Effect of Substrate Interferences from High‐Density Polyethylene on Association of Simulated Ignitable Liquid Residues with the Corresponding Liquid

The effect of substrate interferences from high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) on the ability to associate an ignitable liquid residue with the corresponding liquid standard, using statistical procedures, is demonstrated. Gasoline, kerosene, and lighter fluid, at three different evaporation levels, were spiked onto HDPE and subsequently burned to generate simulated ignitable liquid residues (ILRs). Samples were extracted using a passive headspace procedure and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The total ion chromatograms were subjected to data pretreatment procedures prior to principal components analysis and Pearson product moment correlation. Using the combination of these statistical procedures, simulated ILRs were successfully associated with the corresponding liquid type, despite the presence of compounds inherent to the HDPE substrate, as well as those resulting from pyrolysis of the substrate.     

The illegal parrot trade: a literature review

Parrots are amongst the most beautiful and intelligent bird species in the world. They have been coveted as pets for centuries, particularly in the neo-tropics where they are heavily populated. Unfortunately, this has led to dramatic increases in parrot poaching over the last few decades, making parrots the most threatened bird species in the world. Despite laws against parrot poaching throughout the neo-tropics, the illegal trade continues while parrot populations further decline. This article reviews the literature on the players in the illegal parrot trade (i.e. poachers, itinerant fences, and market sellers), how poaching is largely committed, and which species are more at risk of becoming poached.     

Sustainable use of wildlife: The role of private contracts as a conservation tool

Abstract

This paper focuses on the ability of local communities to make effective use of private legal tools as a means of assuring sustainable wildlife use. Using recent legal developments in Kenya as a case study, the paper examines a series of contracts entered into between local communities in the Samburu District and tour operators wishing to bring wildlife “photo safaris”; onto Samburu lands. These contracts, typically referred to as “Eco‐tourism contracts,”; are designed simply to allow tour operators to lead tour groups through community property without trespass. The authors argue that to achieve their true potential, these contracts must be treated, in essence, as “wildlife easements,”; or “eco‐easements,”; that can become publicly‐recorded mutual conservation commitments, and as such must incorporate conservation principles with a focus on environmental impact and wildlife management. Moreover, these contracts must be linked both conceptually and financially to the communities’ governance structure and to its broader conservation efforts.     

社会主义核心价值体系在文化产品中的实现途径探析

文化产品代表着当代经济文化一体化的客观趋势,正在成为表达和传递社会主义核心价值体系的强大文化载体。在学理上以抓牢党的文化领导权为前提、以文化产品的内容构建为核心、以提高受众基本文化素养为依托,深入挖掘文化产品实现社会主义核心价值体系的现代生产方式和传播方式,探索、拓宽文化产品实现社会主义核心价值体系的各项具体实践途径,是我们卓有成效地推进社会主义核心价值体系建设、开展社会主义核心价值体系教育的重要工作。     

Measuring the Frequency Occurrence of Handwriting and Handprinting Characteristics,

The premise of this study was to take a valid population sampling of handwriting and handprinting and assess how many times each of the predetermined characteristic is found in the samples. Approximately 1500 handwriting specimens were collected from across the United States and pared to obtain a representative sample of the U.S. adult population according to selected demographics based on age, sex, ethnicity, handedness, education level, and location of lower‐grade school education. This study has been able to support a quantitative assessment of extrinsic and intrinsic effects in handwriting and handprinting for the six subgroups. Additional results include analyses of the interdependence of characteristics. This study found that 98.55% of handprinted characteristics and 97.39% of cursive characteristics had an independence correlation of under 0.2. The conclusions support use of the product rule in general, but with noted caveats. Finally, this study provides frequency occurrence proportions for 776 handwriting and handprinting characteristics.     

Smuggling wildlife in the Americas: scale,methods, and links to other organised crimes

International wildlife trafficking has garnered increased attention in recent years with a focus on the illicit trade in ivory, rhinos, and other animals from Africa and Asia. Less is known about trafficking in the Americas. By conducting a systematic review of academic literature, popular accounts, and government reports, this case study attempts to identify the scope and methods of wildlife trafficking in the Americas and its connections to organised crime. Unlike arms or drug smuggling, individual operators with minimal connections to other criminal activities dominate the trade. Most perpetrators work independently and have expertise and interests in legitimate businesses involving animal products. Methods of concealment are frequently rudimentary and little appears to be known about primary trafficking routes. Overall, wildlife smuggling in the Western Hemisphere appears to be a small-scale activity, small in its aggregate amounts, and strongly linked to legitimate businesses operating in a low risk and technologically narrow environment.     

美国2009年《个人消费者金融保护署法案》及其对我国金融监管法制的启示

为应对金融危机,保护金融消费者利益,加强对金融机构的监管,预防金融系统性风险的发生,奥巴马政府酝酿对美国金融监管体系进行彻底改革,其改革方案的核心就是设立个人消费者金融保护署。对于金融监管法律存在诸多缺陷、金融消费者权利保障不到位以及没有构建应对系统性风险的我国金融法律制度来说,美国2009年《个人消费者金融保护署法案》在金融消费者权利保护及存在系统性风险金融产品及服务监管方面是一个可以借鉴的“他山之石”。     

缺陷产品召回制度的立法思考

与产品责任制度不同,缺陷产品召回制度要求企业对投入市场但尚未造成实际损害的缺陷产品承担法律责任,显然,缺陷产品召回制度对企业的质量义务提出了更高要求,因而它也更有利于保护消费者利益。然而,缺陷产品召回制度过严也会对企业的创新能力造成伤害。就目前我国经济发展水平以及缺陷产品的危害程度来看,对于一些社会危险性比较大、事故发生比较严重的缺陷产品建立召回制度十分必要。     

论行业协会的产品责任及其风险控制——美国的司法经验对解决我国问题的启示

我国《侵权责任法》规定的产品责任主体是生产者和销售者。美国的判例表明,行业协会一旦误导消费者、与协会成员共同损害消费者的利益、疏于履行自己的义务,则极有可能被判决承担产品侵权责任。我国的行业协会不要随意对消费者或行业内雇员作出义务承诺,不要以规则制定者和成员单位监管者的姿态出现,不要随意发布未被研究成果证明的产品质量声明。只有这样,行业协会才会避免成为产品侵权诉讼的被告。     

拆封合同规则在美国判例法上的建立

拆封合同是源于计算机软件业销售惯例的一种与传统缔约程序相反的合同。在ProCD案之前,美国判例法一概否认拆封合同,在ProCD案之后,判例法接受了拆封合同,并发展出合同与条款的认定规则。但至今,仍有美国法院固守传统,拒绝认可这种异化的合同。