Estimating the economic burden from illnesses associated with recreational coastal water pollution--a case study in Orange County, California

A cost-of-illness framework was applied to health and income data to quantify the health burden from illnesses associated with exposure to polluted recreational marine waters. Using data on illness severity due to exposure to polluted coastal water and estimates of mean annual salaries and medical costs (adjusted to 2001 values) for residents of Orange County, California, we estimated that the economic burden per gastrointestinal illness (GI) amounts to 36.58 dollars, the burden per acute respiratory disease is 76.76 dollars, the burden per ear ailment is 37.86 dollars, and the burden per eye ailment is 27.31 dollars. These costs can become a substantial public health burden when millions of exposures per year to polluted coastal waters result in hundreds of thousands of illnesses. For example, exposures to polluted waters at Orange County's Newport and Huntington Beaches were estimated to generate an average of 36,778 GI episodes per year. At this GI illness rate, one can also expect that approximately 38,000 more illness episodes occurred per year of other types, including respiratory, eye, and ear infections. The combination of excess illnesses associated with coastal water pollution resulted in a cumulative public health burden of 3.3 million dollars per year for these two beaches. This paper introduces a public health cost variable that can be applied in cost-benefit analyses when evaluating pollution abatement strategies.     

Reliability and validity of aggressive driving measures in China

The present research was designed to examine the psychometric properties of Chinese versions of the Self Report Driver Behavior Aggression and Assertiveness subscales, the Driving Vengeance Questionnaire, and the Violent Driving Questionnaire. Study 1 found that the all scales demonstrated good internal consistency, with alphas ranging from .76 to .87 and that assertive driving was related to demerit points received over the past 12 months while driver aggression and violence were linked to collisions over the past 12 months. Study 2 found that the scales exhibited reasonable test-retest reliability, with correlations ranging from .82 to .89. Finally, Study 3 showed that each scale was predicted by other dangerous driving attitudes and behaviors, similar to the original versions. The consistency between the translated and original scales, the implications for use in a Chinese sample, and the uniformity of actions in the traffic environment across cultures are discussed.     

Effect of monosodium methanarsonate application on cuticle wax content of cocklebur and cotton plants

Leaf cuticle waxes were extracted from monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA)-resistant (R) and -susceptible (S) common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants at 0, 3, 5, and 7 days after treatment (DAT) following 1x and 2x MSMA applications. Wax constituents were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection and compared to alkane and alcohol standards of carbon lengths varying from C21 to C30. Differences in waxes were calculated and reported as change per ng mm2-1. Tricosane (C23) was found to increase following MSMA applications. All other alkanes decreased by 7 DAT, with some showing a linear effect over time in the R-cocklebur. Alcohol constituents were also observed to decrease by 7 DAT. Total arsenic in the extracted wax fraction was determined, with greatest quantities detected in the R-cocklebur. Wax changes are not believed to play a role in cotton tolerance, since changes in cuticle concentrations were minimal. Cocklebur resistance to MSMA is not due to cuticle constituents; the wax changes are a secondary effect in response to herbicide application.     

Runoff water quality during drought in a zero-order georgia piedmont pasture: nitrogen and total organic carbon

Approximately 11% of the Southern Piedmont (1.8 million ha) is used for pasture and hay production, mostly under low-input management. Few studies have investigated in the region long-term nitrogen and carbon losses in surface runoff, which can be significant. We present 1999 to 2009 hydrologic and water quality data from a rotationally grazed, 7.8-ha, zero-order pasture (W1) near Watkinsville in the Georgia Piedmont. Annual rainfall was 176 to 463 mm below the long-term average (1240 mm) in 7 of the 11 yr. There were 20 runoff events during 86 mo of below-average rainfall (deficit period), compared with 54 events during 46 mo of nondeficit period. Mean event flow-weighted concentration (in mg L) was 0.96 for nitrate-nitrogen (NO-N), 0.97 for ammonium-nitrogen (NH-N), 3.70 for total nitrogen (TN), and 9.12 for total organic carbon (TOC) ( = 43-47; limited due to instrument problem). Nutrient loads (in kg ha per event) averaged 0.04 for NO-N, 0.03 for NH-N, 0.19 for TN, and 0.54 for TOC. Total loads for N and TOC were 6 to 11 times greater from nondeficit than from deficit periods. The observed N concentrations, while well below maximum drinking water standard limits, could pose risk for eutrophication, which can be stimulated at lower concentrations. However, the ability of headwater streams, such as the one downstream of W1, to reduce nutrient concentrations might partially alleviate this concern. The results of this study point to the need to use a long-term dataset that includes measurements made in drought and wet years when evaluating the efficacy of water quality standards.     

Effects of dyadic duration on the relationship between leader behavior perceptions and follower outcomes

This research focused on the role of dyadic duration, the amount of time a subordinate has worked for the same supervisor, in leadership dynamics. Specifically, a field study of engineering personnel examined dyadic duration as a moderator of the relationships between supervisory leadership behavior and subordinates' attitudes and behavior. Moderated regression analysis revealed that the length of time a subordinate had served under the same supervisor influenced the relationship between supportive and directive leader behaviors and follower performance. Implications of these findings were discussed, focusing on the exchange process between individual leaders and followers.     

Efficiency of pollution taxation and market structure

This paper looks at the performance of a uniform pollution tax in achieving a given level of pollution abatement at least cost. It is shown that market structure is an important consideration in this performance and that in general least-cost abatement will not result from a pollution tax uniformly applied. The pattern of pollution taxes that will achieve least-cost abatement when differing degrees of market power exist among polluters is developed and discussed.     

Quality circle programmes: Volunteering for participation

Discriminant analysis was used to develop a profile of a typical Quality Circle Programme participant. Selected demographic, attitudinal, and behavioural characteristics were evaluated. Six characteristics significantly differentiated quality circle members from non-members, including educational level, tenure, job satisfaction, consideration, performance, and absenteeism. A profile of the typical circle member is described, and interpretations of the discriminant analysis are discussed.