Sexual offender risk assessment strategies: is there a convergence of opinion yet?

While there is no convergence of opinion in the academic literature, many clinicians have already adopted a convergent approach to risk assessment, whether through deliberate adoption of complementary instruments or through informal clinical modification of risk assessment instrument findings. The present paper suggests that a convergent approach to risk assessment may be both the most responsible and most appropriate approach at this time, given the lack of research to substantiate a strong superiority of one type of instrument (actuarial risk tests versus structured clinical guidelines) over the other as well as the complementary nature of these types of tests in terms of how risk is conceptualized and analyzed. The research in a convergent approach is meager and this issue deserves some attention to ensure that all clinicians doing risk assessments of sexual offenders are providing the most information possible to decision makers to protect the rights, safety, and security of our clients (the correctional and justice systems, the public, and the offenders)

Qualitative approximation of solutions to difference equations

We present a new approach to the theory of asymptotic properties of solutions of difference equations. Usually, two sequences $x,y$ are called asymptotically equivalent if the sequence $x-y$ is convergent to zero i.e., $x-y\in c_0$, where $c_0$ denotes the space of all convergent to zero sequences. We replace the space $c_0$ by various subspaces of $c_0$. Our approach is based on using the iterated remainder operator. Moreover, we use the regional topology on the space of all real sequences and the `regional' version of the Schauder fixed point theorem

Face- and Cell-Averaged Nodal-Gradient Approach to Cell-Centered Finite-Volume Method on Mixed Grids

In this paper, the averaged nodal-gradient approach previously developed for triangular grids is extended to mixed triangular-quadrilateral grids. It is shown that the face- averaged approach leads to deteriorated iterative convergence on quadrilateral grids. To develop a convergent solver, we consider cell-averaging instead of face-averaging for quadri- lateral cells. We show that the cell-averaged approach leads to a convergent solver and can be efficiently combined with the face-averaged approach on mixed grids. The method is demonstrated for various inviscid and viscous problems from low to high Mach numbers on two-dimensional mixed grids

Short note on the Rabi model

The spectral density of the Rabi model is calculated exactly within a continued fraction approach. It is shown that the method yields a convergent solution.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Short and Intermediate Term Outcomes of the Convergent Procedure: Initial Experience in a Tertiary Referral Center

PURPOSE: The Convergent procedure is a hybrid, multidisciplinary treatment for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) consisting of minimally invasive surgical epicardial ablation and percutaneous/catheter endocardial ablation. We investigated outcomes following introduction of the Convergent procedure at our institution. METHODS: Retrospective study examining single-center outcomes. Demographic, procedural, and post-procedural variables were collected with follow-up data obtained at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: In all, 36 patients with paroxysmal (11%) or persistent/long-standing persistent (89%) AF underwent the Convergent procedure. 36% also underwent concomitant left atrial appendage (LAA) exclusion by thoracoscopic placement of an epicardial clip. Mean age 60.6 ± 8.0 years with mean arrhythmia burden of 3.9 ± 2.7 years. All patients had failed prior attempts at medical management, 81% had failed prior cardioversion, and 17% had failed prior catheter ablation. Convergent was performed successfully in all patients with no peri-procedural deaths or major complications. At 3 and 12 months, 77.8% and 77.3% of patients, respectively, were free from symptomatic arrhythmia. 65.8% were off anti-arrhythmic medication at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The Convergent procedure is safe and has good short- and intermediate-term clinical success rates. This unique hybrid approach combines strengths of surgical and catheter ablation and should be part of any comprehensive AF treatment program