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The relationship between the time duration of movement (t(dur)) and related maximum possible power output has been studied and modeled under many conditions. Inspired by the so-called power profiles known for discontinuous endurance sports like cycling, and the critical power concept of Monod and Scherrer, the aim of this study was to evaluate the numerical characteristics of the function between maximum horizontal movement velocity (HSpeed) and t(dur) in soccer. To evaluate this relationship, GPS data from 38 healthy soccer players and 82 game participations (≥30 min active playtime) were used to select maximum HSpeed for 21 distinct t(dur) values (between 0.3 s and 2,700 s) based on moving medians with an incremental t(dur) window-size. As a result, the relationship between HSpeed and Log(t(dur)) appeared reproducibly as a sigmoidal decay function, and could be fitted to a five-parameter equation with upper and lower asymptotes, and an inflection point, power and decrease rate. Thus, the first three parameters described individual characteristics if evaluated using mixed-model analysis. This study shows for the first time the general numerical relationship between t(dur) and HSpeed in soccer games. In contrast to former descriptions that have evaluated speed against power, HSpeed against t(dur) always yields a sigmoidal shape with a new upper asymptote. The evaluated curve fit potentially describes the maximum moving speed of individual players during the game, and allows for concise interpretations of the functional state of team sports athletes.

Humans’ core body temperature (CBT) is strictly controlled within a narrow range. Various studies dealt with the impact of physical activity, clothing, and environmental factors on CBT regulation under terrestrial conditions. However, the effects of weightlessness on human thermoregulation are not well understood. Specifically, studies, investigating the effects of long-duration spaceflight on CBT at rest and during exercise are clearly lacking. We here show that during exercise CBT rises higher and faster in space than on Earth. Moreover, we observed for the first time a sustained increased astronauts’ CBT also under resting conditions. This increase of about 1 °C developed gradually over 2.5 months and was associated with augmented concentrations of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, a key anti-inflammatory protein. Since even minor increases in CBT can impair physical and cognitive performance, both findings have a considerable impact on astronauts’ health and well-being during future long-term spaceflights. Moreover, our findings also pinpoint crucial physiological challenges for spacefaring civilizations, and raise questions about the assumption of a thermoregulatory set point in humans, and our evolutionary ability to adapt to climate changes on Earth.

Background An infection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to a variety of symptoms and complications, which can impair athletic activity. Objective We aimed to assess the clinical symptom patterns, diagnostic findings, and the extent of impairment in sport practice in a large cohort of athletes infected with SARS-CoV-2, both initially after infection and at follow-up. Additionally, we investigated whether baseline factors that may contribute to reduced exercise tolerance at follow-up can be identified. Methods In this prospective, observational, multicenter study, we recruited German COVID elite-athletes (cEAs, n  = 444) and COVID non-elite athletes (cNEAs, n  = 481) who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR (polymerase chain reaction test). Athletes from the federal squad with no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection served as healthy controls (EAcon, n  = 501). Questionnaires were used to assess load and duration of infectious symptoms, other complaints, exercise tolerance, and duration of training interruption at baseline and at follow-up 6 months after baseline. Diagnostic tests conducted at baseline included resting and exercise electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, spirometry, and blood analyses. Results Most acute and infection-related symptoms and other complaints were more prevalent in cNEA than in cEAs. Compared to cEAs, EAcon had a low symptom load. In cNEAs, female athletes had a higher prevalence of complaints such as palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, myalgia, sleeping disturbances, mood swings, and concentration problems compared to male athletes ( p  < 0.05). Until follow-up, leading symptoms were drop in performance, concentration problems, and dyspnea on exertion. Female athletes had significantly higher prevalence for symptoms until follow-up compared to male. Pathological findings in ECG, echocardiography, and spirometry, attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection, were rare in infected athletes. Most athletes reported a training interruption between 2 and 4 weeks (cNEAs: 52.9%, cEAs: 52.4%), while more cNEAs (27.1%) compared to cEAs (5.1%) had a training interruption lasting more than 4 weeks ( p  < 0.001). At follow-up, 13.8% of cNEAs and 9.9% of cEAs ( p  = 0.24) reported their current exercise tolerance to be under 70% compared to pre-infection state. A persistent loss of exercise tolerance at follow-up was associated with persistent complaints at baseline, female sex, a longer break in training, and age > 38 years. Periodical dichotomization of the data set showed a higher prevalence of infectious symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and coryza in the second phase of the pandemic, while a number of neuropsychiatric symptoms as well as dyspnea on exertion were less frequent in this period. Conclusions Compared to recreational athletes, elite athletes seem to be at lower risk of being or remaining symptomatic after SARS-CoV-2 infection. It remains to be determined whether persistent complaints after SARS-CoV-2 infection without evidence of accompanying organ damage may have a negative impact on further health and career in athletes. Identifying risk factors for an extended recovery period such as female sex and ongoing neuropsychological symptoms could help to identify athletes, who may require a more cautious approach to rebuilding their training regimen. Trial Registration Number DRKS00023717; 06.15.2021—retrospectively registered.

Zika virus (ZIKV) causes congenital neurologic birth defects, notably microcephaly, and has been associated with other serious complications in adults. The virus has been detected in human breast milk and possible transmissions via breastfeeding have been reported. Breast milk is rich in nutrients and bio-active substances that might directly affect viral infectivity. Thus, here, we analyzed the effect of human breast milk on ZIKV infection. We observed that fresh human breast milk had no effect on ZIKV, but found that upon storage, milk effectively suppressed infection. The antiviral activity is present in the fat-containing cream fraction of milk and results in the destruction of the structural integrity of viral particles, thereby abrogating infectivity. The release of the factor is time dependent but varies with donors and incubation temperatures. The viral titer of milk that was spiked with ZIKV decreased considerably upon storage at 37 °C for 8 h, was lost entirely after 2 days of 4 °C storage, but was not affected at −20 °C. This suggests that cold storage of milk inactivates ZIKV and that the antiviral factor in milk may also be generated upon breastfeeding and limit this transmission route of ZIKV.

Objective: It is unclear whether and to what extent COVID-19 infection poses health risks and a chronic impairment of performance in athletes. Identification of individual health risk is an important decision-making basis for managing the pandemic risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in sports and return to play (RTP). Methods: This study aims 1) to analyze the longitudinal rate of seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in German athletes, 2) to assess health-related consequences in athletes infected with SARS-CoV-2, and 3) to reveal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in general and of a cleared SARS-CoV-2 infection on exercise performance. CoSmo-S is a prospective observational multicenter study establishing two cohorts: 1) athletes diagnosed positive for COVID-19 (cohort 1) and 2) federal squad athletes who perform their annual sports medical preparticipation screening (cohort 2). Comprehensive diagnostics including physical examination, laboratory blood analyses and blood biobanking, resting and exercise electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, spirometry and exercise testing added by questionnaires are conducted at baseline and follow-up. Results and Conclusion: We expect that the results obtained, will allow us to formulate recommendations regarding RTP on a more evidence-based level.

Gunga et al found that vascular endothelial growth factor was doubled during the early stages of microgravity, which might be related to intravascular fluid shifts under microgravity.

It was hypothesized that subjects with metabolic syndrome (hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus): (1) develop measurable peripheral edema at moderate altitude and (2) might show differences on erythropoiesis, iron status and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in comparison to healthy subjects during and after a long-term stay (3-week exposure) at moderate altitude (congruent with 1700 m). Twenty-two male subjects with metabolic syndrome were selected. Baseline investigations (t1) were performed in Innsbruck (500 m). All participants were transferred by bus to 1700 m (Alps) and remained there for 3 weeks with examinations on day 1 (after the first night at altitude, t2), day 4 (t3), day 9 (t4) and day 19 (t5). After returning to Innsbruck, post-altitude examinations were conducted after 7-10 days (t6) and 6-7 weeks (t7), respectively. Body mass was decreased from t1 to t7 (P<0.01). Total body water was decreased at t2 (P<0.01), returned to control level (t3, t4), and was found elevated at t7 (P<0.01). Lean body mass did not change, but body fat decreased during the study (P<0.01). Tissue thickness at the forehead decreased during and after altitude exposure (P<0.01), whereas tissue thickness at the tibia did not alter. Erythropoietin (EPO) was elevated as early as t2 and remained increased until t5. Reticulocyte count was increased at t3 and remained above pre-altitude values. VEGF levels were unchanged. After a 3-week exposure to moderate altitude, patients with metabolic syndrome had reduced their body mass, mainly because of a reduction in body fat. The moderate altitude was found to stimulate erythropoiesis in these patients but this was not sufficient to increase serum VEGF concentration.

To the Editor: Packer et al. (May 31 issue) 1 report that the Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival Study was stopped early on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring board because of a significant beneficial effect of carvedilol on survival. The patients in the study had a mean ejection fraction of 19.8 percent. The mean duration of follow-up was 10.4 months. At the time that the study was terminated, the mortality rate was 16.8 percent in the placebo group and 11.2 percent in the carvedilol group. In the Beta-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial (BEST), reported in the same issue . . .

Oliver Falck, Yuchen Mo Guo und Christian Pfaffl, ifo Institut, berechnen die wirtschaftlichen Nachteile der hohen Bürokratie in Deutschland: Die Kosten durch entgangene Wirtschaftsleistung liegen bei 146 Mrd. Euro pro Jahr. Ein umfassender Bürokratieabbau, kombiniert mit Digitalisierung, könnte die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit steigern und das Bruttoinlandsprodukt pro Kopf signifikant erhöhen. Zur Umsetzung sei jedoch ein langfristiger politischer Wille nötig, da die positiven Effekte solcher Reformen oft erst mit Verzögerung sichtbar werden. Klaus M. Schmidt, LMU München, erklärt das Phänomen der wachsenden Bürokratie. Hauptursachen seien die demokratische Reaktionsfalle, bürokratische Machtausübung durch Interessengruppen und eine überforderte Verwaltung. Bürokratie müsse kooperativer gestaltet werden, z.B. durch die Einführung von Praxischecks und One-Stop-Shops. Das Ziel einer schlanken und ergebnisorientierten Bürokratie müsse auf allen Ebenen der Gesetzgebung und Verwaltung verankert werden. Christoph Knill, LMU München, Markus Hinterleitner, Universität Lausanne, und Yves Steinebach, Universität Oslo, untersuchen die bürokratische Überlastung in Demokratien durch die zunehmende Anhäufung politischer Maßnahmen, die sogenannte Politikakkumulation. Diese führe zu einer schleichenden Überlastung der Verwaltung, da Kapazitäten oft nicht mitwachsen, was die Effektivität der Umsetzung beeinträchtigt. Eine Verbesserung der vertikalen Kopplung von Politikproduktion und Implementation hätte großes Potenzial, dauerhaft die angemessene Balance von steigenden Implementationslasten und vorhandenen administrativen Kapazitäten zu gewährleisten. Die Kosten der Bürokratie in Deutschland stellen auch aus Sicht von Sabine Kuhlmann und Florian Gerls, Normenkontrollrat, zunehmend eine Belastung für Unternehmen dar, was die Notwendigkeit für effektiven Bürokratieabbau verdeutlicht. Der Bürokratiekostenindex und die \"One in one out\"-Regel sollten dabei die Belastungen kontrollieren, erfassen jedoch nicht alle Kostenarten und haben somit nur begrenzte Wirksamkeit. Empfohlene Maßnahmen zur spürbaren Entlastung seien eine stärkere Digitalisierung und Vereinfachung administrativer Prozesse sowie eine effektivere Integration europäischer Regulierungen in die nationale Bürokratiepolitik. Aus Sicht von Tanja Gönner, Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie – BDI, stellt die Bürokratie in Deutschland eine erhebliche Belastung für Unternehmen dar und behindert das wirtschaftliche Wachstum sowie die Innovationskraft, besonders im Mittelstand. Trotz politischer Maßnahmen zur Bürokratieentlastung sei die tatsächliche Wirkung in der Praxis gering, und es bestehe weiterhin ein enormer Handlungsbedarf, um Verwaltungsprozesse zu modernisieren, die Digitalisierung voranzutreiben und die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit des Standorts Deutschland zu sichern. Ein kultureller Wandel hin zu mehr Vertrauen und Ermöglichung anstelle von Misstrauen könnte die Bürokratiekosten senken und die Effizienz verbessern. Thomas Licht, Annette von Maltzan und Klaus Wohlrabe, ifo Institut, stellen die Ergebnisse einer Umfrage unter deutschen Familienunternehmen vor. Über 90 % der deutschen Unternehmen verspüren eine steigende Bürokratiebelastung, die auch ihre Investitionsbereitschaft negativ beeinflusse. Besonders hinderlich seien langsame Genehmigungsverfahren und die komplexe Steuergesetzgebung. Auch das Lieferkettengesetz wird als besonders belastend empfunden. Mit einer umfassenden Digitalisierung von Verwaltungsprozessen könne der bürokratische Aufwand reduziert und die Effizienz gesteigert werden. Daniel Weinberger, Yannik Hahn und Alexandra Heimisch-Röcker, IHK für München und Oberbayern stellen eine Umfrage unter bayerischen Unternehmen zur Bürokratie vor: Über 90% der Unternehmen fühlen sich durch diese in ihrem Geschäftsbetrieb eingeschränkt, wobei fast die Hälfte von erheblicher Beeinträchtigung berichtet. Besonders belastend seien Nachweispflichten, häufige Gesetzesänderungen und langsame Genehmigungsverfahren, was kleinere Unternehmen verhältnismäßig stärker trifft als größere. Florian Englmaier, LMU München, Gerd Mühlheußer und Niklas Wallmeier, beide Universität Hamburg, und Andreas Roider, Universität Regensburg, untersuchen den Einsatz moderner Managementmethoden in deutschen Kommunen und deren Einfluss auf die Leistungsfähigkeit. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine große Varianz in der Anwendung dieser Methoden, unabhängig von Faktoren wie Bundesland oder Gemeindegröße. Kommunen, die systematisches Management praktizieren, erzielen bessere Resultate in Bereichen wie Lebensqualität, Standortattraktivität und Verwaltungseffizienz. Angesichts der Herausforderungen der Digitalisierung wird empfohlen, den zielgerichteten Einsatz strukturierter Managementmethoden in Kommunen weiter auszubauen. Gabriele C. Klug, Wirtschaftsvereinigung der Grünen, und Fabian Dittrich beschreiben die erheblichen direkten Bürokratiekosten in Deutschland, die jährlich rund 65 Mrd. Euro betragen und vor allem kleine und mittelständische Unternehmen belasten. Der Abbau bürokratischer Hürden und die Digitalisierung der Verwaltung seien entscheidend für eine schnellere Dekarbonisierung und eine nachhaltige Transformation der Wirtschaft. Es bedürfe eines Maximums an Agilität in der Arbeitsweise, eines steten Werbens um eine veränderte Verwaltungskultur sowie des Muts zur Innovation – wie zum Einsatz von KI in Verwaltungsprozessen. Sebastian Blesse, Universität Leipzig, Leon Högner und Sarah Necker, beide ifo Institut, betrachten die Finanzierung der Kommunen über Fördermittel. Oft würden diese nicht abgerufen, aufgrund von hohen administrativen Hürden und dem damit verbundenen Personalaufwand. Eine Lösung wäre, die Fördermittel in Pauschaltransfers umzuwandeln und an die Kommunen zu verteilen. Alternativ sollte die Komplexität des Fördermittelprozesses verbessert werden, beispielsweise indem Prozesse vereinheitlicht und entbürokratisiert werden und Informationen an zentraler Stelle transparent zur Verfügung gestellt werden.