The impact of multiple source feedback on management development: findings from a longitudinal study

Despite the rapid uptake of multi‐source multi‐rater (MSMR) feedback systems by UK organizations, comparatively little research exists describing the actual impact on participant managers, in terms of changes in management competence. Ratings of 104 target managers (by self assessments, bosses‐, first‐ and second‐level subordinates) were investigated within the context of a developmental feedback programme in operation within an organization. The study compared ratings over two administrations (with two years between administrations) to determine: (1) changes in co‐workers' perceptions of their target manager's competence, (2) changes in target managers' development needs over time, (3) factors influencing a target manager's revised self‐assessment and co‐workers ratings, (4) changes in congruence between self and co‐workers ratings and (5) the relationship of feedback to the organization's formal performance appraisal process. Significant increases in managers' competence were perceived by the managers' themselves and by their subordinates, development needs were seen to reduce and self and co‐workers ratings were largely seen to become more congruent. However, polynomial regression analyses revealed co‐workers feedback at Time One was not predictive of targets' self‐assessments at Time Two. The implications of these findings with regard to the utility of MSMR feedback as a tool for management development are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

航天继电器用AgCuONiO电接触材料的电寿命服役性能研究

目的 探究一种可替代AgCdO的高性能且环境友好的新型电接触材料,以提升航天继电器的可靠性。方法 在一定条件下以合金内氧化法制备AgCuONiO电接触材料,并与商用AgCdO电接触材料进行对比,利用电寿命模拟试验分析2款材料的电寿命循环服役性能,分析其失效机理。结果 AgCuONiO材料的总质量损失为0.000 88 g,平均燃弧时间、燃弧能量、熔焊力、回跳次数、回跳时间、回跳能量分别为4 222μs、694 mJ、0.049 N、1.799次、592.999μs、63.892 mJ,均大于商用AgCdO电接触材料,但其接触电阻低,且稳定,失效模式为无法分断电弧,而商用AgCdO电接触材料为粘连失效。AgCuONiO电接触材料的电寿命服役周期为44073次,是AgCdO电接触材料的3倍左右,因此可以显著提高航天继电器的可靠性。结论AgCuONiO电接触材料的一些电寿命服役性能虽然不如商用AgCdO电接触材料,但其电寿命服役周期明显强于商用Ag Cd O电接触材料,可作为替代AgCdO的较佳候选材料之一,应用于服役寿命要求更长的航天继电器。     

Climate change and disaster management

Climate change, although a natural phenomenon, is accelerated by human activities. Disaster policy response to climate change is dependent on a number of factors, such as readiness to accept the reality of climate change, institutions and capacity, as well as willingness to embed climate change risk assessment and management in development strategies. These conditions do not yet exist universally. A focus that neglects to enhance capacity-building and resilience as a prerequisite for managing climate change risks will, in all likelihood, do little to reduce vulnerability to those risks. Reducing vulnerability is a key aspect of reducing climate change risk. To do so requires a new approach to climate change risk and a change in institutional structures and relationships. A focus on development that neglects to enhance governance and resilience as a prerequisite for managing climate change risks will, in all likelihood, do little to reduce vulnerability to those risks.     

A Bird’s Eye View of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge Occupation: Nonhuman Agency and Entangled Species

In January 2016, armed militants occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, demanding an end to government control of the Refuge and other similarly protected public lands. Public discourse about the occupation highlights ongoing tensions around land use, property rights, and government overreach. The discourse foregrounds human animal concerns and all but erases nonhuman animal agency. This essay considers nonhuman animal agency and the entanglement of humans, nonhumans, and the land as seen in the occupation and surrounding discourse. We draw from critical animal studies and feminist posthuman theory to examine how discourses of the occupation produce and reinforce a sense of human exceptionalism that elides a more useful and nuanced understanding of human–nonhuman–land relatedness and agency. The analysis shows how, in the case of the Malheur occupation, occupiers and critics alike rely on discourses of “othering” towards both nonhuman animals and other humans. We take a “birding” perspective on the occupation to show how the webs of relationality that connect humans, nonhumans, and the land might be activated as an antidote to destructive discourses of human exceptionalism.     

Protection of wetlands as a strategy for reducing the spread of avian influenza from migratory waterfowl

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has led to the death or destruction of millions of domesticated and wild birds and caused hundreds of human deaths worldwide. As with other HPAIs, H5N1 outbreaks among poultry have generally been caused by contact with infected migratory waterfowl at the interface of wildlands and human-dominated landscapes. Using a case–control epidemiological approach, we analyzed the relation between habitat protection and H5N1 outbreaks in China from 2004 to 2017. We found that while proximity to unprotected waterfowl habitats and rice paddy generally increased outbreak risk, proximity to the most highly protected habitats (e.g., Ramsar-designated lakes and wetlands) had the opposite effect. Protection likely involves two mechanisms: the separation of wild waterfowl and poultry populations and the diversion of wild waterfowl from human-dominated landscapes toward protected natural habitats. Wetland protection could therefore be an effective means to control avian influenza while also contributing to avian conservation.     

Assessment of natural coagulants to remediate Tunisian textile wastewater by combining physicochemical,analytical, and toxicological data

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Due to the complexity and variability of textile wastewater composition, a constant search for new treatment strategies that are efficient,...     

基于三维荧光光谱技术解析不同微生物法净化黑臭水体的效果

应用曝气、菌剂+曝气、生物促生剂+曝气、菌剂+生物促生剂+曝气4种微生物技术净化黑臭水体,分别考察了进水中溶解性有机物(DOM)的特征和来源及出水中DOM的特征和效果,采用三维荧光(EEM)光谱技术与平行因子(PARAFAC)模型相结合的方式对进出水DOM进行了分析。结果表明,不同处理方式下进出水DOM的不同组分荧光峰强度变化存在较明显的差异,经过菌剂和生物促生剂联合处理之后,对类腐殖质等难降解物质削减效果最好。FI、HIX和BIX指数分析表明各处理水样中的DOM整体处于较强的自生源特征。利用主成分分析法(PCA)对影响黑臭水体DOM的主要因素及其贡献量研究发现:第1主成分表现为陆源类腐殖质和生物源类腐殖质共存的现象,对水体中DOM的贡献率为54.98%;第2主成分反映了以微生物代谢过程为代表的内源污染,对水体中DOM的贡献率为26.56%。因此,利用三维荧光分析能够较好的反映水中DOM的去除情况,易于实时在线监测,对黑臭水治理具有重要意义。     

多效膜蒸馏技术浓缩回收废水中的二甲基亚砜

利用具有内部潜热回收功能的气隙式多效膜蒸馏(MEMD)组件对含二甲基亚砜(DMSO)的化纤废水进行了浓缩回收研究,考察了料液中DMSO浓度、进料流量、进料温度和膜侧进口温度对膜通量、造水比、分离因子和回收率的影响。结果表明,多效膜蒸馏可以将DMSO废水浓缩至200~300 g/L;初始浓度为6.2 g/L时,造水比和分离因子最高值分别为12.4和76.0;虽然膜通量、造水比和分离因子均随料液浓度增大而下降,但是当DMSO浓度达到200 g/L时,膜通量、造水比、分离因子仍分别高达3.74 L/(m2·h)、7.1、32.1;在整个浓缩过程中,回收率维持在99.6%以上;当DMSO废水浓缩达到150 g/L以上时,含有少量DMSO的渗透液可作为二次料液继续用MEMD过程浓缩。膜组件在连续运行的1个月内保持了良好的操作性能。该实验研究表明,多效膜蒸馏过程可以高效节能地浓缩回收化纤废水中的DMSO。     

Causality relationship between CO2 emissions,GDP and energy intensity in Tunisia

This article analyzes the causality between the economic growth, the energy and the environment, measured by CO₂ emissions. Our empirical study is based on a series of annual data from 1980 to 2010 in Tunisia. Our study was conducted using the Granger causality test and variance decomposition. The empirical results confirm the presence of a positive effect between the energy consumption and the economic growth measured by gross domestic product (GDP). Thus, there is a unidirectional relationship between GDP and CO₂ emissions in the short term. This analysis shows, as is common to relatively fast-growing economies in Tunisia, that the biggest contributor to the rise is CO₂ emissions. Hence, in congruence with the result of variance decomposition, the GDP affects CO₂ emissions in the short and medium term at an almost constant level (10 %). The non-renewable energy intensity in Tunisian economy is responsible for a modest reduction in CO₂ emissions, which suggests the implementation of conservation policies aimed at energy efficiency and the orientation toward renewable energy.     

Dose and frequency dependent effects of olive mill wastewater treatment on the chemical and microbial properties of soil

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is a problematic by-product of olive oil production. While its high organic load and polyphenol concentrations are associated with troublesome environmental effects, its rich mineral and organic matter contents represent valuable nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the valorization of this waste biomass as a potential soil conditioner and fertilizer in agriculture. OMW was assayed at three doses 50, 100, and 200 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) over three successive years in olive fields. The effects of the effluent on the physico-chemical and microbial properties of soil-layers were assessed. The findings revealed that the pH of the soil decreased but electrical conductivity and organic matter, total nitrogen, sodium, and potassium soil contents increased in proportion with OMW concentration and frequency of application. While no variations were observed in phosphorus content, slow increases were recorded in calcium and magnesium soil contents. Compared to their control soil counterparts, aerobic bacteria and fungi increased in proportion with OMW spreading rates. The models expressing the correlation between progress parameters and OMW doses were fitted into a second degree polynomial model. Principal component analysis showed a strong correlation between soil mineral elements and microorganisms. These parameters were not related to phosphorus and pH.