A 21st Century Low‐Carbon Transition in U.S. Electric Power: Extent,Contributing Factors,and Implications

The U.S. electric power sector has experienced a substantial shift of the generation mix since the turn of the century, moving from heavy reliance on coal‐powered generation to one drawing more from natural gas and, more recently, renewables. This transition has been forged by a mix of macroeconomic factors (recession and recovery); technological breakthroughs (horizontal drilling coupled with hydraulic fracturing; improvements in natural gas plant efficiency); clean energy policies at federal, state, and local levels of government; and private sector demands for carbon‐free energy sources. These factors have combined to reduce carbon emissions from electric power generation substantially this century. In this article we examine the extent of this transition, its causes, as well as the distinct American institutional factors steering it, including energy and environmental federalism, electoral politics, and the political economy of clean energy policy enactment and resistance.     

The Stability of 4-Chloromethcathinone in Blood and Vitreous Humor

We present results of our study on the stability of 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) in authentic postmortem peripheral blood and vitreous humor samples. The stability of 4-CMC was determined in postmortem blood samples (for a period of 90 days) and vitreous humor (30 days) at three different temperatures: −15°C, +4°C, and + 23°C. The analyses were carried out using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS). In both materials, the lowest 4-CMC stability was demonstrated at room temperature. The blood samples stored in a freezer (−15°C) showed stability for the entire study period (90 days), while in the case of the vitreous humor sample stored at the same temperature the concentration of the substance decreased by 53% after 30 days. The study carried out in authentic postmortem blood and vitreous humor samples confirms the previous reports of 4-CMC instability in biological material. Authors suggest that the biological material should be stored frozen until analyses are carried out as soon as possible after collection of the material.     

The Formal Delegation of Regulatory Decisions in the Telecommunication Sector: An Explanation Using Classification Trees

Research on regulation has traditionally focused on studying the delegation of regulatory competencies from political principals to an independent regulatory agency. In this article, we argue that this delegation is nuanced by different factors that affect whether a specific regulatory decision is formally delegated. We examine and explain formal delegation patterns at the level of individual regulatory decisions in twelve countries located in Europe, Latin America, and South Asia. The data were gathered by coding the twelve countries' telecommunications legislation. The data analysis was undertaken using a classification tree model—a nonparametric model. We found that the maturity of the market has the greatest effect on the formal delegation of regulatory decisions, but this effect is also influenced by the other theoretical factors considered, particularly the level of political constraints and the type of regulation.     

The Space Between: Demonization of Opponents and Policy Divergence

Prior research on policy conflicts indicates a tendency among policy actors to misperceive the influence of actors engaged in policy debates based on the degree of distance between their relative policy positions. This research develops a measure for assessing the degree and direction of the misperception effect. This measure is then utilized as a dependent variable to assess the relationship between theoretically relevant factors and the degree to which actors will exaggerate the influence of their opponents and allies. The research uses original survey data of policy actors engaged in the debate over hydraulic fracturing in New York. The results indicate misperceptions of relative influence are prevalent and most associated with the experience of a policy loss and holding relatively extreme policy beliefs. The findings provide new insight into factors that influence the demonization of political opponents. These insights are timely in the context of polarized debates over environmental and energy policy in the United States.     

美国法典1404(a)与非方便法院原则辨析

由于美国法典28卷1404（a）条款的立法规定在功能与措辞上均非常类似普通法上的非方便法院原则,因此很多学者误以为该立法规定与非方便法院原则之间并不存在实质性的差异。然而,这一看法并不正确。事实上,1404（a）条款立法在法律效果、证明标准以及具体适用方面均与非方便法院原则存在显著的区别。     

信用证欺诈例外原则的问题分析

信用证是国际贸易中重要的信用结算工具,由于信用证独立抽象的原则,银行只审单而不管实际的货物,导致国际贸易中利用信用证进行欺诈的案件屡屡发生。因此,各国纷纷采取信用证欺诈例外原则来进行补救,但信用证欺诈例外原则的滥用则会损害合法受益人及善意第三方在信用证项下的利益,因此,对欺诈原则应适当地适用,以发挥其最佳效用。     

中国共产党人“五四阐释”的革命话语和建设话语

中国共产党人的“五四阐释”是指中国共产党人自五四运动以来,对五四运动的回忆、评价与反思。在新民主主义革命时期,中国共产党人从革命的领导力量、动力、阶段划分及任务等方面阐释五四运动,建构了“五四阐释”的革命话语;在社会主义建设和改革开放时期,中国共产党人从社会主义建设的伟大奋斗目标、各阶段历史任务及青年的奋斗方向等方面阐释五四运动,建构了“五四阐释”的建设话语。文章回溯了中国共产党人“五四阐释”的建构历程,对深化五四运动的研究,更好地继承和弘扬五四精神具有重要意义。     

和谐社会语境中党的意识形态建设路向初探

构建社会主义和谐社会的重大战略目标，对新时期党的意识形态建设提出了新的要求。面对国内外形势的新变化，作为马克思主义执政党，我们党的意识形态建设必须密切注重合规律性与合目的性价值原则的统一，既坚守国情党情实际和马克思主义原则立场，保持马克思主义的连续性，又切实体现民众利益愿望要求的发展变化，扩大党的意识形态的包容性，真正做到马克思主义的与时俱进，这对提高党的执政能力，巩固党的执政地位，增强党在构建社会主义和谐社会中的领导核心作用意义重大。     

论公司形式的中小企业治理结构的依据——以一人公司治理结构为例

一人公司制度的出现和日益普及,对传统的公司治理结构理论提出了严重的挑战,实际上也暴露了西方传统公司治理结构理论基础的局限性。以所有权与经营权“两权分离”和“效率至上”作为公司治理结构的基本理论前提和价值取向是完全不适当的,是对所有者与经营者“两者分离”的误读和误解。以公司形式出现的中小企业,实际上体现了现代企业制度向中小企业的延伸,所以中国企业制度的改革应当摒弃以产权制度改革为中心的模式,转移到以建立现代企业治理结构的方向上来。