Radiographic age estimation based on degenerative changes of vertebrae

Age estimation is an important component of decedent identification. When assessing adult remains, anthropologists frequently use gross examination of skeletal elements, such as clavicles, ribs, and pubic symphyses. For fleshed bodies, this requires the removal of these elements and maceration prior to analysis. A new method was developed using radiographic imaging to estimate age from degenerative changes of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae. This technique will complement anthropological age estimation methods in young and middle-aged adults and may serve as a stand-alone method for older individuals. Digital radiographs from 240 medical examiner cases were evaluated. The sample included 120 females and 120 males between the ages of 18 and 101 years. A 3-phased scoring system was used for the target vertebrae. Transition analysis was conducted on binned average scores and a Bayesian approach was used to assign age intervals. At the 90% credible interval, individuals in Bin 1 were under 36 years of age while those in Bin 3 were over 47 years of age. Individuals in Bin 2 showed too much age variation to be informative. No significant differences were found between males and females. These findings will be especially useful in the age estimation of older adults and may eliminate the need for skeletal sampling in medicolegal cases where advanced degenerative changes are radiographically observed in the lower thoracic and/or upper lumbar vertebrae. This method was developed for use on fleshed individuals but may also be applicable to skeletonized remains.     

近代以来中国商会治理变迁及其法制意义

商会制度,是近代中国由农耕社会法制向工商社会法制、由统制经济法制向市场经济法制转型的过程中出现的一种新的法律制度。在传统中国法制中,社会治理以绅士阶层为中心,形成了在中央集权引导下,与儒家主流意识形态和官僚系统保持一致的绅权治理。及至近代,商会制度的出现为中国社会提供了一个法制变迁的契机,集权式的绅权治理开始向分权式的商会治理转型。尽管在这个制度转型过程中,法制变迁的路径依赖和制度惯性效应仍不可避免,并呈现出迂回曲折的变迁轨迹,但是它依然具有较高绩效。中国商会治理变迁所取得的经济绩效表明,当前中国法制应坚持集权治理向分权治理转轨的制度变迁路径。     

中东欧独联体政治经济转型20年: 约束条件与转型政策、策略选择

回顾中东欧独联体国家转型走过的道路,可以发现,转型的方式和路径受制于转型的约束条件.其中,政治转型与经济转型的相互制约关系尤为复杂.在复杂的约束条件下,转型的政策空间是受限的.转型目标、转型的策略选择与次序安排相互制约,共同规定了转型的基本方向和演进轨迹.     

外向型经济转型与民营经济发展研究

外向型经济的崛起和腾飞无疑为我国经济社会发展作出了重大贡献,但随着国内、国际环境的变化,我国特别是沿海地区以外向型经济为特点的发展模式迫切需要转型。本文认为,民营经济作为民本经济、富民经济,作为中国经济结构中最活跃、最具竞争力的经济成分,作为中国经济参与全球经济竞争的新生力量,理应在外向型经济转型过程中肩负起重要的历史使命。     

日常生活的合理性危机与佤族女性个人宗教性变迁探析

任何宗教都有一项最基本的功能,那就是为其信众提供日常生活合理性生存的依据.个人不会在毫无理由的条件下接受和改变自己的宗教信仰.个人宗教性的变迁,很大程度上反映了社会文化发展的方向.时信仰传统宗教和信仰基督教的佤族女性个人宗教性的对比分析发现,合理性危机是佤族女性个人宗教性变迁的主要原因,这种个人宗教性变迁的背后.积累着民族文化转型的巨大合力.     

关于社会转型期医患冲突问题的若干思考

在社会转型的特殊历史时期,尤其是在努力实现"病有所医"的重大医改过程中,因医疗纠纷引发医患冲突甚至导致群体性事件不断增多,呈现出秩序危机、暴力危机、信任危机、赔偿危机、舆情危机"五大危机",究其根源是利益博弈的集中体现,只有做到以民生为本,才能从根源上有效减少医患冲突,而作为维护社会稳定主力军的公安机关,要立足本职,做到情法交融,既积极介入,有情操作;又适时出手,无情打击,切实促进社会和谐稳定。     

OVERCOMING A DECADE OF CRISIS: ZIMBABWE'S LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN TRANSITION

The world's attention has focused on Zimbabwe as the country has moved from the turmoil of the 2008 elections to a tentative democratic transition under the current Inclusive Government. The country's newly elected local authorities and an apparent interest in decentralization have been largely ignored in the process, however. This essay thus provides an extensive, survey‐based examination of local governance in Zimbabwe as of 2009. Four areas are discussed. First, with the growth of the political opposition to the ruling regime, local governance has also suffered from the deep polarization among all the country's institutions. The inexperience of the new local councilors vis‐à‐vis local administration officials also holds significant ramifications. Second, although local officials believe that public participation in decision‐making is strong, citizen involvement is actually quite weak. Third, reeling from the country's 2008 economic crisis, local authorities were operating as best as they could on minimal income and barely functioning in many areas. Financial transfers ended long ago; revenue generation remains poor. Finally, this essay captures the poor state of public services. Achievement of a national democratic consensus, decentralization that actually promotes democratic local governance and strengthening once‐strong local institutional capacity will determine the future progress of local governance. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

转型期中国保险业发展中的地方政府行为分析

中国渐进式市场化改革过程中地方政府角色和职能的转变,使其应成为当地保险业发展的主导力量。但中国保险发展实践中地方政府仅产生一定间接影响作用的行为特征阻碍了当地保险业发展。这主要源于"二重制度结构"下的政府供给主导型保险业发展模式及"总-分公司"的保险经营管理体制。因此,应成立地方性保险公司、给各地保险主体更多的经营自主权、逐步建立总-子公司的组织模式以充分发挥地方政府在保险业发展中的作用。     

复方守宫散抑制肝细胞癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的机制研究

目的 探究复方守宫散对肝细胞癌（hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC）细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的作用机制。方法 采用CCK-8法检测复方守宫散对HCC细胞系SK-Hep-1和Huh7增殖能力的影响,并基于此将HCC细胞分为对照组和低、中、高浓度组进行后续实验;采用划痕实验和Transwell实验检测不同浓度的复方守宫散对HCC细胞迁移、侵袭能力的影响;采用q-PCR实验和Western blot实验检测复方守宫散对HCC细胞中上皮细胞-间充质转化（epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT）和整合素家族（integrin）基因和蛋白表达的影响;构建NOD/SCID小鼠HCC模型,观察复方守宫散对小鼠体内HCC瘤体生长的抑制作用。结果 CCK-8实验结果显示,复方守宫散对HCC细胞的增殖能力有显著的抑制作用;划痕实验及Transwell实验结果显示,各浓度的复方守宫散对HCC细胞的迁移、侵袭能力有抑制作用,并且存在剂量依赖性;q-PCR实验和Western blot实验结果显示,复方守宫散可以影响EMT和integrin相关基因和蛋白的表达;复方守宫散对小鼠体内HCC瘤体生长具有显著的抑制作用,且呈剂量依懒性。结论 复方守宫散对HCC细胞系SK-Hep-1、Huh7的增殖、迁移和侵袭能力具有显著抑制作用,其机制可能与EMT及integrin信号通路有关。     

华蟾素注射液对胃癌细胞MGC-803增殖、迁移和侵袭能力及上皮-间质转化的影响

目的 探究华蟾素(cinobufagin, CBG)注射液对人胃癌细胞MGC803增殖、迁移和侵袭能力以及上皮-间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT)的影响。方法 CCK-8检测CBG注射液对MGC-803存活率的影响;倒置显微镜下观察CBG注射液对MGC-803形态的影响;采用细胞划痕实验和Transwell小室检测CBG注射液对胃癌细胞迁移和侵袭能力的影响;Western blot检测人胃癌细胞MGC-803中E-cadherin、N-cadherin、Vimentin和Snail蛋白表达水平。结果 华蟾素注射液能显著抑制MGC-803细胞的增殖、迁移与侵袭(P<0.05),且呈剂量依赖性。Western blot检测结果显示,CBG注射液能显著上调E-cadherin蛋白表达水平(P<0.05),显著下调N-cadherin、Vimentin、Snail蛋白表达水平(P<0.05)。结论 华蟾素注射液可以抑制胃癌细胞MGC-803的增殖、迁移侵袭及EMT。