148 research outputs found
Does alignment with ruling party affect education outcome? Evidence from Tanzania
Combining 2015 ward-level elections and PSLE test scores data, this work examines the impact
of Tanzanian ruling party alignment on education outcomes across Tanzanian wards. The
methodology implemented is the Sharp Regression Discontinuity Design leveraging close
elections, with education outcome as dependent variable, CCM election victory as treatment
and margin of victory as assignment variable. Considering estimates for the four years after the
elections, we find no significant effects on pupilsâ school performances in wards locally
governed by CCM if compared to students in wards not aligned with the ruling party
SAILS: static analysis of information leakage with Sample
ABSTRACT In this paper, we introduce Sails, a new tool that combines Sample, a generic static analyzer, and a sophisticated domain for leakage analysis. This tool does not require to modify the original language, since it works with mainstream languages like Java, and it does not require any manual annotation. Sails can combine the information leakage analysis with different heap abstractions, inferring information leakage over programs dealing with complex data structures. We applied Sails to the analysis of the SecuriBench-micro suite. The experimental results show the effectiveness of our approach
Shot Put: Which Role for Kinematic Analysis?
Background: To understand the technical differences between shot putters of different
ages, this study compared biomechanical parameters of the best senior and youth Italian athletes
and then to worldâclass athletes (WC) assessed in previous investigations. Methods: The best throws
of 16 shot putters [8 Senior (SG) and 8 Youth (YG)] were recorded by video cameras during the
Italian Championshipsâ final and considered for 3D reconstruction. The following parameters were
measured: time of the different throwing phases, shot trajectory, release angle, release velocity, and
the force produced in the final phase. Results: Significant differences between SG and YG were
detected in second single support time (p = 0.015), support time (p = 0.007), total time (p = 0.028) and
in the force produced during the final phase (p < 0.001). A lower level of force, release speed, and a
shorter shot trajectory during the double support were detected in SG compared to WC.
Conclusions: The present study showed that, although the technical performance of all athletes was
similar, some differences exist between YG and SG. The gap between the groups may be partially
explained by the difference in force produced in the final phase of the throw and by a different
interpretation of the technique
Path Linearity of Elite Swimmers in a 400 m Front Crawl Competition
none6noIn the frontal crawl, the propulsive action of the limbs causes lateral fluctuations from the straight path, which can be theoretically seen as the best time saving path of the race. The purpose of the present work was to analyze the head trajectory of 10 elite athletes, during a competition of 400 m front crawl, in order to give information regarding the path linearity of elite swimmers. The kinematic analysis of the head trajectories was performed by means of stereo-photogrammetry. Results showed that the forward speed and lateral fluctuations speed are linearly related. Multiple regression analysis of discrete Fourier transformation allowed to distinguish 3 spectral windows identifying 3 specific features: strokes (0.7-5 Hz), breathings (0.4-0.7 Hz), and voluntary adjustments (0-0.4 Hz), which contributed to the energy wasting for 55%, 10%, and 35%, respectively. Both elite swimmers race speed and speed wastage increase while progressing from the 1st to the 8th length during a 400 m front crawl official competition. The main sources of the lateral fluctuations that lead to the increasing speed wastage could be significantly attributed to strokes and voluntary adjustments, while breathings contribution did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, both strokes and voluntary adjustments are the main energy consuming events that affect path linearity.PubMed ID: 25729292 [PMID]openGatta, Giorgio; Cortesi, Matteo; Lucertini, Francesco; Benelli, Piero; Sisti, Davide; Fantozzi, SilviaGatta, Giorgio; Cortesi, Matteo; Lucertini, Francesco; Benelli, Piero; Sisti, Davide; Fantozzi, Silvi
The relationship between power generated by thrust and power to overcome drag in elite short distance swimmers
At constant average speed (v), a balance between thrust force (Ft) and drag force (Fd) should occur: Ft-Fd = 0; hence the power generated by thrust forces (Pt = Ft\ub7v) should be equal to the power needed to overcome drag forces at that speed (Pd = Fd\ub7v); the aim of this study was to measure Pt (tethered swims), to estimate Pd in active conditions (at sprint speed) and to compare these values. 10 front crawl male elite swimmers (expertise: 93.1 \ub1 2.4% of 50 m world record) participated to the study; their sprint speed was measured during a 30 m maximal trial. Ft was assessed during a 15 s tethered effort; passive towing measurement were performed to determine speed specific drag in passive conditions (kP = passive drag force/v2); drag force in active conditions (Fd = kA\ub7v2) was calculated assuming that kA = 1.5\ub7kP. Average sprint speed was 2.20 \ub1 0.07 m\ub7s-1; kA, at this speed, was 37.2 \ub1 2.7 N\ub7s2\ub7m-2. No significant differences (paired t-test: p > 0.8) were observed between Pt (399 \ub1 56 W) and Pd (400 \ub1 57 W) and a strong correlation (R = 0.95, p < 0.001) was observed between these two parameters. The Bland-Altman plot indicated a good agreement and a small, acceptable, error (bias: -0.89 W, limits of agreement: -25.5 and 23.7 W). Power thrust experiments can thus be suggested as a valid tool for estimating a swimmer's power propulsion
Mechanical power, thrust power
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between mechanical power, thrust power, propelling efficiency and sprint performance in elite swimmers. Mechanical power was measured in 12 elite sprint male swimmers: i) in the laboratory, by using a whole body swimming ergometer (WâTOT); and ii) in the pool, by measuring full tethered swimming force (FT) and maximal swimming velocity (Vmax): WâT = FT .Vmax. Propelling efficiency ( P) was estimated based on the âpaddle wheel modelâ at Vmax. Vmax was 2.17 ± 0.06 m . s-1, P was 0.39 ± 0.02, WâT was 374 ± 62 W and WâTOT was 941 ± 92 W. Vmax was better related to WâT (useful power output: R=0.943, P<0.001) than to WâTOT (total power output: R=0.744, P<0.01) and this confirms the use of the full tethered test as a valid test to assess power propulsion in sprinters and to estimate swimming performance. The ratio WâT/ WâTOT (0.40 ± 0.04) represents the fraction of total mechanical power that can be utilized in water (e.g. P) and was indeed the same as that estimated based on the âpaddle wheel modelâ; this supports the use of this model to estimate P in swimming
Combining symbolic and numerical domains for information leakage analysis
We introduce an abstract domain for information-flow analysis of software. The proposal combines variable dependency analysis with numerical abstractions, yielding to accuracy and efficiency improvements. We apply the full power of the proposal to the case of database query languages as well. Finally, we present an implementation of the analysis, called Sails, as an instance of a generic static analyzer. Keeping the modular construction of the analysis, the tool allows one to tune the granularity of heap analysis and to choose the numerical domain involved in the reduced product. This way the user can tune the information leakage analysis at
dierent levels of precision and efficiency
Critical Review of the Pivotal Studies of Four rFVIII Products for the Treatment of Hemophilia A Patients: The Role of Octocog Alfa
INTRODUCTION: Hemophilia A is a rare congenital bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of clotting factor VIII (FVIII). The severe form of the disease is characterized by spontaneous bleeds, especially into the joints. Prophylaxis, based on regularly intravenous administration of the missing factor to avoid hemorrhages, represents the gold standard of treatment. In recent years, new products that significantly improve the treatment management options for patients with hemophilia have become available in the market.OBJECTIVE: To critically evaluate the pivotal studies of recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) products, approved in Europe within the first half of 2018 having obtained the indication for a prophylaxis dosing regimen based also on a twice weekly infusion frequency or even less, highlighting their limitations or strengths.METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted, and several databases (PubMed and Embase) were consulted.RESULTS: Nine clinical trials involving patients with severe hemophilia A without inhibitor were included in this analysis. Four rFVIII products (EloctaÂź, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA; KovaltryÂź, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Germany; AfstylaÂź, CSL Behring GmbH, Germany; AdynoviÂź, Baxalta Innovation GmbH, Austria) with different pharmacokinetic profiles were evaluated. The trials included in this analysis had different designs and heterogeneous methods were utilized to assess the study outcomes. The baseline characteristics of the patients enrolled in the studies were also often different and sometimes not adequately described. LEOPOLD II, a trial to compare prophylaxis to on-demand therapy with an unmodified rFVIII product (KovaltryÂź, octocog alfa), was the only completely randomized trial that enrolled a more critical patient population in terms of compromised joint condition than the other studies. Based on these side-by-side comparison, Octocog alfa reported similar efficacy, in terms of annualized bleeding rate, to the other rFVIII products, including extended half-life.CONCLUSIONS: Even without structural modifications, octocog alfa may be considered a useful treatment option for two times a week prophylaxis in a selected population of haemophilia patients
Boosting Interleukin-12 Antitumor Activity and Synergism with Immunotherapy by Targeted Delivery with isoDGR-Tagged Nanogold.
AbstractThe clinical use of interleukinâ12 (IL12), a cytokine endowed with potent immunotherapeutic anticancer activity, is limited by systemic toxicity. The hypothesis is addressed that gold nanoparticles tagged with a tumorâhoming peptide containing isoDGR, an αvÎČ3âintegrin binding motif, can be exploited for delivering IL12 to tumors and improving its therapeutic index. To this aim, gold nanospheres are functionalized with the headâtoâtail cyclizedâpeptide CGisoDGRG (Iso1) and murine IL12. The resulting nanodrug (Iso1/Au/IL12) is monodispersed, stable, and bifunctional in terms of αvÎČ3 and IL12âreceptor recognition. Lowâdose Iso1/Au/IL12, equivalent to 18â75 pg of IL12, induces antitumor effects in murine models of fibrosarcomas and mammary adenocarcinomas, with no evidence of toxicity. Equivalent doses of Au/IL12 (a nanodrug lacking Iso1) fail to delay tumor growth, whereas 15 000 pg of free IL12 is necessary to achieve similar effects. Iso1/Au/IL12 significantly increases tumor infiltration by innate immune cells, such as NK and iNKT cells, monocytes, and neutrophils. NK cell depletion completely inhibits its antitumor effects. Lowâdose Iso1/Au/IL12 can also increase the therapeutic efficacy of adoptive Tâcell therapy in mice with autochthonous prostate cancer. These findings indicate that coupling IL12 to isoDGRâtagged nanogold is a valid strategy for enhancing its therapeutic index and sustaining adoptive Tâcell therapy
Markerless analysis of front crawl swimming
a b s t r a c t Research on motion analysis of swimmers is commonly based on video recordings of the subject's motion, which are analyzed by manual digitization of feature points by an operator. This procedure has two main drawbacks: it is time-consuming, and it is affected by low repeatability. Therefore, the application of video-based, automatic approaches to motion analysis was investigated. A video-based, markerless system for the analysis of arm movements during front crawl swimming was developed. The method proposed by was modified in order to be used into water environment. Three dimensional coordinates of shoulder, elbow and wrist joints centers of 5 sprint swimmers performing front crawl swimming were determined. Wrist joint velocity was also calculated. Accuracy and reliability of the proposed technique were evaluated by means of comparison with traditional manual digitization (SIMI Reality Motion Systems GmbH). Root mean square distance (RMSD) values between trajectories estimated with the two techniques were determined. Results show good accuracy for wrist joint (RMSD o 56 mm), and reliability, evaluated on one subject, comparable to the inter-operator variability associated with the manual digitization procedure. The proposed technique is therefore very promising for quantitative, wide-scale studies on swimmers' motion
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