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Purpose: This study aimed to quantify training and match-day (MD) load during 3-, 4-, and 5-day microcycles in professional adult football, as well as to analyze the effect of the microcycle length on training load produced the day after the match (MD + 1) and the day before the match (MD − 1). Methods: The study involved 20 male professional football players whose external and internal loads were monitored for a whole season. The training exposure, total distance covered, high-speed-running distance, sprint distance (SD), individual SD above 80% of the individual maximum velocity (D > 80%), and the number of accelerations and decelerations were quantified, as well as rating of perceived exertion and session rating of perceived exertion training load. Results: Microcycle length affected most of the variables of interest: high-speed-running distance (F = 9.04, P <.01), SD (F = 13.90, P <.01), D > 80% (F = 20.25, P <.01), accelerations (F = 10.12, P <.01), and decelerations (F = 6.01, P <.01). There was an interaction effect between the training day and microcycle type for SD (F = 5.46, P <.01), D > 80% (F = 4.51, P <.01), accelerations (F = 2.24, P =.06), and decelerations (F = 3.91, P <.01). Conclusions: Coaches seem to be influenced by shorter microcycles in their training proposal, preferring sessions with a reduced muscle impact during shorter microcycles. Independent of the length of the congested fixture microcycle, the daily load seems to decrease when MD approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the environmental determinants of physical activity (PA), precise spatial localization is crucial. This cross-sectional study focuses on the spatiotemporal distribution of PA among Czech adolescents (n = 171) using Global Positioning System loggers and accelerometers. The results showed that adolescents spent most of their time in sedentary behavior, with 57.2% and 58.5% of monitored time at home and school, respectively. The park and playground had the lowest proportion of sedentary behavior but also the lowest amount of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA). However, when considering the time spent in each domain, the highest proportion of MVPA was seen in publicly accessible playgrounds (13.3% of the time). Chi-square analysis showed that the relative distribution of different PA intensities did not differ across spatial domains. Based on these results, the authors propose 2 key strategies for increasing MVPA in adolescents: Increase the time spent in activity-supportive environments, such as parks and playgrounds, and design techniques to increase MVPA at home and school settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This preliminary study examined the influence of estimated menstrual-cycle (MC) phase on responses to soccer matches and training sessions in preparation for and during the FIFA (Fédération internationale de football association) Women's World Cup 2019. Methods: Twenty outfield players representing a national team were tracked over a 45-day period. External (10-Hz global positioning system; total and distance covered at high-metabolic power [≥20 W·kg−1]) and internal load measures (minutes ≥80% heart-rate maximum, sessional ratings of perceived exertion) were collected during all training and matches, with single-item wellness measures (fatigue, soreness, sleep quality, and sleep duration) collected each morning prior to activity. MC phase was estimated individually via an algorithm, informed from pretournament survey responses and ongoing symptom reporting (FitrWoman). Model comparison statistics were used to determine the impact of estimated MC phase in nonhormonal contraceptive users (n = 16). Results: Sessional rating of perceived exertion responses to total distances ≥5 km were higher during the luteal phase (+0.6–1.0 au; P ≤.0178) versus menstruation (phase 1), but no other observable dose–response trends were observed. Sleep, fatigue, and soreness ratings were not typically associated with MC phase, with the exception of exacerbated fatigue ratings in luteal versus follicular phase 48 hours postmatch (−0.73 au, P =.0275). Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that estimated MC phase may contribute to the understanding of the dose–response to soccer training and matches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Atmospheric rivers (ARs) deliver significant and essential precipitation to the western United States (US) with consequential interannual variability. The intensity and frequency of ARs strongly influence reservoir levels, mountain snowpack, and groundwater recharge, which are key drivers of water‐resource availability and natural hazards. Between October 2022 and April 2023, western states experienced exceptionally heavy precipitation from several families of powerful ARs. Using observations of surface‐loading deformation from Global Navigation Satellite Systems, we find that terrestrial water‐storage gains exceeded 100% of normal within vital California watersheds. Independent water‐storage solutions derived from different data‐analysis and inversion methods provide an important measure of precision. The sustained storage increases, which we show are closely associated with ARs at daily‐to‐weekly timescales, alleviated both meteorological and hydrological drought conditions in the region, with a lag in hydrological‐drought improvements. Quantifying water‐storage recovery associated with extreme precipitation after drought advances understanding of an increasingly variable hydrologic cycle.

The increasing use of transportation network companies and delivery services has transformed the utilization of curb space, resulting in a lack of parking and contributing to congestion. No systematic method exists for identifying curb usage patterns, but emerging machine learning technologies and low-tech data sources, such as dashboard cameras mounted on vehicles that routinely travel the area, have the potential of monitoring curb usage. To demonstrate how video data can be used to recognize usage patterns, we conducted a case study on Bancroft Way in Berkeley, CA. The project collected video footage with GPS data from a dashboard camera installed on a shuttle bus that circles the area. We trained a machine learning model to recognize different types of delivery vehicles in the data images, and then used the model to visualize curbside usage trends. The findings include identifying hot spots, analyzing arrival patterns by delivery vehicle type, detecting bus lane blockage, and assessing the impact of parking on traffic flow. The proof-ofconcept study demonstrated that machine learning techniques, when coupled with affordable hardware like a dashboard camera, can reveal curb usage patterns. The data can be used to efficiently manage curb space, facilitate goods movement, improve traffic flow, and enhance safety.

Purpose: In women's rugby, players regularly interchange between the rugby sevens (R7) and rugby union (RU) formats. Yet, the game demands and particularly the physical aspects respective to both formats vary and players must be able to respond accordingly. The aim of this study was to compare peak running demands in R7 and RU players. Methods: A total of 51 international women players participated. HSBC World Sevens Series (n = 19) and Six Nations Rugby Union tournament matches (n = 10) were analyzed for a total of 437 individual match observations. Global positioning systems were utilized to measure total (in meters) and high-speed (above 16 km·h−1, in meters) distance and frequency of accelerations (above 2.5 m·s−2, n) during different rolling-average periods (1–7 min) to obtain peak running activity values. Power law modeling was used to obtain slope and intercept. For all variables, peak values and the value at the 90th percentile (P90) were analyzed. Results: No intercept difference (P =.25; −0.12 ± 0.17) was observed between formats for total distance (161 vs 155 m·min−1). In contrast, R7 players reported a higher intercept (P =.01; −0.29 ± 0.17) for high-speed distance (66 vs 51 m·min−1), while the intercept was higher (P =.01; 0.31 ± 0.20) in RU for accelerations performed (6.1 vs 5.4 n·min−1). Regarding P90, higher values (P <.001) were observed in R7 for total and high-speed distance and accelerations. Conclusions: While peak overall intensity was similar, P90 on the high-speed spectrum was higher in R7. Information on the most demanding match-play periods specific to both women's rugby formats can inform training specificity by tailoring sessions to ensure sufficient exposure to these peak demands and, consequently, aid transitioning between formats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ionosphere, a crucial region of Earth's atmosphere extending from approximately 50 to 1000 km above the Earth's surface, plays a pivotal role in global communication, navigation, and satellite-based technologies. Among its various parameters, Total Electron Content (TEC) stands out as a key metric, representing the integrated electron density along a specific path through the ionosphere. This research focuses on analyzing TEC variations during Indonesian earthquakes between 2004 and 2024 using a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) model. The study investigates the ionospheric response to seismic activity, particularly in Indonesia, a region prone to earthquakes due to its location within the Pacific Ring of Fire and complex tectonic setting involving multiple lithospheric plates. The RNN model, designed to predict TEC variations during earthquakes, utilizes data on solar and geomagnetic activity, including the Kp index, solar wind, and geomagnetic storm activity, obtained from the OMNIWEB data centre, along with TEC data from the IONOLAB data servers for the BAKO station in Cibinong, Indonesia. The earthquakes considered for observation include significant events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the 2012 Wharton Basin earthquake, and subsequent seismic events up to 2024. Statistical metrics such as Mean Bias Deviation (MBD), Relative Error (REL_E), Absolute Error (ABS_E), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) are used to evaluate the predictive capability of the RNN model and compare it with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) 2020 model, a widely accepted empirical model for describing ionospheric parameters. The comparison reveals the performance of the RNN model in capturing TEC variations during seismic events, providing valuable insights for earthquake monitoring and early warning systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of traffic monitoring systems provides rich traffic data from multiple sensors. Fuzing the data has the potential to enhance the quality of travel time estimation. It also provides better spatial-temporal coverage in traffic observations. However, each sensor's unique data collection process results in fusion challenges with respect to the coverage and data quality differences between various sources. These factors determine the degree of confidence that should be considered when fuzing different types of data. To this end, this paper proposes an adaptive weight-based fusion technique (ABAFT) that considers data spatial coverage and quality or confidence as the factors constructing the weight. The proposed ABAFT was tested using different scenarios on synthetic GPS and Bluetooth MAC Scanners data from an urban arterial corridor. The results show that the ABAFT can increase the travel time estimation accuracy by over 10%, and reliability by over 8% compared to the single sensor estimators. It also outperforms the simple average and standard-error-based fusion by around 4%. ABAFT is easy to be implemented on multiple sources of information available to transport agencies for a single point of truth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared elevation trajectories from 14 rod surface elevation table (RSET) stations and 60 real-time kinematic (RTK) global positioning system (GPS) transects within the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR) from 2010–2013. The results were similar, 7.3 ± 0.9 (mean ± standard error; RSET) versus 6.2 ± 0.6 mm year−1 (RTK) (P = 0.216), and were greater than relative sea level rise (RSLR) computed at the nearest long-term tide station (3.9 ± 0.29 mm year−1). Despite having shown elevation gain, these wetlands continue to drown and convert to open water. Episodic, multi-day GPS measurements on geodetic control marks at BNWR between 2005 and 2023 revealed a substantial vertical land motion (VLM) signal. From 2005 to 2015, three reference marks used to control the 2010–2013 RTK study lost on average 6.0 ± 0.7 mm year−1, corresponding to 80% and 94% of the elevation gain measured by the RSET and RTK techniques, respectively. The longer 18-year subsidence trend measured on one of these marks was lower, 3.9 ± 0.7 mm year−1, highlighting important interannual variability. Wetland elevation change measurements need to account for VLM occurring below the reference marks used to measure elevation change. Estimates from the nearest long-term tide station may not be applicable to the wetland if the tide station is in a different geological setting. At BNWR, VLM was higher than the VLM at the Cambridge tide station, which helps explain why wetlands at BNWR are not keeping pace with RSLR despite the measured high rates of elevation gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica 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.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica 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.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica 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.)

Time-synchronised data streams from bio-loggers are becoming increasingly important for analysing and interpreting intricate animal behaviour including split-second decision making, group dynamics, and collective responses to environmental conditions. With the increased use of AI-based approaches for behaviour classification, time synchronisation between recording systems is becoming an essential challenge. Current solutions in bio-logging rely on manually removing time errors during post processing, which is complex and typically does not achieve sub-second timing accuracies. We first introduce an error model to quantify time errors, then optimise three wireless methods for automated onboard time (re)synchronisation on bio-loggers (GPS, WiFi, proximity messages). The methods can be combined as required and, when coupled with a state-of-the-art real time clock, facilitate accurate time annotations for all types of bio-logging data without need for post processing. We analyse time accuracy of our optimised methods in stationary tests and in a case study on 99 Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Based on the results, we offer recommendations for projects that require high time synchrony. During stationary tests, our low power synchronisation methods achieved median time accuracies of 2.72 / 0.43 ms (GPS / WiFi), compared to UTC time, and relative median time accuracies of 5 ms between tags (wireless proximity messages). In our case study with bats, we achieved a median relative time accuracy of 40 ms between tags throughout the entire 10-day duration of tag deployment. Using only one automated resynchronisation per day, permanent UTC time accuracies of ≤ 185 ms can be guaranteed in 95% of cases over a wide temperature range between 0 and 50 °C. Accurate timekeeping required a minimal battery capacity, operating in the nano- to microwatt range. Time measurements on bio-loggers, similar to other forms of sensor-derived data, are prone to errors and so far received little scientific attention. Our combinable methods offer a means to quantify time errors and autonomously correct them at the source (i.e., on bio-loggers). This approach facilitates sub-second comparisons of simultaneously recorded time series data across multiple individuals and off-animal devices such as cameras or weather stations. Through automated resynchronisations on bio-loggers, long-term sub-second accurate timestamps become feasible, even for life-time studies on animals. We contend that our methods have potential to greatly enhance the quality of ecological data, thereby improving scientific conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a method of measuring spatiotemporal gait patterns, tibial accelerations, and heart rate that are matched with high resolution geographical terrain features using publicly available data. These methods were demonstrated using data from 218 Marines, who completed loaded outdoor ruck hikes between 5–20 km over varying terrain. Each participant was instrumented with two inertial measurement units (IMUs) and a GPS watch. Custom code synchronized accelerometer and positional data without a priori sensor synchronization, calibrated orientation of the IMUs in the tibial reference frame, detected and separated only periods of walking or running, and computed acceleration and spatiotemporal outcomes. GPS positional data were georeferenced with geographic information system (GIS) maps to extract terrain features such as slope, altitude, and surface conditions. This paper reveals the ease at which similar data can be gathered among relatively large groups of people with minimal setup and automated data processing. The methods described here can be adapted to other populations and similar ground-based activities such as skiing or trail running. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new dual-band low-noise amplifier (LNA) operating at L1/E1 1.575 GHz and L5/E5 1.192 GHz center frequencies for global navigation satellite system receivers is proposed. A doubled common-source amplifier architecture is used with a single input, shared gate inductor, and two outputs to split the RF signal into separate RX channels. The main advantage of the proposed circuit is compatibility with widespread multi-band antennas with single RF connectors dedicated to high-precision applications, as well as the possibility to use cheap SAW filters with small footprints to build low-cost, highly accurate GNSS receiver modules. The input and both outputs are well matched to 50 Ω impedance. The LNA is designed with a 110 nm CMOS process, consuming 6.13 mA current from a 1.5 V supply. The measured noise figures and voltage gains of the dual-band LNA are, respectively, NF1/NF5 = 3.23/3.5 dB and G1/G5 = 21.22/18.2 dB in the band of interest for each channel. The measured impedance matching at the input (S11) and output (S22) of the dual-band low-frequency amplifier is as follows: S11_L1 = −23.89, S11_L5 = −8.42, S22_L1 = −12.65, S22_L5 = −15.08. The one-decibel compression points are L1 band PdB1 = −37.71 dBm and L5 band PdB5 = −34.72 dBm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This communication introduces a versatile, multi-service, shared-aperture antenna system for multiple vehicle applications. The design comprises three antenna elements: a rotatable microstrip antenna for global positioning system (GPS) communication, a cross-dipole circularly polarized antenna for satellite communication in the S-band, and a pattern reconfigurable antenna for V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) communication. These antennas collectively support GPS, satellite communication (Satcom), and V2V communication in a single, shared-aperture design. This shared-aperture antenna system offers cost savings and occupies less space compared to using separate antennas for each service. The microstrip antenna covers the 1575 MHz frequency band used for GPS communication. The cross-dipole circularly polarized antenna provides continuous wideband coverage for S-band satellite communication. The pattern reconfigurable antenna, tailored for the specific application scenario, covers the 5.9 GHz V2V working frequency band (5.855–5.925 GHz). Practical testing and simulation results confirm the effectiveness of this antenna system for the intended applications. In summary, the microstrip antenna has a bandwidth of 1.565–1.578 GHz and a realized gain of 7 dBi with radiation efficiency of 81%, the cross-dipole antenna has a bandwidth of 2.2–3.8 GHz (53.3%) and a realized gain of 8.3 dBi with radiation efficiency of 90%, and the pattern reconfigurable antenna has a 5.8–6 GHz bandwidth and a realized gain of 3.7 dBi with radiation efficiency of 85%, and the isolation between antennas with different frequencies is 25 dB, 20 dB, and 30 dB in three frequency bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Quantifying and managing the matches and training loads of players is important for injury prevention. As rugby union is a full-contact sport and frequent contact injuries occur, it might also be important to quantify and manage players' contact loads. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between contact load and injury incidence in elite rugby union players. Methods: Forty-eight elite rugby union players (27.0 ± 3.5 years) in Japan were monitored during one season (8 months). The contact load, an index of training load, was evaluated as collision count and collision load measured using a global positioning system device, and then calculated using the acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR) based on the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA). The association between the EWMA-ACWR of contact load and injury incidence was analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results: Of the 58 injuries during one season, 70.7% were contact injuries. Collision counts and collision load calculated by EWMA-ACWR were associated with the risk of injury (p < 0.01 both), with the odds ratios were 4.20 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.74-10.11] and 4.44 (95% CI: 1.95-10.13), respectively. Conclusion: Contact load calculated using EWMA-ACWR was associated with injury in elite rugby union players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) has been extensively utilized for DNA methylation profiling over the past decade. However, it has shown limitations in terms of high costs and inefficiencies. The productivity and accuracy of DNA methylation detection rely critically on the optimization of methodologies and the continuous refinements of related sequencing platforms. Here, we describe a detailed protocol of guide positioning sequencing (GPS), a bisulfite-based, location-specific sequencing technology designed for comprehensive DNA methylation characterization across the genome. The fundamental principle of GPS lies in the substitution of dCTP with 5-methyldCTP (5 mC) at the 3'-end of DNA fragments by T4 DNA polymerase, which protects cytosines from bisulfite conversion to preserve the integrity of the base composition. This alteration allows the 3'-end to independently facilitate genetic variation profiling and guides the 5'-end, enriched with methylation information, to align more rapidly to the reference genome. Hence, GPS enables the concurrent detection of both genetic and epigenetic variations. Additionally, we provide an accessible description of the data processing, specifically involving certain software and scripts. Overall, the entire GPS procedure can be completed within a maximum of 15 days, starting with a low initial DNA input of 100-500 ng, followed by 4-5 days for library construction, 8-10 days for high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and data analysis, which can greatly facilitate the promotion and application of DNA methylation detection, especially for the rapid clinical diagnosis of diverse disease pathologies associated with concurrent genetic and epigenetic variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile phone location datasets offer opportunities to conduct spatial analysis at very granular levels. In most jurisdictions their collection and use are subject to legal requirements to protect the privacy of the individuals generating the data and to prevent its disclosure. However, it can be the case that geographically referenced datasets, which meet the legal and statistical requirements of non-disclosure, reveal much more when they are plotted on a map. This paper provides an overview of the particular ethical challenges posed to mapmakers by mobile phone location data, whilst keeping in mind the potential benefits of harnessing these data to inform research and public policy. We identify the principal ethical concern pertaining to the use of such location datasets: preventing disclosure and protecting privacy, but also considering the spatial and socio-political contexts that the data are collected and produced from. We then discuss case studies that highlight the context-specific considerations necessary to create ethical maps from sensitive location datasets, and offer experience-based recommendations for users considering the ethical implications of using mobile phone location data in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic event of the 2016 Amatrice earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks have provided a significant opportunity to study seismic waves and their effects on the Apennine región, a very active seismic area. This research utilizes GPS data from three geodetic networks (ItalPos, NetGEO, and RING) to analyze the seismic waves generated by the earthquake, capturing seismic effects with great precision and resolution. By examining data from various GPS stations within the region, the study demonstrates the efficacy of GPS in providing detailed and accurate representations of ground motion. The study identifies co-seismic displacements and accelerations at monitoring stations by processing and analyzing GPS data, including precise point positioning strategies and wavelet adjustments. Moreover, a least squares adjustment method is employed to optimize the estimation of temporal parameters associated with seismic event detection across the spatial network of stations. The results obtained from GPS data are validated against seismic equipment, affirming their reliability in characterizing seismic events. Furthermore, the study elucidates the propagation of surface waves and path effects over the affected region, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the earthquake impact. This research underscores the potential of GPS data as a valuable tool for rapid and precise characterization of seismic events, offering insights into ground motion dynamics and facilitating timely response and mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of menstrual cycle phases and symptoms on match running performance in football (soccer) players. Twenty‐one nonhormonal contraceptive using football players from four professional teams were monitored for up to four menstrual cycles during a domestic league season. Menstrual phases, classified as early‐follicular phase (EFP), mid‐late follicular phase (MFP), and luteal phase (LP), were determined by self‐reporting of menstruation and urinary hormone tests (luteinizing hormone and pregnanediol‐3‐glucuronide). On match day, players completed a menstrual symptom severity questionnaire. In repeated matches, players wore 10 Hz Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) devices to measure relative (/min) total distance, high‐speed running distance, very high‐speed distance, peak speed, acceleration count, and deceleration count. Linear mixed models were performed for each GPS measure to determine the relationship with phase or symptoms. Data for 7 and 10 players were included for menstrual phase and menstrual symptoms analyses, respectively. A significantly higher total distance was reported during MFP compared to EFP (Δ 5.1 m min−1; p = 0.04) and LP (Δ 5.8 m min−1; p = 0.007). Significantly greater high‐speed running was reported during MFP compared to EFP (Δ 1.2 m min−1; p = 0.012) and LP (Δ 1.1 m min−1; p = 0.007). No significant effect of menstrual phase was found for any other GPS measures (p > 0.05). Accelerations declined with increasing symptom severity (p = 0.021, estimate = −0.01count.min−1). Menstrual symptom severity did not affect any other GPS measures (p > 0.05). In conclusion, greater total distance and high‐speed running occurred during the MFP. Additionally, accelerations minimally decreased with increasing menstrual symptom severity. Large intra‐ and inter‐variability existed, suggesting individualized monitoring and management of menstrual effects on performance would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprint performance is commonly assessed via discrete sprint tests and analyzed through kinematic estimates modeled using a mono-exponential equation, including estimated maximal sprinting speed ( M S S ), relative acceleration ( T A U ), maximum acceleration ( M A C ), and relative propulsive maximal power ( P M A X ). The acceleration–velocity profile (AVP) provides a simple summary of short sprint performance using two parameters: MSS and MAC, which are useful for simplifying descriptions of sprint performance, comparison between athletes and groups of athletes, and estimating changes in performance over time or due to training intervention. However, discrete testing poses logistical challenges and defines an athlete's AVP exclusively from the performance achieved in an isolated testing environment. Recently, an in situ AVP (velocity–acceleration method) was proposed to estimate kinematic parameters from velocity and acceleration data obtained via global or local positioning systems (GPS/LPS) over multiple training sessions, plausibly improving the time efficiency of sprint monitoring and increasing the sample size that defines the athlete's AVP. However, the validity and sensitivity of estimates derived from the velocity–acceleration method in relation to changes in criterion scores remain elusive. To assess the concurrent validity and sensitivity of kinematic measures from the velocity–acceleration method, 31 elite youth basketball athletes (23 males and 8 females) completed two maximal effort 30 m sprint trials. Performance was simultaneously measured by a laser gun and an LPS (Kinexon), with kinematic parameters estimated using the time–velocity and velocity–acceleration methods. Agreement ( % B i a s ) between laser gun and LPS-derived estimates was within the practically significant magnitude ( ± 5%), while confidence intervals for the percentage mean absolute difference ( % M A D ) overlapped practical significance for T A U , M A C , and P M A X using the velocity–acceleration method. Only the M S S parameter showed a sensitivity ( % M D C 95 ) within practical significance (<5%), with all other parameters showing unsatisfactory sensitivity (>10%) for both the time–velocity and velocity–acceleration methods. Thus, sports practitioners may be confident in the concurrent validity and sensitivity of M S S estimates derived in situ using the velocity–acceleration method, while caution should be applied when using this method to infer an athlete's maximal acceleration capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate positioning using the Global Positioning System relies on accurate modeling of tropospheric delay. Estimated tropospheric delay must vary sufficiently to capture true variations; otherwise, systematic errors propagate into estimated positions, particularly the vertical. However, if the allowed delay variation is too large, the propagation of data noise into all parameters is amplified, reducing precision. Here we investigate the optimal choice of tropospheric constraints applied in the GipsyX software, which are specified by values of random walk process noise. We use the variability of 5-min estimated positions as a proxy for tropospheric error. Given that weighted mean 5-min positions closely replicate 24-h solutions, our ultimate goal is to improve 24-h positions and other daily products, such as precise orbit parameters. The commonly adopted default constraint for the zenith wet delay (ZWD) is 3 mm/√(hr) for 5-min data intervals. Using this constraint, we observe spurious wave-like patterns of 5-min vertical displacement estimates with amplitudes ~ 100 mm coincident with Winter Storm Ezekiel of November 27, 2019, across the central/eastern USA. Loosening the constraint suppresses the spurious waves and reduces 5-min vertical displacement variability while improving water vapor estimates. Further improvement can be achieved when optimizing constraints regionally, or for each station. Globally, results are typically optimized in the range of 6–12 mm/√(hr). Generally, we at least recommend loosening the constraint from the current default of 3 mm/√(hr) to 6 mm/√(hr) for ZWD every 300 s. Constraint values must be scaled by √(x/300) for alternative data intervals of x seconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ginseng polysaccharide (GPS) is an ingredient of ginseng with documented anti-tumor properties. However, its effect on colon cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been investigated clearly. Methods: Cell viability of HT29 and CT26 cells treated with different concentrations of GPS was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of apoptotic proteins, while the mRNA levels were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Transwell migration assays were used to examine the migration and invasion of cells. Results: The results revealed that GPS effectively suppressed the proliferation of HT29 and CT26 cells. We demonstrated an upregulation of apoptotic proteins in GPS-treated cells, including Bax, cleaved Caspase-3, and p-p53. GPS treatment also increased the mRNA levels of cytochrome C and Bax. Furthermore, the results showed that GPS treatment concurrently promoted the activation of nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich family pyrin-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Transwell migration assays showed that GPS inhibited the migratory and invasive abilities of colon cancer cells. As expected, inhibition of NLRP3 expression using INF39 attenuated the inhibitory effect of GPS on migration and invasion. Upon NLRP3 inhibition, GPS-induced apoptosis was dramatically alleviated, accompanied by a reduction in the expression of apoptotic proteins. Conclusion: In conclusion, this research provides compelling evidence that the GPS-induced NLRP3 signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in apoptosis of colon cells, suggesting potential clinical implications for the therapeutic intervention of colon cancer. Thus, GPS might be a promising anti-tumor drug for the treatment of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the 5-minute most demanding passages (MDP) of kinematic (distance covered) and mechanical (acceleration and deceleration) activities in elite male football according to multifactorial criterion performance variables. Global positioning systems data were collected from 39 players across 45 matches in the Swedish first division (n = 329 observations). The multifactorial kinematic variable (MDPk) was composed of the concurrent distances covered at moderate-speed running, high-speed running, and sprinting distances, and the multifactorial mechanical (MDPm) considered the concurrent occurrences of high-intensity acceleration and deceleration activities. A moving average method was used to identify the MDP across a 5-minute period. The frequency distribution of the multifactorial variables, and differences in the time of occurrence and magnitude between multifactorial performance variables and their univariate constituent variables were investigated. Frequency distribution analysis revealed MDPk and MDPm peaked in the first 5 min of the match (MDPk: χ² (15, N = 329) = 135.88, p ≤ 0.001, W: 0.64, 115.99 ± 32.7 s; MDPm: χ² (15, N = 329) = 31.02, p ≤ 0.001, W: 0.31, 101.21 ± 25.1 s; p ≤ 0.0004). Within each half, differences in the MDP commencement time between the multifactorial variables and their respective discrete univariate constituent variables were trivial to small (MDPk effect size (ES): 0.04--0.21; MDPm ES: 0.02--0.11). Linear mixed model analysis demonstrated that the MDP magnitude of multifactorial variables were approximately 8--28% and 8--21% lower across the match and halves, respectively, compared to the MDP of their respective univariate constituent variables (p ≤ 0.001; r = 0.26--0.62). The greatest differences between the respective multifactorial and discrete constituent variables were observed for sprinting (-28%) and high-intensity acceleration (-22%). The results reveal that the MDP is distinguished based on peak kinematic and mechanical demands, which occur at discrete periods and exhibit distinct locomotor profiles across the match and within each half. Practitioners should consider the methods of identifying the MDP, as the selection of univariate and multifactorial kinematic and mechanical performance variables can impact MDP characterization, which can qualify the designing of bespoke training protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed (a) to determine the conditional demands of external load based on the submaximal intensity periods (SubMIP) during the competitive micro-cycle, (b) to compare the number and duration of SubMIP events demanded in the different sessions carried out in the competitive micro-cycle and, additionally, (c) to compare these demands based on the SubMIP depending on the specific position occupied by the football players during the competitive micro-cycle. A total of 77 training sessions were analyzed during 15 competitive micro-cycles and 15 official league matches during the 2019-20 season (Azerbaijan Premier League) obtaining a total of 1,037 individual records from 22 players. Data were collected using GPS devices. To determine the percentage of the number of daily SubMIP events with respect to those found in the competition, these events were also relativized based on the individual profile showed by player in competition. The main findings of the study were the existence of significant differences (p ≤ .05) in each of the variables between training days/competition and positions based on the SubMIP. Metrics such as distance at speed > 19.8 km/h (HSR), distance at speed > 25.2 km/h (Sprint), acceleration density (AccDens) and distance at high metabolic intensity > 25.5 W/kg (HMLD) accumulated values > 50 % of the number of SubMIP events on some days of the microcycle. However, other metrics displayed much lower ranges (less than 15 %) compared to the competition in terms of the number of events and time above the threshold established in meters per minute (Mmin) and mean metabolic power (MetPow) variables. These new findings suggest that it is appropriate to explore new alternatives for load control in team sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between body composition and on-field, in-game physical performance in female collegiate soccer players. Body composition, including total mass, fat mass, and lean tissue mass for the lower extremities and total body, was measured in 10 starting players using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). On-field, in-game physical performance was tracked via a global positioning system (GPS) over 14 regular-season games, measuring total distance and distance covered in six speed zones. Players covered 4544.7 ± 495.2 m in the first half of the game and significantly less distance in the second half (3356.5 ± 1211.7 m, p = 0.004). A repeated measures ANOVA revealed decreased distances in jogging, low-, and moderate-intensity running during the second half compared to the first half of the game (p < 0.001). Lower total-body fat mass, total-body fat percentage, and lower-extremities fat mass were correlated with greater distances at moderate- and high-intensity running during the second half and entire game (r values from −0.644 to −0.745, p < 0.01 to 0.04). These findings suggest that body composition can influence the distance covered at moderate- and high-intensity running speed during competitive games. Training strategies aimed at reducing fat mass and incorporating high-intensity training may benefit female soccer players and enhance team success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spoofing is becoming a prevalent threat to the users of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). It is important to deepen our understanding of spoofing attacks and develop resilient techniques to effectively combat this threat. Detecting and mitigating these attacks requires thorough testing, typically conducted in a laboratory environment through the establishment of a spoofing test-bed. The complexity, cost and resource demands of creating such a test-bed underscore the necessity of utilizing openly available datasets. To address this need, this paper introduces a new GNSS spoofing data repository from Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI) named hereafter as 'FGI-SpoofRepo'. This data repository consists of raw In-phase and Quadrature (I/Q) data of live recordings of GPS L1 C/A, Galileo E1, GPS L5, and Galileo E5a signals. These datasets encompass three distinct types of spoofing characteristics (synchronous, asynchronous, and meaconing), making them very useful example candidates of open data for testing the performance of any anti-spoofing techniques (be it detection or mitigation). The inclusion of live signals in multiple GNSS frequencies and the presence of cryptographic signatures in Galileo E1 signal make these datasets potential benchmarks for assessing the resilience performance of multi-frequency multi-constellation receivers. The analysis of the datasets is carried out with an open-source MATLAB-based software-defined receiver, FGI-GSRx. An updated version of FGI-GSRx, equipped with the necessary modifications for processing and analyzing the new datasets, is released alongside the datasets. Therefore, the GNSS research community can utilize the open-source FGI-GSRx or any third-party SDR to process the publicly available raw I/Q data for implementation, testing and validation of any new anti-spoofing technique. The results show that time-synchronous spoofing seamlessly takes over positioning solution, while time-asynchronous spoofing acts as noise or in some cases, completely prevent the receiver from providing a positioning solution. Signal re-acquisition during an ongoing spoofing attack (cold start), the receiver tends to lock onto the spoofing signal with the highest peak, posing a potential threat to GNSS receivers without assisted information. Overall, this research aims to advance the understanding of complex spoofing attacks on GNSS signals, providing insight into enhancing resilience in navigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A typical weekly periodization strategy in soccer positions the most demanding sessions four and three days before the match-day (MD-4/MD-3). However, a modified periodization strategy could intersperse the two most demanding sessions with a low-load training session. This study aimed to investigate the impact of these periodizations on external loads and MD readiness. Twenty academy players were tested. The modified weekly periodization strategy included a low-load training session between the two most demanding sessions, while the typical periodization implemented them consecutively. Players wore a GPS and rated their perceived exertion (RPE) during the most demanding sessions. Players were also tested using a CMJ, a 20-m sprint, the Illinois agility test (IAT), and the Hooper questionnaire on MD-4 to obtain baseline values (CONTROL) and on the match-day (TEST). CONTROL values were similar during experimental weeks. During the second most demanding session, players covered greater distances for the modified versus the typical periodization in the 20-25 km/h (306.3 ± 117.1 m vs. 223.5 ± 92.2 m, p < 0.05) and >25 km/h speed zones (89.5 ± 44.8 m vs. 67.2 ± 44.5 m, p < 0.05). On the MD, CMJ, 20-m sprint, and IAT performances were similar between both periodizations. However, 10-m time (1.89 ± 0.10 s vs. 1.92 ± 0.09 s, p < 0.05) and the Hooper index score (7.90 ± 2.14 a.u. vs. 9.50 ± 3.44 a.u., p < 0.05) were significantly lower during the modified periodization strategy. A decreased training load session positioned between the most demanding sessions may be of interest in elite academy soccer players as it can lead to increased weekly external loads and readiness on the MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies describing the movement of free-ranging animals often use remotely collected global positioning system (GPS) data. However, such data typically only include intermittent positional information, with a sampling frequency that is constrained by battery life, producing sub-sampling effects that have the potential to bias interpretation. GPS-enhanced 'dead-reckoning' of animal movements is an alternative approach that utilises combined information from GPS devices, tri-axial accelerometers, and tri-axial magnetometers. Continuous detailed information of animal movement, activity and habitat selection can then be inferred from finer-scale GPS-enhanced dead-reckoning. It is also a useful technique to reveal the minutiae of an animal's movements such as path tortuosity. However, examples of studies using these approaches on terrestrial species are limited. Methods: Collars equipped with GPS, tri-axial accelerometer, and tri-axial magnetometer loggers were deployed on European badgers, Meles meles, to collect data on geo-position, acceleration and magnetic compass heading, respectively. This enabled us to compare GPS data with calculated GPS-enhanced dead-reckoned data. We also examined space use, distances travelled, speed of travel, and path tortuosity in relation to habitat type. Results: Nightly distances travelled were 2.2 times greater when calculated using GPS-enhanced dead-reckoned data than when calculated using GPS data alone. The use of dead-reckoned data reduced Kernel Density Estimates (KDE) of animal ranges to approximately half the size (0.21 km2) estimated using GPS data (0.46 km2). In contrast, Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) methods showed that use of dead reckoned data yielded larger estimates of animal ranges than use of GPS-only data (0.35 and 0.27 km2, respectively). Analyses indicated that longer periods of activity were associated with greater travel distances and increased activity-related energy expenditure. Badgers also moved greater distances when they travelled at faster speeds and when the routes that they took were less tortuous. Nightly activity-related energy expenditure was not related to average travel speed or average ambient temperature but was positively related to the length of time individuals spent outside the sett (burrow). Badger activity varied with habitat type, with greater distance, speed, track tortuosity, and activity undertaken within woodland areas. Analyses of the effects of varying GPS sampling rate indicate that assessments of distance travelled depend on the sampling interval and the tortuosity of the animal's track. Where animal paths change direction rapidly, it becomes more important to use dead-reckoned data rather than GPS data alone to determine space use and distances. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the efficacy of GPS-enhanced dead-reckoning to collect high-resolution data on animal movements, activity, and locations and thereby identify subtle differences amongst individuals. This work also shows how the temporal resolution of position fixes plays a key role in the estimation of various movement metrics, such as travel speed and track tortuosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal design of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) software receivers should enable the accurate estimation of the receiver's position, velocity, and time under various environmental conditions. The software receivers consist of three sections: acquisition, tracking, and navigation. This paper specifically centers on the acquisition sections of the Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), BeiDou, and Galileo satellite navigation systems. The acquisition stage necessitates the prompt and precise transmission of the satellite list within the receiver's view, along with Doppler frequency estimation and phase code offset, to facilitate a seamless transition to the tracking stage with the utmost speed and accuracy. Conventional acquisition demonstrates commendable speed, but lacks accuracy, especially in environments with a low Carrier-to-Noise Ratio (CNR). Contrastingly, precise acquisition methods will impede the speed of the acquisition stage. In this paper, a novel acquisition method is proposed. By integrating concepts like resampling, two-stage acquisition, and fine-acquisition, this method enables the attainment of higher accuracy without compromising speed. The results demonstrate that the proposed method enhances accuracy by 7.275% compared to conventional methods and boosts speed by 76.97% compared to methods focused on accuracy improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of Honey Badger Mellivora capensis (Schreber, 1776) is widely distributed but in-depth of ecological understanding this species is still lacking from Asian portion of its global range. The species is listed in Scheduled-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 providing it with the highest level of protection as this is very rare. The current note presents, the first known camera-trap records of this species in Tarai East Forest Division (TEFD), Uttarakhand, India. During the survey exercise, a total 35 camera traps were randomly installed in different habitats (e.g. Natural Sal forest patch, Mixed forests, Sharda River-Canal) in Surai range of the division. As resulted, two images of Honey Badger were captured from the Sharda River bank-Canal habitat of Bagha-I beat, of Surai range. The camera trap study suggests that Honey Badger is rarely sighted in Tarai east sal forest. For protection and management of this species, further need to generate more information and in-depth understanding of their ecological and of population status in around forest habitat of the division. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) provides a variety of applications and is gaining popularity due to the reuse of network resources. Exact location identification with optimum delay is the demand of all vehicle users. Currently, individuals are utilizing the Global Positioning System (GPS) to ascertain the precise geographical coordinates of a given location. The drawback of GPS technology is its inability to accurately determine location and use GPS in some remote areas. Searching for the location of a particular house randomly incurs a loss of fuel as well as increases delay. This motivates us to propose one automated method through VANET using location service‐based routing for the location identification of a house. The proposed work involves searching for the location of a house using the open‐source MongoDB database, and the operations on the database are performed using the tool Node‐Red. By simulation using SUMO and Network Simulator 2.35, the proposed work is evaluated and compared with existing location service‐based routing like geographic location service (GLS) and hierarchical location service (HLS). The proposed work performs better in terms of routing efficiency (end‐to‐end latency, packet delivery rate), location efficiency (request sends, query success rate, and request travel time), and routing and location overhead (MAC bandwidth consumption). Also, the performance of the proposed work is presented as stable by increasing the number of vehicles. The statistical analysis of the packet delivery ratio and CBR end‐to‐end latency is carried out using T score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) variations associated with seismic activity is crucial for mitigating potential disruptions in communication networks, particularly during earthquakes. This research investigates applying two modelling techniques, Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) and Cokriging (CoK) based models to forecast ionospheric TEC changes linked to seismic events in Indonesia. The study focuses on two significant earthquakes: the December 2004 Sumatra earthquake and the August 2012 Sulawesi earthquake. GPS TEC data from a BAKO station near Indonesia and solar and geomagnetic data were utilized to assess the causes of TEC variations. The December 2004 Sumatra earthquake, registering a magnitude of 9.1-9.3, exhibited notable TEC variations 5 days before the event. Analysis revealed that the TEC variations were weakly linked to solar and geomagnetic activities. Both ARMA and CoK models were employed to predict TEC variations during the Earthquakes. The ARMA model demonstrated a maximum TEC prediction of 50.92 TECU and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) value of 6.15, while the CoK model predicted a maximum TEC of 50.68 TECU with an RMSE value of 6.14. The August 2012 Sulawesi earthquake having a magnitude of 6.6, revealed TEC anomalies 6 days before the event. For both the Sumatra and Sulawesi earthquakes, the GPS TEC variations showed weak associations with solar and geomagnetic activities but stronger correlations with the earthquake-induced electric field for the considered two stations. The ARMA model predicted a maximum TEC of 54.43 TECU with an RMSE of 3.05, while the CoK model predicted a maximum TEC of 52.90 TECU with an RMSE of 7.35. Evaluation metrics including RMSE, Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD), Relative Error, and Normalized RMSE (NRMSE) were employed to assess the accuracy and reliability of the prediction models. The results indicated that while both models captured the general trend in TEC variations, nuances emerged in their responses to seismic events. The ARMA model demonstrated heightened sensitivity to seismic disturbances, particularly evident on the day of the earthquake, whereas the CoK model exhibited more consistent performance across preand postearthquake periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Launch vehicle applications require highly accurate and reliable navigation systems that can withstand the high dynamic conditions of the launch and flight phases. GNSS-aided INS (Inertial Navigation System) is the most popular solution for launch vehicle navigation. However, the accuracy of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers can be compromised by malicious spoofing attacks, which can result in significant safety risks and mission failure. This paper presents a method for identifying and mitigating the spoofing attacks on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers using the independent and simultaneous measurements of the Inertial Navigation System (INS). A state space approach is attempted in this paper with an extended Kalman Filter for identifying the spoofed signals. The well-established method of integrating INS and GNSS data for navigation accuracy improvement is taken as the baseline of this algorithm. The proposed method is an extension of a loosely coupled integration algorithm already established for fusing INS and GNSS data. The extended Kalman filter estimated position and velocity of the receiver is used along with the satellite position and velocity computed from ephemeris to find out the range and range rate of each of the satellites to the receiver. The difference between the estimated range and range rate against the measured range and range rate is considered as filter residual. The filter residuals are taken as the parameter to identify the spoofing. The threshold of filter residuals for range and range rates is the critical parameter that decides the false isolation and missing detection. The threshold is decided based on the environment in which the receiver is operated, the dynamics expected, and the noise model. The algorithms envelopment and simulation studies are done. The simulation tests are completed using a GNSS constellation simulator with spoofed signals. The INS and GNSS error model, states selection, Kalman filter design, algorithm details, simulation tests, simulation results, advantages and disadvantages of the new algorithm, and future work are covered in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multipath effect is the main factor limiting the high-precision positioning of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) because it cannot be eliminated by double-difference observations or existing empirical models. Although the receiver antenna technology can reduce the multipath effect, it also brings the cost burden and cannot effectively solve the short-delay multipath error of carrier phase observation. Sidereal filtering (SF) is a common method used to mitigate multipath effect in static positioning mode. However, the coordinate time series may be contaminated by outliers, and satellite orbits may be affected by maneuvers. These will lead to inaccurate estimation of the Multipath Repetition Period (MRP), and even deteriorate the multipath mitigation effect of the SF. To solve these problems, a Sidereal Filtering method with the Satellite Maneuver Detection and Robustness (SFSMDR) is proposed. In this method, based on the Orbital Repeat Time Method (ORTM), the Multipath Repetition Period with the Satellite Maneuvers Detection (MRPSMD) is determined. Furthermore, considering the robustness of median filtering to outliers, the coordinate time series of the first day were preprocessed by the median filtering. After applying the proposed SFSMDR method, experimental results show that the proposed SFSMDR can effectively detect satellite maneuvers. In the absence of satellite maneuvers, there is no need to re-estimate MRP, which can save computational cost to a certain extent. When the coordinate time series on the first day is contaminated by outliers, the positioning accuracy of the MRPSMD for the east and north directions, is decreased by 2.26% and 95.73%, respectively. In contrast, the positioning accuracy of the SFSMDR is increased by 46.21% and 52.71%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent technological advances have resulted in low-cost GPS loggers that are small enough to be used on a range of seabirds, producing accurate location estimates (± 5 m) at sampling intervals as low as 1 s. However, tradeoffs between battery life and sampling frequency result in studies using GPS loggers on flying seabirds yielding locational data at a wide range of sampling intervals. Metrics derived from these data are known to be scale-sensitive, but quantification of these errors is rarely available. Very frequent sampling, coupled with limited movement, can result in measurement error, overestimating movement, but a much more pervasive problem results from sampling at long intervals, which grossly underestimates path lengths. Methods: We use fine-scale (1 Hz) GPS data from a range of albatrosses and petrels to study the effect of sampling interval on metrics derived from the data. The GPS paths were sub-sampled at increasing intervals to show the effect on path length (i.e. ground speed), turning angles, total distance travelled, as well as inferred behavioural states. Results: We show that distances (and per implication ground speeds) are overestimated (4% on average, but up to 20%) at the shortest sampling intervals (1–5 s) and underestimated at longer intervals. The latter bias is greater for more sinuous flights (underestimated by on average 40% when sampling > 1-min intervals) as opposed to straight flight (11%). Although sample sizes were modest, the effect of the bias seemingly varied with species, where species with more sinuous flight modes had larger bias. Sampling intervals also played a large role when inferring behavioural states from path length and turning angles. Conclusions: Location estimates from low-cost GPS loggers are appropriate to study the large-scale movements of seabirds when using coarse sampling intervals, but actual flight distances are underestimated. When inferring behavioural states from path lengths and turning angles, moderate sampling intervals (10–30 min) may provide more stable models, but the accuracy of the inferred behavioural states will depend on the time period associated with specific behaviours. Sampling rates have to be considered when comparing behaviours derived using varying sampling intervals and the use of bias-informed analyses are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the phase center of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna is not a stable point. For any given GNSS antenna, the phase center will change with the direction of the incoming signal from a satellite, as well as the frequency. Ignoring these phase center variations (PCVs) in GNSS data processing can lead to notable errors, especially in vertical position component determination. To avoid the problem, antenna PCV together with the phase center offset (PCO) information are recommended to be used in GNSS observation processing. We currently distinguish between individual and type-mean phase center correction (PCC) models. These models describe the variations in the phase center of the antenna as a function of the elevation angle and azimuth. In general, the primary difference between individual and type-mean models lies in their specificity. Individual models are highly precise but are valid only for a particular antenna model, while the type-mean models are more general and can be applied to a broad range of antennas of the same type, but may suffer from a lower level of precision. This paper aims to analyze the comparability of PCV in surveying-grade GNSS antennas. For the analyses, we propose to use an originally designed bench with precisely defined relative positions of the seven antenna mounting points. Preliminary studies have been performed using GPS observations on L1 and L2 frequencies recorded by seven Topcon HIPER-VR antennas. The results proved that the comparability of PCV for this antenna is high. The position error did not exceed 3 mm. It could be assumed that the type-mean PCC model could describe PCV all antennas of this type with good accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present the first results of detecting ionospheric irregularities using non-typical GPS observations recorded onboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) mission operating at ~35,800 km altitude. Sitting above the GPS constellation, GOES can track GPS signals only from GPS transmitters on the opposite side of the Earth in a rather unique geometry. Although GPS receivers onboard GOES are primarily designed for navigation and were not configured for ionospheric soundings, these GPS measurements along links that traverse the Earth's ionosphere can be used to retrieve information about ionospheric electron density. Using the radio occultation (RO) technique applied to GPS measurements from the GOES–16, we analyzed variations in the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) on the links between the GPS transmitter and geostationary GOES GPS receiver. For case-studies of major geomagnetic storms that occurred in September 2017 and August 2018, we detected and analyzed the signatures of storm-induced ionospheric irregularities in novel and promising geostationary GOES GPS observations. We demonstrated that the presence of ionospheric irregularities near the GOES GPS RO sounding field of view during geomagnetic disturbances was confirmed by ground-based GNSS observations. The use of RO observations from geostationary orbit provides new opportunities for monitoring ionospheric irregularities and ionospheric density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biologging has proven to be a powerful approach to investigate diverse questions related to movement ecology across a range of spatiotemporal scales and increasingly relies on multidisciplinary expertise. However, the variety of animal‐borne equipment, coupled with little consensus regarding analytical approaches to interpret large, complex data sets presents challenges and makes comparison between studies and study species difficult. Here, we present a combined hardware and analytical approach for standardizing the collection, analysis, and interpretation of multisensor biologging data. Here, we present (i) a custom‐designed integrated multisensor collar (IMSC), which was field tested on 71 free‐ranging wild boar (Sus scrofa) over 2 years; (ii) a machine learning behavioral classifier capable of identifying six behaviors in free‐roaming boar, validated across individuals equipped with differing collar designs; and (iii) laboratory and field‐based calibration and accuracy assessments of animal magnetic heading measurements derived from raw magnetometer data. The IMSC capacity and durability exceeded expectations, with a 94% collar recovery rate and a 75% cumulative data recording success rate, with a maximum logging duration of 421 days. The behavioral classifier had an overall accuracy of 85% in identifying the six behavioral classes when tested on multiple collar designs and improved to 90% when tested on data exclusively from the IMSC. Both laboratory and field tests of magnetic compass headings were in precise agreement with expectations, with overall median magnetic headings deviating from ground truth observations by 1.7° and 0°, respectively. Although multisensor equipment and sophisticated analyses are now commonplace in biologging studies, the IMSC hardware and analytical framework presented here provide a valuable tool for biologging researchers and will facilitate standardization of biologging data across studies. In addition, we highlight the potential of additional analyses available using this framework that can be adapted for use in future studies on terrestrial mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the deformation pattern of Alborz is investigated using a combination of data from the new permanent GPS networks that belong to State Organization for Registration of Deeds and Properties (SHAMIM) and Tehran Municipality (SAMT), the new temporary IASBS_NCC network and the permanent and temporary stations of the National Cartographic Organization. The addition of the 27 new GPS stations has improved the obtained velocity field, which shows that the active deformation happens across the entire width of Alborz from south to north by several faults and active fault zones. Contrary to the common belief about the strain partitioning in the Alborz Mountains between the strike-slip faults in the southern flank of the Alborz and along the compressional south-dipping Khazar fault in the northern flank of the Alborz, the new velocity field indicates a spread of strike-slip and compressional movements along different faults across the width of the Alborz. In previous works, due to the lack of GPS stations between the Khazar fault and other active faults in the northern flank of the Alborz (e.g. North Alborz fault), all the observed deformation in the northern flank of the Alborz has been associated with the Khazar fault. In the improved velocity field, the presence of a new GPS vector between the North Alborz and the Khazar fault in the eastern part of the Alborz indicates a dominant role of the North Alborz fault in the strain accommodation once compared to the Khazar fault. Like the previous works, the new velocity field shows a lower total strain for the western Alborz, which is consistent with the lower observed seismicity in the western Alborz. The new velocity field indicates an active extensional system in the western Alborz in a longitude range of 49o to 50.5o around the Tarom Valley. The extensional system might be related to the counterclock wise rotation of the South Caspian Basin relative to Eurasia. The improved velocity field shows a noticeable strike-slip motion of 2 mm/yr at the northern edge of Central Iran which could be related to the Aran-Torud fault zone and Attari fault. There is also a shortening rate of ~2 mm/yr between the northern edge of Central Iran and the Eastern Alborz which could be related to the salt tectonic within the Great Kavir fault. The improved velocity field shows a right-lateral strike-slip motion of ~1 mm/yr across the Indes and Kushk-Nosrat faults. Despite the observed large seismic activity and a geological slip rate of 2 mm/yr for the eastern part of the Mosha fault, both strike-slip and compressional slip rates along the Mosha fault are less than 1 mm/yr. Within a radius of ~50 km from the center of Tehran metropolitan area, there is no noticeable rate of strike-slip or compressional movement and the strain rate is around the error limit or less than 1 mm/yr. The low strain rate implies a very long earthquake return period for large earthquakes in Tehran metropolitan area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models of active deformation of the Earth's crust are predominantly represented with dislocations having a downdip continuation into the lower crust, where the fault slips continuously. This model predicts surface strain accumulation concentrated near the fault during the interseismic period. In an alternative model, faults do not extend beneath the elastic portion of the crust and are accompanied by a wide zone of distributed shear underneath, predicting a more constant strain rate lacking concentrations at the faults. We use high‐precision GPS data collected across the northern and central Walker Lane, USA— a region of complex faulting near the western edge of the Basin and Range Province to evaluate which model is appropriate. Despite the existence of dense continuous and semi‐continuous geodetic networks that have been surveyed for ∼20 years, the horizontal velocities reveal no evidence of localized strain accumulation across the fault surface expressions. Instead, deformation within the Walker Lane is uniformly linear, suggesting that the surface deformation reflects distributed shear within the ductile crust rather than focused deformation at faults. This suggests no downdip extension of the faults below the seismogenic layer. The shear zone is 172 ± 6 km wide in the northernmost Walker Lane narrowing to 116 ± 4 km in the central Walker Lane. The total velocity budget across the shear zone is 7.2 ± 0.1 mm/yr in the north, increasing to 10.1 ± 0.1 mm/yr in the central Walker Lane. We conclude that assuming the presence of lower crustal dislocations when estimating geodetic faults slip rates may be inappropriate. Plain Language Summary: Interpreting Earth's surface deformation, measured by high‐precision GPS stations, is crucial for understanding plate tectonics and assessing seismic hazard. Traditionally, the assumption has been that faults in the Earth's upper crust extend as discrete dislocations into the lower crust. In this paper, we show that there is no compelling evidence of this in the Northern Walker Lane region of California and Nevada. Instead, the geodetically measured deformation on the surface reflects uniform shearing in the lower crust. Our findings suggest that estimating slip rates on the faults with methods that assume deep dislocations may be inappropriate. Instead, the slip rate of a fault is likely to be controlled by the fault's position and orientation within the shear zone. This has significant implications for seismic hazard assessment, as accurate estimates of slip rates on faults are a crucial component in determining seismic risk. Key Points: Geodetic velocities in the Walker Lane reflect distributed shear in the lower crust rather than deformation due to discrete faultsEstimating fault slip rates with models assuming their continuation into the lower crust may be inappropriate in the northern Walker Lane [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive examination of the external and internal workloads in collegiate women's lacrosse athletes has yet to be reported. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to determine the absolute and relative external and internal training and game workloads of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II women's lacrosse athletes throughout an entire season. Data from 19 Division II women's lacrosse athletes were analyzed, encompassing each training session and game across an entire competitive season (February-May). External workloads were assessed using a wearable global positioning system, whereas internal workloads were determined through heart rate (HR) variables and session rating of perceived exertion. Game days were associated with significantly (p < 0.05) greater absolute external and internal workloads. However, when comparing workloads relative to session duration, relative workloads between training and games were no longer significant (p > 0.05) for total distance, high-speed running (≥15 km⋅h-1), HR-derived training impulse, or caloric expenditure. Nonetheless, relative sprint distance (>19 km⋅h-1) was significantly lower during games, whereas high-intensity accelerations (>2 m⋅s-2) and decelerations (<-2 m⋅s-2) were significantly greater during training compared with games (p < 0.05). Practical applications of these findings suggest that coaches can better prepare athletes for game day conditions by adjusting training plans to replicate the duration and intensity of games. Overall, this comprehensive examination of internal and external workloads provides valuable data for coaches and practitioners to support performance comparisons, rehabilitation protocols, and workload analyses in collegiate women's lacrosse athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Releasing farmed mallards into the wild is a common practice in wildlife management worldwide, involving millions of birds annually, and is mainly carried out to increase hunting opportunities. Ringing and previous research show that released mallards have low survival also outside the hunting season, and that survivors may compromise migration habits, morphology, and adaptations of the wild population. Detailed local movements of released mallards have not been studied before, despite the importance of spatiotemporal patterns for understanding the impact of releases and their utility for hunting. We studied local movements in August–October of 11 wild and 44 released mallards caught in the same wetland in southern Sweden and provided with GPS tags. Wild mallards moved longer distances than farmed, over the whole diel cycle, as well as during three out of four separate periods of the day (dawn, day, and dusk). Mallards of both origins moved the longest distances during dusk and dawn, and the shortest during the night. Males and females did not differ significantly in distance moved, regardless of origin (wild versus farmed). Our study demonstrates large differences in spatiotemporal movement patterns between wild and farmed mallards. The typical day of wild mallards included movements between wetlands in the landscape, likely to foraging sites known from previous experience. However, wild mallards frequently returned to the study wetland, probably attracted by supplementary bait. On the other hand, farmed mallards seldom left the study wetland, despite the possibility of accompanying wild birds to other sites. The sedentary behavior of farmed mallards and the fact that wild birds come to join them are both beneficial for hunting purposes. Limited movements of farmed mallards, together with their low survival, could also be positive as they limit hybridization between wild and farmed mallards, as well as dispersal of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of ball-in/out-play, ball possession, and different moments of soccer match play on running performance in professional Brazilian soccer players. Methods: Twenty-four professional soccer players were monitored using GPS units during 14 matches from the Brazilian National 4th Division League. Distance- and accelerometry-based measures were calculated by dividing absolute values by the total duration of the matches. SBG Sports® generated a timeline of the match's duration to define ball-in-play, ball-out-play, ball possession, no-ball possession, offensive/defensive organizations, and offensive/defensive transitions. Results: Ball-in-play presented higher running outputs than ball-out-play, and no-ball possession reported greater all match running performance (i.e., high-intensity) variables than ball possession (p < 0.001–0.033; ES = large–very large). Greater running outputs were observed during the offensive/defensive transition compared to offensive/defensive organization (p < 0.001–0.039; ES = medium–very large). Additionally, physical demands were higher in defensive organization/transition vs. offensive organization/transition (p < 0.001–0.041; ES = medium–very large). In contrast, wide midfielders and strikers showed higher distances, high-speed running distance, and accelerations during the offensive transition than the defensive transition (p < 0.001–0.04; ES = very large). Conclusion: In conclusion, different phases and moments of the match of the match-play impact running performance in soccer. Coaches and practitioners should embrace a contextualized understanding of match physical demands, employing a holistic approach, to effectively prescribe training tasks aligned with real match requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction using computer vision is getting prevalent nowadays because of satisfying results. The vision of Internet of Vehicles (IoV) expedites Vehicle to everything (V2X) communications by implementing heterogeneous global networks. Road crack is one of the major factors that causes road mishaps and damage to vehicles. To ensure smooth and safe driving, avoiding road crack in transportation planning and navigation is significant. To address this issue, we proposed a novel convolutional neural network (CNN)-based smart transportation system. We showed how to quantify the severity of the cracks. We proposed a post-processing algorithm to provide option to the driver to select the safest road toward the destination. The communication system for the proposed smart transportation system has also been introduced. The performance comparison of a few popular CNN architectures has been investigated. Simulation results showed that Resnet50 algorithm provides significantly high accuracy compared with SqueezeNet and InceptionV3 algorithm in order to detect road cracks for the proposed transportation system. We demonstrated high accuracy of measuring the crack severity via numerical analysis. The integration of the proposed system in next generation smart vehicles can ensure accurate detection of road cracks earlier enough providing the option to select alternate safe route toward a destination as advanced driver assistance service. Moreover, the proposed system can also play a key role in order to reduce road mishaps notably by warning the driver about the updated road surface conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migratory connectivity describes the degree to which migratory populations are mixed across space and time. Unlike adults, subadult birds often exhibit distinct migratory patterns and continually refine their migratory behaviour and destinations as they mature. Consequently, the influence of subadult movements on overall migratory connectivity might be different from that of adults. However, current studies on migratory connectivity often overlook population age structures, predominantly focusing on adults. In this study, we investigated the role of subadult movements in shaping population level connectivity by using satellite tracking data from 214 black-necked cranes, Grus nigricollis , in western China. We first assessed the variances in spatial separation in different age cohorts using the continuous temporal Mantel correlation coefficient with data from 17 juveniles tracked in the same year for 3 consecutive years. We then calculated the continuous temporal migratory connectivity for the entire population (comprising various age groups) from 15 September to 15 November and compared the result to that of the family group (consisting of juveniles and adults only). Our results revealed a positive correlation between temporal variation in spatial separation and age after the juveniles separated from the adults, suggesting that subadults may have fine-tuned their migration paths. Moreover, the migratory connectivity of the all-age cohort was moderate (below 0.6) in the winter season, and notably lower than that of the family group during the autumn period. Given the considerable impact of subadults on migratory connectivity, we recommend using data collected from birds across all age categories to improve the precision of population level migratory connectivity estimates. • Black-necked cranes have moderate migratory connectivity. • Spatial separation between individuals varied between age groups. • Individuals of all ages should be included when calculating migratory connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]