title: Evaluation of an off-feet heat response test for elite rugby sevens athletes

authors: Fenemor, Stephen Paul

abstract: A heat response test (HRT) assesses adaptations to heat stress and athlete readiness to perform in hot conditions. However, testing is often not sport-specific, and is challenging to incorporate into elite team-sports schedules due to competing training priorities. Seven non-heat acclimated elite rugby sevens athletes (25 ± 3 years; 95.3 ± 6.5 kg; 190 ± 3 cm) undertook two rugby sevens specific running tests in ambient (20 °C, 50% rH; RUN:AMB), and hot (35 °C, 80% rH; RUN:HOT) conditions, along with a heart rate (HR) matched cycling-based HRT (CYCLE:HOT). Physiological and perceptual variables were monitored throughout each test. Mean tympanic temperature (TTymp), HR, thermal sensation, rate of perceived exertion, and sweat loss significantly increased, while thermal discomfort and performance decreased in RUN:HOT compared with RUN:AMB, (all d > 1.40; p < 0.05). Significant reductions in mean TTymp and HR were evident in CYCLE:HOT compared with RUN:HOT (both d > 1.10; p < 0.05), whereas there were no clear differences in any perceptual variables. Mean peak TTymp was 39.5 ± 0.5 °C in RUN:HOT and 38.8 ± 0.4 °C CYCLE:HOT, respectively. Acute heat stress is detrimental to performance in non-heat acclimated elite rugby sevens athletes. High-intensity cycling in the heat can replicate the perceptual (but not the physiological) stress associated with high-intensity running in the heat. Cycling-based HRT could be used to avoid additional mechanical load associated with running-based heat testing.

text: Evaluation of an off-feet heat response test for elite rugby sevens athletes A heat response test (HRT) assesses adaptations to heat stress and athlete readiness to perform in hot conditions. However, testing is often not sport-specific, and is challenging to incorporate into elite team-sports schedules due to competing training priorities. Seven non-heat acclimated elite rugby sevens athletes (25 ± 3 years; 95.3 ± 6.5 kg; 190 ± 3 cm) undertook two rugby sevens specific running tests in ambient (20 °C, 50% rH; RUN:AMB), and hot (35 °C, 80% rH; RUN:HOT) conditions, along with a heart rate (HR) matched cycling-based HRT (CYCLE:HOT). Physiological and perceptual variables were monitored throughout each test. Mean tympanic temperature (TTymp), HR, thermal sensation, rate of perceived exertion, and sweat loss significantly increased, while thermal discomfort and performance decreased in RUN:HOT compared with RUN:AMB, (all d > 1.40; p < 0.05). Significant reductions in mean TTymp and HR were evident in CYCLE:HOT compared with RUN:HOT (both d > 1.10; p < 0.05), whereas there were no clear differences in any perceptual variables. Mean peak TTymp was 39.5 ± 0.5 °C in RUN:HOT and 38.8 ± 0.4 °C CYCLE:HOT, respectively. Acute heat stress is detrimental to performance in non-heat acclimated elite rugby sevens athletes. High-intensity cycling in the heat can replicate the perceptual (but not the physiological) stress associated with high-intensity running in the heat. Cycling-based HRT could be used to avoid additional mechanical load associated with running-based heat testing.

year: 2022-01-01

title: The slot car stig: Performance and consistency of a slot car driven by a heuristic algorithm in an embedded microcontroller

authors: Kane, Steven

subjects: electronics

abstract: We present theory and measured performance of an autonomous slot car driven by a heuristic algorithm on a typical track. The hardware consists of a PIC 8-bit single-chip microcontroller with various sensors driving a standard permanent-magnet (PM) brushed dc (BDC) motor in a mechanically-standard Scalextric platform. We present some interesting results concerning the relative difficulty of apparently-balanced lanes on a track. The car achieves optimum lap times with high consistency. Measured performance agrees with theoretical expectation. The consistency of performance allows the impact of experimental changes to be reliably assessed.

text: The slot car stig: Performance and consistency of a slot car driven by a heuristic algorithm in an embedded microcontroller We present theory and measured performance of an autonomous slot car driven by a heuristic algorithm on a typical track. The hardware consists of a PIC 8-bit single-chip microcontroller with various sensors driving a standard permanent-magnet (PM) brushed dc (BDC) motor in a mechanically-standard Scalextric platform. We present some interesting results concerning the relative difficulty of apparently-balanced lanes on a track. The car achieves optimum lap times with high consistency. Measured performance agrees with theoretical expectation. The consistency of performance allows the impact of experimental changes to be reliably assessed.

year: 2009

title: Te Tikanga me nga Kawa

authors: Temara, Pou

subjects: Tikanga

abstract: Ko te tikanga te kaitohu i te huarahi tika e pai ai te whakahaere a te Māori i a ia anō. Ki te kore he tikanga e kore e pai tāna noho, ka mate tōna mauri, te mutunga atu ko tōna toiora ka mate. Ki te kore he tikanga, ka  tūtakarerewa te kāhui. He pērā anō te kawa. Ki te kore he kawa, ko taua āhua anō o te pāihiihi o te whakaaro, ko te noho i roto o te kōpā, te mutunga atu ko te pakanga. Engari he nui ngā pōhēhētanga mō te tikanga me te kawa. Ko ētahi tohunga e kī ana he tapu kē atu te kawa i te tikanga, ko ētahi anō e tohe ana mō te tapu o te tikanga. He tohunga anō e kōkiri ana i te haumanutanga o te tikanga me te tāharaharatanga o te kawa. Kai tēnei tuhinga e takoto ai ngā whakamārama mō te tikanga me te kawa me te rerekētanga o tētahi i tētahi.

text: Te Tikanga me nga Kawa Ko te tikanga te kaitohu i te huarahi tika e pai ai te whakahaere a te Māori i a ia anō. Ki te kore he tikanga e kore e pai tāna noho, ka mate tōna mauri, te mutunga atu ko tōna toiora ka mate. Ki te kore he tikanga, ka  tūtakarerewa te kāhui. He pērā anō te kawa. Ki te kore he kawa, ko taua āhua anō o te pāihiihi o te whakaaro, ko te noho i roto o te kōpā, te mutunga atu ko te pakanga. Engari he nui ngā pōhēhētanga mō te tikanga me te kawa. Ko ētahi tohunga e kī ana he tapu kē atu te kawa i te tikanga, ko ētahi anō e tohe ana mō te tapu o te tikanga. He tohunga anō e kōkiri ana i te haumanutanga o te tikanga me te tāharaharatanga o te kawa. Kai tēnei tuhinga e takoto ai ngā whakamārama mō te tikanga me te kawa me te rerekētanga o tētahi i tētahi.

year: 2011