The adjusted churn: an index of competitive balance for sports leagues based on changes in team standings over time

This paper introduces an index called the adjusted churn, designed to measure competitive balance in sports leagues based on changes in team standings over time. This is a simple yet powerful index that varies between zero and one. A value of zero indicates no change in league standings from year to year and therefore minimal competitive balance. A value of one indicates the maximum possible turnover in league standings from year to year and therefore a high level of competitive balance. Application of this index to Major League Baseball suggests that there has been a significant decline in competitive balance in MLB since the 1990s with the most severe decline occurring in the American League. This index also indicates minimal competitive balance for the American League Eastern Division of MLB from 1998 to 2003

The factors affecting team performance in the NFL: does off-field conduct matter?

This paper contains a statistical analysis of the factors that contribute to team wins in the NFL. The variables examined are divided into offensive, defensive, and special teams categories. In addition, net turnovers, penalties, and off-field conduct, as measured by team arrests, are also included as independent variables. The results show that the quarterback rating has the largest impact on team wins followed by field goal percentage, opponent's passing yards per game, and opponent''s rushing yards per game. Team arrests were not found to have a statistically significant impact on team performance.

Kvaliteta pranja u kućanskom stroju za pranje s ozonatorom

Istraženi su učinci pranja ozonom u usporedbi s klasičnim pranjem na temelju vrednovanja učinka uklanjanja prljavština, spektralnih karakteristika bijelih (pamuk, pamuk/ poliester, PES i PA) i obojenih (pamuk, PES) tkanina i dezinfekcije. Upotrijebljen je kućanski stroj za pranje, isti kućanski stroj s ozonatorom, sredstvo za pranje IEC A, pamučni balast, uzorci standardnih zaprljanih tkanina, bijeljene i obojene tkanine i tekstilni nosači bakterijskih kultura Enterococcus faecium ATCC 6057. Jednokupeljni postupak pranja (pamuk, normalan) sastajao se od glavnog pranja, tri ispiranja i centrifugiranja. Klasično pranje je provedeno na 40 °C dok je postupak pranja ozonom proveden u kupelji između 20 i 40 °C. Izvedba pranja i vrednovanje učinaka je provedena u skladu s normama i preporukama. Rezultati su pokazali da su učinci ozonskog pranja s komercijalnim ozonatorom usporedivi s učincima klasičnog pranja. Dokazano je da pranje ozonom bez sredstva za pranje IEC A na temperaturi 40 °C smanjuje broj mikroorganizama više od 5 logaritama. Za poboljšanje učinaka kućanskog pranja ozonom potrebno je istražiti i razviti konstrukcijska rješenja koja će omogućiti ugradnju ozonatora u kućanski stroj za pranje kao i nove algoritme pranja

Evaluation of Road Pavement Cracks in Malaysia

Road surface condition is one of the most important characteristics because it affects ride quality, operation cost, and vehicle dynamic load. Thus it is necessary to study all factors affect the roads conditions, and to evaluate the different types of pavement distresses occur in the Malaysian roads. For this reason, this research was conducted to evaluate the main problem that occur in the Malaysian roads, and to find out the reasons of such a pavement behavior. In order to do four federal highways profile were studied, and data was collected using four different techniques, and analyzed to specify the dominate pavement distresses occur in the Malaysian roads

Efikasnost mikrovalnog fiksiranja reaktivnog bojila C. I. Reactive Red 24 u digitalnom tisku pamučnih tkanina

Istražena je efikasnost mikrovalnog fiksiranja reaktivnog bojila C. I. Reactive Red 24, tiskanog na pamučnoj tkanini tehnologijom digitalnog tiska. Pamučne tkanine bile su impregnirane otopinom ugušćivača, alkalije, uree i oksidacijskog sredstva. Nakon impregnacije slijedilo je sušenje, tisak reaktivnog bojila digitalnim printerom, fiksiranje, pranje i sapunanje. Rezultati fiksiranja bojila zasićenom parom i vrućim zrakom uspoređeni su s karakteristikama tiska fiksiranih mikrovalovima. Ispitan je utjecaj vremena i snage mikrovalova na promjenu karakteristika impregniranih tekstilnih supstrata. Na temelju rezultata može se zaključiti da su karakteristike mikrovalno fiksiranog tiska usporedive s karakteristikama digitalnog tiska reaktivnim bojilima, koji su bili fiksirani konvencionalnim metodama

Political knowledge of students at University of Zagreb

Političko znanje građana ima važnu ulogu u procesu održavanja demokratske kulture. Ono doprinosi povećanju političke participacije, povjerenja u institucije, kritičkom razmišljanju o političkim zbivanjima i rastu tolerancije u društvu. Prijašnja istraživanja u Hrvatskoj pokazala su da mladi posjeduju nisku razinu političkog znanja što na dugoročne staze dovodi u pitanje opstanak demokratskih vrijednosti. Cilj ovog rada bio je proširiti literaturu koja se bavi mjerenjem političkog znanja u Hrvatskoj. Rezultati dobiveni anketnim pokazuju da studenti Sveučilišta u Zagrebu u prosjeku pokazuju površnu razinu političkog znanja. Ovakav zaključak može se protumačiti nizom utjecaja poput statusa obrazovnog sustava, utjecaja medija, ili kvalitetom rada institucija. S obzirom na ograničenja ovog rada poput vremenskog okvira i resursa, isti može poslužiti kao izvor korisnih podataka za potencijalna buduća istraživanja.Political knowledge has an important place in process of maintaining democratic culture. It fosters growth of political participation, trust in institutions, critical thinking of current events and as well, growth of tolerance in society. Previous researches in Croatia showed that young people possess low level of political knowledge, which brings into question maintenance of democratic values in the long run. Aim of this research was to expand literature which measures political knowledge in Croatia. Results show that University of Zagreb students possess superficial level of political knowledge. This conclusion can be explained through various factors like the status of the education system, media influence or level of institutional quality. Given the limitations of this work such as time frame and resources, it can serve as a source of useful data for potential future research

Spatial distribution and composition of benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the salt marsh Čižići (Krk island)

Diplomski rad obuhvaća istraživanje zajednice bentičkih foraminifera i granulometrijskih osobina površinskog sedimenta slane močvare Čižići na otoku Krku. Pomoću jezgrila za uzorkovanje prikupljene su 10 cm dugačke jezgre površinskog sedimenta. Mikropaleontološka analiza provedena je na ukupno 10 pod-uzoraka koji predstavljaju najplići (0 – 2 cm) i najdublji (8 – 10 cm) interval svake jezgre. Zajedničko obilježje foraminiferske zajednice je dominacija infaunalnih jedinki, perforatne stijenke i roda Ammonia. Vrsta Ammonia tepida (Cushman), uz čestu prisutnost roda Haynesina i vrste Trochammina inflata (Montagu), prevladava u osam analiziranih pod-uzoraka. Indeksi bioraznolikosti ukazuju na povećavanje raznolikosti udaljavanjem od mora, a Fisherov (α) indeks sugerira okoliš marinske lagune. Stresni uvjeti u okolišu potvrđeni su pronalaskom različitih deformacija u obliku kućica i klijetki, a udio deformiranih jedinki povećava se udaljavanjem od mora. Rezultati kombinirane metode mokrog sijanja i sedigrafa otkrili su podjednaku zastupljenost pjeskovite i prahovite komponente i rezultat su dinamike okoliša, odnosno uloge valova u redistribuciji sedimenta. Usporedba s okolišima sličnih karakteristika diljem Jadranske obale ukazuje na sličan sastav i prostornu raspodjelu zajednice te slične granulometrijske osobine sedimenta.This master thesis includes a study of the benthic foraminiferal assemblage and granulometric properties of the surface sediment of the salt marsh Čižići on the island of Krk. Ten cm long cores of the surface sediment were collected with a sediment corer. Micropaleontological analysis were performed on a total of 10 sub-samples representing the uppermost (0 – 2 cm) and the lowest (8 – 10 cm) interval of each core. Common features of the foraminiferal assemblage are the dominance of infaunal species, species with perforated tests and genus Ammonia. Species Ammonia tepida (Cushman), accompanied by Haynesina sp. and Trochammina inflata (Montagu), dominate in eight sub-samples. Biodiversity indices increase with distance from the sea, and the Fisher (α) index indicates a marine lagoon environment. Stressful environmental conditions were confirmed by the discovery of various deformations of tests. Granulometric analysis revealed a uniform occurrence of sand and mud fractions due to environmental dynamics (waves). The comparison with salt marshes along the eastern Adriatic coast indicates a similar composition and spatial distribution of foraminiferal assemblages and similar granulometric properties of the sediment

Spatial distribution and composition of benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the salt marsh Čižići (Krk island)

Diplomski rad obuhvaća istraživanje zajednice bentičkih foraminifera i granulometrijskih osobina površinskog sedimenta slane močvare Čižići na otoku Krku. Pomoću jezgrila za uzorkovanje prikupljene su 10 cm dugačke jezgre površinskog sedimenta. Mikropaleontološka analiza provedena je na ukupno 10 pod-uzoraka koji predstavljaju najplići (0 – 2 cm) i najdublji (8 – 10 cm) interval svake jezgre. Zajedničko obilježje foraminiferske zajednice je dominacija infaunalnih jedinki, perforatne stijenke i roda Ammonia. Vrsta Ammonia tepida (Cushman), uz čestu prisutnost roda Haynesina i vrste Trochammina inflata (Montagu), prevladava u osam analiziranih pod-uzoraka. Indeksi bioraznolikosti ukazuju na povećavanje raznolikosti udaljavanjem od mora, a Fisherov (α) indeks sugerira okoliš marinske lagune. Stresni uvjeti u okolišu potvrđeni su pronalaskom različitih deformacija u obliku kućica i klijetki, a udio deformiranih jedinki povećava se udaljavanjem od mora. Rezultati kombinirane metode mokrog sijanja i sedigrafa otkrili su podjednaku zastupljenost pjeskovite i prahovite komponente i rezultat su dinamike okoliša, odnosno uloge valova u redistribuciji sedimenta. Usporedba s okolišima sličnih karakteristika diljem Jadranske obale ukazuje na sličan sastav i prostornu raspodjelu zajednice te slične granulometrijske osobine sedimenta.This master thesis includes a study of the benthic foraminiferal assemblage and granulometric properties of the surface sediment of the salt marsh Čižići on the island of Krk. Ten cm long cores of the surface sediment were collected with a sediment corer. Micropaleontological analysis were performed on a total of 10 sub-samples representing the uppermost (0 – 2 cm) and the lowest (8 – 10 cm) interval of each core. Common features of the foraminiferal assemblage are the dominance of infaunal species, species with perforated tests and genus Ammonia. Species Ammonia tepida (Cushman), accompanied by Haynesina sp. and Trochammina inflata (Montagu), dominate in eight sub-samples. Biodiversity indices increase with distance from the sea, and the Fisher (α) index indicates a marine lagoon environment. Stressful environmental conditions were confirmed by the discovery of various deformations of tests. Granulometric analysis revealed a uniform occurrence of sand and mud fractions due to environmental dynamics (waves). The comparison with salt marshes along the eastern Adriatic coast indicates a similar composition and spatial distribution of foraminiferal assemblages and similar granulometric properties of the sediment