Scale, technique and composition effects in the Mexican agricultural sector: the influence of NAFTA and the institutional environment

More than a decade after NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) entered into force, the environmental effects of agricultural trade liberalization in Mexico are still controversial, emerging, and not fully understood. This paper contributes to the literature that aims to explore trends in input use in the agricultural sector in Mexico during the post-NAFTA period among both commercial/industrial and traditional/rainfed farmers, and examines the influence of the national and multilateral institutional framework on these outcomes. We decompose the post-NAFTA agricultural production data into scale, technique and composition effects to estimate the impact that trade liberalization has had on the use of fertilizer and land use, two key agricultural inputs for which reliable aggregate data is available. We conclude that among commercial farmers patterns of crop type specialization and significant technological improvements have led to some declines in fertilizer use but they have been offset by growth in fertilizer use associated with growing agricultural output. Among traditional farmers increased output and specialization in land-intensive grain crops are contributing to an increase in land under cultivation and technological improvements show the potential, but not yet not the strength, to counteract these effects. We analyse the environmental institutional framework and rural development plans, observing that institutional weaknesses have, in several instances, reduced the environmental benefit of technique and composition effects. We conclude with recommendations about how the Mexican agricultural sector might reap the environmental benefits of international agricultural trade.     

An experimental study of a therapeutic boot camp: Impact on impulses, attitudes and recidivism

Two hundred thirty four adult male inmates entering prison were randomly assigned to an early release program in either a correctional boot camp or a large, traditional prison in the Maryland state correctional system. Boot camp releasees had marginally lower recidivism compared to those released from the traditional prison. A pre-test, post-test self report survey indicated the boot camp program had little impact on criminogenic characteristics except for a lowering of self control. In contrast, inmates in prison became more antisocial, lower in self control, worse in anger management, and reported more criminal tendencies by the end of their time in prison. Criminogenic attitudes and impulses were significantly associated with recidivism. The impact of the boot camp diminished to non-significance when antisocial attitudes or anger management problems were added to the models predicting recidivism. Implications for jurisdictions considering whether to operate correctional boot camps are discussed.     

富含人性的传统法律及其当代魅力——对“亲亲相隐”原则法律价值的透视

国内外法律实践无可辩驳地证实,任何国家的制定法只有通彻人性,饱含人文关怀,才能够赢得民众的支持,才能真正发挥调整功能。毫不夸张地说,法律的人性化构成了法律的价值基础。而我国古代法律中的"亲亲相隐"制度恰恰抓住了人所具有的悲悯之情。自古至今,它所展现的人性魅力,使法律理性和天然人性实现了有机统一。我们之所以今天依然要推崇"亲亲相隐"制度,就是因为它将为修正我国刑事法律的人性匮乏提供实证支撑。     

论人民调解制度的完善——以“诉调对接”为视角

人民调解是我国民间调解的法定活动形式。进入20世纪90年代以后,由于主客观方面的原因导致其作用日益下降。"诉调对接",即人民法院与人民调解制度的有机结合,不失为完善人民调解制度,发挥其便捷、低廉、快速解纷功能的重要方法。     

应激相关障碍的损伤程度评定标准之比较与探讨

应激相关障碍的损伤程度评定,因无统一的评定标准,成为司法鉴定中的一个难点和热点。不同专家提出的评定标准中对该类伤害评定为轻微伤、轻伤、或重伤的意见不一,甚至还有对轻伤再分级的,且各家对应激相关障碍的定义亦有差别。本文对有代表性的观点进行比较、分析后,进一步进行探讨并提出见解,认为该类伤害应该属于损伤并应该评定损伤程度。评定必须严格按照《中国精神障碍分类与诊断标准(第三版)》(CCMD-3)进行诊断,按照已有的损伤鉴定标准的原则,根据具体的临床种类、病情程度、病程及预后等综合考量,酌情作出不评定伤情程度,或评定为轻微伤、轻伤或重伤的结论,意在对此问题的解决有所帮助。     

氟对山羊成骨细胞增殖分化及钙化功能的调节

为探讨氟化物对反刍动物骨骼代谢的影响及对成骨细胞的作用机理,以初生山羊股骨骨膜为材料,采用半消化组织块培养法分离成骨细胞,进行传代培养,并通过形态观察、扫描电镜、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)和矿化结节染色进行鉴定。通过噻唑蓝(MTT)染色、AKP活性测定和钙化结节计数,研究不同浓度的氟对山羊成骨细胞增殖、分化及钙化的影响。结果表明,加氟48 h和96 h后,1.0×10-7~1.0×10-5mol/L氟可促进成骨细胞增殖,其中1.0×10-7及1.0×10-6mol/L氟与对照组差异极显著(P<0.01),高浓度氟(1.0×10-3mol/L)则抑制成骨细胞增殖(P<0.01);而1.0×10-4及5.0×10-4mol/L氟作用48 h对成骨细胞增殖无影响,作用96 h转而抑制成骨细胞增殖(P<0.01)。1.0×10-7~1.0×10-5mol/L氟能显著增强成骨细胞AKP活性及钙化能力(P<0.01),但氟浓度高于5.0×10-4mol/L时,AKP活性及钙化能力明显下降(P<0.01)。证实,低剂量氟能促进体外培养的山羊成骨细胞增殖分化及钙化,高剂量的氟则表现抑制作用。     

新形势下各种社会利益关系和人民内部矛盾问题探讨

我国当前的社会利益关系呈现出来源多样化、主体多元化、差距扩大化、群体弱势化、冲突激烈化等一系列变化。对于新形势下的社会利益关系和人民内部矛盾,既要高度重视,又要正确估价,把握特点。坚持以人为本,区别对待,创新工作机制,协调利益关系,推进第一要务,是正确处理当前各种利益关系和人民内部矛盾的基本原则和思路。     

Maritime security and the common interests of India and China

The world has changed dramatically over the years, and being two of the world’s largest and most populous developing countries, India and China should remain in close touch on issues concerning developing nations. Today’s challenges to maritime security increasingly comprise more non-traditional threats, such as terrorist acts against shipping, trafficking in weapons of mass destruction, piracy and armed robbery at sea, illicit transportation in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and nuclear substances, and smuggling of people and arms. It is therefore important to intensify cooperation at all levels to address threats to maritime security and safety in a comprehensive manner through bilateral and multilateral instruments and mechanisms aimed at monitoring, preventing and responding to such threats.     

民事诉讼举证责任倒置刍议

举证责任倒置是举证责任分配的一个重要内容 ,2 0 0 1年 1 2月最高人民法院《关于民事诉讼证据的若干规定》(以下简称《规定》)第 4条也被认为是关于举证责任倒置的较为完善的条款 ,但对于什么是举证责任倒置 ,举证责任倒置与举证责任转移有何区分 ,《规定》第 4条作为规定举证责任倒置的条款是否还有缺陷等问题 ,学界似乎少有关注 ,不少问题是悬而未决的