Resurrecting the Dodo: Positive control DNA for species identification

Positive controls are necessary standards for inclusion in forensic tests. When working as expected they demonstrate that methods have been applied correctly, and therefore results can be interpreted with confidence. However, the requirement for positive controls can also introduce problems. For species identification in wildlife DNA forensic testing, it is possible that the DNA sequence of the case sample will be a 100% match to the positive control. Whilst clear results for negative controls will indicate that cross-contamination is unlikely, it would be preferable to have a positive control that will not appear in casework. In addition, for many endangered species, obtaining positive control DNA for species-specific testing can be problematic. Here we present a simple method to use artificially generated positive control DNA from the extinct Dodo, Raphus cucullatus, for four species-identification tests run routinely in UK wildlife forensic casework.     

Reaching for profit in the welfare state: Patrimonial economic voting in Denmark

Economic voting has been well-studied in a number of advanced industrial democracies, including Denmark. However, that work has been almost entirely on the valence dimension, i.e., rewarding or punishing government according to whether the overall economy prospers. Recent work has looked at other economic voting dimensions, including patrimony, i.e., the impact of property ownership on the vote. A patrimonial effect has been found in the UK, the US, and France. However, it seems to differ somewhat depending on the welfare-character of the state, with the US at one end and France at the other. Here we examine patrimonial economic voting in a still more extreme welfare state - Denmark. In our analysis of voting in the 2011 parliamentary election, we establish two new findings: 1. patrimonial economic voting exists in Denmark and, 2. its effect is stronger than that for other countries studied thus far.     

Latino Adolescents’ Civic Development in the United States: Research Results from the IEA Civic Education Study

Many studies have reported gaps between Latino and non-Latino adolescents in academic and political outcomes. The current study presents possible explanations for such gaps, both at the individual and school level. Hierarchical linear modeling is employed to examine data from 2,811 American ninth graders (approximately 14 years of age) who had participated in the IEA Civic Education study. Analyses of large data bases enable the consideration of individual characteristics and experiences, as well as the context of classrooms and schools. In comparison with non-Latino students, Latino adolescents report more positive attitudes toward immigrants’ rights but have lower civic knowledge and expected civic participation. These differences were apparent even when controlling for language, country of birth, and political discussions with parents. School characteristics that explain a portion of this gap include open classroom climate and time devoted to study of political topics and democratic ideals. Results are discussed within the framework of developmental assets and political socialization. Implications for educational policy and ways to use large data sets are also discussed.

协同治理视野下的地方政府与非营利组织之间的良性合作关系

协同治理是一种新的政府治理理论,它强调政府、非营利组织和个体公民等多元社会组织和行为者相互协调合作,共同治理社会公共事务。基于协同治理的视角实现地方政府与非营利组织之间的良性合作,应充分发挥地方政府、非营利组织和个体公民的主体作用。     

实证分析：《1844年手稿》中“异化劳动”理论的主导方法

深入分析《1844年经济学哲学手稿》的文本结构,可以发现,实证分析才真正是隐蔽于《手稿》多重方法构架之中的主导方法。马克思正是通过对资本主义社会现实的经济关系的实证分析,揭示了异化劳动的现实和理论表现,异化劳动的结果,异化劳动的扬弃(共产主义),从而得出资本主义制度必然被工人阶级所埋葬的科学社会主义的结论。     

情势变更制度下的再交涉义务司法适用之反思--一个法经济学的视角

为发挥情势变更制度下的再交涉义务解决纠纷之自律性、协作性的价值理念,学理上普遍将其作为司法适用的前置程序规范并与后续司法介入效果形成体系化互动。但司法实践的运用未对学理期待予以积极回应,需要对再交涉义务的学理定位重新作出解答。从法经济学的视角来看,再交涉义务能作为实现优化当事人地位、创造新的价值以及降低成本等诸多经济功效的制度性担保工具,但受制于再交涉行为特有的博弈属性以及再交涉结构固有的不均衡因子,再交涉义务无法抑制机会主义行动风险的产生以及矫正再交涉地位的落差。原理上通过联动后续司法介入效果可治愈其适用上的弊端,但考虑到法官信息偏差之现实困境,其无法对再交涉的过程与内容作出有效的法律评价。《民法典》视域下唯有对再交涉义务祛司法适用之限缩解释,将其纯化为倡导性规范,切断其与后续司法介入效果的适用关联,限制法官介入再交涉过程之法律评价,始能最大程度上保障法官有效完成当事人利益之公平分配的司法任务。     

马克思主义经济学是中国经济改革的理论基石——兼评有关“刘国光7.15讲话”的某些批评意见

一些人把刘国光教授关于加强马克思主义经济学教学和研究的意见说成反对改革,这是不能成立的。马克思主义经济学为用科学发展观统领中国经济改革提供了最重要的理论基石。它可以使我们在改革的目标设置、发展研究和道路选择等方面,不为西方经济学激进的理论所迷惑,坚定地沿着社会主义方向走下去。     

Economic voting in Latin America: A general model

Economics and elections have been much-studied in the highincome democracies of North America and Europe. However, little is known, especially comparatively, about economic voting in low-income democracies, such as those of Latin America. Here we offer the first comparative election study of the economic vote in this region. We apply a series of ever-more demanding statistical tests to an election survey pool of 12 Latin American nations, measured at three time periods (total N > 7000). Unambiguously, the finding is of highly significant, even strong, sociotropic retrospective economic effects on the incumbent vote. In Latin America, as in other democratic nations studied thus far, governments are rewarded or punished, according to the economic performance they command.     

对中国社会保障制度的经济学分析

非均衡的中国社会经济结构必然导致城乡二元化的社会保障制度，进而造成社会保障资源在城乡之间的配置失衡。“十二·五”规划的《建议》在收入分配关系上强调：“初次分配和再分配都要处理好效率与公平的关系，再分配更加注重公平”。本文从经济学的角度对二元化的中国城乡社会保障制度进行分析和审视，得出其存在的非效率性，从而为进一步完善中国社会保障制度提供理论基础。     

凝聚青少年思想道德教育正能量路径探讨

青少年是全面建成小康社会、实现中华民族伟大复兴、继承和发展中国特色社会主义伟大事业的后备军。他们的思想道德状况如何,能否凝聚起强劲的正能量,直接关系到中华民族的整体素质,关系到国家前途和民族命运。本文拟按党的十八届三中全会精神,就凝聚青少年思想道德教育正能量路径进行探讨,以期提出相应的对策和建议。