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

Complete diagrammatics of the single ring theorem

Using diagrammatic techniques, we provide explicit functional relations between the cumulant generating functions for the biunitarily invariant ensembles in the limit of large size of matrices. The formalism allows to map two distinct areas of free random variables: Hermitian positive definite operators and non-normal R-diagonal operators. We also rederive the Haagerup-Larsen theorem and show how its recent extension to the eigenvector correlation function appears naturally within this approach.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, version accepted for publicatio

Branching ratios for the beta decay of 21Na

We have measured the beta-decay branching ratio for the transition from 21Na to the first excited state of 21Ne. A recently published test of the standard model, which was based on a measurement of the beta-nu correlation in the decay of 21Na, depended on this branching ratio. However, until now only relatively imprecise (and, in some cases, contradictory) values existed for it. Our new result, 4.74(4)%, reduces but does not remove the reported discrepancy with the standard model.Comment: Revtex4, 2 fig

Experimental Validation of the Largest Calculated Isospin-Symmetry-Breaking Effect in a Superallowed Fermi Decay

A precision measurement of the gamma yields following the beta decay of 32Cl has determined its isobaric analogue branch to be (22.47^{+0.21}_{-0.19})%. Since it is an almost pure Fermi decay, we can also determine the amount of isospin-symmetry breaking in this superallowed transition. We find a very large value, delta_C=5.3(9)%, in agreement with a shell-model calculation. This result sets a benchmark for isospin-symmetry-breaking calculations and lends support for similarly-calculated, yet smaller, corrections that are currently applied to 0+ -> 0+ transitions for tests of the Standard Model

Discrete approximation of the free Fock space

International audienceWe prove that the free Fock space {\F}(\R^+;\C), which is very commonly used in Free Probability Theory, is the continuous free product of copies of the space \C^2. We describe an explicit embeding and approximation of this continuous free product structure by means of a discrete-time approximation: the free toy Fock space, a countable free product of copies of \C^2. We show that the basic creation, annihilation and gauge operators of the free Fock space are also limit of elementary operators on the free toy Fock space. When applying these constructions and results to the probabilistic interpretations of these spaces, we recover some discrete approximations of the semi-circular Brownian motion and of the free Poisson process. All these results are also extended to the higher multiplicity case, that is, {\F}(\R^+;\C^N) is the continuous free product of copies of the space \C^{N+1}

Blockchain technology as a support infrastructure in E-Government evolution at Dubai economic department

© 2019 Association for Computing Machinery. World is experiencing revolution with the proliferation of technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, IOT, and cloud computing in our lives. This study explores Dubai Economic Department\u27s (DED) electronic government (e-government) stages of integrating emerging technologies as its contribution in creating a smarter city. Our findings suggest that blockchain technology can be used as a platform to transform the e-business operating models in order to offer fully integrated services and to enforce common business rules. It can help governments in making processes simpler, faster and secure. It can be used for syncing of data across different departments, automatically & instantaneously. This work provides policy makers, enterprise architects and IT managers with useful guidelines to define and drive their e-government strategy and planning actions towards the most appropriate domains of implementation