A longitudinal examination of the work–nonwork boundary strength construct

Many organizations are blurring the boundaries between work and nonwork through practices such as flextime, telecommuting, and on‐site day‐cares. Such integration of work and nonwork is purported to help employees find the seemingly elusive “work‐life balance.” Scholarly investigations of this issue have increased in number, but a standard measure of work–nonwork boundary strength has yet to emerge. The purpose of this research is to explore the boundary strength construct through the process of measure validation. In Study 1, data were collected from students (N = 162) to pilot test the measure. Study 2 was a longitudinal field study in which data were collected from employees of Canadian organizations (Survey 1: N = 793; Matched data for Surveys 1 & 2: N = 205). Confirmatory factor analyses supported the hypothesized two‐factor structure of the work–nonwork boundary strength measure, confirming the importance of differentiating boundary strength at home (BSH) and boundary strength at work (BSW). Longitudinal analyses confirmed the structural invariance of the measure and revealed that boundary strengths are relatively stable over a period of 1 year. Role identification was related to boundary strength at home only. Weak boundaries, both at home and at work, were associated with high inter‐role conflict. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Clearance and Fragmentation of Tropical Deciduous Forest in the Tierras Bajas, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Abstract: The Tierras Bajas is an area of 20,000 km ² of lowland deciduous forest in eastern Santa Cruz, Bolivia, that has undergone rapid change during the past two decades. As part of the largest remaining area of intact deciduous tropical forest in the world, it has been nominated a priority area for conservation by several environmental organizations. We quantified the spatial and temporal patterns of deforestation in the area by digital processing of high-resolution satellite imagery from 1975 through 1998. The estimated rate of deforestation was among the highest in the world for such a limited area, ranging from 160 km ²/year in the early1980s to almost 1200 km ²/year in the late 1990s. Although most deforestation up to 1984 was in Bolivian peasant and Mennonite colonies, most deforestation after 1984 was in non-Mennonite industrial soybean farms. The level of fragmentation of uncut forest, caused by the spatial patterns of deforestation, also differed among these broad land-use types. Deforestation in planned and spontaneous peasant colonies was complex in shape, forming relatively large areas of edge-affected forest, whereas that in Mennonite and other industrial farms was in large, rectangular increments, creating relatively less edge. But the distribution of these farms and the practice of initially clearing around the peripheries of properties resulted in the isolation of large areas of forest. In 1998 four-fifths of the remaining forest were either within 1 km of a clearance edge or in isolated fragments of <50 km². Compared with deforested areas, the areas of isolated and edge-affected forest were disproportionately large during the early stages of frontier colonization. These results imply that if the fragmentation effects of deforestation are to be minimized, conservation planning must occur at the earliest stages of frontier development.     

Identification of two mutations for ataxia telangiectasia among the Druze community

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, immunodeficiency, susceptibility to lymphoreticular malignancies and cancer predisposition, hypersensitivity to ionic radiation and chromosomal instability. In this study, we report a founder effect of AT with two different mutations: 1339 C > T and 6672 del GG together with 6677 del TACG, found in four Israeli Druze clans originating from three different Druze centers in the Middle East (Lebanon, Syria and Jordan). The 1339 C > T mutation, which results in a stop codon at position 447 of the ATM protein, was observed in two unrelated clans originating from Lebanon and Jordan. The 6672 del GG/6677 del TACG mutation was observed in two unrelated clans originating from Syria and Lebanon. In the present study, simple and fast detection assays were developed for both mutations. The ability to identify AT carriers routinely provides a unique opportunity for prenatal diagnosis, genetic counseling as well as marriage guidance in the Druze community. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ground water contamination with 238U, 234U, 235U, 226Ra and 210Pb from past uranium mining: cove wash,Arizona

The objectives of the study are to present a critical review of the ²³⁸U, ²³⁴U, ²³⁵U, ²²⁶Ra and ²¹⁰Pb levels in water samples from the EPA studies (U.S. EPA in Abandoned uranium mines and the Navajo Nation: Red Valley chapter screening assessment report. Region 9 Superfund Program, San Francisco, 2004, Abandoned uranium mines and the Navajo Nation: Northern aum region screening assessment report. Region 9 Superfund Program, San Francisco, 2006, Health and environmental impacts of uranium contamination, 5-year plan. Region 9 Superfund Program, San Franciso, 2008) and the dose assessment for the population due to ingestion of water containing ²³⁸U and ²³⁴U. The water quality data were taken from Sect. “Data analysis” of the published report, titled Abandoned Uranium Mines Project Arizona, New Mexico, Utah–Navajo Lands 1994–2000, Project Atlas. Total uranium concentration was above the maximum concentration level for drinking water (7.410–1 Bq/L) in 19 % of the water samples, while ²³⁸U and ²³⁴U concentrations were above in 14 and 17 % of the water samples, respectively. ²²⁶Ra and ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in water samples were in the range of 3.7 × 10^?1 to 5.55 × 102 Bq/L and 1.11 to 4.33 × 102 Bq/L, respectively. For only two samples, the ²²⁶Ra concentrations exceeded the MCL for total Ra for drinking water (0.185 Bq/L). However, the ²¹⁰Pb/²²⁶Ra ratios varied from 0.11 to 47.00, and ratios above 1.00 were observed in 71 % of the samples. Secular equilibrium of the natural uranium series was not observed in the data record for most of the water samples. Moreover, the ²³⁵U/^totalU mass ratios ranged from 0.06 to 5.9 %, and the natural mass ratio of ²³⁵U to ^totalU (0.72 %) was observed in only 16 % of the water samples, ratios above or below the natural ratio could not be explained based on data reported by U.S. EPA. In addition, statistical evaluations showed no correlations among the distribution of the radionuclide concentrations in the majority of the water samples, indicating more than one source of contamination could contribute to the sampled sources. The effective doses due to ingestion of the minimum uranium concentrations in water samples exceed the average dose considering inhalation and ingestion of regular diet for other populations around the world (1 μSv/year). The maximum doses due to ingestion of ²³⁸U or ²³⁴U were above the international limit for effective dose for members of the public (1 mSv/year), except for inhabitants of two chapters. The highest effective dose was estimated for inhabitants of Cove, and it was almost 20 times the international limit for members of the public. These results indicate that ingestion of water from some of the sampled sources poses health risks.     

Use of Animal Species Data in Environmental Impact Assessments

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) should ideally help minimize adverse effects on biological diversity by considering impacts of projects on wide ranges of species. This paper investigates how recent Dutch EIAs included the species comprising animal diversity. We present results of two studies on fauna data used in the EIAs. Objectives were to determine for different taxa (a) the relative representation of species in Environmental Impact Statements (EISs); (b) the extent to which EISs referred to specific species and the accuracy of survey data referred to; and (c) apparent roles of different EIA actors in species inclusion. EIAs were found to use data on various taxa but on limited numbers of species. The frequency with which taxa were included varied significantly. Birds were most frequently included, followed by mammals, amphibians, and other species groups. The quality of data on birds exceeded that regarding other vertebrates. Our results indicate that (a) EIA working groups of independent experts were the most influential in determining the data to be used; (b) on average, proponents included data more often than required by guidelines; and (c) in 30 to 40% of the EIAs, the participation of nongovernmental organizations prompted use of data. Despite the key role of experts in data inclusion, the taxon rankings found in the EIAs showed little deviation from those observed in studies on people’s preferences for species. Given the limited ranges of species considered, it is doubtful that the EIAs examined effectively contributed to conserving animal species diversity. Edo Knegtering produced this work in his personal capacity     

Workplace monitoring of hydrogen peroxide using titanyl-coated sorbents

The current methods of sampling hydrogen peroxide, based on bubbling in acid solutions (titanium tetrachloride or titanium oxysulfate), are unsuitable for personal sampling. An alternative medium has been developed: silica gel coated with titanium oxysulfate. Sample tubes of this new sampling medium are suitable for personal sampling. The sampling performance is the same as that of the methods based on bubbling, but the tubes must be desorbed as soon as possible, even if the spectrophotometric analysis can be postponed. Special emphasis has been placed on the possible interference by peracetic acid, which is currently used in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide in the food industry.     

Distribution and conservation status of littoral vascular plant species along the European coasts

A comprehensive list of 1068 typical littoral plant species and subspecies has been composed. They are considered endemic in a wide sense and are subdivided into widespread, transregional, regional and local endemics, the latter three categories being considered as endemics s.s. For each taxon the distribution, habitat preference, endemic status and conservation status are given. The list, which is available upon request, is summarized in a number of figures and tables, from which it appears that 61% of all species are endemics s.s., that ca. 30% of all species are dune and beach species and another nearly 30% are maritime rock species. Species of wet habitats are concentrated in northern and northwestern Europe, dune species in western and southwestern Europe, western Mediterranean and Black Sea. The conservation status of most species is indicated; 37% is considered threatened. It is concluded that the Bern Convention and the European Habitat Directive offer an entirely insufficient framework for effective conservation action. It is suggested to take the present list as a starting point for a geographical/taxonomical/ecological data base of European coastal endemics.     

Tibial hemimelia syndrome: Prenatal diagnosis by real-time ultrasound

The tibial hemimelia syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant condition associated with limb deficiencies. We recently diagnosed this condition in a pregnancy at 16·5 weeks' gestation by ultrasound and a positive family history. To our knowledge, this represents the first case to be detected prenatally.