Coding ATC incident data using HFACS: Inter-coder consensus

Reliability studies for coding contributing factors of incident reports in high hazard industries are rarely conducted and reported. Although the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) appears to have a larger number of such studies completed than most other systems doubt exists as the accuracy and comparability of results between studies due to aspects of methodology and reporting. This paper reports on a trial conducted on HFACS to determine its reliability in the context of military air traffic control (ATC). Two groups participated in the trial: one group comprised of specialists in the field of human factors and the other group comprised air traffic controllers. All participants were given standardised training via a self-paced workbook and then read 14 incident reports and coded the associated findings. The results show similarly low consensus for both groups of participants. Several reasons for the results are proposed associated with the HFACS model, the context within which incident reporting occurs in real organisations and the conduct of the studies.     

Homesickness,health and efficiency in first year students

The investigation is concerned with the reported incidence and frequency of homesickness following an environmental transition to university in a group of 101 first year university students. Definitions provided by students indicated that homesickness is a collective term for a number of cognitive and emotional/motivational experiences primarily associated with missing home and wanting to visit it. 60% reported homesickness. Geographical distance of the move and relative lack of satisfaction with features of the psychosocial and physical environment in the new place were found to be associated with homesickness reporting. Personality and circumstantial factors such as decisional control over the move and cognitive failure levels were also associated with homesickness reporting. A two-stage risk model is proposed in which an environmental relocation is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for homesickness; features of the new place combine with personality factors to precipitate the experience.     

The impact of relative tenure on newcomer socialization dynamics

Although many researchers have examined the impact of organizational tenure on newcomer socialization dynamics, few have explored whether relative tenure influences perceptions and behaviors inside organizations. This study introduces the concept of relative tenure and shows through a sociometric survey of 200 employees across four organizations that an individual's relative position in his or her firm's tenure distribution explains a significantly greater percentage of variance in newcomer status, social network position, and information‐providing behavior than does absolute measures of tenure. The results suggest that organizational growth and turnover may have a bigger impact on newcomer socialization dynamics than has been discussed in the literature. The implications of the findings for socialization researchers and managers are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The use of zero‐valent iron injection to remediate groundwater: Results of a pilot test at the Marshall Space Flight Center

In situ treatability studies are being conducted to evaluate various in situ technologies to manage groundwater contamination at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The focus of these studies is to evaluate remediation options for contaminated (mostly aerobic) groundwater occurring within the basal portion of a clayey residuum called the rubble zone. The tension‐saturated media and unsaturated media lying above the rubble zone are also being treated where they make up a significant component of the contaminant mass. An in situ chemical reduction field pilot test was implemented (following bench‐scale tests) during July and August 2000. The test involved the injection of zero‐valent iron powder in slurry form, using the Ferox^SM process patented by ARS Technologies, Inc. The pilot test focused on trichloroethene (TCE)‐contaminated groundwater within the rubble zone. Maximum pre‐injection concentrations of about 72,800 micrograms per liter (μg/l) were observed and no secondary sources are believed to exist beneath the area. The potential presence of unexploded ordnance forced an implementation strategy where source area injections were completed, as feasible, followed by overlapping injections in a down gradient alignment to create a permeable reactive zone for groundwater migration. Eight post‐injection rounds of groundwater performance monitoring were completed. The results are encouraging, in terms of predicted responses and decreasing trends in contaminant levels. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The transition from home to boarding school: a diary-style analysis of the problems and worries of boarding school pupils

The investigation concerns the impact of the new school environment on a group of 50 male and female children aged 11–16 years, who leave home to reside temporarily at boarding school, in terms of the characteristics of problems and worries reported and the incidence of spontaneous reports of homesickness. More problems relating to the school than to the home environment were reported but proportionally more worry units were reported associated with home problems for both males and females. There was no sex differences in this respect. The reported level of spontaneously reported homesickness was 16% and there were no sex differences. Factors such as age, geographical distance of move and decision to go away to school were not influential in determining the level of reported problems or incidence of spontaneous reports of homesickness. A relationship was found with level of problems reported and recent life history but the result proved difficult to interpret.     

Study of metabolites from the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by bacterial consortium enriched from mangrove sediments

The PAH metabolites produced during degradation of fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene by a bacterial consortium enriched from mangrove sediments were analyzed using the on-fiber silylation solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combining with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. Seventeen metabolites at trace levels were identified in different PAH degradation cultures based on the full scan mass spectra. In fluorene degradation cultures, 1-, 2-, 3- and 9-hydroxyfluorene, fluorenone, and phthalic acid were detected. In phenanthrene and pyrene degradation cultures, various common metabolites such as phenanthrene and pyrene dihydrodiols, mono-hydroxy phenanthrene, dihydroxy pyrene, lactone and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene, methyl ester, and phthalic acid were found. The detection of various common and novel metabolites demonstrates that SPME combining with GC–MS is a quick and convenient method for identification as well as monitoring the real time changes of metabolite concentrations throughout the degradation processes. The knowledge of PAH metabolic pathways and kinetics within indigenous bacterial consortium enriched from mangrove sediments contributes to enhance the bioremediation efficiency of PAH in real environment.