Coping with Imprisonment: Testing the Special Sensitivity Hypothesis for White-Collar Offenders

This study uses nationally representative prison data to test two competing theories of how white-collar offenders experience prison. The first perspective, referred to as the special sensitivity hypothesis, assumes that because of their social and demographic background characteristics white-collar offenders are more susceptible to the pains of imprisonment than other inmates. The second perspective, referred to as the special resiliency hypothesis, is based on the idea that these same background characteristics may reduce the pains of imprisonment for white-collar offenders. Ordinal and binary logistic regression models are used to estimate the effect of white-collar inmate status on several indicators of psychological adjustment. The current study finds partial support for the special resiliency hypothesis, but not the special sensitivity hypothesis. The results for each outcome are discussed regarding both theoretical and practical applications. The study’s limitations are also addressed and suggestions for future research on incarcerated white-collar offenders are given.     

单个细胞DNA样本的制备及其在灵敏度分析中的应用研究

目的建立一种用于高精确灵敏度分析的微量DNA样本制备方法。方法用显微捕获技术制备以细胞为单位的DNA样本,并用于ProfilerPlus试剂盒及ABI310遗传分析仪的灵敏度测试。结果建立了单细胞捕获操作方案,成功制备了依次含1～11个细胞的一组DNA分析样本,并可准确用于ProfilerPlus誖试剂盒及ABI310遗传分析仪的灵敏度研究。结论基于显微操作技术的高精确微量DNA分析样本制备方法可准确用于分析技术方法的灵敏度研究     

What Mr. Spock told the earthlings: the aims of political philosophy,action-guidingness and fact-dependency

Abstract

Recently, G. A. Cohen introduced an influential distinction between fact-sensitive and fact-insensitive principles arguing that all basic normative principles are of the latter type. David Miller rejects this claim submitting that the validity of basic normative political principles depends on some general propositions about human nature and societies; for example, that men’s generosity is ‘confined’ and that nature has made ‘scanty provision’ for his wants. Miller ties this view of the nature of basic political principles to the view that political philosophy ought to guide people engaged in real-world politics and claims plausibly that in order to fulfil this purpose, political philosophy must be informed by social science. I argue that Miller neither succeeds in showing that basic principles can be fact-sensitive, nor establishes any connection between the Cohen-Miller disagreement on fact-sensitivity, on the one hand, and the nature and aims of political philosophy, on the other hand.     

文化消费与居民收入的敏感性关系分析——基于省际面板数据的实证研究

我国学者将西方消费函数理论应用于解释转型时期中国消费者的行为,并取得了丰富的研究成果.实证研究表明,在我国现阶段,居民消费存在着“过度敏感性”的特征.本文将西方消费理论应用于我国文化消费的研究中,利用我国2002-2011年的省际面板数据展开实证分析,得出我国城乡居民的文化消费确实存在“过度敏感性”的特征,且城镇居民的敏感系数高于农村居民.鉴于此,政府应该从提高居民收入水平,培育文化消费主体以及统筹城乡文化产业发展等方面着手,促进居民文化消费能力的提高.     

Private Firm CSR,Executive Compensation and Firm Output Performance: Theoretical and Empirical Analysis from the Perspective of the Enterprise’s Actual Decision

Based on the analysis of Chinese private enterprises’ fulfillment of corporate social responsibility,this paper first constructs a theoretical model under the principal-agent framework on CSR,executive compensation and enterprise output performance from the perspective of a firm’s actual decision maker. Then it employs the 2009-2014 panel data of private listed companies to empirically test the theoretical propositions. The empirical results show that: 1） executive compensation is significantly and positively correlated with firm output performance; 2）the relationship between private enterprise corporate social responsibility and firm output performance presents "inverted U-shape"; 3）private enterprise CSR investment will significantly reduce the executive pay-performance sensitivity. This paper raises our awareness of private enterprises’ fulfilling corporate social responsibility, and is of good reference value for the further research on the motivation of private enterprises CSR fulfillment; and at the meantime,it is also a help for corporate executive compensation contract design.     

Revisiting the Special Sensitivity Hypothesis: The Prison Experience of White-Collar Inmates

Despite recent increases in the use of incarceration for white-collar offenders, little is known about the prison experiences of these individuals or how they adjust to imprisonment. Although empirical evidence is lacking, a widespread view has prevailed that white-collar offenders have a “special sensitivity” to imprisonment—that they experience more pains and cope less well within the society of captives. Based on a sample of 366 federal prison inmates, we assessed the special sensitivity hypothesis. The analyses revealed that white-collar inmates are not more likely to experience negative prison adjustment. In some regards, white-collar inmates had fewer institutional problems and were more likely to cope with prison life successfully. Results thus call into question the merits of the special sensitivity hypothesis and are consistent with the view expressed earlier by Michael Benson and Francis Cullen that white-collar offenders may possess attributes and resources sufficient for their successful adaptation to life in prison.     

Evaluation of six presumptive tests for blood, their specificity, sensitivity, and effect on high molecular-weight DNA

Luminol, leuchomalachite green, phenolphthalein, Hemastix, Hemident, and Bluestar are all used as presumptive tests for blood. In this study, the tests were subjected to dilute blood (from 1:10,000 to 1:10,000,000), many common household substance, and chemicals. Samples were tested for DNA to determine whether the presumptive tests damaged or destroyed DNA. The DNA loci tested were D2S1338 and D19S433. Leuchomalachite green had a sensitivity of 1:10,000, while the remaining tests were able to detect blood to a dilution of 1:100,000. Substances tested include saliva, semen, potato, tomato, tomato sauce, tomato sauce with meat, red onion, red kidney bean, horseradish, 0.1 M ascorbic acid, 5% bleach, 10% cupric sulfate, 10% ferric sulfate, and 10% nickel chloride. Of all the substances tested, not one of the household items reacted with every test; however, the chemicals did. DNA was recovered and amplified from luminol, phenolphthalein, Hemastix, and Bluestar, but not from leuchomalachite green or Hemident.     

Breaking the cycle of violence: applying conflict sensitivity to transitional justice

The legacies of mass violence can, if left unaddressed, fuel future conflicts. Transitional justice seeks to address the legacies of large-scale past abuses. Despite the sensitive nature of transitional justice and recognition that initiatives can adversely influence conflict-affected contexts, there has been limited attempt to extend the application of conflict sensitivity to transitional justice. Conflict sensitivity is an approach and tool to help aid actors to understand the unintended consequences of aid and to act to minimise harm and achieve positive outcomes. Transitional justice initiatives can exacerbate tensions by replicating existing tensions; introducing resources that become a struggle for control; or challenging power and vested interests. This article argues that conflict sensitivity should be applied to transitional justice; and identifies tools and factors that could contribute to conflict sensitive transitional justice. They include promoting: broad-based participation; resonance with local actors; social cohesion; public outreach; collaboration with other sectors; and appropriate sequencing.