Decentralization and growth: Do informal institutions and rule of law matter?

We develop a model of the interactions among decentralization, informal institutions and the rule of law. The model sheds light on the ambiguous empirical results reported in the literature regarding the growth effects of the policy of devolving fiscal responsibility to local governments. We find that the distribution of civicness within a country determines the magnitude of the effects of decentralization on its regional convergence, as well as whether decentralization fosters or dampens the country’s national growth. We perform a series of simulated “reforms” using Monte Carlo methods parameterized using OECD countries data set. We then test our findings using a panel data set of 23 OECD countries covering the period 1975–2010. We find that the short and the long run growth effect of decentralization policy depends on the size of the policy reform and can range from extremely negative to positive depending on the rule of law, the level of social capital and its regional dispersion, in line with the model predictions.     

A three-state continuous time Markov chain model for HIV disease burden

Plasma HIV viral load (VL) is the clinical indicator used to evaluate disease burden for HIV-infected patients. We developed a covariate-adjusted, three-state, homogenous continuous time Markov chain model for HIV/AIDS disease burden among subgroups. We defined Detectable and Undetectable HIV VL levels as two transient states and Death as the third absorbing state. We implemented the exact maximum likelihood method to estimate the parameters with related asymptotic distribution to conduct hypothesis testing. We evaluated the proposed model using HIV-infected individuals from South Carolina (SC) HIV surveillance data. Using the developed model, we estimated and compared the transition hazards, transition probabilities, and the state-specific duration for HIV-infected individuals. We examined gender, race/ethnicity, age, CD4 count, place of residence, and antiretroviral treatment regimen prescribed at the beginning of the study period. We found that patients with a higher CD4 count, increased age, heterosexual orientation, white, and single tablet regimen users were associated with reduced risk of transitioning to a Detectable VL from an Undetectable VL, whereas shorter time since diagnosis, being male, and injection drug use increased the risk of the same transition.     

五四时期社团的整体特征－－从与戊戌学会之比较谈起

五四时期，中国思想文化史上出现了一道独特的景观－社团林立，异彩纷呈。种历史景观决不是偶发的现象，而是中国人积郁已久的思想在社会转型时期迸发的结果，也是人们要求社会变革的政治动机在思想文化领域的生动体现。这种现象是中国近现代史上继戊戌学会高潮之后的又一次社团活动的高峰。然而，由于时代和思想文化氛围的不同，使五四社团在其思想宗旨、成员成分、活动内容等方面，都显示出与戊戌学会之不同，表现出自己独有的风貌和特征。     

3,4-二氯甲苯的合成

以对氯甲苯为原料,经直接氯化合成3,4-二氯甲苯。选择AlCl_3/S_2Cl_2为催化剂,经正交试验得最佳反应条件为:反应温度100℃、催化剂浓度2.O％、主辅催化剂配比1:0.5,此时3,4-二氯甲苯在二氯甲苯中的选择性达51％,单程收率为41.5％。     

Development of Ego‐resiliency: Relations to Observed Parenting and Polymorphisms in the Serotonin Transporter Gene During Early Childhood

We used observed parenting behaviors, along with genetic variants and haplotypes of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), as predictors of children's ego‐resiliency during early childhood (N = 153). The quality of mothers' parenting was observed at 18 months of age, and mothers' reports of ego‐resiliency were collected at six time points from 18 to 84 months. Genetic data were collected at 72 months. Observed parenting was positively associated with initial levels of children's ego‐resiliency. Furthermore, although individual genetic variants of the serotonin transporter gene (LPR, STin2) were not associated with ego‐resiliency, the S10 haplotype (that combines information from these two variants) was negatively associated with initial levels of ego‐resiliency. Both parenting and serotonin genetic variation uniquely predicted children's ego‐resiliency, suggesting an additive effect of genetic and parental factors.     

一本常出常新的《现代汉语》教材——读黄廖本《现代汉语》“增订四版”

黄廖本《现代汉语》教材,是一部常出常新的好教材。黄廖本教材的成功,在于它与时俱进,在保持原框架大体不变的基础上适时修订更新,并且根据教学实际,对一些不怎么紧要不怎么适当的内容进行删减,在语言表达、语法术语的选用上仔细推敲,择善而从。但某些增补还显得有些仓促,需要进一步完善。     

中国共产党创建时期的一支劲旅——留法勤工俭学运动和中共旅欧支部的共产党员

五四运动前后,超过1600名中国青年参加了留法勤工俭学运动。他们在法国、比利时、德国、英国等地通过各种形式"勤于作工,俭以求学"。其中的先进分子接受了马列主义,成立了各种革命团体和中国共产党旅欧支部,领导了勤工俭学生和华侨、华人的反帝爱国民族民主运动。还有一些同志,通过其他途径参加了中共旅欧支部的工作。留法勤工俭学运动和中共旅欧支部,为中国革命培养了一大批领导骨干和周恩来、朱德、邓小平等革命领袖。他们先后回国,投身于伟大的革命和建设事业。     

进步指数应用中应该遵循的原则

进步指数可以较公平地评价被评价对象的英语学习进步程度，在应用进步指数时需要遵循以下四个原则：一是分组越细越好；二是缺失数据应慎重对待；三是被评价对象均应为首次参加四级考试的学生；四是特长生及语言类专业学生应该排除在分析之外。     

采用悬浮炼铁技术大大减少能量需求和CO2散放物

通过分析问卷调查数据来探讨了大学英语四级写作测试对写作教学产生反拨作用的潜在原因、特性及表现形式,呼吁对CET4写作测试的写作内容及评分标准应进行改革,从而切实提高学生的笔语输出能力。     

美国对南斯拉夫军事援助政策的缘起

美国对南斯拉夫的军事援助政策,始自于杜鲁门政府时期.1948年苏南冲突的发生,为美国冷战开始后确立的分化瓦解苏东集团的政策提供了契机.在东西方贸易管制体制下,杜鲁门政府制定了对南斯拉夫的NSC18/4和NSC18/6号文件,这两个文件及其进程报告的形成与实施标志着杜鲁门政府对南斯拉夫军事援助政策的形成.这一政策的实质是服务于美国的全球冷战战略利益的,其目标是利用南斯拉夫来分化瓦解苏东集团.