The economic impact of sports mega-events : The case study of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship Falun 2015

Since the second half of 1990s, the economic impact of sports mega-events concerned the researchers, the public and the professionals. The investment of public funds and the effects on several sectors of the economy motivate the economic impact studies. The economic impact of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship Falun 2015 to the region of Dalarna is the topic of this thesis. This requires the calculation of direct, indirect and induced economic impact. Within the analysis, data from a questionnaire survey conducted on seven different days during the event are used. The final sample of the analysis contains 893 observations. The segmentation approach was applied for the calculations and the visitors were classified regarding their choice of accommodation. The regional economic impact is calculated at 321 M SEK and the employment effect on the tourism sector is estimated. However, the lack of information limits the study. The analysis could be extended with an accurate investigation of certain issues. Further, the impact of the event should be estimated from all the perspectives. The organization of sports mega-events creates tangible and intangible effects to the host-city. The thesis reviews literature on the economic impact studies of sports mega-events. The results of the study can be used for a comprehensive analysis of the case study. Further, the professionals of the tourism and the event could be benefited.

Efeito de exercícios de pilates clínico no controlo postural de jovens adultos com dor lombar não específica

Introdução: Os efeitos a longo prazo de exercícios de Pilates têm sido bem documentados, não entanto os seus efeitos imediatos no controlo postural estático e dinâmico de jovens adultos com dor lombar não específica permanecem por desvendar. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos imediatos de uma sessão composta por 4 exercícios de Pilates Clínico no controlo postural estático e dinâmico de jovens adultos com dor lombar não específica. Métodos: 46 estudantes universitários com dor lombar não específica participaram no estudo randomizado e controlado. Os participantes foram randomizados para um grupo de Pilates (n = 23, 10 do sexo masculino, idade: 21,8 ± 3,2 anos; peso: 64,5 ± 11,5 kg; altura: 1,70 ± 0,1 m) e um grupo controlo (n = 23, 9 do sexo masculino; idade: 22,8 ± 3,6 anos; peso: 62,5 ± 9,9 kg; altura: 1,68 ± 0,1 m). O controlo postural estático foi avaliado com uma plataforma de forças e o controlo postural dinâmico com o Star Excursion Balance Test, antes e depois da intervenção ou período de repouso. Para avaliar o controlo postural estático, os participantes estavam em posição ortostática, o mais quietos possível durante 90s, com os olhos fechados em superfície instável. A intervenção durou 20 minutos e consistiu em 4 exercícios de Pilates Clínico: single leg stretch (nível 1), pelvic press (nível 1), swimming (nível 1) e kneeling opposite arm and leg reach. Resultados: No momento de avaliação inicial, não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos em nenhuma das variáveis. Após a intervenção, o grupo Pilates melhorou em todos as variáveis do controlo postural estático (COPx: 5,7 ± 1,0 para 5,1 ± 0,7 cm, p = 0,005; COPy: 4,4 ± 1,0 para 3,8 ± 0,7 cm, p < 0,001; comprimento total: 255,2 ± 55,9 para 210,5 ± 42,7 cm, p < 0,001 ; área: 11,5 ± 3,4 para 9,7 ± 2,7 cm2, p = 0,002 e velocidade : 2,8 ± 0,6 para 2,3 ± 0,5 cm/s, p < 0,001) e no Star Excursion Balance Test (anterior: 65,3 ± 8,3 para 68,6 ± 6,4%, p = 0,001; póstero-medial: 82,6 ± 11,7 para 89,5 ± 9,7%, p < 0,001; póstero-lateral: 83,9 ± 11,0 para 87,6 ± 10,2%, p < 0,001 e composite: 86,2 ± 12,4 para 91,1 ± 11,0%, p < 0,001). O grupo de controlo só melhorou na velocidade (2,8 ± 0,5 para 2,6 ± 0,5 cm/s, p = 0,009) e comprimento total (248,5 ± 45,3 para 237,3 ± 47,2 cm, p = 0,009) no controlo postural estático. No entanto, as melhorias no grupo Pilates foram significativamente maiores do que as do grupo de controlo. Conclusão: Os exercícios de Pilates Clínico melhoraram, no imediato, o controlo postural estático e dinâmico em jovens adultos com dor lombar não específica.

Does the 6-minute walk test predicts functional capacity in a sample of elderly women? A pilot study

Introduction: Functional capacity is the capacity to conduct daily activities in an independent way. It can be estimated with the 6-minutes’ walk test (6MWT) and other validated functional tests. Objectives: Verify associations between functional capacity measured with two different instruments (6MWT and Composite Physical Function (CPF) scale) and levels of physical activity and between those and characterization variables. Methods: This sample consisted of 30 apparently healthy elderly women from Loures municipality. Essentially they should be independent and community-dwelling. Characterization data were collected, containing characterization of physical activity levels and anthropometric data. Functional capacity was assessed with CPF scale and distance walked by the 6MWT. Results were analysed using a SPSS v21.0 through correlation tests. Results: The walked distance in 6MWT was positively associated with height (r = 0.406; p = 0.026), physical activity level (r = 0.594; p = 0.001) and functional capacity (r = 0.682; p = 0.000). For each point more obtained in CPF, the distance walked increases on average by 7.5 meters. Relatively to sedentary participants, being insufficiently active increases, on average, the distance walked in 85.8 meters; and being active increases, on average, the distance walked in 108.8 meters. No other associations were observed in our sample. Conclusion: Based on the collected sample, walked distance in 6MWT has a high correlation with results in CPF scale, so this test can be used to predict functional capacity. More attention should be taken to promote strategies to increase walking in older adults.

Arquitetura e dança: uma práxis criativa no âmbito da disciplina Formação em Contexto de Trabalho do 1º ano do curso de Intérprete de Dança Contemporânea do Balleteatro Escola Profissional

Relatório Final de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Dança, com vista à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ensino de Dança.

Comparação de materiais usados na confeção de facetas dentárias

A demanda na procura da reabilitação estética é um dos focos da história da humanidade ao longo das eras, mas que teve a sua acentuação nestes últimos dois séculos. Sendo a face um dos pontos que nos permite avaliar esteticamente uma pessoa, cabe ao médico dentista, como um dos profissionais que trabalha nessa zona do corpo humano, avaliar e procurar satisfazer as necessidades estéticas da população. Assim, por parte dos profissionais de Medicina Dentária, tem de haver uma procura constante para a satisfação das exigências estéticas, não só no conhecimento como no aprimoramento da técnica. Nos últimos tempos, com a necessidade de desenvolvimento de materiais para colmatar a cada vez maior busca para a perfeição estética, as facetas surgiram como tratamento de excelência. O presente trabalho teve como objectivo a comparação entre resina composta e cerâmica, na elaboração de restaurações estéticas. Para os dois tipos de materiais foram avaliados a estética e o comportamento biomecânico. Foram comparados benefícios e desvantagens, contra-indicações, indicações, plano de tratamento, diagnóstico e procedimentos clínicos dos dois materiais, utilizados na confecção das facetas cerâmicas e de resina composta. Foram utilizados os seguintes parâmetros de comparação: biocompatibilidade, adaptação marginal, preparação, resistência, cor, acabamento, potencial de reparação, custo e estética. A utilização de facetas cerâmicas tem sido um dos principais focos de desenvolvimento da Medicina Dentária no âmbito científico. A sua utilização permite uma maior predictibilidade e uma maior longevidade clínica. A sua qualidade estética, resistência à fractura, biodisponibilidade e estabilidade de cor, são as suas maiores vantagens na utilização clínica. Em sentido inverso, as facetas de resina composta apresentam menor custo, maior resistência à abrasão, possibilidade de reparação fácil e menor desgaste de estrutura dentária durante a sua preparação. Contudo apresentam menor estabilidade de cor. Portanto, torna-se esclarecedor que a escolha do material a utilizar na confecção de facetas, deve ser adaptada às especificidades de cada caso.

DIFFERENTIATION OF ARBOREAL VEGETATION IN THREE SECTORS OF A FOREST FRAGMENT RELATED TO ITS HISTORICAL DISTURBANCES

Forest fragmentation is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss, directly affecting the ecological processes. This study aimed to evaluate tree diversity, structure, and composition parameters in three sectors of a forest fragment with distinct disturbance records. The arboreal vegetation was evaluated in twenty-four 10 × 10 m plots, sampling a total of 1,228 living individuals. We calculated Shanon’s diversity index, Pielou’s equability, and jackknife estimators of first and second orders. The sampled individuals were distributed in diameter classes and the importance value (VI) was calculated for each species. It was made a Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) to verify whether there were significant distinctions between the sectors. It was noticed that the sector where there was clear cutting and vegetation burning in a recent past had higher abundance and richness but also the worst equability. That corresponds to the effects of perturbation as confirmed by the tree diameters and the presence of species of greater importance value. The sector that had no record of disturbance, situated in a location with greater variety of microenvironments, presented diversity, structure, and composition consistent with a no disturbance scenario. The other sector, which did not have clear cutting, was subjected to cattle trampling presented ecological parameters consistent with the absence of major disturbances. On the other hand, this third sector had the smallest environmental diversity, which puts this last sector in an intermediate situation.

Exploring the potential role of allostatic load biomarkers in risk assessment of patients presenting with depressive symptoms

Background: Depression is a major health problem worldwide and the majority of patients presenting with depressive symptoms are managed in primary care. Current approaches for assessing depressive symptoms in primary care are not accurate in predicting future clinical outcomes, which may potentially lead to over or under treatment. The Allostatic Load (AL) theory suggests that by measuring multi-system biomarker levels as a proxy of measuring multi-system physiological dysregulation, it is possible to identify individuals at risk of having adverse health outcomes at a prodromal stage. Allostatic Index (AI) score, calculated by applying statistical formulations to different multi-system biomarkers, have been associated with depressive symptoms. Aims and Objectives: To test the hypothesis, that a combination of allostatic load (AL) biomarkers will form a predictive algorithm in defining clinically meaningful outcomes in a population of patients presenting with depressive symptoms. The key objectives were: 1. To explore the relationship between various allostatic load biomarkers and prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients, especially in patients diagnosed with three common cardiometabolic diseases (Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Diabetes and Stroke). 2 To explore whether allostatic load biomarkers predict clinical outcomes in patients with depressive symptoms, especially in patients with three common cardiometabolic diseases (CHD, Diabetes and Stroke). 3 To develop a predictive tool to identify individuals with depressive symptoms at highest risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Methods: Datasets used: ‘DepChron’ was a dataset of 35,537 patients with existing cardiometabolic disease collected as a part of routine clinical practice. ‘Psobid’ was a research data source containing health related information from 666 participants recruited from the general population. The clinical outcomes for 3 both datasets were studied using electronic data linkage to hospital and mortality health records, undertaken by Information Services Division, Scotland. Cross-sectional associations between allostatic load biomarkers calculated at baseline, with clinical severity of depression assessed by a symptom score, were assessed using logistic and linear regression models in both datasets. Cox’s proportional hazards survival analysis models were used to assess the relationship of allostatic load biomarkers at baseline and the risk of adverse physical health outcomes at follow-up, in patients with depressive symptoms. The possibility of interaction between depressive symptoms and allostatic load biomarkers in risk prediction of adverse clinical outcomes was studied using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Finally, the value of constructing a risk scoring scale using patient demographics and allostatic load biomarkers for predicting adverse outcomes in depressed patients was investigated using clinical risk prediction modelling and Area Under Curve (AUC) statistics. Key Results: Literature Review Findings. The literature review showed that twelve blood based peripheral biomarkers were statistically significant in predicting six different clinical outcomes in participants with depressive symptoms. Outcomes related to both mental health (depressive symptoms) and physical health were statistically associated with pre-treatment levels of peripheral biomarkers; however only two studies investigated outcomes related to physical health. Cross-sectional Analysis Findings: In DepChron, dysregulation of individual allostatic biomarkers (mainly cardiometabolic) were found to have a non-linear association with increased probability of co-morbid depressive symptoms (as assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score HADS-D≥8). A composite AI score constructed using five biomarkers did not lead to any improvement in the observed strength of the association. In Psobid, BMI was found to have a significant cross-sectional association with the probability of depressive symptoms (assessed by General Health Questionnaire GHQ-28≥5). BMI, triglycerides, highly sensitive C - reactive 4 protein (CRP) and High Density Lipoprotein-HDL cholesterol were found to have a significant cross-sectional relationship with the continuous measure of GHQ-28. A composite AI score constructed using 12 biomarkers did not show a significant association with depressive symptoms among Psobid participants. Longitudinal Analysis Findings: In DepChron, three clinical outcomes were studied over four years: all-cause death, all-cause hospital admissions and composite major adverse cardiovascular outcome-MACE (cardiovascular death or admission due to MI/stroke/HF). Presence of depressive symptoms and composite AI score calculated using mainly peripheral cardiometabolic biomarkers was found to have a significant association with all three clinical outcomes over the following four years in DepChron patients. There was no evidence of an interaction between AI score and presence of depressive symptoms in risk prediction of any of the three clinical outcomes. There was a statistically significant interaction noted between SBP and depressive symptoms in risk prediction of major adverse cardiovascular outcome, and also between HbA1c and depressive symptoms in risk prediction of all-cause mortality for patients with diabetes. In Psobid, depressive symptoms (assessed by GHQ-28≥5) did not have a statistically significant association with any of the four outcomes under study at seven years: all cause death, all cause hospital admission, MACE and incidence of new cancer. A composite AI score at baseline had a significant association with the risk of MACE at seven years, after adjusting for confounders. A continuous measure of IL-6 observed at baseline had a significant association with the risk of three clinical outcomes- all-cause mortality, all-cause hospital admissions and major adverse cardiovascular event. Raised total cholesterol at baseline was associated with lower risk of all-cause death at seven years while raised waist hip ratio- WHR at baseline was associated with higher risk of MACE at seven years among Psobid participants. There was no significant interaction between depressive symptoms and peripheral biomarkers (individual or combined) in risk prediction of any of the four clinical outcomes under consideration. Risk Scoring System Development: In the DepChron cohort, a scoring system was constructed based on eight baseline demographic and clinical variables to predict the risk of MACE over four years. The AUC value for the risk scoring system was modest at 56.7% (95% CI 55.6 to 57.5%). In Psobid, it was not possible to perform this analysis due to the low event rate observed for the clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Individual peripheral biomarkers were found to have a cross-sectional association with depressive symptoms both in patients with cardiometabolic disease and middle-aged participants recruited from the general population. AI score calculated with different statistical formulations was of no greater benefit in predicting concurrent depressive symptoms or clinical outcomes at follow-up, over and above its individual constituent biomarkers, in either patient cohort. SBP had a significant interaction with depressive symptoms in predicting cardiovascular events in patients with cardiometabolic disease; HbA1c had a significant interaction with depressive symptoms in predicting all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes. Peripheral biomarkers may have a role in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with depressive symptoms, especially for those with existing cardiometabolic disease, and this merits further investigation.

A arquitectura do mosteiro cartusiano de Santa Maria Scala Coeli: do processo de entrada

A importância da encenação de uma transição entre o mundo secular e a vida em clausura, no contexto da arquitectura cartusiana, é amplamente demonstrada através dos percursos de entrada dos conjuntos mais relevantes, bem como em muitos daqueles representados nas gravuras presentes no livro Maisons de l’Ordre des Chartreux – Vues et Notices, uma obra do início do século XX que inclui gravuras da quase totalidade dos 282 mosteiros cartusianos distribuídos por quase toda a Europa. Na maioria das cartuxas podem observarse transições indirectas e prolongadas, capazes de tardar o passo e dar significado à passagem para a clausura – características espaciais que São Bruno, fundador da casa cartusiana, considerava primordiais para a implantação do seu eremitério. A partir de uma cuidada análise dessa transição, nas cartuxas em geral, e da sua evolução morfológica, na cartuxa de Évora em particular – estimulada pela descoberta de dados aqui analisados e interpretados pela primeira vez – apresenta-se, em continuidade com a sua história e tendo como premissa a consolidação do processo de entrada, uma proposta de redefinição da estrutura monacal de Santa Maria Scala Coeli. Esta estrutura originária do século XVI encontra-se incompleta e degradada, em particular na ala sul onde se encontra o seu principal acesso, sendo fundamental o completamento desta área para o cabal reconhecimento da unidade do conjunto e da intenção na qual se traduz a sua génese. De resto, a estratégia de investigação e de projecto descrita nesta dissertação pode ser encarada como um processo plausível de ser utilizado no caso de futuras intervenções noutras estruturas cartusianas, contribuindo assim para a recuperação e preservação do conceito fundador da identidade da arquitectura cartusiana que, no decorrer da expansão da ordem, se foi perdendo; The Architecture of the Carthusian Monastery of Santa Maria Scala Coeli: About the process of entrance. ABSTRACT: The importance of staging a transition between the secular world and life cloistered in the context of Carthusian architecture is amply demonstrated through the input paths of the most important collections, as well as many of those represented in the pictures in the book Maisons de l’Ordre des Chartreux – Vues et Notices, one of the early twentieth century work that includes prints of almost all of the 282 Carthusians monasteries spread across almost all of Europe. In most of Carthusian the transitions that can be observed are indirect and long, able to delay the step and give meaning to the passage to the life cloistered - spatial characteristics that St. Bruno, founder of the Carthusian Order, considered essential for the implementation of his hermitage. From a careful analysis of this transition, looking through the Carthusian in general, and its morphological evolution, in the Charterhouse of Évora in particular, encouraged by the data discovery here analyzed and interpreted for the first time - it is presented in continuity with its history and having premised on the consolidation of the entry process, a proposal for a redefinition of the monastic structure of Santa Maria Scala Coeli. This original structure of the sixteenth century is incomplete and degraded, particularly in the south wing where it is the main access, and where is fundamental the completion of this area to the full recognition of the unity of the whole and to understand the intent in which translates its genesis. Moreover, the research strategy and project described in this paper can be seen as a plausible case to be used in case of future interventions in other cartusianas structures, thus contributing to the recovery and preservation of the founder of the identity concept of the Carthusian architecture that, during the expansion of the order, was missing.

Comportamento da adição do carbeto de nióbio (nBC) na matriz metálica do aço ferrítico 15kH2mfa

The 15Kh2MFA steel is a kind of Cr-Mo-V family steels and can be used in turbines for energy generation, pressure vessels, nuclear reactors or applications where the range of temperature that the material works is between 250 to 450°C. To improve the properties of these steels increasing the service temperature and the thermal stability is add a second particle phase. These particles can be oxides, carbides, nitrites or even solid solution of some chemical elements. On this way, this work aim to study the effect of addition of 3wt% of niobium carbide in the metallic matrix of 15Kh2MFA steel. Powder metallurgy was the route employed to produce this metallic matrix composite. Two different milling conditions were performed. Condition 1: milling of pure 15Kh2MFA steel and condition 2: milling of 15Kh2MFA steel with addition of niobium carbide. A high energy milling was carried out during 5 hours. Then, these two powders were sintered in a vacuum furnace (10-4torr) at 1150 and 1250°C during 60 minutes. After sintering the samples were normalized at 950°C per 3 minutes followed by air cooling to obtain a desired microstructure. Results show that the addition of niobium carbide helps to mill faster the particles during the milling when compared with that steel without carbide. At the sintering, the niobium carbide helps to sinter increasing the density of the samples reaching a maximum density of 7.86g/cm³, better than the melted steel as received that was 7,81g/cm³. In spite this good densification, after normalizing, the niobium carbide don t contributed to increase the microhardness. The best microhardness obtained to the steel with niobium carbide was 156HV and to pure 15Kh2MFA steel was 212HV. It happened due when the niobium carbide is added to the steel a pearlitic structure was formed, and the steel without niobium carbide submitted to the same conditions reached a bainitic structure

Desenvolvimento e caracterização de um compósito matriz metálica (CMM): aço EUROFER97 reforçado com Carbeto de Tântalo - TaC

Steel is an alloy EUROFER promising for use in nuclear reactors, or in applications where the material is subjected to temperatures up to 550 ° C due to their lower creep resistance under. One way to increase this property, so that the steel work at higher temperatures it is necessary to prevent sliding of its grain boundaries. Factors that influence this slip contours are the morphology of the grains, the angle and speed of the grain boundaries. This speed can be decreased in the presence of a dispersed phase in the material, provided it is fine and homogeneously distributed. In this context, this paper presents the development of a new material metal matrix composite (MMC) which has as starting materials as stainless steel EUROFER 97, and two different kinds of tantalum carbide - TaC, one with average crystallite sizes 13.78 nm synthesized in UFRN and another with 40.66 nm supplied by Aldrich. In order to improve the mechanical properties of metal matrix was added by powder metallurgy, nano-sized particles of the two types of TaC. This paper discusses the effect of dispersion of carbides in the microstructure of sintered parts. Pure steel powders with the addition of 3% TaC UFRN and 3% TaC commercial respectively, were ground in grinding times following: a) 5 hours in the planetary mill for all post b) 8 hours of grinding in the mill Planetary only for steel TaC powders of commercial and c) 24 hours in the conventional ball mill mixing the pure steel milled for 5 hours in the planetary mill with 3% TaC commercial. Each of the resulting particulate samples were cold compacted under a uniaxial pressure of 600MPa, on a cylindrical matrix of 5 mm diameter. Subsequently, the compressed were sintered in a vacuum furnace at temperatures of 1150 to 1250 ° C with an increment of 20 ° C and 10 ° C per minute and maintained at these isotherms for 30, 60 and 120 minutes and cooled to room temperature. The distribution, size and dispersion of steel and composite particles were determined by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy followed by chemical analysis (EDS). The structures of the sintered bodies were observed by optical microscopy and scanning electron accompanied by EDS beyond the x-ray diffraction. Initial studies sintering the obtained steel EUROFER 97 a positive reply in relation to improvement of the mechanical properties independent of the processing, because it is obtained with sintered microhardness values close to and even greater than 100% of the value obtained for the HV 333.2 pure steel as received in the form of a bar

Interaction of fluorescence of resin cements with glass ceramics

Poster presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Portuguese Dental Association, Lisbon, 12-14 November 2015.

El Impuesto al Valor Agregado a la luz de los Principios Constitucionales de Progresividad y Proporcionalidad

El derecho tributario se encuentra regido por principios propios de esta materia, parte de aquellos son los principios de Progresividad y Proporcionalidad, sin embargo, dentro de los sistemas tributarios, particularmente el ecuatoriano, coexisten diferentes tipos de tributos, algunos de ellos, por sus peculiares características, son incluso antagónicos a los mentados principios. Me refiero, especialmente, al Impuesto al Valor Agregado, gravamen de tipo indirecto y regresivo, vigente en nuestra legislación, y que merece un exhaustivo análisis con la finalidad de determinar en qué medida es compatible con la progresividad y la proporcionalidad constitucional.Para lograr el objetivo planteado, es menester hacer un repaso de la totalidad de principios aplicables a los tributos, estos son: generalidad, eficiencia, simplicidad administrativa, suficiencia recaudatoria, irretroactividad, igualdad, equidad, transparencia, legalidad, proporcionalidad y progresividad. Así mismo, es necesario un análisis doctrinario del Impuesto al Valor Agregado, a la par de la legislación vigente sobre este gravamen, y concluir con el análisis de la relación del IVA con dos de los principios constitucionales, los de proporcionalidad y progresividad.

Nutrients can modulate the adiponectin concentrations in apparently healthy young adults

Introduction: Adiponectin, an adipocyte derived peptide, has anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effects, and improves insulin sensitivity. However, little is known about dietary predictors and their interactions with lifestyle on adiponectin concentrations, in apparently healthy young adults. Objective: To evaluate the associations between plasma concentrations of adiponectin with dietary components and lifestyle in apparently healthy young adults. Methods: Anthropometric and body composition, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, diet and lifestyle data of 157 healthy young adults, aged 18 and 35, were collected and analyzed. Blood samples were collected after fasting for 12 hours to determine adiponectin concentrations. Dietary and anthropometric indexes were calculated and analyzed. Results: Adiponectin concentrations were significantly higher for women compared to men; and there was an indirect and significant correlation between adiponectin concentrations with BMI. There was a significant association between adiponectin concentrations with the healthy eating index, calories, lipids, proteins, fibers, riboflavin, and phosphorus, among others; and a tendency with carbohydrates and niacin. In multiple linear regression analysis, fiber and riboflavin (r² = 0.0928; p = 0.0013) and carbohydrates and phosphorus were associated with the concentrations of adiponectin. The association with carbohydrates and phosphorus suffered interaction with gender (r²= 0.2400; p < 0.0001), as well as the association with phosphorus also suffered interaction with physical activity (r²= 0.1275; p = 0.0003). Conclusion: Plasma concentrations of adiponectin, in healthy young adults, seem to be modulated by components of diet depending on gender and physical activity.

Diferencias regionales en las estructuras de ingresos laborales en Colombia

Dada la persistencia de las diferencias en ingresos laborales por regiones en Colombia, el presente artículo propone cuantificar la magnitud de este diferencial que es atribuida a la diferencia en estructuras de mercado laboral, entendiendo esta última como la diferencia en los retornos a las características de la fuerza laboral. Para ello se propone el uso de un método de descomposición del tipo Oaxaca- Blinder y se compara a Bogotá –la ciudad con mayores ingresos laborales- con otras ciudades principales. Los resultados obtenidos al conducir el ejercicio de descomposición muestran que las diferencias en estructura están a favor de Bogotá y que estas explican más de la mitad de la diferencia total, indicando que si se quieren reducir las disparidades de ingresos laborales entre ciudades no es suficiente con calificar la fuerza laboral y que es necesario indagar por las causas que hacen que los retornos a las características difieran entre ciudades.

Avaliação de métodos de estimação da variância em amostras complexas

A necessidade de conhecer uma população impulsiona um processo de recolha e análise de informação. Usualmente é muito difícil ou impossível estudar a totalidade da população, daí a importância do estudo com recurso a amostras. Conceber um estudo por amostragem é um processo complexo, desde antes da recolha dos dados até a fase de análise dos mesmos. Na maior parte dos estudos utilizam-se combinações de vários métodos probabilísticos de amostragem para seleção de uma amostra, que se pretende representativa da população, denominado delineamento de amostragem complexo. O conhecimento dos erros de amostragem é necessário à correta interpretação dos resultados de inquéritos e à avaliação dos seus planos de amostragem. Em amostras complexas, têm sido usadas aproximações ajustadas à natureza complexa do plano da amostra para a estimação da variância, sendo as mais utilizadas: o método de linearização Taylor e as técnicas de reamostragem e replicação. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o desempenho dos estimadores usuais da variância em amostras complexas. Inspirado num conjunto de dados reais foram geradas três populações com características distintas, das quais foram sorteadas amostras com diferentes delineamentos de amostragem, na expectativa de obter alguma indicação sobre em que situações se deve optar por cada um dos estimadores da variância. Com base nos resultados obtidos, podemos concluir que o desempenho dos estimadores da variância da média amostral de Taylor, Jacknife e Bootstrap varia com o tipo de delineamento e população. De um modo geral, o estimador de Bootstrap é o menos preciso e em delineamentos estratificados os estimadores de Taylor e Jackknife fornecem os mesmos resultados; Evaluation of variance estimation methods in complex samples ABSTRACT: The need to know a population drives a process of collecting and analyzing information. Usually is to hard or even impossible to study the whole population, hence the importance of sampling. Framing a study by sampling is a complex process, from before the data collection until the data analysis. Many studies have used combinations of various probabilistic sampling methods for selecting a representative sample of the population, calling it complex sampling design. Knowledge of sampling errors is essential for correct interpretation of the survey results and evaluation of the sampling plans. In complex samples to estimate the variance has been approaches adjusted to the complex nature of the sample plane. The most common are: the linearization method of Taylor and techniques of resampling and replication. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of usual estimators of the variance in complex samples. Inspired on real data we will generate three populations with distinct characteristics. From this populations will be drawn samples using different sampling designs. In the end we intend to get some lights about in which situations we should opt for each one of the variance estimators. Our results show that the performance of the variance estimators of sample mean Taylor, Jacknife and Bootstrap varies with the design and population. In general, the Bootstrap estimator is less precise and in stratified design Taylor and Jackknife estimators provide the same results.