Evaluation of the Outpatients consultation in East Kent

CHSS undertook to support Kent and Medway Commissioning Support (KMCS: acting on behalf of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Canterbury and Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group) in undertaking an independent analysis of a consultation on Outpatient services in East Kent. The aim of the consultation was to gain opinions from the public of a proposed Outpatient Clinical Strategy that intends to improve local access to, and facilities for, Outpatient services, and to offer a wider range of services on each site. CHSS advised on the survey, evaluated the consultation process, ran focus groups and carried out quantitative and qualitative analysis of the responses gathered during the consultation period (9th December 2013 to 17th March, 2014 - originally 9th March but period was extended). Ethical approval was not required for a consultation process, but ethical principles have been adhered to regarding data confidentiality and informed consent for the focus groups

How Productive is Public Capital? A Meta-Analysis

The paper analyzes the contribution of public capital to private output using several meta-analytical techniques. Both fixed and random effects models are estimated by Weighted Least Squares. Sample overlap across studies is explicitly controlled for by employing a ‘full’ Generalized Least Squares estimator. The weighted average output elasticity of public capital amounts to 0.08 after correcting for publication bias. A substantial part of the heterogeneity across studies is explained by study design parameters, such as econometric specification, estimation technique, empirical model, type of public capital, and level of aggregation of public capital data. The large elasticities of public capital found in the early literature seem to be caused by either unidentified (but present) cointegrating relationships or spurious relationships in national time series.public capital, infrastructure, public investment, meta-analysis, meta-regression analysis, publication bias

Redshift Evolution In Black Hole-Bulge Relations: Testing C IV-Based Black Hole Masses

We re-examine claims for redshift evolution in black hole-bulge scaling relations based on lensed quasars. In particular, we refine the black hole (BH) mass estimates using measurements of Balmer lines from near-infrared spectroscopy obtained with Triplespec at Apache Point Observatory. In support of previous work, we find a large scatter between Balmer and UV line widths, both Mg II lambda lambda 2796, 2803 and CIV lambda lambda 1548, 1550. There is tentative evidence that C III]lambda 1909, despite being a blend of multiple transitions, may correlate well with Mg II, although a larger sample is needed for a real calibration. Most importantly, we find no systematic changes in the estimated BH masses for the lensed sample based on Balmer lines, providing additional support to the interpretation that black holes were overly massive compared to their host galaxies at high redshift.NASA Hubble Fellowship HF-01196NASA NAS 5-26555Astronom

Spatially Offset Active Galactic Nuclei III: Discovery of Late-Stage Galaxy Mergers with The Hubble Space Telescope

Galaxy pairs with separations of only a few kpc represent important stages in the merger-driven growth of supermassive black holes (SMBHs). However, such mergers are difficult to identify observationally due to the correspondingly small angular scales. In Paper I we presented a method of finding candidate kpc-scale galaxy mergers that is leveraged on the selection of X-ray sources spatially offset from the centers of host galaxies. In this paper we analyze new Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFC3 imaging for six of these sources to search for signatures of galaxy mergers. The HST imaging reveals that four of the six systems are on-going galaxy mergers with separations of 1.2-6.6 kpc (offset AGN). The nature of the remaining two spatially offset X-ray sources is ambiguous and may be associated with super-Eddington accretion in X-ray binaries. The ability of this sample to probe small galaxy separations and minor mergers makes it uniquely suited for testing the role of galaxy mergers for AGN triggering. We find that galaxy mergers with only one AGN are predominantly minor mergers with mass ratios similar to the overall population of galaxy mergers. By comparison, galaxy mergers with two AGN are biased toward major mergers and larger nuclear gas masses. Finally, we find that the level of SMBH accretion increases toward smaller mass ratios (major mergers). This result suggests the mass ratio effects not only the frequency of AGN triggering but also the rate of SMBH growth in mergers.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

The Mid-Infrared Tully-Fisher Relation: Calibration of the SNIa Scale and Ho

This paper builds on a calibration of the SNIa absolute distance scale begun with a core of distances based on the correlation between galaxy rotation rates and optical Ic band photometry. This new work extends the calibration through the use of mid-infrared photometry acquired at 3.6 microns with Spitzer Space Telescope. The great virtue of the satellite observations is constancy of the photometry at a level better than 1% across the sky. The new calibration is based on 39 individual galaxies and 8 clusters that have been the sites of well observed SNIa. The new 3.6 micron calibration is not yet as extensively based as the Ic band calibration but is already sufficient to justify a preliminary report. Distances based on the mid-infrared photometry are 2% greater in the mean than reported at Ic band. This difference is only marginally significant. The Ic band result is confirmed with only a small adjustment. Incorporating a 1% decrease in the LMC distance, the present study indicates Ho = 75.2 +/- 3.0 km/s/Mpc.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 6 pages, 2 figure

Service Development Programme: Maximising Life Opportunities for Teenagers. Teenagers' Views and Experiences of Sex and Relationships Education, Sexual Health Services and Family Support Services in Kent - Survey findings for Year 2

This brief report provides findings from data collected in year 2 of a survey of teenagers' views and experiences of sex and relationships education and sexual health services in Kent. The data in year 2 was collected in Autumn 2005, a year after the data collected in year 1. The purpose of this report is to highlight the results in year 2 which differ from the year 1 survey data. It is to be used in conjunction with the report in year 1 entitled "Service Development Programme: Maximising Life Opportunies for Teenagers: Teenagers' Views and Experiences of Sex and Relationships Educatioon, Sexual Health Services and Family Suupport Services in Kent: Survey Findings July 2005". The final report on the survey will consist of findings from further analysis of the data from year 1 and year 2 merged together, available at the end of 2006

An acute bout of cycling does not induce compensatory responses in pre-menopausal women not using hormonal contraceptives

There is a clear need to improve understanding of the effects of physical activity and exercise on appetite control. Therefore, the acute and short-term effects (three days) of a single bout of cycling on energy intake and energy expenditure were examined in women not using hormonal contraceptives. Sixteen active (n = 8) and inactive (n = 8) healthy pre-menopausal women completed a randomised crossover design study with two conditions (exercise and control). The exercise day involved cycling for 1 h (50% of maximum oxygen uptake) and resting for 2 h, whilst the control day comprised 3 h of rest. On each experimental day participants arrived at the laboratory fasted, consumed a standardised breakfast and an ad libitum pasta lunch. Food diaries and combined heart rate-accelerometer monitors were used to assess free-living food intake and energy expenditure, respectively, over the subsequent three days. There were no main effects or condition (exercise vs control) by group (active vs inactive) interaction for absolute energy intake (P > 0.05) at the ad libitum laboratory lunch meal, but there was a condition effect for relative energy intake (P = 0.004, ηp2 = 0.46) that was lower in the exercise condition (1417 ± 926 kJ vs. 2120 ± 923 kJ). Furthermore, post-breakfast satiety was higher in the active than in the inactive group (P = 0.005, ηp2 = 0.44). There were no main effects or interactions (P > 0.05) for mean daily energy intake, but both active and inactive groups consumed less energy from protein (14 ± 3% vs. 16 ± 4%, P = 0.016, ηp2 = 0.37) and more from carbohydrate (53 ± 5% vs. 49 ± 7%, P = 0.031, ηp2 = 0.31) following the exercise condition. This study suggests that an acute bout of cycling does not induce compensatory responses in active and inactive women not using hormonal contraceptives, while the stronger satiety response to the standardised breakfast meal in active individuals adds to the growing literature that physical activity helps improve the sensitivity of short-term appetite control

Lifelong guidance policy and practice in the EU

A study on lifelong guidance (LLG) policy and practice in the EU focusing on trends, challenges and opportunities. Lifelong guidance aims to provide career development support for individuals of all ages, at all career stages. It includes careers information, advice, counselling, assessment of skills and mentoring

Dialoging A Successful Pedagogy for Embedded Tutors

Over the past three years, Rider University’s Student Success Center Writing Lab has implemented an embedded tutor program for composition courses. Tutors attend class, participate in class discussions, facilitate writing workshops in class, and hold drop-in hours for students (in addition to tutors’ Writing Lab hours). The Embedded Tutor (ET) program, facilitated by Jenny Scudder (who is also the Writing Lab Director), has been successful in helping students complete skills-based courses and connect to academic support services. Initial assessment of the ET program supports the inclusion of the tutor in a skills-based course. While an ET’s training is similar to a tutor who works solely in the Writing Lab, there are key additions that are vital to the tutors’—and the program’s—succesUniversity Writing Cente