Untrained Materials Research Articles

Machine learning informed tetragonal ratio c/a of martensite

Tetragonal ratio (c/a) is a critical structural parameter that heavily decides plenty of performances of tetragonal martensitic materials. Nevertheless, the knowledge about c/a remains limited and there is still no definitive strategy to tailor it. In this work, the machine learning method, combined with high-throughput ab-initio calculation, was introduced as an attempt to investigate c/a. After training, a high-precision random forest model of predicting c/a was established. Combining a five-step descriptor screening and visualization analyses, the most pertinent parameters deciding c/a, i.e., mean melting point (T¯M) and mean volume (V¯) of constituent elements, were identified. Furthermore, a simple relation between c/a and these two parameters, i.e., c/a = mT¯M/V¯ + b where the m and b are constants, was proposed. Surprisingly, this relation exhibits an exceptional generalization performance in a wide range of untrained materials. This work is expected to provide an explicit, efficient and general route to tailor c/a and hence promote the design of advanced martensitic materials.

Spaced Retrieval Effects on Learning Capacity in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Cognitive Impairment

Abstract: Spaced retrieval (SR) improves the learning capacity of patients with memory deficits, while evidence on its long-term and generalization to other untrained measures is quite inconsistent. This systematic review was to analyze evidence on the SR effectiveness on recall performance, follow-up, and generalization measures in patients with cognitive impairment. A systematic search on PUBMED, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubPsych, and ProQuest was performed between November 2020 and January 2021. The benefit effect of SR on direct, generalization, and long-term measures did not significantly differ from other learning techniques and the effect sizes even increased when SR was combined with another method. Effects on generalization depended on the similarity between the trained and untrained material. Existing evidence on SR remains quite scarce, mainly based on studies with moderate methodological quality giving rise to very heterogeneous results. Further investigation is still needed to overcome previous methodological limits and extend evidence to the immediate and long-term effects of the simultaneous application of different learning methods.

Lipreading: A Review of Its Continuing Importance for Speech Recognition With an Acquired Hearing Loss and Possibilities for Effective Training.

The goal of this review article is to reinvigorate interest in lipreading and lipreading training for adults with acquired hearing loss. Most adults benefit from being able to see the talker when speech is degraded; however, the effect size is related to their lipreading ability, which is typically poor in adults who have experienced normal hearing through most of their lives. Lipreading training has been viewed as a possible avenue for rehabilitation of adults with an acquired hearing loss, but most training approaches have not been particularly successful. Here, we describe lipreading and theoretically motivated approaches to its training, as well as examples of successful training paradigms. We discuss some extensions to auditory-only (AO) and audiovisual (AV) speech recognition. Visual speech perception and word recognition are described. Traditional and contemporary views of training and perceptual learning are outlined. We focus on the roles of external and internal feedback and the training task in perceptual learning, and we describe results of lipreading training experiments. Lipreading is commonly characterized as limited to viseme perception. However, evidence demonstrates subvisemic perception of visual phonetic information. Lipreading words also relies on lexical constraints, not unlike auditory spoken word recognition. Lipreading has been shown to be difficult to improve through training, but under specific feedback and task conditions, training can be successful, and learning can generalize to untrained materials, including AV sentence stimuli in noise. The results on lipreading have implications for AO and AV training and for use of acoustically processed speech in face-to-face communication. Given its importance for speech recognition with a hearing loss, we suggest that the research and clinical communities integrate lipreading in their efforts to improve speech recognition in adults with acquired hearing loss.

Tasks, Talkers, and the Perceptual Learning of Time-Compressed Speech

ABSTRACT Many auditory skills (e.g., the recognition of perceptually difficult speech) improve with practice, but only limited transfer of this learning to untrained materials was observed in previous studies. Here, we asked whether the type of practice (semantic or accent judgment) and talker variability (defined as the number of different talkers encountered during practice, two or six), influenced the perceptual learning of time-compressed speech and its transfer to unpracticed materials. Four groups of participants trained on the four task/talker variability combinations, and their pre- and post-training recognition of time-compressed speech was compared to that of a group of untrained participants (n = 14–16 participants/group). Across groups, training led to substantial learning of the trained tokens and to transfer to new talkers producing previously encountered sentences (compared to the untrained control group). However, neither type of training had a significant effect on the recognition of new sentences, even for familiar talkers. Semantic training yielded more learning and better retention of learning over a 2-week interval than accent training. The number of talkers had only marginal effects. These results suggest that learning of time-compressed speech is robust and only partially task-specific, but its transfer to untrained tokens following brief practice is limited. In contrast to other types of speech training, here exposure to a variety of talkers during training did not contribute to the transfer of learning to new materials.

Melodic Intonation Therapy in Chronic Aphasia: Evidence from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) is a language production therapy for severely non-fluent aphasic patients using melodic intoning and rhythm to restore language. Although many studies have reported its beneficial effects on language production, randomized controlled trials (RCT) examining the efficacy of MIT are rare. In an earlier publication, we presented the results of an RCT on MIT in subacute aphasia and found that MIT was effective on trained and untrained items. Further, we observed a clear trend in improved functional language use after MIT: subacute aphasic patients receiving MIT improved considerably on language tasks measuring connected speech and daily life verbal communication. Here, we present the results of a pilot RCT on MIT in chronic aphasia and compare these to the results observed in subacute aphasia. We used a multicenter waiting-list RCT design. Patients with chronic (>1 year) post-stroke aphasia were randomly allocated to the experimental group (6 weeks MIT) or to the control group (6 weeks no intervention followed by 6 weeks MIT). Assessments were done at baseline (T1), after 6 weeks (T2), and 6 weeks later (T3). Efficacy was evaluated at T2 using univariable linear regression analyses. Outcome measures were chosen to examine several levels of therapy success: improvement on trained items, generalization to untrained items, and generalization to verbal communication. Of 17 included patients, 10 were allocated to the experimental condition and 7 to the control condition. MIT significantly improved repetition of trained items (β = 13.32, p = 0.02). This effect did not remain stable at follow-up assessment. In contrast to earlier studies, we found only a limited and temporary effect of MIT, without generalization to untrained material or to functional communication. The results further suggest that the effect of MIT in chronic aphasia is more restricted than its effect in earlier stages post stroke. This is in line with studies showing larger effects of aphasia therapy in earlier compared to later stages post stroke. The study was designed as an RCT, but was underpowered. The results therefore have to be interpreted cautiously and future larger studies are needed.Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NTR 1961.

Can 28-Month-Old Children Learn Spatial Prepositions Robustly from Pictures? Yes, When Narrative Input Is Provided.

The learning of spatial prepositions is assumed to be based on experience in space. In a slow mapping study, we investigated whether 31 German 28-month-old children could robustly learn the German spatial prepositions hinter [behind] and neben [next to] from pictures, and whether a narrative input can compensate for a lack of immediate experience in space. One group of children received pictures with a narrative input as a training to understand spatial prepositions. In two further groups, we controlled (a) for the narrative input by providing unconnected speech during the training and (b) for the learning material by training the children on toys rather than pictures. We assessed children’s understanding of spatial prepositions at three different time points: pretest, immediate test, and delayed posttest. Results showed improved word retention in children from the narrative but not the control group receiving unconnected speech. Neither of the trained groups succeeded in generalization to novel referents. Finally, all groups were instructed to deal with untrained material in the test to investigate the robustness of learning across tasks. None of the groups succeeded in this task transfer.

Consolidation through the looking‐glass: sleep‐dependent proactive interference on visuomotor adaptation in children

Although a beneficial role of post-training sleep for declarative memory has been consistently evidenced in children, as in adults, available data suggest that procedural memory consolidation does not benefit from sleep in children. However, besides the absence of performance gains in children, sleep-dependent plasticity processes involved in procedural memory consolidation might be expressed through differential interference effects on the learning of novel but related procedural material. To test this hypothesis, 32 10-12-year-old children were trained on a motor rotation adaptation task. After either a sleep or a wake period, they were first retested on the same rotation applied at learning, thus assessing offline sleep-dependent changes in performance, then on the opposite (unlearned) rotation to assess sleep-dependent modulations in proactive interference coming from the consolidated visuomotor memory trace. Results show that children gradually improve performance over the learning session, showing effective adaptation to the imposed rotation. In line with previous findings, no sleep-dependent changes in performance were observed for the learned rotation. However, presentation of the opposite, unlearned deviation elicited significantly higher interference effects after post-training sleep than wakefulness in children. Considering that a definite feature of procedural motor memory and skill acquisition is the implementation of highly automatized motor behaviour, thus lacking flexibility, our results suggest a better integration and/or automation or motor adaptation skills after post-training sleep, eventually resulting in higher proactive interference effects on untrained material.

CONSOLIDATION THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS: SLEEP-DEPENDENT PROACTIVE INTERFERENCE ON PROCEDURAL LEARNING IN CHILDREN

Event Abstract Back to Event CONSOLIDATION THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS: SLEEP-DEPENDENT PROACTIVE INTERFERENCE ON PROCEDURAL LEARNING IN CHILDREN Charline Urbain1, 2*, Emeline Houyoux1, Genevieve Albouy3 and Philippe Peigneux1 1 Université Libre de Bruxelles, UR2NF - Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit, Université Libre de Bruxelles , Belgium 2 Université Libre de Bruxelles, LCFC - Laboratoire de Cartographie Fonctionnelle du Cerveau, Hôpital Érasme, Belgium 3 University of Montreal, Centre de recherche, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Canada Although a beneficial role of post-training sleep for declarative memory has been consistently evidenced in children like in adults, available data suggest that procedural memory consolidation does not benefit from sleep in children. We surmised that despite a possible absence of sleep-dependent changes in performance in children, sleep-dependent plasticity processes involved in procedural memory consolidation might be expressed through differential interference effects on the learning of novel but related procedural material. To do so, thirty-two 10-12 years old children were trained to the rotation adaptation task then retested after either a sleep or a wake period on the same rotation applied at learning, thus assessing offline sleep-dependent changes in performance. We then presented at retest the opposite (unlearned) rotation to assess sleep-dependent modulations in proactive interference of the consolidated visuomotor memory trace against learning of the new rotation. Results show that children gradually improve performance over the learning session, showing effective adaptation to the imposed rotation. Notwithstanding, besides a conspicuous absence of sleep-dependent changes in performance for the learned rotations, the presentation of the opposite, unlearned deviation elicited significantly worse performance (i.e. higher interference effects) after post-training sleep than wakefulness in children. Considering that a definite feature of procedural memory and skill acquisition is the implementation of highly automatized motor behaviour, thus lacking flexibility, our results suggest a better integration and/or automation or motor adaptation skills after post-training sleep, eventually resulting in higher proactive interference effects on untrained material. Consequently, our results suggest that sleep contributes in the consolidation of a procedural adaptation memory in children. Acknowledgements CU is supported by a grant of the ULB-ARC project "Pathophysiology of Memory Consolidation Processes“ and the Fondation Vigneron. GA is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) postdoctoral grant. Keywords: Children, visuomotor adaptation, procedural learning, interference, Sleep, memory consolidation Conference: Belgian Brain Council, Liège, Belgium, 27 Oct - 27 Oct, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Other basic/clinical neurosciences topic Citation: Urbain C, Houyoux E, Albouy G and Peigneux P (2012). CONSOLIDATION THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS: SLEEP-DEPENDENT PROACTIVE INTERFERENCE ON PROCEDURAL LEARNING IN CHILDREN. Conference Abstract: Belgian Brain Council. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.210.00019 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 10 Sep 2012; Published Online: 12 Sep 2012. * Correspondence: Dr. Charline Urbain, Université Libre de Bruxelles, UR2NF - Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, 1050, Belgium, curbain@ulb.ac.be Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Charline Urbain Emeline Houyoux Genevieve Albouy Philippe Peigneux Google Charline Urbain Emeline Houyoux Genevieve Albouy Philippe Peigneux Google Scholar Charline Urbain Emeline Houyoux Genevieve Albouy Philippe Peigneux PubMed Charline Urbain Emeline Houyoux Genevieve Albouy Philippe Peigneux Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

A review of the effectiveness of memory interventions in mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is commonly associated with memory impairment. There have been a number of studies attempting to ameliorate this through memory interventions including memory rehabilitation and training. The current paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of such interventions in enhancing learning of specific information, their impact on untrained material, compensation for memory impairment and improving everyday functioning. The literature was systematically searched for studies focusing on interventions targeting memory impairment in MCI using relevant search terms. Studies were screened for inclusion or exclusion using a priori criteria and, once identified, studies were examined for quality using pre-specified criteria. A total of 226 studies were identified in the search, ten of which were included in the final review. Only one study was an RCT of "adequate" methodology. It was tentatively suggested that people with MCI can learn specific information, although there was little evidence to suggest that memory training can generalize. There was some limited evidence of ability to learn to compensate for memory difficulties and contradictory findings regarding improvement in everyday life. The poor methodological quality of the included studies implies that the ability to draw conclusions is limited. MCI is a controversial concept and there is a need for good quality trials examining the efficacy of memory interventions. There are some indications that memory impairment in MCI might best be targeted by interventions developing compensatory strategies and targeting the learning of specific information relevant to the individual.

Optical Sensor and Neural Networks for Real-Time Monitoring and Estimation of Hazardous Gas Release Rate

A real-time monitoring and estimation method is proposed for managing facilities that store hazardous materials. It relies on optical sensor networks and neural networks trained for Gaussian dispersion model for the detection and analysis of hazardous (gas) releases. This method generates estimated values of the release rate, which provide the basis for the corresponding planning and response actions. While previous monitoring methodologies take less accurate assumed values for release rates, resulting in overestimation of hazards, the proposed method provides calculated values that are within acceptable differences from those estimated after intensive, time-consuming trials with commercial software like PHAST or TRACE. The proposed method does the efficient calculation of the extent of damage, in a shorter period of time, because it directly estimates the release rate with the given inputs, while the commercially available software takes a trial-and-error approach because of the absence of information on the leak size, which is difficult to get in real cases of accidents. It also produces relatively accurate estimation results even for releases of untrained materials. The results indicate that the proposed method can improve the accuracy and availability of information that is crucial to the success of emergency information systems.

Use of a Ni60Ti shape memory alloy for active jet engine chevron application: I.Thermomechanical characterization

A shape memory alloy (SMA) with a composition ofNi60Ti40 (wt%) was chosen for the fabrication of active beam elements intended for use ascyclic actuators and incorporated into a morphing aerospace structure. The activestructure is a variable-geometry chevron (VGC) designed to reduce jet engine noisein the take-off flight regime while maintaining efficiency in the cruise regime.This two-part work addresses the training, characterization and derived materialproperties of the new nickel-rich composition, the assessment of the actuationproperties of the active beam actuator and the accurate analysis of the VGC andits subcomponents using a model calibrated from the material characterization.The characterization performed in part I of this work was intended to providequantitative information used to predict the response of SMA beam actuatorsof the same composition and with the same heat treatment history. Materialin the form of plates was received and ASTM standard tensile testing couponswere fabricated and tested. To fully characterize the material response as anactuator, various thermomechanical experiments were performed. Properties suchas actuation strain and transformation temperatures as a function of appliedstress were of primary interest. Results from differential scanning calorimetry,monotonic tensile loading and constant stress thermal loading for the as-received,untrained material are first presented. These show lower transformation temperatures,higher elastic stiffnesses (60–90 GPa) and lower recoverable transformation strains (≈1.5%) when compared to equiatomic NiTi (Nitinol). Stabilization (training) cycles were appliedto the tensile specimens and characterization tests were repeated for the stable (trained)material. The effects of specimen training included the saturation of cyclically generatedirrecoverable plastic strains and a broadening of the thermal transformation hysteresis. Aset of final derived material properties for this stable material is provided. Finally, theactuation response of a structural beam component composed of the same material giventhe same thermomechanical processing conditions was assessed by applying a constantbias load and a variable bias load as thermal actuation cycles were imposed.

An Exploratory Study of Self-Directed Science Concept Learning by Students with Moderate Intellectual Disabilities

This investigation focused on the effects of a treatment package including multiple exemplar training, time delay, and a self-directed learning prompt (KWHL chart) on students' ability to complete an inquiry lesson independently and generalize to untrained materials. Three middle school students with moderate intellectual disabilities learned to self-direct themselves through a 15-step task analysis to complete inquiry lessons in chemistry and physical science. All three students achieved mastery across materials, science concepts, and instructional settings, but unanticipated generalization weakened the demonstration of experimental control. The results provide a potential method for students with moderate intellectual disabilities to learn science concepts.

Gesture as a support for word learning: The case of under

ABSTRACTForty children, aged 1 ; 8-2 ; 0, participated in one of three training conditions meant to enhance their comprehension of the spatial term under: the +Gesture group viewed a symbolic gesture for under during training; those in the +Photo group viewed a still photograph of objects in the under relationship; those in the Model Only group did not receive supplemental symbolic support. Children's knowledge of under was measured before, immediately after, and two to three days after training. A gesture advantage was revealed when the gains exhibited by the groups on untrained materials (but not trained materials) were compared at delayed post-test (but not immediate post-test). Gestured input promoted more robust knowledge of the meaning of under, knowledge that was less tied to contextual familiarity and more prone to consolidation. Gestured input likely reduced cognitive load while emphasizing both the location and the movement relevant to the meaning of under.

Using scripts and script-fading procedures to promote bids for joint attention by young children with autism

A multiple-probe design across participants assessed the efficacy of using audiotaped scripts to promote the joint attention responses of young children with autism. A one-word script (“See”) was presented on button-activated voice recorders; recorders were attached to toys and photographs that were placed in areas of the school not typically used for instructional activities. Children were taught to activate the recorders, point to pictures and toys, orient toward a conversation partner, and say the script. After they reliably made these responses, scripts were removed from the recorders and then recorders were removed. All three children learned to make bids for joint attention and after the scripts were faded, bids for joint attention maintained and generalized to untrained materials and to non-training settings.

LDH isozymes in skeletal muscles of endurance and strength trained athletes.

Muscle biopsy samples were obtained from arm and leg muscles of endurance and strength trained athletes, respectively. Total LDH activity as well as occurrence and activity of LDH isozymes were determined. Comparing the results from the athletes with those from non-trained subjects with corresponding fibre compositions, it was found that the endurance athletes had a lower total LDH activity, a higher relative activity of the most heart-specific isozymes. LDH (1 + 2), and, on electrophoretic separation, a complete absence of LDH (4 + 5) in both arm and leg muscles. As compared to the untrained material the strength trained athletes tended to have a higher total LDH activity, a similar distribution of relative isozyme activities, and, in the leg muscles, a strong electrophoretic band corresponding to LDH 5, the most skeletal muscle specific isozyme.