Publications by authors named "L C Smeets"

A question in language acquisition research is whether attrition can affect L1 grammatical representation, and if so, under what conditions. This paper tests the Attrition via Acquisition (AvA) model, which takes a Feature Reassembly approach to predict how, in case on high degrees of similarity between the L1 and L2, the acquisition of L2 discourse-driven morpho-syntactic properties may affect L1 feature representations after a prolonged change in the speaker's primary linguistic input during adulthood. As a test case, we use the different features ( versus ) associated with Clitic Left Dislocation (CLLD) in Romanian and Italian, examining the grammars of Romanian first-generation immigrants with either L2 Italian or L2 English (a language without CLLD).

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This study investigates feature acquisition and feature reassembly associated with Clitic Left Dislocation (CLLD). The article compares the acquisition of CLLD in second language (L2) Italian to L2 Romanian to examine effects of first language (L1) transfer, construction frequency and the type of interface involved (external vs. internal interface) within the same syntactic construction.

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Article Synopsis
  • Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections can cause severe respiratory issues and acute flaccid myelitis, with a significant rise reported during the fall-winter season of 2021-2022 across Europe.
  • The study by the European Non-Polio Enterovirus Network (ENPEN) analyzed over 10,481 samples from 19 countries, identifying 1,004 as EV-D68, predominantly affecting young children, where 37.9% required hospitalization.
  • Additionally, genetic analyses uncovered two new B3-derived lineages without regional patterns, indicating a notable impact of the infections and the emergence of new virus strains.
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Objectives: To assess the performances of three commonly used antigen rapid diagnostic tests used as self-tests in asymptomatic individuals in the Omicron period.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional diagnostic test accuracy study in the Omicron period in three public health service COVID-19 test sites in the Netherlands, including 3600 asymptomatic individuals aged ≥ 16 years presenting for SARS-CoV-2 testing for any reason except confirmatory testing after a positive self-test. Participants were sampled for RT-PCR (reference test) and received one self-test (either Acon Flowflex [Flowflex], MP Biomedicals (MPBio), or Siemens-Healthineers CLINITEST [CLINITEST]) to perform unsupervised at home.

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Objective: To assess the performance of rapid antigen tests with unsupervised nasal and combined oropharyngeal and nasal self-sampling during the omicron period.

Design: Prospective cross sectional diagnostic test accuracy study.

Setting: Three public health service covid-19 test sites in the Netherlands, 21 December 2021 to 10 February 2022.

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