No evidence for reduced Simon cost in elderly bilinguals and bidialectals

We explored whether a bilingual advantage in executive control is associated with differences in cultural and ethnic background associated with the bilinguals’ immigrant status, and whether dialect use in monolinguals can also incur such an advantage. Performance on the Simon task in older non-immigrant (Gaelic-English) and immigrant (Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Malay, Punjabi, Urdu-English) bilinguals was compared with three groups of older monolingual English speakers, who were either monodialectal users of the same English variety as the bilinguals or were bidialectal users of a local variety of Scots. Results showed no group differences in overall reaction times as well as in the Simon effect thus providing no evidence that an executive control advantage is related to differences in cultural and ethnic background as was found for immigrant compared to non-immigrant bilinguals, nor that executive control may be improved by use of dialect. We suggest the role of interactional contexts and bilingual literacy as potential explanations for inconsistent findings of a bilingual advantage in executive control

Cognitive cost of switching between standard and dialect varieties

Switching between languages in picture naming incurs a cost associated with inhibition of the non-target language (Meuter & Allport, 1999).This cost is symmetrical in balanced bilinguals and asymmetrical in unbalanced bilinguals with higher cost associated with switching back into L1 (Costa & Santesteban,2004).We investigated whether cost is incurred in similar ways by bidialectals switching between two dialects.To increase generalisablity, we conducted this experiment in 2 locations: in Scotland using Standard Scottish English and Dundonian-Scots bidialectals) and in Germany using German and Öcher bidialectals).We also investigated differences between active vs. passive, and older vs. younger bidialectals

Can monolinguals be like bilinguals? Evidence from dialect switching

Bilinguals rely on cognitive control mechanisms like selective activation and inhibition of lexical entries to prevent intrusions from the non-target language. We present cross-linguistic evidence that these mechanisms also operate in bidialectals. Thirty-two native German speakers who sometimes use the Öcher Platt dialect, and thirty-two native English speakers who sometimes use the Dundonian Scots dialect completed a dialect-switching task. Naming latencies were higher for switch than for non-switch trials, and lower for cognate compared to non-cognate nouns. Switch costs were symmetrical, regardless of whether participants actively used the dialect or not. In contrast, sixteen monodialectal English speakers, who performed the dialectswitching task after being trained on the Dundonian words, showed asymmetrical switch costs with longer latencies when switching back into Standard English. These results are reminiscent of findings for balanced vs. unbalanced bilinguals, and suggest that monolingual dialect speakers can recruit control mechanisms in similar ways as bilinguals

Development and feasibility testing of an intervention to support active lifestyles in youths with Type 1 diabetes - the ActivPals programme : a study protocol

Background/objective: The global incidence of Type 1 diabetes is rising and youths with Type 1 diabetes continue to suffer poorer health than peers without diabetes. Evidence suggests youths with Type 1 diabetes have Physical Activity (PA) levels well below the recommendations for health and have high levels of sedentary behavior. An active lifestyle is therefore recommended to improve health. There is limited research showing effective lifestyle behavior change in this population, therefore an evidence gap exists between the need to promote physical activity in Type 1 diabetes care and lack of understanding on how to do this. This protocol paper describes a feasibility and pilot study of the ActivPals programme – an intervention to support active lifestyles in youths with Type 1 diabetes. Methods and design: Key intervention components have been identified from preliminary work (individual and family focus, peer mentoring, technology integration and improved communication and understanding) and are being developed into a pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) supported by recruitment pathways. A steering group of health care professionals and managers will refine the intervention to patient needs. A pilot trial is providing data on intervention implementation, acceptability and feasibility. 20 youths with Type 1 diabetes are being recruited and randomised into an intervention or control group. Physical activity is being measured objectively using the Actigraph GT3X+ monitor at baseline and one month follow-up. Contextual factors associated with intervention delivery are being explored. Conclusions: This study will contribute to the development of evidence based, user informed and pragmatic interventions leading to healthier lifestyles in youths with Type 1 diabetes

Building physical activity and sedentary behavior support into care for youth with type 1 diabetes : patient, parent and diabetes professional perceptions

To explore stakeholder's perceptions of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour support in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), to aid intervention development.  Primary data were collected between February and September 2012. Patients (N = 16), parents (N = 16), and professionals (N = 9) were recruited from a diabetes clinic for a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews (N = 33) and focus groups (N = 2), using broad open-ended questions, were conducted in patient's/parent's homes, and at the diabetes clinic. Data were analysed thematically.  Based on participants' experiences and interpretations, parent and peer support were perceived as essential. Professionals identified they could do more to encourage PA. Technology and information on local opportunities, in addition to in-person support, and a combination of group and one-to-one support were perceived as useful. Important perceived components of support were: diabetes preparation, management and support; enjoyment; education; and incorporation of behaviour change techniques. The time of diagnosis was described as an appropriate point to initiate interventions.  The findings will help the development of future PA and sedentary behaviour interventions for youth with T1D

Far-Term Exploration of Advanced Single-Aisle Subsonic Transport Aircraft Concepts

Far-term single-aisle class aircraft concepts for potential entry-into-service of 2045 were investigated using an Interactive Reconfigurable Matrix of Alternatives (IRMA) approach. The configurations identified through this design space exploration were then distilled into three advanced aircraft concepts best characterizing the prominent features identified through the IRMA exploration. These three aircraft concepts were then configured and sized for a 150-passenger capacity and a 3,500 nautical mile design mission. Mission block fuel burn was estimated and compared to a far-term conventional configuration baseline concept and a 2005 l. These comparisons suggest considerable potential improvements in fuel efficiency from the investigated advanced concepts

Computational Enterprise Modeling and Simulation: Enabling Enterprise Performance Improvement, Modernization and Transformation

Lean Advancement Initiative Annual Conference presentatio

Learning curve analysis of thoracic endovascular aortic repair in relation to credentialing guidelines

ObjectiveRecently, practice guideline documents have recommended the completion of different levels of interventional experience and 5 or 10 thoracic endovascular aortic cases prior to surgeon credentialing. This study’s purpose was to determine whether these requirements are valid by reviewing three surgeons’ learning curves with thoracic aortic endovascular repairs.MethodsBetween 1998 and 2006, 67 patients underwent emergent or elective endovascular repair of thoracic aortic pathologies by one of three vascular surgeons with extensive experience with catheter manipulation and abdominal aortic endografts. Following standard retrospective review, each surgeon’s learning curve was analyzed using the cumulative sum failure method with a target success rate of 95% derived from the literature. The main outcome variable was primary technical success.ResultsThese 67 patients presented with several pathologies including elective (n = 31) and ruptured (n = 11) thoracic aortic aneurysms, acute dissections or aortic ulcers (n = 10), and acute blunt thoracic aortic trauma (n = 15). The mean age was 65 (range: 20 to 90) and the early (30 day) mortality rate was 19.4% in urgent cases (n = 36) and 0% in elective cases (n = 31). Paraplegia occurred in two patients (3%). Primary technical success was achieved in 62 cases (92.5%) and did not differ between surgeons (92.6%, 91.3%, 94.1%, respectively; P = .9). Each surgeon’s cases were plotted sequentially and the resulting learning curves were similar. Although acceptable outcomes were obtained throughout the study period, improved results, compared with the target success rate, were not achieved until each surgeon treated 5 to 10 patients.ConclusionThis study supports the case volume requirements of the Society for Vascular Surgery credentialing guidelines, which also requires extensive catheter and guidewire experience. With this background in catheter manipulation and endovascular abdominal aortic repair, surgeons can achieve optimal outcomes with thoracic aortic lesions following 5 to 10 cases

Quasi-condensation of bilayer excitons in a periodic potential

We study two-dimensional excitons confined in a lattice potential, for high fillings of the lattice sites. We show that a quasi-condensate is possibly formed for small values of the lattice depth, but for larger ones the critical phase-space density for quasi-condensation rapidly exceeds our experimental reach, due to the increase of the excitons effective mass. On the other hand, in the regime of a deep lattice potential where excitons are strongly localised at the lattice sites, we show that an array of phase-independent quasi-condensates, different from a Mott insulating phase, is realised.Comment: 5 pages 4 figure