Nudge the judge? Theorizing the interaction between heuristics, sentencing guidelines and sentence clustering

Although it has long been acknowledged that heuristics influence judicial decision making, researchers have yet to explore how sentencing guidelines might interact with heuristics to shape sentencing decisions. This article contributes to addressing this gap in the literature in three ways: first, by considering how heuristics might help produce the phenomenon of sentence clustering, in which a significant proportion of sentences are concentrated around a small number of outcomes; second, by reflecting on the role of sentencing guidelines as a feature of the environment within which sentencing decisions are made; and third, by analysing the guidelines from Minnesota and from England and Wales, theorizing how their content might interact with heuristics to make clustering more or less likely. Ultimately, we argue that sentencing guidelines likely affect the role played by heuristics in shaping sentencing decisions and, consequently, that their design should be informed by research evidence from the decision sciences

Measuring crime in place: Distinguishing between area victimisation and area offences

Crime data is essential to the running of a safe society. But are we measuring crime in the best way? Ian Brunton-Smith, Alexandru Cernat, David Buil-Gil and Jose Pina-Sánchez explore how the current system could be improve

El enfoque meta-analítico de generalización de la fiabilidad

Sentences such as «the test reliability is 0.80» are wrong. It is more appropriate to say «the test scores reliability in a given application of it is 0.80». The meta-analytic approach of reliability generalization pretends to show that reliability is an empirical property that varies from one test application to another. This recent meta-analytic approach is helping to make the researchers aware of the importance of reporting reliability estimates obtained from the own data and, of avoiding the malpractice of inducting reliability coefficients from other studies and previous applications of the test. The stages to carry out a reliability generalization study are presented: (a) formulating the problem, (b) searching for the studies, (c) coding studies, (d) statistical analysis and interpretation, and (e) publication. An updated overview of the statistical problems of this approach: (a) to transform versus not to transform the reliability coefficients, (b) to weight versus not to weight the coefficients, (c) how to manage statistical dependency among the coefficients, and (d) which statistical model is the most appropriate (fixed-, random-, and mixed-effects).ResumenFrases del tipo «la fiabilidad del test es 0.80» son incorrectas. Es más apropiado decir «la fiabilidad de las puntuaciones del test en una determinada aplicación del mismo es 0.80». El enfoque meta-analítico de generalización de la fiabilidad pretende demostrar que la fiabilidad es una propiedad empírica que varía de una aplicación a otra del test. Este nuevo enfoque meta-analítico está contribuyendo a concienciar a los investigadores sobre la importancia de aportar estimaciones de la fiabilidad con los propios datos y evitar inducciones de la fiabilidad. Se presentan las fases en las que se lleva a cabo un estudio de generalización de la fiabilidad: (a) formulación del problema, (b) búsqueda de los estudios, (c) codificación de los estudios, (d) análisis estadístico e interpretación y (e) publicación. Se presenta una visión actualizada de los problemas estadísticos de este enfoque: (a) transformar versus no transformar los coeficientes, (b) ponderar versus no ponderar los coeficientes, (c) cómo tratar la dependencia estadística entre los coeficientes y (d) cuál es el modelo estadístico más apropiado (efectos fijos, efectos aleatorios, efectos mixtos).AbstractSentences such as «the test reliability is 0.80» are wrong. It is more appropriate to say «the test scores reliability in a given application of it is 0.80». The meta-analytic approach of reliability generalization pretends to show that reliability is an empirical property that varies from one test application to another. This recent meta-analytic approach is helping to make the researchers aware of the importance of reporting reliability estimates obtained from the own data and, of avoiding the malpractice of inducting reliability coefficients from other studies and previous applications of the test. The stages to carry out a reliability generalization study are presented: (a) formulating the problem, (b) searching for the studies, (c) coding studies, (d) statistical analysis and interpretation, and (e) publication. An updated overview of the statistical problems of this approach: (a) to transform versus not to transform the reliability coefficients, (b) to weight versus not to weight the coefficients, (c) how to manage statistical dependency among the coefficients, and (d) which statistical model is the most appropriate (fixed-, random-, and mixed-effects)

The Methodological Challenges of Comparative Sentencing Research : Literature Review

The Scottish Sentencing Council commissioned the University of Strathclyde in November 2021 to examine methodological issues in comparative sentencing research. The research team, led by Prof Cyrus Tata (University of Strathclyde), was asked to review and report on the evidence on the issues in comparing sentences 'across jurisdictions and modalities.' This report addresses questions arising in relation to any comparison of sanctions across jurisdictions. Ultimately, the goal is to contribute not only to more evidence-based guideline development, but to improve knowledge about the opportunities and challenges involved in making valid inter-jurisdictional comparisons and how this can facilitate greater public understanding and confidence in sentencing. While this report covers key issues and highlight relevant research, comparative sentencing is a vast topic. Therefore, our scope here must be focused. To do this we primarily draw on a single comparative jurisdiction with Scotland: England and Wales. It should be noted that there are other jurisdictions where useful comparative insights might be sought. However, each new comparator requires careful consideration of its distinct features.Moreover, in some cases, there will be greater differences in legal structures that render comparisons even more challenging

The Padua Inventory-Washington State University Revision of Obsessions and Compulsions:A Reliability Generalization Meta-analysis

© 2020 Taylor & Francis. This document is the published version of a published work that appeared in final form in Journal of Personality Assessment, To access the final work, see DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2018.1483378The Padua Inventory–Washington State University Revision (PI–WSUR) is a frequently used test to assess obsessive–compulsive symptoms in screening and clinical contexts. A reliability generalization meta-analysis was carried out to estimate the average reliability of the PI–WSUR scores and its subscales and to search for characteristics of the studies that can explain the heterogeneity among reliability coefficients. A total of 124 independent samples reported some coefficient alpha or test–retest correlation with the data at hand for the PI–WSUR scores. The average internal consistency reliability of the PI–WSUR total scores was .929 (95% CI [.922, .936]), and for the subscales, the means ranged from .792 to .900. The test–retest reliability for PI–WSUR total scores was .767 (95% CI [.700, .820]), with the subscales ranging from .540 to .790. Moderator analyses revealed a positive relationship between the standard deviation of PI–WSUR total scores and alpha coefficients, as well as higher reliability estimates for the original version of the test and for studies from North America. The reliability induction rate for the PI–WSUR was 53.7%. Regarding reliability, the PI–WSUR ranks among the best scales for assessing obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Internal consistency reliability was excellent for the PI–WSUR total score and good for the subscales

A novel targeted RNA-Seq panel identifies a subset of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with BCR-ABL1-like characteristics

BCR-ABL1-like B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) remains poorly characterized in adults. We sought to establish the frequency and outcome of adolescent and adult BCR-ABL1-like ALL using a novel RNA-Seq signature in a series of patients with BCP-ALL. To this end, we developed and tested an RNA-Seq custom panel of 42 genes related to a BCR-ABL1-like signature in a cohort of 100 patients with BCP-ALL and treated with risk-adapted ALL trials. Mutations related to BCR-ABL1-like ALL were studied in a panel of 33 genes by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Also, CRLF2 overexpression and IKZF1/CDKN2A/B deletions were analyzed. Twenty out of 79 patients (12-84 years) were classified as BCR-ABL1-like (25%) based on heatmap clustering, with significant overexpression of ENAM, IGJ, and CRLF2 (P ≤ 0.001). The BCR-ABL1-like subgroup accounted for 29% of 15-60-year-old patients, with the following molecular characteristics: CRLF2 overexpression (75% of cases), IKZF1 deletions (64%), CDKN2A/B deletions (57%), and JAK2 mutations (57%). Among patients with postinduction negative minimal residual disease, those with the BCR-ABL1-like ALL signature had a higher rate of relapse and lower complete response duration than non-BCR-ABL1-like patients (P = 0.007). Thus, we have identified a new molecular signature of BCR-ABL1-like ALL that correlates with adverse prognosis in adult patients with ALL

NKG2D-CAR-transduced natural killer cells efficiently target multiple myeloma

CAR-T-cell therapy against MM currently shows promising results, but usually with serious toxicities. CAR-NK cells may exert less toxicity when redirected against resistant myeloma cells. CARs can be designed through the use of receptors, such as NKG2D, which recognizes a wide range of ligands to provide broad target specificity. Here, we test this approach by analyzing the antitumor activity of activated and expanded NK cells (NKAE) and CD45RA− T cells from MM patients that were engineered to express an NKG2D-based CAR. NKAE cells were cultured with irradiated Clone9.mbIL21 cells. Then, cells were transduced with an NKG2D-4-1BB-CD3z-CAR. CAR-NKAE cells exhibited no evidence of genetic abnormalities. Although memory T cells were more stably transduced, CAR-NKAE cells exhibited greater in vitro cytotoxicity against MM cells, while showing minimal activity against healthy cells. In vivo, CAR-NKAE cells mediated highly efficient abrogation of MM growth, and 25% of the treated mice remained disease free. Overall, these results demonstrate that it is feasible to modify autologous NKAE cells from MM patients to safely express a NKG2D-CAR. Additionally, autologous CAR-NKAE cells display enhanced antimyeloma activity demonstrating that they could be an effective strategy against MM supporting the development of NKG2D-CAR-NK-cell therapy for MM.This study was supported by a grant from the Spanish Society for Hematology and Hemotherapy to Alejandra Leivas, the CRIS Foundation to Beat Cancer and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI18/01519)

A novel targeted RNA-Seq panel identifies a subset of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with BCR-ABL1-like characteristics

BCR-ABL1-like B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) remains poorly characterized in adults. We sought to establish the frequency and outcome of adolescent and adult BCR-ABL1-like ALL using a novel RNA-Seq signature in a series of patients with BCP-ALL. To this end, we developed and tested an RNA-Seq custom panel of 42 genes related to a BCR-ABL1-like signature in a cohort of 100 patients with BCP-ALL and treated with risk-adapted ALL trials. Mutations related to BCR-ABL1-like ALL were studied in a panel of 33 genes by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Also, CRLF2 overexpression and IKZF1/CDKN2A/B deletions were analyzed. Twenty out of 79 patients (12-84 years) were classified as BCR-ABL1-like (25%) based on heatmap clustering, with significant overexpression of ENAM, IGJ, and CRLF2 (P <= 0.001). The BCR-ABL1-like subgroup accounted for 29% of 15-60-year-old patients, with the following molecular characteristics: CRLF2 overexpression (75% of cases), IKZF1 deletions (64%), CDKN2A/B deletions (57%), and JAK2 mutations (57%). Among patients with postinduction negative minimal residual disease, those with the BCR-ABL1-like ALL signature had a higher rate of relapse and lower complete response duration than non-BCR-ABL1-like patients (P = 0.007). Thus, we have identified a new molecular signature of BCR-ABL1-like ALL that correlates with adverse prognosis in adult patients with ALL

Xylem and phloem in petioles are coordinated with leaf gas exchange in oaks with contrasting anatomical strategies depending on leaf habit

As the single link between leaves and the rest of the plant, petioles must develop conductive tissues according to the water influx and sugar outflow of the leaf lamina. A scaling relationship between leaf area and anatomical traits of xylem and phloem is expected to improve the efficiency of these tissues. However, the different constraints compromising the functionality of both tissues (e.g., risk of cavitation) must not be disregarded. Additionally, plants present two main leaf habits (deciduous and evergreen) that may have different strategies to produce and package their petiole conduits to cope with environmental restrictions. In this study, we explore, in a diverse group of 33 oak species, the relationships between petiole anatomical traits, leaf area, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis rate. Results showed allometric scaling between anatomical structure of xylem and phloem with leaf area. We also found how photosynthesis and stomatal conductance at leaf-level are correlated with anatomical traits in the petiole. Nonetheless, the main novelty is how oaks present a different strategy depending on the leaf habit. Deciduous species tend to increase their diameters to achieve a greater leaf-specific conductivity. By contrast, evergreen oaks develop larger xylem conductive areas for a given leaf area than deciduous ones. This trade-off between safety-efficiency in petioles has never been attributed to the leaf habit of the species.Esta investigación ha sido financiada por la subvención PID2022-631 136478OB-C32 financiada por MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por «ERDF A way of making Europe», por la subvención CNS2022-136156 financiada por MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR y por el grupo de investigación S74_23R del Gobierno de Aragón.QuercusConductive TissuesLeaf HabitPetiolesWater RelationsXylem TransportUnpublishe

Mutations in TP53 and JAK2 are independent prognostic biomarkers in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

[EN]Background: In B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL), the identification of additional genetic alterations associated with poor prognosis is still of importance. We determined the frequency and prognostic impact of somatic mutations in children and adult cases with B-ALL treated with Spanish PETHEMA and SEHOP protocols. Methods: Mutational status of hotspot regions of TP53, JAK2, PAX5, LEF1, CRLF2 and IL7R genes was determined by next-generation deep sequencing in 340 B-ALL patients (211 children and 129 adults). The associations between mutation status and clinicopathological features at the time of diagnosis, treatment outcome and survival were assessed. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS) and relapse rate (RR). Results: A mutation rate of 12.4% was identified. The frequency of adult mutations was higher (20.2% vs 7.6%, P=0.001). TP53 was the most frequently mutated gene (4.1%), followed by JAK2 (3.8%), CRLF2 (2.9%), PAX5 (2.4%), LEF1 (0.6%) and IL7R (0.3%). All mutations were observed in B-ALL without ETV6-RUNX1 (P=0.047) or BCR-ABL1 fusions (P<0.0001). In children, TP53mut was associated with lower OS (5-year OS: 50% vs 86%, P=0.002) and EFS rates (5-year EFS: 50% vs 78.3%, P=0.009) and higher RR (5-year RR: 33.3% vs 18.6% P=0.037), and was independently associated with higher RR (hazard ratio (HR)=4.5; P=0.04). In adults, TP53mut was associated with a lower OS (5-year OS: 0% vs 43.3%, P=0.019) and a higher RR (5-year RR: 100% vs 61.4%, P=0.029), whereas JAK2mut was associated with a lower EFS (5-year EFS: 0% vs 30.6%, P=0.035) and a higher RR (5-year RR: 100% vs 60.4%, P=0.002). TP53mut was an independent risk factor for shorter OS (HR=2.3; P=0.035) and, together with JAK2mut, also were independent markers of poor prognosis for RR (TP53mut: HR=5.9; P=0.027 and JAK2mut: HR=5.6; P=0.036). Conclusions: TP53mut and JAK2mut are potential biomarkers associated with poor prognosis in B-ALL patients.European Commision (EC). Funding FP7/SP1/HEALTH. Project Code: 30624