Institutional Collective Action on Drugs: Functional and Vertical Dilemmas of Unused Pharmaceuticals

The authors use the Institutional Collective Action Framework to analyze the barriers, opposition, and opportunities for residential pharmaceutical disposal programs in the United States via a case study on a series of take‐back programs pioneered in the state of Washington by local and state governments, as well as the corresponding backlash from federal agencies. While successful in some ways, these innovative solutions directly challenged the competing federal policy regimes controlled by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and, to a lesser extent, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Findings from case studies suggest that functional dilemmas created by existing institutions with entrenched regulatory regimes are a key challenge to finding efficient solutions to vertical ICA dilemmas. Conclusions, then, connect to the broader ICA research agenda, and implications for multi‐level governance issues.     

Analyzing Territorial and Sectorial Dimensions of Public–Private Partnerships in Science,Technology, and Innovation policies

The performance of innovation systems depends, to a great extent, on the degree of public–private collaboration they involve. Thus, innovation policies often aim to enhance this collaboration through public–private partnerships. These partnerships are a multidimensional phenomenon whose success depends on factors related to each of their dimensions. This paper proposes the use of an analytical model that reflects the multidimensional nature of public–private partnerships and analyses to what extent they are applied in a specific innovation system in order to identify the territorial and sectorial factors that act as barriers or drivers to use them. This model aims to help policy makers design appropriate public–private partnerships in each context. The case under review is the Spanish innovation system, given that this system has been suffering from a structural lack of collaboration for several decades, despite the implementation of policies aimed to foster this. Thus, if the model works, it should be able to identify key factors that influence greater or more restricted use of the different PPP formulas.     

An evolutionary step in intellectual property rights – Artificial intelligence and intellectual property

This article addresses and analyses the issues concerning the ownership of computer generated works within patents and copyright, and concludes that the current regime is woefully inadequate to deal with the growing use of more and more intuitive artificial intelligence systems in the production of such works. It considers the respective claims of interested parties to such rights before moving on to a consideration of the creation of a new legal personality to which such rights could be granted to resolve the difficulties inherent in the current system.     

Quantitative Analysis of the Morphological Changes of the Pubic Symphyseal Face and the Auricular Surface and Implications for Age at Death Estimation

Age estimation methods are often based on the age‐related morphological changes of the auricular surface and the pubic bone. In this study, a mathematical approach to quantify these changes has been tested analyzing the curvature variation on 3D models from CT and laser scans. The sample consisted of the 24 Suchey–Brooks (SB) pubic bone casts, 19 auricular surfaces from the Buckberry and Chamberlain (BC) “recording kit” and 98 pelvic bones from the Terry Collection (Smithsonian Institution). Strong and moderate correlations between phases and curvature were found in SB casts (ρ 0.60–0.93) and BC “recording kit” (ρ 0.47–0.75), moderate and weak correlations in the Terry Collection bones (pubic bones: ρ 0.29–0.51, auricular surfaces: ρ 0.33–0.50) but associated with large individual variability and overlap of curvature values between adjacent decades. The new procedure, requiring no expert judgment from the operator, achieved similar correlations that can be found in the classic methods.     

Palate Shape and Depth: A Shape‐Matching and Machine Learning Method for Estimating Ancestry from Human Skeletal Remains

In the past, assessing ancestry relied on the naked eye and observer experience; however, replicability has become an important aspect of such analysis through the application of metric techniques. This study examines palate shape and assesses ancestry quantitatively using a 3D digitizer and shape‐matching and machine learning methods. Palate curves and depths were recorded, processed, and tested for 376 individuals. Palate shape was an accurate indicator of ancestry in 58% of cases. Cluster analysis revealed that the parabolic, hyperbolic, and elliptical shapes are discrete from one another. Preliminary results indicate that palate depth in Hispanic individuals is greatest. Palate shape appears to be a useful indicator of ancestry, particularly when assessed by a computer. However, these data suggest that palate shape is not useful for assessing ancestry in Hispanic individuals. Although ancestry may be determined from palate shape, the use of multiple features is recommended and more reliable.     

浅析加拿大IBIS系统及其分析原理

加拿大IBIS系统,对枪弹检材表面能进行二维的图像反映,此系统已在世界各国的法庭科学实验室广泛应用。最近,此系统尝试研制的三维图像反映系统已经完成,本文就此系统中关于弹壳底部图像获取与分析技术作以简介。     

武汉汉族人群STR基因座D3S1358、D13S317、D12S391的多态性研究

目的　调查中国武汉地区汉族人群STR基因座—D3S1 358、D1 3S31 7、D1 2S391基因频率分布和群体遗传数据。方法　从 2 0 8个汉族无关个体收集血液标本 ,应用PCR技术及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶垂直板电泳对D3S1 358、D1 3S31 7和D1 2S391基因座分型。结果　D3S1 358检出 7个等位基因和 4 1个基因型。三基因座基因型分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡。观察 2 31次减数分裂均未发现突变基因。另外 ,调查结果计算显示D3S1 358、D1 3S31 7和D1 2S391基因座的杂合度 (H)分别为 0 70 98、 0 80 56和 0 84 0 0 ;三个人识别能力 (DP)分别为 0 851 6、 0 9332和 0 952 3;非父排除率 ( pE)分别为 0 4 463、 0 60 1 6和 0 681 8。结论　D3S1 358、D1 3S31 7和D1 2S391基因座在群体遗传学研究和法医学亲子鉴定及个人识别中具有较高实用价值     

细胞凋亡参与脑心综合征心肌损伤及针刺干预作用

目的 观察心肌细胞凋亡在脑心综合征(cerebral-cardiac syndrome,CCS)发病中的作用机制及针刺的干预作用。方法 从60只健康SD大鼠中随机选择10只作为伪手术组,其余50只用于CCS模型复制,从模型复制成功的大鼠中随机选取30只,分成模型组、针刺组和非经非穴组,每组10只。采用胶原酶加肝素联合注射大鼠尾状核方法复制CCS模型,伪手术组向大鼠尾状核注入等量生理盐水。模型复制后72 h处死动物,分别采用苏木精-伊红（hematoxylin-eosin,HE）染色、脱氧核糖核苷酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法(terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling,TUNEL)和免疫组织化学法检测心肌组织病理变化、细胞凋亡及半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3(Caspase 3)的表达。结果 HE染色示伪手术组心肌结构正常,模型组心肌细胞变性、坏死,大量平滑肌断裂;TUNEL及免疫组织化学染色提示模型组出现较多凋亡细胞,Caspase 3大量表达,针刺组TUNEL染色阳性细胞和Caspase 3阳性细胞均较模型组和非经非穴组显著减少(P<0.01)。结论 心肌细胞凋亡参与了CCS大鼠心肌损伤,其机制可能与上调凋亡蛋白酶Caspase 3表达有关,而针刺可拮抗CCS大鼠心肌组织细胞凋亡。