Design and Validation of an Observational System for Penalty Kick Analysis in Football (OSPAF)

The analysis of penalty kick has played an important role in performance analysis. The study aims are to get formal feedback on the relevance of variables for penalty kick analysis, to design and validate an observational system; and to assess experts’ opinion on the optimum video footage in penalty kick analysis. A structured development process was adopted for content validity, reliability and agreement on video usage. All observational variables included in OSPAF showed Aiken’s V values above the cut-off (for 5-scale V> 0.64; for 2-scale = V > 0.75; p < 0.05). Cohen’s Kappa resulted in mean intra- and inter-rater reliability values of 0.90 and 0.86, respectively. It is recommended to combine at least three different viewing angles (V = 0.90; p = 0.006) with standardization of video quality (V = 0.95; p = 0.006). Changing the viewing angles may influence the observer perception (V = 0.86; p = 0.006). The aerial and pitch-level viewing angle behind the penalty taker and pitch-level viewing angle behind the goalkeeper were indicated as most appropriate for observational analysis (V = 0.97; p = 0.01). The OSPAF met all requirements of instrument validation. It may be recommended as basis of future observational systems on penalty kicks.

Empiricism Must, but Cannot, Presuppose Real Causation

In this article, I put forward a basic philosophical claim: empirical scientific knowledge, that is, knowledge generated in experimental and observational practices, presupposes real causation. My discussion exploits two core notions from the philosophical analysis of scientific experimentation and observation: the aim of realizing object-apparatus correlations and the required control of the relevant interactions between environment and experimental or observational system. The conclusion is that, without the notion of real causation, acquiring epistemically sound empirical knowledge is impossible. Several empiricist objections to this conclusion are discussed and refuted. As a consequence, empiricism faces an unsolvable dilemma: either it cannot account for empirical knowledge or it should accept the existence of unobservable but real causal interactions.

The Potential Impact of Assimilating Synthetic Microwave Radiances Onboard a Future Geostationary Satellite on the Prediction of Typhoon Lekima Using the WRF Model

Geostationary meteorological satellites can provide continuous observations of high-impact weather events with a high temporal and spatial resolution. Sounding the atmosphere using a microwave instrument onboard a geostationary satellite has aroused great study interests for years, as it would increase the observational efficiency as well as provide a new perspective in the microwave spectrum to the measuring capability for the current observational system. In this study, the capability of assimilating future geostationary microwave sounder (GEOMS) radiances was developed in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model’s data assimilation (WRFDA) system. To investigate if these frequently updated and widely distributed microwave radiances would be beneficial for typhoon prediction, observational system simulation experiments (OSSEs) using synthetic microwave radiances were conducted using the mesoscale numerical model WRF and the advanced hybrid ensemble–variational data assimilation method for the Lekima typhoon that occurred in early August 2019. The results show that general positive forecast impacts were achieved in the OSSEs due to the assimilation of GEOMS radiances: errors of analyses and forecasts in terms of wind, humidity, and temperature were both reduced after assimilating GEOMS radiances when verified against ERA-5 data. The track and intensity predictions of Lekima were also improved before 68 h compared to the best track data in this study. In addition, rainfall forecast improvements were also found due to the assimilation impact of GEOMS radiances. In general, microwave observations from geostationary satellites provide the possibility of frequently assimilating wide-ranging microwave information into a regional model in a finer resolution, which can potentially help improve numerical weather prediction (NWP).

Development and preliminary validation of the Coach Interpersonal Style Observational System

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to design and develop a multidimensional observational coding system (Coach Interpersonal Style Observational System) to assess coaches' interpersonal style adopted during training sessions and matches.Equipment and methodsContent validity was established by 11 experts (with proven knowledge and experience in sport science, motivational psychology, and coaching) using qualitative (e.g. ease of comprehension, utility, and adequacy of examples) and quantitative (category scores) approaches. Coders were trained to test inter- and intra-rater reliability.ResultsQualitative analyses revealed global positive assessment. Experts' category scores were very high. After coder training, inter- and intra-rater reliability scores were acceptable. Discriminant validity was tested through the pilot application to eight soccer coaches. Overall, the results support the preliminary reliability and validity of an instrument to analyze interpersonal coach behavior.

Assessing Radicalization and Deradicalization

This chapter presents a new evaluation tool for determining the degree of success of deradicalization programs. This battery consists of elements that represent the 3N pillars: It contains tools for assessing individuals’ quest for significance, their adherence to an ideological narrative that supports violence, and their membership in social networks that adhere to those narratives. The proposed tool consists of a triangulation of two methodologies, each with its own advantages and disadvantages that collectively compensate for each other. One methodology consists of a self-report measure in form of a survey that target individuals (suspected or at risk of radicalization) fill out. The second methodology consists of an observational system focused on the same 3N elements and carried out by persons in close contact with those target individuals.

A Newly Installed Seismic and Geodetic Observational System at Five Indonesian Volcanoes as Part of the SATREPS Project

“Integrated Study on Mitigation of Multimodal Disasters Caused by Ejection of Volcanic Products” Project was launched in March 2014 for the Galunggung, Guntur, Kelud, Merapi, and Semeru volcanoes. The objectives of the project include the development of an observational system for the prediction and real-time estimations of the discharge rate of volcanic products. Under the project, a team from the Sakurajima Volcano Research Center, Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) and the Balai Penyelidikan dan Pengembangan Teknologi Kebencanaan Geologi (BPPTKG) initiated the installation of a digital seismic and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) observational network for the volcanoes in December 2014, and finished the installation in September 2015. The seismic and GNSS data are transmitted by wireless local area networks (WLANs) from the stations to an observatory at each target volcano. We introduced three Windows PC software for data analysis: the first for estimating the equivalent rate of ejected ash from a volcano, the second for continuous smoothing of tilt data and detecting inflation and deflation in the volcanic sources, and the third for continuously evaluating eruption urgency to predict the eruption time. The seismic and GNSS data were routinely transmitted to the Support Systems of Decision Making (SSDM) at CVGHM or BPPTKG. Data completeness varied from volcano to volcano; for example, the data acquired for Kelud volcano were relatively stable, while those for Merapi volcano were problematic, owing to a communication disruption in the WLAN. We obtained the seismic and GNSS data at the target volcanoes in the observation period since 2015 when they have been relatively quiet.