Match Ratios Research Articles

The associations between training and match demands of male professional football players over a season

This study had two objectives: (i) to analyze the between-position differences in training:match load ratios and (ii) to test the relationships between the weekly training and match demands of male professional football players over a season. A cohort study lasting 43 weeks was performed. Nineteen professional football players (age: 27.5 ± 4.6 years old) used a 15-Hz global positioning system (GPS) unit integrating a 100-Hz tri-axial accelerometer. Total distance (TD), metabolic power average (MPA), new body load (NBL), accelerations (ACC), and decelerations (DEC) were considered. The training:match ratio was obtained for all the external load measures. Significant between-position differences were found only for DEC. Moderate correlations between the weekly training and match demands were found for NBL (r = 0.343 (0.19; 0.48); p < 0.008) and DEC (r = 0.472 (0.327; 0.595); p < 0.001). Moderate correlations between the mean training intensity and match demands of the same week were found for NBL (r = 0.454 (0.313; 0.575); p < 0.001) and DEC (r = 0.451 (0.304; 0.577); p < 0.001). This study did not show significant position differences for the overall training:match ratios. Significant position differences were revealed for left-back players compared to all other positions. Fullbacks performed four times more DEC during training sessions than during matches. It was revealed small to moderate associations between both the volume and intensity of the overall external load measures and their respective match running demands. However, such correlations are too weak to suggest a cause-and-effect relationship.

Quantification of Internal Medicine Resident Inpatient Care Using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination Database.

Objective Quantification of patient encounters during internal medicine residency training is challenging. At present, there are no established strategies for evaluating the whole inpatient experience in Japan. We hypothesized that the Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) database, which is widely used in Japan, might be a useful tool for such an evaluation. Methods We analyzed DPC-based patient encounters of five senior residents with different types of training. One of the diseases on receipt computation data, including the four main diseases and at most eight comorbidities, was matched with each category in the Online system for Standardized Log of Evaluation and Registration of specialty training system (J-OSLER), and the match ratios were assessed. The accumulation of each disease classified into J-OSLER categories was also assessed. Monthly extra working hours and total patient-days per resident were evaluated using a Pearson correlation analysis. Results Two residents with two-year rotations in the general internal medicine department showed high numbers of patient encounters and the highest matching ratio with J-OSLER (approximately 60% with 4 major diseases, 91% with all diseases). There was a moderately positive correlation between the total patient-days and extra working hours in these residents, but no such correlation was noted in the rate of monthly patient encounters and extra working hours among residents as a whole. Conclusion The DPC-based quantification of patient encounters during residency training appears effective in evaluating the coverage of the current J-OSLER list. Owing to its wide availability and generalization, this matching method may be useful as a universal tool for assessing internal medicine programs.

Exploring Large-Scale Patterns of Genetic Variation in the COI Gene among Insecta: Implications for DNA Barcoding and Threshold-Based Species Delimitation Studies.

Simple SummaryInsecta is the most diverse group in the kingdom Animalia, and it accounts for approximately two-thirds of all animals. The most commonly used gene for species delimitation in animals is cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI). We calculated the genetic distance of 64,414 insect species, downloaded from BOLD, and found that approximately one-quarter of the species of Insecta showed high intraspecific genetic variation (>3%). Owing to the high intraspecific genetic variation in insects, false positives may easily occur in threshold-based species delimitation based on the COI gene. Compared to the fixed thresholds, the thresholds that were calculated from the “threshOpt” and “localMinima” algorithms that are embedded in the Spider package are recommended in threshold-based species delimitation studies.The genetic variation in the COI gene has had a great effect on the final results of species delimitation studies. However, little research has comprehensively investigated the genetic divergence in COI among Insecta. The fast-growing COI data in BOLD provide an opportunity for the comprehensive appraisal of the genetic variation in COI among Insecta. We calculated the K2P distance of 64,414 insect species downloaded from BOLD. The match ratios of the clustering analysis, based on different thresholds, were also compared among 4288 genera (35,068 species). The results indicate that approximately one-quarter of the species of Insecta showed high intraspecific genetic variation (>3%), and a conservative estimate of this proportion ranges from 12.05% to 22.58%. The application of empirical thresholds (e.g., 2% and 3%) in the clustering analysis may result in the overestimation of the species diversity. If the minimum interspecific genetic distance of the congeneric species is greater than or equal to 2%, it is possible to avoid overestimating the species diversity on the basis of the empirical thresholds. In comparison to the fixed thresholds, the “threshOpt” and “localMinima” algorithms are recommended for the provision of a reference threshold for threshold-based species delimitation studies.

Probabilistic Linkage of Randomized Controlled Trial Data to Administrative Claims: A Case Study of Patients from Baricitinib Clinical Trials.

IntroductionThe aim of this work is to assess the feasibility of probabilistically linking randomized controlled trial (RCT) data to claims data in a real-world setting to inform future rheumatoid arthritis (RA) research.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study utilized IQVIA’s Patient Centric Medical Claims (Dx) Database, IQVIA’s Longitudinal Prescription Claims (LRx) Database, and Lilly’s baricitinib RCT data from a sample of patients that consented to the linkage of their de-identified insurance claims to their de-identified RCT data. Patients were initially matched on age, gender, and three-digit ZIP code of the provider and further matched according to a point scoring system using additional clinical variables.ResultsA total of 245 patients from 49 US clinical trial sites were eligible for the study and 78 (31.8%) of these patients consented to participate. Of the 78 consented patients, 69 (88%) were successfully matched on age, gender, and three-digit ZIP code of the provider. Of the 69 patients successfully matched on age, gender, and three-digit ZIP code of the provider, 44 (63.8%) had at least one sufficient match using the point scoring system. Of these 44, 23 (52.3%) patients matched at a ratio of one RCT patient to one Dx/LRx patient, 11 (25.0%) at a ratio of 1:2, 7 (15.9%) at a ratio of 1:3 and three (6.8%) at a ratio of 1:4 or greater. To further improve match ratios, a variable hierarchy was applied to the 18 RCT patients with 2–3 matches. Overall, 38 of the 78 (48.7%) consented RCT patients were successfully matched 1:1 to claims database patients.ConclusionsThis probabilistic linkage methodology demonstrates the feasibility, at a moderate linkage rate, of linking patients from RCTs to real-world data, which can provide a means to assess additional information not usually collected within or following a clinical trial.

MinION-in-ARMS: Nanopore Sequencing to Expedite Barcoding of Specimen-Rich Macrofaunal Samples From Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures

Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structure (ARMS) are standardised devices for sampling biodiversity in complex marine benthic habitats such as coral reefs. When coupled with DNA sequencing, these devices greatly expand our ability to document marine biodiversity. Unfortunately, the existing workflow for processing macrofaunal samples (>2-mm) in the ARMS pipeline—which involves Sanger sequencing—is expensive, laborious, and thus prohibitive for ARMS researchers. Here, we propose a faster, more cost-effective alternative by demonstrating a successful application of the MinION-based barcoding approach on the >2mm-size fraction of ARMS samples. All data were available within 3.5–4 h, and sequencing costs relatively low at approximately US$3 per MinION barcode. We sequenced the 313-bp fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) for 725 samples on both MinION and Illumina platforms, and retrieved 507–584 overlapping barcodes. MinION barcodes were highly accurate (~99.9%) when compared with Illumina reference barcodes. Molecular operational taxonomic units inferred between MinION and Illumina barcodes were consistently stable, and match ratios demonstrated highly congruent clustering patterns (≥0.96). Our method would make ARMS more accessible to researchers, and greatly expedite the processing of macrofaunal samples; it can also be easily applied to other small-to-moderate DNA barcoding projects (<10,000 specimens) for rapid species identification and discovery.

Fundamental trends within falling match rates: Insights from the past decade of Canadian residency matching data.

BackgroundThe number of unmatched Canadian Medical Graduates (CMGs) has risen dramatically over the last decade. To identify long-term solutions to this problem, an understanding of the factors contributing to these rising unmatched rates is critical.MethodsUsing match and electives data from 2009-2019, we employed machine learning algorithms to identify three clusters of disciplines with distinct trends in match and electives behaviours. We assessed the relationships between unmatched rates, competitiveness, rates of parallel planning, and program selection practices at a discipline level.ResultsAcross Canada, growth in CMGs has outpaced growth in residency seats, narrowing the seat-to-applicant ratio. Yet not all disciplines have been affected equally: a subset of surgical disciplines experienced a consistent decline in residency seats over time. Applicants to these disciplines are also at disproportionate risk of becoming unmatched, and this is associated with lower rates of parallel planning as quantified through clinical electives and match applications. This, in turn, is associated with the program selection practices of these disciplines.ConclusionLong-term solutions to the unmatched CMG crisis require more nuance than indiscriminately increasing residency seats and should consider cluster specific match ratios as well as regulations around clinical electives and program selection practices.

Extension of Cognitive Diagnosis Models Based on the Polytomous Attributes Framework and Their Q-matrices Designs

Based on the traditional cognitive diagnosis models(CMDs), this study developed two new cognitive diagnosis models, PA-rRUM and PA-DINA model respectively, to handle the polytomous attributes. Through Monte Carlo simulation, it indicated that: The parameters in the models could be identified, and robustness of the parameter estimation is relatively strong. Furthermore, the correct match ratios and accuracies of parameter estimation are decent. All these findings verified that the models are feasible for ploytomous attribute cognitive diagnosis. It also found that the precision of might be influenced by the sample size and the number of replications for the R*P matrix. The larger the sample size is, or the greater the number of replications is, the more precise they might be. The results suggested that the Q matrix should include the R*P matrix while the attribute is polytomous. In conclusion, the models overcame the shortcomings stemmed from dichotomous attribute models, thus they might provide a richer diagnostic result and more flexible models.

Analysis of Seven-Membered Lactones by Computational NMR Methods: Proton NMR Chemical Shift Data are More Discriminating than Carbon

We report an NMR chemical shift study of conformationally challenging seven-membered lactones (1-11); computed and experimental data sets are compared. The computations involved full conformational analysis of each lactone, Boltzmann-weighted averaging of the chemical shifts across all conformers, and linear correction of the computed chemical shifts. DFT geometry optimizations [M06-2X/6-31+G(d,p)] and GIAO NMR chemical shift calculations [B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)] provided the computed chemical shifts. The corrected mean absolute error (CMAE), the average of the differences between the computed and experimental chemical shifts for each of the 11 lactones, is encouragingly small (0.02-0.08 ppm for (1)H or 0.8-2.2 ppm for (13)C). Three pairs of cis versus trans diastereomeric lactones were used to assess the ability of the method to distinguish between stereoisomers. The experimental shifts were compared with the computed shifts for each of the two possible isomers. We introduce the use of a "match ratio"--the ratio of the larger CMAE (worse fit) to the smaller CMAE (better fit). A greater match ratio value indicates better distinguishing ability. The match ratios are larger for proton data [2.4-4.0 (av = 3.2)] than for carbon [1.1-2.3 (av = 1.6)], indicating that the former provide a better basis for discriminating these diastereomers.

Robust and Scalable String Pattern Matching for Deep Packet Inspection on Multicore Processors

Conventionally, dictionary-based string pattern matching (SPM) has been implemented as Aho-Corasick deterministic finite automaton (AC-DFA). Due to its large memory footprint, a large-dictionary AC-DFA can experience poor cache performance when matching against inputs with high match ratio on multicore processors. We propose a head-body finite automaton (HBFA), which implements SPM in two parts: a head DFA (H-DFA) and a body NFA (B-NFA). The H-DFA matches the dictionary up to a predefined prefix length in the same way as AC-DFA, but with a much smaller memory footprint. The B-NFA extends the matching to full dictionary lengths in a compact variable-stride branch data structure, accelerated by single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) operations. A branch grafting mechanism is proposed to opportunistically advance the state of the H-DFA with the matching progress in the B-NFA. Compared with a fully populated AC-DFA, our HBFA prototype has <;1/5 construction time, requires <;1/20 runtime memory, and achieves 3x to 8x throughput when matching real-life large dictionaries against inputs with high match ratios. The throughput scales up 27x to over 34 Gbps on a 32-core Intel Manycore Testing Lab machine based on the Intel Xeon X7560 processors.

Cross-linguistic comparison of speech errors produced by English- and French-speaking preschool-age children with developmental phonological disorders

Twenty-four French-speaking children with developmental phonological disorders (DPD) were matched on percentage of consonants correct (PCC)-conversation, age, and receptive vocabulary measures to English-speaking children with DPD in order to describe how speech errors are manifested differently in these two languages. The participants’ productions of consonants on a single-word test of articulation were compared in terms of feature-match ratios for the production of target consonants, and type of errors produced. Results revealed that the French-speaking children had significantly lower match ratios for the major sound class features [+ consonantal] and [+ sonorant]. The French-speaking children also obtained significantly lower match ratios for [+ voice]. The most frequent type of errors produced by the French-speaking children was syllable structure errors, followed by segment errors, and a few distortion errors. On the other hand, the English-speaking children made more segment than syllable structure and distortion errors. The results of the study highlight the need to use test instruments with French-speaking children that reflect the phonological characteristics of French at multiple levels of the phonological hierarchy.

A technique for improving MODIS standard snow products for snow cover monitoring over Eastern Turkey

Daily snow cover maps at 500 m resolution are available from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. However, information of the ground can only be obtained during clear sky conditions. In addition, the spectral similarity between clouds and snow in the visible part of the spectrum causes some ambiguities in separation of them. The dynamic behavior of clouds with their tendency to move faster often enables discrimination between cloud and snow, since snow remains relatively stationary. In this study, a daily merging methodology to combine Terra and Aqua based snow maps are proposed, and the benefits of this combination are evaluated. The methodology was tested for Eastern Turkey covering the period from December 2002 to March 2003. Merged maps derived from the standard daily snow maps from Terra (MOD10A1) and Aqua (MYD10A1) reduce the cloud cover present in any one image alone, provide better representation of the surface snow cover, and indicate better agreement with ground snow measurements than when either one is used alone. For “on the ground data date” analyses yielded 31% match ratios for MOD10A1 and MYD10A1, whereas combined images enabled 38%. One- to 2-day temporal window shifting enabled further 7% and 5% improvements in match ratios, respectively. The maximum improvement of 25% was achieved in January of 2003. The proposed methodology provides an easy and effective way to improve snow cover maps with little effort and provides fewer cloud-contaminated images for snow monitoring, for hydrology, and water resource management.

Small matches and charitable giving: Evidence from a natural field experiment

To further our understanding of the economics of charity, we conducted a natural field experiment. Making use of two direct mail solicitations sent to nearly 20,000 prior donors to a charity, we tested the effectiveness of $1:$1 and $1:$3 matching grants on charitable giving. We find only weak evidence that either of the matches work; in fact, for the full sample, the match only increased giving after the match deadline expired. Yet, the aggregation masks important heterogeneities: those donors who are actively supporting the organization tend to be positively influenced whereas lapsed givers are either not affected or adversely affected. Furthermore, some presentations of the match can do harm, e.g., when an example amount given is high ($75) and the match ratio is below $1:$1. Overall, the results help clarify what might cause people to give and provide further evidence that larger match ratios are not necessarily superior to smaller match ratios.

Perceived Spatial Frequency of Sinusoidal Gratings

The "frequency-doubling" effect or illusion, in which the apparent spatial frequency of a grating appears to be doubled, is produced when a low spatial frequency sinusoidal grating is counterphase flickered at a high temporal frequency. This study examines changes in apparent spatial frequency of sinusoids of various spatiotemporal content after equating them for detectability. Detection contrast thresholds were determined for various spatiotemporal gratings. The perceived spatial frequency was then evaluated using stimuli that were four and six times detection threshold. Match ratios were determined for each spatiotemporal combination, whereby the periodicity of a stationary sinusoid was matched with that of a counterphase flickered grating. The same matching task was repeated under different matching task instructions for five randomly chosen spatiotemporal combinations. Match ratios were fractional for many spatiotemporal combinations. Apparent spatial frequency ranged from less than veridical to greater than double depending on observer and spatiotemporal stimulus content. The effect of task instruction on match ratios was very small, yet significant. The appearance of fractional spatial frequency percepts draws into question the notion that frequency-doubling is solely generated by spatially non-linear Y-type magnocellular ganglion cells.

Characteristics of Speech Errors Produced by Children With and Without Delayed Phonological Awareness Skills

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the types of speech errors that are produced by children with speech-sound disorders and the children's phonological awareness skills during their prekindergarten and kindergarten years. Fifty-eight children with speech-sound disorders were assessed during the spring of their prekindergarten year and then again at the end of their kindergarten year. The children's responses on the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation (R. Goldman & M. Fristoe, 2000) were described in terms of match ratios for the features of each target sound and the type of error produced. Match ratios and error type frequencies were then examined as a function of the child's performance on a test of phonological awareness. Lower match ratios for +distributed and higher frequencies of typical syllable structure errors and atypical segment errors were associated with poorer phonological awareness test performance. However, no aspect of the children's error patterns proved to be a reliable indicator of which individual child would pass or fail the test. The best predictor of test performance at the end of the kindergarten year was test performance 1 year earlier. Children who achieved age-appropriate articulation skills by the end of kindergarten also achieved age-appropriate phonological awareness skills. Children who enter kindergarten with delayed articulation skills should be monitored to ensure age-appropriate acquisition of phonological awareness and literacy skills.

Leadership Giving in Charitable Fund-Raising: Matching Grants or Seed Money?

A benefactor's leadership gift can be packaged as seed money or a matching grant. Small donors, charities and benefactors may disagree about this choice. Small donors' preferences will depend on their utility functions, the donor base and the size of the leadership gift. For any given leadership gift, a matching scheme will raise a larger total amount and hence is preferred by both charities and benefactors. If small donors decrease their giving at higher match ratios, benefactors may prefer smaller matching gifts to the larger gifts they would make if restricted to seed money. When this means that matching raises less in total, the charity and benefactor will disagree.

Does Price Matter in Charitable Giving? Evidence from a Large-Scale Natural Field Experiment

We conducted a natural field experiment to further our understanding of the economics of charity. Using direct mail solicitations to over 50,000 prior donors of a nonprofit organization, we tested the effectiveness of a matching grant on charitable giving. We find that the match offer increases both the revenue per solicitation and the response rate. Larger match ratios (i.e., $3:$1 and $2:$1) relative to a smaller match ratio ($1:$1) had no additional impact, however. The results provide avenues for future empirical and theoretical work on charitable giving, cost-benefit analysis, and the private provision of public goods. (JEL D64, L31)

The influence of syllable position on children's production of consonants

Two studies examined consonant production by 13 children with delayed phonological skills. Study 1 examined patterns of substitution errors in word-initial, word-final and intervocalic positions of two-syllable words with a strong-weak stress pattern. For phonemes that were misarticulated in at least one word position, intervocalic consonant production was most likely to be the same as the word-final consonant production, but different from the word-initial consonant production. Study 2 examined proportions of matches and mismatches for features in five positions of multisyllabic words: (1) syllable-initial, word-initial, (2) syllable-initial, within-word, (3) intervocalic before an unstressed syllable, (4) syllable-final, within-word, and (5) syllable-final, word-final. Significant variations in match ratios were observed as a function of syllable position. A number of different patterns of position-dependent errors were observed.

The effect of federal matching share for toll facilities on capital investment in the United States

A recent change in federal policy permits states to use toll financing to supplement traditional federal highway trust funds for transportation improvements. How states respond is influenced by the federal-aid program structure, particularly the financial leveraging effects of matching requirements for toll and nontoll projects. This paper uses a linear programming model to determine the optimum distribution of highway capital expenditures between toll and nontoll projects which maximizes the leverage of scarce state funds. The impact on capital expenditure and on the mix of projects of alternative match ratios, toll revenue levels and magnitudes of federal and state aid are examined. The results generally support the current matching share provisions of the federal-aid highway program.

Assessing Mobility Barriers In Dynamic Strategic Groups Analysis

ABSTRACTThe Mobility Barriers Paradigm (Caves and Porter, 1977) has strongly influenced research in strategic management, particularly in the areas of competitive analysis and strategic groups. In this article we develop a procedure called MOBIUS, based on ‘match ratios’(MRs), in order to identify those competitive variables which act as mobility barriers in a particular industry. We also attempt to classify mobility barriers in terms of the degree of observed mobility around key strategic variables and the extent to which change is desired on these variables. the MOBIUS procedure is illustrated briefly in the context of the pharmaceutical industry.