Lethal small bowel obstruction due to pica

Up to 25% of institutionalized patients with cognitive deficiencies display pica-like behavior, with an estimated annual incidence of small bowel obstruction of 2%. We present a case based on the forensic autopsy of a 41-year-old woman who died as a result of a missed diagnosis of small bowel obstruction after ingesting a foreign body. The case underlines the importance of precaution when treating patients with cognitive deficiency and/or language deficits and gastrointestinal symptoms. In such cases, it is important to employ a liberal threshold for radiological investigations and, if possible, obtain a medical history from a person close to the patient.     

A view from the policy community: a new strategic narrative for Europe?

ABSTRACT

Reflecting on the results presented in articles in this special issue, European leaders should take greater account of external perceptions in crafting the European Union's strategic narrative and guiding its actions. Failure to do so has impaired external policies like the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership. Leaders emerging from the Arab uprisings perceived the EU as complicit with their countries’ former anciens régimes and Russian leaders see EU support for democracy and the market economy in former Soviet states as duplicitous and instrusive. Awareness of such perceptions should be filtered into EU decision-making, without validating views that European officials and diplomats consider misleading.     

Beyond royal politics: state transformation and foreign policy in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Saudi politics is commonly portrayed as reflecting a system of centralised personal rule in which decision-making power trickles down from the tightly knit power circles within the House of Saud. In contrast, this paper draws attention to the empowerment of quasi-autonomous state organisations in Saudi Arabia as a result of state transformation and regional integration. At its most extreme, state transformation in Saudi Arabia has created institutional and regulatory enclaves with vested interests and areas of competence that cross Saudi borders. This paper illustrates the foreign policy ramifications of transformed statehood in Saudi attempts to further Gulf regional integration in the context of the Gulf Monetary Union project.     

税收结构改变的长期影响与转型特征

提高直接税比重是优化我国税制结构和调节收入分配的重要实现途径，但可能同时对经济增长和社会福利产生影响。当政府降低消费税，如果维持长期总税收不变，那么不管是提高工资收入税税率还是资本收入税税率，经济中的资本积累和生产规模都会有一定程度的缩减；从长期看，提高直接税比重会降低消费者福利，但是转型过程中可能会有部分代际受益。相比于提高资本收入税，提高工资收入税税率在长期给经济增长和消费者福利带来的负效应更为明显。     

Applying Moral Foundations Theory to the Explanation of Capital Jurors’ Sentencing Decisions

Abstract

This study applies moral foundations theory to capital juror decision making. We hypothesized that binding moral foundations would predict death qualification and punitive sentencing decisions, whereas individualizing moral foundations would be associated with juror disqualification and a leniency effect. Additionally, we considered whether moral foundations can explain differences in death penalty application between conservatives and liberals. Respondents from two independent samples participated in a mock-juror task in which the circumstances of a hypothetical defendant’s case varied. Results revealed moral foundations were strong predictors of death qualification. The binding and individualizing foundations were related to sentencing decisions in the expected ways. Supporting our contention that moral foundations operate differently across different types of cases, heterogeneity in the effects of moral foundations was observed. Finally, we found support for the hypothesis that the relationship between sentencing decisions and conservatism would be attenuated by moral foundations.     

中国利用外资新特点及其思考

随着改革开放的更进一步纵深展开,中国利用外资在近几年也呈现出了一些新特点。本文旨在介绍我国在利 用外资上的新模式和新领域,并针对这些新特点,对外资的宏观管理提出一些建议。     

中国外资银行监管与中国入世承诺的履行

WTO规则促进了国际金融一体化的进程 ,加入WTO对我国金融业既是机遇又意味着挑战 ,本文针对WTO规则中有关银行业的规定与我国相关承诺中涉及的外资银行监管问题进行了客观分析 ,并就我国完善对外资银行的监管提出了自己的看法。     

试论技术入股股东的权利、义务与法律责任

技术出资方式迥然不同于货币、实物、土地使用权等出资方式,技术入股股东不仅具有其他股东的权利、义务与法律责任,而且还具有自己的特殊权利、特殊义务与特殊法律责任。从技术入股角度出发,《中华人民共和国公司法》有关股东权利、义务与法律责任的规定需要充实。     

观念在外交决策中的作用--对《观念与外交政策》一书的解读

如何看待观念在外交决策中的作用一直是西方国际关系理论中争论的焦点问题之一.理想主义和建构主义强调观念建构是第一性的,现实主义强调物质实力至上,美国学者戈尔茨坦和基欧汉在主编的<观念与外交政策>一书中则强调物质因素和观念因素同是影响外交决策的重要变量.他们还将观念分解为世界观、原则性信念和因果信念3种形式,它们通过提供行动指南,增进共识和建构制度等方式对外交决策产生影响.这些争论提示我们,我国的外交战略既要立足于物质实力的增强,又不能忽视观念的作用;既要积极参与国际社会的观念建构,又要避免意识形态对抗.     

中国律师办案中的关系因素——社会资本理论视角的分析

从社会资本理论视角,对中国律师执业中的关系因素进行调查和分析,为探讨中国律师与中国司法的新视角。在问卷调查的基础上,本文认为,作为重要的社会资本,人际关系在中国律师执业中具有重要的意义,关系在律师办理案件时有便于证据收集和采用、有利沟通、获得信息、方便工作、判决倾斜等作用。