Companions of Qsos at Redshift 1.1

We discuss broad- and narrow-band imaging of 7 arcmin fields of 14 QSOs with redshift ~1.1. The narrow-band filters were chosen to detect redshifted [O II] 3727A, and the broad bands are R and I, which correspond to rest wavelengths {}~3300A and ~3800A. In 100 arcsec subfields surrounding the QSOs, we detect an excess of typically 15 detected objects over the background of 25. Several of the QSO subfields also contain an excess of blue (R-I < 1.0) galaxies compared with the other subfields. Finally, several of the QSO subfields contain an excess of galaxies with significant narrow-band flux compared with the other subfields, and many of these are also blue. Most of the QSOs are radio-quiet in a region of sky overpopulated with z=1.1 QSOs, and 3 others are radio-loud from other parts of the sky. We suggest that most of these z=1.1 QSOs are in compact groups of starbursting galaxies. In our data, there is no significant difference between radio-loud and radio-quiet QSOs. We discuss cosmic evolutionary implications.Comment: 9 pages Plain Tex, 8 figures upon request, SISSA-DAO-94-00

The behavioural impact of a visually represented virtual assistant in a selfservice checkout context

Our research investigated whether the presence of an interface agent - or virtual assistant (VA) - in a self-service checkout context has behavioural effects on the transaction process during particular tasks. While many participants claimed to have not noticed a VA within the self-service interface, behaviour was still affected, i.e. fewer people made errors with the VA present than in the voice-only and control conditions. The results are explained as reflective of an unconscious observation of non-verbal cues exhibited by the VA. The results are discussed in relation to possible behavioural outcomes of VA presence.</p

Developing an Actuarial Risk Assessment to Inform the Decisions Made by Adult Protective Service Workers

In 2008, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (BEAS) and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD), with funding provided by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), collaborated to construct an actuarial risk assessment to classify BEAS clients by their likelihood of elder maltreatment and/or self-neglect in the future. Studies in adult and juvenile corrections and child welfare have demonstrated that active service intervention with high risk clients can reduce criminal recidivism and the recurrence of child maltreatment (Wagner, Hull, & Luttrell, 1995; Eisenberg & Markley, 1987; Baird, Heinz, & Bemus, 1981). The purpose of this research was to examine a large set of individual and referral characteristics, determine their relationship to subsequent elder self-neglect and/or maltreatment, and develop an actuarial risk assessment for BEAS workers to complete at the end of an investigation to inform their case decisions.BEAS and NCCD pursued development of an actuarial risk assessment with the goal of reducing subsequent maltreatment of elderly and vulnerable adults who have been involved in an incident of self-neglect or maltreatment by another person (i.e., abuse, exploitation, or neglect). The actuarial risk assessment described in this report provides BEAS workers with a method to more accurately identify high risk clients and therefore more effectively target service interventions in an effort to protect their most vulnerable clients

Structuring Decisions in Adult Protective Services

A new NCCD Focus article, "Structuring Decisions in Adult Protective Services," describes the value of structured decision frameworks in the growing field of adult protective services (APS). The article highlights findings on risk factors for future adult maltreatment from research literature as well as NCCD's efforts to develop an actuarial-based risk assessment for APS in partnership with the New Hampshire Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services under a grant from the National Institute of Justice

The Perfect Match? Correlates of Job Placement Among PhD Earners

Earning a doctorate in a field implies a strong desire to stay in that field, yet not all who earn a PhD do stay in their field. Therefore this study assumes that those who leave their chosen field do so either involuntarily or because of strong “pull” factors. Using the Survey of Doctorate Recipients (2015), this study examines a variety of factors that affect job placement among PhD recipients, specifically efforts to “match” doctoral field credentials with occupational outcomes. Analyses explicitly test classic assumptions underlying Human Capital Theory, while also taking into account demographic characteristics social capital differences. Findings indicate that demographic characteristics (such as gender, age and citizenship), human capital (including doctoral and bachelor field type) and social capital influence job placement. Institutional context also plays a role. Perhaps the most surprising finding is that approximately 40-45% of respondents find a job outside of their doctorate field of study, specifically those with doctorates in Biology, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Physical and Related Sciences, Social and Related Sciences and Engineering. Identifying these individual- and institutional-level factors helps understand both who is finding a job credential match and whether or not that match is a lucrative one. Advisor: Regina Weru

Life Experiences of a Child with Challenges in Sensory Processing and Integration: A Case Study

Children have occupations they need to perform in order to learn, grow, and develop. Challenges in processing and integrating sensory information can impair their capacities . for occupational participation and engagement. Sensory integration interventions have been promoted as able to help children improve their abilities to use sensory information for function as well as provide strategies for self-regulation. Much of the research on the efficacy of sensory integration interventions is experimental and descriptive, and largely inconsistent. Qualitative methodologies have not been widely used to examine the approach or to investigate the first-person experiences of the children who participate in sensory integration interventions. This phenomenological qualitative research study investigated ~he life experiences of a child with challenges in sensory processing and integration who had received sensory-based occupational therapy intervention. The themes identified were freaking out and I engage. The perspectives acquired can help influence the clinical reasoning of occupational therapists and expand the research base of sensory integration interventions