title: The effect of type 1 diabetes on executive function in young adults

authors: Reid, Matthew Devon

subjects: executive function

abstract: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition affecting the production of insulin, with rapidly increasing incidence worldwide. The disease impacts on nearly all domains of life, including the physical, social, neurological and psychological. Adequate management of the disease requires careful monitoring and self-care to maintain glycaemic control. Executive function (EF) refers to a cluster of top-down cognitive processes engaged in the planning and completion of goal-directed behaviour allowing an individual to plan their actions, contemplate novel challenges, resist temptation and focus attention while avoiding distracting stimuli. Young adulthood represents an important developmental stage during which robust EF is essential. Previously limited research has explored the impact of T1DM on EF specifically within a young adult population. The current study recruited a sample of young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 withT1DM (n=14) and an age and gender matched control group (n=14) of non-diabetic individuals. Groups were assessed on measures of EF while maintaining blood glucose levels within a euglycaemic range. The central aims of the study were to compare and contrast the diabetic and control group EF performance, and to explore the relationship between diabetic related variables and measures of EF. It was found that the diabetic group committed significantly more errors than the control group on a test of set-shifting ability. It was also found that the relationship between performance-based tests of EF and a rating scale measure of EF was unique to each group. HbA1c, a measure of longer term glycaemic control, was found to be significantly related to a rating scale measure of EF but not performance-based measures. It was also found that mean blood glucose level during assessment was significantly related to performance on measures of working memory. Despite a limited sample size, the findings suggest that in a young adult population there is some evidence that T1DM is related to impairments in certain areas of EF — including set-shifting, inhibition and the higher-level construct of problem-solving ability. Future research could extend these findings by specifically exploring the relationship between trail-making tasks and rating scales of EF, examining the role of hot EF in diabetes self-care, and determining the sensitivity of specific EF to subtle changes in blood glucose within a euglycaemic range.

text: The effect of type 1 diabetes on executive function in young adults Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition affecting the production of insulin, with rapidly increasing incidence worldwide. The disease impacts on nearly all domains of life, including the physical, social, neurological and psychological. Adequate management of the disease requires careful monitoring and self-care to maintain glycaemic control. Executive function (EF) refers to a cluster of top-down cognitive processes engaged in the planning and completion of goal-directed behaviour allowing an individual to plan their actions, contemplate novel challenges, resist temptation and focus attention while avoiding distracting stimuli. Young adulthood represents an important developmental stage during which robust EF is essential. Previously limited research has explored the impact of T1DM on EF specifically within a young adult population. The current study recruited a sample of young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 withT1DM (n=14) and an age and gender matched control group (n=14) of non-diabetic individuals. Groups were assessed on measures of EF while maintaining blood glucose levels within a euglycaemic range. The central aims of the study were to compare and contrast the diabetic and control group EF performance, and to explore the relationship between diabetic related variables and measures of EF. It was found that the diabetic group committed significantly more errors than the control group on a test of set-shifting ability. It was also found that the relationship between performance-based tests of EF and a rating scale measure of EF was unique to each group. HbA1c, a measure of longer term glycaemic control, was found to be significantly related to a rating scale measure of EF but not performance-based measures. It was also found that mean blood glucose level during assessment was significantly related to performance on measures of working memory. Despite a limited sample size, the findings suggest that in a young adult population there is some evidence that T1DM is related to impairments in certain areas of EF — including set-shifting, inhibition and the higher-level construct of problem-solving ability. Future research could extend these findings by specifically exploring the relationship between trail-making tasks and rating scales of EF, examining the role of hot EF in diabetes self-care, and determining the sensitivity of specific EF to subtle changes in blood glucose within a euglycaemic range.

year: 2017

title: Social music in cars

authors: Cunningham, Sally Jo

abstract: This paper builds an understanding of how music is currently experienced by a social group travelling together in a car - how songs are chosen for playing, how music both reflects and influences the group’s mood and social interaction, who supplies the music, the hardware/software that supports song selection and presentation. This fine-grained context emerges from a qualitative analysis of a rich set of ethnographic data (participant observations and interviews) focusing primarily on the experience of in-car music on moderate length and long trips. We suggest features and functionality for music software to enhance the social experience when travelling in cars, and prototype and test a user interface based on design suggestions drawn from the data.

text: Social music in cars This paper builds an understanding of how music is currently experienced by a social group travelling together in a car - how songs are chosen for playing, how music both reflects and influences the group’s mood and social interaction, who supplies the music, the hardware/software that supports song selection and presentation. This fine-grained context emerges from a qualitative analysis of a rich set of ethnographic data (participant observations and interviews) focusing primarily on the experience of in-car music on moderate length and long trips. We suggest features and functionality for music software to enhance the social experience when travelling in cars, and prototype and test a user interface based on design suggestions drawn from the data.

year: 2014

title: Maori seeking self-determination or Tino Rangatiratanga? A note

authors: Toki, Valmaine

abstract: Dr Nin Tomas wrote a considered and substantial piece entitled “Indigenous Peoples and the Māori: The Right to Self-Determination in International Law - From Woe to Go” for the New Zealand Law Review published in 2008.² In her conclusion she notes two ways in which self-determination has been implemented by the state: first, by “greater tolerance and benevolence along a series of principled guidelines”,³ and, second, as a “peoples-centred, enabling principle that allows Indigenous peoples to re-establish their social, economic and political institutions”.⁴
In 2010, New Zealand reversed its position and supported the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration).5 With this in mind, this short piece revisits the notion of self-determination by examining the differing dynamics of concepts of external and internal self-determination before a short discussion on pluralism and the relationship between tino rangatiratanga and self-determination. In conclusion some thoughts are offered on a potential form of self-determination that could be consistent with the exercise of tino rangatiratanga.

text: Maori seeking self-determination or Tino Rangatiratanga? A note Dr Nin Tomas wrote a considered and substantial piece entitled “Indigenous Peoples and the Māori: The Right to Self-Determination in International Law - From Woe to Go” for the New Zealand Law Review published in 2008.² In her conclusion she notes two ways in which self-determination has been implemented by the state: first, by “greater tolerance and benevolence along a series of principled guidelines”,³ and, second, as a “peoples-centred, enabling principle that allows Indigenous peoples to re-establish their social, economic and political institutions”.⁴
In 2010, New Zealand reversed its position and supported the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration).5 With this in mind, this short piece revisits the notion of self-determination by examining the differing dynamics of concepts of external and internal self-determination before a short discussion on pluralism and the relationship between tino rangatiratanga and self-determination. In conclusion some thoughts are offered on a potential form of self-determination that could be consistent with the exercise of tino rangatiratanga.

year: 2017