Posts from May 2023 (25)

May 31, 2023

Recycling

From Newshub: New study into therapeutic cannabis finds 96pct of participants report benefits in medical conditions.

This is deeply unsurprising, as I pointed out when similar results came out in 2017.  People who keep on using cannabis therapeutically are likely to think it works, because otherwise they wouldn’t.

 

May 30, 2023

NRL Predictions for Round 14

Team Ratings for Round 14

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Panthers 13.03 12.99 0.00
Rabbitohs 8.62 9.35 -0.70
Storm 5.97 11.21 -5.20
Eels 4.45 6.78 -2.30
Sharks 3.49 4.50 -1.00
Roosters 1.09 7.64 -6.60
Broncos 0.79 -5.92 6.70
Raiders 0.75 1.98 -1.20
Cowboys -1.78 6.23 -8.00
Dragons -3.60 -2.73 -0.90
Dolphins -3.78 -10.00 6.20
Sea Eagles -4.59 -5.26 0.70
Warriors -5.93 -11.12 5.20
Titans -6.32 -6.32 -0.00
Wests Tigers -6.81 -13.52 6.70
Knights -8.48 -9.53 1.00
Bulldogs -8.89 -8.29 -0.60

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 101 matches played, 56 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 55.4%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Dolphins vs. Dragons May 25 26 – 12 1.10 TRUE
2 Eels vs. Cowboys May 26 24 – 16 9.60 TRUE
3 Warriors vs. Broncos May 27 22 – 26 0.20 FALSE
4 Rabbitohs vs. Raiders May 27 26 – 33 13.30 FALSE
5 Knights vs. Sea Eagles May 28 28 – 18 -2.60 FALSE

 

Predictions for Round 14

Here are the predictions for Round 14. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Wests Tigers vs. Raiders Jun 02 Raiders -4.60
2 Warriors vs. Dolphins Jun 03 Warriors 3.90
3 Titans vs. Rabbitohs Jun 03 Rabbitohs -11.90
4 Sharks vs. Broncos Jun 03 Sharks 5.70
5 Roosters vs. Bulldogs Jun 04 Roosters 13.00
6 Cowboys vs. Storm Jun 04 Storm -4.80
7 Panthers vs. Dragons Jun 04 Panthers 19.60

 

Top 14 Predictions for the Quarter-finals

Team Ratings for the Quarter-finals

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Stade Toulousain 7.36 6.34 1.00
La Rochelle 6.93 6.88 0.10
Bordeaux Begles 4.80 5.27 -0.50
Racing 92 4.43 4.86 -0.40
Lyon 3.87 3.10 0.80
Toulon 3.84 4.09 -0.30
Stade Francais 3.36 -1.05 4.40
Montpellier 2.67 4.18 -1.50
Clermont 2.03 4.05 -2.00
Castres Olympique 0.04 2.87 -2.80
Section Paloise -0.21 -2.12 1.90
Aviron Bayonnais -1.41 -4.26 2.80
USA Perpignan -3.60 -2.75 -0.90
Brive -6.85 -4.20 -2.70

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 182 matches played, 132 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 72.5%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Castres Olympique vs. USA Perpignan May 29 26 – 16 10.20 TRUE
2 Clermont vs. Racing 92 May 29 32 – 25 3.80 TRUE
3 La Rochelle vs. Stade Francais May 29 14 – 10 10.70 TRUE
4 Lyon vs. Aviron Bayonnais May 29 53 – 19 10.30 TRUE
5 Section Paloise vs. Montpellier May 29 35 – 10 2.20 TRUE
6 Stade Toulousain vs. Brive May 29 54 – 10 19.20 TRUE
7 Toulon vs. Bordeaux Begles May 29 35 – 19 4.80 TRUE

 

Predictions for the Quarter-finals

Here are the predictions for the Quarter-finals. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Stade Francais vs. Racing 92 Jun 03 Stade Francais 5.40
2 Lyon vs. Bordeaux Begles Jun 05 Lyon 5.60

 

Super Rugby Predictions for Week 15

 

 

Team Ratings for Week 15

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Crusaders 17.26 17.95 -0.70
Blues 13.21 12.34 0.90
Chiefs 13.01 8.81 4.20
Hurricanes 9.95 9.59 0.40
Brumbies 6.23 6.64 -0.40
Highlanders 0.90 5.04 -4.10
Reds 0.58 1.89 -1.30
Waratahs -0.74 -2.50 1.80
Rebels -4.49 -6.19 1.70
Western Force -5.68 -5.54 -0.10
Fijian Drua -9.86 -10.50 0.60
Moana Pasifika -11.73 -8.91 -2.80

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 78 matches played, 61 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 78.2%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Highlanders vs. Reds May 26 35 – 30 6.00 TRUE
2 Rebels vs. Western Force May 26 52 – 14 2.20 TRUE
3 Fijian Drua vs. Moana Pasifika May 27 47 – 46 8.00 TRUE
4 Crusaders vs. Waratahs May 27 42 – 18 23.40 TRUE
5 Blues vs. Hurricanes May 27 36 – 25 6.30 TRUE
6 Brumbies vs. Chiefs May 27 21 – 31 -0.40 TRUE

 

Predictions for Week 15

Here are the predictions for Week 15. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Blues vs. Highlanders Jun 02 Blues 15.80
2 Brumbies vs. Rebels Jun 02 Brumbies 14.20
3 Fijian Drua vs. Reds Jun 03 Reds -6.90
4 Hurricanes vs. Crusaders Jun 03 Crusaders -3.80
5 Waratahs vs. Moana Pasifika Jun 03 Waratahs 16.50
6 Western Force vs. Chiefs Jun 04 Chiefs -13.20

 

Currie Cup Predictions for Round 13

Team Ratings for Round 13

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Sharks 4.32 -1.30 5.60
Pumas 4.14 2.84 1.30
Cheetahs 3.06 4.67 -1.60
Bulls 0.53 3.43 -2.90
Western Province -1.55 -3.24 1.70
Griquas -1.86 1.39 -3.30
Lions -2.90 -7.79 4.90
Griffons -15.74 -10.00 -5.70

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 48 matches played, 28 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 58.3%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Griffons vs. Sharks May 27 9 – 35 -14.40 TRUE
2 Western Province vs. Lions May 27 12 – 32 9.10 FALSE
3 Cheetahs vs. Griquas May 28 29 – 29 10.40 FALSE
4 Pumas vs. Bulls May 28 17 – 24 9.90 FALSE

 

Predictions for Round 13

Here are the predictions for Round 13. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Griquas vs. Western Province Jun 03 Griquas 3.70
2 Bulls vs. Griffons Jun 03 Bulls 20.30
3 Pumas vs. Cheetahs Jun 04 Pumas 5.10
4 Sharks vs. Lions Jun 04 Sharks 11.20

 

May 23, 2023

NRL Predictions for Round 13

Team Ratings for Round 13

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Panthers 13.03 12.99 0.00
Rabbitohs 9.85 9.35 0.50
Storm 5.97 11.21 -5.20
Eels 4.63 6.78 -2.10
Sharks 3.49 4.50 -1.00
Roosters 1.09 7.64 -6.60
Broncos 0.33 -5.92 6.30
Raiders -0.48 1.98 -2.50
Cowboys -1.96 6.23 -8.20
Dragons -2.75 -2.73 -0.00
Sea Eagles -3.75 -5.26 1.50
Dolphins -4.63 -10.00 5.40
Warriors -5.46 -11.12 5.70
Titans -6.32 -6.32 -0.00
Wests Tigers -6.81 -13.52 6.70
Bulldogs -8.89 -8.29 -0.60
Knights -9.31 -9.53 0.20

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 96 matches played, 54 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 56.2%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Broncos vs. Panthers May 18 4 – 15 -9.30 TRUE
2 Dragons vs. Roosters May 19 24 – 22 -1.60 FALSE
3 Rabbitohs vs. Eels May 19 16 – 36 11.70 FALSE
4 Sharks vs. Knights May 20 26 – 6 14.60 TRUE
5 Wests Tigers vs. Cowboys May 20 66 – 18 -7.30 FALSE
6 Dolphins vs. Storm May 20 16 – 24 -7.50 TRUE
7 Bulldogs vs. Titans May 21 20 – 18 -0.00 FALSE
8 Raiders vs. Sea Eagles May 21 14 – 42 10.30 FALSE

 

Predictions for Round 13

Here are the predictions for Round 13. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Dolphins vs. Dragons May 25 Dolphins 1.10
2 Eels vs. Cowboys May 26 Eels 9.60
3 Warriors vs. Broncos May 27 Warriors 0.20
4 Rabbitohs vs. Raiders May 27 Rabbitohs 13.30
5 Knights vs. Sea Eagles May 28 Sea Eagles -2.60

 

Super Rugby Predictions for Week 14

Team Ratings for Week 14

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Crusaders 17.22 17.95 -0.70
Blues 12.97 12.34 0.60
Chiefs 12.59 8.81 3.80
Hurricanes 10.19 9.59 0.60
Brumbies 6.65 6.64 0.00
Highlanders 0.97 5.04 -4.10
Reds 0.51 1.89 -1.40
Waratahs -0.70 -2.50 1.80
Western Force -4.45 -5.54 1.10
Rebels -5.71 -6.19 0.50
Fijian Drua -9.53 -10.50 1.00
Moana Pasifika -12.06 -8.91 -3.20

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 72 matches played, 55 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 76.4%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Moana Pasifika vs. Crusaders May 19 7 – 41 -25.00 TRUE
2 Reds vs. Blues May 19 26 – 45 -5.90 TRUE
3 Highlanders vs. Rebels May 20 20 – 17 13.10 TRUE
4 Chiefs vs. Hurricanes May 20 23 – 12 5.30 TRUE
5 Waratahs vs. Fijian Drua May 20 32 – 18 12.10 TRUE
6 Western Force vs. Brumbies May 20 34 – 19 -9.40 FALSE

 

Predictions for Week 14

Here are the predictions for Week 14. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Highlanders vs. Reds May 26 Highlanders 6.00
2 Rebels vs. Western Force May 26 Rebels 2.20
3 Fijian Drua vs. Moana Pasifika May 27 Fijian Drua 8.00
4 Crusaders vs. Waratahs May 27 Crusaders 23.40
5 Blues vs. Hurricanes May 27 Blues 6.30
6 Brumbies vs. Chiefs May 27 Chiefs -0.40

 

Currie Cup Predictions for Round 12

 

 

Team Ratings for Round 12

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Pumas 5.28 2.84 2.40
Cheetahs 3.80 4.67 -0.90
Sharks 3.50 -1.30 4.80
Western Province 0.31 -3.24 3.60
Bulls -0.61 3.43 -4.00
Griquas -2.60 1.39 -4.00
Lions -4.77 -7.79 3.00
Griffons -14.92 -10.00 -4.90

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 44 matches played, 27 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 61.4%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Western Province vs. Pumas May 20 22 – 14 -2.50 FALSE
2 Sharks vs. Cheetahs May 20 35 – 23 2.30 TRUE
3 Griffons vs. Griquas May 21 21 – 47 -5.60 TRUE
4 Lions vs. Bulls May 21 32 – 33 0.00 FALSE

 

Predictions for Round 12

Here are the predictions for Round 12. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Griffons vs. Sharks May 27 Sharks -14.40
2 Western Province vs. Lions May 27 Western Province 9.10
3 Cheetahs vs. Griquas May 28 Cheetahs 10.40
4 Pumas vs. Bulls May 28 Pumas 9.90

 

May 22, 2023

Sniffing out Covid accuracy?

This research, reported at Newshub, is pretty good: dogs are being evaluated for detecting Covid in reasonably large numbers of people at schools, and the results are actually published in a respectable peer-reviewed journal.  The numbers are still getting oversold a bit:

The study said [the dogs] were 83 percent accurate at identifying COVID-19-positive students, and 90 percent on the mark at picking out virus-negative students.

There are two issues here. First, 90% accuracy on virus-negative students is not at all good.  The current prevalence of Covid in NZ is maybe 1%, and the idea of dog-based-testing is for the subset of people who are possibly infected but apparently healthy, which will cut the numbers further.  Most of the people who test positive will be false positives, who will then need to be isolated for further testing.   Antigen tests have an accuracy in uninfected people (specificity) more like 99%.

Achieving 83% accuracy for identifying actual infections sounds good, and I’ve seen social media comments that it’s better than the antigen tests. It isn’t really: as the story says, the accuracy figure measures how well the dogs agree with the antigen tests.  83% accuracy means that the dogs are missing 17% of the infections that the antigen tests pick up.

If your school was doing regular testing of all students, this study suggests that you could reduce the amount of testing by using dogs to screen people first and only testing the kids who the dogs select. The accuracy would be lower than testing everyone, but it might be cheaper.   The study doesn’t really argue that dogs would be good on their own.

The story goes on to say

Dogs have also been using their powerful noses to detect other diseases such as cancer with shockingly high accuracy. 

Again, this is true (at least in a sense). Research studies, mostly small, have reported results of this sort for years. The fact that we aren’t currently using dogs to screen for any of these diseases suggests either that there are practical barriers to implementation, or that it doesn’t actually work all that well in practice.

May 16, 2023

NRL Predictions for Round 12

Team Ratings for Round 12

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Panthers 12.84 12.99 -0.20
Rabbitohs 11.59 9.35 2.20
Storm 5.92 11.21 -5.30
Sharks 2.90 4.50 -1.60
Eels 2.88 6.78 -3.90
Raiders 1.56 1.98 -0.40
Roosters 1.49 7.64 -6.20
Cowboys 0.77 6.23 -5.50
Broncos 0.51 -5.92 6.40
Dragons -3.16 -2.73 -0.40
Dolphins -4.58 -10.00 5.40
Warriors -5.46 -11.12 5.70
Sea Eagles -5.79 -5.26 -0.50
Titans -6.10 -6.32 0.20
Knights -8.72 -9.53 0.80
Bulldogs -9.11 -8.29 -0.80
Wests Tigers -9.54 -13.52 4.00

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 88 matches played, 51 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 58%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Storm vs. Broncos May 11 24 – 16 8.50 TRUE
2 Bulldogs vs. Warriors May 12 12 – 24 4.40 FALSE
3 Panthers vs. Roosters May 12 48 – 4 10.70 TRUE
4 Rabbitohs vs. Wests Tigers May 13 20 – 0 25.30 TRUE
5 Cowboys vs. Dragons May 13 42 – 22 5.00 TRUE
6 Raiders vs. Eels May 13 26 – 18 0.60 TRUE
7 Knights vs. Titans May 14 46 – 26 -2.20 FALSE
8 Sea Eagles vs. Sharks May 14 14 – 20 -5.60 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 12

Here are the predictions for Round 12. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Broncos vs. Panthers May 18 Panthers -9.30
2 Dragons vs. Roosters May 19 Roosters -1.60
3 Rabbitohs vs. Eels May 19 Rabbitohs 11.70
4 Sharks vs. Knights May 20 Sharks 14.60
5 Wests Tigers vs. Cowboys May 20 Cowboys -7.30
6 Dolphins vs. Storm May 20 Storm -7.50
7 Bulldogs vs. Titans May 21 Titans -0.00
8 Raiders vs. Sea Eagles May 21 Raiders 10.30