Dillon Consulting

Current profiles of the principle “Prima sedes a nemine iudicatur” The origin and historical transmission of the principle Prima sedes a nemine iudicatur are well known to the science of canon law. But it is necessary to deepen the constitutional content of this principle, as it does not justify any way of exercising primacy. The content and purpose of the power of the Roman Pontiff, in the light of contemporary Theology and Canon law, explain the scope and limits in the application of the Prima sedes a nemine iudicatur. SOMMARIO- 1. La sensibilità sociale attorno all'esercizio del governo - 2. Due recenti casi giudiziari in cui è stato invocato il principio del “prima sedes a nemine iudicatur”: il cosiddetto “processo del secolo” nella Città del Vaticano (2023); la controversia Cuatrecasas versus Martínez Sanz - 3. Importanza di approfondire il contenuto diaconale e spirituale del primato del Papa - 4. Il principio “prima sedes a nemine iudicatur” e le cause di cessazione nell'ufficio del Romano Pontefice: Trasmissione e significato del principio “prima sedes a nemine iudicatur”; Collegamento del principio “prima sedes a nemine iudicatur” con le cause di cessazione nell'ufficio del Romano Pontefice - 5. Il discorso sui limiti della potestà primaziale - 6. La promozione effettiva della collegialità episcopale - 7. Prudente deconcentrazione organica dell'esercizio del potere - 8. Rispetto della legittima diversità e prudente promozione della vita associativa.

Forest models can be developed from empirical relationships between stand attributes, including age, and yield. Empirical growth and yield (G&Y) models remain popular with forest managers for their simplicity and utility. It is important to apply models at the spatial levels at which they were developed to avoid the fallacy of disaggregation. This study attempted to determine whether regionally aggregated G&Y curves perform adequately when applied at the sub-regional scale, and if not, if their application can be modified to better model a mesoscale forest. We studied a mesoscale forested watershed in Nova Scotia, Canada, to determine if regional G&Y curves could predict stand merchantable volume (MV) using data available from a photogrammetric provincial forest inventory for initial stand conditions. Initial results demonstrated that curves significantly underestimated stand MV compared to 700 forest cruise point observations throughout the study area. Curves were reassigned based on observations and local knowledge, and subsequently generated estimates of stand MV not significantly different from observations. We found that while regional growth models are not ideal for mesoscale application, when properly calibrated through field observations, they can offer insights into current conditions and the future potential of a forest with minimal additional data collection required.

Standard ocean colour algorithms exploiting only shorter visible wavelengths (less than 560 nm) perform poorly in the Arctic Ocean (AO) due to the interference from colored detrital material (CDM). The incorporation of longer wavelengths, which are less susceptible to interference from CDM, could prove beneficial in retrieving water properties, particularly in Arctic waters with high CDM content. Similarly, algorithms that exploit only the red region of the spectrum, such as fluorescence-based approaches, are also unsuitable for these waters. This is due to the difficulty in accurately describing the background elastic scattering signal. In this study, we propose an algorithm that accounts for elastic scattering and fluorescence of phytoplankton in the full visible spectral domain by coupling a tuned version of the Garver-Siegel-Maritorena (GSM) algorithm (GSMA) for the AO with an optimized fluorescence emission model. Our novel algorithm, FGSM, demonstrate comparable overall performance to an empirical algorithm derived for chlorophyll a concentration (Chl) estimates in the AO (AO.emp), with a mean absolute difference (MAD) of 1.83. In addition, FGSM outperforms both the GSMA and the fluorescence line height (FLH) algorithms, with an improvement in the MAD of Chl estimates up to 41 %. Assessments conducted using both in situ datasets and satellite data at the Lena River Delta, a region characterized by high productivity and the presence of coastal CDM, revealed that for eutrophic waters where Chl is generally high, FGSM significantly mitigate the underestimation of Chl by AO.emp and GSMA, and exhibit enhanced robustness to produce more retrievals than the other semi-analytical algorithms. FGSM also demonstrates superior performance compared to the other algorithms assessed in this study for waters with high suspended particulate matter (SPM). Further validations for Arctic waters, particularly turbid coastal waters, are still expected in the future. • A novel full-spectral chlorophyll a algorithm, FGSM, was proposed. • Phytoplankton fluorescence property was considered in the FGSM. • FGSM outperforms other algorithms evaluated for waters with high CDM or SPM. • FGSM was validated very robust for turbid waters.

The Collaborative Seismic Environment Plan (CSEP) project was formed in 2018 by NERA (National Energy Resources Australia) and an industry consortium of marine seismic acquisition operators and exploration titleholders. Using a collaborative approach, the vision of the CSEP project was to streamline seismic survey environment plan preparation, submission and assessment by the regulator (National Offshore Petroleum Environmental and Safety Authority, NOPSEMA), with an emphasis on mutually agreed protocols with commercial fishers operating within the CSEP Operational Area. Stakeholder consultation undertaken during Environmental Plan (EP) preparation was identified by the consortium as a principal cause for concern and a common reason for unsuccessful EP submissions. The CSEP project has achieved the project’s vision through: A Commercial Fishing Industry Adjustment Protocol to provide a standardised, evidence-based process to assess and provide monetary adjustment to commercial fishers for loss of catch, displacement and gear loss/damage; an Operational Protocol to provide guidance regarding improved communications with commercial fishers, including the spatial and temporal repetition and advanced notifications of seismic activities; a single overarching approvals framework for seismic activities within the CSEP Operational Area; a consistent assessment of environmental receptors, potential impacts, and management controls for seismic activities; and Improved understanding of potential cumulative impacts of seismic activities across the CSEP Operational Area. The CSEP project is an example of best practice stakeholder consultation that can be applied to offshore oil and gas and renewable energy activities.

Abstract Successful land reclamation during after-care depends on passive, low-maintenance solutions to manage fugitive methane (CH4) emissions. That is, those emissions not captured by gas collection systems at closed landfills. Passive methane oxidation biosystems (PMOBs) have been considered a technically sound and cost-effective treatment system for these fugitive CH4 emissions. Microbial oxidation of methane gas is achieved by methanotrophs, a group of mostly mesophilic obligate aerobes. Achieving year-round methane oxidation requires certain conditions for survival of these organisms. The objective of this study is to develop a design procedure for a PMOB capable of abating fugitive methane to acceptable levels year-round a pilot-scale PMOB developed at closed landfill in the Region of Waterloo, now a public park. The effectiveness of the design will be evaluated by monitoring methane emissions at different points in the PMOB. Successful completion of the project may provide a low-maintenance, high impact technology to abate landfill emissions that could be applied by landfill designers and operators across Canada. This paper presents some of the steps taken to design, install and monitor the PMOB.

Three media (sediment, surface water, and dragonfly larvae tissue) were collected from wetlands surrounding an industrial effluent treatment facility prior to closure. Samples were analyzed for metals, total mercury, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) concentrations. Sediment and surface water concentrations were compared to provincial and federal guidelines, as well as reference wetland concentrations. Exceedances of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, zinc, and PCDD/PCDF guidelines were found in deeper areas of wetlands historically contaminated from effluent, as well as wetlands exposed to current effluent inputs. Composite Libellulidae samples were collected from wetlands, and comparisons were made to reference tissue concentrations + 20%. Elevated As, Cu and Pb tissue concentrations were measured at two site wetlands, but total mercury (THg) and PCDD/PCDF reference tissue concentrations were higher than wetlands near the effluent treatment facility. Spearman rho tests identified a significant correlation between sediment and tissue Pb concentrations and between surface water and sediment THg concentrations. Results suggest relatively low ecological risk to macroinvertebrates within wetlands near the effluent treatment facility from current effluent inputs, and highlight strengths and weaknesses of federal and provincial guidelines.

Cactaceae es una familia americana muy diversa en los Andes occidentales, no obstante, aun su diversidad y distribucion no es precisa, es necesario realizar inventarios exhaustivos de especies en localidades potencialmente biodiversas. Es por ello que, esta investigacion busca determinar la diversidad y distribucion de Cactaceae en el Valle de Chaparra. Se realizaron visitas de campo desde el ano 2015 al 2019, abarcando toda la extension del valle (zona de costa, valle y zona alta), desde 100 hasta 3500 m; se realizaron busquedas intensivas, con recolecciones botanicas, se tomaron datos geograficos (coordenadas, altitud), fotografias y los taxones fueron determinados con bibliografia especializada. Se registra un total de 23 taxones, siendo 18 endemicos de Peru y dos exclusivos de Arequipa, en cuanto a la distribucion, Cactaceae se presenta desde 170 hasta >3000 m, en la zona de costa se registran seis taxones localizandose desde 170 hasta los 700 m, la zona del valle la cual abarca desde 300 hasta 3000 m, presenta 17 taxones, encontrandose la mayor diversidad en el intervalo de 1500-1800 m, finalmente, la zona alta, la cual se encuentra por encima de los 3000 m, presenta cuatro taxones.