Jurisdiction and Enforcement in International Family Law: A Labyrinth of European and International Legislation

Netherlands International Law Review -     

The European community software directive: The United Kingdom implementation

Conclusion The Regulations appear to have reinforced the protection available to software producers under United Kingdom law. The provisions of the Software Directive and the Regulations are complex and not without significant inconsistencies which are likely to prove to be a source of litigation. The drafters of the Regulations chose, unlike many of its European partners, not to adopt the wording of the Software Directive but to write their own interpretation, adding an element of uncertainty to the law in this area, which is perhaps inevitable bearing in mind the linguistic problems of translating and interpreting any directive coupled with the ambiguity and omission of definitions of several key terms. More important, however, than any academic argument will be the practical impact of the new law and its effectiveness in achieving its aim.     

Threatening and otherwise inappropriate letters to members of the United States Congress

The authors examine the characteristics of threatening and otherwise inappropriate communications sent to members of the U.S. Congress by a sample of 86 subjects, 20 of whom threatened assassination. We quote excerpts from these letters and provide quantitative data on such variables as the volume, duration, form, and appearance of such communications; the enclosures; the subjects' perceived relationships to the recipients; the thematic content of the communications; and the messages and threats communicated. Comparisons between 43 subjects who pursued encounters with members of Congress and 43 who did not revealed 17 factors associated with such pursuit. In this population, threateners were significantly less likely to pursue an encounter than inappropriate letter writers who did not threaten, regardless of the type of threat or the harm threatened. Inappropriate letters to members of Congress are compared with those directed to Hollywood celebrities. Mentally disordered persons writing to public figures often mention and sometimes threaten public figures other than those to whom the letters are addressed, which raises important issues regarding notification of endangered third parties and the sharing of information among protective agencies.     

论销赃罪的处罚

销赃罪是赃物犯罪的一种,该罪不但自身存在较大的危害性,其对本罪的刺激和帮助作用也是巨大的。但我国《刑法》仅对之规定了较低的法定刑,起不到应有的威慑作用。笔者认为,应提高销赃罪的法定刑,以加强对该罪的打击力度。     

论我国刑事审判监督程序之改革

刑事诉讼法的修改是当前理论界和实务界关注的热点。作者选取其中的刑事审判监督程序(又称刑事再审程序)作为研究对象,从其存在和改革的必要性、重构的理念以及改革的具体设想三个方面进行了全面、系统的探讨。作者认为,刑事再审程序的存在是符合诉讼规律的,是实现司法公正所必需的;我国刑事再审程序对于实现司法公正和提高效率存在明显的缺陷,需要在更新观念的基础上进行改革。文章指出,现代化的刑事再审程序必须把追求公正、纠正错判和既判力理念、禁止双重危险规则结合起来。作者还就我国刑事再审程序的改革提出了若干建议。     

Microbial Sampling and Data Interpretation for Problematic Buildings: Considerations for Construction Related Environmental Claims

Bioaerosol data is often used in cases of building mold infestation alleging damage or adverse health effects upon occupants, despite the lack of consistent sampling and analytical protocols and numerical health-based standards. The most fundamental problem in these scenarios is defining a “significant” difference between a suspect indoor environment and the reference environment, regardless of the type of sampling and analysis utilized. Data interpretation focused upon differences in absolute numerical concentrations of fungi is subject to wide differences in expert opinion. On the other hand, an objective quantification of differences can be expressed in terms of probability and better meets criteria established in evidentiary rules.     

非洲国际法初探

目前国际法学界对于是否存在“非洲国际法”尚有诸多争议。一些学者认为,国际法在本质上是普遍性的,因此,“非洲国际法”这种提法是错误的;还有一些学者则认为,从国际法的历史发展进程来看,普遍国际法现在还远未形成。综合来看,上述两种观点都有其合理性的一面。实际上,在当代国际法中,普遍主义与区域主义的关系是辩证统一的。因此,从当代国际法的现实特征,以及非洲国际关系的历史发展进程来说,非洲国际法是客观存在的,且有其自己独特的概念与渊源。     

Toxicologic findings in the USS Iowa disaster.

The toxicologic results from the 47 victims of the explosion on the USS Iowa are presented. Good correlation between carboxyhemoglobin saturations and cause of death was found. There were no correlations between blood cyanide concentrations and causes of death. Volatile analysis suggested postmortem ethanol production rather than antemortem ethanol ingestion. No drugs except nicotine were detected in any of the victims.