The validity, reliability and sensitivity of utilising a wearable GPS based IMU to determine goalkeeper specific training demands

Despite the plethora of football focused literature, there is still very little known about the training practices of the goalkeeper (GK). The development of portable Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) devices ensured physical activities can be accurately measured within the training environment. The integration of inertial sensor fusion algorithms has allowed the IMU the ability to also detect non-locomotive activities that are specific to a sport. This technology is shown to be a valid method of analysis for the demands of an outfield football player, however, similar research into the GK position is required. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the validity, reliability and sensitivity of utilizing a wearable GPS based IMU to determine goalkeeper specific training demands. A total of 123 event variables were recorded via OptimEye G5 GPS units over 14 sessions from 6 professional GKs during the 2017-2018 Scottish Premiership season. GPS data was collected as part of normal daily monitoring and compared against corresponding computerized notational analysis of the same training sessions. Event variables were split into specific IMU events by a GK specific algorithm: Total Dives (TD), Dives Right (DvR), Dives Left (DvL), Dive Returns (DR) and Jumps. The intra-unit variation was derived from reproducibility of trends within the difference between GPS and corresponding Video Analysis (VA) counts. Unit sensitivity was investigated according to the relationship between average DR times and countermovement jump (CMJ) and ballistic press-up (BP) results which corresponded to lower and upper body velocity at peak power (m/s) respectively. There was no significant difference (p0.05). Bland Altman 95% Limits of Agreement (LOA) show minimal variation for TD (-3.6 to 5.6), DvL (-1.75 to 4.04) and DvR (-3.38 to 3.13). However, DR (-13 to 12.6) and Jumps (-8.8 to 15.7) showed much wider LOA and variation from VA counts. Intra-unit variability was significantly different across all metrics with GPS units, over-estimating movement event counts compared to VA counts. Inter-unit sensitivity suggested that CMJ and lower body velocity at peak power (m/s) performance had the greatest correlation (r=0.992) with average DR times compared to BP and upper body velocity at peak power (r=0.684) and CMJ + BP combined (r=0.603). Based on these findings, the sensitivity of the OptimEye G5 GPS to count GK specific events was almost perfect (r = 903), however, the specificity of the IMU algorithm to distinguish the different movements was questionable. Jumps were significantly over- estimated, and in the meantime, we would suggest using video footage to compliment GPS data for accurate longitudinal analysis. This study provided novel information regarding the DR action, of which the lower body muscular profile plays the dominant part in. Although there are limitations within this study, these investigations should only act as the first step in understanding if the GPS coupled IMU has a place in accurately determining the training demands of a goalkeeper

The Subtlety of Political Risk with Foreign Direct Investment: The Case of the Vietnamese Sugar Industry

Political risk entails more than a host country taking advantage of investment from foreign sources. A more subtle form of political risk is attributable to the host government\u27s mismanagement of policies that may be intended to attract foreign direct investment, but may have unintended consequences. A perfect example is the \u27\u27One Million Tonne Sugar Program sponsored by the government of Vietnam during the mid-1990s. What appears to be a very lucrative investment for foreign investors becomes a financial disaster due to the inability of the government to allocate resources efficiently and police its borders from smugglers

Design optimisation and prototyping for affordable rural housing.

The current shortage of new-build homes in rural areas calls for innovation and improved productivity. Integra House was designed as part of a project that focused on optimising and prototyping the digitally-integrated production of affordable rural housing. The project also explored the potential for using digital methods in housing construction. The aims of the project were to produce affordable and good quality rural housing, to reduce rural fuel poverty, to improve the health and well-being of occupants, and to reduce waste and CO2 emissions. The design was developed using iterations of computer-aided design (CAD), energy and environmental simulation, and structural and capital/life cycle cost-analysis. The design provided a cases study for the comparison of robotic versus artisan assembly of low-energy and low-carbon rural housing, with an emphasis on affordability. The prototype was constructed using whole and milled timber combinations

Reliability, familiarization effect, and comparisons between a predetermined and a self-determined isometric-squat testing protocol

Purpose: This study examined the interday reliability of a predetermined and a self-determined isometric-squat test among youth soccer players. Familiarization effects were evaluated to determine the minimum number of trials necessary to obtain consistent outputs. Finally, differences between protocols were evaluated.Methods: Thirty-one youth soccer players (mean [SD] age: 13.2 [1.0] y; body mass: 54.1 [3.4] kg; stature: 166.3 [11.2] cm; percentage of estimated adult height: 92.6% [3.6%]) from a top-tier professional academy completed 4 experimental sessions for each protocol: familiarization 1, familiarization 2, test, and retest sessions. Peak force; relative peak force; impulse from 0 to 50 milliseconds, 0 to 100 milliseconds, 0 to 150 milliseconds, and 0 to 200 milliseconds; and rate of force development from 0 to 50 milliseconds, 0 to 100 milliseconds, 0 to 150 milliseconds, and 0 to 200 milliseconds were measured. Results: Both protocols displayed acceptable (intraclass correlation coefficient >=.75 and coefficient of variation ≤10%) reliability statistics for all metrics apart from rate of force development of any time epoch. Differences were found between familiarization 2 and both test and retest sessions for peak force (P = .034 and .021, respectively) and relative peak force (P = .035 and .005, respectively) across both protocols. Conclusions: The isometric-squat test is a reliable test among youth soccer players. Two familiarization sessions seem to be sufficient to ensure data stabilization. Outputs between the self-determined and predetermined are comparable; however, the latter seems preferable due to improved testing time efficiency

Effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on immunoglobulins in myasthenia gravis

An integrated understanding of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) effects on immunoglobulins, autoantibodies, and natural or acquired (vaccine) protective antibodies in patients with autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) is lacking. Prior studies measured TPE effects in healthy volunteers or heterogeneous autoimmune diseases populations. We prospectively profiled plasma IgA, IgM, IgG, IgG subclasses (IgG1-4), acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies (AChR+), and protective antibodies in patients with AChR+ MG receiving TPE for an exacerbation. TPE was performed according to institutional practice and patients were profiled for up to 12 weeks. Ten patients were enrolled (median age=72.9 years; baseline MG-Composite=21; median TPE treatments=6 during their first course) and all improved. The maximum decrease in all immunoglobulins, including AChR autoantibodies, was achieved on the final day of the first TPE course (approximately 60–70% reduction). Three weeks post-TPE mean AChR autoantibody, total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 titers were below the reference range and had not recovered to within 20% of baseline, whereas other measured immunoglobulins approached baseline values. We did not generally observe an “overshoot” of immunoglobulins above pre-TPE levels or accelerated recovery of pathologic AChR autoantibodies. Protective antibody profiles showed similar patterns as other IgGs and were detectable at levels associated with protection from infection. A slow return to baseline for IgGs (except IgG3) was observed, and we did not observe any obvious effect of concomitant medications on this recovery. Collectively, these findings enhance our understanding of the immunological effects of TPE and further supports the concept of rapid immunoglobulin depletion for the treatment of patients with MG

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Who Benefits From Teams? Comparing Workers, Supervisors, and Managers

This paper offers a political explanation for the diffusion and sustainability of team-based work systems by examining the differential outcomes of team structures for 1200 workers, supervisors, and middle managers in a large unionized telecommunications company. Regression analyses show that participation in self-managed teams is associated with significantly higher levels of perceived discretion, employment security, and satisfaction for workers and the opposite for supervisors. Middle managers who initiate team innovations report higher employment security, but otherwise are not significantly different from their counterparts who are not involved in innovations. By contrast, there are no significant outcomes for employees associated with their participation in offline problem-solving teams

The development, design, testing, refinement, simulation and application of an evaluation framework for communities of practice and social-professional networks

Background. Communities of practice and social-professional networks are generally considered to enhance workplace experience and enable organizational success. However, despite the remarkable growth in interest in the role of collaborating structures in a range of industries, there is a paucity of empirical research to support this view. Nor is there a convincing model for their systematic evaluation, despite the significant potential benefits in answering the core question: how well do groups of professionals work together and how could they be organised to work together more effectively? This research project will produce a rigorous evaluation methodology and deliver supporting tools for the benefit of researchers, policymakers, practitioners and consumers within the health system and other sectors. Given the prevalence and importance of communities of practice and social networks, and the extent of investments in them, this project represents a scientific innovation of national and international significance. Methods and design. Working in four conceptual phases the project will employ a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to develop, design, field-test, refine and finalise an evaluation framework. Once available the framework will be used to evaluate simulated, and then later existing, health care communities of practice and social-professional networks to assess their effectiveness in achieving desired outcomes. Peak stakeholder groups have agreed to involve a wide range of members and participant organisations, and will facilitate access to various policy, managerial and clinical networks. Discussion. Given its scope and size, the project represents a valuable opportunity to achieve breakthroughs at two levels; firstly, by introducing novel and innovative aims and methods into the social research process and, secondly, through the resulting evaluation framework and tools. We anticipate valuable outcomes in the improved understanding of organisational performance and delivery of care. The project's wider appeal lies in transferring this understanding to other health jurisdictions and to other industries and sectors, both nationally and internationally. This means not merely publishing the results, but contextually interpreting them, and translating them to advance the knowledge base and enable widespread institutional and organisational application

Health, education, and social care provision after diagnosis of childhood visual disability

Aim: To investigate the health, education, and social care provision for children newly diagnosed with visual disability.Method: This was a national prospective study, the British Childhood Visual Impairment and Blindness Study 2 (BCVIS2), ascertaining new diagnoses of visual impairment or severe visual impairment and blindness (SVIBL), or equivalent vi-sion. Data collection was performed by managing clinicians up to 1-year follow-up, and included health and developmental needs, and health, education, and social care provision.Results: BCVIS2 identified 784 children newly diagnosed with visual impairment/SVIBL (313 with visual impairment, 471 with SVIBL). Most children had associated systemic disorders (559 [71%], 167 [54%] with visual impairment, and 392 [84%] with SVIBL). Care from multidisciplinary teams was provided for 549 children (70%). Two-thirds (515) had not received an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). Fewer children with visual impairment had seen a specialist teacher (SVIBL 35%, visual impairment 28%, χ2p < 0.001), or had an EHCP (11% vs 7%, χ2p < 0 . 01).Interpretation: Families need additional support from managing clinicians to access recommended complex interventions such as the use of multidisciplinary teams and educational support. This need is pressing, as the population of children with visual impairment/SVIBL is expected to grow in size and complexity.This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited