How does ethnic diversity shape the design of intergovernmental fiscal relations? Evidence from China

This study examines how ethnic diversity shapes the design of intergovernmental fiscal relations in regimes such as China, where local accountability and resident mobility are largely absent. We argue that in these regimes, ethnic diversity largely captures potential social conflicts and instability, consequently requiring a higher level of fiscal centralization and regional equalization from upper-level governments to preserve social stability. Using provincial and sub-provincial level panel data from China for 1995–2019, we find strong supporting evidence that an increase in a province's ethnic diversity significantly increases fiscal centralization and the provincial government's fiscal equalization efforts. We also show that these effects tend to be stronger in provinces whose leaders have closer ties with the central authority and where local capture is less serious. Our study contributes to a better understanding of ethnic diversity's consequences on the policy choices governments make.     

Contribution of parkland trees to farmers’ livelihoods: a case study from Mali

Native species of trees and shrubs contribute significantly to farmers' livelihoods by supplying food, medicinal products, fodder, and wood. In the case study reported in this article, this contribution to farmers' annual revenue varied from 26 per cent to 73 per cent, and was as high as US$ 650 a year for households for which agroforestry products were the primary source of revenue. Household consumption was not quantified in the study, but farmers' comments confirmed that native trees also played an important role in assuring food security, especially in the ‘hunger period’ when grain stores are low and farmers are waiting for the next harvest.     

A Case of Nonfatal Intoxication Associated with the Recreational use of Diphenidine

Diphenidine is a dissociative drug that shows several psychotropic effects including euphoria, shifts in perception of reality, hallucinations, and transient anterograde amnesia. In this study, a case of acute intoxication occurring after diphenidine intake is reported. A 30‐year‐old Caucasian male was hospitalized after he was found in a confused and agitated state and unable to communicate. The physical examination displayed tachycardia, miotic pupils, and increased both body temperature and respiratory rate. After a liquid–liquid extraction procedure, GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of diphenidine in plasma and urine at concentrations of 308 and 631 ng/mL, respectively. Methylphenidate and diclazepam were also detected in the plasma. The clinical progress of the patient was favorable, and his symptoms were cured with a symptomatic treatment. The combined circumstantial elements and toxicological results of the case reported revealed the occurrence of an acute intoxication ascribable to the recreational abuse of diphenidine.     

Insects found on a human cadaver in central Italy including the blowfly Calliphora loewi (Diptera, Calliphoridae), a new species of forensic interest

In the case of unidentified bodies the estimation of the period since death or of the season of death plays an important role to focus the attention on a reduced number of people among the ones reported missing. Forensic entomology can be one of the most important methods for these estimations, as occurred in this case. Flies are typically the first insects to colonize a dead body. The case reported here concerns the colonisation by insects of a male body in advanced decay found during the winter in Central Italy. This case is of particular interest as few data are available on the entomological evidence in the cold season. In particular, in this case we recovered Calliphora loewi (Calliphoridae), a species never collected before on dead bodies in Southern Europe. Larvae of the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Stratiomyidae), pupae and larvae belonging to genus Hydrothea (Muscidae), and Necrobia rufipes (Cleridae) specimens were also collected. The estimated PMI enabled identification of the cadaver, confirmed by DNA analysis.     

论应对气候变化背景下能源开发利用与环境保护相结合原则

能源开发利用产生的环境问题日益严重,直接威胁到人民的生活质量和发展,能源开发利用与环境保护相结合原则是指在开发利用能源时,必须减少污染排放,加强环境保护,它也称清洁开发利用能源原则。在应对气候变化背景下,能源立法的基本原则应该树立低碳能源和低碳经济理念,坚持能源开发利用与环境保护相结合原则。     

刚柔并济——公安机关处理群体性事件研究

伴随着改革开放的深入和经济发展取得举世瞩目成就的同时,我国体制与社会转型所带来的不同利益群体的矛盾和冲突,使我国进入了社会矛盾的高发期,群体事件不断发生,且呈愈演愈烈之势。公安机关作为维护社会稳定的重要力量,在群体性事件的处理过程中具有举足轻重的地位。如何完善公安机关在群体性事件发生的整个过程中的处理机制,是目前我国亟待解决的一个问题。     

医事刑法学中医疗行为概念的新界定

医疗行为的界定是认定能否构成医疗过失犯罪的关键要素。医疗行为应当具有目的性、主体特殊性、理论技术适当性、对象特定性、损伤性五大特征,医疗行为的界定必须体现出其特征与本质。医疗行为是指取得相关医学资格或以诊疗服务为职业的自然人或单位以人体形态、构造和生理机能的优化、变更或恢复为目的,以适当的现代医学理论和技术手段为准则,对医疗需求者进行具有损伤性的医学过程。     

农村打黑除恶难点与对策

随着市场经济的不断完善和改革开放的不断深入发展,当前云南省黑恶势力犯罪的形式、手段和特点出现了新情况、新变化,局部地区黑恶势力犯罪已成为危害社会治安、破坏社会经济秩序、威胁人民群众生命财产安全的一大突出问题,成为影响和阻碍经济健康发展和社会全面进步的"毒瘤"。从公安机关的角度出发,结合公安机关的侦查实践,着重研究、发现在侦办农村黑恶势力犯罪案件的问题和困难,探讨打击农村黑恶势力的一些对策和方法。     

建立警察公共关系危机预警机制的构想

警察组织工作的特殊性,使得警察公共关系危机处于一种潜伏的状态,且成为一种社会常态,而各领域各层次的问题错综交织,都有可能成为公关危机发生的导火索,警察组织一味被动地应对警察公共关系危机只会使得警察组织公关更加被动。预防管理理论告诉我们：预防是战胜危机的第一法宝。科学构建中国特色警察公共关系危机的预警机制,是时代发展的呼...     

IL-1β和TNF-α在大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤中的作用

目的观察大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤后IL-1β和TNF-α蛋白表达的时序性变化,探讨其在大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤（diffuse axonal injury,DAI）中的作用。方法 55只健康雄性SD大鼠,随机分为正常对照组、手术对照组和DAI组,采用HE、Gless氏嗜银染色和免疫组织化学（SP法）观察不同时间（30min～7d）脑干组织病理学改变及IL-1β和TNF-α蛋白的表达情况。结果 HE染色显示DIA大鼠脑干组织结构疏松、水肿,Gless氏嗜银染色可见轴索肿胀、扭曲、收缩球形成等改变,证明弥漫性轴索损伤模型成功;IL-1β和TNF-α在正常对照组与假手术组大鼠脑干神经元内有低表达,而在DAI后30min～6h大鼠脑干神经元和小胶质细胞内表达迅速增加,于6h达高峰。结论大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤后IL-1β和TNF-α蛋白在脑干内表达的增加,与轴索继发性损伤有关。