Luís Fernandes

Fowlpox: identification and adoption of prophylactic measures in backyard chickens in Bahia, Brazil

This paper describes the identification of an outbreak of fowlpox in backyard chickens in two villages the state of Bahia, the intervention strategy to control the disease by adopting health measures and vaccination, as well as the impact of the intervention. The diagnosis was based in clinical and laboratory data. After the diagnosis was confirmed, control measures and the vaccination of non-infected birds were recommended. Finally, the impact of the intervention on re-incidence of the disease was evaluated. A number of 700 chickens was vaccinated, after which only 9% of the farmers reported the occurrence of new cases, and 70% informed the acquisition of new birds after vaccination. The information reported in this paper can be useful to design strategic plans to control fowlpox in backyard chickens.

Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test-Level 1 to monitor changes in aerobic fitness in pre-pubertal boys

Abstract The present study aimed to examine the performance and heart rate responses during the Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test-Level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1) in children under the age of 10. One hundred and seven male children (7–9 years) performed the Yo-Yo IE1 at the beginning (M1), middle (M2) and end (M3) of the school year. Data from individual heart rate curves of the Yo-Yo IE1 were analysed in order to detect the inflection point between an initial phase of fast rise in heart rate values and a second phase in which the rise of the heart rate values is much smaller. The distance covered in the Yo-Yo IE1 improved from M1 to M3 (884 ± 496 vs. 1032 ± 596 m; p < 0.05; d = 0.27), with intermediate values for M2 (962 ± 528 m). Peak heart rate (HRpeak) decreased from M1 to M2 and M3 (204 ± 9, 202 ± 9 and 200 ± 9 bpm, respectively; p < 0.05; d = 0.25–0.42). The 7th shuttle of the test (280 m), corresponding to 2.5 min, was identified as the inflection point between the two phases. Also, absolute heart rate at the 7th shuttle decreased progressively throughout the year (185 ± 9, 183 ± 10, and 179 ± 10 bpm; p < 0.05; d = 0.31–0.61). The present study provides evidence of the usefulness of a maximal as well as a submaximal version of Yo-Yo IE1 as a tool to monitor changes in aerobic fitness in pre-pubertal children.

Factors influencing the performance of young football players in the yo-yo intermittent endurance test (Level 2)

Factors influencing the performance of young football players in the yo-yo intermittent endurance test (Level 2) Study aim: To find out whether the ability to accelerate, decelerate and turn may contribute to the performance of young football players during the Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test - Level 2 (YYIEL2). Material and methods: A group of 239 young male football players from three age categories: under 15 years (U15; n = 102), under 17 years (U17; n = 59) and under 19 years (U19; n = 74) were evaluated in sprint, agility, and intermittent exercise performance. Multiple regression models weighted for maturity status were applied. Results: Significant (p<0.001) differences were found between the U15 and both other groups in all tests. The YYIEL2 was significantly correlated with 5-m and 30-m sprints and agility (r = 0.361, 0.499 and 0.555, respectively; p<0.001) and the latter 3 variables explained 31% (p<0.001) of the total variance of the YYIEL2 performance, the agility test alone being the strongest predictor (b = 0.56; p<0.001). Conclusions: Despite the usefulness of the YYIEL2 test used in football to determine aerobic fitness, other factors than O2max, such as peripheral limitations and the ability to accelerate, decelerate and turn, may influence the performance during the test.

Cardiorespiratory fitness, but not physical activity, is associated with academic achievement in children and adolescents

Abstract Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) seem to have positive effects on academic achievement (AA), although in most studies, objective methods of assessment have not been used. Aim: To examine the associations of CRF and PA with AA. Subjects and methods: A sample of 640 youngsters (10–18 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. CRF was estimated with the 20-metre shuttle run test and PA was measured using accelerometers. School grades were used to describe AA using mathematics and native language final grades. The relationship between CRF and PA with AA was analysed using ANCOVA. Results: Results show a significant effect of CRF levels on native language grades, after adjustment for confounders [F(3,414) = 3,99 p < 0.05], but not for mathematics [F(3,360) = 0.95 p > 0.05]. No significant effects of PA levels on AA were found. Conclusions: CRF is associated with moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and higher levels of CRF may influence AA. CRF is positively correlated with MVPA, suggesting that higher amounts of MVPA might improve CRF and indirectly influence AA. Since CRF is dependent on higher intensities of PA, we can suggest a focus on implementing improvement strategies to increase the intensity of physical education lessons.

A construção social dos corpos periféricos

This paper focuses on the ways our societies deal with non-central corporalities, that is, those corpo ralities that depart from the socially constructed standard model of what the body should be. It begins by taking the body as a privileged locus for the communication between the biological, the individual and the sociocultural, and defining the core concepts of the ensuing analysis: corporality, bodily centrality, natural symbol, and incorporation. It then moves on to question the rise of the body in the contemporary, hiperindividualistic societies, and highlights social processes that produce the norms about what the body should be. Such norms turn into metaphors the images of bodies on the examination table, the passerelle and the podium. We then present the notion of the peripheral body as that from which emanates signs that are deval ued by the standards of body centrality. Physical deformities and obesity are shown as examples of how the body can be a source of stigma and the locus of psychological suffering in common interaction processes. We attempt to provide elements for the analytical questions that run through the paper: what processes lead a given social object to become a part of the center or, on the contrary, be relegated to the periphery? How the peripheral is socially constructed? What are the social and psychological consequences of being seen as a peripheral body?