Career Duration Research Articles

Uticaj iskustva igračkog i stručnog kadra na ostvareni rezultat u fudbalu

The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of the competitive experience of football players and coaches in the Champions League on the results achieved in that competition. The analysis included all the coaches who led their teams in the group stage of this competition (34) and all the players who had at least one appearance (578), in the 2019/2020 season. The experience was assessed on the basis of length of service in the club, the number of appearances in previous seasons in the Champions League competition, namely: in the current and the previous club, in the role of a player who starts the match, comes off the bench or sits on the bench. The experience of the coach was assessed on the basis of career duration, length of service in the club, the number of matches in the competition with the current and previous clubs. The results showed that the playing experience in the Champions League is important for achieving results in this competition. The previous appearances in the starting lineup (p < 0.001) especially with the current club (p < 0.001) are the most valuable. When it comes to coaches, there is no significant difference between the coaches whose teams managed to qualify in the TOP16 and those who did not, in terms of previous competitive experience. However, what is evident is a slightly higher total number of matches in this competition that the coaches of TOP16 teams had with the previous teams. It can be concluded that previous competitive experience is very important, especially for players, and that it correlates with the number of minutes spent in active play. The findings of this research could be applied in the process of selecting football players for the competition.

Evaluating Reliability of Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science: A Study of Faculty in U.S. Advertising and Public Relations Programs

Reliability of Google Scholar (GS), Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) is examined using publications and citations of 186 scholars in 14 U.S. advertising and public relations (ADPR) programs. Career duration is controlled, and an integrated impact (II) index is proposed as a practical solution. Results suggest there are trade-offs between the uncertainty of GS’s search parameters for more inclusive coverage and the curated collections of Scopus and WoS that might undercount some influential authors or works. To further demonstrate the discipline’s value, we must pay more attention to rigor and accuracy of methods that will lead to improved outcomes.

Incidence of and Mortality From Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in National Football League Athletes

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease; understanding ALS risk factors is a critical public health issue. To evaluate the incidence of and mortality from ALS in National Football League (NFL) athletes and to describe characteristics associated with ALS within this cohort. This population-based cohort study included all 19 423 NFL athletes who debuted between 1960 and 2019 and played 1 or more professional game. It was conducted between October 3, 2020, and July 19, 2021. Participation in the NFL, including playing 1 or more professional games. Cases of ALS and death information were identified based on public records from NFL statistics aggregators, news reports, obituaries, and National Death Index results. The standardized incidence ratio and the standardized mortality ratio were calculated based on data acquired from surveillance studies of ALS accounting for age, sex, and race. Secondary analyses examined the association of body mass index, NFL career duration, race, birth location, and markers of fame, using a nested case-control design, matching athletes with ALS to athletes without ALS, by NFL debut year. A total of 19 423 male former and current NFL players (age range, 23-78 years) were included in this cohort study and were followed up for a cumulative 493 168 years (mean [SD] follow-up, 30.6 [13.7] years). Thirty-eight players received a diagnosis of ALS, and 28 died during the study time frame, representing a significantly higher incidence of ALS diagnosis (standardized incidence ratio, 3.59; 95% CI, 2.58-4.93) and mortality (standardized mortality ratio, 3.94; 95% CI, 2.62-5.69) among NFL players compared with the US male population, adjusting for age and race. Among NFL athletes, nested-case-control analyses found that those who received a diagnosis of ALS had significantly longer careers (mean [SD] duration, 7.0 [3.9] years) than athletes without ALS (mean [SD] duration, 4.5 [3.6] years; odds ratio, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3). There were no differences in ALS status based on proxies of NFL fame, body mass index, position played, birth location, or race. The age-, sex-, and race-adjusted incidence of and mortality from ALS among all NFL players who debuted between 1960 and 2019 were nearly 4 times as high as those of the general population. Athletes with a diagnosis of ALS had longer NFL careers than those without ALS, suggesting an association between NFL duration of play and ALS. The identification of these risk factors for ALS helps to inform the study of pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for this fatal neurodegenerative disease.

The relative citation ratio and the h-index among academic ophthalmologists: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis

BackgroundLimited research has evaluated the relative citation ratio (RCR), a novel measure of research productivity. Accordingly, there remains a minimal understanding of its practical value relative to established metrics such as the h-index. Here, we examined correlations between the mean and weighted RCR scores and the h-index and explore the influence of academic rank, career duration, PhD acquisition, and fellowship training on these metrics. MethodsData regarding the academic rank (e.g. assistant professor, associate professor, professor, or “other”), career duration, degrees, fellowship training, and research yield were collected for 1018 academic ophthalmologists practicing in the southern United States of America. The iCite and Scopus databases were utilized to quantify research yield via calculations of mean and weighted RCR, and h-index, respectively. ResultsSignificant correlations were observed between the h-index and the mean (ρ = 0.62, P < 0.001) and weighted RCR (ρ = 0.84, P < 0.001). Advanced academic rank was associated with increased indices values. In a subset of ophthalmologists excluding members of the “other” category, career duration was moderately correlated with h-index (ρ = 0.45, P < 0.001), and weakly correlated with mean (ρ = 0.14, P < 0.001) and weighted (ρ = 0.26, P < 0.001) RCR. PhD and fellowship acquisition were associated with increased research yield. ConclusionThe findings suggest that the RCR is an effective measure of research yield, while resolving deficiencies present in the h-index. Further research remains to characterize the RCR's value relative to other established markers of research productivity.

Research productivity of radiation therapy physics faculty in the United States

PurposeResearch productivity metrics are important for decisions regarding hiring, retention, and promotion in academic medicine, and these metrics can vary widely among different disciplines. This article examines productivity metrics for radiation therapy physicists (RTP) in the United States.Methods and materialsDatabase searches were performed for RTP faculty at US institutions that have RTP residencies accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP). Demographics, academic rank, number of publications, academic career length, Hirsch index (h‐index), m‐quotient, and history of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding as a principal investigator (PI) were collected for each RTP. Logistic regression was performed to determine the probability of academic rank as a function of h‐index and m‐quotient. Statistical tests used included the Wilcoxon ranked sum test and the Pearson χ 2 test.ResultsA total of 1038 faculty and staff were identified at 78 institutions with CAMPEP‐accredited residencies. The average RTP academic career duration is 13.5 years, with 46.7 total publications, h‐index of 10.7, and m‐quotient of 0.66. Additionally, 10.5% of RTP have a history of NIH funding as a PI. Large disparities were found in academic productivity of doctoral‐prepared physicists compared to those with a terminal master's degree. For differences in junior and senior faculty, statistical tests yielded significance in career duration, number of publications, h‐index, and m‐quotient. Gender disparities were identified in the overall distribution of RTP consistent with the membership of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. Further gender disparities were found in the number of doctoral‐prepared RTP and physicists in senior faculty roles.ConclusionsThis manuscript provides objective benchmark data regarding research productivity of academic RTP. These data may be of interest to faculty preparing for promotion, and also to institutional leadership.

Factors associated with racing performance and career duration for Victorian-born Thoroughbreds.

The number of horses leaving the Australian Thoroughbred (TB) racing industry each year is of concern to animal welfare advocates, public and regulators. A horse's previous athletic performance is a significant driver of retirement from racing. Racehorse performance can be measured in terms of the total number of starts, duration of racing and prize money earned. This study investigated Australian racing records for the 2005 and 2010 Victorian TB foal crops to identify factors associated with total number of starts, racing career duration, prize money earned and age of last race start-up to the 10-year-old racing season. Racing Australia registered 4,577 TB horses born in Victoria in 2005 (n=2,506) and 2010 (n=2,071) that raced in Australia. Horses that started racing at 2-years of age had fewer race starts in their first racing season but an increased total number of starts, prize money and duration of racing. The median age of last start (LS) was five (Q1 4; Q3 7) years. Horses that had won a race, had a maximum handicap rating of 61 or above and those racing over distances of more than 2,400 m had an increased racing career duration and an age of last race start greater than 6-years of age. Horses participating in jumps races (n=63) had the longest careers and older age of LS. These horses were more likely to have had a handicap rating over 80 and were just as likely to start their racing careers as 2-years-olds.

The Digital Footprint of Academic Plastic Surgeons.

The digital age and global pandemic have transformed the way patients select their plastic surgeon. However, as more patients turn to online resources, there is little information on the digital presence of academic plastic surgeons. We identified all academic faculty from integrated and independent plastic surgery residency programs. Using a Google-based custom search, the top 10 search results for each surgeon were extracted and categorized as surgeon noncontrolled (eg, physician rating websites) or controlled (eg, social media, institutional, and research profiles). Eight hundred four academic plastic surgeons were included. Most search results were surgeon-noncontrolled sites (57%, n = 4547). Being male (odds ratio [OR], 0.60, P = 0.0020) and holding a higher academic rank (OR = 0.61, P < 0.0001) significantly decreased the prevalence of physician rating websites, whereas career length was significantly associated with a greater number of rating websites (OR = 1.04, P < 0.0001). Surgeon-controlled websites were significantly influenced by academic rank and years in practice; higher academic rank was associated with more social media platforms (OR = 1.42, P = 0.0008), institutional webpages (OR = 1.57, P < 0.0001), and research profiles (OR = 1.62, P = 0.0008). Conversely, longer career duration was a predictor for fewer social media platforms (OR = 0.95, P < 0.0001) and institutional webpages (OR = 0.95, P < 0.0001). Academic plastic surgeons do not hold control of the majority of their search results. However, digitally savvy plastic surgeons can focus attention by building on certain areas to optimize their digital footprint. This study can serve as a guide for academic plastic surgeons wishing to control their online presence.

The Duration of the Sports Career as a Determinant of the Second Professional Career

Theoretical background: A sports career is a specific activity because it starts at an early age, lasts a relatively short time, and usually athletes are most successful when their peers are just starting to develop their typical professional careers. In previous research on the second careers of ex-athletes, mainly the top performers were described, forgetting that many athletes play in the lower leagues and sport is also their main profession. In this study, athletes who played at different levels of competition were analysed. Purpose of the article: The article aims to determine how the length of a sports career affects the second professional career of former athletes. Research methods: The studied population were Polish basketball players of working-age after finishing their sports careers. The survey was conducted online in 2021 and 301 people took part in it. The average duration of a sports career of participants was 10.13 years. Former basketball players were divided into 2 groups according to their career length. The first group consisted of those whose basketball careers lasted at least 10 years (160 people), and the second group consisted of those whose careers were shorter than 10 years (141 people). Main findings: Former players whose sports careers lasted for at least 10 years are more satisfied with them than those whose sports careers were shorter, but they assess their current career prospects worse. It may result from the fact that among those whose sports careers were shorter, a greater percentage have higher education. The results also show that those whose basketball careers were longer, are now more likely to work in the field of sport. In conclusion, it can be said that earlier retirement from sports, favours to a greater extent university graduating and also allows a faster transition to a second professional career.

Criminal Careers and Early Death: Relationships In the Cambridge Study In Delinquent Development

Abstract Prior research shows that convicted and incarcerated persons tend to die early, but this research does not investigate the relationships between criminal career features and early death. The aim of this article is to utilize the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development longitudinal sample of males to study this; 54 males who died early (up to age 65) are compared with 332 males who did not emigrate and did not die early. The results show that convicted offenders, early onset offenders, recidivists and chronic offenders tended to die early, but there were relatively weak relationships between early death and life-course-persistent offenders and career duration. It is concluded that much more research on the relationship between early death and criminal career features is needed, and further tests of criminological theories need to take account of the time at risk of offending.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy – current state of knowledge

Introduction and purpose. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a tauopathy caused by repetitive, mild head injuries. It is characterized by perivascular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the neurons and astrocytes. CTE leads to changes in central nervous system, both on microscopic and macroscopic level. The aim of the study was to present the current knowledge on chronic traumatic encephalopathy among athletes, its predisposing factors, symptoms and consequences, as well as diagnostic methods and treatment.Description. CTE occurs among contact sport players, such as American football, ice hockey, soccer, baseball, box and MMA (mixed martial arts), as well as among soldiers and victims of domestic violence. Repetitive head injuries and long career duration increase the risk of CTE. Symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy include a commonly occurring triad: cognitive disturbances, behavioral problems and mood disturbances. Other symptoms include memory loss, parkinsonism, headaches, speech and walking problems. Currently, the only diagnostic method of CTE is a posthumous detection of neuropathological markers. Methods such as detection of exosomal tau protein in plasma and imaging techniques give hope to diagnose CTE in alive patients. Treatment methods of CTE, such as LIPUS (low intensity pulsed ultrasound) therapy are currently being developed.Conclusions. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy among athletes is a serious problem that affects multiple people due to the popularity of contact sports. Thus, an emphasis should be put on prevention, raising awareness and appropriate protection of athletes through changes in regulations and improvement of protective equipment.

Reader Response: Association of Position Played and Career Duration and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at Autopsy in Elite Football and Hockey Players.

Schwab et al.1 did not find a statistically significant association between position played and career duration and autopsy-confirmed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in elite football and ice hockey players. The study's limitations associated with statistical power, measurement error, and sample selection hinder interpretation of the presented data. The authors state that a sample size of about 14 is required “to detect a 50% difference in CTE diagnoses between groups with 80% power.”1 Player position is unlikely to account for a 50% difference in CTE status based on work by Mez et al.,2 which indicates no effect for player position in >250 former football players. Assuming that player position accounts for a much smaller effect in CTE status, such as 10%, a sample size of approximately 400 would be needed. In Mez et al., each additional year of football play accounted for a 30% increase in odds of CTE. Given the sample size and standard deviation reported for career duration in this article, the authors were only 80% powered to detect an effect 2.4 times larger and were only 55% powered to detect the effect presented in Mez et al.

Author Response: Association of Position Played and Career Duration and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at Autopsy in Elite Football and Hockey Players.

We have no difference of opinion with Mez et al. regarding the statistical power issues, and their description of the relevant limitations is an accurate recapitulation of our own.1 We did not intend to suggest, with a cohort of this size, that there could not be some small differences in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) risk based on position; of course, smaller differences might be found with larger sample sizes. Whether differences <50% would have practical relevance for elite collision sport athletes is an open question. With respect to career duration measurement, we also analyzed career duration at the highest level played, but this analysis was removed from the article in response to reviewers' reasonable suggestions that the information was redundant to the age of retirement data. However, a summary line remains in table 1.1

Reader Response: Association of Position Played and Career Duration and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at Autopsy in Elite Football and Hockey Players

Schwab et al.1 rigorously describe postmortem neuropathology in 35 elite athletes. Brain tissue from well-characterized cases remains scarce, demanding creative approaches to data collection. The inadequacy of web-based methods alone is evident in the authors' inability to define their primary exposure, career duration, as well as incomplete characterization of isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI). Open-ended questions yielded 0% prevalence of more severe TBI—a stark contrast to population-based studies that report >20% prevalence of TBI with loss of consciousness.2 The authors assumed, but did not quantify mild TBI exposure, suggesting an accommodation of rigor to data available. That lifetime head trauma exposure is so poorly enumerated obscures investigation into the contributions of isolated TBI to the neuropathology of repetitive trauma and the exposure thresholds that confer elevated neurodegenerative disease risk. The value of a structured TBI screening tool cannot be understated,3 particularly for identification of remote events. Retrospective family interview is sometimes the best, and often the only method for postmortem characterization, and has contributed greatly to our understanding of clinical dementia and cerebrovascular disease.4,5 Common Data Elements for postmortem characterization of TBI exposure are now under development; their adoption will invite replication of this study's results with more complete data and an even greater scientific impact.

Author Response: Association of Position Played and Career Duration and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at Autopsy in Elite Football and Hockey Players.

We completely share Dr. Dams-O’Connor's hope for replication studies and increasingly complete and accurate data.1 In our cohort of 35 former elite athletes, we did not think it surprising to have uncovered no history of moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)—as commonly defined2—nor did we find it to be in stark contrast to population-based studies. Indeed, our reading of the study cited to suggest a high (>20%) prevalence in the general population of more severe TBI is that only 192/6,998 respondents (2.7%) recollected a TBI with loss of consciousness >30 minutes—the definition used in that study for moderate-severe TBI.3 At that rate (about 1/37), it would not be unexpected to find 0% prevalence in a cohort of 35 individuals. Moreover, from the data cited on intercollegiate athletes using the Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire, showing that 12/90 recollected a TBI with loss of consciousness lasting several minutes to an hour, interpreted as clinically significant TBI, it cannot be ascertained whether any of those individuals had a moderate, as opposed to a mild, TBI.4 In our common quest for scientific rigor, it is important that the value of a structured TBI screening tool be neither understated nor overstated.

Editors' Note: Association of Position Played and Career Duration and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at Autopsy in Elite Football and Hockey Players

In their retrospective autopsy series of 35 former football and hockey players, Schwab and colleagues found that half (49%) had histopathologic evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) based on 2015 NINDS consensus criteria. Among their findings, the investigators reported no significant association between CTE risk and surrogate markers for lifetime exposure to sport and aggressive role/style of play, although the study was limited by its small sample size. The investigators conclude that factors other than cumulative physical contact and injury insufficiently explain the risk of CTE. Dr. Mez and colleagues compared these results from their recently published autopsy series of 266 former football players, in which the odds of CTE increased by 30% for every year of football played. In their work, Mez et al. also report no effect of player position (similar to the results of Schwab et al.); however, Mez et al. indicate that the findings reported here were too underpowered to detect any significant relationship between CTE and position or exposure duration. Furthermore, comments by Mez as well as Dr. Dams-O’Connor highlight important limitations in selection of the independent variables, particularly that the surrogate marker for duration of exposure (age at retirement) inadequately captures preprofessional duration of play. Preprofessional exposure and head injury have been shown in some studies to pose considerable risk as injuries accumulate in the developing brains of children and adolescents. The investigators acknowledge the limitation in statistical power, but reiterate a major conclusion that even subjects with relatively brief exposure to contact sports remain at risk of this histopathologic diagnosis, whereas others with protracted exposure may not develop this brain pathology. In their retrospective autopsy series of 35 former football and hockey players, Schwab and colleagues found that half (49%) had histopathologic evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) based on 2015 NINDS consensus criteria. Among their findings, the investigators reported no significant association between CTE risk and surrogate markers for lifetime exposure to sport and aggressive role/style of play, although the study was limited by its small sample size. The investigators conclude that factors other than cumulative physical contact and injury insufficiently explain the risk of CTE. Dr. Mez and colleagues compared these results from their recently published autopsy series of 266 former football players, in which the odds of CTE increased by 30% for every year of football played. In their work, Mez et al. also report no effect of player position (similar to the results of Schwab et al.); however, Mez et al. indicate that the findings reported here were too underpowered to detect any significant relationship between CTE and position or exposure duration. Furthermore, comments by Mez as well as Dr. Dams-O’Connor highlight important limitations in selection of the independent variables, particularly that the surrogate marker for duration of exposure (age at retirement) inadequately captures preprofessional duration of play. Preprofessional exposure and head injury have been shown in some studies to pose considerable risk as injuries accumulate in the developing brains of children and adolescents. The investigators acknowledge the limitation in statistical power, but reiterate a major conclusion that even subjects with relatively brief exposure to contact sports remain at risk of this histopathologic diagnosis, whereas others with protracted exposure may not develop this brain pathology.

Side-Side Radial Strength Differences In The Cortex In Female Volleyball Players Compared To Controls

INTRODUCTION: Repetitive mechanical loading optimizes bone strength as reported in studies investigating side to side differences in within-subject models using athletes from sports with high repetitive loads and that require use of a dominant lower limb (Weatherholt and Warden, 2016). Similarly, racquet sport players yielded greater strength differences compared to controls in their racquet limb (Kontulainen et al., 2003). Such differences are not yet fully understood in female volleyball players; therefore, due to the highly repetitive striking of a dominant upper limb, the use of female volleyball players is an appropriate population to determine such strength differences. PURPOSE: To determine the percent differences in cortical strength traits between the dominant-non dominant radii in female volleyball players compared to a control group. METHODS: Division II female volleyball players (VB) (N = 16) and age-match controls (CON) (N = 15) underwent peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) scans to measure bone strength in both radii at the 66% site. Side to Side differences in cortical density (ΔCoD, mg/cm3), cortical area (ΔCoA mm2), strength strain index (ΔSSIp mm3), and moment of inertia (ΔMoI mm4) were assessed using a 2x4 mixed ANOVA. RESULTS: VB (19 yrs + 1.2); CON (22.5 yrs + 3.3). No significant differences between dominant-non dominant radii across all variables were found. Radii cortical strength variables resulted in the following ΔCoD: VB -0.96 % (CI -1.93-0.01); CON -0.45 % (CI -0.03-0.87), ΔCoA: VB 2.12% (CI -0.61-4.85); CON 1.49% (CI -0.21-3.19), ΔSSIp: VB 0.31% (CI -5.8-6.42); CON -2.66 % (CI -7.29-1.97), ΔMoI: VB 4.77 % (CI -1.39-10.93); CON 2.98% (CI -0.46-6.42). CONCLUSION: No significant differences between the dominant-non dominant radii were found in Division II female volleyball players compared to age-matched controls. However, the structural variables CoA and MoI show greater percent differences compared to control than CoD. These data suggest that volleyball may not be an appropriate model for within-subject analysis for bone adaptation due to the type of mechanical loading that is common in the sport. Factors such as start-to-play age, position, and career duration may affect these side to side differences; further investigations are needed on a larger sample size.

Comparison Of Mortality Rates Among Elite American Football Athletes From 1965 To 1986

Over the past decades, evidence has suggested there are increased health risks associated with playing American football. These health risks may be variable by position, due to repeated head impact exposure. PURPOSE: To analyze potential differences in life expectancy between National Football League (NFL) players named to All-Pro teams from 1965 to 1986. METHODS: Football players were identified as “elite” if they were named to an All-Pro team between 1965 and 1986. Pro-football-reference.com was used to identify these athletes and collect preliminary information. Additional information was gathered using personal interviews, news articles, blogs and forums. These data included the year that the athlete was first named to an All-Pro team, his position, team, date of birth, date of death (if applicable), the length of his NFL career, and reported height and weight. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compute the median lifespan by position and Cox regression, using forward stepwise selection, was used to determine if any of the covariates collected, including position, influenced lifespan. Special teams’ positions were excluded due to low sample size (n = 23). RESULTS: 746 elite male NFL players were identified and included. Of those, 171 were deceased as of May 1, 2020 with a median age of death of 67y. Survival analysis revealed the median life expectancy was 84y [SE = 1y; 95% confidence interval 83-86y], with offensive linemen having the shortest median lifespan (82y; 95%CI = 79-85). Cox regression revealed BMI [Exp(B) = 1.12, 95%CI = 1.06-1.19; p < 0.001] and career duration [Exp(B) = 0.943, 95%CI = 0.89-1.00; p = 0.033] significantly influenced mortality. Position was not a predictor of lifespan in the stepwise model, but was a significant predictor of lifespan if entered into the model itself (p < 0.001), with linemen having shorter lifespans than skill players. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that BMI during one’s football career may be predictive of lifespan among elite NFL players. Athletes with longer NFL careers may live longer despite potentially increased exposure to repeated head impact. This paradox may be due to long careers being facilitated by the absence of major injuries and resulting in greater socioeconomic status, which may be associated with superior health post-retirement.

Occupational Safety and Health Education Experience and Prevention Service Needs among South Korean Farmers: A National Survey

ABSTRACT Objective Objective data on farmers’ awareness of occupational safety and health are needed for the development of national policy measures. Yet, relevant research is lacking in South Korea. Methods This study investigated occupational safety and health education experience, perceived needs for prevention services, and factors affecting these among South Korean farmers. The data are from a personal-visit survey conducted on 9,970 sample farms nationwide. Results While 69.9% of the farmers felt the need for agricultural health and safety education and 60.6% were willing to receive it, only 30.3% had at least one educational experience. A total of 51.9% felt the need for professional on-farm services. By group, education experience and perceived need for prevention services were consistently low among women, people aged 70 or older, low-income individuals, or farmers with a farming career duration of less than five years. Experience of safety and health education increased the desire for other prevention services: people who had received safety and health education were 6.4 times more likely to feel the need for education, 5.5 times more willing to participate in education, 2.0 times more likely to feel the need to improve their work environments, and 1.7 times more likely to feel the need for professional on-farm services. Conclusion Despite the high desire for injury prevention services, farmers have had very limited opportunities to receive safety education; measures are also needed for groups whose safety education has been neglected. Further studies on education methods and on-farm services tailored to South Korean farmers are needed.

The Relative Citation Ratio: Examining a Novel Measure of Research Productivity among Southern Academic Ophthalmologists

ABSTRACT Purpose To analyze research productivity, as assessed by the National Institutes of Health-supported relative citation ratio (RCR), for a cohort of Southern academic ophthalmologists. Design A descriptive and cross-sectional design was used. Data on gender, academic rank (assigned as an assistant professor, associate professor, professor, or “other”), degrees, and career duration were collected using online resources. Research yield was quantified using mean and weighted RCR data queried from the iCite database. Significant between-group differences were calculated using the Mann–Whitney U-test and the Kruskal–Wallis test. Settings Practicing academic ophthalmologists at Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited ophthalmology programs in the Southern United States (n = 1018). Results For all Southern academic ophthalmologists, median mean RCR was 0.90 (IQR 0.18–1.71) and median weighted RCR was 5.12 (IQR 0.34–33.18). Advanced academic rank and PhD acquisition were significantly associated with increased mean and weighted RCR. After exclusion of faculty within the “other” category, median mean RCR was 1.12 (IQR 0.54–1.80) and median weighted RCR was 11.65 (IQR 2.03–45.58). Furthermore, effects of career duration and gender emerged. Ophthalmologists with longer careers had significantly higher mean and weighted RCR than their younger counterparts. Males had significantly higher mean and weighted RCR than females. Conclusions Academic rank and attainment of a PhD degree were correlated with increased research productivity. When analyses focused exclusively on faculty not in the “other” subgroup, male gender, and lengthier career were associated with increased mean and weighted RCR, the former of which potentially highlights differences in professional advancement between genders.

Relationships between Vitamin D and Selected Cytokines and Hemogram Parameters in Professional Football Players-Pilot Study.

Vitamin D affects both innate and adaptive immunity. Most of the effects of vitamin D on innate immunity are anti-inflammatory. In monocytes/macrophages, vitamin D suppresses the production of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between 25(OH)D concentration and selected cytokines—IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β, which are hemogram parameters for professional football players. We enrolled 41 Polish premier league soccer players. The mean age, career duration, and VO2max were, respectively: 22.7 ± 5.3 years, 14.7 ± 4.5 years, and 55.8 ± 4.0 mL/kg/min. Serum levels of 25(OH)D were measured by electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) using the Elecsys system (Roche, Switzerland). Serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were measured by ELISA (R&D Systems, Minneapolis). Blood count with smear was measured on a Sysmex XT-4000i analyzer (Sysmex Corporation, Japan). Our study showed decreased serum 25(OH)D levels in 78% of the professional players. We found a significant negative correlation between 25(OH)D levels and TNF-α and LYMPH (%). The results also demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation between vitamin D levels and NEUTH (%), NEUTH (tys/µL), and EOS (tys/µL). Based on the results of our study, we concluded that football players from Poland are not protected against vitamin D insufficiency in winter months. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency may be associated with an increased pro-inflammatory risk in well-trained athletes.