Self-efficacy and consistent condom use by people living with HIV and seroconcordant and serodiscordant sexual partners in the Ceará, Brazil.

The objectives were to assess the self-efficacy and consistent condom use by people living with HIV (PLHIV). A cross-sectional, comparative study was carried out in outpatient clinics in Ceará State, Brazil, with a sample of 190 PLHIV, 95 serodiscordant and 95 seroconcordant. Interviews were conducted using the Socio-Demographic, Clinical, Epidemiological and Vulnerability Form and the Condom Use Self-Efficacy Scale. Descriptive analysis, associations between variables, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were determined. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the sample, 43.1% consistently used condoms (50.5% serodiscordant and 35.7% seroconcordant). Serodiscordant PLHIV without guidance on HIV prevention (P = 0.027) and without access to testing (P = 0.002) had lower self-efficacy and 11.5 times more chances for inconsistent condom use (P = 0.006), while those satisfied with follow-up in health were less likely to use condoms inconsistently (P = 0.011). We conclude that there is low consistent use of condoms among PLHIV, which increases the risk of HIV transmission and the acquisition of other sexually transmitted infections. Consistent condom use was greater among serodiscordant individuals, although there was no difference in self-efficacy in condom use between the groups.

Sodium bicarbonate improved CrossFit® Benchmark Fran, but not subsequent 500 m rowing performance.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation on physical performance, neuromuscular and metabolic responses during CrossFit® exercise. Seventeen Advanced CrossFit®-trained athletes completed the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover protocol consisting of four visits, including two familiarization sessions and two experimental trials separated by a 7-day washout period. Participants supplemented 0.3 g/kg body mass (BM) of SB or placebo 120-min prior to performing the CrossFit® benchmark Fran followed by 500 m of rowing. SB improved time to complete Fran compared to PLA (291.2 ± 71.1 vs. 303.3 ± 77.8 s, p = 0.047), but not 500 m rowing (112.1 s ± 7.9 vs. 113.2 s ± 8.9 s, p = 0.26). No substantial side-effects were reported during the trials. This study showed that SB improved CrossFit® benchmark Fran performance, but not subsequent 500-m rowing. These data suggest that SB might be an interesting supplementation strategy for CrossFit® athletes.

Evaluation of general and sports nutritional knowledge of recreational athletes.

Background: Nutritional knowledge is one of the factors that can lead to adopting healthy eating habits and, consequently, favoring sports performance. Aim: The study aimed to assess the nutritional knowledge and its subsections general and sports nutritional knowledge of recreational athletes. Methods: A validated, translated, and adapted 35-item questionnaire was used to assess total (TNK), general-GNK (11 questions), and sports-SNK (24 questions) nutritional knowledge. The Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (ANSKQ) was provided online using Google Forms. Four hundred and nine recreational athletes (male: 173, female: 236, age = 32.4 ± 9.6 years) completed the questionnaire. Results: The mean TNK (50.7%) and GNK (62.7%) scores were classified as "average" and higher than SNK (45.2%), which was classified as "poor." Male participants had SNK and TNK scores higher than females, but not for GNK. The youngest participants (18-24 years) had TNK, SNK, and GNK scores higher than other age groups (p < 0.05). Participants who reported previous nutritional appointments with a nutritionist had higher TNK, SNK, and GNK scores than those without it (p < 0.05). Those with "advanced" formal nutrition education (university students, graduate, or postgraduate in Nutrition) scored higher than those of groups "none" and "intermediate," for TNK (advanced = 69.9%, intermediate = 52.9%, and none = 45.0%, p < 0.0001), GNK (advanced = 74.7%, intermediate = 63.8%, and none = 59.2%, p < 0.0001), and SNK, (advanced = 67.5%, intermediate = 48.0%, and none = 38.5%, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Results suggest a lack of nutritional knowledge in recreational athletes, mainly those without an appointment with a registered nutritionist and formal nutritional education.

Application of Data Mining Algorithms for Dementia in People with HIV/AIDS.

Dementia interferes with the individual's motor, behavioural, and intellectual functions, causing him to be unable to perform instrumental activities of daily living. This study is aimed at identifying the best performing algorithm and the most relevant characteristics to categorise individuals with HIV/AIDS at high risk of dementia from the application of data mining. Principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm was used and tested comparatively between the following machine learning algorithms: logistic regression, decision tree, neural network, KNN, and random forest. The database used for this study was built from the data collection of 270 individuals infected with HIV/AIDS and followed up at the outpatient clinic of a reference hospital for infectious and parasitic diseases in the State of Ceará, Brazil, from January to April 2019. Also, the performance of the algorithms was analysed for the 104 characteristics available in the database; then, with the reduction of dimensionality, there was an improvement in the quality of the machine learning algorithms and identified that during the tests, even losing about 30% of the variation. Besides, when considering only 23 characteristics, the precision of the algorithms was 86% in random forest, 56% logistic regression, 68% decision tree, 60% KNN, and 59% neural network. The random forest algorithm proved to be more effective than the others, obtaining 84% precision and 86% accuracy.

Physicochemical characteristics and fatty acids profile of olive oils from different varieties of olive tree in southern Minas Gerais - Brazil / Características físico-químicas e perfil de ácidos graxos de azeites obtidos de diferentes variedades de oliveiras introduzidas no Sul de Minas Gerais - Brasil

This work had as an objective, to analyze, both physically and chemically, five olive tree varieties  kept in the EPAMIG Germplasm Bank at the Experimental Farm, in the town of  Maria da Fé, MG. Physical characteristics of the fruits and seeds (weight, diameter and length) and some chemical characteritics of the oils extracted from five varieties (acidity, iodine, saponification, peroxide indices and the fatty acid profile) were evaluated. The Negroa variety presented an average percent of lipids (28.2%) significantly higher than the others (p 0.05). Out of the studied varieties,  both Negroa and JB1 showed the highest yield and acidity values and the saponification, iodine and peroxide indices were more consistent with the ANVISA norms (2005) and the Codex Alimentarius (2003). All the varieties grown at Maria da Fé presented oleic acid levels within those recommended by Codex alimentarius and significantly higher than the analyzed commercial extra virgin oleic acid level (p 0.05). The fatty acid profile found showed that all the varieties (JB1, Negroa, Ascolano 315, 0025 and 0004) have adequate values for the main groups of fatty acids, compared with the legislation. The results point out that the Negroa and JB1 varieties present better potential for use in olive oil production.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar, física e quimicamente, cinco variedades de oliveiras mantidas no banco de germoplasma pela EPAMIG, na Fazenda Experimental no município de Maria da Fé, MG. Foram avaliadas características físicas dos frutos e sementes (peso, diâmetro e comprimento) e algumas características químicas dos azeites extraídos de cinco variedades (índice de acidez, iodo, saponificação, peróxidos e perfil de ácidos graxos). A variedade Negroa apresentou percentual médio de lipideos (28,2%) significativamente maior que as demais (p 0,05). Dentre as variedades estudadas a Negroa e JB1 apresentaram maior produtividade e valores de acidez, índice de saponificação, iodo e peróxidos mais compatíveis com as normas da ANVISA (2005) e o Codex Alimentarius (2003). Todas as variedades cultivadas em Maria da Fé apresentaram conteúdos de ácido oléico dentro do recomendado pelo Codex alimentarius e significativamente maior que o teor de ácido oléico do azeite comercial extra virgem analisado (p 0,05). O perfil de ácidos graxos encontrado demonstrou que todas as variedades (JB1, Negroa, Ascolano 315, 0025 e 0004) estão com seus valores adequados para os principais grupos de ácidos graxos, quando comparados com a legislação. Os resultados indicam que das variedades analisadas a Negroa e JB1 apresentam melhor potencial para utilização na produção de azeite de oliva.