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Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with severe impairments in social functioning. Because faces provide nonverbal cues that support social interactions, many studies of ASD have examined neural structures that process faces, including the amygdala, ventromedial prefrontal cortex and superior and middle temporal gyri. However, increases or decreases in activation are often contingent on the cognitive task. Specifically, the cognitive domain of attention influences group differences in brain activation. We investigated brain function abnormalities in participants with ASD using a task that monitored attention bias to emotional faces. Twenty-four participants (12 with ASD, 12 controls) completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging study while performing an attention cuing task with emotional (happy, sad, angry) and neutral faces. In response to emotional faces, those in the ASD group showed greater right amygdala activation than those in the control group. A preliminary psychophysiological connectivity analysis showed that ASD participants had stronger positive right amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex coupling and weaker positive right amygdala and temporal lobe coupling than controls. There were no group differences in the behavioural measure of attention bias to the emotional faces. The small sample size may have affected our ability to detect additional group differences. When attention bias to emotional faces was equivalent between ASD and control groups, ASD was associated with greater amygdala activation. Preliminary analyses showed that ASD participants had stronger connectivity between the amygdala ventromedial prefrontal cortex (a network implicated in emotional modulation) and weaker connectivity between the amygdala and temporal lobe (a pathway involved in the identification of facial expressions, although areas of group differences were generally in a more anterior region of the temporal lobe than what is typically reported for emotional face processing). These alterations in connectivity are consistent with emotion and face processing disturbances in ASD.

Resistance training machines are designed to provide either constant or variable resistance, with the latter intended to generate a machine resistive torque (MRT) that mirrors the natural fluctuations in human torque capability (HTC) across joint angles. Yet, achieving a precise match between MRT and HTC remains a persistent challenge. This study aimed to validate a novel variable-cam resistance system, the Variable Moment Arm Cam® (VMAC®), by examining torque output and muscle activation during leg extension across the full range of motion (100–0°), using repeated testing and direct comparison with an isokinetic dynamometer. Twenty-two young men completed four randomized sessions, two on the variable-cam system and two on the dynamometer, each separated by 72–96 h. Torque and muscle activity were recorded during six isometric contractions at 100°, 80°, 60°, 40°, 20°, and 0°. The variable-cam system produced torque and activation patterns broadly comparable to the dynamometer, with acceptable agreement across angles. Validity was highest at 60°, aligning with the region of peak torque, whereas greater variability emerged at the extremes of flexion and extension. Muscle activation profiles were similar between devices, though more variable than torque, underscoring the inherent complexity of neuromuscular assessment.

Physical exercise results in very important benefits including preventing disease and promoting the quality of life of older individuals. Common interruptions and training cessation are associated with the loss of total health profile, and specifically cardiorespiratory fitness. Would detraining (DT) promote different effects in the cardiorespiratory and health profiles of trained and sedentary older women? Forty-seven older women were divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) (EG: n = 28, 70.3 ± 2.3 years; CG: n = 19, 70.1 ± 5.6 years). Oxygen uptake (VO2) and health profile assessments were conducted after the exercise program and after three months of detraining. The EG followed a nine-month multicomponent exercise program before a three-month detraining period. The CG maintained their normal activities. Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant increases in total heath and VO2 (p < 0.01) profile over a nine-month exercise period in the EG and no significant increases in the CG. DT led to greater negative effects on total cholesterol (4.35%, p < 0.01), triglycerides (3.89%, p < 0.01), glucose (4.96%, p < 0.01), resting heart rate (5.15%, p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (4.13%, p < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (3.38%, p < 0.01), the six-minute walk test (7.57%, p < 0.01), Pulmonary Ventilation (VE) (10.16%, p < 0.01), the Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) (9.78, p < 0.05), and VO2/heart rate (HR) (16.08%, p < 0.01) in the EG. DT may induce greater declines in total health profile and in VO2, mediated, in part, by the effectiveness of multicomponent training particularly developed for older women.

This study aimed to characterize and analyse the kinematic parameters and muscle activity of swimmers in open water swimming (OWS). Nine male swimmers (age: 25.4 ± 11.9 years; body mass: 75.9 ± 9.0 kg; height: 180.7 ± 6.7 cm; and arm span: 185.6 ± 10.3 cm) were evaluated in an open environment (lake), performing 5 m × 1000 m at maximum intensity, with a rest of 30 s every 1000 m. For kinematical analyses, the stroke rate (SR), swimming velocity (v), stroke length (SL), and stroke index (SI) were calculated. Surface EMG data were recorded in seven muscles—upper trapezius (UP); latissimus dorsi (LD); pectoralis major (PM); posterior deltoid (PD); anterior deltoid (AD); triceps brachii (TB); and biceps brachii (BB)—for the underwater and recovery phases of the stroke. SL (F = 3.41, p = 0.06, η2 = 0.30) and SI (F = 3.29, p = 0.08, η2 = 0.29) changed along the covered distances, and SR (F = 1.54, p = 0.24, η2 = 0.16) increased, especially in the last 1000 m (32.5 ± 3.0 cycles-min−1). AD was highly activated in recovery, showing statistical differences from the beginning (p ≤ 0.01) to the end of the race (p = 0.03). The TB muscle was mostly recruited in the underwater phase, from the start (p ≤ 0.01) to the finish (p = 0.03), showing a significant difference in each lap, with a large effect. LD showed significant differences in muscle activation, from 1000 m (p ≤ 0.01) with a huge effect, to 5000 m (p ≤ 0.01), with a large effect. These results suggested that the UT and AD muscles had higher activity in recovery than the underwater phase, and TB and LD were higher in the underwater phase.

This study analyzed the kinematics and muscle activity during the stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) under different visual focus points in three conditions: i) eyes on the board nose, ii) looking at the turn buoy, and iii) free choice. Fourteen male paddleboarders (24.2 ± 7.1 years) performed three trials covering 65 m, and the electromyographic (EMG) activation patterns and kinematic parameters in four cycle strokes for the left and right sides were analyzed. Surface EMG of the upper trapezius, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medialis were recorded. The data were processed according to the percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC). Speed, stroke frequency (SF), stroke length, and stroke index (SI) were analyzed. The speed, SF, and SI ( < 0.01, η ≥ 0.42) showed significant variance between conditions, with the free condition achieving the highest speed (1.20 ± 0.21 m/s), SF (0.65 ± 0.13 Hz) and SI (2.25 ± 0.67 m /s). This condition showed greater neuromuscular activity, particularly in the triceps brachii during both the left (42.25 ± 18.76 %MVC) and right recoveries (32.93 ± 16.06 %MVC). During the pull phase, the free choice presented higher biceps brachii activity (8.51 ± 2.80 %MVC) compared to the eyes on the board nose (6.22 ± 2.41 %MVC; < 0.01), while showing lower activity in the triceps brachii (10.02 ± 4.50 %MVC . 16.52 ± 8.45 %MVC; < 0.01) and tibialis anterior (12.24 ± 7.70 %MVC . 17.09 ± 7.73 %MVC; < 0.01) compared to looking at the turn buoy. These results suggest that a free visual focus allows paddleboarders to enhance their kinematics and muscle activation, highlighting the significance of visual focus strategies in improving both competitive and recreational SUP performance.

Whole Body Electromyostimulation [WB-EMS] is a training methodology that applies electrostimulation in the main muscle groups of the human body superimposed with active training exercises. This study aims to carry out a bibliometric analysis on WB-EMS to provide an overview of the state of research and provide new insights for research in the field. Method: One hundred and two citations extracted were examined using a bibliometric approach based on data stored in the Web of Science Core Collection, applying traditional bibliometric laws, and using VOSviewer and excel for data and metadata processing. Results: Among the results, this study points out that Germany is the country that produces more scientific knowledge on WB-EMS. Wolfgang Kemmler is the most relevant author in this field. Moreover, Frontier of Physiology is the journal where the authors publish the most. Conclusion: Research on WB-EMS has been growing in recent years. German and Spanish researchers lead two clusters where most studies and collaborations in this field are carried out. These findings will provide a better understanding of the state of WB-EMS research and may guide the emergence of new lines of investigation and research ideas.

Diffusion tensor imaging is widely used to evaluate the development of white matter. Information about how alterations in major neurotransmitter systems, such as the dopamine (DA) system, influence this development in healthy children, however, is lacking. Catechol-O-metyltransferase (COMT) is the major enzyme responsible for DA degradation in prefrontal brain structures, for which there is a corresponding genetic polymorphism (val158met) that confers either a more or less efficient version of this enzyme. The result of this common genetic variation is that children may have more or less available synaptic DA in prefrontal brain regions. In the present study we examined the relation between diffusion properties of frontal white matter structures and the COMT val158met polymorphism in 40 children ages 9–15. We found that the val allele was associated with significantly elevated fractional anisotropy values and reduced axial and radial diffusivities. These results indicate that the development of white matter in healthy children is related to COMT genotype and that alterations in white matter may be related to the differential availability of prefrontal DA. This investigation paves the way for further studies of how common functional variants in the genome might influence the development of brain white matter.

This study analyzed muscle activity during the stand-up paddle stroke, considering the paddling side and the adjacent and opposing muscles relative to the position of the arms during paddling. Methods: Fourteen male paddleboarders performed three trials covering 195 m in which surface electromyography of the upper trapezius, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medialis were recorded (four-cycle strokes on each side). The data were processed according to percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (% MVC). The MVC activation values (µV) for each muscle were then calculated and presented as percentage MVC (% MVC). Results: The recovery phase accounted for 60% of the paddle cycle, while the pull phase represented 39%. During right-side paddling, higher % MVC was found in the opposite-side upper trapezius (24.35%, p < 0.01) during the pulling phase and in the adjacent biceps brachii (8.36%, p < 0.03) during the recovery phase. In left-side paddling, greater % MVC was found in the opposite-side upper trapezius (27.60%, p < 0.01) during the pulling phase and in the opposite-side triceps brachii (42.25%, p < 0.04) during the recovery phase. Furthermore, the pulling phase exhibited higher MVC in the opposite-side upper trapezius compared to the recovery phase, both in the right-side (24.35%, p < 0.03) and left-side (27.60%, p < 0.01) paddling. Conclusions: these findings help establish the muscular activity of both sides of the paddling technique and the differences between the upper and lower limbs.

Taekwondo is a martial art and combat sport that originated in medieval or similar cultures, but today it is primarily a combat activity conditioned by safety rules. The kick technique is called “chagi” (Korean language). “Eyeballing” is a problem that is being addressed with traditional training methods used in Taekwondo. (1) Background: To solve this problem, the main aim of this study was to develop an Observation System for Technical Performance Indicators-Chagi (OSTPI-C). The validation and reliability processes were carried out by 19 expert judges, who were required to meet at least four out of the five selected inclusion criteria. (2) Methods: The content validity was calculated using Aiken’s V coefficient value on qualitative (relevance, univocity, and importance) and quantitative levels (rating scale from one to five), through the agreement and consensus of the panel experts. The reliability of the instrument was analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. (3) Results: The results demonstrated the high content validity indexes (0.90) and high reliability (alpha > 0.70) of the observational instrument. (4) Conclusions: The OSTIP-C observational instrument could be used in the Olympic and Paralympic Taekwondo sport environment as a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the technical execution of kick technical processes.

This study aimed to quantify the participation of male master swimmers during ten seasons (2008/2009 – 2018/2019) in the national master swimmers and predict the results for the 2020/2021 season in the events of 50 100, 200 and 400 m freestyle. Eight age groups were considered, namely, A to H with a total of 5,368 participants, in the four events analysed 50, 100, 200 and 400 m freestyle. The best time of each race was recorded in the selected age groups that took place in the last decade of the National Summer Championship, through the specific website “Swimrakings” (https://www.swimrankings.net/). The resulting equation for the calculation was y= (–) ax2 – bx + c, y being the rate of increase or decrease in swimming performance and the x variation depending on the year of events that one intends to estimate for 2021, x= 13. The results showed an increase in the number of participations in middle age groups (35-49 years) and a prediction of improvements in the results of 21 events for all the swimming races studied. In conclusion, we can verify that prediction becomes essential for the definition of new objectives and evolutionary trends in swimming. Keywords: Swimming, Results, Efficiency, Groups. Os objetivos deste estudo foram quantificar a participação de nadadores master do sexo masculino durante dez temporadas (2008/2009 - 2018/2019) nos nadadores master nacionais e prever os resultados para a temporada 2020/2021 nas provas de 50, 100, 200 e 400m livres. Foram consideradas oito faixas etárias, a saber, A a H com um total de 5368 participantes, nas quatro provas analisadas 50, 100, 200 e 400m livres. O melhor tempo de cada prova foi registado nas faixas etárias seleccionadas que decorreram na última década do Campeonato Nacional de Verão, através do site específico “Swimrakings” (https://www.swimrankings.net/). A equação resultante para o cálculo foi:  y= (–) ax2 – bx + c, sendo y a taxa de aumento ou diminuição no desempenho de natação e a variação de x dependendo do ano de eventos que se pretende estimar para 2021, x = 13. Os resultados mostraram um aumento do número de participações nos grupos de idade (35-49 anos), e para a melhoria da previsão nos resultados em 21 provas para todas as distancias de natação estudadas. Concluindo, é possível verificar que a predição torna-se essencial para a definição de novos objetivos e tendências evolutivas na natação. Palavras-chave: Natação, resultados, eficiência, grupos.