Vitamin D serum levels are associated with handgrip strength but not with muscle mass or length of hospital stay after hip fracture

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D-3 with midupper arm muscle circumference (MUAMC), handgrip strength and length of hospital stay (LOS) after hip fracture.Methods: In total, 102 consecutive patients with hip fracture over the age of 65 were admitted to the orthopedic unit and prospectively evaluated. All of the patients were treated according to specific protocols depending on the type of fracture. Anthropometric measurements and handgrip strength were performed, and blood samples were taken for serum biochemistry and 25(OH) vitamin D-3 analysis within the first 72 h of admission. All of the patients were followed during their hospital stay, and the length of stay was recorded.Results: Of the patients, two were excluded because of pathologic fractures. In total, 100 patients with a mean age of 80 +/- 7 y were included in the analysis. Among these patients, 73% were female, and 37% had vitamin D deficiency. The median LOS was 7 (5-11) d. Patients with vitamin D deficiency had lower handgrip strength in univariate analysis. In the multiple linear regression analysis with robust standard error, serum vitamin D levels adjusted by age and sex were associated with handgrip strength but not with MUAMC and LOS after hip fracture.Conclusions: In conclusion, vitamin D serum levels were associated with handgrip strength but not with muscle mass or length of hospital stay after hip fracture. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of the processes of testicular regression and recrudescence in the prostatic complex of the bat myotis nigricans (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Impact of the processes of total testicular regression and recrudescence on the epididymal physiology of the bat myotis nigricans (chiroptera: vespertilionidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Prevalence of Treponema Species Detected in Endodontic Infections: Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis

Introduction: This systematic review and meta-regression analysis aimed to calculate a combined prevalence estimate and evaluate the prevalence of different Treponema species in primary and secondary endodontic infections, including symptomatic and asymptomatic eases. Methods: The MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scielo, Web of Knowledge, and Scopus data-bases were searched without starting date restriction up to and including March 2014. Only reports in English were included. The selected literature was reviewed by 2 authors and classified as suitable or not to be included in this review. Lists were compared, and, in case of disagreements, decisions were made after a discussion based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A pooled prevalence of Treponema species in endodontic infections was estimated. Additionally, a meta-regression analysis was performed. Results: Among the 265 articles identified in the initial search, only 51 were included in the final analysis. The studies were classified into 2 different groups according to the type of endodontic infection and whether it was an exclusively primary/secondary study (n = 36) or a primary/secondary comparison (n = 15). The pooled prevalence of Treponema species was 41.5% (95% confidence interval, 35.9-47.0). In the multivariate model of meta-regression analysis, primary endodontic infections (P < .001), acute apical abscess, symptomatic apical periodontitis (P < .001), and concomitant presence of 2 or more species (P = .028) explained the heterogeneity regarding the prevalence rates of Treponema species. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Treponema species are important pathogens involved in endodontic infections, particularly in cases of primary and acute infections.

Random regression models for milk, fat and protein in Colombian Buffaloes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Reaction norms for the study of genotype-environment interaction for growth and indicator traits of sexual precocity in Nellore cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Robust controller design of a wheelchair mobile via LMI approach to SPR systems with feedback output

This article discusses the design of robust controller applied to Wheelchair Furniture via Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI), to obtain Strictly Positive Real (SPR) systems. The contributions of this work were the choice of a mathematical model for wheelchair: mobile with uncertainty about the position of the center of gravity (CG), the decoupling of the kinematic and dynamical systems, linearization of the models, the headquarters building of parametric uncertainties, the proposal of the control loop and control law with a specified decay rate.

Genotype x environment interaction for age at first calving, scrotal circumference, and yearling weight in Nellore cattle using reaction norms in multitrait random regression models

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Nicotine dependence and levels of depression and anxiety in smokers in the process of smoking cessation

Background: Depression and anxiety are psychiatric disorders that are related to tobacco use and associated with dependence, the process of cessation, lapses and relapses after quitting smoking. Objective: To analyze the association of nicotine dependence with the level of anxiety and depression in patients who are in the process of smoking cessation. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with patients who sought the smoking cessation program in Cuiabá/MT. All the smokers enrolled from May to August 2012, participated in this study. Four instruments were applied: Socio-demographic Questionnaire, Fagerstrom test, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. Following bivariate analysis, using the crude prevalence ratio, with level of significance lower than 5% (p < 0.05), having as variable outcome the nicotine dependence >= 5 (Fagerstrom). The associations with p < 0.20 were selected for robust Multiple Poisson Regression (RPa). Results: Associations of Fagerstrom >= 5 with the male sex (RP = 1.15 CI 95% 1.03-1.28); number of cigarettes/day (RP = 1,33; CI 95% 1.19-1.48); and moderate/severe level of depression (RP = 1.15; CI 95% 1.04-1.28) were found. In the final model (RPa), the following variables remained associated: male gender (RPa 1.12; CI 95% 1.01-1.24), number of cigarettes/day (RPa 1.28; CI 95% 1.15-1.43) and high level of depression (RPa 1.12; CI 95% 1.01-1.23). Discussion: High level of nicotine dependence was associated significantly with the level of depression, emphasizing the association between smoking and psychiatric comorbidities.

Anesthesia-related and perioperative cardiac arrest in low- and high-income countries: a systematic review with meta-regression and proportional meta-analysis

The anesthesia-related cardiac arrest (CA) rate is a quality indicator to improve patient safety in the perioperative period. A systematic review with meta-analysis of the worldwide literature related to anesthesia-related CA rate has not yet been performed.This study aimed to analyze global data on anesthesia-related and perioperative CA rates according to country's Human Development Index (HDI) and by time. In addition, we compared the anesthesia-related and perioperative CA rates in low- and high-income countries in 2 time periods.A systematic review was performed using electronic databases to identify studies in which patients underwent anesthesia with anesthesia-related and/or perioperative CA rates. Meta-regression and proportional meta-analysis were performed with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate global data on anesthesia-related and perioperative CA rates according to country's HDI and by time, and to compare the anesthesia-related and perioperative CA rates by country's HDI status (low HDI vs high HDI) and by time period (pre-1990s vs 1990s-2010s), respectively.Fifty-three studies from 21 countries assessing 11.9 million anesthetic administrations were included. Meta-regression showed that anesthesia-related (slope: -3.5729; 95% CI: -6.6306 to -0.5152; P = 0.024) and perioperative (slope: -2.4071; 95% CI: -4.0482 to -0.7659; P = 0.005) CA rates decreased with increasing HDI, but not with time. Meta-analysis showed per 10,000 anesthetics that anesthesia-related and perioperative CA rates declined in high HDI (2.3 [95% CI: 1.2-3.7] before the 1990s to 0.7 [95% CI: 0.5-1.0] in the 1990s-2010s, P < 0.001; and 8.1 [95% CI: 5.1-11.9] before the 1990s to 6.2 [95% CI: 5.1-7.4] in the 1990s-2010s, P < 0.001, respectively). In low-HDI countries, anesthesia-related CA rates did not alter significantly (9.2 [95% CI: 2.0-21.7] before the 1990s to 4.5 [95% CI: 2.4-7.2] in the 1990s-2010s, P = 0.14), whereas perioperative CA rates increased significantly (16.4 [95% CI: 1.5-47.1] before the 1990s to 19.9 [95% CI: 10.9-31.7] in the 1990s-2010s, P = 0.03).Both anesthesia-related and perioperative CA rates decrease with increasing HDI but not with time. There is a clear and consistent reduction in anesthesia-related and perioperative CA rates in high-HDI countries, but an increase in perioperative CA rates without significant alteration in the anesthesia-related CA rates in low-HDI countries comparing the 2 time periods.

Association between risk behaviors and adiposity indicators in adolescents from Southern Brazil: A methodological approach

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between risk behaviors and adiposity indicators in adolescents and to discuss some methodological aspects related to this relationship. We evaluated 1,321 adolescents (55.2% female) aged 10-16 years. Relative body fat (%fat) by measurement of triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness and waist circumference (WC) were used as total and central adiposity indicators, respectively. Physical inactivity, time spent in front of the TV, the consumption of soda and/or chocolate, alcohol, and tobacco smoking were analyzed as risk behaviors. Information about the socioeconomic status (categorized into three levels) and nutritional status of the mother (overweight or normal weight) were used as adjustment factors in the analyses of prevalence ratio (PR) of the outcomes and their associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The chi-square test and Poisson regression were used for statistical analyses. Low associations were found between risk behaviors and adiposity indicators. Tobacco smoking was the most positively correlated behavior with adiposity in girls (%fat: PR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.04-2.47; WC: PR = 1.90; 95% CI = 1.17-3.08) and in adolescents whose mothers were normal weight (%fat: PR = 2.31; 95% CI = 1.33-4.03; WC: PR: 2.31; CI: 1.19-4.46). Additionally, as an important methodological issue, we highlighted the assessment of risk behaviors in adolescents as crucial to producing more robust evidence on the subject. Of the investigated behaviors, we concluded that tobacco smoking is the behavior most associated with adiposity indicators.

GIS-based analytical tools for transport planning: spatial regression models for transportation demand forecast

Considering the importance of spatial issues in transport planning, the main objective of this study was to analyze the results obtained from different approaches of spatial regression models. In the case of spatial autocorrelation, spatial dependence patterns should be incorporated in the models, since that dependence may affect the predictive power of these models. The results obtained with the spatial regression models were also compared with the results of a multiple linear regression model that is typically used in trips generation estimations. The findings support the hypothesis that the inclusion of spatial effects in regression models is important, since the best results were obtained with alternative models (spatial regression models or the ones with spatial variables included). This was observed in a case study carried out in the city of Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in the stages of specification and calibration of the models, with two distinct datasets.

Modelos agrometeorológicos para previsão da produtividade e qualidade de bebida natural do cafeeiro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Infrastructure Support for Controlled Experimentation with Software Testing and Regression Testing Techniques

Where the creation, understanding, and assessment of software testing and regression testing techniques are concerned, controlled experimentation is an indispensable research methodology. Obtaining the infrastructure necessary to support such experimentation, however, is difficult and expensive. As a result, progress in experimentation with testing techniques has been slow, and empirical data on the costs and effectiveness of techniques remains relatively scarce. To help address this problem, we have been designing and constructing infrastructure to support controlled experimentation with testing and regression testing techniques. This paper reports on the challenges faced by researchers experimenting with testing techniques, including those that inform the design of our infrastructure. The paper then describes the infrastructure that we are creating in response to these challenges, and that we are now making available to other researchers, and discusses the impact that this infrastructure has and can be expected to have.

Robust isothermal electric control of exchange bias at room temperature

Voltage-controlled spin electronics is crucial for continued progress in information technology. It aims at reduced power consumption, increased integration density and enhanced functionality where non-volatile memory is combined with highspeed logical processing. Promising spintronic device concepts use the electric control of interface and surface magnetization. From the combination of magnetometry, spin-polarized photoemission spectroscopy, symmetry arguments and first-principles calculations, we show that the (0001) surface of magnetoelectric Cr2O3 has a roughness-insensitive, electrically switchable magnetization. Using a ferromagnetic Pd/Co multilayer deposited on the (0001) surface of a Cr2O3 single crystal, we achieve reversible, room-temperature isothermal switching of the exchange-bias field between positive and negative values by reversing the electric field while maintaining a permanent magnetic field. This effect reflects the switching of the bulk antiferromagnetic domain state and the interface magnetization coupled to it. The switchable exchange bias sets in exactly at the bulk Néel temperature.