Do voluntary pollution reduction programs (VPRs) spur or deter environmental innovation? Evidence from 33/50

We study whether a government-sponsored voluntary pollution reduction program (VPR) promotes or deters the development of new environmental technologies that yield future emission reduction benefits. Using a panel of 127 U.S. manufacturing industries defined by 3-digit SIC classifications over the 1989–2004 period, we estimate impacts of industry-level participation in the 33/50 program, a VPR initiated by government regulators in 1991, on industry-level rates of environmental patenting. We find that higher rates of 33/50 program participation are associated with significant reductions in the number of successful environmental patent applications five to nine years after the program ended.     

Seven years from the first application of polyaluminium chloride in the Czech Republic – effects on phytoplankton communities in three water bodies

This study determines the efficiency of polyaluminium chloride application on phytoplankton species as a consequence of five reservoir restorations in the Czech Republic during the years 2005 and 2008, including the first ever large-scale application. Although polyaluminium chloride has been used in water treatment plants across the world, information about its application toward cyanobacterial blooms in nature is poor. Although the application of polyaluminium chloride did not cause any fundamental long-term changes in the composition of phytoplankton species or phosphorus load, instead causing fast and acute removal of the phytoplankton community, it may act as an algicidal compound with fast removal efficiency. All treated water bodies described in our study remained unaffected by cyanobacterial blooms and the hygienic limit for the purposes of recreation was not exceeded in any particular season. This article should serve as notice of the advantages and disadvantages of polyaluminium chloride application, and also warn against the uniform usage of this chemical as a method of reducing phytoplankton species in all types of water bodies where cyanobacteria are present. Moreover, data about the effects on non-target (invertebrates) species and microcystin release from cyanobacterial cells are also mentioned.     

Preconcentration of tin in environmental and biological samples by ion exchange using modified Amberlite XAD-2

Utilization of Amberlite XAD-2 surface modified by covalent immobilization of brilliant green through an azo spacer for adsorptive enrichment of Sn(II) from environmental and biological samples was highlighted. The resulting resin was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The resin retained Sn(II) ions at an optimum pH of 9.5 with a sorption capacity of 40 mg g^?1. The modified sorbent could be reused for 10 cycles without significant changes in sorption capacity. The recovery of Sn(II) was 98% when eluted with 0.1 mol L^?1 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Scatchard analysis revealed that binding sites in the modified resin were homogeneous. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models. The method was applied with satisfactory results for determination of Sn(II) ions in human plasma and sea water.     

青岛市城市绿地种子植物区系的构成特征

在资料分析和2013年夏秋二季进行的实地调查基础上研究了青岛市城市绿地种子植物区系的科属种构成、种的生活型构成、属的地理分布区类型构成,并比较了青岛市城市绿地种子植物区系与青岛崂山种子植物区系、中国种子植物区系属的地理分布区类型构成差异。结果表明,青岛市城市绿地种子植物区系有种子植物69科155属228种,有含5种及以上的12个较大科、124个单种属、183种木本植物和45种草本植物,有热带分布属32属、温带分布属95属、世界分布属14属和中国特有属14属。青岛市城市绿地种子植物区系有植物种类丰富多样,木本植物种类多,区系中属、种的分化程度高,属的地理分布区类型多样且具有很典型的温带特征和鲜明的中国特色等特点。     

Technological pluralism and diversity as fundamental prerequisites for sustainability

SUMMARY

A definition of technological pluralism and diversity is presented, together with a concept of viability, within the context of sustainable development. The existing contrast with technological homogeneity is also discussed in order to show that the former concept is a necessary prerequisite for the pursuit of sustainability, whereas the latter has led to a process of cultural homogenisation, with the generally acknowledged repercussions for past and present forms of development. The availability of a number of different viable options can be considered a fundamental prerequisite for the most appropriate choice to be made by both producers and consumers; whereas, if only one technical solution is available and ready to be implemented (or requires only marginal modifications), then producers from the various socioeconomic sectors are obliged to implement that solution. This may sometimes have its advantages but very often will have serious drawbacks which may well impede the pursuit of sustainability.

The question of the current form of product diversification is also analysed to see whether it may be advantageous within a sustainable society, and to discover if there is any contrast between this type of diversification and technological pluralism/diversity, and how this contrast may be overcome.     

The greener,the more cost efficient? An empirical study of international tourist hotels in Taiwan

Going ‘green’ is more than a mere fad in the hotel industry, and environment-friendly green hotels are becoming popular. The purpose of this study was to conduct an investigation into the link between ‘green’ and cost efficiency in the hotel industry. Empirical evidence supporting this investigation was gathered from the Taiwan hotel industry. Data were gathered from 68 international tourist hotels in Taiwan. Moreover, our finding differs from most of the earlier studies and indicates that ‘green’ is negatively and significantly associated with the cost efficiency of a hotel. In other words, ‘green’ renders a hotel ineffective. The implications of the findings have been discussed, and the limitations of the study as well as future research directions have been addressed.     

技术进步对煤矿安全生产的影响分析

安全生产是我国煤炭行业健康发展的重要前提。通过研究我国煤矿安全生产现状,分析其影响因素,提出技术进步在保障安全生产中的重要性。运用多元回归分析方法建立基于技术进步的从业人员素质、机械化程度与百万吨死亡率之间关系的回归分析模型,研究结果表明它们之间的关系为高度相关,且模型具有很好的拟合度。根据分析结论提出相应的政策建议,为基于安全生产的技术进步与煤矿产能之间的协调发展提供理论依据。     

The role of weekly high‐activated positive mood,context, and personality in innovative work behavior: A multilevel and interactional model

This article proposed and tested a multilevel and interactional model of individual innovation in which weekly moods represent a core construct between context, personality, and innovative work behavior. Adopting the circumplex model of affect, innovative work behavior is proposed as resulting from weekly positive and high‐activated mood. Furthermore, drawing on the Big Five model of personality and cognitive appraisal theory, openness to experience and support for innovation are proposed as individual and contextual variables, respectively, which interplay in this process. Openness to experience interacts with support for innovation leading to high‐activated positive mood. Furthermore, openness interacts with these feelings leading to greater levels of innovative work behavior. Overall, the model entails a moderated mediation process where weekly high‐activated positive mood represents a crucial variable for transforming contextual and individual resources into innovative outcomes. These propositions were tested and supported using a diary methodology and multilevel structural equation modeling, on the basis of 893 observations of innovative work behavior and moods nested in 10 weekly waves of data. This information was collected from 92 individuals of diverse occupations employed in 73 distinct companies. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

绿色行政体系中识别环境因素的意义及标准

简要介绍了“绿色行政体系”的定义和建设意义,着重介绍了将环境因素引入体系建设的意义以及在体系中识别环境因素的标准。     

绿色大学建设中的生态足迹

生态足迹分析法是评价绿色大学建设水平最好的指标之一.生态足迹分析法有综合法和成分法2种.本文简要介绍了生态足迹成分法的基本原理和算法,并以东北大学为例将该方法应用大学校园的研究.结果表明,东北大学2003年的生态足迹为24787hm2,即需要约25000hm²的生态生产性土地支持学校的各类消费并吸纳所产生的废弃物.其生态效率(即单位生态生产性土地可支持的学生数)为0.94人·hm^-2.生态足迹中,能源消费的足迹最大,占总足迹的2/3多;食物消费和固态垃圾次之,分别占总足迹的21.9%和5.7%.