Predictive Analytics in the Criminal Justice System: Media Depictions and Framing

Artificial intelligence and algorithms are increasingly becoming commonplace in crime-fighting efforts. For instance, predictive policing uses software to predetermine criminals and areas where crime is most likely to happen. Risk assessment software are employed in sentence determination and other courtroom decisions, and they are also being applied towards prison overpopulation by assessing which inmates can be released. Public opinion on the use of predictive software is divided: many police and state officials support it, crediting it with lowering crime rates and improving public safety. Others, however, have questioned its effectiveness, citing civil liberties concerns as well as the possibility of perpetuating systemic discrimination. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, over 2.3 million Americans were incarcerated in 2017 [1]. Of this population, 60 per cent were made up of people of color. African-American men are disproportionately targeted by the U.S. judicial system; they are more likely to be stopped and frisked by police, as well as receive stiffer sentences than white men for the same crimes [2]. In light of these facts, using algorithms and predictive methods to make decisions-especially ones that may affect the freedom of individuals-requires further study. Investigating the increasingly intertwined relationship between technology and human liberties can help develop a better understanding of how artificial intelligence can help make lives more efficient and the judicial system more transparent. The news media plays a significant role in shaping opinions on controversial issues. Articles and reports on predictive policing not only inform the public, but they also influence how people perceive the use of artificial intelligence in law enforcement, and ultimately how we, as citizens, want to be policed. This study evaluates the role of news media in shaping public opinion on two fronts: (a) the use of predictive analytics in the justice system, and (b) the integration of artificial intelligence in everyday life. Working with a corpus of articles from major journalistic outlets, we apply a qualitative methodology based on grounded theory to identify the key frames that govern media representation of predictive policing. This study makes the following contributions: - A survey of current predictive policing techniques, including hot spot analysis, regression methods, near-repeat, and spatiotemporal analysis - Application of grounded theory methods to a qualitative analysis of a corpus of 51 online articles on the U.S. criminal justice system\u27s use of predictive software and algorithms - Identification of two frames most commonly adopted by elite journalists writing for national news outlets Two dominant frames were identified from a corpus of 51 articles: fear of the future and fear of the past. The first frame elaborates on the potential consequences of implementing predictive algorithms in policing efforts, using specific examples to emphasize the difficulty of removing bias from software systems and the likelihood of perpetuating racial discrimination. The second frame argues that using data effectively can help combat rising crime rates, especially in metropolitan areas like Chicago and New York City. It bolsters its claim by attributing the ability of using predictive analytics to forecast crime as well as national threats before they happen - it focuses on preventing crime as opposed to combating it

Particulate Matter Emissions from a Direct Injection Spark Ignition Engine under Cold Fast Idle Conditions for Ethanol-Gasoline Blends

The engine out particular matter number (PN) distributions at engine coolant temperature (ECT) of 0° C to 40° C for ethanol/ gasoline blends (E0 to E85) have been measured for a direct-injection spark ignition engine under cold fast idle condition. For E10 to E85, PN increases modestly when the ECT is lowered. The distributions, however, are insensitive to the ethanol content of the fuel. The PN for E0 is substantially higher than the gasohol fuels at ECT below 20° C. The total PN values (obtained from integrating the PN distribution from 15 to 350 run) are approximately the same for all fuels (E0 to E85) when ECT is above 20° C. When ECT is decreased below 20° C, the total PN values for E10 to E85 increase modestly, and they are insensitive to the ethanol content. For E0, however, the total PN increases substantially. This sharp change in PN from E0 to E10 is confirmed by running the tests with E2.5 and E5. The midpoint of the transition occurs at approximately E5. Because the fuel evaporative property does not change substantially from E0 to E10, the significant change in PN is attributed to the particulate matter formation chemistry.Engine and Fuels Research Consortiu

Prevalence & experience of contact with traditional healers among patients with first-episode psychosis in Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Introduction: Patients with mental disorders in Malaysia often seek help from traditional healers prior to consulting psychiatric service. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence and experience of contact with traditional healers among patients with first-episode psychosis in Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). Methods: This is a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study of 50 in-patients with first-episode psychosis in HKL. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Clinical Version for Axis I Disorders (SCID-CV) was used for establishing diagnosis. Socio-demographic data, information on help-seeking pathways, and experience of contact with traditional healers were determined through face-to-face interview and semi-structured questionnaires. Results: Twenty seven (54%) of the patients had at least one contact with traditional healers prior to consulting psychiatric service, and it was the most popular first point of non-psychiatric help-seeking contact (48%). About a quarter of them (24%) had 3 or more contacts with traditional healers prior to consulting psychiatric service. The most common type of traditional treatment received was prayer (25, 96.3%). Only 2 patients (7.41%) reported having some beneficial effects from traditional treatments. There were two patients who reported having adverse experience with traditional healers. Among those who had sought help from traditional healers, one third was recommended by at least one of their traditional healers to seek medical help. Conclusion: History of contact with traditional healers prior to consulting psychiatric service was common among inpatients with first-episode psychosis in HKL. There may be potential meaningful collaborations between psychiatrists and traditional healers for better management of patients

A case of clinical vampirism in Asia

Clinical vampirism in psychiatric practice is very rare and usually associated with schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder or paraphilia. An Asian case of clinical vampirism is described. It is about a 24-year-old Malay female, paramedic student, who craved for blood since childhood. She injured her sister and herself so that she could access and drink blood. There was no associated psychosis or medical problems. The craving for blood may represent her underlying craving for parental love and attention

Xanthones from Calophyllum inophyllum

Repeated separation and purification of fractions from the crude chloroform extract of Calophyllum inophyllum via column chromatography afforded five known xanthone caloxanthones A, B, C, macluraxanthone and pyranojacareubin. Structural elucidations and determination of the isolated compounds were supported by spectral analyses obtained by subjecting the compounds to various spectroscopic techniques. The chloroform extract, when tested against RAW264.7 cells for anti-inflammatory potentials, exhibited the most promising activity with an IC50 value of 14.81±0.04 µg/mL compared to moderate activities shown by the ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts. Antimicrobial tests showed that the n-hexane and chloroform extracts acted moderately against Staphylococcus epidermidis S273 and Bacillus subtilis B145