Salt marsh vegetation change in response to tidal restriction

Vegetation change in response to restriction of the normal tidal prism of six Connecticut salt marshes is documented. Tidal flow at the study sites was restricted with tide gates and associated causeways and dikes for purposes of flood protection, mosquito control, and/or salt hay farming. One study site has been under a regime of reduced tidal flow since colonial times, while the duration of restriction at the other sites ranges from less than ten years to several decades. The data indicate that with tidal restriction there is a substantial reduction in soil water salinity, lowering of the water table level, as well as a relative drop in the marsh surface elevation. These factors are considered to favor the establishment and spread ofPhragmites australis (common reed grass) and other less salt-tolerant species, with an attendant loss ofSpartina-dominated marsh. Based on detailed vegetation mapping of the study sites, a generalized scheme is presented to describe the sequence of vegetation change from typicalSpartina- toPhragmites-dominated marshes. The restoration of thesePhragmites systems is feasible following the reintroduction of tidal flow. At several sites dominated byPhragmites, tidal flow was reintroduced after two decades of continuous restriction, resulting in a marked reduction inPhragmites height and the reestablishment of typical salt marsh vegetation along creekbanks. It is suggested that large-scale restoration efforts be initiated in order that these degraded systems once again assume their roles within the salt marsh-estuarine ecosystem.     

Phosphorus removal with by-products in a flow-through setting

Phosphorus (P) losses to surface waters can result in eutrophication. Some industrial by-products have a strong affinity for dissolved P and may be useful in reducing nonpoint P pollution with landscape-scale runoff filters. Although appreciable research has been conducted on characterizing P sorption by industrial by-products via batch isotherms, less data are available on P sorption by these materials in a flow-through context integral to a landscape P filter. The objectives of this study were to evaluate several industrial by-products for P sorption in a flow-through setting, to determine material chemical properties that have the greatest impact on P sorption in a flow-through setting, and to explore how retention time (RT) and P concentration affect P removal. Twelve materials were characterized for chemical properties that typically influence P removal and subjected to flow-through P sorption experiments in which five different RTs and P concentrations were tested. The impact of RT and P concentrations on P removal varied based on material chemical properties, mainly as a function of oxalate-extractable aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), and water-soluble (WS) calcium (Ca). Statistical analysis showed that materials elevated in oxalate-extractable Al and Fe and WS Ca and that were highly buffered above pH 6 were able to remove the most P under flow-through conditions. Langmuir sorption maximum values from batch isotherms were poorly correlated with and overestimated P removal found under flow-through conditions. Within the conditions tested in this study, increases in RT and inflow P concentrations increased P removal among materials most likely to remove P via precipitation, whereas RT had little effect on materials likely to remove P via ligand exchange.     

Speaking without words: A meta-analysis of over 70 years of research on the power of nonverbal cues in job interviews

What candidates say in an interview is important—but so is how they say it. We draw on dual-process theory to explain why interviewers rely on individuals' dynamic and static nonverbal cues to evaluate performance with quick, implicit inferences (System 1 processing). Yet, it remains unclear which cues most influence interviewers' judgments and whether moderators affecting interviewers' reliance on System 1 thinking (e.g., interview structure, modality, duration, and interviewee gender) impact the relationship between nonverbal cues and interview ratings. We performed the first meta-analysis to address these questions, integrating findings across 63 studies (N = 4868). The nonverbal cues demonstrating the strongest association with interview performance were professional appearance (ρ = .62), eye contact (ρ = .45), and head movement (ρ = .43). Moderator analyses highlight the persistent power of nonverbal cues, as the results were largely unaffected by interview structure, modality, or duration. Experimental design did play a role, as did interviewees' gender, with stronger effects for certain nonverbal cues (e.g., facial expressions and professional appearance) for women than men, conveying interviewers' reliance on gender-based stereotypes when judging their performance. Overall, these results suggest nonverbal cues and characteristics are an important influence on job applicants' success in employment interviews.     

A predictive study of emotional labor and turnover

The current study examined how the emotional labor strategies of deep acting and surface acting directly influence emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions, and indirectly impact actual turnover among a sample of bank tellers. Turnover data were collected from organizational records 6 months after participants responded to a survey that measured emotional labor strategies, emotional exhaustion, and turnover intentions. Results showed that turnover intentions mediated the relationship between deep acting and actual turnover. Additionally, surface acting had indirect effects on turnover through emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Divided destinies: group choice by female savannah baboons during social group fission

Group living provides benefits to individuals while imposing costs on them. In species that live in permanent social groups, group division provides the only opportunity for nondispersing individuals to change their group membership and improve their benefit to cost ratio. We examined group choice by 81 adult female savannah baboons (Papio cynocephalus) during four fission events. We measured how each female’s group choice was affected by several factors: the presence of her maternal kin, paternal kin, age peers, and close social partners, her average kinship to groupmates, and her potential for improved dominance rank. Maternal kin, paternal kin, and close social partners influenced group choice by some females, but the relative importance of these factors varied across fissions. Age peers other than paternal kin had no effect on group choice, and average kinship to all groupmates had the same effect on group choice as did maternal kin alone. Most females were subordinate to fewer females after fissions than before, but status improvement did not drive female group choice; females often preferred to remain with social superiors who were their close maternal kin, rather than improving their own social ranks. We suggest that during permanent group fissions, female baboons prefer to remain with close maternal kin if those are abundant enough to influence their fitness; if they have too few close maternal kin then females prefer to remain with close paternal kin, and social bonds with nonkin might also become influential. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Modeling inorganic aerosols and their response to changes in precursor concentration in Mexico City

Based on data from the 1997 Investigación sobre Materia Particulada y Deterioro Atmosférico-Aerosol and Visibility Evaluation Research (IMADA-EVER) campaign and the inorganic aerosol model ISORROPIA, the response of inorganic aerosols to changes in precursor concentrations was calculated. The aerosol behavior is dominated by the abundance of ammonia and thus, changes in ammonia concentration are expected to have a small effect on particle concentrations. Changes in sulfate and nitrate are expected to lead to proportional reductions in inorganic fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Comparing the predictions of ISORROPIA with the observations, the lowest bias and error are achieved when the aerosols are assumed to be in the efflorescence branch. Including crustal species reduces the bias and error for nitrate but does not improve overall model performance. The estimated response of inorganic PM2.5 to changes in precursor concentrations is affected by the inclusion of crustal species in some cases, although average responses are comparable with and without crustal species. Observed concentrations of particle chloride suggest that gas phase concentrations of hydrogen chloride may not be negligible, and future measurement campaigns should include observations to test this hypothesis. Our ability to model aerosol behavior in Mexico City and, thus, design control strategies, is constrained primarily by a lack of observations of gas phase precursors. Future campaigns should focus in particular on better understanding the temporal and spatial distribution of ammonia concentrations. In addition, gas phase observations of nitric acid are needed, and a measure of particle water content will allow stable versus metastable aerosol behavior to be distinguished.     

Flow experiences at work: for high need achievers alone?

Applying Csikszentmihalyi's ( 1990 ) flow theory of optimal experience to the workplace, two studies examined the relationships of employees' perceived skill and challenge at work and need for achievement with their positive mood, intrinsic task interest, and extra‐role performance. Among achievement‐oriented employees only, high skill and challenge was associated with greater positive mood, task interest, and performance than other skill/challenge combinations. Additionally, positive mood mediated the interactive relationship of skill/challenge and need for achievement with performance. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The computers and electronics industry alternative system of environmental protection: A new pilot program

New systems approaches by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have attempted to prevent and limit environmental damages through multimedia management of resources, energy, and environmental impacts, while engaging communities, environmental groups, facilities, industries, states, and local agencies. Collectively these diverse interests have begun to partner with corporate management to work toward a shared vision of how multimedia management and multistakeholder participation can best evolve in concert with environmental management system approaches. This article analyzes one industry-specific program under the Common Sense Initiative, called an Alternative System of Environmental Protection (ASEP) for the Computers and Electronics Subcommittee. The significance of this working group's attempt to increase regulatory flexibility lies in its collective establishment of an alternative regulatory framework for an entire industry. Contrary to many other EPA single-facility pilot programs, this method cuts across the entire computer and electronics industry. The group hopes to achieve sector-wide regulatory improvements through a process providing funding for shared research, dynamic feedback, and technical assistance, while engaging in multistakeholder relationships with communities, workers, local governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.     

Surface chemistry of dihydromyrcenol (2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol) with ozone on silanized glass,glass, and vinyl flooring tiles

The surface-phase reaction products of dihydromyrcenol (2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol) with ozone (O₃), air, or nitrogen (N₂) on silanized glass, glass and vinyl flooring tile were investigated using the recently published FACS (FLEC (Field and Laboratory Emission Cell) Automation and Control System). The FACS was used to deliver ozone (100 ppb), air, or N₂ to the surface at a specified flow rate (300 mL min^?1) and relative humidity (50%) after application of a 2.0% dihydromyrcenol solution in methanol. Oxidation products were detected using the derivatization agents: O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) and N,O-bis(trimethysilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). The positively identified reaction products were glycolaldehyde, 2,6-dimethyl-5-heptenal, and glyoxal. The proposed oxidation products based on previously published VOC/O₃ reaction mechanisms were: 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptenal, 6-methyl-7-octen-2-one and the surface-specific reaction products: 6-methyl-6-hepten-2-one, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and 6-hydroxy-6-methylheptan-2-one. Though similar products were observed in gas-phase dihydromyrcenol/O₃ reactions, the ratio, based on peak area, of the reaction products was different suggesting stabilization of larger molecular weight species by the surface. Emission profiles of these oxidation products over 72 h are also reported.