Performance Indicators Research Articles

Identifying physiological determinants of 800m running performance using post-exercise blood lactate kinetics.

The aims of the present study were to investigate blood lactate kinetics following high intensity exercise and identify the physiological determinants of 800m running performance. Fourteen competitive 800m runners performed two running tests. First, participants performed a multistage graded exercise test to determine physiological indicators related to endurance performance. Second, participants performed four to six 30-s high intensity running bouts to determine post-exercise blood lactate kinetics. Using a biexponential time function, lactate exchange ability (γ1), lactate removal ability (γ2), and the quantity of lactate accumulated (QLaA) were calculated from individual blood lactate recovery data. 800m running performance was significantly correlated with peak oxygen consumption (r = -0.794), γ1 and γ2 at 800m race pace (r = -0.604 and -0.845, respectively), and QLaA at maximal running speed (r = -0.657). O2peak and γ2 at 800m race pace explained 83% of the variance in 800m running performance. Our results indicate that (1) a high capacity to exchange and remove lactate, (2) a high capacity for short-term lactate accumulation and, (3) peak oxygen consumption, are critical elements of 800m running performance. Accordingly, while lactate has primarily been utilized as a performance indicator for long-distance running, post-exercise lactate kinetics may also prove valuable as a performance determinant in middle-distance running.

Contemporary Views on Performance Indicators with Audit-Feedback for Bladder Cancer Treatment

Contemporary Views on Performance Indicators with Audit-Feedback for Bladder Cancer Treatment

Identifying the contributors to nursing caring success stories.

To (a) seek examples of nursing caring success stories and (b) identify the common contributors to these successes. By focusing on the successes of nursing care rather than critically examining failures, this research seeks to provide examples of proven and feasible approaches and processes for improving care. This study used a narrative inquiry design. Data were collected through group interviews. Four interviews were conducted with a total of 20 nurse participants working in inpatient settings in South Australian hospitals. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. Two dominant themes concerning the contributors to caring success were identified. These contributors were (1) the provision of holistic care and (2) the influence of the caring community, which includes family members and other patients. The findings also indicated that the definition of caring success according to nurses is not aligned with organisational performance indicators but is more closely represented by caring values. Success, according to nurses, is not exclusively defined by patient outcomes but includes the approach to, and process of, care delivery. Nurses value the caring process while working in an environment that primarily values clinical and systems-level outcomes. Nurses want patients and their families, allied health professionals and hospital executives to be involved and invested in the process of care. This study addressed a gap in the current literature to identify commonalities in nursing success stories, the contributors informing these successes and how these contributors can facilitate improved patient care. Understanding nursing definitions of caring success provides an opportunity to expand upon current accepted industry definitions and perspectives such as key performance indicators. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. No direct patient or public contribution.

Integration of Financial and ESG Performance Indicators to Measure and Evaluate Egyptian Insurance Companies Performance

Integration of Financial and ESG Performance Indicators to Measure and Evaluate Egyptian Insurance Companies Performance

Are we tackle ready? Cross‐sectional video analysis of match tackle characteristics in elite women's Rugby Union

AbstractThe tackle contest is the most common and most injurious match contact event in rugby and is an indicator of performance. Tackle Ready is World Rugby's tackle technique education program. Limited research has characterized the tackle contest in women's rugby. The purpose of this study is to: (1) identify the match situational characteristics, ball‐carrier and tackler technical actions demonstrated in elite women's Rugby Union and (2) to determine the extent to which Tackle Ready recommended tackle techniques were exhibited. Technical characteristics for 1500 tackle events in the 2022–2023 Women's Six Nations Championship were visually assessed according to a predefined coding framework and the Tackle Ready program. Tackles lacked full completion (0.2%) of the 22 coded Tackle Ready techniques with 47% of the recommended techniques demonstrated in each tackle on average (range 15%–98%). A high proportion of tackles involved two defenders (48%), approaching ball‐carriers from the side (38%) or oblique angles (39%), in an upright position (30%), and with initial contact made with the arm (51%). Incorrect pre‐contact head positioning and head placement upon contact accounted for 50% and 15% of tackles, respectively, and there was a mean of 14 (95% CI 11–18) head and neck contacts to a tackler and 18 (95% CI 14–22) head and neck contacts to a ball‐carrier per game. Targeted interventions to encourage adoption of recommended techniques are needed to reduce tackle‐related injury risk in women's rugby. This study provides valuable context for future discussion across law enforcement, coach education and gender‐specific tackle coaching in the women's game.

A Social Life Cycle Assessment as a Key to Territorial Development: A Study of the Hydrangea Crop in Colombia

Studying the social dynamics and development potential of agricultural enterprises is fundamental to promoting sustainable territorial growth. This study aims to assess the impact of growers of small and medium-sized hydrangea crops in the Colombian province of La Paz through a social life cycle analysis (S-LCA), shedding light on their fundamental roles as catalysts for regional development. For this purpose, the prioritization of actors and performance indicators is conducted following the methodologies proposed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Social variables are identified using the subcategory assessment method (SAM) to strengthen and assess indicators of low and high performance. Sixteen subcategories are qualitatively assessed, with 56% falling short of performance benchmarks, 25% meeting the benchmarks, 13% exceeding the benchmarks with proactive behavior, and 6% having potential with effort. Priority areas were identified as local employment and economic development contributions. This study highlights the significant impact of hydrangea production on territorial development, emphasizing the need to improve social security and health conditions for workers. Environmental actions to reduce agrochemical use are also advocated. This study proposes transforming the social life cycle analysis into an opportunity to evaluate actors’ performance and their contribution to territorial and sustainable development. It emphasizes the importance of assessing social impacts, ethical implications, and community relations throughout the crop value chain, with governance being a crucial aspect for territorial development. This study advocates the integration of these analyses into farm operations, serving as a benchmark for similar assessments across various agricultural activities.

Spectroscopic Techniques and Hydrogen-Sensitive Compounds: A New Horizon in Hydrogen Detection

Detecting hydrogen leaks remains a pivotal challenge demanding robust solutions. Among diverse detection techniques, the fiber-optic method distinguishes itself through unique benefits, such as its distributed measurement properties. The adoption of hydrogen-sensitive materials coated on fibers has gained significant traction in research circles, credited to its operational simplicity and exceptional adaptability across varied conditions. This manuscript offers an exhaustive investigation into hydrogen-sensitive materials and their incorporation into fiber-optic hydrogen sensors. The research profoundly analyzes the sensor architectures, performance indicators, and the spectrum of sensing materials. A detailed understanding of these sensors’ potentials and constraints emerges through rigorous examination, juxtaposition, and holistic discourse. Furthermore, this analysis judiciously assesses the inherent challenges tied to these systems, simultaneously highlighting potential pathways for future innovation. By spotlighting the hurdles and opportunities, this paper furnishes a view on hydrogen sensing technology, particularly related to optical fiber-based applications.

Impact of board gender diversity on performance of public sector vis-à-vis private sector banks in India

Impact of board gender diversity on performance of public sector <i>vis-à-vis</i> private sector banks in India

Examining performance calibration in smart power system electricity metering based on environmental perception attention LSTM-network

The operating environment greatly influences the accuracy of power metering devices, resulting in variations and inconsistencies in measurement results across different working situations. A calibration model for power metering devices is proposed in this study, considering a range of environmental circumstances. The first step involves investigating the environmental conditions that impact the accuracy of power metering devices. The mutual information approach is utilized to identify environmental disturbances affecting device accuracy. A machine learning-driven symmetry attention Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network addresses measurement errors, capitalizing on the network’s symmetry data knowledge. Ultimately, the efficacy of the suggested approach is substantiated through the utilization of performance indicators, namely, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The results show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the errors of the power measurement device in all quarters, and the error reduction effect is over 10% in the spring, which is better than other models, demonstrating exemplary performance in correcting the calibration errors of the power measurement device.

Understanding aging characteristics of a pyrotechnic initiator through performance modeling in Closed Bomb Tests

AbstractWe conducted an analysis of the natural aging characteristics of an electric pyrotechnic initiator stored for 11 years, using 10‐cm3 Closed Bomb Tests (CBTs). For the comparative analysis, we utilized the closed bomb test data from other three batches that were tested 11 years ago when they were produced. Notably, two aged samples exhibited peculiar phenomena in terms of maximum pressure and the time taken to reach it, both of which are the performance indicators of Closed Bomb Tests. The time taken to reach maximum pressure increased in both aged samples compared to the pristine samples. Additionally, while one aged sample demonstrated a higher maximum pressure, the other displayed a significantly lower value compared to the pristine ones. Through statistical analysis of test results from three batches of the reference samples and one batch of aged samples led us to propose the existence of a natural aging effect on the initiator. The increase in time taken to reach maximum pressure compared to the reference samples can be attributed to the phenomenon of an increasing particle size distribution of spherical combustion particles in the present combustion model. Furthermore, the aging of the binder of the initiator charge likely contribute to a relative increase in the size of the combustion particles due to the binder hardening over time. To explain the phenomenon of the pressure initially reaches its maximum value on the CBT pressure‐time curve and subsequently decrease, we introduce the concept of condensation, where the gas phase transitions into liquid and solid phases.

Revealing the contribution of corporate sustainability practices to financial performance: Case of BIST Sustainability 25 Index companies

The purpose of the paper is to study the impact of corporate sustainability practices on the financial performance of companies included in the BIST Sustainability 25 Index. To assess the efficiency and quality of corporate sustainability, general (ESG Disclosure Index) and partial (Environmental Disclosure Index, Social Disclosure Index, and Corporate Governance Disclosure Index) indices were used, calculated based on content analysis of sustainability reports. Based on the two given types of indices and four types of financial performance indicators (return on assets, return on equity, assets turnover ratio, and Tobin’s Q), two types of regression models (GEN models and PART models) were built, and eight analytical models were examined. Company size and leverage were included as control variables in each model. The regression analysis results were contradictory, partially confirming the conclusions of some scientists and refuting the findings of others. A study of GEN models revealed that companies implementing more effective general corporate sustainability practices have a significant positive impact only on return on equity; as for other measures (return on assets, assets turnover ratio, and Tobin’s Q), an insignificant relationship between them and ESG Disclosure Index was found. Results of the PART models analysis revealed a significant positive effect of the Social Disclosure Index on return on equity and assets turnover ratio and a negative relationship between the Corporate Governance Disclosure Index and assets turnover ratio. Using control variables for the two types of models showed a significant negative effect of company size on Tobin’s Q. AcknowledgmentThis study was supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Ukraine within the project “Development of a mechanism for the sustainable development of economic systems in the conditions of military operations and post-war recovery of the economy” (Registration number of the project: 0124U000463).

Examining the Percent Canopy Cover and Health of Winter Wheat in No-Till and Conventional Tillage Plots Using a Drone

The percent canopy cover and health of winter wheat are important crop performance indicators. Thus, understanding how tillage management practices affect these indicators is beneficial for improving crop performance and consequently yield. The availability of high-resolution drone data with spectral characteristics provides an opportunity to examine the percent canopy cover and health of winter wheat in different tillage systems. This is because the use of drones provides real-time high spatial resolution and temporal images to effectively monitor winter wheat conditions throughout the growing season. Nonetheless, very limited studies have utilized drone data for assessing the percent canopy cover and health conditions of winter wheat for different tillage practices. This study aimed to examine the percent canopy cover and health of winter wheat in no-till and conventional tillage plots using a drone. We used the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) ± Standard Deviation (SD) (0.89 ± 0.04) of winter wheat for the growth stages of tillering, jointing, and boot/heading to generate the percent wheat canopy cover. The Normalized Difference Red-Edge (NDRE) produced for winter wheat at the middle and late growth stages was used as a proxy for wheat health condition. We found that the mean percentage canopy cover of winter wheat was about 4% higher in no-till compared to conventional tillage plots in most of the growing season. The mean NDRE ± standard error (SE) of winter wheat was about 0.44 ± 0.01 and 0.43 ± 0.01 for no-till and conventional tillage plots, respectively, during the mid- and late growth stages. There was no significant difference in either the percent canopy cover or health of winter wheat between no-till and conventional tillage plots. The results generated in this study could be used to support farmers’ decision-making process regarding tillage practices and wheat crop performance.

The revolution and future frontiers of reproductive management of dairy cattle

The 21-d pregnancy rate is determined by an interaction be­tween the AI service rate and pregnancies per AI (P/AI) and is a key performance indicator for the reproductive efficiency of dairy farms. Over the past 2 decades, the reproductive per­formance of lactating dairy cows increased. A greater under­standing of endocrinology and the physiology of lactating dairy cows generated fertility programs (the Presynch-Ovsynch and Double Ovsynch protocols for TAI) that increase the service rate and P/AI compared with detection of estrus. Previously, synchronization of ovulation in heifers was associated with poor reproductive performance compared with detection of estrus. Several modifications determined through randomized-controlled studies gave rise to the 5-d CIDR-Synch protocol that has similar and more P/AI when heifers are inseminated with conventional and sexed semen, respectively, compared with detection of estrus. A hierarchy of reproductive needs exists for dairy farms that require fulfillment before a new need can emerge. Dairy farms must have a high 21-d pregnancy rate and good heifer management before adopting other advanced re­productive technologies such as genomic selection, sexed and beef semen, and in vitro-produced embryos. Adopting these ad­vanced reproductive technologies benefits dairy farms, howev­er, challenges still exist that need further investigation through randomized-controlled experiments to maximize the benefits

Evaluating Distraction Safety Performance Indicators in an Urban Area of a Low- or Middle-Income Country: A Case Study of Yaoundé, Cameroon

Distracted driving is a major cause of road traffic crashes in Yaoundé. This is partly due to the scarcity of enforcement and a lack of evidence and investigation using the distraction safety performance indicator (SPI), hindering evidence-based interventions. This study aimed to address this evidence gap by evaluating the distraction SPI using a proven methodology. Data on distracted driving (handheld mobile device; interaction; eating/smoking/drinking) were collected from roadside observations on 36 randomly selected road sections carefully spread to cover the city. SPIs were computed and weighted with traffic volume to ensure the representativeness of the values. A total of 41,004 drivers were observed (38,248 in cars; 1116 in vans; 977 in trucks; 663 in buses). The prevalence of distracted driving in Yaoundé is 13.69% for the three distractions type combined. The prevalence is 7.84% for interaction, 4.89% for handled mobile device usage and 0.96% for eating/smoking/drinking. Leveraging these insights, a seven year (2024–2030) fighting strategy aimed at halving the prevalence was developed. The strategy contains interventions including legislation/enforcement, which have been proven to be effective. This study, pioneered in Yaoundé, provides stakeholders with evidence of the issue and measures to implement and can also be used when developing a road safety strategy. Future research should consider investigation at national level.

Multi-Criteria Optimization of SBR-Modified Mortar Incorporating Polyethylene Terephthalate Waste

Thermosetting post-consumer plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) raise serious recycling challenges, leading frequently to disposal through incineration or landfilling. This study assesses the feasibility of cementitious materials containing PET additions including the influence of cement content, water-to-cement ratio (w/c), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) polymer additions, and PET volume on the fresh and hardened properties. The mixture proportioning followed the Taguchi methodology, which entailed the utilization of four factors, each possessing three different levels to create an L9 orthogonal matrix. The assessment included diverse performance indicators such as flow, compressive strength, flexural strength, bond strength, water absorption, and resistance to carbonation. Test results revealed that the incorporation of SBR and PET degraded the compressive strength, albeit this can be restored by increasing the cement content and/or reducing w/c. The addition of SBR significantly improved the flexural and bond strengths yet curtailed the water absorption and resistance to carbonation due to increased closed porosity that facilitated the transport properties. The multi-criteria optimization approach (TOPSIS) indicated that superior performance can be achieved using a cement content of 525kg/m3, w/c of 0.55, SBR of 3.5%, and PET incorporation of 4.5%. These parameters were subsequently employed in the development of multivariate regression models, allowing for the prediction of fresh and hardened properties in SBR-PET mortar.

The Association Between Grip Strength, Upper Body Power, and Limb Dominance in a Military Population.

Military service members rely on upper body strength and power to accomplish tasks such as carrying heavy weapons and gear, rappelling, combat grappling, and marksmanship. Early identification of the factors that lead to reduced upper body strength and power would enable leadership to predict and mitigate aspects that decrease military operational readiness and increase injury risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between grip strength and upper body power in U.S. Infantry Marines. We hypothesized that dominant arm grip strength would show a strong positive correlation with upper body power and that the dominant arm would be more powerful than the non-dominant arm. A total of 120 U.S. Marines completed 3 maximum effort isometric grip strength trials with their dominant hand and 3 maximum effort ballistic pushups on a ForceDecks force plate system. Force plate data were used to estimate pushup height and peak power. Maximum grip strength, pushup height, and peak power across the 3 trials were used for analysis. Pearson's correlation was used to test for associations between peak power, pushup height, and grip strength. Paired t-tests were used to test for differences in peak power between the dominant and non-dominant arms. A very weak correlation was found between grip strength and upper body power, but there was no relationship between grip strength and pushup height. Additionally, there were no significant differences in upper body power between the dominant and non-dominant arms. The results of this study suggest that grip strength is not predictive of upper body power and cannot be used as a stand-alone measure of physical readiness in a military unit. These findings do not, however, degrade the potential of both measures to predict and inform health status and physical readiness. Future prospective research should be conducted to determine if either of these measures can be used as indicators of performance and/or injury susceptibility and if limb dominance plays a role in injury incidence within the upper extremity.

Performance differences and determinants of success in world men's handball championships

Abstract - Aim It is to compare performance indicators among World Men's Handball Championships, 2017, 2019 and 2021. Taking into consideration that the last one took place under pandemic restrictions, and thus affecting all stages of preparation and competition, we also investigated indicators that mostly affected the teams’ ranking. Methods: The sample consisted of sets of performance indicator variables specifically related to court player and goalkeeper efficacy, offense, defense, and punishment of all participant teams. We used the analysis of variance and the ordinary least square regression. Results: No significant differences in shots (p = 0.165, η2 = 0.046) and goals per game (p = 0.211, η2 = 0.040) were found in the last three successive world championships examined in our study. However, significant differences were found in court player efficacy at 6 m (p = 0.000, η2 = 0.226) and breakthrough (p = 0.047, η2 = 0.077) while for goalkeeper efficacy, differences were observed at 6 m (p = 0.000, η2 = 0.199), penalty (p = 0.049, η2 = 0.099) and fast break (p = 0.005, η2 = 0.132). From the set of variables related to offense, defense and punishment, significant differences were observed only for assists per game (p = 0.004, η2 = 0.134). Conclusion: The determinants of success of the top teams were the variables of court player efficacy and goalkeeper efficacy at 9 m followed by goalkeeper breakthrough efficacy, technical faults and 2-min suspensions per game.

Digital Adoption by an Organization Supporting Informal Caregivers During COVID-19 Pandemic Showing Impact on Service Use, Organizational Performance, and Carers' Well-Being: Retrospective Population-Based Database Study With Embedded User Survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a move from face-to-face to digital delivery of services by hospitals and primary care. However, little is known about the impact of digital transformation on organizations supporting unpaid caregivers. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of care provided by such informal caregivers is estimated to be £111 billion (US$ 152.7 billion) in England. This study aims to analyze service uptake patterns (including digital service options) over the pandemic period in an English caregivers' support organization covering a population of 0.98 million; measure changes in organizational performance, service efficiency, and quality; and identify the views of caregivers on service provision and future digital delivery. This was a retrospective analysis of the use of digital versus nondigital support services (January 2019 to June 2021) by caregivers in city and rural geographic areas. We compared organizational performance and service quality indicators for 2 financial years (2019-2020 and 2020-2021). A survey was conducted to identify barriers and facilitators to digital service uptake, the computer proficiency of caregivers (the Computer Proficiency Questionnaire, 12-item version), and preferences for future digital service provision. Quantitative data were analyzed using Stata 13 (StataCorp LLC). Thematic analysis was used for open-text survey responses. The number of caregivers registered with the organization rose from 14,817 in 2019 to 20,237 in 2021. Monthly contacts rose from 1929 to 6741, with remote contacts increasing from 48.89% (943/1929) to 86.68% (5843/6741); distinctive patterns were observed for city versus rural caregivers. There was an increase in one-to-one contacts (88.8%) and caregiver assessments (20.9%), with no expansion in staffing. Service quality indicators showed an improvement in 5 of 8 variables (all P<.05). The 152 carers completing the survey had similar demographics to all registered caregivers. The Computer Proficiency Questionnaire, 12-item version, mean score of 25.61 (SD 4.40) indicated relatively high computer proficiency. The analysis of open-text responses identified a preference for the organization to continue to offer face-to-face services as well as web-based options. The digital services that were the most highly rated were carers' well-being assessments, support needs checks, and peer support groups. Our findings show that staff in the caregiver support organization were agile in adapting their services to digital delivery while dealing with increased numbers of registered clients and higher monthly contacts, all without obvious detriment to service quality. Caregivers indicated a preference for blended services, even while recording high computer proficiency. Considering the economic importance of unpaid caregivers, more attention should be given to organizations funded to provide support for them and to the potential for technology to enhance caregivers' access to, and engagement with, such services.

The mitigative role of novel aflatoxin-degrading enzymes in diverse broiler performance indicators and gut microbiota following the consumption of diets contaminated with aflatoxins.

This study aims to explore both the toxic effects of aflatoxins (AFs) and the protective effects of degrading enzymes (DE) on broilers exposed to AFs. The findings reveal that a diet contaminated with 69.15 μg kg-1 of aflatoxin B1 had significant adverse effects on broilers. Specifically, it led to a reduction in average daily gain, dressed yield percentage, half-eviscerated yield with giblet yield percentage, eviscerated yield percentage, as well as serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase activity and liver SOD activity (P < 0.05). Conversely, the diet increased the feed conversion ratio, liver index, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase levels and malondialdehyde levels in both serum and liver (P < 0.05). Additionally, AFs disrupted the intestinal microflora significantly (P < 0.05), altering the relative abundance of Enterococcus, Lactobacillus and Escherichia in broiler jejunum. The addition of DE to AF-contaminated feed mitigated these negative effects and reduced the residues of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2 and aflatoxin M1 in the liver and duodenum (P < 0.05). We also observed that broilers fed the diet pelleted at 80 °C exhibited improved dressing percentage and water holding capacity compared to those on the 75 °C diet. In summary, DE serves as an effective feed additive for mitigating AF contamination in poultry production. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Investigating the influence of clustering techniques and parameters on a hybrid PSO-driven ANFIS model for electricity prediction

The availability of reliable electrical power, which is essential for a comfortable lifestyle worldwide, requires realistic power usage projections for electric utilities and policymakers, leading to the adoption of machine learning-based modelling tools due to the limitations of traditional power usage projection approaches. However, successful modeling of power usage in neuro-fuzzy models depends on the optimal selection of hyper-parameters. Consequently, this research looked at the major impact clustering methods and hyper-parameter modifications on a particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) model. The study examined two distinct clustering methods and other key hyperparameters such as the number of clusters and cluster radius, resulting in a total of 10 sub-models. The performance of the developed models was assessed using four widely recognized performance indicators: root mean square error, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute error (MAE), and coefficient of variation of the root mean square error (CVRMSE). Additionally, the robustness of the optimal sub-model was evaluated by comparing it with other hybrid models based on three different PSO variants. The results revealed that the combination of the ANFIS approach and PSO, specifically with two clusters, yielded the most accurate forecasting scheme with the optimal values for MAPE (7.7778%), MAE (712.6094), CVRMSE (9.5464), and RMSE (909.4998).