Semantic Involvement of Initial and Final Lexical Embeddings during Sense-Making: The Advantage of Starting Late

During spoken language interpretation, listeners rapidly relate the meaning of each individual word to what has been said before. However, spoken words often contain spurious other words, like day in daisy, or dean in sardine. Do listeners also relate the meaning of such unintended, spurious words to the prior context? We used ERPs to look for transient meaning-based N400 effects in sentences that were completely plausible at the level of words intended by the speaker, but contained an embedded word whose meaning clashed with the context. Although carrier words with an initial embedding (day in daisy) did not elicit an embedding-related N400 effect relative to matched control words without embedding, carrier words with a final embedding (dean in sardine) did elicit such an effect. Together with prior work from our lab and the results of a Shortlist B simulation, our findings suggest that listeners do semantically interpret embedded words, albeit not under all conditions. We explain the latter by assuming that the sense-making system adjusts its hypothesis for how to interpret the external input at every new syllable, in line with recent ideas of active sampling in perception

PAS Nitrogen Monitoring Report : State of affairs 2016

Het Programma Aanpak Stikstof (PAS) is ingevoerd om economische ontwikkelingen mogelijk te maken en tegelijkertijd de natuurdoelen voor de Natura 2000-gebieden te realiseren. Het programma omvat maatregelen om stikstofuitstoot te verminderen waardoor er minder vanuit de lucht op deze gebieden neerslaat (depositie). Hierdoor ontstaat ruimte voor nieuwe economische activiteiten. Daarnaast omvat het PAS herstelmaatregelen om de natuur aldaar te versterken. Het PAS is op 1 juli 2015 in werking getreden. De ontwikkeling van de depositie door de jaren heen laat in deze monitoringsronde een wisselend beeld zien. Vanuit het hoofdwegennet, de landbouwsector en de bijdrage vanuit het buitenland daalt de verwachte depositie voor 2030 gemiddeld genomen. Andere sectoren laten echter een minder gunstig beeld zien. In zijn totaliteit daalt de gemiddelde depositie 14 procent. Het PAS maakt het mogelijk, gezien de verwachte toekomstige depositiedaling, dat bestaande activiteiten kunnen uitbreiden, of dat nieuwe activiteiten kunnen starten. Met de op die manier beschikbaar gestelde zogenoemde depositieruimte maakt het PAS economische ontwikkeling mogelijk, onder de voorwaarden dat de totale stikstofdepositie blijft dalen, en de instandhoudingsdoelen van de Natura 2000-gebieden niet in geding komen. Bij nieuwe economische activiteiten wordt een onderscheid gemaakt tussen activiteiten die een meldingsplicht hebben omdat ze weinig stikstofdepositie veroorzaken, en vergunningsplichtige activiteiten. De ruimte die beschikbaar is voor activiteiten met meldingsplicht is gemiddeld over Nederland voor 55 procent benut. Van de ruimte voor vergunningsplichtige activiteiten is gemiddeld circa 30 procent benut. Het merendeel van de nieuwe activiteiten betreft de landbouwsector. Het RIVM rapporteert in opdracht van het PAS-Bureau jaarlijks over de stikstofdepositie, als onderdeel van de totale PAS-monitoring. Het gebruikt hiervoor de nieuwste stikstofemissiegegevens en de meest geactualiseerde modellen en rekenmethoden. Telkens worden de verwachte ontwikkelingen voor de ijkjaren 2020 en 2030 beschreven in relatie tot de situatie vóór de PAS (2014).The Nitrogen Action Programme (PAS) was launched in order to facilitate economic development while at the same time realising the nature policy goals for the 'Natura 2000' areas. The programme contains measures for reducing nitrogen emissions so that less nitrogen will be deposited from the air on these areas. This creates opportunities for new economic activities. In addition, the PAS contains measures aimed at strengthening the ability of nature in these areas to recover their natural functions. The PAS went into effect on 1 July 2015. In this monitoring round, the pattern of nitrogen deposition over the years is rather variable. For 2030, the predicted deposition from the main roads and the agricultural sector as well as the contribution from outside the country will, on average, decrease. However, other sectors present a less favourable picture. Overall, the average deposition decreases by 14%. In view of the expected decrease in deposition in future, the PAS makes it possible for existing activities to be expanded or for new activities to be initiated. By taking into account this so-called 'deposition buffer', the PAS makes further economic development possible, subject to the following conditions: a) the total nitrogen deposition continues to decrease, and b) the maintenance goals for the 'Natura 2000 areas' are not compromised. With regard to new economic activities, a distinction is made between activities that need to be reported, as they result in only a minor amount of nitrogen deposition, and activities for which a permit is required. Roughly 55% of the buffer or margin that is available throughout the Netherlands for activities that need to be reported has already been utilised. Roughly 30% of the buffer available for activities that require a permit has been utilised. Most of the new activities involve the agricultural sector. At the request of the PAS Agency, RIVM submits an annual report on the nitrogen deposition, as part of the total PAS monitoring effort. For that purpose, it uses the latest data on nitrogen emissions and the latest models and calculation methods. Each report describes the expected developments for the reference years 2020 and 2030 in relation to the situation that existed before the PAS (2014).Regiegroep Natura 2000 / PA

Development and process evaluation of a motor activity program for people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

Background The support of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) rarely focused on motor activity, which might have negative consequences for the quality of life of these people. Evidence-based motor activity programs that present individually tailored and structural motor activity for these people are, regretfully, lacking. This study developed such a program for these people and evaluated the implementation process. Methods The motor activity program is developed in accordance with the theoretical premises of the educational program and consists of four methodological steps in which the content is individually filled with: motor activity structurally embedded within the activities of daily living, and 3–5 motor activities aimed at a specific goal, which is evaluated. Program delivery consisted of a manual, explanation to the teams, and coaching of one contact person per participant (n = 9). Process evaluation included the delivered fidelity, dose, reach, and adaptations made during the program. In addition, mechanisms of impact and the influence of contextual factors were evaluated. Data collection included researcher logbooks, individual program content, and staff reports. Results The intended fidelity, dose, and reach were not obtained in most participants. Content has been made explicit for seven participants, but only in one participant all critical steps in implementation were performed as intended, though later in time. In three participants, previously offered motor activities were described within the weekly program, but without all activities having a clear link with the goal set. It is showed that the core elements of the program were affected with the conceived implementation plan. The time schedule, critical elements in implementation and program content were influenced by a lack of conditions such as professionals’ motivation and responsibility, methodical working, interdisciplinarity and continuity in staff. Conclusions The results suggest that the implementation might be improved in case more attention is paid to the organizational conditions and implementation structure. The findings led to substantial changes in the implementation strategy. This study underlines the importance of process evaluation prior to testing for effectiveness

Systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving in older adults with personality disorders:A pilot study

Background: Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) is a cognitive behavioural therapy-based group treatment programme for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). STEPPS has demonstrated its effectiveness for (younger) adults. However, there are no studies into the effects of STEPPS for older adults. Aim: The aim was to explore the outcome of STEPPS in older adults with personality disorders. Method: In this naturalistic pre- vs post-treatment study, older patients with a personality disorder, reporting emotion regulation difficulties, were included. The primary outcome was BPD symptoms. Secondary outcomes included psychological distress and maladaptive personality functioning. Results: Twenty-four patients, with a mean age of 63.9 years (SD=4.6), completed the 19-week programme. Nine patients (23.1%) did not complete the treatment. There were no significant differences in age, gender or global severity between completers and patients dropping out. There was a significant pre- vs post-treatment decrease of BPD symptoms, with a large effect size (Cohen’s d=1.577). Self-control improved significantly and demonstrated a large effect size (r=.576). Furthermore, identity integration improved significantly, with a medium effect size (Cohen’s d=.509). No significant differences were reported for most domains of psychological distress and maladaptive interpersonal personality functioning. Conclusions: The findings in this pilot study suggest STEPPS is a feasible treatment programme for older adults with personality disorders and emotion regulation difficulties. Adaptations to the program, for a better fit for older adults, however, might be needed

The spliceosome as target for anticancer treatment

The spliceosome is a ribonucleoprotein complex involved in RNA splicing, that is, the removal of non-coding introns from precursor messenger RNA. (Alternative) Splicing events may play an essential role in tumourigenesis. The recent discovery that the spliceosome is a target for novel compounds with anticancer activity opens up new therapeutic avenues

Adapting group schema therapy for older adults with personality disorders:Lessons learnt

A first empirical study into group schema therapy in older adults with mood disorders and personality disorder (PD) features has shown that brief group schema therapy has potential to decrease psychological distress and to change early maladaptive schemas (EMS). Effect sizes however were smaller than those found in similar studies in younger adults. Therefore, we set out to adapt the treatment protocol for older adults in order to enhance its feasibility and outcome in this age group. We examined this adapted protocol in 29 older adults (mean age 66 years) with PDs from four Dutch mental health institutes. The primary outcome was symptomatic distress, measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory. Secondary outcomes were measured by the Young Schema Questionnaire, the Schema Mode Inventory, and the short version of the Severity Indices of Personality Problems. Contrary to our expectations, the adapted treatment protocol yielded only a small effect size in our primary outcome, and no significant improvement in EMS, modes and personality functioning. Patients pointed out that they were more aware of their dysfunctional patterns, but maybe they had not been able yet to work on behavioural change due to this schema therapy treatment being too brief. We recommend more intensive treatment for older patients with PDs, as they might benefit from more schema therapy sessions, similar to the treatment dosage in younger PD patients. They might also benefit from a combination of group therapy and individual treatment sessions

Systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving for borderline personality disorder:A systematic review

Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) is a group treatment program for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The program was intended to be highly accessible, both for patients and therapists. During STEPPS, patients are taught emotion regulation and behavior management skills. This systematic review synthesizes the current empirical status of STEPPS, focusing on research designs, quality of studies, target groups, protocols, and outcome. We selected 20 studies, with three randomized controlled trials. Patients with BPD, subthreshold BPD, and patients with BPD and comorbid antisocial personality disorder were investigated. One study was conducted in adolescents. There were no studies in older adults. Results demonstrated STEPPS to be associated with reduced BPD symptoms, improved quality of life, decreased depressive symptoms, and decreased negative affectivity. Mixed results were found for impulsivity and suicidal behaviors. STEPPS has both been studied as an add-on therapy to patients' ongoing treatment, and, with the addition of individual STEPPS sessions, as a stand-alone treatment. High attrition rates were found in patients attending STEPPS, complicating the generalizability of the results. Although the evidence for STEPPS is promising, further research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. Recommendations for future research are discussed

The effectiveness of individual schema therapy in older adults with borderline personality disorder:Protocol of a multiple-baseline study

BackgroundThe treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been examined extensively in adults up to the age of fifty in the past quarter of a century, but there is still a world to discover in treating BPD in older adults. The aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy in older adults with BPD.Methods/designA multiple baseline design is used in which participants are randomly assigned to baseline length. The primary outcome measure is assessed weekly and consists of the credibility of negative core beliefs. Secondary outcome measures are quality of life, psychological distress, early maladaptive schemas, schema modes, severity of BPD symptoms and meeting the criteria for BPD. Ten older adults (age > 60 years) with BPD are treated with schema therapy, with weekly sessions during one year. This treatment phase is preceded by a baseline phase varying from 4 to 8 weeks. After treatment, there is a 6-month follow-up phase with monthly booster sessions.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first empirical study of the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic treatment for BPD in older adults. Because of the different manifestation of BPD in later life, besides section II DSM-5 criteria, the alternative, dimensional model for personality disorders of DSM-5 is used to assess BPD in older adults