Small Advantage Research Articles

Asymmetries in the discrimination of motion direction around the visual field.

The discriminability of motion direction is asymmetric, with some motion directions that are better discriminated than others. For example, discrimination of directions near the cardinal axes (upward/downward/leftward/rightward) tends to be better than oblique directions. Here, we tested discriminability for multiple motion directions at multiple polar angle locations. We found three systematic asymmetries. First, we found a large cardinal advantage in a cartesian reference frame - better discriminability for motion near cardinal reference directions than oblique directions. Second, we found a moderate cardinal advantage in a polar reference frame - better discriminability for motion near radial (inward/outward) and tangential (clockwise/counterclockwise) reference directions than other directions. Third, we found a small advantage for discriminating motion near radial compared to tangential reference directions. The three advantages combine in an approximately linear manner, and together predict variation in motion discrimination as a function of both motion direction and location around the visual field. For example, best performance is found for radial motion on the horizontal and vertical meridians, as these directions encompass all three advantages, whereas poorest performance is found for oblique motion stimuli located on the horizontal and vertical meridians, as these directions encompass all three disadvantages. Our results constrain models of motion perception and suggest that reference frames at multiple stages of the visual processing hierarchy limit performance.

Comparison between intra- and postoperative outcomes of the da Vinci SP and da Vinci Xi robotic platforms in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

The new SP robot incorporates a single trocar that houses a flexible camera and three bi-articulated arms, which minimize the number of incisions needed to assess the surgical site, allowing for a less invasive procedure. To compare the postoperative pain scale and outcomes in patients with similar demographic characteristics undergoing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with SP and Xi robots, One-hundred consecutive patients undergoing RARP with the SP robot were matched, using a propensity score (PS), with 100 patients from a cohort of 1757 who were operated on with the da Vinci Xi from June 2019 to January 2021. We described and compared the perioperative pain scores and outcomes of both groups. The SP group had less blood loss (50cc vs. 62.5cc, P < 0.001) and longer operative time (114min. vs. 94min, P < 0.001). The only period we could show a difference in postoperative pain scores was 6h after surgery, with a small advantage for the SP (2 vs. 2.5, P < 0.001). Both groups had satisfactory postoperative continence recovery, 91% vs. 90% for the SP and Xi, respectively. The groups had a mean follow-up of 24.5 and 22months for SP and Xi, respectively. The tumor stage and percentage of positive surgical margins were similar between groups (15% vs. 15%, P = 1). Patients undergoing RARP with the SP had longer operative times with less blood loss than the Xi. However, despite the lower number of abdominal incisions on the SP, the groups had similar intraoperative performance, and we were unable to demonstrate clinically significant differences in postoperative pain scores between the groups 6, 12, and 18h after surgery.

To outsource or not: Bike-share rebalancing strategies under the service quality deviation of a third party

Choosing third-party service providers (3PSPs) to rebalance bikes is an important strategy for bike-sharing companies. However, since a 3PSP is another stakeholder, whether the two parties will cooperate to complete the bike-rebalancing procedure needs further discussion. This study uses evolutionary game theory to study the strategic choices of bike-sharing companies’ rebalancing strategies (i.e., self-operation, joint venture, and outsourcing) and 3PSPs’ cooperation strategies (i.e., cooperation, no cooperation, and cooperation with deviation). Using DIDI Bike data, one of the largest dockless bike-sharing companies in China, to simulate a model and conduct sensitivity analyses, we show that (1) outsourcing and cooperation with deviation are long-term optimal strategies when 3PSPs have a small variable cost advantage and a high penalty and rebalancing effort; (2) not outsourcing (i.e., joint venture or self-cooperation) and not cooperating are long-term optimal strategies when the variable cost advantage, penalty, and the rebalancing effort is small for 3PSPs; and (3) outsourcing and cooperation are long-term optimal strategies when variable cost advantage, penalty, and rebalancing effort is high for 3PSPs. The results show that choosing third parties with a large variable cost advantage would help bike-sharing companies reach a rebalancing level. However, a penalty mechanism may be not effective in deterring 3PSPs from deviations in service quality.

How do numerical and literacy stimulations in mother–child interactions relate to early gender differences in mathematical competencies? Empirical results from the NEPS Newborn Cohort study

While gender differences in mathematical competencies favoring boys are well researched for school and late Kindergarten age, much less is known about their earlier development. Using data from the NEPS Newborn Cohort study, this paper focuses on 4 year-old children and the effects of the numerical and literacy stimulation during mother–child interactions they received at age 2. After controlling for different domain-specific stimulations, structural characteristics of the children’s home learning environment, parental views, important child characteristics, and general educational processes between mother and child, empirical analyses showed small but statistically significant gender differences in mathematical competencies favoring girls. Early domain-specific stimulation in mother–child interactions at age 2 did not offer a good explanation for this math advantage of girls over boys at age 4. Nonetheless, even when 2 year-old girls received numerical stimulation quite similar to that of boys, there was some evidence that girls received a higher input in terms of literacy stimulation, and this is related to the small advantage of girls in mathematical competencies at age 4.

Mapping Fractional Vegetation Coverage across Wetland Classes of Sub-Arctic Peatlands Using Combined Partial Least Squares Regression and Multiple Endmember Spectral Unmixing

Vegetation communities play a key role in governing the atmospheric-terrestrial fluxes of water, carbon, nutrients, and energy. The expanse and heterogeneity of vegetation in sub-arctic peatland systems makes monitoring change at meaningful spatial resolutions and extents challenging. We use a field-collected spectral endmember reference library to unmix hyperspectral imagery and map vegetation coverage at the level of plant functional type (PFT), across three wetland sites in sub-arctic Alaska. This study explores the optimization and parametrization of multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis (MESMA) models to estimate coverage of PFTs across wetland classes. We use partial least squares regression (PLSR) to identify a parsimonious set of critical bands for unmixing and compare the reference and modeled coverage. Unmixing, using a full set of 110-bands and a smaller set of 4-bands, results in maps that effectively discriminate between PFTs, indicating a small investment in fieldwork results in maps mirroring the true ground cover. Both sets of spectral bands differentiate between PFTs, but the 4-band unmixing library results in more accurate predictive mapping with lower computational cost. Reducing the unmixing reference dataset by constraining the PFT endmembers to those identified in the field-site produces only a small advantage for mapping, suggesting extensive fieldwork may not be necessary for MESMA to have a high explanatory value in these remote environments.

Nudging smokers away from lighting up: A meta-analysis of framing effect in current smokers

Should smoking cessation messages be framed in terms of gains or losses? While the risk-framing hypothesis suggests a persuasive advantage for gain-framed messages, empirical evidence so far has been mixed. In defense of the risk-framing hypothesis, researchers have suggested that the diversity of results in this literature stream can be attributed to differences in issue involvement. The present study examined these predictions by employing a meta-analysis (14 studies) comprising of a Correlated and Hierarchical Effects model with Robust Variance Estimation. There was a small persuasive advantage in favour of gain-framed messages (g = 0.104, SE = 0.049), but this contrast was not statistically significant (p = 0.070, CI95 = -0.011, 0.218). This finding is robust to the values of correlation between sampling errors of the effect sizes, influential outliers, and publication bias. Moreover, issue involvement proxied through nicotine dependence did not moderate the relative persuasiveness of gain and loss-framed messages in encouraging smoking cessation. The conclusion remains unchanged regardless of how nicotine dependence is measured and before and after controlling for study and participant characteristics. These results strongly cast doubt on the applicability of the risk-framing hypothesis that continues to guide research and public-health campaigns.

Numerical study of the mixing of micron particles in a vane mixer

As the research and application of micron particles are intensified, higher requirements for continuous flow mixing of multiple micron particles have been put forward. This study is based on rotating blades in the flow field to generate a vortex through which various micron particles are mixed. The particle mixing device designed in this study has a simple structure and small size advantages. The particle mixing model for coupled flow field study is established by using the finite element analysis method to realize the study of multiple micron particle mixing. The effects of blade shape, blade size, blade rotation speed, and inlet particle entry interval on the mixing impact are analyzed in the study. In this study, the factors affecting the particle mixing effect were analyzed by counting the number of outlet particles and plotting the flow lines in the mixing chamber. Optimization of the mixer scheme based on the influencing factors obtained from the study resulted in a high mixing effect of the designed particle mixer, which can provide a significant reference value for the subsequent micron particle mixing scheme design.

Cross-Cultural Sex/Gender Differences in Produced Word Content Before the Age of 3 Years

Does sex/gender matter for language acquisition? Small advantages in vocabulary size for females are well documented. In this study, however, we found that children’s early vocabulary composition was a significantly better predictor of sex/gender than their vocabulary size. We conducted classification analysis on word-production data from children (12–36 months old, n = 39,553) acquiring 26 different languages. Children’s sex/gender was classified at above-chance levels in 22 of 26 languages. Classification accuracy was significantly higher than for models based on vocabulary size and increased as a function of sample size. Boys produced more words for vehicles and outdoor scenes, whereas girls produced more words for clothing and body parts. Classification accuracy also increased as a function of age and peaked at 30 months, reaching accuracy levels observed in studies of adult word use. These differences in vocabulary are indicative of differences in the lifeworld of children and may themselves cause further differences in development.

Life Cycle Assessment of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and NOx Emissions of Power-to-H2-to-Power Technology Integrated with Hydrogen-Fueled Gas Turbine

Hydrogen is expected to play an important role in renewable power storage and the decarbonization of the power sector. In order to clarify the environmental impacts of power regenerated through hydrogen-fueled gas turbines, this work details a life cycle model of the greenhouse gas (GHG) and NOx emissions of the power regenerated by power-to-H2-to-power (PHP) technology integrated with a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT). This work evaluates the influences of several variables on the life cycle of GHG and NOx emissions, including renewable power sources, hydrogen production efficiency, net CCGT efficiency, equivalent operating hours (EOH), and plant scale. The results show that renewable power sources, net CCGT efficiency, and hydrogen production efficiency are the dominant variables, while EOH and plant scale are the minor factors. The results point out the direction for performance improvement in the future. This work also quantifies the life cycle of GHG and NOx emissions of power regenerated under current and future scenarios. For hydro, photovoltaic (PV) and wind power, the life cycle of the GHG emissions of regenerated power varies from 8.8 to 366.1 gCO2e/kWh and that of NOx emissions varies from 0.06 to 2.29 g/kWh. The power regenerated from hydro and wind power always has significant advantages over coal and gas power in terms of GHG and NOx emissions. The power regenerated from PV power has a small advantage over gas power in terms of GHG emissions, but does not have advantages regarding NOx emissions. Preference should be given to storing hydro and wind power, followed by PV power. For biomass power with or without CO2 capture and storage (CCS), the life cycle of the GHG emissions of regenerated power ranges from 555.2 to 653.5 and from −2385.0 to −1814.4, respectively, in gCO2e/kWh; meanwhile, the life cycle of NOx emissions ranges from 1.61 to 4.65 g/kWh, being greater than that of coal and gas power. Biomass power with CCS is the only power resource that can achieve a negative life cycle for GHG emissions. This work reveals that hydrogen-fueled gas turbines are an important, environmentally friendly technology. It also helps in decision making for grid operation and management.

Does uptake of specialty care affect HRQoL development in COPD patients beneficially? A difference-in-difference analysis linking claims and survey data

BackgroundThere is an evidence gap on whether the choice of specialty care beneficially affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study analyzes how newly initiated pulmonologist care affects the generic and disease-specific HRQoL in COPD patients over a period of 1 year.MethodsWe linked claims data with data from two survey waves to investigate the longitudinal effect of specialty care on HRQoL using linear Difference-in-Difference models based on 1:3 propensity score matched data. Generic HRQoL was operationalized by EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale (VAS), and disease-specific HRQoL by COPD assessment test (CAT). Subgroup analyses examined COPD patients with low (GOLD AB) and high (GOLD CD) exacerbation risk.ResultsIn contrast to routine care patients, pulmonologists’ patients (n = 442) experienced no significant deterioration in HRQoL (VAS − 0.0, p = 0.9870; CAT + 0.5, p = 0.0804). Models unveiled a small comparative advantage of specialty care on HRQoL (mean change: CAT − 0.8, VAS + 2.9), which was especially pronounced for GOLD AB (CAT − 0.7; VAS + 3.1).ConclusionThe uptake of pulmonologist care had a statistically significant, but not clinically relevant, beneficial impact on the development of HRQoL by slowing down overall HRQoL deterioration within 1 year. Including specialty care more appropriately in COPD management, especially at lower disease stages (GOLD AB), could thus improve patients’ health outcome.

Longitudinal Trends in 30-Day Mortality Between Multi-Site and Single-Site Surgeons.

Quality leaders are concerned that creation of multi-hospital health systems may lead to surgeons traveling to and from distant hospitals and thus to more fragmented surgical care and worse outcomes for their patients. Despite this concern, little empirical data exist on outcomes of multi-site versus single-site surgeons. Using national Medicare data, we assessed trends in the number of multi-site vs. single-site surgeons from 2011 to 2016. We performed a multivariable regression analysis to compare overall 30-day mortality differences, stratified by system and rural status, and examined trends over time. The number of multi-site surgeons and the percentage of multi-site surgeons per hospital decreased over time (24.2%-19.0%; 44.3%-41.8%). Overall, multi-site surgeons had lower 30-day mortality than single-site surgeons (2.24% vs 2.50%, P < 0.01). When stratified by system status, multi-site surgeons performed better in-system (2.47% vs 2.58%, P < 0.01); by rural status, multi-site surgeons had lower mortality in non-rural hospitals (2.42% vs 2.51%, P < 0.01). The statistically significant but small mortality advantage of multi-site versus single-site surgeons decreased over time, such that by 2016 there was no difference in outcomes between multi-site and single-site surgeons. For the majority of study years, multi-site surgeons had lower 30-day mortality than single-site surgeons, but this trend narrowed until outcomes were equivalent by 2016. Surgeons operating at multiple hospitals can provide surgical care to patients without any evidence of increased mortality.

Dynamics of ammonia volatilization from NBPT-treated urea in tropical acid soils

The urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) reduces NH3 losses from urea (UR) surface-applied to soils, but its efficacy may be lower in acidic soils. The period when urease inhibition occurs efficaciously may change with soil pH. This needs to be clarified in tropical soils which are commonly acidic. This study evaluated the effectiveness of NBPT-treated urea to delay and reduce ammonia volatilization in two soils at three pH levels. Two experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions in soils with different textures (sandy-clay and clay). The treatments consisted of three soil pH levels and two N sources (UR and UR + NBPT), with five replicates. The soil pH values were adjusted and reached values of 4.5, 5.6, and 6.4 in the sandy-clay, and 4.5, 5.4, and 6.1 in the clay soil. Ammonia volatilization was measured using glass chambers (1.5 L). In the sandy-clay soil, NH3 losses were 40-47 % of the UR-N. In the clay soil, losses were 26-32 %. The addition of NBPT to UR reduced the NH3 volatilization by 18-53 %; the inhibitor decreased the N losses under all soil pH conditions but was significantly less efficient in acidic soils (pH 4.5). The lower efficiency of the inhibitor under acidic conditions was more evident in the first few days: 50 % of the total NH3 losses occurred in less than four days in soils with pH 4.5, but in 8-11 days in soils with pH above 5.4. The rapid loss in efficiency in more acidic soils is a drawback. Using NBPT in severely acidic soils showed a relatively small advantage over untreated UR as the inhibitor did not provide extra time for fertilizer incorporation and further reduction of NH3 losses.

The Development of Types and Measurement of Banking Risk: A Literature Review

Banking is one of the vital industries of every country. Healthy banking supports the stability of a country's economy so banking risks are crucial to be analyzed. The purpose of this article is to identify banking risk and its measurement as well as to explore the comparison of theories and empirical studies of risk in large and small banks. This article was compiled using the literature review method from several studies related to bank risk and its measurement published in the period 1997 to 2020. This study shows that banking risk is currently divided into eight types, namely: credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, compliance risk, legal risk, reputation risk, and strategic risk. Several theories developed in the banking sector include the unstable banking hypothesis, the too-big-to-fail hypothesis, the agency cost hypothesis, and the small bank advantage hypothesis.

The effects of mobile-assisted reading on incidental L2 word learning: a processing perspective

Previous reading research on incidental word learning as product and process has largely employed computer- or paper-based delivery methods. The present study uses a novel combination of offline and online measures to examine the effects of mobile media (mobile phone and tablet) compared to traditional media (paper and computer) on incidental L2 word learning from reading at three stages: the acquisition outcome, the acquisition process, and the posttest recall. One hundred fifty-six participants were assigned to one of the four media conditions with their eye movements recorded. We examined the acquisition outcome using form recognition, meaning recognition, and meaning recall posttests. We examined the acquisition process using summed first fixation duration, summed gaze duration, and summed fixation time. We used response time to examine the posttest recall. Our results show that mobile-assisted reading yielded an equivalent performance in word learning accuracy, allocated visual attention, and response time compared with paper-based reading that still presents a small advantage. Lower performance in one dimension of accuracy and two dimensions of attentional allocation suggest less efficiency in word learning from computer-assisted reading. This study presents a new research direction and cognitive evidence of the effectiveness of mobile-assisted language learning in word learning. We critically discuss the limitations of this study and provide suggestions for future research.

Does using a diversity of graph types help your audience remember your data?

Visual memory is typically better when the memorized objects are different in their categories and features, presumably because their representations have less overlap and interference (Konkle et al., 2010). If true, this effect might have implications for improving memory in real world situations, such as trying to remember multiple patterns of data shown across the sequence of a research presentation. We tested whether participant memory was better for data contained across three sets of data visualizations of different types (a bar graph, pie graph, and a bubble graph), as opposed to when they were of the same type (three bar graphs, three pie graphs, or three bubble graphs). Participants (N=48) saw sets of three graphs of different types, and three of the same type. After each triplet they reproduced the four plotted values of each of the three graphs by drawing on a blank 'template' containing each graph's title, axes, and data labels. The reproduction error showed a non-significant trend toward a small memory advantage (10% error became 8% error) for the different set graphs, suggesting that, in this initial study, showing data across different visualization formats results in a tiny memory advantage at best.

Joint physical custody and academic achievement among youth: A population-based study with registry linkage.

Previous research has documented that youth in joint physical custody (JPC) often report fewer mental health problems than peers in other postseparation living arrangements. Whether JPC is associated with functional outcomes such as academic achievement has been less examined, and existing work has relied on self-reported school grades and pertinent controls such as parental education. Using data from the Norwegian population-based youth@hordaland study (n = 7,914), we examined the association between living arrangements and academic achievement among youth (16-19 years) using register-based information on grade point average (GPA; range: 1-6), parental education, and income. We also assessed the influence of family cohesion and coresiding biological and half/stepsiblings in explaining differences between youth in JPC and other living arrangements. Across all regression models, youth in JPC had significantly higher GPA (0.2-0.4 points) than youth living with a single mother or father. Parental education had a strong attenuating effect and reduced the magnitude of the difference with 30%-35% for youth in single-parent families and 55% for youth in stepparent families. In conclusion, we find that youth in JPC have a small but significant academic advantage compared to peers in single-parent families, which is not fully accounted for by objective measures of parental education and income, sibling composition, and family cohesion. Future longitudinal studies are needed to disentangle whether positive outcomes associated with JPC are due to inherent qualities of this living arrangement or better captured by preseparation selection mechanisms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

A Preprocessing Perspective for Quantum Machine Learning Classification Advantage in Finance Using NISQ Algorithms.

Quantum Machine Learning (QML) has not yet demonstrated extensively and clearly its advantages compared to the classical machine learning approach. So far, there are only specific cases where some quantum-inspired techniques have achieved small incremental advantages, and a few experimental cases in hybrid quantum computing are promising, considering a mid-term future (not taking into account the achievements purely associated with optimization using quantum-classical algorithms). The current quantum computers are noisy and have few qubits to test, making it difficult to demonstrate the current and potential quantum advantage of QML methods. This study shows that we can achieve better classical encoding and performance of quantum classifiers by using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) during the data preprocessing step. As a result, the Variational Quantum Algorithm (VQA) shows a gain of performance in balanced accuracy with the LDA technique and outperforms baseline classical classifiers.

The impact of feedback mode on learning gain and self-efficacy: A quasi-experimental study

Initiating effective feedback processes is a major goal in university teaching. However, systematic investigations of structural feedback elements making instructor feedback economic, concise, motivating and beneficial for learning are still scarce. In our study, we compare two feedback modes with respect to learning gains and changes in self-efficacy in a quasi-experimental pre-post design. Participants ( N = 75 first-year students) received either scoresheet or textual instructor feedback on four individual assignments during a seminar. Outcome variables were knowledge gain, change in self-efficacy and changes in metacognitive monitoring. After the semester, we observed substantial knowledge gains for both feedback groups with only small advantages for scoresheet feedback. In contrast, self-efficacy was relatively stable across the semester and was not influenced by feedback mode. Achievement motivation measures normative ability and challenge-mastery goal orientation did not moderate the observed relationships but influenced knowledge gain and change in self-efficacy directly. Changes in metacognitive monitoring did not depend on feedback mode. Taken together, our data suggest that scoresheet and textual feedback conveying identical feedback content have comparable effects on achievement and self-evaluation measures. For university settings, scoresheets can be recommended as parsimonious feedback tools.

Review of antidepressant trials shows small advantage over placebo

The Brown University Psychopharmacology UpdateVolume 33, Issue 12 p. 8-8 Research Roundup Review of antidepressant trials shows small advantage over placebo First published: 03 November 2022 https://doi.org/10.1002/pu.30954Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Volume33, Issue12December 2022Pages 8-8 RelatedInformation

Simulation study comparing analytical methods for single-item longitudinal patient-reported outcomes data

PurposeEfficient analytical methods are necessary to make reproducible inferences on single-item longitudinal ordinal patient-reported outcome (PRO) data. A thorough simulation study was performed to compare the performance of the semiparametric probabilistic index models (PIM) with a longitudinal analysis using parametric cumulative logit mixed models (CLMM).MethodsIn the setting of a control and intervention arm, we compared the power of the PIM and CLMM to detect differences in PRO adverse event (AE) between these groups using several existing and novel summary scores of PROs. For each scenario, PRO data were simulated using copula multinomial models. Comparisons were also exemplified using clinical trial data.ResultsOn average, CLMM provided substantially greater power than the PIM to detect differences in PRO-AEs between the groups when the baseline-adjusted method was used, and a small advantage in power when using the baseline symptom as a covariate.ConclusionAlthough the CLMM showed the best performance among analytical methods, it relies on assumptions difficult to verify and that might not be fulfilled in the real world, therefore our recommendation is the use of PIM models with baseline symptom as a covariate.