THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTOR ACTIVITY AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS IN THE TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS: CASE OF 6 - 7 AGED TUNISIAN PUPILS

Considering that the cognitive and motor dimensions of human beings grow together and that primary school age is one of the most important stages of children’s cognitive and motor development, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between executive functions and motor activity in the teaching-learning process. Primary school students (N = 40; 6.3 years) participated in this study. They were divided into two groups: an experimental group (20 students) and a control group (20 students). The first group followed a 12-week motors activity program with 5 sessions of 40 minutes per week and the second a regular math sessions program. The results of the experimental group show a clear improvement in most of the study variables. Also, these results highlight the value of actively involving the student in the task and the importance of using active methods in the teaching-learning process.  Article visualizations

The Hermitian Jacobi process: simplified formula for the moments and application to optical fibers MIMO channels

Using a change of basis in the algebra of symmetric functions, we compute the moments of the Hermitian Jacobi process. After a careful arrangement of the terms and the evaluation of the determinant of an `almost upper-triangular' matrix, we end up with a moment formula which is considerably simpler than the one derived in \cite{Del-Dem}. As an application, we propose the Hermitian Jacobi process as a dynamical model for optical fibers MIMO channels and compute its Shannon capacity for small enough power at the transmitter. Moreover, when the size of the Hermitian Jacobi process is larger than the moment order, our moment formula may be written as a linear combination of balanced terminating ${}_4F_3$-series evaluated at unit argument.Comment: Accepted for publication in Funct. Anal. Appl

Integration of Obese Children in Physical Education Sessions: An Exploratory Study

We investigated the effect of the role of the joker in children with obesity (OCs) on integration and physio-psychological responses during small-sided games (SSG) training programs. Sixteen OC students (age 13.8 ± 0.73 years) performed training programs consisting of two sessions a week for three weeks. The experimental protocol consisted of 16 teams of 4 children (3 of normal weight and 1 OC). The 16 teams were divided into 2 groups, one with an OC playing as the joker (SSG-J) and the other group with OC playing as non-joker (SSG-NJ). Maximum heart rates (HRmax), blood lactate concentration [La] and OMNI-Child perceived exertion were measured at the end of each SSG. A physical activity enjoyment Scale (PACES) was accomplished during physical activity for the evaluation of feelings in OCs. Additionally, the profile of mood states (POMS) was measured before and after the SSG-J and SSG-NJ programs. HRmax, [La], perceived exertion, and PACES scores were significantly higher after the SSG-J compared with SSG-NJ (increments of 6.4%, 31.7%, 19.5% and 18.1%, respectively). The score of the POMS variables was positively increased in the presence of jokers. The vigor score increased by 30%, while tension and total mood disturbance scores decreased by 27.6% and 4.5%, respectively. These findings suggest that the joker role could be effective in improving integration, physical enjoyment, physiological responses and mood states in OCs when a team game is used during PE sessions. PE teachers could then program joker exercises with the aim of improving OCs’ physical commitment illingness to play

The Impact of Partial Sleep Deprivation on the Diurnal Variations of Cognitive Performance in Trained Subjects

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of partial sleep deprivation on the diurnal variations of cognitive performance of handball goalkeepers. Twelve handball goalkeepers (18.5±1.7 years; 8.3±2.4 years of experiment) performed 3 cognitive tasks by the use of the reaction time (RT), the stroop, and the barrage tests (to evaluate the RT, the selective and supported attention respectively) following 2 situations of sleep deprivation (in the beginning or in the end of the night) and a control situation. The tests were performed at 08:00 and 16:00. Our results showed an increased RT and a fall of the level of the attention after the partial sleep deprivation in the afternoon hours. However, the partial sleep deprivation didn’t affect the morning cognitive performance. In conclusion, partial sleep deprivation affects the diurnal variation of cognitive performance by increasing the RT and reducing the attentional capacities in the afternoon hours

Clinical Study Caloric Restriction Effect on Proinflammatory Cytokines, Growth Hormone, and Steroid Hormone Concentrations during Exercise in Judokas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of caloric restriction on the immune and hormonal responses during exercise in judo athletes. In a randomised order, 11 male judokas (age: 20.45 ± 0.51; height: 1.71 ± 0.3 m; and body weight: 75.9 ± 3.1 kg) participate in this study during a period of weight maintenance (baseline) and after 7 days of caloric restriction (CR). All subjects performed the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) during the two conditions. Values for nutrient intakes were obtained from a 7 d food record kept during a period of weight maintenance and after a 7-day food restriction (−5∼6 MJ/day). Our results showed that CR resulted in significant decreases in body weight ( < 0.05) and performance ( < 0.05). However, heart rate and SJFT index ( < 0.05) increase significantly during CR in comparison to baseline. Moreover, exercise leads to a significant increase in testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone (GH), leukocytes, neutrophils, TNF-, and IL-6, in both CR and baseline conditions. Compared to baseline, TNF-and IL-6 were significantly higher during CR condition ( < 0.05). Additionally, CR leads to an increase in cortisol and GH ( < 0.05) and a decrease in testosterone concentrations ( < 0.05)

Effects of pomegranate supplementation on exercise performance and post-exercise recovery in healthy adults: A systematic review

© The Authors 2018. The functional significance of pomegranate (POM) supplementation on physiological responses during and following exercise is currently unclear. This systematic review aimed (i) to evaluate the existing literature assessing the effects of POM supplementation on exercise performance and recovery; exercise-induced muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation; and cardiovascular function in healthy adults and (ii) to outline the experimental conditions in which POM supplementation is more or less likely to benefit exercise performance and/or recovery. Multiple electronic databases were used to search for studies examining the effects of POM intake on physiological responses during and/or following exercise in healthy adult. Articles were included in the review if they investigated the effects of an acute or chronic POM supplementation on exercise performance, recovery and/or physiological responses during or following exercise. The existing evidence suggests that POM supplementation has the potential to confer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects during and following exercise, to improve cardiovascular responses during exercise, and to enhance endurance and strength performance and post-exercise recovery. However, the beneficial effects of POM supplementation appeared to be less likely when (i) unilateral eccentric exercise was employed, (ii) the POM administered was not rich in polyphenols (<1·69 g/l) and (iii) insufficient time was provided between POM-ingestion and the assessment of physiological responses/performance (≤1 h). The review indicates that POM has the potential to enhance exercise performance and to expedite recovery from intensive exercise. The findings and recommendations from this review may help to optimise POM-supplementation practice in athletes and coaches to potentially improve exercise-performance and post-exercise recovery

Change-of-direction performance in elite soccer players:Preliminary analysis according to their playing positions

International audienceOur objective was to examine the relationship between change of direction (CoD) performance, with (CoDb), and without the ball (CoDwb), and selected measures of physical fitness (jump performance, speed, balance) in elite soccer players, according to players’ positions. Forty elite male soccer players performed the change-of-direction and acceleration test (CODAT) with (CODATb), and without the ball (CODATwb), 5- and 20-m sprint tests, the 5-jump test (5JT), and the Y-balance test (YBT). Analyses of the whole sample showed significant correlations between all CODAT measures (CODATwb and CODATb, respectively) and sprint 5-m (r = 0.72, p &lt; 0.001; r = 0.52, p &lt; 0.01), sprint 20-m (r = 0.54, p &lt; 0.03; r = 0.45, p &lt; 0.05), jump (r = -0.62, p &lt; 0.01; r = -0.64, p &lt; 0.01) and balance (r = -0.50, p &lt; 0.01; r = -0.83, p &lt; 0.001) performances. Correlations were significantly different between player positions (defender, midfielder and striker). When examining the entire sample, the single best predictor of CODATwb was performance in the 5-m test with an explained variance of 52% (p &lt; 0.001). For CODATb, the Y-balance performance explained 68% of the variance of performance (p &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, soccer coaches and fitness trainers are advised to improve players’ CoD using neuromuscular training that mimic crucial match actions. Meanwhile, CoD testing and training should be designed in line with the demands of playing position

Experimental Design Methodology Applied to the Oxidation of Quinolines in Aqueous Medium by Electro-Fenton Process

采用碳毡阴极和铂阳极的电芬顿工艺研究了喹啉模型分子8-羟基喹啉硫酸盐（8-HQS）在水溶液介质中的降解行为. 由于电化学诱导芬顿药剂（H2O2，Fe2+）产生大量的羟基活性基（OH），成为与有机物发生反应直到有机物完全矿化的强有力氧化剂，因此，电芬顿工艺具有很强的氧化能力. 采用正交实验设计确定了水溶液介质中8-HQS降解的操作参数. 结果表明，电流密度和8-HQS的初始浓度是影响降解速度的主要因素. 8-HQS浓度随着电解时间而减少，说明8-HQS的氧化遵循准一级反应动力学. 通过竞争动力学方法确定的由OH引起8-HQS氧化的绝对反应速度常数为1.62&times;109 mol-1&middot;L&middot;s-1. 通过Doehlert 矩阵研究了8-HQS矿化的最佳实验参数，由此确定最佳条件下电芬顿工艺能导致8-HQS在水溶液中的准完全矿化（总有机成分去除率95%）. 对8-HQS水溶液的处理，使得8-HQS矿化前的最终产物为短链羧酸. 同时研究了电芬顿处理中短链羧酸的演变行为. 溶液毒性演变的跟踪研究发现，中间产物的毒性比8-HQS强，但溶液的毒性在中间产物矿化后可以完全消除.The degradation behavior of 8-hydroxyquinoleine sulfate (8-HQS), a model molecule of quinolines, was studied in an aqueous medium by electro-Fenton process using a carbon felt cathode and a platinum anode. The great oxidation ability of this process is due to a large production of hydroxyl radical (OH) by electrochemically induced Fenton&rsquo;s reagent (H2O2, Fe2+). Hydroxyl radicals are very powerful oxidizing agents which react on organics up to complete mineralization. A factorial experimental design was used for determining the operating parameters on the degradation of 8-HQS in an aqueous medium. The results showed that the current intensity and the initial concentration of 8-HQS were the main factors that influenced the degradation rate. The decay in concentration of 8-HQS with the electrolysis time shows that the oxidation of 8-HQS follows pseudo-first order kinetics. The absolute rate constant for the oxidation of 8-HQS by OH was determined by using competition kinetics method and found to be 1.62&times;109 mol-1&middot;L&middot;s-1. The optimal experimental parameters for the mineralization of 8-HQS have also been investigated by the use of Doehlert matrix. It has been demonstrated that under the optimal conditions determined by this method, electro-Fenton process can lead to a quasi-complete mineralization (95% of TOC removal) of 8-HQS aqueous solution. The treatment of 8-HQS aqueous solutions leads to the formation of short-chain carboxylic acids as end-products before mineralization. Their evolution during electro-Fenton treatment was studied. The follow-up of the solution toxicity evolution shows the formation of intermediates more toxic than 8-HQS. However, the solution toxicity was totally removed after mineralization of these intermediates.作者联系地址：1. Universit&eacute; Paris-Est, Laboratoire G&eacute;omat&eacute;riaux et Environnement (LGE), UPEMLV, 77454 Marne-la-Vall&eacute;e, France; 2. Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique et Electrochimie, D&eacute;partement de Chimie, Facult&eacute; des Sciences de Tunis, Campus Universitaire 2092, El Manar Tunis, Tunisia;3. D&eacute;partement de G&eacute;nie Chimique et Biologique Institut National des Sciences Appliqu&eacute;es et de Technologie 1080 Tunis, TunisiaAuthor's Address: 1. Universit&eacute; Paris-Est, Laboratoire G&eacute;omat&eacute;riaux et Environnement LGE, UPEMLV, 77454 Marne-la-Vall&eacute;e, France; 2. Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique et Electrochimie, D&eacute;partement de Chimie, Facult&eacute; des Sciences de Tunis, Campus Universitaire 2092, El Manar Tunis, Tunisia;3. D&eacute;partement de G&eacute;nie Chimique et Biologique Institut National des Sciences Appliqu&eacute;es et de Technologie 1080 Tunis, Tunisia通讯作者E-mail：[email protected]

The effects of exercise difficulty and time-of-day on the perception of the task and soccer performance in child soccer players

In soccer, accurate kicking skills are important determinants of successful performance. A successful kick must meet several criteria, including speed, accuracy, and timing. In fact, players who are able to kick the ball more accurately under various difficulties, such as time pressure, space constraints, the opponent’s pressure, and the distance between the kicking point and the goal, have a clear advantage during soccer games. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of exercise difficulty and time-of-day on perceived task difficulty and kicking performance. Accordingly, 32 boys (age: 11 ± 0.7 years; height: 1.45 ± 0.07 m; body-mass: 38.9 ± 7.8 kg) performed shooting accuracy tests under two difficulty levels (distance (long-distance (LD) vs. short-distance (SD)) and time pressure (Without-time-pressure (WTP) vs. With-time-pressure (TP)) at 08:00 h and 17:00 h. Absolute-error, variable-error, and constant-error were evaluated during the kicking tasks, in addition to ball velocity and shooting quality. Moreover, rating-of-perceived-exertion score (RPE), feeling-scale (FS), and perceived difficulty were completed immediately at the end of each test. The results showed that shooting quality was not affected by the time-of-day, but it was better in WTP vs. TP (p p p p < 0.05). In conclusion, specific soccer skills of boys were not time-of-day dependent, but they may be associated with time pressure and task difficulty