TAG & RELEASE Volume 21, No. 2 April 2016

Tag & Release is the newsletter for the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series, an official program of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the Harry R.E. Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund.

Universities and Welfare States Coping with Permanent Financial Austerity: Pressures on (Competing) Public Institutions

A chapter linking universities and welfare states to permanent financial austerity can take a shorter or a longer historical perspective. This chapter looks further back (to the postwar expansion of European welfare states) to better understand future transformations of both public institutions. Their long-term sustainability problems did not start with the financial crisis of 2008 but have been growing since the 1970s (Schäfer and Streeck 2013; Bonoli and Natali 2012; Hay and Wincott 2012). Financial austerity is not a post-crisis phenomenon. As a concept, it was used in welfare state research at least a decade earlier, although it does not seem to have been used in higher education studies until recently. Two quotations bring us to the heart of the matter: welfare states and universities are currently changing under adverse financial conditions caused by an array of interrelating and mutually reinforcing forces and their long-term financial sustainability is at stake across Europe. The welfare state is a “particular trademark of the European social model” (Svallfors 2012: 1), “the jewel in the crown” and a “fundamental part of what Europe stands for” (Giddens 2006: 14), as are tuition-free universities, the cornerstone of intergenerational social mobility in Continental Europe. The past trajectories of major types of welfare states and of universities in Europe tend to go hand in hand: first vastly expanding following the Second World War, and especially in the 1960s and 1970s, and then being in the state of permanent resource-driven and legitimacy-based “crisis” in the last two decades. Welfare states and universities, two critically important public institutions, seem to be under heavy attacks from the public, the media and politicians. Their long-term sustainability is being questioned, and solutions to their (real and perceived) problems are being sought at global, European, and national levels.

Espirito de catimbo: a moral magico-religiosa da jurema

This participative research interested in the social praxis attempts to understand the moral principles that set the magic rituals and the places of worship of three jurema centers of the potiguar region of Canguaretama. Among other inner particularly aspects of each focused catimbó-jurema center, it is being discussed the collective standards involved in the reliance and fellowship values assumed in the private magical gatherings by the juremeiras leaders and their partners, in contrast to the prestige seeking and the individualism that influence both the symbolic competitions and the witchcraft works that link these agents to the broader catimbozeiro universe of this region. Finally, the moral practices which make part of the juremeiro left-right dualism are investigated based on the understanding that the referred native pantheonic-ritual dichotomy does not necessarily express two moralities substantially adversed in terms of benefits or harms, but a series of moral actions subject to the specular logic of the tit-for tat. Thus, this research seeks to prove that this moral structure of symbolic reciprocity, as well as the witchcraft centrality in the catimbozeiro world, finds a certain causal link in a world view which guiding principle is the ontological evil of the catholic cosmology

The Impact of Motor Learning on Motor Behavior and Cortical Dynamics in a Complex Stressful Social Environment

An economy of effort is a core characteristic of highly skilled motor performance often described as being effortless or automatic. Electroencephalographic (EEG) evaluation of cortical activity in elite performers has consistently revealed a reduction in extraneous associative cortical activity and an enhancement of task-relevant cortical processes. However, this has only been demonstrated under what are essentially practice-like conditions. Recently it has been shown that cerebral cortical activity becomes less efficient when performance occurs in a stressful, complex social environment. This dissertation examines the impact of motor skill training or practice on the EEG cortical dynamics that underlie performance in a stressful, complex social environment. Sixteen ROTC cadets participated in head-to-head pistol shooting competitions before and after completing nine sessions of skill training over three weeks. Spectral power increased in the theta frequency band and decreased in the low alpha frequency band after skill training. EEG Coherence increased in the left frontal region and decreased in the left temporal region after the practice intervention. These suggest a refinement of cerebral cortical dynamics with a reduction of task extraneous processing in the left frontal region and an enhancement of task related processing in the left temporal region consistent with the skill level reached by participants. Partitioning performance into ‘best’ and ‘worst’ based on shot score revealed that deliberate practice appears to optimize cerebral cortical activity of ‘best’ performances which are accompanied by a reduction in task-specific processes reflected by increased high-alpha power, while ‘worst’ performances are characterized by an inappropriate reduction in task-specific processing resulting in a loss of focus reflected by higher high-alpha power after training when compared to ‘best’ performances. Together, these studies demonstrate the power of experience afforded by practice, as a controllable factor, to promote resilience of cerebral cortical efficiency in complex environments.

Da organização e gestão do processo de treino e competição à análise das cargas por função na competição

Este trabalho consiste na elaboração do Relatório Final do Estágio Curricular, realizado como parte integrante e conclusiva do curso de Mestrado em Treino Desportivo pela Faculdade de Motricidade Humana. O Estágio desenvolveu-se no Real Sport Clube, nomeadamente no escalão de Juniores A na época de 2014/2015 tendo como objetivos favorecer a integração e consolidação, no contexto da prática, os conhecimentos teóricos adquiridos ao longo do curso. O presente relatório está estruturado em diferentes capítulos, ao longo dos quais se apresentam as atividades desenvolvidas durante o Estágio Curricular. O propósito é descrever e refletir sobre as atividades desenvolvidas ao longo da época, pretendendo-se realizar uma avaliação de todo o trabalho desenvolvido e os conhecimentos dele derivado, ao descrever e analisar criticamente as duas dimensões. O relatório tem inicio com uma revisão da literatura que suporta a prática profissional, composta por três áreas: a área 1 diz respeito à organização e gestão do processo de treino e competição, onde são abordadas as tarefas relativas à conceção dos ciclos de treino, condução das sessões e controlo da competição bem como algumas informações relativas ao plantel de Juniores A do RSC. Na área 2 é apresentado um estudo de investigação realizado com recurso a dispositivos GPS que nos apresenta resultados relativos às distâncias percorridas pelos diferentes atletas em jogos oficiais e por último, a área 3 ilustra os dois eventos realizados direcionados para a formação continua dos treinadores de futebol. O Estágio Curricular mostra-se, neste sentido, uma ótima oportunidade de aprendizagem e promotor da aquisição e desenvolvimento de competências profissionais e pessoais, de atitudes e resolução de problemas pedagógicos, por forma a constituir o ponto de partida para uma futura integração no mercado de trabalho.

Estágio de natação na equipa de competição da Associação Naval Amorense

Este relatório surge no âmbito do Mestrado em Treino Desportivo, pretendendo dar a conhecer as minhas aprendizagens e trabalho desenvolvido durante o estágio de carater profissionalizante realizado com a equipa de natação absoluta da Associação Naval Amorense ao longo da época 2014/2016. Este estágio permitiu-me analisar e intervir em diversos aspetos integrados no processo de treino da modalidade de natação, tais como: a análise e correção técnica, análise do planeamento da época desportiva e intervenção, tanto em contexto de competição como também em tarefas das sessões de treino. Desta forma, foi-me possível não só obter um conhecimento mais abrangente e real dos processos de treino, mas também, o enquadramento da informação e conhecimento que foram fornecidos ao longo de todo o meu percurso académico. Foi ainda possível acrescentar uma componente de investigação a este mesmo relatório, através de um projeto cientifico realizado com alguns dos nadadores de referência do clube.

Concepções didácticas e metodológicas do surf

Este estudo pretendeu determinar as características particulares do conhecimento acerca das concepções e metodologias dos treinadores de Surf e o modo como procedem à organização curricular dos conteúdos. Inspirado no modelo de Grossman e recorrendo ao quadro teórico de Rink, esta investigação assentou numa metodologia qualitativa. Determinaram-se as habilidades a ensinar em cada nível de prática e não se verificou a existência de progressões únicas, variando a sequência de ensino das técnicas entre os treinadores. O ensino das técnicas é realizado após um período de preparação geral e ao longo de toda a época, tendo sempre em consideração o calendário competitivo.

Projeto e Construção de um Veleiro Autónomo, utilizando materiais compósitos, Impressão a 3D e Aprendizagem Máquina

Este trabalho consistiu no projeto e construção de um veleiro autónomo de pequena escala. No início do trabalho, é feito um estudo acerca dos diferentes tipos de veículos autónomos, dando mais enfase aos veleiros. Em seguida, é iniciado o projeto do casco do veleiro, aplicando conceitos básicos de Arquitetura Naval. A forma do casco é desenhada com recurso ao programa DELFT Ship Free, onde são realizados estudos hidrodinâmicos do mesmo. Posteriormente é retratado a construção do casco projetado, com recurso a materiais compósitos e impressão 3D de componentes do veleiro. São ainda descritos os sensores, controladores, atuadores e programação desenvolvida para o veleiro. É também realizado um estudo sumário da estimativa de consumos e autonomia do sistema. No final, encontram-se os resultados obtidos das provas de mar efetuadas ao veleiro.

Tighter, Neater, Safer C and C++

Report published in the Proceedings of the National Conference on "Education and Research in the Information Society", Plovdiv, May, 2016

Managing pressure: patterns of appraisals and coping strategies of non-elite and elite athletes during competition

The purpose of this study was to compare moment-to-moment appraisals and coping strategies of 4 non-elite and 2 elite male trap shooters during competitions and in particular during periods of competition perceived as critical to performance. Appraisals and coping patterns of trap shooters were captured via verbal reports of thinking provided between sets of shots during major competitions. Verbal reports were coded according to an appraisal and coping typology. Coded data as well as shooting performance data were subjected to a sequential analysis of probabilities of pairs of events. Fewer reports of negative appraisals (NEGAs) and more frequent reports of problem-focused coping (PFC) were observed among both elite athletes compared to non-elite athletes. After making a NEGA, non-elite shooters often progressed to the next target without attempting to cope, whereas elite shooters used both PFC and emotion-focused coping (EFC) before proceeding to the next target. After missing a target, the non-elite athletes used more EFC than expected. These results indicate that elite athletes are more likely to cope with NEGAs than non-elite athletes using a wider variety of coping strategies. Athletes might benefit from increased awareness of the potentially detrimental impact of NEGAs on performance and by integrating coping strategies within preparatory routines.

Aerobic power and lean mass are indicators of competitive sprint performance among elite female cross-country skiers

The purpose of this study was to establish the optimal allometric models to predict International Ski Federation’s ski-ranking points for sprint competitions (FISsprint) among elite female cross-country skiers based on maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) and lean mass (LM). Ten elite female cross-country skiers (age: 24.5±2.8 years [mean ± SD]) completed a treadmill roller-skiing test to determine V̇O2max (ie, aerobic power) using the diagonal stride technique, whereas LM (ie, a surrogate indicator of anaerobic capacity) was determined by dual-emission X-ray anthropometry. The subjects’ FISsprint were used as competitive performance measures. Power function modeling was used to predict the skiers’ FISsprint based on V̇O2max, LM, and body mass. The subjects’ test and performance data were as follows: V̇O2max, 4.0±0.3 L min-1; LM, 48.9±4.4 kg; body mass, 64.0±5.2 kg; and FISsprint, 116.4±59.6 points. The following power function models were established for the prediction of FISsprint: 3.91×105 ∙ VO -6.002maxand 6.95×1010 ∙ LM-5.25; these models explained 66% (P=0.0043) and 52% (P=0.019), respectively, of the variance in the FISsprint. Body mass failed to contribute to both models; hence, the models are based on V̇O2max and LM expressed absolutely. The results demonstrate that the physiological variables that reflect aerobic power and anaerobic capacity are important indicators of competitive sprint performance among elite female skiers. To accurately indicate performance capability among elite female skiers, the presented power function models should be used. Skiers whose V̇O2max differs by 1% will differ in their FISsprint by 5.8%, whereas the corresponding 1% difference in LM is related to an FISsprint difference of 5.1%, where both differences are in favor of the skier with higher V̇O2max or LM. It is recommended that coaches use the absolute expression of these variables to monitor skiers’ performance-related training adaptations linked to changes in aerobic power and anaerobic capacity.

IMechE Design Challenge 2017 outline presentation

Outline of IMechE Competitions and the 1st year UG annual Design Challenge Competition (2017) - Stephen Herd, 13 Jan'17 (6 presentation slides as 3 A4 pages - 2 slides per page) for Reference

TAG & RELEASE Volume 21, No. 3 June 2016

Tag & Release is the newsletter for the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series, an official program of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the Harry R.E. Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund.

TAG & RELEASE Volume 5, No. 1 April 2000

Tag & Release is the newsletter for the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series, an official program of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the Harry R.E. Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund.

TAG & RELEASE Volume 5, No. 4 July 2000

Tag & Release is the newsletter for the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series, an official program of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the Harry R.E. Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund.