The Impact of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on the Recidivism of High Risk Probationers: Results from a Randomized Trial

Community corrections are being used with increasing regularity for the supervision and management of serious and violent offenders. Attempts to increase the frequency and severity of conditions of supervision have not resulted in meaningful decreases in crime rates among this population. Some encouraging results, however, have been observed when a treatment component is integrated into supervision protocols. This dissertation first examines the theories and current research that inform this shift in strategies. Secondly, we evaluate for the first time, a cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention developed to reduce recidivism within a high-risk, male probation population. This dissertation begins with a review and synthesis of the literature, both in criminology and psychology, regarding the development of cognitive-behavioral techniques designed to reduce recidivism. Next, the unique characteristic of the intervention being evaluated are set out in Chapter 3. The logistics and characteristics of the randomized trial itself are discussed in Chapter 4. This section includes an overview of the risk forecasting procedures used to identify the experimental sample and the randomization scheme employed. In the following section, the impact of the cognitive-behavioral intervention delivered in Philadelphia is evaluated. Using techniques standard within experimental research, a significant reduction in the prevalence of non-violent offending and some forms of drug use are identified. An instrumental variable analysis is then used to better specify effect sizes in light of relatively high treatment dilution. Finally, implications for future research and public policy are discussed in Chapter 6. After 12 months, there were some significant and meaningful differences within the measures of prevalence of offending. Fewer offenders assigned to the treatment group (33.9%) than control (40.5%) were charged with an offense of any kind (p=.041). Therefore, assignment to the Life Skills program caused a 7.5% decrease in the number of offenders committing non-violent crimes. Significant reductions were also noted in the proportion of urinalysis screenings that were positive for PCP and time-to-failure for non-violent offending. Using randomization as an instrumental variable to compensate for treatment dilution, the reduction in the prevalence of non-violent offending was estimated at 18.8%. This research contributes to the broader literature by reinforcing the hypothesis that an integrated treatment-control supervision strategy is a viable approach for probation agencies seeking to both increase levels of control and reduce recidivism. Specifically, the results reported here represent the first, randomized outcome evaluations of an innovative form of cognitive-behavioral therapy with that specific goal. Secondly, the integration of these findings into the literature using meta-analytic techniques may better inform our understanding of the actual effects and promises of community-based recidivism-reduction programming. Finally, the innovations in experimental design and implementation developed during this project may serve as both an inspiration and a caution for other experimental criminologists

Intensive community supervision for high-risk offenders does little to reduce crime

America’s prisons are becoming increasingly overcrowded, with many authorities seeking to shift the supervision of offenders into the community as a result. In new research, Jordan M. Hyatt & Geoffrey C. Barnes investigate the use of intensive supervision for the most serious offenders. In a study of more than 800 high risk probationers, they find that those who were closely supervised were just as likely to reoffend as those who were not, and in a similar time frame. They also find that closer supervision is linked with higher rates of absconding, incarceration and probation violations

Randomized Controlled Trials

This paper covers the topic of randomized controlled trials in social, educational, criminological, health, and other human service sectors. It is studded with illustrations from developed and developing countries. We address the basic ideas that underlie trials in different ways, and cover contemporary definitions and vernacular, some history, and idea of cumulating evidence from such trials including recent work on replication and meta-analyses. Standards for evidence and reporting are considered. We attend to statistical matters and also recognize important non-statistical matters that must be taken into account in designing and executing such trials. Cluster randomized, place randomized, and other designs for such trials are covered on account of their increasing importance

Evaluation of Precision Feeding Standardized Ileal Digestible Lysine to Meet the Lactating Sow’s Requirement and Maximize Piglet Growth Performance

A total of 56 mixed parity sows (DNA 241, Columbus, NE) and litters (DNA 241 × 600) were used across two batch farrowing groups to evaluate the effects of precision feeding SID Lys during lactation. Sows were blocked by parity and allotted to 1 of 3 treatments on day 2 of lactation (the day after the start of farrowing). The first treatment was a control treatment where sows were provided a 1.10% SID Lys diet throughout lactation. The second and third treatments included sows fed either a static blend curve or a dynamic blend curve. Both blend curve treatments utilized the Gestal Quattro Opti Feeder (Jyga Technologies, St-Lambert-de-Lauzon, Quebec, Canada) to blend a low and high Lys diet to target a specific SID g/d of Lys intake for each day of lactation. The only difference between the static blend curve and dynamic blend curve was that the dynamic blend curve of the low and high Lys diet was adjusted every 2 days based on a rolling average of Lys intake to more closely reach target g/d of Lys intake while the static blend curve was not adjusted throughout lactation. Lysine intake curves were based on the NRC (2012) model estimates, but targets were increased by 20% to reach an average Lys intake of approximately 60 g/d across parities. Dietary treatments for sows on the blend curve treatments were formed by blending a low Lys diet (0.40% SID Lys) and the control high Lys diet (1.10% SID Lys). Actual SID Lys intake was 97% of the targeted g/d for sows fed the static blend curve and 96% of targeted g/d for sows fed the dynamic blend curve. Sows fed the control treatment had greater Lys intake (g/day; P \u3c 0.05) compared to sows fed either of the blend curve treatments, with no differences between the two blend curve treatments (P \u3e 0.05). No differences in sow ADFI or sow body weight, backfat, or loin depth at entry or weaning were observed among treatments (P \u3e 0.05). There were no differences among treatments observed in litter size, piglet weight at birth or weaning, ADG, and litter weight or ADG (P \u3e 0.05). Because sows fed either blend curve had a numerically greater ADFI, no differences in sow feed cost were observed (P \u3e 0.05). Sows fed the control treatment excreted more N and had a higher serum urea N concentration compared to sows fed either blend curve treatment (P \u3e 0.05). Based on the results of the study, blending a low and high Lys diet can be used during lactation to decrease N excretion and achieve similar piglet growth performance compared to results for piglets from sows fed only a high Lys diet throughout lactation. Furthermore, these data would suggest that 60 g/d of SID Lys is sufficient to maximize litter weight gain for litter sizes of 13.5 weaned piglets

Evaluation of Precision Feeding SID Lysine to Lactating Sows on Sow and Litter Performance, Nitrogen Level, and Feed Cost

A total of 95 mixed parity sows (DNA 241) and litters (DNA 241 × 600) were used across four batch farrowing groups to evaluate the effects of precision feeding Lys during lactation. Sows were blocked by parity and allotted to 1 of 3 treatments on day 2 (the day after farrowing) of lactation. Dietary treatments were formed by using 2 diets: a low Lys diet (0.25% SID Lys) and a high Lys diet (1.10% SID Lys). Treatments included a control, NRC (2012), or INRA (2009) treatment curve. Sows on the NRC or INRA treatment curves received a blend of the low and high diet using the Gestal Quattro Opti Feeder (Jyga Technologies, St-Lambert-de-Lauzon, Quebec, Canada) to target a specific SID g/d of Lys intake for each day of lactation based on the NRC and INRA models for each sow parity and litter size combination. Sows on the control treatment received only the high Lys diet with no diet blending or specific g/d of Lys target. Sows were allowed ad libitum access to feed throughout lactation. Lysine intake was 102% of targeted average g/d of Lys intake during lactation for sows fed the NRC treatment curve and 98% of targeted average g/d for sows fed the INRA treatment curves. Sows fed only the high Lys diet (control) had greater (P \u3c 0.05) average g/d of Lys intake compared to sows fed either the NRC or INRA treatment curves. No differences (P \u3e 0.05) in sow weight, backfat, caliper score, or loin depth change were observed among treatments. However, litters from sows fed the control treatment had greater (P \u3c 0.05) litter weight on d 9 and weaning compared to litters from sows fed either the NRC or INRA treatment curves. Pigs from sows fed the control treatment had greater (P \u3c 0.05) BW at weaning and preweaning ADG compared to pigs from sows fed the INRA treatment curve, with pigs from sows fed the NRC treatment curve intermediate. Sows fed the NRC treatment curve had a greater (P \u3c 0.05) feed cost per lb of litter gain compared to sows fed the control treatment, with sows fed the INRA treatment curve intermediate. This was unexpected because sows fed the NRC treatment curves had a blend of the low and high Lys diets which had a decreased feed cost per lb compared to the control diet. However, this was the result of higher feed intake of sows fed the NRC treatment curve. Sows fed the control treatment had the highest (P \u3c 0.05) N excretion and sows fed the INRA treatment curve the lowest, with sows fed the NRC treatment curve intermediate. Sows fed the control treatment had greater (P \u3c 0.05) serum urea nitrogen concentration on d 9 and at weaning compared to sows fed the NRC and INRA treatment curves. In summary, pigs from sows fed a single diet (control) that did not utilize feed blending had increased pig growth performance during lactation compared to pigs from sows fed the NRC or INRA treatment curves. This is likely because the NRC and INRA estimated Lys requirements are too low to maximize litter growth performance and not because they were on a feed blending curve. Future research should be aimed at examining the effects of blending high and low Lys diets, while providing daily Lys intakes with greater dietary SID Lys concentrations, to achieve similar litter growth performance compared to conventional feeding of a high Lys diet

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Exploring the symbiotic pangenome of the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Sinorhizobium meliloti </it>is a model system for the studies of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. An extensive polymorphism at the genetic and phenotypic level is present in natural populations of this species, especially in relation with symbiotic promotion of plant growth. AK83 and BL225C are two nodule-isolated strains with diverse symbiotic phenotypes; BL225C is more efficient in promoting growth of the <it>Medicago sativa </it>plants than strain AK83. In order to investigate the genetic determinants of the phenotypic diversification of <it>S. meliloti </it>strains AK83 and BL225C, we sequenced the complete genomes for these two strains.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>With sizes of 7.14 Mbp and 6.97 Mbp, respectively, the genomes of AK83 and BL225C are larger than the laboratory strain Rm1021. The core genome of Rm1021, AK83, BL225C strains included 5124 orthologous groups, while the accessory genome was composed by 2700 orthologous groups. While Rm1021 and BL225C have only three replicons (Chromosome, pSymA and pSymB), AK83 has also two plasmids, 260 and 70 Kbp long. We found 65 interesting orthologous groups of genes that were present only in the accessory genome, consequently responsible for phenotypic diversity and putatively involved in plant-bacterium interaction. Notably, the symbiosis inefficient AK83 lacked several genes required for microaerophilic growth inside nodules, while several genes for accessory functions related to competition, plant invasion and bacteroid tropism were identified only in AK83 and BL225C strains. Presence and extent of polymorphism in regulons of transcription factors involved in symbiotic interaction were also analyzed. Our results indicate that regulons are flexible, with a large number of accessory genes, suggesting that regulons polymorphism could also be a key determinant in the variability of symbiotic performances among the analyzed strains.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In conclusions, the extended comparative genomics approach revealed a variable subset of genes and regulons that may contribute to the symbiotic diversity.</p