Abstract Drag crisis has been described as a drop in the drag coefficient (Cd). This procedure was lately assessed in able-bodied cyclists in time trial position by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the phenomenon of the drag crisis by computer fluid dynamics in transradial and transtibial amputee cyclists in the upright position. A male elite-level cyclist was recruited for this research. The subject was scanned (3D geometry with a 3D Scan) with his competition bicycle, helmet, suit, and shoes. Consequently, transradial and transtibial 3D models were created editing the able-bodied 3D model. To perform the CFD analyses, a domain measuring 7 x 2.5 x 2.5 m (length, width and height, respectively) was created around each bicycle-cyclist model. The domains were meshed with more than 42 million elements. Numerical simulations by CFD were performed in fluent numerical for speeds between 1 m/s and 13 m/s, with increments of 1 m/s. The total Cd decreased with speed. It ranged from 0.84 to 0.55 in the able-bodied, 0.86 to 0.64 in the transradial and 0.90 to 0.61 in the transtibial. The drag crisis phenomenon was observed between 1m/s and 4m/s in all models.

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to verify the reproducibility of an endurance test for master swimmers. Methods: Seventeen male swimmers, aged from 30 to 50 years (35.06 ± 5.36), weight (78.71 ± 13.06 kg), height (174.35 ± 0.07 cm), participated in this study. The participants underwent the Progressive Swim Test (PSwT), which corresponds to swimming progressively to exhaustion in a 25-meter pool, guided by the recording of sound signals indicating the swimming rhythm. We verified the following variables: heart rate before the test (BHR) and right after the end of the test (AHR), followed by the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and a total of laps performed (SN - swimming number). For comparison between the three days of tests, the one-way repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey's Post-Hoc was performed. Relative reproducibility was performed by the r test and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Absolute reproducibility was determined using the coefficient of variation (CV) and the confidence interval (CI). Results: The results showed high reproducibility in (PSwT) in master swimmers in the analyzed variables of intergroup and intragroup with relative reproducibility of r > 0.60 and ICC > 0.70 and absolute reproducibility with CI 95% (lower −1.10 and upper 0.99) and CV < 10%. Most of the cases were within the limits of agreement of the Bland-Altman tests, all variables were considered a level of significance with (p <0.05). Conclusion: The Progressive Swim Test (PSwT) is a reproducible instrument in the assessment of endurance in master swimmers.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyse and compare propulsive forces, relative force production and symmetry between genders during water fitness exercises. Eighteen participants (women, n= 9; age: 20.67± 0.87 years; body mass: 58.18± 4.97 kg; height: 159.19± 5.85 cm; and men, n= 9; age: 22.11± 1.76 years; body mass: 72.93± 7.00 kg; height: 170.83± 5.57 cm) underwent two incremental protocols performing horizontal adduction (HA) and the rocking horse (RHadd) exercises, from 105 to 150 bpm. Propulsive peak force of dominant (PFD) and non-dominant upper-limbs (PFND) was assessed by a differential pressure system. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to collect the dry-land isometric peak strength of the dominant upper-limb. Significant differences between genders were found for most of the music cadences in HA and RHadd. Men were able to produce higher propulsive force values for both upper-limbs during the overall incremental protocol, whereas women reached a higher relative force production. However, no significant differences were found between both genders at the same music cadence. Most actions were asymmetric in women, whereas men showed a symmetric pattern. The cadence of 135 bpm elicits a symmetric motion in both genders while exercising water fitness exercises.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyse dietary intake (macronutrients and micronutrients) in young female and male handball athletes. A transversal study was performed with young handball players from sub 16 and 18 Portuguese Handball Federation, who volunteered to participate in this study. Anthropometric (weight and height measure), nutritional intake (using food frequency questionnaire) and position in the game were evaluated. The final sample comprised 64 athletes (48.4% female and 51.6% male). The mean age was 16± 1 years, average body mass index was higher in females (24.1± 3.5kg/m2) than males (23.8± 3.0 kg/m2). Mean energy intake per day was significantly lower in females than males 2167.4± 1185.0 and 2952.9± 1315.8 kcal/day (p= 0.015, 95CI), respectively. According to the recommendations from food, most of the young handball athletes reported a generally higher dietary intake (protein intake was near to the upper recommendation limit; the carbohydrate intake was below and the fat intake higher) and a lower for some micronutrients. A process to identify the athletes that need nutritional support should be considered by handball coaches to optimise their performance and safeguard their health.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the elderly's functional fitness and body composition effects between pre and post multicomponent training program with six months of intervention. The sample of this study was composed of 34 volunteered elders with 68 (± 7.55) years old. The body composition was evaluated by a Tanita BC-545, and a functional fitness test assessed the elderly's functional fitness. The body composition did not present significant changes between the pre- and post-exercise program intervention. The training program increased the upper limbs’ strength levels and upper body flexibility, and aerobic endurance. Different associations between body composition and functional fitness variables were found between pre and post multicomponent training program. In this study, body composition seems not to be affected. However, functional fitness in upper limbs strength, upper body flexibility, and aerobic endurance improved under six months of multicomponent training.

ABSTRACT In the past years, there was an increasing interest in the biomechanical responses in water fitness sessions. The present review consolidates the current “state-of-art” on the biomechanical responses in water fitness programmes. The literature was searched and screened studies on: (i) healthy subjects; and (ii) water fitness sessions and programmes reporting physical condition outcomes. A total of 36 studies met the inclusion criteria and categorized into four categories: (i) kinematics (n = 5); (ii) ground reaction force (n = 10); (iii) neuromuscular (n = 8); and (iv) strength (n = 14). There was a larger amount of evidence on strength, whereas some gaps in the body of knowledge still persist in the remaining categories. The existent studies cover a large range of age brackets (from young adults to the elderly). Women were recruited more often than men to be part of the studies. The effect of music cadence, body segments, exercise type (e.g., alternated or simultaneous), water depth, resistance equipment, and training protocols were the main topics under research.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo consistiu em analisar a relação entre os padrões neuromusculares e motores na técnica do nado de peito. Cinco nadadores masculinos de nível nacional realizaram 200 mnado peito na máxima intensidade.Foram registrados dados de Electromiografia do bicepsbrachii, deltoid anterior, pectoralis major etricepsbrachii. A duração relativa da fase ativa e não ativa e o valor médio retificado dos padrões neuromusculares foram analisados. Os percursos de nado foram gravados no plano sagital e analisados para detectar os padrões motores de cadanadador através do software THÉME software 5.0. Os padrões neuromusculares indicaram, por meio do valor médio retificado que a atividade dos músculos bíceps brachii e tríceps brachii aumentam no final do teste para o nadador 1 e 5, enquanto que o bíceps brachii. deltoid anterior. pectoralis major aumentam para o nadador 2 e 4. Diferentes padrões motores entre ciclos e entre nadadores foram observados, indicando que existem semelhanças entre eles, levando a um ajuste do estilo e modelo técnico de nado. A ausência de um padrão neuromuscular para todos os nadadores poderá estar relacionada com os diferentes modelos técnicos utilizados por cada nadador, como demonstrado nos padrões motores. Esses resultados sugerem que cada nadador adapta o seu padrão motor e muscular de uma forma única e distinta.

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the inter-temporal neuromuscular and motor patterns in breaststroke technique. Five national level male swimmers performed 200 m breaststroke at maximal effort. Electromyography data onbiceps brachii, deltoid anterior, pectoralis major and triceps brachiiwere analysed. The relative duration of active and non-active phase and the average rectified value for the neuromuscular patterns were recorded. The swim bouts were videotaped in sagittal plane with a pair of cameras and the Theme software 5.0 was used toanalyse the detected patterns in each swimmer. The neuromuscular pattern revealed that by the average rectified value the biceps brachiiand triceps brachiiwere increased at the end of the test for swimmers 1 and 5, while biceps brachii. deltoid anteriorand pectoralis majorwere increased for swimmers 2 and 4. Different motor patterns between cycles, and between swimmers were observed.We found similarities between the swimmers, adjusting their style to the technical model. The absence of a neuromuscular pattern for all swimmers could be related to different technical models used by each swimmer, as presented in the motor patterns. These findings suggested that each swimmers adapted their own motor and neuromuscular pattern in a unique and distinct way.

Resumo O início da década de 1980 caracteriza-se pelo esgotamento dos regimes autoritários na América do Sul. O longo processo de transição que passaram alguns países, ou a abrupta ruptura institucional de outros, marcou o retorno dos partidos à arena de disputa política. Como diversos autores pontuaram, desde então, tem-se assistido a emergência de novos atores políticos ou transformações de partidos anteriormente consolidados. Neste trabalho, investigamos as dinâmicas do surgimento de novos partidos no subcontinente. Os mesmos são tratados enquanto organizações que se apresentam pela primeira vez em pleito nacional. Consideramos todas as eleições (91) realizadas no período de 1979 até 2015, no sentido de observar as variações do número de novos partidos que surgiram em cada pleito, a partir de fontes secundárias (outros trabalhos) e primárias (bancos de dados dos respectivos tribunais eleitorais). A literatura que trata do surgimento de novos partidos, em democracias consolidadas ou emergentes, aponta distintas variáveis que impactam nos incentivos à gênese de novas organizações. Crises políticas ou sociais, atores políticos e/ou incentivos institucionais. Em nosso caso, a partir da análise estatística multivariada, buscamos perceber quais são as variáveis que têm mais efeito sobre o surgimento de novos partidos. Os resultados apontam que existem diferenças significativas entre os países, sendo os Andinos muito mais propensos à emergência de novos partidos, devido a alterações Constitucionais específicas. Causas sociais, como alto desemprego e baixo crescimento econômico, também foram significantes para explicar por que em alguns contextos surgiram mais novos partidos do que em outros.

Abstract The opening of the 1980s was characterized by the exhaustion of authoritarian regimes in South America. The long transition process that some countries have undergone, or the abrupt institutional rupture of others countries, marked the return of the parties to political arena. Thenceforth, as several authors have pointed out, there has been the emergence of new political actors or transformations of previously consolidated political parties. In this work, we investigate the dynamics of the emergence of new parties in the subcontinent. We thought these parties as organizations that participated for the first time in general elections. We take account of the general elections (91) carried out in the period from 1979 to 2015 through secondary (scholar’s works) and primary sources (databases of the respective courts elections), observing the variations in the number of new parties that arose in each election. The literature concerned with the emergence of new parties in consolidated or emerging democracies points out different variables that influence in the genesis of new organizations, as political or social crises, political actors and / or institutional incentives. In our case, through multivariate statistical analysis, we seek to understand which are the variables that have the greatest impact on the emergence of new parties. The outcomes indicate that there are significant differences between countries, with Andean countries being much more prone to the emergence of new parties due to specific constitutional changes. Social causes, such as high unemployment and low economic growth, were also significant in explaining why in some contexts appeared more new parties than in others.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the VO2max using a previously validated indirect test for non-expert adult swimmers and to verify its connection with the 400 meters freestyle test. A total of 17 non-expert male swimmers (21.5 ± 3.12 years) were evaluated. Body composition measurements included body weight (74 ± 9.41 kg), height (172.9 ± 5.21 cm) and body fat percentage (15.2 ± 4.15 %). Two tests were conducted on different days; the 400 meters freestyle (400 MF) and the Progressive Swim Test (PSwT), respectively. The participant's heart rate frequency before and after the test (BHR and AHR) was analyzed, as well as the subjective perception of effort (RPE), the number of laps covered (NLP), and the time of test execution measured in minutes. Significant differences were identified in all variables (p < 0.05) with the exception of BHR. An inverse correlation (r > - 0.60) was found between AHR and execution time (r > - 0.70), as well as between the VO2max estimated by the PSwT and the 400 MF performance test (r > - 0.70). The Bland-Altman Plot showed that the values discovered were within the established concordance limits of 95% (±1.96 SD). A negative correlation between a swimming test and a test that estimates the VO2max occurred, and the PSwT showed results of greater approximation of the aerobic power of non-expert swimmers. In conclusion, the PSwT is applicable for non-expert adult swimmers.