Examining Factors Co-Existing with Interpersonal Violence in Lesbian Relationships

Interpersonal violence within lesbian relationships is a significant yet understudied problem. Women attending a gay pride festival in Atlanta, GA, were asked to complete a survey concerning same-sex interpersonal violence. Women who reported being in a current or previous same-sex partner relationship were included in the analyses (N = 226). Factors that occurred in the context of interpersonal violence were investigated: substance use, HIV/STI risk behaviors, barriers to reporting abuse, and attitudes inhibiting seeking of social support. In addition, the survey assessed relationship-related power dynamics. Results of multivariate analyses support the hypotheses that power imbalance and inequality when making sex-related decisions within women’s same-sex relationships are associated with interpersonal violence. Further findings suggested that a combination of factors must be considered when dealing with and reducing the risk for violence in same-sex relationships.     

国外破产管理人制度初探

我国于2007年开始实行的新破产法引入了国际通行的破产管理人制度,并且在第三章专门规定了管理人的资格、地位、职权、监督、报酬和责任等内容,把管理人制度放到了比较显眼、重要的地位.这是对现行破产法清算组制度的一次重大改革,也是与国际破产制度接轨的一个良好开端.管理人制度尽管在西方发达国家的破产法中是一项成熟的制度,但对我国来讲还是一项新事物.所以,有必要对国外管理人制度进行一些探讨和研究,以供我们借鉴.     

Development and usage of a NIST standard reference material for real time PCR quantitation of human DNA

National Institute of Standards and Technology SRM 2372 human DNA quantitation standard has been produced to support the need for a human-specific DNA quantitation standard in forensic casework and calibration of new quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays. The conventional DNA concentration has been assigned with one of the U.S. National Reference UV/Visible Spectrophotometers, assuming an absorbance of 1.0 at 260 nm equals 50 ng/μL of double stranded DNA. In addition, an interlaboratory study has been conducted, to verify that the SRM 2372 materials perform well in currently used DNA quantitation assays by the forensic DNA community. Each unit of SRM 2372 consists of three well-characterized DNA extracts. Component A is a single-source human male material derived from blood. Component B is a multiple-source human female material derived from blood. Component C was purchased as a purified unsheared genomic human DNA (Sigma-Aldrich Co., St. Louis, MO) obtained as a lyophilized human genomic extract and has both male and female donors. SRM 2372 is intended to enable the comparison of DNA concentration measurements across time and place. Manufacturers can use SRM 2372 to validate the values assigned to their own reference materials. Individual forensic laboratories can use SRM 2372 to validate DNA quantitation methods and to verify the assigned concentration of in-house or commercial DNA calibration standards.     

中美关系需要实现四大超越

中国人喜欢用三十年作一个时间段的划分，这大概缘于那句古训：“三十年河东，三十年河西”。意在提醒人们注意到时事变迁。中美关系风风雨雨过去了三十年，未来的三十年，中美关系前景如何，耐人深思，也令人关注。过去三十年中美关系取得了一些成就，但离国际和平的需要和两国人民的期望还有差距。可以确定的是，中美关系如逆水行舟，不进则退，决不能躺在功劳簿上睡大觉，     

On the Trend of U.S. Economic Development

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the U.S. economy has been experiencing robust growth for more than a decade except for one or two years, creating a miracle in the U.S. economic history. This is a period that enjoys both low unemployment rate and low inflation rate, breaking the generally perceived rule that the U.S. economy could only be growing at a rate less than 2.5%. However, behind the robust growth, the U.S. economy has been challenged by grim problems including financial deficits, inadequate savings, excessive consumption, trade deficits, excessive international indebted financing as well as the recently coming up subprime mortgage crisis and so on.     

A comparison of methods used in the UK and Ireland for the extraction and detection of semen on swabs and cloth samples

The recent formation of a United Kingdom and Irish working group, the Body Fluids Forum (BFF), highlighted the need to investigate different working practices prior to any inter-laboratory comparison work and identification of best practice. Various dilutions of semen were seeded onto swabs and cloth samples for each BFF member laboratory to test using their standard techniques. The results showed that the detection of acid phosphatase on swabs is best achieved using direct testing rather than on an extract from the swab. Extraction methods for spermatozoa require a balance to be achieved between using a sufficient volume of water to ensure optimal release and minimal volume to ensure a concentrated extract. PSA tests were investigated and found to be more sensitive than Choline. DNA profiles were obtained from samples in which no spermatozoa had been detected during microscopic examination.     

Crimes committed by terrorist groups: Theory,research, and prevention

Statement of Purpose: A decline in state-sponsored terrorism has caused many terrorist organizations to resort to criminal activity as an alternative means of support. This study examines terrorists' involvement in a variety of crimes ranging from motor vehicle violations, immigration fraud, and manufacturing illegal firearms to counterfeiting, armed bank robbery, and smuggling weapons of mass destruction. Special attention is given to transnational organized crime. Crimes are analyzed through the routine activity perspective and social learning theory. These theories draw our attention to the opportunities to commit crime and the criminal skills necessary to turn opportunity into criminality. Through these lenses, the research appraises the “successes” and “failures” of terrorists' engagement in crime. Because “failures” can result from law enforcement efforts to (1) interrupt criminal skill development, and/or (2) remove criminal opportunities via technologies and transportation systems, the research represents a best practices approach to the study and control of terrorism. This project was supported by Grant No. 2003-DT-CX-0002 awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.     

构建广西—东盟农业科技合作平台的思考

广西处于中国-东盟自由贸易区的中心位置,是我国惟一的与东盟国家既有海洋又有陆地相接的省区,在农业资源禀赋、农业科技和经济等发展方面既与东盟各国有明显的共同性,又有很强的互补性.构建广西-东盟农业科技合作平台,以此推动和加快广西乃至我国与东盟各国的农业科技合作与交流,对加快广西和东盟各国的农业发展和推进全面经济技术合作,具有重大的作用和意义.     

读史札记:隋朝灭亡之鉴

据<隋书·食货>记载,在隋朝灭亡之前:"百姓废业,屯集城堡,无以自给.然所在仓库,犹大充牣,吏皆惧法,莫肯赈救,由是益困.初皆剥树皮以食之,渐及于叶,皮叶皆尽,乃煮土或捣藁为末而食之.其后,人乃相食."意思是说,隋朝灭亡之前老百姓的生活已极为困难,但国家的仓库仍然非常殷实,官吏们却因为害怕国家的严刑峻法,不敢发放粮食赈济百姓.开始的时候百姓们还能吃树皮、树叶,后来就吃土、吃稻麦的秸秆,最后甚至发展到人吃人的悲惨程度.