Crime Scene Staging in Homicide

A nonrandom national U.S. sample of 946 homicide crime scenes--supplied by the FBI Behavioral Science Unit for purposes of research--was studied to delineate the prevalence, types, levels, and motives for staging in domestic, nonserial sexual, serial sexual, and general felony homicides. Stagers were found to be a relatively small group who employ a variety of methods to alter the crime scene in an attempt to redirect the investigation away from themselves as logical suspects. Results also suggest that different types of homicides have different staging rates based primarily on the relationship (or connection) between offender and victim. Implications for investigations and understanding this type of crime scene behavior are discussed.     

A Bi-level Framework for Understanding Prisoner Victimization

Objectives

To present and test an opportunity perspective on prison inmate victimization.

Methods

Stratified random samples of inmates (n ₁ = 5,640) were selected from Ohio and Kentucky prisons (n ₂ = 46). Bi-level models of the prevalence of assaults and thefts were estimated. Predictors included indicators of inmate routines/guardianship, target antagonism, and target vulnerability at the individual level, and several indicators of guardianship at the facility level.

Results

Assaults were more common among inmates with certain routines and characteristics that might have increased their odds of being victimized (e.g., less time spent in recreation; committed violence themselves during incarceration), and higher levels of assaults characterized environments with lower levels of guardianship (e.g., architectural designs with more “blind spots”, larger populations, and less rigorous rule enforcement as perceived by correctional officers). Similar findings emerged for thefts in addition to stronger individual level effects in prisons with weaker guardianship (e.g., ethnic group differences in the risk of theft were greater in facilities with larger populations and less rigorous rule enforcement).

Conclusions

The study produced evidence favoring a bi-level opportunity perspective of inmate victimization, with some unique differences in the relevance of particular concepts between prison and non-prison contexts.     

微滴式数字PCR技术用于生物样品种属鉴定和绝对定量

目的 运用微滴式数字PCR技术进行生物样品的种属鉴定和绝对定量.方法 选择人mtDNA两个编码基因ND4和16S rRNA,设计特异性引物与探针,用人来源及常见动物样本验证种属特异性,再用重组质粒和2组共16份人来源生物检材,倍比稀释.使用微滴式数字PCR技术进行种属检验和绝对定量,验证其灵敏度和稳定性.结果 人重组质粒FAM （ND4）可进行人来源样品的检测,其检测结果与各级稀释梯度基本吻合,微滴式数字PCR技术可以检测出反应体系中低至单拷贝的DNA.结论 微滴式数字PCR技术可以进行生物样品的种属鉴定和绝对定量,并具有很高的灵敏度和特异性,可应用于日常法医物证检验.     

Medical regulation of cognitive enhancement devices: some concerns

The authors present a cogent and detailed case for altering the Medical Devices Directive to allow regulation of cognitive enhancement devices (CEDs). Protection against significant risk of harm, especially for the vulnerable, and promotion of benefit through informed use of CEDs are all good features of the proposal. However, the pre-market approval process has limitations, which we explore. We raise the possibility of ‘risk compensation’ in response to the introduction of safety measures, which could alter its effectiveness. The proposal alludes to use of ‘formally trained practitioners,’ which provide a further tier of regulation for CEDs within the proposal. We consider some positive and negative implications of this aspect of the proposal that might warrant further consideration.     

Predicting TIF Distress: A Statistical Analysis of Tax Incremental Finance Districts in Wisconsin

Tax incremental financing (TIF) is the most prevalent, complex, and controversial economic development tool used by local governments today. TIF proponents argue that TIF increases stagnant property values, but critics suggest that TIF is an unnecessary subsidy and distorts real estate markets. Although case studies offer evidence supporting both sides, the argument begs an important question: because some TIF districts are successful and others unsuccessful, is there a way to predict TIF distress and help prevent TIF failure? Practitioners and academics highlight the importance of pre-implementation planning and strict monitoring of TIF performance. However, even with the most strident planning and monitoring, TIF districts still often fail. Utilizing a dataset of all 1,080 active TIF districts in Wisconsin, this paper adopts techniques popular in assessing local government fiscal health by focusing on indicators such as budgetary solvency and macroeconomic conditions in predicting TIF distress.     

Gaps in knowledge about local peacebuilding: a study in deficiency from Jos,Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The emphasis on local or hybrid efforts in peacebuilding literature brings front and centre the importance of being rooted within a particular context, with leadership and vision for social change and justice proffered by local actors. This is the same emphasis found in development literature and a necessary foundation for transformation. Scholars and practitioners nevertheless also note a role for outsiders in supporting local efforts (eg Lederach in 2005). Yet a significant challenge arises for outsiders, and to some extent local actors: how do you know what was tried or is underway that you might support or from which you might learn? This paper reports findings from a collaborative research project that examined the gap between the practice of peacebuilding locally and internationally available ‘knowledge’ via publications produced on local peacebuilding in Jos, Nigeria, between 2001 and 2008. It identifies a staggering gap between efforts and knowledge in the form of publications. The paper discusses the implications of the findings in terms of what it means for outsiders when thinking about helping resource local transformation efforts.     

因应超级平台对反垄断法规制的挑战

随着全球数字经济的持续高速增长,以互联网为依托的线上线下的市场要素和市场力量不断集聚,超级平台从市场要素发展为要素与市场的联合体。在互联网市场动态竞争的场景下,现行反垄断法规制的目标、逻辑及方法正面临巨大挑战。建议引入多元利益动态平衡机制,更新反垄断法规制理念,关注互联网市场生态竞争系统的健康运行,主张对超级平台施行"强监管、早监管、长监管"的规制模式,探索建立审慎科学的"预防+事中事后+持续"的规制逻辑,革新SSNIP和CLA,结合SSNDQ和SSNIC,强调非价格因素和用户体验在超级平台反垄断法适用时的实际价值和作用。与此同时,激励超级平台自身建立和完善开放型生态竞争系统,积极主动参与由政府主导的反垄断合作规制项目,培育和提升超级平台的自治能力和社会责任。在此过程中,应总体抱持对超级平台包容审慎的规制态度,既要持续激励超级平台的竞争动能与效能,也要防治超级平台走向竞争固化所带来的弊病,最终实现互联网市场上开放型生态竞争系统的稳定运行。作为新兴科技产业与新兴经济业态的典型代表,超级平台还需特别关注竞争规制与产业促进之间的互动,以增进整体经济的高质量发展。