Challenges that Women in Athletic Training Face in NCAA Athletics

Athletic training was once known to be a male dominated profession however in more recent years the number of females in the profession has been increasing. According to the National Athletic Trainer’s Association 55% of its members identify as being a woman. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to seek the challenges that athletic trainers who identify as a woman have/or are currently facing while working in NCAA Athletics. There are many young women out there who aspire to be an athletic trainer one day but are hesitant about joining the profession because they want to have a family one day, or worry about having to face the challenge of their knowledge being questioned, and lastly the struggle of gaining respect from athletic directors, coaches and athletes, along with many other challenges. METHODS:For this study a survey was created for those who met the criteria. In order to participate in the survey participants needed to identify as a woman, be a certified or licensed athletic trainer, and have experience working in the NCAA setting as a certified or licensed athletic trainer. The survey asked participants about how they managed work-life balance, hours worked, positions they held, locations/accessibility of the athletic training facility, and other related topics. The survey contained multiple choice, and short answer questions. The survey was sent out via social media and was open for about 3 weeks, with 96 responses. RESULTS: Out of the 96 participants, 68.75% have been a certified or licensed athletic trainer for 10 years or less. 28.42% reported having 1-3, while 21.05% were on the other end of the spectrum having 10+ full-time clinical staff athletic trainers. When asked if the participants felt supported by their administration or supervisors, the majority 68.61% said that they agreed that they felt supported. There was not a statistically significant difference regarding the level of support based on years of experience (p=.472). Nor was there a significant difference reported when referencing if the supervisor was a man or woman and their level of support (p=.167). When asked if their knowledge has ever been questioned by an athlete, parent or coach, 89.58% of participants agreed that their knowledge has been question. CONCLUSION: Women in athletic training positions on NCAA staffs face many barriers and challenges includinglow pay compared to hours worked and duties assigned, wanting to spend more time with family and having their knowledge questioned. Future studies comparing this information to that of the men in similar roles would be helpful in noting any disparity between these two groups

Correlation Between Previous Diagnosed Ankle Injuries and the Rate of Diagnosed Osteoarthritis Within Athletic Trainers

While athletic trainers take care of many active individuals from prevention to rehabilitation of injury and illness, these healthcare professionals do not often apply the same concepts to their own health. After may years of standing along sidelines and other playing surfaces, they may often find themselves with osteoarthritis (OA) of various joints especially the ankle. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to expand the knowledge in certified or licensed athletic trainers regarding the rate of OA as it correlates to their own personal ankle injuries and to develop an understanding of how important it is as health care providers to care for the injuries that may be sustained on as well as off the job. METHODS: This study consisted of a of 133 anonymous participants. Out of the 133 participants, 13 were male and 120 were female. The study participants were recruited via social media posts and completed a 14-question survey. 8 out of the 14 questions were multiple choice including 1 multiple-choice question consisting of 7 answer choices. 4 questions were answered on a Likert scale question. The remaining question was open ended. RESULTS: The frequencies of answers for each question were compared. Select question were further analyzed by using an independent t-test or ANOVA. 91 of the participants answered “no” to “Have you been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in your ankle?” 15 answered “yes”, 7 were “unsure”. There was a significant difference in comparing age and diagnosed OA in the ankle with those 36+ years of age reporting more incidences of the condition compared with their counterparts under 35. (p-value \u3c.001). There was also a significant difference in comparing diagnosed OA in the ankle and the years of experience as a certified or licensed athletic trainer with those having more experience noting an increased rate of the condition. This was note with a p-value=.013. There was no significant difference when comparing how long it was between last ankle injury and diagnosis of OA in the ankle (p-value .847). Similar analysis of other paired questions demonstrated no significant statistical difference between previous ankle injuries and OA in the ankle. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there is no correlation to previous ankle injuries and ankle osteoarthritis in the athletic training population. This study can lead to further investigation of joint pain within the ankle due to previous ankle injuries as well as potential relationship to work-related tasks of the certified or licensed athletic trainer

Physical Fitness Differences between ROTC Ranger Challenge Cadets and Regular ROTC Cadets

Physical fitness has proven its worth for military personal, as a whole, and individually. A high physical fitness level serves as an influencing variable to completion of special military operation initiation trainings (i.e. BUD/S Training). Consequently, militant whom possess a higher level of physical fitness may gain greater occupational advancement opportunities/placement. Pre-commissioned military programs requiring rigorous physical activity participation, superior to typical physical training (PT), may yield optimal physical capacity for cadets seeking special military operations commission, and/or alternative military placement involving physically demand responsibilities. The fitness level of cadets enrolled in military programs requiring elevated PT standards compared to cadets in “regular” pre-commission programs necessitates examination. PURPOSE: The purpose of the current research was to examine the physical fitness levels, according to Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) results, of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Ranger cadets (n = 15) compared to Regular ROTC cadets (n = 78). METHODS: Cadets participated in a 12 week Ranger ROTC training program (undulated resistance training; speed, agility, and quickness training; and high intensity interval ruck training) or 12 weeks of the “regular” ROTC calisthenics (i.e. push-ups, sit-ups, bodyweight squats, long-distance running). Upon completed of the training protocols, an APFT was conducted to identify physical fitness level of cadets. An independent sample t-test (α \u3c .05) analyze the mean difference between raw scores, standardized scores, and overall APFT scores of Ranger and Regular cadets. RESULTS: Significant differences were recognized between Ranger and Regular cadets for all aspects of the APFT: Raw 2-minute push-up t(91)=4.281, \u3c.001; Raw 2-minute sit-up t(91)=3.842, \u3c.001; Raw 2-mile run t(91)=-3.993, \u3c.001; Standardized 2-minute push-up t(91)=3.369, \u3c.001; Standardized 2-minute sit-up t(91)=3.668, \u3c.001; Standardized 2-mile run t(91)=3.857, \u3c.001; and overall APFT t(91)=4.130, \u3c.001. CONCLUSION: These results illustrate a drastic difference in physical fitness level among cadets and suggest the elevated fitness level of Ranger cadets may serve as an ample foundation to future military placement and operations

Inverted orbital polarization in strained correlated oxide films

Manipulating the orbital occupation of valence electrons via epitaxial strain in an effort to induce new functional properties requires considerations of how changes in the local bonding environment affect the band structure at the Fermi level. Using synchrotron radiation to measure the x-ray linear dichroism of epitaxially strained films of the correlated oxide CaFeO3, we demonstrate that the orbital polarization of the Fe valence electrons is opposite from conventional understanding. Although the energetic ordering of the Fe 3d orbitals is confirmed by multiplet ligand field theory analysis to be consistent with previously reported strain-induced behavior, we find that the nominally higher energy orbital is more populated than the lower. We ascribe this inverted orbital polarization to an anisotropic bandwidth response to strain in a compound with nearly filled bands. These findings provide an important counterexample to the traditional understanding of strain-induced orbital polarization and reveal a new method to engineer otherwise unachievable orbital occupations in correlated oxides

The Role of TNF-α in Mice with Type 1- and 2- Diabetes

Background: Previously, we have demonstrated that short-term treatment of new onset diabetic Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, mice that are afflicted with both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes with either Power Mix (PM) regimen or alpha1 antitrypsin (AAT) permanently restores euglycemia, immune tolerance to self-islets and normal insulin signaling. Methodology and Principal Findings: To search for relevant therapeutic targets, we have applied genome wide transcriptional profiling and systems biology oriented bioinformatics analysis to examine the impact of the PM and AAT regimens upon pancreatic lymph node (PLN) and fat, a crucial tissue for insulin dependent glucose disposal, in new onset diabetic non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Systems biology analysis identified tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) as the top focus gene hub, as determined by the highest degree of connectivity, in both tissues. In PLNs and fat, TNF-$\alpha$ interacted with 53% and 32% of genes, respectively, associated with reversal of diabetes by previous treatments and was thereby selected as a therapeutic target. Short-term anti-TNF-$\alpha$ treatment ablated a T cell-rich islet-invasive and beta cell-destructive process, thereby enhancing beta cell viability. Indeed anti-TNF-$\alpha$ treatment induces immune tolerance selective to syngeneic beta cells. In addition to these curative effects on T1D anti-TNF-e33254 treatment restored in vivo insulin signaling resulting in restoration of insulin sensitivity. Conclusions: In short, our molecular analysis suggested that PM and AAT both may act in part by quenching a detrimental TNF-$\alpha$ dependent effect in both fat and PLNs. Indeed, short-term anti-TNF-$\alpha$ mAb treatment restored enduring euglycemia, self-tolerance, and normal insulin signaling

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level.

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4%) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 [84.7%]) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 [62.8%]), followed by strabismus (n = 429 [10.2%]) and proptosis (n = 309 [7.4%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 [95% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 [95% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Psychological Impact of an Athlete\u27s Life

Injuries are a common occurrence for athletes that are active in competitive sports. When an athlete is injured, many emotions are at play and can provide a powerful impact psychologically. PURPOSE: This research will identify any psychological impact from an injury on an athlete’s overall life. The data gained will be instrumental in providing a basis for clinician education and intervention development. METHODS: Participates completed a 21-question survey through Qualtrics for this study. All of the participants are current or recently retired in the last five years NCAA Division 1 athletes. Out of the 21 questions, 12 of them are multiple choices. 2 of the question were pick all that apply and the remaining 7 were based on a Likert Scale (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree). Demographics recorded via the survey included specific sports, biological sex, age, injury type, surgery or non-surgery. In addition, if time loss from play had any role in psychological changes in athlete’s life was also noted. RESULTS: Of the 46 anonymous survey participants from different current and recently retired NCAA D1 athletes, 14 identified as male and 32 identified as female. The frequency of the answers chosen was compared using either an independent samples t-test or ANOVA. There was no significant difference noted when running an independent samples t-test comparing if their injury required surgery and the impact that had on the athlete’s anxiety level when returning to play (p=.836). On another independent samples t-test, there was a significant difference noted between athletes who played football and those that played volleyball regarding their anxiety level for return to play (p=0.001). In total, 50% of all participants selected that they agree to this statement that they felt anxious upon return to play. However, 77% agreed that they felt relaxed now while taking the survey. CONLUSION: After investigation of these results, it showed that athletes do experience psychological changes when the injury first occurs and upon returning to play. Yet, for this group, no impact on the mental health of these athletes overall life was noted. This study can produce many more research questions along the lines of bringing awareness to psychological impacts on athletes after injuries