Abstract
Taxon sampling is a central aspect of phylogenetic study design, but it has received limited attention in the context of total-evidence dating, a widely used dating approach that directly ...integrates molecular and morphological information from extant and fossil taxa. We here assess the impact of commonly employed outgroup sampling schemes and missing morphological data in extant taxa on age estimates in a total-evidence dating analysis under the uniform tree prior. Our study group is Pimpliformes, a highly diverse, rapidly radiating group of parasitoid wasps of the family Ichneumonidae. We analyze a data set comprising 201 extant and 79 fossil taxa, including the oldest fossils of the family from the Early Cretaceous and the first unequivocal representatives of extant subfamilies from the mid-Paleogene. Based on newly compiled molecular data from ten nuclear genes and a morphological matrix that includes 222 characters, we show that age estimates become both older and less precise with the inclusion of more distant and more poorly sampled outgroups. These outgroups not only lack morphological and temporal information but also sit on long terminal branches and considerably increase the evolutionary rate heterogeneity. In addition, we discover an artifact that might be detrimental for total-evidence dating: “bare-branch attraction,” namely high attachment probabilities of certain fossils to terminal branches for which morphological data are missing. Using computer simulations, we confirm the generality of this phenomenon and show that a large phylogenetic distance to any of the extant taxa, rather than just older age, increases the risk of a fossil being misplaced due to bare-branch attraction. After restricting outgroup sampling and adding morphological data for the previously attracting, bare branches, we recover a Jurassic origin for Pimpliformes and Ichneumonidae. This first age estimate for the group not only suggests an older origin than previously thought but also that diversification of the crown group happened well before the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. Our case study demonstrates that in order to obtain robust age estimates, total-evidence dating studies need to be based on a thorough and balanced sampling of both extant and fossil taxa, with the aim of minimizing evolutionary rate heterogeneity and missing morphological information. Bare-branch attraction; ichneumonids; fossils; morphological matrix; phylogeny; RoguePlots.
Achieving sustainability in product life cycle involves the complex decision making process such as the selection of conceptual schemes and manufacturing processes, and disposing method of ...end-of-life. Morphological matrix is simple and useful tool for mapping design requirements in conceptual design for new product design and redesign of out-of-date product. Although conceptual design using morphological matrix as an important step in the product development could achieve sustainability requirements through accurate choice, quantitative decision making method is seldom considered in selection of function solution principle for sustainability. Meanwhile, uncertainties of sustainability attributes in conceptual stage generally are not also considered in these morphological matrix. To solve these problems, this paper put forward an approach based on morphological matrix to satisfy sustainability requirements in product conceptual stage considering vagueness and uncertainty through intuitionistic fuzzy number. The aim of this paper is to quantify conceptual schemes considering sustainability attributes using group decision making and intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations. The decision makers’ weights are calculated based on theirs experiences and knowledge on the function, manufacturing, economic, environment, recycle and social properties of product. The morphological matrix is used to establish the relationship between function and solution principles based on sustainability information, then the preference degree are obtained from multiple experts employing intuitionistic fuzzy judgment matrix. The preference degree for each solution principle is quantified by intuitionistic fuzzy numbers through membership, non-membership and hesitancy degree to express the linguistic terminology. To ensure the consistency and consensus issues of preference relations, an additive consistency method is employed, and correction factor is used for achieving modification automatically of judgment matrix when the consistency requirement is not met. Finally, the integrated multi-criteria decision model for function solution principle is established to carry out the final sustainability decision problem in early design stage. The feasibility and validity of proposed method is proved through a practical example for spindle system design of CNC.
•Conducting a review of the work on data analytics in TF.•Developing a process-focused morphological matrix that consists of four dimensions and 12 factors.•Providing a thorough presentation of the ...literature along with each factor of the matrix.•Providing the research landscape related to data analytics in TF.•Serving as a reference model for designing and developing data analytics in TF.
Technological forecasting (TF) has significantly benefited from data analytics over the past decades. However, little effort has been made to present an overview of data analytics in TF and discuss its key features and contributions. Consequently, there exist duplication of efforts, inconsistency in applications and a lack of understanding of the current state-of-the-art and common methodology frameworks. This study attempts to fill this research gap by conducting a review of the work on data analytics in TF published in leading journals in the field of technology and innovation management. We first develop a process-focused morphological matrix that provides a simple yet comprehensive view and enables the full spectrum of data analytics in TF to be examined. Specifically, the matrix consists of four dimensions and 12 factors: (1) awareness of TF contexts (objective, time horizon, field and level of analysis); (2) data collection and pre-processing (data source, data item and measure); (3) data analysis and validation (approach, methodology and performance evaluation); and (4) value creation (outcome and implication). A thorough presentation of the literature is then provided after the configurations of each article are identified. Accordingly, we also examine the practical implications of the process-focused morphological matrix and suggest future research directions in the field.
Morphological matrix-based conceptual design has been proven to enable the generation of high-quantity, variety, and novelty concepts. Indeed, many studies have proposed methods for enhancing it. ...However, logical relations for determining the compatibility of solution principles (SPs) in combinatorial solution chain is yet to be established in the literature. This study attempts to develop a logical relation for determining the compatibility of SPs in solution variants chain. The features of the interaction boundary of each solution principle were characterised and vectorially numerated for onward matching of adjacent SPs in a combinatorial solution chain to determine compatibility. The consistency of the compatibility determinant (CD) was tested on engineering designer students. It was found that the students could determine the CD with excellent consistency. Besides, the applicability of logical relation for determining the feasibility of solution variants was tested and found applicable in many trials. Despite the limitation of the study, the results indicate that the logical compatibility determinant is consistent and applicable for the complete exploration of the morphological matrix design space. Therefore, this study provides a foundation for the development of a reliable CAD system for conceptual design.
Conceptual design plays an important role in development of new products and redesign of existing products. Morphological matrix is a popular tool for conceptual design. Although the ...morphological-matrix based conceptual design approaches are effective for generation of conceptual schemes, quantitative evaluation to each of the function solution principle is seldom considered, thus leading to the difficulty to identify the optimal conceptual design by combining these function solution principles. In addition, the uncertainties due to the subjective evaluations from engineers and customers in early design stage are not considered in these morphological-matrix based conceptual design approaches. To solve these problems, a systematic decision making approach is developed in this research for product conceptual design based on fuzzy morphological matrix to quantitatively evaluate function solution principles using knowledge and preferences of engineers and customers with subjective uncertainties. In this research, the morphological matrix is quantified by associating the properties of function solution principles with the information of customer preferences and product failures. Customer preferences for different function solution principles are obtained from multiple customers using fuzzy pairwise comparison (FPC). The fuzzy customer preference degree of each solution principle is then calculated by fuzzy logarithmic least square method (FLLSM). In addition, the product failure data are used to improve product reliability through fuzzy failure mode effects analysis (FMEA). Unlike the traditional FMEA, the causality relationships among failure modes of solution principles are analyzed to use failure information more effectively through constructing a directed failure causality relationship diagram (DFCRD). A fuzzy multi-objective optimization model is also developed to solve the conceptual design problem. The effectiveness of this new approach is demonstrated using a real-world application for conceptual design of a horizontal directional drilling machine (HDDM).
The Cambrian fossil Amiskwia sagittiformis has puzzled palaeontologists for more than a century, but recent re-investigation of its morphology suggested a close relationship with the bilaterian clade ...Gnathifera, comprising Rotifera, Gnathostomulida and Micrognathozoa. Since Amiskwia has already been considered closely related to Chaetognatha, this new interpretation of its morphology supports recent molecular and developmental studies finding a close phylogenetic relationship between Chaetognatha and Gnathifera. The recent re-description of the jaw apparatus of Amiskwia with the first phylogenetic analysis by Vinther & Parry (
2019
) found a rather surprising topology with Amiskwia and Chaetognatha being sister groups and nested inside Gnathifera. Furthermore, a subsequent paper from Caron & Cheung (
2019
) re-described the jaws of Amiskwia as very similar to the configuration found in Gnathostomulida, but did not include any phylogenetic analysis. Here we test the topology of Vinther & Parry with various parsimony and Bayesian analyses, taking into account the new description of Caron & Cheung with careful re-amendment of the matrix of Vinther & Parry. According to our results and the recent findings on the molecular phylogeny of their extant members, we suggest a new systematization of these taxa. We recovered Amiskwia as a stem-group chaetognath within a clade Cucullophora nov., rejecting the Caron & Cheung hypothesis of its close affinity to Gnathostomulida, and found a more consensual topology with monophyletic Gnathifera sister group to Cucullophora, all together forming the clade Chaetognathifera. Furthermore, Rotifera + Micrognathozoa form a clade named Gynognathifera nov. We discuss the characters supporting each clade and the reasons that account for the topology found by Vinther & Parry. Finally, we hope that this carefully amended matrix focused on Gnathifera, Amiskwia and Chaetognatha, together with a formal classification and robust phylogeny, will be of use for future studies on the palaeontology and morphology of these clades.
This work solves the task of developing a fuzzy logic model for evaluating the energy efficiency of vehicles as part of the control unit of an intelligent transport system. Within the scope of this ...study, the previously obtained morphological model of the transport system was modified. A mathematical dependence is proposed to determine the vehicle energy efficiency indicator. This dependence characterizes the energy consumption of the vehicle in relation to the energy consumption of the vehicle under the reference operating conditions. Synthesis of system configurations was performed, and procedures were used to transform the morphological formulas of the received configurations into a base of logical derivation rules. Parameters of the membership functions of system parameters to fuzzy terms of the area of their definition are defined. Based on the results of the morphological analysis, two fuzzy derivation models were developed: the Mamdani type and the Sugeno type. The accuracy of the modeling was evaluated using different defuzzification algorithms in the control sample. The most accurate model is the fuzzy Mamdani model, with an accuracy value of 98.8%. Using the developed model, the nature of the mutual influence of the transport system parameters on the level of vehicle efficiency was assessed. The results of the study can be used to justify the choice of the vehicle under the specified operating conditions and in the settlement design of the road infrastructure.
Morphological matrix are considered one of the most powerful, advanced, resources, tools, methods of structuring, classification, combination, evaluation and selection of information used in science ...and technology, with application in the development of new products. In this paper a particularisation of this method is presented for the development of technical solution for hydraulic pump unit used in oil extraction. The proposed methodology uses three stages: 1. listing and codification of elements forming assemblies, 2. listing of morphological matrix; 3. application of a decision method and determining the optimal solution. Particularly important is the analysis of the current state of knowledge in the field, where in the case approached, patent databases were used extensively. By morphological matrix approach is desired to discover new products, superior technical and economic characteristics.
Food packaging industry requires machines able to perform different tasks and carry out several functions. Machine modularization allows to feed customer’s needs creating a set of equipment with ...different features and technology. Module derivation is particularly important at the conceptual phase where main decisions are taken and where the degree of freedom are higher, avoiding subsequent costly modification. This study aims at investigating the adoption of engineering design process for the development of a tuna canning machine, deriving main modules for a definition of a product platform. The possibility to have a modular framework in this type of products allows to satisfy constraints coming from different markets and applications (i.e., product quality, adaptability, upgradability, assemblability, compliance with standards where the machine is installed, etc.). Modules were derived based on state-of-art approaches used for product development (i.e., functional analysis, module derivation and morphological matrix) and two examples (i.e., Cutter and Compactor & Shaper modules) were detailed to explain the developed design solutions. Results highlight how different design options can be adopted to overcome several issues (i.e., assemblability, upgradability) and fulfill requirements of different markets (i.e., product quality and aesthetic).
Plain and simple, a corrugated cardboard material provides the right level of protection for goods in transit, which helps keep shipping costs down. As made mostly from wood material, a fairly ...renewable resource, corrugated cardboards are easily processed and also recycled into paper products and even new boxes. Moreover, thanks to the material’s durability, many corrugated packages can be reused multiple times before hitting the recycle bin, which promotes eco-friendly corrugated packaging needs for the environment with no glues or extra binding chemical included inside the packaging at all. The research in this paper proposes a tentative design testbed for a product model of setter tray, wholly made in corrugated paperboard and seated inside packaging with no additional filling material, which, after all, aids realization of a totally eco-friendly corrugated packaging design. A methodical approach, a systematic functional design framework with design thinking methodologies such as function decomposition (FD), quality function deployment (QFD), and morphological matrix, has been introduced to generate a promising concept continuously refined onto a product model. The validation of mechanical properties of the designed product for its functions as desired has been conducted by using not only a computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis of the computer-aided design (CAD) model, but also an engineering experiment of the product prototypes made of corrugated paperboard, followed by an in-depth discussion on design contributions and future works as well.
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