A Comparative Study of Working Memory in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background: Previous research has provided conflicting reports with regards to the functioning of the various components of working memory in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and in particular in those with autism. This research was initiated to answer some of the questions raised by these research studies and to provide a comparison of performance of children with different neurodevelopmental disorders on the same measure of working memory. Aim: The purpose of this research was to investigate working memory functioning of children with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), and specific and language impairment (SLI). A group of typically developing (TD) children was also tested for comparison. The groups included in the present study were selected with the aim of identifying varying patterns or profiles of working memory dysfunction, as a function of the different levels of intellectual functioning within these neurodevelopmental groups. The scores of children with SLI were within the average range on the performance IQ scale (PIQ). Low functioning children with ASD have a Full scale IQ (FSIQ) score of less than 70; high functioning children with ASD have a Full Scale IQ score above 70. Children with ID have a FSIQ score of lower than 70. Within each group, there can be considerable variation in IQ score, allowing the examination of working memory as a function of IQ. The research also aimed to explore the relationship between intelligence and memory, with particular reference to crystallized and fluid intelligence and processing speed. The present research study also aimed to examine any particular working memory profiles that might characterise each group; these were predicted to vary across groups. The hypotheses were generated based on previous research in this field, which suggests that children with neurodevelopmental difficulties demonstrate impairments in memory functioning, particularly affecting working memory, compared to typically developing children. Method: Data were collected from children in pre-schools and schools located in the Munster region of the Republic of Ireland. In total, 96 children participated, with ages ranging from 48 to 192 months. The ASD group consisted of 26 children (23 male; 3 female) with an age range of 49-161 months. The group with ID consisted of 32 children (21 male; 11 female), with an age range of 56-192 months. The SLI group consisted of 15 children (10 male and 5 female) with an age range of 75-154 months. The typically developing children consisted of 23 children (12 male and 11 female) with an age range of 48-190 months. The SLI group had a lower age range when compared to the other three groups; however, this would not have had any substantial effect on the outcome of the results as the test batteries used in the research were age normed. The children were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV) or the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III), as appropriate for their age, to determine their level of intellectual ability. The children with a diagnosis of ASD and SLI were assessed by the relevant professionals to confirm their diagnosis. All children were subsequently assessed using a measure of the components of working memory, the Automated Working Memory Assessment (AWMA), in order to identify any relative strengths and weaknesses in their working memory functioning. Results: The results indicate that the high functioning children with ASD performed equally well on almost all the subtests of AWMA when matched with the typically developing children on IQ and age. There was no difference observed on the memory tasks between the performance of low functioning children with ASD and those with ID. The children with ID performed poorly on the memory tasks compared to the children with average intelligence. The SLI group showed impairment on the verbal memory measures and, when IQ was controlled, the SLI group indicated some further impairment on visual spatial tasks when their performance was compared with the typically developing children. Furthermore, these groups presented their own unique profiles when Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) and Processing Speed Index (PSI), measures that contribute towards calculating the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), were statistically controlled. The VCI and PRI are considered to measure crystallized and fluid aspects of intelligence respectively. Correlational analyses indicated a unique profile for each group. Conclusion: The implications of the findings are discussed with reference to relevant research and interventions for children with neurodevelopmental difficulties. The present research highlights the differential performance of the four groups with respect to working memory, and notes the contribution of intellectual functioning to the memory dysfunction

New Routes to II-VI Materials

PhDZinc and cadmium dithiocarbamates were synthesized and used as single molecule precursors for the deposition of zinc or cadmium chalcogenides. The precursors were based on trimethylpropylenediamine including bis(trimethylpropylenediaminedithiocarbamato) zinc(lll)\cadmium(II) (3), (4) and methyl(trimethylpropylenediaminedithiocarbamato) zinc(III)\cadmium(II) (5), (6). These compounds have been chracterized by I. R, NMR ('H, 13Ca nd 11C3 d) and mass spectrometry. The c,ý sU*7 structures of bis(U-imethylpropylenediminedthiocarbamato)zinc(III) (3) and methyl- (ft-imethylpropylenediaminedithiocarbamato)cadmium (H) (6) have been determined, both compounds were polymeric. Thin films of zinc or cadmium sulfide by MOCVD method have been grown from (3), (4), (5) and (6). The cadmium compounds gave good films on both glass and GaAs substrates, but the films grown from corresponding zinc compounds were of poorer quality. Some t-butyl- and neopentyl(di-alkylamido)zinc compounds have been synthesized and characterized. Thin films of CdS, ZnS, CdZni-. S, and ZnO were grown by chemical bath deposition method. US films were deposited by using cadmium/ethylenediamine- /thiourea system whereas ZnS films were grown from zinc/ammonia/hydrazine/thiourea system. Films of ternary Cd,, Znl-,, S have been obtained by the addition of cadmium to the ZnS system. Calculation were carried out for the speciation of the solution for which US was deposited. Films of ZnO were deposited from solution containing zinc/ethylenediamine in presence of NaOH. The various parameters controlling the film quality, growth rates, morphology and crystallinity were investigated. The films deposited were characterized by several methods including scanning electron microscopy, tramission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, reflection high energy electron diffraction and the electronic spectroscopy.B.P. Solo

Salespersons’ Skills-Set in Marketing Exchanges: Implications for Pharmaceutical Companies

The emphasis of this research study is about salespersons’ skills-set (customer orientation, adaptive selling) and its influence on customer behaviors in terms of repeat purchase and word-of-mouth. In addition to this, study also aims at exploring the mediating role of salespersons’ relational behavior between skills-set and customer behaviors. Since personal selling keeps on developing its dynamics, sales force is progressively accomplishing more than just communicating organizational message. Salespersons required additional skills-set including customer orientation and adaptive selling to cope with the modern behavioral challenges of customers. Quantitative research methodology was implied in which data was collected with the help of convenient sampling technique. Encouraging response rate of 80% was received from pharmaceutical employees out of 600 questionnaires. The responses received reveal significant positive impact of skills-set on customer behavior. Mediation effect of salespersons’ relational behavior indicates salespersons focusing on cooperative intentions and mutual disclosure which are considered to be strong components of building relational behaviors. In high pressure selling techniques, salespersons possessing relational abilities are more likely to perform well. On this basis, it is recommended that with relational behaviors salespersons can better identify customer needs and wants. Secondly, salespersons will be in a better position to alter their selling techniques

Salespersons’ Skills-Set in Marketing Exchanges: Implications for Pharmaceutical Companies

The emphasis of this research study is about salespersons’ skills-set (customer orientation, adaptive selling) and its influence on customer behaviors in terms of repeat purchase and word-of-mouth. In addition to this, study also aims at exploring the mediating role of salespersons’ relational behavior between skills-set and customer behaviors. Since personal selling keeps on developing its dynamics, sales force is progressively accomplishing more than just communicating organizational message. Salespersons required additional skills-set including customer orientation and adaptive selling to cope with the modern behavioral challenges of customers. Quantitative research methodology was implied in which data was collected with the help of convenient sampling technique. Encouraging response rate of 80% was received from pharmaceutical employees out of 600 questionnaires. The responses received reveal significant positive impact of skills-set on customer behavior. Mediation effect of salespersons’ relational behavior indicates salespersons focusing on cooperative intentions and mutual disclosure which are considered to be strong components of building relational behaviors. In high pressure selling techniques, salespersons possessing relational abilities are more likely to perform well. On this basis, it is recommended that with relational behaviors salespersons can better identify customer needs and wants. Secondly, salespersons will be in a better position to alter their selling techniques

Brand Experience and Brand Commitment: Chartering New Directions

The marketplace is gradually becoming more competitive and dynamic nowadays. In this scenario, the ultimate goal for brand managers is to achieve brand commitment. Considering the significance of brand commitment, this study explores the impact of brand experience on brand commitment via mediating influence of brand passion in light of the Stimulus-Organism Response Model. Moreover, this study evaluates the impact of brand image on brand experience and brand passion. The theoretical framework has been analyzed via structural equation modeling using AMOSS 22.0 by using data from 390 smartphone users. For the data collection, a structured questionnaire was used. The result indicates that brand passion mediates the relationship between brand experience and brand commitment. The existence of this mediation validates the application of the S-O-R model. Moreover, this research proves that brand image has a positive linkage with brand passion. Lastly, this research depicts that brand image plays the role of the antecedent of brand experience

2-(2-Methyl­anilino)-N′-(propan-2-yl­idene)acetohydrazide

The conformation of the title compound, C12H17N3O, is consolidated by an intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond, generating an S(5) ring. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of N—H⋯O inter­actions occur, resulting in R 2 2(8) ring motifs

Impacto de los estilos de liderazgo en la satisfacción de precios de las compañías de petróleo y gas en Emiratos Árabes Unidos

This paper aims to investigate three leadership styles impact on price satisfaction in the oil and gas industry. The transformational, transactional, and authentic leadership styles were tested toward improving the price satisfaction within the industry. This study adopted the cross-sectional methodology; the questionnaire instrument was used to collect the data from the targeted sample of the paper. Total of 152 participants from the industry were the sample of this paper.  The multiple linear regressions were used to examine the constructed hypotheses. This study has found that there is no relationship between transformational leadership style and price satisfaction of oil and gas companies, a positive and significant relationship between transactional leadership style and price satisfaction of oil and gas companies and there is a positive and significant relationship between Autocratic leadership style and price satisfaction of oil and gas companies in UAE.Este artículo tiene como objetivo investigar tres estilos de liderazgo que afectan la satisfacción de precios en la industria del petróleo y el gas. Los estilos de liderazgo transformacional, transaccional y auténtico se probaron para mejorar la satisfacción de los precios dentro de la industria. Este estudio adoptó la metodología transversal; El instrumento del cuestionario se utilizó para recopilar los datos de la muestra específica del documento. Un total de 152 participantes de la industria fueron la muestra de este documento. Las regresiones lineales múltiples se usaron para examinar las hipótesis construidas. Este estudio ha encontrado que no existe una relación entre el estilo de liderazgo transformacional y la satisfacción de precios de las compañías de petróleo y gas, una relación positiva y significativa entre el estilo de liderazgo transaccional y la satisfacción de precios de las compañías de petróleo y gas y hay una relación positiva y significativa entre el liderazgo autocrático estilo y satisfacción de precios de las compañías de petróleo y gas en los EAU

Efecto del capital intelectual sobre el desempeño de proyectos en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos

Infrastructure projects have been developed rapidly within the United Arab Emirates over the last decade; this development meets the government trends toward setting the United Arab Emirates as one of the commercial, preferable, and tourism destinations. The main objective of the current research is to find out the impact of the human capital (HC), structural capital (SC), relational capital (RC), and social capital (SC) on the project performance. The quantitative approach was followed in this study to test the structured hypotheses. The data source of this study is retrieved from two sources, as the infrastructure projects providers within the country list into two exchange security markets the Abu Dhabi exchange security market, and Dubai exchange security market. This study focuses on the time period 2014 to 2018, to explore the optimal adoption of the intellectual capital components by the infrastructure projects providers, to overcome the slowdown economy challenges. This research has found out that there are positive and significant relationships between the human capital, structural capital, relational capital, and social capital, with the return of asset, return of equity and earning per share (that represents the project performance).Los proyectos de infraestructura se han desarrollado rápidamente en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos durante la última década; Este desarrollo cumple con las tendencias del gobierno para establecer a los Emiratos Árabes Unidos como uno de los destinos comerciales, preferibles y turísticos. El objetivo principal de la investigación actual es descubrir el impacto del capital humano (HC), el capital estructural (SC), el capital relacional (RC) y el capital social (SC) en el desempeño del proyecto. El enfoque cuantitativo se siguió en este estudio para probar las hipótesis estructuradas. La fuente de datos de este estudio se obtiene de dos fuentes, ya que los proveedores de proyectos de infraestructura dentro del país se clasifican en dos mercados de seguridad de cambio que el mercado de seguridad de cambio de Abu Dhabi y el mercado de seguridad de cambio de Dubai. Este estudio se centra en el período de tiempo 2014 a 2018, para explorar la adopción óptima de los componentes de capital intelectual por parte de los proveedores de proyectos de infraestructura, para superar los desafíos de la desaceleración de la economía. Esta investigación ha descubierto que existen relaciones positivas y significativas entre el capital humano, el capital estructural, el capital relacional y el capital social, con el retorno del activo, el retorno del capital y las ganancias por acción (que representan el desempeño del proyecto)

1-(4-Bromo­phen­yl)-1-(4-nitro­benzo­yl)thio­urea

The title compound, C14H10BrN3O3S, crystallizes as two concomitant polymorphs that differ in colour (one yellow and one colourless). Only the structure of the colourless form could be determined. The mol­ecule exists in the thio­amide form with an intra­molecular N—H⋯O=C hydrogen bond across the thio­urea system. Mol­ecules are linked into layers parallel to (120) by Br⋯Onitro contacts [3.103 (1) Å], classical hydrogen bonds from the other NH function to the S atom and Nnitro⋯O=C contacts. The layers are linked by weak C—H⋯Onitro hydrogen bonds to produce the observed three-dimensional network