A new lexicon and framework for analyzing the internal structures of the U.S. Advanced Technology Program and its analogues around the world

Analogues of the U.S.’s Advanced Technology Program can be found in many countries around the world. These government programs provide financial assistance to firms and other entities to develop innovative technologies in the conviction that these developments will contribute to future economic strength. For political and economic reasons, these programs tend to be complex and intricate in their design. No informed evaluation and comparison of such programs can take place without a clear understanding of their internal structures. This paper analyzes the anatomy of such programs and constructs a vocabulary for understanding program design choices. It identifies and discusses a representative sample of important program design features—eligibility requirements, the nature of the research, technical scope, the selection process, and public-private financial arrangements—and provides examples of national programs embodying alternative design choices. This paper should interest policymakers, program administrators, program evaluators, and others involved in program design, management and evaluation. This paper is drawn from a draft reprot, “A Multi-Country, Binational Comparison of the ATP and its Analogues,” by the author, prepared for the National Institue of Standards and Technology. The draft reprot covers additional program features of a number of programs in different countries.     

Do Corporate Tax Concessions Really Matter for the Success of Free Economic Zones?

Not only a large number of developing countries but also transition economies have established free economic zones (FEZs) with the aim of attracting foreign capital by providing tax incentives, creating employment opportunities, and promoting exports and regional development. Tax investment promotion schemes include profit tax exemption, free or accelerated depreciation, investment tax allowance, subsidy for investment costs, etc., the effects of which on firms’ investment decisions can be compared based on the net present value model. This study suggests that even a low corporate tax rate combined with generous depreciation rules does not provide incentives for investors when the inflation rate is high. A case study on Najin–Sonbong FEZ in North Korea delivers a wide range of more crucial economic and political reasons why such a development project can fail, although tax concessions offered there are more favourable than those in China and other Asian nations.     

Profiles of urine samples from participants at rave party in Taiwan: prevalence of ketamine and MDMA abuse

Drug abuse patterns are different due to cultural, social and geographical differences. Methamphetamine (MA) is the most important drug of abuse in Taiwan followed by opiates. Recently, there has been an increase of ketamine and MDMA abuse in disco dancing clubs. Here, we report the patterns of drug abuse by the participants in a metropolitan city disco-dancing club and the general public in Taiwan. The positive rates of common drugs of abuse detected in samples collected from participants in a dancing club were as follows: MDMA, 75.7%; ketamine, 47.0%; MA, 41.6%; opiates, 0%. Marijuana and cocaine were detected at much lower rates (3.4 and 4.7%, respectively). Ketamine and one of the amphetamines were detected together in 42.9% of the samples. The positive rates in samples collected from police detainees suspected of drug abuse in the general public were as follows: MA, 76.0%; OPA, 37.0%; MDMA, 6.0%; ketamine, 2.0%.     

物权变动规则的体系化 评《物权法草案》第二章

<正>一、引言近现代民法典以概念主义所主导的体系化为基本特质,目的在于通过特定逻辑操作,使意义精确的概念和规则能自洽地连接成有机一致的体系,这正是潘德克顿科学思想的立法表达。我国物权法草案(下称草案)中的物权变动规则同样如此,无论从"公示"和"不动产登记"、"动产交付"之间的上下位关联,还是从第二章作为物权变动的通则既具体化了第一章的第4条,又给其他各章中的特定物权变动提供了框架性指导,都强烈表达了立法者在设计物权变动规则时所为的体系化努力。     

Impression of Caux

Invited by the Swiss Foundation of Initiatives ofChange International (IC), I was honored to attendthe Caux Conference titled as "Agenda on Recon-ciliation" held in Caux, Swiss, as a member of theCAFIU Delegation headed by Mme. Shan Xiuzhi onAugust 13- 19.Caux is situated in the Alps Mountain, about 200kilometers southwest of Geneva, hiding in the ver-dant mountains and overlooking the vast blue lake,presenting a picturesque scenery. Every summer,the Swiss Foundation hosts internati…     

The effect of temperature on the formation of ethanol by Candida albicans in blood

The effect of temperature on microbial fermentation in blood was studied. Specimens of human blood from a blood bank were inoculated with Candida albicans, an organism capable of causing fermentation. A preservative was added to a portion of the inoculated specimens. These inoculated specimens, as well as uninoculated blood, were stored under various temperature conditions. Production of ethyl alcohol was monitored over a period of six months. Fermentation was found to be highly temperature dependent, with refrigeration proving to be most effective at inhibiting ethanol formation.     

历代中央政权对瑶族的法律调整略论

历代中央政权对瑶族的法律调整,基本上是从征服、同化的目的出发,而非基于民族尊重、民族平等和民族团结原则,政治上特别治理、经济上优免治理、文化上同化治理为历代中央政权对瑶族的法律管治的基本原则.     

坚持马克思主义的唯物史观探索中国特色反腐机制的建立

改革开放以来,我国的腐败问题一直没有得到很好解决。当前反腐斗争的形势依然异常复杂和严峻,反腐败的任务还相当繁重。加强对各种反腐理论的认识和研究,探索适合我国国情的反腐理论,对于指导我们建设有中国特色的反腐败机制具有重要的意义。     

论行政权力与学术权力的平衡——和谐管理的视角

处理好行政权力与学术权力二者的关系,是实现大学管理目标的一个重要方面。大学管理中行政权力与学术权力的失衡给高校管理带来了一定的消极影响,要求对行政权力进行改革。而其改革的关键,就是要在和谐管理理念指导下实现大学行政权力与学术权力的动态平衡。     

劳资冲突处理法制化:构建和谐劳动关系中一项急迫的政治任务

在市场化改革中,劳资矛盾和劳资冲突已逐渐成为影响我国经济和社会和谐发展的主要因素.预防和处理劳资冲突,实现劳资矛盾和劳资冲突处理法制化,是目前构建和谐劳动关系中的一项急迫的政治任务.