On the subjective experience and correlates of downtime at work: A mixed‐method examination

In the current paper, we studied downtime at work. Downtime represents a unique aspect of work time, as employees have low workload and more discretion about their activities but are still paid to be at work. Despite its prevalence and potentially significant implications for productivity and well‐being, the experience of downtime has not been a focus in the literature. To study this phenomenon, we first used a qualitative method involving 15 focus groups. Results from 95 employees showed that downtime is distinct from formal breaks and withdrawal behavior and is generally a negative subjective experience. Categories of antecedents of experience and downtime activities were classified. Next, to further explore the phenomenon, and based on Study 1 and relevant literature, we proposed several hypotheses and tested them using an experience sampling method. Results from 86 employees (across 5 workdays and 689 data points) indicated that the amount of downtime was negatively related to day level job satisfaction, job performance, and subjective health. The duration of relaxation activities during downtime mitigated the negative effects of downtime on fatigue. The effects of enjoyment level of the activities, job autonomy, work engagement, and boredom proneness were also examined. Implications, limitations, and future research are discussed.     

Competitive regimes and female bonding in two species of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri oerstedi and S. sciureus)

Summary Ecological and behavioral data from long-term field studies of known individuals in two closely related squirrel monkey species (Saimiri oerstedi and S. sciureus) were used to examine hypotheses about the source of variation in female bonding among group-living primates. Social relationships in species which live in cohesive groups are thought to depend on the nature of competition for resources. S. oerstedi and S. sciureus both live in large groups and are subject to intense predation. Direct feeding competition both between and within groups is extremely low in S. oerstedi; in this species female relationships are undifferentiated, no female dominance hierarchy is evident and females disperse from their natal group. S. sciureus also experiences very low levels of between-group competition, but within-group direct competition for resources is frequent; this species demonstrates differentiated female relationships, a female dominance hierarchy, and female philopatry. The correlated ecological and social variables found in these two congeners further minimize the minor effects of phylogenetic differences and emphasize the importance of food distribution in determining social characteristics. Offprint requests to: S. Boinski     

Oxidation of chlorophenols in soil at natural pH by catalyzed hydrogen peroxide: the effect of soil organic matter.

This investigation reports on the effects of soil organic matter (SOM) during the oxidation of chlorophenols with Fe2+-catalyzed H2O2 (Fenton oxidation) system. The soil pH was 7.1 and was not altered. Sorption experiments of soil pre-treated under various oxidation conditions were performed. Concentrations of organic matter in the liquid phase and soil before and after oxidation were analyzed. The results were correlated to the observation in batch Fenton oxidation tests. They showed that the oxidation of chlorophenols at natural soil pH depended on the dose of H2O2 and Fe2+. The soil organic content did not vary significantly after various Fenton treatments, while the sorption of chlorophenols was 10-25% less by the oxidation. The concentration of chlorophenols in the liquid phase exhibited a "decrease and rebound" phenomenon in the batch Fenton oxidation tests. It appeared that the oxidation of SOM resulted in the release of sorbed chlorophenols which were then oxidized by the excess H2O2. An "oxidation-desorption-oxidation" scheme was proposed to describe one of the interaction mechanisms among the oxidant, SOM, and chlorophenols during oxidation.     

Toxicity of chemical components of fine particles inhaled by aged rats: effects of concentration

This study tested the hypothesis that exposure to mixtures containing fine particles and ozone (O3) would cause pulmonary injury and decrements in functions of immunological cells in exposed rats (22-24 months old) in a dose-dependent manner. Rats were exposed to high and low concentrations of ammonium bisulfate and elemental carbon and to 0.2 ppm O3. Control groups were exposed to purified air or O3 alone. The biological end points measured included histopathological markers of lung injury, bronchoalveolar lung fluid proteins, and measures of the function of the lung's innate immunological defenses (macrophage antigen-directed phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity). Exposure to O3 alone at 0.2 ppm did not result in significant changes in any of the measured end points. Exposures to the particle mixtures plus O3 produced statistically significant changes consistent with adverse effects. The low-concentration mixture produced effects that were statistically significant compared to purified air but, with the exception of macrophage Fc receptor binding, exposure to the high-concentration mixture did not. The effects of the low- and high-concentration mixtures were not significantly different. The study supports previous work that indicated that particle + O3 mixtures were more toxic than O3 alone.     

Co-surfactant of ethoxylated sorbitan ester and sorbitan monooleate for enhanced flushing of tetrachloroethylene

This work evaluated the flushing efficiency of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) using the co-surfactant of non-ionic ethoxylated sorbitan ester (Tween) and oilphilic sorbitan monooleate (Span 80), which formed more hydrophobic micelles than Tween alone. The flushing efficiency was evaluated with laboratory columns filled with silica and aquifer sand. Results from column flushing were also compared to those of batch solubility experiments to study the removal mechanism by the co-surfactant solution. Compared to Tween 80 alone, the molar solubilization ratio and the affinity between the micelles and PCE increased 84% and 90%, respectively, by the co-surfactant solution of Tween 80 and Span 80 mixed at a 4:1 ratio. Flushing with 1% Tween 80 solution yielded a steady PCE recovery of 7% for both silica and aquifer sand in each pore volume (PV). Flushing with co-surfactant of 1% Tween 80 + Span 80 (4:1) further increased PCE recovery to 10% for silica sand and 13% for aquifer sand per PV. A comparison of results from column flushing and batch solubility tests indicated that the primary flushing mechanism of PCE using the co-surfactant solution of Tween 80 + Span 80 (4:1) was micellar solubilization.     

Photochemical reaction of nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: effect by solvent and structure

Photochemical degradation of 1-nitropyrene, 2-nitrofluorene, 2,7-dinitrofluorene, 6-nitrochrysene, 3-nitrofluoranthene, 5-nitroacenaphthene, and 9-nitroanthracene was examined in CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂, DMF, DMF/H₂O (80/20), CH₃CN, or CH₃CN/H₂O (80/20). The degradation mostly follows the first order kinetics; but a few follow second order kinetics or undergo self-catalysis. The photodegradation rates follow the order: CHCl₃ > CH₂Cl₂ > DMF > DMF/H₂O > CH₃CN > CH₃CN/H₂O. DMF is an exceptional solvent because three of the seven compounds undergo self-catalytic reaction. 9-Nitroanthracene, which has a perpendicular nitro group, is the fastest, while the more compact 1-nitropyrene and 3-nitrofluoranthene are the slowest degrading compounds.     

Sustainability and attitudes to locality: the discourse of town and parish councillors

The possible role of parish and town councils (local councils) in the local implementation of sustainable development has been overlooked both in research and in policy-making. This article is based on research into local councillors' attitudes to sustainability and to their own role within a single county. A “discourse of local council legitimation” is identified, in which local councillors see their communities as living organisms, whose interests they represent with the benefit of local knowledge and holistic thinking – characteristics which they see as absent at other levels of government. Local councillors essentially see their role as local and relatively short-term – a perspective that will have to be addressed if local councils are to make a significant contribution to sustainability.     

Identification and quantification of the hydrological impacts of imperviousness in urban catchments: a review

Urbanisation produces numerous changes in the natural environments it replaces. The impacts include habitat fragmentation and changes to both the quality and quantity of the stormwater runoff, and result in changes to hydrological systems. This review integrates research in relatively diverse areas to examine how the impacts of urban imperviousness on hydrological systems can be quantified and modelled. It examines the nature of reported impacts of urbanisation on hydrological systems over four decades, including the effects of changes in imperviousness within catchments, and some inconsistencies in studies of the impacts of urbanisation. The distribution of imperviousness within urban areas is important in understanding the impacts of urbanisation and quantification requires detailed characterisation of urban areas. As a result most mapping of urban areas uses remote sensing techniques and this review examines a range of techniques using medium and high resolution imagery, including spectral unmixing. The third section examines the ways in which scientists and hydrological and environmental engineers model and quantify water flows in urban areas, the nature of hydrological models and methods for their calibration. The final section examines additional factors which influence the impact of impervious surfaces and some uncertainties that exist in current knowledge.     

Using the RE-AIM framework to translate a research-based falls prevention intervention into a community-based program: lessons learned

Problem

Exercise-based research interventions demonstrate reduced risk and rates of falls for community dwelling older adults; however, little is known about effective mechanisms for the translation, implementation, and maintenance of these interventions in community settings.

Method

The RE-AIM framework was used to assess the translatability of an effective exercise-based research intervention in a community setting. Questions included: Reach — Would the target population attend? Effectiveness — What was the adherence and compliance to the program? Were there individual improvements in falls risk factors? Adoption: Would staff at the center adopt the program and offer it past the funding period? Implementation — What adaptations, including optimal frequency and duration, should be made to meet the community needs, still adhere to core elements and achieve similar outcomes? Maintenance — Would the program be sustained by our community partners?

Discussion

The process of translating a controlled research intervention targeting older adults at risk of falls into a community setting was challenging. Licensed professionals developed the infrastructure to safely and effectively deliver the program. The end product was highly appealing program to our target audience, resulted in improved outcomes and was successfully adopted and maintained by the community partner.

Summary

Partnerships between community and healthcare providers are key to successful implementation of falls prevention interventions. Lessons learned from this experience can be applied to the translation of future exercise-based falls prevention interventions.     

Habitat-mediated foraging limitations drive survival bottlenecks for juvenile salmon

Realistic population models and effective conservation strategies require a thorough understanding of mechanisms driving stage-specific mortality. Mortality bottlenecks for many species occur in the juvenile stage and are thought to result from limitation on food or foraging habitat during a "critical period" for growth and survival. Without a way to account for maternal effects or to measure integrated consumption rates in the field, it has been virtually impossible to test these relationships directly. Hence uncertainties about mechanisms underlying such bottlenecks remain. In this study we randomize maternal effects across sites and apply a new method for measuring consumption integrated over weeks to months to test the hypothesis that food limitation drives early-season juvenile mortality bottlenecks in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Using natural signatures of geologically derived cesium (133Cs), we estimated consumption rates of >400 fry stocked into six streams. Two to four weeks after stocking, consumption was extremely low across sites (0.005 g x g(-1) x d(-1)) and was predicted to be below maintenance rations (i.e., yielding negative energy balances) for the majority of individuals from five of six sites. However, consumption during this time was positively correlated with growth rates and survival (measured at the end of the growing season). In contrast, consumption rates increased in mid- (0.030 g x g(-1) x d(-1)) and late (0.035 g x g(-1) x d(-1)) seasons, but juvenile survival and consumption were not correlated, and correlations between growth and consumption were weak. These findings are consistent with predictions of a habitat-based bioenergetic model constructed using the actual stream positions of the individual fish in the present study, which indicates that habitat-based models capture important environmental determinants of juvenile growth and survival. Hence, by combining approaches, reducing maternal effects and controlling initial conditions, we offer a general framework for linking foraging with juvenile survival and present the first direct consumption-based evidence for the early season bottleneck hypothesis.