Initial Advantage Research Articles

Does orthographic processing emerge rapidly after learning a new script?

Orthographic processing is characterized by location-invariant and location-specific processing (Grainger, 2018): (1) strings of letters are more vulnerable to transposition effects than the strings of symbols in same-different tasks (location-invariant processing); and (2) strings of letters, but not strings of symbols, show an initial position advantage in target-in-string identification tasks (location-specific processing). To examine the emergence of these two markers of orthographic processing, we conducted a same-different task and a target-in-string identification task with two unfamiliar scripts (pre-training experiments). Across six training sessions, participants learned to fluently read and write one of these scripts. The post-training experiments were parallel to the pre-training experiments. Results showed that the magnitude of the transposed-letter effect in the same-different task and the serial function in the target-in-string identification tasks were remarkably similar for the trained and untrained scripts. Thus, location-invariant and location-specific processing does not emerge rapidly after learning a new script; instead, they may require thorough experience with specific orthographic structures.

Adults Show Initial Advantages Over Children in Learning Difficult Nonnative Speech Sounds.

Purpose Children and early adolescents seem to have an advantage over adults in acquiring nonnative speech sounds, supported by evidence showing that earlier age of acquisition strongly predicts second language attainment. Although many factors influence children's ultimate success in language learning, it is unknown whether children rely on different, perhaps more efficient learning mechanisms than adults. Method The current study compared children (aged 10-16 years) and adults in their learning of a nonnative Hindi contrast. We tested the hypothesis that younger participants would show superior baseline discriminability or learning of the contrast, better memory for new sounds after a delay, or improved generalization to a new talker's voice. Measures of phonological and auditory skills were collected to determine whether individual variability in these skills predicts nonnative speech sound learning and whether these potential relationships differ between adults and children. Results Adults showed superior pretraining sensitivity to the contrast compared to children, and these pretraining discrimination scores predicted learning and retention. Even though adults seemed to have an initial advantage in learning, children improved after a period of off-line consolidation on the trained identification task and began to catch up to adults after an overnight delay. Additionally, perceptual skills that predicted speech sound learning differed between adults and children, suggesting they rely on different learning mechanisms. Conclusions These findings challenge the view that children are simply better speech sound learners than adults and suggest that their advantages may be due to different learning mechanisms or better retention of nonnative contrasts over the broader language learning trajectory. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12735914.

I haven't a clue! Expectations based on repetitions and hints facilitate perceptual experience of ambiguous images.

In recent years, the role of top-down expectations on perception has been extensively researched within the framework of predictive coding. However, less attention has been given to the different sources of expectations, how they differ, and how they interact. In this article, we examined the effects of informative hints on perceptual experience and how these interact with repetition-based expectations to create a long-lasting effect. Over 7 experiments, we used verbal hints and multiple presentations of ambiguous 2-tone images. We found that vividness ratings increased from 1 presentation to the next, even after the object in the image had been identified. In addition, vividness ratings significantly increased when images were introduced with a hint, and this boost was greater for more detailed hints. However, the initial increase in vividness did not always carry over to the next presentation. When recognition of the image in the presentation was hard because of memory load, inconsistent presentation, or noise level of the image, the initial advantage in vividness was attenuated. This was most apparent when participants were primed with a grayscale version of the 2-tone image. A computational model based on evidence accumulation was able to recover these patterns of perceptual experience, suggesting that the effect of hints is short lived if it cannot be encoded in memory for future presentations. This notion highlights the different contributions of attention, memory, and their interactions on forming expectations for perception. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Using bibliometrics to evaluate translational science training: evidence for early career success of KL2 scholars

Evaluating clinical and translational research (CTR) mentored training programs is challenging because no two programs are alike. Careful selection of appropriate metrics is required to make valid comparisons between individuals and between programs. The KL2 program provides mentored-training for early-stage CTR investigators. Clinical and Translational Awards across the country have unique KL2 programs. The evaluation of KL2 programs has begun to incorporate bibliometrics to measure KL2 scholar and program impact. This study investigated demographic differences in bibliometric performance and post-K award funding of KL2 scholars and compared the bibliometric performance and post-K award federal funding of KL2 scholars and other mentored-K awardees at the same institution. Data for this study included SciVal and iCite bibliometrics and National Institutions of Health RePORTER grant information for mentored-K awardees (K08, K23, and KL2) at Case Western Reserve University between 2005 and 2013. Results showed no demographics differences within the KL2 program scholars. Bibliometric differences between KL2 and other mentored-K awardee indicated an initial KL2 advantage for the number of publications at 5 years' post-matriculation (i.e., the start of the K award). Regression analyses indicated the number of initial publications was a significant predictor of federal grant funding at the same time point. Analysis beyond the 5-year post-matriculation point did not result in a sustained, significant KL2 advantage. Factors that contributed to the grant funding advantage need to be determined. Additionally, differences between translational and clinical bibliometrics must be interpreted with caution, and appropriate metrics for translational science must be established.

Caffeic Acid–coated Nanolayer on Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Potentiates the Host Immune Responses, Angiogenesis, and Odontogenesis

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to investigate whether mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) can be modified with caffeic acid (CA) to form caffeic acid/mineral trioxide aggregate (CAMTA) cement and to evaluate its physicochemical and biological properties as well as its capability in immune suppression and angiogenesis. MethodsMTA was immersed in trishydroxymethyl aminomethane buffer with CA to allow coating onto MTA powders. X-ray diffractometry and tensile stress-strain tests were conducted to assess for physical characteristics of CAMTA and to evaluate for successful modification of MTA. Then, the CAMTA cement was immersed in simulated body fluid to evaluate its hydroxyapatite formation capabilities and Si release profiles. In addition, RAW 264.7 cells and human dental pulp stem cells were used to evaluate CAMTA’s immunosuppressive capabilities and cell responses, respectively. hDPSCs were also used to assess CAMTA’s angiogenic capabilities. ResultsThe X-ray diffractometry results showed that CA can be successfully coated onto MTA without disrupting or losing MTA’s original structural properties, thus allowing us to retain the initial advantages of MTA. CAMTA was shown to have higher mechanical properties compared with MTA and had rougher pitted surfaces, which were hypothesized to lead to enhanced adhesion, proliferation, and secretion of angiogenic- and odontogenic-related proteins. In addition, it was found that CAMTA was able to enhance hydroxyapatite formation and immunosuppressive capabilities compared with MTA. ConclusionsCAMTA cements were found to have improved physicochemical and biological characteristics compared with their counterpart. In addition, CAMTA cements had enhanced odontogenic, angiogenic, and immunosuppressive properties compared with MTA. All of the results of this study proved that CAMTA cements could be a biomaterial for future clinical applications and tissue engineering use.

Bayesian isotonic logistic regression via constrained splines: an application to estimating the serve advantage in professional tennis

In professional tennis, it is often acknowledged that the server has an initial advantage. Indeed, the majority of points are won by the server, making the serve one of the most important elements in this sport. In this paper, we focus on the role of the serve advantage in winning a point as a function of the rally length. We propose a Bayesian isotonic logistic regression model for the probability of winning a point on serve. In particular, we decompose the logit of the probability of winning via a linear combination of B-splines basis functions, with athlete-specific basis function coefficients. Further, we ensure the serve advantage decreases with rally length by imposing constraints on the spline coefficients. We also consider the rally ability of each player, and study how the different types of court may impact on the player’s rally ability. We apply our methodology to a Grand Slam singles matches dataset.

Enhancing managerial equity incentives with moving average payoffs

AbstractPrior research suggests that Asian stock options provide stronger managerial equity incentives than traditional stock options do, holding the cost of the option grant constant. Although this is true on the grant date, it is not over the life of the option grant. Very little of the initial advantage remains after 2 years because Asian stock options have diminishing incentive effects over time. A simple solution is to replace averaging over the option's life with averaging over a moving window. We show that moving average options do not have the diminishing incentive problem and are effective in preventing managerial gaming.

K-PbC: an improved cluster center initialization for categorical data clustering

The performance of a partitional clustering algorithm is influenced by the initial random choice of cluster centers. Different runs of the clustering algorithm on the same data set often yield different results. This paper addresses that challenge by proposing an algorithm named k-PbC, which takes advantage of non-random initialization from the view of pattern mining to improve clustering quality. Specifically, k-PbC first performs a maximal frequent itemset mining approach to find a set of initial clusters. It then uses a kernel-based method to form cluster centers and an information-theoretic based dissimilarity measure to estimate the distance between cluster centers and data objects. An extensive experimental study was performed on various real categorical data sets to draw a comparison between k-PbC and state-of-the-art categorical clustering algorithms in terms of clustering quality. Comparative results have revealed that the proposed initialization method can enhance clustering results and k-PbC outperforms compared algorithms for both internal and external validation metrics.

The Race to the Base

We study multi-district legislative elections between two office-seeking parties when one party has an initial valence advantage that may shift and even reverse during the campaign; and, each party cares not only about winning a majority, but also about its share of seats. When the initial imbalance favoring one party is small, each party targets the median voter. For moderate imbalances, the advantaged party maintains the centre-ground, but the disadvantaged party retreats to target its core supporters; and for large imbalances, the advantaged party advances toward its opponent, raiding its moderate supporters in pursuit of an outsized majority. (JEL D72)

The Effect of Salience on Chinese Pun Comprehension: A Visual World Paradigm Study.

The present study adopted the printed-word visual world paradigm to investigate the salience effect on Chinese pun comprehension. In such an experiment, participants listen to a spoken sentence while looking at a visual display of four printed words (including a semantic competitor, a phonological competitor, and two unrelated distractors). Previous studies based on alphabetic languages have found robust phonological effects (participants fixated more at phonological competitors than distractors during the unfolding of the spoken target words), while controversy remains regarding the existence of a similar semantic effect. A recent Chinese study reported reliable semantic effects in two experiments using this paradigm, suggesting that Chinese participants could actively map the semantic input from the auditory modality with the semantic information retrieved from printed words. In light of their study, we designed an experiment with two conditions: a replication condition to test the validity of using the printed-word world paradigm in Chinese semantic research, and a pun condition to assess the role played by salience during pun comprehension. Indeed, global analyses have revealed robust semantic effects in both experimental conditions, where participants were found more attracted to the semantic competitors than to the distractors with the emergence of target words. More importantly, the local analyses from the pun condition have shown that the participants were more attracted to the semantic competitors related to the salient meaning of the ambiguous word in a pun than to those related to the less salient meanings within 200 ms after target word offset. This finding suggests that the salient meaning of the ambiguous word in a pun is activated and assessed faster than its less salient counterpart. The initial advantage observed in the present study is consistent with the prediction of the graded salience hypothesis rather than the direct access model.

Has Rural-Urban Migration Promoted the Health of Chinese Migrant Workers？.

The relationship between health and migration has always been an important theme in immigration research. This research develops a new approach to test the healthy migrant hypothesis and the salmon bias hypothesis in China by examining an interaction term combining agricultural hukou and migrant status, non-agricultural employment history, and subsequent area of residence. Based on two Chinese micro-databases, CGSS 2015 and Harmonized CHARLS, we conducted an empirical test on the relationship between migration and health. Our empirical evidence suggests that the initial health advantage among Chinese rural migrant workers was largely due to self-selection rather than migration effects. After controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, this advantage disappeared. After their health deteriorated, migrant workers returned to their original location. This could exacerbate the contradiction between the allocation of medical resources and the demand in rural and urban China, further intensifying the already widening health status gap between rural and urban residents.

Competitive dominance of Microcystis aeruginosa against Raphidiopsis raciborskii is strain- and temperature-dependent

Microcystis aeruginosa and Raphidiopsis raciborskii (previously Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii) are both common bloom-forming cyanobacteria which can coexist but alternatively dominate in freshwater ecosystems. To predict their blooming dynamics, we need to understand the potential environmental factors determining their succession. In the present study, we examined the pairwise competition of the three M. aeruginosa strains (FACHB905, 469 and 915) with one R. raciborskii strain (N8) at three temperature levels (16 °C, 24 °C, and 32 °C). We found that the competitive ability of three Microcystis strains were highly variable. M. aeruginosa FACHB905 was the strongest competitor among them which can finally exclude R. raciborskii N8 regardless of initial biovolume ratios and temperature levels. The competitive exclusion of N8 by 915 also was observed at 24 °C, but they coexisted at 16 °C and 32 °C. We observed that M. aeruginosa FACHB469 and R. raciborskii N8 were able to coexist under all the temperature levels, and M. aeruginosa FACHB469 was the weakest competitor among the three M. aeruginosa strains. Rates of competitive exclusion (RCE) showed that temperature affects the competition between three M. aeruginosa strains and R. raciborskii N8. M. aeruginosa strains always grew quickly at 24 °C and significantly enlarged its dominance in the co-culture system, while R. raciborskii N8 was able to maintain its initial advantages at both 16 and 32 °C. The competitive advantage of M. aeruginosa FACHB905 may be explained by allelopathic interactions through its allelochemicals and other secondary metabolites other than microcystin. We concluded that both strain difference and temperature can affect the competition between M. aeruginosa and R. raciborskii. Our results highlighted the complexity of cyanobacterial dynamics in waterbodies where there exist multiple strains.

Strength estimation of silicon nitride ceramics using a round-notched specimen subjected to shearing-tool indentation

his study aims to estimate the shear strength of a ceramics plate using a round-notched specimen subjected to shearing-tool indentation. The proposed shear test of notched specimen had advantage of stable initiation and was applied to compare with two kinds of commercial silicon nitride ceramics experimentally and numerically. To know the failure strength of two kinds of ceramics SNP02 and SNP03 and predict its crack propagation, virtual crack close technique (VCCT) was applied to the crack propagation model. By considering an appropriate resistance of damage model from the pre-cracked bending test, the propagation of the initial surface cracks was numerically detected. Through this discussion, the failure strength of crack occurrence with two kinds of ceramics was revealed.

Free Trade Agreements Between Peru, Colombia, and the United States

AbstractThis article evaluates the process of negotiating and implementing the U.S.‐Peru and U.S.‐Colombia free trade agreements (FTAs) and analyzes the impact of these agreements on foreign direct investment (FDI) and export diversification in Peru and Colombia. The main finding is that institutional elements in each country uniquely impacted the process of negotiation, implementation, and the outcomes of these FTAs. Colombia benefited from the initial advantage of better institutional capacity and negotiating expertise, while Peru benefited from stronger political leadership and commitment to a bilateral trade agreement with the United States. Both Peru and Colombia have benefited from structured consultation mechanisms with the private sector and non‐government agents, continuity in trade policies throughout different political administrations, and strong political commitment to develop the institutional capacity needed to take full advantage of these FTAs. Furthermore, the implementation of these FTAs has coincided with an expansion of non‐traditional exports from Peru and Colombia, and an increase in FDI into sectors other than commodities such as oil, natural gas, and minerals.

Initial Experience and Potential Advantages of AFX2 Bifurcated Endograft System: Comparative Case Series.

PurposeThe AFX2 endograft is a unibody, bifurcated stent graft that can be used to lower complications in certain patients. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed consecutive cases in which the AFX2 system was used to overcome the challenges of narrow distal aorta, as well as to reduce procedure time and contrast medium dose. Furthermore, we compared the results with matched patients treated using the Endurant II endograft system.Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study of nine patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using the AFX2 device between June 2017 and April 2018 at Seoul National University Hospital. The patients had narrow distal aorta (n=3), reversed tapered neck (n=1), iliac artery aneurysm (n=2), chronic kidney disease patients (n=2), and impending rupture (n=1). Seven matched patients were treated using the Endurant II graft.ResultsIn the AFX2 group, the mean procedure time was 87.2 minutes, mean blood loss volume was 157.7 mL, and mean volume of contrast medium used was 48.3 mL. In the Endurant II group, the mean procedure time was 140.0 minutes, mean blood loss volume was 175.0 mL, and mean volume of contrast medium used was 119.3 mL.ConclusionOur preliminary experiences with selected AAA patients treated using the AFX2 endovascular repair system showed good outcomes compared with similar patients treated using the Endurant II system. Therefore, the AFX2 may be a good option to perform EVAR in patients of advanced age who have chronic kidney failure or narrow distal aorta.

Ensemble of extreme learning machines for multivariate calibration of near-infrared spectroscopy.

Inspired by the attractive features of extreme learning machine (ELM), a simple ensemble ELM algorithm, named EELM, is proposed for multivariate calibration of near-infrared spectroscopy. Such an algorithm takes full advantage of random initialization of the weights of the hidden layer in ELM for obtaining the diversity between member models. Also, by combining a large number of member models, the stability of the final prediction can be greatly improved and the ensemble model outperforms its best member model. Compared with partial least-squares (PLS), the superiority of EELM is attributed to its inherent characteristics of high learning speed, simple structure and excellent predictive performance. Three NIR spectral datasets concerning solid samples are used to verify the proposed algorithm in terms of both the accuracy and robustness. The results confirmed the superiority of EELM to classic PLS. Also, even if the experiment is done on NIR datasets, it provides a good reference for other spectral calibration.

Principles of True Industrial Policy

Abstract Industrial policy is tainted with bad reputation among policymakers and academics and is often viewed as the road to perdition for developing economies. Yet the success of the Asian Miracles with industrial policy stands as an uncomfortable story that many ignore or claim it cannot be replicated. We argue that one can learn from these miracles and we suggest that three key principles were behind their success: (i) the support of domestic producers in sophisticated industries, beyond the initial comparative advantage; (ii) export orientation; and (iii) the pursuit of fierce competition with strict accountability.

Las disparidades entre las cargas de dependencia demográficas provinciales. Argentina (1914-2040)

Se parte de la explicación de las tendencias poblacionales caracterizada en la teoría de la transición demográfica que establece un patrón de cambios en natalidad y mortalidad que conlleva inevitablemente en todas las sociedades a una ventana temporal con mínima carga de dependencia demográfica. A partir del análisis de los datos censales a nivel provincial en Argentina durante el periodo 1914-2040, se visibilizan situaciones en las cuales la carga de dependencia demográfica se caracteriza por marcadas divergencias interprovinciales. Existen provincias que inician el periodo bajo estudio con baja carga de dependencia demográfica, y se mantienen en estas posiciones a lo largo del tiempo, mientras que en otras se desvanecen las ventajas relativas iniciales, en cambio las restantes provincias sobrellevan continuamente los efectos de este desequilibrio demográfico. La hipótesis es que la ausencia del componente migratorio es la limitación principal para explicar estas supuestas irregularidades por parte la teoría demográfica. Se presenta la relación entre los valores de la relación de dependencia demográfica provinciales y los flujos migratorios según años censales.
 Palabras claves: carga demográfica; migraciones; estructura de edades; teoría de la transición demográfica.

Optimizing Surveillance and Re-intervention Strategy Following Elective Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysm has an initial survival advantage over OR, but more frequent complications increase costs and long-term aneurysm-related mortality. Randomized controlled trials of EVAR versus OR have shown EVAR is not cost-effective over a patient's lifetime. However, in the EVAR-1 trial, postoperative surveillance may have been sub-optimal, as the importance of sac growth as a predictor of graft failure was overlooked. Real-world data informed a discrete event simulation model of postoperative outcomes following EVAR. Outcomes observed EVAR-1 were compared with those from 5 alternative postoperative surveillance and re-intervention strategies. Key events, quality-adjusted life years and costs were predicted. The impact of using complication and rupture rates from more recent devices, imaging and re-intervention methods was also explored. Compared with observed EVAR-1 outcomes, modeling full adherence to the EVAR-1 scan protocol reduced abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) deaths by 3% and increased elective re-interventions by 44%. European Society re-intervention guidelines provided the most clinically effective strategy, with an 8% reduction in AAA deaths, but a 52% increase in elective re-interventions. The cheapest and most cost-effective strategy used lifetime annual ultrasound in primary care with confirmatory computed tomography if necessary, and reduced AAA-related deaths by 5%. Using contemporary rates for complications and rupture did not alter these conclusions. All alternative strategies improved clinical benefits compared with the EVAR-1 trial. Further work is needed regarding the cost and accuracy of primary care ultrasound, and the potential impact of these strategies in the comparison with OR.

Mechanism of Grain Selection in the Channel of a Crystal Selector to Obtain Single Crystal Castings of Nickel-Base Heat-Resistant Alloys

Using numerical simulation in the CAFE module of the ProCast commercial program, a study was performed of the competitive growth of grains in the seeding unit of the setup to obtain single crystal castings of nickel-base heat-resistant alloy in the process of directional crystallization using the Bridgman method. Using the example of a flat crystal selector, the mechanism of selection of a single grain from several grains with a close axial and arbitrary azimuthal orientation has been considered. It has been found that a significant role in the grain selection is played by the position of the grain in the input section of the crystal selector system. The initial growth advantage comes to those grains that lie in the zone of the crystallization front, from which the way for an unimpeded growth along the crystallization channel is opened. The position of this zone changes as the front moves in the curvilinear channel of the crystal selector. The main tool for selecting a single grain from a variety of closely oriented grains is a change in the position of the zone that is favorable for unimpeded growth. The continuous cyclic change of the zone of favorable growth, which occurs while the grain grows in the helicoid crystal selector, leads to a rapid selection of one grain. In a flat zigzag-shaped crystal selector, the zone of the favorable growth changes only a limited number of times, so this crystal selector is less efficient. The described mechanism of grain selection is applicable in the case of crystal selectors with an angle between the channel axis and the vertical axis Z of no more than 45°, i.e., when the primary axes of dendrites are formed in the crystallographic direction [001].