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Latitude by two altitudes of the Sun – Douwes’ and Riddle's methods
- Ana Filipa Queirós, António Costa Canas, Teresa Sousa
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- The Journal of Navigation , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 12 February 2024, pp. 1-14
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In approximately 1740, Cornelis Douwes presented an algorithmic method to determine the latitude when it is impossible to observe the Sun at the meridian passage. To apply Douwes’ method, it is necessary to know two altitudes of the Sun, the time elapsed between observations, the Sun's declination at the time when the greater altitude was observed and the latitude by account. Douwes’ method, originally written in Dutch, was translated and published in English by Richard Harrison in 1759. This translation made possible the dissemination of this method throughout Europe. In 1821, James Ivory proposed a new method that was independent of the latitude by account. This method was improved by Edward Riddle in 1822. Riddle's proposal was widely disseminated throughout Europe during the 19th century. In this work, our objective is to study the reliability of these two methods. For that purpose, we will apply the algorithmic methods of Douwes and Riddle to determine the latitude using real observations made during the years 2021 and 2022. The results obtained will then be compared with the GPS (Global Positioning System) latitude to assess the reliability of each method.
Somatic multicomorbidity and disability in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population: a quasi-epidemiological investigation in 54,826 subjects from 40 countries (COMET-G study)
- Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis, Grigorios N. Karakatsoulis, Seri Abraham, Kristina Adorjan, Helal Uddin Ahmed, Renato D. Alarcón, Kiyomi Arai, Sani Salihu Auwal, Michael Berk, Sarah Bjedov, Julio Bobes, Teresa Bobes-Bascaran, Julie Bourgin-Duchesnay, Cristina Ana Bredicean, Laurynas Bukelskis, Akaki Burkadze, Indira Indiana Cabrera Abud, Ruby Castilla-Puentes, Marcelo Cetkovich, Hector Colon-Rivera, Ricardo Corral, Carla Cortez-Vergara, Piirika Crepin, Domenico De Berardis, Sergio Zamora Delgado, David De Lucena, Avinash De Sousa, Ramona Di Stefano, Seetal Dodd, Livia Priyanka Elek, Anna Elissa, Berta Erdelyi-Hamza, Gamze Erzin, Martin J. Etchevers, Peter Falkai, Adriana Farcas, Ilya Fedotov, Viktoriia Filatova, Nikolaos K. Fountoulakis, Iryna Frankova, Francesco Franza, Pedro Frias, Tatiana Galako, Cristian J. Garay, Leticia Garcia-Álvarez, Maria Paz García-Portilla, Xenia Gonda, Tomasz M. Gondek, Daniela Morera González, Hilary Gould, Paolo Grandinetti, Arturo Grau, Violeta Groudeva, Michal Hagin, Takayuki Harada, Tasdik M. Hasan, Nurul Azreen Hashim, Jan Hilbig, Sahadat Hossain, Rossitza Iakimova, Mona Ibrahim, Felicia Iftene, Yulia Ignatenko, Matias Irarrazaval, Zaliha Ismail, Jamila Ismayilova, Asaf Jakobs, Miro Jakovljević, Nenad Jakšić, Afzal Javed, Helin Yilmaz Kafali, Sagar Karia, Olga Kazakova, Doaa Khalifa, Olena Khaustova, Steve Koh, Svetlana Kopishinskaia, Korneliia Kosenko, Sotirios A. Koupidis, Illes Kovacs, Barbara Kulig, Alisha Lalljee, Justine Liewig, Abdul Majid, Evgeniia Malashonkova, Khamelia Malik, Najma Iqbal Malik, Gulay Mammadzada, Bilvesh Mandalia, Donatella Marazziti, Darko Marčinko, Stephanie Martinez, Eimantas Matiekus, Gabriela Mejia, Roha Saeed Memon, Xarah Elenne Meza Martínez, Dalia Mickevičiūtė, Roumen Milev, Muftau Mohammed, Alejandro Molina-López, Petr Morozov, Nuru Suleiman Muhammad, Filip Mustač, Mika S. Naor, Amira Nassieb, Alvydas Navickas, Tarek Okasha, Milena Pandova, Anca-Livia Panfil, Liliya Panteleeva, Ion Papava, Mikaella E. Patsali, Alexey Pavlichenko, Bojana Pejuskovic, Mariana Pinto Da Costa, Mikhail Popkov, Dina Popovic, Nor Jannah Nasution Raduan, Francisca Vargas Ramírez, Elmars Rancans, Salmi Razali, Federico Rebok, Anna Rewekant, Elena Ninoska Reyes Flores, María Teresa Rivera-Encinas, Pilar Saiz, Manuel Sánchez de Carmona, David Saucedo Martínez, Jo Anne Saw, Görkem Saygili, Patricia Schneidereit, Bhumika Shah, Tomohiro Shirasaka, Ketevan Silagadze, Satti Sitanggang, Oleg Skugarevsky, Anna Spikina, Sridevi Sira Mahalingappa, Maria Stoyanova, Anna Szczegielniak, Simona Claudia Tamasan, Giuseppe Tavormina, Maurilio Giuseppe Maria Tavormina, Pavlos N. Theodorakis, Mauricio Tohen, Eva Maria Tsapakis, Dina Tukhvatullina, Irfan Ullah, Ratnaraj Vaidya, Johann M. Vega-Dienstmaier, Jelena Vrublevska, Olivera Vukovic, Olga Vysotska, Natalia Widiasih, Anna Yashikhina, Panagiotis E. Prezerakos, Daria Smirnova
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 29 / Issue 2 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 25 January 2024, pp. 126-149
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Background
The prevalence of medical illnesses is high among patients with psychiatric disorders. The current study aimed to investigate multi-comorbidity in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population. Secondary aims were to investigate factors associated with metabolic syndrome and treatment appropriateness of mental disorders.
MethodsThe sample included 54,826 subjects (64.73% females; 34.15% males; 1.11% nonbinary gender) from 40 countries (COMET-G study). The analysis was based on the registration of previous history that could serve as a fair approximation for the lifetime prevalence of various medical conditions.
ResultsAbout 24.5% reported a history of somatic and 26.14% of mental disorders. Mental disorders were by far the most prevalent group of medical conditions. Comorbidity of any somatic with any mental disorder was reported by 8.21%. One-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients were also suffering from a mental disorder depending on the severity and multicomorbidity. Bipolar and psychotic patients and to a lesser extent depressives, manifested an earlier (15–20 years) manifestation of somatic multicomorbidity, severe disability, and probably earlier death. The overwhelming majority of patients with mental disorders were not receiving treatment or were being treated in a way that was not recommended. Antipsychotics and antidepressants were not related to the development of metabolic syndrome.
ConclusionsThe finding that one-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients also suffered from a mental disorder strongly suggests that psychiatry is the field with the most trans-specialty and interdisciplinary value and application points to the importance of teaching psychiatry and mental health in medical schools and also to the need for more technocratically oriented training of psychiatric residents.
Self-perceived general health among community-dwelling Portuguese older adults: do men and women differ?
- Violeta Alarcão, Joana Costa, Teresa Madeira, Catarina Peixoto-Plácido, Elisabete Fernandes, Nuno Sousa-Santos, Osvaldo Santos, Paulo Jorge Nicola, Carla Lopes, João Gorjão-Clara
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- Journal:
- Ageing & Society / Volume 42 / Issue 1 / January 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 July 2020, pp. 223-245
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- January 2022
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Evidence on how gender intersects with relevant social constructs in later phases of life is scarce. This investigation examined gender inequalities in perceived health status (self-perceived general health; SPGH) by Portuguese elderly community-dwellers while considering psycho-social and socio-demographic determinants. This study used data from a representative sample of community-dwellers aged ≥65 years (N = 920), who were enrolled in the Portuguese Elderly Nutritional Status Surveillance System (PEN-3S) project. Associations between SPGH and socio-demographic and psycho-social variables, functionality and self-reported morbidity were tested; indirect effects of relevant predictors on SPGH were also tested using a bootstrap method. Gender inequalities in health were found: women significantly rated their health worse than men; overall, participants rated their health as fair. Education, functional status, depression symptoms and self-reported morbidity significantly predicted SPGH among women, whereas only the latter two were associated with SPGH among men. For both genders, depression was the strongest predictor of SPGH. Mediation analyses detected indirect effects of cognitive function and loneliness feelings on SPGH among older adults. Results herein provide insights on the predictive role of psycho-social variables on SPGH and support the need for considering the context when addressing the correlates of SPGH among Portuguese older adults. Altogether, these findings might support cost-effective interventions targeting the most vulnerable groups of the population to inequalities in health and its predictors.
Malnutrition and obesity in community-dwelling older adults: concomitant conditions? (PEN-3S study)
- Teresa Madeira, Catarina Peixoto-Plácido, Nuno Sousa-Santos, Nuno Mendonça, Osvaldo Santos, Violeta Alarcão, Paulo Jorge Nicola, Carla Lopes, João Gorjão Clara
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- Journal:
- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 79 / Issue OCE2 / 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 June 2020, E607
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Both malnutrition (which here refers to undernutrition) and obesity are prevalent in older adults, but they are frequently seen as mutually exclusive. In fact, a low body mass index (BMI) is one of the aetiological diagnostic criteria for malnutrition. On the contrary, the concomitant presence of malnutrition and obesity has been less studied. The aim of this study was to characterise the nutritional status of community-dwelling older adults (≥ 65 years old) living in Portugal. The study included a nationally representative sample of randomly selected community-dwelling older adults. Trained nutritionists collected data through face-to-face structured interviews regarding sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional status and anthropometric measures (namely, weight and height), among other variables of the PEN-3S study. Nutritional status was assessed by the 18-item Mini Nutritional Assessment (full MNA®), in which a lower score indicates worse nutritional status. The World Health Organisation's (WHO) BMI cut-offs for adults were followed (obesity: BMI ≥ 30Kg/m2). MNA and BMI categories estimates (95% CI) were obtained using Complex Samples analysis (SPSS® 24.0). Non-difference between sexes was analysed with Chi-square tests. Complete information was available for 1110 community-dwelling participants (mean age: 75.9 ± 8.1 years; 48.9% women; 71.4% attended school for < 5 years). According to the MNA, 0.5% (95%CI: 0.2–1.7) were classified as malnourished and 16.0% (12.9–19.7) were at risk of malnutrition. Following WHO's BMI criteria, 0.6% (0.2–1.5) had a BMI ≤ 18.5Kg/m2, 41.9% (37.9–46.0) had a BMI between 25–30Kg/m2, and 36.7% (32.8–40.9) presented a BMI ≥ 30Kg/m2. The prevalence of risk of malnutrition was significantly higher for women (20.1%, 95%CI: 15.4–25.9) than men (10.4%, 7.6–14.1; p < 0.001). The prevalence of obesity was also significantly higher for women (42.2%, 35.9–48.7 versus 29.3%, 24.8–34.2; p = 0.007). Moreover, 13.9% (9.2–20.4) were simultaneously at risk of malnutrition and had a BMI ≥ 30Kg/m2, while no one in this BMI category was classified as malnourished. Although appropriate BMI cut-offs for older adults are still uncertain, these results highlight that a high BMI does not exclude the risk of malnutrition, particularly in women. Therefore, health professionals should routinely screen for malnutrition using multi-component, validated screening tools, irrespective of the BMI. In fact, malnutrition is preventable if detected on time and effective interventions exist. The concomitant presence of malnutrition and obesity may pose additional challenges to the treatment.
Coutinho's Method for the Altitude
- António Costa Canas, Magda Ramires Marabujo, Teresa Sousa
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- The Journal of Navigation / Volume 73 / Issue 4 / July 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 11 December 2019, pp. 861-873
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- July 2020
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In the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic, by Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral in 1922, several methods of astronomical maritime navigation were used with adaptions to aerial navigation. In order to apply these methods, the navigator needed to know the approximate altitude of the aircraft so that its position could be determined. The instrument available at that time, the altimeter, did not give reliable values for altitude. Therefore, Coutinho had to devise a method that enabled the navigator to determine the altitude quickly and efficiently. The method Coutinho devised is based on a mathematical and geometrical procedure. In this paper, we study in detail Coutinho's method to determine altitude, with diagrams to aid understanding of the deductions and calculations. We also present a real example of how this method would be used during the flight.
Malnutrition among older adults living in Portuguese nursing homes: the PEN-3S study
- Teresa Madeira, Catarina Peixoto-Plácido, Nuno Sousa-Santos, Osvaldo Santos, Violeta Alarcão, Beatriz Goulão, Nuno Mendonça, Paulo Jorge Nicola, Agneta Yngve, Asta Bye, Astrid Bergland, Teresa F Amaral, Carla Lopes, João Gorjão Clara
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- Journal:
- Public Health Nutrition / Volume 22 / Issue 3 / March 2019
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 October 2018, pp. 486-497
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Objective
To characterise the nutritional status and to identify malnutrition-associated variables of older adults living in Portuguese nursing homes.
DesignCross-sectional study. Data on demographic and socio-economic characteristics, self-reported morbidity, eating-related problems, nutritional status, cognitive function, depression symptoms, loneliness feelings and functional status were collected by trained nutritionists through a computer-assisted face-to-face structured interview followed by standardised anthropometric measurements. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with being at risk of malnutrition/malnourished.
SettingPortuguese nursing homes.
SubjectsNationally representative sample of the Portuguese population aged 65 years or over living in nursing homes.
ResultsA total of 1186 individuals (mean age 83·4 years; 72·8 % women) accepted to participate. According to the Mini Nutritional Assessment, 4·8 (95 % CI 3·2, 7·3) % were identified as malnourished and 38·7 (95 % CI 33·5, 44·2) % were at risk of malnutrition. These percentages increased with age and were significantly higher for women. Logistic regression showed (OR; 95 % CI) that older adults reporting no or little appetite (6·5; 2·7, 15·3), those revealing symptoms of depression (2·6; 1·6, 4·2) and those who were more dependent in their daily living activities (4·7; 2·0, 11·1) were also at higher odds of being malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.
ConclusionsMalnutrition and risk of malnutrition are prevalent among nursing home residents in Portugal. It is crucial to routinely screen for nutritional disorders, as well as risk factors such as symptoms of depression and lower functional status, to prevent and treat malnutrition.
The role of physical variables in biodiversity patterns of intertidal macroalgae along European coasts
- Araceli Puente, Xabier Guinda, Jose A. Juanes, Elvira Ramos, Beatriz Echavarri-Erasun, Camino F. De La Hoz, Steven Degraer, Francis Kerckhof, Natalia Bojanić, Maria Rousou, Helen Orav-Kotta, Jonne Kotta, Jérôme Jourde, Maria Luiza Pedrotti, Jean-Charles Leclerc, Nathalie Simon, Guy Bachelet, Nicolas Lavesque, Christos Arvanitidis, Christina Pavloudi, Sarah Faulwetter, Tasman P. Crowe, Jennifer Coughlan, Lisandro Benedetti Cecchi, Martina Dal Bello, Paolo Magni, Serena Como, Stefania Coppa, Giuseppe Andrea De Lucia, Tomas Rugins, Emilia Jankowska, Jan Marcin Weslawski, Jan Warzocha, Teresa Silva, Pedro Ribeiro, Valentina De Matos, Isabel Sousa-Pinto, Jesús Troncoso, Ohad Peleg, Gil Rilov, Free Espinosa, Angel Pérez Ruzafa, Matt Frost, Herman Hummel, Pim Van Avesaath
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- Journal:
- Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom / Volume 97 / Issue 3 / May 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 December 2016, pp. 549-560
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In the frame of the COST ACTION ‘EMBOS’ (Development and implementation of a pan-European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System), coverage of intertidal macroalgae was estimated at a range of marine stations along the European coastline (Subarctic, Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean). Based on these data, we tested whether patterns in macroalgal diversity and distribution along European intertidal rocky shores could be explained by a set of meteo-oceanographic variables. The variables considered were salinity, sea surface temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, significant wave height and tidal range and were compiled from three different sources: remote sensing, reanalysis technique and in situ measurement. These variables were parameterized to represent average conditions (mean values), variability (standard deviation) and extreme events (minimum and maximum values). The results obtained in this study contribute to reinforce the EMBOS network approach and highlight the necessity of considering meteo-oceanographic variables in long-term assessments. The broad spatial distribution of pilot sites has allowed identification of latitudinal and longitudinal gradients manifested through species composition, diversity and dominance structure of intertidal macroalgae. These patterns follow a latitudinal gradient mainly explained by sea surface temperature, but also by photosynthetically active radiation, salinity and tidal range. Additionally, a longitudinal gradient was also detected and could be linked to wave height.
Consistent patterns of spatial variability between NE Atlantic and Mediterranean rocky shores
- Martina Dal Bello, Jean-Charles Leclerc, Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, Giuseppe Andrea De Lucia, Christos Arvanitidis, Pim Van Avesaath, Guy Bachelet, Natalia Bojanic, Serena Como, Stefania Coppa, Jennifer Coughlan, Tasman Crowe, Steven Degraer, Free Espinosa, Sarah Faulwetter, Matt Frost, Xabier Guinda, Emilia Jankowska, Jérôme Jourde, Jose Antonio Juanes De La Pena, Francis Kerckhof, Jonne Kotta, Nicolas Lavesque, Paolo Magni, Valentina De Matos, Helen Orav-Kotta, Christina Pavloudi, Maria Luiza Pedrotti, Ohad Peleg, Angel Pérez-Ruzafa, Araceli Puente, Pedro Ribeiro, Fabienne Rigaut-Jalabert, Gil Rilov, Maria Rousou, Marcos Rubal, Tomas Ruginis, Teresa Silva, Nathalie Simon, Isabel Sousa-Pinto, Jesús Troncoso, Jan Warzocha, Jan Marcin Weslawski, Herman Hummel
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- Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom / Volume 97 / Issue 3 / May 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 11 November 2016, pp. 539-547
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Examining how variability in population abundance and distribution is allotted among different spatial scales can inform of processes that are likely to generate that variability. Results of studies dealing with scale issues in marine benthic communities suggest that variability is concentrated at small spatial scales (from tens of centimetres to few metres) and that spatial patterns of variation are consistent across ecosystems characterized by contrasting physical and biotic conditions, but this has not been formally tested. Here we quantified the variability in the distribution of intertidal rocky shore communities at a range of spatial scales, from tens of centimetres to thousands of kilometres, both in the NE Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and tested whether the observed patterns differed between the two basins. We focused on canopy-forming macroalgae and associated understorey assemblages in the low intertidal, and on the distribution of Patella limpets at mid intertidal levels. Our results highlight that patterns of spatial variation, at each scale investigated, were consistent between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, suggesting that similar ecological processes operate in these regions. In contrast with former studies, variability in canopy cover, species richness and limpet abundance was equally distributed among spatial scales, possibly reflecting the fingerprint of multiple processes. Variability in community structure of low intertidal assemblages, instead, peaked at the largest scale, suggesting that oceanographic processes and climatic gradients may be important. We conclude that formal comparisons of variability across scales nested in contrasting systems are needed, before any generalization on patterns and processes can be made.
Essence of the patterns of cover and richness of intertidal hard bottom communities: a pan-European study
- Jonne Kotta, Helen Orav-Kotta, Holger Jänes, Herman Hummel, Christos Arvanitidis, Pim Van Avesaath, Guy Bachelet, Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, Natalia Bojanić, Serena Como, Stefania Coppa, Jennifer Coughlan, Tasman Crowe, Martina Dal Bello, Steven Degraer, Jose Antonio Juanes De La Pena, Valentina Kirienko Fernandes De Matos, Free Espinosa, Sarah Faulwetter, Matt Frost, Xabier Guinda, Emilia Jankowska, Jérôme Jourde, Francis Kerckhof, Nicolas Lavesque, Jean-Charles Leclerc, Paolo Magni, Christina Pavloudi, Maria Luiza Pedrotti, Ohad Peleg, Angel Pérez-Ruzafa, Araceli Puente, Pedro Ribeiro, Gil Rilov, Maria Rousou, Tomas Ruginis, Teresa Silva, Nathalie Simon, Isabel Sousa-Pinto, Jesús Troncoso, Jan Warzocha, Jan Marcin Weslawski
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- Journal:
- Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom / Volume 97 / Issue 3 / May 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 October 2016, pp. 525-538
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Coastal ecosystems are highly complex and driven by multiple environmental factors. To date we lack scientific evidence for the relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic drivers for the majority of marine habitats in order to adequately assess the role of different stressors across the European seas. Such relationship can be investigated by analysing the correlation between environmental variables and biotic patterns in multivariate space and taking into account non-linearities. Within the framework of the EMBOS (European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System) programme, hard bottom intertidal communities were sampled in a standardized way across European seas. Links between key natural and anthropogenic drivers and hard bottom communities were analysed using Boosted Regression Trees modelling. The study identified strong interregional variability and showed that patterns of hard bottom macroalgal and invertebrate communities were primarily a function of tidal regime, nutrient loading and water temperature (anomalies). The strength and shape of functional form relationships varied widely however among types of organisms (understorey algae composing mostly filamentous species, canopy-forming algae or sessile invertebrates) and aggregated community variables (cover or richness). Tidal regime significantly modulated the effect of nutrient load on the cover and richness of understorey algae and sessile invertebrates. In contrast, hydroclimate was more important for canopy algae and temperature anomalies and hydroclimate separately or interactively contributed to the observed patterns. The analyses also suggested that climate-induced shifts in weather patterns may result in the loss of algal richness and thereby in the loss of functional diversity in European hard bottom intertidal areas.
Geographic patterns of biodiversity in European coastal marine benthos
- Herman Hummel, Pim Van Avesaath, Sander Wijnhoven, Loran Kleine-Schaars, Steven Degraer, Francis Kerckhof, Natalia Bojanic, Sanda Skejic, Olja Vidjak, Maria Rousou, Helen Orav-Kotta, Jonne Kotta, Jérôme Jourde, Maria Luiza Pedrotti, Jean-Charles Leclerc, Nathalie Simon, Fabienne Rigaut-Jalabert, Guy Bachelet, Nicolas Lavesque, Christos Arvanitidis, Christina Pavloudi, Sarah Faulwetter, Tasman Crowe, Jennifer Coughlan, Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, Martina Dal Bello, Paolo Magni, Serena Como, Stefania Coppa, Anda Ikauniece, Tomas Ruginis, Emilia Jankowska, Jan Marcin Weslawski, Jan Warzocha, Sławomira Gromisz, Bartosz Witalis, Teresa Silva, Pedro Ribeiro, Valentina Kirienko Fernandes De Matos, Isabel Sousa-Pinto, Puri Veiga, Jesús Troncoso, Xabier Guinda, Jose Antonio Juanes De La Pena, Araceli Puente, Free Espinosa, Angel Pérez-Ruzafa, Matt Frost, Caroline Louise Mcneill, Ohad Peleg, Gil Rilov
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- Journal:
- Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom / Volume 97 / Issue 3 / May 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 September 2016, pp. 507-523
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Within the COST action EMBOS (European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System) the degree and variation of the diversity and densities of soft-bottom communities from the lower intertidal or the shallow subtidal was measured at 28 marine sites along the European coastline (Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean) using jointly agreed and harmonized protocols, tools and indicators. The hypothesis tested was that the diversity for all taxonomic groups would decrease with increasing latitude. The EMBOS system delivered accurate and comparable data on the diversity and densities of the soft sediment macrozoobenthic community over a large-scale gradient along the European coastline. In contrast to general biogeographic theory, species diversity showed no linear relationship with latitude, yet a bell-shaped relation was found. The diversity and densities of benthos were mostly positively correlated with environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, mud and organic matter content in sediment, or wave height, and related with location characteristics such as system type (lagoons, estuaries, open coast) or stratum (intertidal, subtidal). For some relationships, a maximum (e.g. temperature from 15–20°C; mud content of sediment around 40%) or bimodal curve (e.g. salinity) was found. In lagoons the densities were twice higher than in other locations, and at open coasts the diversity was much lower than in other locations. We conclude that latitudinal trends and regional differences in diversity and densities are strongly influenced by, i.e. merely the result of, particular sets and ranges of environmental factors and location characteristics specific to certain areas, such as the Baltic, with typical salinity clines (favouring insects) and the Mediterranean, with higher temperatures (favouring crustaceans). Therefore, eventual trends with latitude are primarily indirect and so can be overcome by local variation of environmental factors.
Oxidative stress and nitric oxide are increased in obese children and correlate with cardiometabolic risk and renal function
- Liane Correia-Costa, Teresa Sousa, Manuela Morato, Dina Cosme, Joana Afonso, José C. Areias, Franz Schaefer, António Guerra, Alberto C. Afonso, Ana Azevedo, António Albino-Teixeira
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- Journal:
- British Journal of Nutrition / Volume 116 / Issue 5 / 14 September 2016
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 August 2016, pp. 805-815
- Print publication:
- 14 September 2016
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Oxidative stress and nitric oxide (NO) appear to represent important links between obesity and cardiovascular, metabolic and/or renal disease. We investigated whether oxidative stress and NO production/metabolism are increased in overweight and obese prepubertal children and correlate with cardiometabolic risk and renal function. We performed a cross-sectional evaluation of 313 children aged 8–9 years. Anthropometrics, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV), insulin resistance (homoeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-IR)), inflammatory/metabolic biomarkers, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), plasma total antioxidant status (TAS), plasma and urinary isoprostanes (P-Isop, U-Isop), urinary hydrogen peroxide (U-H2O2), and plasma and urinary nitrates and nitrites (P-NOx, U-NOx) were compared among normal weight, overweight and obese groups, according to WHO BMI z-score reference. U-Isop were increased in the obese group, whereas U-NOx were increased in both overweight and obese children. U-Isop were positively correlated with U-H2O2, myeloperoxidase (MPO), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, HOMA-IR and TAG. TAS correlated negatively with U-Isop and MPO and positively with PWV. HOMA-IR and U-H2O2 were associated with higher U-Isop, independently of BMI and eGFR, and total cholesterol and U-H2O2 were associated with U-NOx, independently of BMI, eGFR values and P-NOx concentration. In overweight and obese children, eGFR decreased across P-NOx tertiles (median: 139·3 (25th, 75th percentile 128·0, 146·5), 128·0 (25th, 75th percentile 121·5, 140·4), 129·5 (25th, 75th percentile 119·4, 138·3), Pfor linear trend=0·003). We conclude that oxidant status and NO are increased in relation to fat accumulation and, even in young children, they translate into higher values of cardiometabolic risk markers and affect renal function.
Usual coffee intake in Brazil: results from the National Dietary Survey 2008–9
- Alessandra Gaspar Sousa, Teresa Helena Macedo da Costa
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- British Journal of Nutrition / Volume 113 / Issue 10 / 28 May 2015
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 April 2015, pp. 1615-1620
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- 28 May 2015
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Coffee is central to the economy of many developing countries, as well as to the world economy. However, despite the widespread consumption of coffee, there are very few available data showing the usual intake of this beverage. Surveying usual coffee intake is a way of monitoring one aspect of a population's usual dietary intake. Thus, the present study aimed to characterise the usual daily coffee intake in the Brazilian population. We used data from the National Dietary Survey collected in 2008–9 from a probabilistic sample of 34 003 Brazilians aged 10 years and older. The National Cancer Institute method was applied to obtain the usual intake based on two nonconsecutive food diaries, and descriptive statistical analyses were performed by age and sex for Brazil and its regions. The estimated average usual daily coffee intake of the Brazilian population was 163 (se 2·8) ml. The comparison by sex showed that males had a 12 % greater usual coffee intake than females. In addition, the highest intake was recorded among older males. Among the five regions surveyed, the North-East had the highest usual coffee intake (175 ml). The most common method of brewing coffee was filtered/instant coffee (71 %), and the main method of sweetening beverages was with sugar (87 %). In Brazil, the mean usual coffee intake corresponds to 163 ml, or 1·5 cups/d. Differences in usual coffee intake according to sex and age differed among the five Brazilian regions.
Assessment of nutrient and water intake among adolescents from sports federations in the Federal District, Brazil
- Eliene F. de Sousa, Teresa H. M. Da Costa, Julia A. D. Nogueira, Lúcio J. Vivaldi
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- Journal:
- British Journal of Nutrition / Volume 99 / Issue 6 / June 2008
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 June 2008, pp. 1275-1283
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- June 2008
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Adolescents aged 11–14 years (n 326), belonging to organized sports federations in the Federal District, Brazil were interviewed. Subjects (n 107) provided four non-consecutive days of food consumption and 219 subjects provided two non-consecutive days of intake. The objective was to assess their nutrient and water intake according to dietary reference intake values and their energy and macronutrient intake by sex and sports groups they were engaged in: endurance, strength-skill or mixed, according to the guidelines established by the American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM). Dietary data were corrected for intra-individual variation. Total energy expenditure was higher among endurance athletes (P < 0·001) following their higher training time (P < 0·001) when compared to adolescents engaged in strength-skill or mixed sports. Total energy intake was only significantly higher among endurance-engaged females (P = 0·05). Protein intake of males was above the guidelines established by the ACSM for all sports groups. All male sport groups fulfilled the intake levels of carbohydrate per kg body weight but only females engaged in endurance sports fulfilled carbohydrate guidelines. Intakes of micronutrients with low prevalence of adequate intake were: vitamins B1, E and folate, magnesium and phosphorus. Few adolescents ( < 5 %) presented adequate intake for calcium, fibre, drinking water and beverages. For micronutrients, prevalence of adequacies were lower for females than males, except for liquids and water. Nutrition guidance is needed to help adolescents fulfil specific guidelines of macronutrient intake for their sports and to improve their intake of micronutrients and water. Special attention should be given to female adolescent athletes.