Aim The overall aim of this study was to develop a broader understanding on how to optimize the organization of aerobic endurance training programs, and especially how to better organize high-intensity training (HIT) and low intensity training (LIT) to give an optimum endurance performance progress. Method This study compared the effects of two different training organization methods in trained cross-country (XC) skiers and biathletes. During a 5 week intervention period, one group of athletes (n = 10, 7 men and 3 women, age 23 ± 9 years) performed block periodization (BP) training with 5-1-3-1-1 HIT sessions in the respective weeks. The other group of athletes(n = 9, 7 men and 2 women, age 22 ± 5) followed a more traditional periodization (TRAD) method performing 2-2-3-2-2 HIT sessions. LIT was interspersed between the HIT sessions so that both groups performed similar total volumes of HIT and LIT during the intervention period. Results The BP group increased relative and absolute VO2max (2.6 ± 3.6% and 2.0 ± 2.5%, P < 0.05) and time to exhaustion (6.1 ± 6.4%, P < 0.01). No changes were seen in the TRAD group on relative or absolute VO2max (0.8 ± 3.5% and -0.1 ± 3.0%) or time to exhaustion (-2.0 ± 7.7%). Mean effects size (ES) of the relative and absolute improvement in VO2max and time to exhaustion revealed small to moderate effects of performing BP training vs. TRAD training (ES range from 0.51 to 1.14). Conclusions This study indicates that organizing endurance training in XC skiers with block periodization training give better adaptations compared to performing traditional periodization training during a 5 week training period when performing similar volumes of high-intensity and low intensity training.

The character table of any finite group provides a considerable amount of information about a group and the use of character tables is of great importance in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Most of the maximal subgroups of finite simple groups and their automorphisms are extensions of elementary abelian groups. Various techniques have been used to compute character tables, however Bernd Fischer came up with the most powerful and informative technique of calculating character tables of group extensions. This method is known as the Fischer-Clifford Theory and uses Fischer-Clifford matrices, as one of the tools, to compute character tables. This is derived from the Clifford theory. Here G is an extension of a group N by a finite group G, that is G = N.G. We then construct a non-singular matrix for each conjugacy class of G/N =G. These matrices, together with partial character tables of certain subgroups of G, known as the inertia groups, are used to compute the full character table of G. In this dissertation, we discuss Fischer-Clifford theory and apply it to both split and non-split extensions. We first, under the guidance of Dr Mpono, studied the group 27:S8 as a maximal subgroup of 27:SP(6,2), to familiarize ourselves to Fischer-Clifford theory. We then looked at 26:A8 and 28:O+8 (2) as maximal subgroups of 28:O+8 (2) and O+10(2) respectively and these were both split extensions. Split extensions have also been discussed quite extensively, for various groups, by different researchers in the past. We then turned our attention to non-split extensions. We started with 24.S6 and 25.S6 which were maximal subgroups of HS and HS:2 respectively. Except for some negative signs in the first column of the Fischer-Clifford matrices we used the Fisher-Clifford theory as it is. The Fischer-Clifford theory, is also applied to 53.L(3, 5), which is a maximal subgroup of the Lyon's group Ly. To be able to use the Fisher-Clifford theory we had to consider projective representations and characters of inertia factor groups. This is not a simple method and quite some smart computations were needed but we were able to determine the character table of 53.L(3,5). All character tables computed in this dissertation will be sent to GAP for incorporation. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

Sammanfattning Syfte och frågeställningar. Syftet med denna studie var att på äldre personer studera olika fysiologiska parametrar före och efter en period på åtta veckor med styrketräning som utförs tre gånger i veckan. Frågeställningarna var: Hur påverkas statisk och dynamisk maximal styrka i främre lårmuskulaturen av styrketräning? Är det någon skillnad i resultat mellan koncentrisk och excentrisk styrka i lårmuskulaturen före och efter styrketräningsperioden? Är det någon skillnad i förändring mellan benstyrka uppmätt med isokinetisk teknik jämfört med uthållighetsstyrka och ett kort funktionellt benstyrketest? Hur påverkas maximal syreupptagningsförmåga registrerad via submaximalt cykeltest respektive vid pyramidtestet av träningsperioden? Metod. I studien deltog 20 generellt ej påtagligt aktiva män och kvinnor i åldrarna 66-79 år. Av dessa var 11 individer slumpvis indelade i en styrketräningsgrupp och övriga nio utgjorde en inaktiv kontrollgrupp. Ett flertal olika fysiologiska tester, som bl.a. prövade testpersonernas styrka samt kondition, utfördes innan och efter träningsperioden. De deltagare som utgjorde träningsgruppen tränades i relativt tung styrketräning i åtta veckor. Resultat. Undersökningen resulterade i en signifikant ökad koncentrisk-, excentrisk- samt statisk momentan benstyrka för träningsgruppen efter de åtta veckorna med relativt tung styrketräning. Vidare kunde även utläsas för dem en signifikant förbättring av uthållighetsstyrka i benen (hastighet vid 50 uppresningar från stol, med 16,9 %) samt vid ett kort funktionellt test (5 uppresningar från stol, med 12,8 %). De träningsgenererade signifikanta ökningarna för träningsgruppen tyder inte på några stora procentuella skillnader mellan statisk (10,4 %) och dynamisk excentrisk (7,8 %) eller koncentrisk maximal styrka (9,5 %). Vid testerna cykelergometertest (kondition), effekt i 5-minuterspyramidtest (ett modifierat steptest) samt distans vid 6-minuters gångtest framkom inga signifikanta förbättringar för träningsgruppen. Ingen i kontrollgruppen visade en signifikant förbättring i någon av de nämnda testerna. Slutsats. Studien visar att interventioner, med åtta veckors intensiv styrketräning, tre gånger per vecka för äldre kvinnor och män, påtagligt kan förbättra resultaten vid styrkemätningar såväl momentant som uthållighetsmässigt och vid ett kort funktionellt test, medan tester av maximal syreupptagningsförmåga (VO2max) inte förbättras. Emellertid framkom i cykelergometertestet en tendens till förbättring för träningsgruppen.

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This thesis presents new results on a few problems involving maximum flows. The first topic we explore is maximum flow network interdiction. The second topic we explore is reoptimization heuristics for rapidly solving an entire sequence of Maximum Flow Problems. In the Cardinality Maximum Flow Network Interdiction Problem (CMFNIP), an interdictor chooses R arcs to delete from an s-t flow network so as to minimize the maximum flow on the network induced on the undeleted arcs. This is an intensively studied problem that has nontrivial applications in military strategy, intercepting contraband and flood control. CMFNIP is a strongly NP-hard special case of the Maximum Flow Network Interdiction Problem (MFNIP), where each arc has an interdiction cost and the interdictor is constrained by an interdiction budget. Although there are several papers on MFNIP, very few theoretical results have been documented. In this talk, we introduce two exponentially large classes of valid inequalities for CMFNIP and prove that they can be separated in polynomial time. Second, we prove that the integrality gap of the commonly used integer linear programming formulation for CMFNIP is contained in the set Omega(|V| ^(1 e)) where |V| is the number of nodes in the network and e is in the interval (0,1). We prove that this result holds even when the linear programming relaxation is strengthened with our two classes of valid inequalities and we note that this result immediately extends to MFNIP. In the second part of this defense, we explore incremental algorithms for solving an online sequence of Maximum Flow Problems (MFPs). Sequences of MFPs arise in a diverse collection of settings including computational biology, finger biometry, constraint programming and real-time scheduling. To initiate this study, we develop an algorithm for solving a sequence of MFPs when the ith MFP differs from the (i-1)st MFP, for each possible i, in that the underlying networks differ by exactly one arc. Second, we develop maximum flow reoptimization heuristics to rapidly compute a robust minimum capacity s-t cut in light of uncertain arc capacities. Third, we develop heuristics to efficiently compute a maximum expected maximum flow in the context of two-stage stochastic programming. We present computational results illustrating the practical performance of our algorithms.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This dissertation presents some new approaches to addressing the main issues encountered by practitioners in the implementation of linear model predictive control(MPC), namely, stability, feasibility, complexity and the size of the region of attraction. When stability guaranteeing techniques are applied nominal feasibility is also guaranteed. The most common technique for guaranteeing stability is to apply a special weighting to the terminal state of the MPC formulation and to constrain the state to a terminal region where certain properties hold. However, the combination of terminal state constraints and the complexity of the MPC algorithm result in regions of attraction that are relatively small. Small regions of attraction are a major problem for practitioners. The main approaches used to address this issue are either via the reduction of complexity or the enlargement of the terminal region. Although the ultimate goal is to enlarge the region of attraction, none of these techniques explicitly consider the upper bound of this region. Ideally the goal is to achieve the largest possible region of attraction which for constrained systems is the null controllable set. For the case of systems with a single unstable pole or a single non-minimum phase zero their null controllable sets are defined by simple bounds which can be thought of as implicit constraints. We show in this thesis that adding implicit constraints to MPC can produce maximally controllable systems, that is, systems whose region of attraction is the null controllable set. For higher dimensional open-loop unstable systems with more than one real unstable mode, the null controllable sets belong to a class of polytopes called zonotopes. In this thesis, the properties of these highly structured polytopes are used to implement a new variant of MPC, which we term reduced parameterisation MPC (RP MPC). The proposed new strategy dynamically determines a set of contractive positively invariant sets that require only a small number of parameters for the optimisation problem posed by MPC. The worst case complexity of the RP MPC strategy is polylogarithmic with respect to the prediction horizon. This outperforms the most efficient on-line implementations of MPC which have a worst case complexity that is linear in the horizon. Hence, the reduced complexity allows the resulting closed-loop system to have a region of attraction approaching the null controllable set and thus the goal of maximal controllability.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:50:43Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gimenes_c_me_botfm.pdf: 464422 bytes, checksum: 627314a0c5f4867528442a8ec3866145 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (RM) envolve a cavidade torácica e, conseqüentemente, as complicações pulmonares são freqüentemente observadas. Fatores pré e intra-operatórios, como idade avançada, doença pulmonar, tabagismo, circulação extracorpórea (CEC), esternotomia, entre outros, contribuem para o prejuízo da função pulmonar. No período pós-operatório o paciente está predisposto a apresentar atelectasias e infecções respiratórias. Além disso, ocorrem alterações na mecânica respiratória, com diminuição da força dos músculos respiratórios e do pico de fluxo expiratório. Relacionar as variáveis clínicas e laboratoriais pré e intra-operatórias com o grau de redução das pressões respiratórias máximas e do pico de fluxo expiratório em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de RM. Foram estudados 61 pacientes que foram submetidos à cirurgia de RM, sob CEC, esternotomia mediana, e mantidos em ventilação mecânica por período máximo de 24 horas. No dia anterior à cirurgia, foram realizadas entrevista, consulta ao prontuário, e avaliação das pressões respiratórias (pressões inspiratória e expiratória máximas, PImáx e PEmáx), por meio da manovacuometria e medida do pico de fluxo expiratório (PFE). No 5° dia de pósoperatório, foram repetidas as medidas de PImáx, PEmáx e PFE. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio de teste t de Student, correlação linear de Pearson e modelo de regressão logística. Os resultados são discutidos no nível de significância de 5%. Características gerais: idade, 63±10 anos; sexo masculino, 67%; IMC, 28,0±3,8 Kg/m2; hemoglobina (Hb), 12,8±1,7 g/dl; prevalência de: infarto prévio 67%, hipertensão arterial sistêmica 75%, diabetes mellitus 31%, Resumo 57... / The coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) affects the thoracic cavity and consequently pulmonary complications are frequently observed. Preand intra-operative factors as advanced age, pulmonary disease, smoking, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), sternotomy, among others, contribute to the reduction of lung function. In the postoperative period, patients are predisposed to atelectasis and respiratory infections. In addition, changes in respiratory mechanics, with reduction of maximal respiratory pressures and peak expiratory flow, may occur. To compare the pre and intra-operative clinical and laboratory factors with degree of reduction of maximal respiratory pressures and peak expiratory flow in patients undergoing surgery for CABG. Sixty-one patients underwent surgery for CABG under CPB, median sternotomy, and mechanical ventilation for a period of up to 24 hours, were studied. In the day before surgery, they were interviewed and submitted to assessment of maximal respiratory pressures (maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, MIP and MEP) through manovacuometry and measurement of peak expiratory flow (PEF). On the fifth day after surgery, measurements of MIP, MEP, and PEF were repeated. Student's t test, Pearson's linear, and logistic regression were used to statistical analysis. Results are discussed in the significance level of 5%. General: age, 63±10 years; male, 67%; BMI, 28.0±3.8 kg/m2; hemoglobin (Hb), 12.8±1.7 g/dl; prevalence of: previous infarction 67%, systemic arterial hypertension 75%, diabetes mellitus 31%, dyslipidemia 64%, and smoking 25%. Patients with class III angina showed greater reduction of MIP compared to Abstract 60 class II (33±15% vs. 22±13%, p=0.01). COPD patients had greater reduction in maximal respiratory pressures. The higher age individuals had the lower values of MEP and PEF ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Bakgrund Det finns många olika varianter av diabetes men av alla personer som har diagnostiserats med sjukdomen så har 80-90% typ 2 diabetes (T2D). Sjukdomen kan uppstå av ärftliga faktorer och förekommer ofta i äldre åldrar men kan utvecklas i samband med en ohälsosam livsstil. Vid behandling av T2D är en livsstilsförändring viktigast och sker främst genom förändrade kost- och träningssvanor. Traditionellt har länge måttligt intensiv uthållighetsträning (MICT) i 150 min/vecka rekommenderats till målgruppen som träningsform. Syfte Syftet med studien är att undersöka effektiviteten av högintensiv intervallträning som behandling för vuxna människor med typ 2 diabetes eller prediabetes. Metod Studien är en deskriptiv systematisk litteraturöversikt som innebär att tillgänglig forskning sammanställs inom ett specifikt ämnesområde för att skapa förståelse för forskningsområdet. Sökningar har skett i databaserna PubMed och samlingsdatabasen Discovery där MeSH termer och friasökningar har kombinerats för att täcka en så stor del av forskningsfältet som möjligt. Resultat 11 artiklar valdes ut och resultatet delades upp i tre olika kategorier mellan glykemisk kontroll, högintensiv intervallträning (HIIT) i jämförelse med MICT och genomförbarheten av HIIT med self-efficiency theory som utgångspunkt. HIIT gav liknande eller bättre effekter på glykemisk kontroll (HbA1c) jämfört med MICT. I studier där genomförbarheten av ett HIIT protokoll nämns så visade samtliga positiva resultat oavsett interventionens längd. Slutsats Liknande eller bättre förbättringar på glykemisk kontroll går att uppnå genom en lägre träningsvolym än de traditionellt rekommenderade 150 min/vecka med måttlig intensitet och HIIT skulle kunna rekommenderas som behandlingsmetod för typ 2 diabetiker samt personer med prediabtes inom vården.

Cette thèse est composée de deux parties indépendantes.Dans la première partie nous étudions les propriétés dynamiques des flots géodésiques expansifs sur des variétés compactes sans points conjugués à l'aide du travail de R.O.~Ruggiero. Plus précisément nous montrons qu'un tel flot admet une unique mesure d'entropie maximale et nous construisons cette mesure. Cela généralise des résultats connus dans le cas des variétés compactes à courbure négative et de rang un. Nous montrons ensuite à l'aide de cette mesure que l'équivalent de Margulis (connu pour les variétés compactes à courbure strictement négative) concernant le nombre de lacets géodésiques est toujours valable dans ce cas.Dans la seconde partie nous étudions les isométries des cônes symétriques de dimension finie pour la métrique de Thompson et pour la métrique de Hilbert. Plus précisément nous montrons que le groupe d'isométries induit par les automorphismes linéaires de ce cône est un sous-groupe d'indice fini du groupe d'isométries pour chacune de ces deux métriques et donnons des représentant naturels pour le quotient de ces deux groupes. Cela généralise des résultats deL.~Molnár (qui a étudié ces isométries dans le cas des opérateurs symétriques positifs définis sur un espace de Hilbert complexe). / This thesis is divided in two independants parts.In the first part we investigate dynamical properties of expansive geodesic flows on compact manifolds without conjugate points using the work of R.O.~Ruggiero. More precisely we show that such a flow admits a unique measure of maximal entropy and constructthis measure. This extends results known in non-positively curved manifolds of rank one (and our construction is analogous). Wethen show, using this measure of maximal entropy, that the asymptotics of Margulis (known for compact negatively curvedmanifolds) on the number of geodesic loops still hold in this framework.In the second part we study isometries of finite dimensionalsymmetric cones for both the Thompson and the Hilbert metric. More precisely we show that the isometry group induced by the linear automorphisms preserving such a cone is a subgroup of finite indexin the full group of isometries for those two metrics and give a natural set of representatives of the quotient. This extends resultsof L.~Molnar (who studied such isometies for the symmetric irreducible cone of symmetric positive definite operators on acomplex Hilbert space).

abstract: The Cambrian lattice corresponding to a Coxeter element c of An, denoted Camb(c), is the subposet of An induced by the c-sortable elements, and the m-eralized Cambrian lattice corresponding to c, denoted Cambm(c), is dened as a subposet of the braid group accompanied with the right weak ordering induced by the c-sortable elements under certain conditions. Both of these families generalize the well-studied Tamari lattice Tn rst introduced by D. Tamari in 1962. S. Fishel and L. Nelson enumerated the chains of maximum length of Tamari lattices. In this dissertation, I study the chains of maximum length of the Cambrian and m-eralized Cambrian lattices, precisely, I enumerate these chains in terms of other objects, and then nd formulas for the number of these chains for all m-eralized Cambrian lattices of A1, A2, A3, and A4. Furthermore, I give an alternative proof for the number of chains of maximum length of the Tamari lattice Tn, and provide conjectures and corollaries for the number of these chains for all m-eralized Cambrian lattices of A5. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Mathematics 2017