Abstract Different degrees in the biological activities of Canavalia rosea had been previously reported . In this study, our group assessed the cardioprotective effects of the ethyl acetate fraction (EAcF) of the Canavalia rosea leaves. Firstly, it was confirmed, by in vitro approach, that the EAcF has high antioxidant properties due to the presence of important secondary metabolites, as flavonoids. In order to explore their potential protector against cardiovascular disorders, hearts were previously perfused with EAcF (300 μg.mL-1) and submitted to the global ischemia followed by reperfusion in Langendorff system. The present findings have demonstrated that EAcF restored the left ventricular developed pressure and decreased the arrhythmias severity index. Furthermore, EAcF significantly increased the glutathiones peroxidase activity with decreased malondialdehyde and creatine kinase levels. EAcF was effective upon neither the superoxide dismutase, glutationes reductase nor the catalase activities. In addition, the Western blot analysis revealed that ischemia-reperfusion injury significantly upregulates caspase 3 protein expression, while EAcF abolishes this effect. These results provide evidence that the EAcF reestablishes the cardiac contractility and prevents arrhythmias; it is suggested that EAcF could be used to reduce injury caused by cardiac reperfusion. However more clinical studies should be performed, before applying it in the clinic.

Resumo As relações entre solo e relevo são constantes em paisagens de climas tropicais e subtropicais úmidos, devido aos espessos mantos regolíticos resultantes de acelerado intemperismo físico, químico e biológico. A investigação dos sistemas pedogeomorfológicos merece destaque em análises sistêmicas, que objetivam o estudo da gênese e dos processos modeladores da superfície terrestre. Este artigo objetiva estabelecer as principais relações entre a Geomorfologia e Pedologia, e a importância dos sistemas pedogeomorfológicos para a interpretação evolutiva de paisagens quaternárias em climas tropicais úmidos. Deste modo, são realizadas discussões sobre as influências do relevo na formação e espacialização dos solos, influências pedológicas na modificação das formas de relevo e subsídios metodológicos da Pedologia para a Geomorfologia em relação à interpretação evolutiva das paisagens tropicais. Evidencia-se, portanto, a necessidade de aproximação entre os estudos de sistemas geomorfológicos e pedológicos na interpretação das paisagens tropicais.

Abstract There is always a relationship between soil and relief in the landscapes of humid tropical and subtropical climates, due to the thick mantles of regolith resulting from accelerated physical, chemical, and biological weathering. It is important to investigate pedogeomorphological systems in the systemic analyses of the origin and modeling processes of the terrestrial surface. This paper seeks to establish the central relationships between Geomorphology and Pedology, and the importance of pedogeomorphological systems in the evolutionary interpretation of quaternary landscapes in humid tropical climates. Thus, the discussions address the influence of landforms on soil formation and spatialization and the pedological impacts on the modification of relief forms, as well as the methodological support from Pedology to Geomorphology concerning the evolutionary interpretation of tropical landscapes. Therefore, there is evidence of the need for closer links between the studies of geomorphological and pedological systems in the analysis of tropical landscapes.

Resumen Las relaciones entre el suelo y el relieve son constantes en paisajes de climas húmedos tropicales y subtropicales, debido a los gruesos mantos regolíticos resultantes de la meteorización física, química y biológica acelerada. La investigación de los sistemas pedogeomorfológicos merece atención en los análisis sistémicos, cuyo objetivo es estudiar la génesis y los procesos de modelado de la superficie terrestre. Este artículo tiene como objetivo establecer las principales relaciones entre la geomorfología y la pedología, y la importancia de los sistemas pedogeomorfológicos para la interpretación evolutiva de los paisajes cuaternarias en climas tropicales húmedos. Por lo tanto, se mantienen debates sobre la influencia del relieve en la formación y la espacialización del suelo, las influencias pedológicas en la modificación de las formas de relieve y el apoyo metodológico de la pedología a la geomorfología en relación con la interpretación evolutiva de los paisajes tropicales. Por lo tanto, la necesidad de aproximación entre los estudios de sistemas geomorfológicos y pedológicos en la interpretación de paisajes tropicales es evidente.

Natural α,β-amyrins were isolated from endemic Brazilian Esenbeckia grandiflora Mart., and eight synthetic derivatives were obtained by esterification reactions with bromo acetate, followed by amine treatment. The structures of the all compounds were confirmed by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data analysis. The derivatives were screened for cytotoxic activity against human tumor cell-lines PC3 (prostate carcinoma), HCT-116 (colon carcinoma) and HL60 (leukemia). HCT-116 and PC3 cell-lines showed weak tumor growth inhibition (range of 13.9-25.4 and 10.3-28.8%, respectively), but the derivatives presented moderate activity against HL60 (range of 13.6-59.0%). Diethyl, aniline, morpholine and imidazole moieties presented higher activities (range of 45.9-59.0%).

The aim of this study was to verify whether it was possible to distinguish between young athletes who intended to continue playing sports and those who intended to dropout, based on their achievement goal, beliefs about their sport competence, perceived competence, intrinsic motivation and autonomy in sport practice. Three thousand and three hundred athletes of both sexes, aged between 10 and 18 years, completed the Portuguese versions of the Questionnaire de Conceptions Relatives à la Nature de l´Habilité Sportive [Conceptions About the Nature of Sport Competence Questionnaire], the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, the Relative Autonomy Index, the Physical Self-Perception Profile, and also the Questionário sobre a Intenção de Praticar Desporto [Intention of Playing Sport Questionnaire]. The results showed that, based on the knowledge of how the participants perceived themselves (in relation to their competence and autonomy) and their standing (their goals and their intrinsic motivation) regarding their sport, it was possible to distinguish between those who intended to remain involved in sport and those who did not intend to do so. The intention to persist was associated with intrinsic motivation, self-determination, perceived competence, and the belief that sport competence is not specific; the intention to drop out of sport the next season was associated with less self-determined forms of motivation and the belief that sport competence is specific to a context or activity. Although generally similar, the responses of athletes of both sexes suggested some slight differences between boys and girls.

O objectivo do presente estudo consistiu em verificar se seria possível distinguir jovens atletas que tencionavam continuar a praticar desporto dos que equacionavam não continuar a fazê-lo, com base nos seus objectivos de realização, crenças sobre a competência desportiva, competência percebida, motivação intrínseca e autonomia na prática. A amostra foi constituída por 3330 atletas de ambos os sexos, com idades entre os 10 e os 18 anos. Os sujeitos preencheram as versões portuguesas do Questionnaire de Conceptions Relatives à la Nature de l´Habilité Sportive, do Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, do Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, do Relative Autonomy Index, do Physical Self-Perception Profile, e, ainda, o Questionário sobre a Intenção de Praticar Desporto. Os resultados mostraram que, com base no conhecimento do modo como os jovens se percebiam (em relação à sua competência e autonomia) e posicionavam (que objectivos procuravam alcançar e que motivação intrínseca apresentavam) relativamente à sua prática desportiva, foi possível distinguir entre aqueles que tencionavam continuar envolvidos na prática desportiva e os que não o tencionavam fazer. À intenção de continuar associaram-se a motivação intrínseca, a autodeterminação, a competência percebida, e a crença de que a competência desportiva não é específica; à intenção de não praticar desporto na época seguinte associaram-se formas de motivação menos autodeterminadas e a crença de que a competência desportiva é algo específico a um contexto ou actividade. Apesar de genericamente semelhantes, as respostas dos atletas dos dois sexos sugeriram algumas ligeiras diferenças entre eles e elas.

El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar si sería posible distinguir entre atletas jóvenes que tenían la intención de seguir practicando deporte y aquellos que no tenían intenciones de continuar, en función de sus orientaciones de metas, creencias acerca de su habilidad deportiva, competencia percibida, motivación intrínseca y autonomía. Tres mil e trescientos atletas de ambos sexos, con edades entre 10 y 18 años, completaron las versiones portuguesas del Questionnaire de Conceptions Relatives à la Nature de l´Habilité Sportive, del Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, del Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, del Relative Autonomy Index, del Physical Self-Perception Profile, y el Questionário sobre a Intenção de Praticar Desporto. Los resultados mostraron que, con base en el conocimiento de cómo los jóvenes se perciben a sí mismos (su competencia y autonomía) y del modo como se posicionan (sus metas y motivación intrínseca) en relación a su deporte, era posible distinguir entre aquellos que tenían la intención de continuar hacendo deporte y los que no tenían esa intención. La intención de continuar estaba asociada con la motivación intrínseca, la autodeterminación, la competencia percibida, y la creencia de que la habilidad deportiva no es específica; la intención de no continuar en la temporada siguiente se asoció con formas menos auto determinadas de motivación y con la creencia de que la habilidad deportiva es algo específico a un contexto/ actividad. Aunque en general fueran similares, las respuestas de los atletas de ambos sexos sugirieron ligeras diferencias entre niñas y varones.

O rendimento desportivo resulta da interligação de aspectos físicos, técnicos, tácticos e psicológicos. Contudo, relativamente ao treino de Futebol constata-se que a componente psicológica é muito negligenciada. Neste estudo, procura-se conhecer as percepções de treinadores de alto rendimento acerca de diferentes aspectos relacionados com a dimensão psicológica, nomeadamente as concepções sobre o treino psicológico e a sua relação com o treino e o rendimento desportivo; o nível de preparação dos treinadores para treinar as competências psicológicas; e a relevância de colaborar com um especialista em psicologia do desporto. Com recurso a uma entrevista semi-estruturada, foram entrevistados quinze treinadores da Primeira Liga de Futebol Portuguesa. Uma análise indutiva das entrevistas revelou que os treinadores atribuem grande importância à componente psicológica e à colaboração com um especialista em psicologia do desporto, até porque não se sentem preparados para desenvolver um treino sistemático neste domínio.

Sport performance results from the interaction of physical, technical, tactical and psychological aspects. However, in Soccer training less attention is devoted to the psychological domain. The purpose of this study was to investigate elite Soccer coaches' perceptions concerning different aspects of the psychological dimension, namely the conceptions about mental training and his relationship with training, in general, and performance; the coaches' level of preparation to apply a specific psychological training; and the collaboration with a sport psychology expert. Using in-depth interviews, fifteen coaches of the Portuguese first league were interviewed. The interviews showed that the coaches attribute great significance to the psychological domain and to a possible collaboration with a sport psychology expert, as coaches seem to be unprepared to apply specific mental strategies or are unfamiliar with them.

A presente investigação analisou as relações entre a prática desportiva de estudantes universitários e o modo como estes se percepcionavam a si próprios e às suas vidas. Participaram nesta investigação 2284 estudantes de ambos os sexos, com idades entre os 18 e os 30 anos (M = 21,87 ±2,37), que preencheram um questionário sobre a sua prática desportiva, bem como versões portuguesas do Physical Self-Perception Profile (Fox & Corbin, 1989), da Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999), da Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) e da Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). Em geral, a análise dos resultados revelou que os indivíduos que possuíam mais confiança física e que avaliavam a sua vida mais positivamente praticavam desporto mais regularmente; porém, verificou-se igualmente que quem se percebia menos forte fisicamente e tinha uma auto-estima mais baixa também praticava desporto mais regularmente do que os pares.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between university students' sport practice and the way they perceived themselves and their lives. Participated in this investigation 2284 male and female students, with ages between 18 and 30 years (M = 21.87 ±2.37), who filled out a questionnaire to assess their levels of sport practice, as well the Portuguese versions of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (Fox & Corbin, 1989), the Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). Overall, the analysis of the results showed that students who were more physically confident and evaluated their lives more positively did sport more regularly; however, results also showed that students who reported lower levels of physical strength and self-esteem practiced sport more regularly than their peers.

Embora as vantagens associadas à prática desportiva por pessoas de todas as idades sejam hoje perfeitamente evidentes, vários estudos realizados com populações universitárias têm destacado o seu elevado sedentarismo, razão pela qual se justifica investigar as determinantes da sua actividade desportiva. Reconhecendo a importância assumida neste domínio pelas dimensões social, cognitiva e afectiva, este estudo procurou analisar a prática desportiva de estudantes universitários, relacionando-a com variáveis intrapessoais (e.g., sexo, idade) e interpessoais (e.g., hábitos desportivos de familiares e amigos). Participaram 2284 estudantes dos dois sexos, com idades entre os 18 e os 30 anos (M=21.87±2.37), que preencheram um questionário sobre a sua prática desportiva e a dos seus familiares e amigos. A análise dos resultados evidenciou que os estudantes: i) preferiam actividades de fitness, natação e futebol, bem como actividades menos tradicionais (e.g., capoeira); ii) praticavam maioritariamente desporto recreativo, ao longo de todo o ano, em associações/ academias/ ginásios; iii) os homens eram mais activos; iv) maioritariamente preferiam praticar desporto acompanhados, o que convergia com as correlações positivas encontradas entre a regularidade da sua prática e a dos seus amigos e familiares. Daqui resulta, portanto, a importância de adequar a oferta desportiva às preferências dos estudantes, não só em termos de modalidades e espaços, mas também considerando o papel dos outros significativos.

Despite the clear benefits associated to sport practice to people of all ages, some studies with university students have shown high prevalence of sedentary habits, reason why it is important to investigate the determinants of their sport participation. Considering the importance in this domain of social, cognitive and affective dimensions, this study analysed sport practice of university students in relation with intrapersonal (e.g., sex, age) and interpersonal (e.g. relatives and friends sport habits) variables. Participated in this investigation 2284 male and female students, aged between 18 and 30 years (M=21.87±2.37), who filled out a questionnaire to assess their levels of sport practice, as well as their relatives and friends sport habits. Overall, results showed the students: i) preferred to practice fitness, swimming and soccer, as well as traditional activities (e.g., capoeira); ii) preferred to practice sport recreationally, all year long, in associations/ academies/ gymnasia; iii) men were more active; iv) preferred to practice sport in group, which is consistent with the positive correlations found between the students’ regular sport practice and their relatives’ and friends’ sport habits. Therefore, these results suggest the importance of matching the sport offer to the preferences of students, not only in relation to activities and places, but also considering the role of significant others.

This work describes the mechanism of action of some reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in the oxidative stress of the human body, and their consequences on damage to DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids. It also illustrates the defense system of our organism against these ROS and RNS species. The action of nonenzymatic protection systems is reported, with emphasis on micromolecules like Q10 coenzyme, vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol, carotenoids and flavonoids. The importance of flavonoids is also emphasized, and their body protection mechanism is detailed.

This work describes the evaluation of the antioxidant activity in the system b-carotene / linoleic acid and radical scavenging effects of the substances epicatechin-(2β→7,4β→8)-epicatechin, epicatechin, epigalocatechin-(2β→7,4β→8)-epicatechin, luteolin 3-β-Dglicopiranoside and crisoeriol 7-β-D-glicopiranoside isolated of the extract AcOEt of the stem of Dioclea lasiophylla, in comparison with the standards n-propyl gallate, BHT and a-tocopherol.