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Clean and safe energy sources are essential for the long-term growth of society. Wind energy is rapidly expanding and contributes to many countries' efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. In terms of sustainable development goals (SDGs), renewable energy development promotes energy security while also facilitating community development and environmental conservation on a global scale. In this context, the current article aims to investigate wind energy's role within the SDGs. Furthermore, the present study highlights the role of the London Array wind farm in achieving the SDGs. Indeed, deploying clean and economical energy sources in place of conventional fossil fuel power plants provides vital insights into environmental impacts. The London Array operation is saving approximately 1 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent. Furthermore, the London Array contributes to the achievement of multiple SDGs, including SDG 8: decent employment and economic growth; SDG 9: industry, innovation, and infrastructure; SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities; and SDG 15: life on land. To enhance the London Array's contribution to the SDGs, a total of 77 indicators (key performance indicators) were proposed and compared to the current measurements that have been carried out. The results showed that the London Array used most of the suggested indicators without classifying them from the SDGs' perspective. The proposed indicators will help cut operation costs, mitigate climate change and environmental damage, improve employee engagement and morale, reduce learning gaps, set goals and plans, and use resources efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social enterprises are gaining great importance, since they can efficiently solve social problems and help reduce unemployment. Thus, it is important to discover how social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) can be enhanced. In this paper, a model of the impact of entrepreneurial education (EE) on SEI is formulated by relying on the human capital theory. It is hypothesized that EE acts on SEI directly as well as indirectly by increasing the perceived importance of social entrepreneurship (PISE). The model was evaluated on a sample of 400 students from the Republic of Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The analysis was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). In addition, a multigroup analysis was conducted in order to establish differences in the proposed relationship between countries. The obtained results indicate a positive impact of EE on SEI and a positive impact of PISE on SEI in both observed countries. The influence of EE on PISE, as well as the indirect effect of EE on SEI through PISE, was confirmed in Serbia, but not in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results of this paper justify further government investment in the development of educational programs. This paper also gives recommendations to universities, educators, and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine possible changes in physical performance and morphological characteristics in young basketball players before and after quarantine caused by COVID-19. The research was conducted on a total sample of 46 young basketball players. Participants were measured before the quarantine and pandemic in January 2020 and then after the quarantine period, one year later in March 2021. The results indicate the existence of significant differences in total muscle mass (p < 0.01) in favor of higher values measured before quarantine. Moreover, total fat percentage was higher (p < 0.03) after quarantine. As for physical performance, significant differences were also observed in the counter movement jump test (p < 0.05) and the 20 m shuttle run test (p < 0.05), with significantly poorer results for the group of participants measured after quarantine. The authors conclude that the consequences of the quarantine and pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 virus were definitely negative, as higher values of body fat and lower values of the percentage of total muscle mass were observed. In addition, a lower level of the explosive power of lower limbs was observed, accompanied by lower aerobic endurance in young basketball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment is an important part of aquatic systems, which plays a vital role in transporting and storing metals. Due to its abundance, persistence, and environmental toxicity, heavy metal pollution has always been one of the hot spots in the world. In this article, the state-of-art ex situ remediation technology for metal-contaminated sediments is elaborated, including sediment washing, electrokinetic remediation (EKR), chemical extraction, biological treatment, as well as encapsulating pollutants by adding some stabilized/solidified materials. Furthermore, the progress of sustainable resource utilization methods, such as ecosystem restoration, construction materials (e.g., materials fill materials, partition blocks, and paving blocks), and agriculture use are reviewed in detail. Finally, the pros and cons of each technique are summarized. This information will provide the scientific basis for selecting the appropriate remediation technology in a particular scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on certain characteristics of the jump take-offs in rhythmic gymnastics (RG). Rhythmic gymnasts always perform their jumps with the same preferred run-up technique, proceeded by a chassé-step in most of the cases. The overall idea was to analyse other step-techniques that could be performged on one-leg, which could prepare jumps. The aim of this study was to compare kinetic and kinematic variables between three-stag ring leaps with and without throwing-ball, performed using the glissade-step as a preparatory phase for take-off with one-leg these were as follows: glissade stag ring leap without-ball (GSWB), throw-ball glissade stag ring leap (TBGS) and glissade throw-ball stag ring leap (GTBS). Seven members of the Tunisian RG national team took part in this study. The technical elements were recorded in 2D using two-cameras on a specially designed floor carpet where a force-plate was integrated. The results showed that the three-leaps had significant impacts on the performance variables, especially on the force, the velocity and the flexibility. The GTBS was the most effective leap as the throw took place during the jump, which has increased its technicality and the applied physical variables, the vertical force, the rate of force development, the horizontal and vertical velocities and displacements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building vertical greenery has become an effective measure to solve the contradiction between the shortage of urban greenery and the increasing demand for greenery. However, the lack of direct economic benefits dampens motivation for its development. As a vital development mode for high-density cities worldwide, commercial complexes are the most appropriate buildings to support greenery because of economic agglomeration and resource integration. An important reason for whether or not commercial complex greenery is constructed is the need for an evaluation system. To bridge this research gap, we propose a holistic evaluation guideline for commercial complex greenery. First, a list of related sustainable rating systems from the academic literature and official websites was compiled and reviewed to identify and compare their referential features. Second, the limitations of these evaluation systems in assessing the greenery of commercial complexes were explored using a case study. Third, the features of commercial complex greenery were introduced through field research and interviews. Finally, a holistic evaluation guideline for vertical greenery systems in commercial complexes was proposed, including logical thinking for the evaluation system of the dimension–indicator–quantitative method, the creation of innovative evaluation indicators, the establishment of a database, the assignment of weights to different dimensions and indicators, and the construction of an evaluation mechanism for the whole life cycle. This research demonstrates the significance of an evaluation process for commercial complex greenery systems, proposes a refined guideline for its development, and rationally grasps the development direction from a macro perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Block copolymers (BCPs) in the bulk state are known to self‐assemble into different morphologies depending on their polymer segment ratio. For polymers with amorphous and crystalline BCP segments, the crystallization process can be influenced significantly by the corresponding bulk morphology. Herein, the synthesis of the amorphous‐crystalline BCP poly(dimethyl silacyclobutane)‐block‐poly(2vinyl pyridine), (PDMSB‐b‐P2VP), by living anionic polymerization is reported. Polymers with overall molar masses ranging from 17 400 g to 592 200 g mol−1 and PDMSB contents of 4.8–83.9 vol% are synthesized and characterized by size‐exclusion chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. The bulk morphology of the obtained polymers is investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy and small angle X‐ray scattering, revealing a plethora of self‐assembled structures, providing confined and nonconfined conditions. Subsequently, the influence of the previously determined morphologies and their resulting confinement on the crystallinity and crystallization behavior of PDMSB is analyzed via differential scanning calorimetry and powder X‐ray diffraction. Here, fractionated crystallization and supercooling effects are observable as well as different diffraction patterns of the PDMSB crystallites for confined and nonconfined domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to identify factors affecting the motivation of game users in social networks and their effect on user attitude and purchase intention. After reviewing previous research, localization, timeliness, visual appeal, and social image were identified as factors affecting external motivation. Also, perceived ease, personalization, and perceived pleasure as factors affecting intrinsic motivation. The statistical population of the study includes users of social networks who use the services of these networks. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. The content validity of the questionnaire items was confirmed by professors and experts in the field of game and user behavior, and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. According to the results, it was found that all the identified factors have a significant positive effect on the users’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and on their attitude toward social network service games and purchase intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No previous study analyzed the effect of caffeinated chewing gum on volleyball-specific skills and physical performance in volleyball players. Twelve volleyball players participated ina randomized, crossover, and double-blind experiment after ingestion of (a) ~3.2 ± 0.4 mg/kg of body mass (BM) of caffeine via chewing gum or (b) non-caffeinated chewing gum (placebo) and performed: (a) a countermovement jump, (b) a squat jump, (c), an attack jump, (d) a block jump, (e) 5 and 10 m sprints, (f) a modified agility t-test, (g) an attack and service speed test, and (h) a spike and serve accuracy test. Compared to the placebo, the caffeine chewing gum supplementation significantly improved the accuracy of the attack (15 ± 4 vs. 18 ± 3 points, p = 0.02). However, the ingestion of caffeinated chewing gum had no effect on the remaining other performance tests (p from 0.12 to 1.00). A caffeine-containing chewing gum with a dose of ~3 mg/kg BM effectively improved the attack's accuracy in volleyball players. However, this effect was not observed in better results in jumping, running, and other skill-based volleyball tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most intervention studies investigating the effects of ergogenic aids (EAs) on sports performance have been carried out in the male population. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the effects in the existing literature of EAs used by female athletes on performance. A literature research was conducted, and a descriptive analysis of the articles included in the systematic review was carried out. Meta-analyses could be performed on 32 of the included articles, evaluating performance in strength, sprint, and cardiovascular capacity. A random-effects model and the standardized mean differences (SMD) ± 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. The results showed that caffeine helped to improve jumping performance, isometric strength values, and the number of repetitions until failure. Caffeine and sodium phosphate helped to improve sprint performance. Aerobic tests could be improved with the use of taurine, caffeine, and beta-alanine. No conclusive effects of beetroot juice, polyphenols, or creatine in improving aerobic performance were shown. In terms of anaerobic variables, both caffeine and sodium phosphate could help to improve repeated sprint ability. More studies are needed in female athletes that measure the effects of different EAs on sports performance, such as beetroot juice, beta-alanine or sodium phosphate, as the studies to date are scarce and there are many types of EA that need to be further considered in this population, such as creatine and taurine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two sixteenth-century translations of Treasure, made soon after its first edition in 1557-1558, mark a return to active literary pursuits in the eastern part of the Balkans after the Ottoman invasion two centuries earlier. NBKM432, an anonymous miscellany, containing the earliest preserved record of the Sredna-Gora translation, provides evidence of its state three consecutive handwritten copies after the translation was made. The article reviews the manuscript's history, content and formatting, as well as its paleographic, codicological, artistic and orthographic characteristics through the prism of the conclusions reached by the textual study of its components ascending to the Sredna-Gora translation: seven homilies by Damaskēnós Stoudítēs and two by Theophánēs Eleavoûlkos. The article fixes the timeframe, within which this miscellany was produced, in the 1580s-1590s and concludes that the Sredna-Gora translation must have taken place -most likely during the 1570s or 1580s - in a scriptorium of unknown whereabouts within the Tarnovo Diocese, which belonged to the cultural centres that had preserved to some extent the pre-Ottoman Tarnovo cultural heritage and the output of which displayed a preference for certain formatting and decorative solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarises the results of an inventory of abandoned underground mines within the Nízký Jeseník Upland (Czechia, Central Europe). The area has a long and complex history of mining. During the period between the 11th and 13th centuries, the upland was the centre of ore mining, and later, during the 18th and 19th centuries, it transitioned into slate mining for roofing. From 2016 through 2018, we collected detailed data from 137 mines to better understand their parameters and functioning within the contemporary landscape. The data were mainly focused on the geomorphic character of underground mines, as the existing inventories focus on various other aspects. The results were processed into an interactive web map using ArcGIS Online’s online mapping software. Relations between parameters were assessed using three methods: the χ2 test for a contingency table, ANOVA and linear regression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a holistic framework for the development of the technical, tactical, and fitness capacities required in soccer. It summarizes and organizes the main tactical and technical characteristics and the common physical demands of the game in accordance with different playing positions. Moreover, the typical fitness values found by playing positions are reviewed. A theoretical framework for a more individualized and specific training that integrates technical and tactical dimensions as well as fitness dimensions is proposed. Thus, through the identification of the main moments in a football game, a profile characterization of the contents for each capacity in each moment for all playing positions is presented and described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: The purpose of the present study was two-fold: (1) To analyse physical fitness changes of youth football players after a full-season; and (2) to examine whether physical fitness changes are explainable by estimated maturity status, 2digit:4digit ratio (2D:4D) from each hand and training load (TL) measures. Methods: Twenty-seven youth elite Under-15 football players were daily monitored for training load measures during 38 weeks. At the beginning and at the end of the season, all players were assessed for physical fitness. Also, the maturity status estimation and the length of the second and fourth digits of both hands were collected at the beginning of the season. Results: Significant differences were found for all physical fitness measures after the season. The second and fourth digits of left and right hands had negative moderate correlations with change of direction (COD) changes (r=-.39 to − 0.45 | p =.05 to 0.02). Also, the maturity offset measure had negative moderate correlations with COD changes (r=-.40 | p =.04). From the reported significant correlations, the maturity offset, Left 4D, Right 2D and Right 4D significantly predicted the Mod.505 COD test changes (β = 0.41, p =.04; β = -0.41, p =.04; β = -0.45, p =.02; and β = -0.44, p =.03, respectively). Conclusion: The maturity offset and the 2D:4D measures have the potential to predict COD performance changes over-time in youth football players. Given the lack of associations between the maturity estimation, 2D:4D and training load measures, with the overall physical fitness measures, coaches should rely only at COD changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of reducing exhaust gas emissions from internal combustion engines in the areas of port and coastal waters is in line with the assumptions of the climate policy. The publication presents a proposal to reduce the energy associated with the movement of port vessels through the use of a specific pattern (shape and size) of their movement. In addition to controlling the formation of tugboats, the authors propose the use of a multi-agent system offering elements of autonomous control of the vessels, which adjusts the parameters of the formation depending on the tasks performed. The results of tests for four tugboats with a hull length of 32 m and a maximum speed of 13 knots, moving in formations of eight different configurations, were analyzed. Studies conducted on the basis of a simulated exit and return to port scenario at a distance of 11.4 nm showed the possibility of reducing energy consumption required for movement by 5.8% to even 57.6% for tugboats moving one after another, at a certain distance. In addition, in order to completely eliminate exhaust gas emissions from the engines, it is proposed to use tugboats with electric drive together with an appropriate energy storage charging infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at assessing the external [Player Load (PL), acceleration (ACC), changes of direction (COD), JUMP, and their relative values (PL/min; ACC/min; COD/min and JUMP/min)] and internal [percentage of the peak heart rate (%HRpeak) and the training load calculated with the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) method (sRPE-load)] loads of masters (senior citizen) basketball players during official games. Thirteen male basketball masters players (age: 66.6 ± 2.1 years; body mass: 89.9 ± 8.7 kg; stature: 183.7 ± 4.6 cm) were monitored during an official Lietuvos Krepsinio Veteranu Lyga (LKVL) 65-year game. Beside descriptive analysis, a chi-square goodness of fit test was adopted to assess the differences in the distribution within JUMP, ACC and COD classes of intensities (i.e., low, medium and high). The results revealed PL = 269.9 ± 83.3 AU and PL/min = 6.54 ± 1.29 AU/min. Moreover, significant differences (p < 0.001) in the distribution of the intensity classes were found for JUMP, ACC, and COD, with the lowest intensities as the most frequent. Finally, HRpeak = 81.7 ± 8.1% and sRPE-load = 148.9 ± 69.7 AU were found, with sRPE = ~3 AU. In conclusion, a low external load during an official basketball game was found compared to other basketball populations. Moreover, a high objective internal load did not correspond to a low perceived demand, which might increase the training adherence and motivation during long-term studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to determine the relationship between vertical jumping performance, linear speed, change of direction speed (CODs) time and the COD deficit (CODD) in adolescent basketball players and to analyze the CODD between faster and slower players based on linear speed performance. Thirty-eight male basketball players (age: 15.47 ± 0.51 years; body height: 185.19 ± 5.67 cm; body mass: 71.87 ± 7.29 kg) completed countermovement jumps (CMJ) with and without an arm swing, squat jumps (SJs), linear sprints at 20 m with split times at 5 and 10 m, the pro–agility test and the zig-zag tests. Furthermore, the CODD was calculated as the difference between the 20 m linear speed result and CODs time in both COD tests. Pearson and Spearman analyses were used to determine the correlations between power-speed-related variables and the CODD. Moreover, independent t-tests and Cohen's d effect size (ES) were used to analyze the differences between the faster and slower players in the CODD. Moderate to strong significant negative correlations were observed between the CODD in the pro-agility test and linear speed at 5 m, 10 m, and 20 m (r = –0.55 to –0.46), while moderate negative significant correlation was found between the zig-zag CODD and SJs (r = –0.37) as well as small positive significant correlation between the CODD in the zig–zag test and the eccentric utilization ratio (EUR) (r = 0.23). Additionally, faster basketball players displayed significantly higher CODD values performing the pro-agility test. In summary, these findings underline the complexity of COD performance and the importance of remodeling traditional training programs in basketball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fall detection is a challenging task for human activity recognition but is meaningful in health monitoring. However, for sensor-based fall prediction problems, using recurrent architectures such as recurrent neural network models to extract temporal features sometimes could not accurately capture global information. Therefore, an improved WTCN model is proposed in this research, in which the temporal convolutional network is combined with the wavelet transform. Firstly, we use the wavelet transform to process the one-dimensional time-domain signal into a two-dimensional time-frequency domain signal. This method helps us to process the raw signal data efficiently. Secondly, we design a temporal convolutional network model with ultralong memory referring to relevant convolutional architectures. It avoids the gradient disappearance and explosion problem usefully. In addition, this paper also conducts experiments comparing our WTCN model with typical recurrent architectures such as the long short-term memory network in conjunction with three datasets, UniMiB SHAR, SisFall, and UMAFall. The results show that WTCN outperforms other traditional methods, the accuracy of the proposed algorithm is up to 99.53%, and human fall behavior can be effectively recognized in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of three run-up steps on the kinetic and kinematic variables of the stag ring leap, with throw-catch of the ball, in high-level rhythmic female gymnasts. The three run-up steps used are a chassé step, glissade, and assemblé. Methods: Seven high-level rhythmic female gymnasts participated in this study. Three run-up steps (i.e., chassé step, glissade and assemblé) were used randomly to perform a stag ring leap with throwing a ball on the jump take-off. 2D kinetic and kinematic analysis was conducted. Results: The results indicated that the assemblé step used in the run-up technique generated greater values of the rate of force development, the highest values of vertical velocity, and the best vertical displacement. In addition, the assemblé step allows for the best opening angle of the split leap and the best closest angle of the ring leg. The same was noted for the front leg’s angular velocity. Conclusion: We concluded that the assemblé step used in the run-up technique appears to favor a greater stag ring leap that meets the Code of Points’ condition for admitting the jump, as well as numerous studies that focus on improving jumping abilities in rhythmic gymnastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hilandar Versed prologues Hil. 424, dating to the 1420s and 1430s of the 15th century, and Hil. 427, dating to the 2nd quarter of the 15th century, are characterized by a combination of readings from the Serbian and Bulgarian translations. A comparison of all of the readings of the December cycle with the traditional readings of the two translations of the Versed Prologue has shown that the structure and editorial affiliation of the two Hilandar copies coincide in the section from December 1 to 11. In this section, both copies contain readings from the Serbian translation with small insertions from the Bulgarian one. In the following section, from December 12 to 31, prologue Hil. 424 switches to the Bulgarian translation with sporadic insertions from the Serbian one. Meanwhile, Hil. 427 partially retains versions of the Bulgarian translation and contains numerous articles from the Serbian translation and combined readings from the Serbian and Bulgarian translations. Moreover, prologues Hil. 424 and Hil. 427 share common structural and linguistic features indicating their direct textual interconnection, i.e. there is high probability that Hil. 424 served as one of the antigraphs for Hil. 427. The latter demonstrates features of an additional editorial revision consisting of either total or partial replacement of the verses and texts of the Bulgarian translation by their Serbian equivalents. The copy Hil. 427 contains more changes than its predecessor Hil. 424. However, from the typological point of view, Hil. 427 represents a return to the text of the Serbian translation of the Versed Prologue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manuscript No. 138 from the A. I. Khludov Collection is a Middle Bulgarian oldredaction Triodion from the second half of the ХІІІ century, in which 15 synaxarion readings have been included. Their texts and composition are the subject of this article. Nine of the readings, whose author supposedly is St Clement of Ohrid (the readings on the Sundays of the Great Lent and the Saturday of Lazarus), are well known and explored. The remaining six texts have not been published or analyzed. All of them refer to the Old Bulgarian literature, but their oldest preserved copies are from the 13th century. While working in detail with the sermons associated with the name of St Clement, I hypothesize that the displacement of parts of three of them (on the fifth Sunday of the Great Lent, on the Resurrection of Lazarus and on the Palm Sunday) is due to shuffled leaves in the antigraph. Unnoted as an integral whole, the Sermon on Palm Sunday is present here under the authorship of Athanasius of Alexandria, while its second half has become the second part of the Homily on the Resurrection of Lazarus. A text about Cheesefare Saturday without a Greek original has been added here. This text can also be associated with the authorship of St Clement or bookmen of his school. It is published in the Appendix to the article. As a whole, the composition of the synaxarion readings from Triodion Hlud138 is unique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to analyze the association between upper and lower limb muscle strength and biological maturation on bone mass in adolescent athletes and non-athletes of both sexes. The sample consisted of 105 adolescent men and women, 61% athletes and 39% non-athletes. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were analyzed using dual energy X-ray bone densitometry. Strength of upper limbs (ULS), force handgrip (HG), vertical jump (VJ) and jump against movement (CMJ) were analyzed. Somatic maturation was verified using anthropometry. The strength of the upper limbs showed a high effect size on the bone mass of adolescent athletes of both sexes (Male: ƒ2 > 3.40; Female: ƒ2 > 3.30). Similar results were found for the group of non-athletes (Male: ƒ2 > 3.30; Female: ƒ2 > 2.20). Maturation showed a relevant effect size on bone mass in all groups (ƒ2 > 0.30). The strength of the upper limbs showed a high correlation with the bone mass of adolescent male non-athletes (BMD (ULS: r = 0.52; p = 0.01; HG: r = 0.63; p = 0.001); BMC (ULS: r = 0.52; p = 0.01; HG: r = 0.60; p = 0.001). Maturation correlated with bone mass in adolescent non-athletes of both sexes (p < 0.05). It was possible to conclude that the maturation and muscular strength of the upper limbs, as well as that of the lower limbs, point to a significant association with the bone mass of adolescents athletes and non-athletes of both sexes. BMD(g/Cm2) Bone mineral density, BMC (g) Bone Mineral Content, ULS Upper Limbs Strength, HG HandGrip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the effect of aquatic plyometric training (APT) on jump performance in volleyball players. Twelve female athletes (16.6 ± 0.9 years) were assessed through the following jump tests: spike height (SH), squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and CMJ with an arm swing (CMJA). Jump height in each test and the eccentric utilization ratio (EUR) were the outcome measures. APT consisted of sets of drop jumps for 6 weeks (2 sessions/week) at a water depth of 0.75 m. Tests were performed at the beginning of a five-week pre-season period, before and after APT, and four weeks later for the follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze data and Hedges' g to estimate effect size (ES). Performance of all jumps did not change from baseline to Pre-APT. Performance improved in SH (p < 0.001, ES: 1.09), the SJ (p = 0.045, ES: 0.76) and the CMJA (p < 0.001, ES: 0.78) after APT when compared to Pre-APT. No changes were observed after the follow-up period. In conclusion, including six weeks of APT in the training routine of youth volleyball players improved performance of a sport-specific task (SH), the SJ and CMJA, with gains preserved after a four-week follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to compare the kinetic and kinematic factors of stag ring leap with and without throwing the ball using the two-leg take-off ballet-step "Assemblé" between three different modes in rhythmic gymnastics (RG). Seven members of the Tunisian RG national team (age 18.71±2.69 years; height 1.67±0.04 m; weight 58.43±4.03 kg) took part in this study. A kinetic and kinematic analysis of three stag ring leap execution modes (i.e., assemblé stag ring leap without ball, throw ball assemblé stag ring leap and assemblé throw ball stag ring leap) using two cameras on a specially designed floor carpet where a force plate was integrated was conducted. The result showed that the vertical component of force, the rate of force development, the angle of split legs and the horizontal and vertical velocity were significantly different (P<0.01). In this study, it was found that while performing the stag ring leap element, gymnasts present the highest value in both kinetic and kinematic parameters when throwing the ball during the jump (i.e., assemblé throw ball stag ring leap). In light of the obtained results, it is recommended that coaches start working with gymnasts on the throws during the jump from their youngest age, as this could help them attain the optimal performances in competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Jumping and specific multidirectional repeated sprint ability are important in basketball. The objective of this study was to assess the contributions of 8-week combined versus single-mode training programs based on drop jump (DJ) and specific multidirectional repeated sprint (MRSA) on repeated sprint ability performances, body balance and lower limbs power in male professional basketball players. Methods: This study followed a randomized parallel study design. Fifty-two professional male basketball players from the Tunisian first division participated in this study. The players were randomly assigned to 4 groups: DJ group (JG; n = 13), MRSA group (RSG; n = 13), combined group (COMB; n = 13) and an active control group (CON; n = 13). The JG, RSG and COMB groups completed the 8-week training programs with 2 sessions per week while the CON continues their regular basketball training. Training volume was similar between groups all over the experimental period. Before and after the intervention, the four groups were evaluated for the stork test, Y-balance test, the repeated sprint ability test (IRSA5COD), the squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests, the single leg drop jump test, the five time-jump test and T—change of direction (CoD) test. Results: All measures displayed significant main effect, (medium/small) magnitude (effect size) improvements for time (post-test > pre-test) except the physiological parameters for IRSA5COD. Significant time × group interactions were revealed for body balance, T test, IRSA5COD (total time and best time) and jump tests (vertical/horizontal). Bonferroni corrected post-hoc tests revealed significant greater improvement in favor of RSG and COMB compared to JG for body balance, CoD and IRSA5COD. Moreover, greater improvement in CMJ, SJ and single leg DJ in favor of JG compared to the RSG. In addition, a greater CoD improvement was observed in favor of COMB when compared to the RSG. Conclusion: Combined and single-mode training programs based on DJ and MRSA contributed to a significantly better performance in specific basketball physical fitness parameters with results favoring combined interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As energy consumption constantly gains importance, it has become one of the major issues in managing logistics systems. However, it is ranked against other company priorities, and the rationalization for investing in energy needs to be justified by the savings achieved. A solution for reducing energy consumption via electric forklifts for performing docking operations at distribution centers, which requires no investments in infrastructure or equipment, is outlined in this paper. The solution is based on optimizing inbound dock door allocation, and the energy savings are quantified using a simulation model. A case study of a local FMCG distributor's logistics center was conducted to collect the data and information needed for modeling inbound docking operations and performing simulation experiments. The optimal dock door allocation was obtained using a linear programming method using an MS Excel spreadsheet optimizer (Solver), while the simulation of the docking operations was carried out using FlexSim simulation software. The experimental results show that the solution outlined in this paper enables savings in the electric energy consumption of forklifts of between 12.8% and 14.5%, compared to the empirical solution applied by the company in the case study. The intended contribution of this paper is not limited to presenting an applicable solution for energy savings in performing logistics processes, but also aims to draw the attention of more researchers and companies to the ways in which logistics processes are managed and performed in terms of raising energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Goalball is a dynamic sport for visually impaired people, where attack and defense situations alternate during the game. In attack situations, the throwing performance could be dependent on several variables such as the anthropometry, the core stability, or the balance of the athletes. In defense situations, the reaction time to an acoustic stimulus could be also considered as a performance factor. All these variables have been analyzed in this pilot study assessing the ball velocity and accuracy in throwing, analyzing the relationship with the previous parameters. New evaluation tests have been proposed in this research, suggesting a more specific evaluation test battery for this sport. Goalball is a sport for visually impaired athletes, where the roles of attack and defense change continuously during the game. Performance evaluation should consider the variables that determine the throwing and the stop and clearance of the ball. The aim of this study is to evaluate the precision and velocity of the ball throwing in goalball, besides core stability and balance as variables that determine an optimal throwing. Moreover, a novel acoustic reaction time is applied to analyze the defense performance. Eight goalball players (33 ± 9 years old; 77.8 ± 22.7 kg; 174 ± 13 cm; 10 ± 5 years of experience) were recruited to assess ball velocity, with a radar gun, and throwing accuracy. Anthropometry, static balance, and core stability were assessed using a computerized pressure platform. Acoustic reaction time was measured with a photoelectric system. A significant positive correlation was found between throwing speed and the years of experience (Ƿ = 0.714, p = 0.047), height (Ƿ = 0.786, p = 0.021), dominant leg surface area of the stabilogram (Ƿ = 0.738, p = 0.037), and non-dominant leg center of pressure mean velocity (Ƿ = 0.714, p = 0.017). In the present pilot study, height and years of experience are correlated to throwing velocity. This is also the first test proposal to assess throwing precision and complex acoustic reaction in goalball players, which could be used to assess the level of performance in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of small farms in agricultural production is particularly important for less developed economies, with a high share of agriculture in GDP and a lower level of national income. These economies have a high share of small-scale farms in the total number of registered farms, measured by the size of an agricultural holding. The paper thoroughly analyses the distribution channels of the agricultural products of Moldova (MDA), Romania (ROM), and Serbia (SRB). The data sources for this analysis are taken from the survey conducted on 1 608 small-scale farms in the above-mentioned countries in 2019. The aim of the paper is to develop a model that could enable the structured analysis of distribution channels. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used for efficient assessment and as a criterion for choosing the most appropriate distribution channel. The results of the analysis show that small-scale farms mostly place their products in green markets and processing plants and that the quality and the price of agricultural products are the dominant criteria for the selection of a channel. The results of the applied model indicate that the model is stable and that small-scale farms can choose the optimal distribution channel by using this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous machine learning models have been developed for NLP applications, recently, deep learning approaches have achieved remarkable results across many NLP tasks. Natural language processing (NLP) is one of the most important technologies in use today, especially due to the large and growing amount of online text, which needs to be understood in order to fully ascertain its enormous value. Extensive experiments are conducted using the E-Khool dataset and the Coursera course dataset, with empirical results demonstrating that the proposed Taylor ChOA-based RMDL model significantly outperforms state-of-the-art methods for course recommendation tasks. Preface to the Special Issue "Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) - Theory and Applications". [Extracted from the article]

A plethora of negative behavioural activities have recently been found in social media. Incidents such as trolling and hate speech on social media, especially on Twitter, have grown considerably. Therefore, detection of hate speech on Twitter has become an area of interest among many researchers. In this paper, we present a computational framework to (1) examine out the computational challenges behind hate speech detection and (2) generate high performance results. First, we extract features from Twitter data by utilizing a count vectorizer technique. Then, we provide the labeled dataset of constructed features to adopted ensemble methods, including Bagging, AdaBoost, and Random Forest. After training, we classify new tweet examples into one of the two categories, hate speech or non-hate speech. Experimental results show (1) that Random Forest has surpassed other methods by generating 95% using accuracy performance results and (2) word cloud displays the most prominent tweets that are responsible for hateful sentiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose an extensible framework for extracting data set usage from research articles. Design/methodology/approach: The framework uses a training set of manually labeled examples to identify word features surrounding data set usage references. Using the word features and general entity identifiers, candidate data sets are extracted and scored separately at the sentence and document levels. Finally, the extracted data set references can be verified by the authors using a web-based verification module. Findings: This paper successfully addresses a significant gap in entity extraction literature by focusing on data set extraction. In the process, this paper: identified an entity-extraction scenario with specific characteristics that enable a multiphase approach, including a feasible author-verification step; defined the search space for word feature identification; defined scoring functions for sentences and documents; and designed a simple web-based author verification step. The framework is successfully tested on 178 articles authored by researchers from a large research organization. Originality/value: Whereas previous approaches focused on completely automated large-scale entity recognition from text snippets, the proposed framework is designed for a longer, high-quality text, such as a research publication. The framework includes a verification module that enables the request validation of the discovered entities by the authors of the research publications. This module shares some similarities with general crowdsourcing approaches, but the target scenario increases the likelihood of meaningful author participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores manuscript MS Or. 297 from the collection of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (Venice). The manuscript is the fifth autograph of Samujil Bakačyč, which contains his translation of the cycle “Miracles of the Theotokos”, written by the Greek man of letters Agapios Landos. It is a newly studied autograph of Bakačyč with unknown from the copies composition of 157 miracles (in this autograph the translator has added 81 miracles from Joanikiy Galiatovsky’s book “Key of understading”) and it enlighten the history of Bakačyč’s translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to develop possible scenarios for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Serbia by switching from coal-fired to natural gas-fired electricity generation by the end of 2050. Accordingly, the challenges are to establish scenarios and identify measures that are best suited to all Western Balkan countries. In particular, this paper proposes a number of energy mix scenarios that offer some options for reducing CO2 emissions while maintaining an economic way of consumption. Projections of these reduction scenarios are obtained by combining the Kaya identity with the emission factor method. A simplified methodology based on sensitivity analysis is used as a source of data to estimate the nonstatistical uncertainty limits for the projections of the reduction scenarios. The sensitivity analysis is carried out using historical data from Serbia for the period from 1990 to 2019. In addition, a direct verification of the proposed methodology is performed based on historical data for 2020. The developed scenarios 1 and 2 show that CO2 emissions could be reduced by 10.94% and up to 74.44% from baseline in 1990, respectively. The obtained results are also contrasted with the data available for some other countries with similar experiences. Finally, it is found that the developed scenarios are achievable only at significantly decreased levels of coal-fired electricity generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance in strike combat sports is mostly evaluated through the values of the net force, acceleration, or speed to improve efficient training procedures and/or to assess the injury. There are limited data on the upper limb striking area, which can be a useful variable for contact pressure assessment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the contact area of the upper limb in three different strike technique positions. A total of 38 men and 38 women (n = 76, 27.3 ± 8.5 years of age, 73.9 ± 13.8 kg of body weight, 173.3 ± 8.4 cm of body height) performed a static simulation of punch with a fist, palm strike, and elbow strike, where three segments of the right upper limb were scanned. The analysis of 684 images showed a correlation (r = 0.634) between weight and punch technique position in men and significant differences in elbow strike (p < 0.001) and palm strike (p < 0.0001) between women and men. In both groups, the palm demonstrated the largest area and the elbow the smallest one. These data may be used to evaluate strike contact pressure in future studies in forensic biomechanics and assessment of injury in combat sports and self-defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) is a physiological phenomenon that acutely improves voluntary muscular performance following a conditioning activity. A large and growing body of literature has investigated different strategies to induce a PAPE stimulus; however, little attention has been given to whether acute caffeine ingestion could augment the effect of PAPE on subsequent performance. This study evaluated the acute effects of caffeine ingestion and back squat conditioning activity on subsequent countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in female semi-professional volleyball players. Methods: Fourteen resistance-trained female volleyball players (26 ± 3 years) performed 3 different testing conditions in randomized order: where each ingested 6 mg/kg of caffeine (CAF) or placebo (PLAC) and performed a single set of back squats at 80%1RM until mean movement velocity dropped by 10% as the conditioning activity or a control (CTRL) condition where participants did not ingest any supplement and did not perform the conditioning activity. CMJ height was examined at baseline and in 2 min intervals until 10 min postconditioning activity. Furthermore, due to the wide inter-individual variation in optimal recovery time of PAPE response, the baseline and best post-conditioning activity performance were also analyzed. Results: The Friedman test revealed a significant difference in jump height within CTRL (p = 0.002) and CAF (p = 0.001) conditions, but no significant difference was found within the PAP condition. The post hoc showed a significant decrease in jump height in 8th min in CTRL condition (p = 0.022, effect size [ES] = −0.31), a significant increase in jump height in 2nd min in CAF condition (p = 0.013, ES = 0.3), without differences in PLAC condition in comparison to baseline values. Moreover, a significant jump height increases from baseline to best performance post conditioning activity value for CAF (p = 0.001, ES = 0.39) and PLAC (p = 0.001, ES = 0.3) condition, but no significant difference was found for the CTRL condition. Conclusions: The single set of heavy-loaded back squats with controlled velocity used as a conditioning activity in the current study enhanced subsequent CMJ performance in female volleyball players with no additional effect of caffeine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a setting where multiple automatic annotation approaches coexist and advance separately but none completely solve a specific problem, the key might be in their combination and integration. This paper outlines a scalable architecture for Part-of-Speech tagging using multiple standalone annotation systems as feature generators for a stacked classifier. It also explores automatic resource expansion via dataset augmentation and bidirectional training in order to increase the number of taggers and to maximize the impact of the composite system, which is especially viable for low-resource languages. We demonstrate the approach on a preannotated dataset for Serbian using nested cross-validation to test and compare standalone and composite taggers. Based on the results, we conclude that given a limited training dataset, there is a payoff from cutting a percentage of the initial training set and using it to fine-tune a machine-learning-based stacked classifier, especially if it is trained bidirectionally. Moreover, we found a measurable impact on the usage of multiple tagsets to scale-up the architecture further through transfer learning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeine supplementation has become increasingly popular among athletes. The benefits of caffeine include delaying the negative effects of fatigue, maintaining a high level of physical and mental performance, and improving certain abilities necessary for sport success. Given the complex nature of basketball, caffeine could be a legal, ergogenic stimulant substance, which will positively affect overall basketball performance. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize evidence for the effect of acute caffeine ingestion on variables related to the basketball performance. Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and ProQuest, MEDLINE, and ERIC databases were searched up to February 2021. Studies that measured the acute effect of caffeine on basketball performance were included and analyzed. Eight studies published between 2000 and 2021 were included in the analysis. Pre-exercise caffeine intake increased vertical jump height, running time at 10 and 20 m without the ball, overall basketball performance (number of body impacts, number of free throws, rebounds, and assists) during simulated games, and reduced the time required to perform a basketball-specific agility test. Equivocal results between caffeine and placebo groups were found for aerobic capacity, free throw and three-point accuracy, and dribbling speed. Pre-exercise caffeine ingestion did not affect RPE, but insomnia and urinary excretion were increased. The pre-exercise ingestion of 3 and 6 mg/kg caffeine was found to be effective in increasing several physical performance variables in basketball players during sport-specific testing and simulated matches. However, considering the intermittent nature and complexity of basketball, and individual differences between players, future studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to audit the key performance indicators (KPIs) in Ghanaian university libraries. It aimed at finding out the KPIs used by Ghanaian university libraries and how effective they have been in correcting lapses in staff performance. Design/methodology/approach: Employing a quantitative research approach, the views of 218 librarians were elicited from nine universities in Ghana. Due to the manageable size of staff population in the libraries, the census sampling technique was adopted. Findings: Results indicated even though staff members were unaware of KPIs in their libraries, most of the respondents understood the concept and perceived is to be measuring the success and tracking performance in libraries. It was also revealed that most of the libraries did not have clear and measurable KPIs. Close to 80% of the libraries under study did not have clearly stated KPIs of which members of staff were aware. The study revealed that KPIs may differ from one library to the other, depending on the mission and vision statement of the library. For increased staff performance in Ghanaian university libraries the study recommends management to develop clear and measurable outcome-based metrics that will lead to high performance. This will not only address the needs of clients but also improve the libraries' efficiency in terms of information provision. Management should also have clear and measurable KPIs and make them available to library staff. Practical implications: For increased staff performance in Ghanaian university libraries the study recommends management to develop clear and measurable outcome-based metrics that will lead to high performance. This will not only address the needs of clients but also improve the libraries' efficiency in terms of information provision. Management should also have clear and measurable KPIs and make them available to library staff. Originality/value: The study provides information on KPIs in Ghanaian university libraries and how to effectively deal with the challenges associated with its usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Technical Journal / Tehnički Glasnik is the property of Polytechnic of Varazdin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: Reactive performance is an important component of rhythmic gymnastics. So far, it is unclear whether additional plyometric training in female gymnasts shows an increase in performance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of additional plyometric training in rhythmic gymnastics on the reactive jumping performance and strength of the lower leg muscles. METHODS: Fifteen rhythmic gymnasts (age: 12.3 ± 2.6 years, height: 1.47 ± 0.12 m, body weight: 37.3 ± 9.3 kg, BMI: 16.7 ± 2.1 kg*m - 2 ; competition level: national and international championships, Tanner stages I–III) participated in the study. The athletes were assigned to an experimental (EG) and a control group (CG). The EG performed plyometric exercises three times per week in addition to the regular training. Before and after six weeks of training the reactive jump performance, the work of dorsi flexors and plantar flexors performed during isokinetic plantarflexion, as well as the performance in two sport-specific tests were measured. RESULTS: In contrast to the CG, in the EG the jump height (pre: 24.8; post: 27.25 cm; p < 0.05) and the reactive-strength-index (pre: 1.01; post: 1.19; p < 0.01) increased significantly. The EG achieved significant improvements in the counter movement jump test (pre: 27.0 cm; post: 31.5 cm; p < 0.01) and in the sport specific double rope jump test (jumps per minute, pre: 18.0; post: 23.0; p < 0.01). Furthermore, a significant increase in work performed during plantarflexion was found in the EG for the right leg (pre: 24.9 J; post: 29.7 J; p < 0.01) and a tendency to increase for the left leg (pre: 26.4 J; post: 37.7 J; p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both reactive strength and dynamic force can be efficiently increased by plyometric training. It may be recommended to include plyometric exercises in the training regime of rhythmic gymnasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the importance of fault tolerance in quantum computing, there has been renewed interest in quantum circuits that are realized with Clifford+T gates. Quantum computers that are based on ion-trap technology, superconducting, and quantum dots need to fulfill certain nearest-neighbor (NN) constraints. Fault-tolerant implementations of quantum circuits also require restricted interactions among neighboring quantum bits. The insertion of SWAP-gates is often deployed to make quantum circuits nearest-neighbor (NN) compliant. As quantum operations are prone to various errors, it is important to reduce the nearest-neighbor cost (NNC) which is a marker to the number of SWAP-gates needed to make a quantum circuit NN-compliant. Such an optimization problem arises while synthesizing reversible circuits using the Kronecker functional decision diagram (KFDD). In this work, we propose a method based on KFDD that reduces NNC during synthesis. Considering the Clifford+T quantum mapping for NOT, CNOT, and Toffoli (NCT) gates, and mixed-polarity Peres (MPP) gates, NNC metrics are defined for reversible circuits. Governed by NNC metrics, the nodes are then ranked for reducing NNC in resulting reversible circuits. Furthermore, local transformations are applied on node functions while mapping a node to a cascade of reversible gates. Experimental results on several benchmark functions reveal that the proposed synthesis technique reduces NNC in many cases while slightly impacting the number of qubits, T-depth, and T-count. Compared to prior methods based on functional decision diagrams or binary decision diagrams, the proposed synthesis technique reduces quantum cost for NCV-realizations (i.e., with NOT, CNOT, V, and V † gates) in most of the cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]