Narrations of Shifting Maya Identities

Three anthropological ways of narrating the historical formation of Maya identity have recently been outlined in an article by Kay Warren on intergenerational struggles of Mayan families in Guatemala. According to the anti-racism scheme, Maya identity forms as a reaction to ethnic opposition. The cultural continuity approach treats identity formation as persistence that occurs in spite of ethnic oppression. The third, ' mestizaje ' school of thought argues that assimilation has eroded indigenous identity to the extent that it only makes sense to speak of an intermediary ladino (or mestizo ) category. Warren argues that the previous antagonism between ethnographic approaches has obscured the coexistence of these narrations in families, where discontinuity and rejection of traditional Maya identities interplay with continuity and revitalisation. In this paper, I compare the narrations of shifting identities in Guatemala to local representations of socio-cultural change in Yucutan. Based upon research in Oxkutzcab, I attempt to show how the interpretations of intergenerational changes in language, dress, and occupation relate to a set of local and regional events that evade the mutually exclusive meta-narratives of change.     

Genetic analysis instrumentation innovations built into the SeqStudio ™ Flex Genetic Analyzers

The new Applied Biosystems™ SeqStudio ™ Flex Series Genetic Analyzer have improved the benchmark for research use only for Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) by providing innovative approaches to enhanced hand-free operation, flexibility, ease of use, data quality and connectivity. This newly designed 8 or 24 capillary system supports fragment sizing and DNA sequencing applications providing scientists with medium throughput technology for use in research applications. The steps from system set-up to size or base-called data have been simplified with hardware functionality and user-friendly software enhancements designed into this new CE system.We will discuss innovations related to ease of use including one button start-up, an on-board computer with touchscreen, intuitive software, easier to use capillary arrays, and desktop and cloud-based plate manager software. Innovations related to increased flexibility include continuous plate loading, automated plate linking that be able to maintain traceability from sample to result when using barcoded plates, urgent sample reprioritization, fragment and sequencing samples be run on the same plate, and multi-user support will also be discussed. In addition, gold standard fragment analysis and sequencing data quality has been enhanced through innovative algorithms providing autospectral calibrations, and off-scale recovery of data for fragment analysis. Innovative service and support functionality including remote troubleshooting with instrument system login capability, and on-board instrument help videos are included. Finally, we will touch upon new connectivity, which includes Thermo Fisher connect for remote monitoring, analysis, and data sharing as well as other functionality such as voice commands and Wi-Fi capability that the system will provide. The following summarizes highlights from the developmental validation performed to demonstrate the functionality of SeqStudio ™ Flex Series Genetic Analyzer.     

Current Next Generation Sequencing technology may not meet forensic standards

In a Nature paper of 2010, the concern was raised that intra-individual mtDNA variation may be more pronounced than previously believed, in that heteroplasmies are common and vary markedly from tissue to tissue. This claim taken at face value would have considerable impact on forensic casework. It turns out however that the employed technology detected the germ-line variation relative to the reference sequence only incompletely: on average at least five mutations were missed per sample, as an in silico reassessment of the data reveals. Before one can really set out to access to entire mtDNA genome data with relative ease for forensic purposes, one needs careful calibration studies under strict forensic conditions—or might have to wait for another generation.     

Comparative Implementation Research: Directions and Dualities

Abstract

The study of policy implementation developed steadily and considerably in the 1970s and 1980s through two generations of research. Since then progress towards a more rigorous scientific “third generation research paradigm”, assumed to be crucial for further theoretical development, has been much slower and more uneven. Comparative studies figure prominently in this respect. On one hand they are strongly encouraged but on the other they are difficult to conduct according to best practice advice in the textbooks. Comparative implementation research is the theme of this special issue. In this Introduction the articles included are presented, focusing on how they deal with some of the issues posed by the norms of a rigorous “third generation” approach. Reasons for the state of affairs in implementation research are discussed. Some inherent dualities and tensions in contemporary comparative implementation research are identified as particular challenges.     

尊重与培训,新生代农民工市民化的良好途径——来自青岛港的调查

加快形成城乡经济社会发展一体化新格局,是缩小城乡差别、实现城乡共同繁荣的根本途径。加强对新生代农民工的培训,提高其综合素质,不仅是加快新生代农民工市民化、使其身心融入城市的根本措施,也是促进城乡一体化发展的关键。青岛港采取尊重的态度与相应的培训方法,将有稳定劳动关系的新生代农民工逐步转化为现代产业工人,走出了一条让新生代农民工具备社会需要素质的独特之路。     

新生代农民工的城市融入策略初探——社区工作介入的空间

新生代农民工作为城市建设中的生力军,他们在城市社会融入程度将影响着整个农民工群体的城市融入和家庭稳定。从社区工作的角度介入,采用优势视角的思维模式,可以从社区管理、社区组织、社区教育、社区保障、社区工作者、新生代农民工自身六个方面出发,逐步推进新生代农民工的城市融入过程。     

新一代中央领导集体党建理论研究述评

党的十六大以来,以胡锦涛同志为总书记的新一代中央领导集体对党的建设提出了一系列具有创新性的理论观点,部署了新的实践。学术界对此展开了深入研究。这些研究梳理了新一代中央领导集体党建理论形成的基本脉络,归纳了其基本内容,概括了其基本特征,总结了其基本经验,为我们学习和领会新一代中央领导集体党建理论奠定了良好基础。     

VWA基因座在一个三代家系发生的两次突变

目的探讨短串联重复序列遗传变异的方式。方法用Identifiler^TM试剂盒和DNATyper15^TM试剂盒进行检测,用变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法对VWA基因座突变家系中3代父、母、子的DNA样本进行STR基因分型,将需测序的等位基因条带从凝胶上切下,再进行PCR扩增,产物经纯化后进行测序。结果此3代家系中Ⅱ-7、Ⅲ-8发生等位基因变异表现为一个重复单位的增加或减少。其中Ⅱ-7的一条发生突变的等位基因具体来源可知,Ⅲ-8的一条突变等位基因无法确定。结论本文中VWA基因座等位基因突变主要表现为一个重复单位的增加,没有碱基的插入或缺失,突变主要来自父亲,突变等位基因无TCTA（TCTG）3（TCTA）n、TCTA（TCTG）5-6（TCTA）n突变类型,均为TCTA（TCTG）4（TCTA）n型突变。     

新生代农民工犯罪问题的心理探究与矫正策略

目前城市农民工群体内部的代际分化已经形成,新生代农民工逐步成为了农民工群体的主力。而新生代农民工在为城市的发展做出贡献的同时,由他们所滋生的违法犯罪问题也引起了人们极大的关注。对引发新生代农民工违法犯罪的原因作必要的深层次的心理剖析,并采取相应的防控措施是消减新生代农民工的违法犯罪行为,确保整个社会平稳、和谐发展的需要。     

新生代农民工的思想政治教育探讨

新生代农民工对经济社会的发展做出了重要贡献,但面临的思想问题也逐渐凸显。加强对新生代农民工的思想政治教育,全面提高新生代农民工的综合素质和自我发展能力,是推动农村发展,维护社会稳定的内在要求。