The use of personal values in living standards measures

The Living Standards Measure (LSM), a South African marketingsegmentation method, is a multivariate wealth measure based onstandard of living. This article reports on whether a rationale canbe found for the inclusion of psychological variables, particularlypersonal values, in this type of multivariate segmentation. Schwartz’s(1992; 2006) values model was used to operationalise personalvalues.15Data were collected by means of a survey from a nationallyrepresentative sample (N = 2 566) of purchase decision-makers. ThePortrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) (Schwartz, Melech, Lehmann,Burgess, Harris & Owens 2001) was used to measure personalvalues. Centred value scores were used to statistically control forvariation among respondents in rating themselves on the PVQ. The10 LSM groups were collapsed into four LSM super groups to providea more rigorous analysis of measured personal value diff erencesbetween LSM groups. The statistical analyses included descriptiveand inferential statistics. 16 The findings in general supported Schwartz’s theory of basic human values. Respective values could be allocated among diff erent wealthbased consumer segments, which explained variances between these groups. It would be advisable to further investigate howthese diff erences can be applied in marketing. Although the LSMsegmentation approach has been adapted somewhat, the principalfi nding of this research remains applicable

Mixing thermodynamics and electronic structure of the Pt1−xNix (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) bimetallic alloy

The development of affordable bifunctional platinum alloys as electrode materials for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains one of the biggest challenges for the transition towards renewable energy sources. Yet, there is very little information on the optimal ratio between platinum and the transition metal used in the alloy and its impact on the electronic properties. Here, we have employed spin-polarised density functional simulations with long-range dispersion corrections [DFT–D3–(BJ)], to investigate the thermodynamics of mixing, as well as the electronic and magnetic properties of the Pt1−xNix solid solution. The Ni incorporation is an exothermic process and the alloy composition Pt0.5Ni0.5 is the most thermodynamically stable. The Pt0.5Ni0.5 solid solution is highly ordered as it is composed mainly of two symmetrically inequivalent configurations of homogeneously distributed atoms. We have obtained the atomic projections of the electronic density of states and band structure, showing that the Pt0.5Ni0.5 alloy has metallic character. The suitable electronic properties of the thermodynamically stable Pt0.5Ni0.5 solid solution shows promise as a sustainable catalyst for future regenerative fuel cells

Abstract Reasoning and Friendship in High Functioning Preadolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

To investigate the relationship between cognitive and social functioning, 20 Israeli individuals with HFASD aged 8–12 and 22 age, maternal education, and receptive vocabulary–matched preadolescents with typical development (TYP) came to the lab with a close friend. Measures of abstract reasoning, friendship quality, and dyadic interaction during a play session were obtained. As hypothesized, individuals with HFASD were significantly impaired in abstract reasoning, and there were significant group differences in friend and observer reports of friendship quality. There also was consistency in reports between friends. Two factors—“relationship appearance” and “relationship quality” described positive aspects of the relationships. Disability status and age related to relationship appearance. Proband abstract reasoning was related to relationship quality

Are Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Initially Attuned to Object Function Rather Than Shape for Word Learning?

We investigate the function bias-generalising words to objects with the same function-in typically developing (TD) children, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with other developmental disorders. Across four trials, a novel object was named and its function was described and demonstrated. Children then selected the other referent from a shape match (same shape, different function) and function match (same function, different shape) object. TD children and children with ASD were 'function biased', although further investigation established that having a higher VMA facilitated function bias understanding in TD children, but having a lower VMA facilitated function bias understanding in children with ASD. This suggests that children with ASD are initially attuned to object function, not shape