Longitudinal predictors of early language in infants with Down syndrome: a preliminary study

Purpose: Children with Down syndrome (DS) typically have marked delays in language development relative to their general cognitive development, with particular difficulties in expressive compared to receptive language. Although early social communication skills, including gestures and joint attention, have been shown to be related to later language outcomes in DS, knowledge is limited as to whether these factors exclusively predict outcomes, or whether other factors (e.g. perceptual and non-verbal skills) are involved. This study addressed this question. Method: Longitudinal data for a group of infants with DS (n=14) and a group of typically-developing (TD) infants (n=35) were collected on measures that have been shown to predict language in TD infants and/or those with developmental delays. These included: non-verbal mental ability, speech segmentation skills, and early social communication skills (initiating and responding to joint attention, initiating behavioural requests). Results: Linear regression analyses showed that speech segmentation and initiating joint attention were the strongest predictors of later language in the TD group, whereas non-verbal mental ability and responding to joint attention were the strongest predictors of later language for infants with DS. Conclusions: Speech segmentation ability may not determine language outcomes in DS, and language acquisition may be more constrained by social communication and general cognitive skills

Do infants with Down syndrome show an early receptive language advantage?

Purpose The study explored longitudinally the course of vocabulary and general language development in a group of infants with Down syndrome (DS) compared to a group of typically-developing (TD) infants matched on non-verbal mental ability (NVMA). Method We compared the vocabulary and general language trajectories of the two groups in two ways: a) at three time points during a 12 month period, and b) at 2 time points when the groups had made equal progress in non-verbal mental ability (a period of 6 months for the TD infants, versus 12 months for the infants with DS). Results The TD group had overtaken the DS group on all general language and vocabulary measures by the end of the 12-month period. However, expressive communication and expressive vocabulary were developing at the same rate and level in the two groups when examined over a period in which the two groups were matched in gains in non-verbal mental ability. Furthermore, the infants with DS showed a receptive language advantage over the TD group; this group’s auditory comprehension and receptive vocabulary scores were superior to those of the TD group at both time points when non-verbal mental ability was accounted for. Conclusion The results shed light on the widely reported discrepancy between expressive and receptive language in individuals with DS. Although infants with DS appear to be developing language skills more slowly than chronological age TD peers, when NVMA is taken into account, infants with DS do not have expressive language delays and they seem to show a receptive language advantage

Nurses and midwives' experiences with a peer group clinical supervision intervention: A pilot study

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate differences in supervisees' understanding of clinical supervision and their perceptions of organisational functioning before and after engaging in peer-group clinical supervision. Background: Protected reflective time allows discussion of complex issues affecting health care. Peer-group clinical supervision is one model of clinical supervision that could facilitate this, but it is poorly understood. Methods: A preâ post intervention pilot study was performed. The intervention was delivered over a 12-month period. Data were collected using surveys on demographic and work-related factors and experience of clinical supervision pre- and post intervention. Results: Adaptability increased significantly between the pre- and post surveys. The post survey data showed finding time for clinical supervision scoring lowest with open-ended comments reinforcing this. The supervisees found the sessions to offer a safe place despite initial concerns. Conclusion: The peer-group model of clinical supervision allowed supervisees to build a rapport and trust with their colleagues and share experiences. Implications for Nursing Management: The benefits to participating in peer-group clinical supervision traversed the individual and organisation. These data support the implementation of such sessions while addressing workload and time pressures to aid participation

Peer group clinical supervision: Qualitative perspectives from nurse supervisees, managers, and supervisors

Background: Clinical supervision helps promote practitioners' personal and professional development through fostering a supportive relationship and working alliance. Peer group clinical supervision is a form of clinical supervision whereby two or more nurses engage in a supervision process to improve their professional practice and provide quality care. Aim: To explore the experiences of supervision from the perspectives of nurse supervisees, their direct line managers, and clinical supervisors. Methods: A qualitative descriptive pragmatic design was used. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with 27 participants. Data were analysed using deductive content analysis. Findings: Three main categories were identified: Perceived benefits of peer group clinical supervision, challenges faced during peer group clinical supervision, and enhancements for future peer group clinical supervision sessions. Stress reduction, problem solving, managing change, and improved prioritisation were amongst the benefits gained from clinical supervision. Challenges included competing work demands, staffing issues, and the duration, location, and process of supervision. Participants recommended adding time to the allocated supervision hour, raising awareness of peer group clinical supervision in advance, and training expert supervisors. Discussion: The space for peer group clinical supervision needs to be primed beforehand through providing and ensuring protected time, the availability of experienced supervisors, and raising key stakeholders' awareness of what supervision entails. Stress caused by competing work demands and the fear of losing momentum need to be considered by services in advance. Conclusion: Findings support the planning, delivery, and evaluation of future peer group clinical supervision sessions, while addressing challenges identified by study participants

The development and growth of the software industry in Ireland: an institutionalized relationship approach

peer-reviewedIreland's software industry emerged in the 1970s and 1980s due to significant international developments and, more importantly, the industrial policy approach adopted in Ireland. The attraction of software foreign direct investment during these decades was followed by the emergence of an internationally competitive Irish software sector. A multitude of factors combine to explain the trajectory of software in Ireland: from developments related to globalization and international trade, to policy makers' efforts to promote an industry where Ireland could forge a comparative advantage internationally. An analysis of industrial dynamics and institutionalized relationships (IRs) furthers our understanding of significant developments in the industry in terms of interactions between firms, government and other stakeholders. This paper makes a novel contribution by analysing Ireland's software industry within the IR framework. The IR approach we employ focuses on the finance IR, the purchase IR, the employment IR, and the commercial IR. The adoption of the IR framework approach is particularly insightful in the Irish case as it facilitates a multifaceted analysis of the complex relationships that have moulded the Irish software industry. Such an approach also facilitates a study of the policy implications and policy prescriptions that are pertinent to the software sector.ACCEPTEDpeer-reviewe

Global delivery models: the role of talent, speed and time zones in the global outsourcing industry

Global delivery models (GDMs) are transforming the global IT and business process outsourcing industry. GDMs are a new form of client-specific investment promoting service integration with clients by combining client proximity with time-zone spread for 24/7 service operations. We investigate antecedents and contingencies of setting up GDM structures. Based on comprehensive data we show that providers are likely to establish GDM location configurations when clients value access to globally distributed talent and speed of service delivery, in particular when services are highly commoditized. Findings imply that coordination across time zones increasingly affects international operations in business-to-business and born-global industries

Multinational firms' motivations and foreign direct investment decisions : an analysis of the software & IT and financial services sectors in the Irish context

The paper focuses on the way greenfield foreign direct investment in different sectors is influenced by locational characteristics and explores the role of policy in attracting and retaining foreign investment. We contribute to the literature by empirically investigating the investment motivations of multinational companies in the Software & IT and Financial Services sectors in Ireland and those locational factors that contribute to the retention of foreign direct investment. The methodology used in this research is of a qualitative nature and an exploratory deductive approach is adopted in order to gain an understanding of firms’ internationalisation decisions and motivations. The data demonstrates that companies in the two sectors follow different investment motivations. Firms in the Software & IT sector entered Ireland primarily because of the availability of a high quality workforce. Whereas firms in the Financial Services sector entered Ireland following the deregulation of markets and the subsequent ease of doing business. The paper builds on these findings to develop policy recommendations

Mapping genomic loci implicates genes and synaptic biology in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has a heritability of 60-80%1, much of which is attributable to common risk alleles. Here, in a two-stage genome-wide association study of up to 76,755 individuals with schizophrenia and 243,649 control individuals, we report common variant associations at 287 distinct genomic loci. Associations were concentrated in genes that are expressed in excitatory and inhibitory neurons of the central nervous system, but not in other tissues or cell types. Using fine-mapping and functional genomic data, we identify 120 genes (106 protein-coding) that are likely to underpin associations at some of these loci, including 16 genes with credible causal non-synonymous or untranslated region variation. We also implicate fundamental processes related to neuronal function, including synaptic organization, differentiation and transmission. Fine-mapped candidates were enriched for genes associated with rare disruptive coding variants in people with schizophrenia, including the glutamate receptor subunit GRIN2A and transcription factor SP4, and were also enriched for genes implicated by such variants in neurodevelopmental disorders. We identify biological processes relevant to schizophrenia pathophysiology; show convergence of common and rare variant associations in schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders; and provide a resource of prioritized genes and variants to advance mechanistic studies

Contemporary migration patterns in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection: a systematic review

Background: A rapid growth in the number of international migrants over the past years has occurred with most traveling to more affluent settings. As Helicobacter pylori infects over half of the adult population and its prevalence is higher in developing countries, understanding the prevalence of infection in migrants can provide insight into future trends in the burden and management of infection. We aimed to describe the prevalence of H. pylori among migrants through a systematic literature review. Methods: We searched PubMed® from inception to September 2015 to identify studies reporting the prevalence of H. pylori in international migrants according to country of birth for first‐generation, and country of birth and parents' nationality for successive generations. Comparable data from origin and destination populations were obtained from the same studies or, when not present, from a previous systematic review on H. pylori worldwide. Results: A total of 28 eligible studies were identified with data for 29 origin and 12 destination countries. Two studies that evaluated refugees presented prevalences of infection higher than both the origin and destination countries. Otherwise, the prevalences among migrants were generally similar or below that of the origin and higher than the destination. Second‐ or more generation had lower prevalences compared to first‐generation migrants. Conclusions: Our study findings are consistent with what would be expected based on the prevalence of H. pylori worldwide. The results of this review show that migrants are particularly at risk of infection and help to identify gaps in the knowledge of migrants' prevalence of infection globally.This work was supported by “Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional” (FEDER) funds through the “Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade” (POFC) – COMPETE (FCOMP‐01‐0124‐FEDER‐021181) and by national funds through the “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” (PTDC/SAU‐EPI/122460/2010) and the Epidemiology Research Unit – Institute of Public Health, University of Porto supported by the “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” (UID/DTP/047507/2013). Individual grants attributed to SM (SFRH/BD/102585/2014), ARC (SFRH/BD/102181/2014), AF (PD/BD/105823/2014), and BP (SFRH/BPD/75918/2011 and SFRH/BPD/108751/2015) were supported by “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.” The funders had no role in study design, data collection, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Mapping genomic loci prioritises genes and implicates synaptic biology in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has a heritability of 60–80%1, much of which is attributable to common risk alleles. Here, in a two-stage genome-wide association study of up to 76,755 individuals with schizophrenia and 243,649 control individuals, we report common variant associations at 287 distinct genomic loci. Associations were concentrated in genes that are expressed in excitatory and inhibitory neurons of the central nervous system, but not in other tissues or cell types. Using fine-mapping and functional genomic data, we identify 120 genes (106 protein-coding) that are likely to underpin associations at some of these loci, including 16 genes with credible causal non-synonymous or untranslated region variation. We also implicate fundamental processes related to neuronal function, including synaptic organization, differentiation and transmission. Fine-mapped candidates were enriched for genes associated with rare disruptive coding variants in people with schizophrenia, including the glutamate receptor subunit GRIN2A and transcription factor SP4, and were also enriched for genes implicated by such variants in neurodevelopmental disorders. We identify biological processes relevant to schizophrenia pathophysiology; show convergence of common and rare variant associations in schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders; and provide a resource of prioritized genes and variants to advance mechanistic studies