The Balkan Entente in Turkish–Yugoslav relations (1934–41): the Yugoslav perspective

By discussing the role of the Balkan Entente within Turkish–Yugoslav relations, this article endeavours to reflect the extent to which the Entente guaranteed security to Turkey and Yugoslavia. It deals with the 1934–41 period, which starts with the formation of the Balkan Entente and ends with the German invasion of Yugoslavia. The article is written mainly based on Yugoslav archival documents and aims to provide an alternative narrative that contests the conventional Turkish view. It also demonstrates that although the political leaders in Turkey and Yugoslavia became more optimistic about the future of the region after having signed the Balkan Entente, their perception of threat changed over time during the period of increasing instability in Europe.     

New Jersey Appellate Division Affirms Allocation to Insured for Pre-December 2004 Insolvencies

The New Jersey Appellate Division has held that in long-tail allocation cases, the policyholder remains responsible for amounts allocable to insurers who became insolvent before December, 2004, and that the rule announced in Farmers Mutual Fire Ins. Company of Salem v. N.J.P.L.G.A. does not apply to such insolvencies because the Legislature specifically provided that the statutory amendments that formed the basis for the Farmers Mutual decision applied prospectively from their effective date. The decision confirms that for insolvencies that took place before the amendments' effective date, New Jersey's common law rule that the policyholder bears the risk of insolvencies and is responsible for shares allocable to them still applies. The Court's decision strengthens insurers' arguments that Farmers Mutual did not alter the common law rule for policies that are not subject to the 2004 amendments to New Jersey's Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association Act or Surplus Lines Insurance Guaranty Fund Act.     

我国不起诉裁量权的现状及未来走向

不起诉裁量权是检察官对于起诉与否的选择权,随着诉讼的激增,各国都在一定程度上规定了该项权力,我国立法也不例外,但是由于范围过于狭窄,以及配套机制的不完善,使得该权力具有很大的不确定性。我们应当兼采两大法系在此问题上的做法,采取有效措施,以补现行制度之缺陷。     

Russia’s energy relations in Southeastern Europe: an analysis of motives in Bulgaria and Greece

Although officially Russian state-owned energy companies operate as independent entities, their actions often lead to suspicion that they are acting as a tool of Russian state foreign policy. Countries on the southeastern borders of Europe – Bulgaria and Greece – are prime examples of where this might be the case, since they not only have a central position in Russia’s plans to penetrate European markets through new transport infrastructure but are also part of competing plans for routing non-Russian gas to Western markets. The main focus of the present research is on the natural gas and oil sectors, as these are the traditional foundation of Russian energy exports to Europe. The aim of this paper is thus to provide an objective, evidence-based analysis of Russian activities in the natural gas and oil sectors of Greece and Bulgaria in order to establish whether its actions have been implicitly or explicitly politicized and have served to strengthen Russian influence in the region.     

Near‐fatal Intoxication with the “New” Synthetic Opioid U‐47700: The First Reported Case in the Czech Republic

Recreational use of the potent synthetic opioid 3,4‐ dichloro‐N‐(2‐(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl)‐N‐methylbenzamide (U‐47700) is rising, accompanied by increasingly frequent cases of serious intoxication. This article reports a case of near‐fatal U‐47700 intoxication. A man was found unconscious (with drug powder residues). After 40 h in hospital (including 12 h of supported ventilation), he recovered and was discharged. Liquid chromatography/high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC/HRMS) or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to detect and quantify substances in powders, serum and urine. Powders contained U‐47700 and two synthetic cannabinoids. Serum and urine were positive for U‐47700 (351.0 ng/mL), citalopram (<LOQ), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC: 3.3 ng/mL), midazolam (<LOQ) and a novel benzodiazepine, clonazolam (6.8 ng/mL) and their metabolites but negative for synthetic cannabinoids. If potent synthetic opioids become cheaper and more easily obtainable than their classical counterparts (e.g., heroin), they will inevitably replace them and users may be exposed to elevated risks of addiction and overdose.     

Inherent Fluorescence Detection of Latent Fingermarks by Homemade Shortwave Ultraviolet Laser

Detection of latent fingermarks on various substrates is critical in crime investigations. Conventional chemical methods using reagents could contaminate or even destruct biological information of samples. Here, an optical method and successful case application of detecting latent fingermarks through long‐wave ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence (300–400 nm) by shortwave UV laser excitation is reported. Experimental results indicate that the recovery rate of the latent fingermarks on various paper items is in the range of 70–80% without chemical treatments. Moreover, the optical method allows for the preservation of samples for further examination, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. The technique has also been successfully applied to a criminal case in identifying the suspect, which, to the best of our knowledge, has never been reported in real crime investigations. Therefore, such a method as UV‐excited UV fluorescence in detecting latent fingermarks may be better for examination in cases where biological information of samples is needed for consequent testing.     

Specific forms of human trafficking in Slovenia: overview and preventive measures

Abstract

Paper presents a research study on specific forms of human trafficking in Slovenia. The research indicates that the vulnerability of migrant workers in Slovenia results from their social vulnerability and deteriorating social conditions in the countries of origin. Employers are aware of these conditions and take advantage of the situation, which results in planned recruitment of workers in countries of origin. Furthermore, cases of human trafficking for the purpose of forced criminality and forced begging, as well as trafficking in children, are also indicated in the research. However, in the time period under review the Slovene police detected only a few underage victims of crimes that can be considered as trafficking. No evidence of trafficking in human organs, tissues and blood was found, but the research unveiled some cases indicating illegal intercountry adoptions. The research results and recommendations can guide further action and the planning of preventive activities.     

金融全球化与转轨国家金融自由化的效应分析--以俄罗斯为例

自20世纪90年代以来,随着经济全球化的不断深化、贸易自由化和生产国际化的进一步扩大,金融全球化和金融自由化已成为一种更加明显甚至是必然的趋势;与此同时,原计划经济国家相继向市场经济转轨。在此背景下,金融全球化与转轨国家的经济和金融发展之间存在着互动关系,并具有内在的逻辑一致性。这一联动关系对经济转轨国家利弊兼具,经济转轨国家不仅要直面金融全球化所带来的利益和风险,而且要承受金融全球化与其经济和金融互动所产生的双重效应。同样,由于联动关系,如果转轨国家顺利融入金融全球化进程,并能获得较大的收益,这对金融全球化的可持续发展将是极大的贡献,否则他们的缺失或者不稳定将严重影响到金融全球化的可持续发展。     

海洋经济:“十二五”期间中国经济发展的新动力

实现经济可持续发展的关键在于挖掘新的经济增长动力。海洋产业对国民经济的需求结构、产业结构和区域结构产生至关重要的影响,发展海洋经济是中国实现可持续发展的重要载体。本文从海洋经济对国民经济作用、海洋产业升级的影响以及海洋开发的区域联动效应三个方面分析海洋经济增长绩效,从调整海洋产业结构、升级海洋经济发展模式、提高海洋环境保护等方面提出对策建议。     

PowerPlex(R) 16 HS系统直接扩增法检测常见检材的DNA

目的研究PowerPlex 16 HS系统直接扩增法对血样、口腔拭子和烟蒂3种常见检材的有效性。方法采用PowerPlex 16 HS系统对11份新鲜血样、10份口腔拭子和10份烟蒂样本进行直接扩增检测,对所得数据进行统计分析。结果新鲜血样和口腔拭子的完整遗传图谱检测成功率为100%,烟蒂样本的完整遗传图谱检测成功率为90%。结论 PowerPlex 16 HS系统直接扩增法是一种适用于血样、口腔拭子和烟蒂3种常见检材的有效方法。