bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measuring Mandarin Speech Recognition Thresholds Using the Method of Adaptive Tracking
Authors: Wang Yuxia , Lu Zhaoyu , Yang Xiaohu , Liu Chang 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the psychometric functions of Mandarin speech-on-speech masking with a comparison to the psychometric properties of the English version and (b) the feasibility of using the method of adaptive tracking (MAT) to measure Mandarin speech recognition thresholds in different masker conditions using a Chinese coordinate response measure (C-CRM) speech corpus.

Method
The study followed the example of the English coordinate response measure (E-CRM) speech corpus and designed a Chinese version. Sixteen listeners were recruited for a monaural Mandarin speech recognition test using C-CRM materials in 5 competing speech masker conditions: 1-talker different-gender, 1-talker same-gender, and 2-, 4-, and 8-talker maskers. Both the MAT and the method of constant stimuli (MCS) were used and then compared.

Results

Results of the MCS revealed that Mandarin listeners' psychometric functions varied depending upon masker characteristics (e.g., the number and gender of talkers), because significant differences were suggested among the 5 masker conditions (mainly between 1-talker and multitalker), as measured in the slope
b
and the 50% threshold. Meanwhile, speech identification improved monotonically with increasing signal-to-noise ratios for all 5 masker conditions, except that a plateau was observed with signal-to-noise ratios from −10 to 0 dB in the 1-talker maskers. The properties of C-CRM psychometric functions largely agreed with E-CRM findings, and yet lower speech recognition thresholds were found in C-CRM. Meanwhile, the comparisons of the thresholds estimated in the MAT and the MCS showed no significant differences for all 5 masker conditions.

Conclusion
The results suggest that masker characteristics greatly affected Mandarin psychometric functions and monotonicity was present in all 5 C-CRM maskers, echoing the E-CRM literature in a great extent. Interestingly, target words of C-CRM were found easier to recognize in multitalker babbles than those of E-CRM. Moreover, comparisons of the MAT and the MCS suggest that the MAT provided a feasible method for measuring Mandarin speech recognition thresholds with the C-CRM speech maskers.
Effects of Verb Overlap on Structural Priming in Dialogue: Implications for Syntactic Learning in Aphasia
Authors: Man Grace , Meehan Sarah , Martin Nadine , Branigan Holly , Lee Jiyeon 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
Although there is increasing interest in using structural priming as a means to ameliorate grammatical encoding deficits in persons with aphasia (PWAs), little is known about the precise mechanisms of structural priming that are associated with robust and enduring effects in PWAs. Two dialogue-like comprehension-to-production priming experiments investigated whether lexically independent (abstract structural) priming and/or lexically (verb) specific priming yields immediate and longer, lasting facilitation of syntactic production in PWAs.

Method
Seventeen PWAs and 20 healthy older adults participated in a collaborative picture-matching task where participant and experimenter took turns describing picture cards using transitive and dative sentences. In Experiment 1, a target was elicited immediately following a prime. In Experiment 2, 2 unrelated utterances intervened between a prime and target, thereby allowing us to examine lasting priming effects. In both experiments, the verb was repeated for half of the prime–target pairs to examine the lexical (verb) boost on priming.

Results
Healthy older adults demonstrated abstract priming in both transitives and datives not only in the immediate (Experiment 1) but also in the lasting (Experiment 2) priming condition. They also showed significantly enhanced priming by verb overlap (lexical boost) in transitives during immediate priming. PWAs demonstrated abstract priming in transitives in both immediate and lasting priming conditions. However, the magnitude of priming was not enhanced by verb overlap.

Conclusions
Abstract structural priming, but not lexically specific priming, is associated with reliable and lasting facilitation of message–structure mapping in aphasia. The findings also suggest that implicit syntactic learning via a dialogue-like comprehension-to-production task remains preserved in aphasia.
In-Clinic and Standalone Internet Cognitive Behavior Therapy Treatment for Social Anxiety in Stuttering: A Randomized Trial of iGlebe
Authors: Menzies Ross G. , Packman Ann , Onslow Mark , O'Brian Sue , Jones Mark , Helgadóttir Fjóla Dögg 
Published: May 2019

PurposeiGlebe is an individualized, fully automated Internet cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) treatment program that requires no clinician contact. Phase I and II trials have demonstrated that it may be efficacious for treating the social anxiety commonly associated with stuttering. The present trial sought to establish whether the outcomes achieved by iGlebe are noninferior to those associated with in-clinic CBT from clinical psychologists.MethodFifty adults with stuttering were randomized to receive in-clinic CBT for anxiety or 5 months online access to iGlebe. The design was a noninferiority randomized controlled trial with outcomes assessed at prerandomization and at 6 and 12 months postrandomization. Primary outcomes were CIDI-Auto-2.1 diagnoses for anxiety and mood disorders and Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale scores (Carleton, McCreary, Norton, & Asmundson, 2006). Secondary outcomes included speech, psychology, and quality-of-life measures.ResultsOutcomes consistently showed clinically significant improvements of around a medium effect size for the cohort as a whole from prerandomization to 6 months postrandomization, which were maintained at 12 months postrandomization. Comparisons between the 2 treatments showed little difference between iGlebe and in-clinic treatment for all primary and secondary outcomes, with last observation carried forward for missing data.ConclusionsiGlebe is a promising individualized treatment for social anxiety for adults who stutter and offers a viable and inexpensive alternative to in-clinic CBT with clinical psychologists. An issue to emerge from this trial, which requires clarification during future clinical trials of iGlebe, is the posttreatment relation between percentage of syllables stuttered and self-reported stuttering severity ratings.
Low‐loss and broadband coaxial line to air‐filled substrate integrated waveguide transition
Authors: Moznebi A.‐R. , Arsanjani A. , Afrooz K. , Mousavi P. 
Published: May 2019

This Letter introduces a low‐loss and broadband coaxial line to air‐filled substrate integrated waveguide (AFSIW) transition for the first time. The fabrication of this transition involves three substrate layers. The inner conductor of the coaxial line is connected to the metal layer of the lower substrate and its outer conductor is connected to the metal layer of the upper substrate. This transition uses a taper‐shaped configuration at the end of the line to achieve the better impedance matching and wider matching bandwidth. In the previously reported AFSIW components, several transitions are used to transform the transverse electromagnetic mode of the coaxial line to the TE mode of the AFSIW structure. By using the proposed transition, these extra transitions are eliminated, which leads to the size and loss reduction of the structure. For validation purposes, a prototype of the back‐to‐back coaxial line to AFSIW transition is fabricated and measured for the entire C‐band. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement. The proposed transition achieves the measured insertion loss of 0.55 0.5 dB (0.28 0.25 dB for the transition) and return loss of better than from 4 to 8 GHz.
Parallel current‐controlled synchronverters for voltage and frequency regulation in weak grids
Authors: Roldán‐Pérez Javier , Rodríguez‐Cabero Alberto , Prodanovic Milan 
Published: May 2019

The emulation of synchronous machines is becoming an attractive solution to provide virtual inertia and voltage support to weak grids and microgrids, representing an alternative to conventional current‐injection control strategies. However, synchronverters operate as voltage sources and this makes it difficult to limit the current when an event like voltage sag takes place. Here, a method to limit the output current of synchronverters in parallel connection is proposed. First of all, a fictitious reference current is generated, and its value is then followed by an internal current controller. A method to avoid the loss of synchronism when the current saturates is proposed and studied in detail. Also, the implementation of the controller is addressed carefully. All the control system improvements are tested on a prototype consisting of two 15 kVA synchronverters connected in parallel to a configurable weak grid.
Green biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by Lilium casa blanca petals and evaluation of catalytic activity
Authors: Li Haimin , Wang Wenjun , Ang Beijun , Xiong Jianhua , Zhang Fengying , Chen Weiping , Du Juan 
Published: May 2019

A simple, fast, and eco‐friendly method for the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Lilium casa blanca petals as a reducing and protecting agent was reported. The heating time had been shortened to 30 min for biosynthesis of AuNPs, which only took 15 mg Lilium casa blanca petals powder. The biosynthetic AuNPs, which had a uniform particle size distribution, were in spherical with the average size of 5.933 ± 1.158 nm. In addition, the conversion rate of Au3+ to Au0 was quite high. Through the discussion on the nutrients' concentrations before and after the synthesis, it was found that sugars, alkaloids, flavonoids, and proteins were the reducing and stabilising agents. The biosynthetic AuNPs had good catalytic activity, taking the hydroboration of nitrophenol and methylene blue as examples. Catalytic reduction followed pseudo‐first‐order kinetics. Moreover, the apparent rate constant was a linear correlation with the concentrations of AuNPs. The normalised rate constant of the proposed AuNPs was higher than other reported AuNPs, which indicated the excellent catalytic activity. All the results foreshowed the wide range of applications of the biosynthetic AuNPs by Lilium casa blanca petals.
Do star clusters form in a completely mass-segregated way?
Authors: Pavlík Václav , Kroupa Pavel , Šubr Ladislav 
Published: May 2019

Context. ALMA observations of the Serpens South star-forming region suggest that stellar protoclusters may be completely mass segregated at birth. Independent observations also suggest that embedded clusters form segregated by mass.
Aims. As the primordial mass segregation seems to be lost over time, we aim to study on which timescale an initially perfectly mass-segregated star cluster becomes indistinguishable from an initially not mass-segregated cluster. As an example, the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC) is also discussed.
Methods. We used N-body simulations of star clusters with various masses and two different degrees of primordial mass segregation. We analysed their energy redistribution through two-body relaxation to quantify the time when the models agree in terms of mass segregation, which sets in only dynamically in the models that are primordially not mass segregated. A comprehensive cross-matched catalogue combining optical, infrared, and X-ray surveys of ONC members was also compiled and made available.
Results. The models evolve to a similar radial distribution of high-mass stars after the core collapse (about half a median two-body relaxation time, trh) and become observationally indistinguishable from the point of view of mass segregation at time τv ≈ 3.3 trh. In the case of the ONC, using the distribution of high-mass stars, we may not rule out either evolutionary scenario (regardless of whether they are initially mass segregated). When we account for extinction and elongation of the ONC, as reported elsewhere, an initially perfectly mass-segregated state seems to be more consistent with the observed cluster.
Dust trajectory simulations around the Sun, Vega, and Fomalhaut
Authors: Stamm Johann , Czechowski Andrzej , Mann Ingrid , Baumann Carsten , Myrvang Margaretha 
Published: May 2019

Context. Vega and Fomalhaut display a thermal emission brightness that could possibly arise from hot dust near the stars, an inner extension of their planetary debris disks. An idea has been suggested that nanometer-sized dust particles are kept in the vicinity of the stars by electromagnetic forces. This resembles the trapping that model calculations show in the corotating magnetic field in the inner heliosphere within approximately 0.2 AU from the Sun.
Aims. The aim of this work is to study whether the trapping of dust due to electromagnetic forces acting on charged dust near the Sun can occur around Vega and Fomalhaut and what are the conditions for trapping.
Methods. We studied the dust trajectories with numerical calculations of the full equation of motion, as well as by using the guiding center approximation. We assumed a constant dust charge and a Parker-type magnetic field, which we estimated for the two stars.
Results. We find no bound trajectories of charged particles around Vega or Fomalhaut as long as the radiation pressure force exceeds the gravitational force, that is, for particles smaller than 1 μm. A trapping zone could exist inside of 0.02 AU for Vega and 0.025 AU for Fomalhaut, but only for those particles with radiation pressure force smaller than gravitational force. In comparison to the Sun, the trapping conditions would occur closer to the stars because their faster rotation leads to a more closely wound-up magnetic field spiral. We also show that plasma corotation can be consistent with trapping. Our model calculations show that the charged particles are accelerated to stellar wind velocity very quickly, pass 1 AU after approximately three days, and are further ejected outward where they pass the debris disks at high velocity. We find this for particles with a surface charge-to-mass ratio larger than 10−6 elementary charges per proton mass for both negatively and positively charged dust and independent of the strength of the radiation pressure force. Based on charging assumptions, this would correspond to dust of sizes 100 nm and smaller.
Operating Room Management System: Patient Programming.
Authors: Bilal BOU SALEH , Abdellah EL MOUDNI , Lina CHAHAL , Oussama BARAKAT , Ghazi BOU SALEH 
Published: May 2019

The Operating Theater (OT) is one of the most critical and expensive hospital resources since a high percentage of hospitalizations are due to surgery. The main objectives are to perform the operation at the right time without incurring excessive waiting times and to optimize the use of medical resources in order to achieve maximum profitability. Management problems in the (OT) have been identified with well-known problems in the field of manufacturing or transport. This prompted us to look for a model used in industrial applications that would allow us to solve the problems of (OT) process as a whole.
We first present the hybrid architectural concepts and the development of the control system for the management of the operating room process in its entirety. We then describe the patient programming function and the associated module algorithm based on distributed artificial intelligence.
The Role of Diagnostic Hysteroscopy in the Evaluation of Fallopian Tube Patency: a Short Review
Authors: Hager Marlene , Simek Inga Malin , Promberger Regina , Ott Johannes 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe relevance of diagnostic hysteroscopy, especially when performed in an outpatient “office” setting, in the evaluation process of infertility has increased within the last few years. Notably, several articles on a possible role for diagnostic hysteroscopy in the assessment of Fallopian tube patency have been published recently. Three relevant articles were identified. Visualizing a “flow effect” or air bubbles dispersing through the ostia, sonographically assessed shifts in cul de sac volume, and selective Fallopian tubal cannulation are reportedly promising hysteroscopic techniques. In this review, an overview of hysteroscopy, details about diagnostic reliability, and considerations with regard to ease of use and difficulties are summarized. Based on these articles, hysteroscopic evaluation of tubal patency seems to be a promising, clinically relevant field for future clinical research.
Axillary surgery in breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving surgery at german breast cancer centers within the last 14 years – comparison of a university center and a community hospital
Authors: de Gregorio Amelie , Widschwendter Peter , Albrecht Susanne , de Gregorio Nikolaus , Friedl Thomas , Huober Jens , Janni Wolfgang , Ebner Florian 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Background Guideline recommendations for axillary surgical approach in breast cancer (BC) treatment changed over the last decade.
Methods Data from all invasive BC patients (n = 5344) treated with breast conserving surgery (BCS) at the breast cancer centers of the University Hospital Ulm (U‑BCC) and the community hospital Dachau (D‑BCC) were included into a retrospective analysis for assessing information on axillary surgery between 2003 and 2016 based on the documented cancer registry data.
Results The average annual rate of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) was 85.5 % and 87.2 % in Ulm and Dachau, respectively. SNB was performed more precisely at the U‑BCC with a median of 2.4 resected lymph nodes (LN) compared to a median of 3.2 resected LN in Dachau. Median number of resected LN for axillary lymph node dissection (ALNE) showed a statistically significant reduction over time in Ulm (rs = − 0.82; p < 0.001) and Dachau (rs = − 0.76; p = 0.002). The rate of secondary ALNE (after SNB; 2° ALNE) decreased significantly in U‑BCC (rs = − 0.76; p = 0.002) while it remained stable in D‑BCC. The influential publication of the Z0011 study in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction of secondary ALNE (24.1 % pre Z0011 and 14.4 % postZ0011; p < 0.001) in Ulm.
Conclusion Changes in axillary surgery over time can be seen in the annual statistics of the reviewed BCCs. With BCS, mostly SNB was performed and numbers of removed LN in ALNE have decreased. In the U‑BCC, the rate of 2° ALNE dropped after the publication of the Z0011 data. The fact that no such decrease for 2° ALNE was found in D‑BCC suggests that university hospitals implement new data and research results into clinical routine earlier than peripheral community hospitals.
Internalization theory for the digital economy
Authors: Banalieva Elitsa R , Dhanaraj Charles 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWe study the internationalization of digital service multinational enterprises (SMNCs), focusing on how digitalization alters internalization theory’s assumptions about the nature of firm-specific assets (FSAs) and the theory’s predictions about governance choices in cross-border transactions. We invoke Simon’s (Proc Am Philos Soc 106(6):467–482, 1962) near-decomposability concept to explain how digitalization enables two distinct types of FSAs – technology and human capital. Applying the ideas of modularity and skill complexity, we further distinguish between core versus peripheral technology FSAs and between generic versus advanced human capital FSAs. Building on the transferability and appropriability of these strategic assets, we theorize on the FSAs’ internalization propensity in the digital age. We propose that with rising digitalization, the network plays a dual role – as a governance mode and as a strategic resource. Integrating insights from network economics, particularly increasing returns to scale, we propose that network advantages (On) emerge as a distinct strategic resource that merits separate investigation from the traditional asset-based (Oa) and transaction-based (Ot) advantages.
Machine learning reveals systematic accumulation of electric current in lead-up to solar flares
Authors: Dhuri Dattaraj B. , Hanasoge Shravan M. , Cheung Mark C. M. 
Published: May 2019

Significance
Reliable flare forecasting is essential for improving preparedness for severe space weather consequences. Flares also serve as probes of solar magnetic processes and the emergence of flux at the solar surface. Training machine-learning (ML) algorithms using magnetic-field observations for improving flare forecasting has been extensively studied in prior literature. Instead, here we use ML to understand the underlying mechanisms governing flares. We train ML algorithms to classify flaring and nonflaring active regions (ARs) with high fidelity and report statistical trends for AR evolution days before and after M- and X-class flares. These trends are interpreted in terms of existing models of subsurface magnetic field and flux emergence. Our results also provide hypotheses for achieving reliable flare forecasting.
The Fatigue and Fitness Test for Teams (FFITT): A practical option for monitoring athletes in a team as individuals
Authors: Starling Lindsay T. , Nellemann Stacy , Parkes Andrew , Lambert Michael I. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWe developed the Fatigue and Fitness Test for Teams (FFITT) to address the challenges of monitoring players in a team simultaneously. The test, which takes 8 min for the entire team, incorporates subjective measures of well‐being (RTT‐Q), and objective measures of the autonomic system (HRR60s) and neuromuscular function (SLJ). The aim of this study was to present the rationale for the FFITT as a novel athlete monitoring protocol and to measure the reliability of each component of the test. The internal consistency of the RTT‐Q questions ranged from α = 0.69–0.92. All questions had an α > 0.83, with one exception of question ‘Rate the well‐being/stress your school/university/work is causing you to feel’ which had an α = 0.69. The reliability of the HRR60s and SLJ was high (R = 0.92, and 0.91 respectively). The absolute typical error of measurement (TEM) of the SLJ was 8 cm and HRR60s was 3 beats. When expressed relatively the CVTEM of HRR60s was 8.4% and SLJ was 3.0%. Based on the TEM the HRR60s and SLJ could detect medium and large changes in fatigue and fitness. In absolute terms this equates to more than 5 bpm (HRR60s) and more than 13 cm (SLJ). The FFITT has the potential to satisfy both scientific principles and the coach's demands of a practical monitoring protocol for frequent use in a team.
The credibility of environmental problems in Argentina and Spain/ La credibilidad de los problemas ambientales en Argentina y España
Authors: Sarabia-Sánchez Francisco J. , Bianchi Enrique-Carlos 
Published: May 2019

The purpose of this study is to analyse the credibility of the content of the message and that of news stories about environmental problems, comparing the cases of Argentina and Spain. Its novel contribution is that it also analyses credibility according to the generation to which the informant belongs. In Argentina, information was compiled by means of an online survey ( NArgentina = 450), whereas in Spain the same survey was conducted by interviewers ( NSpain = 493). Low levels of credibility were found for the contents of messages about environmental problems and also for the news stories and narratives generated around them. Significant differences were noted between Argentina and Spain in relation to the credibility of the content of the message (which is greater in Argentina) but not in the credibility of news stories about environmental problems. In contrast to expectations, no generational differences were found in the two countries with regard to either type of credibility. This paper discusses the implications of the lack of generational segmentation as well as the low levels of credibility detected.