Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behaviour among Panamanian Adults: Results from the National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA) 2019.

Physical inactivity (PI) has been described as an independent risk factor for a large number of major non-communicable diseases and is associated with an increased risk of premature death. Additionally, sedentary behaviour has been associated with increased overall mortality. We estimated the national prevalence of PI and sedentary behaviour using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2. Using unconditional logistic regressions, the possible risk factors for PI were assessed. Over half of the people included in this study (54.9%; 95% CI: 54.1-57.3%) were physically inactive, with the median time spent engaged in sedentary behaviour being 120 min per day. Statistically significant associations with PI were observed with regard to sex, living area, and alcohol consumption. PI prevalence in Panama was elevated and showed a sex difference (women: 64.7%, 95% CI: 63.7-66.7%; men: 43.4%, 95% CI: 41.5-47.5%). According to our analysis of three-domain-related physical activities, the main contribution to the total estimated energy expenditure of physical activity/week came from the transport domain, followed by the work/household domain, and the least significant contributor was consistently the domain of exercise- and sports-related physical activities.

Differences in Metacognitive Skills among Undergraduate Students in Education, Psychology, and Medicine / Diferencias en Habilidades Metacognitivas entre Estudiantes de Pregrado en Educación, Psicología y Medicina

Abstract Metacognitive skills such as when and why to apply strategies successfully given task demands (conditional knowledge) and those that assist in regulation like comprehension monitoring are essential for effective learning. However, the debate regarding whether metacognitive skills are domain general or domain specific continues to rage among scholars. Presumably, if metacognitive skills are domain specific, there should be significant differences between domains whereas if they are domain general, there should be no differences across domains. Thus, in the present study we examined the generality/specificity of metacognitive skills (knowledge of cognition: declarative, procedural, and conditional; regulation of cognition: planning, information management, debugging, comprehension monitoring, and evaluation) in a sample of Colombian university students (N = 507) studying education (n = 156), psychology (n = 166), and medicine (n = 185) employing the Spanish version of the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory. Results revealed that there were significant differences in all but two metacognitive skills (procedural knowledge and debugging) across domains, largely supporting the domain specific hypothesis, but also partially supporting the domain general view. Implications and recommendation of the findings for theory, research, and practice are discussed.

Resumen Entre las habilidades metacognitivas se encuentran la capacidad para saber cómo, cuándo y por qué aplicar estrategias de forma exitosa según las demandas de la tarea (conocimiento condicional) y aquellas otras capacidades que ayudan en la regulación cognitiva, como la supervisión en línea de la actividad de aprendizaje en curso, y la comprensión (monitoreo). Dichas habilidades se consideran esenciales para un aprendizaje efectivo. Sin embargo, el debate sobre si las habilidades metacognitivas son de dominio general o específico continúa siendo un tema de controversia entre los académicos. Presumiblemente, si estas habilidades son específicas de un dominio, debería haber diferencias significativas entre dominios, mientras que, si son de dominio general, estas diferencias no deberían de estar presentes. De acuerdo con lo anterior, en el presente estudio se examinó la generalidad/especificidad de las habilidades metacognitivas (conocimiento de la cognición: declarativo, procedimental y condicional; regulación de la cognición: planificación, gestión de la información, monitoreo, depuración y evaluación) en una muestra colombiana de estudiantes universitarios (N = 507) que, para el momento del estudio, se encontraban cursando un programa de pregrado en educación (n = 156), psicología (n = 166) y medicina (n = 185), mediante el uso de la versión en español del Inventario de Conocimiento Metacognitivo. Los resultados revelaron diferencias significativas en todas las habilidades metacognitivas evaluadas para las diferentes áreas de dominio, con excepción de dos habilidades metacognitivas: conocimiento procedimental y depuración, lo que respalda en gran medida la hipótesis específica del dominio, pero también apoya parcialmente la vista general del dominio. Se discuten las implicaciones y recomendaciones de los hallazgos para la teoría, la investigación y la práctica.

MedPath: A process-based modeling language for designing care pathways.

CONTEXT: Medical professionals and hospitals promote solutions like care pathways and Health Information Systems (HIS) to support medical conduct and improve the quality of medical care. PURPOSE: This study proposes MedPath: a Domain Specific Language (DSL) for modeling care pathways based on the paradigms of Model-Based Engineering (MBE) that can be integrated into software solutions. PROCEDURES: We have developed MedPath's abstract syntax with the Eclipse Modeling Framework by employing Ecore technology and concrete syntax with the Eclipse Sirius. FINDINGS: We have modeled over 85 care pathways that are in use in 45 hospitals in Brazil. MedPath-originated pathways have been used over 3.2 million times since October 2017. We conducted a survey among the professionals who used MedPath to evaluate user satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: We believe MedPath can translate any care pathway into an action flow with its current abstractions. MedPath makes care pathways more easily integrated into HIS and electronic patient records, as it enables programmatic modeling and generates consumable artifacts.

The Open Algorithm Based on Numbers (ABN) Method: An Effective Instructional Approach to Domain-Specific Precursors of Arithmetic Development.

This article presents the results of a comparative study regarding the impact and contribution of two instructional approaches to formal and informal mathematical reasoning with two groups of Spanish students, aged four and five. Data indicated that for both age groups, children under the ABN method [Open Algorithm Based on Numbers (ABN)] (n = 147) achieved better results than the group under the CBC approach (Closed Algorithms Based on Ciphers) (n = 82), which is the widespread approach in Spanish schools to teach formal and informal mathematical reasoning. Furthermore, the comparative analyses showed that the effect is higher in the group of students who received more instruction on skills considered domain-specific predictors of later arithmetic performance. Statistically significant differences were found in 9 of the 10 dimensions evaluated by TEMA-3 (p < 0.01), as well as on estimation tasks in the number-line for the 5-year-old-group. However, the 4-year-old group only presented significant results in calculation and concepts tasks about informal mathematical reasoning. We discuss that these differences arise by differential exposure to specific number-sense tasks, since the groups proved to be equivalent in terms of receptive vocabulary, processing speed, and working memory. The educational consequences of these results were also analyzed.

Generación de inferencias explicativas en la comprensión de textos expositivos: el rol de la memoria de trabajo y el conocimiento previo específico / Explanation-based inferences generation in expository texts comprehension: The role of working memory and specific prior knowledge

RESUMEN El propósito de este trabajo consistió en estudiar la relación entre la memoria de trabajo, el conocimiento previo y la generación de inferencias en la comprensión de textos. Con este propósito, 167 estudiantes universitarios completaron pruebas de memoria de trabajo y cuestionarios sobre su conocimiento acerca del cambio climático y de astronomía; luego de la lectura de dos textos expositivos referidos a ambos temas, completaron un cuestionario sobre inferencias. Los resultados del análisis de correlaciones y del análisis de senderos muestran que si bien la memoria de trabajo y el conocimiento previo específico de dominio tienen una relación con la generación de inferencias explicativas-repositivas, hay una relación de interacción de mediación entre estas variables que explica el rol de ellas sobre la generación de inferencias.

ABSTRACT The aim of this research is to study the relationship between working memory, previous knowledge, and explanation-based inferences in expository text reading. To this effect, 167 undergraduates completed three working memory tasks, and two climate change and astronomy questionnaires, after reading two expository texts on these subjects. The results of the correlations and paths analyses show that, while working memory and specific previous domain knowledge are related to the generation of explanatory and reinstatement inferences, there is a mediation interaction relationship between these variables that explains their role in the generation of inferences.

Uma abordagem para o desenvolvimento de aplicações no cuidado de saúde pervasivo através do uso de arquétipos / An approach to developing applications in the pervasive healthcare environmentthrough the use of archetypes

Objetivos: Este trabalho propoe uma abordagem para o desenvolvimento de aplicacoes no ambiente de Cuidado de Saude Pervasivo, atraves do uso de arquetipos. Materiais e Métodos: O Cuidado de Saude Pervasivo foca o uso de novas tecnologias, ferramentas e servicos, para ajudar os pacientes a ter um papel mais ativo no tratamento de suas condicoes. Ambientes de Cuidado de Saude Pervasivo exigem uma grande de troca de informacoes, e tecnologias especificas tem sido propostas para prover interoperabilidade entre os sistemas que compoem tais ambientes. No entanto, a complexidade dessas tecnologias faz com que seja dificil adota-las amplamente, bem como migrar Ambientes de Cuidado de Saude centralizados para Ambientes de Cuidado de Saude Pervasivo. Resultados: A abordagem foi demonstrada e avaliada em um experimento controlado realizado no departamento de cardiologia de um hospital localizado na cidade de Marilia (Sao Paulo, Brasil). Conclusão: Um aplicativo foi desenvolvido para avaliar a abordagem, e os resultados mostraram que a abordagem e adequada para facilitar o desenvolvimento de sistemas de cuidado de saude, oferecendo solucoes de abordagem genericas e poderosas.

Aims: This paper proposes an approach to develop applications in the Pervasive Healthcare environment, through the use of Archetypes. Materials and Methods: Pervasive Healthcare focuses on the use of new technologies, tools, and services, to help patients to play a more active role in the treatment of their conditions. Pervasive Healthcare environments demand a huge amount of information exchange, and specific technologies have been proposed to provide interoperability between the systems that comprise such environments. However, the complexity of these technologies makes it difficult to fully adopt them and to migrate Centered Healthcare Environments to Pervasive Healthcare Environments. Results: This approach was demonstrated and evaluated in a controlled experiment that we conducted in the cardiology department of a hospital located in the city of Marília (São Paulo, Brazil). Conclusion: An application was developed to evaluate this approach, and the results showed that the approach is suitable for facilitating the development of healthcare systems by offering generic and powerful approach capabilities.

Desenvolvimento de uma medida de risco: escala de propensão ao risco específico (Epre) / Development of a risk measure: specific risk-taking scale (Epre) / Desarrollo de una medida de riesgo: escala de la propensión al riesgo específico (Epre)

Este estudo teve o objetivo de construir e validar uma medida psicológica denominada de escala de propensão ao risco específico (Epre) para a população brasileira. Participaram do estudo 394 pessoas, sendo 158 adultos em conflito com a lei (n homens = 149; n mulheres = 9) que já haviam passado pela prisão (média idade = 34,23 anos; dp = 10,17), 122 estudantes universitários (n homens = 108; n mulheres = 14; m = 19,26; dp = 2,06) e 114 mulheres com idade superior a 40 anos e escolaridade a partir de ensino médio (m = 51,19; dp = 8,64). Os resultados de validação da medida apresentaram como produto um instrumento com estrutura de quatro dimensões (saúde/segurança, abuso de substâncias, investimento financeiro e risco nas relações sociais) com índices de confiabilidade satisfatórios para fins de pesquisa. Concluímos que a estrutura fatorial de propensão ao risco sugerida para o contexto brasileiro apresenta material relevante para diferenciações culturais e contextuais sobre o risco no país, entretanto há maior necessidade de consolidação do estudo desse construto em razão de sua complexidade conceitual.

This study aimed to construct and validate a psychological measure called the Specific Risk-Taking Scale (Epre) for the Brazilian population. The study included 394 people: 158 adults in conflict with the law (n men = 149; n women = 9) that had already been in prison (mean age = 34.23 years; sd = 10.17), 122 college students (n men = 108; n women = 14; m = 19.26; sd = 2.06) and 114 women above 40 years old and at least high school concluded (m = 51.19; sd = 8.64). The factor analysis procedures generated an instrument structured in four dimensions (health/safety, substance abuse, financial investment and risk in social relations) with satisfactory reliability indexes for research purposes. We concluded that the factor structure of risk-taking suggested here is a relevant material in the Brazilian context to study cultural and contextual differences on risk in this country. However this construct needs more studies to be consolidated because of its conceptual complexity.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar las evidencias sobre la validez factorial de la escala de la propensión al riesgo específico (Epre), dirigida a la población brasileña. Participaron 394 personas: 158 adultos en conflicto con la ley (n hombre = 149; n mujer = 9) que ya había estado en prisión (media edad = 34,23 años; de = 10,17), 122 jóvenes universitarios (n hombre = 108; n mujer = 14; m = 19,26; de = 2,06) y 114 mujeres, con una media de edad de 50,86 (de = 8,64) años y la escolarización de la escuela secundaria. Los resultados de validación indicaron un instrumento con la estructura de cuatro dimensiones (salud/seguridad, abuso de sustancias, inversión financiera, relaciones sociales), mostrando índices de fiabilidad satisfactorios para fines de investigación. Concluimos que la estructura factorial de la propensión al riesgo sugeridos para el contexto brasileño presenta el material pertinente a las diferencias culturales y contextuales sobre el riesgo en este país, aunque hay una mayor necesidad de consolidación en el estudio de esta construcción desde su complejidad conceptual.

Variación en estilos de experimentación y conocimiento específico / Variation in experimentation styles and domain-specific

Este estudio explora la relación entre estrategias de experimentación y conocimiento específico en una tarea de descubrimiento científico. Grupos de biólogos expertos, psicólogos experimentalistas y legos en biología y experimentación se enfrentaron a una tarea en ecología de poblaciones, que implicaba lograr, a través de la manipulación de parámetros, un equilibrio entre presas y predadores. Se analizaron las tasas de éxito en la tarea, la amplitud y profundidad de la búsqueda experimental y los estilos globales de experimentación. Los resultados indican que los estilos de experimentación están asociados al conocimiento previo de los participantes. Los legos realizaron una extensa búsqueda a través del espacio del problema, contrario a los participantes de alto conocimiento, quienes concentraron su proceso de investigación en un número reducido de parámetros.

task of scientific discovery. Groups of expert biologists, experimental psychologists, and lay people in both biology and experimentation were asked to solve a task on population ecology, which implied reaching an equilibrium between preys and predators through parameter manipulation. Success rates, depth and breath of search, and global styles of experimentation were analyzed. Results indicated that experimentation styles are associated with the participants’ prior knowledge. Novices engaged in an extensive search through the scope of the problem, whereas expert participants focused their research process on a limited number of parameters.