The role of scientists in statutory interpretation of the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Like many federal statutes, the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) contains vague or ambiguous language. The meaning imparted to the ESA's unclear language can profoundly impact the fates of endangered and threatened species. Hence, conservation scientists should contribute to the interpretation of the ESA when vague or ambiguous language contains scientific words or refers to scientific concepts. Scientists need to know at least these 2 facts about statutory interpretation: statutory interpretation is subjective and the potential influence of normative values results in different expectations for the parties involved. With the possible exception of judges, all conventional participants in statutory interpretation are serving their own interests, advocating for their preferred policies, or biased. Hence, scientists can play a unique role by informing the interpretative process with objective, policy‐neutral information. Conversely, scientists may act as advocates for their preferred interpretation of unclear statutory language. The different roles scientists might play in statutory interpretation raise the issues of advocacy and competency. Advocating for a preferred statutory interpretation is legitimate political behavior by scientists, but statutory interpretation can be strongly influenced by normative values. Therefore, scientists must be careful not to commit stealth policy advocacy. Most conservation scientists lack demonstrable competence in statutory interpretation and therefore should consult or collaborate with lawyers when interpreting statutes. Professional scientific societies are widely perceived by the public as unbiased sources of objective information. Therefore, professional scientific societies should remain policy neutral and present all interpretations of unclear statutory language; explain the semantics and science both supporting and contradicting each interpretation; and describe the potential consequences of implementing each interpretation. A review of scientists’ interpretations of the phrase “significant portion of its range” in the ESA is used to critique the role of scientists and professional societies in statutory interpretation.     

官方媒体参与下不同风险感知群体竞争模型及其演化规律

为识别公众风险感知的演化规律和官方媒体参与的作用机制，首先，根据公众的行为表现划分不同风险感知群体，并分析群体间的相互竞争和官方媒体的扰动作用；然后，通过扩展Lotka Volterra模型建立群体间的相互竞争模型；在此基础上，通过推导模型平衡点及其稳定性分析模型演化规律；最后，运用数值仿真考查了官方媒体的参与对模型演化的影响。研究结果表明:模型演化具有3种结果情景，官方媒体参与能够显著改变模型演化的速度和结果。     

铁路运输含硫原油过程中H_2S挥发规律模拟试验研究

以塔河12区含硫原油为研究对象,通过模拟铁路运输原油工况,研究罐内原油中H_2S挥发规律.结果表明,铁路运输过程中原油里H_2S析出浓度与时间的关系近似为6次多项式,并建证了H_2S浓度随时间变化的曲线方程;对影响罐内原油中H_2S挥发的2个主要因素罐内原油温度和罐车振动强度进行了分析.结果表明,罐内原油温度是原油中H_2S挥发的主要影响因素,升高罐内原油温度可以明显增加H_2S的挥发浓度.加大罐车振动强度对原油中H_2S挥发有促进作用,但不明显.     

Differences in rheological and fractal properties of conditioned and raw sewage sludge

Rheological tests for raw and conditioned activated sludge(AS) or anaerobic digested sludge(ADS) show that power-law relationships can be used to describe the evolution of several rheological parameters,i.e.,limiting viscosity(η∞),yield stress(τy),cohesion energy of the sludge network(Ec),and storage modulus(G’),with total suspended solid(TSS) content in raw and conditioned sludge.A gel-like structure that behaves similar to weak-link flocs/aggregates was observed in AS and ADS.As derived from the double-logarithmic plots of G’-TSS content,the mass fractal dimensions of the raw and conditioned AS or ADS flocs/aggregates were 2.70 and 2.53 or 2.85 and 2.79,respectively.The rheological tests also indicate that both polymer conditioning and increased TSS content led to improved elastic behavior,cohesion energy,and yield stress of the sludge network,as well as expanded the corresponding linear viscoelastic range.The porosity of AS or ADS flocs/aggregates will be improved by polymer conditioning.     

Degradation of monofluorophenols in water irradiated with gaseous plasma

Decomposition of aqueous monofluorophenols (MFPs) was investigated by contact glow discharge electrolysis (CGDE). During CGDE, both MFPs and the corresponding total organic carbon (TOC) in water were consumed smoothly, suggesting that carbon atoms of benzene nucleus could be eventually mineralized to inorganic carbon (IC). And all the fluorine atoms in the MFPs were equally converted to fluoride ions. Based on the primary intermediates from each starting materials, it showed that aromatic hydroxylation preferentially occurred at the para- or ortho- position to the phenolic OH group of each MFPs. The disappearance of both MFPs and TOC followed the first-order rate law. The apparent rate constants for the decay of MFPs were independent from the pK_a values of MFPs.     

飞机环控系统典型故障分析

环控系统解决了飞机座舱的供气、调温和增压问题,座舱的压力制度按3个阶段进行。通过典型的飞机环控系统故障,对座舱压力调节机理进行了分析,介绍了座舱压力调节过程,分析了导致飞行员耳膜疼痛、座舱压力持续下降的原因,提出了预防故障发生的建议。     

对规范环境监察执法工作的几点思考

结合环境执法工作实际,提出应对新形势下环境保护执法工作中存在问题的方法。     

论基层环境执法难的突出问题

认为基层环境执法存在环境立法欠缺执行细则,基层环保执法队伍综合实力落后,环境执法体制名义不顺,地方保护主义,企业环境意识不高等问题。提出必须从完善环境立法,加强环境执法能力建设,理顺环境执法体制,打破地方保护主义,强化政府环境责任,加大对排污企业的监控力度等多方面齐发力,共谋对策。     

联合执法机制在区域环境利益平衡中的应用

在追求环境效应与经济发展获得＂双赢＂的今天,跨行政区域联合执法已经成为平衡区域环境利益、妥善解决区域间环境纠纷,进而促进环境与经济协调发展的重要手段。本文提出了包括组建联合执法小组、主持联合执法会议、建立信息共享平台和实现联合监测的联合执法机制,并概括地阐述了确立长效性执法主体、先期处理制度、联合执法活动、活动监督、异议处理和惩罚制度的具体执行程序。试图利用联合执法的机制来解决区域间环境利益失衡的难题,以期为决策者提供相应的理论支持或政策参考。     

易斜地层钻孔倾斜规律研究

随着资源勘探开发的进一步深入,钻井工程中井斜给工程带来了一系列危害,井斜规律和防斜降斜技术的研究也越来越引起人们的重视。本文全面分析了影响易斜地层钻孔倾斜的地层因素,主要包括地层倾角、各向异性地层、岩性交替变化地层、断层,并结合湖北某米黄玉矿的勘探实例,分析和验证了易斜地层钻进中客观存在的"车轮效应",即钻头在不均质匀层状地层中钻进时,由于钻头两侧岩石的岩性和抗压强度不同,导致钻头沿地层走向方向偏移,使得钻井轨迹的方位角产生变化。该研究对类似条件的钻井勘察有一定的借鉴意义。