Topic Review
Wearable Devices for Stroke Prediction
Stroke ranks as one of the top first leading causes of death and disability worldwide, particularly for the most populous countries in Asia, Europe, and North America. The emerging wearable devices intended to monitor the physiological parameters, and the growth of machine learning applied to predict diseases, are promising solutions to prevent stroke and eventually predict stroke risk.
  • 6.7K
  • 30 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Nonparametric Limits of Agreement
The assessment of agreement in method comparison and observer variability analysis of quantitative measurements is usually done by the Bland-Altman Limits of Agreement, where the paired differences are implicitly assumed to follow a normal distribution. Whenever this assumption does not hold, the 2.5% and 97.5% percentiles are obtained by quantile estimation. In the literature, empirical quantiles have been used for this purpose. In this simulation study, we applied both sample, subsampling, and kernel quantile estimators as well as other methods for quantile estimation to sample sizes between 30 and 150 and different distributions of the paired differences. The performance of 15 estimators in generating prediction intervals was measured by their respective coverage probability for one newly generated observation. Our results indicated that sample quantile estimators based on one or two order statistics outperformed all the other estimators and can be used for deriving nonparametric Limits of Agreement. For sample sizes exceeding 80 observations, more advanced quantile estimators, such as the Harrell-Davis and estimators of Sfakianakis-Verginis type, which use all the observed differences, performed likewise well, but may be considered intuitively more appealing than simple sample quantile estimators that are based on only two observations per quantile.
  • 2.8K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
ICT Healthcare Solutions
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions facilitate the monitoring and management of older people’s health to improve quality of life and physical activity with a decline in caregivers’ burden.
  • 2.7K
  • 22 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Detection and Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19
Latest weeks the humanity is faced with the spread of a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 that causes a respiratory illness with high mortality rates, COVID-19. Since there is no approved treatment or vaccination against that specific coronavirus the reduce in virus spread is essential. That is based in the use of appropriate tools, enabling the accurate and early detection. Molecular biology and immunological techniques are widely used in order to predict the COVID-19 cases in a very short period of time. These are commonly based either in identification of the SARS-CoV-2’s genetic material or in detection of antibodies that have been produced by the immune system against the virus. Many of the above mentioned tests have been validated and approved by local authorities. However, there are much more companies that provide detection tests, without basic validation processes, contributing in non-precise data. The present review aim to analyze the most common platforms that are used in COVID-19 detection, analyzing their advantages and weaknesses. Therefore, each physician will be equipped with appropriate information required for each test.
  • 2.6K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Drone Brood
Drone brood homogenate (known as apilarnil or less apistimul) is a bee product obtained by the collection of drone (male honeybees)  larvae from drone cells of honey comb, from 3 to 11 days after hatching. Apilarnil, which may be defined as the male equivalent of royal jelly, is obtained from drone brood and then freeze-dried. Etymologically, the term originates from “api” for bee, “lar” for larvae, and “nil” as a shortened form of its discoverer’s name - Romanian apitherapist Nicholae Iliesiu. 
  • 2.2K
  • 17 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Compensatory Carry-Over Action Model (CCAM)
The Compensatory Carry-Over Action Model (CCAM) is innovative as most behavioral theories only model single activity. The CCAM, however, models different single activities—such as physical activity and nutrition —and how they change as a result of one another. Such lifestyle activities are assumed to be formed by higher-level goals, which can drive activity volitionally or unconsciously, and are rather unspecific. They become specific because of activities that are subjectively seen as leading to this goal. Each activity must be intended, pursued, and controlled. Specific resources ensure that individuals have the chance to translate their intentions into activity and that they resist distractors. Compensation and transfer (also called carry-over) operate between the different activities. If people devote all of their energy to one domain and believe that no resources remain for the other activity, compensation can help to attain goals. It is also possible that an individual successfully performs one activity, and existing or developing resources may be transferred to another activity.
  • 2.2K
  • 16 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Education of Midwives in Portugal and Spain
In Europe, midwives education, in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Declaration, are based on the pillars defined by Directive 2005/36/CE and by the Munich Declaration. In Portugal, the candidate applies on their own initiative to one of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that provide such training. At the end of the education, students will achieve the master title. In Spain, the candidate sits for a state exam, which is announced annually by each autonomous community, for admission to the specialization.
  • 1.9K
  • 24 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have more than one double bond between carbon atoms. Omega(ω) indicates the location of the first carbon double bond, counting from the" end "of the molecule (from the methyl group). Therefore, ω-3 fatty acids have a first double bond on the third last carbon. Those from the ω -6 family at the sixth carbon from the bottom. A of the ω -9 family at the ninth carbon atom from the terminal methyl group to the first C = C bond. The designations n – 3, n – 6, n – 9 are also used. The human body is unable to introduce the double bond further than at the ninth carbon.PUFAs can be synthesized in mammals and supplied with the diet, with the exception of α-linolenic (ALA) and linoleic (LA) acids, which must be systematically supplied with food. Therefore, they are referred to as Essential Unsaturated Fatty Acids or Exogenous Unsaturated Fatty Acids. LA and ALA acids are transformed into a family of unsaturated ω-3 and ω-6 acids as a result of elongation and desaturation processes. The following acids are obtained from ALA: stearidine (18: 4, ω – 3), eicosatetraenoic (20: 4, ω – 3), eicosapentaenoic (20: 5, ω – 3) and docosahexaenoic (22: 6, ω – 3). On the other hand, the family of ω-6 acids (LA) is formed, starting from gamma-linolenic acid (18: 3, ω-6), through dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (18: 3, ω-6), arachidonic acid (20: 4 ω – 6) and docosatetraenoic (22: 4 ω – 6), to docosapentaenoic acid (22: 5, ω – 6).In everyday diets, it is advisable to include sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which include vegetable oils (linseed oil, avocado, olive and rapeseed oil), fatty sea fish (herring, salmon, mackerel, halibut) and nuts. In the case of oils, attention should be paid whether they have too much ω-6 in relation to ω-3, because then the harmful pro-aggregating and pro-inflammatory effect may outweigh the anti-aggregation and anti-inflammatory effect. 
  • 1.7K
  • 15 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Whey Proteins
Whey proteins have implications in different fields related to human life quality. The aim of this overview was to present the basic chemistry of β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, and lactotransferrin - main proteins of bovine whey. 
  • 1.7K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Non-alcoholic Fraction of Beer
The present review focuses on the effects of non-alcoholic components of beer on abdominal fat, osteoporosis and body hydration in women, conditions selected for their relevance to health and aging. Although beer drinking is commonly believed to cause abdominal fat deposition, the available literature indicates this outcome is inconsistent in women. Additionally, the non-alcoholic beer fraction might improve bone health in postmenopausal women, and the effects of beer on body hydration, although still unconfirmed seem promising. Most of the health benefits of beer are due to its bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols, which are the most studied. As alcohol-free beer also contains these compounds, it may well offer a healthy alternative to beer consumers.
  • 1.6K
  • 01 Nov 2020
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