Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research on Drug Courts: a Critical Review I Research on Drug Courts: a Critical Review 2001 Update Research on Drug Courts: a Critical Review 2001 Update Article Summaries

This is a critical review of 37 published and unpublished evaluations of drug courts (including seven juvenile drug courts, one DUI court, and one family drug court) produced between 1999 and April 2001. The conclusions drawn from this research are generally consistent with those of previous reviews published by the author in June 1998 and December 1999. Drug courts have achieved considerable local support and have provided intensive, long-term treatment services to offenders with long histories of drug use and criminal justice contacts, previous treatment failures, and high rates of health and social problems. Program completion rates are generally consistent with previous findings, with an average of 47% of participants graduating. Drug use and criminal activity are relatively reduced while participants are in the program. Less clear are the long-term post-program impacts of drug courts on recidivism and other outcomes. In this critical review of drug court research, four of the six studies that examined one-year post-program recidivism found a reduction, but the size of the reduction varied across courts. None of the studies reported post-program drug use, employment, or other outcomes for all drug court participants, so these impacts remain largely unknown. Three studies used random assignment to drug court or control conditions and all 2001 Update 2 found a reduction in recidivism for the drug court participants; however, none of these studies distinguished between in-program and post-program rearrests, and sample sizes were small in two of the studies. Several studies that examined program costs found that average per-client drug court costs are lower than standard processing, primarily due to reduced incarceration. However, straight diversion may be less expensive and intrusive for low-risk offenders and achieve similar outcomes as drug courts. This review suggests a continuing need for better precision in describing data sources, measures, and time frames for data collection. Data quality and information systems problems continue to affect the quality and utility of drug court evaluations. Despite the importance of looking inside the " black box " of drug court treatment, relatively few evaluations included data on program services, either because of lack of data or because service delivery was not included in the evaluation design. Findings from several evaluations suggest that drug court impacts may fluctuate over time, indicating the importance of multi-year or replication studies to gauge the long-term impacts of drug courts. Finally, research on juvenile and family drug courts is still in its …
Knowledge acquisition at the metalevel: creation of custom-tailored knowledge-acquisition tools

Automated knowledge-acquisition tools can assist system builders in the creation of knowledge bases for expert systems. An important class of such tools includes programs that contain detailed models of families of application tasks. Users enter knowledge about particular applications into these tools in terms of the predefined task models that the tools incorporate. Construction of such tools, however, has itself proven to be laborious. PROT&Eacute;G&Eacute; is an interactive program that assists knowledge engineers in the construction of task models, and that automatically generates custom-tailored, graphical knowledge-acquisition tools based on those models. Domain experts independently use the knowledge-acquisition tools that PROT&Eacute;G&Eacute; generates to enter the knowledge that defines individual applications. The methodology simplifies the development of task-based knowledge-acquisition aids, and allows system builders to separate the difficult, model-building part of knowledge acquisition from the more straightforward entry of content knowledge.
Solving Almost all Systems of Random Quadratic Equations

This paper deals with finding an $n$-dimensional solution $x$ to a system of quadratic equations of the form $y_i=|\langle{a}_i,x\rangle|^2$ for $1\le i \le m$, which is also known as phase retrieval and is NP-hard in general. We put forth a novel procedure for minimizing the amplitude-based least-squares empirical loss, that starts with a weighted maximal correlation initialization obtainable with a few power or Lanczos iterations, followed by successive refinements based upon a sequence of iteratively reweighted (generalized) gradient iterations. The two (both the initialization and gradient flow) stages distinguish themselves from prior contributions by the inclusion of a fresh (re)weighting regularization technique. The overall algorithm is conceptually simple, numerically scalable, and easy-to-implement. For certain random measurement models, the novel procedure is shown capable of finding the true solution $x$ in time proportional to reading the data $\{(a_i;y_i)\}_{1\le i \le m}$. This holds with high probability and without extra assumption on the signal $x$ to be recovered, provided that the number $m$ of equations is some constant $c>0$ times the number $n$ of unknowns in the signal vector, namely, $m>cn$. Empirically, the upshots of this contribution are: i) (almost) $100\%$ perfect signal recovery in the high-dimensional (say e.g., $n\ge 2,000$) regime given only an information-theoretic limit number of noiseless equations, namely, $m=2n-1$ in the real-valued Gaussian case; and, ii) (nearly) optimal statistical accuracy in the presence of additive noise of bounded support. Finally, substantial numerical tests using both synthetic data and real images corroborate markedly improved signal recovery performance and computational efficiency of our novel procedure relative to state-of-the-art approaches.
Using Perfect Sampling in Parameter Estimation of a Whole Sentence Maximum Entropy Language Model

The Maximum Entropy principle (ME) is an appropriate framework for combining information of a diverse nature from several sources into the same language model. In order to incorporate long-distance information into the ME framework in a language model, a Whole Sentence Maximum Entropy Language Model (WSME) could be used. Until now MonteCarlo Markov Chains (MCMC) sampling techniques has been used to estimate the parameters of the WSME model. In this paper, we propose the application of another sampling technique: the Perfect Sampling (PS). The experiment has shown a reduction of 30% in the perplexity of the WSME model over the trigram model and a reduction of 2% over the WSME model trained with MCMC.
A 4.2GHz, 3.3mW, 1.1pJ, 90nm 64-bit new digital comparator with 1.2 clock pipeline delay

This paper presents a new digital comparator. It is based on the general form of the n-bit digital comparators with majority functions. We propose a target system of 64-bit digital comparator built on the top of a modified and improved Domino Logic with pipeline structure. Our design comes without the inter-block inverters of the conventional domino logics. The proposed comparator is evaluated in 90nm at 1.2v VDD at clock frequency of 4.2GHz with 1.2 clock cycle delay or 310 picoseconds. The power and Power-Delay-Products in 90nm are 3.3mw and 1.12pJ respectively. To show the effectiveness of our proposed approach, we evaluate our design with 90nm PTM at the clock rate of 5.4GHz or about 50% improvement against the best known previous digital comparator. Furthermore, simulation of our design in AMI 0.5um at 5v VDD shows 2.0 GHz clock speed and 1.5 clock cycle delay or 750 picoseconds. This in turn has about 43% improvement against best known digital comparator at this technology.
A proposal for model-based safety analysis

System safety analysis techniques are well established and are used extensively during the design of safety-critical systems. Despite this, most of the techniques are highly subjective and dependent on the skill of the practitioner. Since these analyses are usually based on an informal system model, it is unlikely that they will be complete, consistent, and error free. In fact, the lack of precise models of the system architecture and its failure modes often forces the safety analysts to devote much of their effort to finding undocumented details of the system behavior and embedding this information in the safety artifacts such as the fault trees. In this paper we propose an approach, Model-Based Safety Analysis, in which the system and safety engineers use the same system models created during a model-based development process. By extending the system model with a fault model as well as relevant portions of the physical system to be controlled, automated support can be provided for much of the safety analysis. We believe that by using a common model for both system and safety engineering and automating parts of the safety analysis, we can both reduce the cost and improve the quality of the safety analysis. Here we present our vision of model-based safety analysis and discuss the advantages and challenges in making this approach practical.
Generating Natural Language Retellings from Prom Week Play Traces

Because they have massive state spaces, authorial burden is especially pronounced in games that are underpinned by rich simulations; as such, this class of games represents perhaps the strongest use case for procedural content generation. In this paper, we outline ongoing work in which we procedurally generate natural language retellings of playthroughs of the social-simulation game Prom Week. We do this by parsing play trace files to create semantic encodings, which are then passed to an existing surface realizer that produces the retellings. Herein, we provide illustration and discussion of our methods as well as an evaluation of the retellings. While our work here concerns a specific game, we envision farreaching implications: if a game engine can produce natural language describing what has happened in the world, then content such as in-game journals, quest logs, histories, and even character dialogue may be generated automatically.
Low-Complexity Mean-Delay Estimation for OFDM Systems

In this paper, we propose two simple orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) mean-delay estimation schemes, i.e., a channel impulse response (CIR)-based scheme and a differential scheme, which are applicable for adaptive algorithms including improved channel estimation and fast handover. Instead of time-domain processing which requires additional inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT), the mean delay can be obtained in the proposed CIR-based scheme using the estimated frequency-domain CIR. When cell-specific preamble sequences are employed, the mean delay can also be estimated without CIR estimation in the proposed differential scheme using cross correlation of differentially correlated received signals, enabling further complexity reduction and performance improvement when the CIR estimation is not sufficiently accurate. The performance of the proposed schemes is verified by computer simulation.
Experimental Investigation of Double Pipe Heat Exchanger by using Semi Circular Disc Baffles

set of the experiments were carried out to investigate the turbulent flow and heat transfer behavior in a double pipe counter water flow heat exchanger with inserted semi circular disc baffles on the opposite distances from the outer surface of the length of the inner tube. The test section is a horizontal annular passage formed by two concentric tubes with an inner to outer diameter ratio of 0.3. Heat is only transferred from the annulus to the inner tube while outer tube is well insulated. Semi circular disc baffle with dimensions of 18 mm outer radius, 6.25 mm inner radius, and 1 mm thickness are used in the present study. The effect of turbulence on heat transfer and pressure drop was compared with the values for smooth tube. The effect of semi circular disc baffle was depended on the basis of varying the baffle spacing. All the results and readings were compared with the standard data from the smooth tube. In the beginning we conducted the experiment without any baffle to get the value for plane heat exchanger and with baffles with varying baffle spacing (15 and 45) cm. The effects of the baffle spacing and flow Reynolds number on the thermal performance were examined. Whenever it comes to enhance the heat transfer between the surfaces. The pressure drop does play an important role and becomes another important factor to be considered and to be kept in mind. The maximum value of performance ratio (efficiency enhancement) was found for insert with baffle spacing (15 cm). Nusselt number and friction factor are higher than smooth tube depending on the baffle spacing and mass flow rate of the working fluid. New correlations based on the present experimental data for predicting Nusselt number and friction factor for the heat exchanger with and without baffle have been proposed. The proposed correlations can predict the experimental data with average relative error of ± 7.8% for Nusselt number and ± 6.5% for friction factor. General Terms
Construction of short-block nonbinary LDPC codes based on cyclic codes

In this paper, we focus on short-block nonbinary LDPC (NB-LDPC) codes based on cyclic codes. Based on Tanner graphs' isomorphism, we present an efficient search algorithm for finding non-isomorphic binary cyclic LDPC codes. Notice that the parity-check matrix H of the resulting code is square and not of full rank, and its row weight and column weight are the same. By replacing the ones in the same column of H with a nonzero element of finite fields GF(q), a class of NB-LDPC codes over GF(q) is obtained. Numerical results show that the constructed codes perform well over the AWGN channel and have fast decoding convergence. Therefore, the proposed NB-LDPC codes provide a promising coding scheme for low-latency and high-reliability communications.
Size control: the developmental physiology of body and organ size regulation

The developmental regulation of final body and organ size is fundamental to generating a functional and correctly proportioned adult. Research over the last two decades has identified a long list of genes and signaling pathways that, when perturbed, influence final body size. However, body and organ size are ultimately a characteristic of the whole organism, and how these myriad genes and pathways function within a physiological context to control size remains largely unknown. In this review, we first describe the major size‐regulatory signaling pathways: the Insulin/IGF‐, RAS/RAF/MAPK‐, TOR‐, Hippo‐, and JNK‐signaling pathways. We then explore what is known of how these pathways regulate five major aspects of size regulation: growth rate, growth duration, target size, negative growth and growth coordination. While this review is by no means exhaustive, our goal is to provide a conceptual framework for integrating the mechanisms of size control at a molecular‐genetic level with the mechanisms of size control at a physiological level. WIREs Dev Biol 2015, 4:335–356. doi: 10.1002/wdev.181
Comparison of nitrogen removal and full-scale wastewater treatment plant characteristics in Thailand and Japan

Four full-scale systems wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were used as study sites. All of these WWTPs were designed and operated for biological nitrogen removal (BNR) by using nitrification-denitrification processes. In general, the WWTPs in Thailand operated at higher values of temperature, HRT and SRT. Influents and effluents from these sites are compared and discussed in terms of BNR, dominant nitrifying microorganisms and WWTP design. Nitrogen removal was observed in all the sites and correlated to the influent total N (TN) to BOD ratio. Polymerase chain reaction coupled with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was used to identify dominant bacteria involved in nitrogen transformations: ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), and nitrate reducing bacteria (NRB). AOB Nitrosomonas sp. was found only in Thailand where aerobic HRT was ≥ 4 hours and SRT was ≥15 days. Furthermore, AOB Nitrosospira sp. were found only in Japan at aerobic HRT ≤ 4 hours and SRT≤ 13 temperature (21-27°C). NOB Nitrospira sp. was found at aerobic HRT ≥ 4 hours and SRT ≥ 6 days. Interestingly, Nitrotoga sp. was found in the aerobic tank one in Thailand and one in Japan and co-occurred with NRB Burkholderia denitrificans. The higher wastewater temperature and lower influent nitrogen concentration in Thailand appear to promote a different AOB and NOB community structure than in Japan. The most important factor affecting TN removal was the influent TN to BOD ratio.
Population Structure And Habitat Association Of Aquatic Testudines In Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

I researched aquatic turtle population structure and habitat association of the turtles of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (QNWR), in central Kansas. This group of organisms was focused on because of the lack of baseline knowledge and understanding of species presences, population sizes, structure, or habitat use on the refuge. I selected wetland units for sampling based on water permanence and quality of habitat. I then deployed baited hoop traps on these wetland units from April 24 to July 4, 2015. Captures were identified to species, measured, marked, and then release. Schnabel Multiple Census Method and Combined Percent Estimates were used to estimate population sizes. The results from these estimates were then extrapolated to the other wetland units on QNWR and a refuge wide population estimate was calculated. Adult sex ratios and age classes were generated for each species based on measurements taken during sampling. Abundant population sizes were observed on QNWR, with a male-biased sex ratio for hard-shelled turtles, and a female-biased sex ratio for soft-shelled turtles. This biased sex ratio could be the result of sampling technique, close proximity to roadways, Temperature Sex Determinate species, or due to high mortality rates of breeding and nesting individuals. Wetland unit variables were measured for sampled wetland units, and their influence on aquatic turtle abundance was investigated with a One-way Analysis of Variance. Significant results was obtained for Apalone spinifera and Chelydra serpentina, providing support for their known life histories and habitat preferences. Insights into seasonal turtle activity was recorded, and early season intensive monitoring protocols were suggested for continued research and management for the aquatic turtle populations of QNWR.
A behaviorist manifesto for the 21st century

Observational assessment of behavior is a core measurement tool in modern psychological research and practice. Despite the importance of observational assessment and the tremendous amount of research devoted to refining and enhancing the methodological foundations of these tools, current best practices still bear a strong resemblance to those from three decades prior. The emergent field of behavioral signal processing, though relatively little known within the field of psychology, has the potential to revolutionize observational practice and resolve long-standing limitations of current methods. In this paper, we illustrate the need for and potential value of behavioral signal processing methods for observational practice by examining three current issues in the observational assessment of clinically distressed, married couples that are representative of challenges faced in numerous areas of clinical psychology.
Do all sub acute stroke patients benefit from robot-assisted therapy? A retrospective study.

PURPOSE Upper limb robot-assisted rehabilitation is a highly intensive therapy, mainly recommended after stroke. Whether robotic therapy is suitable for subacute patients with severe impairments including cognitive disorders is unknown. This retrospective study explored factors impacting on motor performance achieved in a 16-session robotic training combined with standard rehabilitation. METHODS Seventeen subacute inpatients (age 53 ± 18; 49 ± 26 days post-stroke) were assessed at baseline using upper extremity motor impairments scales, Functional Independence Measure, aphasia and neglect scores. Number of movements and robotic assistance were compared between Session 2 (S2), 8 (8) and 16 (S16), Motricity Index between pre and post-treatment. Correlation analyses explored predictors of motor performance. RESULTS Overall, number of movements and Motricity Index increased significantly while robot-assistance decreased. The mean number of movements per session correlated positively with baseline motor capacities but not with age, aphasia and neglect. However, the increase in Motricity index correlated negatively with baseline Motricity index and the increase in the number of movements correlated negatively with the number of movements at S2. CONCLUSION High intensity robot-assisted training may be associated with motor improvement in subacute hemiparesis. More severely impaired patients may derive greater benefit from robot-assisted training; age, aphasia and neglect do not represent exclusion criteria.
The Question of Expressiveness in the Generation of Referring Expressions

We study the problem of generating referring expressions modulo different notions of expressive power. We define the notion of $\+L$-referring expression, for a formal language $\+L$ equipped with a semantics in terms of relational models. We show that the approach is independent of the particular algorithm used to generate the referring expression by providing examples using the frameworks of \cite{AKS08} and \cite{Krahmer2003}. We provide some new complexity bounds, discuss the issue of the length of the generated descriptions, and propose ways in which the two approaches can be combined.