Concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) in postmortem human tissues: effect of environmental CO exposure

We studied how carbon monoxide (CO) is distributed within the human body through quantitation of CO concentrations in postmortem tissue samples from fatalities including possible CO exposure. Stored, frozen tissues were diced, sonicated in water, and 0.01-8.0 mg wet weight (ww) tissues were incubated with sulfosalicylic acid in CO-purged, septum-sealed vials. CO released into the headspace was quantitated by reduction gas chromatography. Mean tissue CO concentrations (pmol/mg ww) from subjects diagnosed to have no known CO exposure (control, N=14), died from fire (N=13), and CO asphyxiation (N=7), respectively, were: adipose (2;13;9), brain (3;13;65), muscle (15;97;297), heart (30;99;371), kidney (22;432;709, lung (54;690;2638), spleen (73;1366;3548), and blood (162;2238;5070). Carboxyhemoglobin concentrations were 1.4%, 25.2%, and 69.1% of total hemoglobin, respectively. We conclude that measurements of CO concentration in a variety of tissues can be used as markers for the degree of exogenous CO exposure and the identification of possible causes of death.     

Meeting Human Development Goals with Low Emissions : An Alternative to Emissions Caps for post-Kyoto from a Developing Country Perspective

This paper proposes a post-Kyoto scenario on commitment issues from a developing country perspective in which commitments by developing countries will be linked to human development goals as the first priority and ultimate goal, and then translated to carbon goals. Three different types of commitments are discussed with particular reference to developing country participation, including voluntary, conditional and obligatory. For low-carbon development, there should be no luxurious emissions but human development needs should not be compromised. A progressive and internationally coordinated taxation on carbon is suggested as an incentive mechanism under this approach. However, there are a few issues requiring further examination, including specification of basic needs and determination of progressive tax rates.     

国际碳交易机制复杂化及中国应对

目前,国际碳交易机制网络群体呈现复杂化态势,碳交易机制复合体、碳交易机制集群与碳交易机制联结相互渗透,同时其内部也进行着良性协同、建设性合作与功能性竞争的有序互动。在无政府状态、利益认知差异以及全球气候治理体系转型等普遍性因素影响下,国际碳交易机制复杂化的成因有着自身的特殊性,是其发展进程中的必然产物。另外,国际碳交易机制间的互动具有双重效应,其协同合作将会带来经济发展与气候保护的双赢结果,而如果互相掣肘则会增加碳交易成本甚至造成负减排。因此,中国在复杂化的国际碳交易机制中推进新型碳外交并实现碳中和目标,既需要充分发挥自身团结国际力量的优势以及国内和国际双循环新发展格局的核心作用,促进碳交易机制间的协同与衔接,又要积极践行《巴黎协定》关于碳交易机制整合的倡议,与各国及相关国际组织共同将碳交易机制整合的规范推广到整个国际社会以及其他议题的全球治理之中。     

发展中国家应对美国碳关税策略分析

美国众议院2009年6月底通过了《美国清洁能源安全法案》。法案允许美国对来自没有采取与美国相当的温室气体减排措施国家的高能耗、初级进口产品征收"碳关税"。这对于经济技术水平明显落后于发达国家的发展中国家而言,无疑又是一种新的贸易壁垒。对此,发展中国家应该积极行动,通过建立南北自由贸易区、推动在联合国框架内的气候谈判以及积极参与碳标准制定等方式积极寻求对美国"碳关税"壁垒的突破。在减排与贸易、环保与经济增长间寻得平衡发展。     

探索高校活动“低碳”新途径——建立“高校学生活动信息交流和闲置资源回收、利用、交换平台”

经济的快速发展，把环境问题提上了日程。各大高校为丰富校园文化，提高大学生素质开展丰富多彩的文体活动，然而，活动过程中资源的回收、利用并不尽如人意。通过建立“高校学生活动信息交流和闲置资源回收、利用、交换平台”，不仅节省了活动开支、增强了资源的使用频率，而且使“低碳”“环保”理念深入大学生心里，利于今后的自身发展。     

加拿大魁北克省与英属哥伦比亚省碳税立法比较研究

为了有效应对气候变化,加拿大魁北克省和英属哥伦比亚省分别于2007年和2008年开征碳税。由于两省的温室气体排放状况、排放构成及减排目标不尽相同,在碳税的征收目的、收入用途、征收模式、纳税人、税目、税率和税收减免等方面的设计相差甚远。得益于碳税的经济激励效果,两省的温室气体减排都取得了一定成效。对两省的碳税制度进行系统比较,可以为我国的碳税立法提供有益的参考。     

美国加征关税的国内法与国际法规则运用冲突研究

在全球经济增长放缓的背景下,加征关税已经成为国家间贸易摩擦的重要形式。自2016年以来,美国不断增加对中国加征关税的额度,加征关税的法律依据也更加多样化。美国加征关税的法律依据主要分为针对不公平贸易行为、保障措施和国家安全例外三大类型。美国加征关税的国内法与国际法规则运用存在长期冲突,根源在于美国加征关税立法上确立的美国法优先原则,这将对今后国际贸易体系的改革和发展产生重大阻力。     

浅析WTO视角下的数码产品零关税政策

2012年5月,以美国为首的76个国家和地区决定启动世界贸易组织信息技术协议的修订谈判,谈判各方决定扩大零关税的数码产品目录范围。必须从各个主体的角度分析零关税的利弊,分析中国数码产品市场和数码产品生产商害怕零关税扩大实施的真正原因,并提出一系列建议来应对数码产品零关税的大范围入侵,努力促进我国转变成为零关税政策的受益者。     

Dynamics of Ninhydrin‐Reactive Nitrogen and pH in Gravesoil During the Extended Postmortem Interval

Estimating the postmortem interval of skeletal remains is difficult, as few tools exist to do so. To address this problem, we conducted a field experiment to measure the chemistry of swine (Sus scrofa domesticus Linnaeus) gravesoil after 1 year and 3 years postmortem. Carcasses were placed on the soil surface of a pasture during June in a cold (Dfa) climate. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in ninhydrin‐reactive nitrogen, pH, total nitrogen, and nitrate in gravesoil were detected 1 year postmortem. Significant differences in gravesoil chemistry were not detected 3 years postmortem. These observations coincided with gaps in plant growth 1 year postmortem and the development of lush vegetation 3 years postmortem. We conclude that these phenomena can be used to assist the decision‐making process regarding the allocation of resources during the early stages of a death investigation.     

The Effects of Polymer Pigmentation on Fingermark Development Techniques

The effectiveness of latent fingerprint development techniques is heavily influenced by the physical and chemical properties of the deposition surface. The use of powder suspensions is increasing for development of prints on a range of surfaces. We demonstrate that carbon powder suspension development on polymers is detrimentally affected by the presence of common white pigment, titanium dioxide. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that patches of the compound are clearly associated with increased levels of powder adhesion. Substrates with nonlocalized titanium dioxide content also exhibit increased levels of carbon powder staining on a surface‐wide basis. Secondary ion mass spectrometry and complementary techniques demonstrate the importance of levels of the pigment within the top 30 nm. The association is independent of fingermark deposition and may be related to surface energy variation. The detrimental effect of the pigment is not observed with small‐particle reagent (MoS₂ SPR) or cyanoacrylate (superglue) fuming techniques that exploit different development mechanisms.