bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pan-cancer analysis on the role of PIK3R1 and PIK3R2 in human tumors
Authors: Liu Yane , Wang Duo , Li Zhijun , Li Xinwei , Jin Mengdi , Jia Ningning , Cui Xingyao , Hu Guoyan , Tang Tongyu , Yu Qiong
Published: April 2022

Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase Regulatory Subunit 1 (PIK3R1) is believed to function as a tumor suppressor, while Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase Regulatory Subunit 2 (PIK3R2) as a tumor driver. However, there is no systematic pan-cancer analysis of them. The pan-cancer study comprehensively investigated the gene expression, genetic alteration, DNA methylation, and prognostic significance of PIK3R1 and PIK3R2 in 33 different tumors based on the TIMER, GEPIA, UALCAN, HPA, cBioPortal, and Kaplan–Meier Plotter database. The results indicated that PIK3R1 is lowly expressed in most tumors while PIK3R2 is highly expressed in most tumors, and abnormal gene expression may be related to promoter methylation. Moreover, not only mutations, downregulation of PIK3R1 and upregulation of PIK3R2 were found to be detrimental to the survival of most cancer patients as well. Furthermore, the expression of both PIK3R1 and PIK3R2 was associated with the level of immune infiltration in multiple tumors, such as breast invasive carcinoma. Our study conducted a comparatively comprehensive analysis of the role of PIK3R1 and PIK3R2 in a variety of cancers, contributing to further study of their potential mechanisms in cancer occurrence and progression. Our findings suggested that PIK3R1 and PIK3R2 could serve as prognostic markers for several cancers.
A novel wavelet decomposition and transformation convolutional neural network with data augmentation for breast cancer detection using digital mammogram
Authors: Oyelade Olaide N. , Ezugwu Absalom E.
Published: April 2022

Research in deep learning (DL) has continued to provide significant solutions to the challenges of detecting breast cancer in digital images. Image preprocessing methods and architecture enhancement techniques have been proposed to improve the performance of DL models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs). For instance, the wavelet decomposition function has been used for image feature extraction in CNNs due to its strong compactness. Additionally, CNN architectures have been optimized to improve the process of feature detection to support the classification process. However, these approaches still lack completeness, as no mechanism exists to discriminate features to be enhanced and features to be eliminated for feature enhancement. More so, no studies have approached the use of wavelet transform to restructure CNN architectures to improve the detection of discriminant features in digital mammography for increased classification accuracy. Therefore, this study addresses these problems through wavelet-CNN-wavelet architecture. The approach presented in this paper combines seam carving and wavelet decomposition algorithms for image preprocessing to find discriminative features. These features are passed as input to a CNN-wavelet structure that uses the new wavelet transformation function proposed in this paper. The CNN-wavelet architecture applied layers of wavelet transform and reduced feature maps to obtain features suggestive of abnormalities that support the classification process. Meanwhile, we synthesized image samples with architectural distortion using a generative adversarial network (GAN) model to argue for their training datasets' insufficiency. Experimentation of the proposed method was carried out using DDSM + CBIS and MIAS datasets. The results obtained showed that the new method improved the classification accuracy and lowered the loss function values. The study's findings demonstrate the usefulness of the wavelet transform function in restructuring CNN architectures for performance enhancement in detecting abnormalities leading to breast cancer in digital mammography.
Presepsin production in monocyte/macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of neutrophil extracellular traps
Authors: Ikegame Akishige , Kondo Akihiro , Kitaguchi Ken , Sasa Kanami , Miyoshi Masashi
Published: April 2022

Presepsin, a biomarker discovered in Japan, has been clinically applied as a diagnostic aid for sepsis. Recently, however, it has been reported that presepsin levels are elevated in patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus without infection, suggesting the existence of a production mechanism that does not involve bacterial phagocytosis. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of presepsin production without bacterial phagocytosis and explore the clinical significance of presepsin. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were induced byEscherichia coliand phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in neutrophils isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy subjects. NET induction alone did not increase presepsin levels, but co-culturing with monocytes significantly increased them. The addition of a NET formation inhibitor also suppressed presepsin levels, suggesting that presepsin production is greatly influenced by monocyte phagocytosis of NETs. Phagocytosis of NETs by THP-1 and U937 cells, which was induced by CD14 expression, also increased presepsin levels. This study suggests that presepsin can be used to assess the severity of inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, and monitor treatment effects.
A fully water coupled oblique light-sheet microscope
Authors: Gong Yiyang , Tian Yuqi , Baker Casey
Published: April 2022

Recently developed descanned versions of the oblique light-sheet microscope promise to enable high-frame rate volumetric imaging in a variety of convenient preparations. The efficiency of these microscopes depends on the implementation of the objective coupling that turns the intermediate imaging plane. In this work, we developed a fully immersed coupling strategy between the middle and end objectives of the oblique light-sheet microscope to enable facile alignment and high efficiency coupling. Our design outperformed conventional designs that used only air objectives in resolution and light-collection power. We further demonstrated our design’s ability to capture large fields-of-view when paired with a camera with built-in electronic binning. We simultaneously imaged the forebrain and hindbrain of larval zebrafish and found clusters of activity localized to each region of the brain.
Development and validation of prognostic nomograms for patients with metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Zhu Hanlong , Zhao Si , Zhao Tianming , Jiang Kang , Miao Lin , Jiang Mingzuo , Wang Fangyu
Published: April 2022

We aimed to explore factors associated with prognosis in patients with metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) as well as to develop and validate nomograms to predict overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Relevant information of patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2016 was extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Nomograms for predicting 1- and 3-year OS and CSS were established with potential risk factors screened from multivariate cox regression analysis. The discrimination and accuracy of the nomograms were assessed by concordance index (C-index), calibration plots, and the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). In total, 373 SBA patients with M1 category were enrolled. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, size and grade of primary tumor, primary tumor surgery, and chemotherapy were significant variables associated with OS and CSS. The C-index values of the nomogram for OS were 0.715 and 0.687 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. For CSS, it was 0.711 and 0.690, respectively. Through AUC, decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration plots, the nomograms displayed satisfactory prognostic predicted ability and clinical application both in the OS and CSS. Our models could be served as a reliable tool for prognostic evaluation of patients with metastatic SBA, which are favorable in facilitating individualized survival predictions and clinical decision-making.
Accuracy of the doses computed by the Eclipse treatment planning system near and inside metal elements
Authors: Pawałowski Bartosz , Ryczkowski Adam , Panek Rafał , Sobocka-Kurdyk Urszula , Graczyk Kinga , Piotrowski Tomasz
Published: April 2022

Metal artefacts degrade clinical image quality which decreases the confidence of using computed tomography (CT) for the delineation of key structures for treatment planning and leads to dose errors in affected areas. In this work, we investigated accuracy of doses computed by the Eclipse treatment planning system near and inside metallic elements for two different computation algorithms. An impact of CT metal artefact reduction methods on the resulting calculated doses has also been assessed. A water phantom including Gafchromic film and metal inserts was irradiated (max dose 5 Gy) using a 6 MV photon beam. Three materials were tested: titanium, alloy 600, and tungsten. The phantom CT images were obtained with the pseudo-monoenergetic reconstruction (PMR) and the iterative metal artefact reduction (iMAR). Image sets were used for dose calculation using an Eclipse treatment planning station (TPS). Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were used to predict the true dose distribution in the phantom allowing for comparison with doses measured by film and calculated by TPS. Measured and simulated percentage depth doses (PDDs) were not statistically different (p > 0.618). Regional differences were observed at edges of metallic objects (max 8% difference). However, PDDs simulated with and without film were statistically different (p < 0.002). PDDs calculated by the Acuros XB algorithm based on the dose-to-medium approach best matched the MC reference regardless of the CT reconstruction methods and inserts used (p > 0.078). PDDs obtained using other algorithms significantly differ from the MC values (p < 0.011). The Acuros XB algorithm with a dose-to-medium approach provides reliable dose calculation in all metal regions when using the Varian system. The inability of the AAA algorithm to model backscatter dose significantly limits its clinical application in the presence of metal. No significant impact on the dose calculation was found for a range of metal artefact reduction strategies.
Deciphering how early life adiposity influences breast cancer risk using Mendelian randomization
Authors: Vabistsevits Marina , Davey Smith George , Sanderson Eleanor , Richardson Tom G. , Lloyd-Lewis Bethan , Richmond Rebecca C.
Published: April 2022

Studies suggest that adiposity in childhood may reduce the risk of breast cancer in later life. The biological mechanism underlying this effect is unclear but is likely to be independent of body size in adulthood. Using a Mendelian randomization framework, we investigate 18 hypothesised mediators of the protective effect of childhood adiposity on later-life breast cancer, including hormonal, reproductive, physical, and glycaemic traits. Our results indicate that, while most of the hypothesised mediators are affected by childhood adiposity, only IGF-1 (OR: 1.08 [1.03: 1.15]), testosterone (total/free/bioavailable ~ OR: 1.12 [1.05: 1.20]), age at menopause (OR: 1.05 [1.03: 1.07]), and age at menarche (OR: 0.92 [0.86: 0.99], direct effect) influence breast cancer risk. However, multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis shows that the protective effect of childhood body size remains unaffected when accounting for these traits (ORs: 0.59–0.67). This suggests that none of the investigated potential mediators strongly contribute to the protective effect of childhood adiposity on breast cancer risk individually. It is plausible, however, that several related traits could collectively mediate the effect when analysed together, and this work provides a compelling foundation for investigating other mediating pathways in future studies.
ROCK2-induced metabolic rewiring in diabetic podocytopathy
Authors: Matoba Keiichiro , Takeda Yusuke , Nagai Yosuke , Sekiguchi Kensuke , Ukichi Rikako , Takahashi Hiroshi , Aizawa Daisuke , Ikegami Masahiro , Tachibana Toshiaki , Kawanami Daiji , Kanazawa Yasushi , Yokota Tamotsu , Utsunomiya Kazunori , Nishimura Rimei
Published: April 2022

Loss of podocytes is a common feature of diabetic renal injury and a key contributor to the development of albuminuria. We found that podocyte Rho associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) is activated in rodent models and patients with diabetes. Mice that lacked ROCK2 only in podocytes (PR2KO) were resistant to albuminuria, glomerular fibrosis, and podocyte loss in multiple animal models of diabetes (i.e., streptozotocin injection, db/db, and high-fat diet feeding). RNA-sequencing of ROCK2-null podocytes provided initial evidence suggesting ROCK2 as a regulator of cellular metabolism. In particular, ROCK2 serves as a suppressor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α (PPARα), which rewires cellular programs to negatively control the transcription of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and consequently induce podocyte apoptosis. These data establish ROCK2 as a nodal regulator of podocyte energy homeostasis and suggest this signaling pathway as a promising target for the treatment of diabetic podocytopathy.
Challenges in identifying chiral spin textures via the topological Hall effect
Authors: Kimbell Graham , Kim Changyoung , Wu Weida , Cuoco Mario , Robinson Jason W. A.
Published: April 2022

Chiral spin textures such as skyrmions are of interest to the field of spintronics for their potential use in future computing devices. Hall effect measurements are a simple and powerful method to probe the electronic and magnetic properties of materials. The topological Hall effect, which appears as anomalies in Hall resistance versus magnetic field measurements compared to magnetic measurements, has frequently been used to establish the occurrence of chiral spin textures. However, in addition to experimental issues, intrinsic electronic mechanisms combined with inhomogeneity in materials and at interfaces can lead to an inhomogeneous anomalous Hall effect which could be mistaken for a topological Hall signal. This review covers recent research using Hall effect measurements to probe chiral spin textures, focusing on SrRuO3 as a model system. The ambiguity between Hall effects due to topological sources has led to disagreement in the interpretation of experimental results and casts doubts on the effectiveness of these techniques for investigating chiral spin textures.
Significant effects of host dietary guild and phylogeny in wild lemur gut microbiomes
Authors: Donohue Mariah E , Rowe Amanda K , Kowalewski Eric , Hert Zoe L , Karrick Carly E , Randriamanandaza Lovasoa J , Zakamanana Francois , Nomenjanahary Stela , Andriamalala Rostant Y , Everson Kathryn M , Law Audrey D , Moe Luke , Wright Patricia C , Weisrock David W
Published: April 2022

Mammals harbor diverse gut microbiomes (GMs) that perform critical functions for host health and fitness. Identifying factors associated with GM variation can help illuminate the role of microbial symbionts in mediating host ecological interactions and evolutionary processes, including diversification and adaptation. Many mammals demonstrate phylosymbiosis—a pattern in which more closely-related species harbor more similar GMs—while others show overwhelming influences of diet and habitat. Here, we generated 16S rRNA sequence data from fecal samples of 15 species of wild lemurs across southern Madagascar to (1) test a hypothesis of phylosymbiosis, and (2) test trait correlations between dietary guild, habitat, and GM diversity. Our results provide strong evidence of phylosymbiosis, though some closely-related species with substantial ecological niche overlap exhibited greater GM similarity than expected under Brownian motion. Phylogenetic regressions also showed a significant correlation between dietary guild and UniFrac diversity, but not Bray-Curtis or Jaccard. This discrepancy between beta diversity metrics suggests that older microbial clades have stronger associations with diet than younger clades, as UniFrac weights older clades more heavily. We conclude that GM diversity is predominantly shaped by host phylogeny, and that microbes associated with diet were likely acquired before evolutionary radiations within the lemur families examined.
Progenitor with cardiometabolic disorders increases food intake, systemic inflammation and gut microbiota alterations in the second-generation offspring
Authors: Barbosa Claudiane Maria , Lima Taynara Carolina , Barbosa Maria Andréa , Rezende Pereira Andrêssa , Carneiro Cláudia Martins , Silva Silvana de Queiroz , Antonini Yasmine , Carvalho Alzamora Andréia
Published: April 2022

Progenitors fed with high fat diet (G0H) induced cardiometabolic disturbances in the second generation (F2-G0H) offspring fed with control diet (C). First generation fed only with diet C (F1-G0C and F1-G0H).
A review on selenium-enriched proteins: preparation, purification, identification, bioavailability, bioactivities and application
Authors: Wen Chaoting , He Xudong , Zhang Jixian , Liu Guoyan , Xu Xin
Published: April 2022

Selenium (Se) deficiency can cause many diseases and thereby affect human health.
Discrimination of RNA fiber structures using solid-state nanopores
Authors: Tripathi Prabhat , Chandler Morgan , Maffeo Christopher Michael , Fallahi Ali , Makhamreh Amr , Halman Justin , Aksimentiev Aleksei , Afonin Kirill A. , Wanunu Meni
Published: April 2022

Nanopore translocation can discriminate the RNA fibers differing from one another in the frequency of the branches.
Real-time drug release monitoring from pH-responsive CuS-encapsulated metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Liu Bei , Sun Lirong , Lu Xijian , Yang Yuping , Peng Hongshang , Sun Zhaogang , Xu Juan , Chu Hongqian
Published: April 2022

A metal–organic framework-based nanotheranostic system was fabricated to achieve the capabilities of tumor-targeting, real-time monitoring of pH-responsive drug release and combined chemo-photothermal therapy.
Molecular planting of a single organothiol into a “gap-site” of a 2D patterned adlayer in an electrochemical environment
Authors: Yoshimoto Soichiro , Ogata Hiroto
Published: April 2022

Gap sites electrochemically created in the ovalene adlayer can accept a single thiol.
Metachronal patterns by magnetically-programmable artificial cilia surfaces for low Reynolds number fluid transport and mixing
Authors: Zhang Rongjing , Toonder Jaap den , Onck Patrick R.
Published: April 2022

Motile cilia can produce net fluid flows at low Reynolds number because of their asymmetric motion and metachrony of collective beating.
Three-dimensional embroidered ball-like α-Fe2O3 synthesised by a microwave hydrothermal method as a sulfur immobilizer for high-performance Li–S batteries
Authors: Li Juan , Xu Youlong , He Cheng , Zhao Jiping , Liang Yu
Published: April 2022

The practical application of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries is restrained by the sluggish conversion kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and the consequent shuttle effect.
Schiff base tetranuclear Zn2Ln2 single-molecule magnets bridged by hydroxamic acid in association with near-infrared luminescence
Authors: Yan Han , Wang Chu-Meng , Chen Peng , Zhang Yi-Quan , Sun Wen-Bin
Published: April 2022

A series of Zn–Ln double-decker tetranuclear complexes display slow magnetic relaxation, in which Yb congeners show both slow magnetic relaxation and NIR properties. The magneto-structural and magneto-optical correlations are studied.
Ultrafine cobalt selenide nanowires tangled with MXene nanosheets as highly efficient electrocatalysts toward the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Hao Linlin , He Haiyan , Xu Chenyu , Zhang Mingqiang , Feng Haoxuan , Yang Lu , Jiang Quanguo , Huang Huajie
Published: April 2022

A convenient bottom-up approach is developed for the in situ stereo-assembly of 1D ultrathin CoSe nanowires on 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets, which possess superior electrocatalytic properties for the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Organoaluminum hydrides catalyzed hydroboration of carbonates, esters, carboxylic acids, and carbon dioxide
Authors: Yan Ben , Dutta Sayan , Ma Xiaoli , Ni Congjian , Koley Debasis , Yang Zhi , Roesky Herbert W.
Published: April 2022

Herein, Al-catalyzed hydroboration of carbonates, esters, carboxylic acids, and CO2, with HBpin, is described, which provides a new route for the reduction of CO group compounds. We also conducted an in-depth study of the reduction mechanism of carbonate.
Recent advances in fuel cell reaction electrocatalysis based on porous noble metal nanocatalysts
Authors: Cheng Wenjing , Sun Limei , He Xiaoyan , Tian Lin
Published: April 2022

As the center of fuel cells, electrocatalysts play a crucial role in determining the conversion efficiency from chemical energy to electrical energy.
Survival of newly formed particles in haze conditions
Authors: Marten Ruby , Xiao Mao , Rörup Birte , Wang Mingyi , Kong Weimeng , He Xu-Cheng , Stolzenburg Dominik , Pfeifer Joschka , Marie Guillaume , Wang Dongyu S. , Scholz Wiebke , Baccarini Andrea , Lee Chuan Ping , Amorim Antonio , Baalbaki Rima , Bell David M. , Bertozzi Barbara , Caudillo Lucía , Chu Biwu , Dada Lubna , Duplissy Jonathan , Finkenzeller Henning , Carracedo Loïc Gonzalez , Granzin Manuel , Hansel Armin , Heinritzi Martin , Hofbauer Victoria , Kemppainen Deniz , Kürten Andreas , Lampimäki Markus , Lehtipalo Katrianne , Makhmutov Vladimir , Manninen Hanna E. , Mentler Bernhard , Petäjä Tuukka , Philippov Maxim , Shen Jiali , Simon Mario , Stozhkov Yuri , Tomé António , Wagner Andrea C. , Wang Yonghong , Weber Stefan K. , Wu Yusheng , Zauner-Wieczorek Marcel , Curtius Joachim , Kulmala Markku , Möhler Ottmar , Volkamer Rainer , Winkler Paul M. , Worsnop Douglas R. , Dommen Josef , Flagan Richard C. , Kirkby Jasper , Donahue Neil M. , Lamkaddam Houssni , Baltensperger Urs , El Haddad Imad
Published: April 2022

Illustration of how ammonium nitrate formation can cause rapid growth of nucleating particles, increasing survival of particles in polluted conditions.
Emerging investigator series: hetero-phase junction 1T/2H-MoS2 nanosheets decorated by FeOOH nanoparticles for enhanced visible light photo-Fenton degradation of antibiotics
Authors: Sun Linxiao , Tan Xianjun , Ding Wenhui , Huang Yuxiong
Published: April 2022

A hetero-phase junction was constructed with metallic 1T and semiconductive 2H MoS2, which exhibited outstanding photo-Fenton catalytic performance to effectively degrade organic pollutants in the aquatic environment.
3D-printed composite scaffold with anti-infection and osteogenesis potential against infected bone defects
Authors: Qiao Zewen , Zhang Wenping , Jiang Haifeng , Li Xiang , An Weijun , Yang Haibo
Published: April 2022

Indication the mechanism of dual-functional scaffold in the treatment of infected bone defects.
Na+/vacancy disordered manganese-based oxide cathode with ultralow strain enabled by tuning charge distribution
Authors: Li Siyuan , Zhang Yangyang , Lei Kaixiang , Yang Qian , Liu Zheng , Jiang Kezhu , Li Fujun , Lu Qiongqiong , Mikhailova Daria , Zheng Shijian
Published: April 2022

Introducing electropositive Sn4+ into TMO2 layer increases the charge density around O, reduces the Na–TM and Na–Na electrostatic repulsions as well as the electron delocalization, thus disturbing the charge ordering and facilitating Na+ diffusion.
Superior layer-by-layer deposition realizing P–i–N all-polymer solar cells with efficiency over 16% and fill factor over 77%
Authors: Li Qingduan , Jia Tao , Wang Li-Ming , Liu Shengjian , Liao Xiaolan , Cao Zhixiong , Zhang Jiabin , Zhan Xiaozhi , Zhu Tao , Cai Yue-Peng , Huang Fei
Published: April 2022

Considering the strong intermolecular interaction in all-polymer solar cells, 1-chloronaphthalene assisted layer-by-layer deposition was used to fabricate all-polymer solar cells with a P–i–N heterojunction and favorable crystallinity.
Escaping irreproducible research practices and spreading awareness through education and (re-)training
Authors: Lengger Bettina , Johnston Luke W.
Published: April 2022

Many aspects of doing a PhD feel like being thrown into the ocean without any help or support. This is especially the case when it comes to doing data analysis and coding. Unsurprisingly, as a PhD student you end up being inefficient with time and effort when it comes to doing your work. Sadly research culture currently doesn’t appreciate, fund or support these aspects of science as much as would be required to solve these problems. One of the first steps to changing this culture is through training and education of PhD students and early career researchers. Taking a course on being reproducible and open can lead you to being more productive and less stressed and, over time, teaching courses like these can help spread the awareness of these issues and slowly improve research culture.
Effect of Place-Based Versus Default Mapping Procedures on Masked Speech Recognition: Simulations of Cochlear Implant Alone and Electric-Acoustic Stimulation
Authors: Dillon Margaret T. , O'Connell Brendan P. , Canfarotta Michael W. , Buss Emily , Hopfinger Joseph
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

Cochlear implant (CI) recipients demonstrate variable speech recognition when listening with a CI-alone or electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) device, which may be due in part to electric frequency-to-place mismatches created by the default mapping procedures. Performance may be improved if the filter frequencies are aligned with the cochlear place frequencies, known as place-based mapping. Performance with default maps versus an experimental place-based map was compared for participants with normal hearing when listening to CI-alone or EAS simulations to observe potential outcomes prior to initiating an investigation with CI recipients.

Method:

A noise vocoder simulated CI-alone and EAS devices, mapped with default or place-based procedures. The simulations were based on an actual 24-mm electrode array recipient, whose insertion angles for each electrode contact were used to estimate the respective cochlear place frequency. The default maps used the filter frequencies assigned by the clinical software. The filter frequencies for the place-based maps aligned with the cochlear place frequencies for individual contacts in the low- to mid-frequency cochlear region. For the EAS simulations, low-frequency acoustic information was filtered to simulate aided low-frequency audibility. Performance was evaluated for the AzBio sentences presented in a 10-talker masker at +5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), +10 dB SNR, and asymptote.

Results:

Performance was better with the place-based maps as compared with the default maps for both CI-alone and EAS simulations. For instance, median performance at +10 dB SNR for the CI-alone simulation was 57% correct for the place-based map and 20% for the default map. For the EAS simulation, those values were 59% and 37% correct. Adding acoustic low-frequency information resulted in a similar benefit for both maps.

Conclusions:

Reducing frequency-to-place mismatches, such as with the experimental place-based mapping procedure, produces a greater benefit in speech recognition than maximizing bandwidth for CI-alone and EAS simulations. Ongoing work is evaluating the initial and long-term performance benefits in CI-alone and EAS users.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.19529053
Parent-Implemented Positive Behavior Support Strategies for Young Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Pilot Investigation
Authors: Hampton Lauren H. , Stern Yael S. , Fipp-Rosenfield Hannah , Bearss Karen , Roberts Megan Y.
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

Parents of children on the autism spectrum enrolled in early intervention often receive coaching to address both social communication and disruptive behavior, which are the two most frequently reported concerns by parents. Intervention techniques for both are often recommended to be implemented across daily routines and require the parents to learn new ways of interacting with their child. A sequential approach to instructing parents in these key intervention targets may reduce burden and increase adherence.

Method:

This multiple-baseline design pilot study included three mother–child dyads who received instruction in a disruptive behavior intervention immediately following a social communication intervention. Maternal maintenance of social communication strategies and child disruptive behaviors were measured during probes throughout the study.

Results:

Results indicate that although mothers readily learned to implement the techniques, fidelity of implementing social communication strategies declined after introduction of the positive behavior support strategies.

Conclusions:

A sequenced approach to parent-mediated intervention is feasible and acceptable. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.19528978
Optimizing Outcomes for Children With Phonological Impairment: A Systematic Search and Review of Outcome and Experience Measures Reported in Intervention Research
Authors: Baker Elise , Masso Sarah , Huynh Kylie , Sugden Ellie
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

Reporting of outcome and experience measures is critical to our understanding of the effect of intervention for speech sound disorders (SSD) in children. There is currently no agreed-upon set of measures for reporting intervention outcomes and experiences. In this article, we introduce the Speech Outcome Reporting Taxonomy (SORT), a tool designed to assist with the classification of outcome and experience measures. In a systematic search and review using the SORT, we explore the type and frequency of these measures reported in intervention research addressing phonological impairment in children. Given the integral relationship between intervention fidelity and intervention outcomes, reporting of fidelity is also examined.

Method:

Five literature databases were searched to identify articles written or translated into English published between 1975 and 2020. Using the SORT, outcome and experience measures were extracted and categorized. The number of intervention studies reporting fidelity was determined.

Results:

A total of 220 articles met inclusion criteria. The most frequently reported outcome domain was broad generalization measures (
n
= 142, 64.5%), followed by specific measures of generalization of an intervention target (
n
= 133, 60.5%). Eleven (5.0%) articles reported measures of the impact of the phonological impairment on children's activity, participation, quality of life, or others. Twenty articles (9.1%) reported on parent, child, or clinician experience or child engagement. Fidelity data were reported for 13.4% of studies of interventions.

Conclusions:

The measurement of intervention outcomes is challenging yet important. No single type of measure was reported across all articles. Through using tailored measures closely related to intervention targets in combination with a universal set of measures of intelligibility, the impact of phonological impairment on children's lives, and the experience of receiving and providing intervention, researchers and clinicians could work together to progress insights and innovations in science and practice for children with SSD.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.19497803
Immersion and invariance‐based adaptive pose tracking control under disturbances and input saturation
Authors: Peng Xuan , Shi Xiaoping , Gong Yupeng
Published: April 2022

This paper addresses the simultaneous attitude and position tracking of a rigid body subject to general bounded disturbances and input saturation in the framework of dual quaternions, which provide a compact and integrated description of the coupled rotation and translation. Treating disturbances as unknown parameters, a modular adaptive saturated pose tracking control scheme is then derived which consists of two separately designed parts. One part is the noncertainty equivalent disturbance estimator designed via the immersion and invariance method. Most existing adaptive pose controllers are based on the certainty equivalence principle. Since its parameter adaption process is unpredictable and acts like a forcing disturbance imposed on the deterministic system, it can cause arbitrary degradation of the closed‐loop performance. Instead of invoking the certainty equivalence principle, the adaption law designed based on the novel immersion and invariance method counters the effects of the uncertain parameters from a robustness perspective and eliminates the performance degradation by introducing a stable attracting manifold in the adaption process. For both constant and time‐varying disturbances, the proposed estimator can effectively attenuate their effects on the closed‐loop performance. The other part is the saturated pose tracking controller where the estimated disturbances are directly used. Based on two useful lemmas, it is proved that the saturation constraints can be removed in finite time, which enables the Lyapunov stability analysis of the closed‐loop system. Simulation results demonstrate improvements of the proposed control scheme in closed‐loop performance and control precision when compared with a certainty equivalent controller and a sliding mode controller.
Deep motion‐compensation enhancement in video compression
Authors: Prette N. , Valsesia D. , Bianchi T. , Magli E. , Naccari M. , Fiandrotti A.
Published: April 2022

This work introduces the multiframe motion‐compensation enhancement network (MMCE‐Net), a deep‐learning tool aimed at improving the performance of current video coding standards based on motion‐compensation, such as H.265/HEVC. The proposed method improves the inter‐prediction coding efficiency by enhancing the accuracy of the motion‐compensated frame and thereby improving the rate‐distortion performance. MMCE‐Net is a neural network that jointly exploits the predicted coding unit and two co‐located coding units from previous reference frames to improve the estimation of the temporal evolution of the scene. This letter describes the architecture of MMCE‐Net, how it is integrated into H.265/HEVC and the corresponding performance.
Sketch‐BF: A fast algorithm for finding top‐k flows
Authors: Lu Jie , Chen Hongchang , Zhang Zheng , Zhang Zhen , Wang Liang
Published: April 2022

Finding top‐k flows plays an essential role for many network managements. Since the line rates keep increasing in networks, finding top‐k flows precisely and quickly becomes more challenging. Existing algorithms for top‐k finding can achieve high precision suffering from slow speed. In this paper, the authors propose Sketch‐BF, which is a novel top‐k finding solution that is much faster than existing algorithms while ensuring high precision. The core idea is to add a bloom filter variant between sketch and heap to accelerate by significantly reducing the min‐heap update. The authors’ experimental results show that, while maintaining precision, Sketch‐BF has about two to five times higher insertion speed compared with the state‐of‐the‐art.
Perturbation estimation based nonlinear adaptive control of VSC flexible excitation system
Authors: Yang Ning , Zeng Qi , Yin Xin , Wang Weiyu , Zeng Pingliang , Jiang Lin
Published: April 2022

A new type of flexible excitation system (FES) is proposed by using fully‐controlled power electronic devices such as IGBTs to replace the half controlled devices in the conventional static excitation system, which has the merit of independent control of rotor angle and terminal voltage of the synchronous generator. This paper proposes nonlinear adaptive control (NAC) strategies for synchronous generator with FES in a single machine infinite bus system. External disturbances and the uncertainties of all parameters as well as modelling are defined as lumped perturbation terms and estimated by perturbation observers or state and perturbation observer. The estimated perturbation terms are used to compensate the real perturbations and achieve a model‐independent and robust NAC. Merits of the FES against the conventional static excitation system and effectiveness of the proposed NAC scheme against the accurate model based multi‐variable feedback linearisation control are verified via small‐signal stability analysis and simulation studies. The simulation results have shown that the proposed NAC can achieve superior control performance with less states feedback during a three‐phase short circuit and better robustness against parameter uncertainties, compared with linear control and multi‐variable feedback linearisation control.
Symmetric thinned coprime array with reduced mutual coupling for mixed near‐field and far‐field sources localization
Authors: Wang Yinsheng , Cui WeiJia , Yang Bingqing , Ba Bin , Mei Fengtong
Published: April 2022

As we all know, the non‐uniform array is widely used in the mixed near‐field (NF) and far‐field sources localization. The nested array contains a uniform linear array, it is easy to be affected by mutual coupling, so we propose a symmetric thinned coprime array (STCA) to reduce the mutual coupling effect of mixed source localization. In this paper, the STCA configuration consists of two sparse uniform linear arrays, the first subarray is composed of 2N − 1 sensors, and the sensor element spacing is Md. The second subarray is composed of sensors, and the sensor element spacing are Nd and Md respectively. The two subarrays form the symmetric coprime array, which shares a reference sensor. Under the same number of physical array sensors, compared with the latest symmetric nested array, although STCA has lower consecutive lags, the array sensors have larger inter‐sensor spacing and larger physical array aperture, which can significantly reduce the mutual coupling effect between physical sensors, and better estimation performance of direction‐of‐arrival (DOA) estimation can be achieved. Finally, simulation results show that STCA can achieve better performance than other symmetric nested arrays under the same array sensors and mutual coupling effects.
Tidally driven tectonic activity as a parameter in exoplanet habitability
Authors: McIntyre S. R. N.
Published: April 2022

Context.The habitability of an exoplanet is defined by its ability to support surface liquid water. The long-term carbon cycle plays an important role in regulating planetary temperature, thus supporting the conditions for the preservation of surface liquid water and, consequently, the habitability of exoplanets.

Aims.On Earth, plate tectonics play an integral role in driving the long-term carbon cycle; however, on tidally locked rocky exoplanets, alternative tectonic mechanisms driven by tidal stress and tidal heating could serve this purpose in an analogous way.

Methods.We calculated tidal stress and tidal heating rates to model the likelihood of tectonic activity maintaining stable climates suitable for surface liquid water on tidally locked rocky exoplanets with radii ofRp≤ 1.23R⊕.

Results.Applying the tidal models to our sample of 767 tidally locked rocky exoplanets reveals that ~10% of exoplanets, including Proxima Cen b and GJ 1061 d from the circumstellar habitable zone (CHZ), pass the tidal stress subduction threshold for mobile lid tectonic activity and simultaneously reside within the optimal tidal heating zone. This subset of exoplanets could sustain tidally induced temperate mobile lid tectonic activity that is comparable to plate tectonics on Earth, aiding in maintaining the presence of surface liquid water. Furthermore, ~40% of exoplanets from our sample located in the CHZ would be unable to maintain the tectonic activity needed to stabilise the climate and are unlikely to retain surface liquid water. When broadening our modelling to establish the overlap between tidal stress, tidal heating, and the CHZ to discover optimal regions to target for future observations, we determined that tidally driven tectonic activity conducive to the maintenance of surface liquid water occurs predominantly around M dwarfs. We identified intersections, where both mobile lid and optimal tidal heating could be sustained on eccentric (e> 0.1) Earth-sized exoplanets (Rp= 1.0-1.23R⊕) orbiting in the CHZ of low-mass M dwarfs.
A new least squares adjustment approach for the determination of linear meteor trajectories
Authors: Margonis A. , Malissiovas G. , Neitzel F. , Oberst J.
Published: April 2022

Context.Precise astrometric measurements performed on meteor images are required to derive the dynamical parameters of a mete-oroid. As a consequence, the measurements carried out in this initial step will have a strong impact on the dynamical solution of an orbiting meteoroid. These measurements relate to the position of the meteor defined by the positions of pixels along its path, as well as by their uncertainties. Therefore, the use of all available information is of great importance for the subsequent processing steps.

Aims.This paper examines a new geometrical approach for computing the trajectory of a meteor from multi-station observations. The model considers a more general weighting scheme based on existing stochastic information from the measurements, including the geometry between each station and the observed meteor.

Methods.We present a novel mathematical model for least squares adjustment of the linear meteor trajectories within the Gauss-Helmert model, which allows the use of stochastic information from the measured direction vectors from multiple stations. Additionally, an extended stochastic model is presented that takes into account the geometric relationship between each station and the observed meteor as a weight component for each group of observations.

Results.The solution of the new approach is demonstrated on a synthetic meteor example, with observations generated from multiple stations with differing precision. The geometric configuration of the stations has been chosen in such a way that it creates the necessity to include stochastic information for the observed direction vectors for a realistic solution. The results of the newly developed approach are compared with those from established methods in the literature. Future investigations and optimisations for developing an even more improved meteor trajectory model are being addressed.
Ca II triplet spectroscopy of Small Magellanic Cloud red giants
Authors: Parisi M. C. , Gramajo L. V. , Geisler D. , Dias B. , Clariá J. J. , Da Costa G. , Grebel E. K.
Published: April 2022

Aims. We aim to analyze the chemical evolution of the Small Magellanic Cloud, adding 12 additional clusters to our existing sample, based on accurate and homogeneously derived metallicities. We are particularly interested in seeing if there is any correlation between age and metallicity for the different structural components to which the clusters belong, taking into account their positions relative to the different tidal structures present in the galaxy.

Methods. The spectroscopic metallicities of red giant stars were derived from the measurement of the equivalent width of the near-IR calcium triplet lines. Our cluster membership analysis was carried out using criteria that include radial velocities, metallicities, proper motions, and distances from the cluster center.

Results. The mean cluster radial velocity and metallicity were determined with a typical error of 2.1 km s−1 and 0.03 dex, respectively. We added this information to that available in the literature for other clusters studied with the same method, compiling a final sample of 48 clusters with metallicities that were homogeneously determined. The clusters of the final sample are distributed across an area of ∼70 deg2 and cover an age range from 0.4 Gyr to 10.5 Gyr. This is the largest sample of spectroscopically analyzed SMC clusters available to date.

Conclusions. We confirm the large cluster metallicity dispersion (∼0.6 dex) at any given age in the inner region of the SMC. The metallicity distribution of our new cluster sample shows a lower probability of being bimodal than suggested in previous studies. The separate chemical analysis of clusters in the six components (Main Body, Counter-Bridge, West Halo, Wing/Bridge, Northern Bridge, and Southern Bridge) shows that only clusters belonging to the Northern Bridge appear to trace a V-Shape, showing a clear inversion of the metallicity gradient in the outer regions. There is a suggestion of a metallicity gradient in the West Halo, similar to that previously found for field stars. It presents, however, a very broad uncertainty. Also, clusters belonging to the West Halo, Wing/Bridge, and Southern Bridge exhibit a well-defined age-metallicity relation with relatively little scatter in terms of abundance at a fixed age compared to other regions.
Moving structures in ultraviolet bright points: Observations from Solar Orbiter/EUI
Authors: Li Dong
Published: April 2022

Context. Moving structures have been detected in coronal bright points and in a solar flare in active regions that are bidirectional, symmetrical, simultaneous, and quasi-periodic. These could be regarded as observational evidence of plasma outflows via magnetic reconnection.

Aims. We explored pairs of moving structures in fifteen ultraviolet bright points (UBPs), which were observed in the quiet Sun or inside a small active region on 19 November 2020.

Methods. The UBPs were measured by the High Resolution (HRI) Telescopes of the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) on board the Solar Orbiter (SolO) in two passbands, HRIEUV 174 Å and HRILyα 1216 Å. The pairs of moving structures are identified in time-distance slices along curved slits of UBPs and their quasi-periods are determined from the fast Fourier transform and wavelet analysis methods.

Results. Moving structures observed in ten UBPs, starting from their bright cores and propagating toward two ends, are interpreted as diverging motions of bidirectional moving structures. These moving structures are also characterized by simultaneity and symmetry and in the case of seven UBPs, they exhibit quasi-periodicity. Moving structures seen in another five UBPs, originating from double ends, moving closer, and merging together are manifested as converging motions. A sympathetic UBP induced by the primary UBP is observed at the edge of a small active region and their moving structures also show the converging motion.

Conclusions. The diverging motions of bidirectional moving structures could be generated by outflows after magnetic reconnections. The converging motions of two moving structures might be caused by inflows through the magnetic reconnection or could also be interpreted as upflows driven by the chromospheric evaporation.