Humor and satire in politics: Introducing cultural sociology to the field

The landscape of political humor and satire is changing rapidly, and it is becoming an increasingly relevant aspect of our culture. Although scholars have been actively trying to capture this change, majority of the existing frameworks for understanding humor and satire in politics still reduce these phenomena to mere genres or rhetoric tools. In addition, they provide insufficient accounts concerning the reception of humor and satire, and neglect to interpret and explain what they communicate. In the article, a general understanding of humor and satire outside of a political context, followed by an overview of studies discussing humor and satire in politics through their applications in social movements, as leadership tools, and through their manifestations in mass media has been presented. Lastly, a cultural sociological perspective to the field has been introduced. It has been argued that approaching humor and satire in politics through a structural hermeneutic method of the Strong Program will enable us to recognize and treat political humor and satire as autonomous and complex cultural systems which carry an internal power to move people.     

Politics and Scientific Expertise: Scientists, Risk Perception, and Nuclear Waste Policy

To study the homogeneity and influences on scientists'perspectives of environmental risks, we have examined similarities and differences in risk perceptions, particularly regarding nuclear wastes, and policy preferences among 1011 scientists and engineers. We found significant differences ( p 0.05)in the patterns of beliefs among scientists from different fields of research. In contrast to physicists, chemists, and engineers, life scientists tend to: (a)perceive the greatest risks from nuclear energy and nuclear waste management; (b)perceive higher levels of overall environmental risk; (c)strongly oppose imposing risks on unconsenting individuals; and (d)prefer stronger requirements for environmental management. On some issues related to priorities among public problems and calls for government action, there are significant variations among life scientists or physical scientists. We also found that–independently of field of research–perceptions of risk and its correlates are significantly associated with the type of institution in which the scientist is employed. Scientists in universities or state and local governments tend to see the risks of nuclear energy and wastes as greater than scientists who work as business consultants, for federal organizations, or for private research laboratories. Significant differences also are found in priority given to environmental risks, the perceived proximity of environmental disaster, willingness to impose risks on an unconsenting population, and the necessity of accepting risks and sacrifices.     

论意思自治原则在遗嘱继承中的贯彻

作为民法的一项基本原则,意思自治在遗嘱继承中的作用日益凸现。本文在追溯遗嘱自由原则发展演变的基础上,对意思自治原则在遗嘱继承中的体现做了一个全面的介绍,并就完善我国继承法对遗嘱自由原则的设计提出了自己的见解。     

Multiparameter evidence synthesis in epidemiology and medical decision-making: current approaches

Summary.  Alongside the development of meta-analysis as a tool for summarizing research literature, there is renewed interest in broader forms of quantitative synthesis that are aimed at combining evidence from different study designs or evidence on multiple parameters. These have been proposed under various headings: the confidence profile method, cross-design synthesis, hierarchical models and generalized evidence synthesis. Models that are used in health technology assessment are also referred to as representing a synthesis of evidence in a mathematical structure. Here we review alternative approaches to statistical evidence synthesis, and their implications for epidemiology and medical decision-making. The methods include hierarchical models, models informed by evidence on different functions of several parameters and models incorporating both of these features. The need to check for consistency of evidence when using these powerful methods is emphasized. We develop a rationale for evidence synthesis that is based on Bayesian decision modelling and expected value of information theory, which stresses not only the need for a lack of bias in estimates of treatment effects but also a lack of bias in assessments of uncertainty. The increasing reliance of governmental bodies like the UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence on complex evidence synthesis in decision modelling is discussed.     

论行为管理手段的“四制”关系

管理行为不同层次的矛盾有其特殊性,可以选择不同的方法加以解决。制度在行为管理手段中有其适用范围,此外,机制、“人制”、自制也是行为管理的另外三种有效手段,这四种行为管理手段有着各自的特点和适用范围,有鉴别地应用好这四种行为管理手段,可以有效地解释行为管理的现象,并可指导行为管理实践。     

论乡村政治文明建设的两个基本维度--制度的完善与意识的培养

肇始于八十年代初村民自治兴起的我国乡村政治文明建设,至今已经历了二十多年的风雨历程。以村民自治为主要内容的乡村政治文明建设在法律化、制度化、规范化方面都取得了显著进步,但同时也存在着一些比较突出的问题和矛盾,其根本原因就在于制度的缺憾与村民民主意识的淡漠。因此,必须从完善乡村政治制度和提高村民的民主意识入手,推动乡村政治文明建设的健康发展。     

技术自主论思想溯源

技术自主论最初的思想源头可以追溯到万物有灵论.马克思的技术异化思想是技术自主论的一个思想来源,马克思考察的劳动的异化内在地包含着技术的异化.20世纪的学者从不同的角度阐发了技术自主的思想.技术自主论的产生有其深刻的社会历史根源,社会发展到今天已成为技术化的社会,技术化社会中的人的生存是一种技术生存,技术是人的天命,技术自主论不过是以迂回的形式揭示了人与技术的这种关系.     

Improving the contributions of technology assessment to the health care system of the U.S.A.

Summary Based on 14 case studies of highly effective therapies and the reasons they succeeded less frequently than they could, we propose a variety of steps to improve the health care system of the U.S.A. Whatever proposal emerges from current national debates until innovations are shown to be safe and effective, they should not be supported; when slightly better technologies are much more expensive than other good ones we need to consider appropriate choices carefully; simplified billing and bookkeping would reduce our costs; when a technology is rapidly introduced cautionnary measures may be needed; tracking immunization and repairing their omissions requires a new system; educational programs such as seen effective in hypertension should be applied in other areas such as vaccination; in organ transplantation the nation should consider “presumed consent”; our payment system sometimes creates perverse incentives and therefore needs review; and the preferences of the public in allocation of health resources need to be discovered once the public is informed about the issues. Research supported by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.     

国际货物买卖合同法律适用问题分析

国际货物买卖合同双方当事人可以协议选择有关国际公约、国际惯例以及某一国或某几国的国内法为合同的准据法。若当事人选择的准据法不是一个完整的合同法律体系,应允许当事人再次选择,这样才能更好地体现意思自治原则。在一般情况下,若当事人选择了《联合国国际货物买卖合同公约》为合同的准据法,合同的准据法就有可能不是单一的,同时还可能会有国际惯例或国内法为合同的准据法。国际货物买卖合同法律适用问题的复杂性应引起我们的注意。