Police culture: does culture prevent proper policing?

Master's Project (M.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2018This project is about identifying the key issues that police officers face in today's society. There is an emphasis on community policing and to adjust police training to account for the strong pull of the police subculture. The main purpose of this project is to strengthen the bonds between the police and the community and changing how officers approach their interactions within the community. The end goal is to alleviate community concerns that police officers are out to get them while also alleviating the concerns officers have that the community hates them. This project will attempt to quell those concerns while proposing a solution that benefits both officers, the police department, and the community

Accurate template-based modeling in CASP12 using the IntFOLD4-TS, ModFOLD6, and ReFOLD methods

Our aim in CASP12 was to improve our Template-Based Modeling (TBM) methods through better model selection, accuracy self-estimate (ASE) scores and refinement. To meet this aim, we developed two new automated methods, which we used to score, rank, and improve upon the provided server models. Firstly, the ModFOLD6_rank method, for improved global Quality Assessment (QA), model ranking and the detection of local errors. Secondly, the ReFOLD method for fixing errors through iterative QA guided refinement. For our automated predictions we developed the IntFOLD4-TS protocol, which integrates the ModFOLD6_rank method for scoring the multiple-template models that were generated using a number of alternative sequence-structure alignments. Overall, our selection of top models and ASE scores using ModFOLD6_rank was an improvement on our previous approaches. In addition, it was worthwhile attempting to repair the detected errors in the top selected models using ReFOLD, which gave us an overall gain in performance. According to the assessors' formula, the IntFOLD4 server ranked 3rd/5th (average Z-score > 0.0/–2.0) on the server only targets, and our manual predictions (McGuffin group) ranked 1st/2nd (average Z-score > −2.0/0.0) compared to all other groups

The ModFOLD4 server for the quality assessment of 3D protein models

Once you have generated a 3D model of a protein, how do you know whether it bears any resemblance to the actual structure? To determine the usefulness of 3D models of proteins, they must be assessed in terms of their quality by methods that predict their similarity to the native structure. The ModFOLD4 server is the latest version of our leading independent server for the estimation of both the global and local (per-residue) quality of 3D protein models. The server produces both machine readable and graphical output, providing users with intuitive visual reports on the quality of predicted protein tertiary structures. The ModFOLD4 server is freely available to all at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/bioinf/ModFOLD/

NodeTrix: Hybrid Representation for Analyzing Social Networks

The need to visualize large social networks is growing as hardware capabilities make analyzing large networks feasible and many new data sets become available. Unfortunately, the visualizations in existing systems do not satisfactorily answer the basic dilemma of being readable both for the global structure of the network and also for detailed analysis of local communities. To address this problem, we present NodeTrix, a hybrid representation for networks that combines the advantages of two traditional representations: node-link diagrams are used to show the global structure of a network, while arbitrary portions of the network can be shown as adjacency matrices to better support the analysis of communities. A key contribution is a set of interaction techniques. These allow analysts to create a NodeTrix visualization by dragging selections from either a node-link or a matrix, flexibly manipulate the NodeTrix representation to explore the dataset, and create meaningful summary visualizations of their findings. Finally, we present a case study applying NodeTrix to the analysis of the InfoVis 2004 coauthorship dataset to illustrate the capabilities of NodeTrix as both an exploration tool and an effective means of communicating results

Additive manufacturing of metals at high rate yielding controlled microstructure

Additive manufacturing, AM, of metals can be accomplished by sequentially melting and solidifying a feedstock to create a freeform shape. In terms of commercial machines the most common feedstocks are flowable metal powders. However, wire feedstock offers advantages in many situations. Many are derived from connection to a large established industrial base (welding) and include a range of available compositions (including cored wire), high material utilization, and relative economy. While AM by localized fusion offers geometrical flexibility, but at a cost and with property compromises associated with the lack of familiar metallurgical processing tools such as mechanical working. Energy efficiency can be limited by sequential heating and reheating the same volume element. Defects arise; in part, this is more likely due to the high specific surface area of feedstock(s). The laser hot-wire process offers interesting technical advantages. This is an arc-less fusion welding process that is used primarily in cladding applications. Industrial application of cladding includes improvement of wear resistance through creation of a composite overlay of specific metal alloys in which there are dispersed phases. It also can improve corrosion resistance by effectively shelling a component in a different alloy. The low effective peak temperature of the melt (relative to, for example, electric arc processes) give high deposition rate, low dilution, control over thermal stresses, and general metallurgical control including the ability to introduce and preserve desired meta-stable phases. In our efforts the focus has been on using nickel alloys over steel for applications relevant to oil and gas, and titanium alloys for aerospace. A number of fundamental questions arise in this challenging application of technology. These relate to process control, characterization, and metallurgical control. Presented results will include thermal modeling, stress development, microstructure, part production, and novel process control

The Future of Medicine is Behind Us: The Case for a 1912 Case-Based Curricula

Patient outcomes continue to suffer despite exponential advances in access to medical knowledge. This requires an evaluation of the pedagogy of our medical education delivery. Case-based learning has long been shown to be an effective teaching method to improve student knowledge, student and faculty engagement, and improve patient outcomes. In order to improve patient outcomes specifically in accurate and timely diagnosis, we need to strongly consider converting our existing curricular models entirely to a case-based format

Sonnet ANSI/VITA 49.2-2017, Sec. 9.13.3

A discussion of the contents of the Data Packet Payload Format Field in an ANSI/VITA 49.2 compliant data packet in the form of a Sonnet

Impact of the Big 5 and Sensation Seeking Personality Traits on Everyday Deception

Everyday Deception is an important aspect of life, yet a dearth of research has examined the influence of the Big 5 personality traits and Sensation Seeking tendencies on an individual’s likelihood to engage in Everyday Deception. While previous research has investigated the relationships between the Big 5 and deception as well as Sensation Seeking and deception, no prior research has looked at the combined effects of these personality traits. The purpose of this study is to clarify and extend prior research examining personality factors that index the nature and extent of Everyday Deception. It was hypothesized that 1) Sensation Seeking tendencies would be positively correlated with Everyday Deception, 2) the Big 5 traits of Extraversion and Openness to Experience would be positively related to Everyday Deception, and 3) Sensation Seeking, Extraversion, and Openness to Experience would positively predict Everyday Deception. One hundred and seventy-three participants responded to a battery of questionnaires that measured personality and frequency of deceptive behaviors as well as attitudes toward criminally deceptive actions. Higher Sensation Seeking tendencies were correlated to Everyday Deception. There were no significant correlations regarding the Big 5. In regard to the predictive nature of personality, the only trait that significantly predicted Everyday Deception was the Sensation Seeking subscale of Disinhibition

The Effects of Learning Groups on Student Achievement and Attitude in a Sixth Grade Mathematics Class

A handbook for implementing Student Team Learning as an alternative teaching strategy for middle level math teachers was developed after conducting extensive action research project within a sixth grade math classroom. A literature review on barriers to learning mathematics in middle schools and Student Team Learning as a teaching strategy was conducted. An action research project was conducted and from the pre to post-test data and best practices implementation regarding student team learning methods the handbook project was constructed. The handbook includes an introduction to Student Team Learning; guidelines for implementation; a student attitude survey; lesson practice questions, review sheets, and pre/post-check quizzes·; a classroom newsletter; student data forms and individual/team recognition awards; and resources

Law Enforcement Officer-Involved Fatal Incidents: A Phenomenological Study of How Law Enforcement Officers and Their Spouses Perceive and Describe the Experience of an Officer-Involved Fatal Incident

The purpose of this qualitative research study is to seek the perceptions and descriptions of law enforcement officers and their spouses who have experienced an officer-involved fatal incident. A review of the literature revealed that most inquiries into the nature of police stress and trauma are quantitative in nature. This study contributed to the existing body of research through inclusion of the voices of those who have experienced, and have been impacted by an officer-involved fatal incident. This study was interpreted through the theoretical lenses of transcendental phenomenology, existential theory, and family systems theory. Data collection relied predominantly on semi-structured, recorded interviews along with the identification of artifacts retained by participants. The participants included six law enforcement officers and their spouses. Data analysis utilized a transcendental phenomenological model developed by van Kaam's (1959/1966) and modified by Moustakas (1994). The study identified two themes pertaining to the lived emotional experience of an officer-involved fatal incident (OIFI), four themes pertaining to coping strategies, and four themes for meaning making