Outcomes of psychological therapies for prisoners with mental health problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: Prisoners worldwide have substantial mental health needs, but the efficacy of psychological therapy in prisons is unknown. We aimed to systematically review psychological therapies with mental health outcomes in prisoners and qualitatively summarize difficulties in conducting randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Method: We systematically identified RCTs of psychological therapies with mental health outcomes in prisoners (37 studies). Effect sizes were calculated and meta-analyzed. Eligible studies were assessed for quality. Subgroup and metaregression analyses were conducted to examine sources of between-study heterogeneity. Thematic analysis reviewed difficulties in conducting prison RCTs. Results: In 37 identified studies, psychological therapies showed a medium effect size (0.50, 95% CI [0.34, 0.66]) with high levels of heterogeneity with the most evidence for CBT and mindfulness-based trials. Studies that used no treatment (0.77, 95% CI [0.50, 1.03]) or waitlist controls (0.71, 95% CI [0.43, 1.00]) had larger effect sizes than those that had treatment-as-usual or other psychological therapies as controls (0.21, 95% CI [0.01, 0.41]). Effects were not sustained on follow-up at 3 and 6 months. No differences were found between group and individual therapy, or different treatment types. The use of a fidelity measure was associated with lower effect sizes. Qualitative analysis identified difficulties with follow-up and institutional constraints on scheduling and implementation of trials. Conclusions: CBT and mindfulness-based therapies are modestly effective in prisoners for depression and anxiety outcomes. In prisons with existing psychological therapies, more evidence is required before additional therapies can be recommended

A Novel Dual Factor Fuzzy Time Series Forecasting based on new Fuzzy sets and Interval Definition by Evolution Strategies

This paper proposes a new dual factor time-invariant fuzzy time series method that is capable of forecasting stock marketPrice Index. The proposed approach uses a new fuzzy logic relationship definition. According to the utilized membershipdegrees used to define the fuzzy relationships, each datum may belong to two distinct intervals rather than only one interval.This assumption, which has not been considered in the other studies, contributes to better forecasting results. In addition, anappropriate meta-heuristic algorithm for continuous solution schemes, namely evolution strategies (ES), is utilized to identifythe appropriate interval lengths. The proposed approach has been tested on TAIFEX index. The computational results showedthat the proposed approach outperforms the former studies

Locating Post Offices Using Fuzzy Goal Programming and Geographical Information System (GIS)

This paper deals with the problem of locating new post offices in a megacity. To do so, a combination of geographicalinformation system (GIS) and fuzzy goal programming (FGP) is used. In order to locate new offices, first six types of servicefacilities with high levels of interactions with post offices are defined. Then, aspiration level of proximity for each servicefacility is determined. Based on these values, a fuzzy goal programming model is constructed to find potential locations offacilities. In order to determine the optimal locations among potential facilities, a maximal covering location problem(MCLP) is solved and results are reported. Results show that although the current state is near-optimal, for future expansionsof the network, the government should spend money on central and southern parts of this megacity

A systematic review on randomized controlled trials : Coaching elements of digital services to support chronically ill adolescents during transition of care

Aims To define digital health services that have been studied among chronically ill adolescents and to describe e-health coaching elements that may have an impact on transition outcomes. Design Systematic review without meta-analysis. Data sources MEDLINE (Ovid), Pub Med, Scopus and CINAHL on 28 May 2018. Review methods Peer-reviewed articles published between January 2008-May 2018 were reviewed following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. Results Twelve randomized controlled trials were included. The interventions varied significantly in duration and content. E-coaching that included human and social support showed positive impact on transition outcomes. Digital health services incorporated into usual care provide efficient and accessible care. Conclusion E-coaching elements enable tailoring and personalization and present a tool for supporting and motivating chronically ill adolescents during transition of care. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of e-coaching elements. Impact Digital services are considered a means for increasing adolescents' motivation for self-care and for increasing their accessibility to health care. The coaching elements in digital services consist of a theoretical basis, human support, interactive means and social support. Included interventions varied in terms of duration, dose, content and design. Our results may serve the development of digital health services for adolescents in transition. E-coaching can be used to engage and motivate chronically ill adolescents to improve health behaviour and self-management during transition of care.Peer reviewe

Crystal Chemistry and Phonon Heat Capacity in Quaternary Honeycomb Delafossites: Cu[Li_(1/3)Sn_(2/3)]O)2 and Cu[Na_(1/3)Sn_(2/3)]O_2

This work presents an integrated approach to study the crystal chemistry and phonon heat capacity of complex layered oxides. Two quaternary delafossites are synthesized from ternary parent compounds and copper monohalides via a topochemical exchange reaction that preserves the honeycomb ordering of the parent structures. For each compound, Rietveld refinement of the powder X-ray diffraction patterns is examined in both monoclinic C2/c and rhombohedral R3̅m space groups. Honeycomb ordering occurs only in the monoclinic space group. Bragg peaks associated with honeycomb ordering acquire an asymmetric broadening known as the Warren line shape that is commonly observed in layered structures with stacking disorder. Detailed TEM analysis confirms honeycomb ordering within each layer in both title compounds and establishes a twinning between the adjacent layers instead of the more conventional shifting or skipping stacking faults. The structural model is then used to calculate phonon dispersions and heat capacity from first principles. In both compounds, the calculated heat capacity accurately describes the experimental data. The integrated approach presented here offers a platform to carefully analyze the phonon heat capacity in complex oxides where the crystal structure can produce magnetic frustration. Isolating phonon contribution from total heat capacity is a necessary and challenging step toward a quantitative study of spin liquid materials with exotic magnetic excitations such as spinons and Majorana fermions. A quantitative understanding of phonon density of states based on crystal chemistry as presented here also paves the way toward higher efficiency thermoelectric materials

FUZZY CONTROL CHARTS FOR VARIABLE AND ATTRIBUTE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS

ABSTRACT. This paper addresses the design of control charts for both variable ( x chart) and attribute (u and c charts) quality characteristics, when there is uncertainty about the process parameters or sample data. Derived control charts are more flexible than the strict crisp case, due to the ability of encompassing the effects of vagueness in form of the degree of expert's presumption. We extend the use of proposed fuzzy control charts in case of linguistic data using a developed defuzzifier index, which is based on the metric distance between fuzzy sets

Ultrasonography in Detection of Renal Calculi in Children; a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction: Although numerous studies have been done to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in diagnosis of renal calculi in children, there is still no consensus. Therefore, in the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in identifying renal stones in children. Methods: A comprehensive search of the electronic databases including Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science was conducted up to July 2019. Diagnostic accuracy studies in children were included. Data was summarized and pooled. Area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic score and diagnostic odds ratio were reported with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: Data from 7 articles were included. Pooled analysis showed that the area under the curve of ultrasonography in diagnosis of pediatric renal calculi was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92 to 0.96). The sensitivity and specificity of this diagnostic modality were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70 to 0.87) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.84 to 1.00), respectively. Diagnostic score and diagnostic odds ratio of ultrasonography in detection of renal calculi were 110.32 (95% CI: 2.88 to 19.76) and 82362.41 (95% CI: 17.80 to 3.8 × 108), respectively. Conclusion: Overall, the low level of evidence indicates that sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in detecting renal calculi in children are 80% and 100%, respectively. However, due to the serious limitations of the included studies, well-designed prospective diagnostic accuracy studies are recommended for future studies

Symptoms associated with victimization in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders

Background: Patients with psychoses have an increased risk of becoming victims of violence. Previous studies have suggested that higher symptom levels are associated with a raised risk of becoming a victim of physical violence. There has been, however, no evidence on the type of symptoms that are linked with an increased risk of recent victimization. Methods: Data was taken from two studies on involuntarily admitted patients, one national study in England and an international one in six other European countries. In the week following admission, trained interviewers asked patients whether they had been victims of physical violence in the year prior to admission, and assessed symptoms on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Only patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or related disorders (ICD-10 F20–29) were included in the analysis which was conducted separately for the two samples. Symptom levels assessed on the BPRS subscales were tested as predictors of victimization. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to estimate adjusted odds ratios. Results: Data from 383 patients in the English sample and 543 patients in the European sample was analysed. Rates of victimization were 37.8% and 28.0% respectively. In multivariable models, the BPRS manic subscale was significantly associated with victimization in both samples. Conclusions: Higher levels of manic symptoms indicate a raised risk of being a victim of violence in involuntary patients with schizophrenia and related disorders. This might be explained by higher activity levels, impaired judgement or poorer self-control in patients with manic symptoms. Such symptoms should be specifically considered in risk assessments

Risk of Violent Crime in Individuals with Epilepsy and Traumatic Brain Injury: A 35-Year Swedish Population Study

Seena Fazel and colleagues report findings from a longitudinal follow-up study in Sweden that evaluated the risks of violent crime subsequent to hospitalization for epilepsy, or traumatic brain injury. The researchers control for familial confounding with sibling controls. The analyses call into question an association between epilepsy and violent crime, although they do suggest that there may be a relationship between traumatic brain injury and violent crime

Synthesis and Optimization of Reversible Circuits - A Survey

Reversible logic circuits have been historically motivated by theoretical research in low-power electronics as well as practical improvement of bit-manipulation transforms in cryptography and computer graphics. Recently, reversible circuits have attracted interest as components of quantum algorithms, as well as in photonic and nano-computing technologies where some switching devices offer no signal gain. Research in generating reversible logic distinguishes between circuit synthesis, post-synthesis optimization, and technology mapping. In this survey, we review algorithmic paradigms --- search-based, cycle-based, transformation-based, and BDD-based --- as well as specific algorithms for reversible synthesis, both exact and heuristic. We conclude the survey by outlining key open challenges in synthesis of reversible and quantum logic, as well as most common misconceptions.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figures, 2 table