Key somatic variables associated with,and differences between the 4 swimming strokes

ABSTRACT

This study identified key somatic and demographic characteristics that benefit all swimmers and, at the same time, identified further characteristics that benefit only specific swimming strokes. Three hundred sixty-three competitive-level swimmers (male [n = 202]; female [n = 161]) participated in the study. We adopted a multiplicative, allometric regression model to identify the key characteristics associated with 100 m swimming speeds (controlling for age). The model was refined using backward elimination. Characteristics that benefited some but not all strokes were identified by introducing stroke-by-predictor variable interactions. The regression analysis revealed 7 “common” characteristics that benefited all swimmers suggesting that all swimmers benefit from having less body fat, broad shoulders and hips, a greater arm span (but shorter lower arms) and greater forearm girths with smaller relaxed arm girths. The 4 stroke-specific characteristics reveal that backstroke swimmers benefit from longer backs, a finding that can be likened to boats with longer hulls also travel faster through the water. Other stroke-by-predictor variable interactions (taken together) identified that butterfly swimmers are characterized by greater muscularity in the lower legs. These results highlight the importance of considering somatic and demographic characteristics of young swimmers for talent identification purposes (i.e., to ensure that swimmers realize their most appropriate strokes).     

An NCME Instructional Module on Data Mining Methods for Classification and Regression

Data mining methods for classification and regression are becoming increasingly popular in various scientific fields. However, these methods have not been explored much in educational measurement. This module first provides a review, which should be accessible to a wide audience in education measurement, of some of these methods. The module then demonstrates using three real‐data examples that these methods may lead to an improvement over traditionally used methods such as linear and logistic regression in educational measurement.     

Gender-preferential intergenerational patterns in primary educational attainment: An econometric approach to a case in rural Mindanao,the Philippines

This study investigates the factors determining children's educational attainment, focusing on gender-differential intergenerational patterns, by employing a case study from rural Mindanao. The result mainly shows, unlike general trends in developing countries, educational attainment is more favorable for girls; maternal education level is equally associated with daughters’ and sons’ education levels, and paternal education level is preferentially favorable to their sons. To reduce the disparity, suggestions include providing boy-specific interventions to enhance the magnitude of the father–son educational virtuous circle and comparing the magnitude of gender-equal maternal and boy-preferential paternal education influences to specify which effect is larger.     

基于多元线性回归分析的新疆外贸出口对策研究

目前,新疆外贸正处于新旧动能转换的关键时期,培育外贸发展新动力是进入新时代外贸的必然要求,新动力的形成主要需要供给方进行动力重塑和协调发力,在出口方面通过创新驱动、结构调整、制度变革培育供给侧新动力。研究结合供给侧改革对新疆外贸出口依存度进行分析,运用Eviews对与出口相关的因素进行多元线性回归分析,得出结论:一是要素禀赋与出口呈负相关关系;二是新疆GDP对出口有显著的促进作用;三是人民币汇率变动与出口额之间表现为强相关关系;四是外商直接投资与出口较强的相关关系。最后针对多元线性回归的结果,提出相应的外贸出口增长对策。     

影响陕南地区普通话水平测试成绩的相关因素

本文运用数理统计法,分析数据中所包含的信息,挖掘出影响普通话水平测试成绩的因素.     

中国四省市与新加坡学生科学素养表现之比较——基于PISA2015数据的分析

PISA2015科学素养测试结果于2016年底正式公布后,受到社会各界的广泛关注。研究者从OECD在线公布的数据库中选取中国四省市与新加坡的有关数据,对两个经济体15岁在校生的科学素养表现进行比较分析,并通过多水平分析探讨影响学生科学素养的关键因素。结果发现:中国四省市学生在科学素养测试总量表及各分量表上的成绩均非常显著地低于新加坡学生,分差在32.82~43.29之间,效应量达到中等强度;中国四省市学生在工具性动机上得分非常显著地高于新加坡学生,但在科学乐趣与科学自我效能得分上非常显著地低于新加坡学生;在影响因素方面,家庭经济、社会和文化地位、科学乐趣、科学课纪律氛围、教师中科学教师的比例等因素对两个经济体的学生成绩具有显著正向预测效应,但考试焦虑、工具性动机、教师探究式教学等因素表现出显著的负向预测效应。中国四省市要有意识地借鉴新加坡教育经验,改革与完善科学教育,具体建议有:(1)进一步推动课程与教学改革,重视探究式教学与学生批判性思维的培养;(2)加强学校人力资源管理,提高教师专业水平;(3)关注学生非认知表现,激发学生科学学习的内部动机。     

城市“异乡人”的现代性认同与传统回归

生于20世纪50年代的“农裔”作家是以“异乡人”姿态面对城市的，他们一度因认同启蒙现代性而挣扎进城，并渴望被城市现代性同化；但在逐渐感受现代性之后，又猛然惊醒于归属传统文化的自我身份正在丧失，寻求传统的归乡行为由此开始。     

平直界面一维晶体生长问题的相似解

对于平直界面下由过冷边界开始的熔体的一维凝固过程，考虑液态中远场温度高于凝固温度，而底板温度低于凝固温度，利用相似性解法分别求解固液态温度，分析其结果，说明由低温区长入高温区的界面总是稳定的，从而更加完善了一维晶体生长理论．     

Relative age and birthplace effect in Japanese professional sports: a quantitative evaluation using a Bayesian hierarchical Poisson model

Relative age effect (RAE) in sports has been well documented. Recent studies investigate the effect of birthplace in addition to the RAE. The first objective of this study was to show the magnitude of the RAE in two major professional sports in Japan, baseball and soccer. Second, we examined the birthplace effect and compared its magnitude with that of the RAE. The effect sizes were estimated using a Bayesian hierarchical Poisson model with the number of players as dependent variable. The RAEs were 9.0% and 7.7% per month for soccer and baseball, respectively. These estimates imply that children born in the first month of a school year have about three times greater chance of becoming a professional player than those born in the last month of the year. Over half of the difference in likelihoods of becoming a professional player between birthplaces was accounted for by weather conditions, with the likelihood decreasing by 1% per snow day. An effect of population size was not detected in the data. By investigating different samples, we demonstrated that using quarterly data leads to underestimation and that the age range of sampled athletes should be set carefully.     

Explaining match outcome in elite Australian Rules football using team performance indicators

The relationships between team performance indicators and match outcome have been examined in many team sports, however are limited in Australian Rules football. Using data from the 2013 and 2014 Australian Football League (AFL) regular seasons, this study assessed the ability of commonly reported discrete team performance indicators presented in their relative form (standardised against their opposition for a given match) to explain match outcome (Win/Loss). Logistic regression and decision tree (chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID)) analyses both revealed relative differences between opposing teams for “kicks” and “goal conversion” as the most influential in explaining match outcome, with two models achieving 88.3% and 89.8% classification accuracies, respectively. Models incorporating a smaller performance indicator set displayed a slightly reduced ability to explain match outcome (81.0% and 81.5% for logistic regression and CHAID, respectively). However, both were fit to 2014 data with reduced error in comparison to the full models. Despite performance similarities across the two analysis approaches, the CHAID model revealed multiple winning performance indicator profiles, thereby increasing its comparative feasibility for use in the field. Coaches and analysts may find these results useful in informing strategy and game plan development in Australian Rules football, with the development of team-specific models recommended in future.