The Dynamic American Dream

The American Dream is central to the national ethos, reflecting people's optimism that all who are willing to work hard can achieve a better life than their parents. Separate from the support for the idea of the American Dream itself is whether the public believes it is attainable. We consider the origins and dynamics of the public's belief in the achievability of the American Dream. Is the American Dream a symbolic vision, rooted in political socialization rather than contemporary politics? Or does optimism about the American Dream follow from the viability of the dream, rising with economic prosperity and falling with declining opportunity? We develop a new macrolevel measure of belief in the American Dream from 1973 to 2018. We show that it moves over time, responsive to changes in social mobility, income inequality, and economic perceptions. As inequality increases, belief in the attainability of the American Dream declines.     

Experimental Results of a Residential House Fire Test on Tenability: Temperature,Smoke, and Gas Analyses

A fire experiment conducted in a British 1950s‐style house is described. Measurements of temperature, smoke, CO, CO₂, and O₂ were taken in the Lounge, stairwell, and front and back bedrooms. The front bedroom door was wedged open, while the door to the back bedroom was wedged closed. Contrary to expectations and despite the relatively small fire load, analysis and hazard calculations show permeation of toxic fire gases throughout the property with lethal concentrations of effluent being measured at each sampling point. A generally poor state of repair and missing carpets in the upper story contributed to a high degree of gas and smoke permeation. The available egress time was calculated as the time before the main escape route became impassable. Given known human responses to fire, such an incident could have caused fatalities to sleeping or otherwise immobile occupants.     

论隐私、隐私权的概念和特征

本文着重论述隐私概念和特征、隐私权概念和特征、西方隐私权的新构成、以及隐私权和其他相关人格权的区别。采用比较分折的方法,论述了国外隐私权渊源及发展,探讨我国隐私权保护滞后的原因。并力图对隐私、隐私权作一个科学的界定。     

论征收中“公共利益”界定的程序机制

公益征收中公共利益的界定需要一种程序机制。程序论公共利益理论具有悠久的历史传统。公共利益界定的程序设计,首先要解决的是界定的主体问题,其次才涉及到具体程序机制的设计。公共利益之界定主体的选择是一个宪法分权问题,须由立法、行政、司法机关通力协作。我国公益征收法上公共利益界定的具体程序机制设计,必须解决好三个问题:一是把公共利益调查与审查作为征收决定做出前的一个独立程序阶段;二是把民主商谈确立为公益界定必须遵守的实质性程序原则;三是把公共利益听证确立为公益界定中必须遵循的一个程序环节。     

Settling Like a State: Acehnese Refugees in Vancouver

In Canada, the phenomenon of urban refugees is largely an expressionof state-managed practices, not spontaneous migration and settlement.This study focuses on the distinctly North American, and specificallyCanadian, experiences of pre-meditated, state-planned, government-managedmigration and settlement for urban refugees from the Aceh regionof Indonesia to Vancouver, British Columbia in 2004. It exploreswhy and how these refugees came to Vancouver; the state policydecision that located all of them in one city; and how theyhave fared in acquiring official language proficiency and employment.Whereas many refugees move to urban centres to enhance educationaland employment opportunities, this study illustrates the obstaclesto accessing both in Vancouver. Despite full legal status andaccess to employment sanctioned by the host state, there isno guarantee that refugees will have an easier time creatinglivelihoods under dramatically new conditions. The analysisis based on research conducted between January and August 2005during which a survey of housing, employment, and income issueswas conducted with 70 of the 104 Acehnese refugees who had relocatedto Vancouver since February 2004. In addition, a one-day, three-partseries of focus groups was held during which 47 members of theAcehnese community took part. Discussions centred on three keymoments during their migration: (1) while in Malaysian detentioncamps; (2) upon arrival in Vancouver, British Columbia; and(3) during the first year of settlement in the city, to ascertaincommon settlement experiences, policy implications, and theshort-term ‘success’ of the resettlement.     

Chemical composition and structure of the microcrystals formed between silver(I) and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and gamma-hydroxyvaleric acid

This study examined microcrystals formed by silver with gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and gamma-hydroxyvaleric acid (GHV), the five-carbon analog of GHB, in the presence of silver, copper, and lanthanide nitrates. Distinct microcrystals formed with silver (+1) and lanthanum (+3) ions but not with the copper (+2) ions. The crystals formed with GHB were distinctly different than those formed with GHV and in all cases, the drug microcrystals were easily distinguishable from reagent crystals. X-ray diffraction analysis provided definitive structure for the microcrystals. The morphological differences between the silver-GHB and silver-GHV crystals were characterized using simple measurements such as size and angles provided by image recognition software. The utility of the test for casework was demonstrated using spiked beverage samples.     

Antecedents of collegiate drinking

A model designed to explain variations in the use of alcohol among undergraduates draws together three categories of variables: (1) sociocultural—race, sex, and population of student's hometown; (2) familial characteristics—father's occupation, parents' marital status, and closeness to a problem drinker; and (3) the onset of student drinking—age at first drinking and extent of drinking at its onset. A 10% random sample was drawn from the undergraduate students enrolled in two state-supported universities in the southeastern U.S. The present analysis focuses on 856 nonmarried, full-time undergraduate students. Overall, the findings show that race, degree of closeness to a problem-drinker, age at the onset of drinking, and its extent markedly influence the level of alcohol consumption among undergraduates. The strongest overall predictor of undergraduate drinking is the extent of adolescent consumption.Received M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Research interests include alcohol and drug use and individual forms of deviance.Received Ph.D. from the University of New Hampshire. Current interests include alcohol and drug use, suicidal behavior, and interpersonal violence.     

解析非法进行节育手术罪中的"医生执业资格"--以有关行政法律规范为起点

非法进行节育手术罪的主体是未取得医生执业资格的人.这里的医生执业资格是法律法规要求成为医生从事计划生育手术所必需的资格与能力.结合有关卫生法律规范,笔者认为在1997年10月1日后,2001年10月1日前,本罪中的医生执业资格="计划生育手术合格证"+"计划生育手术许可证".在2001年10月1日后,本罪中的医生执业资格=<计划生育技术服务人员合格证>+<医师执业证书>+<计划生育技术服务机构执业许可证>或<医疗机构执业许可证>.由此框定了哪些是取得医生执业资格的人,本罪的主体-未取得医生执业资格人也就呼之欲出了.     

医疗过失简论

传统过失犯理论(旧过失论)实质是以“结果无价值论”为其理论基础的。对医疗过失的认定方式无异于对医务人员课以事实上的绝对责任,不利于医学的发展及社会生活的进步。以容许危险理论为基础的新过失论,不仅重视结果无价值,更引入了行为无价值,从而缓和了过失犯的成立,对医疗事故的责任认定方式具有指导意义。