Comparative Experimental Study Research Articles

Experimental Comparative Study on Self-Imputation Methods and Their Quality Assessment for Monthly River Flow Data with Gaps: Case Study to Mures River

Incomplete environmental datasets pose significant challenges in developing accurate predictive models, particularly in hydrological research. This study addresses data missingness by investigating gap imputation methodologies for datasets with 5–20% data absence, focusing on the Mureș River in Romania. Utilizing a novel approach, we applied various imputation techniques, including the ratio method, Kalman filtering, and machine learning algorithms (XGBoost, Gradient Boosting, Random Forest and CatBoost), while developing an innovative self-assessment metric for evaluating imputation performance without relying on external reference data. Through systematic analysis of hydrological station data from four monitoring points, we artificially introduced data gaps to rigorously test method applicability. The research demonstrates the feasibility of constructing a robust self-evaluation framework for selecting optimal imputation techniques, potentially enhancing data reliability and analytical precision in environmental and geospatial research. Our findings contribute a structured methodology for addressing data incompleteness, offering researchers a quantitative approach to improving dataset integrity and predictive modeling in complex environmental systems.

Ultrasound-Guided Vacuum-Assisted Excision (VAE) in Breast Lesion Management: An Experimental Comparative Study of Two Different VAE Devices Across Various Aspiration Levels and Window Sizes

Background/Objectives: Vacuum-assisted excision (VAE) is a minimally invasive technique for breast tumor treatment, offering precision, comfort, and quick recovery. It is widely used for benign breast lesions and is playing an increasingly important role in the therapeutic management of non-surgical patients or patients who refuse surgery. Optimal outcomes require an understanding of device features to tailor treatment to each lesion. The Mammotome® Elite 10G operates in a fixed mode, while the Mammotome® Revolve EX 8G offers multiple aspiration levels and aperture windows for greater versatility. This study analyzed the specimen features (weight and length), comparing the weight obtained from two different VAE systems to aid the appropriate selection of a device based on the clinical setting. It also determined the number of specimens needed to achieve the 4 g diagnostic threshold. Methods: The Mammotome® Elite 10G and the Mammotome® Revolve EX were evaluated under controlled conditions. For Mammotome® Revolve EX, combinations of five aspiration levels and three aperture lengths (12 mm, 18 mm, and 25 mm) were tested. Twelve samples were collected from a chicken breast phantom for each setting. Specimen weights and the minimum excisions required to reach the 4 g threshold were analyzed. Results: The mean weight per sample for the Mammotome® Elite 10G was 0.16 ± 0.04 g. For the Mammotome® Revolve EX, the weights increased with aperture size and aspiration level, ranging from a minimum of 0.132 ± 0.028 g (a window length of 12 mm and aspiration level 1) to a maximum of 0.407 ± 0.055 g (a window length of 25 mm and aspiration level 5). The 25 mm window at aspiration level 5 achieved the 4 g threshold in as few as 10 samples. By comparison, the Mammotome® Elite required up to 26 samples. Conclusions: Compared to the Mammotome Elite, Mammotome® Revolve EX offers superior versatility and efficiency, reducing patient discomfort by minimizing the required samples. Its technical advantages make it a valuable tool for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Comparative Assessment of Hydrogen and Methanol-Derived Fuel Co-Combustion for Improved Natural Gas Boiler Performance and Sustainability

Faced with a global consensus on net-zero emissions, the use of clean fuels to entirely or substantially replace traditional fuels has emerged as the industry’s primary development direction. Alcohol–hydrogen fuels, primarily based on methanol, are a renewable and sustainable energy source. This research focuses on energy sustainability and presents a boiler fuel blending system that uses methanol–hydrogen combinations. This system uses the boiler’s waste heat to catalytically decompose methanol into a gas mostly consisting of H2 and CO, which is then co-combusted with the original fuel to improve thermal efficiency and lower emissions. A comparative experimental study considering natural gas (NG) blending with hydrogen and dissociated methanol gas (DMG) was carried out in a small natural gas boiler. The results indicate that, with a controlled mixed fuel flow of 10 m3/h and an excess air coefficient of 1.2, a 10% hydrogen blending ratio maximizes the boiler’s thermal efficiency (ηt), resulting in a 3.5% increase. This ratio also results in a 1% increase in NOx emissions, a 25% decrease in HC emissions, and a 5.66% improvement in the equivalent economics (es). Meanwhile, blending DMG at 15% increases the boiler’s ηt by 3%, reduces NOx emissions by 13.8% and HC emissions by 20%, and improves the es by 8.63%. DMG, as a partial substitute for natural gas, outperforms hydrogen in various aspects. If this technology can be successfully applied and promoted, it could pave a new path for the sustainable development of energy in the boiler sector.

Behavioral Patterns and Honey Yield Between Native and Non-native Stingless Bees in Bali's Ecosystem

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to significant growth in honey bee cultivation in Bali, leading to the introduction of nonnative bee species alongside the indigenous Tetragonula laeviceps. However, the 75% failure rate of nonnative species cultivation between 2020 and 2023 necessitated a deeper understanding of species adaptability in the Bali ecosystem. This study specifically examined the behavioral adaptation and honey production of Heterotrigona itama compared with those of Tetragonula laeviceps in a shared cultivation environment. A seven-month comparative experimental study involving 30 bee colonies (15 H. itama introduced from Lampung and 15 local T. laeviceps) was conducted. Time series sampling was employed at three daily intervals (09:00, 13:00, and 16:00) for behavioral observations, while honey production was measured via nondestructive vacuum extraction. H. itama demonstrated superior honey production (516.3 ml average) to that of T. laeviceps (213.3 ml average). The species exhibited distinct foraging preferences, with T. laeviceps favoring Jatropha integerrima and H. itama preferring Antigonon leptopus and Xanthostemon chrynsanthus. Both species have developed different adaptive strategies for nectar–water content management, with H. itama utilizing sun exposure and T. laeviceps employing smaller storage pots. This study revealed successful coexistence between native and nonnative species through differentiated foraging behaviors and resource utilization strategies, with H. itama showing greater productive capacity attributed to morphological and behavioral differences.

Comparative Reliability Analysis of Selenium and Playwright: Evaluating Automated Software Testing Tools

Aims: This study aims to evaluate and compare the reliability of Selenium and Playwright, two leading frameworks for automated web testing. The assessment focuses on key reliability metrics, including uptime and the Rate of Occurrence of Failures (ROCOF). Study Design: A comparative experimental study conducted under controlled testing conditions. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted over a 24-hour continuous testing period using two laptops with distinct hardware configurations: an HDD-equipped HP laptop and an SSD-equipped Dell laptop. Methodology: Reliability was measured using two core metrics: uptime and ROCOF. Tests were conducted on an HP laptop (HDD) and a Dell laptop (SSD). Two Python scripts — one for Selenium and one for Playwright — were developed to execute identical actions. For the 24-hour uptime test, Selenium ran on HP and Playwright on Dell. ROCOF was assessed at six-time intervals — 8:00 AM, 8:15 AM, 4:00 PM, 4:15 PM, 12:00 AM, and 12:15 AM — by alternating tool execution between HP and Dell, allowing for analysis of the effects of hardware and time of day on failure rates. Results: Selenium achieved 100% uptime with no failures, while Playwright recorded 99.72% uptime with four downtimes. For ROCOF, both tools had one failure per 10-test sequence, but Selenium’s higher failure rate per second (0.1208 on HP, 0.1336 on Dell) was due to faster execution times (7.93s on HP, 7.87s on Dell) compared to Playwright (36.74s on HP, 35.84s on Dell). The SSD-equipped Dell laptop outperformed the HDD-based HP, with faster completion times (43.71s vs. 44.67s). Conclusion: Selenium is ideal for scenarios requiring uninterrupted uptime, while Playwright's consistent response times suit dynamic web application testing. The study highlights hardware's role in performance, with SSDs offering superior speed and stability. These findings guide practitioners in choosing tools based on hardware, stability, and execution needs.

Research on Various Operating Modes of Optically Controlled Multi-Gate Thyristors

To meet the switching requirements of high-frequency pulse power systems and further enhance the peak power and turn-on speed of solid-state switches, comparative experimental studies were conducted on the structure of optically controlled multi-gate thyristors and the parameters of injected light. The research found that semiconductor chips based on the multi-gate thyristor structure exhibited different conduction characteristics under varying laser injection conditions, resulting in unique inflection point curves. By establishing a switching model and varying the injected light parameters and circuit parameter models, three conceptual operating modes for the optically controlled multi-gate thyristor were proposed: photonic linear mode (Mode A), field-induced nonlinear mode (Mode C), and hybrid amplification mode (Mode B).<br>Based on these concepts, experimental validation tests were conducted, confirming the three distinct operating characteristics of the optically controlled multi-gate thyristor. In Mode A, the conduction process is primarily related to the injected light power parameters and is similar to the linear mode of traditional light-guided switches, making it suitable for narrow pulse width applications. Mode C mainly focuses on carrier multiplication after injection, resembling the conduction characteristics of super thyristors (SGTO), and is suitable for wide pulse widths and high current applications. Mode B's initial conduction is related to the injected light parameters, while the later carrier multiplication continues from the earlier photonic linear mode, achieving characteristics of both fast rise time and wide pulse width, effectively combining the advantages of light-guided switches and SGTOs.<br>In Mode A, with an injected laser energy of 8.5 mJ, pulse width of 10 ns, and peak power of 0.85 MW, the switch operates at a voltage of 5.2 kV, an output current of 8.1 kA, a turn-on time (10%-90%) of 18.4 ns, and a di/dt value reaching 440 kA/μs. The main characteristic is that the di/dt of the switch is linearly related to the injected laser energy, allowing for fast rise time output, which reflects the photonic linear conduction mode. This mode is suitable for high-power, narrow pulse, and fast rise time applications, such as high-power microwave sources, with characteristics similar to gas switches.<br>In Mode C, with a triggering laser energy set at 250 μJ, pulse width of 210 ns, and peak power of 1200 W, the switch operates at a voltage of 8.5 kV, with a short-circuit current reaching 6 kA and a current rise time of 110 ns, achieving a di/dt value exceeding 55 kA/μs. The key characteristic is that the di/dt of the switch is unrelated to the injected laser energy but is related to the electric field applied across the switch, enabling operation with large current and wide pulse width, which reflects the field-induced nonlinear conduction mode. This mode is suitable for high-power, wide pulse, and slower rise time applications, such as large current detonation and electromagnetic drives, with characteristics similar to igniter tubes and triggered light.<br>In Mode B, with a triggering laser energy set at 10 mJ, pulse width of 20 ns, and peak power of 0.5 MW, the switch operates at a voltage of 4.6 kV, with a short-circuit current reaching 8.5 kA and a current rise time of 66 ns, achieving a di/dt value exceeding 129 kA/μs. The main characteristic is that the initial conduction of the switch satisfies the photonic linear conduction mode, while the later conduction exhibits the field-induced nonlinear conduction mode, thus achieving both fast rise time output and the capability for large current and wide pulse width, reflecting a hybrid conduction mode. This mode is suitable for high-power, wide pulse applications, such as accelerator power supplies, with characteristics similar to hydrogen thyratrons and pseudo-spark switches.<br>The discovery and validation of multiple operating modes for the switch significantly enhance the di/dt and peak power of power semiconductor switching devices, laying a theoretical and experimental foundation for the development of semiconductor switches with ultra-high peak power. Additionally, the switching devices were packaged according to their different operating modes and applied in accelerator power supplies, solid-state detonators, and high-stability pulse drive sources, yielding positive results.

Comparative experimental study on the thermal and energy performance of photovoltaic and green roofs in hot-humid climates

Comparative experimental study on the thermal and energy performance of photovoltaic and green roofs in hot-humid climates

Influence of pouring and mold temperatures on microstructural behavior and microhardness of the Al-4.5Cu-0.5(Al-5Ti-1B) alloy obtained by unsteady-state directional solidification: an experimental comparative study

Influence of pouring and mold temperatures on microstructural behavior and microhardness of the Al-4.5Cu-0.5(Al-5Ti-1B) alloy obtained by unsteady-state directional solidification: an experimental comparative study

Multivariate Time Series Clustering with State Space Dynamical Modeling and Grassmann Manifold Learning: A Systematic Review on Human Motion Data

Multivariate time series (MTS) clustering has been an essential research topic in various domains over the past decades. However, inherent properties of MTS data—namely, temporal dynamics and inter-variable correlations—make MTS clustering challenging. These challenges can be addressed in Grassmann manifold learning combined with state-space dynamical modeling, which allows existing clustering techniques to be applicable using similarity measures defined on MTS data. In this paper, we present a systematic overview of Grassmann MTS clustering from a geometrical perspective, categorizing the methods into three approaches: (i) extrinsic, (ii) intrinsic, and (iii) semi-intrinsic. Consequently, we outline 11 methods for Grassmann clustering and demonstrate their effectiveness through a comparative experimental study using human motion gesture-derived MTS data.

Synergistic Strategy toward Enhancing Photosynthesizing Reactive Oxygen Species of Covalent Organic Frameworks

AbstractPhotocatalytic reactive oxygen species (ROSs) plays an important role in photodynamic therapy and photochemical reactions. However, most reported photocatalysts suffer from insufficient utilization of visible light and low conversion of O2, which requires the development of higher performance catalysts toward practical applications. Herein, a series of porphyrin‐based COFs have been prepared. Comparative experimental and theoretical studies have revealed that the synergistic interaction between the two building blocks can significantly enhance the yields of ROSs by independently accomplishing photon harvesting and oxygen capture with smooth energy transfer between them. Particularly, the 1O2 yield of 3P‐Por‐COF is increased to 1.3 and 3.4 times that of the classical PCN‐224 and porphyrin molecular aggregates. Furthermore, the TOF of 3P‐Por‐COF is as high as 271 h−1 with ≈100% selectivity under red light irradiation in catalyzing thioanisole to methyl phenyl sulfoxide. The conversion and stability of degradation of toluene gas under natural light are also superior to the conventional Fenton catalytic system. The present results should contribute to the design of high‐performance frameworks‐based photocatalysts for ROSs production.

Flexural Behavior of Zero Coarse Aggregate Concrete Beams reinforced with Glass Fibers: An Experimental Comparative Study

In recent decades, engineers have focused on finding solutions to reduce the weight of concrete structures. Undoubtedly, the coarse aggregate weight in concrete is important. This study examined the flexural behavior of zero coarse aggregate concrete with Glass Fiber (GF) added to the steel reinforcement. Also, normal-weight fine aggregate was substituted with autoclaved aerated concrete (Thermostone) by 50% and 75% by weight. The process involved comparison of the test results of two groups. The first group comprised normal reinforcement Lightweight Aggregate Concrete (LWAC), while the second group comprised fiber-reinforced LWAC and a specimen of Lightweight (LW) mortar. Fiber addition boosts energy absorption and slows down the rapid development of crack formation. GFs by 1.5% of concrete weight were added. The results revealed a decrease in the failure load of beams reinforced with GF compared to those reinforced with steel bars. The decrease amounted to 54%, 50%, and 59% for aggregate replacement percentages of 0%, 50%, and 75%, respectively. Replacing steel reinforcement with GF reduced the ultimate load by almost half. All beams with steel reinforcement experienced flexural failure, while the beams with GF reinforcement underwent shear failure.

An experimental comparative study on condensing supersonic steam jets in water tank: Square, rectangular, and circular cross-sectional shapes

The direct contact condensation phenomenon has gained significant attraction among researchers due to positive aspects such as low driving potential and rapid heat transfer rates in its industrial uses. The present study explores the effect of the cross-sectional shape of converging-diverging on steam-submerged jet condensation behavior. The influence of three cross-sections (circular, square, and rectangular) on steam jet shapes, jet length, average heat transfer coefficient, and maximum expansion ratio were studied. The dimensionless steam jet length for circular, square, and rectangular nozzles has been found in the range of 2.2–7.7, 2.43–8.41, and 2.22–8.35, respectively. The maximum expansion ratio for circular, square, rectangular major axis plane, and rectangular minor axis plane has been found in the range of 1–1.71, 1.14–2.15, 1.22–2.82, and 1.06–1.45. Results show that the maximum expansion ratio and dimensionless jet length rise with steam pressure and water temperature rise. Dimensionless jet length decreases in the order of nozzle with cross-section: square > rectangular > circular. Correlation for dimensional jet length of both circular and non-circular nozzles is presented using the analytical and curve fitting methods. The maximum expansion ratio decreases in order: major axis plane > square > circular > minor axis plane. The average heat transfer coefficient (MW/m2 oC) for circular, square, and rectangular nozzles has been found in the range of 1.16–4.88, 0.89–3.14, and 1.01–3.49. Results show that the average heat transfer coefficient falls with the rise in steam pressure and water temperature. The average heat transfer coefficient decreases in order: circular > rectangular > square. Condensation regime maps are proposed for circular, square, and rectangular nozzles, including diagonal plane effects in square and rectangular nozzle.

First hydrodynamic instability and flow transitions between concentric vertical cylinders

This comparative experimental and numerical study investigates the first hydrodynamic instability and flow transitions in the annular gap between concentric vertical cylinders, with the inner cylinder rotating and the outer cylinder stationary. The study contrasts the behavior of a non-Newtonian fluid, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), with that of a Newtonian fluid, potassium sulfate (K2SO4). The influence of inner cylinder rotational speed, represented by Reynolds (Re) and Taylor (Ta) numbers, and filling rates (Γ) on the first instability thresholds and flow modes is examined for both fluids. Experimental visualization and numerical simulations illustrate distinct flow characteristics, emphasizing the significant impact of CMC's non-Newtonian properties on flow structure formation and instability thresholds. Rheological analysis identifies instability thresholds specific to CMC at a 0.2% concentration. The study further analyzes azimuthal and axial wave numbers (n) and (λ) relative to Reynolds number (Re) and filling rates (Γ) to characterize flow dynamics comprehensively.

Experimental Analysis Of Two Unreinforced Masonry Walls Under Cyclic Loads, And Its Retrofitting Through CFRP

This article presents a comparative experimental study of two unreinforced masonry walls: one made of perforated bricks (285 mm x 185mm x 130 mm) and the other of threshing bricks (190 mm x 90 mm x 50 mm). The Masonry walsl were constructed with standardized Turkish bricks in a rectangular steel frame supported by pinned uprights and built over a distance of 1200mm in length by 1500mm in height. The main objectives of this work are to study the behavior of structural unreinforced masonry under seismic actions and how it can be made more resistant to these effects. To achieve this goal, lateral cyclic loads are applied to the walls in plane. This application of forces had caused damage characterized by cracking. The natural excitation of the unreinforced masonry walls is determined through Operational Modal Analysis (OMA), and the dynamic characteristics of the structures emerged in the form of vibrational modes and natural frequencies. Their data recording is made before and after the application of cyclic loading. The reinforcement to fill the cracks is carried out using layers of CFRP with epoxy resin. A comparative analysis of the natural frequencies from undamaged wall to damaged points out a decrease in damaged walls (more than 20%) and a rise of 10% of frequencies between damaged vertical brick wall compared to the damaged coated CFRP-reinforced walls. These results of laboratory tests are compiled and compared in order to evaluate the seismic effects and the solutions that the CFRP brought in the reinforcement of the walls.

A054: Research on the Path of Incentive Mechanisms for Improving the Quality of Physical Education Teaching

Background: Currently, the quality of physical education teaching in schools is steadily declining. In the process of physical education teaching, students have a biased understanding of the development of physical education classes. As the leaders of physical education classes, physical education teachers should adopt effective teaching methods to improve the teaching quality of physical education classes. The intervention method of incentive mechanisms is centered around the purpose of teaching activities, based on the needs of students, through teachers, transforming external stimuli such as environment into internal motivation of students. Therefore, during the teaching process, physical education teachers adopt appropriate incentive measures at different stages based on teaching objectives, which is of great significance for improving the quality of physical education teaching and actively participating in physical education classes for students. Research Method: This article mainly adopted an experimental method to conduct an 8-week comparative experimental study on two classes at X School. By examining whether incentive mechanisms are used as intervention measures in the classroom, Class A was the experimental group (using incentive methods), and Class B was the control group. The study aimed to investigate the physical health (speed, endurance, cardiovascular function) and behavioral motivation (frequency of exercise behavior, participation in exercise, and changes in exercise status) of middle school students. Data collection and analysis was made using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0. Research Results: Through an 8-week comparative experiment, there was a significant difference between physical health and behavioral motivation in the experimental group, while there was no significant difference between physical health and behavioral motivation in the control group. Through an 8-week comparative experiment, compared to the control group, the physical health of the experimental group increased significantly, with significant changes in speed, endurance, and cardiovascular function (P=-2.695, T=0.012; P=-2.196, T=0.037; P=-6.652, T=0.000); Compared to the control group, there were significant changes in the behavioral motivation of the experimental group, including the frequency of exercise behavior, enthusiasm for participating in exercise, and changes in exercise status (P=2.235, T=0.034; P=4.751, T=0.000; P=2.647, T=0.013), all of which showed significant changes. Discussion: Compared with traditional physical education teaching, adopting appropriate incentive methods can stimulate students' learning motivation, encourage them to show their individuality, and actively participate in physical education teaching during the process of sports, thereby improving the quality of physical education teaching and laying a solid foundation for lifelong physical education.

Cascaded frameworks in underwater optical image restoration

Optical imaging and vision technology have become crucial research topics in the field of underwater and ocean scenes. These technologies play a vital role in advancing underwater exploration, scientific research, and smart aquaculture. Despite their importance, optical systems face substantial challenges in complex water environments, especially in turbid conditions where light absorption and scattering by water and suspended particles drastically reduce the quality of captured images. This degradation highlights the need for sophisticated image restoration algorithms that can effectively recover the quality of images impaired by turbid water conditions. Cascaded frameworks, which incorporate multiple modules, including that of color correction, detail enhancement, and information fusion, have emerged as particularly efficacious, offering significant improvements over traditional direct or end-to-end restoration methods. This review elaborates on the comparative benefits of various cascading structures — serial, parallel, and hybrid — and examines different restoration algorithms that utilize intrinsic image features, physical models, prior knowledge, and deep learning technologies. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive overview of publicly available datasets and evaluation metrics, both referential and non-referential, which are crucial for developing, validating, and optimizing underwater image restoration algorithms. Additionally, by conducting experimental comparative studies of several open restoration algorithms, the effectiveness and applicability of different methods are validated. Finally, the review proposes potential research directions, aiming to deliver valuable insights to scholars in underwater application and computer vision, thereby inspiring innovative research initiatives that could further enhance the capabilities of underwater optical imaging.

Rheological properties of water-oil emulsions of Archinskoe oil deposit

Relevance. The development of new methods for regulating the rheological properties of water-oil emulsion using thermal and chemical methods will allow reducing the viscosity of oil well products and energy consumption for pumping hydrocarbon mixtures. Aim. To determine the activation energy of viscous flow and particle sizes of the internal phase of the initial emulsion of the Archinskoe deposit and the emulsion with an introduced demulsifier. Methods. All experiments required to investigate the rheological properties of colloidal disperse systems were performed using HAAKE Viscotester iQ rotational viscometer. Results. Comparative experimental studies were carried out on the effect of the introduced demulsifier on the effective viscosity of the water-oil emulsion of the Archinskoe deposit. Laboratory-scale experiments were performed using the rotational viscometry, which allows one to evaluate the dependence of viscosity on shear rate and temperature. It was established that the studied samples are liquids with pronounced non-Newtonian properties, which are a consequence of the paraffinic nature of oil and its water-oil emulsion. The structure of nanoparticles of the dispersed phase of dehydrated oil and its emulsion is discussed and justified. Using the analytical Arrhenius–Frenkel–Eyring expression, which describes the dependence of viscosity on temperature and the physical and chemical nature of the liquid system, the results of viscometrical experiments were processed and the activation energies of viscous flow and the particle size of the inverse emulsion were calculated in the absence of a demulsifier and in its presence. Laboratory experiments have confirmed that for complete dehydration of oil well products, it is not enough to introduce only a demulsifier, but it also requires heating the emulsion to a temperature sufficient to melt and dissolve paraffin particles, which form a structural and mechanical barrier situated on the surface of the emulsion droplets.

EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF PANASA (ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS LAM.) PAKWA PHALA AND BEEJA MAJJA ON SPERMATOGENESIS IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS.

Ayurveda is a holistic medicinal system from India that emphasises the balance of mind, body, and spirit for health maintenance. It heavily relies on local flora, herbs, and natural remedies, focusing on personalised treat-ments. One significant plant in Ayurvedic medicine is Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam, commonly known as jackfruit or ‘Panasa’ in Sanskrit. This plant is widely utilised for its culinary and medicinal properties, including applications such as Brmhana, Mamsavardhaka, Balya, Sukrala, and Vrana Ropana. Jackfruit is rich in pro-teins, fats, iron, carbohydrates, minerals, calcium, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Moreover, many classical texts have documented the Vrshya action of Panasa Pakwa Phala and Beeja Majja. This study aimed to conduct a comparative experimental evaluation of the Vrshya effects of Panasa Pakwa Phala and Beeja Majja on spermatogenesis. Objective: Comparative Experimental study to evaluate Spermato-genic activity of Pakwa Phala (Fruit) and Beeja Majja (Seed) of Panasa (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.).Materials and method: The collection of Artocarpus heterophyllus fruits and seeds was done from the natural habitat of the Udupi district and authenticated. The experimental study assessed the comparative sper-matogenic activity of Panasa Pakwa Phala and Beeja Majja upon internal administration. Result and Discus-sion: In the experimental study, rats given Panasa Pakwa Phala exhibited a significant increase in body weight, a non-significant increase in sperm count, sluggish motility, and a decrease in non-motile sperm. Notably, there was a substantial reduction in amorphous head sperm and a non-significant rise in hookless sperm. Conversely, rats treated with Panasa Beeja also showed increased body weight but had different results in sperm motility and morphology, with a significant decrease in normal sperm morphology. This activity profile indicates the presence of a spermatogenesis effect more in the test drug Panasa Pakwa Phala than in Panasa Beeja. Con-clusion: The experimental study demonstrated statistically significant results regarding the internal use of Panasa Pakwa Phala and Beeja Majja, showing positive effects on various parameters. The spermatogenesis effect is more important with the Panasa Pakwa Phala test drug than Panasa Beeja.

An experimental comparative study of energy saving based on occupancy-centric control in smart buildings

Buildings account for approximately one-third of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Accurate occupancy data is critical for enabling energy-efficient control strategies and enhancing comfort in buildings. However, most current research on multi-zone occupancy-centric control (OCC) relies on simulated rather than real-world occupancy data. Additionally, the optimal operational intervals of existing OCC-based HVAC systems have not been fully explored in dynamic indoor environments. This study presents an extensive experimental study evaluating the impact of multi-zone real-world OCC systems on energy conservation and comfort in a multi-zone building. We collected real-world occupancy data using vision-based methods and developed HVAC control strategies using operational intervals of 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 min to evaluate their effects on energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Simulations were performed using OpenStudio with EnergyPlus. The results indicate that customized operational intervals significantly improve both energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Shorter intervals can provide effective energy savings in dynamic settings, while longer intervals yield improved comfort and energy efficiency in more stable environments. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of OCC systems in optimizing energy usage and comfort and sets the stage for future developments in building management strategies. Emerging trends, such as integrating large language models into OCC, are also discussed for future exploration.

Exploring the impact mechanism of ambient gas properties on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to guide the raw signal improvement

BackgroundLaser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has long been regarded as the future superstar for chemical analysis. However, hindered by the fact that the signal source of LIBS is a spatially and temporally unstable plasma that interacts dramatically with ambient gases, LIBS has always suffered from poor signal quality, especially low signal repeatability. Although ambient gases act as one of the most direct and critical factors affecting LIBS signals, a clear understanding on how ambient gas properties impact LIBS signals is still lacking to act as guideline for the signal quality improvement. ResultsIn this work, the impact mechanism of three main ambient gas properties, including specific heat ratio (γ), molar mass (M), and ionization energy (E) was investigated by ignoring secondary properties, accurately proportioning gas mixtures, and experimental comparative study by applying various plasma diagnosis methods. The results indicate that these three properties impact signal repeatability by impacting the intensity of the back-pressing process within the plasma, where the sound speed determined by γ and M plays an important role. The properties impact the signal intensity by impacting three energy transfer processes in the plasma, including the laser energy absorption, the energy allocation between gas and sample species, and the heat dissipation. Based on the impact mechanism, guidelines of regulating the ambient gas properties to improvement LIBS signal were further provided. SignificanceFor the first time, the impact mechanism of main ambient gas properties on LIBS signals was clearly and intuitively revealed. The impact mechanism not only provided a deeper understanding of the plasma evolution process but also provided practical guidelines for improving LIBS signal quality, facilitating accurate quantification of the LIBS technique.