Incapacitating Effects Research Articles

Estimating the incapacitation effect among first-time incarcerated offenders

Objectives: To estimate how many offenses are averted through the incapacitation of first-time incarcerated offenders with sentences of two years or less. Methods: The counterfactual challenge of estimating criminal acts that would have been committed had the offender not been incarcerated is approached utilizing a matching design. Data comprise all offenders convicted in Sweden in 2018, matched on a vector of time-stable and time-varying covariates drawn from an extensive set of Swedish registers. Each incarcerated offender is matched to a nonincarcerated offender whose offending frequency is used to infer the incapacitation effect. Full sample estimates are provided as well as subgroup estimates for males, females, and various risk groups. Results: The annual incapacitation effect for first-time incarcerated offenders is estimated to be 0.53 when measured as the number of averted convictions and 1.14 when measured as the number of averted offenses that would have resulted in a conviction. For males, the annual number of convictions averted through incapacitation is 0.51, and for females 0.37. For the highest risk group, the annual number of averted convictions is 1.22, and the number of averted offenses resulting in conviction is 2.55. For offenders in the low-to-medium risk groups, the corresponding figures are approximately 0.31 averted convictions and approximately 0.68 averted offenses. Conclusion: For first-time incarcerated offenders, the incapacitation effect is modest and the heterogeneous effects found across different risk groups warrant considering whether the crime-preventive effect is sufficiently large for low-risk inmates and whether noncustodial sanctions might constitute an alternative that would ease overcrowding without producing any considerable risk for costs in terms of recidivism.

Broadband Internet and Crime

Abstract This paper empirically investigates the impact of broadband diffusion on crime. I employ state-level data on high-speed Internet penetration and criminal activity in the United States from 2000 to 2012. To tackle the endogeneity of broadband diffusion, I rely on a set of technologically motivated instrumental variables. The outcomes show that the impact of high-speed Internet diffusion on crime is negative and it is not significant for more severe offenses. Concerning the underlying mechanism, I find support for the hypothesis that the broadband-driven crime reduction occurs through a voluntary incapacitation effect, as people change their leisure time allocation by spending more time at home and off the streets. This in turn reduces the availability of criminal opportunities – and crime levels. Finally, my results suggest that the voluntary incapacitation effect concerns both sides of criminal interactions.

Self-perceived halitosis and its social impact on females: A cross-sectional study.

Halitosis refers to socially unacceptable levels of breath odors. This affects the social life and psychological well-being of individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-perceived halitosis (SPH) among females and its effect on social life. This was a cross-sectional study. A previously validated questionnaire was distributed electronically through a secure link. The questionnaire consisted of 5 different parts that collected information on sociodemographic, medical history, oral hygiene and other health habits. It also included questions related to participant's knowledge and perception of halitosis and its social impact. All females who were at least 18 years were invited to participate. Data were transferred for analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences program for Windows (IBM SPSS Statistics Version 26, Chicago, IL). Simple descriptive statistics such as frequency distributions and percentages were calculated for the study variables. The relationship between the variables and SPH was also evaluated using the chi-squared test of independence at 95% confidence (P ≤ .05). In total, 1089 subjects completed the questionnaire. The SPH prevalence was 62% among females. The correlation between SPH and sinusitis, gastrointestinal tract disorders, periodontal diseases were significant (P < .05). In addition, subjects with good tooth brushing habits reported no halitosis (91.6%) compared to subjects with poor tooth brushing habits who reported no halitosis (8.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < .001). Not using floss and tounge cleaners daily was significantly related to self-reported halitosis (P < .001). Females who reported SPH indicated that they were hesitant to talk to others (68.1%), uncomfortable around others (80.5%), did not like meeting others (44.2%), avoided by others (15%), and that halitosis affected their personal life (31.9%). This association was statistically significant for all variables of social life (P < .001). The prevalence of SPH is high and can have an incapacitating effect on females social lives. The management of halitosis includes active involvement of dental professionals and the incorporation of psychological support.

Prevalence and risk factors for falls in community-dwelling older population in Kerala; results from a cross sectional survey

BackgroundFalls and their incapacitating effects are a significant concern for older people, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Falls are a significant concern among older people which requires immediate public health action. The current study examines multiple fall risk factors among community-dwelling older people in Kerala, India, to devise prevention strategies. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and May 2020 among the community-dwelling older population aged 60 and above. Data was collected through door-knock surveys using standardized scales. Fall history and associated risks were the primary outcome variables, whereas behavioral and cognitive risk factors of depression, anxiety and stress were the other factors. ResultsThe study included 301 older people (aged over 60) from 573 households and found the prevalence of falls in the last year was 37.5%. Older women with moderate levels of physical activity, cognitive symptoms of anxiety and stress, and who are unemployed had higher chances of falls risk. Further, older people with higher functional disability and average and below self-rated health had higher chances of fall risk in the current population. Anxiety was the only significant risk factor which was statistically significant in multiple regression model. ConclusionThe older population with a combined risk of behavioral and cognitive factors is at higher odds of fall-related risk in Kerala.

Enhanced skin burn assessment through transfer learning: a novel framework for human tissue analysis

Visual inspection is the typical way for evaluating burns, due to the rising occurrence of burns globally, visual inspection may not be sufficient to detect skin burns because the severity of burns can vary and some burns may not be immediately apparent to the naked eye. Burns can have catastrophic and incapacitating effects and if they are not treated on time can cause scarring, organ failure, and even death. Burns are a prominent cause of considerable morbidity, but for a variety of reasons, traditional clinical approaches may struggle to effectively predict the severity of burn wounds at an early stage. Since computer-aided diagnosis is growing in popularity, our proposed study tackles the gap in artificial intelligence research, where machine learning has received a lot of attention but transfer learning has received less attention. In this paper, we describe a method that makes use of transfer learning to improve the performance of ML models, showcasing its usefulness in diverse applications. The transfer learning approach estimates the severity of skin burn damage using the image data of skin burns and uses the results to improve future methods. The DL technique consists of a basic CNN and seven distinct transfer learning model types. The photos are separated into those displaying first, second, and third-degree burns as well as those showing healthy skin using a fully connected feed-forward neural network. The results demonstrate that the accuracy of 93.87% for the basic CNN model which is significantly lower, with the VGG-16 model achieving the greatest accuracy at 97.43% and being followed by the DenseNet121 model at 96.66%. The proposed approach based on CNN and transfer learning techniques are tested on datasets from Kaggle 2022 and Maharashtra Institute of Technology open-school medical repository datasets that are clubbed together. The suggested CNN-based approach can assist healthcare professionals in promptly and precisely assessing burn damage, resulting in appropriate therapies and greatly minimising the detrimental effects of burn injuries.

A Case Report On Sepsis With Brain Stem Encephalitis In A Patient With Quadriplegia

Introduction : Every year, 1 in 10,000 people develop encephalitis, which frequently has grave neurologic repercussions. Identifying the cause and establishing the prognosis are difficult aspects of managing encephalitis patients. Presentation of case : A 20-year- Female came to a rural tertiary care hospital with the chief complaint of Fever, abnormal jerky movements of limbs and body, vomiting, and loose stools last 3 days. The patient was apparently alright 3 days ago when she developed a fever that was insidious in onset and progressive in nature not associated with chills or rigors, remitting with antipyretic medication. She also experienced abnormal jerky movements of all four limbs along with stiffness, associated with jaw lock, tongue bite, and frothing from the mouth, there was post ictal drowsiness along with it, with no involuntary bowels or bladder evacuation. History of loose stools 2 episodes, watery in nature, non-blood or mucus stained. She also complained of 2 episodes of vomiting which was projectile in nature and associated with nausea containing food particles and water. The patient had a history of 70 days PNC and delivered normally vaginally full-term delivery, without any complications. Management : Patient was intubated and was taken on a mechanical ventilator on volume control mode. Started treatment Inj meropenem 500mg iv for 7 days, INJ clindamycin 600mg iv for 5 days, injection vancomycin 500mg iv for 3 days, injection linezolid 600mg iv for 5 days, injection acyclovir 500mg iv for 14 days, injection doxy 100mg iv bd for days, injection ciprofloxacin 400mg iv for 7 days, injection colistin for 14 days, injection MPs 250mg IV od for days, injection Emset 4mg iv /sos, injection lomoh 0.6ml/od for 31 days, injection mannitol 150mg iv for 14 days, injection pan 40mg iv for 7 days, injection Emset 4mg iv for 5 days, injection levipil 500mg iv for 5 days. oral suctioning 2 hourly, physiotherapy. The patient’s general condition was stable. Conclusion : BE is a disease that advances quickly and has incapacitating effects. Significant gains were visible after receiving extensive supportive and rehabilitative therapy.

Compulsory Schooling Laws, Overcrowding, and Youth Crime: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Brazilian Municipalities

Compulsory schooling laws are often suggested as a means of combating youth crime, but little is known about how effective they are in emerging economies. Using the exogenous changes in compulsory high school enrolment after the 2009 Brazilian Constitutional Amendment 59, we investigate its impact on youth crime indices, violent and less violent ones. We compared municipalities that received federal funding to increase high school enrolment with those that did not, using difference-in-difference models to estimate the effects on selected youth crime indices. Our findings suggest that the Amendment had little or no effects on reducing youth crime. We observe small crime reduction when the incapacitation effects of the Amendment were largely outweighed by the negative effects of sudden overcrowding in classrooms with overburdened teachers providing inadequate supervision, and insufficient crime monitoring in public schools with shorter school hours. Adverse effects of overcrowding were worse in poor municipalities with more disadvantaged students and fewer resources that exactly balanced out the incapacitation effects, producing zero effects on crime. The effectiveness of compulsory schooling laws in reducing youth crime thus depends on the balance between the incapacitation effects and overcrowding effects.

Noxious effects of riot control agents on the ocular surface: Pathogenic mechanisms and management.

Riot Control Agents (RCAs) are chemical compounds used by law enforcement agencies to quell violent demonstrations as an alternative to lethal force and as part of police/military training. They are also known as tear gases because of the hallmark ocular irritation and lacrimation they cause. The most common RCAs include oleoresin capsicum (contained in Mace and pepper spray), chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, dibenzoxazepine, and chloroacetophenone (previously the main content of Mace); some of which have been in use for decades. Their immediate incapacitating effects are mediated through polymodal afferent fibers innervating the corneal surface, inducing the release of peptides that cause neurogenic inflammation. Although previously thought to have only transient effects on exposed patients more severe complications such as corneal stromal opacities, corneal neovascularization, neurotrophic keratopathy, conjunctival necrosis, and pseudopterygium can occur. Concerningly, the lack of research and specific therapies restrict the current management to decontamination and symptom-tailored support. This manuscript will provide an overview of the toxic mechanisms of RCAs, their clinical manifestations, and current therapy after exposure to tear gases.

Headaches: A Gendered Illness

Headaches are not a symptom but a neurological disorder which mainly affects females and is the human race’s third most frequent and second most disabling illness, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Headaches are the epitome of chronic pain in females during their peak years of life. Those who are prone to this disorder suffer not only physically during an acute headache attack with its resulting incapacitating effects but also because of the anguish associated with the onset of new attacks. Its lack of 'social' recognition as a genuine, severe and incapacitating pathology is a further aggravation for those who experience this condition.

Sweden, Inc.: Temporal Sovereignty of the Realm and People from the Middle Ages to Modernity

Sweden, Inc.: Temporal Sovereignty of the Realm and People from the Middle Ages to Modernity

Sentence Length and Recidivism

In response to prison overcrowding concerns in recent years, many U.S. officials have undertaken efforts to reduce sentence lengths for certain crimes. However, it is unclear how these changes affect recidivism rates. Among the research on incarceration and recidivism, the majority of studies compare custodial with noncustodial sentences, while fewer examine the impact of varying incarceration lengths. This article reviews the research on the latter. Overall, the effect of incarceration length on recidivism appears too heterogeneous to draw universal conclusions, and findings are inconsistent across studies due to methodological limitations. For example, many study samples are skewed toward people with shorter sentences while others include confounds that render results invalid. Of the studies reviewed, some suggested that longer sentences provide additional deterrent benefits in the aggregate, though some studies also had null effects. None suggested a strong aggregate-level criminogenic effect. We argue that a conclusion that longer sentences have a substantial criminogenic effect, large enough to offset incapacitative effects, cannot be justified by the existing literature.

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of methyl parathion as chemical warfare agent simulant by NiO/Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalyst

Chemical warfare agents are considered the most lethal and sinister pollutants with incapacitating effects on humans and the environment. This study has reported a new NiO/Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalyst capable of degrading methyl parathion (MP) as a nerve agent simulant. The NiO/Bi2MoO6 photocatalyst with nanoscale morphology was prepared using a solvothermal method and characterized using FE-SEM, EDS, TEM, HRTEM, XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical measurements. The conjugation of NiO with Bi2MoO6 nanostructures decreased the bandgap energy from 2.88 and 2.61 eV. The photoluminescence studies proved that the recombination of the charge carriers is slower in NiO/Bi2MoO6 nanocomposite compared to the pristine Bi2MoO6. Response surface methodology was used to consider the effect of pertinent factors (such as time, organophosphate concentration, pH, and photocatalyst dosage on the degradation reaction of MP. The photodegradation of the organophosphorus compound follows pseudo-first-order kinetics with a high rate constant of 1.7 × 10−3 min−1. According to the obtained results, NiO/Bi2MoO6 photocatalyst degraded more than 95% of MP around 120 min. The synthesized nanocomposite showed favorable performance for removing chemical pollutants with potential applications in visible-light-induced environmental remediation.

Why Does Education Reduce Crime?

We provide a unifying empirical framework to study why crime reductions occurred due to a sequence of state-level dropout age reforms enacted between 1980 and 2010 in the United States. Because the reforms changed the shape of crime-age profiles, they generate both a short-term incapacitation effect and a more sustained crime-reducing effect. In contrast to previous research looking at earlier US education reforms, we find that reform-induced crime reduction does not arise primarily from education improvements. Decomposing short- and long-run effects, the observed longer-run effect for the post-1980 education reforms is primarily attributed to dynamic incapacitation.

When a Strike Strikes Twice: Massive Student Mobilizations and Teenage Pregnancy in Chile

We empirically study the impact of massive and sudden school closures on teenage pregnancy, following the 2011 nationwide student strike in Chile. Temporary high schools’ shutdown increases teenage pregnancies in 1.5% on average, while places in the highest tercile of strike exposure experienced an increase of 5%. This effect vanishes three quarters after the strike’s onset and is entirely driven by first-time mothers. The sudden and unexpected closure of schools allows interpreting these findings as mirroring an incapacitation effect of schools rather than human capital accumulation as a mechanism for the causal relationship between students’ strikes and teenage pregnancies.

Does compulsory military service influence crime rates? Evidence from Taiwan

This study investigates the effects of compulsory military service on adolescent crime. I exploit the reduction in the duration of Taiwan’s compulsory military service from one year to four months, which started in 2013. Using a triple difference approach, I find that the shorter service duration has led to a 36% increase in the number of adolescent male suspects and a 30% increase in crime rates. In particular, by enacting a 67% reduction in the time adolescents are incapacitated by military service, the reform has allowed adolescent males to engage in more criminal activities. My findings indicate that military service helps reduce crime; specifically, they suggest that the incapacitation effect of compulsory military service rather than the positive values (discipline, obedience, and collaboration) cultivated in a military camp has the most substantial impact on crime rates.

Poverty, Cybercrime and National Security in Nigeria

The number of poor people in Nigeria continues to grow at an exponential rate, while Nigeria remains the poverty capital of the world. As a result, cybercrime has become a haven for youths. The festering of cybercrime increases the chances of cyberterrorism, hate speech proliferation, and radicalization – all of which pose a danger to national security in Nigeria. As a result, this study adopts an analytic approach to the interplay of poverty, cybercrime, and national security in Nigeria. The findings reveal that poverty is a major driver of cybercrime in Nigeria while cybercrime is a threat to national security. It shows that with the prevalence of poverty, deprivation, and inequality, many Nigerian youths turn to crime to realize the Nigeria of their dreams. In the same vein, cybercrime undermines national security by exposing various individuals to violence, cyberespionage, cyberstalking, and manipulation. The study, therefore, recommends that decisive policies be targeted at reducing poverty incidence in Nigeria and that youths should be regularly sensitized to the dangers of cybercrime and the incapacitating effect it has on national security. More so, cybersecurity should be given prominence by the Cyber Advisory Council while offenders of cybercrime should be dealt with using the full extent of the law, to serve as a deterrence to intending offenders.&#x0D;

No time for crime? The effect of compulsory engagement on youth crime

AbstractThis paper examines the potential incapacitation effect on various categories of crime committed by young persons. I exploit the increase in compulsory education‐work participation age from 15 to 17 in Australia's largest state. The policy primarily increased participation in schools with high enrolments in school‐based vocational education programs. By using incidents of crime, I incorporate incapacitation effects on crimes that do not lead to arrests and provide net effect of the policy. Results show substantial reduction in incidents of crime, particularly by male offenders in urban areas and suggest that the policy did not displace crime from streets to schools. Crimes against property, which are often diverted from the criminal justice system, show the largest decline.

Role of Microglia and Astrocytes in Spinal Cord Injury Induced Neuropathic Pain.

Background:Spinal cord injuries incite varying degrees of symptoms in patients, ranging from weakness and incoordination to paralysis. Common amongst spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, neuropathic pain (NP) is a debilitating medical condition. Unfortunately, there remain many clinical impediments in treating NP because there is a lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms behind SCI-induced NP (SCINP). Given that more than 450,000 people in the United States alone suffer from SCI, it is unsatisfactory that current treatments yield poor results in alleviating and treating NP.Summary:In this review, we briefly discussed the models of SCINP along with the mechanisms of NP progression. Further, current treatment modalities are herein explored for SCINP involving pharmacological interventions targeting glia cells and astrocytes.Key message:The studies presented in this review provide insight for new directions regarding SCINP alleviation. Given the severity and incapacitating effects of SCINP, it is imperative to study the pathways involved and find new therapeutic targets in coordination with stem cell research, and to develop a new gold-standard in SCINP treatment.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR): Disambiguated in the Telemedicine / Telehealth Sphere

Abstract The world is navigating through unfamiliar and incomprehensible times – COVID-19, international economic crisis, and crumbling healthcare systems. The United States (US) healthcare industry is grappling with an increased workload and advancing digitization technological concerns. The failure of organizations to offer suitable cybersecurity controls within the critical infrastructure leads to advanced persistent threat (APT) that could have incapacitating effects on organizations. A keen understanding of cybersecurity is vital for leaders and the need is referenced in US policy that advances a national unity of effort to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure. Akin to the Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 21 Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, leaders’ goals should be to reduce vulnerabilities, identify and disrupt threats, minimize consequences and hasten response and recovery efforts related to critical infrastructure. To address the concern, it is necessary to review how AI and AR serve as co-technologies to support security of patient care and monitoring, examine impacts on individuals’ and overall healthcare organizations, address how enhanced comprehension of AI and AR could guide medical professional leaders’ decisions and boost the overall patient experience. Therefore, this literature review examines AI and AR connections to cybersecurity for the healthcare environment.

How many complaints against police officers can be abated by incapacitating a few “bad apples?”

Research SummaryThe notion that the unjustified use of force by police officers is concentrated among a few “bad apples” is a popular descriptor that has gained traction in scholarly research and achieved considerable influence among policy makers. But is removing the bad apples likely to have an appreciable effect on police misconduct? Leveraging a simple policy simulation and data from the Chicago Police Department, we estimate that removing the top 10% of officers identified based on ex ante risk and replacing them with officers drawn from the middle of the risk distribution would have led to only a 4–6% reduction in the use of force incidents in Chicago over a 10‐year period.Policy ImplicationsOur analysis suggests that surgically removing predictably problematic police officers is unlikely to have a large impact on citizen complaints. By assembling some of the first empirical evidence on the likely magnitude of incapacitation effects, we provide critical support for the idea that early warning systems must be designed, above all, to deter problematic behavior and promote accountability.