The article reports a meta-analysis on controlled outcome evaluations of sexual offender treatment. From 2,039 documents published in five languages, 69 studies containing 80 independent comparisons between treated and untreated offenders fulfilled stepwise eligibility criteria (total N = 22,181). Despite a wide range of positive and negative effect sizes, the majority confirmed the benefits of treatment. Treated offenders showed 6 percentage points or 37% less sexual recidivism than controls. Effects for violent and general recidivism were in a similar range. Organic treatments (surgical castration and hormonal medication) showed larger effects than psychosocial interventions. However, this difference was partially confounded with methodological and offender variables. Among psychological programs, cognitiveYbehavioral approaches revealed the most robust effect. Nonbehavioral treatments did not demonstrate a significant impact. There was no outcome difference between randomized and other designs, however, group equivalence was associated with slightly larger effects. Various other moderators had a stronger impact on effect size (e.g., small sample size, quality of outcome reporting, program completion vs. dropout, age homogeneity, outpatient treatment, and authors' affiliation with the program). More differentiated, high-quality evaluations are needed to clarify: What works for whom under which circumstances?Abbreviations: CG = comparison group; TG = treatment group; ES = effect size; OR = odds ratio; LOR = logged odds ratio; CI 95% = 95% confidence interval

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Sexual offender treatment programs to reduce reoffending have been implemented in many countries as part of a strategy in managing this offender group. However, there are still controversies regarding their effectiveness. This review integrates findings from six experimental and 21 quasi‐experimental studies that compare groups of treated sexual offenders with equivalent control groups. These studies tested whether treated sexual offenders differed from the control groups in sexual and other reoffending. Included studies compare official recidivism rates of treated sexual offenders with a comparable group of sexual offenders that have not been subjected to the respective treatment. Quasi‐experimental studies were included only if they applied sound matching procedures, where the incidental assignment would not introduce bias, or where they were statistically controlled for potential biases. The treatment had to explicitly aim at reducing recidivism rates. The review summarizes 27 studies containing 29 eligible comparisons of a treated group and a control group, containing data for 4,939 treated and 5,448 untreated sexual offenders. The studies come from seven different countries, but more than half of the studies have been carried out in North America. All eligible comparisons evaluated psychosocial treatment (mainly cognitive behavioral programs). No studies on pharmacological/hormonal treatment were found which meet the inclusion criteria. On average, there is a significant reduction in recidivism rates in the treated groups. The odds to sexually reoffend were 1.41 lower for treated compared to control groups. This equals a sexual recidivism rate of 10.1 percent for treated offenders compared to 13.7 percent without treatment. The mean rates for general recidivism were higher, but showed a similar reduction of roughly a quarter due to treatment. The results from the individual studies were very heterogeneous, that is individual study features had a strong impact on the outcomes. Methodological quality did not significantly influence effect sizes. Cognitive‐behavioral as well as studies with small samples, medium to high risk offenders, more individualized treatment, and good descriptive validity revealed better effects. There was no significant difference between various settings. We found significant effects for treatment in the community and in forensic hospitals, but there is not yet sufficient evidence to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of sex offender treatment in prisons. Plain language summary Treatment of sexual offenders reduces reoffending, but more research needed to identify effective interventionsTreatment can reduce reoffending (recidivism) rates of sexual offenders. But the results of individual studies are too heterogeneous to draw a conclusion on the general effectiveness of sex offender treatment. What is this review about?Sexual offender treatment programs to reduce reoffending have been implemented in many countries as part of a strategy in managing this offender group. However,...

This work reports the characterization of composites prepared by the association between zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and titanium dioxide. These composites are better photocatalysts for wastewater decontamination mediated by solar radiation than pureTiO2, performance that remains even when reused. The UV-Vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectra show for these composites two intense absorption bands. The first covers the ultraviolet and part of the visible spectrum region until 460 nm (2.7 eV), whereas the second, nonstructured, goes from 475 nm until the near infrared with an absorption peak at 683 nm attributed to the Q band of ZnPc. The production of additionale−/h+pairs by these aggregates when photoexcited, their capability to act as charge carrier, the thickness and regularity of their distribution on theTiO2surface seem to be important parameters for the performance observed for these composites.

promising properties for redox applications, including gravimetric oxygen storage up to 4% by mass, high stability and rapid reversibility, with re-oxidation in less than 1 min at 400 C. Finally, the redox chemistry of Ca 0.8 Sr 0.2 MnO 3 was also investigated using in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption measurements at near ambient pressure in oxygen atmospheres.

Thermochemical multistep water- and CO2-splitting processes are promising options to face future energy problems. Particularly, the possible incorporation of solar power makes these processes sustainable and environmentally attractive since only water, CO2 and solar power are used; the concentrated solar energy is converted into storable and transportable fuels. One of the major barriers to technological success is the identification of suitable active materials like catalysts and redox materials exhibiting satisfactory durability, reactivity and efficiencies. Moreover, materials play an important role in the construction of key components and for the implementation in commercial solar plants. The most promising thermochemical water- and CO2-splitting processes are being described and discussed with respect to further development and future potential. The main materials-related challenges of those processes are being analyzed. Technical approaches and development progress in terms of solving them are addressed and assessed in this review.