Retracted: Authentically leading groups: The mediating role of collective psychological capital and trust

Although there have been recent theoretical advances in what is increasingly being recognized as authentic leadership, research testing possible mediating processes and the impact on group‐level outcomes has not received attention. To help address this need, this study examined at the group level of analysis the role that collective psychological capital and trust may play in the relationship between authentic leadership and work groups' desired outcomes. Utilizing 146 intact groups from a large financial institution, the results indicated a significant relationship between both their collective psychological capital and trust with their group‐level performance and citizenship behavior. These two variables were also found to mediate the relationship between authentic leadership and the desired group outcomes, even when controlling for transformational leadership. Implications for future research and practice conclude the paper. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Charcoal production in a UK moorland wildfire – How important is it?

Wildfires are a common feature of peatland environments, but the carbon balance of these wildfires is often not considered and the production of refractory black carbon in these wildfires could be an important addition to carbon accumulation and mitigate losses of biomass during the fire. This study investigates the biomass and carbon losses during a moorland wildfire. Changes in above-ground carbon stocks were calculated using a combination of field data, laboratory measurements and literature values. The results show that approximately 14% of the carbon in the original above-ground biomass remained on the site after the burn. Black carbon production was approximately 6 gC m(-2) which constituted 4.3% of the biomass lost. The survival of biomass and black carbon may help to mitigate the loss of carbon during the fire.     

Nitric oxide removal by wastewater bacteria in a biotrickling filter

Nitric oxide(NO) is one of the most important air pollutants in atmosphere mainly emitted from combustion source. A biotrickling filter was designed and operated to remove NO from an air stream using bacteria extracted from the sewage sludge of a municipal sewage treatment plant. To obtain the best operation conditions for the biotrickling filter, orthogonal experiments(L9(34)) were designed. Inlet oxygen concentration was found to be the most significant factor of the biotrickling filter and has a significant negative effect on the system. The optimal conditions of the biotrickling filter occurred at a temperature of 40℃, a pH of 8.0 and a chemical oxygen demand of 165 mg/L in the recycled water with no oxygen in the system. The bacteria sample was detected by DNA sequencing technology and showed 93%–98% similarity to Pseudomonas mendocina. Moreover, a full gene sequencing results indicated the bacterium was a brand new strain and named as P. mendocina DLHK. This strain can transfer nitrate to organic nitrogen. The result suggested the assimilation nitrogen process in this system. Through the isotope experimental analysis, two intermediate products(15NO and 15N2O) were found. The results indicated the denitrification function and capability of the biotrickling filter in removing NO.     

Hazardous chemical site remediation through capping: Problems with long-term protection

The capping of waste management units and contaminated soils is receiving increasing attention as a low-cost method for hazardous chemical site remediation. Capping is used to prevent further groundwater pollution by existing waste management units and contaminated soils through limiting the moisture that enters the wastes. In principle, for wastes located above the water table, the construction of an impermeable cap can prevent leaching of the wastes (leachate generation) and groundwater pollution. In practice, appropriately designed and constructed RCRA caps can provide for only short-term prevention of groundwater pollution. Alternative approaches are available for capping of wastes that can be effective in preventing moisture from entering the wastes and concomitant groundwater pollution. These approaches recognize the inability of the typical RCRA cap to keep wastes dry for as long as waste constituents will be a threat and, most importantly, provide the necessary funds to effectively address all plausible worst-case scenario failures that could occur at a capped waste management unit or contaminated soil area.     

Facilitating brownfields transactions using Triad and environmental insurance

A significant hindrance to reuse of brownfields properties is the risk associated with redevelopment,specifically the uncertainty associated with environmental cleanup. This article explores an approach tomanaging environmental risk through a combination of risk quantification, environmental insurance, and theTriad Approach to site sampling and data interpretation. The expected costs of environmental liabilities areestimated using the Marsh Peer ReviewSM risk quantification process that employs statistical techniques andhighly experienced technical staff. The outputs of the process indicate premiums and attachment points forinsurance products, but they also point to “critical uncertainties” that drive the insurancepremiums. Insurance premiums are often linked to site delineation deficiencies, such as the magnitude ofimpacted soil or the size of a groundwater plume. The Triad Approach is an integrated site characterizationprocess developed by the Environmental Protection Agency that combines systematic planning, dynamic or adaptivefield decision making and field analytical methods (FAMs). The real‐time data produced by FAMsallow for in‐field resolution of uncertainty about sample location, which in turn provides morerepresentative delineation of contaminant distribution. The trade‐off of using slightly less accuratebut substantially lower cost FAMs is an increase in sampling frequency or density, thereby reducing the risk ofincomplete detection or delineation while yielding a “data set” that is more powerful than fewerindividual data points analyzed through traditional methods. Employing the Triad Approach to analyze the“critical uncertainties” identified in the Peer Review Process can impact insurance premiums andallow for better terms of coverage. The combination of using the Triad Approach and environmental insuranceproducts can lead to more predictable and profitable Brownfield transactions. © 2003 Wiley Peridicals,Inc.     

Plume Rise Estimates for Electric Generating Stations

The Tennessee Valley Authority, under sponsorship of the Public Health Service, National Air Pollution Control Administration, initiated a comprehensive study entitled “Full-Scale Study of Plume Rise at Large Electric Generating Stations” in 1963. The variability of plant sizes, stack heights, and stack configurations accommodated full-scale assessment of plume rise over a wide range of meteorological and operational conditions.     

Quantitative Determination of Formaldehyde in the Parts Per Hundred Million Concentration Level

A new method has been developed for the determination of trace quantities of formaldehyde and appears to be superior to existing methods. The procedure is based on a modification of Schiff’s test for aldehydes. A mixture of dichlorosulfitomercurate II complex and acid bleached pararosaniline hydrochloride is used as the reagent. In the presence of formaldehyde, a purple color is produced. The method is highly sensitive to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, simple and does not require concentrated acids. When applied to air pollution studies, the method is virtually free of interferences from higher aldehydes. The paper describes the application of this method to spot sampling of the atmosphere and to continuous atmospheric analysis.     

A retro-synthesis approach for hazard evaluation and risk screening

Risk screening instruments can be very useful for evaluating hazards and establishing priorities for risk reduction. Further, these instruments can provide educational value to field staff when they are distributed to individuals outside of traditional process safety roles. This paper describes a retro-synthesis technique whereby risk screening instruments can be readily generated for these types of hazard evaluation and priority setting activities. Further, by utilizing a retro-synthesis approach, data gathered at the field level can often be drawn upon at a later point if a more detailed risk assessment is required. The retro-synthesis approach involves working backwards from traditional risk functions (relationships) so as to define the predominant elements for incorporation within the risk screening instrument. Compared to conventional techniques, the retro-synthesis approach utilizes deductive reasoning techniques in a manner similar to Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). However, the directional relationships that are established between causes and consequences become inverted.For example, risk can be defined as a function of “likelihood” and “severity”, where “severity” may be a function of the “energy released” and the “exposure group”. Similarly, the “energy released” is often a function of the “properties of the material involved” and the “amount of material released”. Through identifying these relationships, “risk” in this example can be characterized as a function of “likelihood”, “exposure group”, “properties of the material involved”, and “amount of material released”. Further, by highlighting the various influential parameters, the relationships between each of these parameters, as related to risk, can also be understood. Once the various terms and functions are defined, screening categories can then be developed to quantify each of the terms so as to allow for an approximation of the relative risk involved for the given scenarios.This approach benefits from being simple to develop, maintaining alignment with the mathematics required for more detailed quantitative risk assessments, and generating screening categories which can be given to field staff. Through careful construction of the screening categories field staff can then rapidly, and in a reproducible manner, screen a large number of scenarios so as to identify those situations which represent priority hazards.     

Entwicklung der Ökotoxikologie von Pflanzenschutzmitteln in den letzten 25 Jahren: Von ersten Diskussionen über Prüforganismen zur probabilistischen Risikoanalyse

In Europe as well as in Germany a remarkable development within the last 25 years took place in the assessment of ecotoxicological effects of Plant Protection Products (PPPs). The starting point was a comparative, retrospective toxicity testing of some selected indicator species. Then, first attempts of a quantitative, prospective hazard and risk assessment with relevant exposure evaluations were made. Currently a probabilistic risk analysis on the landscape level is discussed.Based on personal experiences within the last decades this contribution will highlight the different developments of the ecotoxicological evaluation of PPPs. At first, the selection of suitable test species and the development of suitable standardized test methods was the main task. Thereafter, the discussions focused more on long-term, chronic effects instead of solely acute ones, the development of focused higher tier studies adjusted to better address the specific properties of a PPP and/or the specific concerns resulting from its application, as well as multi-species and ecosystem approaches. With the availability of suitable computer based models a more precise exposure calculation was possible, which allows a more realistic exposure assessment instead of simple worstcase assumptions. Current discussions focus on probabilistic exposure assessments at a local scale.All these developments took place regardless of the insufficient (political) definition of the protection goal and — as a consequence — the need and extent of appropriate safety factors. The development of ecotoxicology was mostly driven by political trends in Europe, mainly by the harmonized registration of PPPs under the still valid Annexes II and III (1996) of the EU Directive 91/414 and the thereby initiated further progression. In the context of this development more and more scientists were offered interesting job opportunities.