Anthropometric and bioimpedance equations for fat and fat-free mass in Chilean children 7–9 years of age

Assessing children’s growth adequately is important due to the necessary prevention of adequate body composition, especially at pre-pubertal age. Simpler measurements such as anthropometry or bioimpedance, using equations validated in Caucasian children, have been demonstrated to overestimate or underestimate fat mass percentage (FM%) or fat-free mass (FFM) in Chilean children. In a sample of 424 children (198 boys and 226 girls) of 7–9 years old, the three component (3C) model was assessed, where total body water was determined by 2H dilution and body volume by air displacement plethysmography, in order to design and validate anthropometry and bioimpedance equations. The FM (%) equation specific for Chilean children was validated as (1·743 × BMI z-score) + (0·727 × triceps skinfold) + (0·385 × biceps skinfold) + 15·985, against the 3C model (R2 0·79). The new FFM equation (kg) generated was (log FFM = (0·018 × age) + (0·047 × sex) + (0·006 × weight) + (0·027 × resistance) + 2·071), with an R2 0·93 (female = 1 and male = 2). The Bland–Altman analysis shows a mean difference of 0·27 (sd 3·5) for the FM% in the whole group as well as 0·004 (sd 0·9) kg is the mean difference for the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) FFM (kg) equation. The new equations for FM (%) and FFM (kg) in Chilean children will provide a simple and valid tool for the assessment of body composition in cohort studies or to assess the impact of nutritional programmes or public policies.

A sketch of a Phonology-Extrinsic-Timing-Based Three-Component model of speech production

This chapter presents the outline of a model of speech-production planning, based on symbolic phonology and the specification of surface-timing patterns using general-purpose timekeeping mechanisms. This phonology-extrinsic-timing-based, three-component (XT/3C) model includes a Phonological Planning Component, to set and prioritize the goals for an utterance; a Phonetic Planning Component, to quantitatively specify the acoustic targets and the movements to achieve them; and a Motor-Sensory Implementation component, to track the planned movements and adjust them to ensure that the targets are reached on time. This approach addresses some of the gaps in earlier speech-production models based on abstract symbolic phonology, by proposing a mechanism for the specification of context-appropriate surface phonetic variation, including timing. In this way it provides an alternative to the Task-Dynamics-based approach embodied in Articulatory Phonology.

Applying Instructional Design Principles on Augmented Reality Cards for Computer Science Education

In this article we describe Augmented Reality (AR) cards for computer science education that were created in the PCBuildAR project. From a technological point of view, we use marker-based AR for the cards so that students can learn and practice at any time with their smartphones. The instructional approach is based on the components content, construction and communication (3C model). The content ensures the acquisition of knowledge, which then is applied via problem-based learning activities (construction). Communication not only takes place between learners, but also with teachers.All materials will be available as open educational resources after the project is completed.

A two-dimensional-three-component model for spanwise rotating plane Poiseuille flow

Spanwise rotating plane Poiseuille flow (RPPF) is one of the canonical flow problems to study the effect of system rotation on wall-bounded shear flows and has been studied a lot in the past. In the present work, a two-dimensional-three-component (2D/3C) model for RPPF is introduced and it is shown that the present model is equivalent to a thermal convection problem with unit Prandtl number. For low Reynolds number cases, the model can be used to study the stability behaviour of the roll cells. It is found that the neutral stability curves, critical eigensolutions and critical streamfunctions of RPPF at different rotation numbers ($Ro$) almost collapse with the help of a rescaling with a newly defined Rayleigh number $Ra$ and channel height $H$. Analytic expressions for the critical Reynolds number and critical wavenumber at different $Ro$ can be obtained. For a turbulent state with high Reynolds number, the 2D/3C model for RPPF is self-sustained even without extra excitations. Simulation results also show that the profiles of mean streamwise velocity and Reynolds shear stress from the 2D/3C model share the same linear laws as the fully three-dimensional cases, although differences on the intercepts can be observed. The contours of streamwise velocity fluctuations behave like plumes in the linear law region. We also provide an explanation to the linear mean velocity profiles observed at high rotation numbers.

VACCINE CONFIDENCE IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA IN LIGHT OF RECENT UPSURGE IN POLIO CASES: A VIEW BY PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION- KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Vaccine hesitancy as defined by World Health Organization (WHO) refers to “delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services. Vaccine hesitancy is complex and context specific, varying across time, place and vaccines. It is influenced by factors such as complacency, convenience and confidence.”1 Vaccine hesitancy is a multidimensional complex phenomenon with many determinants.2,3 It is usually seen amongst specific subgroups of population within a country and have certain context. Vaccine hesitancy is not always related to one specific vaccine. Sometimes it is against immunization in general. It is important to understand who is hesitant towards vaccines or the immunization program and why.4 Many models are available to understand and help elucidate this phenomenon. WHO has adopted “the 3C model” as it is readily understandable and has incorporated the themes in its definition as well i.e. complacency, convenience and confidence.5 Complacency and convenience are important determinants of vaccine hesitancy, in this write up we will keep ourselves limited to discussion on vaccine confidence. Vaccine confidence implies “trust in the vaccine (the product), trust in the vaccinator or other health professional (the provider), and trust in those who make the decisions about vaccine provision (the policy-maker).” It is the trust of the public not only on the vaccine itself but also the healthcare workers and the government that leads to vaccine confidence.

The paediatric option for BodPod to assess body composition in preschool children: what fat-free mass density values should be used?

Air displacement plethysmography utilises a two-component model to assess body composition, which relies on assumptions regarding the density of fat-free mass (FFM). To date, there is no evidence as to whether Lohman’s or Wells et al.’s FFM density values are more accurate in young children. Therefore, the aims of this study were to compare total body fat percentage (TBF%) assessed using the BodPod with both Lohman’s and Wells et al.’s FFM density values with TBF% from the three-component (3C) model in forty healthy Swedish children aged 5·5 years. Average TBF% calculated using Lohman’s FFM density values underestimated TBF% in comparison with the corresponding value assessed using the 3C model (22·2 (sd 5·7) and 25·1 (sd 5·5) %, respectively; P<0·001). No statistically significant difference was observed between TBF% assessed using Wells et al.’s FFM density values and the 3C model (24·9 (sd 5·5) and 25·1 (sd 5·5) %, respectively; P=0·614). The Bland and Altman plots for TBF% using both Lohman’s and Wells et al.’s FFM density values did not show any bias across the range of body fatness (Lohman: r 0·056, P=0·733 and Wells et al.: r −0·006, P=0·970). These results indicate that Wells et al.’s FFM density values should be used when assessing body composition with the paediatric option for BodPod in 5-year-old children. However, future studies are needed to confirm these results in other populations, including a wider age range of children.