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From stadium to training ground: Advancing monitoring metrics in GNSS technology, peak locomotive demands, and deceleration loads in professional soccer
No full textDespite the widespread adoption of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in professional soccer, significant challenges persist in ensuring measurement accuracy across different playing contexts. These limitations are particularly evident in stadium environments where structural interference can compromise signal quality, and in the methodological disconnect between training and match monitoring approaches. Furthermore, while deceleration actions represent significant physiological loading, current monitoring practices do not prioritise deceleration loads to the same extent as other locomotor metrics, limiting their integration into applied load management strategies. This thesis aimed to enhance both theoretical understanding and practical application of load monitoring in professional soccer through four progressive studies. The first study established a novel methodology for assessing GNSS signal quality in stadium environments, revealing position-specific disparities. The second study validated contemporary GNSS technology, demonstrating improved accuracy in challenging conditions. The third study examined position-specific peak locomotor demands, while the fourth investigated deceleration load and fatigue responses in training. Data were collected across multiple competitive seasons in the English Premier League and English Second Division (Championship), incorporating multiple stadium environments and training contexts.
The first study revealed that wide-positioned players experienced nearly double the signal disruptions compared to central players during matches in stadia (16.5% ± 13.9% vs. 8.4% ± 11.1%, p<0.01). This study also established a novel method for practitioners to identify and account for periods of compromised signal quality in applied settings. The second study validated contemporary GNSS technology, demonstrating improved validity in challenging stadium environments (1.2% underestimation compared to 2.9% with previous technology). Building upon these methodological advances, the third study analysed position-specific peak locomotor demands using rigorous quality control measures, challenging existing assumptions by revealing no positional differences in peak high-speed running demands in match play. The final study examined the relationship between deceleration loads and fatigue responses specifically in the training environment, revealing that traditional fatigue monitoring measures validated in match play, such as flight time and contraction time ratio, may not effectively capture training-induced responses. This study systematically established the importance of context-specific monitoring approaches while identifying optimal methods for quantifying deceleration load to capture the dose-response relationship in training.
The findings from this thesis have significant implications for load monitoring in professional soccer, establishing new methodological standards while providing evidence-based frameworks for practitioners. The outcomes of this research demonstrate the critical importance of signal quality assessment in stadium environments, where wide-positioned players experienced nearly double the signal disruptions compared to central players during matches. This research challenges existing assumptions about position-specific demands by revealing no positional differences in peak high-speed running demands in match play when applying rigorous signal quality controls, contrary to previous studies reporting higher demands for wide positions. Furthermore, this work provides novel insights into training-specific fatigue monitoring by identifying that low-intensity deceleration thresholds (20% of maximum) showed stronger associations with post-training fatigue than traditional high-intensity thresholds, and that eccentric duration and peak power during countermovement jumps were the most sensitive indicators of deceleration-induced fatigue. These advances have the potential to enhance practitioners' ability to effectively monitor and manage player loads while establishing new standards for measurement validity in applied sports science research
Wild potato ancestors as potential sources of resistance to the aphid Myzus persicae
Get PDF© 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.BACKGROUND: Plant resistance to insects can be reduced by crop domestication which means their wild ancestors could provide novel sources of resistance. Thus, crossing wild ancestors with domesticated crops can potentially enhance their resistance against insects. However, a prerequisite for this is identification of sources of resistance. Here, we investigated the response of three wild potato (Solanum stoloniferum Schltdl.) accessions and cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) to aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) herbivory.
RESULTS: Results revealed that there was a significant reduction in aphid survival and reproduction on wild potato accessions (CGN18333, CGN22718, CGN23072) compared to cultivated (Desiree) potato plants. A similar trend was observed in olfactometer bioassay; the wild accessions had a repellent effect on adult aphids. In contrast, among the tested wild potato accessions, the parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) was significantly attracted to volatiles from CGN18333. Volatile analysis showed that wild accessions emitted significantly more volatiles compared to cultivated potato. Principal component analysis (PCA) of volatile data revealed that the volatile profiles of wild and cultivated potato are dissimilar. β-Bisabolene, (E)-β-farnesene, trans-α-bergamotene, d-limonene, (E,E)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene (TMTT), and p-cymen-7-ol were the main volatiles contributing to the emitted blends, suggesting possible involvement in the behavioural response of both M. persicae and D. rapae.
CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the tested wild accessions have the potential to be used to breed aphid-resistant potatoes. This opens new opportunities to reduce the aphid damage and to enhance the recruitment of natural enemies. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.Unfunde
The maize lipoxygenase, ZmLOX10, mediates green leaf volatile, jasmonate and herbivore‐induced plant volatile production for defense against insect attack
No full textThis is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Christensen, S. A., Nemchenko, A., Borrego, E., Murray, I., Sobhy, I. S., Bosak, L., DeBlasio, S., Erb, M., Robert, C. A. M., Vaughn, K. A., Herrfurth, C., Tumlinson, J., Feussner, I., Jackson, D., Turlings, T. C. J., Engelberth, J., Nansen, C., Meeley, R., Kolomiets, M. V. (2013). The maize lipoxygenase, ZmLOX10, mediates green leaf volatile, jasmonate and herbivore‐induced plant volatile production for defense against insect attack. The Plant Journal, 74(1), 59-73], which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.12101]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.Fatty acid derivatives are of central importance for plant immunity against insect herbivores; however, major regulatory genes and the signals that modulate these defense metabolites are vastly understudied, especially in important agro-economic monocot species. Here we show that products and signals derived from a single Zea mays (maize) lipoxygenase (LOX), ZmLOX10, are critical for both direct and indirect defenses to herbivory. We provide genetic evidence that two 13-LOXs, ZmLOX10 and ZmLOX8, specialize in providing substrate for the green leaf volatile (GLV) and jasmonate (JA) biosynthesis pathways, respectively. Supporting the specialization of these LOX isoforms, LOX8 and LOX10 are localized to two distinct cellular compartments, indicating that the JA and GLV biosynthesis pathways are physically separated in maize. Reduced expression of JA biosynthesis genes and diminished levels of JA in lox10 mutants indicate that LOX10-derived signaling is required for LOX8-mediated JA. The possible role of GLVs in JA signaling is supported by their ability to partially restore wound-induced JA levels in lox10 mutants. The impaired ability of lox10 mutants to produce GLVs and JA led to dramatic reductions in herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) and attractiveness to parasitoid wasps. Because LOX10 is under circadian rhythm regulation, this study provides a mechanistic link to the diurnal regulation of GLVs and HIPVs. GLV-, JA- and HIPV-deficient lox10 mutants display compromised resistance to insect feeding, both under laboratory and field conditions, which is strong evidence that LOX10-dependent metabolites confer immunity against insect attack. Hence, this comprehensive gene to agro-ecosystem study reveals the broad implications of a single LOX isoform in herbivore defense.UnfundedAAM supplied by author and uploaded to ChesterRep 07/11/202
The impact of 16–18 performance measures in a Sixth-form college: a teacher’s perspective on interpersonal relationships and teacher professional identity
Get PDFThis research explores the impact of 16–18 Performance Measures on interpersonal relationships and teacher professional identity (TPI) within a sixth-form college. TPI is a dynamic construct shaped by individual experiences and social interactions. Interpersonal relationships, such as those with colleagues and management, play a crucial role in shaping TPI and influencing teacher retention. However, the increasing pressure of performance measures can negatively impact these relationships and, subsequently, TPI. This qualitative case study looks to explore the experiences of teachers working in a Sixth-Form college. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interview transcripts was used to identify key themes related to interpersonal relationships, performance measures, and TPI. The findings suggest that 16–18 Performance Measures can exacerbate tensions within the workplace, leading to strained relationships with management and a decline in teacher morale. These pressures can also erode TPI by limiting autonomy, creativity, and a sense of professional purpose. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for educational policy and practice, highlighting the need for a more supportive and less target-driven approach to education.N/
Family income matters! Tracking of habitual car use for school journeys and associations with overweight/obesity in UK youth
Get PDFIntroduction: The aims of this study were to assess associations between car use for school journeys in early childhood and car use for school journeys in later childhood and adolescence, (ii) determine whether an income gradient to habitual car use for school journeys and overweight/obesity exists in the UK, and (iii) assess the extent to which habitual car use for school journeys through childhood and into adolescence is associated with overweight/obesity in adolescence. Methods: Data is from sweep three, four, five and six of the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Subjects consisted of 8494 children (4251 girls). Stature and body mass were assessed at age 5 and 14 years and children were categorised as normal weight or overweight/obesity. Commute mode to and from school was parent/carer reported at age 5, 7, 11 and 14 years and habitual car use for school journeys was determined. Family income at age 5 years was determined using equivalised household income. Adjusted logistic and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: Car use for school journeys at age 5 was positively associated with car use for school journeys at age 7, 11 and 14 years (p < 0.001). Family income at child age 5 was inversely associated with overweight/obese at age 5 and 14 years and positively associated with habitual car use (p < 0.001). Habitual car use for school journeys was not associated with overweight/obesity at age 14 years. Conclusions: Car use for school journeys in early childhood is positively associated with car use for school journeys in later childhood and adolescence. Children living in the highest income households have the lowest rates of overweight/obesity, and there is an income gradient to habitual car use for school journeys. Habitual car use for school journeys through childhood and into adolescence is not positively associated with overweight/obesity in adolescence.Unfunde
Banal deception and human-AI ecosystems: A study of people’s perceptions of LLM-generated deceptive behaviour
Get PDF©2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).Large language models (LLMs) can provide users with false, inaccurate, or misleading information, and we consider the output of this type of information as what Natale calls ‘banal’ deceptive behaviour [53]. Here, we investigate peoples’ perceptions of ChatGPT-generated deceptive behaviour and how this affects people’s behaviour and trust. To do this, we use a mixed-methods approach comprising of (i) an online survey with 220 participants and (ii) semi-structured interviews with 12 participants. Our results show that (i) the most common types of deceptive information encountered were over-simplifications and outdated information; (ii) humans’ perceptions of trust and chat-worthiness of ChatGPT are impacted by ‘banal’ deceptive behaviour; (iii) the perceived responsibility for deception is influenced by education level and the perceived frequency of deceptive information; and (iv) users become more cautious after encountering deceptive information, but they come to trust the technology more when they identify advantages of using it. Our findings contribute to understanding human-AI interaction dynamics in the context of Deceptive AI Ecosystems and highlight the importance of user-centric approaches to mitigating the potential harms of deceptive AI technologies.Unfunde
Awareness and Knowledge of Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Stewardship and Barriers to Implementing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing among Medical Laboratory Scientists in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Get PDFBackground: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now considered one of the greatest global health threats. This is further compounded by a lack of new antibiotics in development. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes can improve and optimize the use of antibiotics, thereby increasing the cure rates of antibiotic treatment and decreasing the problem of AMR. In addition, diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardships in the pathology laboratories are useful tools to guide clinicians on patient treatment and to stop the inappropriate use of antibiotics in empirical treatment or narrow antibiotics. Medical Laboratory Scientists are at the forefront of performing antibiotics susceptibility testing in pathology laboratories, thereby helping clinicians to select the appropriate antibiotics for patients suffering from bacterial infections. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed personal antimicrobial usage, the knowledge and awareness on AMR, and antimicrobial stewardship, as well as barriers to antimicrobial susceptibility testing among medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria using pre-tested and validated questionnaires administered online. The raw data were summarized and exported in Microsoft Excel and further analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26. Results: Most of the respondents were males (72%) and 25–35 years old (60%). In addition, the BMLS degree was the highest education qualification most of the respondents (70%) achieved. Of the 59.2% of the respondents involved in antibiotics susceptibility testing, the disc diffusion method was the most commonly used (67.2%), followed by PCR/Genome-based detection (5.2%). Only a small percentage of respondents used the E-test (3.4%). The high cost of testing, inadequate laboratory infrastructure, and a lack of skilled personnel are the major barriers to performing antibiotics susceptibility testing. A higher proportion of a good AMR knowledge level was observed in male respondents (75%) than females (42.9%). The knowledge level was associated with the respondent’s gender (p = 0.048), while respondents with a master’s degree were more likely to possess a good knowledge level of AMR (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 0.33, 8.61). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that Nigerian medical laboratory scientists had moderate awareness of AMR and antibiotic stewardship. It is necessary to increase investments in laboratory infrastructure and manpower training, as well as set up an antimicrobial stewardship programme to ensure widespread antibiotics susceptibility testing in hospitals, thereby decreasing empirical treatment and the misuse of antibiotics.N/
Space–time analysis of urban green spaces’ disappearance in Ilorin, Nigeria
Get PDFThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in The Professional Geographer on 14/01/2025, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2024.2435084In recent years, urban green spaces (UGS) have fought for relevance and dominance with competing urban development agendas, which have often proclaimed moral victory, favoring competing interests over the need for UGS. This study examined the decline of UGS between 1986 and 2020 in Ilorin, Nigeria. The methodology employed survey (population estimates) and remotely sensed satellite data (Landsat imagery). The study estimated the UGS decline, land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for Ilorin from images retrieved from Landsat 5, 7, and 8 thermal infrared sensors using the mono window algorithm and green spaces. Findings revealed the drastic depletion of green spaces, as the combined average reduction effect of riparian and densely vegetated green areas, woodlands, and agricultural sites took place at the rate of 3.37 percent. In comparison, built-up and gray spaces increased by an average of 4.90 percent over the study periods increasing the average LST from 38 °C to over 40 °C. With staunch assurances, Ilorin is on pace to lose 9.51 hectares before 2030. Conclusively, governments and city managers must do enough through environmental investments by revising policies that produce new results that can improve the roles of UGS in ecosystem services provision.Unfunde
WAT am I? Exploring the psychological characteristics of WAT users
Get PDF© The Author(s) 2025.The version of record of this article, first published in [Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science], is available online at Publisher’s website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41347-025-00591-2The popularity of wearable activity trackers (WATs) is undeniable and still increasing. Using a WAT as a source of motivation to engage in exercise is often the primary reason for their purchase. Yet, the evidence supporting their effectiveness is mixed. Therefore, it is important to explore the characteristics of WAT users to better understand who may benefit the most from their use. The aim of the current study was to explore the psychological characteristics associated with engagement with WATs in a sample of 216 current WAT users. WAT engagement was assessed in relation to exercise engagement, motives for exercise engagement, gains from exercise, exercise identity and moral identity. The results showed that WAT engagement was not associated with increased exercise engagement. In addition, WAT engagement was associated with extrinsic forms of exercise behaviour regulation. However, WAT engagement was not associated with exercise identity. Interestingly, WAT engagement was associated with lower moral integrity indicating that some may engage with a WAT to project the image of being an exerciser, without the need to engage in exercise behaviours, which is reminiscent of Moral Licencing. In sum, WATs may be effective in promoting exercise engagement, but only for those who are driven by extrinsic factors. Further, Moral Licensing may also play an important role in determining the efficacy of WATs. The current findings suggest that simply possessing or engaging with a WAT alone is insufficient to increase exercise engagement and therefore, further research is required to understand this complex relationship.unfunde
Acceptability and suitability of some Poaceae plants for fall armyworm feeding and oviposition
Get PDF© The Authors 2025.Background: The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has invaded new geographical regions, now spanning Africa, Asia, Oceania and Europe, from its native distribution in the last decade. Little is known about FAW host plants in recently invaded habitats; although more than 300 hosts have been reported in the Americas, its native habitat. In our study, we evaluated the acceptability and suitability of 12 cultivated varieties of plants from Africa, in the family Poaceae, for FAW herbivory and oviposition.
Methods: Experiments investigating larval development, no-choice oviposition, and no-choice larval arrestment-feeding were conducted to evaluate the insect´s ability to utilize these plants for survival.
Results: We found that Pennisetum ex. Sengerema, Brachiaria brizantha , Brachiaria ex. Mwanza, Panicum maximum ex. Machakos, Melinis minutiflora and S . bicolor cv. Ochuti were unsuitable plants for FAW larvae. In contrast, Zea mays HB WH505, Panicum glaucum Nutrifeed, S . bicolor cv. Serena and P . purpureum were suitable plants and S . bicolor cv. Ochuti was well accepted for egg-laying. However, M . minutiflora was not accepted for egg-laying but retained early instar larvae. S . bicolor cv. Andiwo was not well accepted for egg-laying and S . bicolor cv. Gadam yielded lighter pupae.
Conclusions: Our findings provide insights into the performance of FAW larvae on different Poaceae plants and how well they are accepted by FAW female moths for oviposition. We recommend to study further selected plants ( M . minutiflora , S . bicolor cv. Andiwo and S . bicolor cv. Ochuti), as potential trap or repellent plants for different FAW life stages, in choice tests. This knowledge will help to design ecologically based management strategies for FAW in its new habitats in Kenya and beyond.This work was funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the United Kingdom with grant BB/R020795/1 and the European Union´s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the grant agreement N° 861998. The authors also acknowledge the financial support by the icipe´s core donors: The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR); the Government of Norway; the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; and the Government of the Republic of Kenya
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