Motivation in School Physical Education: A Path to The Education of Physically Active Individuals - Juniper Publishers

 Physical Fitness, Medicine & Treatment in Sports - Juniper Publishers

Abstract

The World Health Organization recommends the promotion of quality physical education for young people in school curricula. The school as a democratic institution that reaches society, as well as physical education as a curricular component, plays an important role in educating citizens who are physically active in the future. However, studies have shown a growing disinterest of students in physical education classes. The aim of this opinion article is to describe a proposal for diagnosing the motivation of students from southeastern Brazil in physical education classes to guide quality practical interventions that encourage them to value physical activity as a means of health promotion. The premise is that young people educated for active life will become aware and autonomous adults who will maintain an adequate level of physical activity.

Keywords: School physical education Motivation Physical activity Physical inactivity

Introduction

This article aims to highlight the importance of school physical education to educate and raise awareness about the importance of physical activity as one of the factors for maintaining a healthy life. The narrative develops in the context of the Brazilian reality since official and international censuses have reported high levels of physical inactivity. In addition, national studies point to substantial disinterest of young people and adolescents in physical education classes [1], in agreement with international evidence [2]. In view of these critical problems, studies conducted by the Research Group on Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, of which we are a part, have sought to identify the causes of the demotivation of students to participate in physical education classes. The self-determination theory (SDT) was adopted as a conceptual framework because it is a widely investigated and empirically validated theory on the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. Based on the premise that active children and adolescents tend to become active adults [3], it will be important to know the rea son that attracts them to or alienates them from physical activity since school age. Health and education are two strategic areas for human development and therefore deserve the attention of gov ernment bodies because policies that integrate these areas allow both the prevention of diseases and the emancipation and autonomy of citizens. Physical education is considered a key element in disease prevention and health promotion programs because it is present and operates in both areas, either through the participation of physical education professionals in public health programs or the presence of this discipline in school curricula.

The benefits of physical activity are well established and include the prevention of overweight/obesity, hypertension and diabetes, as well as a positive effect on mental health [4]. The World Health Organization (WHO) [5] alerts to the association between obesity in childhood and adolescence and an increased risk of obesity in adulthood, which may even result in death due to heart diseases, respiratory problems, diabetes, and liver disease. In addition, considering that adolescence is a critical phase of development, obesity can also cause serious psychological problems related to the self-perception and low self-esteem of young people. To prevent obesity in adolescents, the WHO [5] recommends, among other measures, ensuring quality physical education for young people in school curricula, as well as disseminating national guidelines for young people and family members that regulate screen entertainment, sleep and healthy nutrition. Within thiscontext, school physical education as a curricular component of formal education can contribute not only to increasing levels of physical activity in elementary, middle and high school but also to teach young people the key concepts that would raise their awareness about the importance of physical activity for maintaining an active life and, consequently, for health preservation. Therefore, quality school physical education for children and adolescents has the potential to directly influence the development of active behavioral patterns throughout life [6], contributing to the prevention of health risk factors.

Context and physical inactivity among youth and adults

Studies reported a global prevalence of insufficient physical activity in 2016 of 81% among young and adolescents (11-17 years; M=77.6% and F=84.7%) [7] and of 27.5% among adults (≥18 years; M=23.4% and F=31.7%) [4]. In Brazil, the same studies indicate percentages of insufficiently active young/adolescents of 83.6% (M=78.0% and F=89.4%) [7] and of insufficiently active adults of 47.0% (M=23.4% and F=31.7%) [4]. This scenario is a matter of concern because it predicts a considerable proportion of adults with a high risk of developing serious health problems in the future. In Brazil, the National Survey of School Health (PeNSE) [8] and the Surveillance of Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases through Telephone Interview (Vigitel) [9] are official studies of the Ministry of Health for monitoring the health of schoolchildren and adults, respectively. The latest edition of the PeNSE conducted in 2015 [8] involved 113,227 schoolchildren aged 13-17 years (elementary to high school students) representative of the Brazilian territory. The percentage of students considered active by the globally estimated physical activity indicator was 20.0% in the 13-15-year age group and 19.2% in the 16-17-year age group. These percentages increased when the indicator of accumulated physical activity was considered, with students with an active profile accounting for 32.4% in the 13-15-year age group and for 30.3% among those aged 16-17 years. Regardless of the indicator adopted, the proportion of boys was significantly higher than that of girls. With respect to the nutritional status of students aged 13- 17 years, the overall proportion of overweight and obese individuals was 23.7%, with no significant difference between sexes [8]. The latest edition of the Vigitel survey was conducted in 2018 [9] and involved 52,395 adults (age ≥18 years) representative of all states of the Brazilian federation. The percentage of adults in the sample who performed moderate leisure-time physical activity of ≥150 minutes/week was 38.1%. Men were more active (45.4%) than women (31.8%), with the difference being significant. The sum of insufficiently active and inactive adults was 57.8%. Men were found to be less inactive (48.1%) than women (65.9%). A finding that draws attention in this study is that the participation in physical activity decreased with advancing age of the adults. In addition, educational level positively influenced the participation in physical activity, i.e., individuals with a higher educational level tended to have higher physical activity levels.Regarding the nutritional status of the adults studied, 55.7% were overweight and 19.8% were obese. There was a higher percentage of overweight men (57.8%) compared to women (53.9%), while women were more frequently obese (20.7%) than men (18.7%) [9]. The educational level of the adults also influenced the nutritional status, with the prevalence of overweight/obesity decreasing with increasing educational level of the respondents. In view of these findings, school physical education must not be neglected as a tool to reverse this reality. We must be aware of the reasons that have led students to avoid engaging in physical education classes. They are sending us a message and we are not being able to hear them. Our research aims to diagnose the causes of students’ demotivation in order to provide teachers with consistent information that will enable them to adapt physical education programs and to encourage students not only to participate in physical activity, but also to develop conceptual knowledge about physical activity and health. In the next section, we present a brief description of this research project and preliminary results.

Method and diagnosis of reality

A quantitative-qualitative methodology was adopted to analyze objective dimensions-characterizing the needs of students – and subjective dimensions – knowing the causes of disinterest in physical education classes. The database under construction refers to 1,124 elementary, middle and high school students. The Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale (BPNES) [10], adapted and validated for the Brazilian reality, was used to characterize the motivational profile of the students. The causes of the students’ disinterest in physical education classes were obtained by interviews, which were elaborated using the dialectic hermeneutic circle technique [11]. This technique allows all subjects to answer the original and other questions formulated from the conversations with the interviewed peers, permitting that respondents express their opinion about each other. For this analysis, subsamples were created, characterizing a multi-case study.

The SDT has been the most widely used theoretical framework to analyze motivation in physical education classes [12-14]. This approach to human motivation and personality highlights the importance of the individual’s self-regulation of behavior. The theory of basic psychological needs is one of the theories underlying the SDT [15]. From this perspective, the tendency towards development, integration of self-determined psychological elements, and the interaction with a social structure emerge as innate needs of psychological autonomy, personal competence, and social relatedness. [12] refer to the need for competence as feeling competent and capable of carrying out activities; to autonomy as the possibility of having choice and control, and to relatedness as feeling affiliated and belonging to the social context.

The interpretation of the results allows us to infer that students generally feel that their basic psychological needs are moderately satisfied, suggesting that adaptation of the environmentto students’ needs will result in greater satisfaction. Boys generally feel that their basic needs are better met than girls, especially competence needs. Elementary school boys feel that their basic psychological needs are satisfied, but this feeling tends to decrease at the end of middle school and to stabilize during high school. The feeling of competence and autonomy need satisfaction is greater among boys across all school levels. The arguments reported by boys and girls in the interview indicate that it is generally the priority of boys to use the gym and boys also interfere more with the decisions of the teacher.

Boys and girls feel the need to share decisions about the planning and elaboration of classes so that they can explain preferred contents and the types of exercises consistent with their skills and competences. Girls tend to value and feel largely satisfied with relatedness needs in the classroom, while boys of all school levels achieve a higher rate. Bullying is a problem reported by boys and girls as a reason for disinterest in physical education classes. During the classes, the students may find themselves in embarrassing situations in front of the class, which are almost always caused by the patterns of movement and performance in the activities developed.

Conclusion

Male and female students exhibit a more self-determined behavior when their environment provides support for the development of their basic psychological needs. In line with the research objectives, this study indicates that the lack of skills, of content diversification beyond the most popular team sports and of opportunities to participate in classroom decision-making are relevant reasons that lead to students’ disinterest in school physical education. The low competence need satisfaction of girls may be related to the predominance of soccer practice in the classroom context and to the fact that the teaching activities have not provided conditions for the development of their skills. We suggest expanding student experiences based on the diversification of contents, adapting the levels of requirement to the students’ skills and providing activities with high chances of success in order to improve the perception of competence. Resorting to participatory planning is an alternative that can be used to enhance the feeling of autonomy need satisfaction. However, shared decision-making about teaching requires parsimony since the teacher has important didactic-pedagogical tools and knowledge of the content necessary for elaboration of the teaching-learning process. To support autonomy, the teacher needs to provide an environment in which students feel to be co-authors of decisions in different classroom situations. To effectively contribute to the education of physically active citizens, school physical education needs to overcome the concept of a space exclusively dedicated to recreation and leisure and become a training space par excellence to endow individuals with autonomy to manage their health.

To Know more about Physical Fitness, Medicine & Treatment in Sports 

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/jpfmts/index.php

To Know more about our Juniper Publishers

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/index.php  

Adulteration of Slimming Products and its Detection Methods - Juniper Publishers

 Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences - Juniper Publishers

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease associated with serious health problem such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Due to the growing trend of returning to nature and the fear of adverse reactions from conventional medicines, people are increasingly resorting to the use of herbal preparations.

Adulterated herbal weight loss products with containing undeclared synthetic drugs are common and responsible for many serious health damages. Because of long-term use and natural origin these preparations give a sense of security. But herbal weight loss formulations also possess undesirable effects and, among other dangers, present a risk connected with deliberate addition of synthetic compounds, deliberate or unintentional replacement of the plant species or simply a risk of mislabeling.

The most undeclared ingredients, which were illegally added include sibutramine, phenolphthalein, bumetanide, and phenytoin in the herbal called products, weight reducing and fat loss supplements. Caffeine, pseudoephedrine, theobromine and amfepramone were also found in the supplements. In the world of Internet ordering, these are the dangers that everyone should be aware of. In this article, we reviewed the safety issues related to adulterated or mislabeled herbal products.

Adulterated synthetic substances were detected in the herbal weight loss products. Health care professionals should make people aware of the risks of taking herbal weight-loss supplements.

Keywords: Adulterations; Limming products; Herbal weight-loss; Detection methods

Abbreviations: 5HT: Serotonin; CE: Capillary Electrophoresis; CV: Cardiovascular; DA: Dopamine; HPLC: High Pressure Liquid Chromatography; GC: Gas Chromatography; NA: Norepinephrine; RCT: Randomised Controlled Trial

Introduction

Obesity, defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation and a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 30 kg/m. The prevalence of obesity, as a major risk for public health, has caused increasingly demand for anti-obesity supplements worldwide. Obesity can be a leading cause of many serious health problems, such as high blood pressure [1], cancer [2], type 2 diabetes [3], gallstones [4], heart diseases [5], stroke [6], erectile dysfunction [7], nonalcoholic fatty liver [8] and other health complications.

Management strategies for weight reduction in obese individuals include physical interventions such as exercise, diet, and surgery, behavioural therapies, and medicinal treatments. These strategies may be used alone or in combination for greater efficacy. Most randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating pharmacotherapies include a calorie-controlled diet, and some also encourage participants to increase their physical activity.

Drugs used to induce weight loss may reduce appetite or increase satiety, reduce the absorption of nutrients, or increase energy expenditure. In the past drug therapies, available have included thyroid hormone, dinitrophenol and amphetamines, followed by amphetamine analogues, aminorex, and the fenfluramines [9]. More recently a number of newer agents have been trialled, though only orlistat was approved for long term use (≥24 weeks [9]. In fact, amphetamine, rimonabant and sibutramine licenses have been withdrawn due to an increased risk of psychiatric disorders and non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke (Table1).

On the other hand, there is an increased tendency to alternative treatments that are mainly based on natural products or formulations for this problem. The increasing demand for natural slimming products can be easily understood mainly because of the false impression that, considering they are natural products, that do not cause either side effects or health damage. However, recent studies have demonstrated the presence of non-declared synthetic substances (i.e., adulterants) in the formulations of these so-called “natural products‟ worldwide [10,11].

The presence of synthetic substances, such as anorexics, in natural slimming formulations gives these products higher efficacy in the treatment of obesity. while the presence of these ingredients could not be discriminated due to misleading packaging. Unfortunately, continuous consumption of chemical slimming products, which are illegally adulterated with synthetic materials, may cause severe troubles to patients and could be considered as a threat to individual’s health and even a reason for mortality [12-14]

Most weigh loss adulterants are compounds that have been removed from the market by regulatory agencies or were never approved for use because the formulations are registered in compositions, or it is adulteration practice violates the laws of many countries. Adulteration caused a variety of adverse effects from mild (allergic reactions, fatigue, gastrointestinal upset, mood disturbances or muscle weakness, nausea, pain, and respiratory complaints) to moderate (confusion, convulsions, dermatitis, lethargy or seizures, leucopoenia, sensory disturbances, vomiting) to severe (carcinomas, cerebral oedema, coma, intracerebral haemorrhage, poisoning, metabolic acidosis, multi-organ failure, nephrotoxicity, perinatal stroke, renal or liver failure or death) life threatening effects see (Figure 1) [15] .

One notable example is the adulteration of a slimming product known as Slim 10 by N-nitroso fenfluramine, a hepatotoxic agent, possibly leading to a fatal case of hepatic failure in Singapore [16]. N-Nitroso fenfluramine was structurally modified from fenfluramine, a previously used anti-obesity drug. The authors concluded that in the absence of a more plausible cause of liver damage, and with nitrosoamines being known to be hepatotoxic, the likely cause of hepatocellular necrosis was the nitrosofenfluramine present. From 2001 to 2002, more than 800 cases of liver damage in Japan were reported among people taking Chinese weight loss aids containing nitrosofenfluramine [17]. In the subsequent year, three cases of severe hepatotoxicity associated with a N-nitrosofenfluramine-containing weight loss supplement were reported [18].

Most common adelterants in slimming products and associated problems

Amphetamines and amphetamine-like analogues

Amphetamines and amphetamine-like analogues (phentermine, diethylpropion, phenylpropanolamine) are indirect-acting sympathomimetic agents that act by releasing noradrenaline (NA) from presynaptic vesicles in the lateral hypothalamus [19]. Mazindol, a related but discontinued drug, blocks the reuptake of NA by presynaptic neurons. The increase in NA concentration within the synaptic cleft results in the stimulation of β2-adrenergic receptors and a resultant inhibition of appetite. Likewise, amphetamine and its derivatives had been used to treat obesity since 1937, though their addictive potential soon became obvious and they were removed from the market for this purpose. Amphetamine- like substances derived from the β-phenyl ethylamine core structure have been detected in dietary supplements [20].

Phentermine

Phentermine has been available since the late 1950s and is approved for short-term use in the US and Australia. It has been evaluated as both monotherapy and as combination therapy though not in large-scale studies [21]. Phentermine has been used in combination with fenfluramine and with fluoxetine Combination therapy with phentermine (15mg) fenfluramine (60mg), demonstrated significantly more weight loss than placebo in a 28-week RCT [22].

Diethylpropion (amfepramone)

Another amphetamine-like analogue has been available for weight loss since the early 1960s; however, there are few if any RCTs of its long term use especially with large sample sizes [23]. Diethylpropion (75mg daily) demonstrated significantly greater weight loss in a small 24-week study of 20 patients than placebo [24]. Diethylpropion (50mg twice a day) was shown to be more effective than placebo in a small 6-month RCT with 69 obese adult patients (9.3kg [95% CI 7-11.5kg] versus 3.1kg [95% CI 1.8-4.3kg] [25]. Greater than 5% weight loss was achieved in 67.6% of diethylpropion patients and 25.0% of those receiving placebo. The most common side effects were dry mouth and insomnia These were experienced in the first 3 months but become less apparent with continuing treatment [25].

Fenfluramines

Fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine elevate serum levels of serotonin (5HT) in the central nervous system by stimulating 5HT release and inhibiting its reuptake. Increased levels of 5HT appear to stimulate the hypothalamus, which controls satiation as well as mood, sleep, body temperature and other vital functions. These agents also activate melanocortin 4 receptors that in turn stimulate activation of 5-HT2C receptors, producing an increased release of 5HT within the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis which is claimed to lead to hypophagia and anorexia [26].

A meta-analysis of RCTs with fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine demonstrated higher weight loss than placebo following up to 12 months of treatment. The greatest efficacy was shown following 3 months treatment, 3.7kg weight loss, Although RCTs with fenfluramines (fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine), either alone [27] or with phentermine [22], demonstrated significant weight-loss, they were withdrawn from the market due to increased reports of valvular heart disease and primary pulmonary hypertension [28]. The prevalence rates of both valvular heart disease and primary pulmonary hypertension were higher following longer exposure to the fenfluramines [20].

Antidepressants

Fluoxetine

Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that augments 5HT within the central nervous system has been prescribed off-label for weight loss. Although significant weight loss was reported with 60mg of this agent in shortterm studies of 6-8 weeks, with maximum weight loss achieved at 12-20-weeks, this is followed by a regain in bodyweight [29]. Most RCTs have not shown a significant difference when fluoxetine was compared to placebo at 52 weeks [28]. Fluoxetine generally has a tolerable safety profile with reported adverse events of headache, asthenia, nausea, diarrhoea, somnolence, insomnia, nervousness, sweating, and tremor [29].

Bupropion

Is another antidepressant which inhibits reuptake of dopamine (DA) and NA resulting in a loss of appetite and decreased food intake and modest weight loss in obese people [30]. The efficacy of bupropion as a sustained release formulation was demonstrated at 48 weeks in obese patients. Weight loss was dose dependent with 7.5% initial weight loss for subjects Although bupropion is not approved for weight loss, it has been used off-label and is currently under evaluation as combination therapy with naltrexone, a μ-opioid receptor antagonist and zonisamide, a GABA receptor activator

Orlistat

Orlistat (a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor) is a synthetic drug derived from a naturally occurring lipase inhibitor. It does not directly act on appetite as other obesity pharmacotherapies, rather it decreases fat absorption by binding to pancreatic lipase, the principle enzyme that hydrolyses triglyceride.

The long-term efficacy of orlistat (120mg three times daily) for weight loss has been demonstrated in several RCTs of 2- to 4- year therapy compared to placebo [31], as well as improvements in blood pressure, insulin resistance, and serum lipid levels [32].

Several systematic reviews in adults and a systematic review with 2 short-term studies in adolescents demonstrated significantly more weight loss with orlistat than placebo, 6.2kg [32]. The most commonly experienced side effects of orlistat are gastrointestinal and include diarrhea, flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia) [32].

Sibutramine

Sibutramine, a 5HT and NA uptake inhibitor, was originally developed as an antidepressant and subsequently found to reduce appetite) [33]. It has 2 active metabolites, which inhibit NA and 5HT uptake (and to a lesser extent DA) without any direct effect on neuronal NA, DA and 5HT release. It has been suggested that sibutramine has a dual action to facilitate weight loss, an anorectic effect suggested to be mediated through the central α1 and β1 adrenergic receptors and thermogenic effects through β3 adrenergic receptors peripherally) [34]. Maximal weight loss occurs by 6 months with sibutramine treatment and was dose related) [35].

Apart from increases in BP and heart rate the most common side-effects reported with sibutramine are dry mouth, constipation, and headache [33] associated with a higher rate of CV events than placebo whilst data from a FDA early communication indicated that there was an increased rate of CV events (heart attacks, strokes, resuscitated cardiac arrest, CV death) in patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The EMEA concluded that the benefits of sibutramine did not outweigh the risks and recommended that all marketing authorisations for medicines containing sibutramine should be suspended throughout Europe. In 2010, however, the use of sibutramine was banned because of an increase in the relative risk for major adverse cardiac events in elderly overweight and obese patients.

Rimonabant

Rimonabant, an endocannabinoid receptor (subtype 1) blocker, was developed as a result of observations on the appetite stimulation associated with recreational cannabis use. The drug has a range of both central and metabolic peripheral effects and had also been investigated for smoking cessation [34].

Attrition rates in a pooled study of 5,580 patients without diabetes and 1,047 patients with diabetes taking rimonabant 20mg daily for one year and a hypocaloric diet were approximately 40% [36].

Phenolphthalein

Phenolphthalein had been used as an over-the-counter laxative and has often been detected together with sibutramine in adulterated weight-loss supplements products. After finding the potential carcinogenicity of phenolphthalein, it was reclassified in 1997 as unsafe and ineffective [37].

Analytical methods for the determination of adulterants in phytotherapeutic formulations

The development of analytical methodologies to selectively identify synthetic substances as adulterants in phytotherapeutic formulations is of great relevance from either a clinical or toxicological point of view.

Toward this end, research involving the development of new methodologies for this purpose should first select the compound classes that would probably appear as synthetic pharmaceuticals in slimming formulations.

After identifying these possible adulterant classes, the most frequently used pharmaceuticals in each selected class (e.g., anorexics) should then be followed through individual studies, including their possible pharmaceutical associations (e.g., anorexics plus anxiolytics).

Figure 2 described below shows most common adulteration methods involving different pharmaceutical classes. The classification described in this scheme is based on the adulteration cases already reported in the literature, involving the most probable adulterant classes used in slimming formulations. It is apparent that a systematic study regarding possible adulterant classes can restrict analytes of interest by analytical method. The main requirements that must be fulfilled by the chosen analytical method are selectivity and sensitivity, as the possibility for adulteration is very wide among the probable classes. Once the adulterant class has been selected, all other probable adulterants become possible interferents in the analytical measurement using the selected method. Furthermore, these interferents should be systematically investigated to assure the applicability of the method to real samples, where there is a certain unpredictability regarding the type and class of adulterant to be found.

Chromatographic and electrophoretic methods

Most studies reporting on the adulteration of phytotherapeutic formulations apply chromatographic methods to determine and identify the adulterants.

These methods can be applied to complex mixtures, as they have a high separation capacity. This is an important feature for the analysis of phytotherapeutic formulations, which may not only have natural constituents but also synthetic adulterants. Additionally, HPLC is a well-established and widespread technique for routine analysis all over the world. Here, the detection by coupled mass spectrometry (LC-MS or LC-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (LC-NMR) is very advantageous due to the possibility of adulterant confirmation based on structural information [35].

Among the chromatographic methods, gas chromatography (GC) has been also frequently used for the determination of adulterants in phytotherapeutics, where GC-MS is the most used technique, mainly for the determination of benzodiazepines, anorexics and stimulants [36].

Furthermore, GC-MS has been the method of choice for the analytical screening of these adulterant classes. Most of the described methods are developed for the screening and the confirmation of the adulterants based on their specific retention times and some additional spectral information [37] as well. The adulterant analysis involves often the quantification and confirmation of the pharmaceuticals by using the addition of high purity reference standards [38].

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an analytical technique that is becoming important among the separation techniques available for the determination of adulterants in phytotherapeutics. Some advantages of CE, such as high-resolution power, short analysis time, and low consumption of chemicals and samples, make it an attractive method for this kind of investigation [39].

Electrochemical and spectroscopic methods

Among the electrochemical methods, voltammetry is the most often utilized technique for the analysis of phytotherapeutic adulteration [40].

Voltammetric methods enable the sensitive and selective measurement of organic compounds based on their specific electrochemical behavior at the working electrode surface [20]. Electrochemical methods are advantageous in comparison with separation methods (HPLC and CE). This is because they allow the measurement of a sample without the total solubilization and exhaustive filtration steps that are necessary for the separation of insoluble excipients, as for HPLC and CE [40].

Furthermore, voltammetric methods are advantageous with respect to the low cost of instrumentation and the short analysis time [41]. De Carvalho et al. [41] used electrochemical methods to determine amfepramone, the most consumed anorexic all over the world, in synthetic mixtures containing other anorexics, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants [41].

Other relevant pharmaceuticals as adulterants of phytotherapeutics were systematically investigated by Correia [40] using the stripping voltammetry. The selective determination of seven benzodiazepines (clonazepam, flurazepam, alprazolam, midazolam, diazepam, medazepam, chlordiazepoxide) was shown to be possible in the presence of other adulterant classes (anorexics, antidepressants and hypoglicemics) in different phytotherapeutic formulations. This methodology permitted the rapid screening of the samples concerning the presence of benzodiazepines as adulterants. A simultaneous determination of benzodiazepines (clonazepam, bromazepam, midazolam, diaze- pam, medazepam, and flurazepam) was also investigated by dos Santos et al. [42] by stripping voltammetry, which also permitted the selective determination of these pharmaceuticals in phy- totherapeutic samples. Among the methods applied for the analysis of adulterants in phytotherapeutics, spectroscopybased techniques are used less frequently [43].

Despite their simplicity and low cost in routine analysis, these methods suffer serious interferences from complex matrices, such as the herbal formulations. Thus, time-consuming pre-treatment steps are normally necessary to eliminate the matrix interferents [44]. The pre-treatment of phytotherapeutic samples prior to the electrochemical and spectroscopic analysis involves normally the extraction of the adulterants by using methanol, ethanol, and chloroformas organic solvents [45].

The aforementioned electrochemical and spectroscopic methods permit the rapid screening of adulterants in phytotherapeutic formulations. The selective determination of pharmaceuticals based on their specific electrochemical behavior at electrode surfaces can be also useful as an additional confirmation method for adulterants. However, the spectroscopic methods (IR and UV/ vis) work mostly as a screening method for adulterants, since various organic components of the sample can absorb the electromagnetic radiation in the same wavelength regions than the most common adulterants.

Conclusion

The consumption of weight-loss formulations has increased markedly in the past few years. Both synthetic and natural products represent these formulations. The identification of controlled substances, which have been illegally added to phytotherapeutics, is a concern to regulatory bodies, as well as to consumers. The adulteration cases already reported in the literature refer mainly to the use of anorexics, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants. The increasing interest into the identification of these frauds, mainly due to the risks of adulterant interactions in the human body, leads us to predict that many cases will be uncovered in the future. In this context, sensitive and selective analytical methods have been developed. The main adulteration cases have been reported in Asia and Africa due to low quality control measures. There are still no officially established regulations by governmental organizations for the control of phytotherapeutics, and the adulteration of these formulations are a recurrent practice all over the world. The adulterant classes reported on here are the most frequently cited in adulteration cases related to formulations that are commercialized for slimming purposes. 

To Know more about Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/gjpps/index.php

To Know more about our Juniper Publishers

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/index.php  

Working Together, Psychology and Yoga - Juniper Publishers

 Yoga and Physiotherapy - Juniper Publishers

Opinion

Psychology as a science of behavior to know, understand and improve the conscious and unconscious states of the human being. The scientific method is applying to know and understand human behavior. Through which measurable and repeatable social representations are constructed, that can start from the inductive method (particular to the general) or the deductive method (general to the particular). By measuring behaviors in a valid and reliable way, we can predict behaviors and the procedures that generate them. So here we not only know what (specific behavior) but how (understanding) human behavior from a social perspective. The personal conceptualizations, derived from the subjective experiences in specific sociocultural spaces, also possess characteristics to the belonging group and for that reason, specific treatments prescribed, starting from general behaviors and adapting them to the particular case for the intervention in improvements.

Yoga employs the traditional anatomy of yoga to guide patients or students to experience the five koshas (layers) session. The physiological alignment of the patient stimulates a corresponding internal alignment, allowing the physical body to open up and connect with the cosmic body. One’s consciousness deepens and expands to include all layers of being physical, pranic, mental/emotional, intuitive, and pure consciousness. Therapeutic sessions designed to draw attention to specific koshas (layers) and guide patients to experience their practice through these five levels of being for different purposes. The first layer treated is the physical because it is the center of control and balance, from the point of view of security. It often initiated in the physical part to the mental, forming centuries to preserve health considering itself as the cornerstone. As yoga is fundamentally an experimental inner research, students are encouraged to be aware of the control points and to explore how the posture in their body feels and manifests during any yoga experience. Each session has a theme intended to further encourage the patient’s inner journey.

Yoga has often used as an alternative or complementary intervention for Anxiety and Depression Disorders, and these psychiatric disorders considered recurrent in this human age. The use of Yoga is beneficial to reduce the doses of medication with side effects, lack of response or adherence to treatments. There are studies that have shown that anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs have side effects; among the most frequent we can mention some: limited long-term efficacy [1], generate dependence [2], affect cognition and memory and produce sexual dysfunction [3], increased appetite and weight and headache [4]. What causes the patient in treatment with medication causes another concern, affecting the improvement of his condition. The therapeutic of Yoga as an alternative treatment frequently used in anxious psychiatric disorders and / or mild to moderate depressive and as a complement in moderate to severe. In both cases, it is always going to be beneficial because Yoga acts as a path towards the awakening of the being. The introjection and the consciousness it reveals is homeostasis based on physical and mental health.

Physical because it regulates endocrinological and vegetative functions, the hypothalamus produces diverse responses to internal and external environmental alterations. The regulation of the physical mind helps the balance of ideas. The ideas are the activators of the sympathetic nervous system that causes the increase in heart rate, blood flow to muscles, glucose levels, cellular metabolism, synthesis of adrenaline and noradrenaline that triggers ideas and actions. The cyclic cause and effect interrupted by feedback [5]. Yoga sessions are systematically but artfully structured to align the physical, energetic, mental/emotional, and intuitive self through the five elements of the practice and the five energetic principles. Many psychological research studies reinforce the use of yoga as an alternative or complete emotional treatment.

 

To Know more about Yoga and Physiotherapy

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/jyp/index.php

To Know more about our Juniper Publishers

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/index.php   

 

New Original Images of the Macro and Microscopic Retina by Pixelometry of the Digital Optical Biopsy - Juniper Publishers

 JOJ Ophthalmology - Juniper Publishers

Short Communication

In this work, we present some of the physical morphological results obtained from the sequencing of images with digital optical biopsy [1], using pixelometric and pixelographic criteria [2-4]. The cellular and tissue images, although they have a known pattern, show the difference of a pure, active image, captured by a tomography (OCT), or optical coherence tomography. The geometry of the pixels denotes a certain combination of eucldiana and two-dimensional elliptical, especially with options 3D allowed in the construction scheme geometric Riemannian, and the stocks of subpixels (red, green and blue) dead pixels and stuck, expressing where color and resolution monitors have reached almost improbable geometric expressions, graphics cards such as the S3, NVIDIA, or ATI among others., giving the opportunity to overcome infinitely genome combination possibilities of identification, in this case with 16.8 million colors (32 bits). The QRS, the old fingerprint, facial detectors FBT face detection, bar codes, different forms of interferometry and spectrometric, have led to the possibility of using non-invasive methods of protein identity uncalculated limits or the DNA (Figures 1-3). We used the pixelometric new non-Euclidean geometry described, about the pixel, as measurement converter, density, metric, shapes, etc. Information generates “every being-every particle, every force field, even the time-space continuum. “The smallest scale in the universe-the one governed by the laws of quantum physics-seems a challenge to common sense”. Subatomic objects (pixel representation) can be in more than one place at a time, two particles at opposite ends of a galaxy can share information instantly, and the mere fact of observing a quantum phenomenon can radically change. It we present some of the physical morphological results obtained from the sequencing of images with digital optical biopsy [5-8], using pixelometric and pixelographic criteria of the retina, and specially pigmentary epithelium. The cellular and tissue images, although they have a known pattern, show the difference of a pure, active image, captured by a tomography (OCT), or optical coherence tomography. The smallest scale in the universe-the one governed by the laws of quantum physics-seems a challenge to common sense. Subatomic objects (pixel representation) can be in more than one place at a time, two particles at opposite ends of a galaxy can share information instantly, and the mere fact of observing a quantum phenomenon can radically change it.

To Know more about JOJ Ophthalmology

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/jojo/index.php

To Know more about our Juniper Publishers

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/index.php   

Assess the Effects of Leakage Current on Reinforced Concrete in a Connected Building System - Juniper Publishers

 Civil Engineering Research - Juniper Publishers 

Abstract

Armed concrete has been used as an effective and safe German for over 50 years in industrial, commercial systems, as well as systems protection systems. Concrete acts as a suitable substrate such as many moist soils, such as an active media environment. The ability of the concrete to accelerate moisture absorption and stability, in the long run, makes the task of implementing the earth electrode, especially for dry places. Over the years, the use of the buried electrodes in the concrete has reached full maturity. The primary concerns for dealing with large currents and preventing local rapid warming and blowing up concrete supports of embedded metal conductors have been considered. However, new concerns appeared and should be addressed by industry experts. A new concern is the long - term impact of small currents on rebar corrosion and the creation of micro-cracks around concrete connections. In this paper, the long - term impact of small currents on armed concrete has been tested and tested. Experimental results show that long - term passage of building leakage currents in the connected building system causes compressive strength reduction, reduction of concrete durability and increased penetration of reinforced concrete. The flow passage through the reinforced concrete leads to an increase in the temperature of the concrete and thus the evaporation of the water present in it, and the water vapor pressure causes the penetration of the voids of concrete to the boundary of the sand and sand. In addition, the evaporation of the concrete also leads to an increase in the electrical resistance of the reinforced concrete.

Keywords: Reinforced concrete; The electric configuration of the building; Leakage current

Introduction

During World War II, the U.S. military needed an electrical ground system to protect bomb storage depots in the desert regions of Arizona. Conventional land systems did not work well in this place because it is a desert, lacking any aquifers, and annual rainfall. In very dry soil conditions, hundreds of meters of copper rods were placed before the lightning to protect the buildings to protect the buildings. In 1942, Mr. Ufer, as a U.S. military adviser, sought to find a less expensive and practical solution to the land system to replace the traditional copper bars at this dry place. The discovery of Mr. Ufer was that the conductivity of the concrete was much better than most of the soil types. The basis of his design is based on the embedding of the ground in the concrete. Experience and tests show that this method is very effective. After the war, Mr. Ufer developed his method and presented the results in an article in 1964 [1]. The engineers are now aware of the interest of the discovery of Mr. Ufer, the whole reinforced concrete building with a very low resistivity of the steel bars on either side or by the cover concrete.

The land system is very simple, effective, inexpensive, and applicable to new buildings. The advantage of the Earth system is to use the concrete properties to reduce the ground resistance. Concrete quickly absorbs moisture if it is very calm to lose moisture. The properties of the concrete materials (lime and other materials) are primarily alkaline and highly PH. Therefore, the concrete with alkali property acts as a source of the ion supply for conduction of electric current. The penetration of leachate to the soil around the concrete leads to an increase in the pH of the soil in the area and consequently the total soil impedance is reduced. Increasing the volume and surface area of the soil adjacent to the soil helps in reducing the connection resistance and provides a good conductor for passage of the land flow or the flow induced by the soil. The Ufer technique in the wake of concrete structures, concrete buildings, telecommunication towers, power transmission towers, and electric poles were used, the original design of the original Uofer was the use of copper in concrete. However, the high pH of the concrete often causes a sheet of copper. For this reason, steel is often used instead of copper. The minimum length of the rebar needed to avoid damage to concrete is dependent on factors such as the type of concrete, compounds, density, electrical resistivity, PH, surface area of concrete with soil, soil resistivity and surface soil compounds, wires, or planes inside the concrete. The use of reinforced concrete plots in concrete in 1968 was added to the United States National Electrical Standard (NEC) [2]. In 1978, NEC identified the requirements of the rebar as a ground electrode and named Ground as a “Concrete Encased Electrode” (CEE) instead of Ufer Ground.

Evaluation of the Effects of Leakage Current on Armed Concrete

In order to investigate the impact of the leakage current from the armed concrete of buildings in the connected system, two specimens were fabricated using the same dimensions, materials, and experimental conditions (Figure 1). An example is affected by the flow of leakage current over a period of 3 months and another example without the leakage current through the test. The purpose of the concrete test is to evaluate the effects of the passing of the leakage current in the Armed Concrete tract. In addition, the Schmidt hammer destructive test method has been used in five points of the concrete piece. The results of the compressive strength test of the concrete by Schmidt hammer are presented in Table 1. The results show that the compressive strength of the specimen under the leakage current has decreased by around 2 %. The flow passage through the reinforced concrete leads to an increase in the temperature of the concrete and thus the evaporation of the water present in it, and the water vapor pressure causes the penetration of the voids of concrete to the boundary of the sand and sand. In addition, the evaporation of the concrete also leads to an increase in the electrical resistance of the reinforced concrete.

Conclusion

In this paper, the long - term impact of small currents on armed concrete has been tested and tested. Experimental results show that long - term passage of building leakage currents in the connected building system causes compressive strength reduction, reduction of concrete durability and increased penetration of reinforced concrete. The flow passage through the reinforced concrete leads to an increase in the temperature of the concrete and thus the evaporation of the water present in it, and the water vapor pressure causes the penetration of the voids of concrete to the boundary of the sand and sand. In addition, the evaporation of the concrete also leads to an increase in the electrical resistance of the reinforced concrete. 

To Know more about Civil Engineering Research

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/cerj/index.php

To Know more about our Juniper Publishers

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/index.php   

Cardiovascular Risk as a Context of Care - Juniper Publishers

 Nutrition and Food Science - Juniper Publishers

Opinion

Cardiovascular diseases stand out in terms of high mortality and the association of various cardiovascular risk factors, being the main cause of death in the world, with more than three quarters of these occurring in low- and middle-income countries [1]. Individuals at cardiovascular risk have a double chance of death, three times more likely to develop diseases of the circulatory system and five times more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes mellitus [2]. It is inferred that cardiovascular risk is a context of care that involves the interrelation of factors that accompany a situation of individual and/or collective cardiovascular vulnerability.

Care in the context directed at people at cardiovascular risk should be developed through disease prevention and health promotion actions, with the potential to generate health indicators in the perspective of collaborating with the advancement of knowledge about the health phenomena involved. In view of this panorama, it is questioned what is the impact of care in the context of cardiovascular risk to be developed by health professionals in the world in which the concept of cardiovascular risk is often linked to cardiovascular disease itself, which seems to hinder the broad and structuring effective care.

Regarding the definition, the concept of cardiovascular risk is underwritten and not clarified, with restriction in punctuating the main factors involved (gender, age, smoking, physical inactivity, inadequate diets, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipid emia, overweight and obesity) and diseases consequent. In this perspective, it is understood that the definition of the concept of cardiovascular risk, as a context of care, is scarce, despite being widely presented, given the relevance of the theme and the impact on the life of the population, requiring critical analysis to contribute to the advancement in the identification and implementation of care directed at people at risk, regardless of the stratified score.

It is essential to overcome the reductionist view that links cardiovascular risk factors strictly to biological aspects, which can compromise care from the perspective of the complexity and comprehensiveness of interventions developed by health professionals, such as nurses, doctors and nutritionists. These health professionals should investigate cardiovascular risk with a broad view of the concept, understanding it as a context of care, in the varied profiles of patients and their community, with a focus on disease prevention and health promotion at the primary level, thus contributing to advance knowledge about the concept and refine its definition.

he literature also discusses the insertion of the metabolic syndrome in the context of cardiovascular risk, as a central phenomenon, due to the highlight of new and relevant empirical data, such as the psychosocial and cultural factors involved and the perspective of vulnerability in which people with the syndrome are inserted [3]. There is a need to analyze and understand the breadth of the concept of cardiovascular risk as a context of care for use in practice, teaching and research in health and to enable the recognition of the variables involved in this phenomenon to guide health professionals in the identification process human needs of these individuals and care planning.

Conclusion

Care in the context of cardiovascular risk should involve clarifying concepts and developing care protocols based on theories to guide health policies and assistance programs aimed at health promotion and cardiovascular prevention. Health professionals should strive to improve the concept and verify the occurrence of cardiovascular risk in individuals and the community, in order to contribute to the development of care for cardiovascular prevention in this public and to expand the investigation regarding the referred context of health care.

To Know more about Nutrition and Food Science 

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/nfsij/index.php

To Know more about our Juniper Publishers

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/index.php   

Effects of Student-Teacher Relationships on the Problem Behavior Trajectories of Children and Adolescents - Juniper Publishers

 Pediatrics & Neonatology - Juniper Publishers 

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there are moderating effects of student-teacher relationships on the problem behavior trajectories of children using the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a nationally representative longitudinal survey following the development of over 19,000 UK children. Latent growth curve (LGC) modeling within the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed with an analytic sample of 11,796 children. First, findings suggest that children’s problem behavior decreases linearly over time, but that significant levels of individual variations exist. Second, the findings also show that children with higher initial problem behavior levels at age three display steeper drops in problem behavior over time than those who have low initial levels of problem behavior. Third, student-teacher relationships and problem behavior have a transactional and negative relationship. Implications for teachers, policy makers, and early intervention designers to improve children’s socio-emotional development and lifelong outcomes, and study limitations are further discussed.

Keywords: Problem behavior; Student-teacher relationships

Abbreviations: MCS: Millennium Cohort Study; LGC: Latent growth curve; SEM: Structural Equation Modeling

Introduction

Problem behavior during early childhood is an important antecedent for future developmental maladjustment, which include mental, academic, and economic outcomes in adulthood and beyond [1]. Previous studies demonstrate the stability of problem behaviors throughout development [2,3]. The severity and persistence of negative behavior patterns will most likely grow worse if left untreated, not only affecting childhood outcomes, but deteriorating further to chronic problems such as delinquency, substance abuse, unemployment, higher rates of incarceration, higher risk for a psychiatric disorder, and many other complex problems during adulthood [4]. Positive behavior development is widely agreed to be important for wellbeing and positive life outcomes [5]. Despite such predominance, effective and long-lasting mechanisms to moderate problem behavior that meets the needs of all children have yet to be established. Given that high levels of problem behavior are confirmed antecedents of adverse life outcomes, it is crucial to find moderators that reduce rather than intensify problem behaviors and help children to achieve their full potential. Past research suggests that certain points of critical periods exist for problem behaviors [6], and that recognizing these time points are important to mediate maladjustive pathways. For instance, during critical periods of development, children may be more malleable to different risk and protective [7]. Factors such as difficult temperamental dimensions [8] or prenatal maternal stress [8] are known as strong biological antecedents of individual differences in problem behavior development [9]. Considering the substantial portion of time children spend in school, it was assumed that teachers may serve as an important role in promoting positive behavioral changes. Teachers are able to manage behavior using developmentally appropriate strategies that adhere to children’s different needs [10].

Discussion

This study focused on the mechanisms by which children’s behavior develops over time, and the potential mediating pathways that may alter poor behavioral development. In particular, a possible transactional relationship was explored between student-teacher relationships and children’s problem behavior. First, examination of problem behavior trends among children indicate that on average, children between ages three and fourteen show linear and negative growth trajectories for problem behavior. Literature attributes the decreasing trend during the early childhood years to advances in self-regulation, perspective-taking, and frustration tolerance capacities developed with the support of positive interactions with caregivers, teachers, and other adult figures. Results pertaining to the initial status and growth rate of problem behavior indicate a significantly negative association between the initial status and growth rate of problem behavior. These results indicate that children with higher levels of problem behavior at onset show steeper drops, while children with lower levels of problem behavior at onset have more gradual drops, suggesting the need to find predictors of onset, or launchers of behavior problems, in order to foster positive behavioral change. Another important point of consideration is that children with higher levels of problem behavior, especially those that are diagnosed to be in the clinical range, tend to receive more attention for their behavioral difficulties [ 1 1 ] . In turn, these children are more likely to be identified and intervened, resulting in the steep drops in problem levels as observed. Conversely, children who display gradual levels of problem behavior are more likely to be overlooked, culminating in stable persistence of difficulties over time. Given that the long-term effects of problem behavior have a negative impact on many domains of an individual’s life over time, it is important to direct attention to children who display gradual levels of problem behavior as well, so that they may receive timely and appropriate interventions and treatments. Predictors of onset can be both environmental and individual factors, working in complex and multidimensional paths to initiate and change behavior. These predictors of onset that launch behavior problems are laid down very early in life through dynamic interactions of genetic, biological, and environmental influences [12]. To illustrate, onsets can occur as early as prenatally, as maternal stress is known to affect the fetal brain [8]. Moreover, risks associated with such early launchers are many times co-occurring and cumulative, inducing persistence of difficulties over time. 

Examining the relationship between student-teacher relationship and problem behavior suggest the presence of transactional effects between the ages of eleven and fourteen, demonstrating that lower problem behavior at age eleven significantly predicted higher quality of student-teacher relationships at age eleven, which then predicted significantly lower problem behavior at age fourteen. These results demonstrate that problem behavior and student teacher relationships reciprocally affect each other, suggesting the importance of searching for ways to foster higher quality studentteacher relationships. Research suggests that goodness-of-fit between the child’s temperamental characteristics [13], teachers’ skills to adhere to such individual differences [14], high-quality feedback [15], and providing positive emotional support [16] are elements that promote such relationships. Many studies also support the importance of relationships with the teacher during early childhood for future achievement and behavioral adjustment [17]. Moreover, based on the knowledge that children’s behavioral patterns influence the quality of interactions between the child and teacher, active supports for children’s prosocial behavior during early childhood are needed as well [18,19].

Conclusion

The findings of this study provide implications for parents, teachers, and practitioners who seek to prevent behavior problems and further difficulties in their children. Further, although it is important to intervene children who are showing severe levels of behavioral problems, the current study findings also show that these children experienced a steep decrease in symptoms, while children experiencing moderate levels of difficulties showed a gradual decrease. Such findings regarding the steady persistence of problem behavior among children who initially had moderate levels of symptoms suggests that these children need attention as well. Results demonstrate that the development of problem behavior can be both intensified and prevented, and that teachers’ relationship with students are reciprocally affected by children’s problem behavior levels. As such, interventions could promote high-quality relationships between children and teachers, if designed with the aim to decrease problem behavior levels and maladjustment pathways.

To Know more about Pediatrics & Neonatology

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/ajpn/index.php

To Know more about our Juniper Publishers

Click here: https://juniperpublishers.com/index.php