Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
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Psychological readiness in professional bullfighters: role, experience, and recent exposure
Publication . Batista, Marco
Introduction. Professional bullfighting constitutes a performance context characterized by real risk, high uncertainty, and substantial psychophysiological demands, requiring specific psychological resources to ensure effective and safe performance.
Objective. The study aimed to characterize the psychological profile of professional bullfighters in the domains of basic, psychosomatic, and cognitive skills; to compare this profile across different professional roles; and to explore, in an integrated manner, the influence of role, accumulated experience, and recent practice volume on the global psychological index.
Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 51 Portuguese male professional bullfighters. Participants completed the Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool (OMSAT-3). Descriptive analyses were performed, along with non-parametric tests for correlation and comparison across professional roles, and quantile regression was used for multivariate analysis.
Results. High levels were observed in foundational and cognitive competencies, with comparatively weaker psychosomatic competencies, especially in fear management and stress reactions, as well as differences between professional categories. Quantile regression indicated that the volume of recent practice was positively associated with several psychological domains, while accumulated experience was not predictive. Discussion. The findings were consistente with previous research in bullfighting and other high-risk sports, highlighting the importance of continued exposure for psychophysiological regulation and psychological preparation.
Conclusions. The psychological profile of professional bullfighters appears to be more closely associated with recent practice volume and the role performed.
Effects of inclination in Farmer’s Carry: muscle properties and strength
Publication . Machado, Renato Costa; Louro, Hugo; Freitas, João; Batista, Marco; Marinho, Daniel; Conceição, Ana
Introduction: The farmer’s carry is a loaded‑carry exercise in which an individual walks a distance while holding heavy loads in each hand, requiring substantial grip strength, whole‑body stability, and coordinated lower‑limb force production.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the acute effects of a light‑load inclined farmer’s carry protocol on grip strength, rectus femoris muscle mechanical properties, and lower‑limb asymmetries.
Methodology: Twelve healthy young adults completed a continuous treadmill walk at 4 km/h while carrying two 10kg dumbbells, progressing through five incline stages (0–8%), each corresponding to 50 meters. Grip strength and muscle mechanical properties were recorded after each stage during a 1‑minute rest.
Results: Significant grip strength reductions were observed in both hands, with decreases of 10.10% in the dominant side (p < 0.05, η²p = 0.61) and 8.50% in the non‑dominant side (p <0.05, η²p = 0.41). Also, a significant decrease in logarithmic decrement was detected in the dominant side (p = 0.04, W = 0.19). At baseline, 0, 2 and 6% were also observed significant differences between the dominant side and non-dominant side in logarithmic decrement.
Conclusions: Overall, inclined farmer’s carry efforts primarily induced peripheral, grip‑specific fatigue, with minimal alterations in rectus femoris muscle mechanical properties, supporting the use of inclines to safely increase task difficulty without excessive mechanical stress.
Selección de sustrato de emergencia por Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan, 1807) (Odonata: Cordulegastridae) en un río del centro de la Península Ibérica
Publication . Casanueva, Patricia; Campos, Francisco; Velasco, Tatiana; Sanz, Germán; Nunes, Luisa
Se analizan los sustratos de emergencia de Cordulegaster boltonii en un río del centro de la Península Ibérica. Para ello se recogieron exuvias en un tramo de 60 m de longitud. El 86% de las exuvias estaban sobre vegetales y las restantes sobre rocas del cauce. En la zona analizada las larvas seleccionaron positivamente para emerger plantas de la familia Cyperaceae, principalmente Carex y Eleocharis. Ninguna exuvia se localizó en árboles, tanto troncos como raíces fuera del agua.
Altitudinal variation of wing length and wing area in Libellula quadrimaculata (Odonata: Libellulidae)
Publication . Casanueva, Patricia; Sanz Requena, José-Francisco; Hernández, M. Ángeles; Ortega, Silvia; Nunes, Luisa; Campos, Francisco
The area and length of the right fore and hind wings and the abdomen length were analysed in specimens from two Iberian populations of Libellula quadrimaculata Linnaeus, 1758, one on a plateau (782 m a.s.l.) and another in the mountains (1 909 m a.s.l.), with a view to ascertaining whether their morphometric characteristics vary with altitude. Allometric relationships in terms of length and area of the fore and hind wings of both populations were found. The wings are longer and have a greater area in plateau specimens whereas the length of the abdomen did not vary between populations. Between the populations there was an overlap in the wing length measurements. The significance of these parameters in aiding the dragonflies’ flight capacity and hence the effects on their lifestyle under different environmental conditions is discussed.
Cordulegaster boltonii: la libélula tigre de los arroyos
Publication . Casanueva, Patricia; Santamaria, Tómás; Nunes, Luisa; Hernández, M. Ángeles; Sánchez-Sastre, Luis Fernando; Campos, Francico
Se describen en este libro las caracteristicas de la especie Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan, 1987) (Odonata, Cordulegastridae) en las montañas del Sistema Central de la penincula ibérica.