Comparison Study Research Articles

Diurnal.plant.tools in 2024: expanding to Marchantia polymorpha and four angiosperms.

Diurnal gene expression is a pervasive phenomenon occurring across all kingdoms of life, orchestrating adaptive responses to daily environmental fluctuations and thus enhancing organismal fitness. Our understanding of the plant circadian clock is primarily derived from studies in Arabidopsis and direct comparisons are difficult due to differences in gene family sizes. To this end, the identification of functional orthologs based on diurnal and tissue expression is necessary. The diurnal.plant.tools database constitutes a repository of gene expression profiles from 17 members of the Archaeplastida lineage, with built-in tools facilitating cross-species comparisons. In this database update, we expand the dataset with diurnal gene expression from 4 agriculturally significant crop species and Marchantia, a plant of evolutionary significance. Notably, the inclusion of diurnal gene expression data for Marchantia enables researchers to glean insights into the evolutionary trajectories of the circadian clock and other biological processes spanning from algae to angiosperms. Moreover, integrating diurnal gene expression data with datasets from related gene co-expression databases, such as CoNekt-Plants and CoNekt-Stress, which contain gene expression data for tissue and perturbation experiments, provides a comprehensive overview of gene functions across diverse biological contexts. This expanded database serves as a valuable resource for elucidating the intricacies of diurnal gene regulation and its evolutionary underpinnings in plant biology.

Preferred study designs to support a comparative therapeutic strategy question in oncology: a vignette study

ObjectivesSome therapeutic strategy questions in oncology could be answered with studies using observational data. Target trial emulation is the application of design principles from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to the analysis of observational data, to reduce design-induced biases. Our objective was to determine which type of study physicians would preferably plan to answer a comparative effectiveness question lacking evidence in oncology. MethodsWe launched an online survey among physicians specialized in oncology. We constructed a vignette-based inquiry where vignettes described study scenarios which could be conducted to answer the predefined question. We designed six vignettes described by study design (RCT or observational study with a trial emulation framework), main study characteristics, probability of the study succeeding and anticipated delay before results availability. Participants randomly assessed five pair-wise comparisons of the vignettes and were asked which study they would preferably plan by using a Likert scale ranging from −5 to 5. The main outcome was the evaluation of clinicians’ preferences for each pairwise comparison. Mean and median preference scores were calculated. ResultsTwo hundred thirteen participants, specialized in many tumor types, assessed at least one comparison with 82% reporting France as their country of affiliation. The interquartile range was −4 to 4 across pairwise comparisons. The median preference score was in disfavor of the monocentric RCT for the five comparisons where it appeared. The median preference score was strongly in favor of the multicentric national emulated trial when compared to the monocentric emulated trial 4 [IQR 2.5–4]. The mean preference score was the highest for the large European observational study 1.14 (SD 3.33), while the mean preference score was the lowest for the monocentric RCT −1.86 (SD 2.93). ConclusionNo study design was strongly preferred, but the monocentric RCT was the least favored study in pair-wise comparisons. The planification of the new research is a compromise between scientific soundness, feasibility, cost, and time before obtaining results. We need to have the right answers to the right questions at the right time.

Heterogeneity's impact on the sloshing motion in excited tanks

AbstractThis paper aims to investigate the effect of liquid heterogeneity on sloshing in a two-dimensional rectangular tank. The container is excited horizontally, and the density of the liquid at equilibrium can almost be considered a linear dependence of the depth. The linearized equations representing the sloshing phenomenon are solved numerically using ANSYS 2020 R2 software and analytically using the separation method of variables in conjunction with the Fourier analysis. On the other hand, a comparison study has been carried out between the obtained results and other works related to the same phenomenon. Overall, the results exhibit considerable effects of variation in the Heterogeneity Coefficient β on the free surface's motion and the pressure distribution within the liquid. Furthermore, the free surface of liquid heterogeneity is also affected by the variation of Excitation Frequency Ω and the Filling Rate h of the liquid in the tank.

Adaptive synergetic control for electronic throttle valve system

AbstractThis study has developed adaptive synergetic control (ASC) algorithm to control the angular position of moving plate in the electronic throttle valve (ETV) system. This control approach is inspired by synergetic control theory. The adaptive controller has addressed the problem of variation in systems parameters. The control design includes two elements: the control law and adaptive law. The adaptive law is developed based on Lyupunov stability analysis of the controlled system, and it is responsible for estimating the potential uncertainties in the system. The effectiveness of the proposed adaptive synergetic control has been verified by numerical simulation using MATLAB/Simulink. The results showed that the ASC algorithm could give good tracking performance in the presence of uncertainty perturbations. In addition, a comparison study has been made to compare the tracking performance of ASC and that based on conventional synergetic control (CSC) for the ETV system. The simulated results showed that the performance of ASC outperforms that based on CSC. Moreover, the results showed that the estimation errors between the actual and estimated uncertainties are bounded and there is no drift in the developed adaptive law of ASC.

Towards accuracy improvement in solution of inverse kinematic problem in redundant robot: A comparative analysis

AbstractThe redundant manipulators have more DOFs (degree of freedoms) than it requires to perform specified task. The inverse kinematic (IK) of such robots are complex and high nonlinear with multiple solutions and singularities. As such, modern Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques have been used to address these problems. This study proposed two AI techniques based on Neural Network Genetic Algorithm (NNGA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm to solve the inverse kinematics (IK) problem of 3DOF redundant robot arm. Firstly, the forward kinematics for 3 DOF redundant manipulator has been established. Secondly, the proposed schemes based on NNGA and PSO algorithm have been presented and discussed for solving the inverse kinematics of the suggested robot. Thirdly, numerical simulations have been implemented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods. Three scenarios based on triangle, circular, and sine-wave trajectories have been used to evaluate the performances of the proposed techniques in terms of accuracy measure. A comparison study in performance has been conducted and the simulated results showed that the PSO algorithm gives 7% improvement compared to NNGA technique for triangle trajectory, while 2% improvement has been achieved by the PSO algorithm for circular and sine-wave trajectories.

Comparative analysis of intermittent and continuous energy restriction in obesity management

An alternative to continuous energy restriction in the medical nutrition treatment of obesity, which has come to the fore in recent times, is called intermittent fasting. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of intermittent energy restriction (IER) and continuous energy restriction (CER) practices on body composition and anthropometric measurements in overweight and first-degree obese individuals. The comparison study was conducted on 34 people aged 19-64 between April and September 2022. They had no health problems, and applied to a private institution providing nutrition consultancy. In the study, the participants were divided into two groups and were asked to maintain the IER or CER diet type for six weeks. When the participants in the two diet types were compared in terms of parameters of anthropometric measurements, body compositions, blood pressure measurements, and initial and final measurements of abdominal fat analysis, no statistically significant difference was found (pα, pβ>0.05). The mean weight loss of the participants in the IER and CER groups was 3.95±1.94 kg and 4.09±1.48 kg, respectively. The weight loss of the participants in the two diet groups was similar. The long-term efficacy and safety of time-restricted feeding in weight loss is still unclear. More comprehensive research is needed on this subject.

High variability in physician estimations of flow-diverting stent deployment versus PreSize Neurovascular software simulation: a comparison study

BackgroundPhysician variablity in preoperative planning of endovascular implant deployment and associated inaccuracies have not been documented. This study aimed to quantify the variability in accuracy of physician flow diverter (FD)...

Performance evaluation of six mesh router replacement methods for wireless mesh networks: A comparison study for small and middle scale networks considering two islands distribution of mesh clients

In this paper, we present a hybrid intelligent simulation system for optimization of mesh routers in Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) called WMN-PSOHCDGA. We implemented six mesh router replacement methods: CM, RIWM, LDIWM, LDVM, RDVM and FC-RDVM and consider Two Islands distribution of mesh clients. We carry out a comparison study of these router replacement methods for small and middle scale WMNs. We assessed the performance by computer simulations. The simulation results show that six methods have a good performance for connectivity and coverage metrics, for both small and middle scale WMNs. However, they have different behavior for load balancing. For small scale WMNs, the load balancing of LDIWM, RIWM and FC-RDVM is better than CM, LDVM and RDVM. While, comparing LDIWM, RIWM and FC-RDVM, the LDIWM has better load balancing. We found that the load balancing for small scale WMNs is not good, because there is a concentration of mesh routers in some areas. For middle scale WMNs, the CM, LDIWM, LDVM and RDVM have not a good load balancing. While, the RIWM and FC-RDVM have better performance. Comparing RIWM and FC-RDVM, we found that the load balancing of FC-RDVM is better than RIWM.

A comparison study of two implemented fuzzy-based models for decision of logical trust

In recent years, the human-to-human and human-to-things relationships are becoming complicated and unreliable, which makes harder decisions in a variety of situations. As a result, trust computing is gaining interest in a number of research fields. The Logical Trust (LT) is one of trust computing concepts. In this paper, we design a Fuzzy-based System for Decision of Logical Trust (FSDLT). We implement two models: FSDLTM1 and FSDLTM2. The FSDLTM1 considers three input parameters: Belief (Be), Experience (Ep), Rationality (Ra) and the output parameter is LT. In FSDLTM2, we consider Reliability (Re) as a new parameter. We evaluated the implemented models by computer simulations. The simulation results show that when Be, Ep, Ra and Re are increasing, the LT is increased. For FSDLTM1, when Ep value is 0.9, all LT values are greater than 0.5. While for FSDLTM2, in case when Be is 0.9, for all values of Ra and Re, when Ep is 0.5 and 0.9, all LT values are higher than 0.5. This shows that the person or device is trustworthy. The FSDLTM2 is more complex than FSALTM1 but it makes a better decision for LT by considering four input parameters.

Abstract 149: The Protective Effect Of Vamp8 Deficiency In Aortopathies: Potential Impact Of Impaired Platelet Cargo Release

Introduction and Objective: Platelet activation and subsequent cargo secretion play a critical role in thrombus formation and aortic remodeling, factors potentially influencing the growth and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Despite the compelling data that platelet activation is associated with AAA and rupture, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study hypothesizes that VAMP8, a key element of platelets’ secretory machinery, significantly contributes to AAA formation. Approach and Results: A retrospective, single-center multiple comparisons study of adult aneurysmal patients admitted to UKHealthCare between 2004 and 2023 revealed a significantly lower platelet count in AAA patients (n=3131, 213.76 ± 3.46) vs. healthy individuals (n= 6309, 243.18 ± 4.09) suggesting an increase in platelets consumption, potentially in the aneurysmal sack. Thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection patients also indicated lower platelet count. In vivo , platelets were shown to accumulate at elastin break sites and false lumens of abdominal aortas from 28-day AngII-infused hypercholesteremic mice. To assess the role of platelets, specifically platelet secretion, we utilized VAMP8 null mice. We first validated the platelet secretion defect in these mice and then used RNASeq and proteomics array to define the role of VAMP8 in platelet cargo packaging. Next, VAMP8 -/- or WT hypercholesterolemic male mice fed a Western diet were infused with AngII (1,000 ng/kg/min) for 4 weeks. Our results revealed that VAMP8 -/- mice are protected against AngII-driven aortic rupture. Additionally, aortic ex vivo analysis indicated that the VAMP8 deficiency (n=15, aortic diameter: 0.9 mm ± 0.03) profoundly attenuated AngII-induced AAA compared to control (n=9, aortic diameter: 2.0 mm ± 0.2). Further analysis also indicated a marked reduction in thoracic aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis development in VAMP8 -\- vs. Control group. Conclusion: Our results elucidate that a deficiency in VAMP8 results in the profound attenuation of aortic aneurysms and atherosclerosis development, introducing a novel paradigm for understanding the impact of platelet cargo secretion in the development of aortopathies.

A Novel Leg-Integrated Switched Capacitor Inverter Topology for Three-Phase Induction Motor Drives

This paper presents an optimized leg-integrated switched capacitor inverter (LISCI) topology for 3-φ induction motor driven home appliance applications where a switched capacitor (SC) network, used for voltage boosting, is integrated with one of the inverter legs (phase-A leg). This results in a reduced semiconductor requirement as the voltage ratings of the phase-A switches are reduced by half. Moreover, due to the unique structure of the proposed topology, it can produce 3-level pole voltage corresponding to phase-A, even though the pole voltages of phases B and C remain 2-level. This kind of performance, referred to as quasi 3-level performance, results in an unusual space vector (SV) hexagon with 12 SVs, which is implemented by using a novel PWM method. A comparison study of the proposed topology with the existing SC based 3-φ inverter topologies reveals that the former has the lowest semiconductor requirement, highly improved harmonic performance and very low losses. All the claims are supported by experimental validations performed on a 3φ induction motor (3φIM) drive.

Fast Attack Detection for Cyber-Physical Systems Using Dynamic Data Encryption.

To defend the cyber-physical system (CPSs) from cyber-attacks, this work proposes an unified intrusion detection mechanism which is capable to fast hunt various types of attacks. Focusing on securing the data transmission, a novel dynamic data encryption scheme is developed and historical system data is used to dynamically update a secret key involved in the encryption. The core idea of the dynamic data encryption scheme is to establish a dynamic relationship between original data, secret key, ciphertext and its decrypted value, and in particular, this dynamic relationship will be destroyed once an attack occurs, which can be used to detect attacks. Then, based on dynamic data encryption, a unified fast attack detection method is proposed to detect different attacks, including replay, false data injection (FDI), zero-dynamics, and setpoint attacks. Extensive comparison studies are conducted by using the power system and flight control system. It is verified that the proposed method can immediately trigger the alarm as soon as attacks are launched while the conventional χ2 detection could only capture the attacks after the estimation residual goes over the predetermined threshold. Furthermore, the proposed method does not degrade the system performance. Last but not the least, the proposed dynamic encryption scheme turns to normal operation mode as the attacks stop.

Mesoscopic investigation of the matrix pores and ITZ effects on the mechanical properties of seawater sea-sand coral aggregate concrete

In this study, the matrix pores and ITZ effects on the mechanical properties of seawater sea-sand coral aggregate concrete (SSCAC) were investigated via the meso-element equivalent method. The effective modulus and strength of aggregate and matrix in SSCAC at different scale level were derived via the Voigt model and Mori-Tanaka method. A three-step equivalence process was established to consider the influence of the matrix pores. The surface permeability zone for coral aggregate was proposed to explain the strength enhanced effect of the interface transition zone (ITZ) in SSCAC. A comparisons study was carried out to analyze the difference between SSCAC and ordinary Portland concrete about the stress-strain relationships, failure patterns, and failure mechanisms. Finally, the impact of porosity variations on the mechanical properties development of SSCAC have been investigated, which indicate that the compressive and splitting tensile strengths of SSCAC present distinct three-stage variations with respect to porosity. A sensitive range of ITZ effect was proposed to reveal that as porosity within 7%–18%, the variation of porosity can influence the ratio of splitting tensile strength to compressive strength of SSCAC remarkably. To ensure optimal performance in both splitting tensile strength and compressive strength, it is recommended to maintain the porosity of SSCAC within the range of 5%–10%.

Enhancing online health consultations through fuzzy logic-integrated attribute-based encryption system

Online health consultations are becoming more popular as a result of technological improvements. Patients routinely look for information about medical disorders online, which could jeopardize the privacy of medical records and increase the workload of healthcare professionals. Nonetheless, academics continue to be extremely concerned about issues related to the quality characteristics that relate to the current architectural models, such as energy consumption, latency, resource utilization, scalability, and packet loss. This method, however, also results in a significant strain being placed on medical experts who must sort through vast amounts of medical records to extract certain information. This paper presents a novel ciphertext policy attribute-based encryption method coupled with fuzzy logic to overcome these issues. This solution uses a hybrid structure of IPFS and blockchain to store data and enables complex bidirectional access control. Before being added to IPFS, medical records are encrypted. To ensure data integrity, related IPFS hash indexes are then added to the blockchain. Utilizing attribute-based technology, users’ data is encrypted to give them fine-grained bidirectional access control. A thorough security analysis proves the system’s resilience, especially when faced with chosen plaintext assaults inside the random oracle model. Tests for this study were conducted using 10–50 attribute sets. This paper’s technique solely makes use of a hash operation. All things considered; the study demonstrates that the proposed design is more efficient than earlier schemes. Thus, from the comparison study above, it can be concluded that the system presented in this work is more efficient. Results from simulations provide additional support for the suggested methodology by highlighting the improved computing efficiency of users as compared to baseline conventional systems. This study demonstrates how technological advancement and healthcare requirements can coexist harmoniously, paving the way for secure and effective online medical consultations that are powered by fuzzy logic.

Comparison of DNA extraction methods on different sample matrices within the same terrestrial ecosystem

Metataxonomic studies of ecosystem microbiotas require the simultaneous processing of samples with contrasting physical and biochemical traits. However, there are no published studies of comparisons of different DNA extraction kits to characterize the microbiotas of the main components of terrestrial ecosystems. Here, and to our knowledge for the first time, five DNA extraction kits were used to investigate the composition and diversity of the microbiota of a subset of samples typically studied in terrestrial ecosystems such as bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, invertebrate taxa and mammalian feces. DNA extraction kit was associated with changes in the relative abundance of hundreds of ASVs, in the same samples, resulting in significant differences in alpha and beta diversity estimates of their microbiotas. Importantly, the impact of DNA extraction kit on sample diversity varies according to sample type, with mammalian feces and soil samples showing the most and least consistent diversity estimates across DNA extraction kits, respectively. We show that the MACHEREY–NAGEL NucleoSpin® Soil kit was associated with the highest alpha diversity estimates, providing the highest contribution to the overall sample diversity, as indicated by comparisons with computationally assembled reference communities, and is recommended to be used for any large-scale microbiota study of terrestrial ecosystems.

Haptic Feedback, Performance and Arousal: A Comparison Study in an Immersive VR Motor Skill Training Task.

This article investigates the relationship between fine motor skill training in VR, haptic feedback, and physiological arousal. To do so, we present the design and development of a motor skill task (buzzwire), along with a custom vibrotactile feedback attachment for the Geomagic Touch haptic device. A controlled experiment following a between-subjects design was conducted with 73 participants, studying the role of three feedback conditions - visual/kinesthetic, visual/vibrotactile and visual only - on the learning and performance of the considered task and the arousal levels of the participants. Results indicate that performance improved in all three feedback conditions after the considered training session. However, participants reported no change in self-efficacy and in terms of presence and task load (NASA-TLX). All three feedback conditions also showed similar arousal levels. Further analysis revealed that positive changes in performance were linked to higher arousal levels. These results suggest the potential of haptic feedback to affect arousal levels and encourage further research into using this relationship to improve motor skill training in VR.

Treating waste with waste: Efficient separation of Ni(II) from wastewater by a waste-derived polyimide foam with rationally designed structure

The separation and upcycling of nickel from industrial wastewater is significant because it is harmful to the environment and human health. With the development of special engineering plastics industry, a substantial amount of polyimide (PI) scrap is generated. In this study, an amine and carboxyl functionalized PI (PI-AC) was prepared from waste-derived PI foam for the adsorption and separation of Ni(II). The adsorption performance of PI-AC can be modulated by adjusting the ratio of functional groups. PI-AC demonstrated rapid adsorption kinetics (<5 min) for Ni(II) and effectively adsorbed Ni(II) from real wastewater in column experiments. PI-AC shows a competitive dynamic adsorption capacity for Ni(II) (222.59 mg/g) as compared with most of the reported adsorbents. Furthermore, the successful removal of Ni from low-concentration simulated Ni-containing wastewater (7.18 mg/L) results in a residual Ni concentration (0.001 mg/L) that complies with the emission standard. The porous structure of the PI foam enables rapid adsorption of nickel and column adsorption was successfully achieved. The adsorption performance exhibited maintained stably even after five cycles, demonstrating excellent recoverability. The characterizations, comparison studies, and DFT calculations demonstrated that one nitrogen atom in the amine group and one oxygen atom in the carboxyl group act as a bidentate ligand to chelate with Ni(II). This study opens a new way for the treatment of wastewater using PI foam scrap, which coincides with the idea of “treating the waste with waste”.

Comparison study of chewing efficiency in patients with different vertical skeletal patterns of Angle Class I and Angle Class II malocclusions.

The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the differences in chewing efficiency among patients with different vertical skeletal types of Angle Class I and Angle Class II malocclusions, to provide reference for orthodontic clinical practice. Sample size estimation revealed a minimum of 53 for each class. Thus, a total of 108 patients with Angle Class I and Angle Class II malocclusions were selected. Lateral skull radiographs were taken, and head measurements were analyzed via geometric tracing software. Chewing efficiency was measured using the gravimetric method to compare between the two groups. The vertical skeletal pattern was classified via Steiner analysis. Significant statistical differences in chewing efficiency were observed between patients presenting with Angle Class I and Angle Class II malocclusions (P < .05). Additionally, significant differences in chewing efficiency were observed among patients with different vertical skeletal patterns (P < .05). Furthermore, a statistically significant difference in chewing efficiency was found between men and women (P < .05). Patients with Angle Class I malocclusions exhibited significantly higher chewing efficiency compared to those with Angle Class II malocclusions. Among patients with different vertical facial types, the chewing efficiency followed the order of low angle > normal angle > high angle. Moreover, men demonstrated a higher chewing efficiency than women.

A Qualitative and Comparative Performance Assessment of Logically Centralized SDN Controllers via Mininet Emulator

An alternative networking approach called Software Defined Networking (SDN) enables dynamic, programmatically efficient network construction, hence enhancing network performance. It splits a traditional network into a centralized control plane and a configurable data plane. Because the core component overseeing every data plane action is the controller in the control plane, which may contain one or more controllers and is thought of as the brains of the SDN network, controller functionality and performance are crucial to achieve optimal performances. There is much controller research available in the existing literature. Nevertheless, no qualitative comparison study of OpenFlow-enabled distributed but logically centralized controllers exists. This paper includes a quantitative investigation of the performance of several distributed but logically centralized SDN controllers in custom network scenarios using Mininet, as well as a thorough qualitative comparison of them. More precisely, we give a qualitative evaluation of their attributes and classify and categorize 13 distributed but logically centralized SDN controllers according to their capabilities. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive SDN emulation tool, called Mininet-based SDN controller performance assessment, in this study. Using six performance metrics—bandwidth, round-trip time, delay, jitter, packet loss, and throughput—this work also assesses five distributed but logically centralized controllers within two custom network scenarios (uniform and non-uniform host distribution). Our analysis reveals that the Ryu controller outperforms the OpenDayLight controller in terms of latency, packet loss, and round-trip time, while the OpenDayLight controller performs well in terms of throughput, bandwidth, and jitter. Throughout the entire experiment, the HyperFlow and ONOS controllers performed worst in all performance metrics. Finally, we discuss detailed research findings on performance. These experimental results provide decision-making guidelines when selecting a controller.

A Comparative Analysis of the Phenomenology of Time in the Works of John McTaggart and John Mbiti

The issue of time remains a topic of ongoing discussion in both theological and philosophical literature. Currently, within the field of theology, there is a significant focus on the concept of time, which is the subject of disputes regarding the nature of God’s eternity. These discussions involve inquiries into whether God exists outside of time or within it. Philosophical discussions often centre around the ontology and metaphysics of time, exploring whether time is characterised by a static or dynamic nature. This paper did not delve into the controversies surrounding God’s eternity. However, it focused on the phenomenology of time as discussed by two contrasting theorists, namely John McTaggart (1866-1925) and John Mbiti (1931-2019). McTaggart, an English philosopher, contends that time is unreal. According to the African scholar Mbiti, time is indeed real, but it moves in a reverse direction instead of the forward direction generally perceived in Western tradition. Consequently, Mbiti refutes the existence of the future. As far as is known, there are no existing comparison studies on these two experts. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to address this vacuum. The paper utilised comparative lenses to assess the metaphysical claims of these two thinkers about the phenomenology of time, intending to gain a deeper comprehension of time from their respective viewpoints. The process was executed in three sequential stages. It first analysed McTaggart’s explanation of time, and then proceeded to investigate Mbiti’s notion of time. Finally, a comparative examination was conducted before concluding. The conclusion is that McTaggart and Mbiti neglect to consider the potential existence of objective time, which would be independent of events, change, and motion. This paper adds to the field of philosophical theology, specifically focusing on modern debates on God and time. Keywords: John Mbiti, John McTaggart, the Phenomenology of Time, Sasa, Zamani.