Using Kinect to classify Parkinson's disease stages related to severity of gait impairment.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease associated with motor problems such as gait impairment. Different systems based on 3D cameras, accelerometers or gyroscopes have been used in related works in order to study gait disturbances in PD. Kinect Ⓡ has also been used to build these kinds of systems, but contradictory results have been reported: some works conclude that Kinect does not provide an accurate method of measuring gait kinematics variables, but others, on the contrary, report good accuracy results. METHODS: In this work, we have built a Kinect-based system that can distinguish between different PD stages, and have performed a clinical study with 30 patients suffering from PD belonging to three groups: early PD patients without axial impairment, more evolved PD patients with higher gait impairment but without Freezing of Gait (FoG), and patients with advanced PD and FoG. Those patients were recorded by two Kinect devices when they were walking in a hospital corridor. The datasets obtained from the Kinect were preprocessed, 115 features identified, some methods were applied to select the relevant features (correlation based feature selection, information gain, and consistency subset evaluation), and different classification methods (decision trees, Bayesian networks, neural networks and K-nearest neighbours classifiers) were evaluated with the goal of finding the most accurate method for PD stage classification. RESULTS: The classifier that provided the best results is a particular case of a Bayesian Network classifier (similar to a Naïve Bayesian classifier) built from a set of 7 relevant features selected by the correlation-based on feature selection method. The accuracy obtained for that classifier using 10-fold cross validation is 93.40%. The relevant features are related to left shin angles, left humerus angles, frontal and lateral bents, left forearm angles and the number of steps during spin. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper, it is shown that using Kinect is adequate to build a inexpensive and comfortable system that classifies PD into three different stages related to FoG. Compared to the results of previous works, the obtained accuracy (93.40%) can be considered high. The relevant features for the classifier are: a) movement and position of the left arm, b) trunk position for slightly displaced walking sequences, and c) left shin angle, for straight walking sequences. However, we have obtained a better accuracy (96.23%) for a classifier that only uses features extracted from slightly displaced walking steps and spin walking steps. Finally, the obtained set of relevant features may lead to new rehabilitation therapies for PD patients with gait problems.

A Telerehabilitation System for the Selection, Evaluation and Remote Management of Therapies.

Telerehabilitation systems that support physical therapy sessions anywhere can help save healthcare costs while also improving the quality of life of the users that need rehabilitation. The main contribution of this paper is to present, as a whole, all the features supported by the innovative Kinect-based Telerehabilitation System (KiReS). In addition to the functionalities provided by current systems, it handles two new ones that could be incorporated into them, in order to give a step forward towards a new generation of telerehabilitation systems. The knowledge extraction functionality handles knowledge about the physical therapy record of patients and treatment protocols described in an ontology, named TrhOnt, to select the adequate exercises for the rehabilitation of patients. The teleimmersion functionality provides a convenient, effective and user-friendly experience when performing the telerehabilitation, through a two-way real-time multimedia communication. The ontology contains about 2300 classes and 100 properties, and the system allows a reliable transmission of Kinect video depth, audio and skeleton data, being able to adapt to various network conditions. Moreover, the system has been tested with patients who suffered from shoulder disorders or total hip replacement.

TrhOnt: building an ontology to assist rehabilitation processes.

BACKGROUND: One of the current research efforts in the area of biomedicine is the representation of knowledge in a structured way so that reasoning can be performed on it. More precisely, in the field of physiotherapy, information such as the physiotherapy record of a patient or treatment protocols for specific disorders must be adequately modeled, because they play a relevant role in the management of the evolutionary recovery process of a patient. In this scenario, we introduce TRHONT, an application ontology that can assist physiotherapists in the management of the patients' evolution via reasoning supported by semantic technology. METHODS: The ontology was developed following the NeOn Methodology. It integrates knowledge from ontological (e.g. FMA ontology) and non-ontological resources (e.g. a database of movements, exercises and treatment protocols) as well as additional physiotherapy-related knowledge. RESULTS: We demonstrate how the ontology fulfills the purpose of providing a reference model for the representation of the physiotherapy-related information that is needed for the whole physiotherapy treatment of patients, since they step for the first time into the physiotherapist's office, until they are discharged. More specifically, we present the results for each of the intended uses of the ontology listed in the document that specifies its requirements, and show how TRHONT can answer the competency questions defined within that document. Moreover, we detail the main steps of the process followed to build the TRHONT ontology in order to facilitate its reproducibility in a similar context. Finally, we show an evaluation of the ontology from different perspectives. CONCLUSIONS: TRHONT has achieved the purpose of allowing for a reasoning process that changes over time according to the patient's state and performance.

Contextual and psychological variables in a descriptive model of subjective well-being and school engagement / Variables contextuales y psicológicas en un modelo explicativo del bienestar subjetivo y la implicación escolar

Background/Objective: The objective of this ex post facto study is to analyze both the direct relationships between perceived social support, self-concept, resilience, subjective well-being and school engagement.Method: To achieve this, a battery of instruments was applied to 1,250 Compulsory Secondary Education students from the Basque Country (49% boys and 51% girls), aged between 12 and 15 years (M = 13.72,SD =1.09), randomly selected. We used a structural equation model to analyze the effects of perceived social support, self-concept and resilience on subjective well-being and school engagement. Results: The results provide evidence for the influence of the support of family, peer support and teacher support on self-concept. In addition, self-concept is shown as a mediating variable associated with resilience, subjective well-being and school engagement. Conclusions: We discuss the results in the context of positive psychology and their practical implications in the school context (AU)

Antecedentes/Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio ex post facto es analizar las relaciones entre apoyo social percibido, autoconcepto, resiliencia, bienestar subjetivo e implicación escolar. Método: Se aplicó una batería de instrumentos a 1.250 estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria del País Vasco (49% chicos y 51% chicas), de entre 12 y 15 años (M = 13,72, DT =1,09), seleccionados aleatoriamente. Se sometió a prueba un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales para analizar los efectos del apoyo social percibido, el autoconcepto y la resiliencia sobre el bienestar subjetivo y la implicación escolar. Resultados: Los resultados aportan evidencias a favor de la influencia que ejercen el apoyo de la familia, el apoyo de los iguales y el apoyo del profesorado sobre el autoconcepto, que a su vez se muestra como variable mediadora asociada a la resiliencia, el bienestar subjetivo y la implicación escolar. Conclusiones: Se discuten los resultados obtenidos en el marco de la psicología positiva y sus implicaciones prácticas en el contexto escolar (AU)

The structure of the Social Self-Concept (SSC) Questionnaire / La estructura del Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Social (AUSO)

This study aims to analyze the factorial structure of the newly-created Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Social - AUSO (from here on the Social Self-concept Questionnaire, or AUSO), which consists of two scales measuring social responsibility and social competence. The theoretical proposal which posits that social self-concept is the result of the combination of two basic self-perceptions: competence in social relations and response to the demands of social functioning, is based on a review of human social development theories and previous attempts to measure social self-concept. Participants were 818 students aged between 17 and 52. The results obtained though confirmatory factor analyses support the hypothesis of a structure made up of two correlated factors. In addition to providing a new measurement instrument with appropriate psychometric characteristics and valid criteria that justify its use in both applied practice and research, this study also enhances our understanding of the internal nature of the social domain of self-concept

Este estudio tiene por objeto analizar la estructura factorial del Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Social (AUSO), de nueva creación, compuesto por las escalas de responsabilidad social y de competencia social. De la revisión tanto de las teorías del desarrollo social humano como de anteriores intentos de medida del autoconcepto social nació la propuesta teórica de que el autoconcepto social resulta de la conjunción de dos autopercepciones básicas: la competencia en las relaciones sociales y la respuesta a las exigencias del funcionamiento social. Participaron en la investigación 818 estudiantes con edades comprendidas entre 17 y 52 años. Los resultados obtenidos, mediante análisis factoriales confirmatorios, refrendan la estructura hipotetizada de dos factores correlacionados. Este trabajo, además de aportar un nuevo instrumento de medida con características psicométricas adecuadas y criterios válidos que justifican su uso tanto en la práctica aplicada como en el ámbito de la investigación, ayuda a comprender mejor la naturaleza interna del dominio social del autoconcepto

Contextual and psychological variables in a descriptive model of subjective well-being and school engagement.

Background/Objective: The objective of this ex post facto study is to analyze both the direct relationships between perceived social support, self-concept, resilience, subjective well-being and school engagement. Method: To achieve this, a battery of instruments was applied to 1,250 Compulsory Secondary Education students from the Basque Country (49% boys and 51% girls), aged between 12 and 15 years (M = 13.72, SD =1.09), randomly selected. We used a structural equation model to analyze the effects of perceived social support, self-concept and resilience on subjective well-being and school engagement. Results: The results provide evidence for the influence of the support of family, peer support and teacher support on self-concept. In addition, self-concept is shown as a mediating variable associated with resilience, subjective well-being and school engagement. Conclusions: We discuss the results in the context of positive psychology and their practical implications in the school context.

Antecedentes/Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio ex post facto es analizar las relaciones entre apoyo social percibido, autoconcepto, resiliencia, bienestar subjetivo e implicación escolar. Método: Se aplicó una batería de instrumentos a 1.250 estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria del País Vasco (49% chicos y 51% chicas), de entre 12 y 15 años (M = 13,72, DT =1,09), seleccionados aleatoriamente. Se sometió a prueba un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales para analizar los efectos del apoyo social percibido, el autoconcepto y la resiliencia sobre el bienestar subjetivo y la implicación escolar. Resultados: Los resultados aportan evidencias a favor de la influencia que ejercen el apoyo de la familia, el apoyo de los iguales y el apoyo del profesorado sobre el autoconcepto, que a su vez se muestra como variable mediadora asociada a la resiliencia, el bienestar subjetivo y la implicación escolar. Conclusiones: Se discuten los resultados obtenidos en el marco de la psicología positiva y sus implicaciones prácticas en el contexto escolar.

Validation of a Kinect-based telerehabilitation system with total hip replacement patients.

The evolving telecommunications industry combined with medical information technology has been proposed as a solution to reduce health care cost and provide remote medical services. This paper aims to validate and show the feasibility and user acceptance of using a telerehabilitation system called Kinect Rehabilitation System (KiReS) in a real scenario, with patients attending repeated rehabilitation sessions after they had a Total Hip Replacement (THR). We present the main features of KiReS, how it was set up in the considered scenario and the experimental results obtained in relation to two different perspectives: patients' subjective perceptions (gathered through questionnaires) and the accuracy of the performed exercises (by analysing the data captured using KiReS). We made a full deployment of KiReS, defining step by step all the elements of a therapy: postures, movements, exercises and the therapy itself. Seven patients participated in this trial in a total of 19 sessions, and the system recorded 3865 exercise executions. The group showed general support for telerehabilitation and the possibilities that systems such as KiReS bring to physiotherapy treatment.

Propiedades psicométricas de una versión abreviada del Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Físico (CAF) / Psychometric properties of a shortened version of the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire (PSQ-S)

Introducción. Está ampliamente aceptado el modelo tetradimensional del autoconcepto físico que diferencia las autopercepciones físicas de habilidad, condición, atractivo y fuerza. En las dos últimas décadas es mucho lo investigado sobre el autoconcepto físico y sobre sus relaciones con el bienestar/malestar psicológico, la ansiedad o los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria. Objetivo. Validar una versión abreviada del Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Físico (CAF) y verificar su capacidad de discriminación entre personas con distintos grados de TCA. Método. Se analizan las respuestas al CAF-Abreviado (CAF-A) de 1478 sujetos entre 13 y 21 años de edad para comprobar índices de fiabilidad y validez. Por otra parte, se relacionan las respuestas a este cuestionario con las dadas al EDI-2 por 96 mujeres entre 14 y 23 años con diagnóstico TCA versus otras 96 sin TCA. Resultados. Los resultados indican una fiabilidad del cuestionario de 0.93 y confirman la estructura tetrafactorial del autoconcepto físico. Es más alto el autoconcepto físico de quienes no tienen diagnóstico clínico de TCA. Conclusiones. El CAF-A se muestra como una herramienta sencilla, adecuada y fiable para usarla como cribado en la detección tanto en entorno educativo como clínico. Proporciona además una medida suficiente del autoconcepto físico con fines de investigación

Introduction. The four-dimensional model of physical self-concept which differentiates the physical selfperceptions of ability, condition, attractiveness and strength is widely accepted. In the last two decades much research has been done on the physical self-concept and its relations with the psychological well-being/distress, anxiety disorders or Eating Behavior Disorders (EBD). Objective. To validate a shortened version of the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire (PSQ-S) and verify its ability to discriminate between people with different levels of EBD. Method. Responses of 1478 subjects between 13 and 21 years old to the shortened version of the PSQ were analyzed in order to check indexes of reliability and validity. Furthermore, the scores of 96 women aged 14 to 23 years old diagnosed of EBD were compared to 96 others without clinical diagnosis. Results. The results indicate a reliability of 0.93 and confirm the tetrafactorial structure of the physical self concept. The highest physical self-concept is that of those without a clinical diagnosis of EBD. Conclusions. The Shortened-PSQ is a simple, reliable and suitable screening tool both for educational and clinical settings. It also provides a sufficient measure of physical self-concept for research purposes

Psychometric properties of a shortened version of the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire (PSQ-S).

INTRODUCTION: The four-dimensional model of physical self-concept which differentiates the physical self-perceptions of ability, condition, attractiveness and strength is widely accepted. In the last two decades much research has been done on the physical self-concept and its relations with the psychological well-being/distress, anxiety disorders or Eating Behavior Disorders (EBD). OBJECTIVE: To validate a shortened version of the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire (PSQ-S) and verify its ability to discriminate between people with different levels of EBD. METHOD: Responses of 1478 subjects between 13 and 21 years old to the shortened version of the PSQ were analyzed in order to check indexes of reliability and validity. Furthermore, the scores of 96 women aged 14 to 23 years old diagnosed of EBD were compared to 96 others without clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: The results indicate a reliability of 0.93 and confirm the tetrafactorial structure of the physical selfconcept. The highest physical self-concept is that of those without a clinical diagnosis of EBD. CONCLUSIONS: The Shortened-PSQ is a simple, reliable and suitable screening tool both for educational and clinical settings. It also provides a sufficient measure of physical self-concept for research purposes.

El autoconcepto físico como determinante de la actividad físico-deportiva durante la adolescencia / The physical self-concept as a determinant of physical activity during adolescence

El presente estudio analiza el papel del autoconcepto físico como determinante de la actividad físico-deportiva durante la adolescencia temprana y tardía. Participan en el mismo 704 adolescentes, 394 (55,96 %) hombres y 310 (44,04 %) mujeres, entre 10 y 19 años (M= 14,91; DT= 2,13). La medición del autoconcepto físico se realizó mediante el “Cuestionario de autoconcepto físico” (CAF) y la evaluación de la actividad físico-deportiva se realizó por medio de un breve cuestionario creado ad hoc. Los resultados muestran a las autopercepciones de condición física y de fuerza física como determinantes positivos de la actividad físico-deportiva de los hombres y de las mujeres y al atractivo físico como determinante negativo de la actividad físico-deportiva de las mujeres en la adolescencia temprana. En la adolescencia tardía, únicamente la condición física, en el caso de los hombres, aparece como determinante positivo. Asimismo, en ambas etapas, aparecen diferencias estadísticamente significativas tanto en el nivel de actividad física, como en las autopercepciones físicas a favor de los varones

The present study analyzes the role of the physical self-concept as a determinant of physical activity during the early and the late adolescence. The participants were 704 teenagers, 394 (55.96%) male and 310 (44.04%) female, between 10 and 19 years old (M= 14.91, SD= 2.13). The measurement of the physical self-concept was realized by means of the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire; and the evaluation of the physical-activity was carried out through a brief questionnaire created ad hoc. The results show that the self-perceptions of physical condition and physical strength are positive determinants of the physical activity of male and female, and the physical attractiveness is a negative determinant of the physical activity of female in early adolescence. In late adolescence, in the male sample only the physical condition appears as a positive determinant. Likewise, in both stages, statistically significant differences were found in the level of physical activity, as well as in the physical self-perceptions in favor of the males

El autoconcepto físico de jóvenes futbolistas de alto rendimiento / O autoconceito físico de jovens jogadores de futebol de alto rendimento / High-performance football young player's physical self-concept

Este estudio tiene por objeto precisar diferencias en el autoconcepto físico entre futbolistas jóvenes, noveles y veteranos, de alto rendimiento y estudiantes de su misma edad. Participan en el estudio 216 personas (114 futbolistas de alto rendimiento y 112 estudiantes que no tienen la condición de ser futbolistas de élite) de entre 14 y 23 años; los futbolistas, se dividen, a su vez, en 59 noveles (de 14 a 17 años) y 55 veteranos (de 18 a 23 años). Para la medición del autoconcepto se utilizó el Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Físico (CAF), de Goñi, Ruiz de Azúa y Rodríguez (2006). Los resultados ponen de manifiesto que el grupo de futbolistas de élite obtiene puntuaciones más altas, estadísticamente significativas, que el grupo de no-futbolistas en las autopercepciones de habilidad, condición, atractivo y fuerza así como en el autoconcepto físico general pero no en el autoconcepto general; no se verifican, sin embargo, diferencias entre futbolistas de élite noveles y veteranos (AU)

This study is intended to clarify differences in physical self-concept among high-performance football young players and students of the same age. Participating in the study 216 people (114 players, high-performance 112 students who have no status as elite players,) between 14 and 23 years; the players are divided, in turn, 59 junior and 55 senior, corresponding to the 14 age group to 17 and 18 to 23 years. For the measurement of self-concept questionnaire was used physical self (CAF), Goñi, Ruiz de Azua and Rodriguez (2006), composed of the following scales: physical ability, physical condition, physical attractiveness, physical strength and general physical self-concept as general self-concept. The results show that the group of elite players gets higher scores, statistically significant, than the group of non-elite players in five of the six dimensions of physical self-concept: skill, fitness, attractiveness, strength and self general physical self-concept but not in general, however, there are not differences between elite novel players and elite veteran players (AU)

Este estudo tem o objetivo de marcar as diferenças no autoconceito físico entre jovens jogadores, novatos e veteranos, de alto rendimento e estudantes de uma mesma idade. Participaram nesse estudo 216 pessoas (114 jogadores de futebol de alto rendimento e 112 estudantes que no eram jogadores de futebol de elite) entre 14 e 3 anos de idade; os jogadores de futebol se dividiam em 59 novatos (14 a 17 anos) e 55 veteranos (18 a 23 anos). Para medir o autoconceito foi utilizado o Questionário de Autoconceito Físico (CAF), Goñi, Ruiz de Azua y Rodriguez (2006). Os resultados manifestam que o grupo de jogadores de futebol de elite obtém pontuações mais altas estatisticamente significativas que o grupo de não jogadores de futebol nas autopercepções de habilidade, condição, atrativo e força, assim como no autoconceito físico geral, mas no autoconceito geral não foram encontradas diferenças entre jogadores de futebol de elite, novatos e veteranos (AU)

Efficacy of a cognitive program for improving the physical self-concept of university students.

The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a 6-wk. educational program designed to improve physical self-concept, which was carried out in the classrooms of a university physical activity and sports faculty. The experimental group comprised 45 students (M age = 18.8 yr., SD = 1.5) and a control group (N = 41; M age = 21.7 yr., SD = 1.2). The Autokontzeptu Fisikoaren Itaunketa/Physical Self-concept Questionnaire (AFI) was administered pre- and post-intervention, with a statistically significant increase being observed in the post-test scores of the experimental group on the General physical self-concept scale, as well as on the Condition, Attractiveness, and Strength scales. No statistically significant changes were observed in the control group.

Actividad física y autoconcepto, físico y general, a lo largo de la edad adulta / Physical activity and physical and general self-concept during adulthood

Este estudio tiene por objetivo precisar las diferencias, asociadas con tres momentos de la edad adulta, en el autoconcepto y en las autopercepciones físicas así como la relación de dichas diferencias con el sexo y la actividad física. Participaron en el estudio 912 personas (350 hombres; 560 mujeres) de entre 23 y 64 años (M = 45.41; DE = 13.41) divididas en tres tramos de edad (23 a 34; 35 a 49; 50 a 64 años). Los participantes se autoclasificaron como personas activas o no activas. Para la medición del autoconcepto se utilizó el Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Físico (CAF) compuesto por las siguientes escalas: habilidad física, condición física, atractivo físico, fuerza física, autoconcepto físico general así como autoconcepto general. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto que: a. varias de las dimensiones del autoconcepto disminuyen a medida que aumenta la edad de cada uno de los tres grupos estudiados; b. el descenso es menor en la mujeres que en los hombres; c. la percepción subjetiva de ser una persona activa se asocia positivamente con el autoconcepto físico; d. el descenso de autoconcepto asociado con la edad afecta en menor medida a las personas activas. Estos datos aportan nueva información a la investigación y pautas para la educación personal y física de las personas adultas (AU)

The purpose of this study consists in determining differences in self-concept and physical self-perceptions, as well as the relationship between these differences and physical activity and gender at three times during adulthood. A total number of 912 people (350 men, 560 women) between the ages of 23 and 64 (M = 45.41; SD = 13.41) participated in the study. The sample group was divided into three age ranges: 23-34; 35-49; and 50-64. The participants classified themselves as either active or non-active. Self-concept was measured by the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire (CAF) made up of the following scales: physical ability, physical condition, physical attractiveness, physical strength, general physical self-concept and general self-concept. The results reveal that: a. various dimensions of self-concept decreased as age increased in all three groups studied; b. This decrease is less pronounced in females than in males; c. a subjective perception of oneself as an active person is positively associated with physical self-concept; d. the decrease in self-concept associated with age affects active people less than their non-active counterparts. These data provide new information for both research and the personal and physical education of adults (AU)

La Tensión arterial sistémica y el autoconcepto físico en la adolescencia / Systemic blood pressure and the physical self in adolescence

La hipertensión arterial sistémica aparece a veces desde la adolescencia. La tensión arterial mantiene relación con parámetros físico-fisiológicos tales como el componente genético, el sexo y la composición corporal así como con ciertos estilos de vida; pero queda por precisar si tiene también que ver con determinados rasgos psicológicos. Este estudio tiene por objetivo identificar relaciones entre la tensión arterial y el autoconcepto físico, en cuanto indicador de bienestar psicológico. Participan en el estudio 153 adolescentes quienes cumplimentaron el Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Físico (CAF) y a quienes se les tomaron medidas mediante un tensiómetro electrónico. Los resultados muestran que la tensión arterial sistólica correlaciona con las escalas que miden la autopercepción de la condición física, con el autoconcepto físico general pero especialmente con la autopercepción de la fuerza y de la habilidad física. La tensión arterial diastólica, en cambio, sólo se relaciona con la percepción de la condición física mientras que la pre-hipertensión arterial correlaciona con la escala de fuerza percibida (AU)

Sometimes in the adolescence appears the systemic hypertension. The bloods pressure (BP) is associated with genetic, gender, body composition and lifestyle. Although the BP is associated with physical and physiological parameters, there is some evidence that relate the hypertension with psychological features. The aim of this study is to identify relationship between hypertension and physical self-concept as an indicator of psychological wellbeing. The participated in this study a total number of 153 teenagers who fulfilled Physical Self-concept Questionnaire (CAF). The blood pressure was measured by an electric tensiometer. The results show that systolic blood pressure (SBP) is associated with physical ability, physical condition, physical self-concept and especially with strength scale. The diastolic blood pressure (DBP) only correlates with the physical condition. Prehypertension correlates with level of st (AU)

A hipertensão arterial sistêmica aparece às vezes durante a adolescência. A pressão arterial mantém (..) (AU)

Body dissatisfaction and perceived sociocultural pressures: gender and age differences / Insatisfacción corporal y presión sociocultural percibida: diferencias asociadas al sexo y a la edad

One important area of research that has emerged in recent years is the assessment of factors that contribute to the development of body image problems and, more concretely, to the development of body dissatisfaction. The female sociocultural beauty ideal, a constant object of research for over three decades now, is so ultra-thin that it is both unattainable and unhealthy. Likewise, the male beauty ideal of a lean yet muscular body is becoming an important issue for men, with poor body image sometimes leading to the adoption of numerous health-threatening behaviors, such as the use of steroids, ephedrine and deleterious dieting strategies. Body image has been related with self-esteem, depressed mood, social anxiety and disordered eating. In recent years, physical self-perceptions are also studied from the parallel perspective of physical self-concept. In general, women report much higher body dissatisfaction than men at all moments of life, from pre-adolescence to third age, although gender differences in adulthood and in the old age are less important than in adolescence. In the other hand, although women's dissatisfaction with their bodies remains fairly stable across the whole life span, the importance attached to physical appearance, specifically body size and weight, decreases with age. The sociocultural framework has become the most empirically validated of all body image theories and this theory conceptualizes perceived sociocultural pressures as the principal cause of body dissatisfaction. Mass media, peer groups, and family are the three factors which have evolved as the most frequently assessed sociocultural perceived pressures of body dissatisfaction. Previous research has paid considerable attention to gender and age differences in body dissatisfaction, but certain gaps still remain: a) more precise knowledge is required regarding men's body dissatisfaction; b) a comparative perspective of gender differences, in both body dissatisfaction and perceived pressure throughout the different stages of the lifecycle, is lacking; c) more information is required on the interpersonal variations involved in the relationship between body dissatisfaction and perceived sociocultural pressure; and d) a better understanding of the nature of sociocultural influences needs to be gained. This research examines gender and age differences on body image -responses to the Garner's Eating Disorders Inventory-2 (EDI-2)- and perceived sociocultural pressures regarding body ideals -responses to the Questionnaire of Sociocultural Influences on the Aesthetic Body Shape Model (CIMEC-26), by Toro, Salamero, and Martínez-Mallén. The sample group comprised 1259 participants: 627 adolescents, 271 young adults, 248 midlife adults, and 112 over 55's. Results indicate that: a) body dissatisfaction is closely related to perceived sociocultural pressure; b) female participants show higher body dissatisfaction and perceive themselves more affected by sociocultural factors than their male counterparts; c) gender differences (in body dissatisfaction as in perceived sociocultural pressures) are greater for younger age groups than older; d) gender is a better predictor of body dissatisfaction and sociocultural perceived influences than age. The results obtained provide a more comprehensive view of the relationship between body dissatisfaction and perceived sociocultural pressure during the different stages of the lifecycle, highlighting a number of close parallels between both variables. The new data also enables us to identify the young female population as the most susceptible to body dissatisfaction problems and the most vulnerable to sociocultural pressure, with the group of older women emerging as the one best able to cope with these problems. The study also identifies a number of themes which deserve further, more in-depth attention in the future. Tw o especially are worth noting: 1) this study analyses age differences (which may represent generational differences affected by cohort effects), rather than changes associated with age, since the inter-group differences observed correspond to people of different ages, but each separate group also represents a specific age at a specific moment in history; 2) it is important to continue exploring the different pressures exerted by different sociocultural factors (both perceived pressure and objective data on the influence of these factors), as well as the psychological mechanisms that enable some people to cope with these pressures better than others.

Despierta gran interés teórico y social en nuestros días la identificación y medida de los factores que contribuyen al desarrollo de alteraciones de la imagen corporal y más concretamente al desarrollo de la insatisfacción corporal. El prototipo femenino de belleza dominante desde hace tres décadas en nuestra cultura propone una delgadez tan extrema que resulta no sólo inalcanzable, sino además muy poco saludable. El ideal masculino de belleza, por otro lado, demanda un cuerpo delgado, pero musculado, y éste ha adquirido gran importancia, por lo que con frecuencia se adoptan, a fin de mejorar la propia imagen, numerosas conductas peligrosas para la salud, como el consumo de esteroides, efedrina y dietas alimentarias dañinas. La imagen corporal, conformada por las autopercepciones físicas de cada persona, ha sido objeto de numerosas investigaciones durante las últimas décadas en relación con rasgos psicológicos tan importantes como la autoestima, la depresión, la ansiedad o los trastornos alimentarios y, muy en especial, con la insatisfacción corporal. Está comprobado que, en general, las mujeres manifiestan mayor insatisfacción corporal que los hombres en todas las épocas de su vida, desde la preadolescencia hasta la tercera edad, si bien las diferencias de sexo en la edad adulta y en la tercera edad son menores que en la adolescencia. Por otro lado, aun cuando la insatisfacción de las mujeres con su cuerpo tiende a mantenerse estable a lo largo de todo el ciclo vital, es digno de señalar que la importancia conferida a la apariencia física y, más en concreto, al tamaño y peso corporal, decrece con la edad. La presión sociocultural percibida aparece como principal causa de la insatisfacción corporal. Desde el enfoque sociocultural se señala, en concreto, a los medios masivos de comunicación, al entorno social próximo y a la familia como los tres elementos clave de dicha presión: cuanto más altos son los niveles de presión percibida con respecto a una imagen corporal idealizada, más se incrementa la preocupación por la imagen y por las estrategias de cambio corporal. La investigación previa ha prestado considerable atención a las diferencias de sexo y de edad en cuanto a la insatisfacción corporal, pero se echan en falta: a) conocimientos más precisos sobre la insatisfacción corporal de los hombres; b) una perspectiva comparativa de las diferencias de sexo tanto en insatisfacción corporal como en presión percibida a lo largo de las distintas etapas del ciclo vital; c) mayor información sobre las variaciones interpersonales en la relación entre la insatisfacción corporal y la presión sociocultural percibida, y d) una mejor comprensión de la naturaleza de las influencias socioculturales. Esta investigación trata de contribuir a la superación de estas carencias planteándose las siguientes hipótesis: 1) La insatisfacción corporal guarda estrecha relación con la presión sociocultural percibida; 2) las mujeres participantes, en todos los grupos de edad, muestran más insatisfacción corporal e indican sentirse más influidas por factores socioculturales que los hombres; 3) las diferencias de sexo (tanto en insatisfacción corporal como en presión sociocultural percibida) son mayores en los grupos de menor edad que en los de más edad; 4) el sexo resulta ser un mejor predictor de la insatisfacción corporal y de los influjos socioculturales percibidos que la edad. Participaron en el estudio 1259 personas: 627 adolescentes, 271 adultos jóvenes, 248 adultos y 112 sujetos mayores de 55 años, quienes respondieron el Eating Disorders Inventory-2 (EDI-2), de Garner, que permite identificar la insatisfacción corporal, así como el Cuestionario de Influencias sobre el Modelo Estético Corporal (CIMEC), de Toro, Salamero y Martínez-Mallén. Los resultados obtenidos proporcionan una visión más completa que la hasta ahora disponible acerca de las relaciones entre la insatisfacción corporal y la presión sociocultural percibida en las distintas etapas del ciclo vital: ambas variables guardan estrechos paralelismos; permiten, asimismo, identificar la población femenina joven como la más sensible a los problemas de insatisfacción corporal y de vulnerabilidad a la presión sociocultural, en tanto que el grupo de mujeres de más edad aparece como el que mejor sabe reaccionar ante los mismos. Por otro lado, han permitido identificar temáticas, especialmente dos, que merecen seguir investigándose: 1) aquí se han analizado diferencias de edad (que bien pueden representar diferencias generacionales afectadas por efectos de cohorte) y no cambios asociados con la edad, ya que las diferencias intergrupales observadas corresponden a personas de diferentes edades, pero cada uno de dichos grupos tiene además la misma edad en un mismo momento histórico; 2) es preciso seguir indagando sobre la presión diferencial que ejercen unos y otros factores socioculturales (tanto la presión percibida como datos objetivos de influencia a unos u otros factores), así como sobre los mecanismos psicológicos que permiten a unas personas afrontar mejor que otras estas presiones.

Real-time detection of apneas on a PDA.

Patients suspected of suffering sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) have to undergo sleep studies such as expensive polysomnographies to be diagnosed. Healthcare professionals are constantly looking for ways to improve the ease of diagnosis and comfort for this kind of patients as well as reducing both the number of sleep studies they need to undergo and the waiting times. Relating to this scenario, some research proposals and commercial products are appearing, but all of them record the physiological data of patients to portable devices and, in the morning, these data are loaded into hospital computers where physicians analyze them by making use of specialized software. In this paper, we present an alternative proposal that promotes not only a transmission of physiological data but also a real-time analysis of these data locally at a mobile device. For that, we have built a classifier that provides an accuracy of 93% and a receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve (ROC-AUC) of 98.5% on SpO(2) signals available in the annotated Apnea-ECG Database. This local analysis allows the detection of anomalous situations as soon as they are generated. The classifier has been implemented taking into consideration the restricted resources of mobile devices.

Architecture, cost-model and customization of real-time monitoring systems based on mobile biological sensor data-streams.

Innovation in the fields of wireless data communications, mobile devices and biosensor technology enables the development of new types of monitoring systems that provide people with assistance anywhere and at any time. In this paper we present an architecture useful to build those kind of systems that monitor data streams generated by biological sensors attached to mobile users. We pay special attention to three aspects related to the system efficiency: selection of the optimal granularity, that is, the selection of the size of the input data stream package that has to be acquired in order to start a new processing cycle; the possible use of compression techniques to store and send the acquired input data stream and; finally, the performance of a local analysis versus a remote one. Moreover, we introduce two particular real systems to illustrate the suitability and applicability of our proposal: an anywhere and at any time monitoring system of heart arrhythmias and an apnea monitoring system.

Variables associated with the risk of eating disorders in adolescence / Variables asociadas al riesgo de padecer trastornos alimentarios en la adolescencia

Summary: It is very important to specify the generic affirmation that eating disorders mainly affect the female population, especially during adolescence. This study examined three variables associated with the risk of eating behaviour disorders (EBDs): age (early and late adolescence), physical self-concept and engagement in physical activity, as well as the interaction between these factors. This study, to be precise, aimed to clarify the following questions regarding the risk to the non-clinical adolescent population of suffering eating disorders: 1. Whether the risk is higher in the 15-18 age range than in the 12-14 one; 2. the relationship between risk and physical self-concept; 3. the relationship between risk and physical activity; and 4. whether the risk is always higher in women than in men, regardless of the three aforementioned variables (age, self-concept and sporting activity). There were 740 adolescent participants, 366 men (49.46%) and 374 women (50.54%), aged between 12 and 18 years ( X - = 14.33; SD=1.41). Three measurements were applied: the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), by Garner and Olmsted, the Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Físico (CAF) by Goñi, Ruiz de Azúa and Rodríguez (2006), and a questionnaire on physical activity. Results confirm that, as indicated by significantly higher scores in the EDI, the risk of suffering from eating disorders is higher among women than men, in the 15-18 age range than in the 12-14 one, in those with a low physical self-concept and in those who engage only sporadically rather than regularly in some kind of physical activity. Therefore, age, self-concept and physical activity therefore become modulating variables of the risk of suffering from eating disorders. Improvement in self-concept and the acquisition of active life habits, factors which modulate the usual gender differences in eating disorders, are the objects of educational intervention; this intervention is particularly important for adolescent females aged between 15 and 18 years. Consequently, physical self-concept should be included not only in the designs of research projects focusing on the self-perception of the physical-self, but also in the designs of guidance programmes; special attention should be given to those who have developed a low self-perception of both their physical condition and physical attractiveness. Furthermore, moderate physical activity is clearly better than a sedentary lifestyle; engaging in regular physical activity is highly recommendable, in general, as a way of preventing eating disorders. Finally, the group most in need of educational support in this field is the population of female adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years. Two criteria are important: a) the promotion of regular physical activity may be one resource, although not the only one, since by itself is not effective enough to eradicate the risk of eating disorders; b) special attention should be given to those who have developed a low self-perception of both their physical condition and physical attractiveness.

Resumen: Es bien conocido que los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCAs) afectan ante todo a la población femenina, muy especialmente durante la adolescencia. Ahora bien, ¿hasta qué punto cambia el riesgo de que la población adolescente no clínica padezca tales trastornos en función de variables que pueden ser objeto de atención preventiva? Este estudio pretendía esclarecer si dicho riesgo: 1. es mayor en el grupo de edad de 15-18 años que en el de 12-14 años; 2. si guarda relación con el autoconcepto físico; 3. si se relaciona con la actividad física practicada; 4. si es siempre mayor en las mujeres adolescentes que en los adolescentes varones con independencia de las tres variables citadas arriba. Participaron en el estudio 740 adolescentes, 366 hombres (49.46%) y 374 mujeres (50.54%), con edades comprendidas entre los 12 y 18 años ( X - =14.33; DT=1.41). Todos los participantes respondieron al Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), de Garner y Olmsted, un cuestionario destinado a evaluar conductas y pensamientos propios de los TCAs. Todos completaron también un cuestionario acerca de sus hábitos de actividad física. Además, una parte de esta muestra, concretamente 347 sujetos (172 hombres y 175 mujeres), contestó el Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Físico (CAF), de Goñi, Ruiz de Azúa y Rodríguez. Se llevaron a cabo diferentes análisis estadísticos mediante el programa SPSS 11.5 para Windows: análisis de la varianza factorial, ANOVA de un factor, contraste de medias, análisis de gráficos de perfil para interacciones, así como comparaciones múltiples de Bonferroni. Los resultados obtenidos permiten afirmar que el riesgo de padecer trastornos alimentarios, tal como lo indican unas puntuaciones significativamente superiores en el EDI, es mayor en las mujeres que en los hombres, en el grupo de edad de 15-18 años que en el de 12-14 años, en personas con autoconcepto físico bajo y en quienes realizan actividad físico-deportiva de forma esporádica en comparación con quienes la practican de forma habitual. La insatisfacción corporal y las conductas bulímicas se incrementan, en efecto, en el segundo tramo de la adolescencia con independencia de que la práctica deportiva se realice de forma esporádica o habitual. La insatisfacción corporal, igualmente, aparece asociada con puntuaciones bajas en el autoconcepto físico (tanto en la dimensión de condición física como en la de atractivo físico), pero tal asociación no es significativa en el grupo de 12 a 14 años. Las chicas de entre 15 y 18 años muestran un riesgo significativamente mayor que los chicos. Asimismo, las diferencias de género en trastornos alimentarios, que no son significativas en el grupo de 12-14 años, vuelven a ser claras en éste. Estos datos reclaman prestar atención al grupo de edad de entre 15 y 18 años como etapa particularmente crítica, al menos con respecto a la primera adolescencia (12-14 años). Por otro lado, se confirma que los trastornos de alimentación conforman una patología propia de mujeres. La percepción del atractivo físico propio tiene, por ejemplo, un comportamiento diferente de un género a otro: no se correlaciona con los trastornos en el caso de los varones pero sí en el de las mujeres. De todos modos, estas consabidas diferencias de género no son las mismas, como ya se ha dicho, en distintos grupos de edad ni tampoco cuando tanto los chicos como las chicas realizan actividad física de forma habitual. En este último supuesto persisten las diferencias entre ambos pero se reducen. La edad y el autoconcepto se convierten, en consecuencia, en variables moduladoras del riesgo de padecer trastornos alimentarios, así como la actividad física. De los resultados del estudio se desprende que la actividad física moderada se correlaciona con menor incidencia de patología alimentaria, por lo que se convierte en altamente recomendable. No obstante, entre los asuntos que precisan más investigación figura el de la relación entre distintas modalidades e intensidades de actividad física y el bienestar psicológico, más allá de la clasificación dicotómica en adolescentes poco activos versus adolescentes activos utilizada en este estudio. El riesgo, evaluado mediante el EDI, de padecer trastornos alimentarios se ha mostrado fuertemente asociado con el autocon-cepto físico medido con el CAF, lo que invita a incluir este último constructo no sólo en los diseños de investigación sobre la autoper-cepción del yo físico sino también en los programas de orientación, por dos razones básicas. De un lado, la utilización de cuestionarios como el CAF que miden autoconcepto físico puede convertirse en una forma rápida y económica de detectar precozmente sujetos con riesgo de padecer trastornos alimentarios entre población adolescente no clínica. De otro, una forma viable de educar con respecto a los TCAs consiste en fomentar el desarrollo del autoconcepto físico por medio de programas de intervención adecuados.

Autoconcepto físico y estilos de vida en la adolescencia / Physical self-concept and lifestyles in adolescence

Los hábitos de vida saludables guardan relación con el autoconcepto físico y también con el bienestar psicológico, al menos durante los años de la adolescencia. Esto es lo que confirman los datos que se presentan en este estudio, cuya muestra la componen 539estudiantes de entre 12 y 23 años. Los participantes cumplimentaron el Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Físico (CAF), un cuestionario sobre conductas saludables de los escolares y el Cuestionario de Bienestar Psicológico (EBP). Los resultados sugieren diversos flancospor donde orientar una intervención psicosocial que ayude a promover el desarrollo personal y la convivencia social, desde una triple conexión: el estilo de vida, el bienestar psicológico y el autoconcepto físico

Healthy lifestyles are associated with both physical self-concept and psychological well-being, at least during the adolescence. In this study the results confirm the relation. The participants were 539 students between 12 and 23 years old. The instruments usedwere the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire (CAF), a questionnaire about healthy behaviors and the Psychological Well-being Questionnaire (EBP). The results suggest different ways of orienting a psychosocial intervention in order to get both personal development and social life, from a triple connection of lifestyle, psychological well-being and physicalself-concept

Real-time classification of ECGs on a PDA.

The new advances in sensor technology, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and wireless communications favor the development of a new type of monitoring system that can provide patients with assistance anywhere and at any time. Of particular interest are the monitoring systems designed for people that suffer from heart arrhythmias, due to the increasing number of people with cardiovascular diseases. PDAs can play a very important role in these kinds of systems because they are portable devices that can execute more and more complex tasks. The main questions answered in this paper are whether PDAs can perform a complete electrocardiogram beat and rhythm classifier, if the classifier has a good accuracy, and if they can do it in real time. In order to answer these questions, in this paper, we show the steps that we have followed to build the algorithm that classifies beats and rhythms, and the obtained results, which show a competitive accuracy. Moreover, we also show the feasibility of incorporating the built algorithm into the PDA.