From protectionism towards neoliberalism: Ecuador across four administrations (1981–1996)

Ecuador since 1980 illustrates many features of Latin America’s neoliberal transsition. Ecuador shifted from a state-oriented development model and towards a neoliberal approach across four ideologically-diverse administrations. Although the four presidents implemented reforms inconsistently, they have reoriented the country’s development strategy towards neoliberalism. Four contextual factors explain this sustained transition: (1) financial problems, (2) global ideological factors, (3) a perceived lack of alternatives, and (4) weakness of popular opposition. These factors are mutually reinforcing and each need not bear directly on each decision for neoliberal reforms to be chosen. Their combined force sustains the neoliberal transition despite considerable negative social and economic effects. [There is a] change in ideas, a change in reality, an ideological change produced in the world… that discredits socialism, that discredits statism, that discredits interventionism that discredits formal economic planning, and as a consequence liquidates the Latin American model of economic growth, which while not socialist, has had many of [socialism’s] elements. And [this change] legitimizes the conservative revolution of Reagan and Thatcher, and legitimizes another economic model that is based on market force —Osvaldo Hurtado, Ecuadoran President 1981–1984, founder of the left-of-center Democracia Popular party, and founding member of Socialist International; speaking in 1994     

A Comparative Analysis of the Drafting of European Private Law

The development of the 'Common Frame of Reference' is a highly prominent topic on the agenda of European integration. However, its underlying procedures have had only limited investigation. This article discusses the European private law project by inquiring into the drafting experiences of four other private law legislative processes, with a focus on sales law. These instruments concern Article 2 (on sales) of the American Uniform Commercial Code, the Vienna Sales Convention, the Dutch Civil Code and the Directive on Consumer Sales and Associated Guarantees. Ultimately, the article asks what can the European project learn from these experiences.     

Evaluation of the use of freezer mill to improve DNA retrieval from dried cotton swabs

This investigation evaluated the use of a freezer mill to improve retrieval of DNA from dried cotton swabs (using 100 μl saliva) compared to uncrushed swabs and whole saliva by measuring DNA yield and profile average peak height. Three treatments were tested; short, medium (as for a bone sample) and extended. The samples subjected to the freezer mill had the powder that remained on the freezer mill components collected (using a water and agitation method). All freezer mill samples returned a lower average DNA yield than either uncrushed swabs or whole saliva. The powder from the crushed swabs comprised an average of 35% of the total DNA yield, whereas the powder from the components comprised 65%. Allele drop-out was observed in samples exposed to extended treatments. Both short and medium treatments provided significantly higher peak heights than uncrushed cotton swabs with equal quantities of DNA (P < 0.05). Using a freezer mill on dried cotton swabs does not increase the DNA yield. This investigation suggests collecting powder from the freezer mill components will increase DNA yield, especially from trace samples.     

INDIVIDUAL STABILITY OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD: TESTING THE STABILITY POSTULATE OF MOFFITT'S DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY*

This paper presents a test of Moffitt's (1993) prediction on the stability of longitudinal antisocial behavior, using data from the South‐Holland Study. Aggressive (overt) and non‐aggressive antisocial (covert) behaviors were measured when subjects were 6–11 years old, and at follow‐ups when they were 12–17 years old and 20–25 years old. In accordance with the postulate, we did find a higher level of stability of overt behavior from childhood to adulthood, compared with childhood to adolescence, especially in combination with early manifestations of status violations and/or covert behavior in childhood. Results related to the stability of covert behavior were not in accordance with the prediction, but did support the recently proposed adjustment to the starting age of the adult phase.