Effects of applying a multivariate training program on physical fitness and tactical performance in a team sport taught during physical education classes.

Introduction: A multivariate training program could be a pedagogical choice to improve physical and tactical performance in a team sport taught during physical education classes at different levels of education. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the effects of applying a multivariate training program on physical fitness and tactical performance during the teaching of a basketball didactic unit in basic and secondary education. Methods: Seventy-five students from a Portuguese school, with an average age of 15.02 ± 1.31 years, included forty-two students from basic school and thirty-three students from secondary school. The FITescola® test battery was used to assess physical fitness (i.e., sit-ups, push-ups, horizontal impulse, shuttle test, 40 m sprint, agility 4 × 10 m). The Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) was used to assess students' tactical performance for each player's game performance during a 20-minute 3 vs. 3 match. The GPAI variables were decision making index (DMI), skill execution index (SEI), support actions index (SI), and adaptability index (AI). During a basketball didactic unit teaching, the students were randomly divided into two groups, a control group that will not carry out the training program and an experimental group that will carry out a strength training program, high intensity explosive exercises and activities based on small-sided games (SSG) for 6 weeks. The two groups were evaluated in two moments: before the application of the training program and after the application of the training program regarding changes in physical fitness and tactical performance. The independent samples t-test (samples from two groups) and paired sample Test (for the same group) were applied for pre and post-assessment comparisons. Results: All indexes present significant differences between basic and secondary students in the pre- and post-assessment tests with small effects (t = -6.54 to -4.82, Δ = -27.57 to -0.16, p<0.05-p< 0.001, d = 0.78-1.05). Discussion: The results allow to conclude that in a school environment, a well-structured multivariate training program can effectively improve students' tactical skills, increasing their physical conditioning levels.

Multivariate Training Programs during Physical Education Classes in School Context: Theoretical Considerations and Future Perspectives.

Physical Education plays a fundamental role in promoting healthy habits and lifestyles, as well as in the development of individual and cognitive skills. To date, several investigations have reported positive effects on indicators of physical fitness, motor proficiency, and creativity as a result of specific training programs during Physical Education classes. However, the effects of multivariate training programs on the improvement of the aforementioned skills remain unclear in the literature. Through this brief review, the benefit of applying multivariate training programs during Physical Education classes on indicators of physical fitness, motor proficiency and creativity was critically analyzed. A narrative approach was applied to summarize the availed research as following: (i) theoretical background; (ii) research gaps/issues; (iii) subject explanation about multivariate training programs in Physical Education; and (iv) practical application and further research. The evidence reported in this regard may be useful for the development of multivariate training programs that simultaneously enable the improvement of indicators of physical fitness, motor proficiency and creativity. However, there is still no consensus in the literature on the best strategies (i.e., type of program, duration, intensity) to enhance motor proficiency and creativity in the context of Physical Education classes using multivariate training programs.

Phytochemicals and biological properties of Annona coriacea Mart. (Annonaceae): A systematic review from 1971 to 2020.

Annona coriacea Mart., popularly known as "marolo", "araticum" and "araticum-liso" is a species distributed in Paraguay and Brazil, and easily found in Caatinga, Cerrado, and Pantanal biomes. The araticum has been used in folk medicine to treat stomatitis, neuralgia, rheumatism, headaches, furuncle, ulcers, and dermatitis. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activity of A. coriacea. A search for scientific articles of electronic databases (Science Direct, PubMed, Lilacs, Scopus, Google Scholar, Scielo, and Web of Science) was performed identifying studies published until November 2020. All papers considering traditional medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties were included. Forty-six articles (n = 212 subjects) met the inclusion criteria set for this review. Of the 46 articles reviewed, 34 were focused on biological activity investigations, while 12 were limited to phytochemical studies. These studies showed the presence of a diversity of secondary metabolites such as acetogenins, sesquiterpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, and diterpenes. To date, pharmacological tests have demonstrated significant biological activities of this plant, being the most promising anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, and insecticide activities. Additionally, the medicinal utilization of A. coriacea appears to be promising, supporting its possible uses for human health with antioxidant, anxiolytic, antiulcer, insecticide, and antiparasitic activities. Ultimately, comprehensive studies involving clinical trials are required to validate the existing traditional practices and their related health benefits scientifically.

Distintos niveles de triptofano disponible de la dieta y actividad exploratoria de ratas en "open field" / Different contents of available trypthopan in the diet and exporatory activity of rats in open field

La concentración de serotonina cerebral (5 HT) depende de la disponibilidad del triptófano (Try) de la dieta. Como la 5-HT está envuelta en diversos comportamientos emocionales, se observó el efecto de dietas con distintos niveles del aminoácido en la actividad exploratoria de ratones en el "open field". Varios grupos de 6 ratones machos, adultos, alimentados con dietas compuestas con zeína (baja disponibilidad de Try), harina de soja (alta disponibilidad de Try) y zeína suplementada con Try (igual disponibilidad de la soja) fueron observados en el "open field", durante el 8--13- y 25--30- días de vigencia de las respectivas dietas. El grupo alimentado con zeína presentó promedios de locomoción y de exploración vertical (alzarse) significativamente mayores (* = 0,05) que los demás en el primer período de observaciones. Estas diferencias no fueron observadas en la segunda fase de observaciones cuando los grupos mantenidos con zeína y zeína + Try se presentaban bajo fuerte depleción proteica. Los resultados sugieren que la menor disponibilidad del Try de la dieta y por extensión de la 5-HT cerebral aumenta la actividad exploratoria, lo que puede significar menor nivel de emocionalidad