Love is . . . an abstract word: the influence of phonological and semantic factors on verbal short-term memory in Williams syndrome

It has been claimed that verbal short-term memory in Williams syndrome is characterised by an over-use of phonological coding alongside a reduced contribution of lexical semantics. We critically examine this hypothesis and present results from a memory span task comparing performance on concrete and abstract words, together with a replication of a span task using phonologically similar and phonologically dissimilar words. Fourteen participants with Williams syndrome were individually matched to two groups of typically developing children. The first control group was matched on digit span and the second on vocabulary level. Significant effects were found for both the semantic and the phonological variables in the WS group as well as in the control groups, with no interaction between experimental variable and group in either experiment. The results demonstrate that, despite claims to the contrary, children and adults with WS are able to access and make use of lexical semantics in a verbal short-term memory task in a manner comparable to typically developing individuals

Assessing the Accuracy of Complex Refractive Index Retrievals from Single Aerosol Particle Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy

<p>Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) of single, optically manipulated aerosol particles affords quantitative retrieval of refractive indices for particles of fixed or evolving composition with high precision. Here, we quantify the accuracy with which refractive index determinations can be made by CRDS for single particles confined within the core of a Bessel laser beam and how that accuracy is degraded as the particle size is progressively reduced from the coarse mode (>1 μm radius) to the accumulation mode (<500 nm radius) regime. We apply generalized Lorenz–Mie theory to the intra-cavity standing wave to explore the effect of particle absorption on the distribution of extinction cross section determinations resulting from stochastic particle motion in the Bessel beam trap. The analysis provides an assessment of the accuracy with which the real, <i>n</i>, and imaginary, κ, components of the refractive index can be determined for a single aerosol particle.</p> <p>Published with license by American Association for Aerosol Research</p> <p><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/pb-assets/tandf/Migrated/UAST_VideoAbstract_Transcript.pdf" target="_blank">Read the transcript</a></p> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/263371383" target="_blank">Watch the video on Vimeo</a></p

Predicting consumers’ trial/adoption of new technology: revisiting the behavioral expectations – behavioral intentions debate

Behavioral intentions (BI) are considered the key to understanding and predicting the trial/adoption of new technology. When choices of new technology adoption increases (and time compresses), it becomes correspondingly more difficult to predict consumers’ trial/adoption. Due to its greater temporal stability and potentially superior predictive ability, this article encourages researchers to consider behavioral expectations (BE) ahead of BI. However, this ultimately depends on the antecedents germane to the particular new technology adoption process under examination. Thus, researchers are encouraged to consider the key determinants of BE: experience, perceived behavioral control, facilitating conditions, self-efficacy, attitudes, subjective norms, and availability of information.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rirr202020-06-24hj2019Marketing Managemen

Optical extinction efficiency measurements on fine and accumulation mode aerosol using single particle cavity ring-down spectroscopy

We report a new single aerosol particle approach using cavity ringdown spectroscopy to accurately determine optical extinction cross sections at multiple wavelengths.</p

Liberal market economies, business, and political finance: Britain under New Labour

The extent and nature of business financing of parties is an important feature of political finance. Britain’s transparent and permissive regulatory system provides an excellent opportunity to study business financing of parties. Business donations have been very important to the Conservative party over the last decade, and of only marginal importance to Labour. Unlike other Conservative contributors, business donors are more likely to contribute when the party is popular. In contrast to the previous period of Conservative government, the biggest British businesses tended to abstain from political finance under New Labour. However, their bias towards the Conservatives is affected by the party’s popularity and the closeness of an election. Britain shares the political importance of business financing of parties and its mixture of ideological and pragmatic motivations with other liberal market economies. However, in Britain the bias towards the right is much stronger and the role of big business more marginal

Dynamics of photodissociation of XeF2 in organic solvents

This article explores photodissociation of XeF2 in solution, using femtosecond pump probe spectroscopy to follow the fates of photoproducts following cleavage of one Xe–F bond.</p

Walk well:a randomised controlled trial of a walking intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities: study protocol

Background - Walking interventions have been shown to have a positive impact on physical activity (PA) levels, health and wellbeing for adult and older adult populations. There has been very little work carried out to explore the effectiveness of walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities. This paper will provide details of the Walk Well intervention, designed for adults with intellectual disabilities, and a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test its effectiveness. Methods/design - This study will adopt a RCT design, with participants allocated to the walking intervention group or a waiting list control group. The intervention consists of three PA consultations (baseline, six weeks and 12 weeks) and an individualised 12 week walking programme. A range of measures will be completed by participants at baseline, post intervention (three months from baseline) and at follow up (three months post intervention and six months from baseline). All outcome measures will be collected by a researcher who will be blinded to the study groups. The primary outcome will be steps walked per day, measured using accelerometers. Secondary outcome measures will include time spent in PA per day (across various intensity levels), time spent in sedentary behaviour per day, quality of life, self-efficacy and anthropometric measures to monitor weight change. Discussion - Since there are currently no published RCTs of walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities, this RCT will examine if a walking intervention can successfully increase PA, health and wellbeing of adults with intellectual disabilities