Right method, right price: the economic value and associated risks of experimentation

Objectives To consider the important contribution to crime reduction policy and practice made by research in experimental criminology; possible future research priorities and their methodological implications bearing in mind the cost and associated risks of research. Method Discussion of the concepts necessary to inform policy and practice leads to a consideration of the appropriate methodology for primary research. On the basis of this discussion, three case studies are considered as exemplars of the argument being developed. Results The authors argue that experimental criminology has been important in demonstrating the impact of certain types of place-based or people-based interventions. Nevertheless, the promised economic benefits are often predicated on interventions being proven effective in a particular geography or environment, on pre-existing levels of investment in the criminal justice system and on the presumed mechanism through which the initiative achieves its effect. As such, these ‘confounding factors’ need to be well researched and reported at the level of an individual experiment. Conclusions Experimental criminology has made an important contribution to policy and practice, but could increase its relevance and impact by adopting evaluation methods which expose the risks of getting the wrong answer and demonstrate the extent to which risks, and therefore costs, might be reduced through strong study design and reporting

The Pathogenesis of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Cancer of the Oropharynx

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has become increasingly associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), particularly oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC). Currently, the number of HPV-positive OPSCCs has now surpassed cervical carcinoma (CC), and is expected to increase for the next 30 years, with one of the most prevalent subtypes, HPV-16, accounting for 87-96% of cases. Unfortunately, there are currently no screening programmes for OPSCC, the reticulated crypts of the palatine tonsils. Current NHS guidelines for determining HPV status in OPSCC is p16INK4A (p16) immunohistochemistry (IHC), which has become the widely accepted method of detection. However, despite its high sensitivity, the use of p16 as a standalone marker for OPSCC has drawn criticism due to its lack of specificity. AIMS: To characterise HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC tissues using potential biomarkers believed to be indicators of HPV-mediated OPSCC development, as well as develop multiplex immunofluorescent (mIF) assays and aptamers against various HPV proteins. METHODS: The study employed histological techniques including haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, IHC, and mIF techniques for characterisation of five OPSCC tissues obtained from the Human Biomaterials Resource Centre (HBRC) at the University of Birmingham. These OPSCC samples also underwent p16 and HPV DNA in-situ hybridisation (ISH) as per NHS clinical guidelines for determination of HPV status. Commercially-available HPV antibodies were tested in various tissue types, with molecular screening for HPV confirmation performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Aptamers isolated against HPV proteins (HPV-16 E2, HPV-16 E7-E6, HPV-18 E6, and HPV-18 E7) were developed using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), and post-SELEX experiments, including comparison against commercially-available HPV antibodies. RESULTS: Within our sample, both HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCCs deviated from the typical tumour profiles. Three OPSCCs were determined to be HPV-negative, despite two of these exhibiting non-keratinising morphology which is typically associated with p16/HPV DNA ISH positivity. The remaining two OPSCCs were determined to be HPV-positive (p16-/HPV DNA ISH-positive), despite exhibiting keratinising morphology which is commonly associated with HPV-negative OPSCCs. Furthermore, staining with prognostic biomarkers using IHC and mIF mostly deviated from the typical staining expected, with higher PD-L1 and CD8 expression observed in HPV-negative OPSCCs, in comparison to HPV-positive OPSCCs. Commercially-available HPV antibodies were unsuccessful, with non-specific staining observed in normal tissues that were confirmed molecularly to be HPV-negative. Aptamers isolated against HPV-16 E2, HPV-16 E7-E6, HPV-18 E6, and HPV-18 E7 proteins underwent successful selection by SELEX, and subsequent molecular docking and computational modelling. This demonstrated that the interactions observed between each HPV aptamer, and their corresponding HPV protein, have been observed in nature, and are suggestive of real interactions. Cell immunofluorescence with HPV aptamers demonstrated minimal background staining, and nuclear and endosomal staining consistent with nuclear and endosomal localisation of E6 and E7 proteins. CONCLUSIONS: The use of p16 as a surrogate biomarker within HPV-mediated OPSCCs is unsuitable. Using HPV proteins directly could pose as better biomarkers for HPV-positive OPSCC; therefore, we propose aptamers as a novel method for HPV subtype detection

Oxygen insertion into metal carbon bonds: formation of methylperoxo Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes via photogenerated dinuclear intermediates

Platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes [M(CH₃)(L)]SbF₆ with substituted terpyridine ligands L undergo light-driven oxygen insertion reactions into metal methyl bonds resulting in methylperoxo complexes [M(OOCH₃)(L)]SbF₆. The oxygen insertion reactions occur readily for complexes with methyl ligands that are activated due to steric interaction with substituents (NH₂, NHMe or CH₃) at the 6,6″-positions on the terpyridine ligand. All complexes exhibit attractive intermolecular π···π or M···M interactions in the solid state and in solution, which lead to excited triplet dinuclear M–M complexes upon irradiation. A mechanism is proposed whereby a dinuclear intermediate is generated upon irradiation that has a weakened M–C bond in the excited state, resulting in the observed oxygen insertion reactions

Criminal Procedure - Standing of the Press to Protest Exclusion of Public from Criminal Trial by Order of the Trial Judge

Defendant judge, believing that great harm to public morals and decency was to be apprehended from the testimony in the vice trial of Minot F. Jelke, exercised his discretion to exclude the general public including plaintiff newspapers from the court room during the state\u27s case. The family and friends of the accused along with officers of the court, witnesses, and jury were not excluded. The plaintiffs applied for a writ of prohibition to restrain the defendant from enforcing his order. The court denied the application on the grounds that the defendant judge had the power to make the exclusion order and that the Supreme Court, Special Term of New York County, could not substitute its judgment for that of the defendant. On appeal, held, affirmed. Newspapers as members of the public lack any standing to raise the question of the denial of a public trial. The question is one which has to be decided on proper appeal from the judgment in the original criminal action. United Press Assns. v. Valente, 281 App. Div. 395, 120 N.Y.S. (2d) 174 (1953)

Criminal Law - Delay in Imposition of Sentence as Destroying Jurisdiction of Trial Court

Defendant was tried for burglary in April 1952. Before judgment was rendered, a petition for his commitment to the Indiana Village for Epileptics was granted, and the trial court entered judgment in July 1952 that it continue the matter under advisement so long as defendant remained in the Epileptic Village and complied with the rules and regulations. In September 1952 defendant escaped from the Epileptic Village and was later apprehended. He was brought to trial in April 1953. The court found that he had not complied with the judgment of July 1952, found him guilty as charged, and sentenced him to ten to twenty years. On appeal, defendant asserted that the trial court had lost its jurisdiction of his person by the long delay in passing sentence. Held, judgment reversed. On the basis of the Indiana Constitution\u27s guaranty of a speedy trial, and established precedent, defendant was entitled to have sentence pronounced with reasonable promptness, and unusual delay, not for some recognized purpose, deprives the court of jurisdiction of the defendant\u27s person. Taylor v. State, (Ind. 1954) 120 N.E. (2d) 165

Interfacial coefficients in powder metal compaction

A study has been made of the die compaction of metal powders and in particular the problems associated with friction between sliding surfaces have been examined. Friction which results from adhesion or welding, plays an important role in powder consolidation and is greatly influenced by the condition of the surfaces concerned. Attention has been focused upon the compact die interface and the interactions occurring within this region. In particular information has been obtained for friction coefficients between the sliding surfaces and the role of lubricants in affecting these parameters. An assessment has been made of the effect of admixed lubricant level upon the laboratory scale compaction of a reduced iron powder. Ejection forces have been measured and the effects of lubricant content and characteristics evaluated. Die material and surface finish has been shown to be of importance during compaction and ejection. Compact surfaces and strengths have been examined and correlated with the ejection stress data. [Continues.

Medina: Judge Medina Speaks

A Review of Judge Medina Speaks. By Harold R. Medin

White: The Jacksonians

A Review of The Jacksonians. By Leonard D. Whit

Criminal Procedure - Standing of the Press to Protest Judge\u27s Exclusion of the Public from Criminal Trial

Plaintiff newspapers sent reporters to the trial of Minot Jelke. Defendant judge, exercising his discretion, excluded them as well as the general public from the courtroom when testimony dealing with the sordid details of prostitution and pandering was expected. The family and friends of the accused, along with the officers of the court, witnesses and jury were not excluded. Plaintiffs applied to the Supreme Court, Special Term, of New York County for a writ of prohibition to restrain the defendant from enforcing his order. The application for the writ was based on a statute guaranteeing the accused in a criminal trial the right to a public trial. This mandatory right is qualified by another statute listing specific exceptions to the right of public trial in the interest of protecting public morals and decency. The application was denied on the grounds that the defendant had the power to issue the exclusion order and that the Supreme Court, Special Term, could not substitute its judgment for that of the defendant. On appeal, held, affirmed. The guarantee of a public trial is personal to the parties to the trial and is not a right of the public. While the public has an interest in a public trial, it is up to the accused to assert or waive that right, and outsiders have no standing to raise it. No question of freedom of speech or of the press is involved because these rights do not allow the press access to places not open to the general public as well. United Press Association v. Valente, 308 N.Y. 71, 123 N.E. (2d) 777 (1954)