Institutional design of ecolabels: Sponsorship signals rule strength

Ecolabels are designed to help consumers identify environmentally superior products and services; however, they are not all created equal. Some ecolabels have strong rules that promote environmental improvements, while others have weaker rules that permit free‐riding. Because information about ecolabel design and rule strength is typically not readily available at the point of purchase, consumers struggle to differentiate stronger ecolabels from weaker ones. We investigate whether ecolabel sponsorship is a signal that can help consumers distinguish between ecolabels according to the quality of their institutional design. Using data of 189 prominent ecolabels, we find that while most ecolabels have basic rules for environmental performance, monitoring, and conformance, the strength of these rules varies across labels according to sponsoring organization. Independent sponsors have the strongest ecolabel rules, followed by governments. Industry sponsored ecolabels have the weakest rule structures. Taken as a whole, these findings suggest that sponsorship may provide important information about whether an ecolabel is designed with rules that effectively condition firms to promote meaningful environmental improvements.     

Threshold Concepts Through Enactive Learning: How Effective Are They in the Study of European Politics?

Studying European Politics can be a challenge! And this is not surprising: even the best scholarly minds of European politics often struggle to give precise definition to such a young, but already so complex and constantly evolving polity as the European Union, and are increasingly at odds with identifying its prospects for survival. One way to achieve a better understanding of the subject is to utilize a threshold concept approach, which is essentially a "less is more" approach that chooses to work with a few "founding" concepts, and identifies a "road map" for independent learning of broader but essentially inter-connected issues of the discipline. The threshold concept approach becomes even more effective if combined with enactive learning—that is, learning-by-doing, through role taking and simulation of the threshold concepts during seminars. Such learning evidently exceeds the boundaries of conventional knowledge and becomes a useful transferable investment for the future.     

城市设计中的政府行为分析

随着城市市场经济的不断发展和公众参与意识的不断增强,城市设计无论在思想观念上还是在管理体系及制度等方面都不同程度地遇到了前所未有的新问题。本文强调了政府在城市设计中应尽的职责,从公共政策与社会学视角对规范城市设计的政府行为路径选择进行了思考,阐述了政府通过完善城市设计相关法规制度、行政机制来完善政府在城市设计中的主导作用,以期实现政府行为的有效性来引导城市设计,塑造高品质的城市公共空间。     

A physical therapy environment design concept for children with cerebral palsy in accordance with patient behavior and therapy effectiveness

This research aims to study the effects of interior environmental features on the effectiveness of physical therapy among children with cerebral palsy. The research assumes that interior environment primarily determines the central attention of the patients, which further institutes the level of cooperation and thus the effectiveness of therapy. Distinctive interior settings in three state hospitals are utilized to test the effects of different environmental settings on child patients＇ level of attention. A ＇~structured observation＂ together with an ＂achievement rating＂, measured by the patients＇ cooperative level, are utilized to gauge the success of therapy conducted within the three different environmental settings. Statistical result reveals a pattern of correlative linkages among the interior features, the level of central attention and the effectiveness of therapy. Behavioral responses are found to be positively correlated with the level of patient cooperation. The analysis of behavioral response discloses three types of environmental stimuli--crowding in the treatment rooms, present of particular interior features such as windows, and activities outside the treatment rooms visible to the patients. Desirable response is also found to be increasing along with the number of interior stimulus features. A design guideline for treatment room is finally established. Two groups of interior environmental features could be manipulated to elevate the effectiveness of therapy--the physical environment which includes room size, and the spatial location of therapy activities within the interior environment.     

论违宪审查程序的启动机制

构建富有实效的违宪审查制度是现代宪政制度建设的重要内容。我国宪政实践虽已基本形成具有自己特色的违宪审查模式，但在程序启动机制的制度化设计方面仍不完整，为此，要本着实事求是的态度对我国政治、经济、文化和宪政理论的发展水平进行理性考量，着眼于我国宪政建设的总体布局，兼顾我国公民的宪政观念与权利意识，充分利用现有的法律资源及相关的技术要素，合理借鉴他国的成功经验，从违宪审查的启动机制、主体制度、审查范围以及强化监督机制的制约功能等渠道入手，设计一套切实可行又富有实效的违宪审查机制。     

传统"人的预设"所存在的问题及其辨析——关于人与环境伦理学的一种探讨

环境伦理学关于"人是什么"的预先设定,我们称之为"人的预设"。它是现时代实践根据与传统"人的预设"理论逻辑两相结合的产物。传统"人的预设"在思维方式上存在偏颇,在内容上偏执于理性、轻视甚至搁置自然,这些问题最终导致其扬弃自己,走上新"人的预设"。而这正是环境伦理学对人探讨、对人重新设定的重要内容。     

Regulation through titling laws: A case study of occupational regulation

This case study examines a form of occupational regulation infrequently examined in academic literature – titling laws. These laws regulate who may legally use a phrase, or title, to describe their work to the public. Focusing on the interior design industry, this article demonstrates how industry leaders use titling laws as the first step in a push for full occupational licensure. In so doing, they allege a need for regulation out of concern for public health and safety, but as data in this case study indicate, there appears to be no threat to public health and safety from unregulated interior designers. Instead, designers advocate for increased regulation of their own industry, through the evolution of titling laws to full licensure, due to the benefits it affords them.     

浅议我国外观设计法律制度的完善

随着经济的发展和人民生活水平的提高,外观设计法律制度在社会生活中也发挥着越来越重要的作用。我国现行法律对外观设计专利所作的规定,仍存在一些值得探讨和商榷的地方,有待于进一步完善。文章从外观设计专利的授权标准、保护期限、初步审查制度及无效宣告程序几个方面入手,分析目前法律规定的欠缺之处并提出完善建议。     

关于刑事科学技术课的教学设计

自20世纪60年代以来,教学设计逐渐综合了各种学术理论而自成体系。它运用系统方法发现、分析和解决教学问题,是实现教学效果最优化的计划过程和操作程序。文章综合刑事科学技术课的特点,对教学设计的内涵、主要过程进行了分析,旨在使读者了解当前教学设计的主流理论,促进刑事科学技术课教学设计逐步走向成熟。     

论职业女性形象设计在女大学生素质教育中的作用

对当代女大学生形象设计教育的研究显示,职业女性形象设计在素质教育中具有非常重要的作用.因此女大学生的形象意识、沟通意识、竞争意识的塑造和相关能力的培养问题就显得尤其重要.