Response of a one-dimensional Vlasov plasma to external electric fields

Numerical results of calculated response of collisionless electron plasma to externally imposed electric fiel

Heteronormativity in dissolution proceedings: Exploring the impact of recourse to legal advice in same sex relationship breakdown

This chapter explores how heteronormativity, normative ordering of society to correspond with heterosexuality, shapes experiences of dissolution of formally recognized same-sex relationships. We present qualitative data from in-depth interviews with both clients and solicitors with direct experience of civil partnership dissolution. Drawing on insights from legal-consciousness studies, we explore the extent to which legal intervention in relationship breakdown creates an arena of strategy and self-interest. Overall, these data demonstrate the ways in which ‘law’ is conceived of as a product of its actors, rather than as being an entity of ‘the state’. We show that heteronormative understandings of gender roles in relationships have been carried over from (different-sex) marriage into civil-partnership proceedings. We argue that lesbians and gay men retain a level of resistance to this legal heteronormativity that has the potential to have transformative effects on contemporary understandings of the place of gender in marriage.</p

Feeding infants on high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC): An exploration of speech-language pathologists’ decision-making processes

There are currently no clear protocols to inform whether or not to orally feed premature infants receiving high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC). There is also a paucity of literature describing how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) decide when and how to feed and infant on HFNC, in the absence of clear guidelines. A qualitative research study was therefore conducted to explore the views and experiences of nine SLP participants about the decision making processes undertaken around feeding infants on HFNC. Participants worked in UK level 3 or level 2 neonatal units. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994). Five themes and fifteen subthemes were identified. Themes were: (1) the role of the SLP, (2) factors to be mindful of when considering oral feeding, (3) pre feeding, (4) feeding definitions, and (5) setting dependency. Subthemes included the infants overall presentation, the volume of oral intake and decision-making culture and practice within a multidisciplinary team. Speech-language pathologists consider a wide range of clinical factors when introducing oral feeding for an infant on HFNC. Judgments made about introducing feeding opportunities appeared to be most aligned with the infant’s needs and safety, rather than the level of oxygen support

Is the Scottish population living dangerously? Prevalence of multiple risk factors: the Scottish Health Survey 2003

&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Risk factors are often considered individually, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of combinations of multiple behavioural risk factors and their association with socioeconomic determinants.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Multinomial logistic regression was used to model the associations between socioeconomic factors and multiple risk factors from data in the Scottish Health Survey 2003. Prevalence of five main behavioural risk factors - smoking alcohol, diet, overweight/obesity, and physical inactivity, and the odds in relation to demographic, individual and area socioeconomic factors.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Full data were available on 6,574 subjects (80.7% of the survey sample). Nearly the whole adult population (97.5%) reported to have at least one behavioural risk factor; while 55% have three or more risk factors; and nearly 20% have four or all five risk factors. The most important determinants for having four or five multiple risk factors were low educational attainment which conferred around a 3-fold increased odds compared to high education; and residence in the most deprived communities (relative to least deprived) which had greater than 3-fold increased odds.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; The prevalence of multiple behavioural risk factors was high and the prevalence of absence of all risk factors very low. These behavioural patterns were socioeconomically determined. Policy to address factors needs to be joined up and better consider underlying socioeconomic circumstances.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt

First principles study of intrinsic point defects in hexagonal barium titanate

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to study the nature of intrinsic defects in the hexagonal polymorph of barium titanate. Defect formation energies are derived for multiple charge states and due consideration is given to finite-size effects (elastic and electrostatic) and the band gap error in defective cells. Correct treatment of the chemical potential of atomic oxygen means that it is possible to circumvent the usual errors associated with the inaccuracy of DFT calculations on the oxygen dimer. Results confirm that both mono- and di-vacancies exist in their nominal charge states over the majority of the band gap. Oxygen vacancies are found to dominate the system in metal-rich conditions with face sharing oxygen vacancies being preferred over corner sharing oxygen vacancies. In oxygen-rich conditions, the dominant vacancy found depends on the Fermi level. Binding energies also show the preference for metal-oxygen di-vacancy formation. Calculated equilibrium concentrations of vacancies in the system are presented for numerous temperatures. Comparisons are drawn with the cubic polymorph as well as with previous potential-based simulations and experimental results