Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2017"
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- The Effect of Resistance Exercise on Inflammatory and Myogenic Markers in Patients with Chronic Kidney DiseasePublication . Watson, Emma L.; Viana, Joao L.; Wimbury, David; Martin, Naomi; Greening, Neil J.; Barratt, Jonathan; Smith, Alice C.Background: Muscle wasting is a common complication of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and is clinically important given its strong association with morbidity and mortality in many other chronic conditions. Exercise provides physiological benefits for CKD patients, however the molecular response to exercise remains to be fully determined. We investigated the inflammatory and molecular response to resistance exercise before and after training in these patients. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized trial that investigated the effect of 8 week progressive resistance training on muscle mass and strength compared to non-exercising controls. A sub-set of the cohort consented to vastus lateralis skeletal muscle biopsies (n = 10 exercise, n = 7 control) in which the inflammatory response (IL-6, IL-15, MCP-1 TNF-α), myogenic (MyoD, myogenin, myostatin), anabolic (P-Akt, P-eEf2) and catabolic events (MuRF-1, MAFbx, 14 kDa, ubiquitin conjugates) and overall levels of oxidative stress have been studied. Results: A large inflammatory response to unaccustomed exercise was seen with IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α all significantly elevated from baseline by 53-fold (P < 0.001), 25-fold (P < 0.001), and 4-fold (P < 0.001), respectively. This response was reduced following training with IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α elevated non-significantly by 2-fold (P = 0.46), 2.4-fold (P = 0.19), and 2.5-fold (P = 0.06), respectively. In the untrained condition, an acute bout of resistance exercise did not result in increased phosphorylation of Akt (P = 0.84), but this was restored following training (P = 0.01). Neither unaccustomed nor accustomed exercise resulted in a change in myogenin or MyoD mRNA expression (P = 0.88, P = 0.90, respectively). There was no evidence that resistance exercise training created a prolonged oxidative stress response within the muscle, or increased catabolism. Conclusions: Unaccustomed exercise creates a large inflammatory response within the muscle, which is no longer present following a period of training. This indicates that resistance exercise does not provoke a detrimental on-going inflammatory response within the muscle.
- The influence of technology, organizational size and age on InnovationPublication . Petiz Lousã, Eva; Gomes, A. DuarteThe purpose of this work is to assess the influence of organizational variables (technology, organization size and age) on organizational innovation. A total of 102 top-level managers of Portuguese organizations, from different sectors, sizes, and ages answered a questionnaire concerning innovation activity in their organization. The results of this exploratory study highlighted positive as well as negative significant relationships of these organizational variables in different dimensions of the innovation process. This can be useful to better understand how innovation occurs within and between different industries or companies. This study includes objective measures that can capture the innovative efforts in an organization more directly and identify some organizational characteristics that may affect innovation activity.
- Effects of 10min vs. 20min passive rest after warm-up on 100m freestyle time-trial performance: A randomized crossover studyPublication . Neiva, Henrique P.; Marques, Mário C.; Barbosa, Tiago M.; Izquierdo, Mikel; Viana, João L.; Marinho, Daniel A.The aim of this study was to compare the effect of 10min vs. 20min passive rest post warm-up on performance in a 100m freestyle time-trial.
- Avaliação da cultura organizacional: Adaptação e validação da versão portuguesa do Denison Organizational Culture SurveyPublication . Gomes, A. Duarte; Lousã, Eva PetizEste estudo apresenta os resultados da adaptação e validação do questionário de Cultura Organizacional (Denison Organizational Culture Survey, 2001). O estudo incidiu sobre uma amostra de 905 colaboradores de 102 empresas Portuguesas. No estudo confirmámos a estrutura de quatro dimensões e de doze indicadores do referido questionário. Tanto as correlações entre os diferentes indicadores e dimensões, como a consistência interna das mesmas, apresentaram resultados semelhantes aos obtidos na versão original que justificam a adaptação e validação deste instrumento para o contexto de empresas portuguesas em estudo.
- Effects of different re-warm up activities in football players' performancePublication . Abade, Eduardo; Sampaio, Jaime; Gonçalves, Bruno; Baptista, Jorge; Alves, Alberto; Viana, JoãoWarm up routines are commonly used to optimize football performance and prevent injuries. Yet, official pre-match protocols may require players to passively rest for approximately 10 to 15 minutes between the warm up and the beginning of the match. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effect of different re-warm up activities on the physical performance of football players. Twenty-Two Portuguese elite under-19 football players participated in the study conducted during the competitive season. Different re-warm up protocols were performed 6 minutes after the same standardized warm up in 4 consecutive days in a crossover controlled approach: without, eccentric, plyometric and repeated changes of direction. Vertical jump and Sprint performances were tested immediately after warm up and 12 minutes after warm up. Results showed that repeated changes of direction and plyometrics presented beneficial effects to jump and sprint. Different practical implications may be taken from the eccentric protocol since a vertical jump impairment was observed, suggesting a possibly harmful effect. The absence of re-warm up activities may be detrimental to players' physical performance. However, the inclusion of re-warm up prior to match is a complex issue, since the manipulation of volume, intensity and recovery may positively or negatively affect the subsequent performance. In fact, this exploratory study shows that eccentric exercise may be harmful for physical performance when performed prior a football match. However, plyometric and repeated changes of direction exercises seem to be simple, quick and efficient activities to attenuate losses in vertical jump and sprint capacity after warm up. Coaches should aim to develop individual optimal exercise modes in order to optimize physical performance after re warm activities.
- Warm-up for Sprint Swimming: Race-Pace or Aerobic Stimulation? A Randomized StudyPublication . Neiva, Henrique P.; Marques, Mário C.; Barbosa, Tiago M.; Izquierdo, Mikel; Viana, João L.; Teixeira, Ana M.; Marinho, Daniel A.Neiva, HP, Marques, MC, Barbosa, TM, Izquierdo, M, Viana, JL, Teixeira, AM, and Marinho, DA. Warm-up for sprint swimming: race-pace or aerobic stimulation? A randomized study. J Strength Cond Res 31(9): 2423-2431, 2017-The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 2 different warm-up intensities on 100-m swimming performance in a randomized controlled trial. Thirteen competitive swimmers performed two 100-m freestyle time-trials on separate days after either control or experimental warm-up in a randomized design. The control warm-up included a typical race-pace set (4 × 25 m), whereas the experimental warm-up included an aerobic set (8 × 50 m at 98-102% of critical velocity). Cortisol, testosterone, blood lactate ([La]), oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2), heart rate, core (Tcore and Tcorenet) and tympanic temperatures, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored. Stroke length (SL), stroke frequency (SF), stroke index (SI), and propelling efficiency (ηp) were assessed for each 50-m lap. We found that V[Combining Dot Above]O2, heart rate, and Tcorenet were higher after experimental warm-up (d > 0.73), but only the positive effect for Tcorenet was maintained until the trial. Performance was not different between conditions (d = 0.07). Experimental warm-up was found to slow SF (mean change ±90% CL = 2.06 ± 1.48%) and increase SL (1.65 ± 1.40%) and ηp (1.87 ± 1.33%) in the first lap. After the time-trials, this warm-up had a positive effect on Tcorenet (d = 0.69) and a negative effect on [La] (d = 0.56). Although the warm-ups had similar outcomes in the 100-m freestyle, performance was achieved through different biomechanical strategies. Stroke length and efficiency were higher in the first lap after the experimental warm-up, whereas SF was higher after control warm-up. Physiological adaptations were observed mainly through an increased Tcore after experimental warm-up. In this condition, the lower [La] after the trial suggests lower dependency on anaerobic metabolism.
- Associations of 24-hour sleep duration and CT-derived measurements of muscle and bone: The AGES-Reykjavik StudyPublication . Marques, Elisa A.; Figueiredo, Pedro; Gudnason, Vilmundur; Lang, Thomas; Sigurdsson, Gunnar; Sigurdsson, Sigurdur; Aspelund, Thor; Siggeirsdottir, Kristin; Launer, Lenore; Eiriksdottir, Gudny; Harris, Tamara B.Although the importance of sleep on preservation of several physiological functions is well known, the relationship with the two interconnected tissues - muscle and bone is less understood.
- How and when immersion and distancing are useful in emotion focused therapy for depressionPublication . Barbosa, Eunice; Silva, Sara; Pinto-Gouveia, José; Salgado, JoãoObjective: The potential benefit or harm of immersion (egocentric perspective) and distancing (observer perspective) on negative experiences are unclear and have not been empirically investigated in therapy. This is a first exploratory study aimed to analyze and compare the perspectives adopted on reflection (immersion and distancing) of negative experiences across therapy and the relationship between them and depressive symptoms in contrasting therapeutic outcomes of emotion-focused therapy (EFT). Method: Three good-outcomes cases and three poor-outcomes cases of EFT, diagnosed with mild to moderate depression at the beginning of therapy, were randomly selected. Immersion and distancing on negative experiences were analyzed using the measure of immersed and distanced speech. The depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Results: Significant differences across sessions were only found in the good-outcome cases which showed a significant decrease of immersion and an increase of distancing, and this evolution pattern was found related to the reduction of symptoms. Moreover, at the beginning of therapy, distancing was higher in the poor-outcome cases rather than in the good-outcome cases. Conclusion: The progressive and significant evolution from higher immersion at the initial phase to higher distancing in the final phase may be helpful in EFT for depression.
- Female Delinquency in Portugal: What Girls Have to Say About Their Offending BehaviorsPublication . Duarte, Vera; de Carvalho, Maria João LeoteThis paper presents a dialogue between two qualitative research Ph.D. projects concerning girls who are involved in delinquent practices in Portugal. Our aim is to extend the debate concerning different dimensions of female delinquency in childhood and youth. This paper is focused on the analysis of girls’ explanations and understandings of their offending behaviors obtained through interviews—a methodology common to both doctoral studies. Conducting research in two different contexts—the Portuguese juvenile justice system and social housing neighborhoods— the authors explore interview data from twenty-six pre-adolescent girls, aged 7–18 years old, from various sites around the country, who have in common their disadvantaged socio-economic origins and the type of the delinquent practices they committed. Regardless of age, these girls shared similar perspectives on their involvement in delinquency, which were explained by the familial and social experiences that facilitated their offending behaviors. The transmission of delinquent values took place essentially within the female family circle or via their female peers. Delinquency was not seen by the girls as a rejection of their femininity and gender roles, nor as a resource for performing masculinity—on the contrary, different femininities were identified and risk and experimentation underpinned the girls’ practices. Discussing the contexts in which the girls emerge as aggressors allows the social dynamics which still make many of them victims even more visible.
- The influence of height on a 10 week flexibility program applied in physical education classesPublication . Martins, Ricardo; Abade, Eduardo; Viana, João Luís; Marcelino, RuiPhysical Education plays a role helping students acquire long-lasting habits of physical activity and sports that will improve their overall health. Improving flexibility, namely through hamstring stretching, will help execute and sustain the motor activities in the daily life of students. The aim of the present study was to understand the influence of height in a flexibility program in physical education classes. The subjects of this investigation were 61 (35 males and 26 females) divided in two separated groups (control and experimental) in the ages of 10-18 years old (M= 12.96 ± 2.83) and height between 125-178cm (M= 152.84 ± 6.36) all of participants were students of elementary and high school from two different schools in Portugal. The intervention was conducted in ten consecutive weeks, being planned within three assessments (initial, intermediate and final) and all of the subjects were evaluated in hamstring flexibility through Active Knee Extension. The results of this study strongly suggest that the height has no influence on the flexibility of the students.