In this article, the performing body is considered via a three-pronged approach involving affect theory and affective science, a scene from King Lear, and long-distance running. Inspired by the chiaroscuro of painting, this variety and mix of sources act as a methodological device to shed unfamiliar light (and shade) on the elusive topic of affect. While ‘body’ is viewed from the perspective of ‘bodyworld’ to denote constitutive and reciprocally shaping human–nonhuman relationalities, the ‘performance’ that occurs in bodies is analyzed in terms of a ‘drama of affect’ to signal the activity that germinates and circulates at various levels of consciousness in human behaviour, whether aesthetic, athletic, or daily. Frank Camilleri is Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Malta and Artistic Director of Icarus Performance Project. He has performed, given workshops, and published various texts on performer training, theatre as a laboratory, and practice as research. He is the author of Performer Training Reconfigured: Post-Psychophysical Perspectives for the Twenty-first Century (Bloomsbury, 2019) and Performer Training for Actors and Athletes (Bloomsbury, forthcoming).

While metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes are costly and deadly to the current population, they are also extremely detrimental to the next generation. Much of the current literature focuses on the negative impact of poor maternal choices on offspring disease, while there is little work examining maternal behaviors that may improve offspring health. Research has shown that voluntary maternal exercise in mouse models improves metabolic function in offspring. In this study, we hypothesized that controlled maternal exercise in a mouse model will effect positive change on offspring obesity and glucose homeostasis. Female mice were separated into three groups: home cage, sedentary, and exercise. The sedentary home cage group was not removed from the home cage, while the sedentary wheel group was removed from the cage and placed in an immobile wheel apparatus. The exercise group was removed from the home cage and run on the same wheel apparatus but with the motor activated at 5–10 m/min for 1 h/d prior to and during pregnancy. Offspring were subjected to oral glucose tolerance testing and body composition analysis. There was no significant difference in offspring glucose tolerance or body composition as a consequence of the maternal exercise intervention compared to the sedentary wheel group. There were no marked negative consequences of the maternal controlled exercise intervention. Further research should clarify the potential advantages of the controlled exercise model and improve experimental techniques to facilitate translation of this research to human applications.

In this article, a two-dimensional analysis of biped robot sliding dynamics is performed. First, the dynamics of a biped robot based on feet-slip are derived using the coulomb friction model. The state transition can be formulated in the centroid acceleration space whose diagram is defined as a “triangle of sliding friction” (TSF). The TSF's characteristics are explained by focusing on comparison with the cone of friction which has a similar state decision diagram. Next, for the behavioral simulation of a concrete model, a 2-DOF biped robot is used to analyze the sliding features in terms of the asymmetry of the dynamics of each leg. Finally, the sliding characteristics are applied to the two tasks of running and somersaulting. The results show the robot takes short rapid repetitive steps for running based on frictional asymmetry and theoretically based on torque asymmetry can make one revolution using the large angular momentum acquired during sliding motion.

The present study aimed to assess the adequacy of energy, macronutrients and water intakes of ultra-endurance runners (UER) competing in a 24 h ultra-marathon (distance range: 122–208 km). The ad libitum food and fluid intakes of the UER (n 25) were recorded throughout the competition and analysed using dietary analysis software. Body mass (BM), urinary ketone presence, plasma osmolality (POsmol) and volume change were determined at pre- and post-competition time points. Data were analysed using appropriate t tests, with significance set at P <0·05. The total energy intake and expenditure of the UER were 20 (sd 12) and 55 (sd 11) MJ, respectively (control (CON) (n 17): 12 (sd 1) and 14 (sd 5) MJ, respectively). The protein, carbohydrate and fat intakes of the UER were 1·1 (sd 0·4), 11·3 (sd 7·0) and 1·5 (sd 0·7) g/kg BM, respectively. The rate of carbohydrate intake during the competition was 37 (sd 24) g/h. The total water intake of the UER was 9·1 (sd 4·0) litres (CON: 2·1 (sd 1·0) litres), while the rate of water intake was 378 (sd 164) ml/h. Significant BM loss occurred at pre- to post-competition time points (P =0·001) in the UER (1·6 (sd 2·0) %). No significant changes in POsmol values were observed at pre- (285 (sd 11) mOsmol/kg) to post-competition (287 (sd 10) mOsmol/kg) time points in the UER and were lower than those recorded in the CON group (P <0·05). However, plasma volume (PV) increased at post-competition time points in the UER (10·2 (sd 9·7) %; P <0·001). Urinary ketones were evident in the post-competition samples of 90 % of the UER. Energy deficit was observed in all the UER, with only one UER achieving the benchmark recommendations for carbohydrate intake during endurance exercise. Despite the relatively low water intake rates recorded in the UER, hypohydration does not appear to be an issue, considering increases in PV values observed in the majority (80 %) of the UER. Population-specific dietary recommendations may be beneficial and warranted.

This paper presents optimization-based dynamic three-dimensional (3D) human running prediction. A predictive dynamics method is used to formulate the running problem, and normal running is formulated as a symmetric and cyclic motion. In addition, a slow jog along curved paths has been formulated. It is a non-symmetric running motion, so a stride formulation has been used. The dynamic effort and impulse are used as the performance measure, and the upper body yawing moment is also included in the performance measure. The joint angle profiles and joint torque profiles are calculated for the full-body human model, and the ground reaction force is determined. The effects of foot location and orientation on the running motion prediction are simulated and studied. Simulation results from this methodology show good correlation with experimental data obtained from human subjects.

This paper investigates the efficiency and properties of limit cycle walking, running, and skipping of a planar, active, telescopic-legged rimless wheel. First, we develop the robot equations of motion and design an output following control for the telescopic-legs' action. We then numerically show that a stable walking gait can be generated by asymmetrizing the impact posture. Second, we numerically show that a stable running gait can be generated by employing a simple feedback control of the control period, and compare the properties of the generated running gait with those of the walking gait. Furthermore, we find out another underlying gait called skipping that emerges as an extension of the walking gait. Through numerical analysis, we show that the generated skipping gaits are inherently stable and are less efficient than the other two gaits.

This work presents an analysis of the mechanics of biped running with a heuristic control strategy for stable running. A tractable model of the mechanics is presented through principles, measures, and a time-distributed perspective. This model motivates the control strategy and provides a basis for extending the strategy to more general systems. The control strategy consists of a simple set of four rules, where the key rule considers the leg length upon liftoff. The Steady-State Index is proposed as a characterization of biped running. It identifies and relates the parameters affecting running and has broad applicability to both biological and robotic systems.

The objective of this study is to obtain optimal cyclic gaits for a biped robot without actuated ankles. Two types of motion are studied: walking and running. For walking, the gait is composed uniquely of successive single support phases and instantaneous double support phases that are modelled by passive impact equations. The legs swap their roles from one single support phase to the next one. For running, the gait is composed of stance phases and flight phases. A passive impact with the ground exists at the end of flight. During each phase the evolution of m joints variables is assumed to be polynomial functions, m is the number of actuators. The evolution of the other variables is deduced from the dynamic model of the biped. The coefficients of the polynomial functions are chosen to optimise criteria and to insure cyclic motion of the biped. The chosen criteria are: maximal advance velocity, minimal torque, and minimal energy. Furthermore, the optimal gait is defined with respect to given performances of actuators: The torques and velocities at the output of the gear box are bounded. For this study, the physical parameters of a prototype, which is under construction, are used. Optimal walking and running are defined. The running is more efficient for high velocities than the walking with respect to the studied criteria.