The classification of bone fissures]

A classification of bone fissures, suggested by the authors, is based on the results of their studies of bone destruction. Relationship between the fissures and bone tissue structural arrangement, and the sequence of the fissure emergence and development, starting from a microfissure (at the level of bone plates) progressing to a major fissure, resulting in final destruction of the bone, underlie this classification.     

The pathomorphological characteristics of the vascular plexuses and ependyma of the cerebral ventricles in human craniocerebral trauma]

The morphology of the studied substrates was analyzed in lethal craniocerebral injuries of various origins and in various periods after it was suffered. The data on the pattern and time course of pathomorphologic shifts and functions extend the general notions on the role of the liquor circulation system in the pathogenesis of craniocerebral injury. These results may serve as additional expert criteria of the mechanisms of brain injury.     

Do political variables affect fiscal policy adjustment decisions? New empirical evidence

We test eight hypotheses on political factors influencing the likelihood that a fiscal policy adjustment occurs. We employ a panel discrete choice model for 20 OECD countries for the period 1970–2003. Two different definitions of fiscal adjustments are used to capture the differences between rapid and gradual adjustments. We find that these types of fiscal adjustment are primarily driven by economic factors and are hardly affected by political variables. The likelihood that a rapid adjustment takes place is only influenced by upcoming elections, while the likelihood that a gradual adjustment takes place increases in case of broad policy reform.     

Tierschutzrecht in der Diskussion

Das politische Ringen um rechtlichen Tierschutz findet in der Bundesrepublik seit über 35 Jahren statt. Dabei weist die Debatte einen klaren Dreh- und Angelpunkt auf: Tierschutz im Grundgesetz. Ging es früher um die Forderung, Tierschutz ausdrücklich in der Verfassung zu verankern, ist seit Aufnahme des Staatsziels Tierschutz im Jahre 2002 dessen Stellenwert im Vergleich mit anderen grundgesetzlichen Werten in den Mittelpunkt getreten. Diese Entwicklung wird von einer ethischen Debatte um Tierschutz und Tierrechte begleitet, deren Forderungen jedoch kaum Eingang in die aktuelle Tagespolitik finden. Es sollen zun?chst kurz die Entwicklungen nachgezeichnet werden, die zur Aufnahme des Staatsziels Tierschutz geführt haben (I). Sodann werden die rechtsethischen Hintergründe der Tierschutzdebatte mit besonderem Blick auf Tierrechte skizziert (II). Schlie?lich sollen einige Schwerpunkte der aktuellen rechtspolitischen Diskussion vorgestellt werden (III).     

Triumph over Death

This is a story from Eastern Nigeria broadcast in the West AfricanService of the B.B.C., which casts light on African beliefsand on the sources of inspiration of modern African writers.It has been slightly edited.     

New health professions after a decade and a half: delegation, productivity and costs in primary care

Though knowledge about physician's assistants and nurse practitioners is far from conclusive, these new health practitioners (NHPs) appear to perform a large percentage of primary care services at a high level of quality and productivity. Moreover, the gap between the physician/NHP substitution ratio and the NHP/physician cost ratio seems wide enough to assure cost savings when NHPs are used well.     

Comment: Does benefit cost analysis stand alone? rights and standing

The issue of standing in benefit cost analysis is not different from the issue of rights. Benefit cost analysis contributes to legal analysis and also rests upon legal analysis. Debates about standing issues can be reinterpreted as questions of the role of benefit cost analysis when rights are uncertain at the margin. This perspective illumines such questions as whether gains to the criminal count and what weight should be given to expert opinion, to irrational fears, and to gains or losses by foreigners. This perspective is also consistent with a rights-based interpretation of 1) the willingness-to-pay approach, 2) an approach that considers distributional consequences, and 3) an approach that ignores distributional consequences when the costs of determining them are likely to be greater than the benefits.