Work‐related flow and energy at work and at home: A study on the role of daily recovery

In this diary study, we aimed to examine the moderating effects of the following: (i) recovery efforts at work and (ii) detachment from work on the relationship between work‐related flow and energy after work. Specifically, we hypothesized that flow would be beneficial for energy after work when employees failed (versus managed) to recover during work breaks. Additionally, we predicted that when employees experience flow at work, they would be more vigorous (and less exhausted) at the end of the day when they detached from work in the evening compared with days when they failed to detach. The study tracked 83 participants who completed daily surveys over four consecutive days. Results of multilevel analyses indicated that some characteristics of flow, such as absorption and enjoyment, were significantly associated with energy after work. Recovery at work and detachment from work moderated the relationship between flow (specifically the enjoyment component) and after‐work energy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulating secondary succession of elk forage values in a managed forest landscape,western Washington

Modern timber management practices often influence forage production for elk (Cervus elaphus) on broad temporal and spatial scales in forested landscapes. We incorporated site-specific information on postharvesting forest succession and forage characteristics in a simulation model to evaluate past and future influences of forest management practices on forage values for elk in a commercially managed Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii, PSME)-western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla, TSHE) forest in western Washington. We evaluated future effects of: (1) clear-cut logging 0, 20, and 40% of harvestable stands every five years; (2) thinning 20-year-old Douglas fir forests; and (3) reducing the harvesting cycle from 60 to 45 years. Reconstruction of historical patterns of vegetation succession indicated that forage values peaked in the 1960s and declined from the 1970s to the present, but recent values still were higher than may have existed in the unmanaged landscape in 1945. Increased forest harvesting rates had little short-term influence on forage trends because harvestable stands were scarce. Simulations of forest thinning also produced negligible benefits because thinning did not improve forage productivity appreciably at the stand level. Simulations of reduced harvesting cycles shortened the duration of declining forage values from approximately 30 to 15 years. We concluded that simulation models are useful tools for examining landscape responses of forage production to forest management strategies, but the options examined provided little potential for improving elk forages in the immediate future.     

Environmental effects of soil property changes with off-road vehicle use

The effects of off-road vehicles (ORVs) on the physical and chemical properties of 6 soil series were measured at Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area in central California. Accelerated soil erosion and the alteration of surface strength, bulk density, soil moisture, temperature, and soil nutrients were quantified to gain an insight into the difficulty of revegetating altered, or modified, areas.Erosion is severe at Hollister Hills, particularly in coarse grained soils on steep slopes. Erosion displaced 0.5 and 3.0 metric tons per square meter on 2 trails on gravelly sandy loam, and 0.3 metric tons/m² from a trail on sandy loam. The surface strength and bulk density increased while the soil moisture decreased in gravelly sandy loam, coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, and clay. Clay loam had an increased surface strength with variably increased bulk density and no decrease in soil moisture. Diurnal temperature fluctuations increased and organic material and soil nutrients decreased in soil modified by vehicles.These property changes increase the erosion potential of the soil, impede germination of seedlings, and slow natural revegetation. Management methods in ORV-use areas should include planning trails by prior application of the universal soil loss equation and soil surveys, trail closure before complete loss of the soil mantle, and revegetation of closed areas.     

THE INFLUENCE OF ENGINEERING DESIGN AND OPERATION AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON RESERVOIR FISHERY RESOURCES1

The apparent effect of selected reservoir environmental variables-including surface area, mean depth, outlet depth, thermocline depth, water level fluctuation, storage ratio, shore development, total dissolved solids, growing season and age of reservoir–on fish standing crop in 140 large impoundments has been explored through partial correlation and multiple regression analyses. The sample was partitioned into 25 subsamples based on reservoir use type, water exchange rate, thermocline formation and water chemistry. Fish standing crops were estimated by summer rotenone sampling of coves or open water areas enclosed by blockoff net. Logarithmic partial correlation revealed highly significant (0.01 confidence shore development and dissolved solids on At the 0.20 confidence level, the crop of storage ratio and shore level) positive effects of outlet depth, total standing crop in the entire sample. all sport fishes is positively influenced by outlet depth, development and negatively by mean depth. In 54 hydropower reservoirs with a stable thermocline, positive effects of increased storage ratio and dissolved solids on t o t a l crop are evident at the 0.05 confidence interva. Increase in thermocline depth has a negative effect. In 25 hydropower reservoirs without a stable thermocline, clupeid (shad) crop is negatively correlated with surface area, mean depth and fluctuation. Reservoirs with a thermocline have higher standing crops than those without. At the species or species group level, partial correlation of nine environmental variables a t the 0.05 confidence interval reveals: Positive effect of surface area on pike and pickerel; buffalo-fishes, white crappie and total sport fish crop; positive effect of outlet depth on largemouth bass, catfishes, total sport fish crop and buffalofishes; a negative effect of water level fluctuation on pike and pickerel, redear sunfish and gizzard shad; a positive relationship between storage ratio and channel catfish and bull- heads and a negative one with flathead catfish and suckers; a positive effect of total dissolved solids on black and whit basses, catfishes, gizzard shad, carpsuckers and carp. A morphoedaphic expression, total dissolved solids divided by mean depth, provides a useful index t o reservoir fish production. The relationship is curvilinear, with maximum crops expected at index values of 5 t o 30.The index accounts for 62 percent of the variability in hydropower storage reservoir crops. Several multivariable regressions have been derived f o r predictive purposes. Examples are included, with R values of 35 t o 60.     

RDX loss in a surface soil under saturated and well drained conditions

On military training ranges, low-order, incomplete detonations deposit RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) into surface soils. In this study, we evaluated RDX biodegradation in surface soils obtained from a military training range in Alaska. Two factors were compared: (i) soil water potential during the incubations; and (ii) the use of acetonitrile (ACN) as an RDX carrier to spike samples. Organic solvents have been used in laboratory studies to dissolve slightly water-soluble contaminants before addition to soil. We added ACN to obtain final soil ACN concentrations of 0 mg kg(-1) (0%), 1000 mg kg(-1) (0.1%) and 10 000 mg kg(-1) (1%). We then compared RDX attenuation in the soil under saturated and unsaturated conditions. RDX fell below the limit of detection within 3 wk of study initiation under the saturated condition. A maximum degradation rate of 0.15 mg RDX L(-1) d(-1) was measured. Under the unsaturated condition, 42% of the original RDX was still present at study termination (5 wk). The addition of acetonitrile at 0.1 or 1.0% had no affect on RDX loss in the saturated soil. In the unsaturated soil, however, ACN at 1.0% inhibited RDX loss by as much as 25%. These findings indicate that soil water potential and carrier solvent concentrations can impact the rate and extent to which RDX is attenuated in a surface soil.     

The Sensitivity of Headwater Streams in the Hindu Kush Himalayas to Acidification

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution: Focus - The mountain ecosystems of the Hindu Kush Himalayas are generally considered to be pristine despite little available data to confirm it. Is there any...     

Self-monitoring and turnover: The impact of personality on intent to leave

Employee turnover is a topic of considerable interest within most organizations. Despite years of research, the antecedents of turnover remain elusive. Traditionally, studies have focused on job satisfaction and organizational commitment as the primary precursors of voluntary (as distinguished from involuntary) turnover. Increasingly, however, researchers have suggested investigating possible personality variables that may help explain even more variance in turnover. The social psychological construct of self-monitoring was found to be such a variable. After the traditional predictors of satisfaction and commitment had been entered, self-monitoring accounted for previously unexplained variance in turnover intentions. Furthermore, the pattern of relationships among the variables of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions differed for high and low self-monitors. Specifically, commitment was a better indicator of intent to leave among low self-monitors but job satisfaction showed a stronger relationship among high self-monitors. Implications for the organization and suggestions for further research are discussed.     

The targeting of rural environmental policies: an assessment of agri‐environmental schemes in the UK

The targeting of environmental policies holds the key to their effectiveness and value for money. In this paper we look specifically at the targeting of the various agri‐environmental schemes likely to be on offer to UK farmers under a reformed Common Agricultural Policy. The manner in which these schemes are targeted—at groups of farmers or areas of land—and the precision with which target groups or target land is identified will be critical in their success or failure. One approach is to target the farming systems thought most environmentally sensitive. This avoids drawing lines on a map and may allow policy makers to channel money into the hands of economically disadvantaged farmers or those vulnerable to policy change. But there is also a need for a more radical and geographically‐targeted approach if problems like soil erosion and aquifer protection—requiring drastic land use shifts within specified areas—are to be tackled effectively. We assess the scope for using existing datasets to identify land that should be targeted under an American‐style Conservation Reserve Programme in the UK.     

A model of the antecedents of early union commitment: The role of socialization experiences and steward characteristics

The present study aimed at investigating the influence of shop steward characteristics and early union socialization experiences on new members' attitudes toward unions and their affective commitment to the union. Two thousand surveys were mailed to the most recent members of the National Association of Letter Carriers. Of these, 658 (33 per cent) were returned. Focusing on those individuals who had joined the union within the past 12 months yielded a usable sample of 585. A two-stage, structural equation modeling approach indicated a satisfactory goodness-of-fit for both the measurement and structural models. Individual socialization experiences significantly affected union attitudes. The latter variable was a significant predictor of union commitment. These results are discussed in the context of the organizational socialization literature and union commitment research.