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This study examines voter perceptions of political party similarity using data from a validated online survey conducted in Taiwan. It primarily collects qualitative data through open-ended questions, complemented by Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and feature matching techniques. The findings reveal that party competition in Taiwan is multidimensional, extending beyond traditional blue-green and unification-independence divides. Notably, local Taiwanese issues and social concerns have become increasingly prominent among emerging third parties. Feature matching results show that 22.53% of respondents clearly distinguish the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), while 11.42% identify the New Power Party (NPP), differentiating it from the pan-green camp as part of the emerging third force. Taiwan’s unique political context, shaped by democratization, cross-strait tensions, and the rise of influential third parties, provides valuable insights for comparative politics. The study offers an analytical framework for understanding party system evolution in emerging democracies and deepens our grasp of how identity politics and diverse political engagement transform political competition. This framework enables scholars to systematically capture complex voter perceptions in multi-party systems and facilitates comparative analysis across political environments marked by identity-based polarization and increasing party plurality.

In basketball games, whenever players successfully shoot in streaks, they are expected to demonstrate heightened performance for a stretch of time. Streak shooting in basketball has been debated for more than three decades, but most studies have provided little significant statistical evidence and have labeled random subjective judgments the \"hot hand fallacy.\" To obtain a broader perspective of the hot hand phenomenon and its accompanying influences on the court, this study uses field goal records and optical tracking data from the official NBA database for the entire 2015-2016 season to analyze top-scoring leaders' shooting performances. We first reflect on the meaning of \"hot hand\" and the \"Matthew effect\" in actual basketball competition. Second, this study employs statistical models to integrate three different shooting perspectives (field goal percentage, points scored, and attempts). This study's findings shed new light not only on the existence or nonexistence of streaks, but on the roles of capability and opportunity in NBA hot shooting. Furthermore, we show how hot shooting performances resulting from capability and opportunity lead to actual differences for teams.

In the NFL, kickers play a special role in determining the outcome of a match. There is a significant body of literature attributing the success of kicks to observed environmental and situational factors. However, the significance of these is not subject to agreement. In this study, we synthesize the deterministic and stochastic models based on data from the 2000-2017 NFL seasons to identify significant conditions associated with \"choking.\" This study's empirical findings focus on integrating the statistical evidence on causality of skill and performance, and the interpretation of observed and unobserved heterogeneity of kicks, on the intervention effect of the new extra-point rule in the NFL since 2015, and on providing an in-depth evaluation of the impact of competition pressure.

Creatine kinase (CK) is a pivotal regulatory enzyme in energy metabolism linked to both blood pressure and cardio-metabolic components. However, data is lacking in a large population of asymptomatic Asians. Cardio-metabolic assessment including anthropometric measures and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated by abdominal echo in 4,562 consecutive subjects who underwent an annual health survey. Serum CK levels were related to blood pressure components [systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP)], anthropometric measures, and excessive adiposity in liver as indicated by NAFLD. Circulating CK levels ranged from 4 to 1842 IU/L (mean [SE]: 108.7 [1.1] IU/L) in the study population which consisted of 2522 males (mean age: 48.7 ± 11.2) and 2040 females (mean age: 49.4±11.5). In general, male subjects presented with higher circulating CK levels than females (mean ± SE: 127.3 ± 1.5 vs. 85.5 ± 1.3 IU/L, respectively, p < .001). Gender-differences in circulating CK levels were also observed with increasing age, which showed a more pronounced positive relationship with age in female subjects (gender interaction: p < .05). Furthermore, an elevated circulating CK level was independently associated with higher blood pressure, waist circumference and fat mass (FM), greater body mass index (BMI), increased lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and presence of NAFLD in multivariate analysis (all p < .05), with CK elevation more pronounced with greater BMI and FM in males compared with females (sex interaction: p < .05). In a large asymptomatic Asian population, circulating CK levels were increased with more advanced age, higher blood pressure, and greater body mass with gender differences. Our findings may be useful in interpreting elevated CK from subjects free of ongoing myocardial damage.

Visceral adiposity is associated with cardiovascular disease, an association that may be mediated in part by inflammation. We hypothesized that regional measures of visceral adiposity would associate with commonly obtained clinical measures of immune status. We consecutively studied 3,291 subjects (mean age, 49.8±9.8 years) who underwent an annual cardiovascular risk survey. Peri-cardial (PCF) and thoracic peri-aortic adipose tissue (TAT) volumes were determined by dedicated computed tomography (CT) software (Aquarius 3D Workstation, TeraRecon, San Mateo, CA, USA). Hepatic steatosis was assessed by abdominal ultrasonography. We explored cross-sectional associations between visceral fat measures and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leukocyte counts, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ration (NLR). Among 3,291 study participants, we observed positive linear associations between PCF and TAT, higher degree of hepatic steatosis and hs-CRP, various leukocyte counts, either total and its differential counts, and NLR (all trend p<0.001). Multi-variate linear and logistic regression models showed independent associations between PCF/TAT (ß-Coef: 0.14/0.16, both p<0.05) and total WBC counts, with only TAT further demonstrated significant relations with neutrophil counts and NLR (both p<0.05) and independently identified abnormally high WBC and NLR (Odds ratio: 1.18 & 1.21, both p<0.05). C-statistics showed significant incremental model prediction for abnormally high WBC and NLR (both ΔAUROC<0.05) when TAT was superimposed on traditional cardiovascular risks and biochemical information. Greater visceral adiposity burden and hepatic steatosis may be associated with higher circulating leukocyte counts and markers for atherosclerosis, with more pronounced influences for peri-aortic adiposity. Our data suggested the differential biological impacts for region-specific visceral adiposity.

The associations between pericardial adiposity and altered atrial conduction had been demonstrated. However, data comparing differential effects of various body sites visceral adiposity on atrial and ventricular electrocardiographic alterations remains largely unknown. We assessed both peri-cardial fat (PCF) and peri-aortic visceral adiposity (TAT) using dedicated computed tomography (CT) software (Aquarius 3D Workstation, TeraRecon, San Mateo, CA, USA), with anthropometrics including body mass index (BMI) and biochemical data obtained. We further related PCF and TAT data to standardized 12-leads electrocardiogram (ECG), including P and QRS wave morphologies. Among 3,087 study subjects (mean age, 49.6 years; 28% women), we observed a linear association among greater visceral adiposity burden, leftward deviation of P and QRS axes, longer PR interval and widened QRS duration (all p<0.001). These associations became attenuated after accounting for BMI and baseline clinical co-variates, with greater PCF remained independently associated with prolonged QRS duration (β = 0.91 [95% CI: 0.52, 1.31] per 1-SD increase in PCF, p<0.001). Finally, both PCF and TAT showed incremental value in identifying abnormally high PR interval (>200ms, likelihood-ratio: 33.17 to 41.4 & 39.03 for PCF and TAT) and widened QRS duration (>100ms, likelihood-ratio: 55.67 to 65.4 & 61.94 for PCF and TAT, all X2 p<0.05) when superimposed on age and BMI. We show in our data greater visceral fat burden may have differential associations on several body surface electrocardiographic parameters. Compared to remote adiposity, those surrounding the heart tissue demonstrated greater influences on altered cardiac activation or conduction, indicating a possible local biological effect.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) rs671 polymorphism is a common genetic variant in Asians that is responsible for defective toxic aldehyde and lipid peroxidation metabolism after alcohol consumption. The extent to which low alcohol consumption may cause atrial substrates to trigger atrial fibrillation (AF) development in users with ALDH2 variants remains to be determined. We prospectively enrolled 249 ethnic Asians, including 56 non-drinkers and 193 habitual drinkers (135 (70%) as ALDH2 wild-type: GG, rs671; 58 (30%) as ALDH2 variants: G/A or A/A, rs671). Novel left atrial (LA) mechanical substrates with dynamic characteristics were assessed using a speckle-tracking algorithm and correlated to daily alcohol consumption and ALDH2 genotypes. Despite modest and comparable alcohol consumption by the habitual alcohol users (14.3 [8.3~28.6] and 12.3 [6.3~30.7] g/day for those without and with ALDH2 polymorphism, p = 0.31), there was a substantial and graded increase in the 4-HNE adduct and prolonged PR, and a reduction in novel LA mechanical parameters (including peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) and phasic strain rates (reservoir, conduit, and booster pump functions), p < 0.05), rather than an LA emptying fraction (LAEF) or LA volume index across non-drinkers, and in habitual drinkers without and with ALDH2 polymorphism (all p < 0.05). The presence of ALDH2 polymorphism worsened the association between increasing daily alcohol dose and LAEF, PALS, and phasic reservoir and booster functions (all Pinteraction: <0.05). Binge drinking superimposed on regular alcohol use exclusively further worsened LA booster pump function compared to regular drinking without binge use (1.66 ± 0.57 vs. 1.97 ± 0.56 1/s, p = 0.001). Impaired LA booster function further independently helped to predict AF after consideration of the CHARGE-AF score (adjusted 1.68 (95% CI: 1.06–2.67), p = 0.028, per 1 z-score increment). Habitual modest alcohol consumption led to mechanical LA substrate formation in an ethnic Asian population, which was more pronounced in subjects harboring ALDH2 variants. Impaired LA booster functions may serve as a useful predictor of AF in such populations.

Aims We aimed to investigate the functional alterations, diagnostic utilization, and prognostic implication of carotid arterial deformations in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors and heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods and results Among 251 prospectively participants (mean age 66.0 ± 9.8 years, 65.7% female) in a single centre between December 2011 and September 2014, carotid artery deformations including circumferential strain (CCS)/strain rate and radial strain were analysed by two‐dimensional speckle tracking. We further related these carotid artery deformation indices to HF biomarkers and cardiac structure and function by echocardiography and explored their prognostic values. Significant reductions of CCS, circumferential strain rate, and circumferential radial strain were observed across control (n = 52), high risk (n = 147), and HFpEF (n = 52) (trend P ≤ 0.001). Aging, hypertension, HFpEF, and higher pulse rate showed independent associations with reduced CCS by stepwise multivariate regressions (all P < 0.05). Higher CCS was inversely associated with better cardiac remodelling and functional indices, and lower multiple HF biomarkers (all P ≤ 0.005). After adjustment, higher CCS was independently associated with better global ventricular longitudinal strain/early diastolic strain rate, lower matrix metalloproteinase‐2, and N‐terminal propeptide of procollagen type III levels (adjusted coef: −0.08 and −19.9, all P < 0.05). During a median follow‐up of 1406 days (interquartile range: 1342‑1720 days), CCS less than 3.28% as a cut‐off had markedly higher HF events [Harrell's C: 0.72, adjusted HR: 2.20 (95% confidence interval: 1.24, 3.16), P = 0.008]. CCS also showed significantly improved risk prediction for HF over global ventricular longitudinal strain (net reclassification index: 48%, P = 0.001; integrated discrimination improvement: 1.8%, P < 0.001). Conclusions Carotid artery deformations using two‐dimensional speckle‐tracking imaging showed novel mechanistic insights on functional arterial alterations reflecting coupled arterial‐ventricular pathophysiology. Utilization of such measure may further provide additive prognostic value to advanced myocardial functional assessment.

Gambling and game-fixing scandals have loomed over the international baseball world and a lack of sports ethics in baseball may lead to many problems. In this study I conducted a textual analysis of reports by prosecutors regarding a pitcher who was investigated but not indicted in 2009 after allegations of game fixing. Drawing upon the statistical records of the season's games for the pitcher that were contained in the prosecutor's reports and game-by-game records for each Chinese Professional Baseball League pitcher in the 2009 regular season, I used the change-point test and difference-in-differences techniques to identify anomalies in the pitcher's play. The results I obtained support information contained in the prosecutors' reports regarding the pitcher's actions. My model is confirmed as an appropriate method of applied behavior analysis for detecting corruption in baseball pitching performance.

Aims Excessive visceral adiposity (VAT) plays an essential role in metabolic derangements with those close to heart further mediates myocardial homeostasis. The disparate biological links between region‐specific VAT and cardiometabolic profiles as mediators influencing atrial kinetics remain unexplored. Methods and results Among 1326 asymptomatic individuals, region‐specific VAT including peri‐aortic root fat (PARF) and total pericardial fat (PCF) of cardiac region, together with thoracic peri‐aortic adipose tissue (TAT), was assessed using multiple‐detector computed tomography. VAT measures were related to functional left atrial (LA) metrics assessed by speckle‐tracking algorithm and clinical outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). Multivariate linear regression models incorporating body fat, metabolic syndrome, and E/TDI‐e' consistently demonstrated independent associations of larger PARF/PCF with peak atrial longitudinal systolic strain (PALS) reduction, higher LA stiffness, and worsened strain rate components; instead, TAT was independently associated with cardiometabolic profiles. PARF rather than PCF or TAT conferred independent prognostic values for incident AF/HF by multivariate Cox regression (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.17–2.08, P = 0.002) during a median of 1790 days (interquartile range: 25th to 75th: 1440–1927 days) of follow‐up, with subjects categorized into worst PALS and largest VAT tertiles demonstrating highest events (all log‐rank P < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed that higher triglyceride and lower high‐density lipoproteins may serve as intermediary factors for effects between VAT and LA functional metrics, with lesser role by glucose level. Conclusions Visceral adiposity surrounding atrial region was tightly associated with subclinical atrial dysfunction and incident AF or HF beyond metabolic factors. Instead, peri‐aortic adiposity may mediate their toxic effects mainly through circulating cardiometabolic profiles.