The Slitless Spectroscopy Data Extraction Software aXe

The methods and techniques for the slitless spectroscopy software aXe, which was designed to reduce data from the various slitless spectroscopy modes of Hubble Space Telescope instruments, are described. aXe can treat slitless spectra from different instruments such as ACS, NICMOS and WFC3 through the use of a configuration file which contains all the instrument dependent parameters. The basis of the spectral extraction within aXe are the position, morphology and photometry of the objects on a companion direct image. Several aspects of slitless spectroscopy, such as the overlap of spectra, an extraction dependent on object shape and the provision of flat-field cubes, motivate a dedicated software package, and the solutions offered within aXe are discussed in detail. The effect of the mutual contamination of spectra can be quantitatively assessed in aXe, using spectral and morphological information from the companion direct image(s). A new method named 'aXedrizzle' for 2D rebinning and co-adding spectral data, taken with small shifts or dithers, is described. The extraction of slitless spectra with optimal weighting is outlined and the correction of spectra for detector fringing for the ACS CCD's is presented. Auxiliary software for simulating slitless data and for visualizing the results of an aXe extraction is outlined.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in PASP. A high resolution version is available at http://www.stecf.org/software/slitless_software/axe/axe_PASP.pd

Contemporary Dynamics of Caring- A Qualitative Study of the Relationship between Mental Health Professionals and Carers of People with Long Term Mental Health Conditions

At the heart of this study is the experience of caring for someone with a long term mental health condition and the relationship between mental health professionals and carers, who are largely family, partners or friends. The study has been conducted at a time when there is increasing awareness of carers but at the same time limited understanding of the day-to-day lives of people caring for someone with a mental health condition. Using a psychoanalytically informed psychosocial approach seven carers and eight mental health professionals were interviewed using a free association narrative interviewing approach, which provided a framework for participants to share their experiences. In the next phase a combined focus group of 16 participants was held, comprising nine carers and seven mental health professionals and vignettes were utilised to facilitate discussion. Data from both methods was analysed using a reflexive and psychoanalytical approach which encouraged the emotional response of the researcher to be taken into account. Alongside, a thematic analysis was undertaken to enable cross-referencing. The study found that the disturbing nature of mental health conditions directly affects carers and mental health professionals, and within this environment carers place high value on support that is built on a meaningful relationship with a mental health professional. However this is not always available as professionals seek to defend themselves from the distress that is bound up in the caring experience, and therefore they idealise carers and maintain professional distance, with the result that carers’ anxiety is not dealt with effectively

Retrospective analysis of chronic injuries in recreational and competitive surfers:Injury location, type, and mechanism

Only two studies have reported on chronic musculoskeletal surfing injuries. They found over half of the injuries were non-musculoskeletal, but did not consider mechanisms of injury. This study identified the location, type, and mechanisms of chronic injury in Australian recreational and competitive surfers using a crosssectional retrospective observational design. A total of 1,348 participants (91.3% males, 43.1% competitive surfers) reported 1,068 chronic injuries, 883 of which were classified as major. Lower back (23.2%), shoulder (22.4%), and knee (12.1%) regions had the most chronic injuries. Competitive surfers had significantly (p \u3c .05) more lower back, ankle/foot, and head/face injuries than recreational surfers. Injuries were mostly musculoskeletal with only 7.8% being of non-musculoskeletal origin. Prolonged paddling was the highest frequency (21.1%) for mechanism of injury followed by turning maneuvers (14.8%). The study results contribute to the limited research on chronic surfing injuries

Predicting Public Opinion about Juvenile Waivers

The accountability movement of the juvenile justice system in the late 1980s and early 1990s encouraged more punitive practices by juvenile justice professionals. Public opinion was strong during this time. The attitudes about the juvenile justice system are a product of individual demographic, cultural, and political characteristics. This study addresses opinions about juvenile waivers–a punitive sanction–examining data from the National Opinion Survey of Crime and Justice in the 1990s (see Flanagan, 1996). This study analyzes attitudes about juvenile waivers, using multivariate quantitative methods. The results indicate a consistent relationship between the perception of the sentencing goals of the juvenile court (punishment versus rehabilitation) and one\u27s attitudes towards the use of juvenile waivers. Contrary to the generated hypotheses, though, attitudes about juvenile waivers were not consistently dependent on individual demographic, cultural, or political characteristics

The contemporary dynamics of caring – A qualitative study of the relationship between mental health professionals and carers of people with long term mental health conditions

At the heart of this study is the experience of caring for someone with a long term mental health condition and the relationship between mental health professionals and carers, who are largely family, partners or friends. The study has been conducted at a time when there is increasing awareness of carers but at the same time limited understanding of the day-to-day lives of people caring for someone with a mental health condition. Using a psychoanalytically informed psychosocial approach seven carers and eight mental health professionals were interviewed using a free association narrative interviewing approach, which provided a framework for participants to share their experiences. In the next phase a combined focus group of 16 participants was held, comprising nine carers and seven mental health professionals and vignettes were utilised to facilitate discussion. Data from both methods was analysed using a reflexive and psychoanalytical approach which encouraged the emotional response of the researcher to be taken into account. Alongside, a thematic analysis was undertaken to enable cross-referencing. The study found that the disturbing nature of mental health conditions directly affects carers and mental health professionals, and within this environment carers place high value on support that is built on a meaningful relationship with a mental health professional. However this is not always available as professionals seek to defend themselves from the distress that is bound up in the caring experience, and therefore they idealise carers and maintain professional distance, with the result that carers’ anxiety is not dealt with effectively. Three implications are drawn from the research: firstly, that relational based support is developed based on the principles of ‘being alongside’ which includes: discerning those issues that need immediate response, and those that need time for a period of reflection, honesty about the nature of mental illness and what is realistic, agreeing respective expectations at the beginning of the work, and valuing seemingly mundane and everyday achievements that are often overlooked. Secondly, that there is no such thing as a service user, only a service user in relation to their carer, and the two are a unit that must be worked with together by the professional. Finally, that the framework of care in the community should adopt a different model in which the structures of an institution are utilised. Therefore each service user, carer and mental health professional form a mini community institution in which they all become members of the institution, and have a role in developing it