Person, persona, and personality modification : An in-depth qualitative exploration of quantitative findings

Peer reviewedPostprin

Follow-up services for improving long-term outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: Our main objective is to assess the effectiveness of follow-up services for ICU survivors that aim to identify and address unmet health needs related to the ICU period. We aim to assess the effectiveness in relation to health-related quality of life, mortality, depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, physical function, cognitive function, ability to return to work or education and adverse events. Our secondary objectives are, in general, to examine both the various ways that follow-up services are provided and any major influencing factors. Specifically, we aim to explore: the effectiveness of service organisation (physician versus nurse led, face to face versus remote, timing of follow-up service); possible differences in services related to country (developed versus developing country); and whether participants had delirium within the ICU setting

Sampling in interview-based qualitative research: A theoretical and practical guide

Sampling is central to the practice of qualitative methods, but compared with data collection and analysis, its processes are discussed relatively little. A four-point approach to sampling in qualitative interview-based research is presented and critically discussed in this article, which integrates theory and process for the following: (1) Defining a sample universe, by way of specifying inclusion and exclusion criteria for potential participation; (2) Deciding upon a sample size, through the conjoint consideration of epistemological and practical concerns; (3) Selecting a sampling strategy, such as random sampling, convenience sampling, stratified sampling, cell sampling, quota sampling or a single-case selection strategy; and (4) Sample sourcing, which includes matters of advertising, incentivising, avoidance of bias, and ethical concerns pertaining to informed consent. The extent to which these four concerns are met and made explicit in a qualitative study has implications for its coherence, transparency, impact and trustworthiness

The Estimation of Conditional Densities

We discuss a number of issues in the smoothed nonparametric estimation of kernel conditional probability density functions for stationary processes. The kernel conditional density estimate is a ratio of joint and marginal density estimates. We point out the different implications of leading choices of bandwidths in numerator and denominator for the ability of the estimate to integrate to one and to have finite moments. Again bearing in mind different bandwidth possibilities, we discuss asymptotic theory for the estimate: asymptotic bias and variance are calculated under various conditions, an extended discussion of bandwidth choice is included, and a central limit theorem is given.Conditional density estimation, serial dependence, bandwidth choice.

A longitudinal mixed-methods case study of quarter-life crisis during the post-university transition: Locked-out and locked-in forms in combination

Research on crisis episodes during the first decade of adult life suggests two types of such ‘quarter-life’ crisis exist; locked-in and locked-out. Both relate conceptually to the transition out of emerging adulthood. A female case study was studied over a four-year period, starting when she left university. Wellbeing and depression data were gathered five times, two interviews were conducted, as well as a structured email exchange. Results showed two episodes of crisis within the study period. The first was the locked-out type, which occurred when the participant experienced multiple failures to find work, leading to self-esteem decline and anxiety. The second crisis was the locked-in type, which occurred when she felt obliged to stay in a job despite a bullying boss. The case study provides a rich exemplification of quarter-life crisis theory, and provides insights for further consideration in multi-participant studies on the challenges of leaving tertiary education

Using longitudinal designs and online micro-narrative data to further our understanding of biography and the life course

Commentary on the article “What autobiographical narratives tell us about the life course. Contributions of qualitative sequential analytical methods” by B. Hollstein

Panchromatic radiation from galaxies as a probe of galaxy formation and evolution

I review work on modelling the infrared and submillimetre SEDs of galaxies. The underlying physical assumptions are discussed and spherically symmetric, axisymmetric, and 3-dimensional radiative transfer codes are reviewed. Models for galaxies with Spitzer IRS data and for galaxies in the Herschel-Hermes survey are discussed. Searches for high redshift infrared and submillimetre galaxies, the star formation history, the evolution of dust extinction, and constraints from source-counts, are briefly discussed.Comment: to be published in IAU Symposium 284 'The Spectral Energy Distribution of Galaxies', Preston 2012, eds. R.J.Tiffs and C.C.Popesc

a critical review of the phenomenon of bond-stretch and distortional isomerism in oxo and sulphido complexes of transition metals

This thesis describes studies directed towards the preparation of oxo compounds of the early transition metals with a view to assessing their potentials for exhibiting distortional and bond-stretch isomerism. Analogous sulphido complexes in the case of the M(E)X(_3)(PMe(_3))(_3) system (M= Nb, Ta; X= CI; E= S) have also been investigated in detail to provide a contrast with another chalcogenide element and further aid an understanding of the phenomenon of bond-stretch isomerism. Chapter 1 reviews the body of evidence to date on the phenomena of distortional and bond-stretch isomerism, and considers possible theoretical origins for the phenomena. Chapter 2 describes the detailed study of distortional isomerism in the six coordinate series of complexes Mo(O)X(_2)(PMe(_2)Ph)(_3) (X= CI, Br, I) and confirms the existence of two pure blue forms for the chloro and bromo cases. Chapter 3 assesses the evidence for further examples of distortional isomerism in the complexes W(O)Cl(_2)(PMe(_2)Ph)(_3), Mo(O)(NCS)(_2)(PMe(_2)Ph)(_3) and Mo(O)Cl(_2)(Pet(_2)Ph)(_3). Structural characterisation by X-ray crystallography has indicated the existence of a link between the orientation of the aikyl and aryl substituents on the phosphine ligands and the general features observed in their infrared spectra. Chapters 4 and 5 describe the seven coordinate oxo and sulphido-halide derivatives of niobium and tantalum which exhibit the phenomenon of bond-stretch isomerism. Compounds studied include M(E)X(_3)(PMe(_3))(_3) (M= Nb, E= O, S, X=C1, Br; M= Ta, E= S, X=Cl). The structures of these compounds have been re-investigated by X-ray crystallography in order to assess the significance of the co-crystallised isostructural NbCl(_4)(PMe(_3))(_3) contaminant. Chapter 6 summaries the evidence for and against distortional and bond-stretch isomerism. Chapter 7 gives experimental details for chapters 2-5

HST imaging of hyperluminous infrared galaxies

We present HST WFPC2 I band imaging for a sample of 9 Hyperluminous Infrared Galaxies spanning a redshift range 0.45 < z < 1.34. Three of the sample have morphologies showing evidence for interactions, six are QSOs. Host galaxies in the QSOs are reliably detected out to z ~ 0.8. The detected QSO host galaxies have an elliptical morphology with scalelengths spanning 6.5 < r_{e}(Kpc) < 88 and absolute k corrected magnitudes spanning -24.5 < M_{I} < -25.2. There is no clear correlation between the IR power source and the optical morphology. None of the sources in the sample, including F15307+3252, show any evidence for gravitational lensing. We infer that the IR luminosities are thus real. Based on these results, and previous studies of HLIRGs, we conclude that this class of object is broadly consistent with being a simple extrapolation of the ULIRG population to higher luminosities; ULIRGs being mainly violently interacting systems powered by starbursts and/or AGN. Only a small number of sources whose infrared luminosities exceed 10^{13}Lsun are intrinsically less luminous objects which have been boosted by gravitational lensing.Comment: 16 Pages. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Examining learning in relation to the contexts of use of ICT

Although ICT resources are commonly expected to produce uniform benefits, they are necessarily employed within pre-existing contexts of educational and social activity, and the outcome in terms of both pattern of use and learning depends on how they fit in with these. As a result, the same technology or software may have unexpectedly diverse effects, according to specific setting. If the object is to exercise control over outcome, then the conditions of use need to be planned for within the design and implementation of the technology. In order to do this, it is crucial that research gathers data on how outcomes are affected by the interplay between technology and context. This raises questions about the methods that would be appropriate for the conduct and dissemination of such research. These points are discussed in relation to three studies, one each at primary, secondary and university levels of education