Evaluating SUD/OUD Treatment Outcomes Related to Vocational Success for Previously Incarcerated Persons: A Review

The United States criminal justice system’s (CJS) primary purpose is for the rehabilitation of the individuals within it, which calls for a comprehensive evaluation and critique of its effectiveness. Though there are many variables of the CJS that can be evaluated, for those who are battling a substance or opioid use disorder, accessing treatment is particularly difficult. Further, upon release from the jail/prison system, such persons are often expected to maintain certain parameters such as holding a job. The complex interaction between all three of these variables (incarceration history, substance use history, and employment status) have not yet been evaluated together. A review of the extant literature on vocational outcomes as they relate to substance use treatments in prison clearly shows the limited success of these treatments for participants post-release. Such findings create curiosity about what might be missing in these substance use treatments, especially as they relate to employment. The purpose of the present manuscript is to investigate how these ideas have been historically documented and measured and subsequently to suggest a way in which to enhance the limited success of substance use treatments in the CJS. Vocational success is an outcome measure that takes into account, not only, traditional objective standards such as whether or not a person is employed, hours worked, etc., but also more subjective standards such as meaning- making in work which has not previously been included in prison-based substance use treatments. Such inclusion may increase vocational success and may lead to overall more positive recovery for individuals post-release. Future research recommendations are discussed

Pre Processing of Twitter's Data for Opinion Mining in Political Context

AbstractIn the wake of political activism among youth in particular and the whole population in general, everyone is not only eager to share their political orientation but equally curious regarding the voice of the masses. As a known notion, the perfect orifice to this emerging need of political activism can be found on social media platforms, from where the numerous aspects of public opinion can be captured easily. These sites have begun to have a large impact on how people think and act. It is a known phenomenon that public opinion is the largest indicator of success and failure of political parties and is a direct reflection of the party's reign. Where increased sharing of public feedback has increased awareness and promoted accountability, it has also created chaos and confusion for many. Using Twitter, the most popular micro blogging platform, this paper aims to give a method to ease and smooth the task of opinion mining with the help of linguistic analysis and opinion classifiers, which will together determine positive, negative and neutral sentiments for the political parties of Pakistan. A method is provided which pre-processes the raw data of twitter and comparison of two classification techniques to classify this data. That will aspire to capture a snapshot of current political scenario to promote the spirit of accountability, self-analysis and improvement in among Pakistani politicians. Moreover, with this we aim to give general public an important consolidated voice in the realm of politics

Performance optimization and light-beam-deviation analysis of the parallel-slab division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter

A division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter that uses a parallel-slab multiple-reflection beam splitter was described recently [Opt. Lett. 21, 1709 (1996)]. We provide a general analysis and an optimization of a specific design that uses a fused-silica slab that is uniformly coated with a transparent thin film of ZnS on the front surface and with an opaque Ag or Au reflecting layer on the back. Multiple internal reflections within the slab give rise to a set of parallel, equispaced, reflected beams numbered 0, 1, 2, and 3 that are intercepted by photodetectors D0, D1, D2, and D3, respectively, to produce output electrical signals i0, i1,i2, and i3, respectively. The instrument matrix A, which relates the output-signal vector I to the input Stokes vector S by I = AS, and its determinant D are analyzed. The instrument matrix A is nonsingular; hence all four Stokes parameters can be measured simultaneously over a broad spectral range (UV–VIS–IR). The optimum film thickness, the optimum angle of incidence, and the effect of light-beam deviation on the measured input Stokes parameters are considered

Performance optimization and light-beam-deviation analysis of the parallel-slab division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter

A division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter that uses a parallel-slab multiple-reflection beam splitter was described recently [Opt. Lett. 21, 1709 (1996)]. We provide a general analysis and an optimization of a specific design that uses a fused-silica slab that is uniformly coated with a transparent thin film of ZnS on the front surface and with an opaque Ag or Au reflecting layer on the back. Multiple internal reflections within the slab give rise to a set of parallel, equispaced, reflected beams numbered 0, 1, 2, and 3 that are intercepted by photodetectors D0, D1, D2, and D3, respectively, to produce output electrical signals i0, i1,i2, and i3, respectively. The instrument matrix A, which relates the output-signal vector I to the input Stokes vector S by I = AS, and its determinant D are analyzed. The instrument matrix A is nonsingular; hence all four Stokes parameters can be measured simultaneously over a broad spectral range (UV–VIS–IR). The optimum film thickness, the optimum angle of incidence, and the effect of light-beam deviation on the measured input Stokes parameters are considered

SEASONAL VARIATION IN MACRO-MICRONUTRIENT COMPOSITIONS OF THE FLESH AND SHELL OF THE PORTUNID CRAB Callinectes amnicola (De Rochebrune, 1883) FROM THE COASTAL WATERS OF SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Portunids are decapod crustaceans of high economic importance. Seasonal variation in macronutrient and micronutrients contents of Callinectes amnicola from three interconnecting lagoons were investigated using standard methods. The percentages of protein and moisture contents in the flesh were higher than that of the shell, while higher ash and nitrogen free extract were obtained in the shell. Crude fibres was not detected in flesh of C. amnicola but detected in shells with values ranging from 0.30 ±0.72 % (C. amnicola from Lagos Lagoon) to 0.55 ±2.15 % (C. amnicola from Badagry Lagoon). There were statistical differences (P ˂ 0.05) in crude fibre and carbohydrate levels of  the crab shell during wet and dry seasons while significant difference exist in protein level only in wet season. Protein showed negative correlations with all the minerals in crabs from Badagry and Epe Lagoons but positive correlation with all examined minerals in Lagos Lagoon crabs. The study demonstrated that Callinectes amnicola is rich in macro-micronutrients and characterized by low lipid content (< 3%). The nutrient biochemical constituents in the crab species vary with seaso

Non-Parametric Test for Ordered Medians: The Jonckheere Terpstra Test

In clinical trials, sample size is usually lesser as compared to other epidemiological studies to make it more feasible and cost effective. Small sizes of such trials discourage the use of parametric test due to violation of the assumption under which they are applicable. Therefore, the use of nonparametric test is substantial in clinical trials to test two or more independent samples. The Kruskal-Wallis h test is an alternative to one-way ANOVA and can be used to identify significant differences among different populations. When we have several independent samples and assumed to be arranged orderly, Jonckheere Terpstra test is a best choice to compare population medians instead of means. For the application of Jonckheere Terpstra test the data from the study of cleaning methods for ultrasound probes are used. The Jonckheere Terpstra test is recommended over Kruskal-Wallis h test as it compares and provides significant difference between more than two population medians when they arranged in order. Therefore, the aim of this research paper was to explore the use and significance of Jonckheere-Terpstra test with the use of practical example

Experience of managing acute pancreatitis in a surgical unit of a tertiary care hospital

Objective: To study the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and complications of acute pancreatitis in a tertiary care hospital. &nbsp;Methodology: Study Design: It was a descriptive study. The study was conducted at Surgical Unit of Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) Rawalpindi from 1st January 2014 to 31 July 2017.&nbsp; All the patients who presented in emergency with abdominal symptoms and diagnosed as a case of acute pancreatitis were included in the study. All the data of gender, age, serum amylase &amp; lipase, etiology, CT severity index, Ranson’s criteria, complications, mortality and management were noted on a predesigned proforma. Percentages and frequencies were calculated for all the data by SPSS 21 version. Results: Total 161 patients were included in the study, with 60.9% females and 39.1% males. Maximum patients 31% were from age group of 26 to 40&nbsp; years of age and minimum 1.2% from 71 to 85 years. Gall stones were the major cause of the disease contributing 67% of cases.&nbsp; At admission Ranson’s score of the maximum patients 32.2% had total score of 1, While only 1.2% had moderate pancreatitis.&nbsp; After 48 hours of admission 24.2% had 2 score while only 1.2%had severe pancreatitis.&nbsp; The radiological CT severity index 82.6% patients had mild pancreatitis while1.2% patients had severe disease. 93.1% patients were managed conservatively, 1.9%&nbsp; patients went Cystogastrostomy, 1.2% patients needed Exploratory laparotomy and&nbsp; 1.2% patients went for Pancreatic Necrosectomy.&nbsp; On calculating the morbidity 67.7% patients had no significant morbidity. 32.3% had complications including pleural effusion, ascites, pancreatic necrosis, pseudo cyst formation, shock, acute renal failure and multi organ failure.&nbsp; Overall mortality rate was&nbsp; 3.7%. Conclusion: Acute pancreatitis in our set up is mainly due to gall stones. A multidisciplinary approach, measurement of severity of disease with computerized tomography scan and Ranson’s scoring system is always helpful in disease management and its complications. Key Words : Acute pancreatitis, Gall stones, Ranson’s scoring, Pancreatic necrosis, Pseudocyst

Sustainable conversion of carbon dioxide into diverse hydrocarbon fuels via molten salt electrolysis

In recent decades, the unlimited use of fossil fuels mostly for power generation has emitted a huge amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which in return has led to global warming. Here we use green technology, the molten salt electrochemical system comprising of titanium and mild steel as a cathode with graphite anode whereas molten carbonate (Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3; 43.5:31.5:25 mol%), hydroxide (LiOH-NaOH; 27; 73 and KOH-NaOH; 50:50 mol %) and chlorides (KCl-LiCl; 41-59 mol%) salts as electrolytes This study investigates the effect of temperature, feed gas ratio CO2/H2Oand use of different cathode materials on hydrocarbon product along with current efficiencies. Gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy have been applied to analyze the gas products. According to GC results, more specific results in terms of high molecular weight and long chain hydrocarbons were obtained by using titanium cathodic material rather than mild steel. The results revealed that among all the electrolytes, molten carbonates at 1.5V and 425˚C produced higher hydrocarbons as C7H16 while all other produced CH4. The optimum conditions for hydrocarbon formation and higher current efficiencies in case of molten carbonates were found to be 500oC under a molar ratio of CO2/H2O of 15.6. However, the current efficiencies do not change on increasing the temperature from 425 to 500oCand is maintained at 99% under a molar ratio of CO2/H2O of 15.6. The total current efficiency of the entire cathodic product reduced clearly from 95 to 79% by increasing the temperature under a CO2/H2O ratio of 9.2 due to the reduction of hydrocarbon generation in this case, despite the formation of C7H16. Therefore, due to its fast electrolytic conversion rate and low cost (no use of catalyst) the practice of molten salts could be an encouraging and promising technology for future investigation for hydrocarbon fuel formation