User conviction

Subsequent research by Herschel (1971), Kikuchi and Softer (1977), and Frieden (Chapter 8) has refined the concept in a way that provides an explicit and sensible accounting for noise contributions. This work also provides solutions that incorporate a type of prior knowledge not used before. In particular, the users may express their bias by proposing a prior spectrum or guess as to what the true spectrum o(x) might look like. Furthermore, they may express their relative confidence in the guess by specifying a probability of occurrence for each value that may be assumed by an element of the estimate o(x). Both the prior spectrum and its associated user-conviction probability function may be obtained from past experience by statistical analysis. In Chapter 8, Frieden examines the possibilities of maximum and minimum conviction in connection with the types of prior... 

As an illegal, controlled substance, abuse of methaqualone can have serious social consequences for the user. Convictions carry heavy fines and possible jail time. Depending on the state, a conviction may also result in the suspension of the user s drivers license, and his or her constitutional right to vote may be revoked. 

This is related to the Turing test. A program that converses with a user about a particular topic with such conviction and knowledge that the user is unable to determine whether he is dealing with computer software or another human, has passed the Turing Test. 

Suppose that the user has the highest-possible conviction that his or her prior spectrum is flat. Specifically, let the user have the greatest certainty that each probability qm has constant value Q. Furthermore, suppose that the degrees of freedom are sparsely populated and that the noise is additive,... 

Suppose the user thinks that the prior qm ought to have values near a definite set of number Qm, called biases. Suppose also that the user wants to express this suspicion with the highest possible conviction. Then the user asserts that there is no spread possible about the Qm, or... 

Alternatively, the user may have less conviction than is expressed by Eq. (20) about the unknown qm. If so, the user should permit ql (for example) to have a finite range of values, perhaps with Qx as now the most likely value (formerly it was the only value permitted). An example is... 

Here the prior probability law is of the general form (20). To review, this includes the case where the Qm are simply guessed at, based on the user s expectations, or where the image data im are used to represent <2m, or the case (24) of empirical data and high conviction, or the case (31) of an equal-energy white signal spectrum. 

On the other end of the spectrum, harm is done to others when users experience fear and panic attacks from bad trips or frightful visions. Users have been known to attack their family, friends, or medical staff while under the delusion that such ones were trying to harm them. Though the effects of psilocybin rarely persist after 24 hours, the results of poor judgement can last a lifetime. Also, people convicted of psilocybin possession can be disqualified from obtaining federal college grants and loans. 

The philosophy behind the law is two-fold. First, it frees up jail and prison space for persons convicted of violent offenses. Second, it mandates treatment and education that a drug user may not get in jail. Prop. 36 s overall goal is to reduce repeat drug use and lower crime rates. Drug policy officials say it is too early to determine if the California program is successful in achieving either of these goals. A similar measure, Proposition 200, was approved by voters in Arizona in 1996. 

---