Minimal Ten-parameter Hermitian Texture Zeroes Mass Matrices and the CKM Matrix

Hermitian mass matrices for the up and down quarks with texture zeroes but with the minimum number of parameters, ten, are investigated. We show how these {\em minimum parameter} forms can be obtained from a general set of hermitian matrices through weak basis transformations. For the most simple forms we show that one can derive exact and compact parametrizations of the CKM mixing matrix in terms of the elements of these mass matrices (and the quark masses).Comment: 14 pages.Talk given by M.B. at the MRST 98, ``Towards the Theory of Everything", Montr\'eal, 13-15 May 199

Asymmetrical Governance: Auditing Algorithms to Preserve Due Process Rights

We are now living in age where algorithms, and the data that feed them, govern a wide variety of decisions in our lives: not just search engines and personalized Netflix suggestions, but educational evaluations, stock market trades and political campaigns, the urban planning, and even how social services like welfare and public safety are managed. Heterogeneous lists like this have become the norm in any critical examination of algorithms, giving the impression of a ubiquitous relevance of algorithms. But algorithms can make mistakes that directly affect individuals and often contain both implicit and explicit biases. The technical complexity of algorithms, the scale at which they operate, and their proprietary nature makes them difficult to scrutinize, creating challenges to fully comprehend of how they exercise their power and influence over society. When used to make legal decisions, questions must be asked as to how automated decision-making systems affect the right to due process afforded to citizens. The goal of this research project is to augment this discussion by focusing on algorithmic transparency, due process rights, and what can be done to help protect said rights when automated decision-making systems are used. Therefore, the research question that guides this paper is as follows: In what ways do algorithms in legal processes negatively impact an individual’s right to due process and how might the ability to audit legal algorithms help protect due process rights? To answer this question this research project will present recommendations for research methods, adapted from Communication scholar, Christian Sandvig’s proposed research methods (2014) that can be utilized to audit algorithms so as to provide greater transparency to those on the receiving end of algorithmic judgements within the legal process. Asymmetrical Governance: Auditing Algorithms to Preserve Due Process Right

Did female prisoners with mental disorders receive psychiatric treatment before imprisonment?

© 2015 Mundt et al.; licensee BioMed Central. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.BackgroundThroughout the world, high prevalence rates of mental disorders have been found in prison populations, especially in females. It has been suggested that these populations do not access psychiatric treatment. The aim of this study was to establish rates of psychiatric in- and outpatient treatments prior to imprisonment in female prisoners and to explore reasons for discontinuation of such treatments.Methods150 consecutively admitted female prisoners were interviewed in Berlin, Germany. Socio-demographic characteristics, mental disorders, and previous psychiatric in- and outpatient treatments were assessed by trained researchers. Open questions were used to explore reasons for ending previous psychiatric treatment.ResultsA vast majority of 99 prisoners (66%; 95% CI: 58¿73) of the total sample reported that they had previously been in psychiatric treatment, 80 (53%; 95 CI: 45¿61) in inpatient treatment, 62 (41%; 95 CI: 34¿49) in outpatient treatment and 42 (29%; 21¿39) in both in- and outpatient treatments. All prisoners with psychosis and 72% of the ones with any lifetime mental health disorder had been in previous treatment. The number of inpatient treatments and imprisonments were positively correlated (rho¿=¿0.27; p¿<¿0.01). Inpatient treatment was described as successfully completed by 56% (N¿=¿41) of those having given reasons for ending such treatment, whilst various reasons were reported for prematurely ending outpatient treatments.ConclusionThe data do not support the notion of a general `mental health treatment gap¿ in female prisoners. Although inpatient care is often successfully completed, repeated inpatient treatments are not linked with fewer imprisonments. Improved transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment and services that engage female prisoners to sustained outpatient treatments are needed

Quartic Anomalous Couplings in γγ\gamma\gamma Colliders

We study the constraints on the vertices $W^+W^- Z\gamma$, $W^+W^-\gamma\gamma$, and $ZZ\gamma\gamma$ that can be obtained from triple-gauge-boson production at the next generation of linear $e^+e^-$ colliders operating in the $\gamma\gamma$ mode. We analyze the processes $\gamma\gamma \to W^+W^-V$ ($V=Z$, or $\gamma$) and show that these reactions increase the potential of $e^+e^-$ machines to search for anomalous four-gauge-boson interactions.Comment: 15 pages, Latex file using ReVteX, 4 uufiled figures include

Environment-wide association study to comprehensively test and validate associations between nutrition and lifestyle factors and testosterone deficiency: NHANES 1988-1994 and 1999-2004

PURPOSE Testosterone (T) plays an important role in men's health and its deficiency is linked with poorer health. However, the role of nutritional and lifestyle factors in T regulation and production remains unclear. The objectives are to comprehensively test the cross-sectional associations of nutritional and lifestyle factors with T deficiency and to validate the associations in the NHANES survey. METHODS We performed weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the association of 173 nutritional and lifestyle factors with T deficiency (total testosterone ≤ 3.5 ng/mL) in NHANES III as the discovery set (mean age 41). We controlled for multiple comparisons with a false discovery rate (FDR) < 5% and replicated in NHANES 1999-2004 (mean age 44). RESULTS We identified seven nutritional factors as being inversely associated with T deficiency in NHANES 1999-2004, namely dietary intake of vitamin A, protein, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, total fats, saturated fatty acid 16:0, and phosphorus. In a multivariable model, only vitamin A intake remained significantly associated with T deficiency (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-0.99). Principal component analysis suggested that the two principal components, (1) dietary fats, protein, and phosphorous and (2) total vitamin A, may be associated with T deficiency. CONCLUSION Our systematic evaluation provided new insight into the modifiable factors that could play a role in the regulation of T production. This study has the potential to contribute to the current body of literature which seeks to formulate a clinical definition of T deficiency after taking into account nutritional and lifestyle factors

Prevalence Rates of Mental Disorders in Chilean Prisons

PMCID: PMC371883

Physics at the Linear Collider

The physics at the planned $e^+e^-$ colliders is discussed around three main topics corresponding to different manifestations of symmetry breaking: $W$ physics in the no Higgs scenario, studies of the properties of the Higgs and precision tests of SUSY. A comparison with the LHC is made for all these cases. The $\gamma \gamma$ mode of the linear collider will also be reviewed.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures. Invited talk given at the Fifth Workshop on High Energy Physics Phenomenology, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, India, January 12 - 26, 199

Deep H{\alpha} Observations of NGC 253: a Very Extended and Possibly Declining Rotation Curve?

This study presents a deep H{\alpha} kinematical analysis of the Sculptor Group galaxy NGC253. The Fabry-Perot data were taken with the 36-cm Marseille Telescope in La Silla, Chile, using an EMCCD detector. Typical emission measures of ~0.1 cm^-6 pc are reached. The observations allow the detection of the Diffuse Ionized Gas component through [N II] emission at very large radii of 11.5', 12.8' and 19.0', on the receding side of the galaxy. No H{\alpha} emission is observed at radii larger than the neutral component (11.5'). The very extended rotation curve confirms previous results and shows signs of a significant decline, on the order of 30 per cent vmax . Using the rotation data, mass models are constructed with and without the outer [N II] data points, and similar results are found. The declining part of the rotation curve is very well modeled, and seems to be truly declining.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 16 pages, 10 figures, 4 table

Coming Home: Health Status and Homelessness Risk of Older Pre-release Prisoners

Older adults comprise an increasing proportion of the prison and homeless populations. While older age is associated with adverse post-release health events and incarceration is a risk factor for homelessness, the health status and homelessness risk of older pre-release prisoners are unknown. Moreover, most post-release services are geared towards veterans; it is unknown whether the needs of non-veterans differ from those of veterans. To assess health status and risk of homelessness of older pre-release prisoners, and to compare veterans with non-veterans. Cross-sectional study of 360 prisoners (≥55&nbsp;years of age) within 2&nbsp;years of release from prison using data from the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities. Veteran status, health status (based on self-report), and risk of homelessness (homelessness before arrest). Mean age was 61&nbsp;years; 93.8% were men and 56.5% were white. Nearly 40% were veterans, of whom 77.2% reported likely VA service eligibility. Veterans were more likely to be white and to have obtained a high school diploma or GED. Overall, 79.1% reported a medical condition and 13.6% reported a serious mental illness. There was little difference in health status between veterans and non-veterans. Although 1 in 12 prisoners reported a risk factor for homelessness, the risk factors did not differ according to veteran status. Older pre-release prisoners had a high burden of medical and mental illness and were at risk for post-release homelessness regardless of veteran status. Reentry programs linking pre-release older prisoners to medical and psychiatric services and to homelessness prevention programs are needed for both veterans and non-veterans