The Political Economy of State Failure: A Social Contract Approach

By employing the contract approach of state theory, this article provides a conceptual framework for the analysis of state failure phenomena which puts the emphasis on structural conditions as the root cause of state fragility and state failure. The article argues that the deep social fragility of some post-colonial societies, augmented by self-serving external interventions by foreign powers, is at the heart of their failure. Deep social fragility makes societies unable to cooperate and thus renders them powerless to discipline their leaders. Meanwhile, by linking leadership survival to the decisions and policies of a self-serving foreign power, intervention provides flawed incentives to the state leaders, which increases their predatory behaviour. In such situations, state leaders, rather than strengthening formal state institutions, again intensify the collective action problem and increase social fragility as mechanisms for survival.     

Fat embolism syndrome associated with atraumatic compartment syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities: An unreported etiology

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a potentially life-threatening condition that develops when fat embolism leads to clinical symptoms and multisystem dysfunction. The classic triad of respiratory distress, neurologic symptoms, and petechial rash are non-specific, and the lack of specific laboratory tests makes the diagnosis of FES difficult. Although FES is most common after long bone fractures, multiple conditions some of which are atraumatic have been associated with the development of FES. We report a case of FES that occurred in the setting of a non-traumatic compartment syndrome of the upper extremities. The pathologic and clinical findings, pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, and pathologic methods to properly diagnose FES are discussed with a review of the relevant literature. This case highlights the importance of the autopsy in making a diagnosis of FES in cases where death could otherwise be incorrectly attributed to multi-organ system failure, shock, or sepsis.     

Determining Bruise Etiology in Muscle Tissue Using Finite Element Analysis

Bruising, the result of capillary failure, is a common physical exam finding due to blunt trauma and, depending on location and severity, a potential indicator of abuse. Despite its clinical relevance, few studies have investigated the etiology of capillary failure. The goal of this study was to determine whether capillaries primarily fail under shear stress or hydraulic‐induced tensile stress. An arteriole bifurcating into four capillaries was modeled using ANSYS 14.0 ^®. The capillaries were embedded in muscle tissue and a pressure of 20.4 kPa was applied. Any tensile stress exceeding 8.4 × 10⁴ Pa was considered failure. Results showed that failure occurred directly under the impact zone and where capillaries bifurcated, rather than along the line of greatest shear stress, indicating that internal tensile stress is likely the primary mode of capillary failure in bruising. These results are supported by the concept that bruising can occur via blunt trauma in which no shearing lacerations occur.     

我国公民参与公共决策的问题探究

公民参与公共决策是公民个人或组织通过直接或间接方式影响公共政策制定的行为,其目的是实现公共资源的有效配置,达到公共利益的最大化、合理化。随着市场经济和民主政治的发展,公民主体意识、利益意识和自主意识逐渐形成,公民不再只是被动地接受政府所提供的公共产品和公共服务,还会就公共产品和服务的质量提出自己的意见或建议。公民在公共决策中的主体地位日益凸现。因此,公共决策中的公民参与已成为政府和公民普遍关注的问题。本文探讨了我国公民参与公共决策的必要性,分析了公民参与公共决策所面临的问题与困境,并提出一些建议和措施,旨在为公民参与公共决策提供借鉴。     

交通伤后遗肾功能障碍的伤残评定

《道路交通事故受伤人员伤残评定》（GB18667-2002）有关交通伤致肾功能障碍的条款主要是针对一侧肾功能障碍,并将其分为轻度、中度、重度三个程度,以往常用的适用于肾功能评价的方法多已不适用。针对实践中出现的上述问题,结合临床放射性核素检测方法的进展,提出一侧肾功能障碍的程度可根据肾小球滤过率（GFR）的结果作如下分级：一侧肾功能轻度障碍（30 mL/min≤一侧肾脏GFR〈45 mL/min）,一侧肾功能中度障碍（10 mL/min≤一侧肾脏GFR〈30 mL/min）,一侧肾功能重度障碍（一侧肾脏GFR〈10mL/min）。     

制度为什么失灵？——从一起典型案例探析我国反腐倡廉制度建设

加强制度建设是深化反腐倡廉建设的必然选择和重要内容。经过几十年的不懈努力,我国有关廉政法律法规制度逐步建立和完善,大大推动了反腐倡廉工作的制度化和科学化水平。但是制度反腐不等于简单的建章立制,开展反腐倡廉制度建设,既要高度重视制度体系本身的建立和完善,更要高度关注制度的执行和落实,特别是要解决好制度执行不力、制度失灵等问题。以发生在干部人事制度改革深入推进大背景下的韩桂芝案为个案,综合运用社会学、法学、管理学等理论框架和研究方法,提出要从制度设计、运行机制、社会认知、制度环境等多方面分析探讨制度失灵的根源,切实推进反腐倡廉制度建设。     

Gender expectations and their impact on black female offenders and victims

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between failure to register (FTR) as a sex offender and subsequent recidivism (N = 2,970). No significant differences were found between the sexual recidivism rates of those who failed to register and compliant registrants (11% vs. 9%, respectively). There was no significant difference in the proportion of sexual recidivists and nonrecidivists with registration violations (12% vs. 10%, respectively). FTR did not predict sexual recidivism, and survival analyses revealed no significant difference in time to recidivism when comparing those who failed to register (2.9 years) with compliant registrants (2.8 years). Results fail to support the supposition that sexual offenders who fail to register are more sexually dangerous than those who comply with registration requirements. The punitive emphasis on registration enforcement may not be justified and might divert limited resources away from strategies that would better facilitate public protection from sexual violence.     

复方真武冲剂治疗慢性心力衰竭20例临床观察

目的观察复方真武冲剂对慢性心力衰竭（chronic heart failure，CHF）患者症状体征和生活质量的影响。方法将40例CHF患者（NYHAⅡ～Ⅳ级）随机分为两组：对照组采用常规西药治疗；研究组所用药物成分同对照组，药物剂量为对照组剂量的1／2～2／3，并加服复方真武冲剂。两组疗程均为2周。治疗前后分别观察两组的中医症状体征和生活质量。结果两组治疗后中医症状体征积分和生活质量积分显著降低（P〈0．01），且研究组显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论复方真武冲剂对CHF患者中医证候和生活质量有一定的改善作用。