A Tall Order

Despite expectations of a far closer outcome,the UK general election on December 12,2019 resulted in a clear victory for the Conservative Party under Boris Johnson.It continues its history as the most successful electoral force in modern European history.Despite the doomsayers,Johnson now has a clear majority and has already flexed his muscle by passing the legislation to take the UK out of the EU on January 31.Barring complete disaster for him and his government this will now happen.     

Developmental validation of reduced-size STR Miniplex primer sets

This paper describes a developmental validation study of three Miniplex sets covering 12 of the 13 CODIS loci. As these new sets will be used for the analysis of degraded and low level DNA, the validation studies were performed using 100-125 pg of DNA, the lowest input level at which peak balance, peak intensity, and allele consistency were stable. To demonstrate the applicability of the Miniplex sets to forensic casework, these validation studies were completed in accordance with the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM). A range of tests were performed including studies of concordance with standard multiplex kits, sensitivity and reproducibility, and PCR amplification conditions. Additionally, studies of mixtures, nonhuman and environmentally degraded DNA, and simulated forensic samples were performed. Our results demonstrate that Miniplex STR amplification procedures are a robust and sensitive tool for the analysis of degraded DNA.     

Are Green Vehicles Worth the Extra Cost? The Case of Diesel‐Electric Hybrid Technology for Urban Delivery Vehicles

A central question for environmental policy is whether the long‐term benefits of energy‐saving technologies are sufficient to justify their short‐term costs, and if so, whether financial incentives are needed to stimulate adoption. The fiscal effects of incentivizing new technologies, and the revenue effects of using the technology, are also policy relevant, given current fiscal constraints. This study evaluates the economic and fiscal effects of promoting diesel‐electric hybrid technology in urban delivery vehicles, an application supported by U.S. policymakers. An economic model is used to simulate the conditional probability density functions of the net present values (NPVs) of diesel electric hybrids annually from 2012 to 2030. The NPV time paths, which reflect fuel price, environmental, and technology trends, show the expected dates that hybrids become economically viable, and allow an evaluation of the net benefits of hybrid technology as an investment over the entire simulation horizon. The NPV distributions are computed for five stakeholder classes, including transportation firms, parties benefiting from reduced externality damages, state and local governments, and the larger society. The analysis shows that hybrid technology investment does not appear to be justified from a societal perspective at a 7 percent discount rate, but the probability for positive net returns increases substantially at a 3 percent rate.     

THE KEY NARRATIVE

<正>China seeks better relations with the world through integrated development By Kerry BrownThe Silk Road Economic Belt and 21 stCentury Maritime Silk Road(Belt and Road)Initiative is the most important of the key narratives by which China is managing its relations with the wider world and,in particular,within its region.     

RESTORING FAITH IN GLOBALIZATION

<正>Can China push against the tide of anti-globalization?2016 was a bad year for globalization.No one can doubt that much now.The decision in the UK to exit the European Union—the outcome of a referendum vote on June 23—was the first major shock.The fact that former British Prime Minister David Cameron,the chief architect of the event,resigned immediately after the vote and     

MESSAGES FROM BOAO

正President Xi’s speech portrays an aspiring nation deserving of respect President Xi Jinping’s address at the annual Boao Forum for Asia(BFA)on Hainan Island occurred within a particular domestic and international context.The domestic one is that 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the start of the reform and opening-up era from the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central     

AN ERA OF IMPLEMENTATION

<正>The Communist Party of China leads the nation’s development with a people-centered approach The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China(CPC)has concluded in Beijing and the new CPC leadership was elected.What are the core objectives that the Party with its new leadership after     

Aktuelle Fragen und Entwicklungen des europäischen Bodenschutzrechts

Am 22.9.2006 legte die Kommission der Europ?ischen Gemeinschaften einen Vorschlag für eine Richtlinie zur Schaffung eines Ordnungsrahmens für den Bodenschutz und zur ?nderung der Richtlinie 2004/35/EG vor. Bereits der Titel zeigt einerseits, dass dieser Entwurf einer Bodenrahmenrichtlinie (BRRL-E) zwar den lange erwarteten Einbezug des Mediums Boden in das europ?ische Umweltschutzrecht endgültig ansto?en würde, andererseits, dass der Boden kein europarechtlich v?llig ungeregeltes Umweltmedium darstellt. Bei der durch den Vorschlag zu ?ndernden Richtlinie 2004/35/EG handelt es sich um die Umwelthaftungsrichtline (UH-RL). Mit dieser ist durch den Einbezug einer Sch?digung des Bodens in den Begriff des Umweltschadens bereits ein gro?er Schritt in Richtung eines zielgerichteten europ?ischen Bodenschutzes getan worden. Der nachfolgende Beitrag stellt ausgehend von einem Kurzüberblick zu den bislang bestehenden Regeln zum Schutz des Bodens im europ?ischen Umweltrecht (I.) zun?chst den Bodenschutz nach der Umwelthaftungsrichtlinie dar (II.), um im Anschluss den Vorschlag der Bodenrahmenrichtlinie vorzustellen (III.). Im Teil IV. wird das Bodenschutzrecht nach der UH-RL und dem BRRL-E betrachtet, dabei zeigen sich sowohl unterschiedliche Ans?tze der Regelwerke als auch ein Fortschritt des zielgerichteten Bodenschutzes auf europ?ischer Ebene.     

“Carve‐outs” from the workers' compensation system

Decentralized regulation has become increasingly important in many areas; examples range from school vouchers to workplace safety committees to alternative dispute resolution procedures replacing courts. Consistent with this trend, in 1993 California permitted construction unions and employers to “carve out” their own workers' compensation system. This study examines California's early experience with carve‐outs by analyzing two case studies, a survey of all carve‐outs in existence during the study period, and preliminary data on costs and dispute frequency at one carve‐out. Overall, carve‐outs do not appear to harm employees, and sometimes they help. At the same time, data analysis of one carve‐out showed it had no effect on costs and dispute rates. Moreover, the low involvement of union officials and the many issues that overlap other parts of workplace regulation raise concerns about decentralizing workers' compensation. Lessons can be learned for other spheres of regulation. © 2002 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.