Using principal component analysis to develop performance indicators in professional rugby league

Previous research on performance indicators in rugby league has suggested that dimension reduction techniques should be utilised when analysing sporting data sets with a large number of variables. Forty-five rugby league team performance indicators, from all 27 rounds of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 European Super League seasons, collected by Opta, were reduced to 10 orthogonal principal components with standardised team scores produced for each component. Forced-entry logistic (match outcome) and linear (point’s difference) regression models were used alongside exhaustive chi-square automatic interaction detection decision trees to determine how well each principle component predicted success. The 10 principal components explained 81.8% of the variance in point’s difference and classified match outcome correctly ~90% of the time. Results suggested that if a team increased “amount of possession” and “making quick ground” component scores, they were more likely to win (β = 15.6, OR = 10.1 and β = 7.8, OR = 13.3) respectively. Decision trees revealed that “making quick ground” was an important predictor of match outcome followed by “quick play” and “amount of possession”. The use of PCA provided a useful guide on how teams can increase their chances of success by improving performances on a collection of variables, instead of analysing variables in isolation

Customer Perception of Drive-Thru Service

The rapid growth of off-premise dining and, consequently, drive- thru service, presents the challenge of building customer loyalty in a highly competitive marketplace. In this study, customer perceptions of drive-thru service associated with quick service restaurants were examined. Results suggest that service time appears to differ among quick service restaurants, even those within the same chain. Employee courtesy was rated positively at all restaurants, as was food quality. The implications of these results for restaurateurs who offer drive-thru service are discussed

Are there leaks in your product pipeline?

Jump Starting Technologies, Patent Issues, and Translational Medicine Poster SessionSuccessful businesses move new products through the development pipeline swiftly and efficiently. An integral part of this process is the research design and execution. The field of statistics can provide knowledge and guidance that aides a successful flow through the developmental pipeline. The involvement of a professional statistician as a team member can help plug potential leaks and increase your probability of success. It pays to consider all sources of measurement variation in the design of an experiment and to account for them in the data analysis. Randomly assigning subjects to treatments reduces bias and controls for important, but unknown, factors. Various randomization strategies differ in their time and cost. More powerful analyses are possible when subjects are matched so that when different treatments are compared, other sources of variation are controlled. More powerful experiments are more sensitive at the same cost as less powerful experiments. When baseline measurements are incorporated into data analysis, treatment effects beyond baseline can be identified. Sample sizes should be large enough to detect real differences, yet small enough to be manageable and cost effective. New technology allows the measurement of many variables at many time points. The skills of a statistician can be useful in collaboration with the scientist to find the best way to transform large amounts of data into useful information. Finally, the presentation of study results needs to include the relevant statistical methods. Potential investors want to see data and be confident it has been subjected to the appropriate analysis. Meeting the requirements of regulatory agencies (FDA and EPA) will proceed more quickly if the analysis has been conducted by a professional statistician. The University of Missouri System has statisticians on several campuses. There are graduate programs at the University of Missouri, UMKC and Missouri University of Science and Technology. Graduate students are available for internships and/or summer employment. Graduate student support often leads to long term collaborations with statistics faculty

Differential transcript expression between the microfilariae of the filarial nematodes, Brugia malayi and B. pahangi

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Brugia malayi </it>and <it>B. pahangi </it>are two closely related nematodes that cause filariasis in humans and animals. However, <it>B. pahangi </it>microfilariae are able to develop in and be transmitted by the mosquito, <it>Armigeres subalbatus</it>, whereas most <it>B. malayi </it>are rapidly melanized and destroyed within the mosquito hemocoel. A cross-species microarray analysis employing the <it>B. malayi </it>V2 array was carried out to determine the transcriptional differences between <it>B. malayi </it>and <it>B. pahangi </it>microfilariae with similar age distribution.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Following microarray data analysis, a list of preferentially expressed genes in both microfilariae species was generated with a false discovery rate estimate of 5% and a signal intensity ratio of 2 or higher in either species. A total of 308 probes were preferentially expressed in both species with 149 probes, representing 123 genes, in <it>B. pahangi </it>microfilariae and 159 probes, representing 107 genes, in <it>B. malayi </it>microfilariae. In <it>B. pahangi</it>, there were 76 (62%) up-regulated transcripts that coded for known proteins that mapped into the KEGG pathway compared to 61 (57%) transcripts in <it>B. malayi </it>microfilariae. The remaining 47 (38%) transcripts in <it>B. pahangi </it>and 46 (43%) transcripts in <it>B. malayi </it>microfilariae were comprised almost entirely of hypothetical genes of unknown function. Twenty-seven of the transcripts in <it>B. pahangi </it>microfilariae coded for proteins that associate with the secretory pathway compared to thirty-nine in <it>B. malayi </it>microfilariae. The data obtained from real-time PCR analysis of ten genes selected from the microarray list of preferentially expressed genes showed good concordance with the microarray data, indicating that the microarray data were reproducible.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study, we identified gene transcripts that were preferentially expressed in the microfilariae of <it>B. pahangi </it>and <it>B. malayi</it>, some of which coded for known immunomodulatory proteins. These comparative transcriptome data will be of interest to researchers keen on understanding the inherent differences, at the molecular level, between <it>B. malayi </it>and <it>B. pahangi </it>microfilariae especially because these microfilariae are capable of surviving in the same vertebrate host but elicit different immune response outcomes in the mosquito, <it>Ar. subalbatus</it>.</p

A seeded ambient temperature ferrit process for the treatment of AMD waters: Magnetite formation in the presence and absence of calcium ions under steady state operation

An ambient temperature ferrite process has been developed for the removal of iron and non-ferrous metals from AMD waters. The process involves the controlled formation of magnetite (Fe3 O4 ) that has the capacity to substitute divalent and trivalent cations as part of the lattice, thus forming a stable easy-to-separate ferrite. This paper reports on continuous operations of the process in the absence and presence of Ca2+, which is well known to impede ferrite formation. In the first instance, the process involves the precipitation of hydroxy-metals at pH 10.5 and their subsequent adsorption onto magnetite seed in a contact stabilisation reactor. Second, liquid-solid separation is effected and the solid fraction is subsequently treated in an oxidising reactor in which a fraction of the ferrous species is oxidised to an intermediate ferric precipitate. Finally, both ferrous and ferric species undergo crystalchemical processing and are incorporated into stable magnetite. Results indicate that Ca2+ interference can be overcome by maintaining a high ratio of precipitated ferrous species to dissolved Ca2+. It was found that in order to attain the required high Fe2+:Ca2+ ratio, the solid ferrous-hydroxy species concentration in the oxidation reactor should be maintained at above 1 200 mg Fe/l. Ferrous to calcium ratios greater than 3 were found to favour magnetite formation. In the absence of Ca2+, a solid ferroushydroxy species concentration of approximately 500 mg/l was sufficient for magnetite formation. Operating the process at ferroushydroxy concentrations of lower than 1 200 and 500 mg/l in the presence and absence of calcium respectively enhanced the formation of other iron oxides, primarily goethite. In all experiments the iron concentration in the effluent was less than 1 mg/l, the sludge volume index (SVI) extremely low (< 4 ml/g) and the percentage of ferrous-hydroxy species in the sludge can be reduced to about 1%. These features, together with the potential to incorporate heavy metals into a stable compound, make the process very promising for AMD treatment

Installation Tools for Hydraulically Fitted Coupling Hubs - Precautions and Design Requirements

Special PaperPg. 159-166The tools used to install hydraulically fitted hubs need to be as carefully designed and manufactured as the couplings themselves. The authors describe an installation of coupling hubs on upgraded machines where tools that were designed to be used on a coupling for a 6.0 in diameter shaft were adapted to mount a coupling on an 8.0 in shaft. The larger forces involved caused a threaded rod to fracture and the coupling hub to be expelled from the shaft end with considerable force and velocity. An after-the-fact analysis of these "design alpha" tools is presented, along with a technical description of the forces acting upon a newly mounted hub and the velocity with which such a hub could be expelled from a shaft end. The 8.0 in hub was successfully installed on the shaft using modified "design alpha" tooling for expediency, but this modification was considered to be only a stopgap solution. The authors designed new "design beta" tools to accomplish the installation of the coupling hubs safely. The analysis of the "design beta" tools is described along with the important criteria to be considered for coupling hub installation tools

952-30 Left Ventricular Ejection Performance Improves Late After Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Aortic Stenosis and Reduced Ejection Fraction

To assess the time course and magnitude of change in left ventricular (LV) wall stress and ejection performance indices, 24 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis were prospectively evaluated. Each patient underwent resting radionuclide angiography (RNA), echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization (high fidelity pressure) before AVR, then RNA and echocardiogram at one week and six months after AVR. Patients were stratified by preoperative ejection fraction (EF) into reduced EF (&lt;50%) and normal EF (≥50%) groups.Pre-operatively, peak positive dp/dt was lower in the reduced EF group (1300 vs 1700mmHg/sec, p=0.035), and wall stress was elevated similarly in both groups (p=NS).Temporal Relationships of EF and Wall StressPre-op1 Week6 MosNormal EF (n=14)Mean Ejection Fraction (%)666468Mean Wall Stress (dyne/cm2×103)623444Reduced EF (n=10)Mean Ejection Fraction (%)383757Mean Wall Stress (dyne/cm2×103)785261Wall stress was reduced at one week post-operatively (p&lt;0.005) in both groups. Ejection fraction remained depressed in the reduced EF group. By six months, however, EF had dramatically improved in the reduced EF group (p=0.002).ConclusionIn patients with LV dysfunction, EF remains low one week after AVR despite rectification of afterload mismatch. At six months, however, ejection performance improves. Therefore, when measured by ejection phase indices, the surgical benefit from AVR is not evident until late post-operatively

The impact of supportive nursing care on the needs of men with prostate cancer: a study across seven European countries

Background: prostate cancer is for many men a chronic disease with a long life expectancy after treatment. The impact of prostate cancer therapy on men has been well defined, however, explanation of the consequences of cancer treatment has not been modelled against the wider variables of long-term health-care provision. The aim of this study was to explore the parameters of unmet supportive care needs in men with prostate cancer in relation to the experience of nursing care. Methods: a survey was conducted among a volunteer sample of 1001 men with prostate cancer living in seven European countries. Results: at the time of the survey, 81% of the men had some unmet supportive care needs including psychological, sexual and health system and information needs. Logistic regression indicated that lack of post-treatment nursing care significantly predicted unmet need. Critically, men's contact with nurses and/or receipt of advice and support from nurses, for several different aspects of nursing care significantly had an impact on men's outcomes. Conclusion: Unmet need is related not only to disease and treatment factors but is also associated with the supportive care men received. Imperative to improving men's treatment outcomes is to also consider the access to nursing and the components of supportive care provided, especially after therapy

Gene pools and the genetic architecture of domesticated cowpea

Open Access JournalCowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a major tropical legume crop grown in warm to hot areas throughout the world and especially important to the people of sub-Saharan Africa where the crop was domesticated. To date, relatively little is understood about its domestication origins and patterns of genetic variation. In this study, a worldwide collection of cowpea landraces and African ancestral wild cowpea was genotyped with more than 1200 single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Bayesian inference revealed the presence of two major gene pools in cultivated cowpea in Africa. Landraces from gene pool 1 are mostly distributed in western Africa while the majority of gene pool 2 are located in eastern Africa. Each gene pool is most closely related to wild cowpea in the same geographic region, indicating divergent domestication processes leading to the formation of two gene pools. The total genetic variation within landraces from countries outside Africa was slightly greater than within African landraces. Accessions from Asia and Europe were more related to those from western Africa while accessions from the Americas appeared more closely related to those from eastern Africa. This delineation of cowpea germplasm into groups of genetic relatedness will be valuable for guiding introgression efforts in breeding programs and for improving the efficiency of germplasm managemen

Genetic diversity and population structure of early and extra-early maturing maize germplasm adapted to sub-Saharan Africa

Open Access Journal; Published online: 17 Feb 2021Background Assessment and effective utilization of genetic diversity in breeding programs is crucial for sustainable genetic improvement and rapid adaptation to changing breeding objectives. During the past two decades, the commercialization of the early and extra-early maturing cultivars has contributed to rapid expansion of maize into different agro-ecologies of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where maize has become an important component of the agricultural economy and played a vital role in food and nutritional security. The present study aimed at understanding the population structure and genetic variability among 439 early and extra-early maize inbred lines developed from three narrow-based and twenty-seven broad-based populations by the International Iinstitute of Tropical Agriculture Maize Improvement Program (IITA-MIP). These inbreds were genotyped using 9642 DArTseq-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers distributed uniformly throughout the maize genome. Results About 40.8% SNP markers were found highly informative and exhibited polymorphic information content (PIC) greater than 0.25. The minor allele frequency and PIC ranged from 0.015 to 0.500 and 0.029 to 0.375, respectively. The STRUCTURE, neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) grouped the inbred lines into four major classes generally consistent with the selection history, ancestry and kernel colour of the inbreds but indicated a complex pattern of the genetic structure. The pattern of grouping of the lines based on the STRUCTURE analysis was in concordance with the results of the PCoA and suggested greater number of sub-populations (K = 10). Generally, the classification of the inbred lines into heterotic groups based on SNP markers was reasonably reliable and in agreement with defined heterotic groups of previously identified testers based on combining ability studies. Conclusions Complete understanding of potential heterotic groups would be difficult to portray by depending solely on molecular markers. Therefore, planned crosses involving representative testers from opposing heterotic groups would be required to refine the existing heterotic groups. It is anticipated that the present set of inbreds could contribute new beneficial alleles for population improvement, development of hybrids and lines with potential to strengthen future breeding programs. Results of this study would help breeders in formulating breeding strategies for genetic enhancement and sustainable maize production in SSA