Evaluating weaknesses of "perceptual-cognitive training" and "brain training" methods in sport: An ecological dynamics critique

The recent upsurge in "brain training and perceptual-cognitive training," proposing to improve isolated processes, such as brain function, visual perception, and decision-making, has created significant interest in elite sports practitioners, seeking to create an "edge" for athletes. The claims of these related "performance-enhancing industries" can be considered together as part of a process training approach proposing enhanced cognitive and perceptual skills and brain capacity to support performance in everyday life activities, including sport. For example, the "process training industry" promotes the idea that playing games not only makes you a better player but also makes you smarter, more alert, and a faster learner. In this position paper, we critically evaluate the effectiveness of both types of process training programmes in generalizing transfer to sport performance. These issues are addressed in three stages. First, we evaluate empirical evidence in support of perceptual-cognitive process training and its application to enhancing sport performance. Second, we critically review putative modularized mechanisms underpinning this kind of training, addressing limitations and subsequent problems. Specifically, we consider merits of this highly specific form of training, which focuses on training of isolated processes such as cognitive processes (attention, memory, thinking) and visual perception processes, separately from performance behaviors and actions. We conclude that these approaches may, at best, provide some "general transfer" of underlying processes to specific sport environments, but lack "specificity of transfer" to contextualize actual performance behaviors. A major weakness of process training methods is their focus on enhancing the performance in body "modules" (e.g., eye, brain, memory, anticipatory sub-systems). What is lacking is evidence on how these isolated components are modified and subsequently interact with other process "modules," which are considered to underlie sport performance. Finally, we propose how an ecological dynamics approach, aligned with an embodied framework of cognition undermines the rationale that modularized processes can enhance performance in competitive sport. An ecological dynamics perspective proposes that the body is a complex adaptive system, interacting with performance environments in a functionally integrated manner, emphasizing that the inter-relation between motor processes, cognitive and perceptual functions, and the constraints of a sport task is best understood at the performer-environment scale of analysis

Auditoria à prática profilática e incidência de náuseas e vómitos pós-operatórios (NVPO)

Introdução: As NVPO são uma das principais queixas dos doentes do pós-operatório. Este trabalho teve como objetivo registar a prática farmacológica para profilaxia de NVPO em cirurgia programada e avaliar a sua eficácia. Metodologia: Incluídos todos os doentes submetidos a cirurgia programada das especialidades de Cirurgia Geral, Urologia e Cirurgia Vascular entre 3 e 21 de Dezembro de 2012. Excluídos se alta<24horas(h), pós-operatório no Serviço Cuidados Intensivos/ Intermédios ou impossível acesso aos registos. Tendo como modelos o Score Apfel Simplificado e as recomendações para cirurgia de ambulatório(1) (Tabela 1), a profilaxia instituída foi dividida em adequada, a mais ou a menos; avaliação da ocorrência de NVPO na Unidade Cuidados Pós-Anestésicos e às 24h (registos anestésicos e entrevista). Resultados apresentados em percentagem. Aplicação teste qui quadrado com p<0,05 para significância. Resultados: Avaliados 255 doentes (excluídos 68, incluídos 187). Com 0-1 fator risco (FR) 34%, 2 FR 45%, 3-4 FR 21%. A profilaxia foi adequada em 53% dos doentes, a mais em 16% e a menos em 31%. Incidência total de NVPO - 22% (24% no grupo de doentes que fez profilaxia adequada e 20% no grupo de profilaxia inadequada (p=0.35012)). Neste último grupo 13% realizaram profilaxia a mais e 24% a menos. Resultados da incidência de NVPO por fator de risco na tabela 2. A incidência de NVPO por FR nos doentes com profilaxia adequada foi menor ou igual em todos os grupos em relação ao previsto no Score Apfel simplicado(1,2). No grupo que fez profilaxia inadequada, esta foi a menos principalmente no grupo de 2 FR, com 71% de NVPO; e foi a mais essencialmente no grupo com 1 FR (4 doentes, todos com NVPO). Incidência menor com anestesia locoregional (ALR) vs anestesia geral (AG) (13% vs 27%) (p<0.001). Discussão e Conclusões: A profilaxia foi adequada, segundo as recomendações para cirurgia de ambulatório, em cerca de metade dos doentes. Apesar da profilaxia adequada, nos grupos de FR 1 e 2 não houve redução da incidência de NVPO comparando com a prevista pelo score de Apfel, alertando para a importância de outros fatores de risco não previstos neste score e que estas recomendações poderão ser insuficientes para a profilaxia de NVPO em cirurgia em regime de internamento. A incidência de NVPO foi menor com ALR vs AG, corroborando a ALR como melhor opção em doentes de risco de NVPO (1,2). Estes resultados salientam a importância da adoção de estratégias para redução do risco basal

An integrated characterization of Picea abies industrial bark regarding chemical composition, thermal properties and polar extracts activity

Research ArticleThe present work determines the chemical and thermal characteristics as well as the phytochemical and antioxidant potential of the polar extractives of the Picea abies bark from an industrial mill, their wood and bark components and also different bark fractions obtained by mechanical fractionation (fine B1, Φ<0.180 mm, medium B3, 0.450 < Φ<0.850 mm and coarse B6, 2 < Φ<10 mm). The aim is to increase the knowledge on the Picea abies bark to better determine possible uses other than burning for energy production and to test an initial size reduction process to achieve fractions with different characteristics. Compared to wood, bark presented similar lignin (27%), higher mineral (3.9% vs 0.4%) and extractives (20.3% vs 3.8%) and lower polysaccharides (48% vs 71%) contents. Regarding bark fractions the fines showed higher ash (6.3%), extractives (25%) and lignin (29%) than the coarse fraction (3.9%, 19% and 25% respectively). Polysaccharide contents increased with particle size of the bark fractions (38% vs 52% for B1 and B6) but showed the same relative composition. The phytochemical profile of ethanol and water extracts presented higher contents for bark than wood of total phenols (2x higher), flavonoids (3x higher) and tannins (4- 10x higher) with an increasing tendency with particle size. Bark antioxidant activity was higher than that of wood for ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, 10 vs 6 mmolFe2+/gExt for the ethanol extract) and free radical scavenging activity (DPPH, 6 vs 18 mg/L IC50 for the ethanol extract) methods. The different bark fractions antioxidant activity was very similar. Bark thermal properties showed a much lower volatiles to fixed carbon ratio (V/FC) than wood (3.1 vs 5.2) although the same higher heating value (20.3 MJ/kg). The fractions were quite similar. Bark presented chemical features that point to their possible upgrade, whether by taking advantage of the high extractives with bioactive compounds or the production potential for hemicellulose-derived oligomers with possible use in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industriesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hotelaria Hospitalar: uma proposta de humanização e racionalização operacional

Este trabalho visa apresentar uma base sobre o funcionamento do sistema hoteleiro e sua adaptação a um meio de hospedagem com nicho de mercado específico – pessoas enfermas, seus familiares e clientes de saúde em geral. Dentro dele se faz uso de uma pesquisa de mercado de hospitais particulares dentro da região sul fluminense do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, que se encontra na segunda posição em uma estatística de hospitais particulares, estando somente atrás de São Paulo, dando ênfase na cidade de Volta Redonda. Serão abordadas técnicas operacionais e de planejamento para agilizar as rotinas, de maneira a produzir uma humanização no ambiente hospitalar e uma racionalização nos procedimentos de apoio aos serviços médicos. Quando se observa o cliente e suas necessidades a fim de atendê-las da melhor forma, pode-se ganhar espaço dentro do mercado e fidelizar os clientes. Este estudo poderá servir de instrumento para um administrador hospitalar dar início a um sistema de hotelaria hospitalar e justificar sua utilidade com um pouco mais de informações. As informações contidas na monografia serão baseadas em revisões bibliográficas

Size also matters in biodegradable composite microfiber reinforced by chitosan nanofibers

Pioneer works on nanocomposites were focused in carbon nanofibers or nanotubes dispersed in epoxy matrix, a viscous liquid facilitating the compounding stage. The interest in developing new composites aimed for biomedical applications led us to design new nanocomposites based in biodegradable polymers with demonstrated biological performance. We report herein the development of micro-nano composites by extruding poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) microfibers with two different diameters, 200 and 500 m, reinforced with electrospun chitosan nanofibers. Analysis of the microfibers showed high levels of alignment of the reinforcing phase and excellent distribution of the nanofibers in the composite. Its geometry facilitates the development of orthotropy, maximizing the reinforcement in the axial fiber main axis. The biodegradable microfiber composites show an outstanding improvement of mechanical properties and of the kinetics of biodegradation, with very small fractions (0.05 and 0.1 wt.%) of electrospun chitosan nanofibers reinforcement. The high surface area-to-volume ratio of electrospun nanofibers combined with the increased water uptake capability of chitosan justify the accelerated kinetics of biodegradation of the composite as compared with the unfilled synthetic polymer.FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologi

Potential of mild torrefaction for upgrading the wood energy value of different Eucalyptus species

Torrefaction is a promising pre-treatment for improving the fuel quality of biomass. This study examined the effect of a mild torrefaction (from 160 to 230 C) on the heating value, elemental composition, and thermogravimetric analysis of wood from eight Eucalyptus species (E. botryoides Sm., E. globulus Labill., E. grandis W.Hill ex Maiden, E. maculata (Hook.) K.D. Hill & L.A.S.Johnson, E. propinqua Maiden Deane, E. rudis Endl., E. saligna Sm., and E. viminalis Labill.). The higher heating values (HHV) increased from the initial average of 19 MJ kg1 to 21 MJ kg1 in the torrefied samples. The carbon content increased from 48.2% to 53.3% and the C/O ratio from 1.08 to 1.35. The torrefied wood samples showed more thermal stability with a shift of the mass loss peaks to higher temperatures and a higher residual mass at 450 C of 36%, in comparison to 30% of the untreated samples. Torrefaction concentrated the biomass samples in the more energetic and thermal resistant components and decreased their sulfur and chlorine content, leading to a better combustion performance. The wood of the eight Eucalyptus species had a similar behavior and showed quality improvement. Therefore, torrefaction showed potential as a pre-treatment for eucalyptus biomass fuel improvementinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effect of artificial side wind on the serve ofcompetitive tennis players

In tennis, the serve is the shot ofgreatest importance.The servedependsmainly on the player’stechnique, however,environmental factorscan influencethe accuracy of the serve. This study highlights the effect of side wind on the serve of 12 experienced tennis players. The players were asked to hit the intersection point betweenthe centralandthe service line at maximum speed while awind effect was artificially generated by a ventilator setup with various speed of Induced Aerodynamic Flow (IAF).Each player’s serve was then analyzed using error ellipsesas a statistical measure. Thismethod allowed us toevaluate theeffect of "random wind"in comparison to“constant wind” on the accuracy of the serves.The truncated Fourier series analysis showedthat there was an adaptive pattern in the accuracy of the serve dependingon therandom wind. However in four players,the more unpredictablethe impact of the wind the more accurate they becamewith the serve. The fact that there was not a linear trend in the accuracy of serveswhen IAFincreased shows that each playeradapts differentlytothe windinfluence.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An Informational Algorithm as the Basis for Perception-Action Control of the Instantaneous Axes of the Knee

Traditional locomotion studies emphasize an optimization of the desired movement trajectories while ignoring sensory feedback. We propose an information based theory that locomotion is neither triggered nor commanded but controlled. The basis for this control is the information derived from perceiving oneself in the world. Control therefore lies in the human-environment system. In order to test this hypothesis, we derived a mathematical foundation characterizing the energy that is required to perform a rotational twist, with small amplitude, of the instantaneous axes of the knee (IAK). We have found that the joint’s perception of the ground reaction force may be replaced by the co-perception of muscle activation with appropriate intensities. This approach generated an accurate comparison with known joint forces and appears appropriate in so far as predicting the effect on the knee when it is free to twist about the IAK