Sales Tax Competition among State–Local Governments: Evidence from the US Counties

This article estimates tax reaction function of local governments competing with other governments to provide the insight for tax policy decision makers. Employing a panel of county-level data in all the states from 1970 to 2006, this article analyzes sales tax competition between county governments. In addition to a static model, this article pays more attention to dynamics in tax reaction function estimated by general methods of moments containing lagged dependent variables in the reaction function. Focusing on county governments, this article finds evidence for strategic interaction, an interaction that has positive effects on the setting of tax rates in a county.     

中国成都汉族及泰国群体D7S2846基因座的遗传多态性

研究STR基因座D7S2 846的遗传多态性 ,为法科学应用提供基础数据。应用PCR及PAG电泳技术 ,对376名中国成都汉族无关个体及 131名泰国无关个体进行了调查。两群体分别检出 8个和 7个等位基因 ,首次获得该基因座基因在两群体中的频率分布。两群体基因型频率分布均符合Hardy Weinberg平衡。家系调查证实了等位基因的传递遵循孟德尔遗传规律。该基因座在两群体中的个人识别能力 (Dp)分别为 0 85 70、 0 86 0 2 ,杂合度 (H )分别为0 6 915、 0 6 870 ,多态性信息含量 (PIC)分别为 0 6 445、 0 6 5 5 3 ,非父排除率 (PE )分别为 0 415 2、 0 40 85。D7S2 846基因座在法医学个人识别及亲子鉴定中具有较高的实用价值。     

Strengths,Limitations, and Recommendations for Instrumental Color Measurement in Forensic Soil Characterization

Color determination of soil evidence is often done by visual comparison to soil color charts. A handheld spectrophotometer was tested with representative materials for its suitability for forensic soil characterization. Instrumental colorimetry provides accurate colorimetry with ~10-fold better precision than a soil color chart. The minimum sample size for accurate color determination was between 0.02 and 0.04 mg of fine soil for the specific instrument tested. Reporting colors in the L*a*b* space permits quantification of ΔE₀₀, a measure of perceptible color difference, could enable objective quantification of small color differences and thresholds for forensic soil comparisons. A ΔE₀₀ greater than ~ 3.5 to 6 likely indicates disparate soil sources in a forensic comparison, in the absence of confounding factors like sample alteration. Despite the superior precision of instrumental colorimetry, this approach is inappropriate for samples which are mottled at an inseparable scale, attached to a substrate, or too small for instrumental measurement.     

“深度解读”发新声——评廖诗忠《鲁迅与先秦文化的深层关系》

廖诗忠<鲁迅与先秦文化的深层关系>在"深度解读"的基础上指出,鲁迅与传统文化的契合点首推先秦文化.廖著学术眼光独到,理论视野开阔,富于思辨,敢发新声,堪称力作;也积极启发人们对待传统文化.     

聚合酶链反应检测绵羊肺炎霉形体的研究

参照基因库中已发表的绵羊肺炎霉形体Y98株的 1 6SrDNA序列 ,设计合成了 1对引物 ,建立了聚合酶链反应 (PCR)检测绵羊肺炎霉形体的方法。结果显示 ,所建立的PCR能特异扩增绵羊肺炎霉形体的DNA ,而对照的菌株均为阴性 ;其敏感性可达 1pg。经对绵羊肺炎霉形体分离株HD 1的扩增产物进行测序 ,并与绵羊肺炎霉形体标准株Y98的 1 6SrDNA序列进行比较 ,发现有 6个碱基的差异     

色彩在城市景观中的作用

建筑色彩作为城市景观中的重要组成因素,反映了一个地区的历史、地方特征和文化传统;建筑色彩同样在建筑更新以及创造新的都市文化中起到越来越重要的作用。     

Powdered Activated Carbon: An Alternative Approach to Genomic DNA Purification

Forensic evidence samples are routinely found as stains on various substrates, which may contain substances known to inhibit polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The goal of this study was to evaluate post‐Chelex^®100 purification using powdered activated carbon (PAC). Mock crime scene DNA extracts were analyzed using quantitative PCR and short tandem repeat (STR) profiling to test the DNA recovery and inhibitor removal using PAC with those of the Amicon^®Ultra 100K. For extracted bloodstains on soil and wood substrates, PAC and Amicon^®Ultra 100K generated similar DNA yield and quality. Moreover, the two methods significantly decreased the concentration of humic substances and tannins compared to nonpurified extracts (p < 0.001). In instances where extracts contained indigo dye (bloodstains on denim), Amicon^®Ultra 100K performed better than PAC due to improved amplifiability. Efficient adsorption of humic substances and tannins, which are common inhibitors, indicates PAC's potential application in the purification of high‐template DNA extracts.     

Forensic Potential of MMPs and CC Chemokines for Wound Age Determination

In this study, we investigated time-dependent expression of matrix metalloproteases (MMP)-2, MMP-9, chemokine CC motif ligand (CCL)-2, CCL-3, CCL-5, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA at the skin injury site and sought their forensic potentials during the skin wound repair process. The tested wound ages in 42 mouse skin wounds were distributed at 0d, 1d, 3d, 5d, 7d, 10d, and 14d, respectively and then followed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Ultimately, MMP-2 played an important role in the inflammation phase. On the contrary, MMP-9 became involved at a later phase during wound healing. Meanwhile, CCL-2 and CCL-3 were active throughout almost all of the process. However, CCL-5 mRNA had no significance. Collectively, an MMP-9/MMP-2 ratio of over 0.84 indicated that skin wound healing age was strongly 5 days or less. So elevated gene expressions of cytokines and chemokines in different phases of wound ages implied that combined exploration could make wound age determination more accurate and objective.     

Forensic Use of A Subtropical Blowfly: The First Case Indicating Minimum Postmortem Interval (mPMI) in Southern Brazil and First Record of Sarconesia Chlorogaster from a Human Corpse

Southern Brazil is unique due to its subtropical climate. Here, we report on the first forensic entomology case and the first record of Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann) in a human corpse in this region. Flies' samples were collected from a body indoors at 20°C. Four species were found, but only Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) and S. chlorogaster were used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (mPMI). The mPMI was calculated using accumulated degree hour (ADH) and developmental time. The S. chlorogaster puparium collected was light in color, so we used an experiment to establish a more accurate estimate for time since initiation of pupation where we found full tanning after 3 h. Development of C. albiceps at 20°C to the end of the third instar is 7.4 days. The mPMI based on S. chlorogaster (developmental time until the third instar with no more than 3 h of pupae development) was 7.6 days.