Brazilian adaptation of the Woodcock-Johnson III cognitive tests

An adaptation of the standard battery of Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ-III) for Brazilian children and youth was investigated. The sample was composed of 1094 students (54 percent girls), ages 7-17, living in Sao Paulo state (91 percent). Items from Brazilian school books as well as from the WJ-III Spanish version (Bateria-R) were added to comprehension-knowledge tests. Brazilian words were adapted to the auditory tests according to syllabic division and stressed syllables. Items were examined through IRT and age differences through analysis of variance. Results indicated the need to remove items from all WJ-III subtests with the exception of the visual learning test. Analysis of Variance indicated significant age differences (p <= 0.001) for all tests. Thus, the importance of a Brazilian adaptation for the WJ-III was confirmed.

Comparação da aptidão física em idosos submetidos a diferentes intervenções de exercício físico

Introduction: The elderly population has increased, and the aging process is responsible for physical and metabolic changes in the body. For the elderly remain independent, with a better quality of life, preventing and treating diseases responsible for this increased of mortality should remain physically active. Objective: To investigate the influence of two types of exercise intervention on physical fitness and physical activity levels in older practitioners of Rio Claro-SP. Method: The study included 18 older adults with mean age 65.8 years (± 2.88) divided into two groups, Program in Physical Exercises Health Unit (PEFUS, n = 9) and Adapted Volleyball (n = 9). Classes of PEFUS were held twice a week lasting 60 min with strength, aerobic endurance, agility, coordination and balance exercises. Classes of Volleyball Adapted were performed 2 times per week lasting 120 minutes, divided into volleyball fundamental exercises and game. For evaluation of physical skills (strength, agility, coordination and flexibility), was performed the AAHPERD test battery. All participants were assessed at the baseline and after 3 months of interventions. The statistical analysis used was the repeated measures ANOVA, through the SPSS version 17.0 and significance level p <0.05. Result: After the interventions there was an increase of leisure time from 362.2 ± 214.9 min / week and 16.7 ± 28.3 min / week to 541.7 ± 137.2 and 44.4 ± 44.8 min / week to Adapted Volleyball and PEFUS, respectively. The variable coordination showed significant improvements after the interventions, decreasing from 12.1 ± 0.7 to 10.8 ± 0.5 sec for Volleyball Adapted and from 14.8 ± 0.9 to 12.1 ± 0, 9 sec for PEFUS (p <0.05). For the variable strength it was observed a group-moment interaction (p <0.05). Conclusion: The interventions showed positive results... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Efeito crônico do alongamento estático sobre a capacidade funcional de idosas

Durante o processo de envelhecimento ocorrem alterações morfofisiológicas que podem acarretar em dificuldades na realização de atividades da vida diária (AVDs), diminuindo conseqüentemente a independência do idoso e comprometendo sua qualidade de vida. Para atenuar e/ou retardar tais alterações, diversos autores têm recomendado a prática regular de atividade física voltada para o desenvolvimento dos componentes de capacidade funcional (CF). Especificamente para a flexibilidade, a realização de exercícios de alongamento tem sido amplamente recomendada pela literatura. De qualquer forma, poucos estudos analisaram o efeito crônico do treinamento da flexibilidade em diferentes volumes sobre a CF de idosos. Desta forma, o objetivo desse estudo foi analisar o efeito de 16 semanas de treinamento de flexibilidade, através de alongamento estático, realizado com dois diferentes volumes, sobre a CF de idosas. Participaram deste estudo 23 mulheres (67,4 ± 7,3 anos; 64,9 ± 8,7 kg; 155,1 ± 5,8 cm; 27,5 ± 3,5 kg/m2) divididas em dois grupos: Grupo Treinamento de 30 segundos (GT30, n=15) e Grupo Treinamento de 60 segundos (GT60, n=8). As participantes do GT30 e GT60 foram submetidas ao treinamento de flexibilidade, com duração de 16 semanas e freqüência de três vezes semanais. Durante cada sessão de treinamento, as participantes realizaram três séries de exercícios de alongamento para os grupos musculares de membros superiores, inferiores e tronco, com intervalo de 30 segundos entre as repetições e entre os exercícios. A CF foi avaliada por meio da bateria de testes motores da American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) tanto no momento pré quanto após oito e 16 semanas de treinamento. Para o tratamento dos dados foi utilizada estatística descritiva (média e desviopadrão), test t de Student para amostras independentes... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Incorporação de um sistema nobreak com ultracapacitor em um microcomputador

The objective of this work is to analyze the viability of incorporation in a microcomputer box of a nobreak with an ultracapacitor as energy storage device, substituting the conventional chemical battery. An advantage of this inclusion is cost reduction because a specific metallic or plastic frame won’t be necessary to protect the components of the nobreak; the microcomputer metallic frame offers the necessary protection for both equipments. Moreover, a large quantity of internal space of microcomputers box isn’t used, and is possible to use it to wrap up the nobreak. This work uses data about average power consumption of microcomputers; operation of switching mode power supplies for microcomputers; electrical and mechanical characteristics of ultracapacitors and operation of power circuits of nobreaks, with the purpose of present a study of energy storage capacity that an ultracapacitor should have to allow a safe switching off of a microcomputer in case of electrical network fail. It was noticed that the use of ultracapacitors is feasible to feed an 180 W load for 75 s, using a capacitive bank with sixteen ultracapacitors, with a total capacitance of 350 F and voltage of 10,8 V. The use of the proposed nobreak increases the reliability of the microcomputer by reducing the probability of user data losses in case of an electrical network fail, offering a high cost/benefit product. The substitution of the battery by an ultracapacitor allows a quick nobreak recharge, with low maintenance costs, since ultracapacitors have a lifetime bigger than batteries; beyond reducing the environmental impact, because they don’t use potentially toxic chemical compounds

Influência da escolaridade em idosos institucionalizados e não-institucionalizados

Com o aumento da população idosa, aumentou-se também a curiosidade dos pesquisadores em investigar sobre questões relacionadas ao envelhecimento. Este é um processo que acarreta alterações motoras, funcionais e/ou cognitivas nos idosos e se associadas a uma baixa escolaridade podem levar a uma dependência funcional dos mesmos e com isso evoluindo para uma possível institucionalização se combinada com outros fatores como por exemplo, disponibilidade dos familiares. Essa mudança de ambiente em que o idoso é submetido pode lhe trazer alguns danos como depressão, perda cognitva, diminuição dos níveis de atividade física além de uma perda ainda maior da funcionalidade. Diante disso a pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar possíveis relações da escolaridade, com funcionalidade, nível de atividade física, sintomas depressivos e cognição em idosos institucionalizados e não institucionalizados fisicamente ativos, bem como comparar tais variaveis entre os grupos. Participaram deste estudo dois grupos: um grupo de 53 idosos institucionalizados de Rio Claro-SP, distribuidos em oito instituições de longa permanência, representando 20% da referida população. O outro grupo possui 53 idosos ativos da comunidade, participantes de um programa de atividade física para a terceira idade (PROFIT) da Unesp de Rio Claro-SP. Foi utilizada uma ampla bateria de testes e questionários para avaliar funcionalidade, nível de atividade física, sintomas depressivos e cognição (estado cognitivo geral, funções executivas, memória, atenção). Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente com base na estatística descritiva (médias, os desvios-padrão, valores mínimos e máximos, as medianas e os quartis superior e inferior) visando uma descrição geral do estado de ambas as populações. Para a análise entre os grupos foram utilizados os testes t de Student e U de Mann-Whitney e para... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Estudo da tecnologia RFID e sua aplicação na gestão de estoques

Due to the need of more agility, dynamism and reliability in stock management, the market has turned its attention to RFID, which offers a practical solution and live up to the big corporations' expectations. The search for continuous improvement establishes a direct link with RFID, for its technology offers accurate real time information in any monitored given place. RFID is a radio frequency communication technology. A reader communicates to a tag through waves. This tag can be active, with a battery, or passive, in which its power is supplied by currents induced by the field variation it is exposed to. The RFID technology has a well defined basic principle, but there are many constructive ways of implementing it. The adaptability as well as the flexibility regard to the several kinds of stock in industry, reaching their particular needs. RFID can lower maintenance costs in stock by collecting data more accurately, lowering human error and optimizing the item handling at its reception, exit and while it is inside the company. This paper presents an example of RFID technology applied in a company's stock management. It is possible to prove that there are, in fact, great advantages in implementing this technology, as it creates the opportunity for continuous improvement in stock management, with better application of material, labour and quality tools, since the data collected through an automatized process using RFID are more reliable and dynamic

A coordenação motora de indivíduos com Transtorno do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação (TDC): o ritmo em foco

The aim of the present study was to examine tapping synchronization in children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Participants were 27 children from which 13 diagnosed with motor difficulties composed the DCD group and 14 children with typical development (TD) the comparison group. The experimental task consisted of performing 25 continuous tapping on a surface of an electronic drum with the preferred hand. Participants were required to tap in synchrony with an auditory bip generated by customized software. Three interval values the tapping task were tested: 470 ms, 1000 ms, 1530 ms. The dependent variables were constant error (CE) and absolute error (AE) and standard deviation of absolute error (SD of AE). The ANOVA 2 x 3 x 3 (Group X Age x Interval) with repeated measures in the last factor for the CE indicated significant interaction among Group X Age X Interval. For the AE and SD of AE the ANOVAs yielded significant main effect of Interval and a significant interaction between Group X Interval. The results of the present study indicated that children with DCD were less accurate and more variable in the tapping synchronization than children with TD. Differences in performance between DCD and children with TD become larger as the interval of the auditory signal increases.

A interferência do estado de humor na melhora dos componentes da capacidade funcional em idosos

Mood States are feelings auto regulation deliver to individual better quality of life and healthy aging. The declines of the aging process can be minimized with the regular practice of physical activity and systematized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dance program in mood states, depressive symptoms and functional capacity in elderly participants of PROFIT. METHOD: The sample was composed of 20 elderly people. The Training Group was formed by 15 elders who participated in a protocol of dance with duration of 1 hour, three times per week, for 12 weeks and the Control Group, composed of 5 elderly, did not attend any program of physical activity. The participants were evaluated by the List of States of Mind Reduced and Illustrated, Geriatric Depression Scale and the battery of tests of AAHPERD. For the mood states was used non-parametric analysis, according to the technique of Binomial Analysis. To compare the components of functional capacity between the groups was used analysis of variance for repeated measures two-way ANOVA and the level of significance was set at 5 %. RESULTS: The functional components remained favorable, highlighting Agility (pre = 21.03 ± 1.64 sec./ post = 18.63 ± 2.26 sec.) And aerobic endurance (pre = 495.94 ± 46.48 sec. / post = 448.01 ± 12.27 sec.). In the comparison between positive and negative functional levels and mood states showed no relationship between these variables, dealing with different aspects and has influence one another. The state post-dancing sessions mood in GT were more positive even for elderly patients with depressive symptoms even unproven statistically, depressive symptoms were maintained or reduced mostly. CONCLUSION: The dance practice maintains the functionality of components; modifies mood states to positive levels and reduces or prevents the onset of depressive symptoms and complications in elderly

Equilíbrio, funções executivas e quedas de idosos com demência de Alzheimer: um estudo longitudinal

Falls among older people is a major clinical problem due to its high incidence, with consequent implications for the health and care costs. Elderly patients with dementia of Alzheimer type (AD) are more susceptible to falls due to the impairment of executive functions and gait, with the risk of falls 3 times higher than non-demented elderly. This study used a longitudinal design and aimed to analyze the effects of a regular and systematized physical activity program on the frequency of falls in patients with AD. Additionally, we aimed to correlate the frequency of falls with the executive functions and equilibrium, after and before the physical activity program. The study included 21 patients with clinical diagnosis of AD, divided into two groups: control group (CG), composed of 11 subjects not engaged in any systematized physical activity and training group (TG): 10 seniors who participated in the Cinesioterapia Functional and Cognitive in Elderly with Alzheimer's disease program (PRO-CDA). The physical activity program lasted four months, with weekly frequency of three times, with each session lasting 60 minutes. Were administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to assess cognitive functioning and global score of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) to classify the severity of dementia. For the evaluation of executive functions were used the Clock Drawing Test (TDR) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). In addition, we used the Functional Balance Scale, Berg test (EEFB) and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) to assess the equilibrium and risk of falls. Falls were recorded by means of a questionnaire, which included the number of falls in the last four months. Analyzing the results, it was observed that TG obtained significant improvements in equilibrium and in executive functions, highlighting the beneficial effects of physical activity in these variables... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Capacidade funcional em idosos com 80 ou mais anos de idade

Introdução: O envelhecimento e/ou fatores a ele associados pode levar à diminuição dos componentes de capacidade funcional (CF). Tal redução pode comprometer a realização das atividades da vida diária (AVDs), a independência e a qualidade de vida do idoso. A avaliação de tais componentes reveste-se de importância para conhecer o estado funcional bem como prescrever programas de atividades físicas para a população idosa. Objetivo: Analisar os níveis dos componentes de CF em idosos com 80 anos ou mais de idade, assim como verificar e comparar os resultados entre gêneros desse mesmo estudo e também com outras faixas de idade através de resultados já existentes na literatura. Método: Sessenta idosos (30 homens e 30 mulheres) com idade de 80 anos ou mais realizaram a bateria de testes motores da American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), que avaliou os seis componentes de CF (flexibilidade, coordenação, agilidade, equilíbrio, força e capacidade aeróbia). Os dados foram analisados pela estatística descritiva e pela comparação de médias entre os dois gêneros e com os resultados, já previamente existentes, de outras faixas etárias, por meio do teste t de Student e teste t (resumo amostral) para p <0,05. Resultados: A comparação entre gêneros apresentou resultados com diferença estatisticamente significativa no componente capacidade aeróbia, com melhores valores para os homens, e nos componentes força e flexibilidade com melhores resultados para as mulheres. A comparação com faixas etárias mais jovens revelou diferença estatisticamente significativa para todos os componentes, sendo que apenas a flexibilidade apresentou melhores resultados para as idosas com 80 anos ou mais. Conclusão: Conclui-se, dessa forma, que homens com 80 anos ou mais de idade possuem menores valores de flexibilidade e resistência de força... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Efeitos do treinamento com pesos nas atividades de vida diária básicas e instrumentais de pacientes com doença de Alzheimer

The Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative and progressive disease, mostly seen in elderly people, characterized by memory loss. This commitment leads causes deficits in functional capacity, compromising the individual in execution of activities of daily living, like dressing and bathing. This study, with a longitudinal character, aimed analyze the effects of a protocol of weights training (WT) in global cognitive status and realization of activities of daily living (ADL´s) basic and instrumental in AD patients, comparing the effects of four months of WT in the performance of ADL´s in global cognitive status. And also aimed to verify the possible relations between ADL's and global cognitive status of patients before and after the experimental period. The study included 24 patients with clinical diagnosis of AD, divided into two groups: a) training group (TG) consisted of 13 patients who underwent a protocol of WT b) Social Gathering Group (SCG) consists of 11 patients participating in a protocol of social gathering not systematized with activities of reading, writing and walking. Both protocols lasted four months, being developed in three non-consecutive weekly sessions, lasting 60 minutes each. To quantify global cognitive status and the basic and instrumental ADLs were used, respectively, the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Self Perception of Performance in Activities of Daily Living, along with the battery of tests of Activities of Daily Life of Andreotti and Okuma (1999). To analyze the results where complied the nature of the data, using analysis of variance for repeated measures ANOVA two-way and Pearson correlation for continuous data and tests of U Mann Whitney, Wilcoxon and Spearman correlation for non-continuous data, assuming level significance of 5% for all analysis. After analysis it´s possible... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Efeitos da atividade física sobre equilíbrio, risco de quedas e função cognitiva de idosos com demência de Alzheimer: Salma Stéphany Soleman Hernandez. -

The Alzheimer’s dementia represents a clinical condition inherent to many chronic and neurodegenerative diseases that are usually related to a decline in the cognitive and physical functions. The objective of this experimental design research was to analyze the effects of a regular and systemized physical activity program over the cognitive functions, balance and risk of falls of elderly with Alzheimer’s Dementia (DA). The sample was made of 16 elderly with DA, distributed in two groups: a) intervention group – GI (9 subjects that had participated in a program of physical activity, that consisted of 3 weekly sessions of 60 minutes each, in alternated days and with a duration of 6 months); b) control group – GC (7 subjects that did not participate in the program of physical activity). Both groups maintained the doctoral and pharmacological assistance routine. The subjects passed through two different evaluations (pre and post-intervention) the questionnaire (Mini-exam of Mental State for cognitive functions) and motor tests (Berg Functional Balance Scale – EEFB, Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) time (TUGs) and steps (TUGp) and the test of agility and dynamic balance (AGILEQ) of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education Recreation and Dance for elderly). The obtained results were, respectively in the pre and post-intervention moments: a) AGILEQ (GI = 39,1 ± 10,2 and 38,4 ± 8,9 and GC = 45,6 ± 16,7 and 59,9 ± 22,0 seconds) with the statistically interaction significant (ANOVA two-way; F1,14 = 32,07; p=0,01) between groups and moments; b) TUGs (GI = 9,8 ± 2,5 and 9,5 ± 3,3 and GC = 10,6 ± 4,5 and 12,7 ± 7,3 seconds) the test UMann Whitney did not appoint any significant differences between the groups in the post-intervention moment, however the analyzes of Wilcoxon evidenced a ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Exercício físico, marcadores inflamatórios e genótipo da APOE em idosos com comprometimento cognitivo leve e idosos cognitivamente preservados

Pós-graduação em Ciências da Motricidade - IBRC

Exercício físico e funções cognitivas em pacientes com doença de Alzheimer: associação com BDNF e APOE

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos do treinamento funcional sobre a composição corporal, aptidão funcional e perfil lipídico de mulheres na pós-menopausa

Pós-graduação em Fisioterapia - FCT