A Laboratory Assessment of an Innovative Technology for the Detection of DNAPLs

A promising new technology for the detection of dense nonaqueous phase liquids, or DNAPLs, is cosolvent injection/extraction. Cosolvents, such as alcohols, are injected into the subsurface and interact with DNAPLs to increase their aqueous solubility, which increases recovery of the chemicals. A laboratory assessment was performed to determine if incorporating this technology with cone penetrometers could provide a useful sampling tool for DNAPL detection. A cone penetrometer was modeled in the laboratory by injecting and extracting small quantities of ethanol and propylene glycol at low concentrations into a homogeneous sand reactor contaminated with a residual saturation of tetrachloroethene (PCE). Experimental test results show that this technology is extremely sensitive to the vertical placement of the sampler, but is capable of enhancing PCE solubility while recovering most of the alcohol injected. Field testing of this technology will provide the next step in determining the feasibility of this technology for DNAPL detection.     

Agricultural pesticide residues of farm runoff in the Okanagan Valley,British Columbia,Canada

The objectives of this study were to determine environmental occurrence and concentrations of selected currently-used-pesticides and some transformation products in agricultural farms in the Okanagan Valley (OKV), and to conduct a simple risk assessment of environmental pesticides levels detected in OKV on non-target aquatic organisms. The OKV is the tree fruit country of the Province of British Columbia where considerable amount of pesticides are applied annually. Water, sediment and soil samples were collected at eleven sites in early June and late September following rainfall events and/or extended periods of irrigation from drainage ditches and/or from small streams. Undisturbed reference sites were also sampled. Study results showed that forty of the eighty chemicals analyzed, including organochlorine, nitrogen-containing and organophosphate pesticides commonly used for OKV crops, were detected in runoff and small stream water samples. Among which, endosulfan-sulfate was the most frequently detected chemical. Also, azinophos-methyl (0.699–25.5 ng/L), diazinon (0.088–214 ng/L) exceeded, and α-, β- endosulfan, endosulfan sulphate approached the guidelines for the protection of aquatic life.     

Mapping convergence points in the initial emergency response to 9/111

In response to extreme events, researchers have recognised the convergence of volunteers, emergency responders, and other individuals and organisations. In 2000, geographer Paul Routledge presented the concept of convergence spaces as a theoretical means to explain social movements. In applying this concept, this paper explores the geographic space in which organisations and individuals converged immediately following the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. The paper begins to answer the question of whether there were in fact any patterns of convergence among the locations utilised by organisations responding to the attacks. Using data collected from field documents, these geographic locations are mapped over 12 days to help identify possible patterns of clustering. Results of this analysis will begin to provide researchers, policy makers and practitioners with a better understanding of how emergency response evolves geographically following an event.     

The influence of organizational democracy on employees' socio‐moral climate and prosocial behavioral orientations

This study investigates the effects of workers' perceived participation in democratic decision‐making on their prosocial behavioral orientations, democratic values, commitment to the firm, and perceptions of socio‐moral climate. The sample consists of 325 German‐speaking employees from 22 companies in Austria, North Italy, and Southern Germany that vary in their level of organizational democracy (social partnership enterprises, workers' co‐operatives, democratic reform enterprises, and employee‐owned self‐governed firms). The findings suggest that the extent employees participate in democratic forms of organizational decision‐making is positively related to the firm's socio‐moral climate as well as to their own organizational commitment and prosocial and community‐related behavioral orientations. The results also indicate that socio‐moral climate is positively related to employees' organizational commitment. The effect of participation in decision‐making on organizational commitment is partially mediated by socio‐moral climate. Implications for promoting societal and organizational civic virtues among individuals are described. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of the Introduced Common Slipper Shell on the Suprabenthic Biodiversity of the Subtidal Communities in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc

Abstract: Our study compared the suprabenthic fauna collected in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc (western English Channel) in September 1995 and May 1996 at two sites colonized by Crepidula fornicata with that of one site where it was absent (site 23–0). Where Crepidula was present, no species dominated and abundance remained low. At the site without Crepidula , abundance was higher and the mysid Haplostylus lobatus dominated the suprabenthic community. Swimming activity of most suprabenthic species was increased by the presence of C. fornicata . The differential abundance and swimming activity of certain species are linked to the conversion of the formerly soft substrate to now hard, shelled substrate.