Statistics of football dynamics

We investigate the dynamics of football matches. Our goal is to characterize statistically the temporal sequence of ball movements in this collective sport game, searching for traits of complex behavior. Data were collected over a variety of matches in South American, European and World championships throughout 2005 and 2006. We show that the statistics of ball touches presents power-law tails and can be described by $q$-gamma distributions. To explain such behavior we propose a model that provides information on the characteristics of football dynamics. Furthermore, we discuss the statistics of duration of out-of-play intervals, not directly related to the previous scenario.Comment: 7 page

High-fidelity state detection and tomography of a single ion Zeeman qubit

We demonstrate high-fidelity Zeeman qubit state detection in a single trapped 88 Sr+ ion. Qubit readout is performed by shelving one of the qubit states to a metastable level using a narrow linewidth diode laser at 674 nm followed by state-selective fluorescence detection. The average fidelity reached for the readout of the qubit state is 0.9989(1). We then measure the fidelity of state tomography, averaged over all possible single-qubit states, which is 0.9979(2). We also fully characterize the detection process using quantum process tomography. This readout fidelity is compatible with recent estimates of the detection error-threshold required for fault-tolerant computation, whereas high-fidelity state tomography opens the way for high-precision quantum process tomography

Endogenous Gonadal Hormone Exposure and Bone Sarcoma Risk

Although experimental and clinical evidence suggest that endogenous sex hormones influence bone sarcoma genesis, the hypothesis has not been adequately tested in an appropriate animal model. We conducted a historical cohort study of Rottweiler dogs because they frequently undergo elective gonadectomy and spontaneously develop appendicular bone sarcomas, which mimic the biological behavior of the osteosarcomas that affect children and adolescents. Data were collected by questionnaire from owners of 683 Rottweiler dogs living in North America. To determine whether there was an association between endogenous sex hormones and risk of bone sarcoma, relative risk (RR) of incidence rates and hazard ratios for bone sarcoma were calculated for dogs subdivided on the basis of lifetime gonadal hormone exposure. Bone sarcoma was diagnosed in 12.6% of dogs in this cohort during 71,004 dog-months follow-up. Risk for bone sarcoma was significantly influenced by age at gonadectomy. Male and female dogs that underwent gonadectomy before 1 year of age had an approximate one in four lifetime risk for bone sarcoma and were significantly more likely to develop bone sarcoma than dogs that were sexually intact [RR ±95% CI = 3.8 (1.5–9.2) for males; RR ±95% CI = 3.1 (1.1–8.3) for females]. χ2 test for trend showed a highly significant inverse dose-response relationship between duration of lifetime gonadal exposure and incidence rate of bone sarcoma (P = 0.008 for males, P = 0.006 for females). This association was independent of adult height or body weight. We conclude that the subset of Rottweiler dogs that undergo early gonadectomy represent a unique, highly accessible target population to further study the gene:environment interactions that determine bone sarcoma risk and to test whether interventions can inhibit the spontaneous development of bone sarcoma

Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder with blue narrow-band light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

Background: While light has proven an effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), an optimal wavelength combination has not been determined. Short wavelength light (blue) has demonstrated potency as a stimulus for acute melatonin suppression and circadian phase shifting. Methods: This study tested the efficacy of short wavelength light therapy for SAD. Blue light emitting diode (LED) units produced 468 nm light at 607 µW/cm2 (27 nm half-peak bandwidth); dim red LED units provided 654 nm at 34 µW/cm2 (21 nm half-peak bandwidth). Patients with major depression with a seasonal pattern, a score of ≥20 on the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-SAD version (SIGH-SAD) and normal sleeping patterns (routine bedtimes between 10:00 pm and midnight) received 45 minutes of morning light treatment daily for 3 weeks. Twenty-four patients completed treatment following random assignment of condition (blue vs. red light). The SIGH-SAD was administered weekly. Results: Mixed-effects analyses of covariance determined that the short wavelength light treatment decreased SIGH-SAD scores significantly more than the dimmer red light condition (F = 6.45, p = .019 for average over the post-treatment times). Conclusions: Narrow bandwidth blue light at 607 µW/cm2 outperforms dimmer red light in reversing symptoms of major depression with a seasonal pattern

Converting genetic network oscillations into somite spatial pattern

In most vertebrate species, the body axis is generated by the formation of repeated transient structures called somites. This spatial periodicity in somitogenesis has been related to the temporally sustained oscillations in certain mRNAs and their associated gene products in the cells forming the presomatic mesoderm. The mechanism underlying these oscillations have been identified as due to the delays involved in the synthesis of mRNA and translation into protein molecules [J. Lewis, Current Biol. {\bf 13}, 1398 (2003)]. In addition, in the zebrafish embryo intercellular Notch signalling couples these oscillators and a longitudinal positional information signal in the form of an Fgf8 gradient exists that could be used to transform these coupled temporal oscillations into the observed spatial periodicity of somites. Here we consider a simple model based on this known biology and study its consequences for somitogenesis. Comparison is made with the known properties of somite formation in the zebrafish embryo . We also study the effects of localized Fgf8 perturbations on somite patterning.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

A framework for branched storytelling and matchmaking in multiplayer games

Video games often either have good single player campaign modes or good multi-player campaign-less modes. This paper presents a framework aimed at the full game development pipeline, from designers to programmers, to aid in creating multiplayer campaigns by providing components that help singleplayer story modes to be used in multiplayer interaction settings. We also propose a custom matchmaking system capable of matching players so as to intertwine their individual stories. The proposed framework has been validated in a case study. A set of experimental results show that the framework is capable of producing valuable story crossings and proper matchmaking.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Barremian and Aptian (Cretaceous) sharks and rays from Speeton, Yorkshire, north-east England

Bulk sampling of a number of horizons within the upper part of the Speeton Clay Type section has produced teeth and other remains of sharks and rays from several poorly studied horizons. At least 10 shark and two ray species were recorded, with two sharks, Pteroscyllium speetonensis and Palaeobrachaelurus mitchelli, being described as new. The oldest occurrences of the family Anacoracadae and the genus Pteroscyllium, as well as the youngest occurrence of the genus Palaeobrachaelurus, were recorded. The palaeoenvironmental significance of the faunas is briefly discussed

Outcome of the pivotal study of the Aptus endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysms repair system

ObjectiveEndovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is associated with benefits over open surgery, yet limitations remain with current endovascular devices. This study was performed to assess outcomes of AAA repair with the Aptus endograft and EndoAnchors (Aptus Endosystems, Sunnyvale, Calif).MethodsThis prospective, multicenter, single-arm investigational device exemption trial was conducted at 25 sites in the United States. A total of 155 patients were enrolled in the trial (mean age, 73 ± 8 years; male, 93.5%; mean AAA diameter, 53.6 ± 7.9 mm). The Aptus endograft is a two-component system: a multilumen, modular endograft with two docking limbs (Aptus Endograft System) and the Heli-FX Aortic Securement System comprising an electronically controlled applier (Heli-FX Applier) with helical EndoAnchors provided in a cassette and a deflectable sheath (Heli-FX Guide) designed for delivery of the applier to the target location for EndoAnchor implantation. The main eligibility criteria included proximal neck length of ≥12 mm, diameter of 19 to 29 mm, and infrarenal angulation of ≤60 degrees. The primary safety end point was freedom from major adverse events at 30 days, and the primary effectiveness end point was successful aneurysm treatment at 12 months. Thrombus-related events (TRE) were defined as limb occlusion or thromboembolism from the endograft. Subjects were observed for a median of 4.2 years, with imaging end points analyzed by a core laboratory and adverse events adjudicated by a clinical events committee.ResultsAmong 155 enrolled subjects, 153 (98.7%) underwent successful implantation of the Aptus endograft and a median of five EndoAnchors; two subjects were converted to open surgical repair during the initial procedure. Overall, the primary safety and effectiveness end points were met in 98.1% and 97.4% of the subjects, respectively. Aneurysm-related mortality was 0.6%, with one postdischarge cardiac death 18 days after implantation. There were no AAA ruptures. There were no fractures of stents or EndoAnchors. There was one type I endoleak and one type III endoleak. Stent graft migration was noted in five subjects, none associated with sac enlargement, type I endoleak, or EndoAnchor dislocation from the endograft. AAA sac shrinkage of ≥5 mm at 1, 2, and 3 years was observed in 60.3%, 72.9%, and 81.7%, respectively. Sixty-one subjects (39.4%) experienced 113 TRE, associated with 80 reinterventions (in 58 subjects) unassociated with limb loss or death. A root cause analysis of TRE identified small, out-of-specification docking limbs with graft infolding and high local shear, resulting in thrombus formation within the endograft with subsequent distal embolization in some cases.ConclusionsEarly results of the Aptus endograft trial met its safety and effectiveness end points; however, a high rate of TRE was observed because of manufacturing discrepancies. The findings confirm a low rate of type I and type III endoleaks, migration, and non-TRE reintervention with a high rate of aneurysm sac regression during midterm follow-up

Ethnic-minority groups in England and Wales-factors associated with the size and timing of elevated COVID-19 mortality: a retrospective cohort study linking census and death records

BACKGROUND: We estimated population-level associations between ethnicity and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality using a newly linked census-based data set and investigated how ethnicity-specific mortality risk evolved during the pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of respondents to the 2011 Census of England and Wales in private households, linked to death registrations and adjusted for emigration (n = 47 872 412). The outcome of interest was death involving COVID-19 between 2 March 2020 and 15 May 2020. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for ethnic-minority groups compared with the White population, controlling for individual, household and area characteristics. HRs were estimated on the full outcome period and separately for pre- and post-lockdown periods. RESULTS: In age-adjusted models, people from all ethnic-minority groups were at elevated risk of COVID-19 mortality; the HRs for Black males and females were 3.13 (95% confidence interval: 2.93 to 3.34) and 2.40 (2.20 to 2.61), respectively. However, in fully adjusted models for females, the HRs were close to unity for all ethnic groups except Black [1.29 (1.18 to 1.42)]. For males, the mortality risk remained elevated for the Black [1.76 (1.63 to 1.90)], Bangladeshi/Pakistani [1.35 (1.21 to 1.49)] and Indian [1.30 (1.19 to 1.43)] groups. The HRs decreased after lockdown for all ethnic groups, particularly Black and Bangladeshi/Pakistani females. CONCLUSION: Differences in COVID-19 mortality between ethnic groups were largely attenuated by geographical and socio-demographic factors, though some residual differences remained. Lockdown was associated with reductions in excess mortality risk in ethnic-minority populations, which has implications for a second wave of infection

How to Choose a Champion

League competition is investigated using random processes and scaling techniques. In our model, a weak team can upset a strong team with a fixed probability. Teams play an equal number of head-to-head matches and the team with the largest number of wins is declared to be the champion. The total number of games needed for the best team to win the championship with high certainty, T, grows as the cube of the number of teams, N, i.e., T ~ N^3. This number can be substantially reduced using preliminary rounds where teams play a small number of games and subsequently, only the top teams advance to the next round. When there are k rounds, the total number of games needed for the best team to emerge as champion, T_k, scales as follows, T_k ~N^(\gamma_k) with gamma_k=1/[1-(2/3)^(k+1)]. For example, gamma_k=9/5,27/19,81/65 for k=1,2,3. These results suggest an algorithm for how to infer the best team using a schedule that is linear in N. We conclude that league format is an ineffective method of determining the best team, and that sequential elimination from the bottom up is fair and efficient.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure