Microbial Sampling and Data Interpretation for Problematic Buildings: Considerations for Construction Related Environmental Claims

Bioaerosol data is often used in cases of building mold infestation alleging damage or adverse health effects upon occupants, despite the lack of consistent sampling and analytical protocols and numerical health-based standards. The most fundamental problem in these scenarios is defining a “significant” difference between a suspect indoor environment and the reference environment, regardless of the type of sampling and analysis utilized. Data interpretation focused upon differences in absolute numerical concentrations of fungi is subject to wide differences in expert opinion. On the other hand, an objective quantification of differences can be expressed in terms of probability and better meets criteria established in evidentiary rules.     

Conservative ideology in criminology and criminal justice

As often as the label “conservative” is used in criminological and criminal justice books, papers, articles, lectures and discussions, rarely is the substance of what “conservative” might mean raised. Its use as a prejoritive by those who are not conservative clouds the word and the complex of ideas it represents with a negative imagery. The author, a confessed conservative, seeks to dispel that cloud by identifying the common features of contemporary American conservative thought in its five major divisions: secular and theological fundamentalism, core conservatism, conservative pragmatism, and libertarian conservatism. How adherents of each of these five camps impact on criminal justice policy and criminological theory is explained. Proposals for a conservative pedagogy in criminal justice are offered to sympathizers and a conservative who’s who and reading list are provided for further reading.     

The Application of the Transcendental Meditation Program to Corrections

In 1976, Lockheed Corporation was charged with making secret payments of at least $25 million to Japanese officials during the early 1970s. It was alleged that these payments were made in order to secure aircraft sales contracts with several Japanese airlines. At that time, Lockheed executives claimed that Japanese officials insisted that consideration of Lockheed as a contractor would require advance payments to several government officials. In spite of this claim, Congress passed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in 1977 which treats these payments as bribery, rather than extortion, and prohibits them with the threat of criminal penalties. During the last 10 years, Japan has tried and convicted 15 former government officials of bribery and other crimes in the Lockheed affair. This paper assesses the effects of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in regulating business conduct, and the validity of the claims by Lockheed and the Japanese officials 10 years later, now that the trials are over.     

Metric variation in the human occipital bone: forensic anthropological applications

Sex and race variation of the occipital bone have been previously investigated, but particular examination of the effect of age and ancestry on sexual dimorphism has not been addressed. This paper examines morphological variation associated with sex and ancestry in the condylar region of the occipital bone and the effect of age and ancestry on the estimation of sex. Models previously published by Holland are also tested, and methodological problems are addressed. The results indicate that age does not have an effect on sexual dimorphism, but that whites exhibit greater, although not significantly, more sexual dimorphism than blacks. Significant sex and ancestry variation is present in the condylar region of the occipital bone, but neither sex nor ancestry could be estimated accurately using measurements of this anatomical region defined by Holland.     

博弈论视角下我国群体性事件及治理路径探讨

近年来我国群体性事件规模和数量均呈上升趋势。群体性事件的产生受多种因素的影响,并且有一定的社会根源。而群体性事件发生的整个过程实际上就是各参与主体的博弈过程。本文通过建立博弈模型,从理论上对参与主体进行分析,研究其利益诉求及其在博弈中的地位,以及不同形式下的博弈均衡,以期实现对群体性事件进行预防和有效治理。     

论量刑根据──兼及刑法第61条的立法完善

量刑根据是量刑的基础。我国刑法中的刑事责任的内涵不同于欧陆刑法中的责任,决定了我国不能照搬欧陆刑法关于量刑根据的规定。我国的量刑根据由行为刑事责任与性格刑事责任所构成,行为刑事责任是基本的量刑根据,性格刑事责任是补充的量刑根据,两者的结合兼顾了报应与预防。行为刑事责任的程度表现为基本法定刑、加重或者减轻法定刑和由犯罪情节所影响的处罚轻重等三个层次。性格刑事责任的程度应由法官具体判断。现行刑法第61条关于量刑根据的规定,存在主旨不明和表述不清的弊端,应当加以完善。     

The state of nature and the evolution of political preferences

Analysis of governmental institutions often proceeds from ahypothetical 'state of nature', according to which humans areanalyzed as if they once existed as solitary individuals withno rules. Humans have never existed as humans in such an environmentbut have always been a group-living species. Rules have evolvedwith humans and were never 'created' de novo. Evolved ruleshave implications for contemporary governance. Human groupshave always been in conflict, and rules distinguish betweengroup members and outsiders. These rules have proved remarkablyflexible. Some rules regulate private conduct of group members.Although the desirability of these rules today is unclear, Iargue that a libertarian regime would have been unstable, whichmay explain why there are few persons with tastes for libertariangovernments. This analysis further explains why utility functionscontain elements of envy. Rules of property, contract, and hierarchyare well developed and universal among humans.