Viés da Escalada, Daemons de Otimização, e a Influência da Narrativa Social Aceleracionista / Hill-Climbing Bias, Optimization Daemons, and the Influence of Accelerated Social Narratives

O fenômeno de aceleração social, intimamente ligado a nossa modernização tecnológica e os sistemas políticos e sociais que adotamos, vem sendo alvo de questionamentos por parte da teoria crítica por diversos filósofos e sociólogos, principalmente em relação a se tal "aceleração" seja algo que, possa ser justificável pelo bem comum da sociedade. De fato, as rápidas mudanças que ocorreram no último século causaram uma tremenda mudança em nossos estilos-de-vida, e na maneira como experienciamos o mundo. Que a nossa sociedade mudou e continua a mudar é um fato evidente quando olhamos criticamente para o passado e presente, e comparamos diferentes épocas da história humana. Neste ensaio tentaremos explorar algumas possíveis hipóteses que fundamentem o comportamento aceleracionista em certos fatores e mecanismo biológicos que caracterizam os sistemas de motivação e saciação humanos. Também tentaremos mostrar como certos fenômenos sociais podem auxiliar em fortalecer este tipo de comportamento, e suas possíveis origens evolutivas. Este estudo tem como objetivo principal fundamentar a Tese Aceleracionista em evidências neurofisiológicas, cognitivo-comportamentais, evolutivas e sociais.

The phenomenon of social acceleration is closely linked to our technological modernization and the political and social systems we have adopted, and it has been questioned by several philosophers and sociologists, especially in relation to whether such acceleration is something that can be justified for the common good of society. In fact, the rapid changes that have occurred in the last century have caused a tremendous change in our lifestyles, and in the way we experience the world. That society have changed and continues to change is an evident fact when we look critically to the past and our present and compare different times in human history. In this essay we will try to explore some possible hypotheses that underpin accelerated behavior, in certain biological factors and mechanisms that characterize human motivation and satiation systems. We will also try to show how certain social phenomena can help to strengthen this type of behavior, and its possible evolutionary origins. The main objective of this study is to base the Accelerationist Thesis on neurophysiological, cognitive-behavioral, evolutionary and also social evidence.

Desarrollo y validación de escalas para medir el valor que las mujeres dan a la saciedad y a la alimentación: un factor crítico para el tratamiento de la obesidad / Development and validation of scales to measure women's eating and satiation values: a criti- cal factor in the treatment of obesity

La sobrevaloración de la alimentación y de la saciedad en familias que viven en un medio influenciado por la globalización y desarrollo de la industria alimentaria, puede estar teniendo un efecto sinérgico en el desarrollo de la obesidad y sus comorbilidades en países de ingreso medio. El objetivo de este trabajo fue desarrollar y validar escalas para medir el valor otorgado a la alimentación y la saciedad en mujeres. Se desarrolló un instrumento y se aplicó en querétaro, México (n=243), se midieron variables socioeconómicas y de percepción de peso corporal. Se realizó análisis factorial explorato- rio, confirmatorio y ANOVA. Las escalas del valor que las mujeres dan a la alimentación como base del bienestar, a la saciedad y a la alimentación como base del bienestar del hijo, se validaron (α-Cronbach>0.66) y se confirmaron (CFI>0.98;RMSEA<0.05). Los puntajes de valor de la alimentación y de la saciedad se asociaron con un menor nivel socioeconómico y educativo, inseguridad alimentaria en el pasado, menor intención de perder peso y con percepción bajo peso en los hijos. En conclusión, las es- calas para medir el valor de la alimentación y la saciedad tienen validez para ser utilizadas en futuros estudios; su utilización puede contribuir a desarrollar estrategias que consideren la verdadera motivación de la alimentación en los segmentos poblacionales más desfavorecidos(AU)

The overvaluation of eating and satiation in families whose environment has been influenced by globalization and the food industry, could be inducing obesity and its co-morbidities in midd- le income countries. The objective was to develop and validate scales to measure women's eating and satiation values. A measurement instrument was developed and ad- ministered to women from querétaro, Mexico (n=243), it also measured socioeconomic (SE) and body weight per- ception variables. Analyses included exploratory and con- firmatory factorial analyses and ANOVA. The scales that represented the value of feeding as basis of wealth, the va- lue of satiation and the value of feeding a child as the basis of the child's wealth, were validated (Cronbach-α>0.66) and confirmed (CFI >0.98; RMSEA<0.05).The scores were associated with a lower SE status, lower education level, childhood food insecurity, low intention to lose weight and with an underweighted child perception. In conclusion, the scales that measure the value of eating and satiation have the validity to be used in future studies; its utilization can contribute to develop strategies to improve eating behavior of underprivileged population segments, that take into consideration the real motives of eating(AU)

Effect of Pre-meal Water Consumption on Energy Intake and Satiety in Non-obese Young Adults

I determined whether water consumption reduces energy intake and affects satiety in non-obese young adults. The final subjects consisted of 15 individuals (8 women and 7 men) with average ages of 26.4 and 23.5 years for women and men, respectively. When subjects drank water before eating a test meal, they ate a lower amount of the test meal compared to eating test meals under waterless and postload water conditions (preload water: 123.3 g vs. waterless: 161.7 g or postload water: 163.3 g, p < 0.05). Water consumption after eating a test meal did not affect energy intake. When the subjects drank water before eating a test meal, despite consuming a lower amount, the subjects did not feel significantly less satiety than eating meals under waterless or postload water conditions. The finding that pre-meal water consumption led to a significant reduction in meal energy intake in young adults suggests that pre-meal water consumption may be an effective weight control strategy, although the mechanism of action is unknown.

Dietary Intervention Strategies to Reduce Energy Intake in Diabetes / 임상당뇨병

Weight loss is physiologically beneficial in treating type 2 diabetes. Losing weight occurs when the body has a negative energy balance. However, many people have trouble in restricting their caloric intake. Strategies such as changing portion sizes, energy density and meal frequency can be useful for weight loss. Further research is needed on controlling food intake in the obese/overweight because of the complexity of eating behaviors.

The Usefulness of Water-drinking Ultrasonography Combined Test for Evaluating Patients with Functional Dyspepsia / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The major causes of functional dyspepsia (FD) are motility dysfunction and visceral hypersensitivity. Despite the large number of diagnostic tests, there are no convenient methods for evaluation of gastric functions. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the relationship between the degree of dyspepsia and gastric accommodation, emptying, and sensitivity. METHODS: A total of 120 FD patients that met the Rome III criteria and 30 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. The mean cross-sectional area of the fornix was measured to investigate fundic accommodation and gastric emptying during and after water intake. During the test, abdominal symptoms were evaluated using the 4-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The water-drinking ultrasonography combined test revealed impairment of gastric accommodation in FD after 1,000 mL of water intake, delayed emptying after 5 min of water intake and statistically significant hyperesthesia after 400 mL of water intake in the FD group compared with healthy controls (p<0.05). Postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and overlap syndrome were independently associated with gut motor disturbances instead of epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that the water-drinking ultrasonography combined test could be used for diagnosis of gastric motor and sensory dysfunction, particularly in PDS and EPS-PDS patients. This test is easy, well tolerated by the patient and can be widely applied in clinical practice.

Crop damage of Eriotheca gracilipes (Bombacaceae) by the Blue-Fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva, Psittacidae), in the Brazilian Cerrado / Predação pré-dispersão de sementes de Eriotheca gracilipes (Bombacaceae), pelo Papagaio verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva, Psittacidae) no Cerrado brasileiro

Seed predation has major effects on the reproductive success of individuals, spatial patterns of populations, genetic variability, interspecific interactions and ultimately in the diversity of tree communities. At a Brazilian savanna, I evaluated the proportional crop loss of Eriotheca gracilipes due the Blue-Fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva) during a fruiting period. Also, I analyzed the relationship between proportional crop loss to Amazons and both fruit crop size and the distance from the nearest damaged conspecific. Trees produced from 1 to 109 fruits, so that Amazons foraged more often on trees bearing larger fruit crop size, while seldom visited less productive trees. Moreover, the relationship between fruit crop sizes and the number of depredated fruits was significant. However, when only damaged trees were assessed, I found a negative and significant relation between fruit crop size and proportional crop loss to Blue-Fronted Amazons. Taking into account this as a measure more directly related to the probability of seed survival, a negative density dependent effect emerged. Also, Amazons similarly damaged the fruit crops of either close or distant neighboring damaged trees. Hence, in spite of Blue-Fronted Amazons searched for E. gracilipes bearing large fruit crops, they were swamped due to the presence of more fruits than they could eat. Moderate seed predation by Blue-Fronted Amazons either at trees with large fruit crops or in areas where fruiting trees were aggregated implies in an enhanced probability of E. gracilipes seed survival and consequent regeneration success.

Avaliei durante um episódio de frutificação, no cerrado brasileiro, o impacto da predação de sementes, pelo Papagaio verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva), sobre as cargas de frutos da paineira do cerrado (Eriotheca gracilipes). Também, analisei as relações entre a taxa predação e tanto o tamanho das cargas de frutos, quanto à distância da E. gracilipes mais próxima predada. As ávores produziram de 1 a 109 frutos, sendo que os papagaios forragearam frequentemente em árvores com grandes cargas, enquanto raramente visitaram árvores com poucos frutos. Além disso, a relação entre tamanho da carga e número de frutos predados foi significativa. No entanto, a relação entre quantidade e proporção de frutos predados pelos Papagaios verdadeiros foi negativa e significativa. Considerando que a proporção de frutos predados é uma medida estreitamente relacionada às chances de sobrevivência das sementes, a predação pelos papagaios foi negativamente dependente da densidade. Apesar dos papagaios visitarem árvores com grandes cargas de frutos, foram saciados devido a presença de cargas superiores ao potencial de predação. Além disso, os papagaios danificaram igualmente as cargas de frutos tanto de árvores próximas quanto distantes entre si. O reduzido impacto pelos papagaios tanto sobre as grandes cargas de frutos quanto em áreas adensadas de E. gracilipes, implica em elevadas probabilidades de sobrevivência das sementes e respectiva chance de regeneração de E. gracilipes.

Short-Term Effects of Ratio of Energy Nutrients on Appetite-Related Hormones in Female College Students

Understanding the relationship between energy nutrients compositions in a diet and appetite-controlling substances is essential for providing sound advice to anyone attempting to control body weight. Appetite is known to be affected by various hormones, ghrelin and peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY), which are related to the compositions of a diet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of compositions of energy nutrients in the diet on the levels of postprandial appetite-related hormones and satiety in healthy adult women. Ten subjects (BMI: 18.5-22.9 kg/m2) were recruited and assigned to three iso-coloric breakfast meals with different compositions of energy nutrients, regular meal (RM, CHO: 60%, Pro: 20%, Fat: 20%), high protein meal (HPM, CHO: 30%, Pro: 50%, Fat: 20%), and high fat meal (HFM, CHO: 30%, Pro: 20%, Fat: 50%). Blood levels of ghrelin, PYY, insulin and leptin and satiety were assessed at baseline, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min following the consumption of each meal. There was no significant difference in the fasting blood hormones among the subjects taking each meals at baseline. Blood levels of ghrelin and insulin changed significantly following the consumption of each meal (p<0.05) over time, however no significant difference was shown between experimental meals until 180 min. Blood levels of PYY and leptin were not changed following the ingestion of each meals. In conclusion, the composition of energy nutrients in a diet had no effect on the postprandial plasma levels of ghrelin, PYY, insulin and leptin as well as satiety in healthy adult women.

Consideraciones sobre la inapetencia infantil y la adopción de hábitos alimentarios saludables / Considerations for the loss of appetite in children and the adaptation of healthyeating habits

Adoptar estilos saludables de alimentación requiere de un proceso de enseñanza que involucra los estímulos y el ejemplo que pueden generar los padres y demás cuidadores sobre los niños y de esta forma evitar el consumo inadecuado de alimentos y mejorar la aceptación de una gran variedad de productos alimenticios cuando son introducidos en la dieta infantil. Se concibe como una alternativa razonable para la adopción de una conducta alimentaria saludable empezar a educar y fomentar una alimentación adecuada desde la infancia, incluso, cuando aun el feto se encuentra en el vientre materno por medio de la alimentación de la madre. Las sensaciones de hambre y de saciedad están influenciadas por mecanismos fisiológicos mediados por hormonas y estructuras del sistema nervioso y como también por factores genéticos que influyen sobre la expresión de estos elementos moleculares implicados en la estimulación de las sensaciones. Además, los nutrientes y otros elementos de los alimentos, los comportamientos y actitudes de la familia y el entorno en el que se encuentra el individuo puedan llegar a determinar los patrones alimentarios de la población infantil. La conducta alimentaria es una condición que está influenciada por situaciones internas y eternas al individuo y algunos de ellos se pueden intervenir para lograr la adquisición de hábitos alimentarios saludables en la población infantil. En este sentido, la familia y especialmente las madres inciden de manera determinante en el comportamiento y consumo de alimentos en los niños. Para el presente artículo, se realizó una revisión no sistemática en medios electrónicos empelando principalmente la base de datos ISI Web of Knowledge.

Objetive: To adopt healthy eating styles requires a process of teaching which involves stimulus and the examples that might generate parents and other caregivers of children, and thus, prevent inadequate food consumption and improve the acceptance of a variety of food products when these are introduced into the infant diet. It is conceived as a reasonable alternative for the adoption of healthy eating behavior begin to educate and encourage adequate food since childhood, even when the fetus is still in the womb through the mother’s proper alimentation. The sensations of hunger and satiety are influenced by physiological mechanisms mediated by hormones and nervous system structures, as well as genetic factors that influence the expression of these molecular elements involved in the stimulation of the senses. In addition, nutrients and other food items, behaviors andattitudes of the family and the environment in which the individual is to be able to determine the eating patterns of children. Eating behavior is a condition that is influenced by internal and external situations the individual and some of them can manage to achieve the acquisition of healthy eating habits in children. In this sense, the family and especially mothers are the once to determine the influence on the behavior and food consumption in children. For this article, we conducted a systematic review is not primarilyemploying electronic database ISI Web ofKnowledge.

Seed predation by mammals in forest fragments in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Few studies have evaluated seed predation in fragmented landscapes, in which lower species diversity is expected to modifying ecological interactions. The rates of seed removal by mammals were investigated in a continuous forest and two fragmented patches of Premontane Tropical Moist Forest, in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The composition of mammalian seed-predators in each site was recorded during 16 months. The removal of four native tree species of experimental seeds: Ocotea valeriana and Ocotea whitei (Lauraceae), Panopsis costaricensis (Proteaceae) and Billia colombiana (Hippocastanaceae) in forest understories was followed during two annual fruiting seasons for each species. Results indicated similar species composition of seed-predators between continuous forest, the largest fragment (350 ha). However the smaller fragment (20 ha), had fewer seed predators. In this fragment, the specialized seed predator Heteromys desmarestianus (Rodentia) was more abundant. Unexpectedly, seed-predation in the two forest fragments and the continuous forest did not differ statistically for any of the seed species. Apparently, the higher abundance of small seed-predators in the fragments was compensated by the absence of medium and large seed-predators, like Agouti paca, Dasyprocta punctata (both Rodentia) and Pecari tajacu (Artiodactyla) recorded in continuous forest. Removal of experimentally-placed seeds was higher when the number of naturally occurring seeds in the sites was lower. This result could best be attributed to differential satiation of seed predators rather than differences in richness or abundance of seed predators. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (3): 865-877. Epub 2009 September 30.

Pocos estudios han evaluado la depredación de semillas en ambientes fragmentados, en éstos la menor diversidad de especies debe estar modificando las interacciones ecológicas. Se investigó la remoción de semillas por mamíferos en un bosque continuo y dos fragmentos en Monteverde, Costa Rica. Se registró la composición de mamíferos en cada sitio durante 16 meses y se observó la remoción de semillas experimentales del suelo del bosque. Se utilizó semillas de cuatro especies de árboles: Ocotea valeriana, Ocotea whitei, Panopsis costaricensis y Billia colombiana, durante dos periodos anuales de fructificación cada una. Los resultados indican una composición de depredadores de semillas similar entre el bosque continuo y el fragmento de 350 ha, más diversos que el fragmento de 20 ha, en el cual el especialista en semillas Heteromys desmarestianus fue más abundante. La depredación de semillas entre el bosque continuo y los fragmentos no fue estadísticamente diferente al considerar todas las especies de semillas, debido a la mayor abundancia de depredadores pequeños, que pudo compensar la ausencia de depredadores de talla mediana y grande que sí están presentes en el bosque continuo. La depredación sobre semillas fue mayor cuando la oferta de semillas no experimentales fue menor, indicando que la saciedad de los depredadores puede estar determinando la remoción de semillas en fragmentos, más que la riqueza o abundancia de especies depredadoras.

Reguladores neuroendocrinos y gastrointestinales del apetito y la saciedad / Neuroendocrine and gastrointestinal modulators of appetite and satiety

Los estímulos conocidos con capacidad para actuar a nivel del hipotálamo, disminuyendo el apetito y aumentando el gasto de energía, proceden del sistema gastrointestinal (proteína similar al glucagón, polipéptido pancreático, péptido YY, colecistoquinina y oxintomodulina); del sistema endocrino (insulina, adrenalina a través de sus efectos beta-adrenérgicos y estrógenos); del tejido adiposo (leptina, visfatina, omentina-1, etc.); del sistema nervio-so periférico (efectos beta- adrenérgicos de la noradrenalina); y del sistema nervioso central (CRH, melanocortina, proteína agouti, CART y MCH). Aquéllos con capacidad para actuar sobre el hipotálamo para aumentar el apetito y disminuir el gasto energético proceden del sistema gastrointestinal (ghrelina y factor liberador de hormona de crecimiento), y del sistema nervioso central (neuropéptido Y, orexinas y canabinoides). En el hipotálamo se integran las señales aferentes neurales y humorales para coordinar la ingesta (a través de sensación de hambre o de saciedad) y el gasto energético (aumentando o disminuyendo el metabolismo basal y la eficacia termogénica del tejido adiposo pardo) en respuesta a condiciones que modifican el balance energético del organismo. El núcleo arcuato contiene 2 tipos de sistemas celulares, uno constituido por aquellas que disminuyen el apetito o neuronas que contienen proopiomelanocortina, que actúa como precursor de la hormona estimulante de los melanocitos-α y agonista de los receptores para melanocortina 3 y 4, y otro en el que se estimula el consumo de alimentos y contiene neuronas ricas en neuropéptido Y, y en péptido relacionado con la proteína agouti, que aumenta la ingesta de alimentos.

The modulators that diminish appetite and increase metabolic calorie needs at hypothalamus level are synthesized in different tissues: gastrointestinal system (glucagons-like peptide-1, pancreatic polypeptide, peptide YY, cholecystokinin and oxynt-modulin), the endocrine system (insulin, beta effects of adrenalin, and estrogens), adipose tissue (leptin, visfatin and omentin-1), peripheral nervous system (noradrenaline beta effects) and central nervous system (corticotropin released hormone, melanocortin, agouti protein, cocacine-amphetamine-regulated transcript and MCH). Those factors increasing appetite and lower basal metabolism comes from gastrointestinal system (ghrelin and growth hormone release hormone from pancreas), and central nervous system (neuropeptide Y, orexins and cannabinoids). In the hypothalamus, the neural and neuroendocrine afferents are integrated with the purpose of regulate appetite (hunger or satiety signals), and metabolic needs (increasing or decreasing basal metabolism and brown adipose tissue thermoregulation efficacy) according to body energy balance. The arcuate nucleus contains 2 main cellular systems: one rich in proopiomelanocortin (precursor of alpha melanocytes stimulating hormone and agonist of melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors), which decreases appetite, and other rich in neuropeptide Y and agoutirelated peptide which increase appetite.

La ghrelina y su importancia con el eje gastrohipotalámico / Ghrelin and the gastro-hypothalamic axis

La obesidad se considera una de las enfermedades más importantes en la medida que acarrea gran morbilidad y mortalidad. El conocimiento de los mecanismos que intervienen en la saciedad, el peso corporal y el gasto de energía ha permitido el descubrimiento de hormonas relacionadas con el eje gastrohipotalámico, encargado de regular la saciedad y otros procesos que participan en la obesidad. La ghrelina, una hormona de secreción predominantemente gástrica, dio luz para comprender estos mecanismos, pues se trata de una hormona que regula la saciedad y el peso corporal por medio de mecanismos centrales mediados por el neuropéptido Y y la proteína relacionada con el agutí. En este artículo se revisan los aspectos fundamentales de esta hormona y de sus efectos en diversos órganos y sistemas.

Obesity is currently considered one of the most important diseases worldwide due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. The mechanisms involved in the control of satiation, body weight and energy expenditure has led to the discovery of new hormones that participate in the gastrichypothalamic axis in charge of regulating satiation and other obesity-related processes. Ghrelin a novel hormone secreted mainly by gastric tissue, has shed some light on this mechanism. It is a hormone that regulates satiation and body weight by centrally mediated mechanisms, involving neuropeptide Y and Agouti associated proteins. The present review focuses on some important physiological aspects of this hormone.