Imma Lory Aprea, Gianni Bosi, Gabriele Sbaiz
et al.
In this paper, we tackle a bi-objective optimization problem in which we aim to maximize the portfolio diversification and, at the same time, minimize the portfolio volatility, where the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) information is incorporated. More specifically, we extend the standard portfolio volatility framework based on the financial aspects to a new paradigm where the sustainable credits are taken into account. In the portfolio’s construction, we consider the classical constraints concerning budget and box requirements. To deal with these new asset allocation models, in this paper, we develop an improved Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimizer (MOPSO) embedded with ad hoc repair and projection operators to satisfy the constraints. Moreover, we implement a deep learning architecture to improve the quality of estimating the portfolio diversification objective. Finally, we conduct empirical tests on datasets from three different countries’ markets to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategies, accounting for various levels of ESG volatility.
Background and Study Aim. In the context of increasing stress and declining health among female college students, there is an urgent need for effective methods to enhance their physical and mental well-being. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of Baduanjin exercise on the physical fitness and mental health of female college students.
Materials and methods. Sixty female college students at University were randomly selected from 150 volunteers to participate in this study. They were equally divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 30 students in each. All 60 participants completed the experiment. The study's protocol was conducted in accordance with ethical standards and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of University. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants involved in the study. The experimental group received a 16-week intervention of traditional Baduanjin exercise, while the control group engaged in other unfixed sports activities synchronously.
Results. After the experiment, the average weight of the experimental group decreased significantly from 52.41±6.35 kg to 50.06±5.46 kg (P<0.01). Body mass index, waist circumference, and other indicators also showed significant improvements. The step test index in the experimental group increased from 45.09±4.45 to 50.72±4.46, which was significantly different from the baseline (P<0.01). Improvements were noted in vital capacity, grip strength, and sit-up performance, all showing significant differences from baseline measures (P<0.01). The standing long jump and 800 m running performances in the experimental group showed significant improvement compared to pre-experiment measurements (P<0.05). Additionally, all mental health indicators in the experimental group demonstrated a downward trend, with significant differences in 10 indicators such as somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, and depression (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, there was a significant inter-group difference in motor skills and physical fitness between the experimental and control groups in the 800 m run (230.78±30.61 vs. 231.32±32.15) and standing long jump (1.81±0.33 vs. 1.78±0.42) after the intervention (P<0.05). Furthermore, significant differences were observed in mental excitement and participation in the experimental group before and after the Baduanjin exercise as assessed by Baduanjin’s Self-Perception Inventory (P<0.01).
Conclusions. This study demonstrates that a 16-week program of traditional Baduanjin exercise significantly improves both physical and mental health parameters among female college students. These findings suggest that Baduanjin exercise can be an effective intervention for enhancing physical fitness and alleviating psychological distress in this population. The results underscore the potential of integrating traditional physical activities into health promotion strategies for young adults in educational settings.
Introduction Rugby league is a physically demanding sport that necessitates considerable nutritional intake, focusing on quality and type, in order to optimize training and competition demands. However, rugby league athletes are reported to have inadequate nutrition intake to match these demands. Some factors that may determine an athlete’s nutrition intake have been reported in other sports, including (but not limited to, knowledge, time, cooking skills, food costs, income, belief in the importance of nutrition, body composition goals, and family/cultural support). However, these potential factors are relatively unexplored in rugby league, where a range of personal (age, body composition) or social (ancestry) influences could affect nutritional intake. Further exploration of these factors is warranted to understand the knowledge, attitudes and behavior underlying rugby league athletes’ nutritional intake that can provide practitioners with a more detailed understanding of how to approach nutrition behaviors and attitudes in rugby league athletes.Objectives The primary aim was to describe the nutrition behaviors and knowledge of rugby league athletes. A secondary aim was to compare nutrition knowledge and behavior based on age, body composition and self-identified ancestry.Methods Fifty professional rugby league athletes anonymously completed a seventy-six-question online survey. The survey consisted of three sections : 1) sports nutrition knowledge, 2) attitudes toward nutrition on performance , and 3) nutrition behaviors. All participants completed the online survey without assistance using their own personal device, with data entered via REDCap during pre-season. Nutrition knowledge was compared based on age (years), body composition (body fat percentage (%)) and ancestral groups (Pasifika, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) and Anglo- European).Pearson correlation was used for the relationship between nutrition knowledge, age and body composition. An Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine nutrition knowledge differences between ancestral groups with age and body composition as covariates. Attitudes and behaviors were compared based on age groups (<20, 20–24 and >25 y), ancestry and body composition. Attitudes and behaviors were analyzed by Pearson correlation for body composition, one-way ANOVA for age groups and ANCOVA for ancestry with covariates age and body composition.Results Overall athletes’ nutrition knowledge score was reported as 40 ± 12% (overall rating “poor”). Nutritional behaviors were significant for body composition, as those with lower body fat percentage had higher intakes of vegetables and dairy products (p = 0.046, p = 0.009), and ate more in the afternoon (lunch p = 0.048, afternoon snack p = 0.036). For ancestry, after adjustment for both age and body composition, Pasifika athletes were more inclined to miss breakfast and lunch compared to their Anglo-European (p = 0.037, p = 0.012) and ATSI (p = 0.022, p = 0.006) counterparts and ate more fruit than Anglo-Europeans (p = 0.006, p = 0.016). After adjustment for body composition, ATSI athletes also viewed the impact of nutrition on mental health and well-being significantly lower than Pasifika (p = 0.044).Conclusion These findings suggest differences exist within rugby league athletes based on ancestral backgrounds and body composition for nutrition attitudes, behaviors and knowledge. Such outcomes could be used when designing nutrition education interventions, with consideration given to these factors to optimize long-term positive behavior change.
B. R. Ra’ees Manshadi, S. K. Alavi Langroudi, Ph.D., A. Zandvanian, Ph.D.
An extracurricular activity is an activity, performed by students, that falls outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school. It is demonstrated that involvement in these activities have a positive impact on the participant’s life. Extracurricular activities instill key skills and personality traits that can be helpful in other walks of life. The purpose of the present study was to identify the comprehensive structure of extracurricular activities for female junior high school students in Yazd (District 1) in 2017-18 school year. This study had a mixed methods design (content analysis in the qualitative part and descriptive survey type in the quantitative part). The statistical population was comprised of three groups, i.e., school principals (28 individuals), female students (7000 individuals), and mothers (7000 individuals). In the qualitative part, ten school principals were selected through purposive sampling method and then interviewed based on saturation principle. In the next step, 375 students and 355 mothers were selected by random cluster sampling method and completed two researcher-made questionnaires. The qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed via content analysis and Friedman's ANOVA, respectively. The triangulation of the results showed that the extracurricular activities priorities for school principals, students and their mothers were sports activities, arts and cultural activities, skill-based and vocational activities, autonomous activities at home, educational and academic activities, and religious activities, respectively. The findings of this research can be utilized for designing and implementing extracurricular activities at schools.
The dimensions of competitive performance in the specific context of rhythmic gymnastics are found in components such as physical and biological condition, physiological factors, technical and physical aspects, and, above all, in the training process. In the long-term training process, the individual's consciousness is fully engaged at a high level of acuity, at the limit of possibilities, sports performance being multiply determined and conditioned. The purpose of this longitudinal study is to obtain confirmatory information regarding the level of development of the physical abilities of athletes who practice rhythmic performance gymnastics, starting from the smallest training category up to the last level, that of Seniors. Through the involvement of specialists at the national level, data were collected from 141 performance athletes, a fact that allowed the outline of a motor profile for all categories.
Stephanie L. Boudreau, P.T., D.P.T., Laura L. Mattes, P.T., D.P.T., O.C.S., Natalie A. Lowenstein, B.S.
et al.
Participation of female athletes in sports at all levels continues to grow exponentially, as well as the injuries they experience during play. A literature review does outline return to sport guidelines, yet few studies address the potential need for differences between male and female athletes. This commentary is a review of the literature that outlines various sports that involve both male and female overhead athletes and potential differences in upper-extremity injuries and strengths and weaknesses between sexes. This information proposes the potential need to customize return-to-sport guidelines and screens that include recommendations for overhead female athletes within their specific sport, following both injury as well as surgical intervention. Level of Evidence: V.
Calan M. Farley, Calan M. Farley, Patricia Kaynaroglu
et al.
Disaster search dogs traverse diverse and unstable surfaces found in collapsed buildings. It is unknown if the physical conditioning on a treadmill involves the same muscle groups that are involved in rubble search. This 14-week prospective cohort study was conducted to investigate changes within the thermal gradients of specific dog muscles following treadmill compared to rubble search. Nine dogs, ranging in age from 6 months to 4 years, were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Each week the two groups would participate in either 20 min of treadmill or rubble searches. Prior to exercise, the dogs were weighed and then kenneled in a temperature-controlled study room for 20 min at 21°C. Pre-exercise thermal images were then captured of the standing dog from the dorsal, left and right lateral, and caudal perspectives, and of the sitting dog from the rostral perspective. Following a 10-min warm-up period of stretches, dogs proceeded to either treadmill or search. Upon completion, dogs were kenneled in the study room for 20 min prior to post-exercise thermal images. Images were sectioned into 22 muscle regions, the pre-exercise images were subtracted from the post-exercise images to determine the temperature difference (ΔT) for that dog, on that day, for that activity. Thermography measures radiant energy, temperature, and converts this information into an image. This study looked at ΔT within a region pre and post-exercise. The study failed to find a statistically significant difference in the ΔT within each muscle group between treadmill and search activities. There was a decrease in ΔT within all muscle regions over the of the study except for the right cranial shoulder, right caudal shoulder, and right hamstring for the treadmill activity only. The decrease was significant in the pelvis, left longissimus, right cranial shoulder for the search activity, left oblique, left caudal shoulder, and left quadricep muscular regions. These findings suggest that ΔT in muscle groups are similar between treadmill exercise and rubble search. Regardless of the exercise type, 14 weeks of structured Search and Rescue training and treadmill exercise resulted in less ΔT associated with a structured weekly exercise.