The aim of this study was to analyse the win, draw, and loss outcomes of soccer matches with situational variables and performance indicators. Data from group stage matches spanning the ten years between the 2010/2011 and 2019/2020 seasons in the European Champions League, were used. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD (honestly significant difference) tests indicated performance indicators which affected the outcome of matches. K-mean clustering, with statistically significant variables, categorized the quality of the opposition into three clusters: weak, balanced, and strong. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) and decision tree analysis were applied to each of these clusters, highlighting that performance indicators of the teams differed according to the quality of their opponent. Furthermore, according to the decision tree analysis, certain performance indicators, including scoring first and shots on target, increased the chances of winning regardless of the quality of the opposition. Finally, particular performance indicators increased the chance of winning, while others decreased this, in accordance with the quality of the opposition. These findings can help coaches develop different strategies, before or during the match, based on the quality of opponents, situational variables, and performance indicators.
1 November 2022 in BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation
Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the within-week differences in external training intensity in different microcycles considering different playing positions in women elite volleyball players. Methods: The training and match data were collected during the 2020–2021 season, which included 10 friendly matches, 41 league matches and 11 champions league matches. The players’ position, training/match duration, training/match load, local positioning system (LPS) total distance, LPS jumps, accelerations, decelerations, high metabolic load distance (HMLD), acute and chronic (AC) mean and AC ratio calculated with the rolling average (RA) method and the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) method, monotony and strain values were analyzed. Results: All the variables except strain, Acc/Dec ratio and acute mean (RA) showed significant differences among distance to match days. Regarding the players’ positions, the only difference was found in the AC ratio (EWMA); in all microcycles, the middle blocker player showed workload values when compared with the left hitter, setter and libero. Conclusion: Overall, the analysis revealed that the intensity of all performance indicators, except for strain, acc/dec and acute mean load (RA), showed significant differences among distance to match day with moderate to large effect sizes. When comparing players’ positions, the middle blocker accumulated the lowest loads. There were no significant differences among other positions.
30 July 2022 in BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation
The aim of this study was (i) provide reference data of metabolic power-based measures during professional football matches; and to (ii) analyze the between-position and between-halves differences of power-based measures during professional football matches. Forty-six professional male players from two Turkish Super League teams were observed during two seasons, and 58 matches were analyzed. Total distance, equivalent distance, Low Power (LP), Intermediate Power (IP), High Power (HP), Elevated Power (EP), Max Power (MP) and power metabolic measures Pmet at different match moments were considered. Significant between-position differences were observed for IP (p: 0.000; d: 0.284), HP (p ≤ 0.001; d = 0.45), EP (p ≤ 0.001; d = 0.44), and for MP (p ≤ 0.001; d = 0.56), with the central defenders (CD) showing the lower values, and the central midfielders (CM) showing the higher values for the overall measures. Power-based measures are dependent on playing positions. While the CD have lower Pmet values when compared to all positions, the CM have the greatest values. Training and recovery strategies must be ensured for CM players, especially those who have greater match participation.
In this study, a method has been developed to reduce the negative effects of superabsorbent polymers on concrete mechanical properties. The method involves concrete mixing and curing, with the concrete mixture being designed using a decision tree algorithm. Instead of the standard water curing approach, air curing conditions were used during the curing process. In addition, heat treatment was applied to reduce any possible negative effects of the polymers on the concrete's mechanical properties and to enhance their performance. The details of all these stages are presented in this method. Various experimental studies were conducted to demonstrate the validity of this method, which proved to be effective in reducing the negative effects of superabsorbent polymers on concrete mechanical properties.
This research investigates the effects of social connectedness, psychological resilience, and post-traumatic stress disorder on the quality of life among those affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes in Türkiye. Surveys were conducted with 207 university students directly or indirectly impacted by the disaster. The relationships between these factors were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings indicated that social connectedness had a significant direct effect on psychological resilience, post-traumatic stress disorder, and quality of life. Additionally, psychological resilience negatively influenced post-traumatic stress disorder, while post-traumatic stress disorder had a significant negative effect on quality of life. The analysis also uncovered indirect effects, demonstrating that psychological resilience and post-traumatic stress disorder mediated the link between social connectedness and quality of life. The findings have important implications for disaster recovery efforts, suggesting that interventions should focus on fostering individuals’ sense of belonging by building meaningful relationships for better recovery outcomes.
9 June 2021 in Polish Journal of Environmental Studies
In this study, a hybrid model combining discrete wavelet transforms (WTs) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) is used to estimate the monthly streamflow. The WT-ANN hybrid model was developed using the Daubechies main wavelet to predict the streamflow for three gauging stations on the Çoruh river basin one month in advance, with different combinations of air temperature, precipitation, and streamflow variables, and their wavelet transformations. Four different hybrid WT-ANN models were generated and compared with four different conventional ANN models. The dataset was chronologically divided into training, validation, and testing data. The results indicated that the WT-ANN hybrid models performed better than the traditional ANN models for all three stations. Furthermore, the chronologically divided dataset was used to examine the effects of changes in hydrological data over time on model performance. In conclusion, model performances in the training period deteriorated during the validation and testing periods due to structural changes in the hydrological data.