A review of perceived diversity in teams: Does how members perceive their team's composition affect team processes and outcomes?

In this paper, we review the growing literature on perceived diversity in teams. We aim to clarify the construct of perceived diversity and organize the findings in this emergent line of research. To do so, we develop a framework integrating research emerging on perceived diversity from across several different research fields. We propose that the nature of perceived diversity and its effects can be best understood by identifying the focal point of the diversity perceptions being studied: perceptions of self‐to‐team dissimilarity, of subgroup splits, and of group heterogeneity. Our review concludes that perceived self‐to‐team dissimilarity and perceived subgroup splits mostly have been linked to negative effects for individuals and groups, whereas perceived group heterogeneity has been shown to exert both positive and negative effects on group outcomes. Our review also draws attention to the problem that research on perceived diversity varies not only in definitions and conceptualizations, but also in the methodological approaches towards operationalizing perceived diversity. We conclude by discussing potential areas for future research. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Role of complex organic arsenicals in food in aggregate exposure to arsenic

For much of the world''s population, food is the major source of exposure to arsenic. Exposure to this non-essential metalloid at relatively low levels may be linked to a wide range of adverse health effects. Thus, evaluating foods as sources of exposure to arsenic is important in assessing risk and developing strategies that protect public health. Although most emphasis has been placed on inorganic arsenic as human carcinogen and toxicant, an array of arsenic-containing species are found in plants and animals used as foods. Here, we 2evaluate the contribution of complex organic arsenicals (arsenosugars, arsenolipids, and trimethylarsonium compounds) that are found in foods and consider their origins, metabolism, and potential toxicity. Commonalities in the metabolism of arsenosugars and arsenolipids lead to the production of di-methylated arsenicals which are known to exert many toxic effects. Evaluating foods as sources of exposure to these complex organic arsenicals and understanding the formation of reactive metabolites may be critical in assessing their contribution to aggregate exposure to arsenic.     

A decomposition analysis of carbon dioxide emissions in the Chinese nonferrous metal industry

The nonferrous metal industry (NMI) of China consumes large amounts of energy and associated emissions of carbon dioxide (CO ₂) are very high. Actions to reduce CO ₂ emissions and energy consumption are warranted. This study aims to analyze current China NMI trends of CO ₂ emissions and energy consumption including the underlying regional driver characteristics. We analyze the changes of CO ₂ emissions in the NMI based on the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method from 2000 to 2011. Then, a classification system is used to study the regional differences in emission changes from the NMI. The results show that the emissions of the Chinese NMI increased rapidly at an average annual growth rate of 31 million metric tons. The economic scale and energy intensity are the main driving factors responsible for the change in the emissions, while carbon emission coefficients make only a small contribution toward decreasing the emissions, and the energy structure has a volatile effect. Emissions and energy intensity of 29 China provinces were divided into five categories. The change in the trend of each region is indicated in this paper. Hebei is one of the provinces that achieved the best performance, and Chongqing achieved the worst performance among all of the regions. The analysis suggests that the main emphasis of CO ₂ emission mitigation should be focused on controlling the economic scale and improving the energy intensity. Developing the use of clean energy technologies and policies in both the NMI and power industries is important.     

The metabolic fate of 14C‐parathion by some fresh water phytoplankton and its possible effects on the algal metabolism

Abstract

The growth and total carbohydrate contents of Nostoc muscorum and Tolypothrix tenuis were greatly and significantly reduced by the application of parathion. “Chlorophyll a”, carotene biosynthesis and the rate of glucose absorption were enhanced after supplementation of parathion to the culture media of both cyanobacteria. Nitrogen released to the media, total nitrogen content and total nitrogen fixed were increased in both organisms‐ Increase in protein content was accompanied by remarkable drop in amino, peptide and ammonia fractions‐ Phosphorus uptake, RNA, DNA and total phosphorus content were accelerated to reach maximum accumulation at the highest insecticide level. In metabolism study using ¹⁴C‐labelled compound, parathion was readily degraded by Nostoc and Tolypothrix. Following ten days incubation, the aqueous fractions contained 21.1% and 18.1% of the initial activity in Nostoc and Tolypothrix respectively. TLC analysis of the hydrolytic products revealed the presence of three metabolites: p‐aminophenol, p‐nitrophenol and aminoparathion.     

Acute toxicity of chlorpyrifos and carbosulfan to glochidia of the freshwater mussel Hyriopsis bialata Simpson, 1900

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The acute toxicity of carbosulfan and chlorpyrifos in formulated pesticides to glochidia (larvae) of the freshwater mussel (Hyriopsis bialata Simpson,...     

Source apportionment of DDTs in maricultured fish: a modeling study in South China

Fish is one of the most important nutrition sources for humanity. Contaminant exposure risk in fish farming will eventually deliver to the crowd through diet. China is the largest fish producing as well as exporting country, where mariculture plays an important role in fish production, especially in South China. Previous investigations indicated that a variety of compartments in farming areas of South China Sea were polluted by persistent organic pollutants, including DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and its derivatives, some of which is designated as DDTs. In the present study, Hailing Bay and Daya Bay of Guangdong Province, China, were selected as the study sites and DDTs as the target compounds. A fish enrichment model was developed to assess the relative contributions of various pathways to the mass loadings of DDTs in the fish. Average concentrations (and concentration ranges) of DDTs in various environmental compartments of Hailing Bay and Daya Bay were included in modeling and analysis. Modeling results indicated that fish food and seawater contributed approximately the same proportions for the DDTs in maricultured fish. Antifouling paint was supposed to be the primary source of water DDTs in mariculture zone of Hailing Bay and Daya Bay, which contributed 69 % of the total DDTs to the mariculture water. We suggest that in order to protect people from consuming highly contaminated maricuture zone fish, the most effective and feasible methods are using environment-friendly antifouling paint and applying less polluted fish food in the fish reproduction process.     

Experimental investigation of the complex deflagration phenomena of hybrid mixtures of activated carbon dust/hydrogen/air

This paper aims to develop quantitative insights based on measured deflagration parameters of hybrid mixtures of activated carbon (AC) dust and hydrogen (H₂) gas in air. The generated experimental evidence is used to reject the claim of the null hypothesis (H₀) that severity of deflagrations of H₂/air mixtures always bound the severity of deflagrations of heterogenous combustible mixtures of AC dust/H₂/air containing the same H₂ concentrations as in the H₂/air binaries. The core insights of this investigation show that the maximum deflagration pressure rise (ΔP_MAX) and maximum rate of pressure rise ((dP/dt)_MAX) of this hybrid mixture are greater than those corresponding to deflagrations of H₂/air mixtures for all the dust and H₂ concentrations being examined. The deflagration severity indices (K_St and ES) of the hybrid mixture containing 29 mol% H₂ are found to be greater than those of the H₂/air mixture containing 29 mol% H₂. Also, the minimum explosible concentration (MEC) of the hybrid mixture is lower than that of the AC dust in air only. The insights gained should lead to better realization of the severity of a postulated safety-significant accident scenario associated with on-board cryoadsorption H₂ storage systems for fuel-cell (FC) powered light-duty vehicles. The identified insights could also be relevant to other industrial processes where combustible dusts are generated in the vicinity of solvent vapors. Moreover, these insights should be useful for supporting quantitative risk assessment (QRA) of on-board H₂ storage systems, designing improved safety measures for cryoadsorption H₂ storage tanks, and guiding H₂ safety standards and transportation regulations.