Funding and performance of amateur and youth organizations in Brazil: a longitudinal analysis of a basketball league

Abstract Aim: The general aim was to analyze the profile of the teams participating in a basketball regional competition over 8 years (2012-2019). Specifically, we aimed to a) analyze the variation in the number of an organization participating, b) identify the variation in the type of funding, c) verify the existence of a relationship between the performance and the longevity of the organization, d) verify the existence of a relationship between the performance and the type of funding. Methods: The research was designed as an exploratory case study. A total of 86 organizations took part in the league during the period, with 767 different teams playing competitions between U-11 and senior. Results: Instability is the main characteristic of the league. The organizations competing are constantly changing the type of funding and unable to stay in the league for long periods. The research also showed that there is a relation between a stable source of funding and performance. Conclusion: Instability is the main problem in Brazilian youth and amateur basketball organizations. This study presents useful information for managers better understand the problems and difficulties of basketball in Brazil.

The benefits and challenges of a rural community-based work-ready placement program for allied health students.

INTRODUCTION: Rural and remote Australia has a shortage of allied health clinicians. The provision of quality rural placement experiences for allied health students has been a significant strategy to address these health workforce shortages. Service learning rural placements are providing allied health services in small rural towns where previously allied health services were limited or did not exist. Published literature has little detailed description of the origin or nature of particular placement programs. METHODS: An increase in Commonwealth funding for rural allied health clinical placements led to the development of an innovative service learning placement model in northern New South Wales, the Rural Community-Based Work-Ready Placement Program. During this placement, students were paired for 4-10 full-time weeks in a preschool, school or aged care facility. The program's fundamental properties included cultural and social equity education, providing continuous service throughout the year, and quality improvement initiatives in placement sites. The program was underpinned by an interdisciplinary approach that included interdisciplinary placements, interdisciplinary supervision and a structured interdisciplinary education program. RESULTS: The program required investment in stakeholder engagement and in the alignment of universities' requirements for student learning outcomes and the sites' specific needs. Clinical supervisors had to adapt to supervising students from various disciplines and universities across several sites, towns and services. The program provided students with opportunities to work autonomously, problem-solve and to initiate and implement quality improvement projects at each site. CONCLUSION: Careful selection of students, adequate preparation and management of students' expectations were important contributors to the success of the program. Providing a continuous service is an ongoing logistical challenge.

Primary healthcare centers engagement in tuberculosis treatment in Ukraine.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the influence of a result-based financing (RBF) model, which included incentives for Primary Healthcare facilities on TB treatment outcomes. METHODOLOGY: We compared TB patients > 17 years and their treatment outcomes among those who did and did not benefit from RBF-model in 14 districts of Odeska oblast, Ukraine in 2017. Log-binomial regression was used to examine factors associated with being included in RBF-model. RESULTS: Of 2,269 reported TB patients, 308 (14%) were included in RBF-model. Most patients in the RBF-model were from rural areas 229 (74%), unemployed 218 (71%), and HIV-infected 131 (43%). Individuals from urban areas (Adjusted risk ratio, ARR =0.9, 95% Confidence Interval, CI:0.89-0.94), having drug-resistant TB (ARR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.18-0.45), and relapse TB (ARR = 0.6, 95% CI:0.40-0.83) were less likely to be included in RBF-model. Favorable outcomes in new/relapse cases with RBF-model was 89% compared with 41% (p < 0.001) without RBF. Similarly, for other retreatment this was 83% versus 40% (p < 0.001). Failures in the no-RBF group was 29% for new and relapse cases while for other retreatment cases, it was 26% (significantly higher than in the RBF-model). CONCLUSION: RBF-model is effective in achieving high levels of favorable TB treatment outcomes. Almost three-in-ten TB patients in non-RBF category failed TB treatment despite having drug-susceptible TB. Efforts are now needed to include it within ongoing public health reforms and assess the feasibility of scaling-up this intervention through implementation research and dedicated funding.

Trend in H2S Biology and Medicine Research-A Bibliometric Analysis.

The biological and medical importance of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recognized for decades. The aim of this bibliometric study is to analyze the quantity and quality of publications in H2S biology and medicine (H2SBM) based on the databases of Web of Science and Google Scholar. A total of 5881 publications published between 1990 and 2016 were analyzed. The number of H2SBM papers published before 2004 was below 100 annually, but thereafter this number rapidly increased and peaked in 2015 with more than 7-fold increase. All publications related to H2SBM research achieved a total h-index of 136 and were cited 123,074 times. The most published disciplines in H2S biomedicine research were the cardiovascular system (8.5%), neuroscience (6.5%), and gastroenterology hepatology (4.7%). The country with the greatest number of publications in the H2SBM research field was the USA with 1765 (30.0%) publications, followed by China with 995 (16.9%) publications and Japan with 555 (9.4%) publications. The top 3 most published institutes were National University of Singapore, Peking University in China, and University of Groningen in Netherlands. Nitric Oxide Biology and Chemistry was the most exploited journal for H2SBM publications with 461 articles, followed by FASEB Journal with 200 publications and Antioxidants Redox Signaling with 116 publications. The most highly cited publications and researchers in H2SBM research were also unmasked from this bibliometric analysis. Collectively, H2SBM publications exhibit a continuous trend of increase, reflecting the increased H2SBM research intensity and diversity globally.

A Social Network Analysis of the Financial Links Backing Health and Fitness Apps.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the major stakeholders in mobile health app development and to describe their financial relationships using social network analysis. METHODS: We conducted a structured content analysis of a purposive sample of prominent health and fitness apps available in November 2015 in the United States, Canada, and Australia. We conducted a social network analysis of apps' developers, investors, other funding sources, and content advisors to describe the financial relationships underpinning health app development. RESULTS: Prominent health and fitness apps are largely developed by private companies based in North America, with an average of 4.7 (SD = 5.5) financial relations, including founders, external investors, acquiring companies, and commercial partnerships. Network analysis revealed a core of 41 sampled apps connected to 415 other entities by 466 financial relations. This core largely comprised apps published by major technology, pharmaceutical, and fashion corporations. About one third of apps named advisors, many of whom had commercial affiliations. CONCLUSIONS: Public health needs to extend its scrutiny and advocacy beyond the health messages contained within apps to understanding commercial influences on health and, when necessary, challenging them.

Geography of Genetics and Genomics Research Funding in Africa.

An estimated U.S. $300 billion is spent each year on medical research. What proportion of this goes to genomics and genetics research in Africa? Until recently, this type of question was nearly impossible to answer. The World RePORT database, sponsored by the Heads of International Research Organizations (HIRO) and managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides a first attempt at answering questions on the distribution of research funding by geography and research organization. In this journal issue on the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa), we explore the geography of biomedical research funding in the genomics field with special emphasis on Africa. Using World RePORT, we identified 185 research projects in genetics and genomics in Africa in 2015 with total funding exceeding U.S. $216 million. These numbers are likely incomplete and more efforts at collating data from funder organizations is needed. A comprehensive snapshot of funders' portfolios will be invaluable to research investigators and policy makers in the identification of research gaps and analysis of allocation priorities to facilitate evidence-based decision-making for public-research-funding organizations.

Tamaño y evolución económica de los clubes de baloncesto SAD después de la crisis económica de 2008 / Tamanho e evolução económica dos clubes de basquete SAD após a crise econômica de 2008 / Size and economic development of basketball clubs SAD after the economic crisis of 2008

El tamaño y estructura son variables determinantes para la supervivencia y evolución de las organizaciones deportivas, ayudan a mejorar su capacidad de producción, comercialización y autofinanciación en tiempos de crisis económica. Por este motivo, el objetivo del presente estudio fue conocer la evolución de las variables económicas que afectan al tamaño de los clubes de Baloncesto clasificados como Sociedad Anónima Deportiva. Para ello, se recogió la información de la base de datos SABI, por la que pudimos acceder a los datos financieros y contables de un total de 18 equipos de la ACB bajo el código CNAE 9312. De estos, excluimos a los clubes que no estaban inscritos como Sociedad Anónima Deportiva o que presentaron sus cuentas incompletas durante los años 2008 al 2014, o bien no tuviesen actividad durante los años indicados. Con los datos seleccionados se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables dependientes: total de activo, número de empleados e ingresos por explotación y se presentaron las medias para cada uno de los ejercicios disponibles (2007-2014). Como conclusión, podemos afirmar que la crisis económica no ha sido un factor que modifique el tamaño de los clubes de baloncesto SAD, obteniendo valores similares después de la crisis en total de activos y número de empleados, por el contrario viendo reducidos los ingresos por explotación (AU)

The size and structure are crucial for the survival and evolution of sports organizations variables, help improve production capacity, marketing and self-funding in times of economic crisis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the evolution of the economic variables that affect the size of basketball clubs classified as Sociedad Anonima Deportiva. To do this, information from the SABI database, why could access financial and accounting data of a total of 18 teams in the ACB under code NCEA 9312. Of these was collected, we exclude the clubs that were not registered as Sociedad Anonima Deportiva or who submitted incomplete accounts for the years 2008 to 2014, or they had no activity during the years indicated. total assets, number of employees and revenue per farm and average for each of the exercises available (2007-2014) were presented: with the selected data a descriptive analysis of the dependent variables was performed. In conclusion, we can say that the economic crisis has not been a factor resize basketball clubs SAD, obtaining similar values after the crisis in total assets and number of employees, instead seeing reduced revenue per farm (AU)

O tamanho era estrutura são cruciais para a sobrevivência e evolução das variáveis das organizações desportivas, ajudar a melhorar a capacidade de produção, marketing e autofinanciamento em tempos de crise econômica. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a evolução das variáveis econômicas que afetam o tamanho dos clubes de basquete classificados como Sociedade Anónima Desportiva. Para fazer isso, as informações do banco de dados SABI, por que poderiam acessar dados financeiros e contáveis de um total de 18 equipes na ACB sob o código CNAE 9312. Destes foi recolhido, excluímos os clubes que não eram registado como Sociedade Anónima Desportiva ou que tenha apresentado contas incompletas para os anos de 2008 a 2014, ou tinham nenhuma atividade durante os anos indicados. ativos totais, número de empregados e as receitas por exploração e média para cada um dos exercícios disponíveis (2007-2014) foram apresentadas: com os dados selecionados a análise descritiva das variáveis dependentes foi realizada. Em conclusão, podemos dizer que a crise económica não tem sido um basquetebol fator de redimensionamento clubes SAD, a obtenção de valores semelhantes após a crise em ativos totais e número de empregados, em vez de ver reduzida a receita por exploração (AU)

The Relationship Between OREF Grants and Future NIH Funding Success.

BACKGROUND: The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) is the leading specialty-specific nongovernmental organization providing orthopaedic funding in the United States. As extramural research funding has become increasingly difficult to acquire, one mission of the OREF is to support investigators to generate data needed to secure larger extramural funding from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the rate of translating OREF faculty-level grants into subsequent NIH funding and to determine if there are identifiable factors that increase the rate of converting an OREF grant into NIH funding. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of OREF grants awarded to full-time faculty orthopaedic surgeons between 1994 and 2014. Grants were analyzed on the basis of award type and were categorized as basic science, clinical, or epidemiological. Sex, individual scholarly productivity, and publication experience were evaluated. All awardees were assessed for subsequent NIH funding using the NIH RePORTER web site. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six faculty-level OREF grants were awarded to 121 individuals. Twenty-seven OREF grant awardees (22%) received NIH funding at a mean of 6.3 years after OREF funding. Nineteen (46%) of 41 Career Development Grant winners later received NIH funding compared with 10 (12%) of 85 other award winners. OREF grants for basic science projects were awarded more often (58%) and were more than 4 times as likely to result in NIH funding than non-basic science projects (odds ratio, 4.70 [95% confidence interval, 1.66 to 13.33]; p = 0.0036). Faculty who later received NIH funding had higher scholarly productivity and publication experience (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The OREF grant awardee conversion rate of 22% and, particularly, the 46% for Career Development Grant winners compares favorably with the overall NIH funding success rate (18% in 2014). Faculty-level OREF grants appear to achieve their purpose of identifying and supporting researchers who aim to secure subsequent federal funding. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The goal of this study is to examine how successful faculty who have obtained OREF grants have been in securing NIH funding later in their careers. Although subsequent accrual of NIH funding is not the only goal of OREF funding, it can be used as an important benchmark to assess the development of orthopaedic clinician-scientists.

Palliative care education for medical students: Differences in course evolution, organisation, evaluation and funding: A survey of all UK medical schools.

BACKGROUND: A proportion of newly qualified doctors report feeling unprepared to manage patients with palliative care and end-of-life needs. This may be related to barriers within their institution during undergraduate training. Information is limited regarding the current organisation of palliative care teaching across UK medical schools. AIMS: To investigate the evolution and structure of palliative care teaching at UK medical schools. DESIGN: Anonymised, web-based questionnaire. Settings/participants: Results were obtained from palliative care course organisers at all 30 UK medical schools. RESULTS: The palliative care course was established through active planning (13/30, 43%), ad hoc development (10, 33%) or combination of approaches (7, 23%). The place of palliative care teaching within the curriculum varied. A student-selected palliative care component was offered by 29/30 (97%). All medical schools sought student feedback. The course was reviewed in 26/30 (87%) but not in 4. Similarly, a course organiser was responsible for the palliative care programme in 26/30 but not in 4. A total of 22 respondents spent a mean of 3.9 h (median 2.5)/week in supporting/delivering palliative care education (<1-16 h). In all, 17/29 (59%) had attended a teaching course or shared duties with a colleague who had done so. Course organisers received titular recognition in 18/27 (67%; no title 9 (33%); unknown 3 (11%)). An academic department of Palliative Medicine existed in 12/30 (40%) medical schools. Funding was not universally transparent. Palliative care teaching was associated with some form of funding in 20/30 (66%). CONCLUSION: Development, organisation, course evaluation and funding for palliative care teaching at UK medical schools are variable. This may have implications for delivery of effective palliative care education for medical students.

Five suggestions for substantial NIH reforms.

The National Institutes of Health needs to make radical changes to ensure that biomedical research continues to thrive in the United States.

Geographic Disparity in Funding for School Nutrition Environments: Evidence from Mississippi Schools.

BACKGROUND: Despite the federal initiatives on equitable provision of school nutrition programs, geographic disparity in childhood obesity persists. It may be partly because built-in school nutrition environments rely on each school's efficient use of existing operational funds or its ability to obtain expanded financial support. This study explores how funding acquisition by schools is determined by local community characteristics and how it relates to healthy school meal offerings. METHODS: Information about food preparation technology and funding in 811 schools in Mississippi was obtained by in-depth phone interviews of district child nutrition directors and school foodservice managers, which was matched to socioeconomic indicators of schools and communities. Probit models were estimated. RESULTS: About 56% of schools in the sample received some funds toward combination oven/steamers in the last few years. Small schools, schools in non-metro counties, and those in low-income minority areas were significantly less likely to be funded. Obtainment of funds was associated with a 45 percentage-point reduction in the probability of serving fried foods. CONCLUSIONS: Funds obtained by schools for advanced food preparation technology contributes to creation of healthier nutrition environments for children. However, fund availability is associated with community characteristics, possibly contributing to geographic disparity of child health.

Private capital investments in health care provision through mergers and acquisitions: from long-term to acute care.

OBJECTIVES: This work aims to test whether different segments of healthcare provision differentially attract private capital and thus offer heterogeneous opportunities for private investors' diversification strategies. METHODS: Thomson Reuter's SDC Platinum database provided data on 2563 merger and acquisition (M&A) deals targeting healthcare providers in Western Europe between 1990 and 2010. Longitudinal trends of industrial and geographical characteristics of M&As' targets and acquirers are examined. RESULTS: Our analyses highlight: (i) a relative decrease of long-term care facilities as targets of M&As, replaced by an increasing prominence of general hospitals, (ii) a shrinking share of long-term care facilities as targets of financial service organizations' acquisitions, in favor of general hospitals, and (iii) an absolute and relative decrease of long-term care facilities' role as target of cross-border M&As. CONCLUSIONS: We explain the decreasing interest of private investors towards long-term care facilities along three lines of reasoning, which take into account the saturation of the long-term care market and the liberalization of acute care provision across Western European countries, regulatory interventions aimed at reducing private ownership to ensure resident outcomes and new cultural developments in favor of small-sized facilities, which strengthen the fragmentation of the sector. These findings advance the literature investigating the effect of private ownership on health outcomes in long-term facilities. Market, policy and cultural forces have emerged over two decades to jointly regulate the presence of privately owned, large-sized long-term care providers, seemingly contributing to safeguard residents' well-being. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

For current market concepts for advance refunding.

Borrowing has been inexpensive in recent years. (a) The historically long period of low interest rates has enabled many hospitals and health systems to execute advance refundings of existing bonds, either to obtain economic savings or to alter the organization's capital structure to better reflect a desired risk profile or a merged credit structure.