Effects of extreme heat on teeth with implications for histologic processing.

This pilot study examined teeth subjected to extreme heat under laboratory conditions, and the subsequent effect of decalcification and histologic processing. Physical and microscopic findings were evaluated in relation to temperature and duration of thermal insult. Microscopic examination following decalcification and histologic processing revealed changes including severe tissue fragmentation, vapor bubbles within dentinal tubules, altered histologic staining, charring and tissue shrinkage. Dentin appeared to be the most reliable microscopic identifier of incinerated dental tissues. Temperatures above 600 degrees C strongly predicted tooth disintegration following decalcification. This finding has implications in incineration cases where histologic evidence must be maintained and examined intact.     

Mediation as an alternative to criminal prosecution

In several American communities, paraprofessional mediation has become a substitute for criminal prosecution when defendant and victim have been engaged in a prior relationship. This article describes such a mediation project and its training program. It present a detailed account of two actual mediation sessions. An analysis of these sessions highlights some of the problems in mediating interpersonal disputes, particularly questions about underlying cause and the effects of different perceptions about the role of conflict in human interaction. The article also suggests a series of hypotheses to be investigated in further research on mediation.The research on which this paper is based was partially supported by grant No. 77-NI-99-0019 from the National Institute for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice. The views expressed are those of the authors only. We appreciate the cooperation received from George Nicolau and Ann Weisbrod of the Institute for Mediation and Conflict Resolution and from the staff of the Fosterton mediation project.     

Some facts and fantasies concerning local autonomy in the Metropolitan Toronto school system

Abstract. The Metropolitan Toronto school system is a unique form of educational governance in North America, as a two-tiered federation. Tension has always existed between the levels over which had the prerogative LO make binding decisions on issues without involvement, consultation, or ratification by the other. Recently, the area school boards, which constitute the lower level, have increasingly raised this issue, protesting that their local autonomy is being eroded. This paper describes the operationalization of the local autonomy concept and points out that it is dynamic, being dependent upon at least four factors: the nature of the issue being discussed, the political context of the issue, the nature of the deadlines related to the issue, and the particular blend of people involved at the time of operationalization. The paper further explores the nature and sources of infringement upon the autonomy of local school boards in the Metropolitan Toronto federation. It identifies and discusses three major sources: (a) from the provincial level, (b) from the Metro level, and (c) from other area boards. The paper concludes that perhaps the greatest threat to area board autonomy in a period of financial cutbacks is the other area boards themselves who are forced into competition for financial resources due to the fact that accepted bases for agreeing upon relative inter-board needs have not been fully developed. Sommaire. L'organisation scolaire du Toronto métropolitain est unique en Amérique du Nord. Etant composée de tension entre les deux niveaux car chacun cherche à prendre des décisions exécutoires sans consultation avec l'autre ou ratification de sa part. Récemment les commissions scolaires qui constituent le palier inférieur ont soulevé cette question, en se plaignant de plus en plus de l'drosion de leur autonomie locale. L'auteur de cet esposé décrit l'application pratique du concept de l'autonomie locale et fait remarquer qu'il est dynamique, car il dépend d'au moins quatre facteurs: la nature de la question à l'étude et son contexte politique, la nature des échéances qui s'y rapporte, et la composition du groupe participant à l'exercice. L'auteur étudie aussi la nature et les sources d'ingérence dans les affaires des commissions scolaires locales de la fédération du Toronto métropolitain. Il dégage et étudie trois sources principales: (a) le niveau provincial, (b) le niveau métropolitain, (c) les autres commissions scolaires. Il conclut que la plus grande menace pour l'autonomie des commissions scolaires en période d'austérité financiére provient sans doute des autres commissions scolaires car elles sont forcées de se faire concurrence entre elles pour obtenir des ressources financiéres. Cette concurrence est accrue de fait que les critères d'évaluation des besoins sont encore imprécis et ne font pas l'objet dun accord général.     

Seeing,Moving, Catching,Accumulating: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pokémon GO</Emphasis>, and the Legal Subject

This paper argues that the augmented reality gaming application for smart devices, Pokémon GO shows the fate of the legal subject as a neoliberal monster subjugated to the limitations imposed by hypercapitalism. The game, derived from Nintendo’s iconic Pokémon franchise, reveals the legal subject as a frenzied, diminished and impulsive being, allowed to see, move, catch and accumulate but unable to participate in more meaningful self-narration. It is not that the game is lawless, notwithstanding, anxieties in the semiosphere about users trespassing or engaging in criminal behaviour. Rather the game is over structured and highly limited, both within its game-play which is repetitive and impulsive, and in its absence of narrative. Unlike the classic Nintendo Pokémon games which are within the role-playing game genre, Pokémon GO abstracts the seeing, moving, catching and accumulating features of the classic games without the overarching narrative, questing and competition. In this Pokémon GO manifests the transformation of the liberal legal subject of capitalism to the neoliberal subject of a digital orientated hypercapitalism where seeing, moving, catching and accumulating is immediate and impulsive, obliterating the ‘prudent’ subject participating in their own self-narration.     

Cyberfraud and the implications for effective risk-based responses: themes from UK research

The nature of the risk or threat posed by ‘cyberfraud’ - fraud with a cyber dimension – is examined empirically based on data reported by the public and business to Action Fraud. These are used to examine the implications for a more effective risk-based response, both by category of fraud and also responding to cyberfraud generally, not just in the UK. A key characteristics of cyberfraud is that it can be globalised, unless there are major national differences in attractiveness of targets or in the organisation of control. This does not mean that all cyberfraud is international, however: not only do some involve face to face interactions at some stage of the crime cycle, but in online auction selling frauds, it appears to be common for the perpetrators and victims to reside in the same country. After reviewing patterns and costs of victimisation and their implications for control, the paper concludes that any law enforcement response must begin by being strategic: which other public and private sector bodies should be involved to do what; what should be the specific roles and responsibilities of the police and where ‘problem ownership’ should lie; what are we willing to pay for (in money and effort) for greater cybersecurity and how to reduce ‘market failure’ in its supply; and, how that security is going to be organised for and/or by the huge numbers of businesses and people that are (potentially) affected.