Artificial intelligence in virtual standardized patients: Combining natural language understanding and rule based dialogue management to improve conversational fidelity.

Introduction: Advances in natural language understanding have facilitated the development of Virtual Standardized Patients (VSPs) that may soon rival human patients in conversational ability. We describe herein the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) system for VSPs enabling students to practice their history taking skills.

Methods: Our system consists of (1) Automated Speech Recognition (ASR), (2) hybrid AI for question identification, (3) classifier to choose between the two systems, and (4) automated speech generation.

Lower-Limb Muscle Strength, Anterior-Posterior and Inter-Limb Asymmetry in Professional, Elite Academy and Amateur Soccer Players.

Given the importance of the lower-limb strength and strength balance in soccer players and its relationship with injury prevention and performance, the present study compared quadriceps and hamstrings strength, the conventional (H:Q), functional (H:Q) hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio and inter-limb strength asymmetry in professional, elite academy and amateur male soccer players. In this cross-sectional study, two hundred-six soccer players (professional = 75, elite academy = 68, amateurs = 63) volunteered to participate. Quadriceps and hamstrings isokinetic peak torque was investigated at 60 s in both the concentric and eccentric modality and at 300s in the concentric modality.

Effects of Postactivation Potentiation After an Eccentric Overload Bout on Countermovement Jump and Lower-Limb Muscle Strength.

Beato, M, Stiff, A, and Coratella, G. Effects of postactivation potentiation after an eccentric overload bout on countermovement jump and lower-limb muscle strength. J Strength Cond Res 35(7): 1825-1832, 2021-This study aimed to evaluate the postactivation potentiation (PAP) effects of an eccentric overload (EOL) exercise on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance and isokinetic lower-limb muscle strength.

The Validity and Between-Unit Variability of GNSS Units (STATSports Apex 10 and 18 Hz) for Measuring Distance and Peak Speed in Team Sports.

The aims of this study were (i) to investigate the criterion validity (vs. gold standard measurements) of the 10 and 18 Hz STATSports Apex units for measuring distances and peak speed (Vpeak) outcomes and (ii) to investigate the between-unit variability. Twenty university students were enrolled in the study (age 21 ± 2 years, weight 72 ± 6 kg, and height 1.

Validity and Reliability of Global Positioning System Units (STATSports Viper) for Measuring Distance and Peak Speed in Sports.

Beato, M, Devereux, G, and Stiff, A. Validity and reliability of global positioning system units (STATSports Viper) for measuring distance and peak speed in sports. J Strength Cond Res 32(10): 2831-2837, 2018-Previous evidence has proven that large variability exists in the accuracy of different brands of global positioning systems (GPS).