Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Supplemental Materials for Slevc, Davey, & Linck (2016), A new look at the 'hard problem' of bilingual lexical access: Evidence for language suppression with univalent stimuli

This document provides the supporting documentation of the modeling procedure and interim results for the analyses reported in Slevc, Davey, and Linck (2016), A new look at "the hard problem" of bilingual lexical access: Evidence for language suppression with univalent stimuli

The Differential Role of Executive Functions in the Cognitive Control of Language Switching

Studies of bilingual speech production suggest that different executive functions (EFs) contribute to the cognitive control of language production. However, no study has simultaneously examined the relationship between different EFs and language control during online speech production. The current study examined individual differences in three EFs (working memory updating, inhibitory control, and task-set switching) and their relationship with performance in a trilingual language-switching task for a group of forty-seven native English (L1) speakers learning French (L2) and Spanish (L3). Analyses indicate complex interactions between EFs and language switching: better inhibitory control was related to smaller L1 switch costs, whereas better working memory was related to larger L1 switch costs. Working memory was also related to larger L2 switch costs, but only when switching from L1. These results support theories of cognitive control that implicate both global and local control mechanisms, and suggest unique contributions of each EF to both global and local cognitive control during language switching. Finally, we discuss the implications for theories of multilingual language control

Examining the role of inhibitory control in bilingual language switching

Bilingual language production is widely believed to be a competitive process. Bilinguals may manage this competition by relying on inhibiting one language while speaking in the other. However, it remains unclear if this process relies on domain general inhibitory mechanisms, and, if so, when and where during language production inhibitory control is applied. The current study investigates these issues by experimentally manipulating demand on inhibitory control using a picture word interference task during a language switching paradigm. Switching costs were not exacerbated when inhibitory control was taxed; in fact language switching was less costly during inhibition-demanding trials. These findings do not support the idea that inhibitory control mechanisms underlie language switching and suggest that language switching and the resolution of within-language lexical competition do not share inhibitory resources

Factors Related to Passage Length: Implications for Second Language Listening Comprehension

Despite its importance in the development of second language (L2) proficiency, there is little research on listening comprehension in a second language. Evidence for the role of most factors that may impact second language listening is sparse. One practical factor often mentioned in relation to the difficulty of L2 listening passages is length, but there are several problems with characterizing the amount of information in a passage this way. We summarize available research on the effects of passage length in L2 listening comprehension and describe the relationship between passage length and other important factors and highlight areas in need of more research