The heat resistance of a data-encoded ceramic microchip identification system

Samis introduced the concept of the Dentify system of personal identification. In this system, ceramic microchips embossed with metallic intelligence data are placed in teeth under dental restorations. This paper describes the results of an in vitro study aimed at testing the heat resistance qualities of this identification system when placed in teeth. Teeth were subjected to a temperature of 1,000 degrees C. The results of this study indicate that the ceramic chips and their embossed metallic intelligence data are able to withstand extremely high temperatures. The metallic identifier pins used in this study were less resistant to extreme heat. The significance of these findings is discussed.     

Exploring the type-of-crime hypothesis, religiosity, and spirituality in an adult male prison population

This study examined the association between measures of spirituality and religiosity and characteristics of current criminal conviction in a male prison population. Spirituality was operationalized as spiritual well-being and existential well-being. Religiosity was operationalized as frequency of religious service attendance, whether an individual considered himself to be religious, and how strongly an individual believed his religious beliefs influenced his behavior. Inmates whose convictions were property related reported greater spiritual wellbeing, were more likely to consider themselves religious, and to say that religious beliefs influenced their behavior than inmates whose crimes were not property related. Inmates whose convictions were drug related were less likely to consider themselves religious, and inmates whose conviction involved violence were more likely to consider themselves religious but less likely to endorse statements that religious beliefs influenced their behavior. The distinction between religiosity and spirituality is discussed in terms of the type-of-crime hypothesis.     

Retrospective valuations of intellectual property

A relatively simple method for ongoing retrospective valuations of intellectual property (IP) for the purpose of setting royalty rates is described. The method uses measureable variables that indicate directly the value of an IP to a licensee over time. Protections are built into the method to preclude royalties that would be unfair to either the licensee or licensor. Unlike the cost- or income-based methods used in current practice, the described method does not require any assumptions about the future and is therefore immune to the uncertainties and possible inaccuracies that are inherent to prospective valuations. Although forecasting is needed for some purposes, such as for certain tax purposes or for the overall valuation of a company by stock analysts, the described retrospective valuations can be usefully applied for setting royalty rates that closely track and reflect changes in market conditions, patent protection, and product design.     

Surviving the political consequences of neoliberal policies

In many countries in Latin America and also western Europe, leftist parties have succeeded in winning repeated re-election even though they have implemented neoliberal economic policies when in government. According to the existing literature, these parties should suffer electoral punishment since they are diverging from their traditional policy course and their electoral promises, and their neoliberal policies are potentially costly for their core support groups. Analysing the cases of left-of-centre parties in Spain and Costa Rica, this article argues that policy implementation strategies, together with strategic use of institutional rules, help to obfuscate the policies' impact, deflect blame, and make re-election possible. The reform of welfare and the way we live now: a critique of Giddens and the Third Way     

Length variation in HV2 of the human mitochondrial DNA control region.

Hair samples were typed from three individuals who exhibited length heteroplasmy in the homopolymeric cytosine stretches (C-stretch) in hypervariable region 2 (HV2). The study demonstrated that for different hairs within an individual, the HV2 C-stretch region can vary with respect to the number of cytosines and/or proportion of C-stretch length variants. Length heteroplasmy may occur regardless of the prominent length variant present in this region. Differences in the number of cytosines at the C-stretch region, or a variation in the relative amounts of heteroplasmic length variants, cannot be used to support an interpretation of exclusion.     

The impact of police reform on communities of Trinidad and Tobago

Objectives  

Reforms were implemented at five selected police stations in Trinidad and Tobago. The reforms were designed to improve the services delivered by police stations, to reduce crime, and to increase public confidence in the police. The intervention involved improving police facilities, vehicles, and equipment, and enhancing station staffing, training, and technical assistance to improve basic police work and station management/supervision. It introduced service-oriented, problem-solving approaches to replace the traditional colonial and post-colonial models of policing.