Why research should focus on youth hip & groin pain

Surprisingly, despite the vast investment clubs make in nurturing young players, there is limited research related to youth footballer injury. One epidemiological study notes that 7-12% of all injuries are hip / groin related in nature (3). Epidemiology provide us with data that allow us to gauge the extent of a problem and arguably by these statistics one would suggest not that much and indeed, this was echoed at the FMA conference; I disagree. Epidemiological data is often derived from “time-loss” methodology whereby a players problem only contributes to the data when they are ‘absent’ from training or match play. (cont'd

The precision and torque production of common hip adductor squeeze tests used in elite football

Objectives: Decreased hip adductor strength is a known risk factor for groin injury in footballers, with clinicians testing adductor strength in various positions and using different protocols. Understanding how reliable and how much torque different adductor squeeze tests produce will facilitate choosing the most appropriate method for future testing. In this study, the reliability and torque production of three common adductor squeeze tests were investigated. Design: Test–retest reliability and cross-sectional comparison. Methods: Twenty elite level footballers (16–33 years) without previous or current groin pain were recruited. Relative and absolute test–retest reliability, and torque production of three adductor squeeze tests (long-lever in abduction, short-lever in adduction and short-lever in abduction/external rotation)were investigated. Each participant performed a series of isometric strength tests measured by hand-held dynamometry in each position, on two test days separated by two weeks. Results: No systematic variation was seen for any of the tests when using the mean of three measures(ICC = 0.84–0.97, MDC% = 6.6–19.5). The smallest variation was observed when taking the mean of threer epetitions in the long-lever position (ICC = 0.97, MDC% = 6.6). The long-lever test also yielded the highest mean torque values, which were 69% and 11% higher than the short-lever in adduction test and short-lever in abduction/external rotation test respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: All three tests described in this study are reliable methods of measuring adductor squeeze strength. However, the test performed in the long-lever position seems the most promising as it displays high test–retest precision and the highest adductor torque production

Saturation Spectroscopy of Iodine in Hollow-core Optical Fibre

We present high-resolution spectroscopy of Iodine vapour that is loaded and trapped within the core of a hollow-core photonic crystal fibre (HC-PCF). We compare the observed spectroscopic features to those seen in a conventional iodine cell and show that the saturation characteristics differ significantly. Despite the confined geometry it was still possible to obtain sub-Doppler features with a spectral width of ~6 MHz with very high contrast. We provide a simple theory which closely reproduces all the key observations of the experiment.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Optimized coupling of cold atoms into a fiber using a blue-detuned hollow-beam funnel

We theoretically investigate the process of coupling cold atoms into the core of a hollow-core photonic-crystal optical fiber using a blue-detuned Laguerre-Gaussian beam. In contrast to the use of a red-detuned Gaussian beam to couple the atoms, the blue-detuned hollow-beam can confine cold atoms to the darkest regions of the beam thereby minimizing shifts in the internal states and making the guide highly robust to heating effects. This single optical beam is used as both a funnel and guide to maximize the number of atoms into the fiber. In the proposed experiment, Rb atoms are loaded into a magneto-optical trap (MOT) above a vertically-oriented optical fiber. We observe a gravito-optical trapping effect for atoms with high orbital momentum around the trap axis, which prevents atoms from coupling to the fiber: these atoms lack the kinetic energy to escape the potential and are thus trapped in the laser funnel indefinitely. We find that by reducing the dipolar force to the point at which the trapping effect just vanishes, it is possible to optimize the coupling of atoms into the fiber. Our simulations predict that by using a low-power (2.5 mW) and far-detuned (300 GHz) Laguerre-Gaussian beam with a 20-{\mu}m radius core hollow-fiber it is possible to couple 11% of the atoms from a MOT 9 mm away from the fiber. When MOT is positioned further away, coupling efficiencies over 50% can be achieved with larger core fibers.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, 1 tabl

Encapsulate everything, grasp nothing: Russian imperialist discourse in Uzbekistan

MacFadyen, David. 2006. Russian Culture in Uzbekistan: One Language in the Middle of Nowhere. Central Asian Studies Series, vol. 6. London: Routledge. A 162 pages. ISBN 978 04153 4134

Learning and interaction in groups with computers: when do ability and gender matter?

In the research reported in this paper, we attempt to identify the background and process factors influencing the effectiveness of groupwork with computers in terms of mathematics learning. The research used a multi-site case study design in six schools and involved eight groups of six mixed-sex, mixed-ability pupils (aged 9-12) undertaking three research tasks – two using Logo and one a database. Our findings suggest that, contrary to other recent research, the pupil characteristics of gender and ability have no direct influence on progress in group tasks with computers. However, status effects – pupils' perceptions of gender and ability – do have an effect on the functioning of the group, which in turn can impede progress for all pupils concerned

Prosecutors\u27 Peremptory Challenges - A Response and Reply

Three federal trial attorneys disagree with Professor Richard Friedman\u27s proposal to eliminate the prosecution\u27s peremptories, while Friedman defends his view