Distributive and procedural justice as predictors of employee outcomes in Hong Kong

This study examines the extent to which employee judgments about distributive and procedural justice predict job satisfaction, intent to stay and evaluation of supervision in Hong Kong. Distributive and procedural justice each plays a role in determining work outcomes of Hong Kong employees. However, some effects of these justice variables differ from results of previous studies in the United States (U.S.). First, in previous U.S. studies, procedural justice moderates the relationship of distributive justice with evaluation of supervision, but not with job satisfaction or intent to stay. For Hong Kong employees, procedural justice moderates the effects of distributive justice on job satisfaction and intent to stay, but not on evaluation of supervision. Second, previous U.S. studies have shown that procedural justice has a larger effect on work outcomes for women, while distributive justice has larger effects on outcomes for men. For Hong Kong employees, the effects of procedural and distributive justice are about the same for men and women. Differences in the effects of distributive and procedural justice between Hong Kong and the U.S. may reflect cultural dimensions, such as collectivism/individualism and power distance, as well as the relative availability of rewards for women in the work force. Practical implications and future research directions are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and Properties of Poly (Lactic Acid) Nanocomposites Filled with Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

This work prepared poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) composites using a solution blend method, and investigated the influence of the physical properties of PLA/SWCNTs composites. In order to enhanced interfacial interactions between PLA and SWCNTs, the purified SWCNTs were given functionalisation treatments with a nitric acid/sulfuric acid mixture. These acid-treated SWCNTs (A-SWCNTs) were then grafted with 3-isocyanatopropyl triethoxysilane (A-SWCNTs-Si). When these functionalized SWCNTs were used to fill the PLA matrix, the fractured surface of composite does not present the pullout phenomenon. The dimensional stability obviously increased by a factor of approximately 72. The storage modulus was also significantly improved. The surface resistivity of the PLA/SWCNTs composites decreased from 1 × 10¹⁶ to 2.22 × 10⁴ Ω/cm².     

Reductive dechlorination for remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls

Technologies such as thermal, oxidative, reductive, and microbial methods for the remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have previously been reviewed. Based on energy consumption, formation of PCDD/F, and remediation efficiency, reductive methods have emerged as being advantageous for remediation of PCBs. However, many new developments in this field have not been systematically reviewed. Therefore, reductive technologies published in the last decade related to remediation of PCBs will be reviewed here. Three categories, including catalytic hydrodechlorination with H₂, Fe-based reductive dechlorination, and other reductive dechlorination methods (e.g., hydrogen-transfer dechlorination, base-catalyzed dechlorination, and sodium dispersion) are specifically reviewed. In addition, the advantages of each remediation technology are discussed. In this review, 108 articles are referenced.     

Removing perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid from solid matrices, paper, fabrics, and sand by mineral acid suppression and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

The removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from solid matrices has received considerable attention because of the environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity of these compounds. This study presents a simple method using concentrated HNO₃ as a suppression agent, and methanol-modified supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO₂) extraction for removing PFOS and PFOA from solid matrices. The optimal conditions were 16 M HNO₃ and 20% (v/v) methanol containing Sc-CO₂, under a pressure of 20.3 MPa and a temperature of 50 °C. Extraction time was set at 70 min (40 min for static and 30 min for dynamic extraction). PFOA and PFOS were identified and quantitated by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The extraction efficiencies (with double extractions) were close to 100% for PFOA and 80% for PFOS for both paper and fabric matrices. The extraction efficiencies for sand were approximately 77% for PFOA and 59% for PFOS. The results show that this method is accurate, and effective, and that it provides a promising and convenient approach to remediate the environment of hazardous PFOA and PFOS contamination.     

Stability of the conjugated species of environmental phenols and parabens in human serum

In humans, the metabolism of environmental phenols may include the formation of conjugated species (e.g., glucuronides and sulfates), but the free species—not the conjugated forms—are considered biologically active. Therefore, information on the concentration of these free species in blood or urine could be helpful for risk assessment. Because conjugates could hydrolyze to their corresponding free forms during collection, handling, and storage of biological specimens, information on the temporal stability of the conjugates is of interest. Previously, we reported the temporal stability of urinary conjugates of several environmental phenols, but data on the stability of phenols' conjugated species in serum, albeit critical if concentrations of free and conjugated species are compared, are largely unknown. In the present study, we investigate the stability of the conjugates of four phenols—bisphenol A, benzophenone-3, triclosan, and 2,5-dichlorophenol—and two parabens—methyl paraben and propyl paraben—in 16 human serum samples for 30 days at above-freezing temperature storage conditions (4 °C, room temperature, and 37 °C). These conditions reflect the worst-case scenarios that could occur during the short-term storage of biological samples before their long-term storage at controlled subfreezing temperatures. We found that the percentage of the conjugated species of the four detected compounds (2,5-dichlorophenol, triclosan, and methyl and propyl parabens) in these serum specimens even when stored at 37 °C for at least 30 days did not vary significantly. These preliminary data suggest that the phenols' serum conjugates appear to be more stable than their corresponding urinary conjugates, some of which started to hydrolyze within 24 h under similar storage conditions. The reported stability of these conjugated species in human serum also suggests that the free species are unlikely to have resulted from the hydrolysis of their corresponding conjugates. This information could be important for interpreting the low concentrations of free phenol species detected in serum samples of nonoccupationally exposed populations. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the stability of conjugated species in serum, and as such requires replication.     

Catalytic hydrogenation rate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in supercritical carbon dioxide containing polymer-stabilized palladium nanoparticles

Catalytic hydrogenation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with up to four fused benzene rings over high-density-polyethylene-stabilized palladium nanoparticles in supercritical carbon dioxide via in situ UV/Vis spectroscopy is presented. PAHs can be efficiently converted to saturated polycyclic hydrocarbons using this green technique under mild conditions at 20 MPa of CO₂ containing 1 MPa of H₂ at 40-50 °C. Kinetic studies based on in situ UV/Vis spectra of the CO₂ phase reveal that the initial hydrogenation of a given PAH and the subsequent hydrogenations of its intermediates are pseudo-first-order. The hydrogenation rate of the latter is always much smaller than that of the former probably due to increasing steric hindrance introduced by the hydrogenated benzene rings of PAHs which impedes the adsorption process and hydrogen access to PAHs on catalyst surfaces.     

Correction to: Quantifying carbon footprint for ecological river restoration

Environment, Development and Sustainability - The article “Quantifying carbon footprint for ecological river restoration”, written by “Yiwen Chiu, Yi Yang and Cody Morse”,...     

Parasites as conservation tools

Parasite success typically depends on a close relationship with one or more hosts; therefore, attributes of parasitic infection have the potential to provide indirect details of host natural history and are biologically relevant to animal conservation. Characterization of parasite infections has been useful in delineating host populations and has served as a proxy for assessment of environmental quality. In other cases, the utility of parasites is just being explored, for example, as indicators of host connectivity. Innovative studies of parasite biology can provide information to manage major conservation threats by using parasite assemblage, prevalence, or genetic data to provide insights into the host. Overexploitation, habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, and climate change are major threats to animal conservation, and all of these can be informed by parasites.     

Sustainable ternary cement blends with high-volume ground granulated blast furnace slag–fly ash

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Coal fly ash and granulated ground blast furnace slag (GGBS) are more widely used as supplementary cementitious materials in cement production. This...