Redmond Red as a Redox Probe for the DNA-Mediated Detection of Abasic Sites

Redmond Red, a fluoropore containing a redox-active phenoxazine core, has been explored as a new electrochemical probe for the detection of abasic sites in double-stranded DNA. The electrochemical behavior of Redmond Red-modified DNA at gold surfaces exhibits stable, quasi-reversible voltammetry with a midpoint potential centered around −50 mV versus NHE. Importantly, with Redmond Red positioned opposite an abasic site within the DNA duplex, the electrochemical response is significantly enhanced compared to Redmond Red positioned across from a base. Redmond Red, reporting only if well-stacked in the duplex, represents a sensitive probe to detect abasic sites electrochemically in a DNA-mediated reaction

DNA-Mediated Electrochemistry

The base pair stack of DNA has been demonstrated as a medium for long-range charge transport chemistry both in solution and at DNA-modified surfaces. This chemistry is exquisitely sensitive to structural perturbations in the base pair stack as occur with lesions, single base mismatches, and protein binding. We have exploited this sensitivity for the development of reliable electrochemical assays based on DNA charge transport at self-assembled DNA monolayers. Here, we discuss the characteristic features, applications, and advantages of DNA-mediated electrochemistry

Shingrix Education for Providers

Shingles is a prevalent disease within the overall population, and incidence in North America continues to increase. Shingles is commonly found in older adults 60 years of age and older and can recur two or three times. Shingrix was released in 2017 as a recombinant vaccine for prevention of shingles. Despite its benefits, this vaccine has not been recommended by many prescribing providers. Research has shown that an effective education program improves attitudes and misconceptions related to vaccines and can increase prescribing rates. An education program was created to share with prescribing providers to improve overall knowledge and recommendation rates for the vaccine. This formal education program was designed for prescribing providers for review in a 30-minute seminar. To determine overall effectiveness, the program was piloted in a primary care office setting in Central Virginia. The program was found to increase overall knowledge and appeared to increase the likelihood of recommendation. This evidence-based practice project was consistent with established research indicating that when a prescribing provider is informed about a vaccine, he or she is more likely to discuss it with patients. Patients consider their prescribing provider’s opinion seriously when making decisions about vaccines, including Shingrix

Reasons for Gaps in Crime Reporting: The Case of White-Collar Criminals Investigated by Private Fraud Examiners in Norway

A private investigation is an examination of facts, sequence of events, causes for deviance, and responsibilities for negative incidents. Recent years have seen an increasing use of private internal investigations in terms of the assessment of financial irregularities. The form of inquiry aims to uncover vulnerabilities to unrestricted opportunities, failing internal controls, abuse of position, and any financial misconduct such as corruption, fraud, embezzlement, theft, manipulation, tax evasion and other forms of economic crime. When fraud examiners discover evidence of white-collar crime, they almost always leave it to their clients to decide whether or not to report crime to the police. We examine the gaps in white-collar crime reporting after fraud examination and reasons behind such decisions. In Norway, these gaps could be as high as 96% percent, as calculated in this article. Reasons for non-reporting include concerns over law enforcement interference with business and consequences of law enforcement, lack of trust in the police, and different perceptions of the seriousness of crime. We apply the theoretical approach pioneered by Sykes and Matza (1957) and demonstrate how techniques of neutralization apply to private fraud examiners’ reasoning for non-reporting of suspected or detected white-collar crime. We also offer some possible policy-based solutions to reduce the identified gaps in reporting

Tackling unemployment among disadvantaged young people

In July 2015, as part of their strategy to tackle youth unemployment, the Government announced a statutory commitment to achieve three million new apprenticeships by 2020. This will be implemented alongside the Youth Obligation, which from 2017 will provide young claimants with access to a new three week intensive programme of support around employability skills in order to get them ‘work-ready’. After six months, claimants will be expected to apply for an apprenticeship or traineeship, gain work-based skills, undertake a mandatory work placement or face losing their benefit. Vocational training and work experience opportunities have the potential to provide long-term pathways out of unemployment. However, there is concern that these new policy measures will not create opportunities that are appropriate and accessible for the most vulnerable or disadvantaged groups of young people, given the barriers to employment they experience. Centrepoint commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) to explore the possible implications of these two initiatives for disadvantaged young people. The findings of this research enable Centrepoint to offer constructive advice on how new policies on youth employment should be implemented to ensure they make a meaningful contribution towards helping the hardest to reach enter sustained employment