Strains in Regions of the Brain Modelled from Female Youth Soccer Players Performing Purposeful Headers in Season

Soccer is the world\u27s most popular sport, and intentional heading of the ball is exclusive to it. Head impacts in youth players are riskier than adults as their brains are developing. Finite element models can quantify parameters, like strains within regions of the brain, that are otherwise difficult to assess. The purpose of this stay was to examine the relationship between head kinematics collected by wireless head impact sensors and brain strains in regions of interest related to concussion. As well, we assessed head impact strains in regions of interest related to concussion for headers from various game scenarios. In conclusion, the findings of this thesis showed that maximum principal strain increases in relation to linear acceleration and angular velocity, though the strength of relationships ranged between the kinematic parameters and the different regions of the brain. As well, game scenarios are important to the magnitude of max strains

Discontinued Operations Recognition, Initial Provisions, And Subsequent Adjustments

This study extends our understanding of why firms choose to take discretionary write-offs and identifies factors that influence the measurement of the charges taken. We focus on segment disposals, initial provisions recorded upon discontinuance of those segments, and adjustments to initial provisions that accompany the segment disposals. We partition our sample into those disposals that were substantially completed at the time of recognition (nondiscretionary disposals) and those that were recognized prior to disposal completion (discretionary disposals). With respect to motivations for taking discretionary rather than nondiscretionary disposals, we find that firms electing discretionary disposals discontinue segments that experience sharp declines in earnings and that require more negative initial provisions; the continuing portion of these firms are less profitable and are in weaker financial condition when compared to firms recognizing disposals upon completion. Further, they are more likely to announce the disposal in the fourth quarter, and they are more likely to underestimate the cost of disposal. With respect to measurement issues, we find that subsequent adjustments to initial provisions for discretionary disposals relate both to firms’ abilities to estimate losses on disposal at the plan date and to management incentives to manage disclosures. In contrast, subsequent adjustments accompanying nondiscretionary disposals relate primarily to uncertainties contained in the disposal agreement

“It’s a Concrete Ceiling; It’s Not Even Glass”: Understanding Tenets of Organizational Culture That Supports the Progression of Women as Coaches and Coach Developers

The purpose of this study was to explore what particular areas of organizational cultures facilitate the development and progression of women as football coaches and coach developers. The English Football Association provided the context for the research. Previous statistics demonstrate that recruitment, retention, and progression of women in English football coaching and tutoring are lower and slower than their male counterparts. In-depth interviews were completed with 26 women coaches and coach developers during November 2015 and February 2016 to understand their personal experiences as linked to the structure and culture of their sporting governing body, and analyzed using Schein’s theory of organizational culture. Three key tenets of organizational culture were found to be most influential on the career development of the participants: journeys and crossroads (the establishment of a learning culture), inclusive leadership, and vertical and horizontal relationships. The research demonstrates the need to identify disparities between espoused values and assumptions to enact cultural change toward supporting more women to be valued, included, and progressed in the sporting workplace

Effects of high-intensity intermittent exercise on decision-making in soccer.

The aim of this thesis was to identify physiological factors associated with decision making performance of soccer players. If a decrement in decision-making performance was observed, a second aim would be to assess the extent to which soccer players' decision-making capability could be improved and trained. To achieve these aims there were four specific objectives: 1) To measure decision-making in soccer players using a soccer-specific protocol to assess decision-making and determine the reproducibility of the protocol's measures; 2) determine the effect of soccer-specific intermittent exercise on decision-making capability of soccer players; 3) assess the influence of repeated sprints and sprint-recovery duration on decision-making performance of soccer players and 4) assess the extent to which decision-making can be trained, by comparing perceptual video training with a soccer-specific field-based perceptual training programme.Reproducibility of decision-making measures was determined by test-retest method. Ten male participants performed 10 decision-making test trials, rested for one hour then completed a further 10 trials on two occasions. Analysis revealed response time Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) = 0.91 and response accuracy ICC = 0.80. Coefficient of variation for response time was 3.4% and for response accuracy 4.6% indicated measures were reproducible. Using this protocol, 15 participants performed an experimental trial (decision-making task, before and after an intermittent treadmill protocol) and a control trial (before and after decision-making task) on separate occasions. Means were compared using a fully repeated measures factorial analysis of variance. There was an interaction for response time (p < 0.01), d = 0.64 (large) and an interaction in response accuracy (p < 0.01), d = 0.84 (large) which indicated that players' decision-making performance was impaired probably because of the physiological strain imposed.Investigating these findings, 10 male participants performed, the decision-making task separated by 10 x 10-s repeated sprints with either a 15-s or a 30-s recovery period on different occasions. Means were compared using a fully repeated-measures factorial analysis of variance. There was an interaction for response time (p < 0.01), d = 0.42 (moderate). There was also an interaction for response accuracy (p < 0.01), d = 0.85 (large) highlighting, response time and accuracy were adversely affected as a consequence of the repeated sprints.As a decrement in decision-making was observed, 24 male participants were divided randomly into one of four groups (control, placebo, perceptual training and a field-based decision-making training group) of six participants. Repeated sprints and decisionmaking performance was assessed before and after a six-week perceptual training intervention and during a retention test after a further seven days. Groups were compared using a two-way multivariate analysis of variance, by groups and occasion. Players who underwent field-based training improved their response time (p < 0.01), d= 0.34 (small) and response accuracy (p < 0.01), d = 0.88 (large) after the six-week training intervention. This illustrated that field-based decision-making training facilitated the acquisition of perceptual skill in soccer and could be used as part of players' overall training programme

Clinical Trials and Novel Pathogens: Lessons Learned from SARS

During the recent global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), thousands of patients received treatments of uncertain efficacy and known toxicity such as ribavirin and corticosteroids. Despite this, no controlled clinical trials assessing the efficacy of these agents were conducted. If a second global SARS outbreak occurred, clinicians would not have controlled data on which to base therapeutic decisions. We discuss the unique methodologic and logistical challenges faced by researchers who attempt to conduct controlled trials of therapeutic agents during an outbreak of a novel or unknown infectious pathogen. We draw upon our own experience in attempting to conduct a randomized controlled trial (trial) of ribavirin therapy for SARS and discuss the lessons learned. Strategies to facilitate future clinical trials during outbreaks of unknown or novel pathogens are also presented

Sports coaches’ mentorship: Experience and a suggested future framework

Introduction: Mentoring is widely advocated as an important component of coach learning, both informally and as a constituent feature of coach development programmes. However, despite its ubiquity, there remains a paucity of empirical evidence to support mentoring’s use in practice. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to present an empirical case study of a formalised mentoring programme as experienced by the mentors, and to contribute towards a critical conceptualisation of mentoring in sports coaching. Materials and methods: Eight mentors participated in the study, all being employed on a formalised mentoring programme. Data collection occurred over the 18-month duration of the programme to respect the longitudinal nature of the mentoring process. The data were analysed thematically. Results: The results emphasised the need for a clearer conceptualisation of mentoring to successfully operationalise practice. Although the relational aspect of the role was deemed crucial, developing reciprocity was challenging. This was because of the limited shared or critical understanding of the role among the participants. Discussion: Building on the portrayal of mentoring depicted in the results, we subsequently position mentoring as a relational and contextualized activity. In doing so, we claim a more realistic, coherent and effective pedagogy of mentoring