original technique for sweating rate measurements proposed by Schleger and Turner [Schleger AV, Turner HG (1965) Aust J Agric Res 16:92–106]. A device was built for this purpose and tested against the original Schleger and Turner technique. Testing was performed by measuring sweating rates in an experiment involving six Mertolenga heifers subjected to four different thermal levels in a climatic chamber. The device exhibited no functional problems and the results obtained with its use were more consistent than with the Schleger and Turner technique. There was no difference in the reproducibility of the two techniques (same accuracy), but measurements performed with the new device had lower repeatability, corresponding to lower variability and, consequently, to higher precision. When utilizing this device, there is no need for physical contact between the operator and the animal to maintain the filter paper discs in position. This has important advantages: the animals stay quieter, and several animals can be evaluated simultaneously. This is a major advantage because it allows more measurements to be taken in a given period of time, increasing the precision of the observations and diminishing the error associated with temporal hiatus (e.g., the solar angle during field studies). The new device has higher functional versatility when taking measurements in large-scale studies (many animals) under field conditions. The results obtained in this study suggest that the technique using the device presented here could represent an advantageous alternative to the original technique described by Schleger and Turner.

Control charts with predetermined sampling intervals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate a new sampling methodology previously proposed for systems with a known lifetime distribution: the Predetermined Sampling Intervals (PSI) method.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology is defined on basis of system hazard cumulative rate, and is compared with other approaches, particularly those whose parameters may change in real time, taking into account current sample information.Findings – For different lifetime distributions, the results obtained for adjusted average time to signal (AATS) using a control chart for the sample mean are presented and analysed. They demonstrate the high degree of statistical performance of this sampling procedure, particularly when used in systems with an increasing failure rate distribution.Practical implications – This PSI method is important from a quality and reliability management point of view.Originality/value – This methodology involves a process by which sampling instants are obtained at the beginning o...

Translation, Adaptation and Validation of a Portuguese Version of the Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life Questionnaire II

The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide. An assessment of the impact of obesity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) requires specific instruments. The Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life Questionnaire II (MA-II) is a widely used instrument to assess HRQoL in morbidly obese patients. The objective of this study was to translate and validate a Portuguese version of the MA-II.The study included forward and backward translations of the original MA-II. The reliability of the Portuguese MA-II was estimated using the internal consistency and test-retest methods. For validation purposes, the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between the Portuguese MA-II and the Portuguese versions of two other questionnaires, the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite).One hundred and fifty morbidly obese patients were randomly assigned to test the reliability and validity of the Portuguese MA-II. Good internal consistency was demonstrated by a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.80, and a very good agreement in terms of test-retest reliability was recorded, with an overall intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.88. The total sums of MA-II scores and each item of MA-II were significantly correlated with all domains of SF-36 and IWQOL-Lite. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the MA-II total score and BMI. Moreover, age, gender and surgical status were independent predictors of MA-II total score.A reliable and valid Portuguese version of the MA-II was produced, thus enabling the routine use of MA-II in the morbidly obese Portuguese population.

A different and simple approach for comparing sampling methods in quality control

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to measure the performance of a sampling method through the average number of samples drawn in control. Design/methodology/approach – Matching the adjusted average time to signal (AATS) of sampling methods, using as a reference the AATS of one of them the paper obtains the design parameters of the others. Thus, it will be possible to obtain, in control, the average number of samples required, so that the AATS of the mentioned sampling methods may be equal to the AATS of the method that the paper uses as the reference. Findings – A more robust performance measure to compare sampling methods because in many cases the period of time where the process is in control is greater than the out of control period. With this performance measure the paper compares different sampling methods through the average total cost per cycle, in systems with Weibull lifetime distributions: three systems with an increasing hazard rate (shape parameter β=2, 4 and 7) and one system with a decr...

Sistemas em paralelo com diferentes tipos de taxa de risco: análise de períodos e de custos de inspeção

Let us consider two or more parallel systems with different hazard rates whose state of effective or non-effective functioning is only detected by perfect inspections. Considering different costs for each inspection and for unit of time of non-effective functioning, we analyse, following in the steps of previous works, the optimal inspection period and the respective expected total cost per cycle of the resulting global system which presents greater reliability, taking as reference one of the initial parallel systems.

Linear programming model applied to the resource schedulling at queue systems

The pressure to maintain (or increase) the level of competitiveness in companies leads to an ever-increasing requirement for effective management supported by the variety of existing resources, which tend to interfere into the work of the manager. Particularly, in the case of waiting queues, the most relevant aspect is the combination of the number of multitasking servers assigned to attend and the demand that varies over the course of a days work. The main objective is to meet the expectations created by the client regarding the opinion of the service that was provided. The contribution that this work proposes to give consists in planning the number of servers adapted to a given demand, not forgetting the valuation associated with the release of resources to perform other tasks related to the business. We use linear programming to determine the optimal number of the servers to serve customers, depending on their hourly availability to fulfill this function and the estimated demand. The model is submitted to four distinct real scenarios, each one reflecting a certain service reality, so that we can evaluate its behavior and possible gains against real situations occurring under the same conditions. The results show the credibility of the model since it reveals in conditions very similar to those of a real situation (translated in one of the scenarios), very little relevant differences.

Application of Item Response Theory to Mathematics High School Exams in Portugal

Item response theory (IRT) provides statistical models that relate an examinee’s response to a test item to an underlying latent trait that is measured by the items. Unlike classical test theory, IRT models focus on the responses to individual questions instead on the total score obtained in the test.

Évora Residents and Sports Activity

A healthy life is promoted by active practices that decrease sedentary lifestyles, reducing the risks of occurrence of various diseases. The World Health Organization recognizes the importance of physical activity in physical, mental, and social health. This paper presents some of the results obtained from a survey realized in collaboration with the Sports Division of Municipality of Evora to characterize the physical activity of the residents. After an exploratory data analysis, and some comparisons using parametric and nonparametric tests, we adjust a logistic regression model to identify enhancers’ factors of physical activity. We conclude that the residents in this municipality have a high physical activity rate and that there are no significant differences in physical activity rate between genders. Physical activity rate decreases drastically with age, varies with the professional situation and increases with qualification. The more likely practitioner is a young male, self-employed without higher education that knows some sports initiatives and that is satisfied with municipality sports offer.