Using multi-criteria decision-making and machine learning for football player selection and performance prediction:a systematic review

Evaluating and selecting players to suit football clubs and decision-makers (coaches, managers, technical, and medical staff) is a difficult process from a managerial-financial and sporting perspective. Football is a highly competitive sport where sponsors and fans are attracted by success. The most successful players, based on their characteristics (criteria and sub-criteria), can influence the outcome of a football game at any given time. Consequently, the D-day of selection should employ a more appropriate approach to human resource management. To effectively address this issue, a detailed study and analysis of the available literature are needed to assist practitioners and professionals in making decisions about football player selection and hiring. Peer-reviewed journals were selected for collecting published papers between 2018 and 2023. A total of 66 relevant articles (journal articles, conference articles, book sections, and review articles) were selected for evaluation and analysis. The purpose of the study is to present a systematic literature review (SLR) on how to solve this problem and organize the published research papers that answer our four research questions.

黄褐斑表皮渗透屏障受损可能机制探讨

目的探讨表皮渗透屏障受损在黄褐斑发病机制中的作用。方法门诊收集黄褐斑患者皮损及健康志愿者皮损各10例,通过免疫组化观察并比较黄褐斑皮损及正常对照组皮肤K6,K10,K14,Filaggrin,Involucrin,Loricrin和ASAH1的分布及表达差异。结果与正常对照组相比,黄褐斑患者皮损处K6表达较强,K10及K14表达弱于正常对照组。Filaggrin,Loricrin,Involucrin及ASH1的表达弱于正常对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论黄褐斑存在表皮渗透屏障受损,其机制与角蛋白、角化套膜蛋白及ASH1表达异常相关;临床治疗黄褐斑应注意修复表皮渗透屏障。

The effects of a bike active video game on players' physical activity and motivation

Background: Players may not acquire adequate levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA) when playing commercial video games.This study's goal was to evaluate the effects of an exercise bike video game played by using a mobile application-based exergame that was designed exclusively to promote participants' MVPA, with additional attention paid to this game's ability to promote greater situational interest.Methods: An experimental design was used with 163 students(aged 20.31 ± 1.30, 18–26 years, 61.3% male), all of whom were randomly allocated into an experimental group and a control group. Physical activity(PA) levels were assessed with Acti Graph GT3X+(Acti Graph Inc., Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA) accelerometers. The situational interest scale was used to evaluate students' situational interest in both groups.Multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to examine the differences between sedentary behavior, PA levels, and situational interest between groups. Regression analyses were also used, with the purpose being to evaluate the strength of the relationship between PA and situational interest.Results: Results revealed that the experimental group had higher degrees of sedentary behavior, light PA, total interest, instant enjoyment,exploration intention, attention demand, novelty, and challenge, whereas the control group received higher scores for MVPA(control 95.01% vs.experimental group 89.94%). Regression analysis indicated that instant enjoyment(β = 0.49, p < 0.01), exploration intention(β = 0.18, p < 0.05),and attention demand(β = 0.17, p < 0.05) were positive predictors for total interest, explaining 43% of its variance.Conclusion: A newly designed mobile application-based exergame played via an exercise bike may enhance situational interest and provide a decent level of PA for players.

Impact of exergaming on young children's school day energy expenditure and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels

Background: Although emerging research is demonstrating the potential health impact of exergaming,investigations have primarily been conducted in laboratory settings among small samples with short-term interventions.Information on the effectiveness of exergaming in underserved children's objective physical activity(PA) in population-based settings is also scarce.Moreover,most empirical studies have only included 1 type of exergame in the intervention.Therefore,this study's purpose was to investigate the long-term impact of a multigame exergaming intervention among underserved children integrated within school curricula.Specifically,this study examined the effect of exergaming on children's accelerometer-determined sedentary behavior(SB),light PA,moderate-to-vigorous PA(MVPA),and energy expenditure(EE) over 2 years as compared with regular physical education(PE) classes.Methods: A total of 261 second-and third-grade children(134 girls,127 boys; mean age 8.27 years) were recruited from 2 Texas elementary schools.Children's pre-test 3-day SB,light PA,MVPA,and EE at school were assessed in the fall of 2012.Participants were assigned to 1 of 2groups:(1) exergaming/PE group(125 min weekly of exergaming-based PA program) and (2) comparison group(125 min weekly of PE).PA(SB,light PA,and MVPA) and EE outcome variables were assessed again in 2013(post-test) and 2014(follow-up).Results: Significant time effects were observed for SB(F(1,162)=25.0,p<0.01,η~2= 0.14),light PA(F(1,162)=9.6,p<0.01,η~2= 0.06),and MVPA(F(1,162)=6.2,p=0.01,η~2= 0.04) but not for EE(F(1,162)=0.63,p>0.05,η~2= 0.004).Subsequent pairwise comparisons revealed significant increases from pre-to post-test for light PA(p<0.01),MVPA(p<0.01),and EE(p=0.02) with no changes in SB(p>0.05).Conversely,significant decreases occurred in light PA(p<0.01) from post-test to follow-up with no differences seen in MVPA(p=0.08) and EE(p=0.06) over the same time period.A significant increase was seen,however,for SB from post-test to follow-up.Conclusion: Exergaming PE can have the same positive effect on children's light PA,MVPA,and EE as regular PE.More research is necessary to discern how to promote long-term PA participation after conclusion of the intervention.

Situational interest impacts college students’physical activity in a design-based bike exergame

Background:Active videogames or exergames have been used as an innovative way to promote physical activity(PA)among various populations.A player’s interest in active videogames is associated with the fun and entertaining nature of the games and may trigger situational interest,thus increasing engagement.The goal of this study was to examine the impact of situational interest dimensions on college students’PA when playing the design-based bike exergame Greedy Rabbit(Vescape,Berlin,Germany).Methods:Sixty undergraduate students(age:20.8±1.3 years,mean±SD,18-25 years old;51.7%males)were recruited from the kinesiology department of a university located in the southern region of Belgium.The participants were assigned to an experimental group(n=41)or a control group(n=19)based on an incremental cycling test.Students in the experimental group engaged in 1 session of Greedy Rabbit(Vescape)while students in the control group engaged in 1 session of a placebo version of Greedy Rabbit(Vescape).The length of the sessions ranged from 24 min to 31 min.Results:Results for the control group indicated that the players’PA metrics(cadence:F(19,360)=1.43,p=0.11;heart rate:F(19.360)=1.16,p=0.29;oxygen consumption:F(19,360)=0.83,p=0.67)were stable during the exergame.Results for the experimental group demonstrated the effects of time on the players’PA metrics and revealed significant associations between the change in the players’situational interest dimensions and PA metrics(cadence:F(19,800)=26.30,p<0.01;heart rate:F(19,800)=19.77,p<0.01;oxygen consumption:F(19,800)=10.04,p<0.01).Conclusion:An approach using a design-based exergame may be a relevant strategy for promoting levels of PA that yields positive health-related outcomes among college students.

Modeling and investigating malaria P.Falciparum and P.Vivax infections:Application to Djibouti data

Malaria is an infectious and communicable disease,caused by one or more species of Plasmodium parasites.There are five species of parasites responsible for malaria in humans,of which two,Plasmodium Falciparum and Plasmodium Vivax,are the most dangerous.In Djibouti,the two species of Plasmodium are present in different proportions in the infected population:77%of P.Falciparum and 33%of P.Vivax.In this study we present a new mathematical model describing the temporal dynamics of Plasmodium Falciparum and Plasmodium Vivax co-infection.We focus briefly on the well posedness of this model and on the calculation of the basic reproductive numbers for the infections with each Plasmodium species that help us understand the long-term dynamics of this model(i.e.,existence and stability of various eqiuilibria).Then we use computational approaches to:(a)identify model parameters using real data on malaria infections in Djibouti;(b)illustrate the influence of different estimated parameters on the basic reproduction numbers;(c)perform global sensitivity and uncertainty analysis for the impact of various model parameters on the transient dynamics of infectious mosquitoes and infected humans,for infections with each of the Plasmodium species.The originality of this research stems from employing the FAST method and the LHS method to identify the key factors influencing the progression of the disease within the population of Djibouti.In addition,sensitivity analysis identified the most influential parameter for Falciparium and Vivax reproduction rates.Finally,the uncertainty analysis enabled us to understand the variability of certain parameters on the infected compartments.

CD8^(+)CD226^(high)T cells in liver metastases dictate the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and radical surgery

CD226 has been reported to participate in the rescue of CD8^(+)T cell dysfunction.In this study,we aimed to assess the prognostic value of CD226 in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes(TILs)derived from colorectal cancer(CRC)liver metastases treated with chemotherapy and radical surgery.TILs from 43 metastases were isolated and analyzed ex vivo usingflow cytometry.CD155 and CD3 levels in the tumor microenvironment were assessed by immunohistochemistry.Exploration and validation of biological processes highlighted in this study were performed by bioinformatics analysis of bulk RNA-seq results for 28 CRC liver metastases pretreated with chemotherapy as well as public gene expression datasets.CD226 expression contributes to the definition of the immune context in CRC liver metastases and primary tumors.CD226 on CD8^(+)T cells was not specifically coexpressed with other immune checkpoints,such as PD1,TIGIT,and TIM3,in liver metastases.Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed CD226 expression on CD8^(+)T cells to be an independent prognostic factor(p=0.003),along with CD3 density at invasion margins(p=0.003)and TIGIT expression on CD4^(+)T cells(p=0.019).CD155 was not associated with the prognostic value of CD226.Gene expression analysis in a validation dataset confirmed the prognostic value of CD226 in CRC liver metastases but not in primary tumors.Downregulation of CD226 on CD8^(+)TILs in the liver microenvironment was restored by IL15 treatment.Overall,CD226 expression on liver metastasis-infiltrating CD8^(+)T cells selectively contributes to immune surveillance of CRC liver metastases and has prognostic value for patients undergoing radical surgery.

Strong dependency of the tribological behavior of CuZr-based bulk metallic glasses on relative humidity in ambient air

Thanks to their outstanding mechanical properties,Bulk Metallic Glasses(BMGs)are new alternatives to traditional crystalline metals for mechanical and micromechanical applications including power transmission.However,the tribological properties of BMGs are still poorly understood,mostly because their amorphous nature induces counter intuitive responses to friction and wear.In the present study,four different BMGs(Cu_(47)Zr_(46)Al_(7),Zr_(46)Cu_(45)Al_(7)Nb_(2),Zr_(60)Cu_(28)Al_(12),and Zr_(61)Cu_(25)Al_(12)Ti_(2))underwent ball-on-disc friction tests against 100Cr6 steel balls(American Iron and Steel Institute(AISI)52100)at different relative humidities(RHs)ranging from 20%to 80%.Controlling humidity enabled to observe a high repeatability of the friction and wear responses of the BMG.Interestingly,the friction coefficient decreased by a factor of 2 when the humidity was increased,and the wear rate of BMGs was particularly low thanks to a 3rd-body tribolayer that forms on the BMG surface,composed of oxidized wear particles originating from the ball.The morphology of this tribolayer is highly correlated to humidity.The study also identifies how the tribolayer is built up from the initial contact until the steady state is achieved.

General Neural Process in Cycling Exercise

Performance in cycling is frequently related to metabolic or biomechanical factors.Overall,the contribution of the neu-rophysiological system during cycling is often poorly considered in performance optimization.Yet,cycling is a complex whole-body physical exercise that necessitates specific coordination and fine control of motor output to manage the dif-ferent intensities.The ability to produce different levels of intensity of exercise would require optimizing many functions of the central nervous system from the brain’s treatment of sensory signals to complex motor command execution via the corticospinal pathway.This review proposes an integrative approach to the factors that could influence cycling performance,based on neurophysiological and cognitive markers.First,we report data relying on brain activity signals,to account for the different brain areas and cognitive functions involved.Then,because the motor command is highly dependent upon its regulation along the corticospinal pathway,we expose the modulation of corticospinal and spinal excitabilities during cycling.We present these later by reviewing the literature of studies using transcranial magnetic or percutaneous nerve stimulations.Finally,we describe a model of neural and cognitive adjustments that occur with acute and chronic cycling practices,with several areas of improvement focusing on these factors,including mental and cognitive training.

The landscape epidemiology of echinococcoses

Echinococcoses are parasitic diseases of major public health importance globally.Human infection results in chronic disease with poor prognosis and serious medical,social and economic consequences for vulnerable populations.According to recent estimates,the geographical distribution of Echinococcus spp.infections is expanding and becoming an emerging and re-emerging problem in several regions of the world.Echinococcosis endemicity is geographically heterogeneous and over time it may be affected by global environmental change.Therefore,landscape epidemiology offers a unique opportunity to quantify and predict the ecological risk of infection at multiple spatial and temporal scales.Here,we review the most relevant environmental sources of spatial variation in human echinococcosis risk,and describe the potential applications of landscape epidemiological studies to characterise the current patterns of parasite transmission across natural and human-altered landscapes.We advocate future work promoting the use of this approach as a support tool for decision-making that facilitates the design,implementation and monitoring of spatially targeted interventions to reduce the burden of human echinococcoses in disease-endemic areas.

Severe COVID-19 patients exhibit an ILC2 NKG2D^(+) population in their impaired ILC compartment

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)is responsible for the current COVID-19 disease pandemic.In some patients,the symptoms are mild,and a fraction of SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals develop severe illness with a high fatality rate due to lung damage and acute respiratory distress syndrome.1 Innate lymphoid cells(ILCs)are a recently identified type of effector immune cells that rapidly sense environmental stimuli and participate in early immune responses by promptly secreting large amounts of cytokines.2 The ILC2 subpopulation was shown to mediate Type 2 responses and to recruit eosinophils during viral lung infections upon the release of alarmins(e.g.,IL-33)by damaged epithelial cells.3,4,5 ILC2s were also shown to participate in the termination of inflammatory responses and tissue repair by amphiregulin secretion.In addition,ILC2s are critical in the early phases of allergic lung inflammation,including that induced by the protease allergen papain.6 Based on the essential function of the papain-like protease PLpro in regulating SARS-CoV-27(Fig.1a)and the severe lung damage caused by this virus,we sought to investigate the potential involvement of ILC2s in immune responses to COVID-19.

Epigenetics,a key player of immunotherapy resistance

In 2018,the Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to James P.Allison and Tasuku Honjo for their work on the description of immune checkpoint inhibitors which contributed to the development of new anti-cancer immunotherapies.However,although these new therapeutic strategies,which are designed to limit immune escape of cancer cells,have been used or tested successfully in many different cancers,a large proportion of patients have been described to resist and not respond to these new treatments.The new incoming challenge is now therefore to overcome these resistance and new recent data presented epigenetic modifications as promising targets to restore anti-tumor immunity.Indeed,both DNA methylation and post-translational histone modifications have been described to regulate immune checkpoint inhibitor expression,tumor-associated antigen presentation or cancer cell editing by the immune system and therefore establishing epigenetic drugs as a potential complement to immunotherapies to improve their efficiency.