Linear mixed-effects models for the analysis of high-density electromyography with application to diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

This article demonstrates the power and flexibility of linear mixed-effects models (LMEMs) to investigate high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) signals. The potentiality of the model is illustrated by investigating the root mean squared value of HD-sEMG signals in the tibialis anterior muscle of healthy (n = 11) and individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (n = 12). We started by presenting the limitations of traditional approaches by building a linear model with only fixed effects.

An aircraft seat discomfort scale using item response theory.

The purpose of this study is to construct an aircraft seat discomfort scale and verify the evidence of its validity and reliability. We developed a questionnaire and presented it to 1500 Brazilian passengers at an airport. The data analysis included: 1) factor analysis; 2) the analysis of the items to be used in the scale created using Item Response Theory.

Shift work and sex are variants across Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire and the application of linking analysis as a step forward using Item Response Theory.

The frequency of sleep disturbances is considerably higher in the night and shift workers and in females than in day workers and males, respectively. However, a subjective sleep scale must be invariant across these groups, independently of the level of their members on the scale. This study is aimed to test the invariance of the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire's (KSQ) items by shift work and sex.

Instrument for Assessing Knowledge of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy: Construction and Validation.

Background And Purpose: A valid and reliable assessment tool is fundamental for evaluating the knowledge of individuals about using oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). The purpose of this study was to develop a tool to assess knowledge about OAT and provide evidence to support its use in people living in developing countries.

Methods: Construction and validation: development of items; assessment of face and content validity; pilot study; application of the instrument to a sample of 500 users of OAT to analyze dimensionality, convergent validation, and reliability.

Measuring the quality of life in hypertension according to Item Response Theory.

Objective: To analyze the Miniquestionário de Qualidade de Vida em Hipertensão Arterial (MINICHAL - Mini-questionnaire of Quality of Life in Hypertension) using the Item Response Theory.

Methods: This is an analytical study conducted with 712 persons with hypertension treated in thirteen primary health care units of Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil, in 2015. The steps of the analysis by the Item Response Theory were: evaluation of dimensionality, estimation of parameters of items, and construction of scale.

Design and validation of an aircraft seat comfort scale using item response theory.

This article aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of a scale that measures aircraft seat comfort. Factor analysis was used to study data variances. Psychometric quality was checked by using Item Response Theory.

Impact of pecan nut shell aqueous extract on the oxidative properties of margarines during storage.

Background: The oxidative properties of margarines supplemented with pecan nut shell extract, rosemary extract and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were investigated.

Results: The extracts of pecan nut shell and rosemary showed a high content of total phenolics and condensed tannins (93 and 102.9 mg GAE g and 46 and 38.

Interaction levels between comfort and discomfort in aircraft seats.

Background: Although comfort and discomfort on seats have been widely investigated, their nature is still not well described by literature and it is not known exactly how the interaction between these two phenomena happens.

Objective: To investigate the multidimensional nature of comfort and discomfort in aircraft seats as well as their levels of interaction.

Methods: A comfort-discomfort questionnaire has been given to 1500 passengers in Brazil.

[Instrument to measure adherence in hypertensive patients: contribution of Item Response Theory].

Objective: To analyze, by means of "Item Response Theory", an instrument to measure adherence to t treatment for hypertension.

Methods: Analytical study with 406 hypertensive patients with associated complications seen in primary care in Fortaleza, CE, Northeastern Brazil, 2011 using "Item Response Theory". The stages were: dimensionality test, calibrating the items, processing data and creating a scale, analyzed using the gradual response model.

[Validation of the equations that estimate the resting metabolic rate in adolescent girls].

Objectives: The objective of the study is to analyze the validity of the prediction equations for the resting metabolic rate (RMR) proposed by Harris and Benedicti (1919), Schofield (1985), WHO/FAO/ UNU (1985), Henry and Rees (1991), Molnár and cols. (1995), Tverskaya and cols. (1998) and Müller and cols.