Eliminating grammatical function assignment from hierarchical models of speech production: Evidence from the conceptual accessibility of referents

ABSTRACTThe assignment of grammatical functions has been a key feature of hierarchical (serial) models of speech production since their inception in the 1970s. This article argues that grammatical function assignment is neither sufficient nor necessary in such models. It reports a study of the effects of the conceptual accessibility of referents on the selection of English dative syntactic frames in production and shows that the effects relate to linear precedence rather than grammatical function assignment. A secondary topic addressed in the same study is whether second language speakers of English have difficulty integrating syntactic knowledge where it interfaces with conceptual accessibility in speech production. Findings suggest that advanced proficiency speakers do not and are qualitatively similar to native speakers. The implications of this for the interface hypothesis about second language acquisition are discussed.</jats:p

Poor handling of continuous predictors in clinical prediction models using logistic regression: a systematic review

Background and Objectives When developing a clinical prediction model, assuming a linear relationship between the continuous predictors and outcome is not recommended. Incorrect specification of the functional form of continuous predictors could reduce predictive accuracy. We examine how continuous predictors are handled in studies developing a clinical prediction model. Methods We searched PubMed for clinical prediction model studies developing a logistic regression model for a binary outcome, published between July 01, 2020, and July 30, 2020. Results In total, 118 studies were included in the review (18 studies (15%) assessed the linearity assumption or used methods to handle nonlinearity, and 100 studies (85%) did not). Transformation and splines were commonly used to handle nonlinearity, used in 7 (n = 7/18, 39%) and 6 (n = 6/18, 33%) studies, respectively. Categorization was most often used method to handle continuous predictors (n = 67/118, 56.8%) where most studies used dichotomization (n = 40/67, 60%). Only ten models included nonlinear terms in the final model (n = 10/18, 56%). Conclusion Though widely recommended not to categorize continuous predictors or assume a linear relationship between outcome and continuous predictors, most studies categorize continuous predictors, few studies assess the linearity assumption, and even fewer use methodology to account for nonlinearity. Methodological guidance is provided to guide researchers on how to handle continuous predictors when developing a clinical prediction model

Sample size requirements are not being considered in studies developing prediction models for binary outcomes: a systematic review

Background Having an appropriate sample size is important when developing a clinical prediction model. We aimed to review how sample size is considered in studies developing a prediction model for a binary outcome. Methods We searched PubMed for studies published between 01/07/2020 and 30/07/2020 and reviewed the sample size calculations used to develop the prediction models. Using the available information, we calculated the minimum sample size that would be needed to estimate overall risk and minimise overfitting in each study and summarised the difference between the calculated and used sample size. Results A total of 119 studies were included, of which nine studies provided sample size justification (8%). The recommended minimum sample size could be calculated for 94 studies: 73% (95% CI: 63–82%) used sample sizes lower than required to estimate overall risk and minimise overfitting including 26% studies that used sample sizes lower than required to estimate overall risk only. A similar number of studies did not meet the ≥ 10EPV criteria (75%, 95% CI: 66–84%). The median deficit of the number of events used to develop a model was 75 [IQR: 234 lower to 7 higher]) which reduced to 63 if the total available data (before any data splitting) was used [IQR:225 lower to 7 higher]. Studies that met the minimum required sample size had a median c-statistic of 0.84 (IQR:0.80 to 0.9) and studies where the minimum sample size was not met had a median c-statistic of 0.83 (IQR: 0.75 to 0.9). Studies that met the ≥ 10 EPP criteria had a median c-statistic of 0.80 (IQR: 0.73 to 0.84). Conclusions Prediction models are often developed with no sample size calculation, as a consequence many are too small to precisely estimate the overall risk. We encourage researchers to justify, perform and report sample size calculations when developing a prediction model

Globalization, the ambivalence of European integration and the possibilities for a post-disciplinary EU studies

Using the work of Manuel Castells as a starting point, this article explores the ambivalent relationship between globalization and European integration and the variety of ways in which the mainstream political science of the EU has attempted to deal with this issue. The analysis here suggests that various 'mainstreaming' disciplinary norms induce types of work that fail to address fully the somewhat paradoxical and counter-intuitive range of possible relationships between globalization and European integration. The article explores critically four possible analytical ways out of this paradox—abandonment of the concept of globalization, the development of definition precision in globalization studies, the reorientation of work to focus on globalization as discourse, and inter- and post-disciplinarity. The argument suggests that orthodox discussions of the relationship require a notion of social geography that sits at odds with much of the literature on globalization and while greater dialogue between disciplines is to be welcomed, a series of profound epistemological questions need to be confronted if studies of the interplay between global and social process are to be liberated from their disciplinary chains

Household economic hardship as a moderator of the associations between maternal spanking and child externalizing behavior problems.

Background: Spanking is associated with detrimental outcomes for young children. Research shows that spanking is more commonly used in low-income households. Objective: To examine whether economic hardship, measured by household income-to-poverty ratio at the time of the child’s birth, moderated the longitudinal associations between maternal spanking and child externalizing behavior problems during the first nine years of childhood. Participants and setting: Mother-child pairs (N = 4,149) from a cohort study of urban families in 20 US cities. Methods: Cross-lagged path models examined associations between maternal spanking and ex- ternalizing behavior when children were between the ages of 1 and 9. Multigroup analyses ex- amined whether income-to-poverty ratio moderated these associations. Results: Bivariate analyses showed that income-to-poverty ratio was associated with child ex- ternalizing behavior problems at each time point; income-to-poverty ratio was associated with maternal spanking at age 3 only. Longitudinal path model results indicated that, for low- and middle-income groups, maternal spanking at each age had significant associations with child externalizing behavior at each subsequent age. For the high-income group, maternal spanking at age 1 and age 3 had significant associations with child externalizing behavior at each subsequent age; however, spanking at age 5 was not associated with child externalizing behavior at age 9. Conclusions: Spanking is disadvantageous for children at all income levels, with more persistent effects in low- and middle-income families. For higher-income families, the associations of ma- ternal spanking with child externalizing behavior problems may be attenuated as child age in- creases. Regardless of income level, parents should be advised against spanking.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163755/1/2020-Lee-Householdeconomichardship.pdfDescription of 2020-Lee-Householdeconomichardship.pdf : Main articl

Attachment style and the association of spanking and child externalizing behavior

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the longitudinal associations between maternal spanking and child externalizing behavior are moderated by attachment style. METHODS: This study used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (n = 2211), a large cohort sample of low-income urban families. Multiple-group autoregressive cross-lagged models examined the associations between maternal spanking and child externalizing behavior when children were ages 1, 3, and 5. Moderation by attachment style was examined using structural invariance testing. RESULTS: For children with an insecure mother-child attach- ment style, spanking at age 1 was associated with externalizing behavior at age 3. However, for children with a secure mother- child attachment style, the association between maternal spank- ing at age 1 and child externalizing behavior at age 3 was absent. Attachment style did not moderate the association between maternal spanking at age 3 and externalizing behavior at age 5, suggesting that spanking at age 3 is associated with deleterious outcomes at age 5, regardless of attachment style. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that even in the context of a secure attachment style, spanking is associated with adverse outcomes in early childhood. Findings support the American Academy of Pediatrics 2018 policy statement, which encour- ages parents to avoid spanking when disciplining children. Results suggest that children, regardless of attachment style, may benefit from policies and services that promote non-vio- lent forms of discipline.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163754/1/2020-Ward-Attachmentstyleandtheassociation.pdfDescription of 2020-Ward-Attachmentstyleandtheassociation.pdf : Main articl

Rare functional genetic variants in COL7A1, COL6A5, COL1A2 and COL5A2 frequently occur in Chiari Malformation Type 1

Seqüenciació de gens; Genòmica; Imatges per ressonància magnèticaSecuenciación de genes; Genómica; Imágenes por resonancia magnéticaGene sequencing; Genomics; Magnetic resonance imagingChiari Malformation Type 1 (CM-1) is characterized by herniation of the cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum and the presence of headaches and other neurologic symptoms. Cranial bone constriction is suspected to be the most common biologic mechanism leading to CM-1. However, other mechanisms may also contribute, particularly in the presence of connective tissue disorders (CTDs), such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Accumulating data suggest CM-1 with connective tissue disorders (CTD+) may have a different patho-mechanism and different genetic risk factors than CM-1 without CTDs (CTD-). To identify CM-1 genetic risk variants, we performed whole exome sequencing on a single large, multiplex family from Spain and targeted sequencing on a cohort of 186 unrelated adult, Caucasian females with CM-1. Targeted sequencing captured the coding regions of 21 CM-1 and EDS candidate genes, including two genes identified in the Spanish family. Using gene burden analysis, we compared the frequency of rare, functional variants detected in CM-1 cases versus publically available ethnically-matched controls from gnomAD. A secondary analysis compared the presence of rare variants in these genes between CTD+ and CTD- CM-1 cases. In the Spanish family, rare variants co-segregated with CM-1 in COL6A5, ADGRB3 and DST. A variant in COL7A1 was present in affected and unaffected family members. In the targeted sequencing analysis, rare variants in six genes (COL7A1, COL5A2, COL6A5, COL1A2, VEGFB, FLT1) were significantly more frequent in CM-1 cases compared to public controls. In total, 47% of CM-1 cases presented with rare variants in at least one of the four significant collagen genes and 10% of cases harbored variants in multiple significant collagen genes. Moreover, 26% of CM-1 cases presented with rare variants in the COL6A5 gene. We also identified two genes (COL7A1, COL3A1) for which the burden of rare variants differed significantly between CTD+ and CTD- CM-1 cases. A higher percentage of CTD+ patients had variants in COL7A1 compared to CTD+ patients, while CTD+ patients had fewer rare variants in COL3A1 than did CTD- patients. In summary, rare variants in several collagen genes are particularly frequent in CM-1 cases and those in COL6A5 co-segregated with CM-1 in a Spanish multiplex family. COL6A5 has been previously associated with musculoskeletal phenotypes, but this is the first association with CM-1. Our findings underscore the contribution of rare genetic variants in collagen genes to CM-1, and suggest that CM-1 in the presence and absence of CTD symptoms is driven by different genes.This work was supported by a grant from Conquer Chiari to AAK. Collection of the Chiari1000 study participants utilized in this study was supported by a grant from Conquer Chiari to FL at University of Akron. Collection of the Duke study participants utilized in this study was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NS063273). A.U. was the recipient of a Postdoctoral Fellowship from Fundación Ramón Areces (Spain). RL is the Executive Director of Conquer Chiari which provided some of the funding for this work. For the manuscript, he assisted with revising and editing the manuscript. The funders did have a role in study design, but had no role in data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript