Compared Research Articles

Are Large-Scale Test Scores Comparable for At-Home Versus Test Center Testing?

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a proliferation of remote-proctored (or “at-home”) assessments. The lack of standardized setting, device, or in-person proctor during at-home testing makes it markedly distinct from testing at a test center. Comparability studies of at-home and test center scores are important in understanding whether these distinctions impact test scores. This study found no significant differences in at-home versus test center test scores on a large-scale admissions test using either a randomized controlled trial or an observational study after adjusting for differences in sample composition along baseline characteristics.

Effects of 4-week downhill treadmill walking on the vertebral angle and postural muscle activity in participants with thoracic kyphosis and forward head posture: A comparative longitudinal study.

Maintaining correct posture and optimal spine function has become an important issue due to the increased use of computers and smartphones. To investigate the effect of a 4-week downhill treadmill exercise (DTWE) program on participants with thoracic kyphosis and forward head posture (FHP). Twenty-eight male participants were randomly assigned to the DTWE (n= 14) or standard treadmill walking exercise (STWE) (n= 14) group. They performed 30-minute exercise three times a week for 4weeks. The vertebral angle was measured using a three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis system. Surface electromyography (EMG) was performed to record muscle activity in the thoracic erector spinae (TES), sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), and cervical erector spinae (CES). The DTWE group showed significant increases in the craniovertebral angle (CVA) and TES EMG activity and significant decreases in the thoracic kyphosis angle and SCM and CES EMG activity compared with those shown by the STWE group following the intervention (p< 0.05). However, lumbar lordosis or pelvic tilt angles did not differ significantly between the groups after the intervention (p> 0.05). DTWE can be effective in reducing thoracic kyphosis and FHP without causing compensatory movements of the lumbar spine and pelvis.

A comparative ammonia recovery study of solid wastes discharged from rice husk gasifi cation and combustion plants

A comparative ammonia recovery study of solid wastes discharged from rice husk gasifi cation and combustion plants

Neurological Diagnosis: Artificial Intelligence Compared With Diagnostic Generator.

Artificial intelligence has recently become available for widespread use in medicine, including the interpretation of digitized information, big data for tracking disease trends and patterns, and clinical diagnosis. Comparative studies and expert opinion support the validity of imaging and data analysis, yet similar validation is lacking in clinical diagnosis. Artificial intelligence programs are here compared with a diagnostic generator program in clinical neurology. Using 4 nonrandomly selected case records from New England Journal of Medicine clinicopathologic conferences from 2017 to 2022, 2 artificial intelligence programs (ChatGPT-4 and GLASS AI) were compared with a neurological diagnostic generator program (NeurologicDx.com) for diagnostic capability and accuracy and source authentication. Compared with NeurologicDx.com, the 2 AI programs showed results varying with order of key term entry and with repeat querying. The diagnostic generator yielded more differential diagnostic entities, with correct diagnoses in 4 of 4 test cases versus 0 of 4 for ChatGPT-4 and 1 of 4 for GLASS AI, respectively, and with authentication of diagnostic entities compared with the AI programs. The diagnostic generator NeurologicDx yielded a more robust and reproducible differential diagnostic list with higher diagnostic accuracy and associated authentication compared with artificial intelligence programs.

Impact of target depth on safety and efficacy outcomes in MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy for tremor patients

OBJECTIVE Target depth, defined by the z-coordinate in the dorsoventral axis relative to the anterior commissure–posterior commissure axial plane of the MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) lesion, is considered to be critical for tremor improvement and the occurrence of side effects such as gait impairment. However, although different z-coordinates are used in the literature, there are no comparative studies available with information on optimal lesion placement. This study aimed to compare two different MRgFUS lesion targets (z = +2 mm vs z = 0 mm) regarding efficacy and safety outcomes. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 52 patients with pharmacoresistant tremor disorders who received unilateral MRgFUS thalamotomy in the ventral intermediate nucleus for the first time between 2017 and 2022 by one neurosurgeon, with two different z-coordinates, either z = +2 mm (+2-mm group; n = 17) or z = 0 mm (0-mm group; n = 35), but otherwise identical parameters. Standardized video-recorded assessments of efficacy (including the Washington Heights-Inwood Genetic Study of Essential Tremor scale) and safety (using a standardized grading system) outcomes at baseline and at 6 months posttreatment were reviewed and compared. Moreover, overall patient satisfaction was extracted as documented by the examiner at 6 months. RESULTS Based on a multiple logistic regression analysis, the authors found that a more dorsal target with a z-coordinate of +2 mm as compared with 0 mm was associated with a higher incidence of any persistent side effect at 6 months (p = 0.02). Most consistently, sensory disturbances, although mild and nondisturbing in most cases, occurred more frequently in the +2-mm group (35% vs 11%, p = 0.007), while no significant differences were found for gait impairment (29% vs 35%) and arm ataxia (24% vs 11%). On the other hand, average tremor suppression was similar (63.6% vs 60.2%) between the groups. Here, higher efficacy was associated with a higher side effect burden in the 0-mm group but not in the +2-mm group. Despite the occurrence of side effects, general patient satisfaction was high (87% would undergo MRgFUS again) as most patients valued tremor suppression more. CONCLUSIONS A more ventral MRgFUS target of z = 0 mm seems to be associated with a more favorable safety and a comparable efficacy profile as compared with a more dorsal target of z = +2 mm, but prospective studies are warranted.

Convergence Analysis of Novel Fractional-Order Backpropagation Neural Networks With Regularization Terms.

Fractional-order derivatives have the potential to improve the performance of backpropagation (BP) neural networks. Several studies have found that the fractional-order gradient learning methods may not converge to real extreme points. The truncation and the modification of the fractional-order derivative are applied to guarantee convergence to the real extreme point. Nonetheless, the real convergence ability is based on the assumption that the algorithm is convergent, which limits the practicality of the algorithm. In this article, a novel truncated fractional-order BP neural network (TFO-BPNN) and a novel hybrid TFO-BPNN (HTFO-BPNN) are designed to solve the above problem. First, to avoid overfitting, a squared regularization term is introduced into the fractional-order BP neural network. Second, a novel dual cross-entropy cost function is proposed and employed as a loss function for the two neural networks. The penalty parameter helps to adjust the effect of the penalty term and further alleviates the gradient vanishing problem. In terms of convergence, the convergence ability of the two proposed neural networks is first proved. Then, the convergence ability to the real extreme point is further analyzed theoretically. Finally, the simulation results effectively illustrate the feasibility, high accuracy, and good generalization ability of the proposed neural networks. Comparative studies among the proposed neural networks and some related methods further substantiate the superiority of the TFO-BPNN and the HTFO-BPNN.

Transradial versus transfemoral access routes for diagnostic cerebral angiography: a large single-center comparative cost-analysis study.

Recently, the transradial (TR) approach has become a common alternative because of its safety profile and increased patient satisfaction compared with the transfemoral (TF) route. Both routes are associated with their respective associated costs, and differences typically emerge on the basis of patient anatomy, operator expertise, and occurrence of complications. The authors' objective was to compare the overall costs of diagnostic cerebral angiography via both routes and to shed light on the individual equipment costs of each route. This retrospective single-center study of 926 elective diagnostic angiograms was performed between December 2019 and March 2022. The study comprised of 314 and 612 angiograms performed through the TF and TR routes, respectively. A significantly greater proportion of female patients were included in the TF cohort (79.3% vs 67.8%, p < 0.001), and most other demographic characteristics and baseline modified Rankin Scale scores were comparable between cohorts. The overall cost of patients utilizing the TR route was comparable to that of the TF route (mean ± SD $12,591.80 ± $19,128.00 vs $12,789.50 ± 18,424.00, p = 0.88). However, the median cost of catheters was significantly higher in TR group ($55.20 vs $12.40, p = 0.03), while the median costs of closure devices ($87.00 vs $20.20 p < 0.001) and sheaths ($44.60 ± 11.3 vs $41.10 ± 3.10, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the TF group. Overall, the authors' study showed that the TR approach can be a less expensive option for patients undergoing diagnostic cerebral angiography, especially if complications occur. Future studies may corroborate these findings and potentially lead to the adoption of TR as a low-cost, efficient, gold-standard technique for cerebral angiography.

Numerical Simulations of Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers (JTWPAs): Comparative Study of Open-Source Tools

Numerical Simulations of Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers (JTWPAs): Comparative Study of Open-Source Tools

A comparative study of diffusion kurtosis imaging and diffusion tensor imaging in detecting corticospinal tract impairment in diffuse glioma patients.

This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in identifying aberrations in the corticospinal tract (CST), whilst elucidating the relationship between abnormalities of CST and patients' motor function. Altogether 21 patients with WHO grade II or grade IV glioma were enrolled and divided into Group 1 and Group 2, according to the presence or absence of preoperative paralysis. DKI and DTI metrics were generated and projected onto the CST. Histograms of the CST along x, y, and z axes were developed based on DKI and DTI metrics, and compared subsequently to determine regions of aberrations on the fibers. The receiver operating characteristic curve was performed to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of DKI and DTI metrics. In Group 1, a significantly lower fractional anisotropy, radial kurtosis and mean kurtosis, and a higher mean diffusivity were found in the ipsilateral CST as compared to the contralateral CST. Significantly higher relative axial diffusivity, relative radial diffusivity, and relative mean diffusivity (rMD) were found in Group 1, as compared to Group 2. The relative volume of ipsilateral CST abnormalities higher than the maximum value of mean kurtosis combined with rMD exhibited the best diagnostic performance in distinguishing dysfunction of CST with an AUC of 0.93. DKI is sensitive in detecting subtle changes of CST distal from the tumor. The combination of DKI and DTI is feasible for evaluating the impairment of the CST.

EFFECTIVENESS OF EXERCISE VIA TELEHEALTH FOR CHRONIC DISEASE: UPDATED SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF EXERCISE INTERVENTIONS DELIVERED VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING

INTRODUCTION &amp; AIMS Videoconferencing exercise interventions (VC) involve the synchronous and remote delivery of exercise via a video-linked appointment. A 2022 review investigated the effectiveness and feasibility of VC for people with chronic disease. Considering the emergence of recent trials, this review aimed to investigate these findings with high-quality contemporary evidence. METHODS Databases were searched from 1st August 2021 (last date searched in previous review) to April 30th 2023 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) VC in chronic disease. Meta-analyses were conducted for between-group comparisons of exercise capacity and quality of life for RCTs to determine effectiveness. Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) for pre-post quality of life data was used to combine assessment methods. Feasibility was assessed via session attendance rates, adherence to exercise prescription, safety, technical issues and participant satisfaction. Risk of bias was analysed using the Downs &amp; Black (D&amp;B) quality checklist and the certainty of evidence with GRADE. RESULTS Sixteen trials were included in the updated review. RCT-only meta-analyses identified effects favouring VC for exercise capacity (6MWT; Mean Difference (MD)=31.0m (95% CI: 8.3 to 53.6m), p=0.007) and quality of life (SMD=0.365 (95% CI: 0.096 to 0.633), p=0.008) in studies with non-exercising comparators. An effect favouring VC was observed for quality of life in exercising comparator studies (SMD=0.335 (95% CI: 0.078 to 0.592), p=0.011) but not for exercise capacity (MD=4.6m (95% CI: -7.4 to 16.7m), p=0.451). The RCT-only analysis identified good risk of bias (D&amp;B: 20.7±2.7/28), with GRADE certainty ratings of ‘Moderate’ for quality of life and exercise capacity outcomes. Of the new RCTs, session attendance was 74%, no serious adverse events related to VC were identified, 33% of sessions experienced technical issues and positive satisfaction outcomes were identified. CONCLUSION In patients with chronic disease, videoconferencing exercise interventions are feasible and effective for improving exercise capacity and quality of life.

Comparability study of different analytes, from Wantai Wan200+ instrument using routine laboratory assays

Comparability study of different analytes, from Wantai Wan200+ instrument using routine laboratory assays

A comparative study of virtual and insite engineering service-learning implementations

The Smile project is an engineering service-learning initiative carried out through collaboration between Chouaib Doukkali University in Morocco and Pusan National University in South Korea. Since 2016, this project has been conducted annually for engineering students from both universities. Participants are selected through an oral interview, ensuring representation from different majors, years, and genders. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project transitioned to an online mode starting from 2020. The objective of this article is to investigate the impact of the service-learning approach on learning and its potential for enhancing engineering education. This study aims to compare the face-to-face and online implementations of the Smile project as examples of this educational approach. The analysis demonstrates a strong positive effect of engineering service-learning as a learning approach, leading to the improvement of engineering students' skills and competencies. Notably, there is minimal difference between the two implementation modes of this learning approach.

The Role of Gold - Silver Nanocomposite Gel versus Astragalus Polysaccharides on Healing Process of Experimentally Induced Wound in Albino Rats Pharmacological and Histological Comparative Study

The Role of Gold - Silver Nanocomposite Gel versus Astragalus Polysaccharides on Healing Process of Experimentally Induced Wound in Albino Rats Pharmacological and Histological Comparative Study

Balancing Project Management Success and Operation Success in Public Projects: A Comparative Study of Intra- and Interorganizational Boundary Perspectives

Balancing Project Management Success and Operation Success in Public Projects: A Comparative Study of Intra- and Interorganizational Boundary Perspectives

Comparative Study of Sol-Gel and Green Synthesis Technique Using Orange Peel Extract to Prepare TiO2 Nanoparticles

تم استكشاف المستخلصات النباتية على نطاق واسع كبديل أكثر أمانًا للإجراءات التقليدية لتصنيع الجسيمات النانوية لأكاسيد المعادن. ركز البحث الحالي على تصنيع وتوصيف جزيئات ثاني أكسيد التيتانيوم النانوية (TiO2NPs) باستخدام نهج صديق للبيئة (مستخلص قشر البرتقال) مقارنة بتقنية أخرى (طريقة Sol-Gel) في درجة حرارة الغرفة. تم تحليل جزيئات TiO2 النانوية باستخدام حيود الأشعة السينية (XRD) لتحديد متعدد البلورات مع طور anatase لهيكل رباعي الزوايا ومتوسط ​​حجم بلوري 30.2 نانومتر و 24.2 نانومتر من العينة المحضرة من Sol-gel والطريقة الخضراء على التوالي. تحليل مطيافية فوريرللاشعة تحت الحمراء (FTIR) لمعرفة طبيعة الاواصر وتحديد المجاميع الوظيفية لجسيمات اوكسيد التيتانيوم النانوية. تُظهر الأشعة فوق البنفسجية المرئية للخصائص البصرية (UV-Vis) أن طاقة فجوة النطاق كامت بين 2.85 الكترون- فولت و 3 الكترون- فولت للجسيمات النانوية TiO2 تم تحضيرها باستخدام طرق sol-gel والطريقة الخضراء على التوالي. حدد تحليل FESEM الشكل المورفولوجي لسطح جسيمات TiO2 النانوية بأقطار الجسيمات النانوية في حدود 60-80 نانومتر و 75-85 نانومتر تم تحضيرها عبر طرق sol-gel والطريقة الخضراء على التوالي.

A comparative study on the effects of e-picture books and printed books on story comprehension and reading motivation among Chinese preschoolers

With the development of multimedia technology, the electronic reading method has greatly increased the enthusiasm for reading among initially less motivated children. This form of reading exhibits considerable potential, underscoring the necessity of determining the impact of employing such novel software on the emergent reading of young children in China. The aim of this research investigation is to contrast the influences of electronic books and printed book reading on story comprehension and reading motivation in Chinese five-year-olds. Preschoolers participating in this study were randomly selected from three different classrooms in a public kindergarten in Chongqing, China. These participants were again assigned to electronic and printed book reading groups according to their pretest scores. During the four-week reading intervention period, each preschooler read a picture book once a week, for a total of two books. The results indicate that the incorporation of screen-based reading for preschoolers holds promise in reducing reading fatigue and fostering interest in reading. In addition, there was a notable disparity in story comprehension levels, even though varying reading mediums were used in the two groups.

A comparative study of the Hungarian-speaking Roma population living in the Carpathian Basin with regard to obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic

AbstractIntroductionObesity is the most threatening non-infectious disease of our time, the basis of many chronic diseases, increasing the mortality rate. The Roma ethnic minority is particularly affected.Materials and methodsCross-sectional–questionnaire and physical–survey in rural settlements of Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, where Roma live with the non-Roma, Hungarian-speaking population (N = 1893).ResultsThe average BMI of the Hungarian (P &lt; 0.001) and Romanian (P = 0.018) samples was significantly higher than that of the Slovak sample. In the case of Roma and non-Roma subjects, we found a significant difference in Hungary (P = 0.006) based on body composition, as well as in the case of visceral fat (P &lt; 0.001). The extremely obese (&lt;40 BMI) are mostly low educated in Romania and Hungary (P &lt; 0.001), while those in normal weight have a tertiary education in Slovakia (P = 0.027). Hungarian Roma and non-Roma participants show significant differences in the physical activity dimension of the SF-36 questionnaire (P &lt; 0.001), as well as in Romania (P &lt; 0.001) and Slovakia (P = 0.002).ConclusionsIn summary, it can be stated that rural Roma subjects in Hungary are in the worst situation in terms of obesity in the three countries studied. In our study, the results in Slovakia clearly suggest a healthier lifestyle.

French Fox News? Audience-level metrics for the comparative study of news audience hyperpartisanship

ABSTRACT French news channel CNEWS is regularly compared to Fox News due to presumed ties with the far right, and for promoting conspiracy theories and partisan propaganda. Using data from the ReCitCom project, I propose simple metrics for quantifying the partisanship of news audiences cross-nationally and identifying channels like Fox News in other media systems. I apply them to France and find that CNEWS has the most ideologically radical news audience within the French media ecosystem, and that the pattern is more pronounced with higher frequency of use. Comparatively, I show that the Fox News and CNEWS audiences have an equivalent ideological lean that justifies the comparison between the two outlets at the audience level. The two audiences are also disproportionately receptive to far-right candidates compared to other news audiences and their respective national samples.

Polymerization efficiency of different bulk-fill resin composites cured by monowave and polywave light-curing units: a comparative study.

The objective was to evaluate the polymerization efficiency of different bulk-fill resin-based composites cured by monowave and polywave light-curing units, by assessment of the degree of conversion and Vickers microhardness at different depths. Two commercially available bulk-fill resin-based composites were used: Filtek One Bulk Fill Restorative (3M ESPE) and Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill (Ivoclar Vivadent). The light-curing units utilized were two LED light-curing units: a monowave LED light-curing unit (BlueLEX LD-105, Monitex) and a polywave LED light-curing unit (Twin Wave GT-2000, Monitex). For each test, 20 cylindrical specimens (4 mm diameter, 4 mm thickness) were prepared from each bulk-fill resin-based composite using a split Teflon mold. Ten specimens were light-cured by the monowave light-curing unit and the other ten were light-cured by the polywave light-curing unit according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to assess the degree of conversion, and a Vickers microhardness tester was used to assess Vickers microhardness. Statistical analysis was performed using three-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests (P < .05). The degree of conversion and Vickers microhardness in bulk-fill resin-based composites containing only camphorquinone as photoinitiator were similar when cured with either monowave or polywave light-curing units. However, bulk-fill resin-based composites containing a combination of photoinitiators exhibited significantly higher degree of conversion and Vickers microhardness when cured with a polywave light-curing unit. Although all groups showed statistically significant differences between the top and bottom surfaces regarding degree of conversion and Vickers microhardness, all of them showed bottom/top ratios > 80% regarding degree of conversion and Vickers microhardness. The polywave light-curing unit enhanced the polymerization efficiency of bulk-fill resin-based composites especially when the latter contained a combination of photoinitiators, but does not prevent the use of a monowave light-curing unit.

P119 The effectiveness of drug-induced immunosuppression using biologics and Janus-kinase inhibitors in improving fatigue in adults with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Abstract Background/Aims Fatigue is a prominent and debilitating symptom. Many clinicians indicate that they may not assess fatigue frequently because there are no guidelines for fatigue treatment; thus, they feel unskilled to appropriately manage it. Previous evidence from a 2016 Cochrane review supported the use of biologics for fatigue among people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As of yet, this evidence has not been incorporated into management guidelines. Further, it is outdated and lacks data on newer drugs such as biosimilars and Janus-Kinase inhibitors (JAKis). We aimed to update the evidence on the effectiveness of biologics and JAKis for RA-fatigue, with a view to informing future guidelines. Methods Five electronic databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PubMed) were systematically searched, from 2014 to present, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating pharmacological interventions in adults with RA. Two reviewers contributed to the screening and analysis of the included papers, and any dispute was resolved through a comprehensive discussion. One reviewer then extracted the data and assessed methodological quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The effectiveness of treatments was determined by extracting change from baseline (CFB) data and/or the proportion achieving the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in fatigue. Where only CFB data were provided, reviewers compared absolute change values against the relevant MCID to evaluate intervention superiority. Owing to data heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis approach was undertaken. Results A total of 43 RCTs and post hoc analyses were included. No eligible studies were found regarding biosimilars. Drug classes investigated included JAKis (n = 27), interleukin-6 inhibitors (n = 9), anti-CD-20 monoclonal antibody (n = 1), selective so-stimulation modulators (n = 2) and TNF inhibitors (n = 4). Of these studies, four were inactive placebo comparator studies, 33 were active placebo comparator studies (i.e. csDMARDs), and six were head-to-head comparator studies. Studies had a low to unclear risk of bias, perhaps due to the high number of post hoc analyses (n = 28, 65%). In total, 37 studies (86%) determined an advantage to using biologics/JAKis; five (12%) determined that treatment with biologics/JAKis was not superior to csDMARDs. The final study showed no meaningful improvement in fatigue from treatment or control. Conclusion Most studies showed that biologics/JAKis hold the potential for fatigue management. However, fatigue reporting was poor, and few studies focussed on fatigue as a primary outcome in post hoc analyses. Therefore, it is not clear whether these treatments may, in fact, be more effective in certain subgroups of patients, for example, those for whom fatigue is a significant problem. Accordingly, the development of treatment guidelines involving these therapies is currently unlikely. We propose that future clinical trials designating fatigue as a primary endpoint will be crucial to improving the establishment of guidelines to support fatigue management. Disclosure H.J. Ghadanfari: None. J.H. Humphreys: None. K.L. Druce: None.