Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prematch salivary secretory immunoglobulin a in soccer players from the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

PURPOSE To monitor resting salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels in international soccer players during the short-term training period that precedes international match play. METHODS In a repeated-measure design, saliva samples were obtained from 13 outfield soccer players who participated in the training camps preceding 7 games (5 home and 2 away) of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Samples were obtained daily for 4 d preceding each game (and analyzed for SIgA using the IPRO oral-fluid-collection system) at match day minus 1 (MD-1), minus 2 (MD-2), minus 3 (MD-3), and minus 4 (MD-4). RESULTS SIgA displayed a progressive decline (P = .01) during the 4-d training period (MD-4, 365 ± 127 μg/mL; MD-3, 348 ± 154 μg/mL; MD-2, 290 ± 138 μg/mL; MD-1, 256 ± 90 μg/mL) such that MD-1 values were significantly lower (P = .01) than both MD-4 and MD-3. The 95% confidence intervals for the differences between MD-1 and MD-4 were -191 to -26 and between MD-1 and MD-3 were -155 to -28. CONCLUSIONS Data demonstrate that a short-term soccer-training camp in preparation for international competition induces detectable perturbations to mucosal immunity. Future studies should monitor SIgA (as a practical and noninvasive measure of immunity) alongside internal and external measures of training load in an attempt to strategically individualize training and nutritional strategies that may support optimal preparation for high-level competition.
Advances in Probabilistic Modeling: Applications of Stochastic Geometry [From the Guest Editors]

The articles in this special section advocate that the same principle applies to feature detection and autonomous mapping in robotics, where, instead of referring to the problem of target estimation, the problem of map feature or environmental object estimation are of concern. From here on, map features, targets, and environmental objects of interest will simply be referred to as “features. ” In the case of robotic mapping and SLAM, realistic feature detection algorithms produce false alarms and missed detections, and estimating the true number of map features is, therefore, central to these problems.
Fault tolerant controllability

In this paper we investigate the problem of fault tolerance in the framework of discrete-event system (DES). We introduce our setting, and then provide a set of fault tolerant definitions designed to capture different types of fault scenarios and to ensure that our system remains controllable in each scenario. We then present algorithms to verify these properties. Finally, a simple example is provided to illustrate the properties.
Relationships between rating-of-perceived-exertion- and heart-rate-derived internal training load in professional soccer players: a comparison of on-field integrated training sessions.

PURPOSE To describe the internal training load (ITL) of common training sessions performed during a typical week and to determine the relationships between different indicators of ITL commonly employed in professional football (soccer). METHODS Session-rating-of-perceived-exertion TL (sRPE-TL) and heart-rate- (HR) derived measurements of ITL as Edwards TL and Stagno training impulses (TRIMPMOD) were used in 9 players during 3 periods of the season. The relationships between them were analyzed in different training sessions during a typical week: skill drills/circuit training + small-sided games (SCT+SSGs), ball-possession games+technical-tactical exercises (BPG+TTE), tactical training (TT), and prematch activation (PMa). RESULTS HR values obtained during SCT+SSGs and BPG+TTE were substantially greater than those in the other 2 sessions, all the ITL markers and session duration were substantially greater in SCT+SSGs than in any other session, and all ITL measures in BPG+TTE were substantially greater than in TT and PMa sessions. Large relationships were found between HR>80% HRmax and HR>90% HRmax vs sRPE-TL during BPG+TTE and TT sessions (r=.61-.68). Very large relationships were found between Edwards TL and sRPE-TL and between TRIMPMOD and sRPE-TL in sessions with BPG+TTE and TT (r=.73-.87). Correlations between the different HR-based methods were always extremely large (r=.92-.98), and unclear correlations were observed for other relationships between variables. CONCLUSION sRPE-TL provided variable-magnitude within-individual correlations with HR-derived measures of training intensity and load during different types of training sessions typically performed during a week in professional soccer. Caution should be applied when using RPE- or HR-derived measures of exercise intensity/load in soccer training interchangeably.
Switching control of differential-algebraic equations with temporal logic specifications

This paper studies the switching control of differential-algebraic equations (DAEs). A specific problem concerned with switched DAEs is that jumps or impulses could be induced by mode switching, which is not well understood in many applications. We aim to find the control strategies that minimize the overall magnitude of undesirable jumps or impulses while rendering the systems achieve the expected behaviors. Applying an abstraction-based hybrid controller design framework, we extend formal methods to the control synthesis for switched DAEs with the specifications expressed in linear temporal logic. Abstractions are computed utilizing incrementally globally aymptotically stable property and Lyapunov-like functions. We illustrate the control synthesis procedure using a numerical example.
Population, Health and Nutrition in the Sahel: Issues in the Welfare of Selected West African Communities

1. Issues in the study of the Demography of Sahelian Pastoralists and Agro-pastoralists 2. The Recent Demographic Surveys in Mali and their main Findings 3. The Enumeration of Nomads and Semi-Nomads: Methodology and Selected Results from the 1976 Census of Mali 4. A Demographic Profile of the Fulani and Central Mali with Special Emphasis on Infant and Child Mortality 5. Demographic Characteristics and Trends Amongst the Nomads of Mauritania 6. Mixed Herding and the Demographic Parameters of Domestic Animals in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of Tropical Africa 7. Land Tenure Practice and Development Problems in Mali 8. The Reluctant Spouse and the Illegitimate Slave 9. Child Mortality and the Care of Children in Rural Mali 10. Nutrition Amongst a Group of WoDaaBe Pastoralists in Niger 11. Preliminary Findings on the Diet and Nutritional Status of Some Tamasheq and Fulani groups in the Niger Delta of Central Mali 12. Assessing the Components of Seasonal Stress Amongst Fulani of the Seno-Mango, Central Mali 13. Design of a Food Intake Study in two Bambara Villages in the Segou Region of Mali with Preliminary Findings 14. The Health of Nomads and Semi-Nomads of the Malian Gourma 15. The World Fertility Survey
A generalized ℋ∞ control design framework for stable multivariable plants subject to simultaneous output and input loop breaking specifications

In this paper, we present a generalized mixed-sensitivity multivariable framework for linear time invariant (LTI) plants that can handle a broad class of closed loop (e.g. ℋ∞, ℋ2, frequency- and time domain) objectives while being able to directly and systematically address the problem of trading off properties at distinct loop breaking points. This is done by exploiting the Youla-Jabr-Bongiorno-Kucera-Zames (YJBKZ) parameterization, the resulting convexification, and efficient convex solvers that can be applied to smooth as well as non-differentiable problems. Our approach is shown to be particularly useful for ill-conditioned plant having large relative gain array entries - plants that have received considerable attention in the literature without yielding a direct systematic design methodology. Moreover, we also show how our approach can be applied to multivariable infinite-dimensional plants. We specifically show that by suitably approximating the infinite-dimensional plant with a finite-dimensional approximant, a near-optimal finite-dimensional controller can be designed for the infinite-dimensional plant. Illustrative examples are provided.
Repeated Kicking Actions in Karate: Effect on Technical Execution in Elite Practitioners.

PURPOSE Training in martial arts is commonly performed by repeating a technical action continuously for a given number of times. This study aimed to investigate if the repetition of the task alters the proper technical execution, limiting the training efficacy for the technical evaluation during competition. This aim was pursued analyzing lower-limb kinematics and muscle activation during repeated roundhouse kicks. METHODS Six junior karate practitioners performed continuously 20 repetitions of the kick. Hip and knee kinematics and sEMG of vastus lateralis, biceps (BF), and rectus femoris were recorded. For each repetition, hip abduction-adduction and flexion-extension and knee flexion-extension peak angular displacements and velocities, agonist and antagonist muscle activation were computed. Moreover, to monitor for the presence of myoelectric fatigue, if any, the median frequency of the sEMG was computed. All variables were normalized with respect to their individual maximum observed during the sequence of kicks. Linear regressions were fitted to each normalized parameter to test its relationship with the repetition number. RESULTS Linear-regression analysis showed that, during the sequence, the athletes modified their technique: Knee flexion, BF median frequency, hip abduction, knee-extension angular velocity, and BF antagonist activation significantly decreased. Conversely, hip flexion increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS Since karate combat competitions require proper technical execution, training protocols combining severe fatigue and technical actions should be carefully proposed because of technique adaptations. Moreover, trainers and karate masters should consider including specific strength exercises for the BF and more generally for knee flexors.
Histopathological investigation of blastomycosis in animals at Dhaka Zoo

Dhaka Zoo with 2000 animal heads of 184 species from significant genetic diversity and five million visitors’ influx round the year is placing it a public health important spot. This study was conducted to investigate cryptococcosis in animals at Dhaka Zoo to ascertain animal health, welfare and public health safety standard. One hundred and two opportunistic tissue samples were collected and preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin at necropsy for 36 animals of 25 different species from Dhaka Zoo during the study period. Twenty five among the study animals were found suffering from granulomatous diseases, of them nine cases were identified cryptococcosis first ever in Bangladesh. Clinical history, nodular lesions on necropsy findings, granulomatous reactions with fungal spores & both Langhang’s & foreign body giant cells on histopathology and characteristic spores with wide gelatinous band around endospores on special staining revealed cryptococcosis in eight rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and one greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). Present study provides evidence of existing cryptococcosis and similar long standing zoonotic diseases in majority of rest of the animals with health risk that shades health safety standard at Dhaka zoo.
Accumulated Oxygen Deficit During Exercise to Exhaustion Determined at Different Supramaximal Work Rates.

PURPOSE The aim of the study was to determine the effect of supramaximal exercise intensity during constant work-rate cycling to exhaustion on the accumulated oxygen deficit (AOD) and to determine the test-retest reliability of AOD. METHODS Twenty-one trained male cyclists and triathletes (mean ± SD for age and maximal oxygen uptake [V̇O2max] were 41 ± 7 y and 4.53 ± 0.54 L/min, respectively) performed initial tests to determine the linear relationship between V̇O2 and power output, and V̇O2max. In subsequent trials, AOD was determined from exhaustive square-wave cycling trials at 105%, 112.5% (in duplicate), 120%, and 127.5% V̇O2max. RESULTS Exercise intensity had an effect (P = .011) on the AOD (3.84 ± 1.11, 4.23 ± 0.96, 4.09 ± 0.87, and 3.93 ± 0.89 L at 105%, 112.5%, 120%, and 127.5% V̇O2max, respectively). Specifically, AOD at 112.5% V̇O2max was greater than at 105% V̇O2max (P = .033) and at 127.5% V̇O2max (P = .022), but there were no differences between the AOD at 112.5% and 120% V̇O2max. In 76% of the participants, the maximal AOD occurred at 112.5% or 120% V̇O2max. The reliability statistics of the AOD at 112.5% V̇O2max, determined as intraclass correlation coefficient and coefficient of variation, were . 927 and 8.72%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The AOD, determined from square-wave cycling bouts to exhaustion, peaks at intensities of 112.5-120% V̇O2max. Moreover, the AOD at 112.5% V̇O2max exhibits an 8.72% test-retest reliability.
Modelling the rate of change in a longitudinal study with missing data, adjusting for contact attempts

The Collaborative Ankle Support Trial (CAST) is a longitudinal trial of treatments for severe ankle sprains in which interest lies in the rate of improvement, the effectiveness of reminders and potentially informative missingness. A model is proposed for continuous longitudinal data with non‐ignorable or informative missingness, taking into account the nature of attempts made to contact initial non‐responders. The model combines a non‐linear mixed model for the outcome model with logistic regression models for the reminder processes. A sensitivity analysis is used to contrast this model with the traditional selection model, where we adjust for missingness by modelling the missingness process.
Effect of Repeated Active Recovery During a High-Intensity Interval-Training Shock Microcycle on Markers of Fatigue.

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of repeated use of active recovery during a 4-d shock microcycle with 7 high-intensity interval-training (HIT) sessions on markers of fatigue. METHODS Eight elite male junior tennis players (age 15.1 ± 1.4 y) with an international ranking between 59 and 907 (International Tennis Federation) participated in this study. After each training session, they completed 15 min of either moderate jogging (active recovery [ACT]) or passive recovery (PAS) with a crossover design, which was interrupted by a 4-mo washout period. Countermovement-jump (CMJ) height, serum concentration of creatine kinase (CK), delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and perceived recovery and stress (Short Recovery and Stress Scale) were measured 24 h before and 24 h after the training program. RESULTS The HIT shock microcycle induced a large decrease in CMJ performance (ACT: effect size [ES] = -1.39, P < .05; PAS: ES = -1.42, P < .05) and perceived recovery (ACT: ES = -1.79, P < .05; PAS: ES = -2.39, P < .05), as well as a moderate to large increase in CK levels (ACT: ES = 0.76, P > .05; PAS: ES = 0.81, P >.05), DOMS (ACT: ES = 2.02, P < .05; PAS: ES = 2.17, P < .05), and perceived stress (ACT: ES = 1.98, P < .05; PAS: ES = 3.06, P < .05), compared with the values before the intervention. However, no significant recovery intervention × time interactions or meaningful differences in changes were noted in any of the markers between ACT and PAS. CONCLUSIONS Repeated use of individualized ACT, consisting of 15 min of moderate jogging, after finishing each training session during an HIT shock microcycle did not affect exercise-induced fatigue.
Assessing XP at a European Internet Company

Fst, a European Internet services company, has been experimenting with introducing XP in its development work. The article describes the company's experiences with XP, explores its implementation practice by practice, and discusses XPs pros and cons in three key areas; customer relationships, project management, and ISO 9001 quality assurance.
Impaired Player-Coach Perceptions of Exertion and Recovery During Match Congestion.

During intensified phases of competition, attunement of exertion and recovery is crucial to maintain performance. Although a mismatch between coach and player perceptions of training load is demonstrated, it is unknown if these discrepancies also exist for match exertion and recovery. PURPOSE To determine match exertion and subsequent recovery and to investigate the extent to which the coach is able to estimate players' match exertion and recovery. METHODS Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and total quality of recovery (TQR) of 14 professional basketball players (age 26.7 ± 3.8 y, height 197.2 ± 9.1 cm, weight 100.3 ± 15.2 kg, body fat 10.3% ± 3.6%) were compared with observations of the coach. During an in-season phase of 15 matches within 6 wk, players gave RPEs after each match. TQR scores were filled out before the first training session after the match. The coach rated observed exertion (ROE) and recovery (TQ-OR) of the players. RESULTS RPE was lower than ROE (15.6 ± 2.3 and 16.1 ± 1.4; P = .029). Furthermore, TQR was lower than TQ-OR (12.7 ± 3.0 and 15.3 ± 1.3; P < .001). Correlations between coach- and player-perceived exertion and recovery were r = . 25 and r = . 21, respectively. For recovery within 1 d the correlation was r = . 68, but for recovery after 1-2 d no association existed. CONCLUSION Players perceive match exertion as hard to very hard and subsequent recovery reasonable. The coach overestimates match exertion and underestimates degree of recovery. Correspondence between coach and players is thus not optimal. This mismatch potentially leads to inadequate planning of training sessions and decreases in performance during fixture congestion in basketball.
The Effect of Training at 2100-m Altitude on Running Speed and Session Rating of Perceived Exertion at Different Intensities in Elite Middle-Distance Runners.

PURPOSE To determine the effect of training at 2100-m natural altitude on running speed (RS) during training sessions over a range of intensities relevant to middle-distance running performance. METHODS In an observational study, 19 elite middle-distance runners (mean ± SD age 25 ± 5 y, VO2max, 71 ± 5 mL · kg-1 · min-1) completed either 4-6 wk of sea-level training (CON, n = 7) or a 4- to 5-wk natural altitude-training camp living at 2100 m and training at 1400-2700 m (ALT, n = 12) after a period of sea-level training. Each training session was recorded on a GPS watch, and athletes also provided a score for session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). Training sessions were grouped according to duration and intensity. RS (km/h) and sRPE from matched training sessions completed at sea level and 2100 m were compared within ALT, with sessions completed at sea level in CON describing normal variation. RESULTS In ALT, RS was reduced at altitude compared with sea level, with the greatest decrements observed during threshold- and VO2max-intensity sessions (5.8% and 3.6%, respectively). Velocity of low-intensity and race-pace sessions completed at a lower altitude (1400 m) and/or with additional recovery was maintained in ALT, though at a significantly greater sRPE (P = .04 and .05, respectively). There was no change in velocity or sRPE at any intensity in CON. CONCLUSION RS in elite middle-distance athletes is adversely affected at 2100-m natural altitude, with levels of impairment dependent on the intensity of training. Maintenance of RS at certain intensities while training at altitude can result in a higher perceived exertion.
A new classification approach for comparing two active treatments when there is no prior projection on which one is better

We developed a new classification approach in this paper to compare two active treatments. This approach is especially useful when there is no prior judgment on which treatment is better and the traditional hypothesis testing approach is thus not applicable. Our method classifies all the possible outcomes into categories and draws conclusions on the difference in the outcome measurement between two treatment arms according to the location of the confidence interval for the treatment difference in the response variable. This method controls the misclassification rate regardless of the true difference in the response between the two treatment arms. The method was applied to a diabetes clinical trial. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Looking beyond the importance of life goals. The personal goal model of subjective well-being in neuropsychological rehabilitation

Objective: To identify subjective importance, attainability and success of life goals and their predictive value for subjective well-being in patients with acquired brain injury. Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive. Setting: Two inpatient neurological rehabilitation centres. Participants: Patients with non-progressive neurological disorders. Interventions: Survey using questionnaires. Measures: Life goal characteristics were assessed using a life goal questionnaire (GOALS). Subjective well-being (composite score) was measured using the Center of the Epidemic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Results: Fifty-nine patients participated in the study. The most important life goals are intimacy (4.59/5), achievement (3.96/5) and altruism (3.89/5). The intimacy goals are considered most attainable (4.19/5) and patients feel most successful in this domain (3.98/5). Two important predictions of the personal goal model of subjective well-being could be confirmed. First, goal attainability moderates the relation between goal importance and goal success. Second, the influence of goal importance on subjective well-being is mediated by experienced success. The most powerful predictors for subjective well-being are success in the achievement domain (β = 0.404) and discrepancy between importance and success in the intimacy domain (β = —0.276). Conclusions: The subjective well-being of neurological patients depends not only on the appraised importance of life goals but also on their attainability and success.
‘Feeling sad and useless’: an investigation into personal acceptance of disability and its association with depression following stroke

Objectives: To study the association of acceptance of disability with depression following stroke and its ability to predict depression at follow-up. Design: A prospective cohort mixed (quantitative and qualitative) design was used. Setting and subjects: Patients admitted to a stroke unit were consecutively recruited. Eighty-nine participated at one month and 81 were followed up nine months post stroke. Main measures: Depressive disorder was assessed using a structured clinical interview. Disability and acceptance of disability were measured using self-report scales. At one month post stroke, 60 consecutive participants also participated in open-ended interviews exploring their individual concerns about having had a stroke and their responses were analysed qualitatively. Results: One-third of participants were found to have depression (29/89; 33% at one month and 24/81; 30% at nine months). Non-acceptance of disability remained associated with depression after controlling for age, gender, original stroke severity and current disability at one month (odds ratio (OR) = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09—1.47) and nine months (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.22—1.75). Also, non-acceptance of disability measured at one month independently predicted depression measured at nine months (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.05—1.35). The qualitative findings illustrated a self-reproachful element to non-acceptance of disability. Patients with depression often said that they ‘should still’ be capable and sometimes referred to themselves as ‘useless’; whereas patients who were not depressed commonly reported having accepted stroke-related disability. Conclusions: These finding suggest that personal beliefs about accepting disability are associated with and predict emotional adaptation following stroke.