Iterative Thematic Inquiry: A New Method for Analyzing Qualitative Data

Because themes play such a central role in the presentation of qualitative research results, we propose a new method, Iterative Thematic Inquiry (ITI), that is guided by the development of themes. We begin by describing how ITI uses pragmatism as a theoretical basis for linking beliefs, in the form of preconceptions, to actions, in the form of data collection and analysis. Next, we present the four basic phases that ITI relies on: assessing beliefs; building new beliefs through encounters with data; listing tentative themes; and, evaluating themes through coding. We also review several notable differences between ITI and existing methods for qualitative data analysis, such as thematic analysis, grounded theory, and qualitative content analysis. The use of ITI is then illustrated through its application in a study of exiters from fundamentalist religions. Overall, the two most notable features of ITI are that it begins the development of themes as early as possible, through an assessment of initial preconceptions, and that it relies on writing rather than coding, by using a continual revision of tentative results as the primary procedure for generating a final set of themes

Fulfilment of National Objectives under the Renewable Energy Directive: State of play and projections. CEPS Policy Insights No. 2017/04, February 2017

The EU Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources contains the main body of the EU's current renewable energy (RE) policy. Adopted in April 2009, the Directive provides a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources in all EU member states. The act specifies binding national targets for the share of renewable energy (as a percent of gross final energy consumption) for each member state, which together amount to an EU-wide target of 20%. This report reviews the progress made to date by each member state towards fulfilling its target and offers projections about possible outcomes in the year 2020

The diagnosis and follow-up of breast cancer in advanced pregnancy

Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Departament of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania, The IVth Congress of Radiology and Medical Imaging of the Republic of Moldova with international participation, Chisinau, May 31 – June 2, 2018Background: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide, with a high mortality rate. Romania ranks first in Europe in the incidence and mortality of breast cancer. Content: The presentation highlights the principles of management of breast cancer in advanced pregnancy. The case of a 39-year-old woman, 32 weeks pregnant, taken to the emergency department for painful uterine contractions is also presented. General clinical examination revealed a palpable breast mass in the right breast with perilesional skin erythema and a bloody nipple discharge, raising the suspicion of Paget’s disease of the breast. The breast ultrasound (US) described a hypoechogenic mass between the inferior breast quadrants. The diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma was sustained by elastography and established after ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. The caesarean delivery was performed (33-34 weeks) followed by bilateral ovariectomy. Subsequently, after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the patient underwent Madden modified radical mastectomy and continued with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Medical imaging provided valuable information for tumor staging and re-staging, guiding the treatment strategy as well as subsequent follow-up. Conclusions: This case underlines the limited treatment options in pregnant women with oncological pathology and highlights the fine line between maternal health and child safety for ensuring the best outcome

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome – a Surgical Emergency

Over the past six decades, abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) remained a very controversial subject, both in surgical and non-surgical specialties. Doctors failed to understand why critically ill patients died in the ICU with distended abdomens without fi nding any cause or why postoperative patients with wound defects such as dehiscence died after suturing the wound again „very tightly”. After the concept of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was established and methods for measuring it and diagnosing intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) were available for clinicians to use it, it became clearer that ACS was a very serious and life threating pathology and the need for a correct treatment is essential. In this article we will try to make a literature review of the past decade and see when and how to diagnose correctly a patient with ACS and also how the diagnostic and treatments methods changed over the years

Research and Science Today No. 1(5)/2013

Research and Science Today Journal is a publication founded in 2011 and it is dedicated to the students of all levels (license, master and doctoral) of faculties in the country and abroad. We want to offer the participants the opportunity to present their scientific works in the following areas: Social Sciences, Economic Sciences, Legal Sciences, Humanities, Education Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Sport. This journal provides students the opportunity to create and/or to improve their abilities to write scientific papers. So each appearance (two appearances per year at which we can add supplements) contains a number of papers written by students, masters and doctoral from the faculties from the country or/and abroad. The journal promotes original studies contributing to the progress of knowledge and it is motivated by the need to address issues of theory and practice in the areas mentioned above

Research and Science Today No. 1(5)/2013

Research and Science Today Journal is a publication founded in 2011 and it is dedicated to the students of all levels (license, master and doctoral) of faculties in the country and abroad. We want to offer the participants the opportunity to present their scientific works in the following areas: Social Sciences, Economic Sciences, Legal Sciences, Humanities, Education Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Sport. This journal provides students the opportunity to create and/or to improve their abilities to write scientific papers. So each appearance (two appearances per year at which we can add supplements) contains a number of papers written by students, masters and doctoral from the faculties from the country or/and abroad. The journal promotes original studies contributing to the progress of knowledge and it is motivated by the need to address issues of theory and practice in the areas mentioned above

Research and Science Today No. 1(5)/2013

Research and Science Today Journal is a publication founded in 2011 and it is dedicated to the students of all levels (license, master and doctoral) of faculties in the country and abroad. We want to offer the participants the opportunity to present their scientific works in the following areas: Social Sciences, Economic Sciences, Legal Sciences, Humanities, Education Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Sport. This journal provides students the opportunity to create and/or to improve their abilities to write scientific papers. So each appearance (two appearances per year at which we can add supplements) contains a number of papers written by students, masters and doctoral from the faculties from the country or/and abroad. The journal promotes original studies contributing to the progress of knowledge and it is motivated by the need to address issues of theory and practice in the areas mentioned above

Exiters of Religious Fundamentalism: Reconstruction of Identity, Social Relationships and Support, and Meaning Related to Well-Being

Over the past decade, researchers have documented the steady growth of religious nones, those who do not affiliate with any organized religion. There is, however, limited research examining religious disaffiliation on health outcomes--that is, how the process of religious disaffiliation or exiting contributes to mental well-being. These trends and gap in the literature make it timely and it is important to consider the impact of leaving religion on the well-being of individuals experiencing this life transition. This qualitative study investigates a particularly understudied subgroup of exiters -- individuals who have exited Christian fundamentalist religious groups. Drawing on 24 in-depth, individual interviews, this research examines how former religious participants reconstruct identity, social relationships and support, and meaning related to well-being -- conceptualized as the religious exiting process for this study. I employ Iterative Thematic Inquiry or ITI, a new qualitative analytic strategy that focuses on theme development before data collection, through an initial assessment of researcher preconceptions, and that writing, versus coding, is the primary procedure for data analysis. The results demonstrate that while it is challenging in the initial stages of the exiting process to forge a new sense of identity, cultivate new relationships and support, and achieve a positive meaning outcome, over time, this reconstruction contributes to greater life satisfaction

Review of <i>Deconversion: Qualitative and Quantitative Results from Cross-Cultural Research in Germany and the USA</i>

In 'Deconversion' Streib and colleagues (2009) set out to examine the overlooked realm of religious deconversion: the active process by which individuals disaffiliate from religion. The 'Bielefeld-Based Cross-Cultural Study of Deconversion' consists of a mixed methods and cross-cultural approach to religious change in the USA and Germany. This work is a thoughtful consolidation of theoretical, empirical, and integrated methodological approaches to gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the trajectories and biographical narratives of deconverts

INTENSITATEA ÎN PUBLICITATEA AUDIOVIZUALĂ ROMÂNEASCĂ. DE LA ANALIZA LINGVISTICĂ LA ANALIZA MULTIMODALĂ

The present analysis of intensity in Romanian audiovisual advertising relies both on a linguistic and a multimodal approach. Our interest is double: confronting findings with various studies on contemporary Romanian language and verifying the contribution of extralinguistic sources to linguistic intensity. Some of the humoristic effects of intensity are also presented.El presente análisis de la intensidad en la publicidad audiovisual de Rumanía se abre desde la perspectiva lingüística hacia la perspectiva multimodal. El interés es doble: por una parte, comparar las observaciones con los estudios previos sobre la lengua rumana actual y, por otra, comprobar la contribución que las fuentes extralingüísticas de la intensidad pueden aportar. Analizamos de paso algunos efectos humorísticos de la intensidad.  Abstract: The present analysis of intensity in Romanian audiovisual advertising relies both on a linguistic and a multimodal approach. Our interest is double: confronting findings with various studies on contemporary Romanian language and verifying the contribution of extralinguistic sources to linguistic intensity. Some of the humoristic effects of intensity are also presented. &nbsp