A model for budget allocation in multi-unit libraries

This article addresses the problem of allocating funds for acquisition of periodicals among several interrelated units of an academic library. The paper outlines an optimization model for the problem with an objective of maximizing the usage of periodicals over all library units subject to a single collections budget. It further gives an insight into a decision support system in MS Excel based on this model, and it illustrates its successful application to the Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.     

Effects of 12 weeks of combined training without caloric restriction on inflammatory markers in overweight girls

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of combined training without caloric restriction on inflammatory markers in overweight girls. Thirty-three girls (13–17 years) were assigned into overweight training (n = 17) or overweight control (n = 16) groups. Additionally, a normal-weight group (n = 15) was used as control for the baseline values. The combined training programme consisted of six resistance exercises (three sets of 6–10 repetitions at 60–70% 1 RM) followed by 30 min of aerobic exercise (walking/running) at 50–80% VO_2peak, performed in the same 60 min session, 3 days/weeks, for 12 weeks. Body composition, dietary intake, aerobic fitness (VO_2peak), muscular strength (1 RM), glycaemia, insulinemia, lipid profile and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-10, leptin, resistin and adiponectin) were measured before and after intervention. There was a significant decrease in body fat (P < 0.01) and increase in fat-free mass (P < 0.01), VO_2peak (P < 0.01), 1 RM for leg press (P < 0.01) and bench press (P < 0.01) in the overweight training group. Concomitantly, this group presented significant decreases in serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (P < 0.05) and leptin (P < 0.05), as well as in insulin resistance (P < 0.05) after the experimental period. In conclusion, 12 weeks of combined training without caloric restriction reduced inflammatory markers associated with obesity in overweight girls.     

Competencies evaluation in engineering programmes

Results are reported in this paper from a study aimed at evaluating significant competencies in final-year students of some engineering programmes in Chile. The study was carried out by a group of eight universities that were interested in exploring ways to assess learning outcomes such as those demanded by the recent Chilean accreditation system. The authors actively participated in all stages of the study, contributing directly to the design, application and results evaluation of some tests. A sample of 150 students was tested, under conditions that guaranteed the comparability of results. In this paper the authors present results relating to the evaluation of effective communication. The study was backed up by a conceptual model and some hypotheses that are explained and discussed in this work.     

A new unsupervised method for document clustering by using WordNet lexical and conceptual relations

Text document clustering provides an effective and intuitive navigation mechanism to organize a large amount of retrieval results by grouping documents in a small number of meaningful classes. Many well-known methods of text clustering make use of a long list of words as vector space which is often unsatisfactory for a couple of reasons: first, it keeps the dimensionality of the data very high, and second, it ignores important relationships between terms like synonyms or antonyms. Our unsupervised method solves both problems by using ANNIE and WordNet lexical categories and WordNet ontology in order to create a well structured document vector space whose low dimensionality allows common clustering algorithms to perform well. For the clustering step we have chosen the bisecting k-means and the Multipole tree, a modified version of the Antipole tree data structure for, respectively, their accuracy and speed.

Development as education for social justice

Asia Pacific Education Review - The correlation between education and development, with time, went through many changes along with the changes of perspectives. Since both of these concepts...     

Effects of blood flow restriction without additional exercise on strength reductions and muscular atrophy following immobilization:A systematic review

Purpose:To investigate whether blood flow restriction(BFR) without concomitant exercise mitigated strength reduction and atrophy of thigh muscles in subjects under immobilization for lower limbs.Methods:The following databases were searched:PubMed,CINAHL,PEDro,Web of Science,Central,and Scopus.Results:The search identified 3 eligible studies,and the total sample in the identified studies consisted of 38 participants.Isokinetic and isometric torque of the knee flexors and extensors was examined in 2 studies.Cross-sectional area of thigh muscles was evaluated in 1 study,and thigh girth was measured in 2 studies.The BFR protocol was 5 sets of 5 min of occlusion and 3 min of free flow,twice daily for approximately 2 weeks.As a whole,the included studies indicate that BFR without exercise is able to minimize strength reduction and muscular atrophy after immobilization.It is crucial to emphasize,however,that the included studies showed a high risk of bias,especially regarding allocation concealment,blinding of outcome assessment,intention-to-treat analyses,and group similarity at baseline.Conclusion:Although potentially useful,the high risk of bias presented by original stodies limits the indication of BFR without concomitant exercise as an effective countermeasure against strength reduction and atrophy mediated by immobilization.     

Aerobic fitness and physical activity are inversely associated with body fat,dyslipidemia and inflammatory mediators in children and adolescents living with HIV

This study aimed to investigate if moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and aerobic fitness are associated with cardiovascular risk factors in HIV+ children and adolescents. Sixty-five children and adolescents (8 to 15 years) provided minutes of MVPA measured by accelerometers and peak oxygen uptake (peak VO₂) by breath-by-breath respiratory exchange. Cardiovascular risk factors were characterized by body fat, blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and carotid intima-media thickness. Results indicated that higher MVPA was associated with lower values of total (β = ?3.566) and trunk body fat (β = ?3.495), total cholesterol (β = ?0.112) and LDL-c (β = ?0.830). Likewise, higher peak VO₂ was associated with lower total (β = ?0.629) and trunk body fat values (β = ?0.592) and levels of CRP (β = ?0.059). The physically active participants had lower total cholesterol (?24.4 mg.dL^?1) and LDL-c (?20.1 mg.dL^?1) compared to participants judged to be insufficiently active. Moreover, participants with satisfactory peak VO? showed lower total (?4.1%) and trunk (?4.3%) body fat, CRP (?2.3 mg.L^?1), IL-6 (?2.4 pg.mL^?1) and TNF-α (?1.0 pg.mL^?1) compared to low peak VO₂ peers. High levels of MVPA and aerobic fitness may prevent developing of cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents HIV+.     

A mathematical model for decision-making in the classification of para-footballers with different severity of coordination impairments

Classification is a defining feature of Para-sport, and sports-specific classification systems determined through multidisciplinary scientific research are required, i.e., evidence-based and focused on the relationship between the impairment and the key performance determinants. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was applied as a classification tool using a directional distance function (DDF) model. The aim of the study was to test the DEA as a possible classification tool in cerebral palsy football. We analyse the performance of 56 international para-footballers with hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis, who completed a 20-test battery with DEA models. Five of the tests are included in the model (change of direction: Illinois agility test; jumping: standing broad jump, four bounds for distance, and triple hop with the non-dominant leg; 10-m sprint/acceleration; and ball dribbling, both in a straight line and following a trajectory), showing that players with less impairment exhibit the highest efficiency. This outcome suggests that DEA models might be feasible for detecting and discriminating the performance and magnitude of impairment in cerebral palsy football, with an objective ranking of the athletes in relation to different physical performance tests. This study also provides reference scores for decision-making during classification and guidance for further research in team Paralympic sports.     

Circadian rhythm effect on physical tennis performance in trained male players

To determine the effect of circadian rhythm on neuromuscular responses and kinematics related to physical tennis performance, after a standardised warm-up, 13 highly competitive male tennis players were tested twice for serve velocity/accuracy (SVA), countermovement vertical jump (CMJ), isometric handgrip strength (IS), agility T-test (AGIL) and a 10-m sprint (10-m RUN). In a randomised, counter-balance order, tennis players underwent the test battery twice, either in the morning (i.e., AM; 9:00 h) and in the afternoon (i.e., PM; 16:30 h). Paired t-tests were used to analyse differences due to time-of-day in performance variables. Comparison of morning versus afternoon testing revealed that SVA (168.5 ± 6.5 vs. 175.2 ± 6.1 km · h^?1; P = 0.003; effect size [ES] = 1.07), CMJ (32.2 ± 0.9 vs. 33.7 ± 1.1 cm; P = 0.018; ES = 1.46), AGIL (10.14 ± 0.1 vs. 9.91 ± 0.2 s; P = 0.007; ES = 1.23) and 10-m RUN time (1.74 ± 0.1 vs. 1.69 ± 0.1 s; P = 0.021; ES = 0.67) were significantly blunted during the morning testing. However, IS was not affected by time-of-day (P = 0.891). Thus, tennis performance may be reduced when competing in the morning in comparison to early evening. Therefore, coaches and tennis players should focus on schedule the SVA, power, speed and agility training sessions in the afternoon.     

我不是软蛋!

多年以来,外籍内线球员在NBA似乎有了固定的模板——传球漂亮,中距离篮子很准,然后他们会自觉或不自觉的远离篮下禁区,他们为自己找到的借口是：我们用头脑打球。可是,傻子都知道,是汉子,就该杀到禁区里面去;是爷们,就捍卫属于自己的篮下三尺领土。