University of Boyaca

About: University of Boyaca is a education organization based out in Tunja, Colombia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 613 authors who have published 461 publications receiving 1521 citations.

Percentage of Body Fat and Fat Mass Index as a Screening Tool for Metabolic Syndrome Prediction in Colombian University Students.

Abstract: High body fat is related to metabolic syndrome (MetS) in all ethnic groups. Based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition of MetS, the aim of this study was to explore thresholds of body fat percentage (BF%) and fat mass index (FMI) for the prediction of MetS among Colombian University students. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1687 volunteers (63.4% women, mean age = 20.6 years). Weight, waist circumference, serum lipids indices, blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose were measured. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and FMI was calculated. MetS was defined as including more than or equal to three of the metabolic abnormalities according to the IDF definition. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine optimal cut-off points for BF% and FMI in relation to the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity in both sexes. The overall prevalence of MetS was found to be 7.7%, higher in men than women (11.1% vs. 5.3%; p < 0.001). BF% and FMI were positively correlated to MetS components (p < 0.05). ROC analysis indicated that BF% and FMI can be used with moderate accuracy to identify MetS in university-aged students. BF% and FMI thresholds of 25.55% and 6.97 kg/m² in men, and 38.95% and 11.86 kg/m² in women, were found to be indicative of high MetS risk. Based on the IDF criteria, both indexes' thresholds seem to be good tools to identify university students with unfavorable metabolic profiles.

Actividad física: estrategia de promoción de la salud

Abstract: Objetivo: conceptualizar acerca de la definicion de la actividad fisica, su prevalencia y relacion directa con las estrategias desarrolladas desde la promocion de la salud. Metodologia: la revision de literatura cientifica que contempla articulos de bases de datos especializados en salud (Ovid, Proquest, Hinary, Springer, entre otras) donde se abordan como parametros de busqueda las variables actividad fisica y promocion de la Salud; de igual forma, se relacionan los aportes de expertos en las areas en mencion. Resultados: la actividad fisica expone definiciones y juicios en torno al aumento del gasto energetico por encima de la tasa basal, asi como posturas referentes a la actividad fisica desde la salud, la terapeutica, entrenamiento deportivo y educacion. En cuanto a la prevalencia de actividad fisica se reportan que muy bajos porcentajes de la poblacion realizan actividad fisica, lo que se convierte en objetivo de obligatorio abordaje desde los entes nacionales e internacionales relacionados con la practica de actividad fisica y la promocion de la salud, a traves de estrategias o intervencion efectiva que permita mejorar la calidad de vida. Conclusiones: esta revision permite que el lector visualice los diversos enfoques y topicos de la actividad fisica, asi como su relacion con los procesos de sensibilizacion, empoderamiento y autorregulacion en torno a la calidad de vida del individuo y la comunidad, con el simple objeto de interiorizar la practica de la actividad fisica como elemento complementario de su vida.Objective: this paper conceptualizes on the definition of physical activity, its prevalence and direct relation with the strategies developed from the health promotion viewpoint. Methodology: scientific literatura review including specialized data on health issues (Ovid, Proquest, Hinary, Springer, among others) in which physical activity and health promotion variables are approached as search parameters. Likewise, experts contributions about the areas mentioned above were taken into consideration. Results: physical activity presents definitions and judgments about the increase in energy consumption over the basal rate as well as attitudes concerning physical activity from health, therapy, sports training and education viewpoints. Regarding the prevalence of physical activity very low percentages of the population are reported to practice physically activities, which become a mandatory target to be approached from national and international bodies related to physical activity and health promotion through effective intervention strategies which allow for the improvement of the quality of life. Conclusions: this review allows the reader to visualize the different approaches and topics of physical activity and its relationship with the raise of public awareness processes, empowerment and self-regulation regarding the quality of life of individuals and the community, with the simple aim of internalizing the practice of physical activity as a complement to their life.Objetivo: conceitualizar acerca da definicao da atividade fisica, sua prevalencia e relacao direta com as estrategias desenvolvidas desde a promocao da saude. Metodologia: A revisao de literatura cientifica que contempla artigos de bases de dados especializados em saude (Ovid, Proquest, Hinary, Springer, entre outras) onde se abordam como parâmetros de busca as variaveis atividades fisicas e promocao da Saude; de igual forma, se relacionam os aportes de expertos nas areas em mencao. Resultados: A atividade fisica expoe definicoes e juizos em torno ao aumento do gasto energetico por em cima da taxa basal, assim como posturas referentes a atividade fisica desde a saude, a terapeutica, treinamento esportivo e educacao. Em quanto a prevalencia de atividade fisica se reportam que baixas porcentagens da povoacao realizam atividade fisica, o que se converte em objetivo de obrigatoria abordagem desde os entes nacionais e internacionais relacionados com uma pratica de atividade fisica e a promocao da saude, a traves de estrategias ou intervencao efetiva que permita melhorar a qualidade de vida. Conclusoes: esta revisao permite que o leitor visualize os diversos enfoques e topicos da atividade fisica, assim como sua relacao com os processos de sensibilizacao, da ideia e auto-regulacao em torno a qualidade de vida do individuo e a comunidade, com o simple objeto de interiorizar a pratica da atividade fisica como elemento complementario de sua vida.

Estilos y estrategias de aprendizaje: una revisión empírica y conceptual de los últimos diez años

Abstract: Se presenta una revision sobre estilos, estrategias de aprendizaje y rendimiento academico durante los ultimos diez anos. Para ello, se revisaron las bases de datos Dialnet, Redalyc y Scielo debido a su alcance e importancia en el contexto latinoamericano. Los descriptores utilizados para la busqueda de informacion fueron las palabras clave: estilos de aprendizaje, estrategias de aprendizaje, rendimiento y logro academico. Las bases de datos consultadas arrojaron un total de 4.154 articulos, de los cuales 43 cumplian todos los criterios de inclusion (periodo de tiempo 2000-2011, idioma espanol, articulo de investigacion y poblacion universitaria). La revision de este material demostro que los principales instrumentos utilizados fueron el Cuestionario de Alonso-Gallego-Honey de estilos de aprendizaje (Chaea); el Inventario de estilos de aprendizaje (LSI), construido por Kolb; el Learning Styles Preferences Questionnaire de Reid; el Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (Lassi), de Weinstein, (1987), y la Escala de estrategias de aprendizaje (ACRA), de Alonso y Gallego (1994). Se concluye que el instrumento mas utilizado para la medicion de estilos de aprendizaje es el Chaea, a diferencia de la medicion de estrategias de aprendizaje puesto que no se evidencia unicidad de criterios. Gran parte de los articulos (11) indican que el estilo predominante en la poblacion analizada es el reflexivo. Sobre las estrategias de aprendizaje, el estilo reflexivo y pragmatico correlacionan con rendimiento academico alto y con estrategias de aprendizaje profundas. Los resultados de esta revision sugieren la ampliacion de estudios que profundicen sobre las estrategias de aprendizaje y su medicion.

Combining Material Flow Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment, and Multiattribute Utility Theory: Assessment of End-of-Life Scenarios for Polyethylene Terephthalate in Tunja, Colombia

Abstract: Summary Three assessment methods, material flow analysis (MFA), life cycle analysis (LCA), and multiattribute utility theory (MAUT) are systematically combined for supporting the choice of best end-of-life scenarios for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste in a municipality of a developing country. MFA analyzes the material and energy balance of a firm, a region, or a nation, identifying the most relevant processes; LCA evaluates multiple environmental impacts of a product or a service from cradle to grave; and MAUT allows for inclusion of other aspects along with the ecological ones in the assessment. We first systematically coupled MFA and LCA by defining “the service offered by the total PET used during one year in the region” as the functional unit. Inventory and impacts were calculated by multiplying MFA flows with LCA impacts per kilogram. We used MAUT to include social and economic aspects in the assessment. To integrate the subjective point of view of stakeholders in the MAUT, we normalized the environmental, social, and economic variables with respect to the magnitude of overall impacts or benefits in the country. The results show large benefits for recycling scenarios from all points of view and also provide information about waste treatment optimization. The combination of the three assessment methods offers a powerful integrative assessment of impacts and benefits. Further research should focus on data collection methods to easily determine relevant material flows. LCA impact factors specific to Colombia should be developed, as well as more reliable social indicators.