A model to improve the Evaluation and Selection of Public Contest´s Candidates (Police Officers) based on AI technologies

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Science and Advanced Analytics, specialization in Business AnalyticsThe number of candidates applying to Public Contests is increasing compared to the number of Human Resources employees required for selecting them for Police Forces. This work intends to perceive how those Public Institutions can evaluate and select their candidates efficiently during the different phases of the recruitment process, and for achieving this purpose AI approaches will be studied. This paper presents two research questions and introduces a corresponding systematic literature review, focusing on AI technologies, so the reader is able to understand which are most used and more appropriate to be applied to Police Forces as a complementary recruitment strategy of the National Criminal Investigation Police agency of Portugal – Polícia Judiciária. Design Science Research (DSR) was the methodological approach chosen. The suggestion of a theoretical framework is the main contribution of this study in pair with the segmentation of the candidates (future Criminal Inspectors). It also helped to comprehend the most important facts facing Public Institutions regarding the usage of AI technologies, to make decisions about evaluating and selecting candidates. Following the PRISMA methodology guidelines, a systematic literature review and meta-analyses method was adopted to identify how can the usage and exploitation of transparent AI have a positive impact on the recruitment process of a Public Institution, resulting in an analysis of 34 papers published between 2017 and 2021. The AI-based theoretical framework, applicable within the analysis of literature papers, solves the problem of how the Institutions can gain insights about their candidates while profiling them; how to obtain more accurate information from the interview phase; and how to reach a more rigorous assessment of their emotional intelligence providing a better alignment of moral values. This way, this work aims to advise the improvement of the decision making to be taken by a recruiter of a Police Force Institution, turning it into a more automated and evidence-based decision when it comes to recruiting the adequate candidate for the place

Psychopathic traits modulate brain responses to drug cues in incarcerated offenders

Recent neuroscientific evidence indicates that psychopathy is associated with abnormal function and structure in limbic and paralimbic areas. Psychopathy and substance use disorders are highly comorbid, but clinical experience suggests that psychopaths abuse drugs for different reasons than non-psychopaths, and that psychopaths do not typically experience withdrawal and craving upon becoming incarcerated. These neurobiological abnormalities may be related to psychopaths\u27 different motivations for-and symptoms of-drug use. This study examined the modulatory effect of psychopathic traits on the neurobiological craving response to pictorial drug stimuli. Drug-related pictures and neutral pictures were presented and rated by participants while hemodynamic activity was monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging. These data were collected at two correctional facilities in New Mexico using the Mind Research Network mobile magnetic resonance imaging system. The sample comprised 137 incarcerated adult males and females (93 females) with histories of substance dependence. The outcome of interest was the relation between psychopathy scores (using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised) and hemodynamic activity associated with viewing drug-related pictures vs. neutral pictures. There was a negative association between psychopathy scores and hemodynamic activity for viewing drug-related cues in the anterior cingulate, posterior cingulate, hippocampus, amygdala, caudate, globus pallidus, and parts of the prefrontal cortex. Psychopathic traits modulate the neurobiological craving response and suggest that individual differences are important for understanding and treating substance abuse

South American Expert Roundtable : increasing adaptive governance capacity for coping with unintended side effects of digital transformation

This paper presents the main messages of a South American expert roundtable (ERT) on the unintended side effects (unseens) of digital transformation. The input of the ERT comprised 39 propositions from 20 experts representing 11 different perspectives. The two-day ERT discussed the main drivers and challenges as well as vulnerabilities or unseens and provided suggestions for: (i) the mechanisms underlying major unseens; (ii) understanding possible ways in which rebound effects of digital transformation may become the subject of overarching research in three main categories of impact: development factors, society, and individuals; and (iii) a set of potential action domains for transdisciplinary follow-up processes, including a case study in Brazil. A content analysis of the propositions and related mechanisms provided insights in the genesis of unseens by identifying 15 interrelated causal mechanisms related to critical issues/concerns. Additionally, a cluster analysis (CLA) was applied to structure the challenges and critical developments in South America. The discussion elaborated the genesis, dynamics, and impacts of (groups of) unseens such as the digital divide (that affects most countries that are not included in the development of digital business, management, production, etc. tools) or the challenge of restructuring small- and medium-sized enterprises (whose service is digitally substituted by digital devices). We identify specific issues and effects (for most South American countries) such as lack of governmental structure, challenging geographical structures (e.g., inclusion in high-performance transmission power), or the digital readiness of (wide parts) of society. One scientific contribution of the paper is related to the presented methodology that provides insights into the phenomena, the causal chains underlying “wanted/positive” and “unwanted/negative” effects, and the processes and mechanisms of societal changes caused by digitalization

Ms. Foundation for Women, 2005-2006 Annual Report

Since its inception, the Ms. Foundation for Women has confronted injustice and supported emerging organizing trends by providing funding where it is most needed to support women and their communities. Through grants, capacity-building efforts, convenings and learning opportunities, the Foundation works to ensure that diverse women and girls have what they need to live safe, fulfilling and empowered lives

Increasing Sexual Offenders Motivation to Engage in Mandated Substance Abuse Treatment: A Brief Motivational Intervention\u27

Background and Aims Previous research has shown that the rate of recidivism for sexual offenders is related to their substance use. Other research has shown that motivation to engage in treatment and motivation to decrease substance use are related to substance use treatment outcome. Thus, the overall goal of the current study was to increase sexual offenders motivation to engage in mandated substance abuse treatment and decrease their future substance use. There were five aims: (1)Test the feasibility of a brief motivation intervention with a population of sexual offenders who were court mandated to substance abuse treatment. (2) Examine change trajectories in motivation over the four weeks of study participation as well as to test whether the brief motivational intervention lead to differential changes in motivation. (3) Test whether there was a main effect of treatment assignment on follow up measures. (4) Test whether changes in motivation accounted for changes in the behavioral differences that were found. Due to a number of reasons, aim four was not implemented. (5) Conduct exploratory analyses. Method Twenty-two adult males who committed a sexual offense and were receiving treatment in Albuquerque, New Mexico were consented into the study and randomized into a brief motivational intervention condition or educational control condition. Approximately four weeks later, they participated in a follow up assessment. Assessments included measures of motivation, engagement in treatment and utilization of community resources that supported abstinence and substance abuse treatment. Findings and Conclusions Results showed that the brief motivational intervention was feasible and well-liked by the participants. Additionally, results showed there was no differential change in motivation by group over time but that participants who received the brief motivational intervention were perceived by their therapist as more engaged in treatment than those in the control condition X2 (1,18) = 3.99, p\u3c..04. Finally, this study has helped to fill the gap in statistics regarding the offender population and offender treatment in the state of New Mexico. Future studies should replicate this study using larger sample sizes and female offender populations. Additionally, future studies should include longer follow-up periods and track recidivism rates and reasons

Contract and Grant Awards Fiscal Year 2000

Message from the Vice Provost for Research I invite you to read this report Contract and Grant Awards FY00, which lists contract and grant (C&G) awards received by the University of New Mexico (UNM) during the period from July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000. These awards represent new funds that were acquired during FY00 by the main campus, branch campuses and education centers and the Health Sciences Center (HSC). The HSC includes the School of Medicine, College of Nursing and College of Pharmacy. The awards received for FY00 total $217.4M, of which$139.9M is attributed to the main campus. These awards assist in providing resources that are necessary to enhance the quality of research and teaching at UNM, as well as the opportunities for students to be trained in state-of-the-art laboratories in a multitude of disciplines. Please join me in thanking our dedicated faculty, staff and students involved in the sponsored research, public service and instruction efforts at UNM. It is their successful endeavors that enhance UNM\u27s visibility at the national and international levels, as well as contribute to the economic growth of New Mexico and the region. Thanks are also due to a number of individuals who have helped in preparing this report. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Denise Wallen, Ann Powell and Valerie Roybal of the Office of Research Services, and Marcia Sletten and Lee Gulbransen of the Health Sciences Center. I welcome your comments and questions with respect to this report, and other issues related to research activities at the University of New Mexico. John K. McIver Interim Vice Provost for Researc

A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Brief Motivational Intervention for Incarcerated Drinkers

Almost half of convicted jail inmates have an alcohol use disorder and many are released to environments that put them in contact with network members and cues that make them more likely to relapse on alcohol or drugs. Given the high-risk period immediately following release, the purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a brief motivational intervention administered just prior to release to increase substance use treatment entry and attendance, decrease alcohol and drug use, and change social networks for inmates with alcohol use disorders. Forty adult male inmates were consented into the study and randomized to a motivational intervention or the control condition (an educational intervention), and then they were contacted to do a one-month follow-up interview (62.5% completed this interview). Results indicated that conducting these interventions was feasible and considered extremely helpful by participants. Although there were no significant group differences, effect sizes suggest possible benefits from the motivational intervention in decreasing days of alcohol and drug use and increasing abstinence, and reducing the proportion of heavy drug users or users of any kind in the social network. Future studies should replicate these findings in larger sample sizes and over longer follow-up time periods, which may have implications for programming at jails for this population

A Spatial Analysis of Offender Residence and Neighborhood Crime Rate: An Exploratory Study of Gang Membership

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Caudill College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Matthew Ryan Laurin in December of 2011

Advanced Topics in Systems Safety and Security

This book presents valuable research results in the challenging field of systems (cyber)security. It is a reprint of the Information (MDPI, Basel) - Special Issue (SI) on Advanced Topics in Systems Safety and Security. The competitive review process of MDPI journals guarantees the quality of the presented concepts and results. The SI comprises high-quality papers focused on cutting-edge research topics in cybersecurity of computer networks and industrial control systems. The contributions presented in this book are mainly the extended versions of selected papers presented at the 7th and the 8th editions of the International Workshop on Systems Safety and Security—IWSSS. These two editions took place in Romania in 2019 and respectively in 2020. In addition to the selected papers from IWSSS, the special issue includes other valuable and relevant contributions. The papers included in this reprint discuss various subjects ranging from cyberattack or criminal activities detection, evaluation of the attacker skills, modeling of the cyber-attacks, and mobile application security evaluation. Given this diversity of topics and the scientific level of papers, we consider this book a valuable reference for researchers in the security and safety of systems

Early childhood development and social mobility

Steven Barnett and Clive Belfield examine the effects of preschool education on social mobility in the United States. They note that under current policy three- and four-year-old children from economically and educationally disadvantaged families have higher preschool attendance rates than other children. But current programs fail to enroll even half of poor three-and four-year olds. Hispanics and children of mothers who drop out of school also participate at relatively low rates. The programs also do little to improve learning and development. Barnett and Belfield point out that preschool programs raise academic skills on average, but do not appear to have notably different effects for different groups of children, and so do not strongly enhance social mobility. In such areas as crime, welfare, and teen parenting, however, preschool seems more able to break links between parental behaviors and child outcomes. Increased investment in preschool, conclude Barnett and Belfield, could raise social mombility. Program expansions targeted to disadvantaged children would help them move up the ladder, as would a more universal set of policies from which disadvantaged children gained disproportionately. Increasing the educational effectiveness of early childhood programs would provide for greater gains in social mobility than increasing participation rates alone. The authors observe that if future expansions of preschool programs end up serving all children, not just the poorest, society as a whole would gain. Benefits would exceed costs and there would be more economic growth, but relative gains for disadvantaged children would be smaller than absolute gains because there would be some (smaller) benefits to other children.early childhood education; social mobility; benefit/cost analyses; income disparity; disadvantaged children