Berman Group (Czechia)

Lower extremity injuries are common in youth soccer players. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 11+ Kids program is a neuromuscular training program designed to improve physical performance and reduce injury risk in youth soccer athletes; however, it has not been evaluated in female youth athletes who are at elevated risk for injury compared with their male counterparts. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the impact of the FIFA 11+ Kids program on strength, balance, and agility in youth female soccer players aged 8 to 11 years. We hypothesized that all measures would improve in the intervention group compared with age-matched controls. Twenty-six female soccer players from local competitive soccer clubs (age: 8 to 11 years) were randomized into the FIFA 11+ Kids (n = 14) and CONTROL (n = 12) groups. The FIFA 11+ Kids group completed training twice a week for 8 weeks. Both groups received pre- and postintervention assessments for strength (gluteus medius [glute]; quadriceps [quad]), dynamic balance (Y-balance test [YBT]), hopping, kinetic-jump-testing, and agility. A 2 × 2 analysis of covariance repeated on time and covaried on baseline values was used to compare measures within group and between the groups. Correlation analysis evaluated the relationship between age and baseline test performance. Type I error was set at ∝ = 0.05. Glute:quad strength ratio increased in the FIFA 11+ Kids group compared with CONTROL ( P = 0.006) and baseline ( P = 0.001). Postintervention YBT posteromedial and posterolateral reach increased compared with the control group ( P < 0.05), whereas posteromedial reach also increased compared with baseline ( P = 0.021). Age correlated with quad strength (r = 0.649, P < 0.001), cross hop distance (r = 0.463, P = 0.017), pro-agility time (r = -0.569, P = 0.002), 6-m hop time (r = -0.547, P = 0.004), and three kinetic jump testing measures (r = 0.451 to 0.515, P < 0.01). Age did not correlate with YBT outcomes. The FIFA 11+ Kids program may improve components of strength and dynamic balance in youth female soccer players, indicating the value of including it in regular training for this population. Level II, Randomized Pilot Study.

Kunstig intelligens (AI) har raskt blitt en nøkkelteknologi som muliggjør betydelige forbedringer og innovasjoner i virksomheter. For å lykkes med AI-transformasjon bør bedrifter etablere en grunnmur for AI, utvikle en strategi, transformere forretningsfunksjoner, sikre tillit og ansvarlig håndtering av AI, samt heve kompetansen i arbeidsstyrken.

Background: Under normal conditions, endothelial cells (ECs) govern blood flow dynamics including providing a barrier between blood and tissue and regulating platelet aggregation and thrombin generation in the bloodstream. In turn, blood components, primarily platelets and coagulation factors such as thrombin, regulate EC barrier integrity. The breakdown of EC barrier function is a hallmark of a variety of vascular diseases. In sepsis, for example, the dysfunction of vascular ECs has been correlated with poorer outcomes due to hemorrhage and multi-organ failure associated with consumption of platelets and coagulation factors into clots within the microcirculation, a condition termed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Aim: Develop an endothelialized flow chamber to study the platelet-endothelium interface. Methods and Results: We developed a 3D-chamber with a perfuseable cylindrical microvessel embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM) material. This model allows for the study of the role of thrombin generation and platelet aggregation in endothelial barrier leak development and repair in healthy as well as inflamed microvessels. Incorporation of subendothelial matrix proteins in these 3D-microvessel devices expands the capacity of the microfluidic studies to investigate blood cell extravasation and enables the control of physical parameters such as transmural pressure and interstitial flow through the ECM. Conclusion: This model may provide insight into the pathophysiology of different disease states and serve as an expedient platform for therapy design and testing. The platelet-endothelium interface under shear flow. Diagram ( A ) and an experimental prototype ( B ) of a 3D-perfuseable device. Microvessel phenotype (following treatment with vehicle or 10 ng/mL TNFα) pre- and post- perfusion with recalcified whole blood for 33 min as visualized by differential interference contrast, DIC, ( C ) and fluorescence microscopy ( D ).

To examine the influence active-play video gaming (also referred to as exergaming, exertainment, and active gaming) might have on improving health-related skills, enhancing self-esteem and self-efficacy, promoting social support, and ultimately motivating positive changes in health behaviors, the American Heart Association convened The Power of Play: Innovations in Getting Active Summit. The summit, as well as a follow-up science panel, was hosted by the American Heart Association and Nintendo of America. The science panel discussed the current state of research on active-play video gaming and its potential to serve as a gateway experience that might motivate players to increase the amount and intensity of physical activity in their daily lives. The panel identified the need for continued research on the gateway concept and on other behavioral health outcomes that could result from active-play video games and considered how these games could potentially affect disparate populations. The summit represented an exciting first step in convening healthcare providers, behavioral researchers, and professionals from the active-play video game industry to discuss the potential health benefits of active-play video games. Research is needed to improve understanding of processes of behavior change with active games. Future games and technologies may be designed with the goal to optimize physical activity participation, increase energy expenditure, and effectively address the abilities and interests of diverse and targeted populations. The summit helped the participants gain an understanding of what is known, identified gaps in current research, and supported a dialogue for continued collaboration.

Emergency departments (EDs) represent a critical entryway into America's health care delivery system and are under significant pressure. This study seeks to understand why insured patients use EDs rather than more appropriate medical alternatives available to reduce the strain they are placing on this critical portal of entry. This exploratory research study surveyed insured patients presenting to 1 of 4 Central Florida EDs. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to identify groups of insured ED users defined by motivating factors. This study found that there exists a disconnect between insured individuals and the primary care system.

Blazek J. and Vozáb J. (2006) Ex-ante evaluation in the new Member States: the case of the Czech Republic, Regional Studies 40, 237–248. The paper gives a critical analysis of evaluation culture in one of the new Member States of the European Union: the Czech Republic. It examines the experience of drafting the first generation of programming documents for the EU Cohesion policy and of ex-ante evaluation, focusing on the National Development Plan (NDP), which is the basic strategic document for the Republic, around which programmes are framed. It considers the nature of the Czech support programmes, and the procedures and organization of the ex-ante evaluation of the NDP. It investigates the main weaknesses and benefits arising from this evaluation, including methodological, organizational and strategic problems. Finally, it draws implications for the next generation of programmes. Ex-ante evaluation Programming documents Implementation structures Czech Republic Blazek J. et Vozáb J. (2006) L'évaluation ex-ante dans les nouveaux pays-membres: étude de cas de la République tchèque, Regional Studies 40, 237–248. L'article cherche à fournir une analyse critique de la culture d'évaluation dans un des nouveaux pays-membres de l'Union européenne – la République tchèque. Il examine l'expérience de la rédaction des documents de programmation de première génération de la politique de cohésion de l'UE, et de l'évaluation ex-ante, portant sur le Plan de développement national (PDN) qui constitue le document stratégique de base pour la République et le point de mire de tout programme. On examine les caractéristiques des programmes de soutien tchèques, et les démarches et l'organisation de l'évaluation ex-ante du PDN. On examine les principaux atouts et inconvénients qui découlent de ce cette évaluation, y compris des problèmes méthodologiques, organisationnels et stratégiques. Pour conclure, on en tire les leçons pour ce qui est de la prochaine génération de programmes. Evaluation ex-ante Documents de programmation Structures de mise en oeuvre République tchèque Blazek J. und Vozáb J. (2006) Ex-ante Evaluierung in neuen Mitgliedstaaten: der Fall der tschechischen Republik, Regional Studies 40, 237–248. Dieser Aufsatz legt eine kritische Analyse der Evaluierungskultur in einem der neuen Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union vor – der tschechischen Republik. Er untersucht die Erfahrung des Entwerfens der ersten Generation der Programmdokumente für die Kohäsionspolitik der EU, und der ex-ante-Evaluierung, wobei er sich auf den staatlichen Entwicklungsplan (National Development Plan = NDP) konzentriert, der das strategische Kerndokument der Republik darstellt, der von weiteren Programmen umrahmt wird. Er berücksichtigt die Beschaffenheit der tschechischen Unterstützungsprogramme, sowie Verfahren und Organisation der ex-ante-Evaluierung des NDP. Zusätzlich untersucht er die Hauptschwächen und-nutzen, die sich aus dieser Evaluierung ergeben, einschließlich methodologischer, organisatorischer und strategischer Probleme. Abschließend zieht er Schlüsse für die nächste Programmgeneration. Ex-ante-Evaluierung Programmdokumente Implementierungsstrukturen Tschechische Republik Blazek J. y Vozáb J. (2006) Evaluación ex-ante en los nuevos Estados Miembros: el caso de la República Checa, Regional Studies 40, 237–248. En este documento analizamos desde un punto de vista crítico la cultura de evaluación en uno de los nuevos Estados Miembros de la Unión Europea: la República Checa. Examinamos la experiencia de preparar la primera generación de documentos de programación para la política de cohesión de la UE y la evaluación tipo ex-ante (previa), centrándonos en el Plan de Desarrollo Nacional (NDP) que constituye el documento básico y estratégico, desde el que se elaboran los programas, para la República Checa. Tenemos en cuenta la naturaleza de los programas de apoyo del país y los procedimientos y la organización de la evaluación ex-ante del NDP. Investigamos las flaquezas y los beneficios principales que surgen de esta evaluación, incluyendo los problemas de tipo metodológico, organizativo y estratégico. Para terminar resaltamos qué implicaciones tendrá la siguiente generación de programas. Evaluación ex-ante Documentos de programación Estructuras de aplicación República Checa