Total Number Of Groups Research Articles

Exploring the effects of weighting against homoplasy in genealogies of palaeontological phylogenetic matrices.

Although simulations have shown that implied weighting (IW) outperforms equal weighting (EW) in phylogenetic parsimony analyses, weighting against homoplasy lacks extensive usage in palaeontology. Iterative modifications of several phylogenetic matrices in the last decades resulted in extensive genealogies of datasets that allow the evaluation of differences in the stability of results for alternative character weighting methods directly on empirical data. Each generation was compared against the most recent generation in each genealogy because it is assumed that it is the most comprehensive (higher sampling), revised (fewer misscorings) and complete (lower amount of missing data) matrix of the genealogy. The analyses were conducted on six different genealogies under EW and IW and extended implied weighting (EIW) with a range of concavity constant values (k) between 3 and 30. Pairwise comparisons between trees were conducted using Robinson-Foulds distances normalized by the total number of groups, distortion coefficient, subtree pruning and regrafting moves, and the proportional sum of group dissimilarities. The results consistently show that IW and EIW produce results more similar to those of the last dataset than EW in the vast majority of genealogies and for all comparative measures. This is significant because almost all of these matrices were originally analysed only under EW. Implied weighting and EIW do not outperform each other unambiguously. Euclidean distances based on a principal components analysis of the comparative measures show that different ranges of k-values retrieve the most similar results to the last generation in different genealogies. There is a significant positive linear correlation between the optimal k-values and the number of terminals of the last generations. This could be employed to inform about the range of k-values to be used in phylogenetic analyses based on matrix size but with the caveat that this emergent relationship still relies on a low sample size of genealogies.

Optimization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Control Sensor Control System based on Deep Learning Model

Based on data modelling strategies have created reliable classifier designs for various classes and other neural network applications. The fact that modelling complexity rises with the total number of groups in the system does is one of the approach's major shortcomings. No matter how well it performs, it could make the classifier's design ugly. This article discusses the development of a novel, logic-based Optimum Bayesian Gaussian process (OBGP) classifier to reduce the number of separate empirical models required to accurately detect various fault types in industrial processes. The precision of the OBGP classifier's defining faults also contrasts with the results of other approaches documented in the literature.

An Improved K-Means Clustering Process Solicitation for Mine Blood Donors Information

The exponential rise in accidents and the introduction of new, supposedly trendy ways of living have contributed to the dire need for the needy to have an organ or blood transfusion. Circumstances refer to a circumstance where proper care should be taken when collecting the necessary blood or original parts for transfusion, typically in dire circumstances. To determine the distance at which the interested and qualified donors are located, a thorough investigation must be conducted. People are often first categorized according to their blood type, eligibility, and region. Following that, people group together according to locality. A healthy person can safely donate blood twice within 56 days, as this is the minimal time between successful donations that has been established as a norm. The decision to donate an organ is often made after careful consideration of the severity of the situation, the donor's health, and the health of the recipient. Knowledge data finding tasks can be made easier with the help of KEEL, an open-source programme. The graphs that are produced show clearly how the proposed algorithm varies from the standard K-means method. Therefore, it will be quite useful in the present day and could end up saving lots of lives. The necessity to decide ahead of time on the total number of groups is just one of the issues with the K-means clustering method. In practise, it is difficult to anticipate the precise number of clusters. When the number of clusters is small, incongruous clustering is more common, but when the number of clusters is large, like clustering is more common. Thanks to a method called Active Cluster with Modified k-means clustering, which finds the right number of clusters on the fly, the issue is now resolved

Do Spanish Triathletes Consume Sports Supplements According to Scientific Evidence? An Analysis of the Consumption Pattern According to Sex and Level of Competition.

The use of sports supplements (SS) to improve sports performance is very common in athletes. In the case of triathletes, the physiological characteristics of the sport may require the use of certain SS. Although the consumption of SS is widespread in this sport, very few studies have investigated it thus far. The aim is to analyze the pattern of SS consumption by triathletes according to sex and the competitive level. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study on the consumption and habitual use of SS of 232 Spanish-federated triathletes. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire. Overall, 92.2% of the athletes consumed SS, but no significant differences were found in terms of competition level or sex. Yet, significant differences were found regarding the level of competition for total SS (p = 0.021), the total number of Group A supplements from the AIS classification (p = 0.012), and for the ergogenic aids (p = 0.003). The most-consumed SS were bars, sports drinks, sports gels, and caffeine (83.6%, 74.1%, 61.2%, and 46.6%, respectively). The consumption of SS by triathletes is high, and the number of SS consumed rises from the regional to the national and international levels. The four SS most consumed were included in category A of the AIS (greatest scientific evidence).

Dietary Supplement Use of Turkish Footballers: Differences by Sex and Competition Level.

This study aimed to evaluate the consumption of dietary supplements (DS) and to determine related topics in Turkish football players of different sexes and competition levels. A total of 117 footballers (79 males and 38 females) completed a specific survey regarding DS consumption in athletes. The type of DS ingested was classified based on the level of scientific evidence by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS): group A (high level of scientific evidence), group B (DS that could have a positive effect, but require more evidence), group C (evidence is against their use), and group D (prohibited substances). After a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, a t-test or Mann–Whitney U test was performed for quantitative variables, while Pearson’s chi-square and odds ratio (with the confidence interval) were performed for qualitative variables. Of the sample, 87.2% reported having consumed DS, with a higher consumption rate in males (males: 93.7%, females: 73.7%; p = 0.006; OR = 5.3 [1.7–16.8]) and professional players (professional: 98.2%, non-professional: 77.4%; p < 0.001; OR = 7.9 [1.2–52.3]). Males and professional players consume more sports foods (p < 0.001), performance supplements (p < 0.001), and total group A supplements (p < 0.001) compared to females and non-professionals. In addition, males consume more medical supplements (p = 0.012) and total group C supplements (p < 0.001) than female footballers. The most consumed DS were sports drinks (63.2%), magnesium (52.1%), vitamin C (51.3%), vitamin D (46.2%), caffeine (38.5%), sports bars (37.6%), whey protein (28.2%), meat protein (25.6%), vitamin E (24.8%), and omega-3 fatty acids (24.8%). The supplement consumption was higher in male and professional footballers. According to the AIS classification, there were significant differences in the consumption of sports foods, medical supplements, performance supplements, and the total number of group A and group C supplements according to sex, and there were significant differences in the consumption of sports foods, performance supplements, and the total number of group A supplements according to competition level.

Recent Recovery of the World’s Rarest Primate Is Not Directly Linked to Increasing Habitat Quality

Due to habitat loss and hunting, the Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus), the world’s rarest primate, was reduced to only two social groups and seven known individuals in 1978. Following the establishment of Bawangling National Natural Reserve (BNNR), gibbon forest habitat increased within this landscape from 56 km2 in 1980 to 300 km2, and the species had increased to five groups and 35 individuals by 2021. It is important to assess whether the large increase in habitat area was responsible for gibbon population increase, or whether gibbon recovery was associated with other factors. Here we use a 21-year longitudinal dataset of Hainan gibbon population change and habitat change, combined with vegetation survey plot data for 2021, to establish an accurate distribution baseline for natural tropical broadleaf forest across the BNNR landscape from 400 to 1300 m (the elevational range of gibbons at BNNR) and within the home range for each of the five Hainan gibbon social groups. We then utilized Landsat time-series images and analysis to compute non-linear causal relationships between forest dynamics and gibbon population growth from 2000 to 2021, both across BNNR and within each gibbon group home range. Metrics of forest dynamics include change in total forest area and forest fragmentation, and metrics of gibbon population dynamics include variation in total number of individuals for the entire population and within each social group, and variation in total number of groups. Our results demonstrate that overall gibbon population growth shows a positive relationship with improved habitat quality, with a one-year time lag of population response. However, changes in numbers of individuals within social groups do not show a similar relationship with improving habitat quality, suggesting that increasing forest cover and connectivity within the BNNR landscape are not direct determinants of Hainan gibbon recovery and that other environmental and/or anthropogenic factors are likely to be involved.

A modified ACO with K-Opt for restricted covering salesman problems in different environments

In this study, the ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm is modified with the K-Opt operation to solve the covering salesman problem (CSP) under one restriction in crisp and imprecise (fuzzy, rough) environments. A CSP involves two phases—the division of cities into groups with the selection of the visiting cities and searching of the Hamiltonian circuit through the visiting cities. But, none of the studies in the literature is made following the direct approach. Also, none of the studies in the literature gives attention to reduce the total travel distance of the unvisited cities from the visited city of a group. Moreover, there is no algorithm in the literature which provides the solution of a CSP with the specified coverage range r. Also, none has introduced any algorithm to solve CSPs in imprecise environments. Though algorithms are available to solve the Traveling Salesman Problems in the imprecise environments, the approach cannot deal with the problems involving fuzzy data with nonlinear membership functions or the problems involving rough data where the rough estimation can not be done using Lebesgue measure. The well-established algorithm for any routing problem is the ACO, but not much attention has been paid to solve the CSP using ACOs. To overcome these limitations on the studies of the ACO on the CSPs, here, an algorithm is proposed for the division of groups of the set of cities depending upon the maximum number of cities in a group and the total number of groups. Then, ACO is used to find the shortest/minimum-cost path of the problem by selecting only one visiting the city from each group without violating the restriction of the specified coverage range r of the location of the unvisited cities. K-Opt operation is applied periodically at the end of ACO operation to improve the quality of the best found solution so far by the ACO algorithm and to arrest any premature convergence. For the restricted problems, paths are searched in such a manner that the total distance/travel cost of different unvisited cities of a group from the visited city of the group should not exceed a predefined upper limit. To solve the problem in an imprecise environment, some approach is followed so that the tour is searched without transferring the imprecise optimisation problem into an equivalent crisp optimisation problem. Also, the simulation approaches in fuzzy and rough environments are proposed to deal with the CSPs with any type of estimation of the imprecise data set. Algorithm is tested with the standard benchmark crisp problems available in the literature. To test the algorithm in the imprecise environments, the imprecise instances are derived randomly from the standard crisp instances using a specified rule. Test results imply that the proposed algorithm is efficient enough in solving the CSPs in the crisp as well as in the imprecise environments.

A comparative study on physical vapor deposition - titanium carbide coated novel insert and uncoated carbide insert in CNC turning of EN24 for minimizing surface roughness and maximizing material removal rate

This study compares the performance of the PVD-TiC coated novel insert and the uncoated carbide insert in the CNC turning machine of EN24 for minimizing surface roughness and maximizing material removal rate. Materials And Methods: Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) titanium carbide (TiC) coated insert and Uncoated Carbide tool are used to compare the machining of EN24 steel material. Total number of groups were two, and the total sample size was 54. The sample size was estimated from the clinicalc.com, with a 0.05 percent cutoff and with a G power of 80 percent. Results: The results indicate that depth of cut was the most significant factor while machining which affects the surface roughness. Mean material removal rate for PVD-TiC coated novel insert and uncoated carbide is 0.02401 and 0.02215 respectively. The significance obtained for an independent sample test is 0.045 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Surface roughness was minimized and material removal rate was maximized when it was machined with PVD-TiC coated novel insert tool.

Innovative comparison on performance of PCBN tool and uncoated tool in CNC green turning of LDX2101 duplex stainless steel to minimize surface roughness

The goal of this research is to minimize the surface roughness (SR) by comparing Polycrystalline Cubic Boron Nitride (PCBN) tool and uncoated (cemented carbide) tool during CNC turning of LDX 2101 duplex stainless steel. PCBN inserts were used as the experimental group, whereas uncoated inserts were used as the control group in this research. The selected machining factors were speed of cutting, rate of feed and cut depth. The total number of groups were two and the sample size was 27 samples for each group were used for conducting experiments. The obtained mean SR value for PCBN insert is 3.826559 µm and for uncoated insert is 4.066111 µm. The significant difference between the two inserts is 0.01 (p < 0.05). Within the confines of this research, when LDX2101 duplex stainless steel is machined with PCBN insert it gives lower SR and when the same specimen is machined with uncoated insert it gives higher SR.

Comparative Studies on Colour and COD Removal of Reactive Dyes by a Novel Steel Scrap as a Catalyst with Conventional Fenton Process

Aim: To remove the colour and COD of two reactive dyes namely reactive blue and yellow by Fenton and modified Fenton processes. Materials and Methods: The total number of groups used in this study is two (Control group N = 16 and Experimental group N = 16).The sample size was taken as 16 after being calculated for a pre-test power of 80% with an alpha value of 0.05 in clinical.com. The removal of colour and COD of two reactive dyes by Fenton process and modified fenton process was carried out. Results and Discussion: Colour removal upto 90% and 95% by Fenton and modified Fenton Processes respectively. The best COD removal efficiencies were 65.54 %, and 57.92% in the case of reactive yellow and reactive blue dyes in the Modified Fenton Process respectively. In the modified fenton process steel scrap is replaced instead of FeSO4. Conclusion: Compared to the Fenton process, the modified Fenton process has more percentage of colour and COD removal within the limits of the study.

A metapopulation model of social group dynamics and disease applied to Yellowstone wolves

The population structure of social species has important consequences for both their demography and transmission of their pathogens. We develop a metapopulation model that tracks two key components of a species' social system: average group size and number of groups within a population. While the model is general, we parameterize it to mimic the dynamics of the Yellowstone wolf population and two associated pathogens: sarcoptic mange and canine distemper. In the initial absence of disease, we show that group size is mainly determined by the birth and death rates and the rates at which groups fission to form new groups. The total number of groups is determined by rates of fission and fusion, as well as environmental resources and rates of intergroup aggression. Incorporating pathogens into the models reduces the size of the host population, predominantly by reducing the number of social groups. Average group size responds in more subtle ways: infected groups decrease in size, but uninfected groups may increase when disease reduces the number of groups and thereby reduces intraspecific aggression. Our modeling approach allows for easy calculation of prevalence at multiple scales (within group, across groups, and population level), illustrating that aggregate population-level prevalence can be misleading for group-living species. The model structure is general, can be applied to other social species, and allows for a dynamic assessment of how pathogens can affect social structure and vice versa.

Impact of individualized nutritional counseling on infant and young child feeding practices

BackgroundImproper complementary feeding practices are common in India, thus leading to malnutrition. The objective was to compare complementary feeding practices of mothers with children aged between 6 months and 2 years before and after individualized nutritional counseling. MethodsThis before-and-after interventional study was carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital between June 2018 and August 2018 on 30 mothers attending an immunization clinic. Feeding practices were assessed using interview techniques with the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India Maharashtra checklist for Complementary Food Counseling (Diet Audit), and scoring was carried out. Baseline data included history of inclusion of items from food groups such as cereals; pulses; vitamins A, C, and D; vegetables/fruits; milk/dairy products; non-vegetarian items; and iron-rich foods; and consumption of baby feeds and junk foods. Individualized counseling was given to all study subjects, which lasted for 30–40 min. Models of various food items were shown to mothers. Feeding practices were reassessed after 4 weeks of one-to-one counseling. ResultsFeeding by mothers improved significantly in the form of items from the total number of groups from 4.3 (1.4) to 5.6 (1.3) after nutritional counseling (p: 0.001). Consumption of junk foods decreased significantly from 4.3 (2.8) to 2.6 (1.8; p: 0.001) and baby foods decreased from 0.8 (0.7) to 0.2 (0.4; p: 0.001). ConclusionIndividualized nutritional counseling of mothers can improve complementary feeding practices and ensure food diversification.

P0713DIFFERENTIAL PREDICTION OF DECLINE IN GFR IN PROTEINURIC VS NON-PROTEINURIC DIABETIC PATIENTS

Abstract Background and Aims Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to cause a progressive loss in renal function in at leaset 2 types of clinical presentation: classical diabetic nephropathy with overt proteinuria and non-proteinuric kidney diseases. The mechanisms of the progression should be multifactorial and are considered different at least in some ways in each patient. Now it is important to predict whether each diabetic patient has progressive renal disease or not, hopefully before overt proteinuria appears. Method A hospital-wide study with all the laboratory data for a period of 4 years and 2 months was conducted. A total of 2,804 non-dialysis patients with an age 18 or more in whom the eGFR slope was calculated over 731 days or more with HbA1c measured at least twice were retrieved. Medians were used for each laboratory datum, including dipstick proteinuria and haematuria (both changed to numeric variables, e.g. 1+ into 1.0), blood cell count, serum chemistry, and HbA1c. Medication class counts were defined as a total number of groups (DPP4, SGLT2, SU, .. ) where insulin was classified into 3 groups (rapid, mixed, and basal); the required prescription period was 3 months or more for each class. Statistical analysis was performed with R 3.6.0 on Ubuntu. For prediction, missing values were imputed by an R package {mice}. Results A total of 2,804 patients (M:F = 1375:1429, age 66.9+-13.6 (18--101, median 68) years) were analyzed whose median HbA1c was 6.14+-0.79 (3.6-11.6, median 5.95)%. This population was further divided into a proteinuric group (the median of dipstick proteinuria of 1+ or more, n=296) and a non-proteinuric group (the median of dipstick proteinuria of +- or less, n=2508). In the multivariate analysis, the proteinuric DM patients had the eGFR slope associated with initial eGFR, proteinuria, uric acid, and the number of classes of the anti-diabetic medications; higher uric acid and less number of DM medication were significantly associated with faster decline in eGFR. The non-proteinuric DM patients had eGFR slope associated with age, initial GFR, uric acid, chloride, and haemoglobin, but not with proteinuria; the patients with higher uric acid with lower haemoglobin had significantly faster decline in eGFR (-1.86 vs -1.34, P = 0.013). Prediction of faster eGFR decline was analyzed with machine learning technologies, ie, {ranger} and {randomForest}, where precision was 68.9%/67.9% (proteinuric group, ranger/randomForest) vs 76.8%/75.9% (non-proteinuric group, ranger/randomForest). Conclusion Propensity to lose kidney function is different in each diabetic patient, which should to be ideally predicted in individual basis.

Formation of natural groups of epiphytic bacteria in fruit garden with recommended pesticide loading

Determined the total number of groups of epiphytic microbiota phyloplans of apple and pear in different phenological phases of growth which is in the range of 104—106 (cl/h) kidneys, flowers, leaves; taxonomic and species composition of the epiphytic microbiota. Established the peculiarities of formation of natural groups of epiphytic bacteria in fruit garden with recommended pesticide loading. The effect of difenoconazole and lambda-cyhalothrin pesticides and their mixtures on the epiphytic microbiote of the fruit is analyzed. Epiphytic bacteria are more susceptible to fungicide; the total number of groups of epiphytic microbiota was restored 10 to 20 days after using the pesticide. Epithelium bacteria of apple and pear are resistant to the action of lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide in the recommended standards.

Comparison between inter atrial and trans-septal approach in mitral valve surgery

Background: Two traditional approaches performed in mitral valve surgery, no solid indication for either technique. Our aim of this study is to compare the indications, and the outcome of these two techniques. Methods: In this retrospective study we analysed the data of 148 patients who underwent mitral valve procedure from January 2013 till the end of December 2013 using the medical records. The procedures done either isolated mitral valve surgery (42%) or as a concomitant with other procedures (58%), total number of males were 58 cases (39%), and the average age was 54±8 years. We divided the patients into two groups; group one for those who underwent the procedure using direct left atrial approach by doing incision through the intertribal groove, and group two for those who underwent the procedure through inter atrial septum after opening of the right atrium (trans-septal), total number of group one was 78 (53%), while for group two the number was 70 (47%). Preoperative, intraoperative and post-operative variables were analysed and compared. Results: Total mortality was 6 patients (4%), 4 of the in group one and 2 in group two, bleeding more than 750 ml post operatively was seen in 38 patients (26%), 15 (39%), 23 (61%) in group one and two respectively. Reopening for bleeding performed for 11 cases (7%), 2 of the in group one (18%) and 9 in group two (82%). Postoperative atrial fibrillation and heart block was more in group two. Conclusions: Mitral valve surgery can be done traditionally using two different approaches, no solid indications for either technique. The decision to choose either approach should be taken preoperatively.

Neurosurgical tactile discrimination training with haptic-based virtual reality simulation

Objective:To determine if a computer-based simulation with haptic technology can help surgical trainees improve tactile discrimination using surgical instruments.Material and Methods:Twenty junior medical students participated in the study and were randomized into two groups. Subjects in Group A participated in virtual simulation training using the ImmersiveTouch simulator (ImmersiveTouch, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) that required differentiating the firmness of virtual spheres using tactile and kinesthetic sensation via haptic technology. Subjects in Group B did not undergo any training. With their visual fields obscured, subjects in both groups were then evaluated on their ability to use the suction and bipolar instruments to find six elastothane objects with areas ranging from 1·5 to 3·5 cm2 embedded in a urethane foam brain cavity model while relying on tactile and kinesthetic sensation only.Results:A total of 73·3% of the subjects in Group A (simulation training) were able to find the brain cavity objects in comparison to 53·3% of the subjects in Group B (no training) (P = 0·0183). There was a statistically significant difference in the total number of Group A subjects able to find smaller brain cavity objects (size ≤ 2·5 cm2) compared to that in Group B (72·5 vs 40%, P = 0·0032). On the other hand, no significant difference in the number of subjects able to detect larger objects (size ≧ 3 cm2) was found between Groups A and B (75 vs 80%, P = 0·7747).Conclusion:Virtual computer-based simulators with integrated haptic technology may improve tactile discrimination required for microsurgical technique.

From Planning to Implementation: An Examination of Changes in the Research Design, Sample Size, and Precision of Group Randomized Trials Launched by the Institute of Education Sciences

This article examines changes in the research design, sample size, and precision between the planning phase and implementation phase of group randomized trials (GRTs) funded by the Institute of Education Sciences. Thirty-eight GRTs funded between 2002 and 2006 were examined. Three studies revealed changes in the experimental design. Ten studies showed decreases in the total number of groups randomized, whereas 18 studies showed increases. In five cases, the decreases in the number of groups randomized were large enough to decrease the precision of the study. However, in the majority of the studies, the precision was relatively unchanged from planning phase to implementation phase. The consistency in the precision between the planning phase and implementation phase highlights the importance of planning adequately powered studies.

A meta-analytic investigation of virtuality and information sharing in teams

We uncover new insights on the role of virtuality on team information sharing. A new two-dimensional conceptualization of information sharing ( Mesmer-Magnus & DeChurch, 2009) enabled us to reconcile past inconsistencies in the virtual team literature. Recasting the findings of 94 studies (total number of groups = 5596; total N approximately = 19,702) into this framework reveals three key insights. First, virtuality improves the sharing of unique information, but hinders the openness of information sharing. Second, unique information sharing is more important to the performance of face-to-face teams than is open information sharing, whereas open information sharing is more important to the performance of virtual teams than is unique information sharing. Third, the effects of virtuality on information sharing are more curvilinear than linear – such that low levels of virtuality improve information sharing, but high levels hider it. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Truncated Sequential Procedures

Sequential planning with the restriction that the number of groups is absolutely bounded by some fixed number K is considered. These truncated sequential plans will stop sampling after most K groups of observations are collected. Practically, it reflects the following situation. There are only K days available to complete a certain study (e.g., clinical trials, to get FDA approval or investigate conditions of the field before it is time for farming). Every day, a sample of the desired size is selected. Based on the interim analysis performed, an inference is made or another batch of observations is collected as long as total number of groups does not exceed K. Truncated sequentially planned probability ratio tests (TSPPRTs) on a lattice are considered in detail. Construction and methods of evaluation of TSPPRTs are proposed.

Quorum-based algorithms for group mutual exclusion

We propose a quorum system, which we referred to as the surficial quorum system, for group mutual exclusion. The surficial quorum system is geometrically evident and is easy to construct. It also has a nice structure based on which a truly distributed algorithm for group mutual exclusion can be obtained and processed loads can be minimized. When used with Maekawa's algorithm, the surficial quorum system allows up to /spl radic/2n/m(m-l) processes to access a resource simultaneously, where n is the total number of processes and m is the total number of groups. We also present two modifications of Maekawa's algorithm so that the number of processes that can access a resource at a time is not limited to the structure of the underlying quorum system, but to the number that the problem definition allows.