An analysis of the neighborhood impacts of a mortgage assistance program: A spatial hedonic model

Down payment or closing cost assistance is an effective program in addressing the wealth constraints of low‐and moderate‐income homebuyers. However, the spillover effect of such programs on the neighborhood is unknown. This paper estimates the impact of the City of Dallas Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) on nearby home values using a hedonic model of home sales from 1990 to 2006. We define neighborhoods of 1,000 feet around each sale and estimate the average differences in sales prices between neighborhoods with various numbers of MAP properties before and after their appearance. We find that MAP properties tend to locate in neighborhoods with lower property values; however, unless a concentration of MAP properties forms, the infusion of MAP properties has little detrimental impact on neighboring property values. Moreover, low concentration of MAP properties has a modest positive impact on surrounding property values. © 2010 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.     

Contribution of parkland trees to farmers’ livelihoods: a case study from Mali

Native species of trees and shrubs contribute significantly to farmers' livelihoods by supplying food, medicinal products, fodder, and wood. In the case study reported in this article, this contribution to farmers' annual revenue varied from 26 per cent to 73 per cent, and was as high as US$ 650 a year for households for which agroforestry products were the primary source of revenue. Household consumption was not quantified in the study, but farmers' comments confirmed that native trees also played an important role in assuring food security, especially in the ‘hunger period’ when grain stores are low and farmers are waiting for the next harvest.     

A Case of Nonfatal Intoxication Associated with the Recreational use of Diphenidine

Diphenidine is a dissociative drug that shows several psychotropic effects including euphoria, shifts in perception of reality, hallucinations, and transient anterograde amnesia. In this study, a case of acute intoxication occurring after diphenidine intake is reported. A 30‐year‐old Caucasian male was hospitalized after he was found in a confused and agitated state and unable to communicate. The physical examination displayed tachycardia, miotic pupils, and increased both body temperature and respiratory rate. After a liquid–liquid extraction procedure, GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of diphenidine in plasma and urine at concentrations of 308 and 631 ng/mL, respectively. Methylphenidate and diclazepam were also detected in the plasma. The clinical progress of the patient was favorable, and his symptoms were cured with a symptomatic treatment. The combined circumstantial elements and toxicological results of the case reported revealed the occurrence of an acute intoxication ascribable to the recreational abuse of diphenidine.     

Sickle cell trait-associated deaths: a case series with a review of the literature

This study presents a series of 16 carriers of hemoglobin S (HbS) who died during various circumstances. Many of the cases were associated with mild to moderate exertion. The onset and/or duration of symptoms varied from a few minutes to several hours with many displaying a prolonged lucid interval with stable vital signs. Despite seeking medical treatment, sickle cell trait-related micro-occlusive crisis was never considered in the differential diagnosis. Several cases were associated with sudden death. In those deaths which were delayed, high anion gap and uncompensated metabolic acidosis were typical and were not heat related. Also characteristic were large increases in creatine kinase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase along with myoglobinemia. Although the antemortem diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was made, the underlying cause was never deduced by the clinicians. The sickling found at autopsy is not always a postmortem artifact, and in the right circumstances can be diagnostic.     

Insects found on a human cadaver in central Italy including the blowfly Calliphora loewi (Diptera, Calliphoridae), a new species of forensic interest

In the case of unidentified bodies the estimation of the period since death or of the season of death plays an important role to focus the attention on a reduced number of people among the ones reported missing. Forensic entomology can be one of the most important methods for these estimations, as occurred in this case. Flies are typically the first insects to colonize a dead body. The case reported here concerns the colonisation by insects of a male body in advanced decay found during the winter in Central Italy. This case is of particular interest as few data are available on the entomological evidence in the cold season. In particular, in this case we recovered Calliphora loewi (Calliphoridae), a species never collected before on dead bodies in Southern Europe. Larvae of the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Stratiomyidae), pupae and larvae belonging to genus Hydrothea (Muscidae), and Necrobia rufipes (Cleridae) specimens were also collected. The estimated PMI enabled identification of the cadaver, confirmed by DNA analysis.     

刚柔并济——公安机关处理群体性事件研究

伴随着改革开放的深入和经济发展取得举世瞩目成就的同时,我国体制与社会转型所带来的不同利益群体的矛盾和冲突,使我国进入了社会矛盾的高发期,群体事件不断发生,且呈愈演愈烈之势。公安机关作为维护社会稳定的重要力量,在群体性事件的处理过程中具有举足轻重的地位。如何完善公安机关在群体性事件发生的整个过程中的处理机制,是目前我国亟待解决的一个问题。     

建立警察公共关系危机预警机制的构想

警察组织工作的特殊性,使得警察公共关系危机处于一种潜伏的状态,且成为一种社会常态,而各领域各层次的问题错综交织,都有可能成为公关危机发生的导火索,警察组织一味被动地应对警察公共关系危机只会使得警察组织公关更加被动。预防管理理论告诉我们：预防是战胜危机的第一法宝。科学构建中国特色警察公共关系危机的预警机制,是时代发展的呼...     

IL-1β和TNF-α在大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤中的作用

目的观察大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤后IL-1β和TNF-α蛋白表达的时序性变化,探讨其在大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤（diffuse axonal injury,DAI）中的作用。方法 55只健康雄性SD大鼠,随机分为正常对照组、手术对照组和DAI组,采用HE、Gless氏嗜银染色和免疫组织化学（SP法）观察不同时间（30min～7d）脑干组织病理学改变及IL-1β和TNF-α蛋白的表达情况。结果 HE染色显示DIA大鼠脑干组织结构疏松、水肿,Gless氏嗜银染色可见轴索肿胀、扭曲、收缩球形成等改变,证明弥漫性轴索损伤模型成功;IL-1β和TNF-α在正常对照组与假手术组大鼠脑干神经元内有低表达,而在DAI后30min～6h大鼠脑干神经元和小胶质细胞内表达迅速增加,于6h达高峰。结论大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤后IL-1β和TNF-α蛋白在脑干内表达的增加,与轴索继发性损伤有关。     

职务犯罪预防的权力控制机制研究

职务犯罪源自权力的滥用,而滥用权力者,无不是为了满足其本能的物欲、情欲与权欲。既然人类不能,也无法消除欲望,只有通过、内在和外在的约束,对其加以控制。伴随着社会加剧转型,熟人社会强有力的内在道德的约束已经不再可靠,而逐步建立起适应陌生人社会的,以公民权利、公共权力和社会权力制约公共权力的机制．已经成为现代社会防止权力腐败和职务犯罪发生的选择。