The relationship between compartment models and their stochastic counterparts:A comparative study with examples of the COVID-19 epidemic modeling

Deterministic compartment models(CMs)and stochastic models,including stochastic CMs and agent-based models,are widely utilized in epidemic modeling.However,the relationship between CMs and their corresponding stochastic models is not well understood.The present study aimed to address this gap by conducting a comparative study using the susceptible,exposed,infectious,and recovered(SEIR)model and its extended CMs from the coronavirus disease 2019 modeling literature.We demonstrated the equivalence of the numerical solution of CMs using the Euler scheme and their stochastic counterparts through theoretical analysis and simulations.Based on this equivalence,we proposed an efficient model calibration method that could replicate the exact solution of CMs in the corresponding stochastic models through parameter adjustment.The advancement in calibration techniques enhanced the accuracy of stochastic modeling in capturing the dynamics of epidemics.However,it should be noted that discrete-time stochastic models cannot perfectly reproduce the exact solution of continuous-time CMs.Additionally,we proposed a new stochastic compartment and agent mixed model as an alternative to agent-based models for large-scale population simulations with a limited number of agents.This model offered a balance between computational efficiency and accuracy.The results of this research contributed to the comparison and unification of deterministic CMs and stochastic models in epidemic modeling.Furthermore,the results had implications for the development of hybrid models that integrated the strengths of both frameworks.Overall,the present study has provided valuable epidemic modeling techniques and their practical applications for understanding and controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

Sex differences in the association between the muscle quality index and the incidence of depression: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Depression presents significant challenges to mental health care.Although phy-sical activity is highly beneficial to mental and physical health,relatively few stu-dies have conducted on the relationship between them.AIM To investigate the association between muscle quality index(MQI)and incidence of depression.METHODS The data used in this cross-sectional study were obtained from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey,which included informa-tion on MQI,depression,and confounding factors.Multivariable logistic regre-ssion models were employed,while taking into account the complex multi-stage sampling design.A restricted cubic spline model was utilized to investigate the non-linear relationship between the MQI and depression.Additionally,subgroup analyses were performed to identify influential factors.RESULTS The prevalence of depression in this population was 8.44%.With the adjusted model,the MQI was associated with depression in females(odds ratio=0.68,95%confidence interval:0.49-0.95)but not in males(odds ratio=1.08,95%confidence interval:0.77-1.52).Restricted cubic spline adjustment of all covariates showed a significant negative non-linear relationship between depression and the MQI in females.The observed trend indicated an 80%decrease in the risk of depression for each unit increase in MQI,until a value of 2.2.Subsequently,when the MQI exceeded 2.2,the prevalence of depression increased by 20%for every unit increase in the MQI.Subgroup analyses further confirmed that the MQI was negatively associated with de-pression.CONCLUSION The MQI was inversely correlated with depression in females but not males,suggesting that females with a higher MQI might decrease the risk of depression.

Comparative Study of the Reliability and Complexity of Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Cryptosystems for the Protection of Academic Data in the Democratic Republic of Congo

In the digital age, the data exchanged within a company is a wealth of knowledge. The survival, growth and influence of a company in the short, medium and long term depend on it. Indeed, it is the lifeblood of any modern company. A companys operational and historical data contains strategic and operational knowledge of ever-increasing added value. The emergence of a new paradigm: big data. Today, the value of the data scattered throughout this mother of knowledge is calculated in billions of dollars, depending on its size, scope and area of intervention. With the rise of computer networks and distributed systems, the threats to these sensitive resources have steadily increased, jeopardizing the existence of the company itself by drying up production and losing the interest of customers and suppliers. These threats range from sabotage to bankruptcy. For several decades now, most companies have been using encryption algorithms to protect and secure their information systems against the threats and dangers posed by the inherent vulnerabilities of their infrastructure and the current economic climate. This vulnerability requires companies to make the right choice of algorithms to implement in their management systems. For this reason, the present work aims to carry out a comparative study of the reliability and effectiveness of symmetrical and asymmetrical cryptosystems, in order to identify one or more suitable for securing academic data in the DRC. The analysis of the robustness of commonly used symmetric and asymmetric cryptosystems will be the subject of simulations in this article.

Quantitative Comparative Study of the Performance of Lossless Compression Methods Based on a Text Data Model

Data compression plays a key role in optimizing the use of memory storage space and also reducing latency in data transmission. In this paper, we are interested in lossless compression techniques because their performance is exploited with lossy compression techniques for images and videos generally using a mixed approach. To achieve our intended objective, which is to study the performance of lossless compression methods, we first carried out a literature review, a summary of which enabled us to select the most relevant, namely the following: arithmetic coding, LZW, Tunstall’s algorithm, RLE, BWT, Huffman coding and Shannon-Fano. Secondly, we designed a purposive text dataset with a repeating pattern in order to test the behavior and effectiveness of the selected compression techniques. Thirdly, we designed the compression algorithms and developed the programs (scripts) in Matlab in order to test their performance. Finally, following the tests conducted on relevant data that we constructed according to a deliberate model, the results show that these methods presented in order of performance are very satisfactory:- LZW- Arithmetic coding- Tunstall algorithm- BWT + RLELikewise, it appears that on the one hand, the performance of certain techniques relative to others is strongly linked to the sequencing and/or recurrence of symbols that make up the message, and on the other hand, to the cumulative time of encoding and decoding.

Exploring Nominalization in English Abstracts of Applied Linguistics Research Articles:A Comparative Study Between Chinese and International Journals

Researchers around the world strive to communicate new knowledge,primarily via publication,with the abstract being crucial in conveying core insights.Previous research has generally analyzed the discourse features of abstracts from a macro perspective and often employed either outdated texts,such as those over a decade old,or papers written by authors with lower English academic writing proficiency as research material.In this study,we analyzed forty abstracts from leading journals in applied linguistics,evenly split between Chinese and international journals.It revealed that the use of nominalization in abstracts by Chinese and international scholars showed similarities due to the universal academic requirement for conciseness.However,due to cultural and educational differences,each group differed in their respective language choices and nominalization usage.By analyzing the application of nominalization in different cultural contexts,the results of our study offered practical suggestions for crafting abstracts that effectively convey information,thereby,contributing to the broader academic community.

A comparative study of the main factors controlling geohazards induced by 10 strong earthquakes in Western China since the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008

Determining the main controlling factors of earthquake-triggered geohazards is a prerequisite for studying earthquake geohazards and post-disaster emergency response.By studying these factors,the geomorphic and geological factors controlling the nature,condition,and distribution of earthquake-induced geohazards can be analyzed.Such insights facilitate earthquake disaster prediction and emergency response planning.The authors combined field investigations and spatial data analysis to examine geohazards induced by seismic events,examining ten earthquakes including the Wenchuan,Yushu,Lushan events,to elucidate the main control factors of seismic geohazard.The authors observed that seismic geohazard occurrence is usually affected by many factors,among which active nature of the seismogenic fault,seismic peak ground acceleration(PGA),topographic slope and geomorphic height differences,and distance from the fault zone and river system are the most important.Compared with strike-slip earthquakes,thrust earthquakes induce more high-altitude and high-speed remote landslides,which can cause great harm.Slopes of 0°–40°are prone to secondary seismic geohazards,which are mainly concentrated 0–6 km from the river system.Secondary geohazards are not only related to seismogenic fault but also influenced by the associated faults in the earthquake area.The maximum seismic PGA and secondary seismic geohazard number are positively correlated,and the horizontal and vertical ground motions play leading and promoting roles in secondary geohazard formation,respectively.Through the research,the spatial distribution of seismic geohazards is predicted,providing a basis for the formulation of emergency response plans following disasters.

A Comparative Study on the Communication of“Friendly Shandong”Official Account on Different Short Video Platforms

Taking“Friendly Shandong”official account as an example,the relevant data of the account on the four platforms of Tiktok,Kwai,Bilibili and Little Red Book were comparatively analyzed to study the influence of short video on the communication of Shandong tourism image.The research mainly included two aspects:fan persona features and interactive effects.Through comparative study,it will provide a reference for the operation team of“Friendly Shandong”official account to spread the tourism image of Shandong with different platforms.

The Comparative Study of Chuangtse’s English Translations Under the Theory of Spirit Transmission and Meaning Conveyance

Cultural-loaded word is one of the most popular topics in translation studies.The theory of spirit transmission and meaning conveyance provides a new way for the translation of cultural-loaded word.Based on the A Happy Excursion,this paper makes a comparative analysis of the translation strategies of seven English versions.This study will reveal the similarities and differences between Chinese and foreign translators’translation strategies.

Comparative Study of the Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality of Water from Wells, Boreholes and Springs Consumed in the Massissia District in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo

The Republic of Congo in the course of the last two decades has been marked by a strong demographic explosion. The increase of its population has been accompanied by a significant demand for drinking water. The Congolese populations in order to meet their water needs, have recourse to rainwater, surface water and groundwater, because it is easy to access. The city of Brazzaville, political capital of the Republic of Congo, is also affected by this problem. The study carried out here aimed to assess the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of groundwater (wells, boreholes and springs) consumed by the populations of the Massissia district. In this work the physicochemical parameters below were evaluated: the pH, the conductivity, the hardness, the major ions, the undesirable substances as well as some toxic elements (Lead, Cadmium, Iron and Zinc) thanks to techniques of colorimetry, potentiometry and spectrophotometry. The main microbiological parameters determined are E. Coli, Staphylococcus, Total Germs, Total Coliforms, Yeasts and Molds. The physicochemical analyzes revealed that these waters are acidic with pH values between 5 and 6.5, the nitrate concentration evaluated between 50 mg/L and 60 mg/L, and a presence of the element Cadmium at values variants between 0.01 and 0.5 mg/L, values greater than the standard required by the WHO. Microbiological analyzes revealed bacteriological contamination by presence of E. coli in wells and boreholes whose origin is faecal contamination, the presence of yeasts and molds, staphylococcus, Total germs and Total coliforms and Ps Aeuginosis in all water points, making these waters a real danger for consumers.

A Comparative Study of YīJiàn Xiǎo Shìand A Small Incident Rendered by the Yangs

Lu Xun’s short stories play a prominent role in the history of modern Chinese literature,and a number of Sinologists have studied them and published their English translations.This paper selects“YīJiàn Xiǎo Shì”in Lu Xun’s collection“Call to Arms”as the object of study,taking hypotaxis and parataxis as the starting point,and compares the translation of Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang with the original version,studying the differences between the them in the process of C-E translation.It is hoped that some flexible conversion strategies in English-Chinese translation can be learned from the translation research.

Vocational Education from a Cross-national Perspective:Comparative Analysis of China,Germany,and the United States,with a Case Study of Zhaixing

This study delves into the current state and challenges of vocational education through a comparative study of cross-national vocational education and an analysis of the Zhaixing Academy case.The research reveals that vocational education reform can draw on the experiences of the German dual system,American community colleges,and Chinese vocational education reforms,with a focus on informal education pathways,practice-oriented teaching,and flexible training methods.The Zhaixing Academy case demonstrates the application of practice-oriented teaching approaches in the field of vocational education,emphasizing individual student development needs and the advantages of education outside formal institutions,offering new insights and references for the current Chinese education system.The study proposes that governments and education departments should increase investment in vocational education,encourage collaboration between enterprises and vocational education institutions,and support innovative practice-oriented education.In the future,Zhaixing Academy can continue to focus on education reform,expand the realm of practice-oriented education,promote its educational philosophy and methods,and contribute to the diversification and sustainable development of education.

Comparative efficacy of proximal femoral nail vs dynamic condylar screw in treating unstable intertrochanteric fractures

BACKGROUND Among the most frequent hip fractures are trochanteric fractures,which usually occur from low-energy trauma like minor falls,especially in older people with osteoporotic bones.AIM To evaluate the treatment efficacy of dynamic condylar screws(DCS)and proximal femoral nails(PFN)for unstable intertrochanteric fractures.METHODS To find pertinent randomized controlled trials and retrospective observational studies comparing PFN with DCS for the management of unstable femoral intertrochanteric fractures,a thorough search was carried out.For research studies published between January 1996 and April 2024,PubMed,EMBASE,Scopus,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,and Google Scholar were all searched.The complete texts of the papers were retrieved,vetted,and independently examined by two investigators.Disputes were settled by consensus,and any disagreements that persisted were arbitrated by a third author.RESULTS This study included six articles,comprising a total of 173 patients.Compared to the DCS,the PFN had a shorter operation time[mean difference(MD):-41.7 min,95%confidence interval(95%CI):-63.04 to-20.35,P=0.0001],higher success rates with closed reduction techniques[risk ratio(RR):34.05,95%CI:11.12-104.31,P<0.00001],and required less intraoperative blood transfusion(MD:-1.4 units,95%CI:-1.80 to-1.00,P<0.00001).Additionally,the PFN showed shorter fracture union time(MD:-6.92 wk,95%CI:-10.27 to-3.57,P<0.0001)and a lower incidence of reoperation(RR:0.37,95%CI:0.17-0.82,P=0.01).However,there was no discernible variation regarding hospital stay,implant-related complications,and infections.CONCLUSION Compared to DCS,PFN offers shorter operative times,reduces the blood transfusions requirements,achieves higher closed reduction success,enables faster fracture healing,and lowers reoperation incidence.

A Comparative Study on Factors Influencing Food Security in China and India

This paper analyzes and compares the key factors influencing food security in two populous countries(China and India),and cate-gorizes them into three types:agricultural production,economic development and income level,and income distribution.Using the prevalence of undernourishment as an indicator of food security,the paper empirically tests the degree of impact of various factors on food security in both countries using Tobit regression and Newey regression methods.The study finds that improving the level of economic development can significantly enhance food security in both countriesꎻreducing the Gini coefficient has a significant impact on India,but not on Chinaꎻincreasing the agricultural production per capita has a much greater effect on China than on India.Therefore,both countries should take measures that are both similar and different according to their national conditions to improve their food security level.

Improving the Selection Model of Essential Medicines in China by Evidence-based Thinking

Objective To sort out the problems in the selection model of essential medicines in China,and to put forward some suggestions to optimize the selection model to ensure the rationality of the medicines in the essential medicines list.Methods The domestic and foreign literature on the selection of essential medicines was reviewed.Then,the opinions on the selection methods and results of essential medicines from foreign literature were investigated to make a comparison with the selection of essential medicines in China.Finally,the general and special laws of the selection process of the essential medicines were explored.Results and Conclusion It is recommended that the selection model of essential medicines in China should be further optimized,and the evidence-based thinking and methods should be utilized to enhance the scientific nature of the selection process.

Comparative Study on the Development Levels of Cold Chain Logistics for Agricultural Products between China and Developed Countries Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process

By introducing the analytic hierarchy process （AHP）, a model is constructed to compare the logistics development level of cold chain for agricultural products between China and other developed countries such as United States, Japan and Euro- pean. The paper makes a comparative study on the development levels of agricultural cold chain logistics in China and developed countries from the aspects of the level of cold chain logistics facilities and equipments, the degree of cold chain logistics market-oriented and the capacity of cold chain logistics, then determines the problems of cold chain logistics in China. With the experiences learning from developed countries, some countermeasures are proposed to resolve those problems of cold chain logistics for agricultural products development combining with the national conditions in China.

The Comparative Study of the Structure of the Chinese and English Simile

Simile, as a kind of commonly used rhetoric, plays a vital role in people＇s daily life. The appropriate using of simile can make language much more refine, veracious, and lifelike, can vividly present the person, the thing, the scene and so on to achieve better effects. Simile makes the finishing point in Chinese and English. However, because of the differences on culture, history, geography, customs, expressing ways and so on, there are some structural differences between Chinese and English simile. This paper will carry out the comparative study on the structure of Chinese and English simile.

A Comparative Study on Verb-Noun Collocation Errors of Chinese EFL Learners with Different Language Proficiency

This study presents a comparative analysis of verb-noun collocation errors made by Chinese EFL learners with different language proficiency.Linguistic data from two sub-corpora of CLEC(Chinese Learner English Corpus,Gui&Yang,1999)consist of the compositions written freely by Chinese senior high school students(ST2)and the 3rd-and 4th-year English majors of Chinese universities(ST6).The study results show that four types of verb-noun collocation errors are frequently made due to incorrect L1 translation,misuse of relative synonyms,misuse of delexical verbs,and misuse of part of speech;the number of errors decreases with the development of language proficiency,especially errors by incorrect L1 translation and relative synonyms.And for both ST2 and ST6 EFL learners,errors resulted from incorrect L1 translation account for nearly a half with the same high-frequency words.It is also found that ST6 learners’competence in collocation and synonym identification doesn’t grow with the increase of their vocabulary,as is shown in the case of overusing delexical verbs in collocation,the same error made by ST2 learners,who have a significantly weaker command of delexical verbs.Implications of the findings are also discussed with the purpose of raising the awareness of collocation pedagogy and enhancing EFL learners’collocation competence.

A Comparative Study of British Gentleman Culture and American Cowboy Culture

This paper makes a comparative analysis by selecting British gentleman culture and American cowboy culture,the two distinctive cultures,to trace their roots,explore their connotations,and search for their similarities and differences,so as to better understand the respective characteristics of British and American cultures.The result shows that although the two cultures have different styles,which can interpret two different ethnic cultures,they are related by blood and have certain commonalities.

Comparative Study of Available Solar Potential for Six Stations of Sahel

Sahel is an African area with high solar potential. However, this potential is not uniform across the region. This paper examines the spatial distribution of the available solar potential by using six stations across the Sahel area. This comparative study was based on the analysis of in situ measurements in Dakar in Senegal, Niamey in Niger, Ouagadougou, Gaoua, Dori in Burkina Faso and N’Djamena in Chad. The results showed the presence of a good global solar potential with an average value of about 5.43 kWh/m2/day. The maxima of global potential are noted in the northern part in Niamey with a value of 6.24 kWh/m2/day while the minima are recorded in the south-eastern part in N’Djamena with an irradiation close to 4.71 kWh/m2/day. Then, the monthly evolution of this potential shows similar trends for all stations. Indeed, two maximums are observed during the year in Spring (March) and Autumn (October). However, for most of these stations, the minima of global potential are recorded in Winter (November, February) and during the rainy season (July, October). Moreover, the direct normal potential also shows seasonal trends for the two stations (Dakar, Niamey) where it was measured. The maxima of direct normal irradiation (DNI) are observed between February and May with a value of 5.5 kWh/m2/day in Dakar and in Niamey with a value around 5.32 kWh/m2/day between February and November.

A Comparative Study on the Tense-Aspect of Auxiliary in English and Chinese

The aim of the paper is to give a general comparison about the structural composition of the AUX in English and Chinese mainly from the perspective of tense-aspect.Based on the basic construction of English AUX system,which includes such elements as Tense,Modal,Perfect aspect,Progressive aspect and Passive,the paper focuses on comparing the syntactic characteristics of tense element in the two languages.The final part of the paper briefly summarized predicted learning problems that Chinese learners of English as well as English learners of Chinese would have in learning English and Chinese respectively.