International Evidence Review of Conditional (Suspended) Sentences: Final Report

This report reviews international use of conditional sentences, specifically understood to mean a criminal sentence of imprisonment which is suspended pending a person's satisfaction of specific criteria. These sentences are being considered in jurisdictions seeking ways of managing prison population growth. The laws and any information about use of such sentences among selected countries is considered in the first part. The second part reviews research on perceptions of such sentences, and community-based sentences generally. This research was requested by and submitted to the Scottish Government

An Experimental Study of Integrating Fine-tuned LLMs and Prompts for Enhancing Mental Health Support Chatbot System

Background: Conversational mental healthcare support plays a crucial role in aiding individuals with mental health concerns. Large language models (LLMs) like GBT and BERT show potential in enhancing chat bot-based therapy responses. Despite their potential, there are recognised limitations in directly deploying these LLMs for therapeutic interactions as they are trained in general context and knowledge data. The overarching aim of this study is to integrate the capabilities of both GBT and BERT with the use of specialised mental health dataset methodologies. Its goal is to enhance mental health conversations, limiting the risk and increasing quality. Methods: To achieve these aims, we will review existing chat bot methodologies from rule-based systems to advanced approaches based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles (CBT). The study introduces a unique method which integrates a fine-tuned DialoGBT model along with the real-time capabilities of the ChatGBT 3.5 API. This blended combination aims to leverage the contextual awareness of LLMs and the precision of mental health-focused training. The evaluation involves a case study whereby our hybrid model is compared to traditional and standalone LLM-based chat bots. The performance is assessed using metrics such as perplexity and BLEU (Bilingual Evaluation Understudy) scores, along with subjective evaluations from end-users and mental health carers. Results: Our combined model outperforms others in conversational quality and relevance in mental healthcare. The positive feedback from patients and mental healthcare professionals is evidence of this. However, vital limitations highlight the need for further development in next-generation mental health support systems. Addressing these challenges is crucial for such technologies' practical application and effectiveness. Conclusions: With the rise of digital mental health tools, integrating models such as LLMs transforms conversational support. The study presents a promising approach combining state-of-the-art LLMs with domain-specific fine-tuned model principles. Results suggest our combined model offers affordable and better everyday support, validated by positive feedback from patients and professionals. Our research emphasises the potential of LLMs and points towards shaping responsible and effective policies for chat bot deployment in mental healthcare. These findings will contribute to future mental healthcare chat bot development and policy guidelines, emphasising the need for balanced and effective integration of advanced models and traditional therapeutic principles

Attorney General v X: Commentary and Feminist Judgment

The commentary considers the feminist judgment as a exercise in progressive constitutionalism addressing gendered harms. The feminist judgment, an imagined Supreme Court judgment in Attorney General v X and others [1992] 1 IR 1 (IESC),.addresses the question of abortion’s permissibility under the Irish Constitution through a feminist approach to constitutional rights, legal method and socio-legal knowledge. The legal test adopted for determining when an abortion is constitutionally permissible is when carrying a pregnancy is an impracticable burden on a woman’s life. This test is substantially different from the one adopted in the actual X case, that a woman may terminate a pregnancy when there is a real and substantial risk to her life, as distinct from her health. Among other things, it avoids the bright line distinctions between life and health which have been problematic for pregnant women since X, including Ms A, Ms B, Ms C, Ms D1, Ms D2, Savita Halappanavar, Michelle Harte and Ms Y, and their health care providers

Did increasing the state pension age in Ireland affect the retirement rate of 65-year-olds? Quarterly Economic Commentary Special Article, Autumn 2017

In January 2014, the qualifying age for the Irish contributory state pension increased from 65 to 66 years. Individuals born after 1 January 1949 could no longer qualify for the pension at age 65, while individuals born before this date could still qualify, provided they had the required social insurance contributions. In this paper, we examine whether this change in the qualifying age had a causal effect on the retirement rate of 65-year-olds in Ireland. To do this, we compare the retirement rates of two groups of 65-year-olds in 2014; one group was born just after the cut-off date, thereby making them ineligible for the state pension at age 65, while the other group was born just before the cut-off date, making them potentially eligible, subject to meeting the insurance contribution requirements. We do not find clear evidence that the change in the retirement age had a causal effect on the retirement rate or the employment and unemployment rates of 65-year-olds in 2014

Quantum Frequency Translation of Single-Photon States in Photonic Crystal Fiber

We experimentally demonstrate frequency translation of a nonclassical optical field via the Bragg scattering four-wave mixing process in a photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The high nonlinearity and the ability to control dispersion in PCF enable efficient translation between photon channels within the visible to-near-infrared spectral range, useful in quantum networks. Heralded single photons at 683 nm were translated to 659 nm with an efficiency of $28.6 \pm 2.2$ percent. Second-order correlation measurements on the 683-nm and 659-nm fields yielded $g^{(2)}_{683}(0) = 0.21 \pm 0.02$ and $g^{(2)}_{659}(0) = 0.19 \pm 0.05$ respectively, showing the nonclassical nature of both fields.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Letter. On the activation of [CrCl3{R-SN(H)S-R}] catalysts for selective trimerization of ethene: a freeze-quench Cr K-edge XAFS study

Homogeneous chromium catalysts for the selective conversion of ethene to hex-1-ene are formed from Cr(III) reagents, amino-thioether ligands of the type HN(CH2CH2SR)2, and aluminum reagents. In this study the early activation steps are investigated by EPR, UV-visible and Cr K-edge XAFS spectroscopy; rapid stopped-flow mixing and a freeze-quench allows good quality EXAFS analysis of a species formed in ~ 1 second of reaction. This is shown to involve reduction to Cr(II) and deprotonation of a NH group of the auxiliary ligand. This 4-coordinate metal-center may act as precursor for the coordination of ethene and subsequent selective oligomerization