Agglomerative Hierarchical Analysis Research Articles

Development of a Specific Lexicon to Describe Sensory and Textural Characteristics of Olive Paté

Olive paté is a traditional Italian food typical of the Mediterranean diet, derived from debittered, pitted, and crushed table olives. Currently, there is no sensory standard for the quality of the product. In this research, a specific lexicon and an innovative profile sheet for sensory analysis of olive paté have been developed and tested to fill the gap. The list of descriptors was set in terms of negative sensations, olfactory/gustatory sensations, and kinaesthetic attributes. The assessors of a professional panel were first trained with and then used the profile sheet to characterize 40 olive paté commercial samples from five different Olea europaea L. cultivars. From a sensorial point of view, Nocellara del Belice paté was perceived as the saltiest, Nocellara etnea as the bitterest, and Hojiblanca and Bella di Cerignola were the most balanced and characterized on the olfactory/gustatory level. In terms of texture, Hojiblanca paté is the most consistent and grainiest. To support and verify kinaesthetic descriptors, textural analysis by back extrusion was performed. Through the agglomerative hierarchical analysis, the various paté showed a clear clusterization into two clusters: Nocellara del Belice-Itrana and Hojblanca-Nocellara etnea-Bella di Cerignola. The results obtained showed the validity of the profile sheet to correctly assess the different products.

Gender Differences, Motor Skills and Physical Fitness Heterogeneity in Adults with Down’s Syndrome

Background-Adults with Down's syndrome (DS) present lower physical fitness associated with heightened sedentary behaviors and motor skills impairments. Their etiologies and determinants seem to be heterogeneous. This study aims to evaluate physical fitness in adults with DS and to identify specific physical fitness profiles depending on gender and physical activity levels. Methods-Forty adults with DS (16 women, 24 men, 29.7 ± 7.5 years) performed six tests from the EUROFIT Battery and Motor Assessment Battery for Children (MAB-C). Their maximal aerobic capacity was assessed using an incremental treadmill test to assess (VO2peak). Ecological, physical activity, and sedentary levels were evaluated subjectively (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire) and objectively using an Actigraph GT9X® accelerometer over a seven-day period. Results-VO2peak and isometric strength were significantly lower for women (p < 0.01), whereas men had significantly lower flexibility than women (p < 0.05). Using a principal component analysis and an agglomerative hierarchical analysis, we identified three clusters. Cluster 1 (n = 14; 50% men; Body Mass index = 28.3 ± 4.3) was characterized by significantly poorer physical fitness variables (VO2peak (p < 0.01), strength (p < 0.01) and balance (p < 0.05)) compared to Clusters 2 and 3. Cluster 2 (n = 19; 58% men; Body Mass index = 22.9 ± 2.0) and Cluster 3 (n = 19; 58% men; BMI = 22.9 ± 1.9) were characterized by subjects with comparable physical fitness profiles, except for the balance capacities, which were significantly lower in Cluster 3 (p < 0.05). Conclusions-DS subjects exhibited high heterogeneity in terms of physical fitness, PA, and sedentary levels, with a significant gender effect. The present findings are important to identify subjects at higher risk of sedentary behaviors and impaired motor capacities to develop personalized PA programs.

Cluster analysis reveals latent structure in stakeholder interests relevant to the management of Blueskin Bay estuary, Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACT Community participation is increasingly embedded into environmental policy with the aim of accelerating transformative change towards sustainable management. A common approach to engaging with communities is through key stakeholders, who are still often selected ad hoc based on their activities. We tested an analytical approach for identifying distinct groups of community preferences as part of a case study to develop a community-led management plan for Blueskin Bay estuary and its catchment. We interviewed 36 community members to elicit their preferences for predefined management objectives following a standardised protocol. Using an agglomerative hierarchical analysis, we determined value-preference clusters for high-level management objectives and more specific objectives. At both levels combined, preference clusters were attributed to some of the commercial interests, such as cockle harvesting, forestry or tourism, which we also identified ad hoc based on their activities in the Blueskin Bay area. However, in addition, cluster analyses revealed five additional preference types: Urban Development Advocates, Cultural Environmentalists, Economic Environmentalists, Integrative Thinkers and those with Diverse Interests. We conclude that cluster analysis more objectively and specifically maps community preferences and, consequently, increases the robustness of collaborative environmental management processes, such as the one underway for Blueskin Bay estuary.

Effect of Daily Physical Activity on Sleep Characteristics in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Background. Sleep problems have been reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One of the methods proposed to improve sleep characteristics is based on physical activity (PA). Objective. To assess characteristics of sleep and the effect of PA level on sleep quality in children with ASD compared to controls. Methods. Fifty boys with ASD (ASD; 10.8 ± 2.6 years) and 18 controls (CONT, 10.1 ± 2.2 years) wore an accelerometer device for five consecutive days to obtain measures of activity and sleep characteristics. Results. Some significant differences were reported between ASD and CONT groups. Wake-up time resistance was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in ASD. Total time for PA, and daily steps number were significantly lower in the ASD group (p < 0.05). Time for sedentary behavior was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the ASD group. Using a principal component analysis and an agglomerative hierarchical analysis, we observed three clusters. Two showed the same poor-quality indices of sleep but two opposing profiles of PA, either an insufficient PA volume (cluster 1, Total time PA = 75.1 min; Daily steps: 7704) or an important PA volume (cluster 3, Total time PA = 222.1 min; Daily steps: 17,164). Cluster 2 was characterized by moderate participation in PA and children with the best sleep indices (Total time PA = 166.8 min; Daily steps: 12,718). Conclusion. The dose–response effect of exercise on sleep may indicate large individual differences but the present findings are important to prevent sedentary behaviors or to correct over-activity that could be detrimental to the sleep quality in children with ASD.

Comorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Cluster analysis of the RICA registry. Opportunities for improvement

AimThe heterogeneity of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is high, thus this entity tends to be grouped into phenotypes to act with precision. Within these groups, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) hold this heterogeneity. Our aim is to describe subgroups of patients with HFpEF and DM2 based on other comorbidities. Material and methodsPatients were recruited from the national registry of heart failure (RCIA). Patients with ejection fraction greater than or equal to 50% without valvular disease and with DM2 were included. A hierarchical agglomerative analysis was performed with Ward's method including the following variables: dyslipidemia, liver disease, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, cerebrovascular disease, arrhythmia, systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), estimation of glomerular filtration and hemoglobin. ResultsA total of 1934 patients with HFpEF were included, of which 907 (46.9%) had DM2 with a predominance of women (60.9%) and with a BMI of 31.1 (5.9) Kg/m2. Four groups were obtained, two with high vascular risk (one with arrhythmia and the other without it) with 263 patients the first and 201 the second. A third group had a predominance of COPD (140 patients) and a last group with 303 patients older but with less comorbidity. ConclusionsIn our patients with HFpEF and DM2, obesity and female sex predominated. All four groups offered treatment chances to improve their prognosis not only based on the use of new antidiabetic drugs but also on other options that may be a starting point for further research

Comorbilidad en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de eyección preservada. Análisis de clusters del registro RICA. Oportunidades de mejora

AimThe heterogeneity of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is high, thusthis entity tends to be grouped into phenotypes to act with precision. Within these groups, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) hold this heterogeneity. Our aim is to describe subgroups of patients with HFpEF and T2DM based on other comorbidities. Material and MethodsPatients were recruited from the national registry of heart failure (RCIA). Patients with ejection fraction greater than or equal to 50% without valvular disease and with T2DM were included. A hierarchical agglomerative analysis was performed with Ward's method including the following variables: dyslipidemia, liver disease, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, cerebrovascular disease, arrhythmia, systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), estimation of glomerular filtration and hemoglobin. Results1934 patients with ICFEP were included, of which 907 (46.9%) had T2DM with a predominance of women (60.9%) and with a BMI of 31.1 (5.9) Kg / m2. Four groups were obtained, two with high vascular risk (one with arrhythmia and the other without it) with 263 patients the first and 201 the second. A third group had a predominance of COPD (140 patients) and a last group with 303 patients older but with less comorbidity. ConclusionsIn our patients with ICFEP and T2DM, obesity and female sex predominated. All four groups offered treatment chances to improve their prognosis not only based on the use of new antidiabetic drugs but also on other options that may be a starting point for further research.

Caracterizacion de las tacticas de pesca en la pesqueria multiespecifica de crustaceos demersales en Chile

In multispecies fisheries, each fishing operation can be described by analyzing the catch composition, fishing location, and fishing gear used. Sets of fishing operations with similar characteristics have been usually defined as fishing tactics. The present work defines fishing tactics for the crustacean multispecies fishery (CMF) developed between 26o03’S and 38o28’S off Chile. The catch composition per fishing haul, as recorded by scientific observers in fishing a logbooks from 2007 to 2009, was used. During this period, 1599 fishing hauls containing 57 species were registered in total. After employing a principal component analysis to reduce the species composition dimension, an agglomerative hierarchical analysis was carried out over the retained components. Four fishing tactics were identified and analyzed: 1) effort directed to Heterocarpus reedi (red shrimp) over a wide latitudinal range, 2) effort focused on Cervimunida johni (yellow squat lobster) in a narrow latitude range and at shallower depths, 3) effort directed to Haliporoides diomedeae (red royal shrimp), with the deepest hauls, and 4) effort focused on Pleuroncodes monodon (red squat lobster) in shallower waters close to the coast. In the case of the CMF, the identification of fishing tactics is important for indicating catch intention and for constructing abundance indices using data derived from fishing a logbooks. The results are discussed in terms of characterizing the fishing tactics and how their designation allows obtaining less biased abundance indices.