Switching to online: Testing the validity of supervised remote testing for online reinforcement learning experiments.

Online experiments are an alternative for researchers interested in conducting behavioral research outside the laboratory. However, an online assessment might become a challenge when long and complex experiments need to be conducted in a specific order or with supervision from a researcher. The aim of this study was to test the computational validity and the feasibility of a remote and synchronous reinforcement learning (RL) experiment conducted during the social-distancing measures imposed by the pandemic. An additional feature of this study was to describe how a behavioral experiment originally created to be conducted in-person was transformed into an online supervised remote experiment. Open-source software was used to collect data, conduct statistical analysis, and do computational modeling. Python codes were created to replicate computational models that simulate the effect of working memory (WM) load over RL performance. Our behavioral results indicated that we were able to replicate remotely and with a modified behavioral task the effects of working memory (WM) load over RL performance observed in previous studies with in-person assessments. Our computational analyses using Python code also captured the effects of WM load over RL as expected, which suggests that the algorithms and optimization methods were reliable in their ability to reproduce behavior. The behavioral and computational validation shown in this study and the detailed description of the supervised remote testing may be useful for researchers interested in conducting long and complex experiments online.

Padrões alimentares e nível de atividade física em adolescentes escolares / Dietary patterns and physical activity level in school adolescents / Patrones Alimentaris y Nivel de Actividade Física en Adolecentes Escolares

Estudo transversal e analítico que identificou estado nutricional, padrões alimentares e nível de atividade física em 276 adolescentes, com idade de 14 a 17 anos. O estado nutricional foi avaliado pelo Índice de Massa Corporal e a medida da Circunferência da Cintura. Para avaliar o consumo e as práticas alimentares, foi aplicado um questionário adaptado da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar, de 2009. O nível de atividade física foi classificado de acordo com o International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Encontravam-se eutróficos 89,9% desta população e 27,2% apresentavam risco para doenças cardiovasculares. Foram identificados quatro padrões alimentares: saudável; ultraprocessado; cafeteria; ambiente escolar. Pertenciam ao padrão saudável 62,5% dos adolescentes com excesso de massa corporal e 56,2% dos adolescentes com risco cardiovascular. A maioria encontrava-se no nível de atividade física, que oferece menor risco para doenças cardiovasculares, independente dos padrões alimentares. Contudo, dados fornecidos na construção dos padrões alimentares e de inatividade reforçam a percepção de que esta população pode estar suscetível a doenças cardiovasculares na idade adulta, se mantiver as práticas atuais.[AU]

This is a cross-sectional and analytical study that identified nutritional status, dietary patterns and physical activity level in 276 adolescents aged 14 to 17 years old. Nutritional status was assessed by Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference measurement. To assess consumption and eating habits, a questionnaire adapted from the 2009 National School-Based Student Health Survey was applied. Physical activity level was classified in accordance with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Eutrophic individuals accounted for 89% of this population, and 27.2% was at risk for cardiovascular diseases. Four dietary patterns were identified: healthy; ultra-processed; cafeteria; school environment. The healthy pattern comprehended 62.5% of healthy adolescents with excessive body mass and 56.2% of adolescents with cardiovascular risk. Most of them presented a physical activity level that poses lower risk for cardiovascular diseases, regardless of dietary patterns. However, data provided in the construction of dietary patterns and inactivity reinforce the perception that this population may be susceptible to cardiovascular disease in adulthood, if current practices are maintained. [AU]

Estudio transversal y analítico que identificó el estado nutricional, los patrones alimentarios y el nivel de actividad física en 276 adolescentes, con edad de 14 a 17 años. El estado nutricional fue evaluado por el Índice de Masa Corporal y la medida de la Circunferencia de la Cintura. Para evaluar el consumo y las prácticas alimentarias, fue aplicado un cuestionario adaptado de la Investigación Nacional de Salud del Escolar, de 2009. El nivel de actividad física fue clasificado de acuerdo con el International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Se encontraba eutrófico el 89,9% de esta población y el 27,2% presentaba riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares. Fueron identificados cuatro patrones alimentarios: saludable; ultraprocesado; cafetería; ambiente escolar. Pertenecía al patrón saludable el 62,5% de los adolescentes con exceso de masa corporal y el 56,2% de los adolescentes con riesgo cardiovascular. La mayoría se encontraba en el nivel de actividad física, que ofrece menor riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares, independiente de los patrones alimentarios. Sin embargo, datos proporcionados en la construcción de los patrones alimentarios y de inactividad refuerzan la percepción de que esta población puede estar susceptible a enfermedades cardiovasculares en la edad adulta caso se mantengan las prácticas actuales. [AU]