Explaining Low Redshift Quasar Evolution

We have developed a flexible framework for constructing physical models of quasar evolution that can incorporate a wide variety of observational constraints, such as multi-wavelength quasar luminosity functions (QLFs), estimated masses and accretion rates of active black holes, space densities of quasar host galaxies, clustering measurements, and the mass function of black holes in the local universe. In this brief contribution we focus on the observed decline in the QLF break luminosity at $z<2$, which can be explained either by a shift toward lower characteristic accretion rates at low $z$ or by preferential suppression of activity in higher mass black holes.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, to be published in the Proceedings of "Multiwavelength AGN Surveys", Cozumel, Dec 8 - 12, 200

The Client-Consulting Relationship: A Case Study Of Critical Success Factors At MQ Telecommuniques

The primary intent of this study then, is to examine recent projects involving external management consultants at MQ TeleCommuniques, from the employees&rsquo; point of view, to measure the extent to which the aforementioned &ldquo;critical success factors&rdquo; were perceived as being evident. A secondary purpose was to examine which, if any, of these factors differ between more or less successful consulting projects with a view to building a model to predict employees&rsquo; perceptions of the level of the projects&rsquo; success. A third objective was to gather employee opinions on other factors that might contribute to the success of consulting projects. A fourth, and final, objective was to gather general employee opinions on the use of management consultancy at MQ TeleCommuniques. A total of 102 employees responded to a questionnaire consisting of 59 questions. A model including six independent variables was able to predict overall rating of project success, with an adjusted R2 =0.68, F=27.81 (p&lt;.0001).&nbsp; The significant variables, in order of importance, were:&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the solution took into account our internal state of readiness;2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the project included prototyping new solutions;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the project deliverables were clear;4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the consultant partnered with the project team throughout;5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the consultant was professional; and 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the consultant understood our sense of urgency. &nbsp;There were substantial differences seen on most measures between projects judged &ldquo;successful&rdquo; and projects judged &ldquo;not successful&rdquo;. Nevertheless, it is encouraging that many of the success factors suggested in the literature, and proposed under &ldquo;an ideal client-consultant engagement&rdquo;, were judged as present in management consulting projects at MQ TeleCommuniques, to one degree or another. &nbsp;General opinions of management consultants were mixed and somewhat negative. Employees at MQ TeleCommuniques certainly do not agree with the traditional benefits of management consultants promoted by the industry.&nbsp; Finally, the results of this study certainly support the anecdotal and theoretical models in particular those emphasizing the importance of process issues, the client-consulting relationship and their impact on project outcome

Plasma composition in a sigmoidal anemone active region

Using spectra obtained by the EIS instrument onboard Hinode, we present a detailed spatially resolved abundance map of an active region (AR)-coronal hole (CH) complex that covers an area of 359 arcsec x 485 arcsec. The abundance map provides first ionization potential (FIP) bias levels in various coronal structures within the large EIS field of view. Overall, FIP bias in the small, relatively young AR is 2-3. This modest FIP bias is a consequence of the AR age, its weak heating, and its partial reconnection with the surrounding CH. Plasma with a coronal composition is concentrated at AR loop footpoints, close to where fractionation is believed to take place in the chromosphere. In the AR, we found a moderate positive correlation of FIP bias with nonthermal velocity and magnetic flux density, both of which are also strongest at the AR loop footpoints. Pathways of slightly enhanced FIP bias are traced along some of the loops connecting opposite polarities within the AR. We interpret the traces of enhanced FIP bias along these loops to be the beginning of fractionated plasma mixing in the loops. Low FIP bias in a sigmoidal channel above the AR's main polarity inversion line where ongoing flux cancellation is taking place, provides new evidence of a bald patch magnetic topology of a sigmoid/flux rope configfiuration.Comment: For on-line animation, see http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/~db2/fip_intensity.gif. Accepted by Ap

Generational perspective on asthma self-management in the Bangladeshi and Pakistani community in the United Kingdom: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Self‐management strategies improve asthma outcomes, although interventions for South Asian populations have been less effective than in White populations. Both self‐management and culture are dynamic, and factors such as acculturation and generation have not always been adequately reflected in existing cultural interventions. We aimed to explore the perspectives of Bangladeshi and Pakistani people in the United Kingdom, across multiple generations (first, second and third/fourth), on how they self‐manage their asthma, with a view to suggesting recommendations for cultural interventions. METHODS: We purposively recruited Bangladeshi and Pakistani participants, with an active diagnosis of asthma from healthcare settings. Semi‐structured interviews in the participants' choice of language (English, Sylheti, Standard Bengali or Urdu) were conducted, and data were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Twenty‐seven participants (13 Bangladeshi and 14 Pakistani) were interviewed. There were generational differences in self‐management, influenced by complex cultural processes experienced by South Asians as part of being an ethnic minority group. Individuals from the first generation used self‐management strategies congruent to traditional beliefs such as ‘sweating’ and often chose to travel to South Asian countries. Generations born and raised in the United Kingdom learnt and experimented with self‐management based on their fused identities and modified their approach depending on whether they were in familial or peer settings. Acculturative stress, which was typically higher in first generations who had migration‐related stressors, influenced the priority given to asthma self‐management throughout generations. The amount and type of available asthma information as well as social discussions within the community and with healthcare professionals also shaped asthma self‐management. CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing cultural diversity and its influence of asthma self‐management can help develop effective interventions tailored to the lives of South Asian people. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patient and Public Involvement colleagues were consulted throughout to ensure that the study and its materials were fit for purpose

The Development of Social Competence in Children with Disabilities

Children with disabilities experience unique challenges in developing social skills critical to achieve their social goals. Although there are individual differences, children with delays and disabilities may struggle to communicate with others, understand gestures, and take other people’s viewpoints. These differences may prevent children with disabilities from initiating and sustaining social interactions and, in turn, from developing high levels of social competence (Hebbeler & Spiker, 2016). To support social development of children with disabilities, it is important to promote positive relationships within the family system as well as the teaching of social skills in inclusive early learning environments (Mahoney et al., 2020). The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is a framework for supporting social emotional learning (SEL) from preschool through high school and across home and school settings (Weissberg et al., 2013). CASEL focuses on five SEL core competencies that include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. These social and emotional competencies provide a foundation for children to adjust to challenges, develop positive relationships with peers and adults, and engage in learning tasks in ways that can benefit children with disabilities (Durlak et al., 2011). In this chapter, we first introduce two theoretical frameworks that can guide research and practice relevant to social competence of children with disabilities. Second, we discuss personal and contextual factors that either facilitate or hinder social development of children with disabilities in everyday interactions. Third, we address cultural understandings of disability that influence children’s socialization within family and community contexts. Finally, we conclude with the implications of using social intervention approaches for children with disabilities in home, school, and community-based contexts

Implementing psychological interventions delivered by respiratory professionals for people with COPD. A stakeholder interview study.

Implementing psychological interventions in healthcare services requires an understanding of the organisational context. We conducted an interview study with UK National Health Service stakeholders to understand the barriers and facilitators for implementing psychological interventions for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). We used TANDEM as an exemplar intervention; a psychological intervention recently evaluated in a randomised controlled trial. Twenty participants providing care and/or services to people with COPD were purposively sampled from NHS primary/secondary care, and commissioning organisations. Participants were recruited via professional networks and referrals. Verbatim transcripts of semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: (1) Living with COPD and emotional distress affects engagement with physical and psychological services; (2) Resource limitations affects service provision in COPD; (3) Provision of integrated care is important for patient well-being; and (4) Healthcare communication can be an enabler or a barrier to patient engagement. People need support with physical and psychological symptoms inherent with COPD and healthcare should be provided holistically. Respiratory healthcare professionals are considered able to provide psychologically informed approaches, but resources must be available for training, staff supervision and service integration. Communication between professionals is vital for clear understanding of an intervention's aims and content, to facilitate referrals and uptake. There was widespread commitment to integrating psychological and physical care, and support of respiratory healthcare professionals' role in delivering psychological interventions but significant barriers to implementation due to concerns around resources and cost efficiency. The current study informs future intervention development and implementation

Developing a complex intervention whilst considering implementation: the TANDEM (Tailored intervention for ANxiety and DEpression Management) intervention for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

BACKGROUND: Guidelines now call for a thorough and comprehensive description of the development of healthcare interventions to aid evaluation and understanding of the processes of change. This was the primary aim of this study but we also recognised that effective interventions are commonly not implemented in clinical practice. It is suggested that insufficient attention is given to the implementation process at the development phase of interventions. This study outlines the 5 step iterative process we adopted for considering both implementation and effectiveness issues from the outset of intervention development. We use the development of a complex intervention Tailored intervention for ANxiety and DEpression Management (TANDEM) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to illustrate this process. METHODS: Intervention development built upon the Medical Research Council framework for developing complex interventions and the person-based approach for development of behavioural interventions. Building an expert team, specifying theory, qualitative data collection and pre-piloting were all critical steps in our intervention development and are described here. RESULTS: Contact with experts in the field, and explicitly building on previous work, ensured efficiency of design. Qualitative work suggested guiding principles for the intervention such as introducing mood in relation to breathlessness, and providing flexible tailoring to patients' needs, whilst implementation principles focused on training selected respiratory professionals and requiring supervision to ensure standards of care. Subsequent steps of intervention development, pre-piloting and intervention refinement led to an intervention that was deemed acceptable and if successful will be ready for implementation. CONCLUSIONS: The TANDEM study was developed efficiently by building on previous work and considering implementation issues from the outset, with the aim that if shown to be effective it will have more rapid translation in to the health care system with accelerated patient benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN ISRCTN59537391 . Registered on 20 March 2017. Protocol version 6.0, 22 April 2018