From innovative projects to an innovative university

The factors contributing to the transformation of a university into an innovative enterprise, which are seen as the introduction of innovations in education services, are discussed. Definitions are given for such innovation-related terms as process, project, potential, activities, system, policy, and development.     

Paul Halmos — Expositor par excellence

Paul Richard Halmos, one of the best expositors of mathematics — be it with pen on paper or with chalk on blackboard — passed away on October 2, 2006 after a brief period of illness. This article is an attempt to pay homage to him by recalling some of his contributions to mathematics.     

Criterion-related validity of self-report walking time from the EPIC questionnaire in older adults

Tools for measuring walking time make use of objective and subjective methods. One subjective approach is to administer physical activity questionnaires (PAQ), mainly because they are inexpensive and easy to give to large groups. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study has a brief PAQ (EPIC-PAQ) and includes one question referencing walking time. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of the question about time spent walking included in the EPIC-PAQ.

The sample included 200 older adults (113 women). To assess daily walking time, participants responded to the EPIC-PAQ in an interview and wore a portable gait analysis system and physical activity monitor for 48 consecutive hours in free-living condition.

Results indicated that the mean of bias between the EPIC-PAQ and objetive measurement was ?64.6 min/day. Also, the correlation was low compared to an objective measurement (rho = 0.196) and was positively correlated with the time spent at speeds below 2.5 mph but the correlation was low (slow walking rho = 0.154 and pace walking rho = 0.163).

The EPIC-PAQ shows low correlations with the objective measurement of walking time, that suggests it may be inaccurate and affecting the estimate of the EPIC-PAQ’s PA energy expenditure in this age group.