Commentary on the Newly Published White Paper Concerning the Rule of Law in China

On February 28, 2008, the State Council Information Office published a white paper entitled China＇s Efforts and Achievements in Promoting the Rule of Law. This document is the first white paper published by the government on China＇s rule of law. It contains eight chapters and six appendices to review China＇s achievements on the road to practicing the rule of law in a compre- hensive way, and to expound the official Chinese policy and position on this is- sue. With some essential points inside, the publication of this white paper is of great significance, especially this year, to China＇s rule of law, human rights prog- ress, and its communication and dialogue with the international community.     

African farmer-led irrigation development: re-framing agricultural policy and investment?

The past decade has witnessed an intensifying focus on the development of irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa. It follows a 20-year hiatus in the wake of disappointing irrigation performance during the 1970s and 1980s. Persistent low productivity in African agriculture and vulnerability of African food supplies to increasing instability in international commodity markets are driving pan-African agricultural investment initiatives, such as the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), that identify as a priority the improvement in reliability of water control for agriculture. The paper argues that, for such initiatives to be effective, there needs to be a re-appraisal of current dynamics of irrigation development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly with respect to the role of small-scale producers’ initiatives in expanding irrigation. The paper reviews the principal forms such initiatives take and argues that official narratives and statistics on African irrigation often underestimate the extent of such activities. The paper identifies five key characteristics which, it argues, contradict widely held assumptions that inform irrigation policy in Africa. The paper concludes by offering a definition of ‘farmer-led irrigation’ that embraces a range of interaction between producers and commercial, government and non-government agencies, and identifies priority areas for research on the growth potential and impact of such interactions and strategies for their future development.     

An Examination of the Relationship Between Media Exposure and Fear of Victimization: Implications of the Superpredator Narrative on Juvenile Justice Policies

The media allow crime to infiltrate the public’s consciousness in every conceivable way, thereby playing a major role in shaping the public’s opinion and attitude toward crime and crime issues (Barak, 1995; Fields & Jerin, 1996; Kappeler & Potter, 2005). Reporters constantly talk about crime, and crime related stories dominate the headlines of local and national newspaper outlets (Dowler, 2003; Pizarro et al, 2007). Some of the most highly rated television programs are based on crime plots and people across social, political, and racial demographics are constantly engaged in crime dialogue generated from local or national news stories. When the focus of these mediums is on youth they become even more profound and contentious. The images portrayed conjure up stereotypes that lead to fear and inflammatory remarks that become entrenched into the national lexicon. The current study uses data from the National Opinion Survey of Crime and Justice to test the relationship between crime-related media viewership and fear of victimization within a nationally representative adult sample. Approximately 42.67% of respondents reported regularly watching crime shows and about the same proportion (42.83%) believed their local media paid too much attention to violent crime. In addition to regular crime-show viewership, confidence in the police, gender, and recent contact with the police were associated with fear of victimization. This article adds to an existing body of research through a largely unexplored area in the administration of justice. It does so within the context of the U.S. juvenile justice system.     

MI Implementation in Juvenile Justice: A Case Report

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a communication style focused on enhancing clients’ own motivation towards change. In the justice system MI has evidence to support that it enhances communication and change behaviors in youth. As most MI training is designed for healthcare settings training and implementation of MI must be adapted to fit the juvenile justice model. This includes both rehabilitation and restorative justice. Here we describe the details that allowed one county small county in Pennsylvania to roll out MI training and initial skills review in less than 6 months. The case reviews the details of planning, trainings, and timing of activities. We then discuss what elements of those details fit into a greater implementation plan that may be applied elsewhere. Four key elements were instrumental to implementation: 1) appreciation of JPO time constraints, 2) cost containment 3) using blending to enhance JPO flexibility with MI use, and 4) policies that normalize use of MI. This outline may assist other courts in their own implementation efforts.     

An agenda for the study of Public Administration in Developing Countries

Developing nations demand a different scholarly approach in the field of public administration. We advance an agenda for research that stands on four pillars. First, in the absence of easily accessible data scholars of developing world public administration must assemble it for themselves. Second, building and testing theory plays a paramount role because researchers face limited information. Third, in developing countries, multi‐national and non‐governmental organizations are often crucial and must be considered in studying public administration. Fourth, given the novelties and ambiguities researchers face, qualitative information must be integrated throughout the research process. Our article—and the articles in this volume—constitute a call for developing country research to contribute to the study of public administration writ large, informing our understanding of both developing and developed states.     

Economic effects estimation for the Eurasian Economic Union: Application of regional linear regression

This paper aims to provide a coherent analysis of the economic impact accession to the Eurasian Economic Union has had on the economies of current member states and what affect membership would have on the economy of Azerbaijan. By applying a Linear Regression Model we find that membership to this regional bloc has yielded minimal financial benefits for the existing members. However, for most states, accession has increased the trade deficit with Russia and that a membership would likely produce a similar negative outcome for Azerbaijan in addition to undermining national economic and energy policy making.     

对农民工返乡就业问题的思考

农民工返乡就业问题不仅直接影响到我国农村经济的发展和农村社会的稳定,而且影响到社会主义市场经济体制的发展和整个社会的稳定.文章探讨返乡农民的就业问题,研究解决问题的措施及对策,对规避风险,加快和谐新农村建设的进程具有积极意义.     

A群猪轮状病毒胶体金免疫层析试纸条的研制

为建立一种快速、简便的猪轮状病毒检测方法,采用柠檬酸三钠还原法制备胶体金颗粒,标记纯化的抗猪轮状病毒VP6蛋白单克隆抗体,在硝酸纤维素膜上喷加纯化的抗猪轮状病毒VP6蛋白多克隆抗体和羊抗鼠IgG,制成检测猪轮状病毒抗原的胶体金免疫层析试纸条。结果表明,所制备的试纸条用于检测猪轮状病毒感染的MA104细胞培养物,在检测线处出现红色反应带,未感染病毒的细胞培养物在检测线处未出现反应条带,上述培养物在质控线处均出现红色反应条带;进一步试验表明,试纸条检出病毒培养液(TCID50是10-6.25/0.1 mL)的最低限为1∶32稀释;用不同批次的试纸条重复检测,结果无差异;该试纸条不与相关的腹泻病毒猪传染性胃肠炎病毒、流行性腹泻病毒发生反应,所制备的试纸条具有一定的敏感性和特异性,重复性良好。     

牛D型产气荚膜梭菌肠毒血症间接ELISA诊断方法的建立

根据菌体蛋白可以刺激机体产生相应抗体的原理,建立了以产气荚膜梭菌粗提菌体蛋白为抗原的检测牛D型产气荚膜梭菌抗体的间接ELISA.结果显示,D型产气荚膜梭菌菌体裂解抗原最适包被浓度为50 μg/mL,最适包被条件为37 ℃ 1 h;被检血清的最适稀释度为1∶100,酶标二抗的最适工作浓度为1∶1 000,血清与酶标二抗的反应时间均为37 ℃ 1 h;最适封闭时间为37 ℃ 1 h;PBST稀释液中脱脂乳的浓度为30 g/L;底物最适反应条件为室温25 min;阴阳性临界值为0.032.对采集于吉林省延边州的100份牛血清样品采用建立的间接ELISA进行了检测;结果,阳性率为11.0%.经特异性试验、重复性试验和与琼脂扩散抗体检测法比较,采用裂解菌体蛋白为抗原建立的ELISA方法具有良好的特异性、敏感性和重复性.     

论新《消费者权益保护法》规定的欺诈行为之认定

《中华人民共和国消费者权益保护法》(以下简称《消法》)自从1994年1月1日生效以来,就与人们的生活密切相关。本次修订因为规定了对经营者的惩罚性赔偿,所以备受人们瞩目。对于如何认定经营者的欺诈行为,消费者、经营者、欺诈三个词在此条中起着关键的作用,大量的争议也聚集在此三个关键词上。如果将其概念、范围用法律明确下来,那么此条解释和适用上的矛盾将会被很好的解决。