Next Day Subjective and Objective Recovery Indices Following Acute Low and High Training Loads in Academy Rugby Union Players

The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of selected subjective and objective monitoring assessments in detecting changes in group and individual responses to low and high load bouts of high intensity intermittent exercise. In a counterbalanced crossover design, Thirteen Academy Rugby Union players (mean ± SD: age: 18 ± 1 years) performed a low load (15 min) and a high load (90 min) bout of high intensity intermittent exercise (Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test) one week apart. Monitoring assessments were performed immediately prior to and 20 h following each trial. Subjective self-report Well-being Questionnaire (WQ) items showed small to large deteriorations following the high load compared to low load (d = 0.4–1.5, p = 0.03–0.57). A very large increase in resting HR (HRrest) (d = 2.1, p = 0.02), moderate decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) indices (d = 0.7, p = 0.04 and d = 0.7, p = 0.01 for the natural logarithm of the standard deviation of R-R intervals (ln SDNN) and the root square of the mean squared differences of successive R-R intervals (rMSSD), respectively) and no change in countermovement jump (d = 0.0, p = 0.97) were evident following the high load compared to low load. Individual WQ responses revealed 7/9, 7/9, 6/9, 6/9, 5/9, 3/9 and 1/9 participants reported deteriorations in recovery, sleep quality, motivation, muscle soreness, fatigue, stress and appetite, respectively, following the high load compared to low load. Individual analysis indicated a negative response following the high load compared to low load in HRrest, ln SDNN and ln rMSSD for 4/6, 2/6 and 1/6 participants, respectively. Selected WQ items detected group and individual responses to high load and low load highlighting their potential utility. However, objective assessments lacked the sensitivity to detect small individual changes

A New Model of Agegraphic Dark Energy

In this note, we propose a new model of agegraphic dark energy based on the K\'{a}rolyh\'{a}zy relation, where the time scale is chosen to be the conformal time $\eta$ of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) universe. We find that in the radiation-dominated epoch, the equation-of-state parameter of the new agegraphic dark energy $w_q=-1/3$ whereas $\Omega_q=n^2a^2$; in the matter-dominated epoch, $w_q=-2/3$ whereas $\Omega_q=n^2a^2/4$; eventually, the new agegraphic dark energy dominates; in the late time $w_q\to -1$ when $a\to\infty$, and the new agegraphic dark energy mimics a cosmological constant. In every stage, all things are consistent. The confusion in the original agegraphic dark energy model proposed in arXiv:0707.4049 disappears in this new model. Furthermore, $\Omega_q\ll 1$ is naturally satisfied in both radiation-dominated and matter-dominated epochs where $a\ll 1$. In addition, we further extend the new agegraphic dark energy model by including the interaction between the new agegraphic dark energy and background matter. In this case, we find that $w_q$ can cross the phantom divide.Comment: 8 pages, revtex4; v2: Phys. Lett. B in press; v3: published versio

Constraining the Dark Universe

We combine complementary datasets to constrain dark energy. Using standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and the observed abundances of primordial nuclides to put constraints on $\Omega_Q$ at temperatures near $T \sim 1MeV$, we find the strong constraint $\Omega_Q({MeV}) < 0.045$ at $2\sigma$ c.l.. Under the assumption of flatness, using results from Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropy measurements, high redshift supernovae (SN-Ia) observations and data from local cluster abundances we put a new constraint on the equation of state parameter $w_Q < -0.85$ at 68% c.l..Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, new reference added. To appear in the proceedings of TAUP 2001 (7th international workshop on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics), Sep 2001, Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Assergi, Ital

Omega risk model with tax

In this paper we study the Omega risk model with surplus-dependent tax payments in a time-homogeneous diffusion setting. The new model incorporates practical features from both the Omega risk model(Albrecher and Gerber and Shiu (2011)) and the risk model with tax(Albrecher and Hipp (2007)). We explicitly characterize the Laplace transform of the occupation time of an Azema-Yor process(e.g. a process refracted by functionals of its running maximum) below a constant level until the first hitting time of another Azema-Yor process or until an independent exponential time. This result unifies and extends recent literature(Li and Zhou (2013) and Zhang (2014)) incorporating some of their results as special cases. We explicitly characterize the Laplace transform of the time of bankruptcy in the Omega risk model with tax and discuss an extension to integral functionals. Finally we present examples using a Brownian motion with drift

Pimsner algebras and Gysin sequences from principal circle actions

A self Morita equivalence over an algebra B, given by a B-bimodule E, is thought of as a line bundle over B. The corresponding Pimsner algebra O_E is then the total space algebra of a noncommutative principal circle bundle over B. A natural Gysin-like sequence relates the KK-theories of O_E and of B. Interesting examples come from O_E a quantum lens space over B a quantum weighted projective line (with arbitrary weights). The KK-theory of these spaces is explicitly computed and natural generators are exhibited.Comment: 29 pages. v2: Scientific content unchanged. Exposition improved. Added references. To appear in the JNc

Regulating the infrared by mode matching: A massless scalar in expanding spaces with constant deceleration

In this paper we consider a massless scalar field, with a possible coupling $\xi$ to the Ricci scalar in a $D$ dimensional FLRW spacetime with a constant deceleration parameter $q=\epsilon-1$, $\epsilon=-{\dot{H}}/{H^2}$. Correlation functions for the Bunch-Davies vacuum of such a theory have long been known to be infrared divergent for a wide range of values of $\epsilon$. We resolve these divergences by explicitly matching the spacetime under consideration to a spacetime without infrared divergencies. Such a procedure ensures that all correlation functions with respect to the vacuum in the spacetime of interest are infrared finite. In this newly defined vacuum we construct the coincidence limit of the propagator and as an example calculate the expectation value of the stress energy tensor. We find that this approach gives both in the ultraviolet and in the infrared satisfactory results. Moreover, we find that, unless the effective mass due to the coupling to the Ricci scalar $\xi R$ is negative, quantum contributions to the energy density always dilute away faster, or just as fast, as the background energy density. Therefore, quantum backreaction is insignificant at the one loop order, unless $\xi R$ is negative. Finally we compare this approach with known results where the infrared is regulated by placing the Universe in a finite box. In an accelerating universe, the results are qualitatively the same, provided one identifies the size of the Universe with the physical Hubble radius at the time of the matching. In a decelerating universe however, the two schemes give different late time behavior for the quantum stress energy tensor. This happens because in this case the length scale at which one regulates the infrared becomes sub-Hubble at late times.Comment: 55 pages, 6 figure

Quantum W-algebras and Elliptic Algebras

We define quantum W-algebras generalizing the results of Reshetikhin and the second author, and Shiraishi-Kubo-Awata-Odake. The quantum W-algebra associated to sl_N is an associative algebra depending on two parameters. For special values of parameters it becomes the ordinary W-algebra of sl_N, or the q-deformed classical W-algebra of sl_N. We construct free field realizations of the quantum W-algebras and the screening currents. We also point out some interesting elliptic structures arising in these algebras. In particular, we show that the screening currents satisfy elliptic analogues of the Drinfeld relations in U_q(n^).Comment: 26 pages, AMSLATE