Prison brain? Executive dysfunction in prisoners

A better understanding of the functioning of the brain, particularly executive functions, of the prison population could aid in reducing crime rates through the reduction of recidivism rates. Indeed, reoffending appears to be related to executive dysfunction and it is known that executive functions are crucial for self-regulation. In the current paper, studies to executive functions in regular adult prisoners compared to non-offender controls were reviewed. Seven studies were found. Specific executive functions were found to be impaired in the general prison population, i.e., attention and set-shifting, as well as in separate subgroups of violent (i.e., set-shifting and working memory) and non-violent offenders (i.e., inhibition, working memory and problem solving). We conclude that the limited number of studies is remarkable, considering the high impact of this population on society and elaborate on the implications of these specific impairments that were found. Further empirical research is suggested, measuring executive functioning within subjects over time for a group of detainees as well as a control group

Applying DLM and DCM concepts in a multi-scale data environment

This extended abstract presents work in progress in which we explore the DLM and DCM concepts in a multi-scale topographic data environment. The abstract is prepared a

Risk factors of violent offending in mentally ill prisoners with autism spectrum disorders

Background Results of research regarding a possible causal relation between autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and violence are mixed. Several explanations have been proposed. Aims To assess prevalence rates of comorbid disorders in a large sample of mentally ill offenders diagnosed with ASD. Offenders with and without comorbid mental disorders were compared on several characteristics. To better understand the relationship between ASD and violent criminal behavior, the predictive value of several proposed risk factors (comorbidity, negative social network/influenceability, and childhood trauma/victimization) on violent offending was investigated. Method Data of 394 male offenders with a diagnosis of ASD were included. Prevalence rates of comorbid mental disorders next to ASD were calculated, and characteristics were compared using chi-square or t-tests. The predictive value of the risk factors was assessed using a binary logistic regression (n = 357). Results High rates of comorbidity were found (78.9%), specifically for substance use disorders (39.8%), schizophrenia spectrum disorders (31.7%), and neurodevelopmental disorder other than ASD (24.1%). Offenders with and without comorbidity differed significantly in their criminal and mental health care history. Both comorbidity (OR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.27–2.18) and a negative social network/influenceability (OR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.11–1.99) showed to be significant predictors of violent offending within this sample. Conclusions The highest rates of comorbid disorders found were disorders that have been previously linked to violent offending, and the risk of violent offending could be unrelated to ASD. However, the role of social functioning indicates a risk specific to the symptoms of ASD

Effect of Puumala hantavirus infection on human umbilical vein endothelial cell hemostatic function : Platelet interactions, increased tissue factor expression and fibrinolysis regulator release

Peer reviewe

Modernisering personenvennootschappen: Rapport van de Werkgroep Personenvennootschappen

Coherent privaatrech

Measurement of the partial widths of the Z into up- and down-type quarks

Using the entire OPAL LEP1 on-peak Z hadronic decay sample, Z -> qbarq gamma decays were selected by tagging hadronic final states with isolated photon candidates in the electromagnetic calorimeter. Combining the measured rates of Z -> qbarq gamma decays with the total rate of hadronic Z decays permits the simultaneous determination of the widths of the Z into up- and down-type quarks. The values obtained, with total errors, were Gamma u = 300 ^{+19}_{-18} MeV and Gamma d = 381 ^{+12}_{-12} MeV. The results are in good agreement with the Standard Model expectation.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to Phys. Letts.

Search for R-Parity Violating Decays of Scalar Fermions at LEP

A search for pair-produced scalar fermions under the assumption that R-parity is not conserved has been performed using data collected with the OPAL detector at LEP. The data samples analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 610 pb-1 collected at centre-of-mass energies of sqrt(s) 189-209 GeV. An important consequence of R-parity violation is that the lightest supersymmetric particle is expected to be unstable. Searches of R-parity violating decays of charged sleptons, sneutrinos and squarks have been performed under the assumptions that the lightest supersymmetric particle decays promptly and that only one of the R-parity violating couplings is dominant for each of the decay modes considered. Such processes would yield final states consisting of leptons, jets, or both with or without missing energy. No significant single-like excess of events has been observed with respect to the Standard Model expectations. Limits on the production cross- section of scalar fermions in R-parity violating scenarios are obtained. Constraints on the supersymmetric particle masses are also presented in an R-parity violating framework analogous to the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.Comment: 51 pages, 24 figures, Submitted to Eur. Phys. J.

Measurement of the Strong Coupling alpha s from Four-Jet Observables in e+e- Annihilation

Data from e+e- annihilation into hadrons at centre-of-mass energies between 91 GeV and 209 GeV collected with the OPAL detector at LEP, are used to study the four-jet rate as a function of the Durham algorithm resolution parameter ycut. The four-jet rate is compared to next-to-leading order calculations that include the resummation of large logarithms. The strong coupling measured from the four-jet rate is alphas(Mz0)= 0.1182+-0.0003(stat.)+-0.0015(exp.)+-0.0011(had.)+-0.0012(scale)+-0.0013(mass) in agreement with the world average. Next-to-leading order fits to the D-parameter and thrust minor event-shape observables are also performed for the first time. We find consistent results, but with significantly larger theoretical uncertainties.Comment: 25 pages, 15 figures, Submitted to Euro. Phys. J.

Measurement of the Hadronic Photon Structure Function F_2^gamma at LEP2

The hadronic structure function of the photon F_2^gamma is measured as a function of Bjorken x and of the factorisation scale Q^2 using data taken by the OPAL detector at LEP. Previous OPAL measurements of the x dependence of F_2^gamma are extended to an average Q^2 of 767 GeV^2. The Q^2 evolution of F_2^gamma is studied for average Q^2 between 11.9 and 1051 GeV^2. As predicted by QCD, the data show positive scaling violations in F_2^gamma. Several parameterisations of F_2^gamma are in agreement with the measurements whereas the quark-parton model prediction fails to describe the data.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the proceedings of Photon 2001, Ascona, Switzerlan