Explaining interest group access to parliamentary committees

This article explains why parliamentary groups invite interest groups to the parliamentary arena. It argues that interest groups’ access to committees not only reflects policy-makers’ need for information and expertise but also party preferences and institutional factors such as the type of government, parliamentary committee structure and committee agenda capacity. Results show that interest groups’ access to the parliamentary arena increases under minority governments, in the case of highly conflictual issues, and when the number of permanent committees increases. Also, results demonstrate that parliamentary groups invite interest organisations following different logics – problem-solving or confrontation logic – depending on the type of functions they have to perform – legislative and oversight activities. The article uses a novel, comprehensive database with information on the appearances of all interest groups in the Spanish parliament from 1996 to 2015.     

Improved estimation of postmortem interval based on differential behaviour of vitreous potassium and hypoxantine in death by hanging

Many formulae are available to estimate the relation between the potassium ([K+]) and hypoxantine ([Hx]) concentration in the vitreous humour and the postmortem interval (PMI). Typically these have been based on a correlation test and linear regression using the postmortal interval as the independent variable and [K+] or [Hx] as the dependent variable in order to estimate the confidence interval. However, a recent study has shown that a more precise measurement of PMI can be obtained if [K+] is used as the independent variable. The regression lines obtained from the most recent deceased subjects with forensic relevance received for autopsy in the Institute of Legal Medicine are [K+] = 5.589 + 0.174PMI and [Hx] = 26.459 + 3.017PMI, by changing the variables, we obtain PMI=3.967[K+] - 19.186 (R2 = 0.688, P < 0.001) and PMI = 0.172 [Hx] + 0.170 (R2 = 0.518, P < 0.001). In this paper we propose the cause of death as an extra factor which modifies the relationship and gives even greater precision in estimating PMI. In cases of death by hanging the results are considerably improved with [K+] = 5.224 + 0.225PMI and [Hx] = 15.161+4.957PMI, respectively, and consequently, PMI = 3.631[K+] - 17.334 (R2 = 0.818, P< 0.001) and PMI = 0.153[Hx] - 0.368 (R2 = 0.757, P < 0.001): the slope is less and the precision is obviously enhanced.     

The Paung Ku model: encouraging change through learning

It is well known within international development practice that the terms “capacity building” or “capacity development” are often used but infrequently (and inconsistently) defined; whether in funding applications, program strategies, staff training programmes, or field work. This article outlines the way in which one development organisation working in Burma/Myanmar wrestled with the issue of meaning, and practice, in relation to capacity development; it also reports on the resulting “Paung Ku model: encouraging change through learning.”     

论命案犯罪嫌疑人刻画的依据及方法

命案现场勘查是公安机关法医的重要任务之一,而对犯罪嫌疑人的刻画又是现场勘查工作的重中之重,成功的刻画是划定侦查范围、明确侦查方向的基础。从尸体检验角度对命案犯罪嫌疑人进行刻画的方法、注意事项作一讨论,从而为确定犯罪事实提供依据。     

Histopathology mapping of biochemical changes in myocardial infarction by Fourier transform infrared spectral imaging

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging and microspectroscopy have been extensively applied in the identification and investigation of both healthy and diseased tissues. FTIR imaging can be used to determine the biodistribution of several molecules of interest (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins) for tissue analysis, without the need for prior staining of these tissues. Molecular structure data, such as protein secondary structure and collagen triple helix exhibits, can also be obtained from the same analysis. Thus, several histopathological lesions, for example myocardial infarction, can be identified from FTIR-analyzed tissue images, the latter which can allow for more accurate discrimination between healthy tissues and pathological lesions. Accordingly, we propose FTIR imaging as a new tool integrating both molecular and histopathological assessment to investigate the degree of pathological changes in tissues. In this study, myocardial infarction is presented as an illustrative example of the wide potential of FTIR imaging for biomedical applications.