An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of brain network organization in focal epilepsy: Looking back and forth

Abnormalities of the brain network organization in focal epilepsy have been extensively quantified. However, the extent and directionality of abnormalities are highly variable and subtype insensitive. We conducted meta-analyses to obtain a more accurate and epilepsy type-specific quantification of the interictal global brain network organization in focal epilepsy. By using random-effects models, we estimated differences in average clustering coefficient, average path length, and modularity between patients with focal epilepsy and controls, based on 45 studies with a total sample size of 1,468 patients and 1,021 controls. Structural networks had a significant lower level of integration in patients with epilepsy as compared to controls, with a standardized mean difference of -0.334 (95% confidence interval -0.631 to -0.038; p-value 0.027). Functional networks did not differ between patients and controls, except for the beta band clustering coefficient. Our meta-analyses show that differences in the brain network organization are not as well defined as individual studies often propose. We discuss potential pitfalls and suggestions to enhance the yield and clinical value of network studies

Examining Effects of Technology Level and Reinforcer Arrangements on Preference and Efficacy

Understanding dimensions that influence reinforcement is important for applied behavior analysts. Preference, and reinforcer effectiveness, may change depending upon several dimensions of reinforcement. Two influential dimensions that may influence preference and reinforcer efficacy are response-reinforcer arrangements and stimulus type. Many leisure items used as reinforcers may be classified depending upon technology level (e.g., highly technological items versus non-technological items). In recent years use of highly technological items has increased among individuals with disabilities. When using high- and low-tech reinforcers, reinforcer deliveries may be arranged to occur in a distributed manner (i.e., every response results in a reinforcer delivery), or an accumulated manner (i.e., reinforcers are accumulated and exchanged following completion of all the work). The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction and effects of reinforcer arrangements (i.e., distributed reinforcement and accumulated reinforcement) and technology level of items (i.e., high-tech and low-tech) on preference and reinforcer efficacy with three children with autism. Results demonstrated higher response rates and preference toward accumulated reinforcer arrangements compared to distributed reinforcer arrangements regardless of technology level. Overall, participants’ responding and preference were sensitive to different reinforcer arrangements but were less sensitive to differences in the technology level of the reinforcers used

The Dimensions of Customer Satisfaction in the Jamaican Financial Service Industry

Bank leaders spend an average of $727 to acquire a new customer and$287 to retain current customers. Grounded in customer relationship management and adaptation level theories, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between service quality and customers\u27 intention to switch banking service. An online survey was administered to 203 Jamaican banking customers. The target population was selected to identify if the Jamaican banks\u27 customer service adhered to the customer satisfaction principles developed by Parasuraman. The independent variables were the 10 dimensions of service quality. Competence, courtesy, credibility, and access were removed because of multicollinearity issues. The dependent variable was the customers\u27 intention. The results indicated a statistically significant relationship, F(6, 196) = 15.074, p \u3c .001, between service quality and customer intent to switch banking services. The six predictors: tangibles (r = -.303, p \u3c .005), reliability (r = -.253, p \u3c .008), responsiveness (r = .35, p \u3c .001), safety (r = -.433, p \u3c .001), communication (r = -.184, p \u3c .028), and empathy (r = -.357, p \u3c .001), accounted the largest variance for (β = -.316) of the customers\u27 intention of the Jamaican banking service. The implications for positive social change include the potential for bank leaders to develop customer-focused banking policy, increase customer satisfaction, and decrease costs related to losing customers, thus increasing profitability

The Effect of Parent-Implemented Functional Communication Training on Challenging Behavior and Communication: A Meta-Analysis

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. May 2019. Major: Educational Psychology. Advisors: Jason Wolff, Kristen McMaster. 1 computer file (PDF); viii, 130 pages.A high proportion of people with developmental disabilities engage in challenging behavior compared to the general population (McClintock, Hall, & Oliver, 2003). Functional Communication Training (FCT) is an is an evidence-based intervention to address challenging behavior (Heath et al., 2015), but many people remain unable to access effective interventions like FCT. One strategy to increase access is to train parents to be interventionists for their children. The present study is a meta-analysis of studies examining parent-implemented FCT. Procedures were registered with PROSPERO prior to data extraction (Registration # CRD42018100912, Pennington, 2018). The study addresses the following questions: (1) What is the overall effect of parent-implemented FCT on challenging behavior and communication? (2) What are the characteristics of participants, implementers, and interventions in parent-implemented FCT studies, and to what extent do those characteristics moderate outcomes? (3) Do parents implement FCT with fidelity, and how were parents trained or coached? and (4) To what extent do included studies meet quality indicators? I used a multi-level, mixed effects meta-analysis to examine the effects of parent-implemented FCT on challenging behavior for 53 participants in 21studies, and on communication for 29 participants in 14 studies. Overall, FCT had a moderate to large effect size for reducing challenging behavior and a large effect size for increasing communication. No significant moderators were found for participant or coaching characteristics. For intervention characteristics, implementing the intervention in natural settings was significantly associated with an increased effect size. These results indicate that parent-implemented FCT is an effective intervention across various participant, intervention, and coaching characteristics