Measuring submaximal performance parameters to monitor fatigue and predict cycling performance: a case study of a world-class cyclo-cross cyclist

Abstract Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) is an engineering discipline focused on predicting the point at which systems or components will no longer perform as intended. The prediction is often articulated as a Remaining Useful Life (RUL). RUL is an important decision-making tool for contingency mitigation, i.e., the prediction of an RUL (and its associated confidence) enables decisions to be made about how and when to maintain the system. PHM is generally applied to hardware systems in the electronics and non-electronics application domains. The application of PHM (and RUL) concepts has not been explored for application to software. Today, software (SW) health management is confined to diagnostic assessments that identify problems, whereas prognostic assessment potentially indicates when in the future a problem will become detrimental to the operation of the system. Relevant areas such as SW defect prediction, SW reliability prediction, predictive maintenance of SW, SW degradation, and SW performance prediction, exist, but all represent static models, built upon historical data — none of which can calculate an RUL. This paper addresses the application of PHM concepts to software systems for fault predictions and RUL estimation. Specifically, we wish to address how PHM can be used to make decisions for SW systems such as version update, module changes, rejuvenation, maintenance scheduling and abandonment. This paper presents a method to prognostically and continuously predict the RUL of a SW system based on usage parameters (e.g., numbers and categories of releases) and multiple performance parameters (e.g., response time). The model is validated based on actual data (on performance parameters), generated by the test beds versus predicted data, generated by a predictive model. Statistical validation (regression validation) has been carried out as well. The test beds replicate and validate faults, collected from a real application, in a controlled and standard test (staging) environment. A case study based on publicly available data on faults and enhancement requests for the open-source Bugzilla application is presented. This case study demonstrates that PHM concepts can be applied to SW systems and RUL can be calculated to make decisions on software version update or upgrade, module changes, rejuvenation, maintenance schedule and total abandonment.

Download Full-text

CH2 Energy Harvesting Systems: Economic Use and Efficiency

Construction Economics and Building ◽

10.5130/ajceb.v5i2.2957 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 20-31

Author(s):

Chun Cheung

Keyword(s):

Energy Harvesting ◽

Integrated Design ◽

Well Being ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Design Decision ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

World Class ◽

Office Development ◽

The City

This paper looks at the City of Melbourne's new office development CH2 as a case study of world class energy performance. In particular, the integrated design of conventionally independent systems has led to the potential to deliver significant savings to the Council and to deliver better environmental conditions to building occupants that in turn may contribute to satisfaction, well-being and productivity. It is concluded that this project has the potential to be an iconic example of effective implementation of ESD (environmental sustainable design) principles and therefore act as a demonstration project to others. Energy efficiency of more than 50% of current benchmarks for Melbourne is effected. Energy harvesting is defined as arising from squander, waste and nature, which is a new concept introduced in this paper to better describe the design decision process.

Download Full-text

Strength capacity of lower-limb muscles in world-class cyclists: new insights into the limits of sprint cycling performance

Sports Biomechanics ◽

10.1080/14763141.2021.2024243 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Iris Sachet ◽

Niels Peter Brochner Nygaard ◽

Gaël Guilhem ◽

François Hug ◽

Sylvain Dorel

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Cycling Performance ◽

Lower Limb Muscles ◽

Strength Capacity ◽

Limb Muscles ◽

World Class ◽

Sprint Cycling

Download Full-text

International business transformation patteerns of czech enterprises since the velvet revolution and the velvet divorce

Prague Economic Papers ◽

10.18267/j.pep.45 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

Author(s):

James D. Goodnow

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

International Business ◽

The United States ◽

Transformation Process ◽

Business Activity ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Business Transformation ◽

Velvet Revolution ◽

World Class

From a macroeconomic standpoint, the Czech Republic has been viewed as a leading example of successful transformation from a state owned to a privatized economy. Yet at the firm and industry levels, the transformation process is still in its early stages. This article focuses on the transformation of outbound international business activities of the country and offers statistical and case study evidence to support four propositions describing the transformation process to date. First, most Czech international business activity is oriented toward its European neighbors. Second, globalization is beginning in a few selected firm and industries. Third, the reliance on low price rather than other international marketing advantages limits the development of world class images of Czech export commodities. Fourth, beginning globalization efforts of Czech firms focus on emerging markets of Asia, South America and Africa and to a lesser extent on the United States but largely exclude Japan.

Download Full-text

In search of a world-class university in Iran

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education ◽

10.1108/jarhe-03-2016-0021 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 522-539 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mohsen Nazarzadeh Zare ◽

Javad Pourkarimi ◽

Gholamreza Zaker Salehi ◽

Sahba Rezaeian

Keyword(s):

Data Gathering ◽

Faculty Members ◽

Survey Method ◽

Statistical Population ◽

Content Type ◽

Comprehensive Universities ◽

Innovation Research ◽

World Class ◽

World Class Universities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine faculty members’ views about the assessment of world-class university components in Iran’s comprehensive universities. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a descriptive methodology by using a survey method. The statistical population consisted of 8,548 faculty members of comprehensive universities all over Iran. Considering the large size of the population, the comprehensive universities were categorized into five clusters (North, South, East, West and Center). The authors selected the faculty members from different clusters using Cochran’s formula. A total of 367 faculty members were selected from five clusters. For data gathering, a researcher-designed questionnaire was used. In data analysis, statistical procedures including the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Kolmogrov-Smirnov test, one-sample t-test, and Friedman test were performed. Findings The findings of the research showed that except for academic freedom, other components of world-class university in Iran’s comprehensive universities were lower than the mean. Practical implications The case study showed how Iran’s comprehensive universities can become world-class universities. The methods of this case study can also be used in other fields. Originality/value This study adds to the knowledge of a world-class universities. Therefore to reach a desired level in comprehensive universities’ preparation for converting to a world-class university, it is essential that the policy makers and organizers of Iran’s higher education system pay greater attention to items such as research motivation, research innovation, research budget increase, authority reduction on various university departments, internet bandwidth increase and laboratory facilities increase.

Download Full-text

A Smart City for the Blind

Developing and Monitoring Smart Environments for Intelligent Cities - Advances in Civil and Industrial Engineering ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-5062-5.ch005 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 112-129

Author(s):

Dago Schelin ◽

Péricles Varella Gomes ◽

Verônica Isabela Quandt

Keyword(s):

Smart City ◽

Alternative Model ◽

Visually Impaired ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Small Cities ◽

World Class ◽

German City ◽

Historical Relation ◽

High Band

In this chapter, the authors present the German city of Marburg as an alternative model for the conception of a smart city. Marburg's historical relation with its visually impaired citizens has shaped not only its infrastructure but also its human framework. Generally, smart cities are equated with world-class major metropolitan areas, with international airports, use of high band internet, internet of things, and other IT infrastructures. However, Marburg might be considered a smart city according to other criteria. This case study articulates the uniqueness of what Marburg has been able to achieve using a diverse approach of cultural acceptance of the blind, becoming a world reference for other small cities. The authors suggest that Marburg can serve as a model for other cities. This hypothesis was reached through critical investigations into concepts of smartness and disability, intersected with the insights obtained in a focus group interview.

Download Full-text

Influence of Altitude on the Performance of a Bicycle-Cyclist Set

Volume 3: 19th International Conference on Advanced Vehicle Technologies; 14th International Conference on Design Education; 10th Frontiers in Biomedical Devices ◽

10.1115/detc2017-67955 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Mateo Morales ◽

Sergio D. Roa ◽

Luis E. Muñoz ◽

Diego A. Ferreira ◽

Omar D. Lopez Mejia

Keyword(s):

High Altitude ◽

Drag Force ◽

Power Output ◽

Aerodynamic Drag ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Cycling Performance ◽

Air Density ◽

Effort Tests ◽

Different Altitudes

There is a tradeoff between power delivery and aerodynamic drag force when cyclists ride at different altitudes. The result is particular to the characteristics of the bicycle as well as the aerobic fitness of the cyclist. This work proposes a methodology based on an integrated approach to the study of the influence of altitude on power output and aerodynamic drag over a particular bicycle-cyclist set. The methodology consists of an independent analysis for each of the effects, to conclude with an integration of results that allows estimating the overall effect of altitude on cycling performance. A case study for the application of the methodology was developed, and the obtained results apply for the specific bicycle-cyclist set under analysis. First, the relationship between power and time was analyzed for a male recreational cyclist based on all-out effort tests at two different altitudes: 237 meters and 2652 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l). Second, the effects of environmental conditions on air density and drag area coefficient due to altitude changes were analyzed based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. It was found that for the bicycle-cyclist set under study, the sustainable power output for 1-hour cycling was reduced 45W for the high-altitude condition as a consequence of the reduction in the maximum oxygen uptake capacity. In addition, the aerodynamic drag force is reduced in greater proportion due to the change in air density than due to the change in drag coefficient. Finally, the results of both effects were integrated to analyze the overall influence of altitude on cycling performance. It was found that for the analyzed case study, the aerodynamic advantage at higher altitude dominates over the disadvantage of reduction in power output: despite delivering 45W less, the subject can travel an additional distance of 900 meters during a one hour ride for the high-altitude condition compared to that in low altitude.

Download Full-text