Water polo throwing speed and body composition: an analysis by playing positions and opposition level

The aim of this study was to develop an anthropometric profile on highly skilled male water polo players by specific playing positions. Also, to identify significant relationships between these features an overhead throwing speed in highly skilled male Water Polo players by specific playing positions. Methods: A total of 94 male water polo players (24.5±5.3 yrs) who were playing in the Spanish King´s cup were studied. Subjects were grouped according to their specific playing positions: 15 goalkeepers, 45 offensive wings, 20 center backs and 14 center forwards. Anthropometric assessment was made following ISAK protocols. Hand grip and throwing speed in several situations were also assessed. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine if significant differences existed among the four playing positions. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients (r) were used to determine the relationships of all anthropometric measures with throwing speed and hand grip. The total player’s somatotype was endomorphic-mesomorphic (2.9–5.8–2.3). Center forwards exhibit important anthropometric differences compared with the other specific playing positions in elite male water polo players, but no differences were found in throwing speed by specific playing positions in each throwing conditions. Moreover, a higher number of relationships between anthropometric and throwing speed were found in wings and also in center backs but no relationships were found in center forwards. The data reflects the importance of muscle mass and upper body in the throwing skill. Coaches can use this information in order to select players for the different specific positions.

Bike and cycle polo's terminology translation issues from a cognitive linguistics perspective

The purpose of this dissertation is to give a contribution to the translation of the terminology of Cycle and Bike Polo into European Portuguese and hence call the attention of a wide Portuguese public to this fairly new sport, whose roots go back to Elephant and Horse Polo in India and in other parts of the world. Sequencing a characterization of technical translation, translation issues of Bike and Cycle Polo´s terminological units have been dealt with in the light of the Cognitive Linguistics framework and hence intimately associated both with physical experiences and historical facts. In fact, sports terminology coinage in this field is highly motivated by metaphorical and metonymical conceptualization mapped from physical reality dimensions, as well as from already existing sports terminology from other sports modalities. In order to render this research unique, a glossary of technical terms from Bike and Cycle Polo has been gathered, since most of them had not yet undergone translation from English into European Portuguese. For validation of my translations I have resorted to Portuguese bike polo players, with special reference to Catarina Almeida, who introduced me to Bike Polo’s terminology.

Polo-like kinase 4 controls centriole duplication but does not directly regulate cytokinesis

Centrioles organize the centrosome, and accurate control of their number is critical for the maintenance of genomic integrity. Centrioles duplicate once per cell cycle, and duplication is coordinated by Polo-like kinase 4 (Plk4). We previously demonstrated that Plk4 accumulation is autoregulated by its own kinase activity. However, loss of heterozygosity of Plk4 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts has been proposed to cause cytokinesis failure as a primary event, leading to centrosome amplification and gross chromosomal abnormalities. Using targeted gene disruption, we show that human epithelial cells with one inactivated Plk4 allele undergo neither cytokinesis failure nor increase in centrosome amplification. Plk4 is shown to localize exclusively at the centrosome, with none in the spindle midbody. Substantial depletion of Plk4 by small interfering RNA leads to loss of centrioles and subsequent spindle defects that lead to a modest increase in the rate of cytokinesis failure. Therefore, Plk4 is a centriole-localized kinase that does not directly regulate cytokinesis.

Apoio à decisão na análise técnica de empreendimentos : aplicação ao caso da selecão da localização de um novo aeroporto

A localização do novo Aeroporto de Lisboa foi durante décadas, alvo de diversos estudos de forma a obter a melhor viabilidade. Em 2005, num seminário promovido pelo Novo Aeroporto, S.A. (NAER), foram apresentados vários estudos sobre a viabilidade da manutenção do aeroporto da Portela através da sua possível expansão ou da sua utilização em simultâneo com outro aeroporto da zona de Lisboa. Os estudos apresentados revelaram a inviabilidade da expansão do aeroporto da Portela e que as soluções baseadas nos aeroportos do Montijo e de Alverca não tinham vantagens e não permitiam o prolongamento da vida útil do aeroporto da Portela. Em 2007, o XVII Governo Constitucional decidiu mandatar o Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (LNEC), para elaborar um estudo que procedesse a uma análise técnica comparada das alternativas de localização do Novo Aeroporto de Lisboa (NAL), na zona da Ota e na Zona do Campo de Tiro de Alcochete (CTA). O estudo realizado pelo LNEC identificou o conjunto de atributos, sustentados em estudos técnicos, para avaliação da localização do NAL. Neste estudo, não foi utilizada nenhuma das metodologias de apoio à decisão amplamente referenciadas na bibliografia científica. Assim, pareceu-nos interessante, efetuar uma análise das referidas alternativas suportadas na utilização de MAD e, também, uma análise mais detalhada e exaustiva dos atributos de decisão. Assim, foram aplicados três métodos, o método da soma ponderada (MSP), o método de TOPSIS e o método de ELECTRE I, combinados com várias hipóteses de distribuição de pesos pelos atributos. Conclui-se que a localização do NAL na zona do CTA torna-se mais favorável comparativamente com a zona da Ota. Esta conclusão apoia-se essencialmente na constante tendência de melhores classificações da localização do CTA nos três métodos aplicados e na maioria das hipóteses de distribuição de pesos.