title: Characterizing heart rate differences across rugby union competition levels

authors: Koumandarakis, Nikolas

subjects: Internal load

abstract: Heart rate (HR) monitoring provides insight into the demands of rugby union and may be able to help discriminate between different levels of competition. There is limited data examining the differences in physiological responses among different levels of rugby union. Rugby union athletes from different levels of competition (n=15 School, n=15 Club, n=15 Professional, and n=15 International) were included in the study. HR was measured via chest straps worn during the game with specific variables compared between levels of competition (e.g. Average (Avg) HR (bpm), and HR during worst-case scenario (WCS) periods of play (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 minutes). Data was collected from eight matches for International, six matches for Professional and Club, and with School only able to play four due to season constraints. A one-way ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in Avg HR across the four competition levels (p < 0.05). School players recorded the highest Avg HR (175 ± 10 bpm), while International players had the lowest (159 ± 9 bpm). Club and Professional teams had similar values, with no significant difference between them (p = 0.72). This trend was consistent across both forwards and backs. WCS HRs over rolling 1–5-minute intervals followed the same pattern, with School players consistently recording the highest values and International players the lowest. The largest WCS difference was observed at the 2-minute interval between School (191 ± 9 bpm) and International (179 ± 6 bpm) teams. Tukey post-hoc tests confirmed that School and International were significantly different from all other groups, while Club and Professional teams did not differ significantly. To the authors knowledge, this study is the first to compare heart rate metrics through different levels of competition in rugby union and is timely as the age of professional players is getting lower. Coaches should consider accurately tailor training to prepare athletes for optimal performance across different levels of competition as HR provides an accurate measure of internal load and could be more effective than the commonly used measures of external load e.g. GPS.

text: Characterizing heart rate differences across rugby union competition levels Heart rate (HR) monitoring provides insight into the demands of rugby union and may be able to help discriminate between different levels of competition. There is limited data examining the differences in physiological responses among different levels of rugby union. Rugby union athletes from different levels of competition (n=15 School, n=15 Club, n=15 Professional, and n=15 International) were included in the study. HR was measured via chest straps worn during the game with specific variables compared between levels of competition (e.g. Average (Avg) HR (bpm), and HR during worst-case scenario (WCS) periods of play (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 minutes). Data was collected from eight matches for International, six matches for Professional and Club, and with School only able to play four due to season constraints. A one-way ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in Avg HR across the four competition levels (p < 0.05). School players recorded the highest Avg HR (175 ± 10 bpm), while International players had the lowest (159 ± 9 bpm). Club and Professional teams had similar values, with no significant difference between them (p = 0.72). This trend was consistent across both forwards and backs. WCS HRs over rolling 1–5-minute intervals followed the same pattern, with School players consistently recording the highest values and International players the lowest. The largest WCS difference was observed at the 2-minute interval between School (191 ± 9 bpm) and International (179 ± 6 bpm) teams. Tukey post-hoc tests confirmed that School and International were significantly different from all other groups, while Club and Professional teams did not differ significantly. To the authors knowledge, this study is the first to compare heart rate metrics through different levels of competition in rugby union and is timely as the age of professional players is getting lower. Coaches should consider accurately tailor training to prepare athletes for optimal performance across different levels of competition as HR provides an accurate measure of internal load and could be more effective than the commonly used measures of external load e.g. GPS.

year: 2025

title: Impedance measurement of batteries under load

authors: Hasan, Rahat

abstract: The impedance of a lithium battery at a single state-of-charge (SoC) is obtained from the current and voltage response of the cell. Making this measurement is important in order to understand cell characteristics. There exist some impedance analysers which can make suitable measurements at a single SoC. Measuring this impedance at multiple SoC is slow and tedious especially at lower frequencies. We present a new method which computes the impedance over a range of SoC while simultaneously varying the SoC. The proposed method produces reliable data even when the device under test is behaving non-linearly. The data obtained from this measurement is validated by comparing impedance data obtained at different SoC from a cell under no load.

text: Impedance measurement of batteries under load The impedance of a lithium battery at a single state-of-charge (SoC) is obtained from the current and voltage response of the cell. Making this measurement is important in order to understand cell characteristics. There exist some impedance analysers which can make suitable measurements at a single SoC. Measuring this impedance at multiple SoC is slow and tedious especially at lower frequencies. We present a new method which computes the impedance over a range of SoC while simultaneously varying the SoC. The proposed method produces reliable data even when the device under test is behaving non-linearly. The data obtained from this measurement is validated by comparing impedance data obtained at different SoC from a cell under no load.

year: 2019

title: Riperata kahutia: a woman of mana

authors: Nikora, Shelley Aroha

subjects: Riperata Kahutia

abstract: Riperata Kahutia is widely remembered as a leader in the history of Tūranganuiā-
Kiwa, who fought to retain and repossess land during the difficult times of the
1860's. During this period of rapid social change and political upheavals resulting
in injustices, the exercise of rangatiratanga took many forms. Responses to
change covered a wide spectrum and there was no 'right' way of doing things,
simply leaders making decisions on the basis of what they and their people
thought at the time were best. Riperata utilised the law as a means of retaining
the land and the mana of her people. While her status as a rangatira was never in
doubt, innuendo surfaced suggesting she may have received more land entitlement
than she was qualified for.
The activities by Riperata may have been different from other leaders but the
purpose was the same: to preserve the people and the land. Her strategies for
doing so, based on her inherited mana and upbringing, her knowledge of local iwi
traditions, her acquisition of new skills introduced by Pākehā and her innovative
approaches to exercising her rangatiratanga, make her a worthwhile study.
This thesis will support the viewpoint that Riperata Kahutia acted on behalf of her
people and for the good of her people. It will be argued Riperata was a visionary
who embraced the changes imposed upon a society enduring the consequences of
colonisation. A major objective is to dispel suggestions she embellished her
rights.

text: Riperata kahutia: a woman of mana Riperata Kahutia is widely remembered as a leader in the history of Tūranganuiā-
Kiwa, who fought to retain and repossess land during the difficult times of the
1860's. During this period of rapid social change and political upheavals resulting
in injustices, the exercise of rangatiratanga took many forms. Responses to
change covered a wide spectrum and there was no 'right' way of doing things,
simply leaders making decisions on the basis of what they and their people
thought at the time were best. Riperata utilised the law as a means of retaining
the land and the mana of her people. While her status as a rangatira was never in
doubt, innuendo surfaced suggesting she may have received more land entitlement
than she was qualified for.
The activities by Riperata may have been different from other leaders but the
purpose was the same: to preserve the people and the land. Her strategies for
doing so, based on her inherited mana and upbringing, her knowledge of local iwi
traditions, her acquisition of new skills introduced by Pākehā and her innovative
approaches to exercising her rangatiratanga, make her a worthwhile study.
This thesis will support the viewpoint that Riperata Kahutia acted on behalf of her
people and for the good of her people. It will be argued Riperata was a visionary
who embraced the changes imposed upon a society enduring the consequences of
colonisation. A major objective is to dispel suggestions she embellished her
rights.

year: 2009