The aim of the present work is to examine the differences between two groups of fencers with different levéis of competition, élite and médium level. The timing parameters of the response reaction have been compared together with the kinetic variables which determine the sequence of segmented participation used during the lunge with a change in target during movement. A total of 30 male sword fencers participated, 13 élite and 17 médium level. Two forcé platforms recorded the horizontal component of the forcé and the start of the movement. One system filmed the movement in 3D, recording the spatial positions of 11 markers, while another system projected a mobile target over a screen. For synchronisation, an electronic signal enabled all the systems to be started simultaneously. Among the timing parameters of the reaction response, the choice reaction time (CRT) to the target change during the lunge was measured. The results revealed differences between the groups regarding the flight time, horizontal velocity at the end of the acceleration phase, and the length of the lunge, these being higher for the élite group, as well as other variables related to the temporal sequence of movement. No significant differences have been found in the simple reaction time or in CRT. According to the literature, the CRTappears to improve with sports practice, although this factor did not differentiate the élite from medium-level fencers. The coordination of fencing movements, that is, the right technique, constitutes a factor that differentiates élite fencers from medium-level ones.

The aim of this study was to test the effect that changing targets during a simple long lunge attack in fencing exerts on the temporal parameters of the reaction response, the execution speed, and the precision and the coordination of the movement pattern. Thirty fencers with more than 10 years of experience participated in this study. Two force platforms were used to record the horizontal components of the reaction forces and thereby to determine the beginning of the movement. A threedimensional (3D) system recorded the spatial positions of the 9 markers situated on the fencer plus the epee, while a moving target was projected on a screen, enabling the control of the target change. The results indicated that when a target change is provoked the reaction time (RT), movement time (MT), and the time used in the acceleration phase of the centre of mass (CM) increases significantly with respect to the attack executed with a straight thrust. The speed and horizontal distance reached by the CM at the end of the acceleration phase (V X(CM) and S X(CM) , respectively) significantly decreased, while the errors increased. However, the temporal sequence of the movement pattern did not appreciably change.

Purpose: The objective was to determine the way in which the level of uncertainty produced during the execution of al unge attack with target change (two or four possible responses) affects reaction-response time parameters and kinematic factors involved in the technical coordination of the attack. Method: Seventeen fencers from the Spanish National Men's Fencing Team participated in the study, which involved performing alunge attack against a moving circle as fast as possible, while attempting to place the tip of the sword inside the circle that appeared in the plastron's center of symmetry. Two force platforms were used to record the anteroposterior component of force and the initiation of movement. Kinematics were measured with at hree-dimensional motion-capture system that recorded the spatial positions of 11 markers. An electronic signal was used to time-synchronize all of the systems.Results: The results demonstrate asignificant increase in reaction time, p , .01, and choice reaction time, p , .001, when uncertainty increases, while movement time, precision, and segmental participation sequence during movement are not affected when uncertainty increases. Conclusion: It is worth stressing the importance of uncertainty-reduction strategies for fencers' performance to reduce the reaction-response time. Although increased uncertainty has little influence over precision and segmental participation sequence of the movement pattern used in attacks executed by elite fencers, caution should be used when generalizing these results for fencers of alower technical level than that of the participants in this study.

Objective: Nowadays, much attention has been focused on the search for new non-invasive methodologies able to predict malignant transformation of oral mucosa cells. The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate DNA damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis and karyorrhexis) in exfoliated oral mucosa cells from smokers and non-smokers in buccal mucosa cells. Study Design: A total of 24 young, healthy smokers and 14 non-smokers were included in this setting. Individuals had epithelial cells from the cheek mechanically exfoliated, placed in fixative and dropped in clean slides which were checked for the above nuclear phenotypes. Results: Smokers presented more (p < 0.05) micronucleated oral mucosa cells than non-smokers. Tobacco smoke was not able to increase other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity such as karyorrhexis, pyknosis and karyolysis. Conclusion: In summary, these data indicate that the cigarette is able to induce micronuclei in oral mucosa cells, so the micronucleus test is a suitable method for predicting oral cancer risk.

<p>Na Umbanda, os defumadores são utilizados em contextos rituais e consistem na queima de ervas que, segundo seus sacerdotes, podem servir para “limpar” tanto o ambiente quanto o corpo. O presente trabalho objetivou observar e registrar, do ponto de vista etnográfico, o uso de defumadores com possíveis efeitos ansiolíticos por membros do Centro de Umbanda <em>Caboclo Ubirajara e Exu Ventania</em>. Para tanto, foram realizadas entrevistas informais, semi-estruturadas e observação participante, além de anotações em diário de campo. Durante um ano de trabalho de campo, foram selecionados seis entrevistados que citaram os usos de 13 defumadores, cuja composição envolve 27 plantas. Seis delas são cultivadas e utilizadas <em>in natura</em>, enquanto as restantes são obtidas do comércio, desidratadas e/ou em tabletes. As plantas indicadas no preparo dos defumadores que eram cultivadas pelos entrevistados foram coletadas, identificadas e depositadas em herbário. Segundo relatos dos entrevistados, praticamente todos defumadores promovem uma “sensação de bem-estar” e, portanto, podem estar associados a um possível efeito ansiolítico. Os usos mais citados foram: para “acalmar” e para “relaxar”. Estudos fitoquímicos publicados na literatura científica confirmam a presença de óleos voláteis para as seis plantas citadas e coletadas no presente estudo. Esses dados apontam que o uso ritual dessas plantas, via inalatória, não descarta a possibilidade de produzirem efeitos ansiolíticos em seres humanos, uma vez que alguns estudos clínicos da literatura descrevem esses efeitos para óleos voláteis por essa via de absorção. </p>

Smoking cigarettes and low socioeconomic status (SES) are both related to impaired cognition. However, it is unknown whether people of lower SES, who comprise most tobacco smokers worldwide, are more susceptible to cognitive impairment associated with smoking. In this non-randomized, cross-sectional study we investigated the effects of cigarette smoking, SES and their interaction on dissociable executive or “cool” and “hot” measures of behavioural self-regulation. Participants (n = 80) were selected among young physically and mentally healthy smokers and non-smokers who had graduated high school and were from different SES backgrounds. Cool self-regulation was measured by executive function tasks that tap inhibition, updating, shifting, dual tasking, planning, access to long-term memory (semantic fluency), and working memory capacity. Hot measures assessed self-reported impulsivity, delay discounting and risk taking. Exposure to tobacco (cotinine, exhaled carbon monoxide, tobacco dependence, cigarette consumption) was assessed to determine to what extent it mediated the cognitive effects of smoking. Nicotine abstinence and its acute effects were controlled, as were sex, age, schooling, and psychiatric symptoms despite the fact that smokers and non-smokers were selected as being as similar as possible in these demographic characteristics. Lower SES (less years of parental schooling) was associated with worse performance on tasks that measured all cool domains except dual tasking and fluency, while smoking status was related to impaired delayed discounting and impulsivity (hot domains), effects that were not mediated by tobacco exposure. Smoking and SES, however, did not interact. In short, impaired performance in measures of most cool skills was associated with SES irrespective of smoking status; in contrast, regardless of SES, smokers showed specific impairment in hot self-regulation domains (more difficulty resisting immediate temptations and weighing future consequences of actions). Possible explanations for the lack of mediation of tobacco exposure on hot skills of smokers are discussed.

resumenEl penalti córner es una de las jugadas más importantes en el hockey hierba. El drag-flick es la técnica de golpeo más eficaz en las jugadas de penalti córner (McLaughin, 1997). Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron describir los parámetros cinemáticos del drag-flick en jugadores de nivel internacional y analizar las diferencias intergénero. La muestra fueron trece sujetos, un modelo, seis hombres y seis mujeres. El sistema de captura automático Vicon registró 20 lanzamientos de cada jugador con una frecuencia de muestreo de 250 Hz. Las velocidades máximas de las caderas, hombros, grip y cabeza del palo fueron superiores (p < 0,01) en el modelo que en ambos grupos de género. La distancia relativa del doble apoyo final fue inferior (p < 0,01) en el grupo de las mujeres. Mediante la comparación estadística del modelo con ambos grupos de género se han podido determinar las claves de este gesto técnico, siendo necesario un amplio doble apoyo final, un movimiento explosivo de caderas y hombros, y finalmente un movimiento hacia atrás del palo antes de aplicarle su aceleración final. Abstract Analysis of the Kinematic Chain in a Drag FlickThe penalty corner is one of the most important plays in field hockey. The drag flick is the most effective hitting technique in penalty corner plays (McLaughlin, 1997). The objectives of this study were to describe the kinematic parameters of the drag flick in international level players and analyze gender differences. The sample consisted of thirteen subjects: a model, six men and six women. The Vicon automatic capture system recorded 20 hits by each player with a sampling frequency of 250 Hz. The maximum velocities of the hips, shoulders, grip and stick head were higher (p<0.01) in the model than in both gender groups. The relative distance of the final double support was lower (p<0.01) in the group of women. Statistical comparison of the model with both gender groups has made it possible to identify the key factors in this technical action, with a broad final double support, explosive movement of hips and shoulders, and finally a backward movement of the stick before applying its final acceleration all being necessary.

Na Umbanda, os defumadores são utilizados em contextos rituais e consistem na queima de ervas que, segundo seus sacerdotes, podem servir para “limpar” tanto o ambiente quanto o corpo. O presente trabalho objetivou observar e registrar, do ponto de vista etnográfico, o uso de defumadores com possíveis efeitos ansiolíticos por membros do Centro de Umbanda Caboclo Ubirajara e Exu Ventania. Para tanto, foram realizadas entrevistas informais, semi-estruturadas e observação participante, além de anotações em diário de campo. Durante um ano de trabalho de campo, foram selecionados seis entrevistados que citaram os usos de 13 defumadores, cuja composição envolve 27 plantas. Seis delas são cultivadas e utilizadas in natura, enquanto as restantes são obtidas do comércio, desidratadas e/ou em tabletes. As plantas indicadas no preparo dos defumadores que eram cultivadas pelos entrevistados foram coletadas, identificadas e depositadas em herbário. Segundo relatos dos entrevistados, praticamente todos defumadores promovem uma “sensação de bem-estar” e, portanto, podem estar associados a um possível efeito ansiolítico. Os usos mais citados foram: para “acalmar” e para “relaxar”. Estudos fitoquímicos publicados na literatura científica confirmam a presença de óleos voláteis para as seis plantas citadas e coletadas no presente estudo. Esses dados apontam que o uso ritual dessas plantas, via inalatória, não descarta a possibilidade de produzirem efeitos ansiolíticos em seres humanos, uma vez que alguns estudos clínicos da literatura descrevem esses efeitos para óleos voláteis por essa via de absorção.