An Explosion of a CNG Fuel Vessel in an Urban Bus

Abstract: An investigation is presented of the explosion of a CNG (compressed natural gas) fuel vessel, called a liner, in an urban bus. The explosion happened at a gas station 10 min after filling was completed. There were no traces of soot and flames at the failed liner, which would be indicative of explosion by ignition of the gas. The filling process of the station was automatically monitored and recorded in a computer. There was no unusual record of the filling system that indicated excess pressure at the time of the accident. There were cracks on the liner that were initiated at the outer surface of the cylindrical shell located at a point 4 cm above the lower dome where cracks did not originate easily as a result of overload. Chemical analysis was performed on a specimen that was cut from the liner, and there was no peculiarity in the mix. Mechanical analysis was performed on the specimens and showed that the hardness was not in the specified range because of inadequate heat treatment of the metal. The hardness of the liner was strictly controlled in the manufacturing process. All the liners that were manufactured at the same period with the failed liner were recalled for examination.     

Determining the Source of Equine Bloodstains by Dinucleotide Repeats*

Abstract: A novel multiplex of independent dinucleotide tandem repeat (DTR) loci was previously described that is capable of not only discriminating human and equine DNA, but of identifying a single equine source. We report a case in which a bloodstained syringe and two needles were found during inspection of a barn by inspectors of the Pennsylvania Racing Commissions. Using the multiplex and single‐locus detection, all 21 equine DTR markers were detected in a suspect horse and two evidence samples, indicating the evidence samples came from the suspect animal. Only six markers were detected in the third evidence sample because the volume of blood was limited. Following whole‐genome amplification and single‐locus PCR, the third evidence sample detected a total of 17 markers and the likelihood of identity (probability from suspect horse/probability from a random pacer) was 7.0 × 10⁶. The DTR multiplex has some technical limitations, but it is already practical for casework.     

从习水性侵害幼女案谈嫖宿幼女罪的适用

嫖宿幼女罪是从强奸罪中分离出来的一个新罪名,两者之间存在法条竞合关系。当行为人嫖宿幼女具有一般情节时,应适用嫖宿幼女罪。当嫖宿行为具有符合强奸罪的加重情节时,虽然强奸罪的最高法定刑比嫖宿幼女罪为重,但综合考量强奸罪的法定刑排列顺序、嫖宿人的主观意图、幼女的过错等方面,以强奸罪论处的刑罚并不意味着比嫖宿幼女罪为重,因嫖宿幼女罪的特殊规定性,以嫖宿幼女罪论处更为合理。行为人以嫖宿的方式与幼女发生性关系,不论是否明知该幼女是被强迫卖淫的,只要自己未实施该强迫行为,都应以嫖宿幼女罪论处,同时也不构成强迫卖淫罪的共犯。     

Family succession through adoption in the Chosun Dynasty

Using a unique data source of genealogies of upper-status families, called Bulcheonwye families, we assess how the extent of family succession through adoption changed over five centuries from 1450 to 1949 in Korea. Our analysis shows the continued increase in the share of adopted sons among total family successors up to the end of the 19th century when three out of ten family successors were adopted. The trend of the increasing role of adoption is closely related to the declining number of sons per family, suggesting that not only the rising influence of Confucian culture but also demographic changes increased the demand for adoption. Finally, our comparison provides evidence that the likelihood of achieving high social status was significantly higher among adopted sons than biological ones, suggesting that the socioeconomic potential of adopted sons could be an important factor for adoption decision.     

When Does a Battered Woman Seek Help From the Police? The Role of Battered Women’s Functionality

This study explores how women’s functional limitations resulting from domestic violence lead to police involvement. Examining functionality is a broader approach to exploring domestic violence outcomes than looking at injuries or impairments, and in this study we look at the social participation aspects of social functioning. One hundred eleven battered women in four metropolitan cities in the U.S. participated in anonymous telephone surveys. Approximately 80% of the battered women in the sample were involved with the police due to their experiences of domestic violence. Women’s functionality was significantly associated with battered women’s police involvement after controlling for socio-demographic and violence-related covariates. The current study identifies one aspect of women’s functioning–social participation–as a critical predictor of their seeking of help from the police, and suggests implications for practice, including the need for police and domestic violence agencies to have awareness of the concept of functional limitations within a broader context of understanding disability.     

浅析和谐社会视野下的服务型政府建设

构建社会主义和谐社会,最为有效的途径就是加强服务型政府建设。具体而言,就是要创新政府执政理念,培育公共服务精神;加快政府职能转变,健全公共服务机制;强化社会公共管理,提升公共服务质量;完善公共财政体制,强化公共服务保障;加强公务员队伍建设,提高公共服务水平。     

专利池合同条款的设计——美国竞争法如何思考

提高效率与防止垄断是专利池合同条款内容的核心,犹如自行车的前后两轮,共同驱动专利池在美国竞争法铺设的道路上正确行驶。从专利有效原则、降低检索及交易费用、降低许可费、杜绝专利劫持及专利留置等角度出发,论述合同条款如何表述才能达到提高效率的目的;从防止技术交易市场、产品市场以及技术创新活动被垄断而应当采取的安全措施出发,论述合同条款如何表述才能达到防止垄断的目的。