Career Length Research Articles

Hip Arthroscopy for Labral Tears and FAI is Associated with a High Rate of Return to Play for Professional American Football Athletes, A Literature Review.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) with labral tear is an increasingly recognized source of hip pain and lost playing time in elite athletes, yet data pertaining to professional American football athletes remains scarce. Prognostic recommendations are largely limited to single-institution cohort studies. To date, no large-scale literature review of surgical treatment of FAI in elite American football athletes has been performed. This review article reports the prevalence, return to play, performance outcomes, and career longevity following hip arthroscopy in professional American football athletes across all orthopedic literature between 2004-2024. We hypothesize high rates of return to sport (> 85%) to the same competition level and no differences in career longevity or postoperative performance. In the last 20years, 8 studies have reported outcomes following hip arthroscopy in NFL athletes; no outcomes have been reported since the 2017 season. Return to play ranged from 79-93% and time to return ranged between 6.0-7.4months. Offensive lineman returned at the lowest rate among all position groups. There were no differences in postoperative performance or career length compared to age-matched controls. There is high rate of return to professional American football after hip arthroscopy for labral tear and/or FAI with no differences in performance or career longevity compared to control groups. Offensive lineman undergoing hip arthroscopy return to same-level competition at a lower rate compared to other football positions.

Registered physiotherapists' knowledge of terms related to responding to evacuees during disasters and its status of use

Objectives Healthcare professionals are expected to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to protect the health status of individuals, particularly those with frailty, following unprecedented disasters. This study focused on the terms "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters" among physiotherapists, and the degree of knowledge and factors associated with knowledge of these terms were examined to consider ways for physiotherapists to participate more actively in disaster response.Methods A web-based survey was conducted among members of the Fukushima Physical Therapy Association from March 8-31, 2023. The survey items included basic attributes, knowledge of "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters," and the presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, own evacuation experience, and experience supporting disaster survivors. The association between knowledge and length of career as a physiotherapist, presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, own evacuation experience, and experience supporting disaster survivors were examined using the χ2 test and residual analysis. Additionally, respondents were asked regarding their understanding of the physiotherapy recipients' "individual evacuation plan" and participation in formulating those plans. Those who understood and participated in those plans were asked to provide a free-form response about the use of the "individual evacuation plan" in providing routine physiotherapy and specific activities.Results Of the 1,645 participants, 171 (10.4%) responded. The respondents' mean age was 38.4 ± 8.5 years. Seven (4.1%) ，21 (12.3%) ，and 17 (9.9%) respondents answered that they knew "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters," respectively. Those who knew the specifics of the recipients' "individual evacuation plans" used them to conduct evacuation drills that assumed actual conditions and shared information with other healthcare professionals. The presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, length of career, and experience supporting disaster survivors were associated with knowledge of "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters," whereas the presence of own evacuation experience was not.Conclusion The percentage of current physiotherapists who knew "individual evacuation plan," "residents requiring assistance in evacuation," and "welfare shelters" ranged from 4.1-12.3%. Enhancing curricula in pre-graduate education and ensuring learning opportunities for physiotherapists may be helpful in collaboratively participating in disaster responses.

Singles, couples, time-averaging, and taxation

We study consequences of tax reforms in an incomplete markets overlapping generations model in which male and female workers with different ability levels self-insure by acquiring a risk-free bond, “time-averaging” their life-cycle work schedules and career lengths, and possibly by marrying and divorcing. We study incidences of a flat-rate tax and in combination with stylized versions of a negative income tax (NIT) or an earned income tax credit (EITC). Tax reforms have diverse effects that differ by workers’ abilities, marital statuses, and ages. A new “ex post-ex ante” criterion helps us to sort through welfare incidences. The importance of labor supply responses at the extensive margin makes the EITC better for redistribution than the NIT.

Primary care nurses’ readiness to promote digital health technology use among patients

Abstract Background Digital health technologies (DHTs) aim to optimise resource allocation and improve public health outcomes as care supplements. However, many patients do not access them independently. Nurses, as central contacts for primary care patients, can integrate digital health assessments, patient portals, remote monitoring, and teleconsultations into practice. Insight into their readiness to promote patients’ use of DHTs is important for efficient dissemination strategies. We examined nurses’ referral of patients to use DHTs and whether digital dedication (enthusiasm, inspiration, and pride for DHTs) and service guidance skills were associated with referral behaviour. Methods In spring 2023, the national ‘2023 survey on information systems for registered nurses’ gathered data from 549 nurses in Finnish primary care, comprising registered nurses (62%) and public health nurses (38%). The outcome, frequency of nurses’ DHT referrals, was assessed on a scale ranging from never to daily. We used multivariable ordinal logistic regression to examine associations, adjusted for career length, unit, and location. Results Among the nurses, 31% never or seldom referred patients to DHTs, while 19% did so monthly, 32% weekly, and 18% daily. Multivariable model showed that with each one-point increase in digital dedication (scale 1-5), the odds of referring patients to DHTs more frequently increased by 43% (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.21-1.70). Nurses who rated their service guidance skills as good (OR = 1.76, 1.01-3.05) or excellent (OR = 2.89, 1.28-6.62) had greater odds of referring patients to DHTs more frequently compared to those with less advanced skills. Conclusions Referring patients to DHTs is not a common practice for primary care nurses and can undermine care equity. Nurses’ motivation and knowledge about DHTs should be fostered, which may enhance patient referrals. Developing guidelines to assess patients’ digital capability and needs for effective service coordination is paramount. Key messages • Digitally committed and service-aware primary care nurses may refer patients to use DHTs more often than their peers, but we could not consider if suitable DHTs were available for patients encountered. • Nurses should be motivated to use digital tools and provided with instructions for proficiently coordinating services in order to address patients’ underutilisation of DHTs and promote equitable care.

Career duration and later-life health conditions among former professional American-style football players

ObjectivesCareer duration is often used as a metric of neurotrauma exposure in studies of elite athletes. However, as a proxy metric, career length may not accurately represent causal factors, and...

Network Analysis of Women in Otolaryngology and Demographic Trends.

This study analyzes gender disparities between men and women otolaryngology faculty in the top 20 otolaryngology departments ranked by research output and discusses the implications of these disparities. This was a cross-sectional study of all articles published by faculty from January 2020 to December 2021 at the top 20 otolaryngology departments as ranked by Doximity's 2022 research output report. Integrated data from Web of Science, faculty directories, and NIH RePORT were used to collect data on faculty. Social network analysis was performed using ORA-LITE. Student's and Welch's t-tests and Pearson chi-squared tests were used to evaluate gender differences in academic metrics. The findings revealed significant gender disparities, with men holding higher academic positions (men = 3.16, women = 2.69, p < 0.0001), higher H-indices (22.4, 13.8, p < 0.0001), more NIH grants (0.15, 0.07, p = 0.0032), and greater total degree centrality (3.98E-4, 2.4E-4, p < 0.0001) and betweenness centrality (4.47E-3, 3.00E-3, p = 0.0021). Men also had more publications (9.8, 6.8, p < 0.0001) with more distinct co-authors, both within (4, 3.1, p = 0.0074) and across (38.1, 25.8, p < 0.0001) institutions. Disparities persisted after accounting for career length. Notably, total degree centrality differences between men and women were statistically significant from 1991 to 2017 (p < 0.0001), but not from 2018 to 2022 (p = 0.83). This study highlights gender inequities in otolaryngology, encouraging mentors to foster new collaborations with female peers. Importantly, it identifies a trend toward narrowing the gender gap within the specialty, particularly over the past 5 years, emphasizing the need to sustain these positive changes for enhanced gender equity. NA Laryngoscope, 2024.

Evaluation of golfers’ performances in the ladies professional golf association tour based on bootstrapped data envelopment analysis and latent growth curve model

A latent growth curve model and bootstrapped data envelopment analysis were used to examine the performance and changes in professional golfers on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. The panel data for both analyses were obtained for the last three seasons (from 2020 to 2022). The dependent variable was the official money list of players, whereas the independent variables consisted of efficiency factors, technical factors (number of birdies, eagles, and hole-in-ones), mental factors (driving and putting accuracies), and career length. Each factor, other than the efficiency factor, was determined by the weighted combination of parenthesized variables using principal component analysis and was measured as two latent variables of the intercept and the slope of the growth pattern for the three seasons. The efficiency factor was measured using data envelopment analysis and its z with the output factors of scoring average and the percentage of rounds in the 60s, and the input factors of driving distance, greens in regulation, number of putts per green hit in regulation, and sand savings. The results confirm the homogeneity in players’ efficiency and prove Penick’s claim that golf performance is dependent on various factors and that golf is psychological.

Evaluating Intensive Care Nurses' Knowledge of Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.

To determine the knowledge levels of nurses working in the ICU about incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in adult ICUs at two private and three public hospitals in a province in Turkey. The study included 296 nurses who agreed to participate in the research. Researchers used the "Nurse Identification Form" and the "IAD Knowledge Test" to collect data on nurses' IAD knowledge. Data analysis included the use of percentage distribution and the Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests. The mean age of the nurses was 26.55 ± 3.89 years (range, 20-47 years), and the duration of working in the ICU was 2.71 ± 2.55 years (range, 1-22 years). Of the nurses, 183 (61.8%) worked in general ICUs. Of those, 69 (23.3%) received IAD training. Nurses achieved a 49.8% correct response rate on the IAD knowledge test. Nurses working in tertiary and general ICUs demonstrated higher IAD knowledge levels (Ps = .003 and .047, respectively). There were no relationships between age, career length, institution, ICU type, and IAD knowledge level. Nurses' knowledge level of IAD was low in intensive care. To remedy this, IAD should be added to intensive care nursing certificate programs as content, and the use of IAD risk assessment and diagnosis scales in ICUs should be expanded.

Impact factor does not predict long-term article impact across 15 journals

Academic journals are ranked using a variety of methods with the most common metric being ‘journal impact factor’. Authors who publish in journals with higher impact factors are deemed to contribute more to their discipline. However, the impact factor of a journal does not indicate how long a specific article stays in the scientific discourse, and metrics that measure the length of time articles within a journal continue to be cited are not typically used. We examined citations of 443,732 research articles [786,064 total] between 1980 and 2020 across 15 journals. We explored the range of longevity values found across different journals as well as the relationship between impact factor and longevity. We found no relationship between impact factor and longevity, indicating that immediate attention to an article is not correlated with longer-term impact. In the set of journals that we examined, articles published in some journals (e.g., Ecology, Genetics) continued to be cited at a steady rate long beyond their initial publication date. This slow but steady citation accumulation resulted in the total citations in these journals approaching those of higher impact journals (e.g., Science, Nature) within the length of a typical academic career (30–40 years).

Return of showjumping horses to sporting activity after colic surgery.

The return to performance after colic surgery is crucial for competition horses. While studies have investigated racehorse performance following colic surgery by analysing racing participation and earnings, this approach does not apply to showjumping horses, leaving a gap in the literature regarding their objective performance evaluation. To assess the short- and long-term survival and return to performance in showjumping horses after colic surgery. Retrospective case series. Medical records of horses with acute colic requiring surgical treatment were analysed, and data for showjumping horses (Group 1) were retrieved. Telephone follow-ups were conducted and national competition databases were used to collect pre- and postoperative showjumping competition entries for Group 1 and for randomly selected horses (Group 2) participating in the same competitions as a comparison group. Of 253 horses undergoing colic surgery, 96 were recorded as showjumpers. The median long-term survival was 2.73 (0.01-6.14) years. Among these horses, 59 were competing at the time of surgery, and of these, 46 (78%) returned to competition and 41 (89.1%) competed at the same or higher level, while 5 (10.9%) competed at a lower level. At a 2-year follow-up, 63.6% of the showjumping horses that underwent colic surgery were alive. No significant differences were observed in the level of competition and career length between horses, which underwent colic surgery, and the randomly selected comparison group. Small sample size and a single-centre design. Showjumping horses can make a successful return to competition after colic surgery, with the majority performing at the same or higher level as before the procedure.

Lateral extra-articular tenodesis at primary ACL reconstruction increases career length in professional rugby players.

To assess the effect of preoperative and surgical factors on return to play (RTP) rates and career longevity of professional rugby athletes after primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACL-R). A retrospective review of a consecutive cohort of professional rugby players undergoing primary ACL-R by the senior author between 2005 and 2019 was undertaken. Athletes were included if they were under contract with a professional rugby team at the time of injury and had a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine significant predictors of RTP rate, time and career longevity. One hundred and eighteen rugby players with 125 ACL-Rs were identified. Return to professional rugby was achieved in 115/125 (92%) of cases at an average of 9.6 months and those athletes participated at the professional level for 5.9 ± 3.4 years after ACL-R. Younger age (p = 0.006) and ACL-R with a concomitant lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) (p = 0.013) were predictors of a longer career. A Cox proportional hazards model that controlled for age revealed that athletes who underwent ACL-R with an LET had increased career longevity compared to those with an ACL-R without LET (hazard ratio = 2.74, p = 0.021). No factors were significantly associated with RTP rate or RTP time. In professional rugby players undergoing primary ACL-R, those having ACL-R with a concomitant LET and younger age predicted increased career longevity. Rugby players who underwent LET at the time of ACL-R had an 18% greater chance of still playing professionally at 5 years compared to those who underwent ACL-R alone. Level III.

Nursing core competencies and educational needs in the low- and middle-income country: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe government of the Kyrgyz Republic is committed to improving healthcare worker education, and as nurses comprise the majority of healthcare workers, improving nursing education and competency is a critical policy strategy. However, insufficient understanding of nurses' duties and competencies, low levels of professional education and motivation, and the poor reputation of the profession have negatively impacted the development of nursing in the Kyrgyz Republic. AimThis study aimed to identify the core competencies of nursing that are necessary for improving healthcare in the Kyrgyz Republic. DesignThe research design was a cross-sectional study. SettingThe study was conducted from June to November 2022 across the Kyrgyz Republic. ParticipantsA total of ten focus group interviews were conducted with 54 participants, and 289 individuals responded to the survey. MethodsA job analysis was conducted to identify nursing core competencies, followed by focus group interviews. Educational needs were assessed and analysed for importance and performance using the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses and the Borich Needs Assessment Model. ResultsOf the 289 participants, 97.9 % were female, the mean age was 43.22, and the mean nursing career length was 19 years. Eleven duties were identified as nursing core competencies. Educational needs were highest for teaching-coaching, followed by clinical care and critical thinking and research aptitude, with interpersonal relations being the lowest. Critical thinking and research aptitude, clinical care, and professional development were identified as topics with high importance and educational needs. ConclusionsThe nursing core competencies reflect the emphasis on primary health care in the Kyrgyz Republic, while the educational needs were related to international nursing standards and national nursing education characteristics. The findings can be used to develop a bachelor's-level nursing curriculum in the Kyrgyz Republic to improve nursing care and contribute to improving the health status of the population.

From Salon to Home: The Professional Journey and Challenges of Beauticians

The practice of beauticians providing home services has grown significantly, driven by consumer demand for convenience and personalized care. This study explores the professional experiences of beauticians delivering home services, emphasizing factors such as career duration, continuous training, effective time management, and the diverse challenges encountered. Using descriptive phenomenology, the research delves into the lived experiences of beauticians, revealing that extensive career length, ongoing professional development, and efficient time management are critical to service quality and client satisfaction. However, challenges such as inconsistent product availability, transportation issues, and maintaining sanitation standards in varied home environments complicate service delivery. The study also highlights the importance of innovative marketing strategies, including the use of social media and client referrals, to expand the client base and ensure business growth. Findings suggest that beauticians must navigate logistical complexities and develop robust problem-solving skills to succeed. The study underscores the need for continuous skill enhancement and strategic marketing to maintain competitiveness in the evolving beauty industry. By understanding these professional experiences, the research provides insights that can inform practice, policy, and future research, ultimately benefiting both service providers and clients in the beauty industry.

Career Length After Surgically Treated ACL Plus Collateral Ligament Injury in Elite Athletes

Background: Limited data are available regarding career length and competition level after combined anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial- or lateral-sided surgeries in elite athletes. Purpose: To evaluate career length after surgical treatment of combined ACL plus medial collateral ligament (MCL) and ACL plus posterolateral corner (PLC) injuries in elite athletes and, in a subgroup analysis of male professional soccer players, to compare career length and competition level after combined ACL+MCL or ACL+PLC surgeries with a cohort who underwent isolated ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A consecutive cohort of elite athletes undergoing combined ACL+MCL and ACL+PLC surgery was analyzed between February 2001 and October 2019. A subgroup of male elite soccer players from this population was compared with a previously identified cohort having had isolated primary ACLR without other ligament surgery. A minimum 2-year follow-up was required. Outcome measures were career length and competition level. Results: A total of 98 elite athletes met the inclusion criteria, comprising 50 ACL+PLC and 48 ACL+MCL surgeries. The mean career length after surgical treatment of combined ACL+MCL and ACL+PLC injuries was 4.5 years. Return-to-play (RTP) time was significantly longer for ACL+PLC injuries (12.8 months; P = .019) than for ACL+MCL injuries (10.9 months). In the subgroup analysis of soccer players, a significantly lower number of players with combined ACL+PLC surgery were able to RTP (88%; P = .003) compared with 100% for ACL+MCL surgery and 97% for isolated ACLR, as well as requiring an almost 3 months longer RTP timeline (12.9 months; P = .002) when compared with the isolated ACL (10.2 months) and combined ACL+MCL (10.0 months) groups. However, career length and competition level were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion: Among elite athletes, the mean career length after surgical treatment of combined ACL+MCL and ACL+PLC injuries was 4.5 years. Professional soccer players with combined ACL+PLC surgery returned at a lower rate and required a longer RTP time when compared with the players with isolated ACL or combined ACL+MCL injuries. However, those who did RTP had the same career longevity and competition level.

Geriatric nursing competence of clinical nursing staff at different hospital levels in Chongqing, China: A cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to survey the geriatric nursing competencies of clinical nursing staff in Chongqing City, China, and provide suggestions to enhance these competencies. MethodsThis study was conducted in 204 hospitals in Southwest China from December 24, 2022 to January 7, 2023. The “Geriatric Nursing Competence of Clinical Nurse Investigation Tool” was used to explore factors that influence geriatric nurses’ competencies via stratified sampling. The survey was conducted by distributing and collecting questionnaires through the online platform Wenjuanxing. ResultsA total of 10,692 nurses answered the questionnaires. Of these questionnaires, 9,442 were valid. The total geriatric nursing competence score of the clinical nursing staff was 2.29 ± 0.81, the secondary hospital score was 2.23 ± 0.78, and the tertiary hospital’s overall mean score was 2.33 ± 0.83. The factors that influenced secondary hospitals included the department of medicine, age of nurses and total length of career (P < 0.05). The factors that influenced tertiary hospitals included the department of medicine, age of nurses, nurses’ professional title, and geriatric practical advanced nurses’ certification (P < 0.05). ConclusionsGeriatric nursing competence among clinical nursing staff is imbalanced at a lower-middle level and is influenced by various factors. The findings highlight the need for further clinical training in geriatric nursing. The training of geriatric nurses should focus on necessary clinical skills and on preparing them to adequately manage comprehensive geriatric syndromes.

Evaluation of Toenail Findings in Professional Athletes

Abstract Background/Aims: Professional athletes often encounter foot nail issues due to the demands of their intensive training and the conditions within their sports footwear. This study aims to assess the prevalence, characterize the types of nail conditions affecting professional athletes, and identify predisposing factors, shedding light on a critical yet frequently neglected area of sports-related health. Methods: We surveyed 120 professional athletes from football and basketball teams across three major sports clubs. Data on sociodemographic factors and nail issues were collected via a detailed questionnaire and corroborated with dermatological exams. Results: The research included 108 football players and 12 basketball players, with 13 female athletes among them. The participants had an average age of 22.87 years and an average sports career length of 6.72 years. Ingrown toenails were reported by 81 athletes (67.5%), with 35 cases involving multiple regions and 9 cases a single region. The condition was most frequently found in the first toe, present in 41 instances. A significant association was found between ingrown toenails and both age and sports activity duration (p=0.006 and p

Athletic prognosis following arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments of the proximal dorsal sagittal ridge of the fetlock in Thoroughbreds intended for flat racing.

To establish racing prognosis in Thoroughbred yearlings with proximal sagittal ridge osteochondral lesions and compare them to dorsoproximal and palmar/plantar first phalanx osteochondral lesions. A total of 47 horses had proximal sagittal ridge lesions, 34 had palmar/plantar first phalanx lesions, and 115 had dorsoproximal first phalanx lesions. Retrospective case series. Medical records of Thoroughbred yearling racing prospects treated arthroscopically for fetlock osteochondral lesions were reviewed. Data were collected from a public database, including the ability to train and race, earnings, starts, wins, and placed races. Racing prognosis was analyzed and compared between three lesion locations. Of the proximal sagittal ridge group, 76.6% raced, 65.71% of the palmar/plantar first phalanx group, and 74.58% of the dorsoproximal first phalanx group. Career length was similar for all lesions. A lower number of "starts" in the group "five years old and older" was found for the dorsoproximal first phalanx group compared to the cohort with proximal sagittal ridge lesions. Mares had more "earnings" at two years old but fewer "starts" at "five years old" compared to colts and geldings. Forelimb lesions were predictive for fewer total career starts. Proximal sagittal ridge lesions had similar prognoses to dorsoproximal and palmar/plantar first phalanx lesions. In older horses, there was an increase in the number of starts for the proximal sagittal ridge group compared to the dorsoproximal first phalanx group. Mares and forelimb lesions were associated with decreased racing starts. These findings aid in prognostication for Thoroughbreds with osteochondral lesions removed arthroscopically in the fetlock joint.

Defensive Performance Declines in Ultimate Fighting Championship Fighters Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to evaluate the impact ACL reconstruction (ACLR) has on strike evasion rates, strike and landing rates, win percentage, and career longevity in UFC fighters. MethodsUFC fighters who underwent ACLR from 1993-2022 were matched 2:1 with uninjured controls. The percentage of each injured fighter’s career that occurred before ACLR was deemed the “index percentage.” Injured fighter performance pre-/post-ACLR was compared to control metrics pre-/post-index percentage. ResultsA total of 82 subjects with documented ACL injuries were identified. There were 48 who met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 27 returned for more than 2 fights and were paired with 54 controls. UFC fighters demonstrate return-to-sport rates of 81.25% and 56.25% for at least one and two fights, respectively. On average, it took 411.85±174.73 (range, 165-879) days for fighters to return. All fighters had significantly lower evasion rates against total significant strikes, distance strikes, and head strikes, post-index; p<0.05 for each. ACLR fighters had significantly lower submission attempts and evasion rates against clinch strikes, ground strikes, and total strikes, post-index; p<0.05 for each. Controls had a significantly lower evasion rate against leg strikes, post-index. Both groups’ win percentages significantly declined (ACLR p=0.001, control p=0.012). No significant difference in total career fights was observed (p=0.873). ConclusionsIn this study, we found that most UFC fighters who undergo ACLR return to sport for at least one fight; however, just over half return for at least two fights. There was not a significant difference in career length between fighters who returned to sport following ACLR for at least two fights and their controls. Defensive performance, but not offensive performance, declined significantly following ACLR. All fighters demonstrated significant declines in their win percentage as their career progressed, irrespective of ACLR.

Temporal Trends in the Characteristics of USDA Forest Service Chiefs

Abstract USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) chiefs have significant influence on the agency and publics they serve, yet little scholarly attention is given to understand their characteristics. Using a quantitative biographical approach, we examine the demographics, education, career length, and leadership tenure of the chiefs and the trend in those characteristics over the century. Of the twenty Forest Service chiefs who served between 1905 and 2022, the vast majority (85%) were white and male with an average age of 52.0 years at appointment. The average career length of chiefs was 30.2 years, including 22.8 years spent with the Forest Service prior to appointment. although chiefs’ age at appointment and career length showed an increasing trend over the century, tenure length displayed a decreasing trend. Average duration of the chiefs’ tenure in office was 5.8 years and it was negatively correlated with career length, age at appointment, and year of appointment. On average, chiefs had 6 years of postsecondary education, with most earning degrees in forestry or biophysical sciences. A retrospective examination of Forest Service chiefs helps us to consider changes in this position over time. Study Implications: The study compiles quantitative data on multiple attributes (characteristics) of all Forest Service chiefs who have served since 1905 and presents quantitative analyses of trends over time. As such, the study contributes to the compilation of biographical data related to the chiefs, consolidating the information from many sources. The findings suggest that tracking chiefs would help to understand the organizational and cultural change of the agency over time.

Peak Performance: Characteristics and Key Factors in the Development of the World Top-8 Swimmers Based on Longitudinal Data.

This study aimed to investigate the peak performance characteristics of the world top-8 swimmers and the key factors involved in the journey toward achieving better peak performance. The results of the world top-8 swimmers from 2001 to 2022 were collected from the World Aquatics performance database. Progression to peak performance was tracked with individual quadratic trajectories (1191 cases). Utilizing k-means clustering to group competitive feature variables, this study investigated key developmental factors through a binary logistic regression model, using the odds ratio (OR) to represent whether a factor was favorable (OR > 1) or unfavorable (OR < 1). Significant differences (P < .001) in the peak age between men (23.54/3.80) and women (22.31/4.60) were noticed, while no significant differences (P > .05) in the peak-performance window for both sexes appeared. Peak performance occurred at later ages for the sprint for both sexes, and women had a longer duration in peak-performance window for sprint (P < .05). Peak-performance occurred at later ages for the breaststroke and butterfly for both sexes (P < .05). Binary logistic regression revealed that high first-participation performance (OR = 1.502), high major-competition performance (OR = 4.165), early first-major-competition age (OR = 1.441), participation frequency above 4 times/year in both phase 2 (4.3-8.0 times/y, OR = 3.940; 8.1-20.0 times/y, OR = 5.122) and phase 3 (4.1-7.5 times/y: OR = 5.548; 7.7-15.0 times/y: OR = 7.526), and a career length of 10years or more (10-15y, OR = 2.102; 16-31y, OR = 3.480) were favorable factors for achieving better peak performance. Peak performance characteristics varied across sex, swimming stroke, and race distance in the world top-8 swimmers. Meanwhile, the research indicated that certain specific developmental factors were key conditions for the world top-8 swimmers to achieve better peak performance in the future.