Legal regulation and management of fee for services in the state expert institutions

With due regard for the economic situation in regions, differences in the material-technical and personnel provision of each forensic-medical bureau (FMB), paying capacity of local residents and for other factors, a method for estimating the cost of forensic medical services was elaborated and offered for use. The formula of cost estimation for rendered services allow for basic wages (BW) and bonuses, sick-list and vacation payments, overhead charges (including FMB wear-and-tear), and BW assignment to off-budget funds (which constitute, in total, the self-cost of services) as well as the planned profit and road taxes.     

Forensic medical assessment of the skull bone fractures owing to blow impacts depending on anatomical characteristics and a nature of a trauma-causing objects

Fractures in bones of the skull base (BSB) are preconditioned by the contact zone of interaction between the two below surfaces, i.e. the trace-forming one (object) and the trace-receiving one (bone). On the basis of their independent research, the authors suggest a set of criteria for the expert evaluation of fractures in BSB for the purpose of specifying the properties of the trauma-causing object, which is made with due regard for the anatomic specific features of the trauma zone.     

Changes in adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the external genitalia in alcohol and drug intoxication

Eighteen cadavers of persons, who died of acute and chronic alcohol and drug intoxication (ephedron-addiction), were used to study the changes in the spinal nerve plexuses and external genitals. The activity of acetylcholinesterase and of NADPH-diaphorase was determined histochemically; the adrenergic nerve fibers were detected by a glyoxyl-acid technique. Rectified changes in the relative density of adrenal-cholinergic- and nitroxydergic structures and in the activity of mediators in different intoxications were found. The chronic intoxication by alcohol and ephedron was accompanied by a reduced activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of acetylcholine, nitric oxide and catecholamines. A lower density was observed in the nerve fibers that contained the examined substances. The results can be used as an additional criterion in evaluating the male sexual-function status.     

Revealing Preferences: Empirical Estimation of a Crisis Bargaining Game with Incomplete Information

We develop an empirical estimator directly from an extensive-formcrisis bargaining game with incomplete information and discussits features and limitations. The estimator makes it possibleto draw inferences about states' payoffs from observationaldata on crisis outcomes while remaining faithful to the theorizedstrategic and informational structure. We compare this estimatorto one based on a symmetric information version of the samegame, using the quantal response equilibrium proposed in thiscontext by Signorino (1999, American Political Science Review93:279–298). We then address issues of identificationthat arise in trying to learn about actors' utilities by observingtheir play of a strategic game. In general, a number of identifyingrestrictions are needed in order to pin down the distributionof payoffs and the effects of covariates on those payoffs.     

Public Opinion on Federalism in Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 2003

This research reports on public opinion surveys on intergovernmentaland federal issues conducted in Canada, Mexico, and the UnitedStates in March and April 2003. In all three countries, respondentsmost often see their federal government as being the least effective,least efficient, and least trustworthy. Respondents from Canadaappear least supportive of their federal government and mostsupportive of their local governments; those from Mexico appearmost supportive of their state governments; respondents fromthe United States appear more "balanced" in their support ofthe various orders of government. Also, far greater regionaldifferences in opinion exist in Canada than in Mexico or theUnited States. Support for more decentralized federalism isfound to be strong in all these federal countries. This researchalso updates long-term trend data for the United States. Comparedwith respondents from previous years, U.S. respondents in 2003showed a measurable uplick in support for the federal government,compared with state and local governments. This support seemsto be a carryover from the terrorist attacks of 11 September2001.