Comparison Of Available Methods Research Articles

Bone Conduction Threshold Measurements in Patients with Bone Conduction Devices: A Comparison of Available Methods.

The semi-implantable bone conduction devices connect the skull to the hearing device by means of an implant. This implant affords us 3 possible methods for conducting bone conduction evaluation, which may produce a different result for the same patient, and comparisons of results from different centers may therefore be interpreted incorrectly. Thus, the authors attempt to quantify the audiometric differences between the obtained auditory results and to check whether the results of standard pure tone audiometry could be replaced with the results obtained by alternative measurement methods. Measurements were conducted in a group of 53 adult patients implanted with bone conduction devices in 3 modes: bone conduction-direct, when the bone conduction device itself is used to assess the audiometric threshold; bone conduction-pure tone audiometry with audiometric oscillator placed over mastoid aside of an implant; and bone conduction-indirect with oscillator placed on an implant. The analysis revealed differences between obtained results, which can reach up to 21.48 dB with a mean of 10 dB across all frequencies. The lowest values, regardless of the type of implant connection ("magnetic"; "snap"), were recorded for bone conduction-indirect mode whereas the highest mean all-frequency thresholds were recorded in the mode defined as bone conduction-direct. The method that provides the most comparable thresholds is when the oscillator is positioned on the mastoid, aside from an implant. It should be the method of choice for any hearing evaluation in patients fitted with bone conduction devices, because of standardized equipment and the availability of preoperative data obtained with the same method.

Metrological Comparison of Available Methods to Correct Edge-Effect Local Plasticity in Instrumented Indentation Test.

The Instrumented Indentation Test (IIT) mechanically characterizes materials from the nano to the macro scale, enabling the evaluation of microstructure and ultra-thin coatings. IIT is a non-conventional technique applied in strategic sectors, e.g., automotive, aerospace and physics, to foster the development of innovative materials and manufacturing processes. However, material plasticity at the indentation edge biases the characterization results. Correcting such effects is extremely challenging, and several methods have been proposed in the literature. However, comparisons of these available methods are rare, often limited in scope, and neglect metrological performance of the different methods. After reviewing the main available methods, this work innovatively proposes a performance comparison within a metrological framework currently missing in the literature. The proposed framework for performance comparison is applied to some available methods, i.e., work-based, topographical measurement of the indentation to evaluate the area and the volume of the pile-up, Nix-Gao model and the electrical contact resistance (ECR) approach. The accuracy and measurement uncertainty of the correction methods is compared considering calibrated reference materials to establish traceability of the comparison. Results, also discussed in light of the practical convenience of the methods, show that the most accurate method is the Nix-Gao approach (accuracy of 0.28 GPa, expanded uncertainty of 0.57 GPa), while the most precise is the ECR (accuracy of 0.33 GPa, expanded uncertainty of 0.37 GPa), which also allows for in-line and real-time corrections.

Data Processing in Cloud Computing Model on the Example of Salesforce Cloud

Data processing is integrated with every aspect of operation enterprises—from accounting to marketing and communication internal and control of production processes. The best place to store the information is a properly prepared data center. There are a lot of providers of cloud computing and methods of data storage and processing. Every business must do the right thing, which is to think over how the data at your disposal are to be managed. The main purpose of this paper is research and the comparison of available methods of data processing and storage outside the enterprise in the cloud computing model. The cloud in SaaS (software as a service) model—Salesforce.com and a free platform development offered by Salesforce.com—force.com were used to perform the research. The paper presents the analysis results of available methods of processing and storing data outside the enterprise in the cloud computing model on the example of Salesforce cloud. Salesforce.com offers several benefits, but each service provider offers different services, systems, products, and forms of data protection. The choice of customer depends on individual needs and business plans for the future. A comparison of available methods of data processing and storage outside the enterprise in the cloud computing model was presented. On the basis of collected results, it was determined for what purposes the data processing methods available on the platform are suitable and how they can meet the needs of enterprises.

Who is the best surrogate for germ stem cell transplantation in fish?

Surrogate broodstock technology in fishes has potential for aquaculture as well as endangered species conservation and propagation. Species with some unfavourable biological characteristics for culturing such as a late maturation or a large body size are ideal candidates for surrogate reproduction using smaller and faster-maturing hosts. One of the general prerequisites for pure donor-derived gamete production is the sterility of the host. Various sterilization methods have been developed and used in fish surrogacy; however, a direct comparison of available methods is missing. Such a knowledge gap hinders choice for the surrogate in various fish species, including those in high commercial demand such as tuna or sturgeons. There is a particular limitation from the point of the live material availability and difficulty to perform a high throughput assessment of different surrogates. Yet, large sturgeons or tuna species are one of the most prominent candidates for surrogacy. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) was utilized in this study as a model species to answer whether and to what extent different sterilization strategies can affect the surrogacy. Germ cell-depleted recipients (produced using knockdown of dead end gene), triploid recipients, and zebrafish x pearl danio (Danio albolineatus) hybrid recipients were tested as they represent the most frequently used types of surrogates. Spermatogonia isolated from the vas::EGFP transgenic strain were intraperitoneally transplanted into swim-up 5 day old zebrafish. Colonization rate of transplanted germ cells, survival, gonadal development, and reproductive output of the fish were analysed. Germ cell-depleted recipients with normal somatic cells were identified as the most convenient among tested sterilization methods considering adult germline chimera rate and their reproductive output. The present study provides a significant aid for selecting suitable surrogates in fishes.

Comparison of variable selection methods in partial least squares regression

AbstractThrough the remarkable progress in technology, it is getting easier and easier to generate vast amounts of variables from a given sample. The selection of variables is imperative for data reduction and for understanding the modeled relationship. Partial least squares (PLS) regression is among the modeling approaches that address high throughput data. A considerable list of variable selection methods has been introduced in PLS. Most of these methods have been reviewed in a recently conducted study. Motivated by this, we have therefore conducted a comparison of available methods for variable selection within PLS. The main focus of this study was to reveal patterns of dependencies between variable selection method and data properties, which can guide the choice of method in practical data analysis. To this aim, a simulation study was conducted with data sets having diverse properties like the number of variables, the number of samples, model complexity level, and information content. The results indicate that the above factors like the number of variables, number of samples, model complexity level, information content and variant of PLS methods, and their mutual higher‐order interactions all significantly define the prediction capabilities of the model and the choice of variable selection strategy.

Economic Valuation for Cost\u2013Benefit Analysis of Health Risk Reduction in Drinking Water Systems

Microbial risk mitigation measures in drinking water systems aiming at preventing gastrointestinal disease can provide substantial societal health benefits if implemented properly. However, the procedure of including and monetising the health benefits in cost–benefit analysis (CBA) has been somewhat scattered and inconsistent in the literature, and there is a need for a comparison of available methods. First, through a literature review, we identified the methods to include health benefits in decision support and to monetise these benefits in CBA. Second, we applied the identified health valuation methods in a case study. In the case study, we investigated if changing the health valuation method could change the rank order of the decision alternatives’ net present values. In the case study a risk-based decision model that combined quantitative microbial risk assessment and CBA was used. Seven health valuation methods were identified, each of them including different aspects of health benefits. The results of the case study showed that the choice of the health valuation method can change the rank order of decision alternatives with respect to their net present values. These results highlight the importance of choosing an appropriate health valuation method for the specific application. Although this study focused on the drinking water context, the identified health valuation methods can be applied in any decision support context, provided that input in terms of the health risk reduction is available.

Computing theJacobian inGaussian Spatial Autoregressive Models: An Illustrated Comparison of Available Methods

When estimating spatial regression models by maximum likelihood using spatial weights matrices to represent spatial processes, computing theJacobian, ln(|I− λW|), remains a central problem. In principle, and for smaller data sets, the use of the eigenvalues of the spatial weights matrix provides a very rapid resolution. Analytical eigenvalues are available for large regular grids. For larger problems not on regular grids, including those induced in spatial panel and dyadic (network) problems, solving the eigenproblem may not be feasible, and a number of alternatives have been proposed. This article surveys selected alternatives, and comments on their relative usefulness, covering sparseCholesky and sparseLUfactorizations, and approximations such asMonteCarlo,Chebyshev, and using lower‐order moments with interpolation. The results are presented in terms of component‐wise differences between sets ofJacobians for selected data sets. In conclusion, recommendations are made for a number of analytical settings.Al estimar modelos de regresión espacial con el método del máxima verosimilitud(máximum likelihood)y usando matrices de pesos espaciales para representar procesos espaciales, cálculo del término jacobiano (jabobian)—ln(|I−λW|)‐ sigue siendo un problema central. En principio, y para bases de datos más pequeñas, el uso de los valores propios (eigenvalues)de la matriz de pesos espaciales proporciona una solución muy rápida. Loseigenvaluesanalíticos para retículas o grillas grandes y regulares son ya conocidos. Para problemas más grandes, que no se presentan en mallas regulares ‐incluyendo aquellos que se inducen en problemas de paneles espaciales y en problemas de (redes) diádicas‐, es posible que resolver eleigenproblemno sea posible. Este artículo estudia una selección de alternativas y comenta acerca de su relativa utilidad. Se cubren las facorizaciones de tipo Cholesky disperso (sparse Cholesky) y de tipo LU dispersas (sparse LU), las aproximaciones Monte Carlo, y Chebyshev, así mismo se utiliza momentos de bajo‐orden (lower‐order) con interpolación. Los resultados se presentan en términos de diferencias de componentes entre sets de términos jacobianos para bases de datos seleccionadas. En conclusión, se hacen recomendaciones para una serie de contextos analíticos.当采用表征空间过程的空间权重矩阵对空间回归模型进行最大似然估计时，雅可比矩阵ln(|I−λW|)的计算仍是核心问题。对于小数据集，原则上可利用空间权重矩阵的特征值提供一种快速的解决方案，对于大型规则格网数据特征值分析同样有效。但对于不规则格网大型问题，包括从空间面板和二元（网络）问题中引伸的问题，利用特征值的解决方案可能不适用，对此学术界提出了多种可选替代方案。本文选取已有的几种替代方案并评论各自的相对有效性，其中包括稀疏Cholesky分解和稀疏LU分解法，Monte Carlo和 Chebyshev近似模拟法以及低阶矩插值法。结果以所选数据集雅可比矩阵间特定组份的差异方式显示。最后，推荐了一些分析设定。

How to Process the Random Part of RFVs: Comparison of Available Methods and New Proposal

In the recent years, fuzzy variables (FVs) and random-fuzzy variables (RFVs) have been proposed to represent the measurement results with their associated uncertainty. However, up to now, the different authors do not yet agree in the mathematical way FVs should be composed together, so different approaches have been proposed. This paper compares these approaches to find their advantages and disadvantages and shows a new proposal that is supposed to hopefully overcome the disadvantages of the original approaches.

Comparison of available methods to elute serum from dried blood spot samples for measles serology

Six existing protocols for the extraction of serum from blood spots dried onto filter paper were compared. Assessment criteria included: detection of measles IgM and IgG by the Dade Behring Enzygnost ® immunoassays, volumes of recovered eluates, reproducibility, processing time and throughput, difficulty of protocol, equipment required, safety and estimated costs. Detection of measles IgM in eluates obtained by four of these protocols was as in serum, and significant differences were only observed in eluates from the two remaining protocols ( p < 0.05). Significant differences were found between extraction protocols regarding measles-specific IgG detection when an IgG indeterminate DBS was analyzed ( p < 0.05), but not when an IgG positive and negative DBS were studied. Sufficient eluate volumes were recovered for testing in the IgM Behring assay following all protocols but two. Sufficient eluate was recovered for testing in the IgG Behring assay following all six protocols. While all protocols were relatively easy to perform, only two protocols required less than 2 h for completion. In general, compared protocols performed well on the extraction of antibodies from DBS for serology with differences being observed with eluate volume recovery, turn around time, required equipment and cost. An easy-to-implement protocol is proposed for the rapid extraction of serum for measles/rubella serology in outbreak situations for use in the World Health Organization Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network.

Measuring alcohol consumption among older adults: a comparison of available methods.

We determined levels of agreement and concordance between five alcohol measures among older veterans from a VA primary care clinic (N=303) and community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries (N=511). The individuals recruited for the study had not been previously identified for alcohol use. Quantity-frequency questions, a binge drinking question, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, CAGE, and questions on lifetime consumption were administered to all current drinkers. To assess agreement between the measures, we conducted pairwise comparisons (eg, QF vs. CAGE) by determining the percentage of participants who screened positive on both measures and calculated kappa values to determine concordance. Only modest levels of agreement and concordance were found between the measures. The use of any individual measure may fail to detect many older adults with important alcohol exposures. Until optimal methods for measuring alcohol exposures in elderly adults are defined, we suggest that a combination of measures be used when obtaining alcohol histories in older persons.

Measuring Alcohol Consumption Among Older Adults: A Comparison of Available Methods

Measuring Alcohol Consumption Among Older Adults: A Comparison of Available Methods

Detecting the onset of the lateralized readiness potential: A comparison of available methods and procedures

Studies that measure the onset of the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) could well provide researchers with important new data concerning the information-processing locus of experimental effects of interest. However, detecting the onset of the LRP has proved difficult. The present study used computer simulations involving both human and artificial data, and both stimulus- and response-locked effects, to compare a wide variety of techniques for detecting and estimating differences in the onset latency of the LRP. Across the two sets of simulations, different techniques were found to be the most accurate and reliable for the analysis of stimulus- and response-locked data. On the basis of these results, it is recommended that regression-based methods be used to analyze most LRP data.

Detecting the onset of the lateralized readiness potential: A comparison of available methods and procedures

Studies that measure the onset of the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) could well provide researchers with important new data concerning the information-processing locus of experimental effects of interest. However, detecting the onset of the LRP has proved difficult. The present study used computer simulations involving both human and artificial data, and both stimulus- and response-locked effects, to compare a wide variety of techniques for detecting and estimating differences in the onset latency of the LRP. Across the two sets of simulations, different techniques were found to be the most accurate and reliable for the analysis of stimulus- and response-locked data. On the basis of these results, it is recommended that regression-based methods be used to analyze most LRP data.

A Comparison of Available Methods for Determining Salt Levels in Cheese

Comparative salt analyses were run on seven different types of cheese using each of four methods: Mohr, Volhard, ion selective electrode, and chloride analyzer. The results of Volhard, Mohr, and chloride analyzer methods were similar for unaged cheese varieties, i.e., Mozzarella, Cheddar, Ricotta, Romano, and Provolone, but concentrations detected with the ion selective electrode were lower than the other three methods. Results were similar with aged Cheddar and process cheeses except the Mohr procedure proved unreliable. A constant correction factor could be used to make the ion selective electrode results similar to that obtained with the Volhard procedure.

A Critical Comparison of Available Methods for the Spectrophotometric Determination of Micro- Amounts of Copper in Textiles

A survey has been made of methods available for the spectrophotometric determina tion of copper in fabrics treated with copper-containing fungicides. Seven of the most promising copper reagents were compared on the basis of sensitivity, simplicity of pro cedure, and specificity for copper in the presence of the metallic oxides used to render fabrics resistant to fire, ultraviolet light, and water. Methods employing rubeanic acid and zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate offered the best combination of desirable character istics. These methods proved to be as precise as the electrolytic method described in current federal specifications. These methods were also successfully tested against commercially treated fabrics obtained through actual Army procurements. Since only 3-5 mg of fabric are required for each determination, these spectrophoto metric methods offer a means of determining the evenness of application of the fungicide on the fabric. The analysis of commercial fabrics treated with copper 8-quinolinolate and copper naphthenate indicated that the textile manufacturing industry is capable of obtaining a very even distribution of this mixture of fungicides throughout the material. Details of the rubeanic acid and zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate methods are presented.