Effects of obesity on talar micro- and macro-morphology

The addition of information regarding obesity status to the forensic anthropological biological profile could significantly contribute to the identification of human skeletal remains since over 40% of the U.S. adult population is currently obese. This study examines the differences in talar shape and trabecular bone structure between obese and non-obese individuals. A sample of 20 obese and 20 non-obese divided evenly by sex was selected from the Texas State University Donated Skeletal Collection. Tali were imaged using x-ray computed tomography (voxel size: 28–38.7 μm). Image stacks were processed to produce binary images as well as trabecular thickness and spacing maps. Landmark-based geometric morphometric analyses were conducted to quantify shape variation. Shape coordinates were used to locate 100 geometrically homologous volumes of interest within each talus. Bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and trabecular spacing were extracted at each volume of interest. Within each sex, a one-way ANCOVA was used to determine if significant differences exist between obese and non-obese individuals in trabecular bone after controlling for age. The size of the talus as well as subtle aspects of shape were found to distinguish the sexes. The results further indicate that bone volume fraction significantly differs between obese and non-obese males. In females, bone volume fraction is correlated with age but does not differ between obese and non-obese. The study demonstrates that bone microstructure is a promising approach to estimating body mass or body mass index category but age effects diminish the potential for the talus to be used alone.     

非法储存爆炸物罪的刑法理论分析

理论界和实践部门对认定非法储存爆炸物罪存在不同观点,文章认为问题的产生与非法储存爆炸物罪的刑法理论研究不足有直接关系。刑法的价值与使命决定,刑法绝不能对不断发生的由于储存爆炸物发生的爆炸事故造成人民群众生命财产损失的情形熟视无睹,而要准确理解非法储存爆炸物罪,必须探析设立本罪的基本价值取向和主要功能诉求。     

Digital Economy and Theroetical Expansion of Economic Law

Although the development of the digital economy has not changed the basic principles and theories of economic law, it has impacted its related specific theories. Thus, it is particularly necessary to further develop its space theory, entity theory and behavior theory, since space, entity and behavior are the three key factors affecting its application scope. Furthermore, “space diversification,” “entity online platform” and “behavior informatization” based on the digital economy, have created new regulatory issues and need the above specific developments, based on which the modulation theory, information theory, risk theory and rule of law theory of economic law can then also be further developed. Thus, all these developments combined are conducive to advancing the economic-law’s operation theory, norm theory, as well as the ontological and axiological research. In addition, such developments are conducive to strengthening the convincing power and guiding power of economic law theories for the rule of law construction related to the digital economy, to promoting a new development landscape and a modern economic system, and to realizing Chinese modernization.     

Team Characteristics and Team Member Knowledge,Skills, and Ability Relationships to the Effectiveness of Cross‐Functional Teams in the Public Sector

Abstract

This study examines members of cross‐functional teams in the public sector for the necessary knowledge, skills, and ability (KSA) to be effective team members. It was determined that members of cross‐functional teams in the public sector possess the necessary KSA to perform effectively. The following characteristics are statistically significant factors: (1) years of professional work experience; (2) frequency of team participation; (3) the type of team training, i.e., collaboration and performance management; and (4) situational entry to team assignments (volunteered, assigned, requested), specifically volunteer and requested. The findings are significant in that managers within the government have some guidelines on team formation. They now know who should be team members, team members should be volunteers, and management should ensure that the team members have specific training in the areas of team collaboration and performance management. The findings are significant for employees as well. To acquire experience, employees should be interested in participating in a team environment (i.e., volunteering for the assignment). They should participate on numerous teams, so that they can become more effective as team members. Employees should acquire training in specific team skills (i.e., collaboration and performance management) to help them better understand how to work within the team and the team members and get results.     

Analysis of motivation in people with mild learning disabilities (mental handicap) who set fires

Abstract

Ten people with mild learning disabilities (mild mental handicap) who had all set rues and had been admitted to a hospital facility for people with challenging behaviours were interviewed about their perceptions of events, feelings and cognitions prior to and after setting fins. They were also asked to rate their excitement/upset in a series of fire-related situations. Results showed that people could identify reliably the events, feelings and cognitions prior to fire-setting but were less reliable at identifying consequences. Most commonly, people had felt angry prior to setting fires but it was also common to feel not listened to, sad or depressed. Multiple factors were relevant for most people. Some people identified the excitement of the rue as relevant and these people gave the highest ratings on the fire-related situations schedule and scored higher than controls on this schedule. Implications for treatment are discussed.     

Analysing characters' interactions in filmic text: a functional semiotic approach

This paper presents an analytical tool for constructing characters' action patterns in film. Understanding characters in moving images has been regarded as one of the most significant elements of narrative comprehension and interpretation because spectators' inferences of narrative structures are substantially mediated by characters. The social semiotic method presented in this paper shows how characters' actions and interactions can be systematically constructed based on the co-patterning of textual elements in film and how the patterns provide an analytical foundation for understanding and interpreting characters. In addition, this paper also reviews the previous explorations of the more fine-grained approaches to character analysis and then demonstrates how the method the paper suggests can support and strengthen the accounts provided to date. Most importantly, by comparing scenes within and across two war films, The Thin Red Line (1998) and Black Hawk Down (2001), the article will show the potential of this method for effectively constraining hypotheses for empirical investigations of filmic meaning.     

The Role of FDI,Exports and Spillover Effects in the Regional Development of China

The objective of this analysis is to assess the impacts of export expansion, inward FDI, domestic investment and labour on the growth of China's Eastern, Central and Western regions using panel data over the period 1984 to 1998. A major contribution of the study is its tests for the presence of interregional spillover effects. The study indicates that both inward FDI and domestic investment stimulate growth in all three regions and for the PRC as a whole and that export expansion stimulates the growth of the PRC, Eastern and Central China, but not the West. Labour enhances the growth of the more traditional Western region, but not the more capital intensive Eastern seaboard or the PRC in its entirety. Finally, output growth spills over from the East to Western and Central China and from the Central area to Western China. These results are fully explained in the text.     

The front and back stages of carceral expansion marketing in Canada

This article examines how provincial and territorial government agencies and prison authorities in Canada promote new penal infrastructure initiatives. Through an analysis of press releases, websites, opening ceremonies and open houses to promote jail and prison construction projects, our analysis reveals discourses that are legitimating carceral expansion in the Canadian context including: the pursuit of public safety and institutional security; providing opportunities for rehabilitation and healing; addressing the legacies of colonization through the ‘indigenizing’ of imprisonment; generating economic stimulus through prison-related employment and other financial contributions; and the establishment of ‘environmentally-friendly’ prisons. Drawing from government records obtained using Access to Information and Freedom of Information requests, we also provide examples of how front stage messages communicated to the public are assembled by bureaucrats and marketing firms in the back stage of these punishment campaigns.     

论大陆法国家对信托的引进及其进路

信托的本质是一种财产管理运作方式,从设立到成立、再到运行受到普通法与衡平法的共同调整,对英美普通法与衡平法互动的双重法律体系有着强烈的依赖,而普通法与衡平法互动的双重法律体系又是英美法的特色。尽管没有衡平法和双重法律体系,大陆法系国家还是可以通过功能移植的方式引进信托的。马尔他与魁北克就是成功移植信托的两个实例。     

社会司法鉴定人和职能司法鉴定人比较评介

全国人大常委会《关于司法鉴定管理问题的决定》旨在建立统一司法鉴定管理体制,然而,实践中出现的鉴定机构和鉴定人管理双轨制使《决定》的立法初衷未能实现。＂两高＂、＂三部＂《通知》试图对此予以校正,将侦查机关所属＂职能鉴定人＂一并纳入司法行政部门的登记管理体系。由此出现的社会司法鉴定人和职能司法鉴定人仍然在管理上存在差异,从统一司法鉴定管理体制的角度看,职能司法鉴定人依旧具有不合理性。