Competitive Scheduling Research Articles

The Impact of a Congested Competition Schedule on Load, Recovery, and Well-Being in Under-16 Female Soccer Players: A Comparison between Starters and Non-Starters during a Development Tournament

Monitoring training load, recovery, and wellness in maturation ages is even more relevant than in adulthood, especially during congested schedules. The objective of this study was to quantify and describe the differences in external and internal load, recovery, and perceived wellness in elite under-16 female players during a period of three competitions in seven days based on their participation during matches. An observational design was used to quantify the external load (total distance, high-speed distance, and PlayerLoad) and internal load (differential sRPE), as well as the recovery and wellness of 18 international under-16 players during a development tournament. The external load pattern of the starting players was undulating, with matches showing the highest internal load values compared to training sessions and non-starters. Non-starter players (whether training or matches) showed similar external load and differential sRPE values throughout the tournament (p > 0.05). Starting players experienced higher internal load than non-starters during matches (p < 0.037), without differences between training sessions (p > 0.05). No changes were seen in wellness or recovery (all p-values > 0.05), except for non-starters in Session 3 compared to Session 7 (p = 0.024). Starting players had more weekly total minutes (p = 0.018), differential sRPE (breath: p = 0.002; leg: p = 0.002; cognitive: p = 0.003), total distance (p = 0.003), and PlayerLoad (p = 0.008) than non-starters. Our results indicate differing load patterns between starters and non-starters, which do not affect wellness and recovery differently. Starters accumulate more weekly total load. Coaches can use these findings to guide decisions and load compensations in high competition contexts for young female soccer players.

Analysis in Table Tennis Singles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

<p>目的：主要對2020東京奧運桌球男女生單打比賽結果進行研究分析。方法：以東京奧運2020官方網站比賽日程與結果，查詢桌球單打的官方紀錄，將比賽場次的預賽 (Round 1-3) 當作初賽組(Round Group, RG)，8強賽 (Round of 16) 到決賽 (Final) 的比賽視為決賽組 (Final Group, FG)；使用記數分析 (Notational analysis) 方法分析與賽局相關的變量、比賽持續時間、最長回合 (擊球)、平均回合等變異量。以IBM SPSS 20.0統計軟體進行各數據之處理，以Mann-Whitney U考驗法來分析與比較兩組 (RG，FG) 之間的差異，以及Kruskal – Wallis H test來分析兩組 (RG，FG) 各局之間的差異，若有差異，以Dunn事後比較來分析。顯著水準α = .05。結果：男女單RG與FG的單局合計分數之間沒有差異，男單FG兩場獎牌戰合計球數 >19分有51.8%，呈現比賽激烈；場次上，男女單打的比賽時間，FG也多於RG；局數上，儘管沒有顯著，RG持續時間有越來越久的趨勢，FG則沒有明顯增加。結論：經由對2020東京奧運資料分析，男女單打FG組的持續時間與多合計球數局是多於初賽組的；不管男單或女單，在初賽組與決賽組的發球優勢不在，自己發球失分慢慢提高。這些訊息可以幫助球員和教練準備和適應現代桌球特點的不同訓練。</p> <p> </p><p>Purposes: The main purpose is to conduct research and analysis on the results of the singles competitions of men’s and women’s table tennis at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Methods: The official competition schedule and results on the Tokyo Olympic 2020 official website were utilized to check the official table tennis singles records. The preliminary rounds and rounds 1-3 of the competition were considered as the Round Group (RG), while the round of 16 to the final competition was considered as the Final Group (FG). The notational analysis method was employed to analyze the variables related to the game, the duration of the game, the longest round (batting), the average round and other variables. IBM SPSS 20.0 statistical software was used to process the collected data. The Mann-Whitney U test method was used to analyze the matches and compare the differences between THE two groups (RG, FG). The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to analyze the difference between the two groups (RG, FG) in sets. Dunn’s post hoc comparison was used to analyze any differences. The significance level was set at α = .05. Results: There was no difference in the total number of scores in a single round of men’s and women’s singles RG and FG. The total number of balls in the two medal games of men’s singles FG was > 19, indicating fierce competition, with 51.8% more than RG. Regarding the number of rounds, although not significant, the duration of RG tended to be longer, while FG did not increase significantly. Conclusion: After analyzing the data from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, it was found the duration and total number of rounds of the men’s and women’s singles in FG group were greater than that of the preliminary group. Regardless of men’s singles or women’s singles, the advantage of serving in the preliminary group and the final group is not evident as the scores gradually increased. This information helps players and coaches in preparing and adapting to the different drills that characterize modern Table tennis.</p> <p> </p>

Sexual relations and rehabilitation of injured athletes: A narrative review

Sexual health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional dimensions. For athletes, maintaining sexual health during injury rehabilitation can be particularly challenging. Injuries disrupt training, competition schedules, intimate relationships, and sexual health, impacting the psychological state, the recovery process, and overall quality of life. Athletes are highly attuned to their bodies, and any injury impeding physical performance can lead to significant stress and anxiety, affecting sexual health. Conversely, sexual activity and intimate relationships can influence the rehabilitation process both positively and negatively. Understanding this interplay is essential for holistic rehabilitation programs addressing all aspects of an athlete's well-being. Physiologically, sexual activity involves physical exertion, hormonal changes, and alterations in blood flow, impacting healing. Hormones released during sexual activity, such as oxytocin, endorphins, and dopamine, can provide pain relief and enhance mood, benefiting recovery. Testosterone, crucial for muscle repair and growth, is also influenced by sexual activity. However, physical exertion during sexual activity can strain injured areas, potentially exacerbating injuries if not managed carefully. Psychologically, injuries can impact an athlete’s self-esteem, body image, and mental health. Positive sexual relations offer emotional support, enhancing psychological resilience during recovery. Intimate relationships provide normalcy and help athletes maintain a positive body image, counteracting the negative psychological effects of injuries. Social support from intimate partners is vital for rehabilitation. Open communication about physical limitations and sexual needs can strengthen relationships and create a supportive environment for recovery. Comprehensive rehabilitation programs should address sexual health, providing education on safe practices, offering counseling services, and encouraging open dialogue between athletes, partners, and healthcare providers. Rehabilitation programs can enhance recovery and improve outcomes for injured athletes by integrating physiological, psychological, and social aspects.

Anabolic/Catabolic Hormone Imbalance but Still Jumping Further? Negative Association of Free Testosterone With Jumping Performance in Elite Handball Players Following a Preparatory Period

ABSTRACT Purpose: The present study investigated the effects of a 10-week preparatory training period on biomarkers and jumping performance and associations of changes in biomarkers, load, and jumping performance from the beginning (PRE) to the end of the preparatory period (POST) in elite handball players. Methods: Seventeen elite handball players competing in the first Slovenian men’s League were recruited. Training, competition and academic loads were reported weekly, while biomarkers and jumping performance were assessed at PRE and POST. Results: At POST, decreased levels of free testosterone (large effect size [ES] = -1.69, p < .001) and free testosterone to cortisol ratio [FTCR] (large ES = −.95, p = .004) were observed; whereas, better performance on the single leg lateral hop test [SLLH] (large ES = .85, p = .007) and single leg triple hop test [SLTH] (large ES = 1.05, p = .002) were observed compared to PRE. Furthermore, changes in FTCR correlated with changes in cortisol (high r = -.751, p = .001), SLLH (moderate r = -.603, p = .022), and SLTH (moderate r = -.643, p = .013), while changes in free testosterone correlated with SLTH (moderate r = -.645, p = .013). Conclusions: High intensity trainings with a saturated competition schedule can result in disturbed anabolic/catabolic hormone ratio observed through FTCR decrease, which could indicate either an optimal state or early exhaustiveness. It seems that SLLH and SLTH are more sensitive to changes in biomarkers than a single leg hop test. Sport professionals may use the results for individualized monitoring of an athlete’s health and performance, specifically, as an aid for adjusting training loads accordingly to prevent performance declines and potential injury/illness events.

The puzzle of monitoring training load in winter sports - A hard nut to crack?

Elite winter sports have become increasingly professionalized and commercialized, often accompanied by congested competition schedules. This has brought the topic of load management, i.e., planning, monitoring, and adaptation, enormous attention in the scientific community. In this review, we summarize the general knowledge from various sports about training load and its effects on injuries and illnesses. After outlining the fundamentals of load monitoring, we present common monitoring tools, i.e., neuromuscular performance tests, heart rate measures, blood-based biomarkers, and questionnaires and discuss their potentials and pitfalls in application. Studies have identified training load-related variables, but also other factors such as travelling, previous injuries, or age contributing to the occurrence of illness and injury. Based on our findings, the use of monitoring tools must be context-specific and long-term, considering statistical aspects as well. Promising study designs and future perspectives are finally highlighted, with the general conclusion that there is still a clear need for research on this topic in general and in the field of winter sports in particular.

IJCM_418A: Perceived Social Isolation amongst Medical Undergraduates of Mangalore

Background: Human emotions often tend to be fragile and gullible, changing with time and understanding but is almost always engaged in a competitive manner wherever there is intra-specific human competition leading to social isolation and loneliness. In a professional course like Medicine, there is a lot of competition and academic pressure which to a certain extent impacts the mental health of the individual and this is a crucial time as medical undergraduates generally in age group- 18-24 are in a phase of transition to adulthood. Perceived Social Isolation is generally seen associated with decline in cognitive and conative activities, not only the mental health is affected but chronic feelings of loneliness are a causal factor for CVDs and neuropathies. Our study will help us to identify the proportion of the medical undergraduates with perceived social isolation and its possible association with depression. This becomes greatly significant because of the strong competition and hectic schedule, characteristic of medical curriculum. Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the proportion of Perceived Social Isolation in Medical Undergraduates and to assess a possible association between Perceived Social Isolation and Depression in Medical Undergraduates. Methodology: A Google Form was circulated amongst the students of KMC, Mangalore to collect the data from the participants. Subjects response to the designated questionnaire (circulated through google form) served as the sources of information, based on the responses in the Public Health Questionnaire -2 and University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale- the scores were evaluated and the data was compiled to comment on the study cohort. Results: Out of 219 participants, 48.9% of study subjects had moderately high degree of loneliness and 11.9% had relatively high degree of loneliness. Only 9.6% were reported to have low degree of loneliness followed by 29.7% having moderate degree of loneliness. Correlation between Loneliness Scale and PHQ-2 for study subjects with perceived social isolation and individuals who are likely to be screened for depression showed r-value of 0.400 and a significant p-value of &lt;0.001. Individuals who had high degree of loneliness also scored significantly high in PHQ-2, 84.6% of all subjects who had high degree of loneliness also reported as potential candidates for screening of depression. Conclusion: The study concludes that a high proportion of medical undergraduates were reported to have either a high or moderately high degree of loneliness. It was also found that people who had high degree of loneliness significantly correlated with the likelihood of being screened for depression as based on their PHQ-2 scores.

A survey into the current fitness testing practices of elite male soccer practitioners: from assessment to communicating results.

This study provides insight into the current fitness testing practices in elite male soccer. One hundred and two practitioners from professional soccer leagues across 24 countries completed an online survey comprising 29 questions, with five sections: a) background information, b) testing selection, c) testing implementation, d) data analysis, and e) data reporting. Frequency analysis was used to evaluate the responses to fixed response questions and thematic analysis was used for open-ended questions to generate clear and distinct themes. Strength (85%) and aerobic capacity (82%) represent the most frequently assessed physical qualities. Scientific literature (80%) is the most influential factor in testing selection and practitioners conduct fitness testing less frequently than their perceived ideal frequency per season (3.6 ± 2 vs. 4.5 ± 2). Time and competitive schedule were the greatest barriers to fitness testing administration. Practitioners mostly used a 'hybrid' approach (45%) to fitness testing, blending 'traditional' (i.e., a day dedicated to testing) and 'integrated' (i.e., testing within regular training sessions) methods. Microsoft Excel is the most used software for data analysis (95%) and visualization (79%). An equal use of the combination of best and mean scores of multiple trials (44%) and the best score (42%) was reported. Comparing a player's test performance with previous scores (89%) was the most common method for interpreting test results. However, only 38% considered measurement error. Digital displays and verbal feedback are the most common data reporting methods, with different data reporting processes for coaches and players. Practitioners can use data and findings from this study to inform their current testing practices and researchers to further identify areas for investigation, with the overarching aim of developing the field of fitness testing in elite male soccer.

Scheduling optimization of tier-captive four-way shuttle-based storage and retrieval systems with multiple lifts

The four-way shuttle-based storage and retrieval system (FSS/RS) handles retrieval transactions through shuttles moving horizontally in four directions and lifts moving vertically. The scheduling process and working route of both are important problems for daily operations. This article constructs a scheduling model for the tier-captive FSS/RS with multiple lifts and designs a two-stage optimization heuristic algorithm (OHA). A heuristic assignment algorithm is proposed to determine the retrieval request sequence, and the route-generation stage adopts an improved A-star algorithm with a multi-phase conflict avoidance method to generate shuttle conflict-free routes. Simulation results demonstrate that OHA can reliably generate high-quality solutions, with a low degree of fluctuation in the results, not exceeding 0.5%. The proposed scheduling method outperforms its competitors in all instances, reducing the makespan by 8%. Moreover, the evidence shows that the proposed method can obtain the most competitive scheduling scheme in FSS/RS with more shuttles and lifts.

Validity of Using the Load-Velocity Relationship to Estimate 1 Repetition Maximum in the Back Squat Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

LeMense, AT, Malone, GT, Kinderman, MA, Fedewa, MV, and Winchester, LJ. Validity of using the load-velocity relationship to estimate 1 repetition maximum in the back squat exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 38(3): 612-619, 2024-The one repetition maximum (1RM) test is commonly used to assess muscular strength. However, 1RM testing can be time consuming, physically taxing, and may be difficult to perform in athletics team settings with practice and competition schedules. Alternatively, 1RM can be estimated from bar or movement velocity at submaximal loads using the minimum velocity threshold (MVT) method based on the load-velocity relationship. Despite its potential utility, this method's validity has yielded inconsistent results. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the validity of estimated 1RM from bar velocity in the back squat exercise. A systematic search of 3 electronic databases was conducted using combinations of the following keywords: "velocity-based training," "load-velocity profiling," "mean velocity," "mean propulsive velocity," "peak velocity," "maximal strength," "1RM," "estimation," "prediction," "back squat," and "regression." The search identified 372 unique articles, with 4 studies included in the final analysis. Significance was defined as a p level less than 0.05. A total of 27 effects from 71 subjects between the ages of 17-25 years were analyzed; 85.2% of effects were obtained from male subjects. Measured 1RMs ranged from 86.5 to 153.1 kg, whereas estimated 1RMs ranged from 88.6 to 171.6 kg. Using a 3-level random effects model, 1RM back squat was overestimated when derived from bar velocity using the MVT method (effect sizes [ES] = 0.5304, 95% CI: 0.1878-0.8730, p = 0.0038). The MVT method is not a viable option for estimating 1RM in the free weight back squat. Strength and conditioning professionals should exercise caution when estimating 1RM from the load-velocity relationship.

Організація та проведення змагань з армрестлінгу за допомогою програмного забезпечення «ArmRec»

Purpose: to analyze and determine the impact of computerization on the organization and conduct of armwrestling competitions. Material and Methods. The following methods were used in the research: analysis of scientific and methodical literature, documentary sources, publications and Internet resources, programming method. Results: in the course of the research the potential problems and challenges connected with the introduction of computerization in armwrestling were revealed. To achieve the goal, it was determined what functionality modern software should have for conducting and organizing competitions: versatility and compatibility; athlete database; digital passport of the athlete; visualization of information about the competition; integration with television and online broadcasts; statistics of the work of the judging panel; automation of team results calculation and printing of diplomas; export of results to the website; integration with statistical and analytical tools; security and confidentiality. The «ArmRe»c software was developed and implemented in the systematic work of the «Armwrestling Federation of Ukraine». The proposed «ArmRe»c program helped to: visualize pairs and competition schedules; conduct live broadcasts with captions; generate digital passports of athletes; ensure quick printing of diplomas and awards and automatic generation of team results. The implementation of the software for organizing and conducting armwrestling competitions has demonstrated a significant increase in efficiency in all aspects of the competition process. The main advantages of the proposed «ArmRec» program include: optimization of registration and competition management processes; improved interaction with spectators; efficiency in determining results and awarding; increased transparency and fairness. Conclusions. Computerization of the organization and conduct of competitions is a key factor in the development of modern sports, including armwrestling. It not only improves the efficiency and quality of competitions, but also plays an important role in the popularization and development of armwrestling as a sport, meeting the challenges of the digital era and opening up new opportunities for growth and expansion of the audience. Keywords: modern technologies, armwrestling, computerization, organization, competitive activity.

Training stress, neuromuscular fatigue and well-being in volleyball: a systematic review

BackgroundVolleyball, with its unique calendar structure, presents distinct challenges in training and competition scheduling. Like many team sports, volleyball features an unconventional schedule with brief off-season and pre-season phases, juxtaposed against an extensive in-season phase characterized by a high density of matches and training. This compact calendar necessitates careful management of training loads and recovery periods. The effectiveness of this management is a critical factor, influencing the overall performance and success of volleyball teams. In this review, we explore the associations between training stress measures, fatigue, and well-being assessments within this context, to better inform future research and practice.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted in databases including PsycINFO, MEDLINE/PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria were original research papers published in peer-reviewed journals involving volleyball athletes.ResultsOf the 2535 studies identified, 31 were thoroughly analysed. From these 31 articles, 22 included professional athletes, seven included collegiate-level volleyball athletes, and two included young athletes. Nine studies had female volleyball players, while the remaining 22 had male volleyball athletes.ConclusionsInternal training load should be collected daily after training sessions and matches with the session rating of perceived exertion method. External training load should also be measured daily according to the methods based on jump height, jump count, and kinetic energy. If force platforms are available, neuromuscular fatigue can be assessed weekly using the FT:CT ratio of a countermovement jump or, in cases where force platforms are not available, the average jump height can also be used. Finally, the Hooper Index has been shown to be a measure of overall wellness, fatigue, stress, muscle soreness, mood, and sleep quality in volleyball when used daily.

Boosting task scheduling in IoT environments using an improved golden jackal optimization and artificial hummingbird algorithm

&lt;abstract&gt;&lt;p&gt;Applications for the internet of things (IoT) have grown significantly in popularity in recent years, and this has caused a huge increase in the use of cloud services (CSs). In addition, cloud computing (CC) efficiently processes and stores generated application data, which is evident in the lengthened response times of sensitive applications. Moreover, CC bandwidth limitations and power consumption are still unresolved issues. In order to balance CC, fog computing (FC) has been developed. FC broadens its offering of CSs to target end users and edge devices. Due to its low processing capability, FC only handles light activities; jobs that require more time will be done via CC. This study presents an alternative task scheduling in an IoT environment based on improving the performance of the golden jackal optimization (GJO) using the artificial hummingbird algorithm (AHA). To test the effectiveness of the developed task scheduling technique named golden jackal artificial hummingbird (GJAH), we conducted a large number of experiments on two separate datasets with varying data sizing. The GJAH algorithm provides better performance than those competitive task scheduling methods. In particular, GJAH can schedule and carry out activities more effectively than other algorithms to reduce the makespan time and energy consumption in a cloud-fog computing environment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/abstract&gt;

Match demands of female team sports: a scoping review.

This scoping review aimed to characterize and quantify the external load demands of professional female team sports, in terms of total distance [TD], moderate-speed [MSR] and high-speed running [HSR], sprint, accelerations [ACC], and decelerations [DEC]. A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until 15/04/2023. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) was used. Eighty-six articles were eligible for inclusion in this review, with 40 in soccer, 23 in rugby (6 rugby union, 3 rugby league, and 14 rugby sevens), 8 in field hockey, 8 in basketball, 6 in handball, and 1 in futsal. Soccer is the most investigated sport, and players perform ~9500 m TD, of which ~580 m is performed in HSR, and with a great number of ACC, DEC, and sprints. Rugby league and union players cover a greater distance (~5450 m) when compared to rugby sevens (~1550 m); however, rugby sevens is more demanding in terms of high-intensity actions. Field hockey players perform ~5400 m TD with high-intensity and sprint actions. Women's indoor sports are less studied, and basketball players cover ~5300 m TD, of which 7% is performed in MSR. Handball players perform ~3500 m TD and cover ~423 m in MSR and ~141 m in HSR, and futsal players perform ~5 m × min-1 in HSR and they do a great number of high-intensity activities (HSR, ACC, and DEC). Considering the high physical demands experienced by female athletes, professionals could use the present results for training and return to competition schedules.

Erratum to “Competitive Two-Agent Scheduling and Its Applications”

Erratum to “Competitive Two-Agent Scheduling and Its Applications” The paper “Competitive Two-Agent Scheduling and Its Applications” by Leung, Pinedo, and Wan appeared in Operations Research in 2010. Because competitive agent scheduling has become an active area of research, the paper has garnered its share of citations over the years. This particular direction of scheduling research has become so popular that the book Multiagent Scheduling: Models and Algorithms by Agnetis, Billaut, Gawiejnowicz, Pacciarelli, and Soukhal appeared in 2014. However, one of the results in the Leung et al. paper had a minor error in it. The paper considers a two-agent scheduling problem with a single machine, with each one of the two agents having their own set of jobs. The first agent has as the objective the minimization of the total tardiness of her set of jobs, and the second agent has to ensure that the total completion time of her set of jobs is less than or equal to Q. Leung et al. showed, through a dynamic programming formulation, that this problem can be solved in pseudopolynomial time and determined the time complexity of their algorithm. Their proof contains a minor error. The proper algorithm is still pseudopolynomial but of a slightly higher time complexity.

A chameleon and remora search optimization algorithm for handling task scheduling uncertainty problem in cloud computing

Task scheduling in cloud computing is responsible for serving the user requirements. The scheduling strategy must handle the problems of high load over virtual machines (VMs), high-cost consumption and lengthier scheduling time effectively. The greatest challenge in the cloud computing environment is achieving the intended outcome of task scheduling under the uncertain user request demands as it is responsible for assigning specific resources to requests for achieving effective task completion. However, most of the task scheduling approaches contributed to the literature mainly focused on the design and development of scheduling algorithms but ignored to explore the impact of uncertain factors such as millions of instructions per second (MIPS) and network bandwidth during the scheduling process. In this paper, A Chameleon and Remora Search Optimization Algorithm (CRSOA) is proposed for achieving efficient scheduling process by exploring the impact of MIPS and network bandwidth which directly affects the virtual machine (VM) performance. Further the work includes the uncertainty factors of task completion rate, load balance, scheduling cost and makespan in a simultaneous manner during the process of scheduling. It is formulated a multi-objective cloud task scheduling optimization model by integrating the merits of Chameleon Search Algorithm (CSA) and Remora Search Optimization Algorithm (RSOA) using a greedy methodology for simulating the real cloud computing task scheduling process. The simulation results evidently confirmed that the proposed CRSOA approach is minimizing the completion time and effective in handling the load balancing between the available VMs against other competitive metaheuristic task scheduling algorithms. The experimental investigation of this CRSOA confirmed its predominance in minimizing the makespan by 18.96%, cost by 22.18%, and degree of imbalance by 20.54%, compared to the baseline approaches with different number of tasks and VMs.

The Negative Effects of Travel on Student Athletes Through Sleep and Circadian Disruption.

Collegiate athletes must satisfy the academic obligations common to all undergraduates, but they have the additional structural and social stressors of extensive practice time, competition schedules, and frequent travel away from their home campus. Clearly such stressors can have negative impacts on both their academic and athletic performances as well as on their health. These concerns are made more acute by recent proposals and decisions to reorganize major collegiate athletic conferences. These rearrangements will require more multi-day travel that interferes with the academic work and personal schedules of athletes. Of particular concern is additional east-west travel that results in circadian rhythm disruptions commonly called jet lag that contribute to the loss of amount as well as quality of sleep. Circadian misalignment and sleep deprivation and/or sleep disturbances have profound effects on physical and mental health and performance. We, as concerned scientists and physicians with relevant expertise, developed this white paper to raise awareness of these challenges to the wellbeing of our student-athletes and their co-travelers. We also offer practical steps to mitigate the negative consequences of collegiate travel schedules. We discuss the importance of bedtime protocols, the availability of early afternoon naps, and adherence to scheduled lighting exposure protocols before, during, and after travel, with support from wearables and apps. We call upon departments of athletics to engage with sleep and circadian experts to advise and help design tailored implementation of these mitigating practices that could contribute to the current and long-term health and wellbeing of their students and their staff members.

A practical guide to improve sleep and performance in athletes

Sleep is vital for optimal mental and physical health. For athletes, optimizing sleep is becoming a popular strategy to enhance athletic performance. Athletes often complain of sleep problems including insufficient sleep and insomnia symptoms and are also at a higher risk for sleep disordered breathing. Sleep disorders and insufficient sleep can contribute to excessive sleepiness, daytime dysfunction, and performance problems. In contrast, better sleep provides benefits for physical health and athletic performance. For athletes, multiple factors can contribute to insufficient sleep. Sport-specific factors include frequent travel across time zones, competition and training schedules, high training loads, and sleeping in an unfamiliar environment. Non-sport-related factors include work, social, and family commitments; attitudes and sleeping beliefs; individual characteristics, such as chronotype or preference for morning or evening; and lifestyle choices. Fortunately, there are strategies that can be implemented to improve sleep in athletes including (a) education and emphasis on the importance of sleep; (b) sleep screening; providing extra sleep opportunities like (c) banking sleep and (d) napping; improving sleep hygiene like (e) proper light exposure; (f) a good pre-sleep routine; (g) a conducive sleep environment; (h) a strategy for supplementation; (i) utilizing circadian timing adjustments; and (j) jet lag management. Increased recognition of the importance of sleep from sport professionals and screening for sleep disorders and disturbances will be key for future athlete health, well-being, and performance.

A wearable-based sports health monitoring system using CNN and LSTM with self-attentions.

Sports performance and health monitoring are essential for athletes to maintain peak performance and avoid potential injuries. In this paper, we propose a sports health monitoring system that utilizes wearable devices, cloud computing, and deep learning to monitor the health status of sports persons. The system consists of a wearable device that collects various physiological parameters and a cloud server that contains a deep learning model to predict the sportsperson's health status. The proposed model combines a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and self-attention mechanisms. The model is trained on a large dataset of sports persons' physiological data and achieves an accuracy of 93%, specificity of 94%, precision of 95%, and an F1 score of 92%. The sports person can access the cloud server using their mobile phone to receive a report of their health status, which can be used to monitor their performance and make any necessary adjustments to their training or competition schedule.

Competitive integrated airline schedule design and fleet assignment

Airline profits are significantly influenced by competitive timetables that match passenger demand to fleet resources. In this research, we develop an integrated, mixed-integer optimization model to derive a comprehensive flight schedule, fleet assignment, and average airfares jointly. Passenger choice behavior is incorporated through a prospect theory-adjusted, nested, multinomial logit model which estimates market share. The competitive fleet assignment and schedule design (CFSD) formulation is embedded in a differentiated Bertrand game, such that each transport operator optimizes their best response function connected through the market share model. To solve the integrated optimization problem efficiently, a hybrid algorithm is developed that combines stabilized column generation with a large neighborhood search algorithm.The game-theoretic framework is applied to a case study in China involving legacy airlines, a low-cost carrier, and a high-speed rail (HSR) operator. The equilibrium outcomes suggest that the low-cost carrier is likely to stimulate demand and improve the level of service through secondary airports. The further development of high-speed rail service is expected to intensify competition among airlines and reduce the overall fare level. The low-cost carriers and HSR are able to significantly increase overall consumer surplus, providing insights into the potential for low-cost service in the Chinese aviation markets and the entrance of the public service obligation program at minimum cost.

Well-being as a performance pillar: a holistic approach for monitoring tennis players.

This perspective article aims to discuss the usefulness of tools that can assist tennis professionals effectively manage the well-being of their players. This includes identifying and monitoring meaningful metrics (i.e., training load, training intensity, heart rate variability), as well as careful planning of training and competition schedules with appropriate recovery periods. The use of innovative training methods (i.e., repeated-sprint training in hypoxia and heat training), and proper dietary practices, along with biometric assessment for young players, represents should be considered. Adopting a holistic approach to decision-making about training and competition, balancing both health and performance considerations, is crucial for tennis players and their support teams. More research is needed to refine best practices for enhancing tennis performance while prioritizing the well-being of players.